KILLING CURSE SERIES || in which the daughter of sirius black discovers she is destined to destroy the wizarding world and tries to do everything in her power to not do so
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⛦ book one, aurora black x love interests
cover by tisiix ⛦
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
THE STORM
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Wednesday 1st, June 1994.
The final weeks of the school year had descended upon Hogwarts like a quiet storm, full of anticipation and dread for some people. The hallways echoed with murmurs of students packing up their belongings, some already dreaming of the holidays.
For two weeks now, the school had been consumed by the hustle of end-of-year exams. The corridors had been filled with the usual panic, the tense energy of students studying into the late hours, scribbling notes, and testing each other on every possible subject. Aurora was sure she had failed every one of them. Charms? A disaster. Transfiguration? A muddled blur. Potions? Don't even ask. She had walked out of each exam feeling less confident than the last. The only one she hadn't taken yet was Professor Lupin's Defense Against the Dark Arts exam because she didn't know it was on and had slept in.
The moment had finally arrived. She found herself walking across the grounds, the wind brushing against her face as the sun shone overhead. She reached the door, and knocked, and the door swung open almost immediately.
"Ah, Aurora," Professor Lupin greeted with a smile, his voice warm and calming as always. He stands there looking exhausted and ill, like something terrible had happened today to make him sick. "Come in, come in."
"Professor," she replied, offering him a small, uncertain smile.
"Are you ready for the exam?" Lupin asked, stepping aside to let her in. "I was concerned when you didn't show up the other day."
Aurora shrugged in response. She looked at his desk where the Marauders Map lay out in the open.
Professor Lupin gave her a knowing look, his eyes soft but steady. He holds onto his table for support. "Well not to worry, this exam isn't just about knowledge—it's about being able to think on your feet, to react quickly and logically. You're more prepared than you realize."
She nodded, though she wasn't quite sure she believed him. Still, there was something about Lupin's presence that made her feel not to worried about anything, as though his belief in her might be enough to help her push through.
"Let's head outside, shall we?" Lupin said, guiding her out the back door. The grounds had been transformed into something of an obstacle course, much to Aurora's surprise. She hadn't expected such a hands-on exam. The air was warm, and the sun beat down on her back as she stepped out onto the grass.
The obstacle course was set up in the yard, a series of daunting challenges waiting for her. The first was a paddling pool, filled with murky water. Aurora squinted at it in confusion, noticing the movement beneath the surface.
"Your first task," Lupin said, his voice steady, "is to cross this paddling pool without disturbing the Grindylow inside. It's an excellent test of calmness and control. Be aware of your surroundings, and don't make any sudden movements."
Aurora took a deep breath and stepped up to the edge of the pool. The dark shape of the Grindylow shifted below, its glowing eyes locked onto her. Without even thinking she leaned forward and tipped the box which set the creature going mad. It stirred around the box meaning she had already failed the task.
The next challenge was a series of potholes filled with Red Caps—dangerous little creatures with sharp teeth and a violent nature. They weren't immediately visible, but Aurora knew they were there, lurking just beneath the surface.
"Now, you need to cross these potholes," Lupin said, gesturing toward them. He lets out a small cough. "Watch your step. The Red Caps are tricky, but they tend to attack anything that comes too close. Stay light on your feet."
Aurora carefully made her way through the field of potholes, her eyes scanning the ground for any sign of movement. She could feel the prickling sensation on the back of her neck, and when one of the creatures suddenly leapt from the hole, its sharp claws reaching for her, she was quick to hit it with her foot. Once again, she was not supposed to do this.
Lupin nodded. "Good, Aurora. You're doing well."
Her next challenge was even stranger—a patch of marshland filled with deceptive paths. A Hinkypunk stood near the edge, its bulbous eyes staring at her as it tried to mislead her with false directions.
"Don't trust anything it says," Lupin warned. "The Hinkypunk tries to confuse its prey. Follow your instincts."
The Hinkypunk's voice was soft and coaxing, urging her to step in the wrong direction, but she ignored it, choosing to step carefully around the muck, trusting her intuition rather than the creature's attempts at deception.
The final task was a boggart and she knew it because Luke had told her. Yet, as she approached the trunk, Lupin didn't give her the usual instructions. "Now, for your final task..." he began, but then his eyes seemed to flicker with something unspoken. "I think... we'll leave the Boggart for another time. You've already shown enough today."
Aurora's brow furrowed in confusion. She glanced around, wondering if she had missed something. "But, Professor... I thought we had to face the Boggart?"
Lupin smiled gently, but there was something in his expression—something guarded. "Not today, Aurora. Not for you."
Aurora's confusion deepened. It was well known that Lupin had made every other student face the Boggart as part of their exam. He was known for his particular insistence on the exercise, but now, here she was, standing in front of the trunk with no Boggart to face. She couldn't shake the odd sensation that Lupin was shielding her from something—something that was usually a rite of passage for all students. But no matter how hard she tried to piece it together, she couldn't quite figure out why.
