His Saving Grace

Chapter 1- Scowling Aunt & Alastair Manor

As I rose from the deepest of slumbers, I only saw the face of my angry aunt standing by the huge door frame. She was facing me with her hands resting on her hips and a scowl written on her face. I could only think of one reason as to why she is acting in such a way. She came near the border of my king sized bed and dragged the warm and soft sheets that were wrapped around my long frame until they reached the dirty floor. Seeing the sheets laying on the unclean tiles reminded me of the new house elf that was specifically in charge of cleaning my room. He had been pretty useless, but I liked him quite a bit so I wouldn't be complaining to my aunt any time soon.

"Athena Alastair, why in the bloody hell are you still sleeping? Do I have to do everything around here?", she questioned loudly. "You are going to be late and I will not be late to work simply because I have to take your arse all the way to Diagon Alley!"

"Merlin's beard, you know I can hear you, right? I'm up, I'm up!", I exclaimed.

It was exactly as I thought, she was agitated over something so simple as me arriving a few minutes late to a place that I could easily travel to without her. Yet again, should I be surprised? She always seemed to be agitated over the simplest of matters.

For her, punctuality was the only thing more important than making my life a living hell. Of course, I'd like to think she has other hobbies, but I am probably wrong. There seems to be a constant need for her to prove her superiority, at least the one she thinks she has, and to prove how lucky I am to have her. She only believes this because my parents died and she was forced to look after me, but at this point I would rather be an orphan.

For various reasons I really wanted to leave this house permanently, but mostly I wanted to run away in order to not deal with this debbie downer. Thankfully, since I recently turned seventeen there is only one year left for me here, but that is one year too many.

This year is my last at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding, then I can permanently leave this bleak home filled with opulent objects and big rooms designed to distract from the darkness and emptiness within it. I adore Hogwarts greatly, notably because I have excelled in all of my endeavors throughout my time there and because this year I will become Head Girl of my house, but I wish to move on to bigger and better things than schooling. Hopefully, my aunt does not drag me down nor does she stay alive for long.

Once my aunt decided she had enough badgering for the morning, she left for work. Once free from her scrutiny, I arose from my bed and headed towards my personal bathroom. There, I stared into the huge mirror and saw that I desperately needed to make myself look presentable if I was going to leave the house any time soon. I took a quick five minute shower, brushed my teeth and my long dark brown locks, put on some light makeup to appease to my aunt's standards, grabbed my wand, and finally got ready to leave.

As I made my way downstairs, one of the house elves offered me breakfast, as usual. My aunt had never made me food nor did she teach me how to fend for myself. The little I do know how to do was taught to me by our very first house elf, who is now a free elf I have not seen in years. That is a long story I would rather not get into. But in reality I would still rather have a house elf make the food, at least I know that way it will turn out good.

Breakfast today was merely a small fruit salad and exactly eight ounces of water, which was probably requested by my authoritarian aunt who has determined I was gaining too much fat which would no longer make me suitable for any bachelor within my age range. She believes that is one of the many reasons why I have not fancied anyone nor found someone that decided I was worthy of courting at school, but in reality I just like to stick to myself.

Her desperation for an heir or simply a hint that a union may be formed drives me insane, it is not like the Alastair legacy means anything now that I am the only Alastair alive that people can tolerate. Thankfully, I am not being arranged to wed, unlike many other pureblood witches my age. My aunt is very antiquated in her beliefs, but in concerns to arranged marriages she believes that agreeing to one is equivalent to saying no one wanted you enough to marry you willingly.

As I finished the food, I packed up my things and said a quick thank you to the house elf. My aunt had always been rather cruel to me and to every house elf, but I made sure that they knew how appreciative I was of their work and kindness. Many could consider me an unorthodox master, but that is more than alright with me.

I made my way to the foyer and waited for the same house elf to open the main gates of the Alastair manor. I whistled, which was how I would usually summon my owl, and Blair made her way to me with a flap of her gigantic feathery white wings. Once the gates opened, my dark eyes darted towards the main street ahead and I bid farewell to the kind elf.