Why hello hello! Thank you for your wonderful support, you guys have been AMAZING! Here's another chapter, hope you enjoy :) For those of you who wanted to know more about Vala's past... well here you are :) And of course Harry/Vala moments :)

Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter in this chapter or any of my other chapter. My plot though :)

Warnings: Abuse references

"Unity."

The gargoyle moved aside, allowing Harry entrance to the Headmistress' office. He knocked lightly on the door, but there was no reply. Curious, Harry pushed open the door and walked into the office.

It was different compared to how Dumbledore had organized his office. It was more orderly, and the many trinkets were replaced by rows and rows of books. Harry did, however, notice the sorting hat in its usual place, and of course the former headmasters/headmistresses were lined along the wall.

Harry was about to leave the office to look elsewhere for Professor McGonagall, but a pair of blue eyes caught his attention. Harry approached the painting of Albus Dumbledore.

"Harry, my boy," Albus said, his eyes twinkling. "How are you?"

"Fine," Harry replied, now unable to fight the rising suspicions he had had throughout the past weeks. "I've been busy."

"Yes, yes, I've heard," Albus said cheerfully. "I'm very proud of what you've done, Harry."

Harry smiled slightly at his old mentor, but the smile dropped quickly. "You never stopped protecting me, did you?"

Albus looked a bit puzzled.

"I went to get my inheritance recently," Harry explained curtly.

The twinkle in the former Headmaster's eyes dwindled. "Ah."

"You kept it from me from years," Harry said quietly. "Why?"

"Harry, you had so much stress. I didn't think it was an opportune time-"

"I had a right to decide for myself," Harry yelled at him. "You treated me like a child. How could you think I was ready to face Voldemort and save the Wizarding World but not prepared to receive my heritage?"

Albus had the decency to look abashed. "I only wanted to do what I thought was right. You weren't accustomed to the Wizarding World; I didn't want to place the added responsibility of holding seats in the Wizengamot too early. And when Voldemort returned at the end of your fourth year, I must admit it become less important."

Harry stared at him, shaking his head in disbelief. "You were always doing things for the greater good, sir. I had just hoped that for once you'd do something for me."

His eyes widened, and he shook his head in disagreement. "That's not true, my boy. I cared for you, I wanted to protect you-"

"You raised me up like a sheep for slaughter," Harry hissed, echoing Snape's words viciously. "Even Professor Snape realized the wrong in that, and he hated me."

"My boy-"

"You have no right to call me that," Harry spat. "I bet it was you who blocked my magic even, so I'd be a good, obedient soldier. You can't have your martyr too strong after all."

At this, Albus did look shocked. Harry deflated slightly, knowing he at least sincerely did not know that.

"My magic has been blocked for years," Harry said quietly. "The goblins realized it and the High Lord released the block."

The former Headmaster's face became thoughtful. "Perhaps when the Dark Lord sent the curse on you… it could have led to an overload of magic… your magic might have clotted from the aftermath."

Harry blinked. "You mean… it might have been from Voldemort?"

Albus nodded. "That would be my guess."

Harry stared at him for a long time. "I think he's back. Voldemort, that is."

He shook his head. "That is not possible. I told Minerva that earlier."

Harry relaxed slightly. Despite the man's manipulations, he still trusted his judgment in some things. "So you think it was just the Death Eaters lashing out?"

"Most likely. Now didn't you come here to find Minerva?"

As Harry left the office, he couldn't help but think the former Headmaster was hiding something, like usual. His face when Harry mentioned the raid was more serious than the Gryffindor imagined it would be concerning a Death Eater attack.

There was something more going on here… Harry could feel it.

Vala walked down the aisles of the library. It was nice to have peace. She was exhausted from pretending everything was okay. With Harry searching out the Headmistress, she had a few hours to herself. She ran a hand down a few of the books, but stopped abruptly when she recognized one of them. She closed her eyes in horror, and the flashback came instantly.

"Grandfather?"

He smiled down at the black-haired girl slightly. "Yes Vala?"

"Why does everyone say you were bad?"

He kneeled down by the six-year-old girl and raised his eyebrows. "And who told you that?"

She showed him the book in her hand, and he sighed. "You can't believe everything books tell you, Princess. Books lie just as easily as people."

"Like my Daddy you mean?" she asked innocently, her eyes wide.

His face hardened and he straightened. "Yes, like your father. He was a traitor and murderer. He killed your beautiful mother after all." He touched her cheek lightly. "You look so much like her."

Vala leaned into his touch, fighting back the wave of sadness. "I love you Grandpa. I wish you were my Daddy."

Vala gasped and ripped her hand away from the book. She slid down to the floor and wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to calm herself.

He is dead, she tried to convince herself. He is dead.

Before she could fight it, another memory surfaced.

"Checkmate."

"Grandfather!"

He smirked at her. "You almost got one of my pieces this time."

"You don't play fair!"

He leaned in seriously. "Life's not fair. You need to learn not to act as a child, Vala. There is no time for such things."

"But I'm only seven, and you're like ancient! It's not fa-"

"Don't finish that sentence," he hissed at her, gripping her arm tightly. "I told you, life is not fair. You must adapt or die."

She flinched, feeling fear for the first time around her grandfather. His icy blue eyes cut into her like a cold winter night.

"We start training tomorrow, Vala. You will be a survivor."

Vala bitterly replayed that sentence over and over in her mind. That's all she ever did – survive. He had ripped her innocence away before she was even twelve. She remembered the first time she used the unforgivables very clearly.

"You have to mean it," he hissed in her ear. "Unless you're too weak to do it, that is."

"I'm not weak," she growled at him.

"Perhaps you are too much like your father…"

She glared at him, livid. "I am not my father."

"Prove it," he commanded, sneering.

She turned her wand to the house elf, who was quivering at their feet.

"Crucio! "

She felt strangely detached as she watched the elf wither on the floor. She was too busy focusing on the rush of power in her veins, and she grinned. When she finally ended the spell, her grandfather was grinning at her.

"Beautiful, my dear." He wrapped an arm around her. "Now the killing curse…."

She shivered, fighting back the other flashback. She didn't want to remember. She couldn't. It would-

"Vala?"

Harry Potter walked to where she sat, curled up protectively. He kneeled next to her, and took in her shaking and pale face.

"Flashbacks?" he asked quietly.

She nodded slowly, unable to meet his eyes. Vala gasped in surprise when his warm hands touched her face. He lifted her chin, and she stared into his emerald orbs.

"I'm here if you ever need to talk," he told her quietly.

She smiled as convincingly as she could at him.

He gently helped her up, and she found herself leaning on him. Her limbs felt weak and she couldn't stop trembling.

"Vala, you know how you mentioned you love flying?"

She nodded, curious at why he was asking.

He grabbed her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers. She surprised herself by relaxing in his hold. He leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Well you happen to be in the presence of the youngest seeker of the century. Think you can keep up?"

She laughed, instantly feeling better. He was still in the back of her mind, but Harry was dominating the front.

"Bring it on," she teased.

Harry grinned at the girl beside him. She was a pretty good flyer after all. He noticed at first she was a little shaky, but after a few minutes she appeared carefree. Harry was glad it worked. Whenever he had a lot on his mind, flying always set his worries free.

He slung an arm around her shoulders casually, and she raised her eyebrows at him. He grinned.

"Not bad, rookie," he told her lightly.

She stepped out of his grasp, and put her hands on her hips. "Rookie?"

Harry winked at her. "Don't worry, I won't tell."

"I am so relieved," Vala told him.

He was happy to see her smile, but as they walked back towards the castle he noticed that she was gradually getting tenser. He knew it probably had something to do with the slavery spell. He stopped, turning to face her. She stared at him in confusion.

"Vala?"

"Yes?"

"Do you still feel like a slave?"

She stiffened almost immediately, and he cursed himself for asking. She gazed in silence out at the quidditch pitch behind them for a few minutes.

"It's always with me, in the back of my mind," she said quietly, breaking the tense silence.

Harry sighed, and looked at the ground. He tried to think of a way to comfort her, but he couldn't formulate the words. She surprised him by speaking again.

"Do you still feel like a slave?"

Harry flinched at her words, startled. "What?"

She hesitated, and Harry knew she was trying to decide if she was brave enough to continue. She took a deep breath, apparently finding the courage. "You hate it when I call you Master."

Harry turned away from her, tense. "We should get back."

"Harry…"

He stood motionlessly, and flinched when he felt a hand touch his arm. He stepped back from her touch, avoiding her eyes, and feeling ashamed of his reaction.

Harry didn't wait for her to speak again, but instead ran to the castle. He didn't look behind, but he knew she wasn't following him. He also knew she was probably hurt and upset, but he couldn't face her.

He was so weak. There had been no spell that forced him to obey or punished him. He, a Gryffindor, had bowed down to a mere muggle out of his own free will. He almost wished he actually had been a slave.

He stopped abruptly, feeling horrified by the path his thoughts had taken. How could he be so ungrateful? He had seen what the spell had done to Vala…

He entered their chambers and collapsed promptly beside his bed on the floor. He sat there, suddenly feeling the urge to cry. He quickly pushed away the thought, disgusted with himself. Crying was a weakness… he could not afford any more weakness.

The last time he cried had been when he visited his parent's graves, and that had been the first real time in years. It was funny how when he was younger, his uncle would punish him for crying. But during the last few years, his uncle had been pissed because he would take the pain in utter silence.

At the start of each summer, he would refuse to call that man Master. The defiance never lasted long if he wanted to survive. And years of abuse had pounded the word into his skull. He would forever fight his slave instincts, and the word "master" would always make him think of his uncle.

He thought of the summer after fourth year, when he had felt so alone. He thought no one cared, that he was going to die. He closed his eyes, not even attempting to block the flashback.

Harry was pressed against a wall, a knife to his back as his uncle cut deliberately into his back. The word "Killer" was sliced deep into his mid back, causing Harry to wince.

"You killed your freaky parents," his uncle murmured in sick amusement, "and your freaky friend. Killer," he hissed in his ear.

He slammed the boy against the wall, before turned him around. His pale face was motionless as his uncle handed him the bloody knife.

Harry hesitated for only a second, before pressing the blade to his arm and cutting quickly. His eyes displayed disgust for only a second, but he quickly hid it when his uncle stared at him. He stopped for an instant, and his uncle punched him in the stomach.

"Did I tell you to stop, boy?" the huge man growled, smirking at the boy's pain.

"No, sir," he intoned dully, before quickly continuing.

"Imagine what your freaky friends will think when they see your arm," his uncle sneered, looked extremely amused. "Their precious savior is cutting himself." His uncle grinned, before taking out a package of salt. Uncle Vernon ripped it open over the teenager's wounds, and, gasping in pain, he fell to his knees.

"You deserve this, boy," his uncle hissed, gripping him roughly by the arm, causing him to wince. "Never forget that!"

"Yes, sir," Harry intoned, his head bowed.

His uncle slammed him against the wall. "Do you want more lashes, freak?" he barked out. "Use my proper title, slave!"

The injured teenager visibly shuddered and paused, before slumping in resignation. "Yes, ma-master," he whispered.

"My lord?"

Harry stared at her, but couldn't find the strength to correct her. He looked away, not wanting to face her. She should be ashamed to be seen with him. He was pathetic, weak, a coward…

"Harry?" she murmured, kneeling next to him.

"Vala," he murmured. "I-I…" He gripped her tightly by her shoulders, staring deep into her eyes. "Don't you dare ever think of yourself as a slave. You didn't choose it. You are brave, and strong, and good. Don't even doubt that for a second."

There was a long pause, and Harry held his breath, waiting for her reaction. Her eyes hardened, and he tried to move away. Instantly she grabbed him by his biceps. "You didn't choose it either," she told him fervently. When he went to protest, she cut him off. "Harry, I don't know exactly what he did to you, but it will never happen again. You are free of him."

Harry shook his head. "I don't feel free. I feel like he will always have a claim on me. I feel like I'm pretending to be someone I'm not. I will always be some stupid, weak freak that nobody cares about!"

"I care," Vala whispered.

Harry froze, stunned by her words.

"You are the kindest, bravest, most wonderful person I have ever met," she told him softly. "You have never abused the power you have over me, even when I keep things from you. No one has ever done that before."

Harry suddenly realized how close they were. She was only inches away from him. Her grey eyes stared at him piercingly, and a strand of her black hair was falling over her face. Her lips…

Harry leaned in before he realized what he was doing, and Vala did the same. Their lips brushed for a split second, before Vala suddenly pushed away from him violently. She got to her feet, her eyes wide.

She turned to run, and Harry got to his feet quickly. Before he could stop himself, he yelled, "Vala, stop!"

She didn't listen, but her body didn't get very far. She fell to the ground, crying out, and it took a few seconds before Harry realized what he had done. Instantly he wrapped his arms around her, hating himself more than he ever had in his life.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he gasped.

At her anguished cries, tears slipped down his face. When she finally relaxed, the bond done punishing her, he was still crying. She remained in his arms, silently comforting him as he sobbed, when he really knew it should be the other way around.

He didn't know why he was crying or why he couldn't stop. But Vala remained beside him, and he continued to choke out apologies. She only murmured reassurances, and held onto him tightly, but it was everything he needed.

She was everything he needed.

"I'm fine, Harry."

"Vala-"

"It was my fault-"

"I was the reason the spell reacted."

Vala put down the book she had been reading, sighing. "Harry, you didn't mean for it to happen."

"Does that make it any better?" he snapped.

She reached across the table and lightly placed her hand on his arm. "Yes."

"You should be angry at-"

"If I wasn't mad at you last night, why would I be now?" she asked rhetorically.

"I shouldn't have kissed you," Harry said quietly. "I'm no better than Lestrange."

At this, Vala looked mutinous. "What?"

"I kissed you, and when you ran… The spell made you stop. I was forcing you-"

She suddenly leaned across the table and touched his lips with her own. When she pulled away, he was staring at her in astonishment.

"If you were Master Lestrange I would not have done that," she said simply.

While she continued to read, Harry stared at her in shock for a good hour. Vala fought back the smile that was threatening to reveal her amusement. Finally, she couldn't help herself and collapsed into giggles.

"You kissed me," he said slowly, watching her as she tried to control her hysterical laughing.

"Really? I didn't notice."

He ignored her teasing, suddenly serious. "I hurt you yesterday. I am the reason you're a slave. Why would you-"

"You saved my life," she interrupted. "You didn't have to, but you did. And you have done everything to minimize the spell's influence. None of what you just said was true."

"But I-"

"Do you always complain this much when someone kisses you?"

He paused, smiling slightly. "No. But… you're different Vala. I don't want to push you into anything. "

She smiled slightly. "I know."

Vala turned back to read the book, and smiled behind it when she noticed Harry staring at her still. This time, he was smiling as well.

The soup sprayed across the table from the red head's mouth. "She did what?" he gasped.

"She kissed me."

"Wow."

"I know."

They sat in silence for a few moments.

"I don't get it," Harry said. "One minute she's running, the next she is just randomly kissing me."

"That's mental, mate."

"What should I do? How am I supposed to act?"

They stared at each other for a few minutes, before both saying: "Mione."

"Does Harry often go into shock?" Vala asked her companion quietly over the thick book.

Hermione shrugged, not looking away from her own novel. "Depends. Why?"

"No reason."

The pages continued to turn for several more minutes before Vala spoke up again.

"Harry and Ginny Weasley were pretty serious, right?"

"It only lasted a few months, but I thought they were. It was coming on for awhile. But after the war, things just didn't work out."

"Oh." Vala had a sudden thought, and froze. "Is it because of me?"

Hermione looked up from her book. "No, of course not. Ginny and Draco started dating before that, and honestly I think Harry and Ginny wouldn't have lasted."

They both turned back to their books, but Vala couldn't concentrate. She bit her lip, watching Hermione.

"Have you ever kissed him?"

At this, Hermione put her book down, her eyes raised. "No," she said plainly. "Now are you going to tell me what happened, or are we going to continue the question game?"

Vala hesitated, unsure she should trust her. But, then again, there was something about Hermione that made her want to tell her. "Harry kissed me." At Hermione's surprised expression, she hurriedly continued. "And then I ran, but the spell punished me…. and he felt awful. And then I kissed him the next day, trying to show him that… that he didn't do anything wrong."

Hermione was silent for a few minutes, but then smiled widely. "So you like him?"

"…Maybe."

"And he likes you?"

"I don't think so."

"He does."

"He does?"

Hermione turned back to her book, practically beaming. "When you've known someone for seven plus years, you recognize when he acts different. And he has been a completely different person with you."

Vala smiled, feeling a thrill run through her body.

They went back to reading in companionable silence, but Vala spent the time thinking of Harry and not the twelve uses of dragon blood.

"Hermione, please."

"I really don't know if I should say-"

"Hermione!"

"Harry," she sighed. "I don't want to say anything she doesn't want you to know."

"So she did talk about me."

"You are insufferable," she cried, hitting his arm with her book.

"Mione, I really like her," he said. "I don't know what to do. She probably hates me…"

"Harry, you are completely oblivious."

He gave her a confused look.

"Just do something romantic… take her out. Ask her how she feels."

"But what if-"

"Harry, did you want my help or not?"

The black-haired wizard sighed. "Yes."

"Good." She smiled at him.

"Ron's treating you well, right?" Harry asked suddenly, glancing at his best friend that was in the other room with Vala playing chess.

She instantly softened. "Of course," she said softly.

"He better be," Harry said, grinning.

His almost-sister grinned back. "I've got him trained, don't you worry."

"How could I? I saw you after the Lavender incident after all."

She smacked him again, and he rubbed his arm.

"Crazy witch," he muttered.

Vala smiled from beside him.

"Is there a reason you felt like going to Hogsmeade today?" she asked.

"I thought it would be nice to get out of the castle," he said, grinning.

"I've never been here before," she replied, looking around curiously. "It's nice."

"Are you thirsty?"

At her nod, he led her into The Three Broomsticks. She walked over to sit in one of the booths, but he grabbed her hand to stop her.

"This way," he said, smiling mysteriously.

She followed him curiously as they went through the backdoor, passing Madam Rosmerta on the way. Harry waved at her and grinned, and she winked back at him. Vala watched the exchange, feeling a bit out of the loop.

He led her into a small garden, with a single table surrounded by vines and flowers. The table had a fancy dinner prepared on it with candles in the center. She gasped at the romantic setting, and he pulled out her chair with a grin. She sat down, her eyes wide. He pulled his chair closer to hers and also sat down.

"Harry?" she questioned, shocked.

He poured her a glass of butterbeer and offered it to her. She took it with shaking hands.

"Harry?" she repeated.

He only smiled at her and motioned towards the food. They ate quietly, occasionally making comments here and there. Vala wondered what was going on, while Harry just kept on staring at her and smiling.

Vala pushed her plate away, feeling full. She glanced at Harry, who mimicked her actions. He suddenly grabbed her hands, rubbing his fingers over them lightly. She blushed.

"Vala, I know you probably don't feel the same… I just couldn't wait any longer. I needed you to know-"

Screams interrupted him, and they both jumped. Harry instantly got to his feet, his wand in hand. Vala copied his movements, and they both ran through the establishment and back into the street.

Spells were flying everywhere, and men and women dressed in deep red were everywhere. Harry quickly began to fire spells at the attackers, and Vala also began to instinctively attack them. She and Harry worked as a unit, and drove many of the attackers back. Vala blocked one particularly nasty curse from hitting Harry's blind side, and he grinned at her.

It wasn't until an attacker's head dressing slipped that Vala froze with terror. She recognized the burn mark and vicious grin straight away.

"Hello Vala."

She stepped back and glanced at Harry. He was busy fighting off a particularly vicious opponent and hadn't noticed yet.

"Marec," she whispered.

"Your grandfather sends his regards," he said smoothly, smirking. His eyes flickered to Harry. "Interesting company you keep."

Her wand shook as she pointed it at the man. He laughed.

"Vala!"

She heard Harry yell her name, but before she could react she was slammed in the back by a spell. She slipped to the hard ground, and Marec's cruel face was the last thing she saw before oblivion.

Well... two kisses in one chapter! And much more to come ;) Hehe. I hope it makes up for the fact that I haven't revealed who "he" is yet :) Although some of you are actually making very good guesses :) Anyways, I hope you enjoyed. I must admit, I love Vala in this chapter. And it was Harry's turn to break down in this chapter... next chapter, there will be some Vala drama for sure! But I felt she needed a lighter chapter. Too bad it won't last long... Poor Vala :(

Also, remember Vala suffered from the spell because it was a direct order. If Harry had asked her to stay, she could have still left. But he unintentionally ordered her to stay.

Anyways please review and let me know what you think! Happy reading :D