Chapter Text
Corvina Avery hated the summer holidays. She was pretty sure she was the only student ever that felt this way. But what could you expect when you were stuck for two months at your family manor, far away from your friends, forced to spend your time with people you detest.
Corvina sighed as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Luckily for her, she only had to last one more night at this forsaken place because tomorrow morning she will board the Hogwarts Express where she will spend blissful ten months at her sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Corvina smiled at herself thinking of her best friend, Lily Evans. She hasn't spoken to Lily for an entire summer since her parents never approved of their friendship. Not that her parents approved of anything really. They weren't approving of her when she got sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin like the rest of the family. They didn't like it when she started spending her time with Lily Evans, the best student on her year but also, a muggleborn. Corvina never understood what the fuss was about. Why did the 'pureness' of one’s blood matter? Lily may have been a muggleborn but she was far better at her studies than any pure blood Corvina knew. But when she told her parents that, she took a beating so hard she had to hide out in her bedroom for three days until she could hide her bruises with make-up.
Corvina was used to the beatings. It was fairly normal for her delicate pale skin to be covered with bruises. Not that she ever confessed that to someone. Ever since she started Hogwarts, she noticed none of her other friends wore long sleeves to hide the handprints on their wrists. None of them owned at least a dozen turtlenecks or buttoned up their uniforms all the way to hide the bruises on their necks. Her family usually kept away from her face but Corvina still learnt the use of make-up far earlier than her dorm mates. In case one of her family members slipped and left a gash on her lip, she wanted to be able to cover it.
None of her friends needed to know what Corvina Avery was going through while she spent her holidays at her family manor in Wales. They would never understand but Corvina understood. In the pure – blood families the only thing that mattered was that you had a son, an heir to the family name. Daughters were usually just there to get married off and used to expand magical connections. Daughters rarely mattered but usually daughters succumbed to the will of their parents. Corvina was never like that. Oh, she did learn how to sit properly, speak only when spoken to, dance, eat and act to draw no kind of unwanted attention to herself. But Corvina also asked hundredths of questions that usually got her a fair share of beatings.
Even now, she stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom suite, getting ready for the last dinner her family threw before she and her brother were supposed to get back to Hogwarts. She was wearing a silver lacy dress with long sleeves and a high collar of course to hide the bruises left by her father's hands that wrapped around her neck whenever she asked questions she wasn't supposed to.
Her raven black hair was cascading down her back in perfect curls while her dark blue eyes were hidden under long lashes and fair amount of make-up. She hated wearing jewellery but her mother insisted. What was the point of owning so much jewellery if you don't wear any to show off? So, Corvina chose her silver earrings with black encrusted diamonds her late great-grandmother she was named after left for her.
“You look lovely, dear sister.” Aurelius, who just showed up at the door of his sister’s bedroom wearing his newest dress robe said with a smirk on his face. Oh, how their parents have made a mistake when it came to his name. Aurelius meant light and as a matter of fact her brother was, unlike her, light haired, almost golden, but inside, he was dark, twisted - same as the rest of their family. What a joke it was that Corvina was the one named after dark. Well, her dark raven hair to be precise, but you see the irony.
“Thank you, brother dearest.” Corvina said blankly still looking at her reflection in the mirror while Aurelius entered her room and looked around with distaste. Although the rest of her family got into Slytherin, Corvina was the first one that got sorted into Gryffindor and she made damn well sure to rub that into the face of every family member that ever stepped in here. Walls of her bedroom were completely covered with Gryffindor flags and emblems and she absolutely ravished in the thought that it made her family sick.
“You ought to take all this crap down.” Aurelius commented dryly as he took a stand behind his sister admiring himself in the mirror.
“Your bedroom is covered in green and silver.” Corvina stated as she looked at her brother’s reflection in the mirror. Oh, he was beautiful. Both Avery siblings were, there was no denying it. But although brother and sister, they couldn’t be more different. Where Corvina was dark haired, Aurelius was light haired, Corvina was pale while her brother seemed to tan faster than anyone else in the family. And while Corvina had dark blue eyes her brothers were as light as crystal-clear water. How their parents prided themselves over Aurelius. He was the perfect son, a perfect heir to the Avery family name.
Perfectly good looking, perfectly mannered (at least when everyone was watching), perfectly charming.
“Those are the colours to be proud of.” Aurelius hissed at his sister while he fixed his golden hair.
“It’s not my fault I landed in Gryffindor.” Corvina said and Aurelius chuckled poisonously.
“Tell me, dear sister,” he started. “Are you still running around with mudbloods?”
“Don’t call Lily like that!” Corvina snapped as she turned around to face her molester. Instead of an answer, her brother grabbed her by the throat making her unable to breathe. She gasped for air, her eyes filling with tears as Aurelius laughed at her.
“I will call her whatever I want.” He spat out. “Because that’s what she is! And if you had any brains in that pretty head of yours, you would know not to run around with her or hang around those other imbeciles like Potter and Black! And you will watch your mouth with me, little sister! Is that understood?”
Corvina desperately tried to inhale, but her brother hardened the grip on her throat. “Is that understood?” he repeated and she nodded trying to get out of his grip. Finally, he loosened it and she fell on the floor in front of her mirror gasping for air. She already started seeing black dots in front of her eyes from the lack of oxygen.
“Mother sent me to tell you to come downstairs. The guests have already started to gather.” Aurelius said as he left her room. “Oh, and-“ he added turning to look at her from the door. “Evan Rosier is there as well so fix up your face. We don’t want him to see you like this.” He laughed as he walked down the corridor and Corvina turned to look at herself in the mirror. She whiped her tears away and examined the bruises her brother’s hands have left on her neck. That will take her another half an hour to cover up. But Corvina was used to it anyways.
Half an hour later, Corvina descended down the stairs into the family’s dining room. About thirty of her father’s and brother’s closest friends turned to look at her.
“Oh, there you are sweetie.” Her mother Orlena said as she got up from her seat next to her father to inspect her daughter. “Don’t slouch.” She warned Corvina quietly as she kissed her daughter’s cheek. “And smile, for Merlin’s sake. This is not a funeral.”
Corvina managed to pull off a small smile and her mother nodded happily. “Come, sweetie.” She said leading Corvina towards the table. “We have saved you a seat next to Evan.”
Of course. Evan Rosier was one of Aurelius’ best friends from school, a year older than Corvina. It was no secret amongst the pure bloods that Corvina was to wed Evan someday. Not that anyone has deemed to ask Corvina her opinion on that. And if they had, well, let’s just say she would have a lot to say.
“You look exceptional, darling.” Evan said as he kissed the air above her hand and smiled at her as if she was the pray and he was a hunter.
“Thank you.” She managed to say as she sat at her assigned seat next to him. Evan was exactly like her brother. Dashing on the outside, foul and evil on the inside. He had dark brown hair and stern features. His eyes were golden brown but full of spite. Just like the rest of the purebloods Evan had an aura around him like he could get whatever he wanted. And he did get everything he wanted. He got a promise from her father that he will marry Corvina the day she graduates from Hogwarts. And she found herself lucky to even get a chance to finish school. Most girls got married off as soon as they turned seventeen.
Speaking of her father, she looked up at him at the centre of the table. Victor Avery wore a dark robe and a stern look on his face as he examined his daughter. He wasn’t pleased, Corvina could tell. She was running late and kept the dinner waiting. In his eyes, she just disrespected him and his guests. He took a sip of wine but continued to stare at Corvina until she gave up and looked away.
Her mother was oblivious to the actions of her husband and her son towards Corvina. She was blissfully unaware that her daughter returned back to school covered in bruises after every summer spent at home. Or maybe she ignored it, Corvina couldn’t even tell anymore. She looked at her mother as she sipped on her wine quietly. Orlena Avery was a beautiful woman. It was a blessing and a curse in the world they lived in because beauty could only land you into the house of the most powerful, most cruel man there was. That just so happened to be Corvina’s father. And Evan Rosier for that matter.
Aurelius inherited his mother’s looks. Just like Aurelius, her mother had straight golden hair and light blue eyes. But unlike her son, Orlena was kind and good. And oblivious in so many things. Apparently, Corvina inherited her mother’s personality. Unfortunately, that’s all she inherited. Her looks she got completely from her father. Black, curly hair and dark blue eyes. She hated herself for that because every time she looked at herself in the mirror, she saw him. And she couldn’t escape it.
“So,” Walburga Black turned to look at Corvina and Evan. “How are the wedding preparations coming along?” she asked and Evan smiled at Mrs Black as he grabbed Corvina’s hand under the table.
“We haven’t started the preparations just yet.” He said as he squeezed Corvina’s fingers. She acknowledged the pain but tried to keep her face blank. “I still have another year of school left.”
“That’s right!” Corvina’s mother jumped in with a smile. “And Corvina is just starting her sixth year at Hogwarts. I guess we’ll have to be patient for another two years.”
“Oh, that’s nonsense!” Walburga protested loudly. “I don’t see the point for Corvina to finish her education. A good wife has no need to wave her wand around aimlessly.” Her speech was followed by a few chuckles around the table. “And what nonsense do they even teach you at that school? Defence Against the Dark Arts?” she laughed loudly as she took a sip of her wine. “It’s not like you’ll need any of that!”
“Still,” her mother jumped in as their guests erupted into laughter. “For appearances.”
“Oh, my dear Orlena,” Walburga said staring at Corvina’s mother. “Times are changing. The best thing for your daughter is to get married and start a family. And soon.” She finished as she smiled at Corvina and Evan.
Walburga Black was a very beautiful woman. There was no denying it. She was slender and tall with dark midnight black hair and hazel eyes that were always covered in large amounts of purple make–up. Her husband, who was sitting next to her, was equally as handsome. His hair was dark as well and just like Corvina’s father, he wore a dark robe and a stern face expression. Yes, the Black family, the purest of them all, were known for their beauty. But they were also known for cutting the heads of their house elves once they were too old to serve them and displaying them on their grand staircase. They were known for cutting ties with any family member who didn’t agree with their rules. And there were many rules Walburga Black enforced; Corvina was sure of that.
Corvina smiled back at her charmingly. “And what about your sons, Mrs Black?” she looked at Regulus Black, a fifteen-year-old boy with dark hair and dark blue eyes focused on his plate, sitting next to his mother. “Any candidates for them so far?”
“Oh, darling, none just yet for Regulus.” She smiled at Evan. “None so far since you’re already promised.”
She meant it as a compliment to Evan of course, and not to Corvina. It was considered Evan’s personal success that his future wife was as beautiful as Corvina was. But Corvina wasn’t about to give up.
“And what about your other son?” she asked pretending to be completely oblivious. “Sirius?”
The noise around the dining table has died out and Walburga Black was, maybe for the first time, left speechless. It was common knowledge that Black’s older son ran away a couple of weeks ago and was, because of that, disowned by his family. Of course, Corvina knew about that. Not that she cared. Sirius was, just like Corvina, a disappointment to his family ever since he, just like Corvina, got sorted into Gryffindor six years ago. One would think that would make Sirius Black and Corvina Avery best of friends, but it was far from that. If anything, one detested the other. Still, Corvina couldn’t stand Walburga Black at the moment and, not that anyone noticed, she knew where to shoot when she wanted to hurt someone.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Walburga said staring at Corvina coldly.
“Oh, I’m sure you do.” Corvina insisted. “Sirius and I are classmates, you see. I’m actually surprised that he’s absent this fine evening. Where is he?”
By that point Evan Rosier’s fingers were dug deep into Corvina’s skin but she didn’t care. She was used to the pain. She was not used to Walburga Black being left lost for words by a sixteen-year-old girl.
“Corvina.” Her father’s words made Corvina look at him and lose all courage she thought she had. “You may leave.”
“But, I-“ she tried but he looked at her, his eyes seeming almost black under the dim light of the dining room.
“Now.” He said sternly and Corvina slowly got up.
“If you’ll excuse me.” She said as she left the silent dining room aware that everyone was staring at her. She looked down at her left hand where Evan was holding her. It was bleeding but she didn’t feel anything.
However, she felt when her father arrived at her bedroom in the middle of the night after his guests have left and slapped her. She couldn’t chew on her breakfast the next morning from the pain. But it was okay because she was finally returning back to Hogwarts.