Chapter 3: Crowley
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As the magical wind of the journey swept over them, the familiar Crowley manor appeared before them. The twisted trees and twilight sky cast long shadows over the old estate, which seemed to silently watch them. Though gloomy and isolated, this manor was home, and Aleister looked at it with a renewed sense of belonging after the exciting day in Diagon Alley.
Alice let go of her brother's hand and gave him a warm smile.
"Mum will be in the library," she said as they walked to the front entrance. "But before you go find her, why don't you take a moment to rest? It's been a long day, and I'm sure you're exhausted."
Aleister nodded, though he didn't really feel tired. His mind continued to race, going over every detail of the day: the wand at Ollivanders, the pendant that now hung around his neck, the books, the spells, and the mysterious magic that seemed to surround everything related to the world of Hogwarts.
He climbed the stairs of the mansion to his room, leaving Alice behind. He entered his room, a vast space filled with family heirlooms and objects he had collected in his explorations of the mansion. As he closed the door behind him, the silence of the house enveloped him, a calm that contrasted with the bustle of the alley. He sat on the edge of his bed, taking his wand out of his pocket.
He held it in front of him, observing the details of the wood. The wand seemed to pulse with an energy of its own, connecting with him in a way he had not felt before. Carefully, he waved it lightly. A golden glow came from the tip, softly illuminating the room for a brief moment.
"It's perfect," he whispered to himself, feeling a strange connection with the wand, as if it spoke to him in a language only he could understand.
Outside, Alice watched from the half-open door, a look of pride and concern mixed on her face. She knew Aleister was destined for great things, but she also knew that with that power came great responsibilities. The secrets in his family, the dark heritage they carried… Aleister didn't know everything yet, but soon he would.
"Sweet dreams, Al," she murmured softly before heading to the library where her mother was waiting for them.
In the library, Aleister's mother, Emma Crowley, sat in her favorite chair, wrapped in a dark robe and reading an ancient-looking book. When Alice entered, she looked up with a smile.
"How was your day in Diagon Alley?" Eleonora asked in her usual soft, yet authoritative tone.
Alice approached her, taking a seat in a nearby chair.
"It was a good day," Alice replied. "Aleister is excited. He chose a powerful wand, and he already has everything he needs to start at Hogwarts. But there is something else…"
Eleonora raised an eyebrow, a clear sign of interest.
"Anything else?" she repeated.
"The amulet," Alice said, bringing out the jewel she had given to her brother. "I sensed it… something in that artifact. Something that might be useful in protecting him. Though I don't know exactly why, I think he's going to need it more than we imagined."
Eleonora leaned forward, closing the book she was reading with a soft "clap."
"Ancient Crowley magic has always had its mysteries," she commented. "If you sensed something in that amulet, it's because it's meant for him. Protection and guidance are only part of what that object represents."
Alice nodded, but couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. She knew that Aleister's fate was intertwined with his family's legacy, but there was something darker, something that had yet to come to light. The disappearance of his father, Edward Crowley, remained an unsolved mystery, and though he had not spoken of it in a long time, the shadow of his absence was ever present.
Eleonora rose from her seat, walking towards Alice with firm, gentle steps.
"You are right to be worried, daughter," she said in a lower tone. "Aleister is young, but the magic that runs through his veins is powerful. And with that power will come challenges. But for now, we must allow him to enjoy his time at Hogwarts. All in good time."
Alice nodded again, but she knew something big was coming. And when it did, she would do everything she could to protect her brother.
That night, as Aleister slept soundly in his room, his dreams were filled with strange images: a hooded figure walking through a dark forest, a flash of green light, and a name that echoed in his mind like a distant echo: Alexander Crowley.
But despite the darkness that surrounded him, there was always a light shining, dim but constant, like the full moon that now hung in the sky outside his window.