"I have not yet had the opportunity to examine a sufferer of a Family Curse firsthand. If I am to target this specific malediction, I will likely need to make precise modifications to my charm. Would it be possible for me to meet the patient?"
Aiden made the request, and a wave of relief washed over Arsenio Greengrass's features. He was clearly overjoyed.
"Then, I shall eagerly await your arrival at Greengrass Manor."
Afterward, Arsenio slowly departed, and Aiden, with a sigh, returned to the lingering festivities of the banquet hall.
"The Greengrass family has something to ask of you, Aiden?" Dumbledore materialised beside him, his eyes twinkling with a familiar, gossipy curiosity.
"Yes, Professor," Aiden confirmed. "He wishes to see if I can help him find a solution to a long-standing Family Curse."
"Oh, that is interesting indeed," Dumbledore mused. "If your research yields positive results, would you perhaps mind accompanying me to see someone else who might benefit from your expertise?"
Dumbledore, as usual, was being deliberately mysterious.
"Let's talk about that after there are tangible results, Professor," Aiden replied, rolling his eyes good-naturedly.
Because Dumbledore had approached him, Aiden found himself once again the center of attention, his previous attempt at psychological invisibility thoroughly disrupted.
He could only stand there, wine glass in hand, and gracefully deal with the various members of wizarding families who came up to make connections, offer congratulations, or subtly probe for advantages.
"Ah, Mr. Prewett! I am exceptionally honored to finally meet you. I am the Head of the House of Malfoy, Lucius Malfoy."
Lucius Malfoy, clad in impeccably tailored, expensive-looking robes, glided over, extending a pale hand.
If one observed carefully, Lucius was, in essence, a larger, more polished, and decidedly more menacing version of his son, Draco.
"Hello, Mr. Malfoy. I have had some acquaintance with your son at Hogwarts," Aiden offered a polite, neutral compliment. Malfoy looked very pleased with himself at the acknowledgement.
"The Malfoy and Prewett families share some distant kinship, of course," Lucius said smoothly, his voice like oiled silk. "So I shall be presumptuous and call you Aiden, if I may."
Mr. Malfoy paused, allowing his words to settle, then continued, his tone shifting to one of confidential advice.
"I must remind you, dear child, that not everyone possesses such noble blood and a truly great future as yourself. Some families, like ours, are inherently great and noble, destined to stand at the apex of the Wizarding World. And then there are… other families, hmph, who are just barely maintaining a presentable facade through a smattering of luck and a certain low cunning."
He paused again, seemingly leaving Aiden space to absorb this wisdom, and then his voice dropped further.
"I know you are a smart person, Aiden. Surely, you can see the true face of those Weasleys, can you not? On the surface, they pretend to be so aloof from worldly concerns, so… common. But what are they really thinking, deep down? Aren't they all perpetually scheming about how to climb the social ladder, how to curry favour with those in true power?"
Speaking of this, Lucius allowed a faint, contemptuous smile to touch his lips before he straightened his body again, restoring his air of innate superiority.
"So, Aiden, I strongly advise you to distance yourself from the Weasley family. Isn't it patently obvious who will bring you genuine benefits and who will only bring you trouble and drag you down?"
Lucius's words were laden with instigation and a clear attempt at alienation. He evidently believed that with a little pointed guidance, he could sow seeds of suspicion and distrust in Aiden towards the Weasley family.
After delivering his unsolicited advice, Malfoy gave a curt nod and quickly swept away, leaving Aiden standing in place, a thoughtful, unreadable expression on his face.
"Oh, it seems our esteemed Ravenclaw genius rather enjoys socialising after all. Perhaps you should consider a transfer to Slytherin?"
A familiar, dull voice drawled from behind him.
"But they came to me first, Professor Snape," Aiden replied smoothly, turning to face the Potions Master. "And which noble family doesn't have a few… less fortunate relatives they occasionally have to endure?" Aiden joked lightly.
Snape sneered. "Instead of wasting your valuable time on these… insects, Prewett, you should be dedicating more of your efforts to your potionology. Otherwise, taking my advanced notes and still producing substandard work in Potions will undoubtedly tarnish your overblown reputation as a genius."
Snape subtly and not-so-subtly mocked Aiden. Aiden merely shrugged, unfazed.
"I will endeavour to meet your expectations, Professor."
The banquet, with its intricate social dances and underlying tensions, finally came to an end amidst a symphony of sounds and a kaleidoscope of colors.
***
The next day, Aiden accepted Arsenio Greengrass's invitation and Apparated to the Greengrass family estate.
The Greengrass Manor was situated in a serene, secluded valley, enveloped by lush, ancient forests, appearing as if it were a magnificent piece of emerald meticulously carved by nature itself.
The main building of the manor was a breathtaking Gothic castle. Its formidable stone walls, having withstood the relentless test of time, appeared unyieldingly steady and profoundly solemn.
The castle's numerous pointed towers soared gracefully into the clouds, as if aspiring to touch the distant stars in the sky, while the delicately carved window lattices revealed a timeless, classical elegance.
"Welcome to Greengrass Manor, Mr. Prewett."
Arsenio greeted him personally at the grand entrance of the manor, accompanied by a neatly dressed house-elf.
"You are too kind, Mr. Greengrass. Please, you can just call me Aiden," Aiden said with a polite inclination of his head.
"Very well, then I shall not stand on ceremony, Aiden," Arsenio replied, a genuinely friendly smile gracing his lips.
Aiden followed Arsenio through a winding cobblestone path that led them deeper into the castle grounds and then into the castle itself.
The interior of the castle was opulently decorated, yet it managed to avoid gaudiness, maintaining an air of refined taste. Portraits of past Greengrass family members, their expressions stern or thoughtful, hung on the ancient stone walls, observing all who passed.
Arsenio led Aiden to a comfortable reception room.
"Please wait here for a moment, Aiden. I'll call my daughters. If you require anything in the interim, you can tell Tilly."
Arsenio gestured towards the house-elf, who bowed deeply, and then he left the room.
Aiden took a moment to look around at the rich tapestries and antique furnishings, and soon Arsenio returned, accompanied by two young girls.
"Aiden, allow me to introduce you. This is my second daughter, Arthursie Greengrass. And this", he said, indicating the slightly younger girl, "is my third daughter, Astoria Greengrass. Arthursie will be starting at Hogwarts this year, and Astoria will follow her next year."
(TL: I am not sure what happened to the first daughter or if this is just AU, if there are any changes in later chapters, I will change it accordingly.)
"So you're the genius my father wouldn't stop talking about," Arthursie said, her tone a mixture of curiosity and youthful bluntness.
"Hello, Mr. Prewett," Astoria offered, her greeting more reserved and polite.
The two girls clearly had different personalities and chose distinctly different attitudes towards Aiden.
"Arthursie, mind your manners," Arsenio reprimanded his daughter gently but firmly.
Arthursie, with a reluctant sigh, offered a more formal, if still slightly ssceptical greeting to Aiden.
"Aiden, these are my daughters. As you can see, the matter is… delicate," Arsenio continued, his voice laced with concern, gesturing towards the girls.
"Well, then," Aiden said, his expression professional. "Perhaps we should find a quiet place where I can conduct a more thorough investigation?"
"Excellent. Please, come with me."
Arsenio led Aiden and his two daughters to another room. This chamber was filled with various intricate magical instruments and smelled faintly of rare herbs and old parchment; it seemed to be the place where Arsenio usually conducted his own magical research.
"Please, could both young ladies extend their hands?" Aiden requested politely.
Arthursie and Astoria held out their hands. Aiden took out his wand and, with precise movements, drew a complex rune on the palm of each of their hands.
Silver magical energy flowed from the runes, ttravellingvisibly through their blood vessels, eventually forming a complete circuit between them. This allowed Aiden to sense their magical and physical condition with enhanced clarity.
"Mr. Greengrass, may I cast a release charm on them? Specifically, my Guarding Charm," Aiden asked, seeking permission.
"Of course, Aiden. Please, feel free," Arsenio replied, raising his hand in a gesture of assent.
"Guardian Edict."
Aiden waved his wand with focused intent, and two shimmering silver halos of protective magic appeared around the two girls.
Almost immediately, faint wisps of red, malevolent-looking smoke began to emerge from their bodies, dissipating quickly into the air.
Through his heightened magical perception, Aiden felt that the Family Curse had indeed weakened under the influence of his charm, but the effect was not as profound or complete as he had hoped.
"Indeed," Arsenio observed, his voice heavy with a familiar weariness. "You possess a variant of this specific protective charm in your hand. I have tried similar approaches many times before, but I can only ever seem to weaken the progress of the curse, never truly eradicate it."
Arsenio's voice revealed his deep exhaustion, and it was clear that he was profoundly saddened by his inability to find a lasting solution to the curse that afflicted his family.
"This is indeed a significant problem," Aiden acknowledged, his brow furrowing in thought. "I will require a sample of blood from both young ladies. Also, does the Greengrass family possess any detailed research records or historical accounts pertaining to this specific curse?"
"Yes, absolutely! The Greengrass family library is entirely at your disposal, Mr… Aiden." Arsenio quickly corrected himself, his voice filled with renewed hope and excitement upon hearing that Aiden had decided to undertake the research. "The blood samples will be provided to you shortly."
"The timing is perfect, then. Aiden, please, you must allow me to entertain you for lunch. It's the least I can do."
Arsenio insisted that Aiden stay for lunch at Greengrass Manor.
In the afternoon, Aiden found himself immersed in the ancient, sprawling Greengrass family library. He began the meticulous process of searching for any and all research records compiled by Greengrass ancestors regarding blood curses, particularly the one afflicting their line.
Because, as the old adage goes, long-term illness often makes one a competent doctor, and coupled with their long and storied history, the Greengrass family's records on this specific curse were impressively, almost overwhelmingly, detailed.
In their meticulously kept records, Aiden discovered that this particular Family Curse was one passed down through the maternal bloodline, capable of intergenerational inheritance, skipping generations only to reappear with cruel tenacity.
The sufferer would find their life force continuously and insidiously plundered for the entire duration of the curse.
The curse would also systematically destroy the sufferer's immune system, rendering them perpetually weak and susceptible to all manner of illnesses.
Furthermore, the curse actively delayed the sufferer's natural recovery abilities from any ailment or injury. And finally, as if the physical afflictions weren't enough, there was the dream torment. The sufferer would be plagued by the insidious power of the curse every night, forced to constantly repeat experiences that led to terrifying nightmares, eroding their mental fortitude.
"This," Aiden muttered to himself, staring at the ancient, leather-bound book in his hand, "is going to be a bit tricky."
***********
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