Leh District, Himalaya - 1999:
Through the window in the center of the room, Harriet had a privileged view of the sand-colored mountains and the small village sprawling lazily below. Farther away, gray clouds gently enveloped the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan ranges. The air there was clean, and when the girl rose from the bed, still holding the phone to her ear, she felt the wind pleasantly ruffle her clothes.
''I mean it, Harry, you need to get back. It's been what, two years?''.
''Ron…''. Harriet began, her eyes falling on her travel postcards, which she arranged in a pile over the desk. There was a Holyhead Harpies invitation to join their team somewhere within that mess, but she wasn't feeling too sportive at the moment.
The room the girl was staying in was simple but clean, and the other people in the village were extremely welcoming. There was no statute of secrecy in the district of Leh. The Muggles populating the place coexisted peacefully with the Wizards.
''Fine, but if someone forces me to socialize with the ferret without your supervision, Mione will be a widow before this bloody wedding''.
Potter twirled a lock of her own hair around her index finger and closed her eyes. Her best friend was about to get married . Hermione had sent the invitation a few weeks earlier via a grumpy owl. Harriet was in Cairo, and the poor bird had a hard time trying to locate her. ''Of course I'm going to the wedding. I'm one of the bridesmaids. I only need some time''.
The line on the other side was silent for a few seconds, but that wasn't exactly new. Nobody else knew what to say to her. Nobody understood.
Harry disappeared after graduating from Hogwarts, taking with her only her suitcase, broom, and wand. She made a call to Godric's Hollow at a Chesterfield truck stop to tell her parents that everything was fine and hung up the phone before they could persuade her to come home.
The Potter's didn't give up so easily.
A week later, James and Sirius found her washing dishes at a restaurant in New Orleans. When questioned, the girl could not answer the reason for her near fleeing, only that she had to look for something.
Sirius arched both eyebrows at that, but he also saw in Harriet's face that if they dragged her back to England, she would find a way to escape again. He had a small and private conversation with James, and after, they decided that Harry would call home every day and use money from an account her parents would send to her.
The girl agreed to their terms but never used the money. She liked her odd jobs and didn't want anyone to know where she was going. Not that she herself knew.
''Alright, we just miss you''. Ron finally said something else.
''I miss you too, see you soon''.
As soon as she hung up the phone, Potter got back into bed and lay down on her back, feeling completely miserable and insensitive.
But to some degree, his family members accepted her behavior.
Harriet has always been a strange girl. Growing up, she began to feel more and more dissociated from the person she thought she should be as if somehow she was an imposter stealing the life of the real Harriet Potter.
Sometimes she got the impression that there was someone else buried deep into her skin.
There were dreams she never remembered, shadows that seemed to follow her in mirrors, and the way her face appeared to belong to someone else at times.
Not to mention the strange illness she had had as a child.
Mediwitches, healers, and muggle doctors could not find out what ailed the girl. Potions and medicines had no effect. Not even Albus Dumbledore could help her.
Harriet had episodes where she screamed, cried, and tossed for hours, to the point where the Potter's accepted that their eldest daughter would most likely end up trapped in the psychiatric ward at St Mungus for the rest of her life.
She only got better when Walburga Black, her godfather's mother, brought Tom Riddle to see her.
According to rumors, Riddle was the most powerful Sorcerer alive, and somehow, he was able to heal her. Harriet had no memory of what he'd done, but the image of the man, looking impossibly tall and familiar through her childish eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed to talk to her in a soothing tone, was still vivid.
Riddle claimed that a blood curse placed on the Potters was the cause of Harriet's agony, and even though there was no record of it in the family's Grimoires, no one questioned it. But anyway, no one would ever doubt his word.
Tom Riddle is the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, the most well-connected man in Europe, and a friend of Harry's grandparents for decades. He was even engaged to the distant cousin from whom she'd inherited her name at some point.
Everyone in Great Britain knows this '' tragic love story ''.
Terrorists killed Harriet Potter in the fifties for advocating for muggle-born wizard's rights. Lily admired the woman so much that she named her eldest daughter after her.
People said that she died two days before marrying Riddle and, he still wore the engagement ring.
Everyone repeated this same story in whispers because they found it so romantic that the man had never married again. Harry didn't even want to imagine how horrible the whole situation must be to him.
In the sixties, however, some people began to suggest not so subtly that Riddle was responsible for his bride's death, as her murder was very favorable to his political career. That kind of gossip faded when said people turned up dead in creatively grotesque ways. No one never managed to connect the crimes to him, but everyone learned to keep their mouths shut after that.
Privately, Harry doesn't know what to think of the man. He always sent the most outrageously expensive presents for her birthdays but never exchanged ten words with her, not even when people started whispering how much like his dead bride the girl resembled.
The Potter's had a sculpture of the woman in the family crypt and some pictures in their albums. They were identical, but if Riddle noticed it, he never gave a clue.
During her fifth year at Hogwarts, Lavender Brown, one of the girls she shared the Gryffindor girls' dormitory with, gave her tarot card readings, talking about fate, soulmates, and reincarnation. Harriet had dismissed it all as bullshit.
Her restlessness must have some perfectly logical explanation.
Saying goodbye to the district of Leh was harder than the girl anticipated. She had really enjoyed her stay in the place and promised herself that she would come back after the wedding. Harriet had no idea what she was looking for in her travels, but she was determined to find it.
The woman's reluctance to return home made her arrive just in time for the wedding. Since Hermione's bridesmaids wouldn't need to wear matching outfits, Potter used her latest paycheck to buy a dress at an antique shop. The attire was a pale silver hue, with sheer sleeves and appliqués along the bust and skirt that gave the garment an ethereal, almost Edwardian feel. Harry put on flats of a similar color, pinned her hair on top of her head, and put on some lipstick, so she didn't look so dull, she loved Hermione, but her efforts only went so far.
The Malfoy's didn't skimp on the wedding ceremony, but she expected no less. The party itself was not just a token of the family's wealth. It was also a statement that they had secured the most brilliant Witch of that generation for their heir.
Harriet did her best to blend in with the other guests, still not wanting to be seen and questioned by her family. She saw Dorcas Meadowes and her wife, Marlene, talking to Hermione's birth parents in a corner, but their presence there was a mere formality. Hermione, like all the other Muggleborns, only saw her parents on Muggle-celebrated Christmas and birthdays. Vacations and school breaks were all spent with the Meadowes.
The Ministry found proper wizarding families so that the muggle-borns could learn the customs and traditions of the world they were entering.
Potter once asked her friend if she missed her parents, but Hermione just shrugged and admitted that they had never fully understood her and that finding out she wasn't the only one with magic was a huge relief.
''Look who decided to show up''. Pansy Parkinson's nasal voice makes Harriet curse in thought, but she manages to put on a convincing enough smile on her face when she turns to face the other woman.
''Hey, Pans. Nice to see you too ''.
Pansy sniffed. ''To be honest, I thought you were already dead in some remote part of the world. There's hardly been news of you ''.
''Don't be a bitch, Pansy''. Lavender says as she joins the pair, bringing with her a cold glass of champagne.
''Where is Ginny? ''. Harry questions sweetly, just because she knows the two broke up in an unfriendly way. Ron loves to gossip over the phone.
''If you want to know about Ginevra, you can ask any of the infinite Weasley's ''.
'' Stop that. Hermione wants us to join her ''. Brown ends that conversation by dragging the girls to where the bride is.
Narcissa and Melania Malfoy both receive Potter warmly as she enters the small parlor. Her best friend stands in front of a full-length mirror, completely radiant in a wedding gown with delicate, subtle lace in a floral pattern. A diamond tiara that can only be some Malfoy family heirloom sits atop her head, somehow keeping the unruly curls in a classic hairstyle.
''Harry! ''. Hermione exclaimed, turning to throw her arms around the other girl enthusiastically. '' You came ''.
''Of course I came. Who else would stop Ron from making you a widow even before the ceremony was over? ''.
Hermione laughed tearfully, and Lavender started scolding them about ''smudged makeup by stupid tears''.
''I'm going to be someone's wife , can you believe that? ''.
Harriet took her hands between her own. Hermione was her sister in every sense of the word. ''You two are going to be the happiest couple in the world''. Potter stated, fishing from her handbag a pendant she had taken from her own family vault earlier. ''Something borrowed, old and blue''. She says, pinning the little sapphire jewelry to the center of the dress's discreet neckline.
Hermione begins to cry openly despite Lavender's protests about her makeup, and the two Malfoy family matrons purge the bridesmaids from the parlor to calm her down.
When Harriet returns to the main hall, the guests are already seated and waiting for the bride. She gets a chair near the pillars but still has a good image of the entrance. The decor is so pretentious that the girl fears that everything will fall apart if she dares to touch it.
''The prodigal daughter returns''. Regulus Black's voice, who sits beside her, makes her smile. Regulus has always been one of the girl's favorite people in the world.
''Don't get spoiled by my illustrious presence''.
''I promise I won't. You should try Greece next time, but don't tell your mother I suggested it.''
'' Noted ''.
The ceremony begins seconds later and is very beautiful, with Draco bursting into tears as Hermione emerges from the archway into the hallway, escorted by her father and Marlene.
Harry doesn't understand why she feels her heart constricting when they exchange vows. Ron delivers a humorous speech in honor of the newlyweds, citing how they were both unable to tolerate each other's presence as children. Harriet toasts in their honor and wishes the young couple a prosperous future but then goes back to trying to be as invisible as she can.
The entire party seems to pass in a blur.
A ceremonialist ushers the guests into an adjacent chamber where waiters serve dinner, and Harriet ends up getting ambushed by her godfather.
'' What is it? My goddaughter decided to join us, mere mortals?. Come here, let me take a picture, this is a rare event''. Sirius exclaims upon finding her, groping his pockets probably for a camera.
'' You're embarrassing her, Padfoot.'' Remus says in an unsuccessful attempt to stop his husband.
It's too late. Sirius already found the blasted camera, and the girl asks for help with her eyes to Peter, who is following close behind. The traitor shrugs and smiles as if to say: '' That problem is yours, not mine ''.
'' I am the godfather. I have to embarrass her ''.
''You wound me, pads. I thought that duty was mine ''. James Potter speaks up as soon as he appears, carrying in his arms little Fleamont Potter, who, he says, has threatened to run away from home on a broom if his parents dare leave him with a babysitter.
Harriet approaches to kiss her little brother's forehead and hug her parents. Lily smiled indulgently. ''There's enough Harry for us all to embarrass''.
''You should support me! ''.
''And I do, just not against them''.
''Merlin, you guys are the worst''. Despite the girl's exasperated sigh, there is no truth behind her speech.
'' Prongslet is in a bad mood. I thought you and Parvati were making things work long-distance? ''. James teased, wiggling his eyebrows in a way that made his eldest daughter roll her eyes and admit in an embarrassing way that the two of them broke up. At first, Harry even tried to keep the relationship long-distance, but it didn't work.
Sirius let out a low whistle. '' Our Harry is a heartbreaker, Prongs, she got it from you ''.
'' Yes, we all know about Potter's juvenile escapades ''. Severus Snape sneers when he joins the group, flashing a sardonic smile.
The hostility between Snape and the Marauders had diminished considerably over the years. But everyone knew that Severus and James only tolerated each other for two reasons, demands from Lily, who named Snape as one of Harriet's godparents, and because the potions master was the creator of a potion that was as close to a cure as there was for lycanthropy.
Since Wolfsbane began to be distributed by the Ministry, it removed the Werewolves from a marginalized position in society, helping to reduce many of the prejudices Wizards still had about the condition.
The potions master turned to greet Lily and little Fleamont, but Sirius still looked quite annoyed.
''Oh!? Why don't you go fuc… ''.
''For Merlin's sake, Sirius. Can't you shut up for five seconds? I don't know how I missed the opportunity to smother you with a pillow while we were still kids''. The appearance of Regulus and his mother causes Harriet to beam again, nodding her head towards the older woman respectfully.
Sirius pout. ''Mother sure wouldn't like that''.
''I don't know, Regulus was always the smartest offspring''. Walburga confesses, but the smile she directs towards her eldest son and his husband is warm and full of affection.
Sirius puts a hand to his chest as if he's mortally offended. ''I know, but we don't say it out loud. He's already too arrogant.''
The Black matriarch shakes her head before turning her attention to Harriet.
''You look beautiful, my dear, and Effy wants to talk to you. She's right there ''. The woman informs her, nodding towards a long table where Harry's grandmother sits, with Augustus Rookwood and Tom Riddle.
''Hey! You can't show up here and steal my daughter. God knows Mother will keep her all night talking to these boring old politicians''.
''We're trying to stop Harriet from wasting her potential on nonsense like Quidditch. Be grateful to Lily's good genes that you didn't end with an imbecile for heiress ''.
''You're always a delight to have around, Mrs. Black''. James mutters, but Walburga is already walking away with Harriet as she grumbles something about insolent boys.
Potter barely has time to talk to her grandmother before she notices Pansy Parkinson marching towards the table with a determined expression on her face and her eyes fixed on Riddle. Pansy is clearly drunk, hurt by her and Ginny's breakup, and about to do something silly because her ex-girlfriend had a crush on Tom Riddle when they were kids.
Harriet knows the man has no patience for foolish little girls, and in a desperate attempt to keep her friend from embarrassing herself, she turns to the man and asks him if he doesn't want to dance.
Conversations within a fifty-meter radius stopped immediately, and people started staring at Harry like she was crazy. The girl could feel the judgment of the other guests burning against her skin. Even Pansy stopped midway with wide eyes.
Harriet took a deep breath and lifted her chin.
I can do this. There's nothing unusual about the situation. I'm no longer a child, and I won't allow him to dismiss me as one.
When Riddle didn't even stop talking to answer her, the girl cleared her throat. Very slowly, Tom finally turned towards her. ''Are you lost, Miss Potter? I can see the other children right there ''.
Augustus Rookwood started to laugh, and Harry felt like an idiot. What the fuck was she thinking? Riddle was the Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, the last direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin and probably the most powerful wizard alive. She was just an uninteresting and ordinary girl. Her confidence from before was fading. Still, she had already opened her mouth. She would look even more ridiculous if she backed down now.
''I'm not lost, I want you to dance with me''. Harriet said, adding a ''Sir'' a few seconds later with some insubordination.
Riddle's smile was slow and lenient. He purposely left Harriet without an answer until she began to squirm in place.
'' Very well! Show the way ''.
Potter was so sure that Riddle would deny her that she remained motionless until he spoke to her again. ''Can't you find the dance floor? I think the name is quite explanatory ''.
The girl's face heated, and her grandmother gave an audible sigh. ''Stop torturing the poor girl, Tom. She was kind enough to get us rid of Viola's brainless granddaughter.''
Riddle sent her a cheeky smirk. The expression matched his handsome face, making him younger and far more familiar than Harriet could explain. ''You know I don't like kids''.
His words pushed Potter to the limit. '' Excuse me? I'm not a child! If you're too old to get up from your damn chair, say it already ''.
The girl regretted the words the moment they escaped her lips. No one spoke like that to the most dangerous man in Europe and lived to tell the tale. However, to her surprise, Riddle tilted his head back and laughed hard . ''Ah! The Potter women. I can't remember the last time someone called me old to my face. Let's dance, Miss Potter, or I'm afraid this wedding won't survive your wrath''.
Mortified by her own behavior, Harry kept quiet as Riddle led her to the dance floor. She could see Draco and Hermione a few yards away, tangled together with syrupy expressions, but the two had been like that since their third year at Hogwarts.
''I'm sorry, I shouldn't have disrespected you like that. It was very rude of me ''.
Part of her was still horrified, she never acted that way, but there was something about Riddle treating her like a futile little girl that shook her nerves.
''Don't be sorry, you sounded like someone I knew for a moment''.
'' My cousin ''. The girl agrees, starting to move along his body in the slow rhythm of the waltz. ''Everyone says I look exactly like her''.
''Hmm, trust me when I say you two are nothing alike''. Tom responds casually, leading the dance. She could feel the heat of his hand on her waist even through her dress, and the sensation was disconcertingly familiar.
Tom Riddle is old enough to be Harriet's grandfather, but he looks younger than her father.
There are deep expression lines around the man's eyes, and his gaze has an almost cruel maturity, but despite the strange perceptions that affect the girl's mind, she feels a little offended. Everyone says that Harriet Potter was beautiful, fair, and powerful. Harry doesn't want to be the silly child she knows Riddle thinks she is.
'' I am really sorry ''.
'' Enough apologizing. It's expected we hold a conversation during the dance, so tell me, is your stay in England permanent? ''.
That was a much safer topic, and Harry tried to forget the firmness of his hand on her waist to form a coherent response. ''Grandpa wants me to join the Aurors, Grandma thinks I should get married, and Walburga wants me to get into politics ''.
''And what do you want to do? James wouldn't shut up about the Holyhead Harpies offering you and the Weasley girl positions on their team''.
James was more excited about the offer than Harriet herself, but he was always like that. Her father had literally cried when she became the youngest Seeker of the century. Harry grinned, she had received the proposal from the Harpies almost with Hermione's wedding invitation, but she still hadn't sent a reply. ''I want to travel some more before I make a decision''.
''Smart choice. There are all kinds of magic out there, Harry. You're a powerful witch. Expand your abilities instead of settling down ''.
'' Thanks ''. Harriet said, trying desperately not to stutter like a fool. Riddle wasn't exactly known for being a flattering man.
rom a distance, Augusta Longbottom watches the couple with a thoughtful expression.
''You know, I considered the girl to our Neville for a while. It would be a strong match, but deep down, I always knew she was Riddle's''.
''They're just dancing, Mother. Riddle is no pedophile. He has never shown interest in Harry before''.
''Maybe, but she's not a child anymore, and I met her cousin Frank, the two could be twins, even the voice is the same, Riddle was obsessed with that woman ''.
''He's too old. The Potter's won't allow it''.
Augusta snorted. ''James Potter may be an idiot, but his parents aren't. If I had a granddaughter who looked so much like Riddle's dead fiancee, I'd push her into his arms the moment the girl came of age''.
Shock engulfed Frank's features. '' Mother! That's cruel, even for you ''.
''And why, dear? Wouldn't you like to have the most well-connected Wizard in Europe as your son-in-law? If the Potter's have an ounce of common sense, they'll encourage her ''.
Frank didn't respond. The girl seemed content enough to be with Riddle, but she was still an innocent child in her own way. Frank had seen that girl, Alice's goddaughter, grow up. He remembered her at age ten, running and playing with Neville in the gardens of Longbottom Manor. Pushing her to Riddle seemed too much of a sacrifice. Everyone knew he wasn't a good man.
''No more firewhisky for you tonight, milady. Let's join Neville and Alice, how's that? ''.
''Oh no, I can't stand that boring Hufflepuff girlfriend of his. We should have at least snatched the Granger girl, but Abraxas already has those dirty paws of his around her. I can't believe the Malfoy's ferret-looking grandson has a more powerful spouse than our dear Neville ''.
''Hannah is a sweet girl. You only need to get to know her better''.
''The girl is an idiot, Frank. Even that silly Parkinson chit would be better.'
Discussing marriage prospects, mother and son left that part of the ballroom.
When the dance was over, and Riddle said goodbye to Harriet with a bow and a kiss against the back of her hand that made her breath catch, the girl remained alone in the middle of the dance floor for a moment longer, unable to explain why she felt so empty.
In the nightmare, she was paralyzed in a fog-shrouded graveyard, watching in despair a monster emerge from a steaming cauldron, the corpse of a teenager at its feet. Harriet struggled against the bonds trapping her until she was free, then she began to run towards a maze.
The girl woke up to lightning flashing outside the window. Her face was wet with tears, but she couldn't remember what she had dreamed.
After the wedding ceremony, all her friends went out drinking, but she went straight home to finish packing. She would travel early in the morning.
Mind still foggy from the haze of sleep, Harry rolls over but smiles when she notices Fleamont's tiny feet conjuring two shadows on the bedroom floor beneath the door. Two seconds later, his head pops into the gap between the frame. ''Harry? Are you awake? ''.
''I'm awake. Did you have a nightmare? ''.
Fleamont takes his sister's question as an invitation, as he enters the room with some hesitation. Even though he was an agitated and brave little boy, he was terrified of storms.
''No… I just wanted to make sure the lightning didn't scare you''.
''I met a girl with a lightning bolt scar on her forehead. Do you want to hear about her?'' Harriet had no idea where she'd gotten such a story, but she knew that Fleamont didn't like people coddling him like a baby.
His little face lit up with the proposal of a tale, and he ran to his older sister's bed. ''Tell me all about her! ''.
Potter covered them both and tried to remember where she had heard that, maybe from her dreams?. ''Well… She was struck by lightning when she was a baby, and it gave her the power to travel through time. People called her blessed, but she was just lonely. However, a powerful and bad Wizard wanted her gone''.
Another lightning strike outside, Fleamont shuddered and stuck his head under the covers. ''What did she do? ''. He asked, his voice shaky.
''She hid in time. The man got angry when he couldn't reach her, so he started hurting the people she loved ''.
'' No! That's unfair ''. Harriet's younger brother protests, forgetting his fear for a moment. His innocence makes her smile fondly.
''She found a way to avoid that, she went back to the time where he was just a lonely boy too, she thought it would be easier to defeat him that way''.
''And she won? ''.
''In a way, yes. The girl convinced him to join her in her travels through times, and all the people she loved were never hurt. Nobody else saw them again after that ''.
''Will you leave us too? ''. His eyes were on the bags in the corner of the room now.
''Just for a little while, but I promise I'll write to you and send you all kinds of cool stuff.''
Fleamont's lower lip trembled, and he buried his head in the girl's chest. ''I don't want cool stuff. I want you to stay.''
Harriet kissed the top of his head. Her little brother smelled like baby soap and strawberries. Of all things, she knew she would miss him the most. ''I'm going back. I only need to recover something I lost''.
Potter didn't know how those words were accurate until they left her mouth.
In the morning, Harriet's parents ambushed her at the kitchen table before she had a chance to disappear again.
''Stay, just for a few more days. Everyone misses you, and this will allow you to spend more time with your friends. Besides, Riddle's masquerade ball is coming up soon. I'm sure you'll have fun there''. Lily suggested, exchanging a look with her husband that made it clear they knew more than they let on.
Every year, Riddle organized a masquerade ball, and every year people looked forward to it. That was where everyone who wanted to be somebody found a way to get an invitation. It was a party to make connections. Harriet couldn't have cared less about all this.
''Spit it out. Otherwise, I'll have disappeared before lunch''.
It was James who relented, rubbing his forehead vigorously. ''Riddle told your grandmother that he's going to offer you a place among the Knights Of Walpurgis. He wants to officiate during the ball''.
If Harry hadn't been sitting down, she would have collapsed in shock. The Knights Of Walpurgis were the most powerful entity in Britain. A Wizarding army made up of only the brightest and most powerful. The Black family's greatest pride was having two of its members, Regulus and Bellatrix, as part of the organization.
'' Why? Is this some grandma's ploy to trap me here? ''.
''Harriet, don't be difficult, this is important ''. Lily pleaded, trying to make her see reason.
The girl was still unable to understand. She had graduated from Hogwarts with good grades, but not all that good.
On the other side, Harry learned so much during her travels that magic came to her as easy as breathing now. But no one knew that.
For a sweet minute, Harry imagined herself turning down that proposal and disappearing again, but her parents looked tired. She'd already let them down enough. ''Well, I would look like an idiot if I just ran away now, wouldn't I? ''.
Staying at home didn't prove as terrible as she imagined. Harriet got the chance to see her friends, take her little brother to the movies and the park and spend more time with her family. Yet, for some reason, it all tasted like a farewell.
When the date of the blessed ball arrived, the woman's restlessness had already begun to grow again. Harriet was already starting to regret it, but she allowed Euphemia to doll her up for such an event. With Fleamont becoming recluse with age, the girl's grandmother manipulated her, telling her how lonely she was.
There's something tense in the air and Euphemia's expectant looks. Harriet recognized that her parents had no political ambitions, her grandparents were at an advanced age, and her brother was still very childlike. Soon, Harry would be one of the youngest people to receive an invitation of that magnitude. The attention it would bring to her family could be very beneficial if exploited.
As if reading her thoughts, Euphemia put an arm around her granddaughter's shoulders. ''You have the blood of two of the most powerful bloodlines in our world. It's time for you to take your rightful place''.
The moment she passed through the floo network, Harriet concluded that she should never have allowed her parents to talk her into going to that place. Influential people were moving around the ballroom of Riddle's mansion. The decor was much less showy than Hermione's wedding but also somewhat somber.
Like all other women, Harry was the image of a Witch from a respectful family. The long black dress her grandmother had chosen shaped her body in a subtle but flattering way, and the gold embroidery swirling along the bodice and skirt matched her mask.
Euphemia had insisted on keeping the girl's hair down and more wild than ever, claiming it was a validation of beauty and power.
At least Harry knew she was considered pretty enough, with her big eyes and the facial bone structure she'd inherited from the Blacks, but she felt like an imposter. She always felt like she didn't belong.
Within seconds, the girl's mood worsened, and she struggled to free herself from her grandmother. Rumors about her staying in Britain and the Knights had somehow spread, and the girl got surrounded by people who wanted to gain her favor the moment she set foot in that place.
With some crappy excuse, Harriet bypassed the ballroom and fled as soon as she saw a breach. She didn't want to piss off her family, but it all seemed pointless. Yes, that invitation was a unique opportunity, but glory was never Harriet's thing. Her wish was to resume traveling, looking for whatever she had lost. She knew she would recognize it when she found it.
It was then, hiding in one of the deserted corridors of the house, that the girl felt it for the first time.
It was as if hot steam had descended on her body, needles stinging the back of her neck, a dull, hollow pain pounding against her chest. The sensation seemed to have left a trail. Magic swirled in the air.
Against her better judgment, the girl decided to follow it.
Harry continued walking through the corridors. Strangely, they had no portraits. Sconces were the only source of light there, and heavy drapes obstructed the windows. She walked, and walked, followed that strange intuition until she found herself facing a room.
To her amazement, the door opened by itself.
A good peek at the furniture inside told the girl that this must be Riddle's office. Harriet repeated to herself that she wasn't eavesdropping as the door opened on its own, but when voices reverberated down the hall, she brushed aside such issues and walked into the office, closing the heavy door behind her.
Another powerful wave of magic hit her like a punch. It was heavy and so dark that fear began to creep into her. Harry was scared, but it was too late. She acted as if she had no control over her body, her legs carrying her to the large cabinet by the window, this one without a curtain. Something was shaking inside one of the drawers. Potter's heart roared furiously in her chest as she stretched out her fingers.
The drawer burst and, an iron box came flying toward her outstretched palm. Panicked and breathless, the girl traces the patterns of the runes carved into the object. That box looked like a Black relic, but what she found inside was completely different.
A very old-looking locket with an ''S'' in the center was draped over red velvet, the jewel seeming to glow in the dim light of the room. Harriet was no longer scared. Her heartbeat gradually stabilized, she felt calmer than ever, but the reason seemed to have abandoned her completely because the girl reached out to touch the jewel.
She finally had found what she was looking for.
The instant her skin came into contact with the warm surface of the locket, everything went black.
She blinked one, two, three times. Her mind was still absorbing all the information she got from that alternative version of herself. She spent forty years trapped in a fucking locket, and someone would have to pay for her wrath.
In all fairness, Harry didn't remain conscious the entire time , and if the Horcrux she carried with her hadn't taken over and sucked her soul all the way into the locket when the podium exploded, she'd be permanently dead by now.
Taking a deep breath, the woman put the chain around her neck and looked at herself in the mirror. At least she managed to keep the same body. It made her feel less like a thief.
She wanted to think that she, the time traveler Harriet Potter and Harry, born in 1980, had just merged, both minds mixed in one point that they were the same thing. Nevertheless, it was too late to regret it, and the woman twisted her wand between her fingers. She wanted her phoenix feather core back, but this one, with dragon heartstring, would do for now.
Tom Riddle had a lot to explain.
The entire hall fell into dead silence as she appeared at the end of the hall, even the musicians taking a short break. Everyone seemed to notice the locket around Harriet's neck, but no one said anything.
She walked confidently up to Tom and bowed in a small courtesy. She was so angry that she forgot the pain of losing so many years of his life
''Harry...''. Riddle starts, sounding just like the boy she left behind.
'' My lord , it's a relief to confirm that you still remember my fucking name''.
Clearly fearing the woman might cause a scene, Tom excused himself to his closest associates before escorting her out of the ballroom. They ended up in another dimly lit hallway, and when she realized his eyes fixed on her wand, she smiled with dark pleasure. The bastard was right to be apprehensive.
''Do you mind explaining why the hell I spent forty years trapped in a fucking locket? If you had anything to do with the explosion... ''.
Riddle's fingers immediately wrapped around her shoulders. ''What? I spent forty years trying to get you back! But you, you reckless idiot, erased the entire timeline you came from when you arrived in 1947 to kill me. When you died, there was nothing I could do.''
'' Oh really? ''. Harriet pushes him away, making an emphatic gesture that envelops her entire body.
''Believe me, she wasn't you''. The woman's hatred began to fade when she realized his hands were shaking. Harry stopped trying to push him away, and Riddle cupped her face between his fingers. ''Nobody has been able to touch the locket since you died. I thought it was just my Horcrux. All this time, I thought you were dead ''.
He looked absolutely devastated.
''I am not, and I have no intention of dying again''. Potter declared, stroking the side of his face with her knuckles. ''Now, I need to get out of this hideous dress. I believe we have a lot to discuss ''.
Tom led her into what appeared to be the main bedroom of the house, and the woman rolled her eyes as she took in the melancholy but at the same time arrogant decor of the place. Harriet rummaged through the drawers of a dresser for pants and a shirt, removing her tight dress without delicacy afterward.
A sigh of relief came from her lips as she kicked the taffeta ball that was the damn dress off her legs, throwing the mask on top. The white button-down shirt was cool to the touch but infinitely nicer.
All done, the girl turned on her heel and was surprised to find Riddle sitting on the edge of the bed and looking the same as in 1947, instead of his earlier middle-aged man's visage.
''It was a glamour charm, dearest. The masses would panic if they realized that I'm physically twenty-three ''.
''Always the megalomaniac, but I think I prefer the older version...''. Harry teases, reaching over to settle on his lap and kiss him. Riddle smiles against her mouth but doesn't respond.
Harry has missed him so much that she thinks she would go mad if the two of them split up again.
The moment is interrupted when someone knocks on the door, and Harriet, annoyed, doesn't waste time going to answer it the way she is, wearing only a man's shirt.
Regulus Black takes a good look at the locket around her neck and raises both eyebrows, barring the door with his foot before the girl has a chance to obstruct his view of Riddle in the bed, much younger than he logically should seem. ''That's fine, dearest. He knows everything''.
''Have you lost your mind? If Dumbledore finds out... ''.
''If Dumbledore finds out, we'll kill him.'' Tom interrupts her, flashing a devilishly irritating smile.
Regulus crosses both arms over his chest. ''We have a meeting with the Russians tomorrow. Your little honeymoon will have to wait''.
''You can handle the Russians alone''.
''But I don't want to deal with the Russians alone''.
''Excuse me, am I interrupting something? Do you two want some privacy?! ''. Harry frowns, tapping her foot against the luxurious bedroom rug impatiently.
''I have no interest in the man who caused my painful death in an alternate timeline. He's all yours''.
''You wouldn't have died if you hadn't played traitor''. Riddle defends himself, but Harriet is more interested in the content of that conversation. She slides her fingers over the locket, and Regulus follows the movement with his eyes. There is an expression full of conflict on his face.
'' Is she dead? ''.
'' How do you know abo...''.
''I am a Black, I know the smell of black magic''.
Potter understood how he was feeling. The memories of the alternate version of herself remained intact inside her head. Regulus had seen that girl grow up. They were family.
''We are the same person. I only know things she forgot''.
Quickly, something occurred to Potter, and the woman turned to Tom. ''She wasn't sick as a child, was she? ''.
''No. She remembered the war, the deaths. I have no idea how, but she remembered ''.
''You just took the memories away''. In an attempt to disguise the bitterness in her voice, Harry gathered up her dress, mask, and shoes from the floor, tossing them all onto a chair.
''She was nine years old, what else could I do? ''.
Nothing, he couldn't have done anything else. At least the girl had the normal life I didn't have. At least she grew up with people who loved her . Harry thinks, avoiding the eyes of the two men in the room.
''I'll deal with the Russians''. Regulus breaks the silence, starting to move again towards the door. Before leaving, he turns one last time. ''And Harry? Thanks for everything ''.
Harriet makes a stupid salute before being left alone with Riddle again.
''Can we continue with what we were about to do before Black interrupted us? ''. Tom says, still in bed. The girl stares at him unimpressed but starts to retrace her steps.
''And what exactly were we about to do? ''.
''If you come back here in this century, I'll show you''.
Harriet smiles.
''She's what?! ''. Lily's incredulous exclamation caused James to grimace. He loved his wife with all his heart, but she has a terrible temper when she's angry.
Early in that morning, an owl delivered a note from the couple's eldest daughter, claiming she got married, and is soon returning to explain the details in person. There was a brief confusion regarding the spouse's identity, but that disappeared as James' eyes fell on the signature ''Harriet Riddle'' at the end of the letter.
''He's not a good person, and he's old enough to be her grandfather. We have to do something, James ''. Lily was walking in circles inside the kitchen as Fleamont tried to understand what had happened.
Under the law, Harriet was a grown woman and mentally capable. There was nothing to be done.
''At least we get to see her more''. James offers, instead of telling his wife that they were the ones to push Harriet to stay. Dissatisfied with this resolution, Lily leaves the kitchen and slams the door.
Across town, Harriet woke up with a bit of a hangover. Clothes and empty bottles were decorating the bedroom floor, but she ignored it all in favor of watching her now-husband sleep.
Their ceremony had been rushed through a few days ago by a Ministry official before the two disappeared to ensure Harry's permanent immortality. The process of dividing the soul proved to be arduous, long, and very painful. There was a moment where the woman believed she would disappear into the darkness again, but then she finally felt the seared edges where a piece of her soul should have been. The murder was unimportant, committed with a lack of remorse and too much determination. Tom had already vanished the body when she opened her eyes again.
The only thing really uncomfortable about the entire process was the feeling of emptiness, but that faded as the Horcrux the woman already had spread out to fill the space. Harriet had used Slytherin's locket as a vessel before Riddle decided to absorb the piece of her soul, making the connection between the two stronger than ever.
''It's rude to stare''. Tom mutters suddenly, his eyes still closed.
''You like it when I stare''. Harry replies, brushing his hair off his forehead. Tom wraps his fingers around her wrist, bringing her hand to his lips. The touch is subtle and almost non-existent, but she feels her entire body shuddering.
There's nothing that looks more appealing than staying in bed for a few more days, but she knows they'll both need to get out of there at some point. With reluctance, Harriet gets up and drapes a robe over her body, approaching the panoramic window of the penthouse that Riddle hadn't entered since she died in that damn explosion. If the view was once breathtaking, now it could be considered from another world. Their small Wizarding community had tripled in size, houses and establishments stretched as far as her eyes could see, and recognizing this whole advance with her own eyes was different from witnessing it through someone else's memories.
Soon Tom joined her, the reflection of his gloriously naked body making her arch an appreciative eyebrow.
Harry's family and friends would still have a hard time accepting that, but the woman was so grateful to have the privilege of continuing to live with them all that she didn't care. She would receive condescending congratulations in the Ministry and a few suspicious looks. For decades people would talk behind her back, feeling sorry for the poor girl used by a powerful man to replace his lost love. Harriet didn't mind. Those people had no idea they'd only survived because she'd made a deal with this particular powerful man. They didn't know Tom had waited nearly half a century for her.
There were losses too, but with these, the woman had already made peace.
As a result of the Horcrux, Harriet would not have children of her own. She would be an aunt to Ron and Hermione's kids. She would watch them grow and age and die in an endless circle until those she now called best friends became echoes in other people's faces. No one was supposed to live forever, and maybe that was her punishment, but Harry had defied death before. She was willing to do it again for him .
Tom brushed her hair back from her neck before his arm went around the woman's waist. She felt him put his chin on her shoulder, turning his face to kiss the side of her neck gently.
''This victory is yours''. Riddle told her, clearly referring to all the progress the Wizarding World had made in the last few decades when he saw that her eyes were still on the almost utopian landscape outside.
Harriet turned, watching him for the first time without any shame or regret. ''This victory is ours, but we don't need to stop here''.
''World domination before breakfast, dearest? I knew I loved you for a reason ''. He teases, but despite the mention of breakfast, he's already carrying her back to bed.
Well, Harriet had paid her debt to her parents and their community, now there were only the things she wanted, just her and the other half of her soul, just her and Tom Riddle.
A/N:That's it, guys, the end of this fic. I know that there are probably a hundred plot holes, and feel free to point them. I'll do my best to try to find a reasonable explanation for them! hahaha
Also, I know Snape didn't invent Wolfsbane, but here he did, sorry hahaha
Thank you so much for all the support, the lovely comments