Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Forgotten Realms in any way besides the OC's that are dotted through out the fic.
A/N: Welcome one and all to the my new story Dark Allies two: Tides of Magic, to those of you who have been following my other fics know that I plan on updating Rise of the Dragon Lords later in the year and my other fic I'm redoing and well be reposting around the same time. Now if you haven't read Dark Allies one then you need too to understand what is going in this one, so until next time enjoy and remember to review.
Chapter 1: Late Night.
Little Whinging, Surrey was considered by its inhabitants to be a quite and altogether normal community but should the citizens ever have learned that two very abnormal people were living within their precincts the whole town would undoubtedly have revolted. The knowledge of the identity of these rather remarkable individuals was unknown to all but their immediate families who went to a great deal of trouble that their differences not be known. In one regard this was in the interests of saving face as the family hated and feared the idea of a Freak living with them becoming open knowledge and the other family in loving concern for their daughter and expectation of the wonders in the fullness of time she might perform.
On this particular evening Hermione Granger was not fairing particularly well. The time was approaching midnight and she was still awake with little prospect of succumbing to sleep as she was faced with the empty spot next to her where her lover would be, should be, could be… and was not. He was not all that far away from her, being only a half-hours walk from her home and no doubt in his solitary bed and hopefully thinking of her as much as she was thinking of him. Hermione sighed and pouted rolling over onto her back and the pout, which was so uncharacteristic for her became a grimace at the sharp pain in her back, product of the battle for Hogwarts that had taken place a little over a week ago.
Determining that this moping around, not sleeping and generally being uncomfortable simply would not do Hermione slid from the bed taking care to keep her movements controlled to allay the pain as much as possible.
00000000
Holly Granger was also up at what she privately termed an abhorrent hour of the night and was seated in the kitchen nursing a hot cup of chocolate cradled in her hands. Her thoughts revolved around the events of the past school year that had involved and ultimately injured her daughter. One could never say it had been boring at Hogwarts but last year had surely been the most eventful yet.
It was all a little much for Holly to deal with in one sitting and for the last week she had taken the opportunity during the quiet of the evenings to consider what, if anything she could or should do about the turn of events that had taken place. It all revolved around her unease concerning Hermione's decision for after surviving the battle at the school she had decided on becoming a priestess of a goddess that had had no worshipers for over 2000 years on this world. The idea of her daughter performing what to all intense and purposes amounted to pagan rituals was not exactly comfortable with how she herself was reared.
'I don't particularly like the way things have gone but I won't force her to change. I would prefer to know what is happening than have her go behind my back and she has always been a smart one and generally has shown that she knows what she is doing. ' She thought.
The distinctive squeak of the third from the bottom step on the stairs alerted Holly that she was no longer alone and she looked over at the kitchen door in time to see her daughter walk into view. Hermione was dressed in her shimmering red satin dressing gown one part of a two piece set that Harry had bought for her back when they had only just started dating and sleeping together. Hermione's hair was notably bushier than normal and the general slump of her shoulders as well as the shadows beneath her eyes attested to her attempt and failure. Her walking stick tapped against the floor as she moved and for a moment she stared at her mother until she walked forward once more and nodded, deciding she did not have a monopoly on late nights.
"Mum." A husky whisper in greeting. "What are you still doing up?" Hermione shuffled toward the table and finally seemed to notice that Holly was nursing a cup. "Hot chocolate?"
"You want one?" Holly rose. "I could ask you the same thing about wandering around at this hour." Holly said to her daughter then pointed to a seat next to her and turned to the bench and began to gather the makings for the hot drink. In her view there were few better comforters than a good cup of hot Chocolate.
Hermione nodded her thanks and sat down, pulling her dressing gown closer around her. "Let me guess, dad's snoring and you are waiting for him to roll over?" Hermione could not help smiling remembering some of her mother's past attempts at stopping her father from snoring when she was younger. All such attempts had failed but it had been fun to listen to and some nights she had stood in the doorway to her parent's bedroom sniggering if not outright laughing.
Holly smiled and nodded spooning chocolate powder into a mug. "Let me guess why you are still up. Missing a certain raven haired boy in your bed, right?"
Hermione's cheeks blossomed into a rosy blushed. "I'm so use to him being there and it's just not the same without him." She wrapped her fingers around the freshly poured hot chocolate her mother placed in front of her.
"Ah. If it makes you feel better I'm just the same as you in that regard. I can't sleep if your father's not there which does not say much for the amount of sleep I miss out on as half the time I can't sleep when he is there." Holly sighed.
Hermione sipped the chocolate and smiled back at her mother recalling the days Holly had growled at everyone after a sleepless night listening to her father snore. "Thanks that does help. So you have not had much in the way of decent nights sleep since you were dating?" She sighed after a second sip and had to agree with her mother. 'Chocolate is a cure all, even better than magic.'
Holly flashed a mischievous smiled "What ever makes you think I got a decent night's sleep while I was dating your dad? I will have you know my girl that you are not the only one to engage in extra night time activities. Every night I or you father would sneak out and stay the night at each others house. Of course I'm sure he snores more now than he did then." Holly smirked at her daughter's look. "Something wrong, Dear? I don't want you sneaking around all over the town young lady so don't even think about it and its high time you remembered that I was not always an aged mother. I was young and idiotic once, just like you."
Hermione's blush deepened and she quickly wiped the thoughtful look from her face.
'She really needs to work on hiding what is on her mind.' Holly thought, determining to keep an eye on her daughter's room for the next few nights.
"I promise to remain at the house but mum, could Harry sneak over here?" Hermione offered her mother the most innocent expression she was capable of producing before a massive smile dawned, ruining the effect, her hot chocolate forgotten for the moment.
Holly sighed softly at the innocent 'butter would not melt in my mouth' look and snorted softly at the grin that could not be contained. 'Well what do I do now? I just owned up to what her father and I used to get up to and the words 'pot', 'kettle' and 'black' have justification. I would prefer her not to walk the streets at night. It's just too dangerous these days.'
"I suppose I might be willing to look the other way if he should happen to be here for breakfast once or twice a week." At the hopeful gleam in her daughters eyes Holly shook her head, smiling herself. "Or more. Just let me have a talk to your father before he stumbles around the house with his eyes shut and falls over Harry in the dark, okay?"
Hermione beamed back and closed her eyes, sipping and savoring her drink and the permission she had just received then opened up the mind link she shared with Harry thanks to the scar marking her left hand.
/ Harry are you awake/ She extended her thoughts seeking to him giving his mind a sharp poke to make sure he was woke up if he chanced to be asleep.
/ Huh? Hermione? Yes what is it/ His mental 'voice' sounded exhausted as though he had been trying to sleep and was having as much success as Hermione.
/ Now who else would it be other than You Know Who and I'm sure he doesn't sound nearly as sweet as me. I was wondering if Lightning would like to take a midnight walk and if he just happened to walk in this direction he might like to come and visit, hmmm/ Hermione glanced up and tensed, finding her mothers eyes focused on her and knew that Holly Granger had somehow realized she was using one of her new powers.
"So how long before I can expect to have my rose trellis trashed?" Holly murmured.
/ Oh ho, is my Dark Angel feeling lonely/ Harry fairly purred her Animagus identity, clearly savoring the name and her flash of pleasure at his use of it.
/ Yes, she is. Now I will thank you kindly to shift your lazy toosh out of that bed immediately and get over here. / Hermione sent the impression of a warm embrace and promptly cut off the link before Harry had the chance to respond. No doubt they would talk about tooshes and lazy bones when he arrived.
"Mum, Harry will be here soon and can he stay the night, please?"
Holly sighed softly and nodded, rising and moving to the door where she paused and glanced back over her shoulder. "Very well, he can remain the night and since you jumped the gun and did not wait for me to take up the matter with your father remember to take it quietly, slowly and NO sex while you are living beneath this roof, you hear me young lady? Since he is already on the way over you can let him in so my roses will not suffer at least for tonight."
"Yes, Mum. Thanks."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Harry sighed as the link to Hermione was closed and slipped out of bed at Number 4 Privet Drive. His glasses were on the bedside table and he hooked them over his ears quickly pushing the bridge firmly into place over his nose. Pulling on some of his hand me down cloths over the top of his satin boxer shorts he smiled recalling how Hermione had brought the boxers for him. They had been a thank you gift after he had brought her the satin night set and he could not help but hope she was wearing the set tonight. Picking up his new overcoat he ran a hand appreciatively over the fine black wool and dark green silk lining of the great coat before slipping his arms into the sleeves. He was wasting time but there were a few preparations to be made before he could leave.
Securing the wide belt under the coat he checked the dagger on his right hand side and the wand holster next to it. Normally his long sword would hang from the belt but he had promised Professor Dumbledore he would not wear it in the Muggle world not that he would have been tempted to anyway as Muggles didn't carry swords and should it be seen some very uncomfortable questions might be asked. Even carrying the dagger was dangerous but he felt naked without a bladed weapon after the last year and the great coat was heavy enough and long enough to safely guard the secret of the weapon and wand. He reflected that he was more likely to find a gun in the hands of anyone on the street rather than a sword or a dagger of the type he carried.
Tying his joggers laces together he slung the shoes around his neck and moved to his door and twisted the knob, pulling it toward him only to have the door remain closed and hear the unmistakable rattle of chains. Clearly his Uncle had decided that the 'Boy' would remain in his room this year and he gently tugged at the door, tilting his head and following the edge of the door down, counting the chains that restricted the doors movement.
"Not a problem. I have just the idea to deal with that and no magic used to alert the ministry either." Harry whispered.
Slipping the dagger out from its sheathe he lined it up with the first of the bolts marking the chains locations and with a quick decisive stroke drove the dagger downwards, cutting neatly through the metal links as though they were made of paper. A low chuckle and he repeated the move for each of locks remaining amused that his uncle considered ten locks sufficient to keep him out of trouble and the house at large.
Harry nodded and slipped the dagger away admiring his handy work and opened the door only to freeze at sight of his Uncle standing in the hall with cricket bat in hand.
"And where do you think your going, Boy?" Vernon Dursley brought the bat up to stop under Harry's nose.
'Wonderful.' Harry looked from the bat to his Uncle and wondered how this could possibly end anyway other than ugly. "I'm going for a walk, Uncle Vernon and if you would please get out of my way the bat will remain unharmed."
Beneath the folds of the great coat his fingers closed over the hilt of the dagger again confident that it was hidden by the coat. He was not really surprised when Vernon snorted and brought the bat around in a short jab designed to push him back into the room. The big man snarled as he tried to force Harry to step backward so that he could force him in through the doorway and swing the door closed. One more jab, closer than he cared to permit to his chest and face and Harry decided he had had enough and blocked the move.
Harry smiled at the confused look on his Uncle's face as the bat was stopped abruptly and did so with a decided jerk. The man's face flushed a vivid red and Harry smirked and rolled his hand slightly but as he did so, intending to reveal what he had done Vernon reefed on the bat and then thrust is forward, assuming that Harry had caught it with his hands. There was a very clear crack and Harry hissed, struggling against showing the sharp pain of his broken finger.
'That hurt.' He silently growled and moved his hand revealing the dagger that he had used to turn and block the initial thrust. "I'm going for a walk." He said aloud and gripping the dagger swept the blade deeply into the bat, sweeping the blade around and down.
Vernon staggered back a step as the bat became lighter as almost a foot of its length landed on the floor with a clatter. "What…!"
"Excuse me Uncle." Harry slipped the dagger back into the sheath, drawing the coat carefully over the weapon's golden dragon hilt.
Vernon met the eyes of his nephew for a long moment and cautiously stepped back and to one side finding no hint of remorse or unease in Harry. After a moment Harry stepped past with a brief nod knowing Vernon was thinking the worst of him, possibly that he was even attacking him.
"I'll be back tomorrow morning so there is no need to stay up on my account." He descended the stairs and in seconds was out the front door, without paying his aunt any mind as he passed her at the foot of the stairs.
'I'll probably be in all sorts of trouble tomorrow but that is then and this is now.'
For a long minute Harry looked up and down Privet Drive and listened to the silence of the night. At this time of the night no one would be moving around the streets and he was reasonably assured of privacy. With a nod of approval at the stillness of the night he shifted his concentration and allowed his form to blur and shift blurred until a large black wolf was seat on the step. The beast scented the night wind for a long moment then proceeded to look itself over. It was a distinctive animal with its emerald green eyes and a tuft of white fur above the right eye shaped similar to a lighting bolt. Pointed ears flicked seeking any sound and indeed he could hear his aunt and uncle whispering inside the house but Harry gave another nod and then rose to his feet and headed off to Hermione's home two blocks away from Privet Drive.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Hermione considered her reflection in the mirror in the back of one of the kitchen display cupboards and tidied her hair. Harry would be well on his way and should arrive any minute now. She decided that her hair had straightened a little over the past year but it was still very bushy but what pleased her was that her face had lost some of its baby fat as her mother called it. Holly Granger took pleasure in informing her daughter that with a little time she would grow into a very beautiful young woman and she undoubtedly would turn many male heads. That well might be but there was only one head Hermione hoped to turn and keep centered on her.
"Lighting, my dear you're late. You have never been this slow before when it comes to gaining the opportunity to climb into bed with me." She glanced once again at the clock and sighed. "No sex, just the chance to actually get some sleep. I know I could sleep if you were here."
The sound of nails scratching at the front door alerted Hermione to company and she was quick to get to her feet and head for the door. Eager to admit Harry she never realized that she left her walking stick in the kitchen.
"You are late, Lighting. You've never been so slow to get into bed with me." Hermione teased the wolf as it slipped past her and proceeded into the lounge jumping up onto the couch and turned large innocent puppy dog eyes on her. "And don't give me that face." She snapped locking the door smartly and leading the way to the stairs and her room.
Harry quickly followed, padding on silent paws through the house and to her room where he transformed back to his normal self.
"Sorry about that. I had a little trouble with Dudley and his thugs on the way over. They tried using me as a target for their fists and feet thinking I was a common stray. The nerve of them."
Harry removed his coat and then his belt followed, laying them over the chair near the bed while Hermione removed her dressing gown to his delight revealing the matching red satin nightgown. At his appreciative look Hermione grinned.
"Look yes, touch no. No sex under mum and dad's roof."
/Rats./ "That's okay. We agreed to wait for another seven days anyway but Hermione, why did it have to be that nightgown out of them all?" Harry quickly divested himself of all but his boxers.
Hermione smiled and posed for him, one arm lifting her hair and she flashed a thigh to draw that special smile then promptly pushed him off balance and caused him to tumble to the bed.
"Well you will just have to live with it because I like it and I'm not changing now. Get into bed and go to sleep."
Hermione slipped into bed and snuggled down next to Harry, frowning when she noticed him favoring one hand and gently cupped the broken fingers in her hand. "How did this happen? Dudley and his crew of misfits?"
Harry waved it aside, his eyes already half closed and his arms drew her closer. With a sigh Hermione settled down into his embrace but her hands cupped his damaged hand gently and as she drifted off to sleep she felt the unmistakable stir of the healing powers granted to her as a cleric of Eilistraee. In minutes the broken bones would be mended and she whispered a thank you to the goddess as she buried her head in the scent of Harry and gave herself up to sleep.