Swallow your pride 2

Oblivion

Aureliu's PoV

Aurelius pulled away from Isadora reluctantly, carefully untangling himself from her body, his movement slow and quiet not to wake her. He looked down at her for a moment, taking in the peaceful expression on her face, the way her body looked in the early morning light.

He sighed softly, his body already reacting to the sight of her, already wanting to go back to bed and ravish her. But he knew better. He had a mission to complete.
With a final, regretful look at her, he turned away and quietly began to get dressed.

Aurelius finished getting dressed, checking that he looked presentable, his shirt unwrinkled and his trousers clean. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to tame it, but as usual, it stuck up in all directions.
He looked back at Isidora one last time, a pang of regret and longing in his chest, but he pushed it down. He had a job to do. He grabbed his cloak, slipped it on, and quietly made his way out of the castle and down towards Hogsmeade.

The village was still quiet, the first light of dawn just beginning to peek over the horizon. The streets were empty, save for a few early-rising shopkeepers and the occasional student out for an early walk.
Aurelius hurried down the cobblestone streets, his breath fogging in the cool morning air. He found his way to the old apothecary, its lights already on, a sign in the window advertising "24/7 Service".

He pushed open the door and stepped inside, the shop smelling faintly of herbs and potions. An old woman looked up from behind the counter, her eyes sharp and alert.
"Good morning," she greeted him. "What can I do for you? A healing potion? A painkiller? A love potion, perhaps?"

"I'm looking for an anti-conception potion," he said bluntly, his eyes flickering around the shop, taking in the rows and rows of potions on the shelves, each glass vial carefully labeled with its contents and price. The old woman raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in her eyes. "Ah, I see. One of those."
She turned and began rummaging through a lower shelf, her fingers dancing over various bottles until she pulled out a small vial of a clear, green liquid.
"Here you go, dear," she said, holding out the vial. "This should do the trick. A few drops in a glass of water and it'll prevent conception for up to a month."

Aurelius took the vial, his fingers closing around the glass. He looked at the liquid inside, the color a vibrant green, swirling hypnotically.

Aurelius took the vial from her, weighing it in his hand, his eyes studying the label.
"And it's effective?" he asked, looking up at the woman.
"Highly effective," she replied, a sly smile on her face. "Used correctly, it's almost impossible to get pregnant while using it."

He nodded, satisfied with her answer. He paid for the potion, thanking the old woman, and tucked the vial carefully into his cloak pocket.
With one last nod to the woman, he turned and left the shop, making his way back towards the castle. The sun was a bit higher in the sky now, the world slowly coming to life around him.

As he walked, he thought about Isidora, asleep back in bed, still blissfully unaware of his early-morning errand. A pang of desire and possession flared in his chest, his body already eager to be back with her.
But he knew he had to wait. He had to give her body time to recover from their love-making, time to rest and regain her strength. He sighed, his footsteps echoing faintly against the cobblestones.

Finally, he reached the castle, the large, stone structure looming before him. He quickened his pace, eager to get back to her, to finally give her the potion so that they could continue without worry.
He slipped through the front doors, his eyes searching the entrance hall for any signs of life. It was still early, the castle mostly empty. Good. The fewer people they ran into, the better.

He made his way through the halls, his steps familiar and automatic, his mind on Isidora and the potion in his pocket. He was so lost in thought that he almost didn't notice the soft, feminine murmur behind him.
"Going somewhere, Gaunt?"