I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
His Last Curse
Chapter 4 – Sacrifice
"Is, is he okay?" Tracy asked, concerned. "Does he normally do this?"
"I've never seen him do this," Hermione said. "Harry? Are you okay?"
"I think he broke," Astoria muttered.
Harry wiped tears from his eyes. "Of fucking course," he said, laughing without mirth. He sat down on a chair, shaking his head. "That wanker, he really did it."
"Who? Who did what?" Daphne asked, her nerves on edge.
"Riddle. He really did it," Harry said.
"What did he do?" Hermione asked. "I thought you and he dueled and he died from his Killing Curse rebounding on him."
"He did, but it was something else. When we were dueling he said that if I killed him, I would suffer. That if I killed him, I would find no rest. I would die alone and unwanted." Harry smiled grimly. "He actually followed through on his threat."
"But I was there," Hermione said. "He didn't have the time to cast a curse on you aside from his last one!"
"Intent." They all turned to look at Daphne. "When a Magical is at death's door, their magic is rawest then, wildest. You do not need incantations to cast magic. It is easier and you get the most accurate result when you do, as well as using a wand to focus it, but perhaps his strength of will was intense enough to use the last of his magic as he intended."
"What a petty bitch." Tracy resisted the urge to spit. "He was going to die so he cursed you to spite you with his second to last act."
"Oh no." Hermione stifled a sob. "That's what happened. Why you had so much difficulty right after things ended. His curse made people turn on you."
"How?" Astoria asked.
"It must be like a compulsion. It made people want to dislike you, want to hurt you." She gasped. "Like his locket!"
"He had a locket?" Daphne asked, her hand convulsing on hers.
"One of the ways Riddle was so hard to kill was that he had an object that he anchored his magic to," Harry explained. "The objects would fight against those that touched them and we had one for a while that was just nasty. When you wore it, it made you feel irritable and ugly, eager to fight and to hurt."
He rubbed his face. "I think you're right Hermione. That's why everywhere I went, the longer I stayed the worst things got. Things always did feel like they just shifted against me, where I wasn't wanted or welcome anymore. Probably also compelled me to keep moving, never really feeling comfortable."
"No offense, but why didn't it affect Hermione?" Tracy asked. "I'm glad it didn't but why didn't she turn on you?"
"That's a good question." Harry snorted softly. "Could be that power that Riddle knew not, also known as love if you can believe Dumbledore. I've always loved Hermione like a sister, my only family. I'm fairly sure she feels the same way about me."
She rolled her eyes and smacked his shoulder. "Don't be thick," she said. Her eyes watered. "I really hope that isn't the case because that means no one else truly…" She could not bear to finish her sentence.
He shrugged. "Well, who knows. We can't ask this bastard like we can't ask the other bastard." He thought some more. "Hey Tracy, going to ask a rude question. Are you Pure-Blooded?"
"Nope, half."
Harry snorted. "I bet you that he made it so that the compulsion would be strongest on Pure-Bloods. Stupid racist arse."
"I have no ill feeling to you," Daphne said with pink cheeks, "aside from when we first met. If anything, it has changed a lot as time has passed," she confessed quietly. She tried to ignore the looks from the other girls.
"I think you're pretty cool," Astoria said with a grin.
"Well we did have that spat a few days ago." he said to Daphne. "That could be a manifestation of it." He did not see the look of exasperation on Hermione's and Tracy's faces. "And thanks Tori, I think you're cool too. We haven't spent that much time together yet though and you love Daphne."
"Debatable," Astoria teased.
"It could also be from your curse," he mused. "It could…be…interfering." He jumped to his feet, startling them. "Wait, I think I got it."
"Got what?" Hermione asked, disturbed by his sudden change in temperament.
Harry grinned. "I think I have a plan to break the curse."
"Yours or Daphne's?" Tracy asked, hopeful.
"Both actually. Well first hers. Now that I know what my problem is, I can handle it later. Her need is more right now. I just need to check on something at Gringotts. They have a private library with cursebreaker stuff so let me go look at it but I'm pretty confident this will work."
He looked at the sisters. "Why don't you two lock up all the stuff that's the most breakable and you want to save. Maybe put your most valuable things in the basement or something? I'm pretty sure I can get things set up tomorrow to try and dispel the curse, but better safe than sorry."
"We can do that, or I can take stuff to my flat," Astoria said.
"You really think you can break it?" Daphne asked. That tiny fluttering feeling of hope tried to blossom in her chest and she was doing her best to keep it contained.
Harry walked over to her and hugged her. Her eyes went wide and her face went beet red at the contact and she tentatively hugged him back. As time passed her arms got tighter on him, stronger, needy. She was facing the others and she tried to hide her tears, tried to ignore their looks of glee.
"I'm pretty sure it'll work," Harry said confidently when he broke the embrace. "I'll be back later. Let's have dinner here tonight with everyone." With a smile he walked out of the house and apparated away.
"If Harry thinks it will work, it'll work," Hermione said with a smile. "All the times in the past when he said it wouldn't work and it did just shows that strength of his luck. And that he's a great wizard."
Daphne started to cry and for the second time in years her tears were not bitter.
-0-
He returned a few hours later and they were heartened by his smile. "You got what you needed?" Hermione asked eagerly.
"Yup! Did a little checking and my theory will work, I think. Brushed up on a ritual spell and a very specific ward sequence and everything will be good to go tomorrow."
"Do you want us here?" Tracy asked.
"Let me give it a shot first. If it fails, then I'll ask all of you to double check it after and hopefully we can make it work. I got a really good feeling though. Let's take it easy tonight, we've been working hard for the last few weeks."
He cooked for them, telling them stories of his trips and sharing tales of his Hogwarts years with Hermione chiming in or correcting him. He made the same dish for Daphne that she loved, the food he found that Tracy liked, and Hermione's favorites. He was the life of the night and all were able to forget their troubles for just a little while.
"Hey, Daffy," Astoria whispered at one point, "come here for a second." She led her bemused sister out of the kitchen. "Has he ever done this before?"
"Harry? Cooked for us? Yes often."
"No, not that. Like, I know I barely know him like you and Tracy do, much less Hermione, but I've never seen him…like this."
"Like what?" She peeked back into the kitchen. "Happy?"
"Is he happy? I know he's smiling and stuff but he looks a little…odd to me."
Daphne frowned. "I…I do not know honestly. I cannot say what his normal attitude is like since the last few weeks have not been anything remotely normal. Do…do you think there is something wrong?"
"I was hoping you'd tell me," Astoria said. "Don't get me wrong. I know he's been focused on the task at hand for most of the week and when he does relax a little, he's actually really nice and funny. But this feels…" she waved a hand at Harry.
"Wrong?" Daphne offered, not disagreeing with her.
"Desperate," Astoria said. "As if he's desperate to have fun one more time."
Daphne chewed her lip. "I will ask him tomorrow, I do not wish to ruin the evening. Thank you for telling me. I wish I had a better answer."
Astoria nodded. She smiled slyly. "What else are you going to talk to him tomorrow about?"
"I haven't a clue on what you mean."
"Mmm, don't lie. I saw your face when he hugged you. Also saw how you hugged him back."
"I hug you back," Daphne protested.
"There's hugs, and then there's hugs and I certainly hope you don't hug me like you hug him. Or want to. Perhaps in privacy and with some less clothing in the way-"
Daphne smacked her; her face deeply flushed. "No need to be crude," she sputtered. "There will be time for that after," she said shyly to Astoria's delight. "Hopefully," she said softly.
-0-
Hermione laughed so hard; tears streamed down her face. It felt good to laugh like that, to laugh with him like that. She sat on his bed while he sat at the desk. He was writing while they chatted and for the first time in a very long time, he looked truly at ease. She almost felt like they were back at school, where the worst they had to worry about at the time was an essay.
Granted there was always something worse to really worry about, but immediate troubles instead of other ones that loomed.
Dinner was the most fun she had in a really long time. Harry was lively and attentive, Daphne was kind and social, Tracy was happy. Hermione had gobbled it up like he did tart and now she was having a moment with him after Tracy went to bed. It felt good. She had missed it terribly.
"I'm so happy you're back," she said.
"It's really good to be back," he replied. He meant it.
Which made what he was doing that much more difficult. However, it had to be done.
"After we break Daphne's curse, we'll break yours, and everything will be wonderful."
He looked at her and his smile was kind, warm. And something that she could not put her finger on. "Yeah it will," he said instead. "Though I really need to sign a proper contract with Tracy."
"Oh don't worry, I forced her to write a good one the second day you started working for her. You'll be paid well."
He grinned. "Still taking care of me?"
"Of course! Who else would?" Her eyes twinkled. "Well, I think one other wants to."
He blushed and looked like an awkward schoolboy. "You think?"
"I saw the way you hugged her and the way she hugged you back."
He grinned, sheepish and happy. "It felt nice. Don't know what possessed me to do that."
"Let it possess you more. She looked genuinely happy."
"I'm sure that's from knowing we're going to break her curse."
"She can be happy for multiple reasons," she scoffed. "Most people are capable of having a range of emotions, you know, and are capable of being happy over multiple things."
"Sounds a bit bigger than a teaspoon," Harry said wryly.
She laughed. "Just a bit. She looks like her range is limited to a teaspoon but she has depth. It's probably at least a kitchen's worth."
"What's my range?"
"At least a tablespoon. A deep one."
He laughed. "I'll take that."
Eventually she rose, stifling a yawn. "Well, we best be off to bed. You need your energy for the ritual and I fully expect you to explain everything to me after."
"I will." He rose and hugged her tightly, embracing her deeply. She gratefully returned it, feeling her heart swell from the contact and the gesture. It felt so warm, so familiar.
Too familiar.
Before she could put her finger on why, he backed off and held her at arm's length. "Thanks Hermione," he said softly. "And I'm sorry."
"For what?" she asked.
"Everything."
"Thanks for everything or sorry for everything."
"Yes." He smiled when she smacked him on the shoulder.
"Don't be silly," she huffed with a smile. "You've always done right by me and I'll always do right by you. We're best friends, it's what we do."
His smile was oddly sad. "You're more than I deserve. Thank you for never giving up on me." He leaned in and kissed her forehead.
She kissed his cheek and waved before walking upstairs. As she fell asleep, she realized why the hug and kiss felt so familiar. It felt the same the last time he hugged and kissed her, seven years ago.
When he said goodbye.
-0-
Daphne walked into the dining room, her eyes widened at the intricate circle Harry had drawn into the ground. "Well, that looks rather impressive. What does it do?"
"It's a ritual circle with a very distinct ward sequence written out with Arithmancy lines and runes," he said. "It's a containment circle, helps keeps volatile magic in check."
She looked at the edge she was closest to. "I recognize those runes. You are expecting the worst."
"Yeah, no telling what the fallout will be," he said. "Better safe than sorry."
"I concur." She sat in a chair he left for her. "Are you sure you do not wish to hold the locket? I trust you with it."
He smiled at that. "No, but thank you. It's better it stays with you. I can't guarantee its safety in here." He brushed his hands off and flicked his wand, completing the rune sequence. The circle glowed with silver light.
She applauded. "Very good." She shivered pleasantly. "What is that?"
"It's what I looked up at Gringotts. It's a runic array that mimics a Patronus Charm. It will keep two areas separate and won't let any dark magic cross the barrier. Keeps out most jinxes and hexes and curses too."
She looked intrigued. "That sounds useful." She frowned slightly. "Where is your hat by the way?"
"You told me to not wear it indoors."
She blushed. "You always have it at hand even when you are not wearing it."
"I left it at Hermione's and Tracy's."
She frowned more. "Why?"
"I…didn't want it to get damaged."
He was looking away from her but she could tell he was not smiling, that his expression was grim. "Harry, what are you doing?"
"Breaking your curse."
"How." She did not ask. "Explain."
"Well, I'm taking Astoria's cock fight idea and running with it."
She felt her heart go still. "I thought you said that was a bad idea because we needed a source of comparable magic and that it might draw too much from me."
"Yeah. So the ritual circle here is to cut you off from the house temporarily so it can't draw on you at all. It'll also keep you safe from backlash. The curse will be desperate so it'll latch onto another source of magic."
Blood drained from her face. "Yours." She gasped. "The curse that He left on you! You're giving yourself to the house and forcing my father's curse to fight with yours!"
He finally turned to her and his smile broke her heart. "You're really smart. Just as smart as Hermione. You'll have to tell her that."
"Why won't you tell her… You do not expect to survive this."
He shook his head. "I have no idea if I will to be honest. I realized something the other day. As the years go by, it takes more and more to hurt me. It takes more alcohol to get me drunk. I think my curse was keeping me in decent shape to prolong itself. Which means it's latched on pretty deep. Also, I'm not just going to have the curses fight. I'm going to pour as much magic into it as I can to burn them both out. I need to make sure that the house's curse won't survive so it can't bind to you again."
"No!" She got up from the chair and ran to him but the circle stopped her. The silver light became a translucent barrier. She pounded her hands against it. "Do not do this!"
"It's too late." His face twisted and she almost cried at the sight. It was an expression she knew all too well from looking at herself in the mirror. "I transferred the tether from your locket to me. I can feel the house drawing on me already." The air within the circle crackled, roiling and writhing visibly. "The magic is already fighting."
"Why?! Why are you doing this?!" she cried.
"I have to. I have to prove that I can do one thing right!"
"You said that to me before! What do you mean by it?" She tried to cast spells into the circle but it resisted her magic. Her pounding fists did nothing. She racked her brain for any kind of explanation. "You…you…you're trying to save one more life," she gasped in horror.
"Just as intuitive as Hermione too," he said admiringly. "You're basically the blonde version of her. Maybe don't tell her I said that."
"No! Stop this right now Harry Potter! I demand it!"
"I don't work for you Daphne, I work for Tracy and she isn't here to tell me to stop."
"That's why you did not want her nor Hermione here! You knew they would stop you, all of us would stop you. You coward!"
He laughed hollowly. "Yup, you're right. You were really right when you said I was good at running away. That's all I've done for seven years. When things got tough, it was too easy to run away and stop trying to fit in, trying to find a place to belong. It was easy to run somewhere else, stick around to do a job, then move on to the next."
"That was not just you, it was your curse too."
"I could have fought," he argued. "I could have tried harder." He winced and fell to his knees.
She screamed with horror, her hands pounded the walls. "No one gave you a reason to fight! It was not just on you! They pushed you away and gave you no aid!"
"Hermione did, she always did. I could have fought to stay with her, to explain things to her. I just used her friendship, used her. I treated her awfully."
"She will hate you forever for this! As will I!"
He looked pained but determined. "She'll be fine. She'll have Tracy and you. You'll be fine." He coughed. "You'll be free. You'll both be free."
"What if I do not want to be free without you!" She played all her cards, no longer hiding them. "Damn you Harry! Fight! I will give you a reason to fight, like you gave me!"
His smile was the saddest yet. "I would have liked that. It's too late. You know what's the worst thing about these dark spells? You know what makes the dark so dangerous? You need to offer a sacrifice to them. Magicals sacrifice their magic and souls to cast dark things. Innocents have to sacrifice much to get rid of them."
She grasped her locket. "I…I…"
He coughed again. "I can't ask you to sacrifice that. If my Mum left me something besides her protection, something tangible that I could hold, I'd never give it up. I don't blame you. I don't mind sacrificing myself for this. I'm so tired. So very tired. If my last act is to free you, then it'll be good. I can do one last thing right."
He looked at her. "Thank you for believing in me. It was nice."
Daphne stared at him, hand clutched around her locket. She looked wildly into the ritual circle, eyes piercing. She memorized the placement at a glance and without another word, ran.
When he could look up, she was gone. He sighed as he tried to remain conscious. The magic inside the circle was wild and violent. Snaps and bursts of light and sound filled it. Magic lashed out as the two curses went to war with each other. A sudden crack split his cheek and he flinched back.
Another crack, and another. Harry thought it was the magic in the air but the floor shook and he fell back as part of the floor disintegrated. Splinters flew into the air and Daphne clambered through the hole she made. Her robes got caught on jagged wood but she continued to climb, ignoring the torn fabric, when the broken wood cut her skin. She breathed hard from exertion and fury and she finally stood over him.
"How?" he gasped.
"This is my home you idiot!" she screamed. "You cannot keep me out of my own home! I ran to the basement and blasted my way up."
"You have to get out, I don't know what's going to happen," he said, panicking. He tried to rise.
"Do not tell me what to do," she snarled. "You fucking idiot." She ignored his look of shock. "I have to sacrifice something? Fine!" She tore the locket from her neck. "Wherever you are Father, I hope you are watching! You were right, I would never have sacrificed Mother's last gift to me."
Her eyes softened as she looked down at Harry. "Not until I found a sufficient reason. I am sorry Mother but, I am sure you understand." Her hand rose into the air. "I hope you choke on this Father!" She swung her hand down and threw the locket to the ground.
"No wait!" Harry summoned the last of his strength and flicked his wand. Daphne shrieked in surprise as she flew to him, summoned by her robes. He grabbed her and twisted to shield her body with his. The world exploded into brilliant blinding lightning when the locket hit the center of the ritual circle.
The thunder followed the lightning and it swallowed them in the maelstrom of magic.
-0-
Daphne groaned. She felt an immense weight press upon her and she struggled feebly. As her senses returned, so did her memories and her eyes snapped open. She tried to get up, finding herself lying on her stomach with something on top of her.
No, someone.
"Harry!" She twisted and tried to gently move Harry off of her. The pair were covered in rubble and debris, broken stone and drywall, shards of wood and flecks of paint and wallpaper. She froze for a moment, shocked to see that the house had been obliterated. She could see the sky, meaning two floors worth of house had been destroyed. The walls were cored, giant holes showing the outside, letting the wind through.
She finally sat up, successfully moving Harry onto his back. She spent a moment looking around with shocked wonder. The explosion caused by the locket and the curses had done considerable damage to her home but surprisingly, that was the least of her worries.
"Please Harry, please be alive," she whispered. She bent over him, fingers seeking a pulse. He looked dead, pale and horribly still. "Please, please, please."
She pushed her head to his chest, hoping and praying to hear his heartbeat. She sobbed with relief when she heard the tiny sound deep in his chest. It was small and lacking vigor, but it was there.
"Please," she begged, taking his hand in hers. "Please do not die. Not now. Not like this. You have given me so much. I want to give you so much. Wake up. Please." Her tears fell like rain and they splashed on his face.
He groaned.
"Harry?!"
He groaned again. "I can't be dead, I hurt too much," he grunted.
"Harry!" She fell on top of him, hugging him desperately.
"Owwwww," he moaned. He blinked slowly. "Daphne? Daphne! Are you okay?"
"You look like something Death spat out and you ask if I am okay?" she sobbed, incredulous and relieved.
"I feel like it." He patted her back gently and awkwardly. "How do you feel?"
"I am much better than you."
"No seriously, how do you feel? Did it work?"
She sat up, just now remembering the point of it all. She took a deep breath. "I feel…I feel. I feel things! I feel the wind, I feel the dust! I can even feel my muscles ache!" She found her wand and cast a few spells. "My magic is free!"
"It worked." Harry smiled wide despite the pain he felt. "Try to apparate somewhere. See if you feel the pull or if you feel sick."
She stood and stopped, looking down at him.
"I'm in no condition to go anywhere," he said, guessing at her expression.
She reached down and picked up his wand and set it out of his reach.
"What if I need it?" he asked, annoyed.
"I will be right back," she said pertly. Then she apparated with a pop.
Harry winced, feeling his whole-body ache. He paused, reflecting. He felt incredibly bad right now, far worse than the aftermath of any of the dives he had done in the last few years. His breath caught in his throat as he pondered the implications. "Your curse was protecting me," he said with wonder. "You fucking suck Riddle. Can't even curse me right."
Daphne reappeared and her smile outshone the sun. "I felt no illness!" she cried happily. "I feel the best I have had in years! I feel wonderful!"
"That's great," Harry exclaimed.
Daphne knelt beside him and poked him hard in the chest. "You are not to do that to me, ever again!"
"What? Save your life?"
"Sacrifice yourself for me! I will not have it! I will not tolerate you endangering your life for me, do you understand?!"
"You want me to not do my best for you?!"
"I want you to live for me!" Her chest heaved and she stared directly into his eyes. "I want you to live with me. I…I…I do not want you to be alone and I do not want to be alone," she said, her shout fading into a whisper. "The world owes us much and it is our turn to take. I…want you, Harry Potter."
He blushed furiously, his skin turning red underneath the dust and powdered plaster. "Oh. You-you do?"
She nodded, face scarlet.
"Muh-may I ask why?"
"Because you care. You had no reason to care but you did. Because I cannot remember the last time someone outside Astoria, Tracy, and Hermione were kind to me. I like the way you make me laugh. I like how you make me feel." She shrugged feebly. "You are also handsome. That is not a primary reason but it helps."
She ducked her head, her hair covering her face. "Do…do you want me?"
He chuckled softly. "I do," he replied sincerely. "You're very kind when you want to be. When you don't have that overlarge stick jammed up your arse." She scowled at him and poked him again. "You make me laugh too and…I like how you make me feel." He reached up slowly and brushed her hair out of her face.
"And how is that?" she asked shyly.
"Needed." He smiled. "You're also really pretty too. Beautiful even."
She giggled.
"I should warn you, I'm terrible with girls."
"Luckily I am a woman. And I have patience enough for you."
Three pops were heard.
"Harry!" Hermione screamed at the same time Astoria screamed "Daphne!". Tracy looked at the ruined house with wide open eyes. "What the bloody hell happened?!" The trio of witches ran to them. Hermione was holding onto his hat and Tracy held onto an envelope.
"Astoria," Harry grunted. He struggled to rise and Daphne helped him tenderly, sitting him up and leaning against a chunk of wall. "Did you bring your monocle?"
Astoria pulled it out and slipped it on, tapping it with her wand. She looked at Daphne and screamed with delight. "It's gone! The webbing is gone! There isn't a shred of dark magic on you!"
Tracy and Hermione shouted and Daphne sobbed with relief. Harry smiled but he still looked nervous. "Can you check me out?" he asked.
Astoria did. "Your curse is gone too! You still have a trace of color on your scar but your body is practically clear of that dark-green muck!" She handed the monocle to Hermione who looked at the two and confirmed Astoria's words.
Harry flopped back, relieved. "Huh, looks like it worked. Your sacrifice broke your curse and the energy consumed mine. That's lucky."
"Your sacrifice?" Astoria asked, scared.
"Mother's locket," Daphne said easily.
"Oh, I'm so sorry Daphne," Tracy said sadly.
"It was only a locket. Mother would have understood," Daphne said firmly. "Especially since she knew what it was for."
Harry reached out and delicately plucked the envelope from Tracy's hand. Without a word he tore it into small pieces, ignoring the looks that the others were giving him. Daphne handed him his wand and he set the pieces on fire.
"I didn't get a chance to read that," Hermione said.
"Good," he said. "Wasn't necessary anymore." The magical fire rendered the paper to ash and he blew the ashes away with a wind charm. He coughed; his whole body shook from pain.
"We should go to St Mungo's," Daphne said. She bent and aided by Hermione, lifted him to his feet.
"Yeah, you're not wrong," he said, wincing.
"Tracy, I will be staying with you until I find a new place," Daphne said.
"You can stay with me," Astoria offered.
"You spent years getting away from me," Daphne said wryly, enjoying her little sister's flush. "Besides, your flat is small. Tracy has more room."
"Yeah it's no problem at all," Tracy said happily. "I'll move stuff out of my office for you, turn it into a guest room."
"That will not be necessary. I will sleep with Harry in his room," Daphne said plainly.
Astoria, Tracy, and Hermione's jaws dropped and their heads turned to stare at Harry.
He blushed. "If that's okay with you two," he said shyly to a gobsmacked Tracy and Hermione.
"I, uh, wha?" Tracy stammered.
"See? She has no reservations," Daphne said confidently.
"I feel like we missed something important," Astoria muttered.
"We will find out everything later, right?" Hermione asked, her eyes glinting.
Harry smiled. "Yeah, we'll have plenty of time."
-0-0-0-
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - And behold your answers are here and dangit if you didn't call it again before it happened. Yeah, the Greengrasses have the range on portrayals in fanfic and I hope mine was different and unique enough while being satisfying.
diffident-serpiente - Just a little bit more magical theory for you in this chapter. Also you should be used to cliffhangers from me haha.
Shamgar777 - I totally forgot about that fan theory and you're not wrong, it's quite similar. Still, hopefully this itineration was different enough yet still enjoyable.
Spider of Dreams - Yes you were very close but more that she didn't want to lose the last link to her mother. Otherwise you were very close. My mystery wasn't so mysterious I suppose haha.
Premedicated - That was one of the silliest lines I have ever written and enjoyed it.
Henry Slytherin - In the sense that living well is its own kind of revenge but hope you agree when you see the last chapter.
alix33 - Seems like a Hermione thing.
bdwilliams3 - Thank you very much.
Guest1 - Thank you, glad you are enjoying it.
js290095 - If you read my big fic, you'd expect some cliffhangers here and there from me. Glad you like it regardless.