The Time Has Come
Many of those who had the opportunity of having a soulmate bond will claim that meeting their other half was the most beautiful feeling ever. It has its own sense of the rush of excitement of finally being able to reunite with their other half.
Well, that's what all the romance books and background history of the bond describe how it feels.
But - why does it feel different?
Why does her heart feel sad, empty, and lonely?
What is this unstable anger coursing through her?
This sense of blood-lust.
She places a hand where her heart is beating.
'I don't like this feeling, but it's not coming from me.' Looking out the carriage's window, she can see in the distance below the famous school that her godmother explained to her and the other girls with them.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He is here.
Her heart beats faster.
The sun was beginning to set and the rays of the sun made her golden eyes glow.
'The time has finally come for us to meet in person.'
~**∞**~
Tom couldn't understand why everyone was so excited about the tournament. Literally to him, it felt like the same thing different day. He couldn't bother with the excitement, feeling that it was all child's play.
Especially since he has something more important to focus on. Laying on the couch of the dormitory alone in the cold mist air he sought comfort by the fireplace.
A book he borrowed from the library was on his chest as he skimmed through the pages. He was getting bored with some of the information until his eyes landed on something that piqued his interest.
"A Horcrux is created to achieve immortality by splitting a dark wizard's soul into separate pieces."
''Horcrux", he whispers curiously.
He looks around his surroundings making sure that no one else was in the room. Seeing that the coast was clear he continued to read the following instruction to perform it.
Although the path of creating a Horcrux is not recommended nor is the practice of it. But in order for one to perform such a terrible thing they must -"
Wait...
Tom's eyes meet the bottom ripped page of the book.
'NO, NO, NO, I was so close!!'
Getting up from his spot he skims through the pages trying to somehow find the missing piece but not see it anywhere he throws the book in rage.
'Shit!! Okay, breathe Tom, breath. Think for a moment, maybe in the library there is another book that talks about Horcrux. If things lead to a dead-end, I will just have to somehow persuade one of the professors to tell me without getting caught on my true intentions.'
He sits down on the couch having his hands on his face. His shoulder grew tense in the sense of frustration. 'This is going to give me a headache.'
The firewood cracks as its pieces are being devoured by the flame. Listening to its sound always soothed him, even the smell somehow brought comfort to his pounding headache.
Things have changed since that night in the orphanage.
He tried days afterward to reach out to her but nothing happened. Not having things under his control is nerve-racking, including not knowing anything about her.
White hair like fresh snow, with bright golden tips.
Closing his eyes, he remembers how dull her eyes were. It was difficult for him to know if they were golden or amber. The permanent fresh scars on her pale skin. Seeing them always left him with a burning sense of anger and hate. He wanted to hurt whoever had laid a hand on her and whoever made her cry.
He wanted them to beg for their lives.
He peeked his eyes through his fingers watching the flame dance in its majestic and dangerous ways.
'Why am I thinking about her?'
His heart was slowly starting to beat.
'I forced myself to forget about her. She left me, left me as everyone else does.'
His heart ached at the thought.
'No...I don't want to relive the memories again.'
The clock chimes loudly in the empty room.
'Looks like it's time for the announcement of the other schools.'
Tiredly, he got up from his spot making his way to the Great Hall. With a wave of his wand, he lifts the book, returning it back to him.
Closing the wooden door, he takes a deep breath and walks up the stairs preparing himself for the number of noises to come. Make absolutely sure to pick up the fake persona he created.
A perfect, amazing, and intelligent student.
Not that he personally cared for it but it's the only way for him to move freely without there being any suspicion of him. His footsteps echo softly in a match with the beating of his heart that was for some reason making its way known.
Entering the Great Hall and ignoring the eyes that follow his form he sat down amongst the little group he created but has yet to name.
The room remains silent as their headmaster rises from his seat and stands behind the podium.
"If I may have your attention, please. As I had mentioned before that Hogwarts has been chosen, to honorably host the most exciting event over the coming month, the Triwizard Tournament!!"
Everyone cheered while Tom simply claps.
"Now in order for this event to occur, one student amongst the three schools competing will be chosen --"
Honestly, it's at this point Tom slowly zoned out of Dumbledore's speech. Not when he was too busy focusing on why the soulmate bond was activating itself.
'No..why now?? Why is it being activated??'
Tom clenches the front of his shirt biting onto his fist trying to hold back the intense pain he was starting to feel from the years of it being muted.
"Tom what's wrong?", a member of his group, Bellatrix Lestrange, asked. Her eyes held so much concern and worried. All of his group was looking at him that way. It was making him sick. He hated being looked down upon, hated feeling so weak.
"Nothing," he managed to choke out.
Not knowing what was going on is what pissed him off even more. He just had to wait it out and hopefully, the soulmate bond would go away again. As much as it pains him to feel the pain of loneliness, all over again.
~**∞**~
A few hours prior
The chilling cold air that was waiting for them as they were exposed to it as they all exited out of the carriage sends a shiver down her spine. A weird-looking man named, Filch, helped them walk through the school's ground as the elves took their luggage away.
Besides, Olivia and Aurora were a few other female students accompanying them. All of the girls were wearing their most professional robes and for this occasion, they were allowed not to wear their house pins. However, Aurora did bring her dragon pin with her and the key to the Belmont's vault that was tucked safely underneath her shirt.
Aurora had Umbra on her shoulder as they walked down the dark corridors with only the torches on the wall to guide them. The whole entire time they walked she admired the change in scenery.
Right across from them was a group of males, alongside their Headmaster.
Filch leaves them there asking them to wait patiently as he runs funny down the stairs and into the room Aurora can only assume the rest of the students in this school was at.
"Cygnet" her godmother whispers as she moves her fingers as a sign to approach her.
Once they were separated from the group she whispers again low enough that only she could hear, "I want you to activate the bond."
"HUH!!??" her eyes widen in shock.
"SHHH, don't yell loudly!" Olivia looks around seeing that they were being looked at by a few curious eyes and looked away, blocking their view. "Don't do it quickly, do it slowly and steadily."
"But.." she nervously plays with the end of her cloak. "What if I mess up and make everything worse?"
Umbra meows purring deep into Aurora's throat. She smiles, petting her fur in a sense of thanks. Olivia smooths out her wave hair, "You will do just fine my cygnet. Have faith in yourself."
The shimmer in how much love she felt, she closes her eyes focusing on the wall she created long ago. Seeing it after so long made her feel guilty knowing that her action had most likely caused her soulmate great pain.
Hell what she is about to do now, will cause them both pain.
Aurora allows herself to feel the bond.
Allowing it to pull her towards him like a magnet. She can feel the wall break and crumble slowly.
Her heart tugs in the direction of the door leading to the school's Great Hall.
"He is in there somewhere," she whimpers out.
Olivia watches her, seeing her body tremble under the pressure of the bond. She places her arm through her goddaughter's right arm.
"Breathe cygnet."
Easier said than done. When the force of the bond was close to having her down on her knees. They waited till it was time for their announcement to enter.
Filch returns back running in the same weird style. He tells them that it was time for them to make their entrance. Both Olivia and the boy's Headmaster signal their respective groups to get into formation.
The girls with them stood in front, they were going to release the enchanted butterflies alongside the rose petals. Aurora was being held up by her godmother and stood at the back next to her.
Durmstrang Institute for Magical Learning went first. They can hear the excitement and gasp from inside the room. Hearing it made Aurora's anxiety even worse. Especially when the sense of connection to her soulmate was in that room. Her legs quivered as the pounding headache made her vision dizzy.
"Aurora?" a nudge she felt on her shoulder. Hazing glances at the concerned purple eyes, "Are you alright?" Placing her head lightly on her shoulder she nods, "Just need a moment that's all."
Worried she tells her, "You can always turn it off again if you want to."
"No," she leans away standing tall and proud.
"I am fine."
Olivia watches admirably smiling in pride, seeing how far her goddaughter has come. 'I am proud of you, my cygnet.'
In the distance inside the now-closed door, they stood in front of them they hear.
"Now please join me in the welcoming of the lovely ladies of the Beauxbaton Academy of Magic and their headmistress Madame Lavigne."
Standing in formation the door opens before them.
The walls muting between them crumble down even more.
Aurora and Tom both whimper in pain.
Walking through the path before them, the girls perform the enchantment as they had practiced for months to perfect. All the boys swoon by the sight of them, but Aurora ignores them.
Matching her footsteps with her godmother she glances around the room not trying to be obvious in her search for him.
'There are too many people in here. I can't find him anywhere.'
Now walking at the halfway point of the Great Hall she closes her eyes.
'Walls of past barriers that I created, crumble down to my feet. I allow myself to surrender, to the mercy feeling that I had prevented myself from feeling all those years ago.'
The rumble of the solid concrete wall fell down completely before her. A storm of emotions almost made her trip on her own feet.
Thankfully, her godmother quickly grabbed her elbow, pulling towards her discreetly.
Now they stood in front of the headmaster and of everyone else. The girls, including Aurora, bowed down in front of them.
The smell of pages from books, burning wood, and the mist fresh air of early morning was all that Aurora could smell. It was alluring her heartbeat to beat faster. Its sense was calming her down at ease.
The echo shouts were blocked out from her ears.
The soulmate bond was tugging her to the right side of the room. Following her heart, she sets her eyes on the snake insignia above the table. Then she observes the students sitting there until -
Dark brown eyes make eye contact with gold.
Aurora gasps.
'There you are...'
Both of their eyes widen as they finally recognize each other's appearance.
'You are here!', Tom shockingly thought.
To him, she smelled like the ocean's breeze, the soft smell of fresh roses, and the sweet smell of green tea. He was starting to like that smell combination.
Their hearts beat in sync with each other.
Olivia felt a tug on the sleeve of her cloak as she pulled away from her hug with Albus. Turning around, she sees the hopeful joy in her goddaughter's eyes.
It was the same look Marie had when she first met Arthur.
"Je l'ai trouvéI." (I found him.)
She whispers only loud enough that Olivia can hear her.
"Serpents." (Snakes.)
That was all she manages to say before Albus interrupted her.
"Olivia, it has been so long since we last saw each other."
"It has indeed," she replied with a smile, her french accent coming out strong as she spoke in English. "Albus I am wondering where my girls and I might stay?"
"Well, where do you wish for them to stay out of the four houses."
She side glances at the snake insignia.
"How about Slytherin? I trust that we will be fine there."
"If that is your wish it shall be arranged."
She nods in thanks and waves at her students to sit at the table available for them. In the last-minute gesture, she squeezes in reassurance Aurora's hand who hasn't looked away from the area of that table.
'May Merlin be by your side my cygnet.'
They all sit down in their proper place. Aurora and Tom were now only a few feet away from each other. Their palms grew more sweaty as they gripped the wooden table. Both try their best not to run into each other's arms. The air surrounding them was becoming too tense for them to breathe.
So close yet so far.
But time will only tell when the distance between the two will close.