An Auror's Work is Never Done

Chapter 8 Family Reunion

The following night while Tonks was in her daily strategy planning session with Sirius I decided to indulge in an early bath and then call it a night. I filled the oversized garden tub with bubble bath and slowly slipped into the hot water. I relaxed letting the soothing scent of sweet magnolias wash over my tired body and mind.

We'd been in Romania for seven days now and were no closer to locating Lucius. Although we had an eyewitness to his being seen in the surrounding area, we had so far been unable to track him down.

Draco's nerves were on edge. Because of the Bond, I was feeling decidedly frazzled myself. I let my mind wander. It came to rest on the dark Romanian. I wasn't sure what to think of Nick. He'd definitely stirred up a lot of emotions I hadn't had to deal with in almost a year...since Harry. I was so confused. 'We've only been on one date. And I haven't seen him since. But...he did send me the lily and chocolates. Can't forget the candy,' I thought popping one into my mouth. 'Urgh! It's not like he proposed marriage, Aurora! He hasn't even asked you on a second date.' Yet I had to admit, if only to myself, I was very attracted to him. He had a presence that drew a person in. 'Stop it! The whole point of this bath is to pamper myself and not think!'

I sighed deeply and closed my eyes to mediate like Master Oskimio had taught. I pictured a lush, green meadow covered by bright, spring sunshine. The wind gently ruffled through the grass and heather. I followed the breeze in my mind's eye on its journey under the trees to a river's edge and over.

I was startled out of the tranquil thoughts by a man's chuckle. I whipped my head up to see Nick looking down at me. I almost jumped up but realized, luckily, I couldn't. "How the hell did you get in here? Get out of here now!"

He stared at me and I immediately felt sorry for raising my voice for some unknown reason.

"Forgive the intrusion on your bath but I could not wait another moment to see you again."

I gazed at him in confusion, torn between anger and a flutter of awareness. I slid further under the cover of rapidly dwindling bubbles. "I don't know how you got in here but I suggest you leave."

"It is time we talk. We have much to discuss, you and I."

"Listen here, buddy. I don't know how your parents raised you but where I'm from you don't barge into other people's bathrooms. I'll say it again. Get the fuck out of my room!" 'Draco! Come here and bring Sirius!'

"I am sorry but I cannot allow this man you call Brother or the other two with your group to interfere with our talk. Now be a good girl and dress."

The anger was increasing along with a healthy dose of fear. 'There's a man I barely know in my supposedly apparation free room, my wand is way over by the sink, and to top it all off, I'm naked! Damn it, Aurora! Moody would kill you. 'Constant vigilance!' Why didn't I listen better?'

"I believe I would like this Moody person. Will you behave if I retire to the sitting room?"

'Dragon!'

"There is no need to fear me, Dear One. I would never harm you." He lifted his hand. My robe raised itself and landed gently beside the tub. He left the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

Not trusting him to stay out while I dressed I picked the robe up and put it on over my wet body. I scrambled for my wand and used a drying charm on my body, hair, and robe. Feeling slightly more in control I felt out for Draco once more. Nothing. 'How the hell did he get in my room? Only Tonks, Draco, Sirius, and I know what locking charms were used. How had he known I was calling Draco? And why did he call me Dear One? One way to find out.' I transfigured my robe into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt and walked out the bathroom.

"Splendid! I am so happy you have decided to join me. Come. Sit. I have prepared a light meal for you." The small desk next to my bed had been set with several dishes and a bottle of white wine. He poured two glasses and offered me one. I declined, unsure of him now and what was in the goblet. "I assure you, I will not hurt you. Please. It will help to calm you."

I took it from him and downed the liquid without pausing. I slammed it back on the table, shattering the fragile stem. Drops of blood marred the white linen tablecloth. Nick took my injured hand and tenderly kissed the cut. I tore my hand away when I felt the flick of a tongue. Looking down I watched amazed as the cut on my hand repaired itself and disappeared.

"What the hell is going on? Who are you really?"

"I am Nicholae Remsiana, your great-cousin, many times over. I am The Storm Tamer."

"I'm asleep. Yeah, that's it. I fell asleep in the tub and I'm dreaming."

"It is no dream. I have found you at long last."

"I don't understand."

"Will you share a meal with me? It has been so long since I have craved someone's company as much as yours."

"But my friends..."

"Will not join us. They are busy with other things at the moment."

"But..."

"All will be revealed to you."

I looked into those eyes so much like my own and my resistance disappeared. 'I guess I could at least humor him.' "Okay."

He talked as I picked at the sinfully delicious delicacies from around the world. "I was born in the year of our lord 1476. I had a remarkable childhood. My family was one of a hundred Gypsy clans that roamed free throughout the providences. When I turned 11 I discovered I had an extraordinary gift for taming the very air around me. You would know all about that though since you have undoubtedly read my journals. My grandfather taught me to become a Healer." He paused seeing I had questions.

"You can't be! It's not true. No way are you my Nicholae. You'd be over 500 years old and you certainly don't look it."

"I will get to that. Now, I was very proud of my talents, as I am quite sure you can understand. By the time I turned 24 I left my family behind to find fortune and adventure. Grandmother warned me I did not know life beyond the caravan. But I was too arrogant and vain to heed her counsel. I traveled the countryside for three years before I met Danielle. Oh, she was lovely, and a lady. I could not believe it when I was chosen to be her personal physician. She was too perfect in my eyes for me to see that she was no normal woman. Eventually I fell for her, naïve fool that I was. She laughed in my face the night I confessed my hopeless devotion to her. She laughed as she killed me."

"What?!"

"She killed me. She was a Vampire. Danielle turned me. She said that now I would be able to love her forever knowing she felt nothing in return. I fled and have never set eyes on her again."

"You're crazy. You actually expect me to believe this?"

"It is true." He moved towards me and grabbed my hand. Placing it over his heart he asked, "What do you feel?"

"Nothing." Knowing it had to be a mistake I checked his pulse. Nothing. I backed away. "Oh, Merlin. I'm alone with a Vampire. Shit! Oh, Merlin." I drew my wand.

He advanced slowly on me and held out a hand. "I would never harm you, Dear One."

"Why do you keep calling me that?!" I was starting to get hysterical. I bumped into a wall.

Nicholae placed his palm on my cheek and looked deeply into my eyes. A sense of peacefulness filled me. He smiled. "I have known you since before you were born. You have been my companion since the Darkness was thrust upon me so long ago. Because of my Gypsy heritage and the magic in my blood I was cursed with visions after I turned, visions of you."

"Me? But I hadn't even been born."

"That is why I call them a curse. For two hundred years I searched for you, knowing you had to be somewhere on this miserable planet I called home. I found a prophet; one who foretells the future and was told you would not be born until soon before the new millennium. I have seen your infancy, childhood, your entire life up to this day for countless years. I traveled. Recently I began gathering any information and knowledge I deemed valuable to your quest. "

"What quest? I don't understand."

"Your quest to capture the Dark Wizard."

"Lucius?"

"Yes. You are in grave danger, Aurora Dawn. Far more than even I can see. I can only tell you he is nearer than you think and he will strike soon."

"Why are you telling me this?"

He laid his hand on my cheek again. His fingertips gently caressed my skin leaving a tickle of nerves behind with each stroke. "I have loved you for four centuries. For the first 100 years I wanted only to track you down to understand the visions better. But as I watched you grow and mature over and over in my mind I fell in love with you. That is why I call you Dear One. That is what you are to me."

"You barely know me."

"Oh but I disagree. I know you very well. I watched over you your entire life. I saw you take on that nasty boy in school the day you and Shawna became friends. I watched your powers threaten to consume you when your mother left, your friendship with the six at Hogwarts. I saw the battle against the Evil one. Your relationship with him, I watched as he threw it aside. I am sorry he caused you heartache. He is undeserving of your love if he can be that callous with your heart."

"I still don't understand. What do you want with me?"

"To have you by my side."

"What? You're a Vampire! I really don't think it would work out." I edged away from him. 'Why did I always seem to attract the crazies?'

He chuckled once again, the rich sound of it washing over my senses. "I am not mentally unstable. I am simply what I am. I cannot help the way I feel. I have gone to great measures to make your life easier. When Albus Dumbledore traveled here years ago, I immediately recognized him from your life. I gave him the history and secrets of our unique abilities so that he could pass them on to you."

"You're Mikhail Vonier? How many names do you have?"

"I have used several. The visions I have had exposed the fact you would require assistance only I could give."

"Why not just tell me yourself?"

"You were still too young and I did not know if I would be able to resist you."

"Uh huh," I said unconvinced.

"Has no one never told you how astonishing you are?"

"Right, all the time."

"Aurora Dawn, you were aptly named." He reached across the gulf between us and took my hand in his. "You are an exquisite creature both inside and out. Your physical beauty is only surpassed by your giving heart."

He made me want to believe the words. Only Harry had ever called me beautiful before this man. 'Harry,' I thought with a wince.

"I could make you forget him and the pain he has dealt you."

Nicholae made it sound so easy and tempting. I was getting so tired of acting day in and day out that everything was fine.

"But I confess I am partially guilty for your heartache."

"Excuse me?"

"I have had only one vision in my existence that did not seem to concern you, one of him. I saw that he would be the main reason for Tom Riddle's downfall. I traveled to their town and became friends with James and Lily Potter and placed a protection spell on their young son's aura. I warned them they were in danger but it did not change anything. I could not save their lives. They were good people."

'Lily's letter in the vault.'

"I see now it was about you after all."

"Merlin."

"Come with me, my Aurora."

"I can't. I barely know you. I have responsibilities, family, my friends." 'Does he honestly think I'll go off with a man who is basically a stranger to me? But for some reason I want to.'

"We belong together. I feel it, as do you. Only another Storm Tamer can fully understand and appreciate you. Our powers draw us to the other. Think on it, Dear One. I will give you one week." He stood up and walked to the balcony doors. When I moved to follow, he soothed his hand over my face in a loving gesture. I sighed making him smile. "Until I see you again." He brushed his lips against mine and was gone.

I remained on the balcony staring at the night sky. It could have been minutes or hours later when Tonks came back to the room. I was vaguely aware of her going into the bathroom. The sound of the shower provided white noise to my jumbled thoughts.

'Nicholae is a Vampire. He claims to love me. Me, a relative nobody who barely even knows him.' I watched as a falling star zipped across the field of black and silver. 'He can read my thoughts. He heard me thinking about Moody and Draco!' Well, I had heard Vampires could. I'd read enough Anne Rice to get my imagination running. What I'd learned in training had confirmed a lot of the Muggle superstitions.

"Aurora, are you coming to bed? It's almost midnight."

"Yeah." I said goodnight to Tonks and burrowed under the crisp sheets. As I drifted off I heard a deep timbre whisper, "Sleep well, Aurora Dawn."