Ol’ Saint Nicholas
Part 1/2: Aurora
Summary: Against her wishes, Kate returns to her home for the Holidays, dreading the threats that await her in Williams Manor. She will have to face once more who she considers her mortal enemy and possibly the cause of Jacob’s disappearance.
Pairing: Implied/ Mentioned Charlie Weasley x ofc/Jacob’s sibling
Warnings: Mature, death/murder
A/N: Not your typical Christmas fic, it won’t be jolly, always here to provide angst and weird shit. The pairing is referenced because all my stories happen in the same universe. This is the Christmas after starting year 6 of Hogwarts. I stopped following hphm storyline in year 4 so maybe I took some liberties.
A proper christmas fic with charlie in it would be A very Walsh Christmas
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Wouldn't you know that you'd
Be responsible for all the holiday noise?
Wouldn't you know that we'd be just like
Other little girls and boys?
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The day was clear, disgustingly bright for the mood I was in, and it didn’t suit the place either. Tall, black metal fences opened when the black carriage that took me to this… my house arrived.
I said my goodbyes to the chauffeur and stepped out while securing my backpack on my shoulder, leaving my trunk behind.
Just as I was about to walk, Prim, one of my grandfather’s assistants apparated next to the carriage, grabbed my trunk and disapparated just as fast. I just hoped that they wouldn’t confiscate the gifts that the Weasleys gave me that summer for my birthday.
I sighed at the thought of Charlie, the Burrow, and the goodbye kiss we shared at King’s Cross, while staring at the block of stone and bricks that was the Williams Manor.
It stared back at me in the distance, tall and long, smirking at how all my secrets would be revealed when I crossed its threshold. I had to close my eyes, concentrate on something that wasn’t the splendid summer I had spent with the Weasleys, something other than a certain redhead that miraculously reciprocated, and most importantly, erase the memories of the start of this year at Hogwarts.
The first step I took towards the Williams’ grounds couldn’t have been more of a warning; looking down, I found my converse half-deep in mud and I sighed once more.
The terrain changed into grovel, and I rounded the black fountain, now frozen, towards the front door. I didn’t jump at the clunk of the gates smashing against each other behind me, or at one of the stone sirens at the fountain following me with her gaze, nor at the two suits of armours, one on each side of the doors, who suddenly pointed their spears towards my face.
“You should be able to recognise me by now.” I stated at them. “I live here.”
No response.
“Or maybe someone could update the system to something less invasive? Like a voice sensor or a secret code?”
I cocked my head to one side, delaying the inevitable. “How about a doorbell?”
The knights crossed their weapons, blocking the door, and I considered just for a brief moment apparating out of there. It would be illegal, yes, and difficult. Bill had been teaching me, but I couldn’t seem to get the hang of it just yet. Maybe running fast enough I could catch the car back to London…
If you are going to stand there… careful with the new vines that we planted.
A shiver ran through me. I almost forgot what it was like, what the feeling of the house being inside your head at all times was. I didn’t recognise the voice, maybe it was Nicholas, maybe one of the knights. Either way, I couldn’t resist a response.
I would prefer them over this.
Resigning myself after waiting for another attack on my psyche, the fear of freezing to death convinced me to just… accept it.
I reached out my hand aiming at one of the spears, and the knights were on the move again. They never cut too deep, just enough to draw out a single drop of blood. I hissed when it pricked me. I almost forgot that pain, too.
The drop travelled rapidly down the spear, growing bigger as it went, leaving silver sparks wherever it touched, and disappearing just as fast. The knight pointed at the lock and the drop jumped inside. I crossed my arms around myself as the two guardians returned to their original position, unmoving.
I patiently waited for the soft click that I heard, and after a loud thump both doors opened before me, letting me see the interior. Of course, one more obstacle awaited me, the magic detector barrier placed at the threshold, courtesy of Nicholas Williams.
I stepped through the invisible curtain, which glowed with my presence. My backpack opened with force, spitting my wand and a pair of earmuffs. Both of the items were left floating at my sides.
Almost immediately, Prim apparated before me. That day he chose a tall, languid, unhealthily pale appearance. Metamorphagi could turn into anything they wanted, and it never failed to surprise me how Prim seemed to prefer looks that make him resemble a serial-murderer. The only way to identify him was the unmistakable odour of the perfume he, in my opinion, bathed with instead of water.
“What is that?” He asked, pointing at the earmuffs.
“Hello, Prim. Merry Christmas to you too. That is for herbology homework.”
The lie slipped out of me too easily. Since I started being able to talk, I learnt how to take advantage of Prim’s poor knowledge of… everything. The man was as dumb as a teaspoon.
He hummed and clearly needing to attend to more important matters, he disapparated once again, not before cleaning my shoe with a hand gesture and a disgusted expression.
I picked my wand and earmuffs from the air and put them back in my bag again as I walked the long hallway inside.
To my left, the lights distracted me and I stopped to admire the living room, fully decorated for Christmas. I had to admit that as much as I hated staying inside the house, preferring my room or the outdoors whenever possible, the holidays decor deserved to be admired. Approaching the threshold, I peeked as carefully as I could, trying to avoid the guests who sat on the couches to see me. At least there was no sight of Nicholas, and since the living space was mostly empty, I would not be reprised for being the last to arrive. That gave me a bit of time to settle.
Taking one last look at the roof-high tree in front of the fireplace, I resumed my way.
The house was surprisingly quiet for Christmas, except for the music coming from the living room and the faint murmur of dishes being handled in the kitchen as I approached the also Christmas adorned staircase.
I couldn’t even take a step upstairs when the sound of a door opening came from my right. I turned my head, holding my breath, waiting for her to come out. However, the door to my grandmother’s studio only opened more, with no one stepping out.
Contemplating if I should just ignore it or giving in to the clear invitation, I heard steps coming down the stairs. I held my breath for a second, only to see Henriette, one of the cook’s assistants, murmuring under her breath with haste.
She halted when she spotted me, and I recognised the terror of almost encountering someone she didn’t want to. The same terror she probably saw on myself.
We relaxed and shared a smile.
“Merry Christmas, Miss Williams. It’s good to see you.” Her green eyes clouded with worry.
“Merry Christmas, Hattie. Is everything all right?” She huffed a laugh and gave me a sweet smile.
“Perceptive as always.” She glanced at the studio’s door and returned her attention to me. “Just a change of menu. I was going to help extend the table…”
Something above my shoulder prevented her from finishing her sentence. I turned around to find Prim staring at us from a distance.
“I must go. I hope you had a nice start of classes.” I just nodded, watching how both disappeared through the living room door.
I turned again, facing the opened studio. No one had come in or out. Fine.
Walking to it and opening the door fully, I found my grandmother sitting at her desk, her perfectly symmetrical built-in bookcases at her back. The cream walls were always plastered with paintings of dead ancestors that would judge me as soon as I entered the room.
Soft music came from a violin playing itself in the air at the corner.
She hadn’t looked up from the parchment she had in her hands, but I was sure she knew of my presence.
She had perfectly brown-dyed hair, slicked back and cut just below her ears, which were adorned with big pearls. They matched her brooch in her grey suit. Her expression was focused, I almost thought she was too busy to mind me attention but at last and without looking up, she spoke.
“What a gracious Christmas gift to bless us with your presence.”
“Aurora.” I saluted while entering. I ignored the numerous pairs of eyes that followed me from the walls. She still didn’t look up. I sat on one of the green armchairs facing her desk.
“One would think you don’t live here anymore.” She spat again.
I can handle her, I repeated mentally. Her speech was velvety and murderous, but Aurora was never dangerous. I had to force myself to remember that when she finally lasered me with her icy blue stare.
“I sent a letter saying I wouldn’t come back for the summer.” I defended myself “I even said I would buy my new textbooks by myself.”
When she didn’t answer, I kept going, “I figured one less person in the house would be one issue less.”
“Considering the headaches you caused at Hogwarts for five years and the situation with your brother, it is not ideal for you to disappear for six months.”
“I did not disappear. I sent an owl and if you were worried I didn’t go to class, you could have contacted professor McGonagall.”
She interlocked her fingers in front of her. “We did actually.”
I only answered with my eyes, So?
She sighed with a subtle roll of the eyes. With her scrawny fingers grabbed a quill, inked it and made a final annotation on her parchment before rolling it with care.
“I assume you had time to take your O.W.Ls with your Curse breaking extracurriculars…” she threw, while putting away the paper and grabbing another one.
I wasn’t sure if she wanted to see the scroll or my word would be enough.
“Acceptable in history of magic and exceeded expectations in astronomy.”
She looked at me again with predicted disappointment.
“And the rest?”
“Outstanding.” I offered simply. She seemed satisfied as she resumed unrolling her parchment.
“Hm… Isn’t history interesting enough for your time?”
I managed to relax back into the chair and watched her grab the quill before resuming her writing.
“I prioritised potions. I wanted to be able to take the NEWTs classes. Professor Snape said he wouldn’t accept any other mark.”
“To do what, exactly? Last year was curse breaking, the prior potioneer, before that was teacher…”
“I’m still debating my options with professor Sprout. I’m really into herbology at the moment.”
The violin stopped abruptly. Aurora lifted a neatly plucked eyebrow at me. I hate I got that ability from her. She considered me for an uncomfortable while.
“Is that why you brought those earmuffs?”
Snitch, I accused Prim mentally.
“Yes.” I offered with confidence. She hummed again and focused her attention to her desk once more. I could sense her losing interest.
Waiting for her to do some remark about suitable careers for me, of how I should follow her path with Arithmancy since I seemed to pass my classes “with ease”, or try as soon as possible to insert myself into a position in the Ministry.
There was none.
“Go freshen up and change. The rest of the guests will arrive soon.”
I watched in disbelief how quickly she dismissed me. She didn’t lift her gaze when I stood up, nor when I crossed the room, and I could swear she wasn’t bothered when I closed the door behind me either.
With that taken care of, I hurried upstairs before Prim and the new guests that were crossing the magic barrier spotted me.
My bedroom was the last door to the right on the second floor, with views of the backyard. Although I mostly complained about the oppressive interior of the house, always packed with rugs, clocks, paintings, mirrors and fireplaces on every corner, my room was originally made for guests, so it was very much empty in comparison.
I finally could breathe when I leaned against the closed door. It’s not that I hadn’t enjoyed my stay at the burrow for the summer, or that I didn’t enjoy having Rowan and Penny as roommates, but I needed to come back here, despite having trouble admitting it.
All the furniture matched with the same dark wood: my canopy bed, now with green and gold bedding; the big armoire on the other side of it; and my favourite addition that I stole from my mother’s room, a cylinder desk with enough drawers and nooks for my trinkets and jewels.
I threw my bag on the bed to retrieve my earmuffs.
This was the moment of truth.
Borrowed from Sprout and modified by Flitwick as a favour, one that I would have to pay with duelling set-ups and dummy maintenance, the earmuffs would serve a crucial role in keeping my sanity intact.
I covered my ears and instantly felt a light buzzing, as if I was hearing a distant swarm of bees. The only problem was, I didn’t know if Nicholas would be able to get in my head or not. He was powerful, a master in legilimency; I doubted that a pair of old earmuffs would prevent him from reading me like a book. But at least it would be more difficult.
Even from the second floor, I could hear movement outside the building. I crossed the room, dug one knee on the built-in seat below the three big windows that showed the backyard and looked down.
Aurora’s silhouette skittered across the grovel path towards two men I couldn’t recognise. They towered over her, but it was clear who was in charge when she turned towards the house and they followed two steps behind her.
Closing the curtains, I stepped away from the window, thinking about what to do with my time. Aurora said to get ready for dinner, but the house was mostly empty, Nicholas wasn’t anywhere to be seen, and Mom and Dad hadn’t arrived yet. I figured I could read a bit before I was robbed of any kind of alone time.
I picked my wand from the handbag and crossed the room again to open the wardrobe. Big enough for two people to sit, that piece of furniture was originally at the end of the hallway, guarding my uncle’s flying brooms and quidditch balls before I claimed it for myself. Squeezing inside and pushing books and boxes away from me, I thought about how I just decorated my room with furniture no one wanted.
With the door closed, I sat with my knees to my chest, surrounded by darkness.
Lumos.
I immediately grabbed the book on top of the small tower I had made months ago, Death Omens: What to Do When You Know the Worst Is Coming by Mauricios Carneiros, one of the few volumes in this house’s shelves that was half interesting, and that’s saying a lot since I wasn’t particularly attracted to divination.
After finding a comfortable position, I started rereading Chapter 3 and soon I lost myself in the reading session.
I was about to finish the chapter when the creaking sound of my bedroom door made me look up. Attempting to listen, I could identify the sound of the door closing, and steps around the room.
I didn’t want to move a muscle, but I had to shake the wand slightly to turn it off.
I held my breath.
The steps got closer, silenced for a moment when they stepped over the rug, and reverberated again when they hit the wood once more.
I gripped my wand tighter.
The doors of the wardrobe flew open, and I hissed when my eyes met a new light that wasn’t my wand.
“Aha!”
Relief cursed through me when the figure kneeled down to reveal mom’s face. I threw my head back, resting it on the wood.
“I thought it was my last day.” I mumbled, pressing my palms to my eyes.
“You chose Carneiros to entertain yourself. Your reward is paranoia.” She said with sparkling eyes and the Irish tilt to her voice that I realised then I missed terribly. “And what is that?” She pointed at my earmuffs.
“Tell Aurora to renew her collection, then.” I replied, taking the earmuffs off.
I slithered out into mom’s open arms and closed my eyes when she squeezed me against her.
“How did you know I was here?” I asked against her black dress. She started caressing my back.
“Jacob used to hide in there, too.”
I let her hug me a little while, and I felt her need my embrace as well. My brother’s topic was still a delicate matter, cause of many fights among all the members of the family who all had different, and quite strong, opinions about Jacob’s whereabouts.
“Tell me everything about Belgium.”
“And you tell me everything about this Charlie person.”
I looked up petrified and found her teasing smirk.
“I wasn’t snooping. You just left your things all over your bed.”
I tsked. The bloody letter that said Charlie with a heart on it.
“Well…” She chuckled and started to get up.
“Come on. Let’s get you ready for dinner,” she sighed, “It’s going to be a long night.”
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[Next Chapter] >
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Rowan and Merula having a chat
Rowan: ..... So.....
He turns his head over to face Merula who just neatly tucked the sleeping Alexandros in his bed.
Rowan: Do you mind.... Telling about this- whole situation you have? I thought you were rivals.
Merula scoffs and looks at him with a devious grin.
Merula: Well since you aren't smart enough to figure it out on your own I might as explain why you should be thanking me.
Merula poses herself into a self indulgent stance. Rowan is left in utter amazement, how can anyone be so full of themselves?
Merula: Me and my "rival" have an agreement that benefits both of us, I more than him of course.
Rowan: Right....
Rowan couldn't believe the words she was saying, she must be holding something against him right?
Merula: I'm sure you are aware of his nightmares, correct?
Rowan: It's hard to forget waking up because you experienced someone else's nightmares. Yeah, that was a rough second week at Hogwarts.
Merula: Well his dumb Legilimency brain won't create such situations as long as he- we- *cough* *cough* as long as I keep to our agreement and make sure he feels safe at night.
She is once again grinning with pride, it's almost radiating off of her.
Merula: Why wouldn't he feel safe with the most powerful witch at Hogwarts right next to him? The entire Ravenclaw dorm should be thanking me for preventing him from keeping you up at night.
Rowan: And what does he do in return?
Merula: Well aren't you nosey. But I don't see the harm in telling you. He in return let's me have a duel with him whenever I want, so that I may become even stronger!
Rowan snickers to himself.
Merula: What!-
She pauses, turning her head to make sure she hasn't woken Alexandros. He is sound asleep. She turns her head back towards Rowan.
Merula: what's so funny?
Rowan: It's nothing Merula, it's just that I never expected you to do something so nice.
Merula: You are lucky that I am not going to cast a jinx on you because it would wake him. So I'm going to take it as a compliment.
Rowan: You have grown as a person, I just never thought you could.
Merula: Breaking expectations is what I do best.
"She's back to her cocky self again, but at least she is being prideful about doing good." Rowan thought to himself.
Rowan: Thank you, Merula, for helping my best friend.
Rowan was quiet for a bit, reflecting on if he should say something to her.
Rowan: Merula I-
Merula: Don't you dare get all sentimental on me. I didn't come here to express my feelings. Ew.
Rowan: Okay I'll be quick then, I hate you and hope you fall off your broom during class. But if you truly do care for him, keep him safe at least.
Merula: Ew gross, you are spreading your weak morals onto me.
Rowan can't help but laugh and Merula replies with an aggressive but reassuring punch in the shoulder.
Merula: Well if you insist.
She rolls her eyes, and looks at Alexandros sleeping. She holds tightly onto the necklace he gave her. Rowan notices that she does this.
Merula: I'll keep him safe.
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in my expanded Hogwarts Mystery fics, there is one theme that i particularly love to write about and it's the fond relationship between Cassidy and Percy
by the time Percy comes to Hogwarts, he keeps hearing great stories about Cassidy Mercury who protects the school from the dangerous Cursed Vaults. also she's one of the best students in her age, good friends with his two older brothers and later, she becomes a prefect.
so naturally he looks up to her.
but Cassidy wins his loyalty on one thing and that is because she saved him from Rakepick in Year 5 and 6. you read that right, Cassidy saved his life twice.
at this point, she has become like a big sister figure for him. she doesn't brush him off because he's younger, but she sits down and listens to him. she pays attention to him. she respects his opinions and doesn't make fun of him.
for example, when they first met in Year 5;
Percy: We haven't been properly introduced...I'm Percy Weasley, future Gryffindor Prefect, Head Boy and eventual Minister of Magic.
Cassidy: Sounds like you have your entire life planned out. :)
we know that the Weasley siblings would poke fun at Percy for saying that, but Cassidy doesn't and respects his ambitions. she has treated him like an equal since day 1 and that's why she won Percy from the beginning.
in-game, they have gone even on adventures with Percy. like when the twins disappeared in Year 6 and we're looking for them with Percy who is, understandably really worried (caused there is a dangerous Cursed Vault at the works!) and even ventures into the Forbidden Forest with Cassidy.
and in the sidequest where there is a party in the Borrow while the parents are away on business, Percy choses to lie (it's a white lie to spare Charlie and the others from trouble) when their mum asks them if there were any trouble.
Percy: It's true! I even organized your sock drawer! (when Molly asked if it was true everyone did chores and did not do anything suspicious)
also when finding out that dark artefacts were moved to the Ministry, Cassidy goes to find Percy (and Tulip, but she isn't really fond of talking about the Ministry). the minute Cassidy asked for Percy's expertise, this is the first time we see him so openly happy and excited.
Cassidy Mercury (the MC): Tulip, Percy. I need you to tell me everything you know about the Ministry of Magic headquarters.
Percy (excitedly): Merlin's bread, where do I begin?!
clearly, Cassidy trusts his judgement and knowledge more than well enough to ask him about his input and Percy becomes to happy about being important enough to be asked for his expertise. that is really heartwarming.
not to mention in that same scene, Percy agrees to help Cassidy break into the fucking Ministry because she helped him finding Fred and George.
and in my stories, Rakepick actively manipulates and endanger Percy because of his Seer abilities (yes, Percy has strong Seer powers in my fanfics, but he's not strong enough for a full prophecy). he has a bigger role in my HM stories since Rakepick is more villainous and she ends up using Percy as a leverage to get to Bill, Charlie and Cassidy.
the section below is spoilers for year 6 in my HPHM fanfiction
[in one of my fanfic stories (during Year 6), Rakepick takes him as hostage to the Forbidden Forest. Percy had, by this point, become used as a tool to "predict" the future of Rakepick and the Cursed Vaults. his Seer power (which Percy has named as "foresight") isn't strong enough for a full prophecy and Rakepick decides to use him as a bait for the Cursed Vaults.
back at the castle when the gang is preparing to infiltrate the meeting Rakepick is having with 'R' in the forest, they find out from Oliver Wood that Percy has gone missing and his "rat" is acting weird as in full panic. Cassidy then realizes that there is a connection between Percy's terrified behavior for the past months and quickly deductes that Rakepick has him.]
Cassidy saved Percy's life twice and she has promised him that no matter what happens to her or in the future, she will always return to save him. so his feelings about Cassidy is nothing but pure love and loyalty, like how a younger brother sees his big sister. with Cassidy in the picture, Percy is no longer the odd one out in his family (where everyone are paired with someone except him).
in my Wizard Archivist series, the theme of their friendship is especially in focus because Cassidy is, since before the HP book events starts, locked in a hellscape world beyond the real Cursed Vault and Percy struggles to re-open that vault to bring her home with risk for his own life. '
conclusion? Percy genuinely loves Cassidy, as if it was his big sister and she has always been there for him, wheather it's saving his life or just listening to him rambling. it's an innocent and pure love. Cassidy, who is the younger sister to Jacob and has no younger siblings, adores him in the same way.
in a way, Cassidy became a substitiute when Bill and Charlie were too busy with their lives and a source of unconditional love for Percy.
and the kicker is when Cassidy came to save him the first time, she had just smiled and told him that everything would be alright because she was there now.
thanks for coming to my TED talk about Percy and his inofficial "big sis" role model Cassidy Mercury
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