Talk To Me (Albus Dumbledore x OFC)

13 - Let It Fly

"Bonjour, Madam."

Aurora could only offer a small nod with a forced smile in response for words had entirely escaped her. She felt as if she were a deer caught under torchlight, frozen in one position, attempting not to taunt the lion of whom was currently looking on with hungry eyes. The French acolyte, adorning a simplistic dark cotton overcoat with the hem of her teal blue dress swaying softly in the breeze, wore a sickening grin at the girl's obvious discomfort. Satisfaction lay sparkling within those sharp blue eyes.

Taking a momentary glance at her surroundings, there were only two directions out of this corner-street - back the way she came, or straight into the maws of the enemy. But as the options weighed themselves out in her mind, both doors of opportunity were quickly snuffed. Vinda Rosier apparated to stand before the doorway behind, her wicked smile remaining, and the newest electoral candidate moved to the centre of the aisle; hands folded before him. A dare, if she'd ever seen one.

"Aurora, dear," He lowered himself down from the stairwell, standing only metres away. "How lovely of you to make an appearance on this truly historic day."

"Grindelwald," she greeted, eyes slightly downcast, breath escaping in short puffs through her nose. "I assumed you would be at the ceremony already,"

"I should be," he informed, arms motioning to his surroundings, nodding briefly to his right-hand woman. "And yet, here we are."

The leather briefcase was pulled closer to the youngest Scamander's side, her head tilting somewhat to listen out for any advances made by his accomplice from behind, her eyes never straying from his. The smile gracing his lips was not one to ease her nerves, but to express humour in her failed attempt at remaining unaffected. She was exactly where he wanted her to be, and he enjoyed the fact she had accepted this, however discreetly.

"I have one last subject matter to attend, with which I had hoped you would assist me," when she did not speak, the wizard continued. "I gather you have chosen your side?"

Though the young lady retreated a submissive step again, she raised her chin at his rhetorical question and held his expectant stare defiantly. She would not participate in these games - not when one wrong move could prove detrimental for the future of the wizarding world. Even so, her lack of verbal response provided all that he needed to know, along with the slight tremble as his eyes darkened in acknowledgement.

Grindelwald cleared his throat. "Then you understand that - by extension - if not with me, you are against me," His brows rose as he reached a hand forward, palm open. "The case, now, if you will,"

When Aurora's head shook softly back and forth, the man before her began to tut tauntingly, one pointed finger waggling in her direction. "Are you really willing to risk so much for him?"

"It is for all of them," she countered in a hushed tone, a slither of cold running through her as his sickeningly sweet smile fell.

"Would any of them still recognise you if your very being was permanently altered to that of which you transformed most often, or would you be disregarded, hunted by the muggle-kind you try so hard to protect?"

The open threat constricted the air surrounding the three magic-users, turning it thick and heavy. A cautionary warning of what could be, and what will be, sent alarm bells blaring in the girl's head, thoughts scrambling with ideas as to how she could avoid the only ultimatum offered without losing her free will in the meantime. Until now, she'd forgotten Albus' warning of not straying from their designated paths - how she wished for a second opportunity to choose differently. Hindsight really is a bitch.