Secrets && Broken Promises
A Prequel to Corridors && Secret Passageways
In the middle of muggle London was a beautiful Victorian house, number 4 Solstice Way. At this particular moment, if you had pressed you nose up against the window; you would have been shocked to see a pair of emerald high heels floating on their own in the middle of the living room. This was due to the fact that number 4 Solstice Way belonged to a witch, a late witch, at that.
Kerrys Lily Alexis White Black came sprinting into her front room wearing a rather revealing emerald dress with a plunging, gem encrusted neckline which reached in mid thigh at the front and swept round to a floor length train at the back. She grabbed the high heels out of the air and put them on, glancing round at the clock on the mantelpiece as she did so.
"Merlin's pants," she exclaimed as she noticed the time. She glanced out the window to see a black car waiting outside.
Cursing, she turned and ran back up the stairs to grab her earrings off the dresser. She hurried back down the stairs, putting her earrings on at the same time. She dived back into the living room to snatch her wand off the coffee table and then hurried outside to get to the car.
She slid into the back seat and smiled at the driver.
"Hey Sid."
"Hello Miss Black," Sid, the driver, said. "Late again, I see?"
"I had completely forgotten until about an hour ago."
Sid laughed and Kerr leaned back against the seat pushing her long black hair away from her deep green, moss coloured eyes.
Kerr was an Auror in the Wizarding world. She was rather well known as being something of a workaholic but even more so because she had stood alongside the heroes of the last Wizarding war, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. It was Hermione's fault that she was rushing around that evening.
Earlier Kerr had been at work, as she always was these days, when her cousin Taylor, had popped his head in and asked her how she was getting to the Fundraiser tonight. That had been it. She had run out of the office, apparated home and immediately started getting ready. It was a good thing her Uncle Johnathon had sent Sid to take her or she would never have made it gracefully.
The car stopped outside the venue exactly on time. Kerr peered out of the window to see Ron helping Hermione out of the car. Ron looked dashing in black dress robes while Hermione looked simply stunning in a light blue dress. Kerr sighed. She had come alone. Usually, Neville Longbottom accompanied her to events like this. Tonight, however, he was out on a date and with Kerr having completely forgotten all about it, she hadn't found another date.
"You have to go in some time, Miss Black," said Sid realising her hesitation.
"I know," she said as she watched another car pull up and the paparazzi went crazy as the newly married Harry and Ginny Potter got out of the car. She wished she could stay in the car until the paparazzi had gone inside but Hermione would chide her for being late and not being there to promote the fundraiser, which was raising money to go to Azkaban.
"See you, Sid."
With that Kerr slid gracefully out of the car. The night was warm so she didn't regret her choice to not wear a cloak as she sauntered over the meet her friends.
"You're late," whispered Hermione out of the corner of her mouth as Kerr slid in between Ron and Harry for a photo.
"I arrived two seconds after you," said Kerr brightly in a low voice as they finally were allowed to make their way up the steps. "I just sat in the car."
"Where's your date?" asked Ginny which clashed with Harry and Ron, saying at the same time, "Where's your dress?"
Kerr's bark-like laugh split the stillness of the air.
"I don't have a date," Kerr told them with a grin. "In fact, you are lucky I made it at all. I was still at work two hours ago."
"Kerr," groaned Hermione. She could cope with Harry and Ron but Kerr was worse than Neville sometimes. "I reminded you last week. You are working far too hard."
Kerr shrugged as the other four looked at her, as they passed under the door, into the entrance hall. She knew what they were thinking. If Hermione thought she was working too hard then it must be bad.
"It's okay. Taylor reminded me. Good thing I had already bought a dress."
"What dress?" said Harry frowning at her. "You don't look like you are wearing one."
Kerr rolled her eyes.
"Calm down, Harry," she said grinning, "anyway, no one will notice what I am wearing. You and Ginny just got married and Ron and Hermione just got engaged. I am the last of everyone worries."
Once inside Kerr marvelled over the decorations. There were fairies everywhere giving the whole affair a silvery glow. She managed to grab a glass of firewhisky and slip away before the other four were bombarded by the press. She could even see Rita Skeeter amongst their mist. Kerr shuddered involuntarily. She hated that woman after all the horrible pieces she had done on Harry and that book on Dumbledore was appalling. However, when Rita had found the time to write a piece on her, Kerr had just thrown the paper in the fire. There had been no point in even reading it. It would probably just say things that would make her angry and Kerr was angry enough with the stuff that woman wrote about Harry. She let out an exasperated sigh as she skirted her way round the dance floor. She really should have remembered that the fundraiser was coming up. After all, it was all Hermione had spoken about for the last couple of months. She felt a little silly being there without a date but Neville was on a date tonight with Hannah Abbott. Kerr was pleased for him but felt kind of at a loss. She and Neville were often seen at events together, which caused much speculation, but the truth was that they were both good friends. She loved Neville. He was one of her best friends. Next time something like this was coming up she would have to get someone to remind her the day of the event. Hermione was the obvious choice or Ginny. They would, at least, remember to remind her. Harry and Ron could be counted out of remembering to tell anyone anything. The last time Kerr had sent Hermione an owl, Ron had forgotten to tell her it had arrived. It caused a lot of confusion when Hermione had suddenly shown up to find out why Kerr hadn't sent her the information she had promised her.
She smiled slightly at the memory as she brushed past a vaguely familiar wizard in dark blue dress robes and then walked straight into George Weasley nearly spilling the drinks he held in his hands. Flailing backwards she bumped into the blue robed wizard who saved her from falling. George looked slightly horrified.
"Oh Kerr," he said with a grimace. "I'm terribly sorry about that."
"It's all right," said a deep voice. "I got her."
The dark robed wizard straightened Kerr up to standing. Kerr blushed slightly embarrassed and then glanced at her glass. Luckily she hadn't spilt her firewhisky. That would have been a pain.
"Oh don't you worry about it George," said Kerr with a smile. "It was my fault entirely."
As George disappeared into the crowd she turned to the man behind her and smiled as she recognised Rolf Scamander, Luna's husband.
"Sorry about that Rolf," she apologised. "I'm getting bloody clumsy."
Rolf laughed.
"It's probably all that time you've spent with Neville," Rolf told her. "By the way you haven't seen my Luna anywhere have you?"
Rolf looked away from her to peer over the tops of the crowd. He was quite tall and rather lanky with dark hair and a pleasant face. Kerr had liked him from the moment she had been introduced to him. She peered round the people nearest to her and then shook her head.
"I'm afraid not," she told him. "She might be by the curtains looking for Nargles or something interesting like that."
"That's very true," Rolf said smiling down at her. "It would very like Luna. She never stops working. Well, I hope you enjoy your evening."
"You too, Rolf."
With that Rolf disappeared into the crowd leaving Kerr on her own again. She took a sip of her firewhisky and looked around at the people nearest to her in curiosity. She didn't really recognise anyone that she knew. Kerr still found it strange that so many members of the Wizarding world knew each other. She had grown up on the run with her mother. She had lived all over the world mainly among muggles. When she had first started going to Hogwarts at the beginning of her sixth year she had found it very difficult. She had never been to school before and she had never really lived amongst other members of the Wizarding community. Harry, Ron and Hermione accepted her after a while but she had still found it all very strange with the prejudices and trying to get to grips with the whole pureblood supremacy idea. She didn't quite understand the rivalries and she knew that many of the other students found her very strange. In truth it wasn't really anybody's fault. Having grown up on the run Kerr found it hard to trust people and she was incredibly jumpy especially when it came to people casting spells. Living among muggles hadn't equipped her for proper duelling and she was always more like to turn round and punch someone than to whip out her wand.
Now she was amongst the heroes of the war and she was still fighting the good fight, bringing in stray Death Eaters and sitting in on numerous trials. She threw herself into her work. She wanted peace. She didn't want Harry's parents, Fred Weasley, Remus, Tonks and Dumbledore to have died in vain. She would rest easier when all the stray Death Eaters had been caught and Azkaban was reopened.
Kerr had to admit that Hermione had surpassed herself. The fundraiser seemed to be going very well. There were people on the dance floor and by the bar and outside in the garden. Everyone seemed to be there taking part in raising money to sort out Azkaban. Kerr was grateful for the fundraiser. She knew that Hermione worked very hard to sort Azkaban out. It was just another step they were all taking towards peace. Still the others were lucky. They could take a step back when they went home at the end of the day. Harry went home to Ginny. Ron and Hermione went home together. When Kerr went home she walked into nothing. Sometimes during term time she would apparate up to Hogsmeade to meet up with Neville, just to take some time out. She wouldn't be able to do that much more what with Hannah now being on the scene. She was pleased for Neville though. It was about time he had someone nice. The Wizarding world was going to get a shock when they found out about Hannah. She was pretty sure there was a betting pool going somewhere about when she and Neville would announce their engagement. She wouldn't be surprised if George hadn't set it up.
"May I haff this dance?" a gruff voice interrupted Kerr's thoughts. She looked round to see Viktor Krum standing right beside her, hand out in invitation. She downed the rest of her drink, set the glass aside and took his hand. He led her into the middle of the dance floor with an obvious confidence that could only come from a lot of time spent in the spotlight. Kerr was aware of several cameras going off around the room as she and Krum took to the floor.
He was a good dancer; she had to give him that. He didn't really say very much though. He held her quite tightly and she found herself following his lead easily. Kerr loved to dance, especially with someone which was why Neville was quite a good partner since he was the same, even if he did tend to tread on her toes. However, dancing with someone who was good at leading improved the whole experience drastically and Kerr found herself smiling as Krum whizzed her around the dance floor. Soon the music changed and so did the dance. She was slightly surprised when Krum didn't let her go and looked up at him.
"Ve change partners in this dance anyvays," he told her. "There is no point in taking you off the floor. You dance vunderfully."
"Oh no," said Kerr smiling at him. "You're just a very good partner."
He smiled at that before he spun her in close to him and then out again where her right hand was taken by her new partner. She was spun round before she came face to face with Blaise Zabini. Her heart skipped a beat and she felt a little winded. He looked almost as surprised as she did.
"Black," he said in greeting the surprise suddenly wiped off his face to be replaced with a delighted look but not before she saw the mixture of emotions in his eyes.
"Zabini," she responded coolly to discourage him from whatever it was that had created that look on his face.
"Not pleased to see me?" he asked his smile getting wider.
"Let's just say that the look you have on your face doesn't fill one with confidence," Kerr told him.
"Ah you know me too well," he told her with a grin as his hand tightened on her waist. "Not many people do."
Kerr couldn't help but smile a little. Blaise Zabini was known as the "Silent Slytherin" because hardly anyone actually knew who he was. Everyone had seen him around but didn't ever seem to register that he was there. It had therefore been no surprise that he had become an Unspeakable. He had a great knack for noticing detail. The first time Kerr had met him he already seemed to know what made her tick. Kerr had found him a mixture of highly irritating and highly amusing all at the same time. Most of her housemates had found it strange that she tried to make friends with the Slytherins but Kerr really just didn't get the house rivalries. However, her housemates' disapproval didn't stop Kerr talking to Blaise. He was all right really even if the rest of the Slytherins were horrible. Still, she hadn't seen him since she had been seventeen. A lot of time had passed since then.
"So, how have you been?" she asked him.
"Oh pretty good," he replied with a smile. "I won't even ask you. I know you're working too hard."
Kerr frowned at him.
"How do you know that?"
"Well since you've come without a date and Neville Longbottom isn't escorting you as usual it is the probable conclusion that you completely forgot all about this until the very last minute because you've been spending way too much time working."
He glanced down at her and smiled.
"How do you know I'm here without a date?" she asked him.
"If you had one," he told her quietly, "you would not be here dancing with me. If you had a date he would not be letting you out of his sight with all the prowling wizards around here just dying to ensnare you."
Kerr gave a short bark of laughter.
"Hardly," she replied with a roll of her eyes.
"Have I ever lied to you before?" he said softly in her ear as he pulled her in closer to him. Kerr looked up at him from under her lashes. His deep blue eyes were very close to her and she could feel his breath on her shoulder.
"No," she breathed softly, "but you do like to wind me up."
He spun her around, his eyes sparkling.
"You're right," he told her with a cheeky grin, "but I'm telling you the truth. You might not notice but I have. Since the moment Krum brought you out onto the floor every man around is just dying to dance with you."
He spun her out and her right hand was taken by a new partner who spun her in towards them. Kerr didn't even register who her new partner was and just went through the motions of the dance as she eyed the crowd over the shoulder of the wizard she was dancing with. Zabini hadn't been lying. She could see several pairs of eyes following her progression on the dance floor. It was slightly unnerving. As an Auror she didn't like the idea of people watching her. Still, she supposed that tonight was a night to be in the limelight. No one would escape unscathed.
She was spun out once again and came face to face with her new partner who looked even more startled than Zabini had. His pale grey eyes were wide in shock and it made Kerr smile slightly in amusement.
"Cousin," Draco Malfoy said in a voice barely above a whisper with a stiff jerk of his head.
"Cousin," Kerr replied in an even voice ducking her head down so as not to meet his eye.
Kerr didn't get on with Draco Malfoy particularly. They avoided each other as much as possible. Their first meeting had been on the Hogwarts Express and they had spent most of their lives since then staying out of each other's way. He avoided being rude to her and unless he was saying something to one of her friends Kerr didn't bother with him much. He never bothered to insult her though. He never even spoke one word against her parents.
The music suddenly ended and Draco escorted Kerr off the dance floor before he promptly took his leave of her. Kerr headed directly for the bar at the back of the room. There was a nice breeze coming in from the open doors. She ordered a firewhisky and deposited several galleons in a large glass on the bar.
"Very generous of you," said a smooth, familiar voice from behind her. Kerr turned round to see Blaise Zabini standing behind her with a slight smirk on his face.
"Well this is a fundraiser," she told him as he moved to the bar and ordered a drink. "Hermione worked so hard bringing it all together."
"Very true," he said as his drink appeared on the bar and he put his own contribution into the glass. "I must say Granger's done a wonderful job. I suppose that once Azkaban is up and running properly you'll feel a lot better."
Kerr flicked an eyebrow up.
"Well I know I will," he told her taking a sip of his drink. Kerr looked at him closely for the first time. He had always been quite a handsome man but what she hadn't noticed earlier was just how tired he looked.
"I see I'm not the only one working hard," she told him at length.
"I knew you'd notice eventually," he told her with a grin that lit up his whole face. "I'm not working as hard as you though."
"Well the sooner we get the Wizarding world back to normal the better," Kerr told him with a slight sigh.
"That's what we all want," Blaise said looking down at her. "Still you seem to be working far harder than anyone else I know. When was the last time you took a day off?"
"I had a day off last month," Kerr told him with a slightly triumphant on her face as she looked up at Blaise. He just smirked at her.
"Did you take it by choice?" he asked her.
Kerr coloured slightly. It was very true that Harry had forced her to take the day off. She had spent the day up in Hogsmeade with Neville at the end of term. Neville had spent the first hour or so lecturing her about not taking enough time off work. Still, she couldn't seem to tell Neville how alone she felt sometimes and that was why she worked so hard.
"I knew it," Blaise said grinning as he moved away from the bar towards the open door. "I was talking to Kingsley Shacklebolt the other day and he was saying that in the last year you've had a total of two days off. Apparently, you were forced to take both of them."
Kerr glowered as she moved to stand beside him.
"Kingsley shouldn't have been telling you anything about it," she told him in a gruff voice.
"Well, I apparently need to pick someone to work with from the Auror office," Blaise said taking another drink. "Kingsley was just going over the options with me. I couldn't help but be curious as to why you weren't on the list. Kingsley just said that you worked hard enough as it was."
"Curious were you? Why?"
Blaise shrugged slightly and took a drink.
"I don't know," he told her a frown creasing his forehead. "I just thought it strange that I was getting the choice to work with nearly everyone in the department apart from you. I've even got the chance to work with Potter if I want to."
"Well I've got enough to deal with at the moment anyway," said Kerr softly into her glass before she took a sip.
"Why are you working so hard?" asked Blaise suddenly as though it had only occurred to him to ask. He turned to look at her properly having to step outside in order to face her.
"I just want the Wizarding world back in order," she said avoiding his gaze, knowing only too well the scrutiny she was currently under.
"I think it's something more than that," he told her gently and she felt his fingertips underneath her chin raising her head so that she would look at him properly. Her eyes met his and almost immediately she pulled her face away from his hand and walked past him. She stopped at the banister and stared down into the garden which sparkled with more fairies. There was a distinct chill to the air which seemed to have driven everyone inside now. She was very aware that Blaise was still there watching her.
"What is it, Black?" he asked his voice so low that it barely disturbed the silence that had built up between them.
Kerr sighed.
"It's nothing," she told him untruthfully.
"No point in lying to me," he replied smoothly. "You may be able to lie to everyone else Black but you can't fob me off with a simple nothing. I know you better than that."
Kerr could feel him getting closer and closer so that the hair on the back of her neck was standing on end in anticipation. She could imagine the feel of his breath on the back of her neck. She sighed. She knew he was right. He could always tell what she was feeling with that damned intuition of his.
"I just want everything back to normal so I can start having some semblance of a life," she told him quietly.
"Some semblance of a life?" Blaise questioned her, his voice coming from right behind her. "You probably don't have a life because you are constantly working."
"I wouldn't have much of a life even if I wasn't working," she muttered to herself before taking another sip of her firewhisky.
"Why is that?" Blaise asked having heard her previous mutter.
Kerr sighed. She wasn't used to people questioning her so intently. Still it wasn't like she could expect any less from Blaise Zabini.
"Just that Harry and Ginny have just got married and Ron and Hermione are now engaged and they are all so busy with each other."
"What about Longbottom?"
"Well I don't get to see Neville so much since he started teaching at Hogwarts and I'll see him even less now he has Hannah. Merlin, Black, stop sounding so bitter. I'm happy for them."
"But you're lonely," he interrupted.
Kerr couldn't even bring herself to laugh it off because it was true.
"I suppose I am a little," she said with a sigh. "It's terribly silly of me. I have twelve Uncles and Aunts and eleven first cousins, not to mention all the great aunts and uncles and second cousins."
"Yeah but you don't go home to them every night," said Blaise softly. Kerr could tell how close he was. He wasn't touching her but if he leaned forward, even a centimetre, he would be.
"Maybe I should get a dog," she suggested her tone laced with both sarcasm and amusement.
"So you haven't just been running from me?" he said gently completely ignoring her comment. Kerr stiffened a little. She didn't want to talk about that.
"It doesn't matter really," she said hastily. "I heard you got married."
Blaise seemed to freeze behind her. Kerr could no longer feel his breath on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned round to look at him. His eyes were wary but he was looking at her.
"Where did you hear that?" he asked in a low voice.
Kerr shrugged.
"Daphne Greengrass, was it?" she asked. "She is gorgeous, Blaise."
It felt strange to use his first name again. She went to turn back round but stopped when Blaise grabbed her arms and forced her round to face him. She looked up into his deep blue eyes which seemed to search hers for a moment.
"Where did you hear that?" Blaise asked again his voice barely a whisper.
Kerr looked at him curiously.
"Hermione," she told him. "You were down on the attendance list as Mr Blaise and Mrs Daphne Zabini."
He let go of her suddenly and took a step back. His eyes did not move from her face.
"You should know that it wasn't my idea. My mother is ... well ... she's irrepressible."
Kerr raised a single eyebrow.
"I have no idea what you mean, Zabini. I have no claim on you."
She brushed past him, making her way inside but she never got to the door as Blaise's hand wrapped round her arm and swung her round into the shadows. Her back pressed up against the cool stone of the building and Blaise standing over her, a blazing look on his face his hand pressing on her shoulder.
"You have no claim on me?" he said in a low growl. "Well, I have a claim on you."
He kissed her roughly then and Kerr automatically responded to it like a memory long forgotten, her back arching out from the wall. He wrapped one of arms around her waist and the other was tangled in her hair, keeping pressure on her head. She draped her own arms around his neck and he pulled her closer to him. The heat of his skin seeped through the thin material of her dress warming her. His mouth ravaged her own, his kisses desperate, hungry and terribly familiar. Suddenly, Kerr came to her senses and pushed him away.
"Blaise, stop," she said in anxious whisper. "We can't do this. You are married."
His hands cupped her face.
"I have thought of nothing but you since the Battle of Hogwarts," he breathed. "That night when everyone needed someone you turned to me. You cannot run from me forever, Black."
Kerr sighed.
"I did not try and run from you," she told him quietly. "You and I, it would have never worked."
Blaise shook his head.
"You did, Black, you tried to run. You buried yourself in your work and you made yourself unavailable. I don't care if I am married."
"Blaise," Kerr began to plead, pushing him back as he tried to kiss her again. "It's far too dangerous."
"What's life without a little risk?"
Kerr felt her resolve weakening as he spoke those words. The same words her father had said to her mother when they had got engaged.
"Our time has passed," she whispered desperately because she knew how dangerously out of control she could become if she gave in just one inch to him.
Blaise shook his head and smiled at her softly.
"Our time is now," he told her and he kissed her again. Kerr reacted just like she had the first time. Kissing him was different from every other kiss she had ever given or received. His passion was undeniable and his ability to make her blood burn surprised her greatly.
"Kerr," called a voice Kerr knew all too well.
She pulled away from Blaise who sighed.
"Trust Potter to ruin the moment," he growled.
Kerr laughed.
"I need to go," she said as she heard Harry's voice call again slightly relieved about the timing. She made to slip under his arm but Blaise was too quick for her.
"Not before you tell me when I will see you again."
"We can't."
"Don't do this again, Black," Blaise said urgently. "Don't you dare try and run from me again."
"Kerr," Harry called again.
"I didn't," she began to protest but he interrupted her roughly.
"I'm not going to listen to any of your excuses," he told her. "When will I see you again?"
"I don't know," she told him anxiously, trying to twist out of his grasp as Harry's voice got closer. "It will have to be somewhere inconspicuous."
Blaise thought for a moment and then his expression lightened.
"Muggle village called Weedon, on the outskirts of London," he said quickly. "If you apparate to the North end of the village there is an inn there. It's called The Witches Hat."
"Kerr, are you out here?" called Harry's voice.
"This time next week," Blaise whispered in her ear. "I'll see you there."
Kerr only had time a quick nod before she ducked under his arm and skipped into the light coming from the open doorway where Harry stood, about to come out into the grounds.
"Oh," he said slightly surprised at her sudden appearance, "where did you get to?"
Kerr shrugged.
"I've just been outside but it's getting chilly now," she said as she stepped up to take his arm.
Harry turned to escort her back inside and Kerr glanced back to see Blaise wink at her. For some high implausible reason that she couldn't understand that wink felt a little like coming home.
Welcome back to fans of Corridors && Secret Passageways
&& Welcome to all my new readers.
This story can of course be read on it's own
but it will ruin Corridors && Secret Passagways for you.
I hope you enjoy this story.
As always I love to know what you think
So please click that magic button that allows you to tell me your thoughts.
Much love.
Kerr x.