Leaving the Past Behind PV Complete

@Aurelia Notrésvace

Howard couldn’t wipe the smirk off of his face as he made his way down the corridor towards the Hufflepuff common room. It would be an unusual site to those that knew him or at least knew of him as his usual expression was hard and unwelcoming. The prize that he had slung over his shoulder would be the source of his amusement. Some unlucky soul had been dumb enough to leave a Moontrimmer out on the pitch totally unattended. Most might feel bad for just walking off with it, but Howard surely lacked in the moral department. Life had consequences. He was teaching them a lesson for being so careless, or at least that’s how his mind would justify the theft.

Howard would slow his pacing for a moment as he lowered the broom from his shoulder to look it over one last time before he would stow it away in his dorm room. His long, clawed index finger ran the length of the finely polished wood as he walked. He had to give credit to whoever the owner was as the flying instrument was kept in tip top shape. The hardest decision ahead would be if he should keep it or try to sell it for some extra gold. That was the thought running through his mind before a sensation bombarded its way through his body.

The fine hairs on his neck would stand on end as a chill ran down his spine. It was a presence that he had experienced before as well as one he was capable of producing himself. That alone was not enough to be able to identify the threat, but those that carried the aura were usually to be treated with caution. Howard took a deep breath through his nose as he continued forward. It allowed him to focus his heightened senses to determine that the presence was behind him. He could turn and face the threat head on, but he wanted to be sure that menacing aura was meant for him.

Keeping his cool, the Dhampir rounded a corner and the presence would follow. Howard picked up his pacing, using his long legs to quickly travel down the stone passageway. Just one corner left before the final stretch to his common room. He had a choice to make. Howard could make a break for it and run, but he couldn’t shake the need to know who was following him. The last thing he needed in this stage of his life was someone prying in on his affairs. As he rounded the last corner he would quickly shift his weight and pin his back against the wall. Whoever was following would hopefully lose sight of him for just a moment as he set his ambush.

One student would pass and then another. All the while the presence drew closer. Howard focused his mind as he let his own unsettling aura seep out through his pores like a cloud of gas. He breathed deeply as he tried to shake the effects of his soon to be foe’s presence, but he couldn’t stop the chill from running up and down his spine. There was no time left. It was now or never. Strike first to incapacitate! A feminine form would round the corner, but it would do nothing to deter his actions. With his mind solely focused on his offense, Howard wouldn’t realize who he was attacking. His leg launched forward in a wild kick!

Action: Attempting to use the move KICK from the Martial Artist Ability. Targeting Aurelia’s knee.

[font=Tempus Sans ITC]T[/font]he sound of a tired yawn echoed through the quiet stone hallways. A singular second year Hufflepuff prefect lazily meandered his way towards the prefect bathroom. The boy was being rather immodest considering that he was shirtless, but Mr. Warren has little care about modesty as he readjusted the towel around his waist. Why is there a need for excessive amounts of clothes, when he was already planning to have them off for bathing? Clothing is dumb anyway, Jack would much rather be able to run around in the buff. However, Jack was much more than a smelly boy with a need for a shower... Mr. Warren was a wanderer. For some reason, he had decided that it would be for the best if he took the scenic route to the very exclusive bathrooms. Maybe it was just off a whim, or maybe it was because it was freeing to walk around like that. Didn't George Henry mention something about that when he wore a kilt? If he did, the second year totally understood his point now.

[font=Tempus Sans ITC]W[/font]ith the feeling of Liberation and a hairless adolescent chest out for the world to see, Jack stomped on through to his destination. From seemingly nowhere, the boy retrieved what looked like a stick of beef jerky. How was he able to store it when he was only wearing a towel? Only imagination could tell. Putting the tough meat stick it between his teeth before tearing at it like a rabid animal. Beef Jerky was the best traveling snack. Aggressively chewing his little travel ration, the pull winged around a corner. To his great surprise, a pair of people were just down the hall. Uh...did that dude just kick out at the girl? What the hell is going on? Is it considered socially acceptable to stop a fight while basically naked? The world may never know. Awkwardly the boy stood there only for a moment, the beef jerky still grasped in between his teeth. "Yeah....naw....." Without missing a beat, he just started to rewind. Back peddling out of the hallway, Jack realized that he wasn't the one to try to fight in his birthday suit. He needed some help....

Jack enters and then immediately leaves the thread. He'll be back with company, but please keep fighting

As her target began to pick up his pace, Aurelia would feel the hairs on her back standing and a tingle down her spine that caused her to shiver ever so slightly as if the hallways had suddenly dropped a couple of degrees down. It was a feeling the former monster hunter was familiar with: a dhampir's presence. It was strong, but failed to hinder the girl from persisting and chasing the Hufflepuff. Wrapping her arms around to maintain some warmth, Aurelia continued on Howard's trail. She was determined to get her broom back.

For a moment, her target disappeared with a turn, yet the feeling of dread still lingered. She should have known better, but instead, she followed suit. From her peripheral vision, a figure lunge at her with a kick, an attack that never landed (auto-miss due to TP) but sent alarms blaring in her head. Without a moment's hesitation, Aurelia drew her wand and with an adept wave and articulation of the incantation, cast the Wind Jinx at her aggressor. "Ventus!"

A gust jet of air would eject from the tip of the magical weapon with a howl. The violent blast towards the boy would repel him away from her and into the wall behind him.

Howard breathed deeply as he shook his head from side to side. Try as he might the Dhampir failed to shake the unease that prickled down his spine. Whoever was coming had a presence that could not be ignored. His sensitive ears picked up on the sound of footsteps just as his target was about to round the corner. There was no time left. Act now or lose the element of surprise. Just as the figure of his target showed, he thrust his leg out hoping to hit them in the knee, but his focus was way off and the blow would meet nothing but air.

The missed attack would momentarily put Howard off balance, giving his foe time to draw on him. As he recovered and spun, all he would see was the tip of a wand. BANG! A torrent of air would hit him right in his chest, launching him through the air and into the wall behind him. SMACK! The back of Howard’s head cracked against the stone before he crumbled to the floor. His vision immediately blurred as his head swam. With staggering steps the Dhampir would rise, eyes attempting to focus on the form of his enemy. Had he been able to see straight, Howard would have recognized a familiar face. One that would have brought with it memories of blood and shame. However, in his current state he would feel nothing but adrenaline coursing through his veins. If he stood any chance of counterattack, he had to prevent them from casting!

With a kick of his dominant foot, Howard would lunge forward, arms outstretched. His intention was not to claw or further harm his opponent, but to restrict them from casting. If successful, he would wrap his arms around the torso of his enemy hopefully pinning their arms down.

Action: Attempting to Grapple Aurelia.

Aurelia had thought she had won when her spell had send Howard onto the ground. She should have known better than to hesitate. Within a few seconds, the boy was up on his feet again, this time, throwing himself in her direction with his arms wide open. Aurelia was fast but so was the Dhampir and she failed to dodge the boy's tackle. The momentum and boy's weight forcing her backwards, her back colliding hard against the cold stone floor.

With her wanded hand now restrained by Howard and her only blade usually strapped to her thigh out of reach. It was then that Aurelia finally began to panic, letting a pitched scream escape her throat. Her mind instantly wandering back to dwell on the incident in the owlery a year ago. The thunderous storm drowning out her cries for help, the overwhelming feeling for dread, the crimson everywhere and the agonising pain on her neck. Would this be the same scene on repeat again? Would a bloodied corpse litter the hallways in the next few moments to come?

Aurelia's strength was nothing compared to the Dhampir, but she had nothing else in her disposal. Her free hand would clench tightly before she swung. By now fangs would already have pierced her neck, however, the pain that Aurelia expected would not come. If the boy were to release her go, Aurelia would swiftly level her wand at him in defence, her presence now as prominent as ever. Looking up at her attacker with the same fear in her eyes she wore during the incident in the owlery. But the words that would leave her lips might not be what would be expecting. "W-Where's my broom, Howard?"

"The moontrimmer, it belongs to me." she clarified, this time, with her gaze lowering as she broke eye contact with the Hufflepuff. How could she ever forget the fact that he had almost killed her last year? Although she would never admit out loud, the incident had traumatised her, much like the many fires before.

THUD!

Howard’s body weight slammed into his target and the pair tumbled backwards into the stone wall of the Hogwarts corridor. Using his strength he squeezed, pinning the arms of his opponent to their side which gave him a brief moment where they would be unable to cast. Identifying the other was impossible as his face was pushed against the wall and the last thing he wanted to do was give them any space to counterattack. He would assume it was a female as the frame he held onto was slender and all he could see out of the corner of his eyes was long darker hair. Using his sense of smell, Howard would pick up on something...familiar.

However a blood curdling scream would pierce through his thoughts. The situation was quickly getting out of his hand. His intention was to just disable his target, identify them and figure out why he was being followed. Now, he was sure to be caught for the scream would notify any nearby. “Relax.” He grunted. Howard was definitely stronger than his opponent, but she was putting up quite a struggle as she thrashed against him. Although he had the advantage, he realized to continue this fight would only get him into further trouble. It was a risky move as he could not guarantee she would not immediately defend herself, but he had little choice.

Pushing off of the wall, Howard would release his grasp and stand back, hands raised in the air to sign forfeit. Before he could say anything further, his eyes would pop wide with realization. It was Aurelia! No wonder she had smelled so familiar. Immediately a pang of guilt would slash through his chest as the memory of their last encounter flooded his mind. The sweet smell of blood, the moment of panic as the inner predator took control of his body. The uncontrollable satisfaction as he fed from her. He couldn’t help it. Howard was still a newly transformed Dhampir and he was starved. It wasn’t his fault, but all the same, he had nearly killed her. If she hadn’t been so quick to the draw, Howard would surely be locked up in Azkaban right now.

“Aurelia...what? Calm down. I’m not going to bite you.” He spoke in a harsh whisper, a mix of fear and confusion splashed across his face. The panic he felt from attacking her again temporarily wiped the broom from his memory. It would only be when she mentioned it by name that he remembered what had brought him here in the first place. Howard’s red eyes would jump back and forth between Aurelia and the broom that laid against the wall behind them. Then it would click. How could he have been so stupid. Paranoid that someone was following him for sinister reasons had lead him to attack first, ask questions later. It had never crossed his mind that someone would just be looking for a lost/stolen item.

“The broom is there...just behind you.” Howard stared, hands still in the air. “I didn’t know it was you that followed. I assumed it was something...uh...I mean someone else. Please. Lower your wand. I’m not going to hurt you.” He pleaded with her and his words were true. It had been a long time since their bloody encounter. Since then he had gained control over his new instincts and the school now offered him daily feedings. He was only a threat if she chose to continue.

With her wand raised in defence and spell already chosen, Aurelia was prepared to defend herself if Howard were to make another move. The incantation of the wand lighting charm was short and it was a basic first year spell that the fourth year could cast without much effort. Instead of closing the distance, Howard took a step back, his arms raised in submission. Yet Aurelia remained on her guard, maintaining a vice grip on the aspen wood wand.

A cold and unforgiving glare masked the primary fear she held towards Howard. The facade was amplified with the chilling presence surrounding them. Aurelia would not move from her defensive stance even as the Dhampir assured that he was not going to cause another bloody scene. It was not until pointed to the broom behind them did Aurelia finally snap out of the trancing fear that rooted her in place.

Over the year, the former monster hunter's paranoia had grown. After what she had experienced, what she had endured and scars she had collected, paranoia was inevitable. But for a while now, Aurelia had been trying to improve. For someone who had studied creatures, both magical and natural, it was common knowledge not to turn ones back on a predator but Aurelia would do just that as she pivoted and claimed the broom that was propped up against the wall. It was small action but nevertheless a small improvement. With her back turned, Howard may notice the mark on her neck, a souvenir from their last encounter.

Aurelia would turn around to face Howard once more. "If someone is following you, you don't confront them by attacking," The boy had grown and now stood about a head taller than she was, still pale with a pair of crimson eyes. Aurelia never could wrap her head around a few facts on his particular species. Despite them considered partially undead, growth still occurred as it did in every human adolescent. She could not help but wonder if the cause was because he was half human. Ever since the incident, the non-human enthusiast had millions of questions. The questions were like an annoying itch at the back of her head, that she would only be relieved off with answers, answers only a dhampir themselves would have.

Glancing down at the broom now back in her possession, the girl would add, "Nor do you take something that isn't yours, Howie." Although it was partially her fault that she had not confronted him sooner in the quidditch pitch before he had whisked her broom away. But Aurelia knew that theft was far from the worst crime the dhampir had committed. The thought of the incident had caused another spike of anxiety and Aurelia would turn to leave, "I- should be on my way now."

Howard stood with arms raised, a gesture of submission but his face would lack emotion as he stared into Aurelia’s eyes. Her gaze was cold as a moment of pause passed between the two of them. He couldn’t really blame her for the glare, but it caused a mixture of emotions to play through his mind. On one hand the undead part of him would resent her. It was only in his nature to have attacked her. What was he supposed to do after being thrust back into the world after his transformation? He was starving, not in the traditional way but the unyielding thirst was more than he could bare. And what did the community do to help the poor boy deal with these new impulses? Nothing. Was it really his fault for struggling with a brand new nature? It was like blaming a new born for crying.

However the human part of his soul would feel the twinge of guilt that came with that unforgiving glare. It yearned for him to plead for forgiveness. To drop to his knees and beg her to accept an apology. This part of him was in constant struggle with its undead counterpart as they both pulled for dominance within Howard. The feelings would thrash against each other as he was not fully one or the other. Yes, he was a monster that yearned for the blood of the living, but at the same time there was some humanity left in him. Which part of him would win this epic struggle was yet to be determined, but for now he was doing his best to tow the line that divided his soul.

As much as a part of him urged for further attack, Howard would choose to back down. Even if she was to attack again he would accept it and fight no further. Fortunately for his own well being Aurelia would turn her back to retrieve the broom. Accepting this as the end of hostility, Howard would allow his arms to fall. He would however see the scar on her neck. A perfect imprint of his own teeth left behind on that night he lost control. The two had never spoken again since and as he stared upon the marking Howard decided it was perhaps time to attempt a discussion.

However, just as he opened his mouth to speak, Aurelia would turn and scold him for his attack first mentality. A statement that Howard could only scoff at. “I think you know all too well what can happen if you don’t.” It may have seemed harsh, but in his mind you could not deny it. “Not to mention there are more than just Dhampirs lurking amongst us these days.” Howard would not name the Hags and their living darkness by name, but there were certain forces that could not be reasoned with. Perhaps his paranoia was reaching heights that might have matched hers.

Aurelia’s next statement would bring the slightest of smirks to his lips. Yes, of course he could not deny that he had taken something that did not belong to him, but his darker tendencies would see a bit of humor in teaching someone a harsh lesson. “Nor should we leave our prized possessions unattended, Aurelia.” Howard cracked back, but his humor would fall flat as she announced her departure and turned to leave.

At first he was content on letting her go, but there was still something nagging at him to finally address their situation. Perhaps they could talk it out and leave the past behind them. “Aurelia, wait.” Howard called to her before she could get too far. When he closed the distance between them he would do so with palms facing forward, another gesture to show he meant no physical harm. If she would accept and hear him out, Howard would say, “There is something that I’d like to talk with you about. If you will hear me?”

Indeed, under the dark corners of Hogwarts lurked creatures she never seen of. Sure, Dhampirs was one of the violate on the top of her list, but there were a rumours about other, a hoard of spider like creatures that had attacked the unfortunate Slytherins just last year and shadow monsters that raided a hufflepuff campout in her first year. What the dhampir said was true, especially given that he had been in the school for almost as long as she had. But the girl would not respond to his input, neither to his comment of unattended belongings as she turned around to leave.

The gryffindor contemplated on ignoring his beckoning, but found herself halting not too far away from where she left. Once again, she would face the boy. As he spoke, his tone was sincere, lacking any hostility. Aurelia knew what he called her for. It was a year since the incident, it was not too long ago nor was it too recent. The brutal memories still vivid in her mind and she was sure it was in the boy's too. But throughout the year, Aurelia had learnt much more about the part-vampires, their nature, once using it to her advantage, it was not her proudest moment, in fact something she had regretted. Blood-baiting.

Now that she thought about it, they weren't too different. Mistakes were made, however, Howard's was in no way in his control, while hers was deliberate. Although she might hold a grudge against the boy for sometime more, the least she could do was ease the obvious tension between them. Taking the liberty to start on her own behalf, Aurelia took a breath before she began, "If this is about the past, we all made mistakes. I know, it was an accident, its your nature. I too, made a few mistakes over the last year, not something I am proud of either. "

Despite her unsuccessful attempt to expel Kaegen Deathmote, the act she played the 2019 masquerade had caused change for the better, a new rule. A new blood ration system created because of her mistake, one to serving as protection for both humans like her and dhampirs themselves. She played his own nature against Kaegen and now could not help but feel guilty for such a wrongdoing on her part, however, she would be lying to say that the boy did not deserve it. "Blood rations for your kind are supplied so I've heard. "

Finally, Aurelia could not help but ask, her head tilting slightly. "How is it like? Your transformation from human to dhampir - All dhampirs I know of are born, thralls like you are uncommon."