Chapter Seven: Merging Worlds

Harry finally received a short letter from Ron -

I went to see Hermione. She accepted my proposal; we are to be married next month, on August twelfth. We would like you to come and be my best man. Please send word right away to let us know if you are able to come. We both miss you terribly. I hope that you are well.

Your friend Ron

Harry's face had beamed; for once he could feel joy for his friend without deep feelings of envy. After eyeing the letter by his bedside - he thought again of Lydia, and felt his stomach churning with delight. She had had several classes, and he found himself aching terribly for her company. He longed to take her in his arms and take in her soft, sweet scent of daises; like the cool breezes of summer. He missed her long flowing hair as it softly hit his face and how it tickled his neck as they kissed. His entire body was shaking and he began to feel strange. His butterflies became stabbing stomach pains and his scar began to hurt. He winced in pain and knew danger was close by. His first thought was of "monster!" Lydia! He quickly came to his feet and ran towards the storeroom. She was nowhere to be found! The pain in his stomach did not cease - it only grew, it hurt to walk. His entire body felt as if it were floating away from him - it was as if he had lost all control.he had already been seen by nearly everyone. But he had simply run past them all and called out Lydia's name - but it was to all be in vain.
Harry had waited by the girl's dormitory, praying that someone who could out, but no one had. The fat lady had looked at him with a puzzled gaze as he went through the door nearly four times in less than an hour. "What on earth are you doing?" She demanded finally. Harry had not dared to answer her. He began to panic and the pain made him want to scream. But.he had to find her. As the day turned into the one of the darkest nights of Harry's life, Harry was still sitting by entryway of the girl's dormitory, as he began to fear the worst. What if she had had one of her spells? Or worse, had unintentionally hurt someone? Harry covered his face with a frustrated hand and tried not to cry. The pain was becoming unbearable. Harry could hear the soft thundering of rain outside and the ache in his stomach worsened still. He then knew where to find her.
He ran into the forbidden forest, and immediately found her right at the edge; she was lying on the ground, covered in filth and rain. She looked unconscious. Somehow she had wound up here after losing herself. She had not even recognized Harry at first. "Who is there?" She asked in a frightful tone, as he approached her slowly with a blanket and his illuminated wand. The rain was falling steadily on her and she had no idea - "cold so cold" she moaned as he approached "stay away!" She called out loudly. She tried to hit something, but only threw her hands up into the air unconsciously. "NO!" She screamed out once more, as her tears were staining her face. Harry had gently covered her with the blanket as she called out "too fast, NO! No.keep them AWAY!!!! It hurts," she sobbed out, as he leaned down to take her into his protective arms and carried her on towards the castle. The rain began to soak him as he returned to the common room with her still in his arms and as he prayed that no one would see him carry her to his quarters. By then, Lydia's entire body had slumped over into his arms and she had grown silenced.
The minutes passed as if they were hours and as Harry sat by the bed watching her sleep, he still felt a slow churning and wondered if someone who possessed Voldemort's powers were still near Hogwarts. Harry gently held onto her hand and caressed it with his thumb. She had looked ghastly pale. Please, please be alright.Harry silently prayed. I cannot bare to lose you now, he sighed deeply as he gazed into her colorless visage. She looked almost petrified. As if she had heard his thoughts crying out for her, she had took a breath and then coughed and opened her eyes. Harry had nearly lost his breath as she moved for the first time in two hours. "Harry?" She whispered - still not fully aware that he was there with her. "NO! Don't leave me!" She uttered with another sob, still under her spell as she reached out her hands forward, as if to pull him near. She had not even looked in his direction or felt his hand holding hers. "I am right here," he whispered tenderly. She still had not heard him. "Don't leave" she whispered. She must be dreaming now.Harry thought. When her eyes opened once more the second time, she took hold of his hand. "Harry!" She said, finally regaining her senses. She sat up quickly, taking in deep breaths. She blinked many times, trying to focus. This is Harry's room, she thought. "I still feel frozen," she whispered, as she shivered. "Here, take this and lie down," he uttered, wrapping her form into the blanket as she heeded his advice. She dared to ask him what happened to her. "I found you in the forbidden forest in the middle of a terrible storm. I was quite alarmed," he admitted sadly. She started to cry again. "And you came after me!" She called out, "oh my god, I could have been killed out there!" She sobbed, turning away from him. "I feel so damned helpless!" She said, as he then sat down next to her on the bed, putting his arms around her in a protective embrace. "No situation is ever lost. There are always answers to be found" he said softly. "I understand what you are going through Lydia." he whispered, "I have been there millions of times - I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've lost myself in the confusion and.loneliness. My life until Hogwarts was hell" he paused, "no one even gave a damn about me," he said, as his own eyes became teary eyed. "Nor I." she paused, wiping her face and turning towards him. "Father wanted to pretend that I didn't exist.because I." she flinched, "I was a bastard child and not a pure blood" Not a pure blood?? He was astounded. "My mother was born a muggle, like yourself," she whispered. He lowered his head, "I was never ashamed - but he abused me physically and emotionally; that resulted in scars that have not so easily healed.his abuse continued well after he abandoned the affair and had her killed. I know that he killed her and would have killed me, had he not sent me away. I knew the only child he could ever love was my brother. He wanted his only son to have everything, and his daughter nothing" She sighed as he spoke, "my Aunt and Uncle never gave me anything, I had a small room underneath the stairs and was treated as a servant." Harry felt a deep pain discussing his past, but the look on her face told him that she understood his misery. "Even though my Aunt was aware that I was born a wizard, she kept the truth hidden from me for eleven years!" He said more angrily. She stoked his cheek as he spoke. "Father never disclosed details about how powerful my mother was.but I know that she possessed immense magic and later went insane because of it.after she." her face teared over once more, "after she became one of Voldemort's followers," Harry cringed. "I know deep down that his control over her became so uncontrolled that she was not strong enough to fight it and lost herself in his evil.she was like me, able to create spells without the use of her wand - she started fires and apparated all of the time. She was so full of hatred for my father that she wanted only to kill." Lydia paused to wipe her face. She rose up and the blanket dropped "so that is why I am so afraid Harry. I am afraid of." she lowered her voice, "becoming like her."
He was silent for what seemed like an eternity to her. The only sound in the room was their breathing. He saw how she cried, how the tears fell and knew her fear. He caressed her face, and was at a loss. "That's why I wanted you to keep your distance, I don't want you to be hurt," she sobbed as he put a hand through her disheveled hair. "I love you Harry," she said in a dark tone. He felt his stomach churn once again and continued to stroke her face. Her piercing gaze silenced him. "Love will protect us. It protected me." he uttered, pulling closer. "I will do everything in my power to protect you Lydia" he said, "because I love you too" he whispered, bringing his warm cheek to hers and kissing behind her ear. "I want you by my side always" he whispered, turning towards her mouth, kissing her lips softly. She closed her eyes and let the blanket fall into a heap onto the floor as she wrapped her arms around him. Now is the time."I just want you" she whispered, as they kissed each other with passion. Her head had come down to his pillow as their kisses had become more forced and needy. She moaned and sighed as his hands caressed her. She then sat up and quickly pulled her shirt away and he nearly fell off the bed when she revealed herself to him for the first time. He was losing himself in her and had little idea what do to.She took his hand and placed it on her and smiled, gently showing him what to do. His green eyes widened alittle and his head was pulsating as she slowly unbuttoned his own shirt. She leaned forward and kissed his neck and then removed the shirt as he closed his eyes, taking in the moment. Her touch made his shiver. She gently graced his chest and then eased him down slowly and kissed him everywhere. He was trying to take in air, but as she kissed him, he felt as if he were suffocating. But he wanted more and more. His head felt dizzy as she touched him and then felt her hands going toward. he pulled up and threw her down, finally losing control over himself as he tore away the rest of her clothing. She let out an impassioned cry as he pulled forward.
He had taken a strong hold onto her body and knew that he wanted her right now. He wanted to feel everything - to her mouth, neck, breasts. she was still moaning, waiting for him to undress so that she could feel his own heated desire warm against hers. Her hands struggled as he tried to move so that she could touch him, he wanted to feel her hands on him. She was crying as he finally revealed himself to her in his entirety and pulled her towards him. He pushed forward into her for the first time and she screamed softly. He threw his head back and moaned over and over. This was nothing he had ever imagined it would be. She was still crying and whispering his name and begging him to not stop. He threw her onto the bed again and began to kiss her once more; and caressed her everywhere. She wrapped her arms around him and pushed him into her harder. As they made love for the first time, he felt his entire world - all of his fears, his struggles, melt away and she was the only thing that mattered. Here and now. Her passionate moans continued through the night.