Aurelia's Story

“I’m no Rasputin, you ain’t no Rapunzel
I have willingly fallen, and you have cut your own hair
Thought we needed motion, at least until the war kicks in
I go out in the world with you the last night of the burning flare

Trains will follow trains under the dun, under the moon
And I do believe that all that I can do is croon
And I do believe that there was a morning that I saw your true love”
Ashes, Rufus Wainwright

Lord Voldemort strode into the room. "It seems my timing is perfect. Many congratulations to you both," he said as they both bowed to him.

Lucius helped Aurelia onto the bed and settled Ariadne into her arms before taking hold of Gabriel himself and replying, "Thank you, master. May I present to you my son, Gabriel Sigmund, and my daughter, Ariadne Guinevere."

Voldemort nodded approvingly. "An excellent choice of names. I trust they are both healthy?"

Aurelia rose again unsteadily. "Perfectly so, Healer Willows has already checked them over and we could not be happier," she replied, soothing the stirring Ariadne.

"I would like to hold them and check them over myself now," stated Voldemort as he sat himself in the nearest chair, clearly not anticipating a refusal. Lucius handed Gabriel over immediately, but Aurelia paused.

Voldemort stared at her penetratingly. "Do you not trust me with your children, Aurelia?" he asked, a dangerous tone to his voice.

She steeled herself. As far as she was aware, the potion would protect the twins from harm. Nevertheless, she did not want Voldemort anywhere near her children.
Whilst she had previously been more than happy to put herself at risk daily, everything was now changed. However, refusing to hand them over would only put them in more harm. Aurelia forced a smile onto her face. "Of course I trust you, master. It is just that they are still less than an hour old, and I feel uncomfortable with anyone other than Lucius and myself holding them." Reluctantly, she placed Ariadne in his arms as Draco burst through the door.

"Father, the house elves said that the twins have been born!" he exclaimed excitedly, facing his father.

Voldemort chuckled. "Indeed they have, master Malfoy, and here they are." Aurelia flinched inwardly at the look of pride and pleasure upon Voldemort's face as he regarded her children.

Draco quickly bowed to the Dark Lord, and then kissed Aurelia on the cheek. "Everything is alright?" he questioned her.

"Yes Draco, Gabriel and Ariadne are completely healthy. Would you perhaps like to hold them?" she asked, seeing her chance to get the twins away from Voldemort. Draco nodded and Aurelia placed Ariadne in his arms before taking hold of Gabriel herself.

"A most pleasant tableau, is it not Lucius?" said Voldemort coldly.

Lucius did not note the tone of his voice, his pride and happiness outweighing all else. "Indeed, master. I am most proud of my family."

"I can of course rely upon you both to raise the children to be prepared to take their place in the Inner Circle?"

Aurelia went cold at the thought of her children being forced, or, Merlin forbid, wishing to serve Voldemort, but she knew that for now at least she had to play along. "You do not need to ask, master. When they turn seventeen, they will join us at your side."

Voldemort seemed to believe her as he nodded and rose from his chair. “I expected no less. I shall leave you all to it, then, but I shall be in touch again soon.” Voldemort inclined his head then Disapparated away.

Aurelia sighed with relief, and Lucius kissed her gently. “Perhaps you should get some sleep now, darling. The house elves can attend to the children should they need anything.”

“That sounds like an excellent idea, my Lord,” she said tiredly, handing Gabriel to him. She tenderly kissed each baby on the head before retiring and immediately falling asleep.

Aurelia did not wake again until Lucius gently shook her. Sunlight was streaming in through the window. “Aurelia, darling, I need to accompany Draco to King’s Cross now. Will you be alright? I shall not be long,” he said lovingly.

She nodded slowly, and emerged from under the covers. “Of course. I would imagine the Order is waiting for me to check in with them anyway, so I shall do that whilst waiting for you.”

“Very well, darling. I shall not be gone for long, I promise.”

Aurelia kissed Lucius goodbye then walked across to the twins’ room. She had still not adjusted to the sheer amount of love she felt for them, and gazed upon them in awe. Ariadne was clearly Lucius’ daughter, having inherited his blonde hair and strong bone structure. Gabriel, however, was stirring some doubt in Aurelia’s mind. His thick dark hair could have come from herself or Sirius. Aurelia knew, though, that there was no reason to rock the boat by voicing her concerns to anyone. Her only priority at the moment was to ensure the survival of herself and the twins. She sighed, took a pinch of Floo powder and stooped down to the fireplace. “Headmaster’s office, Hogwarts,” she called.

Albus Dumbledore hurried over to the fireplace and stooped down. “Is everything alright, dear?” he asked concernedly.

She smiled. “Oh, more than alright, uncle. I gave birth to the twins last night.”

He clapped excitedly. “Oh, wonderful! And are they both healthy?”

Aurelia nodded. “It is more than wonderful, and Gabriel and Ariadne are perfectly healthy,” she said, her face shining.

“I am delighted to hear it. Has Voldemort been to see them yet?” he asked with a grimace.

Her face dropped. “He has, but there is no need to worry unduly. Uncle, have you heard of the Cognatio Praesideo potion?”

Albus frowned. “I have heard only the barest details. However, the process was lost a long while ago, and it is supposed to be notoriously difficult to make. I would advise you not to waste time researching it, Aurelia.”

Aurelia laughed. “I have already administered it to the twins, uncle, and I would like to do so for Harry as well.”

Albus’ eyebrows shot up. “Are you certain?”

She smiled. “Parvulus Vox and the Tintagel library are marvellous assets to have, uncle.”

He shook his head in stunned disbelief. “Perhaps we should have Severus look it over nonetheless.”

Aurelia shook her head, and her eyes hardened. “If Harry is to have it, then the less people who know the better.”

“Still -”

“Uncle, trust me. I shall come up with the twins and the potion tomorrow evening, and we can discuss it then.”

“Very well, but I would still prefer Severus to be involved. Congratulations, my child,” Albus said with a proud smile. Aurelia smiled back and pulled her head out
of the fire as Lucius came back into the room. She rose and walked towards him. “Did Draco get on the train alright, darling?”

Lucius nodded. “Of course. No trouble with the Order, I trust?” He pulled her close to him and gently stroked the small of her back.

“No, my uncle wants me to visit him with the twins tomorrow, but other than that no.” Aurelia relaxed into his touch and closed her eyes.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, darling, it will only inflame their suspicions. My uncle dislikes you as it is.”

Lucius sneered. “The old fool can do nothing to me, Aurelia.”

“I do not doubt that, my Lord,” she replied calmly. “However, until our master is ready I do not think it wise to do anything to aggravate the Order, and after your last encounter…”

He chuckled. “As always, you are perfectly correctly, my love.” Lucius bent his head down and tenderly kissed her lips. In unison, Gabriel and Ariadne started to cry, and Lucius and Aurelia smiled softly at each other as they walked over to the cribs to soothe them.



When Aurelia was finally confident that the twins would be safe to go through the Floo - Lucius’ many reassurances that Draco had survived dozens of trips in his infancy had done little to calm her nerves - she slipped a bottle of the potion into her robes and Flooed into Albus’ office. “Hello, uncle,” she said shyly, a baby in each arm. Albus hastened over and took Gabriel from her.

“Merlin’s beard, Aurelia, they are beautiful,” he said, clearly awestruck. “And so tiny!”

Aurelia nodded. "I feel almost afraid to touch them for fear of breaking them, but it feels so natural. I never realised it was possible to have so much love for
someone, uncle," she said, shaking her head slightly.

"Every new parent feels the same, Aurelia. Just wait until you become a grandparent - I will never forget the look on Aberforth's face when he first held you," Albus replied, a dreamy look descending upon his face.

A tear trickled down her face, which Albus did not miss. "Aurelia, how can you be crying today of all days?"

The implication of the vision she had Seen during the birth had suddenly struck her with that comment. If it was accurate, then the twins would grow up as orphans. Even worse was the realisation that she did not know whether or not Voldemort would be defeated. If he were not, the twins would be utterly defenceless. "I do not anticipate surviving the Final Battle, uncle," she said heavily.

Albus was visibly shocked. "I appreciate that you are in a difficult position, my child, but having a negative attitude will not help at all."

Aurelia shook her head. "I am not basing it on feelings, uncle. I Saw during the birth. It was the Final Battle, and I positioned myself between Harry and Voldemort..." she broke off as the image of Lucius' still body came back into her head, and she began to sob.

Albus summoned a house elf to take care of the twins and scooped her into his arms as he did when she was young. "Sweetheart, there is no point in upsetting yourself now. Fate will work as it wants, and there is nothing we can do to prevent it. But right now you have two beautiful children who need you and a husband who clearly adores you."

Aurelia stared up at him desperately. "But that's the problem, uncle. They need us, and we won't be there for them. I grew up without my parents, and I never imagined that I would have to leave my children too."

He frowned. "I may dislike Lucius, but I know that he will do all he can for the children if you are not there, Aurelia."

"That's just it. In the vision, Lucius sacrificed himself for me. I was in the path of the curse to protect Harry, but Lucius stepped in and took the first curse for me." Aurelia shook with emotion.

His eyes widened as comprehension dawned. "He will know not whom they protect.... Merlin's beard, Aurelia! The curse did not hit Harry in your vision then?!

"No, Lucius took the entirety of it," Aurelia replied, her voice trembling.

Albus appeared confused. "But you said that you saw yourself get hit?"

"Not by the first curse. I stood up and argued with Voldemort, and he struck me down with a second curse. That was as far as the vision went though."

"How did the battle appear to be going at that point?" he questioned her.

"Poorly. Harry was on his own surrounded by Death Eaters, and Voldemort was advancing on him. I could see none of our side around him."

"Then Harry will need all the help we can give him," Albus stated decisively. "Did you bring the potion?"

Aurelia nodded and wiped her eyes. "I am determined that I will do everything possible to help Harry, uncle. My children mean the world to me, and if I have to leave them I will do my damnedest to ensure that I leave them in a safe place." She slipped the potion bottle out of her robes and held it tightly.

"Marvellous," he muttered, "quite marvellous. Are you still insistent upon Severus not knowing?"

In that moment, Aurelia wished that she could safely make him understand why she distrusted Severus, but knew that there was no way to do so. "I am, uncle. Not only for my own and Harry's sake, but for Severus' safety as well. If his defences weaken in even the slightest, then the less that is at stake the better."

Albus finally nodded his assent. He looked at the house elf holding the babies. "Winky," he said kindly, "would you mind fetching Harry Potter and bringing him here immediately?"

The house elf nodded, handed the twins back over and scurried out of the room. Less than five minutes later, she returned with Harry in tow, who was looking a little worried.

"No need to worry, Harry," said Albus jovially. "We have some good news for you."

Aurelia rose and embraced her cousin. "Good to see you again, Harry!"

Harry grinned at her, and then caught sight of the small babies in his headmaster's arms. "Oh! They're tiny!" he exclaimed.

Aurelia nodded proudly. "Small, but perfectly formed. Would you like to hold them?"

Harry took a step back. "Oh... no... I've never held a baby before, I might drop them," he stuttered.

"Not at all," she replied brusquely, sensing that he needed to do this. Aurelia took Gabriel from Albus and handed him to Harry. "Here, dear," Aurelia said a little more gently, noting with a squirm in her stomach the way that Harry took in Gabriel's appearance with narrowed eyebrows. However, Harry quickly relaxed, and gazed at the child in his arms.

“It seems strange to think I was once this small,” Harry mumbled quietly.

Albus nodded sadly as he recalled another proud mother holding a black-haired baby in her arms sixteen years previously. “Yes, you looked much the same at that age, Harry. Apart from your eyes, of course. You had your –“

“Yes, my mother’s eyes,” Harry cut in sharply, but as he blinked Aurelia could have sworn he blinked to hold back a tear.

In that instant, Albus Dumbledore made a decision that he knew Aurelia would not object to. “Harry, I will be sharing much with you this year that you must not share with anybody. However, the knowledge I am about to impart upon you could be the most crucial of all.” Harry and Aurelia both narrowed their eyes as Albus continued. “Harry, when I told you the Dursleys were your only remaining family, I was not being entirely honest with you.”

Harry started, and then quickly composed himself as Gabriel stirred unhappily. However, the anger was evident in his eyes. “Why did you lie to me about something so important?! All my life I’ve wanted a family.” Harry paused as the implication of this knowledge sunk in. “Who is it? Can I live with them instead?” he asked eagerly.

Aurelia moved towards him as Albus replied. “I am afraid that is not possible, Harry. You see, the protection came from your mother, so you must reside with your mother’s relative for it to continue. Your relations are from your father’s side.”

Harry was stunned. “But Sirius told me I was the last of the Potters, Professor.”

“That is what he believed to be true. However, your father had a cousin, Thomas. Thomas married my niece, and fifteen years after your father was born, they had a daughter. Lord Voldemort murdered them not long after you were born, and I decided that it was safest for my great-niece to renounce the name of Potter for her own safety. She went to live with her grandfather, my brother, and took on her mother’s ancestral name instead.”

Harry’s eyes widened as the pieces clicked into place. “Lia?” he questioned her, shocked. Aurelia nodded wordlessly. “I could not be happier,” he said tearfully. “I always wanted a family I could be proud of, and I’ve always looked up to you.”

Aurelia kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Harry. You do not know how much it means to hear you say that.”

“I see why this must be kept secret though. If Voldemort finds out you are related to me…” Harry trailed off.

She shook her head. “No, he knows Harry. Apparently, he had taken an interest in me from when I was a child, and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Lucius and Remus also know, but they are the only ones.”

“Why must it be kept secret then?”

“Voldemort does not want you to know. I believe he intends to use the knowledge against you at some point. Also, there is no reason for me to tell you unless we are using the relationship to help you,” Aurelia replied.

Harry frowned as he noticed for the first time the potion bottle in her hand. “How can we do that if I can only get the protection from my mother’s side?”

Aurelia carefully uncorked the flask. “This is a potion that Lucius and I concocted to protect the twins, called Cognatio Praesideo. You will not have heard of it, as the process to create was believed lost a long time ago. It protects the relatives of the husband and wife who made it against harm. Unfortunately, it is useless against the Unforgivables, but we believe it should protect you against the majority of curses and poisons.”

Harry handed Gabriel back to Albus and embraced Aurelia. “I will not tell anyone, I swear,” he stated forcefully.

“You understand the importance of secrecy, Harry? It is no longer merely my life at risk if my true loyalties are uncovered,” Aurelia said fearfully.

He nodded. “Entirely.”

Aurelia’s Dark Mark began to tingle, and she swore under her breath. “I must go; it seems Voldemort is waiting at the manor for me. Harry, all you need to do is ingest three drops of the potion, and the protection will be complete. I shall see you both soon?”

Albus nodded. “Of course, Aurelia, whenever you can get away.” He embraced her, and Harry followed suit before she took the twins in her arms and re-entered the Floo. Her last view of the office was of Harry staring after her, tears still in his eyes.


The next three months passed in a whirl for Aurelia and Lucius as they adjusted to the demands of two fast-growing babies. Lord Voldemort left them much to themselves until the last day of the Hogwarts term, when he had an hour long discussion with Lucius in the study which Aurelia was excluded from. Although she was fearful, without the specifics she could do little more than warn Albus to be on his guard.

The evening of the next day, Lucius waited until she was asleep before Disapparating away. When she awoke, it was to find her husband missing and a golden feather – the emergency signal of the Order of the Phoenix – on her lap. Panicking, she Flooed Hogwarts. Minerva McGonagall answered. “Aurelia, thank goodness you have got in touch,” the professor exclaimed, her Scottish accent thickening with the distress.

“What is it?” Aurelia demanded. “Is Harry alright?”

Minerva shook her head sadly. “We do not know yet. All I know is that there was a Death Eater attack at the Burrow no more than an hour ago. Aurelia, I have to tell you, there has been a fatality. I have not been told who it is yet. Albus has gone with some of the Order to help and determine the situation.”

Aurelia paled. “But Harry was there!”

Minerva nodded. “Along with the entirety of the Weasley family and Hermione Granger.”