SOLSTICE

011

The early morning sun hung low on the horizon, casting a soft, golden glow that filtered through the small dusty windows at the top of the walls of the practice hall. The room, aged and weathered, wore the years of countless training sessions like an old, comfortable coat.

There was enough to operate but not so bright as to dispel the sense of mystery that clung to every corner. Ancient wooden beams crisscrossed the ceiling, their grainy texture visible in the soft illumination.

The only sounds that dared to break the silence were the grunts of the solitary figure in the center of the room and the rhythmic thud of punches and kicks thrown at the bag.

There stood Lucien in the midst of his workout. Sweat cascaded from his brow, trickling down his chin like a small waterfall. His unruly hair tumbled over his eyes, adding an extra layer of challenge to his training. His shirt, soaked through and through, clung to his wiry frame, highlighting the contours of his chest and abdomen.

Marlene wolf whistled loudly.

"Bloody hell."

"Fuck."

"Merlin, look at him."

"He is looking so hot. I won't mind him screwing me" Marlene drooled.

"Marl, he's just an eleven-year-old kid," Lily reproached.

"First of all, as Sirius said, you're wrong about him being a kid. Second, even if he is, there that person, he's anything but," she said, nodding towards where Cyril was sitting.

On the other hand, "They haven't seen you in your full glory and they are reacting like that. I think they would die of heart attack if they did." Lips almost touched his ears as a low sultry voice, escaped those sinful lips. "Don't you think so, my lord."

His large veiny hand grabbed her upper thigh, roughly putting enough pressure making her squirm. "Behave, Eva." His voice, low and raspy, was hypnotic enough to dance anyone on his commands. She merely nodded as she bit her lip nervously.

While Daphne merely chuckled thoroughly amused at Eva's situation.

Despite his tender age, Lucien was no ordinary eleven-year-old. He stood taller than most of his peers. His physique was a testament to his determination - a lean body adorned with surprisingly well-defined muscles. Though he might not have been a muscle-bound powerhouse just yet, he possessed an impressive strength that belied his youth.
As the practice session came to an end, Lucien stepped back, his chest rising and falling with each breath. He wiped the sweat from his brow and took a moment to catch his breath before he went to take a bath.

Marlene cursed under her breath.
"Control your hormones, Marls." Lily hissed as Dorcas chuckled at the two.

Lucien stepped out of the shower and toweled himself dry. He looked into the mirror that had few cracks, it was foggy and had black spots, obscuring his reflection. But Lucien wasn't concerned with mirrors or appearances right now; he had a task to complete.
He made his way to his room. With a swift, practiced motion, Lucien lifted the mattress. He removed a particular floorboard revealing the hidden compartment below. A stash of money, some papers, and a few other items were neatly arranged within. His fingers brushed over them as he selected a particular item - a dagger concealed within a sheath. He retrieved the weapon and left the room to go through another ordinary day.

"Yeah, sure just another day in the life of a seemingly ordinary boy," Barty snorted.

"Excuse me, Mr. Bianchi," a Hufflepuff girl spoke, her uncertainty evident in her choice of address. She fumbled for words, nervousness coursing through her as she met his gaze.