AIANES (Theodore Nott) H.P AU

Prologue

Death seemed to follow Olympia.

It lurked around the corridors of her family's estate, watching her with careful eyes, awaiting the right time to present itself once more. Scaring the young heiress, and reminding her, that no matter how hard she tried to hide; Death would always find her.

Thus, Olympia stopped.

There was no reason to fear the inevitable.

Now, the Sarantos Heiress sits on the balcony ledge of her family's Summer Manor in Thera. A glass of expensive red goblin wine and the unforgiving Greek sea keeping her company.

Her grandmother, Aveline, had fallen ill a couple of weeks prior to the end of term, which resulted in Olympia leaving Ilvermorny earlier than expected. She recalls her grandmother's state, the once perfectly put together Aveline Sarantos, once Rosier, had vanished before her.

She 's gone. Had been the words the healers said to both her and Apollo, her grandfather.

Olympia had let a sigh leave her lips at last. Her grandmother had died before her and she felt euphoric to the point of no return. She found peace on her passing and she silently asked to any God that might hear her prayers that, if hell truly existed, her Grandmother burned in it.

"Do you ever stop drinking?"

Olympia turns at the sound of her cousin. Draco Malfoy smiles at her and is quick to join her by the empty spot on the ledge. "I thought — given the circumstances, that you would be..." Draco speaks slowly but stops when he fails to come up with words.

Olympia, on the contrary, says them for him. "Mourning the loss of my grandmother?"

"Precisely."

"I should — but then again, what's there to mourn? I despised her and her death brings me nothing but unadulterated bliss."

The Malfoy heir chuckles unamused at his cousin's crude words. "Not even to pretend?"

"To whom exactly? You?" Olympia says, scoffing into her glass. "Please, Draco — you hated her as much as I did. Don't play pureblood etiquette with me."

A loud and familiar crack stops the cousins' conversation short. A house elf with big golden eyes and ragged clothes stands before them both, bowing lowly before addressing them.

"Pips is very sorry for bothering Mistress Olympia and young Mr. Malfoy but Master Apollo has called for her."

Both Olympia and Draco stare in amazement at the elf and the thick Greek accent that slips while trying and barely managing to speak English.

"Has my grandfather mentioned what could he possibly need from me?" Says Olympia while stepping off the ledge.

"Master Apollo has not said any further, Mistress, but a man has been keeping Master Apollo company."

At that, Olympia's ears perk up. It wasn't uncommon for her grandfather to have visitors, but it was uncommon for her not to be aware of them, especially when it was expected of her to greet the guest.

"A man? Do you happen to know who he might be?"

Pips shakes his head at the lack of information. "Pips is very sorry Mistress Olympia, but Pips does not know of the man." Olympia nods, ready to dismiss the elf when this one seems to remember more. "But Pips could only tell he is not from here, a strange accent that one has."

Olympia furrows her brows and lifts a single eyebrow in curiosity. Unaware of it, Draco does the same expression behind her back. Both cousins knew foreigner visits were usual back in the mainland, but not in the Island, let alone without notice.

"Thank you, Pips. I will see what my grandfather requires of me, you may leave"

The elf bows and leaves with a crack as loud as the first. Turning to Draco, Olympia tells him she will be back as soon as whatever her grandfather needs is handled accordingly.

"Don't worry about me." He answers while grabbing her glass and filling it with the leftover wine. "I'll stay here and drink in your absence."

Olympia stops herself from rolling her eyes, instead she slips her shoes on and walks through the Manor corridors. As she walks through different rooms and floors, she can't help but stare at its decor; from marble floors covered by exquisite rugs to high ceiling windows that led to balconies, the Manor was a monument for luxury.

Olympia thinks about their ancestral Manor back in Athens, it was much more luxurious and spacious, of that she was certain; but she also knew that none of the many estates and properties her family owned, could ever compare with this one.

Here, Olympia had her best memories hidden among the walls. She smiles in nostalgia, after she left Greece, her grandmother had forbidden her of ever returning before she was of age.

That had been four years ago.

Now, with Aveline dead, she was able to return, even if it wasn't for long. Pushing her thoughts aside, she finally reaches the foyer leading to her grandfather's studio. She stares at the tall mahogany doors and only after she straightens her skirt and blouse does she knock.

"Come in."