Smile Like You Mean It

This is my first story in adultfanfiction, through I've been an amateur writer for many years now. I hope you like it and don't worry, things will become clearer as the story progresses!

Chapter 1 - The Absence of Security




Aera ran the hairbrush through her long black hair, watching in the mirror as it was pulled smoothly along. There were no knots left, she's been brushing it for quite a while. Her face was expressionless and though it seemed she was aware of what she was doing, her eyes were distant and unfocused.

Something was twisting inside her mind, turning this way and that, being examined from every angle. Of course, there was not much point in dwelling on it too closely, the decision had already been made for her. It was a simple choice of whether she would agree to be chucked out of Beauxbaton and enter Hogwarts to continue her education, or did she want to be chucked out anyway and be left to fend for herself in the wizarding world.

She loosened the suddenly tight grip she had on the handle of the brush. The mirror now reflected a very hard look on her pretty face, anger and bitterness. She felt like a puppet again, being pulled every which way as those older and more powerful than her chose. A knock at the door caused a sigh to breathe from her lips. Time to go, time to enter Dumbledore's protection.
She got to her feet and pulled open the door. As she had predicted, the tall bearded wizard stood there, a soft smile on his old face.

"Aera, you are packed I hope?"

She gave a curt nod and swept past him to where Madam Maxime was hovering, a look of concern on her broad face.

"Je suis desole, Aera. Ecoute-vouz de Dumbleydore, il est tres intelligent." (I am sad, Aera. Listen to Dumbleydore, he is very wise)

Aera didn't reply. She smiled at the tall headmistress and lowered her chin. This kept the woman from seeing the hint of betrayal in her eyes. Madam Maxime had always been nice to her, she knew Aera better than most and had commiserated with her at news of Dumbledore's hope for transfer.

Two flights of stairs brought the three of them down to the front steps of the school, where a carriage was waiting. There were no horses between the gables. Aera refused to show any surprise however, and waited as Dumbledore shared a few quiet words with her former principal. There was no one else around. The school was deserted during the summer months, it was only due to Aera's situation that she was permitted to stay on with the headmistress. Not any more, however. She knew things were going to be rapidly changing from now on, probably not in very nice ways for her.

Dumbledore was ready, finally, and moved to open the carriage door for her. She stepped smartly into it and looked back to see the massive woman with a hand held delicately over mouth in a pose of one deeply distressed. She gave a little lift of her hand in farewell before her eyes filled with tears and she turned to re-enter the building. Dumbledore watched her gravely before climbing into the carriage and seating himself across from Aera.

"I believe she looked on you as something akin to a daughter, my dear. It is saddening for her to say goodbye. Perhaps you should write regularly to her over the next few months, let her know how you are doing at Hogwarts."

"I'm not three, Albus. I will miss her and Beauxbatons just as much. Stop pretending that that's what you want to talk about."

Dumbledore sighed and he continued watched her. She began to feel ashamed under his scrutiny. She'd always known that someday she'd be taken away from the comfort and security of the French school. But the abruptness with which he had arrived and told her the news left her with a feeling of contempt and aggravation. The finer points of his plan had done nothing to improve her mood and she was hungry to boot. There had been no time for breakfast before the arrangements for leaving had been put into play. Now she was headed off on some sort of adventure, which she viewed with a good dose of discomfort.

"You're right, of course. Always very shrewd, my dear. I wish to run through the details of our arrival. You will be masquerading as a friend of the Delacour family, and an acquaintance of Fleur Delacour. English born you were sent to France to receive an education at Beauxbaton and were taken in by the Delacours, but the Delacours have decided that you would benefit from completing your schooling in your native country. Thus, you will spend the remainder of the summer with Fleur and her fiance's family, the Weasleys. Any questions?"

"Yes, do you realise that Fleur and I are not on the best of terms?" Aera's voice dripped with disdain at the girl's name. She had been a constant thorn in her side until the older girl's leaving of the school the previous year. Much too arrogant for Aera to put up with.

"I do indeed, but I have discussed the situation with her and she has wholeheartedly agreed to play along. You will not have to keep up the pretence long. Mr and Mrs Weasley are aware of the truth and will endeavour to help matters as best they can. Once at school the other students will all be new faces. There should not be a problem of previous animosities."

Aera glared sulkily out the window of the carriage. She had not realised they were airborne, nor that the glass of the windows had iced over from the height they flew at. According to what Dumbledore had said earlier, it would be a relatively short trip and they would arrive at this Weasley place soon enough. She couldn't wait. Being in this confined space with the professor was suffocating. She had always liked him well enough, but his assumption that she would act without questioning on his orders irked her, seriously.

Turning back to the elderly man, she tilted her head to one side. "What about my brother, when's he going to arrive?"

Narrowed eyes focused closely on her and she suddenly felt two sizes smaller, shrinking back into her seat. "He is already there. I hope that will be the last time you make such an obvious attempt to irritate me. Referring to him in that manner speaks of childish behaviour that I thought below you, Aera. I am acting for you own security in this."

"My own security!" Aera scoffed, anger building, shunting aside the previous feelings." If you cared a damn about my safety I wouldn't be here! It was always him that you were interested in, I was a back-up plan, for if things went wrong! I'm not stupid, Albus. I know you chose him because he was a boy, so it made sense to you that he would grow up stronger, more powerful, more capable of defeating-"

"Quiet."

It was spoken so softly, but her mouth snapped shut on her words at once, realising how far she had gone this time. It was not the first attempt she had taken to call Dumbledore down for his pervious actions, years ago. But she had never questioned his motives, only his way of doing things.

"You're perfectly correct, Aera. I did think he would succeed where you would fail. But events over the years have opened my eyes to one thing, he has been in situations where success was possible, and each time failed. It became apparent that there was something missing, I believe that is you. Now we must take you out of hiding and allow things to take place as fate wills. I made a mistake in my assumption so many years ago, now we must fight to heal what damage has been done. I am asking for your help, not demanding it.
"Will you help Harry?"

Aera stared at him, feeling fear, anger and sorrow swirl inside her. It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to fight alongside her twin, far from it. But to be brought out near the end as a scapegoat had made her feel used. The desire to help her brother was ploughing through everything else, however.
"If I can." she whispered, fists clenching.