Avery

It was 29 Sacred 20 years ago. The Salem family broke their vow and married a muggle, but they never admitted that. After thorough confirmation from all the pureblood families, they acknowledged that none of their relatives married The Salem, which means The Salem is covering something. Thus, 20 years ago, it became 28 Sacred.

They keep track of the pureblood news, community, and social gatherings still to this day. They think they are still part of the Sacred even though they never get the invitation after being outcasted. Neil Salem is the last heir. He's graduated from Hogwarts but keeps coming to Avery's house trying to meet Tom Avery for "discussion."

One night, it ended in disastrous spells flying around Avery Manor. "You know what? If you keep coming to my house uninvited and thinking you can force your way back into the Sacred through me with bribery, it seems very unlikely. We have more than enough galleons," Tom said.

"Your family doesn't have any right to outcast us in the first place. It was supposed to be a vote by all members! Without any proof, you cannot outcast my family!" Salem shouted.

He walked two steps toward Tom. "Tom, come on, you and I went to Hogwarts together, same year, same house. You can persuade the members and start a discussion and..."

"No need for discussion or vote, Salem. We all know the basic rules. You and I cannot undo what our ancestors did; you should accept it."

"It's very important to my family! It's..."

"I think it was not. The fact that your father chose that path is done, Salem, and it's not my doing or your doing. It was beyond our hands; it is done."

"It is not!"

"I have pure blood running in my veins just like you! That whore is not my mother! My father never married her..."

"You're a bastard then," Tom interrupted.

Salem's face was full of rage. Tom tilted his head. "No? Then whose mother? Just tell the name, and we'll be able to confirm it to that family, know the truth, and welcome you back."

Salem laughed. "What if I'm marrying one of the purebloods? Huh? It doesn't matter whose my father fucked, The Salem will be pure again!"

"And whose pureblood family wants to marry their daughter to you?" Tom furrowed his brows. "We all know that's not how it works, Salem."

"Just because one bitch dirtied my family name and you cast me out? Stupid fucking rule! It's not my fault!" He's frustrated.

Avery heard the commotion outside. She was running to see the scene where her brother's wand was ready at the man in front of him. She came slowly and said, "Maybe you should see the bigger picture. You're a free man now; you can marry anyone you want. Some of us crave to be that." Avery knew this man very well; her brother mentioned him before.

Salem apparated in front of Avery, too close. "Maybe I can marry you instead," he said while touching Avery's face and smirking.

Tom instantly pointed his wand at him. "Stu..."

But Avery put her palm on his hand. "Avaria..." He screamed; his wand fell instantly from his hand. He was slowly backing off. Avery stalked behind her brother.

"Well well well..What do you have here, Tom? Your sister is something else," he said, smiling wickedly, eyes wide.

"I read some news about your little engagement," he said, looking at her up and down her body.

"She's strong, Tom. I always desire someone strong with the right family name," he tilted his head while looking at Avery.

"You can dream all you like, but it'll never be my sister. Touch her again, and your family name will vanish from this world forever." Tom warded his Manor right away; the spell threw Salem out of the Manor instantly.

Every single pureblood gathered in Avery Manor from all over Europe. Avery welcomed them all one by one, shaking their hands as she stood in the Avery grand hall. Live music was playing; food and drinks were available; elves were running around busy, and all the wizards and witches were in their best dresses and suits. It's just how she had imagined it, her grand plan.

"Thank you for coming," she smiled.

She shook hands with all the guests until the last wizard, from Russia, whom she knew very well, Victor Lapin.

"Thank you for coming, Victor."

"It's been too long, Hermione..."

"I know," she smiled, looking at her childhood friend.

Avery's father had business in Russia. He took Avery there a couple of times. The Lapins always accommodated the Averys every time they went there as both the oldest magical families of each country. Victor would always accompany her while her family was in Russia.

"You look amazing, as always."

"Thank you, Victor. You look...buff, as always." Victor smiled at her, and she walked with him to get the drink.

"Don't tell me that you're here because you're looking for a match too?" She furrowed her eyes. Victor laughed.

"No, I'm not looking."

"That's what I thought! Why would you? There are a bunch of beautiful pureblood women in Russia, I believe."

"I have one already.

"Really? Tell me about her," she's demanding with wide eyes.

"She's strong and beautiful. One day she came to me out of nowhere, and then she's gone, and years later I heard she engaged with some boy; I got my heart broken then," Hermione gives him suspicious eyes.

"We knew each other since we were kids. She always came with her family to Russia. She lives in my family's manor too; we played together."

"Don't be joking."

"I'm not joking. You can give me Veritaserum if you want to."

She scoffs. "But Russia is full of beautiful women." 

"Beautiful women are everywhere, but they're not you." He's looking straight into her eyes and continues, "I heard she's single now; I thought I might have a chance to..." He's looking down shyly. "Can I have this dance?" He's offering his hand.

Hermione looks at him and thinks, why not, and also how rude it would be to reject any of this guest's request since they came here from afar. She will give them anything if she can right now. She holds his hand and starts to dance with the others who are already dancing.

From the corner, Draco is staring straight at where Victor's hands are placed over her back and waist. He's wearing an all-black tuxedo with whiskey in hand, standing with Blaise and Nott, while Blaise and Nott are checking out other witches around. 

"I think you should go to the French witches, Zabini, over there," Nott nods toward the French girls.

"Theo, look over there. The Spanish witches are checking on us," Blaise smiles at them.

"Of course, they're checking on us. We are fine English pureblood wizards, gentlemen. Zabini, come on..." Nott brags.

"I'm not; I'm French, so is Draco."

"Yeah, yeah, right..." Nott doesn't bother. 

As the night goes by, one by one, the wizards and witches that got their matches have left the hall, leaving just a couple of pairs that are still enjoying the night. Avery knows they all desperately need pureblood partners, and they are all available here at this very moment. They have to seize the chances. The night went smoothly according to her plan; everything is perfect. She's done it.

"Bombarda!"

The window shattered, with wind blasting. Avery looks to the source and sees Salem apparating, coming to her fast. "Lofi! Call Tom; Salem's here!" 

Everyone left in the hall points their wands at him. 

"How come I didn't get invited, oh my Avery?" 

"You know why," she answers. 

Salem laughs. "I know... that's why I invited myself," he smirks. 

"How can you get into the wards?" 

"Oh, it took quite a long time to be able to get in; otherwise, I'd have been here since the beginning, dancing with you, my Avery..." More of his men come from behind him: black masks, black coats, ten wizards, and they start dueling the purebloods. Salem apparates in zigzag to confuse her; all the wands now cast their spells at him but miss. 

All of Salem's men keep casting spells at all the purebloods; now they're dueling each other. The beautiful grand hall is now shattered, smoke coming from everywhere and fires; blue and yellow spells are flying at each other, and with all the chaos starting, Salem keeps missing and appearing until he reaches Avery. But before Salem can touch her, Draco appears in front of her. "MY AVERY" he speaks coldly to Salem, his wand touching Salem's chest. "Depulso!" 

Draco casts the spell, and Salem is pushed away from her instantly. Draco turns his body to her and touches her face, looking into her eyes. "Go now" 

Avery gasps. "N..No! He's been bothering my brother; I will put an end to this!" 

"He wants you; you should go now, please" His face is desperate for her to leave. 

"Draco..." Avery's eyes look into his, confused. "What do you mean?" 

All of a sudden, Salem casts spells at Draco from behind; Draco's back is pushed forward, his body crashes into Avery, and they both fall to the ground, but he shields her instead. Spells are flying at his back; Draco's eyes widen, grunting in pain, someone else casting spells at him, but he still holds himself on top of Avery. When she tries to push Draco to the side to ready her wand, she hears someone cast "sectumsempra." Draco suddenly starts coughing up blood, and blood begins coming from his mouth, still shielding her, still on top of her. The blood splashes onto her face and chest, flowing rapidly.

"No!!!!! Stop!!!!" She's screaming and crying at Salem and at anyone who casts spells, still trying to push Draco away so she can fight, but Draco is still caging her, protecting her.

"Please... leave," with blood coming out of his mouth, he's still begging her to leave, but his weak body crashes on her. She's hugging him, crying, "No! Draco, Draco?!" She's shaking his body, "Stay with me!" She's sobbing as she feels Draco's blood soaking her dress. 

"Lofi!" Lofi comes with Tom Avery. 

"Take Draco to St. Mungo's now!" She's sobbing; Lofi disappears with Draco.

Tom helped his sister up, and Avery's eyes went straight to Salem in fury. "My brother should have put an end to you a long time ago; I guess it'll be my honor," she raged. Salem was standing, holding his chest and smiling wickedly, blood coming from his mouth from Draco's blow earlier.

Tom nodded to Hermione, and they both went separate ways, casting spell after spell at Salem, but he was fending them off and disappearing. "Reducto!" Tom cast his spell at Salem's men, but Avery, searching for him, saw a shadow and ran to it, catching it with her hands. "I got you!" Salem reappeared, and Avery began casting her spells.

"Avaria!" but he didn't seem affected by it. "Do you think I will be fooled twice? I know you're a wandless witch, so I drank some potions to numb my skin." He was smirking.

Tom cast "Stu..." at Salem, but Salem turned around, holding Avery as his shield against her brother's incoming spells. "Come on... cast the spell, but your little sister is going to get hurt." 

Avery struggled in his clench. She closed her eyes to think and said, "Kiss me." Salem turned his head down to see her face and thought he misheard what she just said, but Avery bumped her head into his nose and bit his hand that had been wrapped around her neck until he was bleeding. Salem let go of Avery in reflex. Avery closed her eyes, pointing her wand at Salem.

"Averco!" she cast her spell, and fire came out of her wand in the shape of a dragon, eating Salem alive. She was breathing heavily at the sight, everyone watching it.