-1Chapter 25- Gone again.
Harry sat on the couch, the cup on the coffee table. Hermione had gone into the kitchen to make some dinner while Harry tried to figure out what to do next. He couldn't touch the cup or be sucked in, which would result in him fighting Voldemort's soul and hoping he won.
From what they could figure out, was that they needed a way to cause more physical damage than the cup could repair. It led him to think of the diary he'd destroyed with the fang. The poison was more than the diary could fix, but Harry didn't have a way of getting another one.
So short of touching it and hunting down the soul fragment, what was he left to do? Hermione called from the kitchen and Harry stood from the couch and made his way into the kitchen. Hermione laid out dinner on the table and waited for him to join her.
Harry dug into his plate of food and ate like there was no tomorrow. "Harry, honey, slow down before you choke." Hermione said eating politely and watching Harry inhale his food with awe.
"Sorry love, but I need all the energy I can get." Harry said. His mind was made up, whether Hermione agreed or not. She would be safe here, at least while he was gone.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked setting her fork down. For some reason she wasn't that hungry anymore.
"Let's not worry about it now. I just want to eat this amazing dinner you cooked." Harry said. He thought about the note Snape had left for them. Nothing useful was in it except that the next item is in the Malfoy mansion where Bellatrix is hiding out.
He was going to have the order retrieve the next item while he was inside the cup. That way when he came out, he could jump into the next one. Hopefully with knowing what to do and being in control it wouldn't take forever like last time.
They ate the rest of dinner in silence while Harry thought through what he was going to do. Hermione wasn't going to be happy about this but what other option was there? When they finished Harry cleaned up the dishes while Hermione went back into the living room to try and figure out what to do.
Harry watched her from the doorway, once he was done with the dishes. The firelight from the fireplace lit her up like an angel. He was one lucky guy to have her as his girlfriend. Not only was she beautiful but smart and courageous. Everything he could possibly ask for in a woman. He'd been blessed and now he was leaving her to fight one on one with Voldemort's soul.
"I know your there Harry, might as well come out of thought and join mine." She called from her seat on the couch. Harry smiled and walked in from his hiding spot in the doorframe. He sat down next to her and kissed her cheek.
"What were you thinking about?" Hermione asked looking over at him.
"You." Harry replied taking in the beauty of her from this close. He reached up and cupped her cheek in his palm, the pad of his thumb rubbing her smooth skin softly. She closed her eyes and sighed, leaning into his touch.
"What's going on Harry?" Hermione asked opening her eyes and looking back at him.
"I'm sorry love, but I don't know of any other way." Harry said. Hermione pulled back from his touch, unable to reason what he was trying to tell her. "I have to go in and take him out myself." Harry said.
She shook her head, trying to not get emotional. He knew she understood, somewhere inside her mind. She just wasn't grasping that information, that reason for him to go.
"Harry, you can't. The last time, you were gone for a year." Hermione said, a tear slipping from her eyes.
"So much can happen in a year." She continued.
"I know. You'll be safe here, I'll have the order get the next item. In fact we should get the D.A. here and you can train them. It'll help keep everyone busy until I get back." Harry said trying to plead with her.
"Harry, you just can't go. What if you don't come back?" She asked, chocking on her words from the tears falling from her eyes.
"I'll come back to you I promise." Harry said, rubbing her shoulder this time.
"Last time you came back a changed man. What if you come back and everything that makes you...well, YOU is gone?" Hermione asked, gripping at his shirt hoping to make him understand.
"I love you, you just have to believe in that." Harry said.
She shook her head, not wanting to hear his words of goodbye. "Don't leave me." She pleaded and Harry felt something snap within his chest. He acted on instinct and pulled her forward, crushing her lips with his.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her as close to him as possible. She gripped as his shirt and wrapped her arms around his back. Her fingers reaching into his hair and pulling him closer. They fought each other with their lips and tongues, not wanting to let the other go.
They managed to fall off the couch, Hermione rolling on top of Harry. Her legs straddled him and she pulled at his shirt. Harry growled and pulled back. "Hermione…" He managed to get out panting.
"I'm not letting you go." She replied looking down at him, her hair flung over one shoulder.
"If we…I'll be bonded to you for life." Harry said. Hermione's brows came together in confusion. "It's always been you Hermione, and it always will be. If we….you'll be my mate for life." Harry said, his voice suddenly weak.
A tear fell onto his cheek and he looked up into her eyes. She was smiling softly, crying. He reached up and wiped away the tears. She didn't say anything but lowered herself slowly, taking his lips with hers. The kiss was sweet and slow, but grew rough and demanding. She was willing to take the next step, she didn't want to let him go.
Harry woke before Hermione did. She was half strewn across his chest, the blanket from the couch covering them. The fire had almost died out when Harry reached for his wand from his pants. He waved his wand and the fire roared to life.
He looked down at the woman in his arms, the firelight making her skin glow. He had prolonged leaving for to long, but was grateful for the moments he'd had with the woman he loved. He chest felt heavier but a strange calm washed over him.
He knew it was the beast inside him, finally at peace with his mate. Some may think that mate is a cruel word but to Harry it was just as strong as wife. No matter what was to come, Hermione was his and he was hers. Even long after death, if he was to lose her he wouldn't love anyone else. Even the though of her dying made him fight of a terrible rage. He pitied the fool who would cross his path.
He shifted himself out from under her, making sure she stayed asleep while he quickly got dressed. He was quiet as he wrote a note for the Order to go and get the next item. He didn't explain why, just that it was vital to kill Voldemort.
Hermione shifted and looked up at him, "Harry?" She asked. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and propped herself up on her arm, keeping the blanket over her.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Harry said smiling down at her. She noticed how he was dressed for war. His wand in his holster, a knife in his boot. He was leaving her to go inside the cup. Her heart was beginning to break.
"Don't go, please." She begged again. Harry looked down at his hands and breathed deeply. It was harder to resist her. Now that he was bonded to her, well if he didn't fight it he would be her little puppy dog.
"I'm sorry, but there is no other way. However I know what I'm up against and I'm going in prepared. Trust me, please." Harry said. He really needed her approval and support before he walked willingly back into hell.
She stood, wrapping the blanket around her. She stood before him, looking up into his eyes. She could see all his emotions, and read his thoughts. He really wanted her to agree, send him off with a smile and hope in her heart. She knew he was right, he was prepared this time. Being the smartest witch of this day and age, she knew he was right and that he need to do this.
But being a woman in love, about to watch the man she was in love with walk into hell...she just couldn't do it, not without feeling her heart break in two. "You have to promise me, that when you come back you'll just lay with me for hours." She said looking back into his eyes. They were brighter, knowing she was with him.
"I promise more than that, love." Harry said pulling her in for a kiss. It was passionate and full of love but Harry had to pull back before it went to far. The sooner he left, the sooner he got back to her warm embrace and love filled kisses.
He made sure they were far apart when he reached for the cup. He hands tightened around the handle and he felt the pull against his soul. It was different that a portkey, that pull came from the naval. This was violating, rough and cold. With a force and explosion of noise.
Hermione coughed and waved the smoke away. When her vision was clear again she stared at the empty spot that Harry once stood. She wiped away her tears and sat on the couch. She prayed to whatever god there was to bring her man back.