Chapter 6
Cordelia sat in the peaceful darkness of the small kitchen table down on the bottom floor of her home on Potter island. Sitting on the table gripped tightly in her right hand is a steaming mug of hot chocolate made with milk and vanilla cream and toasted marshmallows on top. It was her go to drink when the world seems to be against her in every way. Her other hand was propping her head up as she used her middle finger to rub circles at her left temple in an attempt to get rid of her growing headache.
The trial had ended successfully and she had proceeded to drag the damn mutt of a man to the bank tossing him to the tender mercies of the goblin hoards. After he got The all clear and a list of potions, dietary needs and exercise itinerary it was then little Asters turn. The poor girl was beyond nervous and terrified of the room they had entered.
The room was made of carved marble and looked like it had been carved of one solid slab including the door which sealed so tightly when closed you couldn't even see where it once was. Etched into the marble were layers upon layers of ancient runes each one adapted and layered in order to not interfere with one another. Some runes were newer than others and stretched the full breadth of the room. Within the runes were various empty circles with seven lines Of runes pointing into the untouched space.
Each pattern of runes glittered in the low torchlight the floated along the walls giving many of them an ominous feeling. Looking closer Cordelia had noticed that the runes were filled with powdered gemstones of all colors mixed with precious metals. To keep the glimmering substance in place each rune after being filled was coated with the thinnest sheet of goblin steel pulled so thin it was see through like glass. This left the particles of gemstone and metals free to shift within the individual runes assisting in gathering and storing more magical energy within them.
The fact that these chambers are olde world runic chambers created back when magic was known and accepted by non magicals made them even more daunting. It meant that this very chamber most likely still held energy from wizards and witches long gone and drifted into mere legends. Those that had tasked the goblin hoard with protecting, preserving and residing over these chambers to be used in the most dire of need. To build upon with the original ward and rune scheme as the base and carefully expanded on until it grew into the masterpiece it was today. Just being within the chambers made Cordelias inner wards mistress itch to study and break apart but she held herself back.
Their goblin guide led their small group, which now included Remi who had joined them not long after Sirius finished his check up, to the very center of the massive rune chamber. Looking around Cordelia could tell that this is where the first runes had been lain as the magic and energy buzzed across her skin in uncontrolled yet restrained bursts. The runes themselves were dug in deep into the very foundation of the room and gave off a subtle glow of their own as if they knew they were about to be utilized and were ready.
The goblin had then handed a pure white robe to be pulled over Asters clothes just in case something spewed our from her scar. The robes would have to be purified by fire if that were to happen and Hecate knew what a pain it would be to destroy the snake and dragon scale outfit considering the dragons fire resistance. He then proceeded to do and her to lay Aster within the largest circle in the middle of the chamber and to move to the northern circle just above her head as her anchor.
Doing as told Cordelia had then calmed her niece after pulling the white robe over her clothes and laying her down. Once in position two more goblins entered the room and motioned for Sirius and Remi to stay within the observation boarder and to remain there no matter what. They then proceeded to their positions at the southern, eastern, and western points of the arrangement.
Once they were in position a sizzling sound came from the smaller circles between each of their positions slightly further back from their own circle. Looking at the circles she watched as large gems melted right through the floor to float centimeters from the floor glowing with power. Each one was the size of an adult fist and slowly twirled as if waiting for them to start in lazy anticipation.
The gem to her right at the north western point was a large deep blood red ruby that went from a solid ball to looking as if it was a series of connected veins with blood coursing through them before going back into its solid form. Sucking in a breath Cordelia had realized that this gem represented the heart and blood pumping through the veins. Turning to her left she looked at the north eastern gem to see what seemed to be a clear diamond only for her to realize the diamond fluxed between being clear and cloudy. It took her a few moments before she realized that this particular stone was to represent the mind by its rousing clarity.
Taking a deep soothing breath Cordelia looked to the south eastern position to see a shining soft pink rose quartz shifting through different body shapes telling her this represented the body. It was a playful thing that changed the body shapes into different dancing positions to show just what a body could do. She could help but give a slight laugh at the playful pink quartz before moving her gaze to the last stone to appear from the floor.
The last stone was a unpolished howlite that rattled like bones as it broke apart and connecting to itself in the form of different bones within the body. The black veins within the stone made it somewhat disconcerting to watch.
As she pondered the rattling stone another humming pulse of power caught her attention making her look up towards the source of energy. Swirling down from the roof was a beautiful collection of small fluorite shimmering in different shades dark purples, greens and golds as they small stones twisted and played in the air above her niece making the world above her sparkle with life. This was the representation of the souls, spirit and magic flowing within the body like a playful river. It was beautiful to watch as it twisted in and out of the circle to gently brush at her and the goblins to teasing the other stones before returning to its blade above them all like a deity.
She had been so engrossed with watching the playful stones that she had almost missed the beginning chanting of the guttural language of the goblins thrumming in the air. The chant vibrated the carry air causing the particles in the runes to vibrate to the hum of the guttural words. She could feel the power pulsing with each shifting particle growing by the second, rattling her bones and seeping deep into her skin until it touched her soul.
The power built and built until everyone could taste it on their tongues, feel it with every part of their being making the hair on the back of their necks stand on end. Once the power reached a crescendo the floating playful particles of fluorite glowed more than before as they started to slowly connect to one another. With each connection a stream of vapor like energy flowed from the runes around them sucking into the collection of colors above her niece speeding up the forming shape.
In no time the Fluorite had connected into the form of her niece down to the tiniest of detail including a pulsing Purple so dark it was almost black a sickly miasma floating above the dark mark marring her forehead. Once the Fluorite finished taking shape the four other crystals and gems around the room pulsed with power glowing brighter than the starts in the sky before shooting the collected energy into the floating shape of her niece.
The red light from the ruby veins hit the Fluorite and spread through the gem body settling into the shape of a heart in its chest and the veins in its body. The diamonds blinding white light that shifted in cloudiness and intensity sank into the head traveling down the spine and creating a network of nerve endings. Next the white and gray rattling howlites energy sank into the multicolored shape above seeping through the middle of each limb settling into a glowing skeletal structure. Finally the bright peachy pink rose quartz shot it's energy and engulfed the rainbow colored structure in its soft light settling like skin pulled over muscle.
The pulsing form aligned with the still form of Aster laying on the floor humming as tendrils of energy reached down to the little girl watching it enraptured. The energy tickled and played with her own before making its way up to her head to focus on the lightning bolt shaped scar that looked suspiciously like the rune sowilo. It touched and prodded the scar which with each caress became redder and redder before the scar itself started to turn black.
Finally the energy shot quickly into the scar causing Aster to let out a scream of pain as tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. She had quickly clenched her teeth and closed her eyes tight as the energy wrestled with the blackened rune etched onto her forehead. The skin underneath writhing as if bugs were crawling under the small portion of flesh trying to fight to remain within its home.
Soon the chanting reached a crescendo before silencing completely along with every bit of sound within the room. It was almost as if someone had put their world on mute were one couldn't even hear their own breath or the blood pumping through their veins. It was like everything was holding it's breath waiting for something to happen.
It was an intense few minutes that felt like hours before a loud tortured scream echoed through the chamber and a twisting mass of darkness spewed forth from the newly opened scar on Asters forehead. It contorted in the air squirming around like a worm trying to escape its captor as blood red eyes shined out from it full of malevolence as a face slowly twisted into form from its dark vapors. It glared murder at Cordelia as it screamed at her a deep guttural almost animalistic of torture and promise of pain and death as it fought to attack her.
Cordelia had just stood tall and proud pulsing her magic at the ready to fight if it so much as flickered her way her eyes narrowed in defiance and promise. A promise to defend those within the room who could not fight against the specter. Yet she knew deep down she wouldn't have to as the pulsing form of Fluorite moved it crystalline body and reached with one hand to grab the specter.
By this point the shrapnel within the runes on the floors and walls around them were practically vibrating out of their mold with the power embedded in them feeding it to the large gemstones. With one final blinding pulse of power the fluorite form of Aster opened its mouth wide and swallowed the shard of Voldemort's soul making it give a final scream of agony before being destroyed by the power held within the creation.
It took mere seconds for everything to cool down and the gems and crystals to disappear back within the walls from whence they came. Once able to move Cordelia quickly moved to her nieces side along with Sirius and Remi who had tears streaming down their faces. They each had inspected the exhausted little girl who gave her small family a tiny smile before passing out snuggled against her aunts chest as she wiped away the last of the ichor left behind from the extraction with the white robe.
Needless to say it was an exhausting endeavor both physically and mentally for all of them as the goblins used the ancient room the purge the shard of the dark lords soul from little Asters scar. It was stressful and not something Cordelia wished to ever do again but had a sinking feeling the room might be needed once more in the future.
Taking a deep breath Cordelia lifted her mug and took a sip of still hot chocolate licking a bit of the toasted marshmallow from her upper lip. Weeks had passed since then and it was now December eighteenth and Severus Snape was due tomorrow to set up his lab room in the Potter potion projects situated on the other side of the small mountain where the villa was built. It would be a fifteen minute walk from the villa to the labs but was worth it with the breathtaking view and well maintained path.
Cordelias biggest dilemma currently was situated a few floors above in the form of a large overgrown mutt whining outside Remi's bedroom door like a stray in rut looking for a bitch in heat. The animosity between Sirius and Severus is legendary almost as legendary as the discord between James and Severus. Remi wasn't a problem since she had a chance to grow out of such a childish notion but Sirius had been locked up with soul sucking parasites that relish in feeding off of positive emotions leaving only the worst behind.
This is where her headache was currently coming from since dragging the man child from his cell to the healers and from the healers to Potter island. Cordelia had returned home James's fifth year before Sirius had showed up on her parents doorstep after hearing about his crueler pranks and his distaste for Slytherin's. Mind you she herself had a distaste for the current crop that called themselves the pride of the house of the cunning and ambitious seeing them as nothing more than ignorant stuck up snobs.
Yet hearing that her baby brother had taking his pranking to a level that bordered on bullying she knew she had to act. She didn't mind that he was using it as a means to stand up for other yet she didn't like that lately he had been getting innocent bystanders caught up in the pranks as well. Thus Cordelia had returned home for the first time in years and hexed her little brother silver and green before dragging him to the warded dueling studio below the manor, the studio that protected from the ministry trace placed on minors. Once down there she had activated the wards telling him to draw his wand and preceded to wipe the floor with him in a duel using only his prank spells against him starting from the ones that were actually funny before they evolved into his more cruel spells.
After the thorough thrashing she had then proceeded to lecture her little brother about the difference between fun and games with pranking and becoming a big headed bully of a Griffendor. She had no qualms with him using his pranking genius to get revenge for those who couldn't stand up for themselves. She was more so annoyed that he decided to go down the path of revenge rather than getting even. Sure the pranks humiliated those who sought to harm others but she personally felt that getting even was much more satisfying as it hurts them where it really hurt and was longer lasting.
Needless to say the next year he had made her extremely proud when he pulled Snape from the jaws of a fully transformed werewolf in a mad state. Now that she thought about it she really needs to discuss what in the name of magic Snape was thinking going into a possible deadly situation. There is no way he hadn't figured out that Remi was a werewolf, it was just logical once you broke down all the facts.
That incident made her wish she had returned a week later the previous summer to dish out the same thrashing on Sirius who had ran away from home. Yet at the time she didn't want to traumatize the young many anymore then he had been at the hands of his own mother may she burn in the depths of Magic's cruelest energies.
Alas one could only do so much but now she is reaping the consequences of her inaction on correcting Sirius's behavior when he was more moldable and less set in his ways. Now she had to deal with a fully grown man with the mind of a teenager about to come into contact with one he had marked as an enemy to the cause. On top of all that she had to contend with a bitter potions master who never out grew his own animosity towards any of the group even though some had grown up. This bitter soul still clung like a vice to all his hurts and allowed them to fester into a slow acting poison that only increased with time thanks to being stuck into a job that he clearly despised. She could only hope by pulling him into the fold as a potions researcher that it would start to chip away at his sour disposition.
On top of the two mentally stunted man children she has a emotionally hurt werewolf lover for the dog and an actual emotionally and physically traumatized child to contend with. The saddest thing about that is the little girl is probably the most stable and well rounded out of the group of basket cases she has invited into her home. Luckily for her the only other female adult has already started her healing process when Cordelia had first gotten her hands on the isolated werewolf and tossed her to the mercies of the pack.
This latest full moon had been the best so far for the young woman who ran with the pack through the western woods not once attacking herself in her grief and attempt to hold the wolf back. It was also the first full moon that she had transformed all three days of the full moon. Werewolves were meant to transform three nights in a row in order to maintain a healthy balance between the wolf and the human. The werewolf would injure themselves only when the human works hard to repress the animal within like most under the ministries thumb. It makes her thank her ancestors every day for opening up Potter island and helping to creat the werewolf town all those generations ago.
Sighing Cordelia lifted her mug of hot chocolate to her lips to take another drink when a loud pop startled her making her choke on the toasty drink. Quickly she grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the cripple of creamy chocolate before turning towards the source of the crack. Standing next to her wearing a pillow case with large bulbous blue eyes and a slightly crooked nose and wrinkled, leathery skin is an ancient house elf.
This house elf is one she knew well since he is the current head of the Potter island elves and has been around since her grandfather was a child. He had been both her fathers and brothers emotional confidant when the woman in the home weren't around. He is also one of the biggest mother hens you would ever meet.
"Hello Tiki what can I do for you?"
Tiki tilted his ancient head twitching his large bat like ears in her direction blinking slowly at her slightly disheveled form. He opened his mouth and spoke, his voice sounding guttural with age like he had bubbles in his thread distorting his words as they popped.
"Mistress should be sleeping. Little Mistress also be needing sleep but won't. Tiki don't know what to do for little mistress. He be forgiving mistress for not sleeping If she goes to be helping little mistress now."
Blinking in surprise a few times Cordelia slowly stood nodding her thanks to the elderly house elf who popped away with the rest of her drink bring an amused smile onto her lips. Tiki never agreed with her penchant for the sweet drink when she was having trouble sleeping. He would always pop a pot of soothing roobois tea with some vanilla cream and honey. It was either that or a pot of camomile with honey and milk.
Running a hand through her hair making it messier in its unbound state falling like a dark waterfall down her back. As much as she loves her father she curses the Potter family curse for perpetually messy hair that has a mind of its own. She smoothed out her knee length baggy shirt until it hid the silky short shorts underneath and made her way towards the back of the kitchen where a part of the wall was hanging open revealing a set of stairs.
These stairs took her straight to the third floor where the family wing was located. The small manor house consisted of three floors, an attic and a basement. The first floor also known as the main floor is where the entrance into the building resided. Once one entered through a pair of large, thick oak doors they would come into a brightly lit room with a set of stairs heading up to the second floor bending with the rounded walls. The area around the door is flat stones cemented together with a place off to the side to change out or clean your footwear before stepping up onto a beautifully carpeted floor.
The carpet itself is woven with different shades of grays with splashes of white and black here and there where needed until a mural of the founding of Potter island spread before anyone entering the building. Inside the weave of the carpet are runes to preserve the intricate artwork making it a mixture of priceless, ancient and beautiful. The runes flowed so light one would think they had just imagined it giving the carpet a other worldly look.
The mural carpet stops as soon as it gets to the stairs changing from the soft well crafted weave into a tightly woven pattern of stars that twinkle their way up the stairs to the second level of the home. The banister to the stairs are made of dark stained oak carved with ivy that twists up and off onto the walls at regular intervals.
Also contained on the lower floors is a beautiful ball room with floor made of polished and well maintained marble and delicately crafted chandeliers that glittered in the candlelight. Along the back wall of the ball room is a marble table that looked as if it was crafted from the same piece of marble as the pillars it is connected to. This is where food and drink would often be placed with special platters carved with well maintained runes to help the food and drink keep the Perfect temperature while it awaits the people to grace its area.
On the opposite side of the ball room the whole wall is nothing but large windows and glass doors looking out into a secret garden filled to the brim of an assortment of flora and fauna. The gardened was maintained enough for one to see the dimly lit path in the night but left mostly to be wild and free giving it a feeling of being out with nature. This was not a garden most pureblood homes would keep but it fit with the Potter families thirst to travel and see the unknown before settling.
On this floor there is also four bathrooms, a floo, port key and apparition room for guests, one large kitchen used and maintained by a few house elves for when large gatherings are held, and small comfortable kitchen used by family with a small eating area that could seat up to twelve comfortably. The last two rooms on this food is a larger dining room for official gatherings that is sometimes rented by the representative of the international wizengamot and the first floor of the library that spans all three floors. The library is warded to only allow certain access to visitors based on weather they stay the night and which floor their room is located on be it the second or third floor.
The second floor is composed of six bedrooms with the same make up as every other standard room within the home. Each bedroom has a small seating area with a coffee table in front of a large fire place to read or do work. Across from the door is a set of glass doors that go out onto a personal balcony that contains a small tea table with two chairs each cushioned for comfort but straight backed to promote good posture. Next to the balcony doors is a raised platform containing a king sized bed with a his and her bedside table and a window seat filled with cushions and blankets with small hidden shelves to contain books or small trinkets to be used when relaxing on cold nights when the balcony itself is to cold to enjoy.
Next to the raised platform is a sliding door that leads into a walk in closet with a large dresser in the back and shoe racks along the side walls. Next to the walk in closet is another door that leads into a shared bathroom that contains a large sink, claw foot bathtub and a shower area tiled and slightly slanted so the water would flow down the drain. There is one bathroom for every two rooms and the door would seal itself to the other room when in use by the other guest. All the rooms on the second floor were pained in shades of blues and greens to create a calm atmosphere for any visitors.
The final floor of the home is the family wing where all the Potters that maintain the island live. The rooms on this floor each have a personal plaque that remains blank until the rooms new owner feeds a little magic or a little blood is placed on it. Once done the plaque with display their nape proudly and the room would be able to be altered with a touch to suit the owner. The main difference on this floor is the library which is larger than the lower floors and contains a secret door behind one of the bookcases. This door leads into a comfortable living room for friendly deals and as a place for family to get together and relax around the fireplace. This room contained mostly large throw pillows, stacks of blankets and a few comfortable chairs for those two old to plop down on the provided floor cushions.
Once on the third floor Cordelia followed the hallway until she reached a soft Lavendar colored door with a plate proudly displaying the name Aster for the world to see. She gripped the handle and gently opened the door to real a room pained in the same light Lavendar color with a dark violet trim. Placed around the room is a small collection of photos that Cordelia had managed to dig up of James and Lily during their time staying on the island as a couple and one very special picture of the day Aster was born.
In the picture Lily sat in her bed pale and exhausted but with a smile so soft, pure and full of love as her emerald eyes took in every feature of her little girl. Her vibrant red hair was loosely tied at her left shoulder with thick groups of hair escaping its hold to frame her sweat dried face as she leaned comfortably into the arms of her husband. Her gown was sliding down one shoulder as she shifted slightly to get more comfortable as she tried not to wake the sleeping babe in her arms.
James looked like even more of a mess than his wife with his hair sticking out worst than the usual Potter curse. His left hand was wrapped tightly from his wife's iron grip damaging the bones and he being to stubborn to get it looked at just yet only allowing it to be wrapped until a healer could get him away. His glasses were somewhat skewed and kept slipping down his nose only to be pushed up as he sniffles. His own clothes were in complete disarray as he wore his shirt backwards and was missing a shoe on one foot and the sock for the other. Yet nothing could take away the look of pure pride in his eyes as his face was split into a huge grin and happy tears streamed down each cheek as he gently caressed his daughters face in promise and unquestionable love.
This picture was placed in the little cubby hole next to the pillows of Asters bed where her head lay staring at the picture. She had trouble adapting to the open space of the large bed so they shrunk it to a queen sized bed and had the room get rid of the side tables and pop the walls out into a little over a foot deep indent filled with cubbies for her to place her bed side entertainment. The top of this arched indent was spelled to look like the sky outside but could be change at will to what Aster wished to watch while laying down from stars to fish under the sea. Next to the framed photo is a as all orb that when tapped emitted a light that could go from nightlight to lamp brightening with each touch.
The orb was emitting enough light for the young girl to stare lovingly at the only photo she had with her and her parents in it together. She was snuggled deep into her violet comforter her fingers fiddling with the small stitching of Lavendar colored asters on one corner of the warm blanket draped over her small form. She startled out of her dazed state when she heard her aunt knock lightly on the door frame to catch her attention.
Aster quickly sat up and starred down at her hands on top of the comforter as she fiddled with her fingers filled with nerves. This is the first time she had been caught awake past her bed time but she couldn't help but stare at the picture of her parents with her as a baby. Her aunt had given her the picture just this morning after finally finding it in the attic where she stored old photos and things that aren't used often. The attic consisted of storage space on one half and the living quarters of the house elves on the other.
The basement on the other hand is divided into three parts the first being a large storage room filled with dried meats, canned fruits and vegetables and home made jams, cheeses, and wines of both the cooking and drinking variety while herbs hung on lines along the walls to dry. The next room after that is a fully warded training room set up for both spell and physical training. The only reason she knew about this room is because she watched her aunt drag her uncle Padfoot into the room grumbling about lazy idiots not working out when they need to and it had made her giggle.
The final room within the basement is a massive potions lab filled with vials of strange liquids and pickled animal parts. This room contained a line of small windows on the ceiling for ventilation and soft lighting from the sun shining outside. This room Aster wasn't allowed in without her auntie because according to auntie Cordi her uncles are hopeless with any potion other than pranking potions and illegal transformation brews.
Now she had been caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be doing and it frightened her. If her uncle had caught her stepping even a toe out of line he would smack her around before being thrown into her cupboard. She really didn't want that because Aster really loved her soft bed with its different shades of purple and beautifully stitched Aster flowers in the corners and the silky soft dark purple curtains that would wrap around her bed sending her off into her own personal world of comfort.
All she could do was pray that if she got thrown into a cupboard that she'd at least get to take the snitch plushie pillow. According to her Auntie her father had made the plush for her the day she was born and the musky smell that would come off of it was that of her fathers. She also said that the faint floral scent that she would catch on occasion was her mothers scent embedded into each stitch with magic. Apparently it was tradition for the Potter parent to make a plush for their child using their magic to embed their scent into the very essence of the pillows fabric making it impossible for the scent to fade. She also said that when a Potter dies the plush would be burned on top of their grave as the last send off to the spirit for them to follow the scent of home to where their ancestors are waiting.
The bed dipped suddenly making Aster shiver in apprehension until a hand gently carded through her hair. The soothing motion slowly relaxed Aster until she was able to move her eyes from her hands to her aunts silvery blue eyes. Once their eyes locked on one another Cordelia gave her a gentle smile as she pulled Aster into her side.
"It's ok, I'm not mad your still awake. It would be quite hypocritical of me to be angry when I'm in the same position. Tell me little one what bothers you?"
Leaning her head against her aunts shoulder Aster contemplated what to say as she curled her lips inward to chew on. How was she supposed to tell an adult what was on her mind? How could she possibly tell them how she felt and all the thoughts bringing turmoil to her heat and soul?
So lost in her thoughts Aster never noticed the understanding glint in Cordelias eyes or the sudden mischievous tilt of her lips.
"Alright you don't have to answer me yet so how about I show you something amazing instead? Something that your grandfather used to show us whenever we were here on the island and your father and I were feeling down."
Asters eyes widened before she allowed an excited and hopeful look pass over her small features bringing a warm smile to Cordelias lips.
"Very well then up you get, I want you to bundle up in your warmest cloak, gloves, scarf and boots. I believe we got you that thick winter cloak that falls to your ankles and can double as a warm blanket if needed. Once dressed wait for me here and I will take you to our families special place."
Nodding excited forgetting her worries Aster slipped from her bed and shuffled over to her closet to get ready. She heard the door to her room open and close telling her, her aunt left to bundle herself up and most likely to tie her hair up. It was a rare sight to see aunt Cordelia with her hair down since it often becomes a mess within seconds which annoyed her to no end. Aster herself never minded her wild locks with a mind of their own. She found it entertaining to see her hair go wavy with a few curls here and there driving her aunt 'tuny up the wall with how messy it looked.
Shaking her head Aster quickly found her warmest cloths pulling on thick white leggings with silver embroidered ivy vines. Grabbing a gray skin tight turtleneck she then pulled a toasty silver and whit sweater dress over her head that goes halfway down he hands and thighs. After that she grabbed a pair of wool socks slipping them onto her small feet before pulling on a pair of calf high fur lined winter boots. The last thing she grabbed is her long fur lined cloak and a hair tie before running out of her room to see her auntie waiting in a similar outfit.
Cordelias hair was tied up into a simple pony tail with a few chunks of fly away bangs hanging in her face. The color of her outfit is a beautiful silvery blue instead of white and silver and she had her cloak already clasped at her throat. She bent down and held her hand open for the hair tie which Aster gave her with a small shy smile before turning so her aunt could pull her hair back into a pony tail just like hers.
Satisfied with her work Cordelia then gently took the cloak and clasped it around Asters shoulders. Once clasped she reached into the inner pockets of her own cloak and pulled out two pair of gloves that matched both their outfits. The gloves she held out to Aster were white with silver stitched vines on the edges that hugged the wrist. She helped Aster slip the silky fur lined gloves onto her small hands before pulling her own on and holding out her hand for the little girl to grab.
Slowly Aster gripped her aunts hand and allowed the older woman to guide her through the seemingly endless halls of their home. It didn't take them long to reach a seemingly unimportant wall only for Cordelia to settle her hand against it and channel a bit of magic into it. After a few seconds of channeling lines of runes ran across the wall forming a door shape before sinking back in twisting the wall as they did so until a door stood out proudly where previously there was nothing.
Opening the door Cordelia led Aster out into the crisp night air that caused their breath to puff out in front of them in white clouds of moisture. Snow fell around them in tiny flakes as their booted feet crunched on the light layer that had already settled on the ground. The walked towards the mountain side by the light of the waning glowing through the foggy layer of gray clouds floating in the sky above.
Once at the mountain side Aster could see a series of several pathways each going off in different directions into and around the mountain. She didn't have much time to ponder the paths before Cordelia gently guided her down the far left one that angled a bit down the mountain before turning into the mountain side. Once at the turn they were faced with a short cavelike tunnel that let them out into a fairly large field.
The field itself was divided into sections with several barns and stables scattered across it standing proudly in the distance. Curious Aster eyed the different structures as her aunt pulled her to the stable area closest to them on the right hand side. It didn't take long for them to enter the fenced area to a group of half horse half eagle creatures of different colors and sizes.
"Welcome Aster to the islands flying steed area, although it doesn't just contain the generic Abraxan. These are hippogriffs a proud creature with the head and upper body of an eagle and back end of a horse. These ones are the only means of transportation to somewhere special on the island. Now we will be flying on my personal griff Stargling."
At the sound of its name a beautiful black and white speckled hippogriff trotted near the pair cocking it's head at them. It pawed at the ground clacking it's beak waiting as Cordelia whispered to her niece what she needed to do.
"Alright little flower we need to bow while keeping eye contact and try not to blink. Do you think you can do that?"
Aster swallowed hard before giving a shaky nod and bowed with her aunt both of them keeping eye contact with the large animal. It felt like eternity to the young girl but eventually the beautiful creature cocked its head and bowed back to the pair. This brought a soft smile to Cordelias lips as she picked up her niece and carried her over to the Hippogriff.
"Aster this is my long time friend and flying companion Starling. She will be our ride tonight be sure to always be cordial and thank her for her time."
Aster gave a shy smile to Starling holding out her hand just centimeters from the large eagle head waiting for permission. It wasn't long before the soft feathers of Starlings head slid across her palm like silk bringing a delighted giggle to bubble from the small girls lips. The title was replaced with a squeak as she was maneuvered to the back of the black and white speckled beast and another weight hoisted up behind her.
The soft scent of vanilla and oranges drifted from behind Aster as she looked back to see her aunt sitting comfortably. The older woman leaned forward slightly to grip the shimmering feathers on the back of Starlings neck as her other arm came around Asters body securing it to her larger frame.
"Alright Starling take us to the heart please."
Starling let out a victorious cry as she quickly galloped and flapped her large wings before lifting into the crisp night. Her hind legs kicked several times making it seem as if she were physically climbing invisible steps up into the low clouds before her wings settled flat and drifted on the winds.
Aster had closed her eyes tightly and twisted herself as much as she could into her aunts body fearing falling from the beast as it climbed towards the stars. It wasn't until she felt the beast beneath her still and drift that she slowly unwound as her aunt chuckled lightly above her. She peaked out through squinted eyelids at her aunts face watching as the cold wind whipped loose strands of hair about her face as her blue gray eyes twinkled down at her in pure mirth before flicking forward.
Curious it's finally won the battle with her fears as Aster slowly turned her gaze to the horizon only gasp in absolute delight at the sight before her. Starling had decided to glide around the manor giving the two females with a delightful view of the town below with the proud statue in the middle glowing in the low light flickering out from windows from the fires burning within the homes.
The smell of fire, ash, wood, and wolf drifted up on the cold wind staining both their cheeks and noses red from the nippiness. Nothing stirred within the quiet town filled with werewolves as everyone was settled deep in their covers and dreams of days to come. Just a little further one could see the sea glistening by the light of what little bit of the moon that was peaking through changing in intensity from dull to bright as the clouds continued their travels to parts unknown.
A joyous sound escaped from Asters small body as she tossed her arms out as of to hug the sky allowing the wind to make a mess of her own pony tail as Starling once again banks at starts to fly further inland. Exhilaration coursed through Aster as she watched trees fly past and below them as they twisted on a well flown path. It was almost impossible to see the path but seemed to have been built with hippogriffs in mind.
It didn't take long to get to their destination as each powerful beat of large feathered wings ate up the miles. It was quite sudden to be flying through woods with small snowflakes clinging desperately to their cloths only to melt away into the warm fabric as if it was never there to begin with into an open area. It was like a blast of light at the end of a long dark tunnel and the light was filled with nothing but warmth and love.
Once the bright light cleared Aster couldn't help but gape at the sight before her. They were in a deep valley that radiated warmth filled with silver grass that swayed back and forth as if it was under water. Small sparks of lights sparked off of each blade of grass jumping from blade to blade in playful dances as they flew deeper into the valley. At the far side of the valley at the base of a massive cliff side is a large lake filled with glowing white water that rippled and pulsed with a life of its own.
A medium sized island was being held above the water and to the cliff side by a massive willow looking tree that clung to the cliff and island with thick roots that dipped beneath the waters. The weeping branches of the massive willow glittered in the light of the water with collections of teardrop shaped clear sap crystals on every branch. The falling snow dissipated into the air above the balling as if you were sitting in a clear dome watching the sky's ever changing moods yet never touched by it.
Starling tilted down to the island in the lake and landed gently at the trunk of the massive tree that chimed as the branches tittered against one another. Cordelia slid off the hippogriffs back before pulling Aster off and carried her to a collection of smaller roots twisted together and padded with soft dark gray moss. She settled them on the moss leaning back into the trunk of the tree with Aster sitting in her lap looking out over the magical valley. The sat in silence for a while before Cordelia spoke into the silent warmth.
"This is the heart of Potter island and a very special place to our family."
Aster twisted her neck back to look at her aunt who continued to look out beyond the white glowing lake. She opened her mouth to ask a question before the sound of dozens of thudding hooves distracted her making her look back out into the valley. Her question caught in her throat as a massive herd of white coated horses ran into the valley the light drifting off the grass and shimmering off their coat and a strange spiral like bone protruding from their heads. Running at the side a few of them are small golden colored colts playfully hopping around by their parent as they ran.
"We're in luck it looks like the unicorn herd decided to sleep here tonight. They usually only come here during the daylight hours to eat."
Asters eyes widened with wonder at the otherworldly animals that turned in a circle before spreading out to partake from the bounty before them.
"As I was saying this valley is very special. It is a sacred place where animals from all walks of life come to gain peace and to recharge. It's special to our family because every Potter has both purposed and been purposed to in this valley at the base of this very tree. Your father flew your mother to this very spot and had a midnight dinner waiting for them. They danced the night away and ate before finally settling down to watch this very herd enjoy the valley before your father got down on one knee and asked your mother to marry him."
Cordelia reached her hand up to the nearest branch hanging down around them and gently caressed one of the sap pearls glistening in the light a wistful smile on her lips. Aster was completely enamored with the story and waited patiently to hear more about her mother and father.
"This tree blessed their union by gifting your father and mother each one of its pearls for their wedding bands. Although this tree looks like a willow tree it is actually a magical tree called the weeping wisteria and is native to Japan and China. We don't know how it ended up here but it was here before we ever claimed the island as our own. The pearl sap is used as the focal point in every wedding band for the potter family. It shows our connection to this island and it's love for our family.
That's why when it comes time for someone to ask for your hand if they go right to you, you must give them the task to find this valley on their own. It's a task that every father gives to those who wish to wed a Potter daughter and it shows their willingness to join hands with their daughters. If any were to ask me for your hand I would task them with the same."
Aster took her aunts words to heart as the warm, loving and welcoming energy of the valley seeped into her very core and soothes something deep within her lulling her into a dreamless sleep. She awoke with a start snuggled under the warm covers of her bed back at the manor half convinced it was all a dream before she looked to the picture of her with her parents to find on a string made of braided unicorn hair her parents wedding bands with the shimmering weeping wisteria sap pearl twinkling in the centerpiece of each.
Tears glistened in her eyes as she gently took the delicate looking piece of jewelry and pulled it over her head to let the rings rest just above her heart. She gripped the rings tightly to her chest as she let her tears roll gently down her cheeks allowing her to express the grief she couldn't before for her loss. After finally regaining herself she shuffled out of her bed and padded her way across her room and out to find her aunt to thank her.
It didn't take long to find her aunt her was leaning against the door frame leading into the family kitchen with a single brow raised and arms folded over her chest. Peaking into the kitchen Aster slowly blinked at the sight before her. In the kitchen was her Uncle Padfoot being held by the scruff of his neck by Aunty Remi who looked completely fed up with him as he glared daggers at a man dressed in completely black robes on the other side of the table. This man had shoulder length greasy looking hair, a hooked nose that looks like it had been broken and wasn't healed properly, black eyes and a sneer on his lips as he glared back at Padfoot.
"Children behave there is an actual child in our presence now."
Cordelias soft voice caused everyone in the room to jump or tense up as she pushed off the frame and guided Aster into the kitchen for breakfast. She just knew this was going to be a long and exhausting week but she was ready for the challenge and she'd be damned if Snape and Sirius weren't at least on speaking terms before the break was up. She would just need to get the wolf on her side and her little niece to help. After all what better way to get people to work together than forcing them to work together in order to avoid pranks and get revenge for said pranks by pranking back.