Hogwarts: The Blood Mage

Chapter 7: Hemeris



Aidan was back in his room, reading the letter that Mr. Ollivander had sent him. 

"Dear Lord Haimadros,

I hope this letter finds you well. I have spent the past several days reviewing my family's private records, specifically those pertaining to wand commissions made for House Haimadros. As expected, there is no mention of the core used in your wand within our public logs —however, I did find a passage buried deep in one of my great-grandfather's restricted ledgers.

The entry is brief and without fanfare, but it notes that the wand crafted for a Lord Haimadros in the 18th century required a core of a single feather from a creature "shadow-born, fiercely loyal, and bound in blood to the family's line." No name is given. The only further note reads: "The feather shimmers darkly under light, edged with crimson striations visible only when warmed by the holder's hand." 

That only meant one thing, Aidan now had to go back to Gringotts in order to check more books. After all, he had not found anything about magical creatures in the only book he took form the Ancestral Vault. Still, something told him he would find what he needed there.

"The description does not match any known creature within the registry of magical beings. That said, my instincts tell me this core was not a mere poetic flourish, but something deliberately unrecorded —perhaps to protect the source. If you have access to any personal records, bestiaries, or sealed vaults belonging to your family, that would be the most likely place to continue your search.

Once you are able to retrieve the feather —or any item you suspect may be related to your family's wand tradition —bring it to me, and I will begin the crafting process. I am eager to see what kind of wand we can forge together.

Warm regards,

Warwick Ollivander"

Aidan stared at the letter for a few moments before heading downstairs. There he told his father and mother that he was going to step out for a bit since he had to search for something in Gringotts. With their permission and after a warm hug, Aidan apparated to the entrance of the bank. He felt so cool finally apparating on his own. 

"Let's find this core." Aidan muttered to himself before entering the bank. This time he was dressed casually, with cargo joggers, black boots, a crimson hoodie, and a long black coat. Upon entering Gringotts, he quickly headed to the nearest reception desk and asked for Fernuk after showing his Ring of Lordship. While he hated those ancient laws and the awful etiquette, Aidan had to admit that he was treated with more respect. 

"Lord Haimadros, to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?" Fernuk asked cordially, knowing that he was now talking to a VIP client. 

"I've come to visit my Ancestral Vault, Fernuk." Aidan answered calmly, his poise indistinguishable from that of those older Lords that Fernuk had seen in many occasions. It was quite surprising for the goblin, seeing such a big change in someone. 

"As you wish, Lord Haimadros." Fernuk responded, quickly recovering from his short-lived shock. "After me, if you will." 

After going through the roller coaster —Aidan refused to call it otherwise—, Aidan found himself once again alone in Vault 57.

"Merlin, I hate having to play the part of the proper Lord." He muttered while going to the stacks of books he had carefully organised the last time he was in the vault. 

In the third category, books that were neither about History or Magic, Aidan began his search. He spent at least half an hour going through the books until he found a small leather-bound diary of sorts, with the title 'Of Beasts and Blood: The Guardians of House Haimadros' clearly hand-written. The book in itself was nothing special. It had notes on many magical creatures of which Aidan already knew. Hipogriffs, Griffins, Hell-hounds, Kelpsies. Until he found one entry that he knew nothing about. 

"The Hemeris is a creature bound by blood to House Haimadros." Aidan read the first few words out loud. "They have been with our family for centuries, only following the orders of the current Lord." 

Aidan felt amazed. A magical creature that remained unrecorded. He was certain it was not casually, but a measure taken to keep them protected. After all, they already held their magic exclusively, imagine if the world found out they had been keeping a magical creature to themselves. Aidan knew that there was one thing of human nature that would never change. Greed. 

"The Hemeris are a race of feline creatures, of sizes similar to that of Bobcats." The entry continued, Aidan growing more and more certain he had found exactly what he was looking for with each word he read. "They are known to have charcoal black fur and feathered wings, with blood red stripes going down their bodies. Their eyes shine bright red when they use their magical abilities." 

"The feathers!" Aidan exclaimed when he realised exactly what feathers were used as the Haimadros' wands' core. "And what magical abilities do they have?"

Aidan continued reading the entry, his thirst for knowledge insatiable. Apparently, the Hemeris were creatures of unknown origin, though the Haimadros believed them to be of Greek origin and probably related to Zagreus or a member of his divine family. Their powers included hiding and travelling through shadows, putting people into illusions, petrifying people with their claws, manipulating their size, and flying of course.

The interesting part was that the Hemeris were known to only bond with the Lord of House Haimadros and no other family, similarly to how Slytherin used to bond with snakes. Apparently, the Haimadros were able to communicate with the Hemeris in a similar manner, but through emotions rather than language. 

"According to legend, if there were to be no longer a Lord of House Haimadros, the Hemeris would stand in the entry of their Ancestral Home —wherever that may be— and turn to stone, waiting for the next Lord to wake it up from its sleep." Aidan read the last few lines before a picture of the Hemeris showed what the creature looked like.

"Where is the rest? Why does it end so abruptly?" Aidan questioned anxiously when he saw there was no more information below the picture or in the following pages. He frantically scanned the only page related to the Hemeris. "Hm? There are two more lines here." 

At the bottom of the page, written in very small handwriting, Aidan found two more sentences. They were written in a darker, clearer ink —as if they had been added to the book long after it was written. 

"To find the guardian you just have to look up." Aidan read the first sentence, before moving on to the second. "Bonding is not taming, it is understanding. Something only us can do."

Driven by desperation, curiosity, and an insatiable excitement to uncover his legacy's secrets, Aidan looked up at the ceiling. For a moment, he saw nothing but smooth stone marred by time and dim enchantments long set in place. Then, his blood-red eye pulsed with magic. The vault responded, the ceiling shimmering —ever so slightly— and the concealment faded. Shapes began to emerge from the stone, not drawn or carved, but etched in light, visible only to one who carried the blood of Haimadros.

A fresco revealed itself high above, drawn in delicate enchantments: a majestic black creature with feathered wings and crimson stripes, its eyes glowing bright red, standing beneath a pale white tree with blood-red leaves. Around it, a ring of ancient runes pulsed in sequence, each responding subtly to the magic thrumming through Aidan's ring —and deeper still, to his blood.

His breath caught.

This wasn't a record. It was a message. A warded riddle, hidden in plain sight, waiting for the heir to solve it.

"Okay." Aidan muttered, taking a deep breath. "Looks like someone left me a riddle."


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