HP: Harry From The Ancient House Of Black [ Chapter 56 ]

They stared at each other for a moment before she turned and walked right out of the library, causing Draco to let out a depressed sigh.

"She's bloody gorgeous. Too busy pining after you to even look at me. Bloody shame that is."

Aries ignored that comment probably too intently. He was happy with Daphne, something he had thought he'd never find in someone who could potentially be his equal of sorts.

Arianna certainly would never have filled that role, but even he could not deny that he missed her friendship far more deeply than he'd ever admit.

It caused a deep ache in his heart he refused to recognize. If he gave into Arianna then she'd always try to pull him away from his destiny.

No, she had to give in first by giving up on him. Aries only hoped that she would find a way before she ruined their friendship forever.

"What about turning into a shark or something?" Draco offered.

"No transfigurations. Not very original."

"Alright, what about doing some crazy ritual, parting the black lake, and flying to get your hostage on a broom?" Aries gave him a shocked look.

"Have you been reading Muggle religious books?"

"What?" Draco look almost disgusted. "I would never!"

"Eh, it wasn't that bad."

"And when the bloody hell would you have done that?"

"I got bored in Jerusalem. Figured I'd read up on the local history. Turned out to be a religious book. Water into wine. Walking on water. Basic magic until the whole resurrection thing."

Draco seemed to be content with that answer and went back to playing with his Snitch. It was as Aries was distractedly reading the text in front, trying desperately to put the issue of Arianna out of his mind, that he came across the perfect solution to his underwater breathing problem.

It was an old ritual from Ancient Egypt and while not the most impressive solution, it would have to do.

….

The next night brought his weekly lesson with Daphne, though she seemed far more interested in snogging than actually learning anything of the Dark Arts, not that he minded after all.

Her Occlumency had improved exponentially, though he feared that Dumbledore could still break into her mind if he wished, and he was not entirely sure if the old man would resort to measures the Dark Lord had considered trivial.

It was the very reason that he was hesitant to reveal any of his plans to her especially with the increased whispers of the Dark Lord's return.

The fact that the triumvirate masters of Legilimency were also the leaders of the three sides of the coming war was not lost to Aries.

The war would be centered around intelligence and the side that kept their intentions hidden the best would have the greatest advantage.

Daphne's warm weight atop of him and her light caress of his face brought him back from his musing.

Her blonde hair was cascading down her face and her blue eyes had a warmth that rarely existed outside of this room.

Perhaps that was what he liked best about her. She had a fascination for the Dark Arts that had brought together his friends at Durmstrang, the drive to succeed and shape a society but also allowed him a place to get away from it all without attempting to pull him away from his destiny.

She created balance between what was wanted and what was needed. Salazar had advised him to find something or someone that made him whole.

He had to wonder if he could honestly do any better in that aspect than Daphne Greengrass.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" A smile threatened to overtake her forced annoyance.

"I think I was rather lucky that the three schools decided to do an exchange program." That caused her to smile at last and Aries could not help but want her to do it more.

"Until you return to Durmstrang, though we'll have this summer. I expect to get the premier tour of Germany."

"Of course, darling." Aries thought they'd spend the rest of the night in silence and more than once thought the blonde witch had fallen asleep. It was near curfew that she lifted her head and gave him a curious look.

"Why have you not taught me the Unforgivables?" He raised an eyebrow at that.

The Dark Arts, despite his belief that magic was all about intent, contained a hundred ways to control, torture, and kill someone that it made somewhat pointless to know the Unforgivables, and that had been one reason he had avoided the curses.

Godric's conversation with Potter floated through his mind and the same exception they had both known was there, glaring in their hypocrisy.

"I have often told you that magic is about intent." Aries sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The Dark Arts has so many spells to do so many things but at the end of the day many of those curses can be used for different reasons.”

“Each of the Unforgivables has only one purpose: to control, to torture, and to kill. At one time the Killing Curse was merciful. There is no pain, no suffering, but at the end of the day the intent is solely to kill.”

“You see killing another person goes against everything in one's nature that it does something irreparable to you. I told you the Dark Arts can change you, but there is no way you can use the Unforgivables without them changing you.'

"You can torture someone with the Dark Arts but there is nothing that can equal the pain created by the Cruciatus Curse. You can control someone with the Dark Arts, but the Imperious Curse gives you such control over another that you can make them defy their own human nature. I stick to my belief that while we call it the Dark Arts, there is no such thing as dark magic.”