Heirs of darkness

The truth revealed(6)

Aurora hurried through the darkened corridors of Hogwarts, her footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The castle was eerily quiet at this hour, with curfew looming just minutes away. She knew she shouldn't be out this late, but her mind had been racing, and she needed to clear her head. The shadows seemed to stretch longer as she walked, her thoughts drifting back to everything that had happened over the past few months.

Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed her arm, pulling her into a dark alcove. She gasped, her heart leaping into her throat as she struggled to free herself.

"What the hell, Harry? You scared me!" she hissed, recognizing the familiar face of Harry Potter as he stepped into the dim light.

Harry quickly released her, his expression tense but apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. But I need to talk to you."

Aurora crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "What could possibly be so important that you had to ambush me?"

"I know," Harry said, his voice low and urgent. "I know about you, Draco, and Theo. I know you're all Death Eaters."

Aurora felt a jolt of anger and fear surge through her, but she kept her expression guarded. "And what exactly do you think you know, Potter?"

Harry took a deep breath, his green eyes searching hers for any sign of emotion. "I know you're working for Voldemort, and I want to help you. I know you hate me, but I'm trying to help—"

"Help me?" Aurora interrupted, her voice dripping with disdain. "Help me like you helped my father, Sirius?"

Harry flinched at the mention of Sirius Black, the pain of that night still raw in his memory. "I didn't kill Sirius, Aurora. Bellatrix did."

Aurora's eyes flashed with fury. "No, but he's dead because of you! If you hadn't dragged him into your mess, he would still be alive!" Her voice cracked, and she turned her face away, fighting back tears. "I can't even look at you because every time I do, I—" She stopped herself, swallowing the rest of her words. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.

"you what?" Harry pressed, stepping closer. "Aurora, just say it."

"Never mind," she snapped, brushing past him. "Stay away from me and my friends, Harry."

With that, she stormed off, leaving Harry standing in the shadows, his frustration and concern warring within him.

Aurora made her way to the Slytherin common room, her anger simmering just beneath the surface. She muttered the password to the stone wall, and it slid open to reveal the cozy, dimly lit room. Pansy, Daphne, and Millicent were lounging on the couches, chatting quietly. As soon as Aurora entered, their conversation halted, and they turned to look at her.

Aurora could feel their eyes on her as she crossed the room and headed toward the stairs to the girls' dormitory. "Who does he think he is?" she muttered to herself, her hands clenched into fists.

"Aurora?" Pansy called out, her voice tinged with confusion. "Who are you talking about?"

Aurora stopped, realizing she had spoken aloud. She turned to face her friends, her expression still hard with anger. "Harry," she spat. "Harry bloody Potter."

"What did he do this time?" Daphne asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

Aurora hesitated, unsure of how much she wanted to reveal. Her friends had always been there for her, but this was different. This was dangerous. She couldn't afford to let anyone get too close to the truth.

When she didn't answer, Pansy spoke up, her voice careful and measured. "Aurora, there have been... rumors. About you, Draco, and Theo. People are saying you're... well, that you're Death Eaters."

The room fell into a tense silence, the air thick with unspoken fears and suspicions. Aurora's heart pounded in her chest as she looked at her friends, their faces a mix of worry and uncertainty.

Daphne, always the most direct of the group, stepped forward. "If it's true, you can tell us, Aurora. We've been friends forever. You know you can trust us."

Aurora's gaze shifted between the three of them. She wanted to tell them, to unburden herself of the secret she had been carrying for so long. But the stakes were too high. Could she really risk their lives by dragging them into this dark world? Yet, she had never hidden anything from them before, and the thought of lying now felt wrong.

Finally, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "It's true. I've... I've taken the Dark Mark."

Her confession hung in the air, heavy and final. Pansy, Daphne, and Millicent stared at her in shock, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and concern.

Pansy was the first to break the silence. "Aurora, why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why would you do that?"

Aurora's lips tightened into a thin line. "It's complicated," she replied, her voice hard. "Things aren't as black and white as you think."

"But this is serious," Millicent said, her tone firm but not accusatory. "You're putting yourself in danger, Aurora. All of you are."

"I know the risks," Aurora snapped, her anger flaring up again. "But this isn't about what I want."

Pansy stepped closer, her eyes filled with worry. "Aurora, we're your friends. We'll stand by you no matter what. But we need to know what's going on. We need to be prepared."

Aurora hesitated, torn between the need to protect her friends and the desire to share her burden with them. She could feel the weight of their expectations, the unspoken promise that they would be there for her no matter what.

"I can't tell you everything," Aurora finally said, her voice heavy with regret. "But you need to stay out of this. It's too dangerous."

Daphne frowned, her brows drawing together in concern. "We can help, Aurora. We want to help."

"You can't," Aurora insisted, her voice sharp. "This is my choice. My responsibility. I won't drag you into it."

Pansy exchanged a worried glance with Daphne and Millicent before speaking again. "We'll respect your decision, Aurora. But remember, we're here for you. If you need anything, anything at all, you can come to us."

Aurora nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "Thank you," she whispered, grateful for their loyalty even as she pushed them away.

As Aurora climbed the stairs to the girls' dormitory, she could feel their eyes on her, the weight of their concern pressing down on her shoulders. She reached the dormitory and closed the door behind her, leaning against it for support.

Her mind raced, replaying the events of the night. Harry's accusations, the conversation with her friends, the dangerous path she had chosen. She had always known that the choices she made would have consequences, but now they were becoming all too real.

Aurora crossed the room to her bed, sinking down onto the edge. She couldn't afford to let her emotions get the better of her. She had to stay strong, for herself, for Draco and Theo, and for her friends.

But as she lay back on her pillow, staring up at the canopy of her bed, she couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in around her. The weight of her secret was crushing, suffocating. And the more she tried to push it down, the more it threatened to consume her.

Who did Harry think he was? She couldn't stop the question from echoing in her mind. He thought he could help her, save her, but he had no idea what he was dealing with. She didn't need his help, didn't want it. But the truth was, she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep going like this.

Aurora closed her eyes, trying to block out the thoughts, the fear, the uncertainty. But even as she drifted off to sleep, the shadows lingered, whispering secrets and lies that she could no longer ignore.