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Harry Potter: The True Lord- Chapter 18: Meeting the Old Friend
🕑 Added 2025-07-04 16:35:27 +0000 UTCWhile Bellatrix was in her discussion with Arcturus, events were unfolding exactly as Arcturus had predicted. Antonio’s inn today was a bit more crowded than usual, and the customers were being exceptionally nice to him. He could guess the reason but he was bewildered by how fast news travelled in Wizarding Britain.
As he returned after serving another drink to one of his customers who had spent five minutes engaging in small talk, he picked up a letter that had just been delivered. This was not the first letter he had received today, but this one was somewhat different. It was from an old friend. And you guessed correctly; he only had one single old friend. Aurora Sinistra.
Lord Olario,
Yesterday we met by pure coincidence, and even if it was brief, it felt great to catch up with an old friend. Meeting you brought back some jubilant memories of Hogwarts and the childhood we shared. It was really pleasurable meeting you again.
I was wondering if we could perhaps catch up once more. Maybe today itself. I think your inn would also be a suitable place (of course, after closing hours.) Send a reply with my owl only (I know that you do not have an owl).
Aurora Sinistra
As he read the letter for the second time, he felt something uncomfortable. He knew that Aurora was a genuine friend and had even put in considerable effort to continue their friendship after Hogwarts. But this letter just did not feel right.
Even so, he could not and did not want to deny Aurora. He could only figure out the reason for his discomfort after meeting her. He picked up a parchment and scribbled a reply.
Aurora,
I too resonate with the same feelings as yours. It was truly wonderful catching up with you before Miss Bellatrix Black interrupted our conversation.
And yes, I would be delighted to meet you today. The inn closes at 8 pm, and hopefully, you are aware of its location. Otherwise, this wonderful little owl of yours will do the job.
Antonio Olario
He tied the letter around the owl’s claw and placed a treat for her on his palm. The owl nipped his palm, taking the treat, and with a hoot, flew away.
Antonio sighed and busied himself serving another drink to a customer.
.
.
.
It was around 8:15 pm when Antonio was busy rearranging his closed inn, and a knock came at the door.
“Yes?” he called out.
The door was pushed open, and a lady walked inside. She was, as Antonio had expected, Aurora Sinistra.
She was covered in a long coat, and a hint of ‘magical makeup’ was clearly evident on her face. Antonio was sure that inside that long overcoat, Aurora must be wearing a fine dress, a dress that could catch his attention. He now started to have an inkling what was about to happen. But he wanted to know the reason.
“Good evening, Antonio,” Aurora said. An expression of embarrassment was present on her face, and she was clearly awkward.
“Good evening, Aurora,” Antonio greeted back. He was genuinely curious about what was on Aurora’s mind.
“Have a seat,” he gestured towards a round table in the centre of the inn, around which two chairs were present.
Aurora gave a “hmm” as she took her seat.
“A drink?” Antonio asked, and even before she answered, he was on his way behind the counter to pour one.
He poured two glasses of mild wine and placed them on the table, taking his seat opposite Aurora.
The first few moments were filled with awkward silence until Aurora opened her mouth, “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Not at all,” he replied with a smile. “I am pleased to host you.”
Aurora also smiled in response.
“How have you been?” she questioned.
“Fine, I guess,” he replied. “Brewing wine and whiskey and then serving customers. It is a life I have become used to.”
Aurora nodded, “Sounds like a fine life to me.”
This time, Antonio could sense that the words that had escaped Aurora’s mouth were genuine, and she truly felt that way. Was she in some sort of trouble that the life of a waiter and server was sounding appealing to her? Or was it the simplicity of his life that was fascinating her?
“How have you been?” he asked as he continued the conversation. “I must apologise that I almost neglected you after we graduated from Hogwarts.”
“Almost?” Aurora questioned with narrowed eyes. “You actually neglected me. But that’s fine. You already apologised.”
“And I have been good,” she continued. “Been thinking about getting a job, probably at the Ministry.”
Antonio nodded. Aurora Sinistra belonged to the Sinistra family. A pure-blood magical family. Her family was mid-tier, not as influential or wealthy as the Black family, and neither as insignificant as his own Olario family.
They operated in certain businesses and had sufficient wealth. Aurora herself did not belong to the direct line of the Lord of the Sinistra family. Her father was the nephew of the current Lord Sinistra, and his uncle was next in line to inherit the Lordship.
“What kind of job are you interested in?” Antonio asked.
“Well, to be honest, I actually wanted to join Hogwarts as a professor,” she replied. “With the recent happenings around us, a Ministry job is not exactly a safe job to do.”
She waited for a few moments, probably to hear Antonio’s opinion on the recent happenings, but he kept quiet.
She continued after the pause, “I am interested in teaching students, but Headmaster Dumbledore said that Hogwarts does not have a vacancy for now, and I am also too young to become a professor. Maybe in another three or four years, I would be a professor at Hogwarts.”
“Meanwhile, any desk job at the ministry would serve its purpose,” she added.
“Congratulations, I guess,” Antonio said.
Aurora was clearly becoming nervous with each passing moment, fidgeting with her long overcoat. She was probably thinking about a ‘reason’ why she could remove it. It was the peak of winter, and she couldn't very well say she was suddenly feeling hot.
And with these thoughts in his mind, a mischief flashed in Antonio’s eyes.
Comments
zain sad
I think it should be seven, a magical number full of power. But besides his wives, he should have loyal servants to serve him, his own army. I think every true lord should have that.
theimaginarywriter
I have not exactly decided. But I am leaning towards not a lot but it all depends on what plot I am able to weave. I do not want to loose the plot in pursuit of a bigger harem.
zain sad
how many women will he have
