Chapter Twenty-Five
Of Endings, Explanations, and Gryffindor's Forgiveness
"Harmony!" The exclamation came from Sirius, who was next to her nearly as fast as Ron. "Oh God...she's dead."
"NO!" Ron shouted at the top of his lungs, cradling her head. "No...she can't be...Harmony?" Her name came out in a ragged whisper. He felt the sobs coming up from within him, and there was no way he could repress them. His head hanging low, he began to cry angrily and bitterly. His tears did not awaken her.
"Ron..." He didn't look up. The speaker had been Ginny, who was standing over her brother and looking down at the girl she had begun to love as a sister. She herself was crying, but she knew her brother had to be in an even worse state.
She turned her head away into the shoulder of Draco, who held her close. His unblinking eyes were also on Harmony, but he never shed a tear. Just sort of...stared.
Now behind Sirius, neither Mindy nor Crystal held back tears. Crystal was silent, but Mindy's teeth were chattering she was crying so hard. Her hand was tightly clasped in that of Remus, who had shed a few tears himself.
Suddenly a wordless, animal cry from Ron made them all jump. He leapt his feet and started screaming in Badger, which, as he screamed, was more ferocious than Dragon. His wand was out, but there was no one to shoot. All those who had known Harmony were there. Harry and Hermione were as still as statues, staring. But outside of this little sphere, the world was celebrating. Another victory for Harry Potter! Voldemort was dead! The reign of terror was over!
For a moment, Harry feared Ron would kill someone. But after a few moments, he dropped his wand entirely and turned away, his face in his hands. Ginny rushed to him and threw her arms around him. She and Malfoy lead him away from the crowds, back up to the school.
It was Sirius's strong arms that lifted the beautiful young girl. He carried her through the celebrations and up to the castle's stone steps with Jenkins, Mindy, and Remus not far behind. Harry and Hermione trotted after them, in shock.
"She really...she really was on our side," Hermione said, sounding dumbfounded.
"Yeah," Harry muttered. He found himself hardly aware of the world as he followed the Sirius through the halls. Voldemort was dead. The man he had feared, fought, and hated his entire life was suddenly...gone. Dead. Harry was just shocked, looking around the castle as if he had never seen it before.
The realization of the losses that had been suffered hit him immediately as he walked into the Hospital, which had been magically enlarged to fit all the wounded. Harry looked around, feeling almost guilty for not being wounded with these young brave souls. There had been a magically door erected that led to a different room that Harry quickly learned housed the injured Death Eaters.
Harry fought the dread in his heart and turned to where Sirius had laid the body of Harmony Slytherin. All those who had rushed to her side were there, but it was Ron who stood next to the bed, holding the pale, lifeless hand.
"Ron," Harry whispered. His friend didn't turn. Harry wanted to talk to Ron, to ease whatever pain he was feeling. The problem was Harry wasn't even entirely sure of WHAT Ron was feeling. Who was this Harmony, and why did her death affect Ron so painfully? Why did he look as if the world had ended, as if the sun had left and would never return? Why did he look exactly like Harry knew he would have if it had been Hermione who was lying in that bed?
"Come," A deep voice said, a hand landing on his shoulder. Harry turned to see Sirius, pain written across his face. Harry turned without protest and Hermione did the same. The others followed them out, and somehow Harry knew they knew why Ron so desperately needed time alone with her to grieve.
There were ten of them, making a grave procession up to the Gryffindor common room. Mindy's cries had subsided somewhat, but her sniffles were still constant and she had Remus's arm in a death grip. Crystal walked silently next to Sirius, who had taken her hand and refused to let it go. Harry and Hermione were walking behind the older generation, and bringing up the rear were Ginny and Malfoy. Ginny's sobs had not lessened.
They sat down in the common room silently. The mourning in the air was mixed with a dreaded awkwardness by the presence of Harry and Hermione, who the others knew were bursting with unsaid questions.
"Let's wait until Ron gets here," Ginny said quietly, and all the others nodded. Hermione bit her lip in order to stop the questions on the very tip of her tongue.
They waited for over half an hour for Ron to arrive. He looked terrible. His face was pale and tearstained, his eyes dull and dark, his hair disheveled and on top of all that he appeared to be shaking. All the questions burning in Harry and Hermione's minds suddenly became shy. For some reason, it just seemed wrong to try and wring information out of a person who was so obviously miserable.
"Decided to wait for me before getting the third degree?" He asked, trying to smile and succeeding in only looking more miserable than before. He slowly crossed the room and lowered himself into one of the chairs. "Go on then."
"Er..." Harry stuttered, trying to think of what to say. Ron sighed.
"Let's just start from the beginning, shall we?" He asked. Closing his eyes he started droning much the same way Barty Crouch Jr. had done while under veritaserum only three years ago.
"The beginning, really, is Salazar Slytherin. He sunk into the Dark Arts and created an heir to rid Hogwarts of Muggleborns and created the Chamber of Secrets ect. He was banished by the other Founders to the forest, which then became the Forbidden Forest. All this you know, and its where human accounts of Slytherin end.
"However, unknown to the human community, Salazar fell in love with a nymph. To make a long story short, he pulled himself out of the Dark Arts and regretted turning against the other three. To make up for it, he wanted to create a second heir to assist the heirs of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, who were to fight his first heir. He tried to return to Hogwarts, but he driven away by military force.
"However, he found sympathy in Helga Hufflepuff, and childhood friend and colleague. Helga understood Salazar, they had both been serfs under Godric's father before beginning Hogwarts. Helga sneaked Salazar's second heir, who would be a descendent of his nymph wife and therefore a sprite, into the spell, which, as you now know, required Amulets and Weapons. Rowena Ravenclaw found out, accused Helga of treachery and they began to duel. In the end Rowena killed Helga.
"The four of us are, obviously, descendents of the Founders. Harry of Godric, Hermione of Rowena, Harmony of Salazar and I myself of Helga. I was never kidnapped. Ginny and I got into a fight and I stormed out of the house. After several days of stumbling about I found Harmony. She offered me shelter and I discovered Sirius had been hiding there. I decided to join them.
"She finally told me the story, and asked me if I would like to go home to Hogwarts. I'm sorry Harry and Hermione, but I stayed. I needed..." For the first time since the beginning of the narrative Ron's voice cracked. He couldn't admit that he had been in love with Harmony, not yet, not here, not like this. The memory of his love for Harmony...the love he now realized had always been returned that he had been to stupid, to stubborn...he chose his words with caution. "I needed to prepare for the battle. She trained me in dueling with various weapons as well as with a wand.
"I can't really place how so many other humans got mixed up in the mess. Crystal was in love with Sirius, I think she's been seeing him for quite a while...far before I came into the picture. Harmony and I stumbled on Ginny and Draco in the woods on Christmas night, so obviously they had to hear about it. Mindy was running from Remus after being bitten, we gave them treatment. That was the night of my funeral. Harmony and I were there you know.
"After a time, it was decided that Harmony would need to spend an interval at Hogwarts. The politics in Marigold-the sprite city where we were staying-are hard to describe. To be accepted into the society Sirius and I both had to pass a series of...tests, I suppose. Trials. We received certain privileges, including being able to converse with animals...which is how I learned Parseltongue, in case you were curious. So, to accept human society as a whole it was decided Harmony would be sent to Hogwarts...did I mention she's the princess? Oh, well, she is...was, rather.
"She couldn't just up and say she was a Slytherin, obviously, which is why she took the alias Brooke Silinster. While you all were off frolicking in Hogsmeade, she learned that she could summon Voldemort and finish it all up quick and basically bloodless by taking the offensive. That's why Sirius, her and I were out there that night, Harry. We were going to summon him, alert you, and get it the hell over with. After being unsuccessful several times, Sirius and I left. I don't really know what happened except that she was caught and her wand snapped. We both had centaur mane wands, and through ancient magic we switched places. The rest you know."
After this lecture Ron's blue eyes opened and locked with Harry's green orbs. Harry saw the brutal honesty in his best friend's desperate grief, but he knew there was something more. He didn't dare push to poor guy anymore that night.
"Go to bed, Ron," Ginny whispered, walking over to her brother and putting her arm around his shoulders. As if he hadn't heard her he stood up and left the common room via the portrait. Harry's eyes followed the silent form, and then turned to the others.
He wanted to be angry. Goddamn it! Ron was his best friend, why didn't someone tell him what was going on. However, when he saw the grieving faces of the others all the anger drained out of him. They were just as miserable as Ron was, for that same intangible and yet very real reason, and Harry finally identified it: Harmony Slytherin had been a friend of theirs. The idea, he realized, had never entered his mind before.
"Where did he go?" Hermione asked, and Harry realized for the first time that his girlfriend was crying. She was trying to hide it but failing miserably.
"He went to Harmony," Sirius replied quietly, his gaze not leaving the floor. "He needs closure, let him be." The others nodded silently.
"We should all get to bed," Mindy finally said. Her sobs had subsided, but her eyes were puffy and her cheeks tearstained. There was a general murmur of agreement and they all grudgingly put themselves to bed.
However tired he was, Harry couldn't sleep. He had stripped the ceremonial Gryffindor robes and showered, and was now lying in his pajamas tossing and turning. The vision of Ron's face when he had seen her lying like that, the gleam in his eye when he thought Harry was attacking her, the pain in his voice as he had spoken...
Just before dawn Harry rose and changed into his regular clothing. Seamus, Dean, and Neville, who had all thankfully survived the assault, were still passed out in their beds. He noticed that Ron still wasn't there.
The castle itself seemed exhausted from the ordeal. Harry was undisturbed as his feet silently made their way toward the Hospital Wing. He hadn't bothered with the invisibility cloak or map. He didn't expect resistance.
When he slipped into the Hospital wing the sun was just beginning to rise. Only the most critically injured remained in the wing, but set apart from them all was the bed in which the body of Harmony Slytherin lie. Ron was sitting right next to her, his hand enclosing the small pale one of the girl, his hand on her forehead and his head bowed either in grief or in slumber. The first rays of sunlight were pouring through the windows, turning Harmony's hair into liquid gold and illuminating half of Ron's worn face, making the tear marks shine like mother of pearl in contrast to the dark circles under his eyes. Ron was still in his bloody Hufflepuff robes, and Harmony's elegant green garment hadn't been removed either.
Harry almost didn't want to interrupt. They made the perfect picture, a portrait of Chivalry mourning Beauty. However, Harry knew that Ron needed sleep. He nudged his best friend, and was unsurprised to find that Ron had not been sleeping. His glazed blue eyes seemed to look right through Harry.
"C'mon Ron," He whispered. "You should sleep."
"Sleep," Ron echoed, as if the word were foreign. Harry nodded and helped Ron to his feet. He cast a last look at Harmony.
"Don't worry," Harry said softly. "I won't let them take her before you say goodbye." He nodded numbly and left the Hospital wing.
Harry sat down where Ron had been sitting, studying the mysterious woman in front of him.
*~*
~It wasn't until after the four of them had graduated that Voldemort had returned. The wizarding world was in terror. Lily and James Potter were among the first to die, just after their son Harry, the defeater of Voldemort as an infant, married the Muggleborn Hermione Granger. They never met their granddaughter, named Lily after her grandmother.
Harmony watched in despair, wishing there was something she could do. But it wasn't her destiny. It was that of the Heirs. She was not an Heir.~
*~*
What if Harry hadn't jumped to all those conclusions? Would they have defeated Voldemort without having any casualties? A bloodless victory?
Harmony was obviously a good person, to have won the friendship of such a varied range of wonderful people...well, he still didn't know about Malfoy, but other than that!
He knew, right then, where all these problems stemmed from. It was his undeniable prejudice against Harmony for being a Slytherin. It was his detestation, passed down through generations, of all those associated with Salazar Slytherin and his legacy. It had never occurred to Harry, Harry Potter, the boy who found good in everyone, that Slytherin had a good side too. He was just regarded as the villain.
What if...?
*~*
~Yes, Harry's generation had escaped unscathed because Harmony had not been destined to be an heir. But their children...
She watched in horror as Voldemort entered the Potters' home. Harry was killed defending his family, and Hermione died pleading for her daughter's life. Voldemort went to kill Lily...~
*~*
"Oh God," Harry said as the guilt really hit home. This was all his fault. If he hadn't been so stupid, so stubborn, so completely blind in his hatred...this girl, this girl who was obviously not the evil he had thought she was, this innocent, loving girl's life would've been spared.
Harry's shoulders shook with the weight of the guilt. He felt tears in his eyes, and he knew he was going to cry.
"I'm sorry," He whispered through his sobs. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to...It wasn't her fault!"
*~*
It was happening all over again. It was all her fault. Lily Potter, orphaned, had just defeated Voldemort, but he wasn't dead. He would return. And the whole ugly cycle would begin again.
And all because Harmony hadn't been destined to become an heir, all because Slytherin hadn't created a second heir...all the reason she had cried with guilt for only days ago. She found that she wanted to sob, but it was too late now, she was gone...
The darkness around her began to fade, with a light in front. She was sure she was dying...but since when was dying so painful. The light blinded her for a moment, but when she opened her eyes she saw neither Heaven nor Hell, but clean white walls and a standard hospital bed, and a dark head bent over in sobs. She blinked.
"Harry?" She whispered. His head snapped up, the sobs ceasing in place of surprise.
This was impossible. She was dead! He had seen her lying there, blood in a pool and pulse ceased. He had seen the dagger in her stomach and the look on Ron's face. She was dead.
"But...but...you're dead. You died, I saw you..." He blathered. Her eyes widened.
"You..." She breathed. "You...Harry, did you forgive me?"
"What?" Harry replied, confused and frustrated.
"Harry, don't you see? The only way I could not be dead...Godric Gryffindor cursed Salazar with his dying breath, saying Salazar would die without Godric's forgiveness. Harry, did you forgive me?"
"Forgive you for what?"
"Being a Slytherin," Harmony replied. He nodded and she started breathing heavily.
"I can't believe..." She whispered. "I'm alive. Harry, I killed the evil of Slytherin within me, but I'm ALIVE!"
"Yeah..." Harry replied. Feeling weird but feeling the need to prove it for himself he reached out and touched her arm. Her skin was warm with life. He met her eyes and saw they were filled with tears. In the next moment they were hugging and Harmony was crying for joy.
"This is so strange," She said, pulling away and laughing through her tears. Harry laughed outright.
"You're telling me!"
"Where's my ring?!" She cried suddenly, grabbing her throat as if just realizing something wasn't there.
"All your things are here," Harry gestured to the bedside table. The dagger, the amulet...for the first time he saw a thin gold chain with a diamond ring. Sighing with relief, she snatched it and took the ring off the chain, slipping it on her finger.
"Was Ron here?" She asked, looking from the ring to Harry. It hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Oh my God...you two are in love."
"Ron and I?" She asked, and smiled sadly. "I'm in love with him. I think he loved me...we got in this giant fight and it was all my fault and-"
"No!" Harry interrupted, feeling immensely stupid. "Jesus...I can't believe I've been so blind. Ron looked...Harmony, he sat up here all night. I had to come and make him go to bed and...I can't believe I didn't realize you were in love. I'll get him."
"Wait!" Harmony cried, leaping to her feet. Harry got the impulse to make her lay down but it was obvious that she had not intentions of doing so. "Let me clean up and...bring him to the classroom in the next hall over, you know where I mean. Don't tell him, please?"
"Okay..." He agreed, not quite understanding but knowing better than to argue.
Harmony ran off in the direction of that classroom and Harry found himself going after Ron at a slower pace. He looked at the clock and realized he had been in the hospital wing for less than an hour. Was that possible? Life beforehand might've been a different world!
When he reached the dormitory he found himself uneager to awaken Ron. He was finally asleep, although it was obviously a troubled slumber. Fighting to keep his composure he shook his best friend awake.
"Harry?" He asked blurrily. "What is it?"
"C'mon, Ron. I've got something I need to show you."
"Kay," He muttered, to tired and grief worn to argue. The castle was just beginning to wake up, but only the earliest of risers were awake. No one saw Harry and Ron leave the common room. They went through the nearly deserted corridors until they approached the classroom. Not knowing what to expect, Harry gingerly opened the door and allowed Ron in first. His dull eyes surveyed the room, and stopped dead on Harmony.
"H...Harm..."
"Ron," She whispered. No more words were needed. Ron swept across the room and pulled her into a fierce and passionate kiss, as if needing to make sure she was really there. Harry shut the door after them, feeling they needed some time alone.
He knocked after a time, and it was Ron who called for him to come it. Harry obeyed, and nearly staggered at the difference in his best friend. His eyes were alight with life, his crazy grin in place like never before and he was glowing, literally glowing, and Harmony was as well.
"Thanks, mate," Ron said, giving Harry a brotherly embrace. Harry flushed, and they didn't say anymore about it.
"Wow. I thought you two were never going to finish," Harry joked, hoping to ease the atmosphere. He succeeded as the other two laughed...although right then they probably would've laughed at anything.
"And...Harmony?" A disbelieving voice muttered from the entrance. They looked to see Crystal who had been talking to Mindy, and it was then that Harry realized they were in the Defense classroom.
"Crystal!" Harmony cried. "Mindy!"
"Oh my God, your alive!" Mindy screamed, and the three girls were pulled into a hug mixed with plenty of tears.
"Sirius!" Crystal screamed. "Sirius! Remus! HARMONY'S ALIVE!"
The two men ran in, and soon had their arms wrapped around Harmony as well. Ginny came in and stared for a few moments before bursting into sobs and following her elder's examples. Draco didn't cry, but he did break out of his shell long enough to join in the general hug-fest. So did Hermione, when she finally came by after hearing all the screaming. Stories, words, and promises flew throughout the room, which was bursting with joy.
"I take it we're still engaged then?" Harmony asked once she was back in Ron's arms.
"Yes, that would be correct, your majesty," Ron answered soberly, then they both laughed. It was then that something occurred to Harry.
"Hey you two...Hey! YOU TWO!" He yelled, trying to sound frustrated but coming off as playful, which he was. Ron and Harmony turned around.
"You didn't...Okay, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but...Harmony, you don't sing, do you?"
"Sing?" She echoed. "Yeah, all the time."
"Not that you would remember, but this last Halloween...I heard this voice from the woods singing. It couldn't have been you though...could it?"
"Yes!" Harmony said in remembrance. "Yes, it was. How did you know?"
"I heard you," Harry replied, seeing where everything finally fit. "And at Ron's funeral..."
"I sang there to. In Snake, of course...which is why you could hear me!" She laughed out loud.
"See, I was at Hogwarts the whole time in spirit. I was the Voice in the Woods!"
"Yeah," Harry laughed, nodding. "Yeah..." Suddenly he turned to Hermione. "I meant to do this a few weeks ago, but I got distracted when I saw Slytherin on the Marauder's Map."
He reached into the pocket of his robes, and it was there like he knew it would be. With no shame he dropped to one knee in front of them all and held the now open box out to Hermione. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"
"Oh Harry," Hermione whispered...then answered with a kiss. Sirius began to catcall and Ron whistled loudly, Ginny and Draco kissed while Mindy smiled in a pleasant thought. Everything was perfect.
A short note to the Reader, think of it as an epilogue:
It's been five years now. Harry and Hermione have three beautiful children. King Shinra passed on peacefully, and Ron and Harmony now rule as King and Queen of Marigold. They are the proud parents of a baby girl, who will, one day, become Queen. Sirius and Crystal Black, Mindy and Remus Lupin and Ginny and Draco Malfoy are all on the Council of Marigold with the Potters. Marigold remains an independent state, but they are now openly friendly with Human England.
The battle is remembered, of course. The story of the valiant deeds of those who died, and Queen Harmony the Fair plunging herself with a dagger to insure that Voldemort would never return is told again and again. But that's not the story you hear most often. When you start a conversation with any of them: Harmony or Remus, Harry or Mindy, Ron or Draco, you'll get the same story. They day Harmony returned when they thought she was dead, Harry and Hermione became engaged, and all the grievances between Slytherin and Gryffindor forgotten.
For the sake of history, I found it necessary to preserve this year, especially the side of Ron and Harmony Weasley, whose story was kept rather secret. It is imperative to remember their story lest history repeats itself. I have peered into their thoughts, and written this account for your benefit. No need to thank me, its all part of my job.
Just promise me one thing. Promise that you will never forget the story of the Heirs. Brave Harry Potter, destined for greatness since birth, and wise Hermione Granger, now Potter. Poor but loyal Ronald Weasley who rose to be a king, but most of all Harmony Slytherin, the woman who was willing to sacrifice her life for Hogwarts, a place she had never known and that only knew her as a mysterious voice in the woods.
Sincerely,
The Sorting Hat
A/N: I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, now that I have that out of my system...
Huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story. I love you all and you're what keeps me going.
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Of Endings, Explanations, and Gryffindor's Forgiveness
"Harmony!" The exclamation came from Sirius, who was next to her nearly as fast as Ron. "Oh God...she's dead."
"NO!" Ron shouted at the top of his lungs, cradling her head. "No...she can't be...Harmony?" Her name came out in a ragged whisper. He felt the sobs coming up from within him, and there was no way he could repress them. His head hanging low, he began to cry angrily and bitterly. His tears did not awaken her.
"Ron..." He didn't look up. The speaker had been Ginny, who was standing over her brother and looking down at the girl she had begun to love as a sister. She herself was crying, but she knew her brother had to be in an even worse state.
She turned her head away into the shoulder of Draco, who held her close. His unblinking eyes were also on Harmony, but he never shed a tear. Just sort of...stared.
Now behind Sirius, neither Mindy nor Crystal held back tears. Crystal was silent, but Mindy's teeth were chattering she was crying so hard. Her hand was tightly clasped in that of Remus, who had shed a few tears himself.
Suddenly a wordless, animal cry from Ron made them all jump. He leapt his feet and started screaming in Badger, which, as he screamed, was more ferocious than Dragon. His wand was out, but there was no one to shoot. All those who had known Harmony were there. Harry and Hermione were as still as statues, staring. But outside of this little sphere, the world was celebrating. Another victory for Harry Potter! Voldemort was dead! The reign of terror was over!
For a moment, Harry feared Ron would kill someone. But after a few moments, he dropped his wand entirely and turned away, his face in his hands. Ginny rushed to him and threw her arms around him. She and Malfoy lead him away from the crowds, back up to the school.
It was Sirius's strong arms that lifted the beautiful young girl. He carried her through the celebrations and up to the castle's stone steps with Jenkins, Mindy, and Remus not far behind. Harry and Hermione trotted after them, in shock.
"She really...she really was on our side," Hermione said, sounding dumbfounded.
"Yeah," Harry muttered. He found himself hardly aware of the world as he followed the Sirius through the halls. Voldemort was dead. The man he had feared, fought, and hated his entire life was suddenly...gone. Dead. Harry was just shocked, looking around the castle as if he had never seen it before.
The realization of the losses that had been suffered hit him immediately as he walked into the Hospital, which had been magically enlarged to fit all the wounded. Harry looked around, feeling almost guilty for not being wounded with these young brave souls. There had been a magically door erected that led to a different room that Harry quickly learned housed the injured Death Eaters.
Harry fought the dread in his heart and turned to where Sirius had laid the body of Harmony Slytherin. All those who had rushed to her side were there, but it was Ron who stood next to the bed, holding the pale, lifeless hand.
"Ron," Harry whispered. His friend didn't turn. Harry wanted to talk to Ron, to ease whatever pain he was feeling. The problem was Harry wasn't even entirely sure of WHAT Ron was feeling. Who was this Harmony, and why did her death affect Ron so painfully? Why did he look as if the world had ended, as if the sun had left and would never return? Why did he look exactly like Harry knew he would have if it had been Hermione who was lying in that bed?
"Come," A deep voice said, a hand landing on his shoulder. Harry turned to see Sirius, pain written across his face. Harry turned without protest and Hermione did the same. The others followed them out, and somehow Harry knew they knew why Ron so desperately needed time alone with her to grieve.
There were ten of them, making a grave procession up to the Gryffindor common room. Mindy's cries had subsided somewhat, but her sniffles were still constant and she had Remus's arm in a death grip. Crystal walked silently next to Sirius, who had taken her hand and refused to let it go. Harry and Hermione were walking behind the older generation, and bringing up the rear were Ginny and Malfoy. Ginny's sobs had not lessened.
They sat down in the common room silently. The mourning in the air was mixed with a dreaded awkwardness by the presence of Harry and Hermione, who the others knew were bursting with unsaid questions.
"Let's wait until Ron gets here," Ginny said quietly, and all the others nodded. Hermione bit her lip in order to stop the questions on the very tip of her tongue.
They waited for over half an hour for Ron to arrive. He looked terrible. His face was pale and tearstained, his eyes dull and dark, his hair disheveled and on top of all that he appeared to be shaking. All the questions burning in Harry and Hermione's minds suddenly became shy. For some reason, it just seemed wrong to try and wring information out of a person who was so obviously miserable.
"Decided to wait for me before getting the third degree?" He asked, trying to smile and succeeding in only looking more miserable than before. He slowly crossed the room and lowered himself into one of the chairs. "Go on then."
"Er..." Harry stuttered, trying to think of what to say. Ron sighed.
"Let's just start from the beginning, shall we?" He asked. Closing his eyes he started droning much the same way Barty Crouch Jr. had done while under veritaserum only three years ago.
"The beginning, really, is Salazar Slytherin. He sunk into the Dark Arts and created an heir to rid Hogwarts of Muggleborns and created the Chamber of Secrets ect. He was banished by the other Founders to the forest, which then became the Forbidden Forest. All this you know, and its where human accounts of Slytherin end.
"However, unknown to the human community, Salazar fell in love with a nymph. To make a long story short, he pulled himself out of the Dark Arts and regretted turning against the other three. To make up for it, he wanted to create a second heir to assist the heirs of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw, who were to fight his first heir. He tried to return to Hogwarts, but he driven away by military force.
"However, he found sympathy in Helga Hufflepuff, and childhood friend and colleague. Helga understood Salazar, they had both been serfs under Godric's father before beginning Hogwarts. Helga sneaked Salazar's second heir, who would be a descendent of his nymph wife and therefore a sprite, into the spell, which, as you now know, required Amulets and Weapons. Rowena Ravenclaw found out, accused Helga of treachery and they began to duel. In the end Rowena killed Helga.
"The four of us are, obviously, descendents of the Founders. Harry of Godric, Hermione of Rowena, Harmony of Salazar and I myself of Helga. I was never kidnapped. Ginny and I got into a fight and I stormed out of the house. After several days of stumbling about I found Harmony. She offered me shelter and I discovered Sirius had been hiding there. I decided to join them.
"She finally told me the story, and asked me if I would like to go home to Hogwarts. I'm sorry Harry and Hermione, but I stayed. I needed..." For the first time since the beginning of the narrative Ron's voice cracked. He couldn't admit that he had been in love with Harmony, not yet, not here, not like this. The memory of his love for Harmony...the love he now realized had always been returned that he had been to stupid, to stubborn...he chose his words with caution. "I needed to prepare for the battle. She trained me in dueling with various weapons as well as with a wand.
"I can't really place how so many other humans got mixed up in the mess. Crystal was in love with Sirius, I think she's been seeing him for quite a while...far before I came into the picture. Harmony and I stumbled on Ginny and Draco in the woods on Christmas night, so obviously they had to hear about it. Mindy was running from Remus after being bitten, we gave them treatment. That was the night of my funeral. Harmony and I were there you know.
"After a time, it was decided that Harmony would need to spend an interval at Hogwarts. The politics in Marigold-the sprite city where we were staying-are hard to describe. To be accepted into the society Sirius and I both had to pass a series of...tests, I suppose. Trials. We received certain privileges, including being able to converse with animals...which is how I learned Parseltongue, in case you were curious. So, to accept human society as a whole it was decided Harmony would be sent to Hogwarts...did I mention she's the princess? Oh, well, she is...was, rather.
"She couldn't just up and say she was a Slytherin, obviously, which is why she took the alias Brooke Silinster. While you all were off frolicking in Hogsmeade, she learned that she could summon Voldemort and finish it all up quick and basically bloodless by taking the offensive. That's why Sirius, her and I were out there that night, Harry. We were going to summon him, alert you, and get it the hell over with. After being unsuccessful several times, Sirius and I left. I don't really know what happened except that she was caught and her wand snapped. We both had centaur mane wands, and through ancient magic we switched places. The rest you know."
After this lecture Ron's blue eyes opened and locked with Harry's green orbs. Harry saw the brutal honesty in his best friend's desperate grief, but he knew there was something more. He didn't dare push to poor guy anymore that night.
"Go to bed, Ron," Ginny whispered, walking over to her brother and putting her arm around his shoulders. As if he hadn't heard her he stood up and left the common room via the portrait. Harry's eyes followed the silent form, and then turned to the others.
He wanted to be angry. Goddamn it! Ron was his best friend, why didn't someone tell him what was going on. However, when he saw the grieving faces of the others all the anger drained out of him. They were just as miserable as Ron was, for that same intangible and yet very real reason, and Harry finally identified it: Harmony Slytherin had been a friend of theirs. The idea, he realized, had never entered his mind before.
"Where did he go?" Hermione asked, and Harry realized for the first time that his girlfriend was crying. She was trying to hide it but failing miserably.
"He went to Harmony," Sirius replied quietly, his gaze not leaving the floor. "He needs closure, let him be." The others nodded silently.
"We should all get to bed," Mindy finally said. Her sobs had subsided, but her eyes were puffy and her cheeks tearstained. There was a general murmur of agreement and they all grudgingly put themselves to bed.
However tired he was, Harry couldn't sleep. He had stripped the ceremonial Gryffindor robes and showered, and was now lying in his pajamas tossing and turning. The vision of Ron's face when he had seen her lying like that, the gleam in his eye when he thought Harry was attacking her, the pain in his voice as he had spoken...
Just before dawn Harry rose and changed into his regular clothing. Seamus, Dean, and Neville, who had all thankfully survived the assault, were still passed out in their beds. He noticed that Ron still wasn't there.
The castle itself seemed exhausted from the ordeal. Harry was undisturbed as his feet silently made their way toward the Hospital Wing. He hadn't bothered with the invisibility cloak or map. He didn't expect resistance.
When he slipped into the Hospital wing the sun was just beginning to rise. Only the most critically injured remained in the wing, but set apart from them all was the bed in which the body of Harmony Slytherin lie. Ron was sitting right next to her, his hand enclosing the small pale one of the girl, his hand on her forehead and his head bowed either in grief or in slumber. The first rays of sunlight were pouring through the windows, turning Harmony's hair into liquid gold and illuminating half of Ron's worn face, making the tear marks shine like mother of pearl in contrast to the dark circles under his eyes. Ron was still in his bloody Hufflepuff robes, and Harmony's elegant green garment hadn't been removed either.
Harry almost didn't want to interrupt. They made the perfect picture, a portrait of Chivalry mourning Beauty. However, Harry knew that Ron needed sleep. He nudged his best friend, and was unsurprised to find that Ron had not been sleeping. His glazed blue eyes seemed to look right through Harry.
"C'mon Ron," He whispered. "You should sleep."
"Sleep," Ron echoed, as if the word were foreign. Harry nodded and helped Ron to his feet. He cast a last look at Harmony.
"Don't worry," Harry said softly. "I won't let them take her before you say goodbye." He nodded numbly and left the Hospital wing.
Harry sat down where Ron had been sitting, studying the mysterious woman in front of him.
*~*
~It wasn't until after the four of them had graduated that Voldemort had returned. The wizarding world was in terror. Lily and James Potter were among the first to die, just after their son Harry, the defeater of Voldemort as an infant, married the Muggleborn Hermione Granger. They never met their granddaughter, named Lily after her grandmother.
Harmony watched in despair, wishing there was something she could do. But it wasn't her destiny. It was that of the Heirs. She was not an Heir.~
*~*
What if Harry hadn't jumped to all those conclusions? Would they have defeated Voldemort without having any casualties? A bloodless victory?
Harmony was obviously a good person, to have won the friendship of such a varied range of wonderful people...well, he still didn't know about Malfoy, but other than that!
He knew, right then, where all these problems stemmed from. It was his undeniable prejudice against Harmony for being a Slytherin. It was his detestation, passed down through generations, of all those associated with Salazar Slytherin and his legacy. It had never occurred to Harry, Harry Potter, the boy who found good in everyone, that Slytherin had a good side too. He was just regarded as the villain.
What if...?
*~*
~Yes, Harry's generation had escaped unscathed because Harmony had not been destined to be an heir. But their children...
She watched in horror as Voldemort entered the Potters' home. Harry was killed defending his family, and Hermione died pleading for her daughter's life. Voldemort went to kill Lily...~
*~*
"Oh God," Harry said as the guilt really hit home. This was all his fault. If he hadn't been so stupid, so stubborn, so completely blind in his hatred...this girl, this girl who was obviously not the evil he had thought she was, this innocent, loving girl's life would've been spared.
Harry's shoulders shook with the weight of the guilt. He felt tears in his eyes, and he knew he was going to cry.
"I'm sorry," He whispered through his sobs. "It wasn't supposed to be like this. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to...It wasn't her fault!"
*~*
It was happening all over again. It was all her fault. Lily Potter, orphaned, had just defeated Voldemort, but he wasn't dead. He would return. And the whole ugly cycle would begin again.
And all because Harmony hadn't been destined to become an heir, all because Slytherin hadn't created a second heir...all the reason she had cried with guilt for only days ago. She found that she wanted to sob, but it was too late now, she was gone...
The darkness around her began to fade, with a light in front. She was sure she was dying...but since when was dying so painful. The light blinded her for a moment, but when she opened her eyes she saw neither Heaven nor Hell, but clean white walls and a standard hospital bed, and a dark head bent over in sobs. She blinked.
"Harry?" She whispered. His head snapped up, the sobs ceasing in place of surprise.
This was impossible. She was dead! He had seen her lying there, blood in a pool and pulse ceased. He had seen the dagger in her stomach and the look on Ron's face. She was dead.
"But...but...you're dead. You died, I saw you..." He blathered. Her eyes widened.
"You..." She breathed. "You...Harry, did you forgive me?"
"What?" Harry replied, confused and frustrated.
"Harry, don't you see? The only way I could not be dead...Godric Gryffindor cursed Salazar with his dying breath, saying Salazar would die without Godric's forgiveness. Harry, did you forgive me?"
"Forgive you for what?"
"Being a Slytherin," Harmony replied. He nodded and she started breathing heavily.
"I can't believe..." She whispered. "I'm alive. Harry, I killed the evil of Slytherin within me, but I'm ALIVE!"
"Yeah..." Harry replied. Feeling weird but feeling the need to prove it for himself he reached out and touched her arm. Her skin was warm with life. He met her eyes and saw they were filled with tears. In the next moment they were hugging and Harmony was crying for joy.
"This is so strange," She said, pulling away and laughing through her tears. Harry laughed outright.
"You're telling me!"
"Where's my ring?!" She cried suddenly, grabbing her throat as if just realizing something wasn't there.
"All your things are here," Harry gestured to the bedside table. The dagger, the amulet...for the first time he saw a thin gold chain with a diamond ring. Sighing with relief, she snatched it and took the ring off the chain, slipping it on her finger.
"Was Ron here?" She asked, looking from the ring to Harry. It hit him like a ton of bricks.
"Oh my God...you two are in love."
"Ron and I?" She asked, and smiled sadly. "I'm in love with him. I think he loved me...we got in this giant fight and it was all my fault and-"
"No!" Harry interrupted, feeling immensely stupid. "Jesus...I can't believe I've been so blind. Ron looked...Harmony, he sat up here all night. I had to come and make him go to bed and...I can't believe I didn't realize you were in love. I'll get him."
"Wait!" Harmony cried, leaping to her feet. Harry got the impulse to make her lay down but it was obvious that she had not intentions of doing so. "Let me clean up and...bring him to the classroom in the next hall over, you know where I mean. Don't tell him, please?"
"Okay..." He agreed, not quite understanding but knowing better than to argue.
Harmony ran off in the direction of that classroom and Harry found himself going after Ron at a slower pace. He looked at the clock and realized he had been in the hospital wing for less than an hour. Was that possible? Life beforehand might've been a different world!
When he reached the dormitory he found himself uneager to awaken Ron. He was finally asleep, although it was obviously a troubled slumber. Fighting to keep his composure he shook his best friend awake.
"Harry?" He asked blurrily. "What is it?"
"C'mon, Ron. I've got something I need to show you."
"Kay," He muttered, to tired and grief worn to argue. The castle was just beginning to wake up, but only the earliest of risers were awake. No one saw Harry and Ron leave the common room. They went through the nearly deserted corridors until they approached the classroom. Not knowing what to expect, Harry gingerly opened the door and allowed Ron in first. His dull eyes surveyed the room, and stopped dead on Harmony.
"H...Harm..."
"Ron," She whispered. No more words were needed. Ron swept across the room and pulled her into a fierce and passionate kiss, as if needing to make sure she was really there. Harry shut the door after them, feeling they needed some time alone.
He knocked after a time, and it was Ron who called for him to come it. Harry obeyed, and nearly staggered at the difference in his best friend. His eyes were alight with life, his crazy grin in place like never before and he was glowing, literally glowing, and Harmony was as well.
"Thanks, mate," Ron said, giving Harry a brotherly embrace. Harry flushed, and they didn't say anymore about it.
"Wow. I thought you two were never going to finish," Harry joked, hoping to ease the atmosphere. He succeeded as the other two laughed...although right then they probably would've laughed at anything.
"And...Harmony?" A disbelieving voice muttered from the entrance. They looked to see Crystal who had been talking to Mindy, and it was then that Harry realized they were in the Defense classroom.
"Crystal!" Harmony cried. "Mindy!"
"Oh my God, your alive!" Mindy screamed, and the three girls were pulled into a hug mixed with plenty of tears.
"Sirius!" Crystal screamed. "Sirius! Remus! HARMONY'S ALIVE!"
The two men ran in, and soon had their arms wrapped around Harmony as well. Ginny came in and stared for a few moments before bursting into sobs and following her elder's examples. Draco didn't cry, but he did break out of his shell long enough to join in the general hug-fest. So did Hermione, when she finally came by after hearing all the screaming. Stories, words, and promises flew throughout the room, which was bursting with joy.
"I take it we're still engaged then?" Harmony asked once she was back in Ron's arms.
"Yes, that would be correct, your majesty," Ron answered soberly, then they both laughed. It was then that something occurred to Harry.
"Hey you two...Hey! YOU TWO!" He yelled, trying to sound frustrated but coming off as playful, which he was. Ron and Harmony turned around.
"You didn't...Okay, I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but...Harmony, you don't sing, do you?"
"Sing?" She echoed. "Yeah, all the time."
"Not that you would remember, but this last Halloween...I heard this voice from the woods singing. It couldn't have been you though...could it?"
"Yes!" Harmony said in remembrance. "Yes, it was. How did you know?"
"I heard you," Harry replied, seeing where everything finally fit. "And at Ron's funeral..."
"I sang there to. In Snake, of course...which is why you could hear me!" She laughed out loud.
"See, I was at Hogwarts the whole time in spirit. I was the Voice in the Woods!"
"Yeah," Harry laughed, nodding. "Yeah..." Suddenly he turned to Hermione. "I meant to do this a few weeks ago, but I got distracted when I saw Slytherin on the Marauder's Map."
He reached into the pocket of his robes, and it was there like he knew it would be. With no shame he dropped to one knee in front of them all and held the now open box out to Hermione. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"
"Oh Harry," Hermione whispered...then answered with a kiss. Sirius began to catcall and Ron whistled loudly, Ginny and Draco kissed while Mindy smiled in a pleasant thought. Everything was perfect.
A short note to the Reader, think of it as an epilogue:
It's been five years now. Harry and Hermione have three beautiful children. King Shinra passed on peacefully, and Ron and Harmony now rule as King and Queen of Marigold. They are the proud parents of a baby girl, who will, one day, become Queen. Sirius and Crystal Black, Mindy and Remus Lupin and Ginny and Draco Malfoy are all on the Council of Marigold with the Potters. Marigold remains an independent state, but they are now openly friendly with Human England.
The battle is remembered, of course. The story of the valiant deeds of those who died, and Queen Harmony the Fair plunging herself with a dagger to insure that Voldemort would never return is told again and again. But that's not the story you hear most often. When you start a conversation with any of them: Harmony or Remus, Harry or Mindy, Ron or Draco, you'll get the same story. They day Harmony returned when they thought she was dead, Harry and Hermione became engaged, and all the grievances between Slytherin and Gryffindor forgotten.
For the sake of history, I found it necessary to preserve this year, especially the side of Ron and Harmony Weasley, whose story was kept rather secret. It is imperative to remember their story lest history repeats itself. I have peered into their thoughts, and written this account for your benefit. No need to thank me, its all part of my job.
Just promise me one thing. Promise that you will never forget the story of the Heirs. Brave Harry Potter, destined for greatness since birth, and wise Hermione Granger, now Potter. Poor but loyal Ronald Weasley who rose to be a king, but most of all Harmony Slytherin, the woman who was willing to sacrifice her life for Hogwarts, a place she had never known and that only knew her as a mysterious voice in the woods.
Sincerely,
The Sorting Hat
A/N: I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, now that I have that out of my system...
Huge thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story. I love you all and you're what keeps me going.
Cinnamon pancakes, unicorn rides and lots of love to:
Just_a_girl-you've been a huge support for me!! I hope this helps cure your withdrawal...lol. Thanks a lot for your reviews, compliments, and constructive criticism!
Lily Lupin-Hey girl! I really appreciate your thoughts, thanks for reading my fics!! I love you!!!!!!!!!! ^_^_^_^
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Meggie-How many times have you read this? You're nuts! I love you for it though ^_~ Well, here's the last chapter, thanks for the reviews.
Kiara-You're awesome. Thanks for the reviews. You're always one of the first to review when I update. My love!!!!!!
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Chicas who made this story possible:
Sierra Charm-You really love reviewing this, don't you? Do you remember when I first started writing this? We were the only two who had read HP and u posted it on your account because I was to lazy to get one...lol, those were the days. Thanks girlie
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THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO STAR*DUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If anyone deserves it honey, its you. Pineapple queen, without you to babble to endlessly about fanfic, where would this story be? Think of all the times I've thought of something brilliant while talking with you! ^_^ Thanks for inspiration for this fic and all the others...well, maybe not the fact that there ARE so many others....lol, *wink*