Amaury Lestrange

"*He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby becomes a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.*"
―A quotation by a wise man Amaury won't ever forget
**Amaury Henri Lestrange** *(b. 3rd of December, 1975)* is a British pure-blood wizard. He is one of the two sons of Zachary Lestrange. The Lestrange brothers grew up in the manor under the care or surveillance of the house elves and nurses obedient to the family. As the siblings were brought there at such a young age barely remember their father Zachary, who has been said to be incredibly busy with duties at his important job at the ministry. Their mother has been speculated to have died from an illness when the siblings were little. Both of them sincerely believe they carry the untainted blood of the Lestrange family and therefore support Pure-blood superiority.

He was sorted into the Slytherin House after his admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in 1986.

## Background

### Childhood (1975-1986)

#### The thief

He struck again. Winter did something with him. He wasn't sure if it was the cold or the icy stillness that drew him to do it yet again. Eleven months earlier he struck for the first time in his native country. Stealing them wasn't that hard, a polyjuice potion sufficed. This time he was called to Paris to get a small job done. In advance, he had gathered the pieces of information needed to secure the ability of magic of the fresh-born boy he was about to pick. He passed Père-La-Chaise, heading straight for the hospital. He had a choice of two kids, both a possible second-in-row heirs to his legacy. He picked the boy with the little dark locks matching his.

#### Isolated on an island

The man who stole him that winter in 1975 was gone as quickly as the snow. His so-called father is nothing but an imposing name: Zachary Lestrange. You would think having a posh lap of land all by yourself is the dream of every kid, but —believe Amaury and Artemeus— it is not. Being raised by a bunch of suspicious house elves loyal only to their true master and a team of distanced nun-like nurses is harsh. They were isolated from society in a variety of ways. Their day was filled with at least seven hours of homeschooling teaching the boys all facets of magic, even the darkest ones. Amaury enjoyed spending his spare hours in the manor's library or in his chambers where he would occupy himself with various experiments. Those so-called experiments may look a little odd to the world outside the island. I'm talking about dissections of all kinds of creatures he discovered nearby the manor, concoctions, jars filled with slimy objects, etc. On the other hand, he was good at wandering by himself in the fields owned by his father or practicing sports and flying with his brother. Amaury required a lot of space but did not mind Artemeus' presence at all. Having only your brother to communicate with can occasionally be frustrating, however, their bond only grew stronger because of this.

#### The incident

The nurses were warm but frightened by the boys' father, like little grey mice. Artemeus had shown his magical ability already a few months ago, while Amaury was still waiting. Time had finally come on Amaury's eighth birthday. There was no celebration as usual, house elves were dusting off furniture and two nurses were teaching a new subject of magic to the boys. Artemeus interrupted the lesson by giving Amaury a trifle. It was a little bat in a cage —probably not gifted with the intention to be dissected. This one time Amaury showed his happiness, as things in the room began to float in the air: feathers, manuscripts, chairs, and even the nurse's hat. A little later, one of the nurses wrote a letter to inform Zachary of the news. A response was never returned, even though he did read it. It turns out once again, that Zachary only had an eye for his legacy and not for his children.

### Life at Hogwarts (1986-present)

During his years at Hogwarts, Amaury was introverted, preferring to spend his time lost in his own thoughts -unlike his brother- rather than socializing with his peers. The Lestrange siblings made quite a name in the castle. They acted superior to their peers and were quick to use their intelligence and cunning to get what they wanted. They were not afraid to step on others to achieve their goals. Their cold demeanor made them feared by many.

Despite his talents, Amaury was often viewed with suspicion by his classmates and teachers. His demeanor and manipulative tendencies made him an enigmatic and unpredictable figure, and many were wary of crossing him. Throughout his time at Hogwarts, Amaury excelled in his studies, particularly in the dark arts. He had a natural talent for the subject, and his skill and knowledge often put him ahead of his classmates. He also had a keen interest in potions and always experimented with new ingredients and concoctions.

## Personality & Traits

Amaury radiates a stoic and strong impression. He has always had a precocious, intelligent air around him. This is certainly not misplaced, knowing that Amaury and his brother often outsmart their peers. Homeschooling he finds it hard to befriend his peers. Because of his introverted demeanor, an air of mystery around him makes it very difficult to fathom him.

The Lestrange family is known for its prejudice against blood status. Therefore Amaury unquestionably knows how to behave like a privileged aristocrat knowing his surname and status. With the result that he greets people with his displeased, skeptical body language and haughty gaze; or he acts selfish, and self-indulgent; only to hide the low opinion he has of himself. While Amaury's sense of social superiority offends people, it also promotes some of his better traits. His pride and courtliness never desert him; however with the rich, he is arrogant but rational — allowing for fortune and figure.

Amaury is a closed book when it comes down to his true feelings. He developed the ability to endure pain or hardship without complaining or showing his emotions. He is not the type to express the sorrow his father and mother left behind. Ever since the day their father abandoned him and his brother, he has always rejected the idea of being loved. He sees it as a weakness, a mental bewildering; making you fear losing the other. He claims himself to be immune to love, impervious. Fear too is prohibited in his matter of thinking.

"*I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.*"

— A note about fear, by Amaury.

Although Amaury is intensely private, he is lucky to have a deep connection with his brother, since he is the only one who shares their situation and the feelings associated with it. To the world at large, Amaury is a self-absorbed, cold lad. **Only his closest allies know that this attitude is just an act.** So once the fog clears...

## Appearance

Amaury is a tall boy with an oval face, tousled coal-coloured hair, and big emerald, green eyes. He is not overly strong, but he is very quick. Ribs there to count, and sunken in the flanks so that the ripple and gather of muscles can be followed under the leathery skin. His oval face is like his mother, but he has stronger bones and a brow line reminiscent of his father's. He has a thin, disdainful nose, long lashes concealing lime-toned, directly staring green eyes, and a certain hardness in his expression. When you solely pay attention to his eyes, you might see a spark of his true emotions. A smile is rather rare; his small pink-touched lips are frequently pressed together. He seems to have only one facial expression: a stoic glance giving people a feeling of being less; a certain arrogance.

His voice is cold, yet humming. He has a mix of the formal British language with soft hints of a Parisian accent as he speaks. His pale skin emphasizes his sharp jawline and dark curls. His clothing reflects his dark aura. The dark robe tightly around his shoulders flows along with his march. When putting off his robe, his chest is wrapped in an ink black-coloured vest reaching up to his neck paired with a silver-green tie. Underneath, a slip of his formal white shirt is visible.

## Possessions

* **Amaury's wand:** His wand crafted out of the Hawthorn tree, consists of stark white Unicorn hair and a length of 9 inches. The wand wood is very bendable. Ollivander described the wand as: “*A strange, contradictory wand, as full of paradoxes as the tree that gave it birth, whose leaves and blossoms heal, and yet whose cut branches smell of death. These wands refer to the complex and intriguing nature of the owner.”* By hearing these words, Amaury was covered by a cold layer of reality, this wand had just fully summarised him as a person.

* **Skull ring:** Amaury's first intention was to buy his school supplies, but his attention was drawn to the Knockturn Alley where his eye fell on a silver skull ring in the shop window of Borgin and Burkes. He wears it on his right hand to remind himself of his - probably - dead mother. He wears it around his forefinger.

* **'Pact' ring:** Amaury and his brother bonded deep back at the manor. That's when they decided to forge a pact: to protect each other, always. The ring shapes the family's crest, a raven with a drop of blood of Artemeus. He wears it like his brother on his ring finger.

* **Secretive Diary:** Amaury keeps his thoughts locked in his black leather-bound diary. The only key to its words is a touch with Amaury's wand.

* **Vlad, the bat:** For his eighth birthday Artemeus gifted him a little bat. He baptized the little creature to the name Vlad. Vlad is like a cat: lazy, independent, a hunter at night, but yet loyal to his owner. He likes to hang upside down on ceilings.