One of the things Aurelia was rather good at was delivering silence, especially to make discontent clear. It was a cruel aspect of silence that made the recipient overthink and often rethink, she found that to be very true and more effective than any lecture could do to suffice. This silence was what Howard White received following their last encounter, that was after her words delivered a hard sting. But it wasn't enough to prohibit the goblet of fire from regurgitating a damned slip of paper with the dhampir's name on it. Howard was Hogwarts' Hexwizard champion. And that, she could not come to terms with.

The Gryffindor ignored his letter - or five - requesting to be welcomed back to the abandoned dark Notresvace Manor as he had stayed last summer. Those letters found their way into the bin. Silence. It was callous of her to deny someone in a fair need of help, but after what transpired between them, she'd only consider it fair on her part. Yet Aurelia was not cruel, at least she didn't believe she was. Howard just had to wait patiently, while she schemed.

For the three days after the Hogwarts Express chugged back to London, Aurelia had been on a mission to connect with a woman. It wasn't too hard, especially with the convenience of an owl's flight and eyes. After that, she finally sent the dhampir a letter requesting to meet in the early afternoon at a backstreet alley. Whatever he'd been up to for the two nights and three days, it wasn't her business - she told herself, willing to be indifferent towards for once.

She was on babysitting duty for the day, Heinrich being stubbornly insistent on tagging along as always. And she'd be lying to say she didn't prefer the company. As she would be claiming she wasn't terrified. "Who are we waiting for?" The 13-year-old asked. Ever since transferred from Hogwarts to Ilvermorny, Heinrich had grown, voice deepened, and now a far cry from the nervous stuttering little boy he once was. "You'll see very soon."

@Aurelia Notresvace

Howard wouldn't have sent more letters to Aurelia after the first one went unanswered if he had had any other choice, but he didn't. Hogwarts had cancelled summer camp the year before and he didn't want to rely on something that could so easily be stripped from him again. With how easily disaster found the school of magic there was no telling what might happen. Truth be told, Howard could have found another option for summer time housing, but there was perhaps a subconscious part of him that wanted to still be near Aurelia. The reasons why were numerous. Some human, some more primal. Both of his natures were so tightly linked to her and so he wrote her another letter, then another...

The past two days should have been considered nice if Howard hadn't been feeling so anxious. He had spent his time in Diagon Alley wasting away his coin on food and Quidditch supplies. Surely a treat for any teenager in the magical community, but he couldn't shake the unease. Aurelia had finally written back and had requested his presence in some backstreet alley in London. They hadn't interacted with each other since their last meeting. Another instance that ended in injury and blood, yet the two still found their way to each other.

Howard made his way to the designated spot and as he approached the corner he would catch her scent, but then there was another. One that was almost forgotten, yet still felt familiar. One like him that was not fully human. He would round the corner to fins the siblings standing together, but his eyes would have to adjust when he laid them on Heinrich. The pup had grown. Howard paused to allow a comfortable space between them as he was still unsure of just how the interaction would go. "Aurelia. Heinrich." He kept the greetings simple.

Heinrich's head whipped to the side, clearly sensing the approaching person. With his werewolf senses similar to the dhampir's the boy caught on the other's scent. And none of that he was happy about. "Why is he here?" The boy seethed a growl as the other appeared into view, a question which Aurelia ignored. "Howard," She acknowledged, even if there was ample enough space between them, Aurelia would still take a step or two back, crossing her arms defensively. With her extensive knowledge of part-humans, his much paler and ghastly complexion than the usual could only mean one thing. Uneasy, her terrible presence reeked in the air around, administrating a sharp uncomfortable chill even amidst the warm summer air.

"Didn't he bite you? Why is he here?" Heinrich interjected rather loudly, asking again, he just was not going to be ignored. Heaving a sigh, Aurelia replied, "Yes. He did bite me brutally, Heinrich. Now please stay out of this for a bit." The last part earned her a groan from the boy. Next, a hand slipped into her pocket and emerged with a neatly folded envelope, she would hold on to it, for now, its contents remaining a mystery.

"First of all, I told you blatantly to stay away from me. That applies to owls, I'd assume you'd get the message in return with me ignoring every one of them, disrespecting my own defensive boundaries. And here I thought the Hogwarts hexwizard champion would be smarter." Her voice was cold and assertive as always. "You require accommodation, but technically as the head matriarch, you are no longer welcomed into the Notresvace Manor." Last year, Howard and Falentra had stayed at one of the Notresvace properties. Declaring something like this was only to assert her authority over the matter - whatever now transpired between them.

"Tell me honestly, why couldn't the popular starstruck Hogwarts champion find one of his friends - or fans to help him out? Instead, seek one whom he nearly killed from bloodlust? Asked yourself that?" An interrogation further proved her claims in the hospital wing, the sentiments that that other nature within the Dhampir felt towards her.

@Aurelia Notresvace

Howard's crimson eyes shifted from Aurelia to Heinrich for just a moment as the boy snarled a remark his way. His gaze wouldn't linger long as he was trying his best not to instigate a stronger reaction. Not that he could blame Heinrich. Had Howard had a sister he would have acted the same way to someone that hurt her, accident or not. Though the boy probably didn't know all of the facts, Howard respected his loyalty to his sibling.

The Dhampir opened his mouth to speak further, but was soon cut off by remarks about his attack. Aurelia adding a bit of flare to her statement before hushing her her brother. Howard would remain stoic as Aurelia laid into him verbally, the only change to his face would be a flicker of his eyes towards an envelope she produced. What it contained, he did not know. Though his face remained calm it hid the turmoil that was brewing in his chest. Not only did he feel unwell physically, but two parts of his psyche yearned for her. To hear she would not allow him to stay hurt in more ways than one.

Aurelia would hit the nail on the head as she asked if he had questioned his own motive for seeking out a stay with her. That question had been swirling around in his mind ever since he began writing her letters. The human side of him needed some resolve to their ever revolving storm of shit that was their relationship. He had still yet to fully accept responsibility for what he had done to her and although he hadn't matured enough to do so, a part of his subconscious knew he had to if he ever wanted to move on. To make matters more complicated the undead part of his nature would perhaps always yearn for her in the most sinister way. This very thought would finally break his hardened expression. Howard knew that Aurelia could probably see it in his complexion. His skin a little more pale, his cheeks so slightly sunken. He was hungry and her blood was prized above all.

"I know we've had our differences, Aurelia." Too simple of an explanation. Even now after all this time he couldn't say the proper words. "I know you've asked me to stay away, but I didn't know who else to ask for help." Howard's gaze would shift between her and Heinrich a few time before he continued. "You understand me like others can't...or won't." She would most likely be able to read between the lines here.

The word was repeated right back at the dhampir. "Differences?" It had instigated a light scoff and a near-roll of her pretty blues. Really? Until now, despite all her words laying matters on the table in their last encounter in the hospital wing, it was apparent that Howard remained in utter veto to concede to what he did. As if the Hogwarts champion could get away with anything, abolish the events of the past with his newfound fame. No, Aurelia would not let. The past haunted her in recurring nightmares, even after years, so it only made fair that Howard took his turn to contend whether he liked it or not. As she already did.

An excuse that Aurelia knew Howard himself better than others to explain the disrespect of her wishes was entirely lacklustre. It was true, Aurelia was the first to discover his nature, and she protected him then. A mistake. Howard would not do the same for her when the time came, the rumours spreading like wildfire. "I understand you and I'm terrified. I've told you that, yet you remain stubbornly indifferent. If I were to be knicked right here, would you be able to maintain control?" Her head tilted slightly in question, "How long was it that you last fed, Howard?" The current sentiments contrasted with the concern that bleed in her words. A hungry dhampir running around streets swarming with non-magical folk was a matter of concern. If Heinrich hadn't been accompanying her, she would have been far warier of being alone in a hungry dhampir's presence.

"Bloom Silverton. What if I told her you came to me for help and not her? Yas, I've talked to her. She is ignorant and doesn't believe you are capable of harm. From what I infer, she can't understand your inhumane nature, perhaps is even in denial that it exists." Aurelia told him, shaking her head. "You have friends, you know who to ask. Yet you sought me, why? That part of you has grown too reliant - too comfortable in revealing itself with me thinking there will be no repercussions. And one day, you will go too far. Just why can't you see that?" It was mere assumptions concluded from events and their ever-rocky relationship throughout the years.

@Aurelia Notresvace

Howard was no longer capable of going red in the face, but the flash of frustration was still very real. No matter what the pair of them did it was always a confrontation. A shame really considering their was a part of him that really admired the Gryffindor, but truth be told they would remain stuck in this limbo until they chose to heal instead of fight. However, both of their tendencies would make that quite the struggle. Howard had come a long way since that night in the Owlery, but his last step towards redemption would be to admit that he had committed a crime against her. Admit that a part of him was indeed a monster. It was far too simple to label it an accident or to blame it on his misunderstanding of what he was. These things were true, but left the story incomplete. Perhaps the same may be said of Aurelia as well. Something inside her was drawn to that darkness or thats how it would seem anyways. Why was she driven to blood bait? Why until now had she continued to be a part of Howard's life? These two could really use a counselor.

"Oh, please!" Howard spat back as she began to berate him. Though it was just a knick of blood that had led to his original attack on her, she well knew that he had much more control than that now. Or at least Howard would have thought so. Just another low blow from her sharpened tongue. Yet her next statement would ring true. He had access to the blood he needed, but not having that regular schedule at Hogwarts had proven to be difficult. It was up to him to get down to St. Mungos for the donations and it was apparent that Howard had missed a few, but he let her remark slide.

"Tell her all you'd like." Howard said as he crossed his arms. "I don't keep any secrets from her, but unlike you she doesn't hold my mistakes over me. It's not denial, she accepts what I am." He waved the topic of Bloom away. "I sought you out because we have unfinished business Aurelia. You say you're so terrified of me, but yet here you are still. You could have avoided me all summer, but you can't, can you? I'm not the only one that has grown too reliant." A long index finger would point in her direction. "You have freely offered yourself to me, yet you claim you are terrified of me. Like you didn't enjoy it in some way too. Why can't you see that?" Howard turned the question back on her.

Like Bloom, Howard was blinded by love. As Bloom saw past the bright red flags - the past crimes on his report Aurelia revealed, Howard saw past the reality that Bloom only selectively saw in him what she wanted to, and not what he truly was. " Bloom is blinded by love, she can't see any red flags that she must as well be colourblind. And I will tell her, I assure you, you best hope your word reaches her before mine does. " A truthful fact. Then again Aurelia had never been in love, she was falling slowly but surely, but she wasn't there just yet. Would there be any red flags with Lysander? Hell, she sure hoped not.

Gaslighting. That was her thing, not Howard's. It was almost amusing to witness him try the card on her, shifting the question - the blame of his presence here - right on her. In any way, it carried some truth, regardless, a truth she already come to terms with. But as Howard would try manipulating her, Aurelia would too. As much as she wanted to lash out with a swipe of her hand across the dhampir's face at the disrespect, the Gryffindor kept her cool. "I'm sorry," Two words that Howard would never expect from her. Guilt-tripping. "I'm sorry that I've grown too reliant. I'm sorry that I couldn't avoid you - that I let you feed when you needed it. And I'm sorry that I am terrified of you because you nearly drained my blood dry."

The ominous presence reeked from her and into the summer air, devouring the warmth around with unsettling chills. If the dhampir thought she was done, he was mistaken. "I would have stayed away from you but didn't because you requested my help. And I'm so sorry I can't help you, I found someone who can." As ridiculous as she sounded, it was all of Howard's own points that she indirectly repeated back at him. If yelling at Howard to deliver across her point proved to be futile each and every time, then she would deem another approach fitting. No, Aurelia was not sorry, but she would make Howard so. Between both of them now, Aurelia was the better person. "Dawn. I've contacted her myself, she is on her way here to help you but only if you help her understand you." The reason to why she was here in the first place now revealed. "She will. She is your mother."

mentions: @Bloom Silverton Lysander @Phaedra Stavrou

@Aurelia Notresvace

Howard simply crossed his arms again as Aurelia continued to dig into his relationship with Bloom. Not long ago these cross words would have been enough to send his temper over the edge, but now he was able to contain it. She didn't know what it was like. Howard really had no clue about her love life, yet he assumed all the same. Clearly she had never been in love. Aurelia couldn't understand how you could know of someones faults and still love them regardless. It was what set his relationship with Bloom apart from all others. There was a foundation of trust that they had built it upon. Typical of young men his age to be so sure of young love, but in this moment it gave him the confidence to keep his cool. "Threaten all you'd like Aurelia. Won't change anything." He dismissed the topic.

Howard's attempt to give Aurelia a taste of her own medicine didn't work out as planned as her sharp tongue quickly clapped back. It was true that it was he who constantly looked to her for help. It was true that he had developed a taste and a craving for her blood. It was true that he had nearly killed the girl and had yet to take responsibility for it. Her quick retort left Howard feeling flustered as she was clearly the victor in this word game. Not only was she sharper, but as her emotions strengthened the terrible aura she could have filled the space between them. One that left a chill running up the Dhampir's spine. It left him feeling small and as it often did, the guilt would creep in as his temper faded. Why was it that Howard could not simply take responsibility for his actions? Beg Aurelia for forgiveness so that he may finally be able to forgive himself? Why did the anger always win?

Howard opened and closed his mouth several times as he attempted to speak, but Aurelia would see the end of that quickly. His expression shifting to confusion as she mentioned finding someone to help him, but the name that she uttered would turn that confusion to shock in an instance. Dawn. A name he rarely mentioned out loud as it mostly stayed locked away in his treasured memories. For so long he had only ever spoken to her through letters. So many times he had tried to explain what had happened to him, but the words never hit the parchment the right way. So many times he had made excuses not to see her and so many times he had written the same lie: I am ok. The very thought of her being here now brought blood stained tears to the brim of his eye. How many time he would have given the world for just one of her embraces, but how fearful he had been of her reaction to him. Not only of how he looked, but what he had done since his transformation. Aurelia, the hags, so many mistakes as he allowed anger and fear to control his heart. The bloody tear would spill over at the thought of her disappointment.

Howard's arms would slump to his side as he locked his gaze back with Aurelia's. The defiant look he had held now fallen to one of fear and defeat. "She's here?" He barely spoke above a whisper.

Silence filled in as the witch's words finally got through the dhampir's thick skull rendering Howard at a loss of words. No doubt assisted by her unusual presence. Today was a day she apologised for an aspect which she did not have to, she would not receive one in return. It was a small triumph, nevertheless, Aurelia would take that.

But as she found her point finally conveyed, Howard snaked a sliver of sympathetic warmth into her heart. "Soon," replied Aurelia. Crimson tears, she had never seen a dhampir cry before, and although it prompted some fascination, the fervent moment would not let her mind wander into the thoughts of her own curiosities. "You can leave before Dawn gets here, it's your choice." If Howard had been avoiding his own mother for years, perhaps there was more justification than what she believed. Aurelia would not push her own antics on him, but her interchange with the dhampir was nearly done, there was no need to stay any longer.

Contrary to her perceived collected demeanour at the forefront, her anxiety encroached with every minute that passed with the dhampir in sight. More so amplified with the comprehension that he was hungry. An overwhelming unease, fear and apprehension for history to repeat itself. Finally, her hand with the envelope extended towards the dhampir, it felt as if it took all her willpower to still her hand to suppress its prior trembling she hid well. Upon opening the letter was a list of names. There were no last names on the list, purposefully so.

Hadrian, Lysander, Draven, Andrew, Falentra, Opeila, Pea, Edmund, Miles.

"I don't know what you did to me then, but I can't hurt you, no matter how much I want you to pay for what you did. I don't care about the nature of the hexwizard tournaments, but if you ever harmed me again, or anyone on that list in there in any way - even in self-defence, I will not hesitate to hurt the ones you care about as brutally as you've hurt me." She finally explained her motives. While part of the reason to summon the dhampir's mother was to genuinely help him, it served her own ruse for self-preservation. In all honesty, Aurelia was only being reasonable. All bark no bite, Aurelia was not cruel, it was highly unlikely she would stick true to her word to hurt someone if not but in self-defence.

"Think about Bloom, Serena, Gary and your dear mother, Dawn. You're not the only one with claws, any damage could be effortlessly framed on you - an unstable dangerous dhampir with an already violent history. You wouldn't want that do you?" The question rhetorical. "If you can't stay away from me then I have to take measures to protect myself, and those around me. You must understand." The tone of her voice didn't carry any aggression, in fact, was almost solemn with an air of earnestness.

@Aurelia Notresvace

Soon.

Howard looked over his shoulder as if he expected his mother to round the conversation just then. All of the stoic bravado had abandoned his expression, leaving him looking a bit lost, perhaps a bit frightened as the tears continued to stain his cheeks. Never before had he felt so much hope and doom all at once. The very moment he had yearned for all these years could just be moments away if he would accept Aurelia's help. He had never amounted the courage to face this himself and yet it was his greatest rival that had catapulted him towards the healing he so desperately needed. His childhood had been filled with challenges, but there had always been love from Dawn. The kind only a mother can give that had left such an empty hole in his heart when life stripped it away. The fear of disapproval had festered within him like a disease. If he continued to avoid her he could continue the lie that nothing had changed. He was still her little boy and all was well, but nothing could be further from the truth. Howard had changed, both in person and as a physical being, but if he were ever to fully accept himself perhaps it would start today with finally facing his mother. The one person who could truly help him feel whole or the one that would show him that his life from before was truly gone forever. Either way Howard would grow further into a man this day.

Though part of Aurelia's heart was trying to help the Dhampir, part of her would also prioritize self preservation. Howard's red eyes drifted toward the envelope that she held out to him. Within it a piece of parchment with a list of names upon it. He listened in silence as she made her demands and he offered no protest. For the first time since the two had met, Howard would not feel that fiery impulse she so often cultivated within him. Even as she threatened to blackmail him and possibly hurt the ones he cared for so deeply he could not feel that anger that so often was contributed to her. As his eyes lifted from the parchment back to hers she would perhaps see something she never had in him before. The calm look of understanding.

There before him was the young woman he had nearly killed. He could not blame her for the terror she felt when she looked at him. He could not blame her for wanting to feel protected from him. Yet through it all she still found space in her heart to help him in a way no other had before. That small ray of humanity shone bright through her dark threats. It was true that he could not stay away from her, but was it his own dark nature that craved her or his humanity recognizing hers? The truth that was now apparent to him was that it was both, equally and distinctively. So easy was it to blame her for stoking that part of himself, but the real truth was that he liked it. That he sought it out in Aurelia as his predatory nature was so closely bound to her. Yet despite his transgressions against her she would still come to his aid and that was what made his very human heart beat a little faster.

Perhaps she had been aiming for this all along. Howard had thrashed against her as she called him monster, as she baited his kind for show, but was she not speaking the truth? Sure, Aurelia had made many mistakes as all people do, but was her point not valid? The very scar on her neck did mark him a predator. The very nature of his kind was one to show concern about, yet above it all she still championed for the humanity within him. How else could his kind be a part of this society if the did recognize their threat to it and actively chose humanity over their undead desires?

"I understand." Howard spoke softer than usual, but with enough force to so show that he was serious. A part of his heart hurt with saying so. Too much damage done to hope to repair any relationship they may have had, but with that pain there was also gratitude. Aurelia may never be a part of his life again in any meaningful way, but he would never forget what she had done for him this day. Howard turned to leave, he would wait for his mother on the main street, but would pause before stepping away. Though his face was deadly pale and his eyes as red as embers, a flash of that blue eyed boy he had left so long ago would fill his heart as he looked over his shoulder at her. "Thank you, Aurelia." His gaze would shift back before he wiped his face, pocketed her list and allowed his long legs to carry him away.