23. Lust
Harry had been scolded quite seriously after he had returned to Hogwarts. His teachers and friends were beside themselves when they realized he had disappeared. Others took it for him planning against them. Already three students had been found petrified.
Dumbledore had berated him on his recklessness about the invasion of the Malfoy household. There had been talk of criminal repercussions had he been caught and such. He hadn't thought that Hermione voice could become so shrill at his actions. Ron seemed put out that he hadn't been included.
Now the weekend, Harry had been allowed to leave his friend's sight. Harry found a secluded room within the castle and placed the artifact before him. Following his instincts, he opened his book and pulled from its pages the blade Joyeuse. Rising it above his head, Harry brought the blade down upon the vase.
As it shattered, everything grew deathly silent. In the center of the room was a new figure. He was tall, thin with bone-white skin and black hair. The man wore a grand wizard's robe. Harry marveled at the appearance. Harry moved to awake the Pinched Man but the Pale Lady appeared to stop him.
"Take a moment to think about what you are doing", there was an edge of worry in her voice. "When people have been through tough times, they aren't always grateful to the first person who helps them."
"You know him", Harry stated. Seeing her hunched over the Pinched Man caused an uneasiness in the young boy. It was evident, once again, how little he knew of his precious Pale Lady.
The Pale Lady glanced at him with thinly veiled bemusement. She had a smile as wicked as sin as she answered, "I've known him for many, many years. Oh what stories of our adventures I could tell."
Harry was getting very… upset? He couldn't exactly put his finger on it. As long as he remembered, he never had to share the Pale Lady. Now that the Pinched Man was free, would he lose the Pale Lady?
The idea terrified him beyond anything Voldemort and water demons ever did. That tender look that she had for the man made him want to be angry. Angry at himself for finding that vase and breaking it.
"That's nice", Harry lied thickly hoping that the conversation would just end.
The Pale Lady got right in his face and asked, "Do you want to know how we know each other?"
With great trepidation he nodded. Shutting his eyes, he awaited for the worst.
"He's my brother."
He blinked his green eyes in surprise. Brother?
A stern look crossed her face. It made her appear as though she was sculptured from the finest marble, "You heard that correctly." She stepped away from his and crossed her arms. "I'm aware that you value our bond, but that doesn't mean it will be the sole one for either of us. I do not begrudge you your relationship with Ron and Hermione and therefore expect the same courtesy. If a man discovers a pearl on the grainy shores, does it lose value from being thrown by the tides?"
Harry averted his eyes as he felt a spike of shame.
"Harry look at me", she waited for him to comply. When he did, she continued, "Don't ever feel ashamed to look me in the eyes. Even if we have verbal altercations, you aren't beneath me. No one has the right to take away your dignity."
He looked back up nervously, "I'm sorry. I'm hope your brother is alright."
She just smiled at him, "That's the Harry I know. As for my brother, I'll take care of him. Don't worry he's a stubborn one." From the tone of her voice, that wasn't that much of a compliment. "I'll take over from here, you can go. It's the weekend after all, enjoy it."
With her blessings, Harry briskly walked out of the room. That had been different. Harry didn't like the way he felt when she had been fretting over the Pinched Man. What exactly had been running through his head at the time?
No, he did know. He had always been very attached to the Pale Lady, a lot more than friends should. Ron and Hermione wouldn't have brought forth such feelings of… want? When Harry was with the Pale Lady, he liked to think the world stopped and only the two of them mattered.
What did he mean to the Pale Lady? From the way she spoke to him, there was so much she obviously knew. Harry sighed tiredly, these feelings of his were becoming stronger, and he knew it.
But he swore not to act so entitled in the future. His behavior scarily reminded him of the thirst his relatives had towards normality, respect, and superiority. The very notion that he gained anything from them would haunt him for years to come.
Harry turned back to the room, no doubtingly empty now, feelings of lingering something remained. "I don't value our bond, I absolutely cherish it. The day I met you will always be the best of my life. Just to be with you makes all my troubles worth it. Those shared moments between us reminds me that it's not so bad. One day I'll become a person you can rely on, just like I rely on you."
As Harry left, he never noticed a little fairy spying upon him with a look of curiosity.
