⬫◊ Aurora Black - chapter 17: Dream or reality? ◊⬫

Instructions

⬫◊ Chapter 17: Dream or Reality? ◊⬫ *You're a good person. A good daughter. A good friend... you only do this to protect them* That's what I tell myself every morning to try to convince myself that there are reasons to get out of bed. Every morning... since that fateful day when I decided to sell the last remnant of my soul to the most evil wizard of all time. Yes, I'm talking about Voldemort. I'm sitting in front of the mirror, looking at the reflection that comes back at me. It hasn't changed that much either. Maybe she's a little older, taller, has slightly longer hair... insignificant things. But still, I don't recognize the teenager in front of me. I hear the sound of the door closing, without a word. Lyra hasn't spoken to me in a week... The other day I forgot we were going to play something in the courtyards-- I mean, I didn't want to go. Honestly, I don't know why I haven't done anything to remedy it. If everything's a lie... what difference does another one make? Be that as it may, I also have to go to class so, after getting ready, I go down to the corridor without any rush. “Morning, Claire” someone says as he hugs me from behind. And, like every day, I force myself to smile back. “Good morning, Briel” “How did you sleep, was everything okay?” he asks me, worried as always. Our eyes meet before I look down to nod. And, once again, he squeezes my hand before continuing walking. He thinks I'm still down because of my father... innocent soul. Anyone watching us will hear the lively conversation about Slughorn's class that follows. Today we are going to learn how to make veritaserum. What a thrill (let's note the sarcasm, please). Honestly, my mind is somewhere else, because, well, it's just another class. I'll make the perfect potion, listen to Slughorn's congratulations, and leave as fast as I can— *I'm watching you, Black* *I KNOW* I shout before closing my mind tightly. It was Tom. Tom Riddle. How dare I talk to you like that? I guess I'm not afraid anymore. He can't destroy anything more. They had already warned me that, at 16 years old, life would no longer be a bed of roses. But what could I expect? After seeing my whole world fall apart when I was just 10, what else was left? I had already lived EVERYTHING. Ha ha. Apparently, destiny had other plans for me. We had barely had time to enter the classroom when we saw Professor Dumbledore appear. Right now he's talking to Slughorn... wait, he's looking at me. “Yes, it will only be a moment. Aurora, can you accompany me to my office?” OH REALLY?! After all this time?! Incredible. He hasn't listened to me in YEARS and now he wants to talk to me? Like… RIGHT now?! Back to the present, I am already sitting in front of him in that… peculiar office of his. “Aurora… is there anything you have to tell me?” “No,” she snapped, more harshly than expected. Okay, I'm angry. SO? Dumbledore sighs and looks at me with those eyes that have always seemed so disturbing to me. Seeing that I have no intention of keep talking, he continues. “Pull up your sleeve” "No" “Aurora, it's serious.” After glaring at him, I do what he asks. My arm is completely clean, as always. “I'm not one of them, happy?” Before you get scared, no. I'm not hiding any marks. I just don't feel like telling this... being about my life. “But you work for him, don't you?” he says calmly. Now you really care about me, right? You could have already worried before my dearest aunt forced me to be part of that bunch of... let's say people. But of course, the only one that matters here is Harry. "Could be. But let me…why should I tell you?” My 12-year-old self would have been horrified to see me respond like that. Maybe I am too… nah, not really. I'm too angry. “Because I believe, in my humble opinion, that you don't want to be one of them, do you?” …how have I not realized before? THAT HAS CAUGHT ME. Merlin, this can't be happening, no no no... If there was something I couldn't fail at, it was hiding it... is it that I can't do ANYTHING right?? I must have turned pale or something, because now Dumbledore looks at me with more compassion. "Good. I have a deal for you... it won't be easy, of course. “But I want you to be a spy, Aurora” ⬫◊⬫◊⬫ Aurora jumped out of her bed, pale as snow. "That…?" she muttered to herself. She ran to look in the mirror of the humble dresser next to her bed, but it was still dark. “Lumos” she said softly. The girl sighed, relieved, when she saw her own reflection in the glass. She was still that twelve-year-old girl with clean and serene eyes, whose dark curls stood out against the white of her summer pajamas. She went to bed and sat looking at the photo album that his godfather had given him just a few hours before. However, she couldn't stop thinking... that dream had been too... realistic. *What if...?* No, it couldn't be. She shook her head and opened the album, after deciding that all that had been nothing more than a dream.