A Raven's Feather
Soft breathing came from the two pairs that now reside in the Infirmary. The Professors, Ministries, and Headmasters gathered around them as they waited for the nurse's results in health. Professor McGonagall had left the room minutes before heading to the Slytherin's dormitory to inform their only relative about the incident that have accord and if Albus' calculation were correct.
They should be back any minute now by how quickly Minerva walked away. But for now, they were left to ponder with their thoughts of defeat and disappointment towards themselves.
'How could we have let this happen?' They all thought to themselves. 'How did someone manage to slip through our grasps?'
They had pondered for hours end. Until the door opened and Pomfrey walked through giving them a smile that eased away their worries.
"They are both fine and in great health," Everyone sighs in relief. "Although, I would say that both, Mister Baudelaire and Madam Lavigne, did give me a bit of a fright in the beginning before finally calming down."
"What happen?", Albus asked.
His heart skipped a few beats as the cold shiver on his body intensified slowly.
Pomfrey pulls out a black feather from her pocket and hands it over to him. Everyone's eyes watch in curiosity at the new item being presented to them.
She sighs, "I found the feather in Henrik's left hand, he did have a good grip on it. Both of them kept whispering different names...but I believe it was the same person they were speaking of in their sleep."
"And what names were they," Mr. Moon looked towards them. There was this dangerous gaze in his eyes that promised to make the person suffer.
"Tell us," Alastor's eyes looked as if he were distant away from them. Far away from reality. But looking at the way his fist clenched tightly did Albus know how frustrated his friend felt that Olivia got hurt.
Pomfrey gulps nervously and stutters out, "Madam Lavigne was whispering the name, 'Angel of Death' and Mister Baudelaire..." She drags out and her eyes grew watery as she tried to hold back a sob.
Albus places a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, take a deep breath, tell us when you are ready."
Her body trembled under his hand and her scared gaze meet his own confirming his suspicion of fear, "Mister Baudelaire was calling the person..."
She gulps before turning to look at everyone in the rest of the room. All their eyes focused on her as the names of the person they were going to look for were engraved in their memory.
Time froze still for a moment.
As the room felt chilly and deadly.
As if the name that is going to be mentioned, should never leave someone's lips. For it would bring a terrible curse upon any that attempts to start a war with this unknown being or person that they are now confronting.
Someone...who they never had experience fighting against in their careers.
But now with the name of this person about to escape the whimpering fear from the nurse they all realized the huge threat this person may be.
As it may be wise to not attempt to piss them off.
Pomfrey stutters out,
"...Daughter of the Devil..."
~**∞**~
Estella's lashes flutter open as a small yawn ever graceful escaped her lips. She stretches out her arms and legs. The soft texture of Tom's shirt and sweats felt comfortable on her skin as she hugged deeper to the blankets and pillows.
The shower head noises comes to stop and shuffling noises can be heard inside. Once the noise settled, the door opened revealing Tom's wearing just the usual school attire and all he was missing was his cloak. He turns his attention towards her and gives her a small smile, "Your finally awake. Was almost about to be worried you will never wake up."
She slowly gets up and chuckles rubbing her hands on her arms anxiously, "I'll admit...it has been a long time since I had a decent sleep."
The fake attempt at a smile coming from her broke Tom's heart.
For there was too much pain portrayed in her eyes.
But not knowing how to approach the situation he turns around gathering his materials to start the day finding the best to change the subject quickly.
"So, are you going to tell me where you are from?"
The bed creaking he heard behind him as sounds like clothes were being ruffled and fearing the worse Tom didn't dare turn around. A soft chuckle lightens up his unease, "You can turn around - I do promise I am fully clothed." Despite what his brain was telling him to not trust in her, he decided to trust the magic core inside of him that purred when she laughed.
There she stood, now fully dressed in a navy blue sleeveless dress that was loose from the stomach all the way down. Tom's eyes widen in surprise at the sudden transformation.
"Did you just use my shirt to make a dress?" His eyebrows raised in amusement.
Her messy black curly hair with white tips moved as she nodded cheerfully, "And I am using your sweats as leggings."
He chuckles putting the last of his books in his bag and putting the strap over his shoulder.
"You really are a talented witch."
Estella's eyes sparkle by the compliment and the darkness that once loomed there vanished away. The instinct that Tom hasn't been able to name inside of him, the bubbling feeling of joy, love, and protectiveness that blossomed inside of him made its return once more. But all of that was ignored once more when Estella spoke to him answering his previous question.
"About where I am from... I can't tell you."
His black brows furrow in confusion, "Why not?"
She tilts her head and her right-hand reaches to grab the silver necklace that Tom saw last night. He makes a mental note to do some research on that symbol for he knows he has seen it somewhere in the textbook.
"Because," she starts off as she turns her attention to him. "It may be hard for you to believe me, especially since you are a very private person and rather wear countless masks to not let anyone see the real you..."
"How do you know?" He whispers.
She chuckles and the glimmering in her eyes and the smile on her lips. Tom started to feel like he was looking at a reflection of himself. "I can see it in your eyes, how cautious the world but I am here to help you and to help Aurora with the tournament as best as I can."
Tom tilts his head and his mind is lost in thought, "Why...why would you help us?"
He looks deep into her eyes with curiosity especially when there was a glamor of what he deems to be love and...a hint of admiration...
She gives him a cheeky smile, "Everyone deserves to have happiness, even you. Think of it this way," she leans forward and says, "I will be your, fairy godmother."
Tom shoves her playfully away as she laughs at his now reddened face, the blush on his cheek was very noticeable upon his pale skin.
"Fairy godmother...", he rolls his eyes but even then he couldn't hold back a smile trying to make his way on his lips. Her shoulder shakes as she releases a belly laugh and lays on the bed. He follows her laughter and she gasps for a moment to collect herself. The warmth feeling swelled again inside of Tom, he doesn't remember there being a time he felt this...happy about something or someone.
"Well if you think it about I have the wings for the role and the magic soooo..." she tilts her head and shrugs with a smile.
"Indeed you do, but what about a wand?" Tom chuckles and the oxygen slowly fills his lungs as the laughter quieted down again. The light in Estella's eyes died down and if Tom looked carefully - which he did. There was this malicious look in her eyes and even though he can't know anything about her.
Tom has made an assumption that where ever Estella comes from, has hurt her to the point that it has broken down the very fiber of her character.
Oh if only he knew how right he was on that.
"I'm sorry", his lips move before his sense can comprehend what he is doing. Saying those two words felt unfamiliar to him, never apologized before for any of his actions to anyone. But even though it felt weird - it also felt right.
"I-"
"It's alright," she whispers but the hollowness in her eyes still remained.
"No," he shakes his head and approaches her.
At this point, he was just allowing his instincts to guide him. For the sense of protectiveness that clouded his senses wouldn't leave him alone. Everything inside of him kept telling him to comfort her, to hold her close.
And that's exactly what he did.
Wrapping his arms around her form and there he realizes that they're about the same height. The smell of the misty forest, green tea, and the fresh pages of a book clouded his senses. That mixed with Aurora's smell that he now sense through the wall, realizing now that she has woken up. Her smell of oceans, green tea, and roses eased him down to the point that almost made him feel weak to the knees.
He never acknowledged how similar their smells are to each other until now.
How comfortable he feels being surrounded by it.
How these two people...
Makes him feel alive...
And his search to know what a home feels like...
Was finally answered...
Estella wraps her arms around him and he pulls her deeper into his arms for there was no longer any gaps between them. Tom's mind starts to recalculate everything from his conversation with her, how she responds, and the soulmate bond.
The bond will never lie to the host, he knows from his endless searching of trying to break through Aurora's muted wall back then.
And so Tom asks a question in his own mind...
Hopping that the answer is not what he is expecting...
As if some spirits could read his mind, a shocking realization cloaked his form.
A wash of guilt forced him to bite his own lips and hold back a sob.
He focused on his breathing but even then the two senses from which his bond hums ever deeply made it so difficult to breathe.
But he thinks for a moment thinking back to the article Malfoy showed him, about the LaRue family history... A member of the family couldn't be mentioned in the books and records. The LaRue family is of royal blood and was highly known to practice the Old Religion in secrecy from the eyes of the people. Since at that time witches and wizards were being haunted by hunters...
Tom's eyes widen and his breath hitches.
Now he remembers where he has seen that symbol of the necklace before.
Gabriel Van Helsing
But-
Does he have anything to do with the LaRue family?
It would make the most sense.
After all, he was a hunter that killed many of the supernatural - could it be possible that he fell in love with a High Priestess? But if he did, his identity must have been kept a secret due to his reputation and the fact that hunters were now being hunted. So if the pendant of the necklace is branded with his insignia...
And if it was passed down in history amongst the royal family...
That would mean...
Estella moves away from his hug creating some distance between them and Tom takes a moment to analyze completely her appearance.
Her right brow rises and she tilts her head confused.
The hollowness that was once there faded away.
"Why are you giving me that look?"
Tom gulps down his feelings deciding to push them away for now and think about the thoughts much later in the night alone.
"Nothing..." he simply responded.
Estella gives him one last look and shrugs away saying, "Alright, well since I am going to be your fairy godmother that will mean I will have to be your side 24/7."
"How do you tend to do that?"
She smiles in mischief and before his eyes, she transforms into a small snake with black and white spots.
"You're an animagus?" Tom lowers down to her height reaching his hand out for her to slither on and bringing her up to his level.
"No," she responds in parseltongue. "I just have the ability to shapeshift into any animal I want to be."
A small smile of awe made his lips, "...Fascinating..."
She then slithers up his arms till she reaches his neck. The warmth of her form brought relief to Tom knowing now that he wouldn't be alone for the days to come.
"This is the best way I can accompany and a way they can't find me. So," her head nudges to his neck and he turns his head a bit to look at her, "Shall we?"
Tom exhaled shakingly and he kept telling himself to enjoy the moments of time he is going to have with her presence. He walked as if nothing happened, and he grabs onto the door knob twisting. The wooden door creaked a bit as it opened.
"We shall..." Tom whispers in parseltongue and the door gently closes behind him.