CHAPTER EIGHT

The Knight Bus pulled up outside the front doors of Hogwarts and Lord Voldemort blasted his way through them.

"Um, I don't think they lock those," Araminta noted nervously (A/N: Did you like that alliteration as much as I did?). Voldemort ignored her and stomped toward the Great Hall.

When they reached the cafeteria, Araminta could see that the room had been decorated fabulously for her wedding to Harry. Coco and Neenee (Draco and Hermione) were putting the finishing touches on the ceiling, which had been enchanted to look like a nice day with a few white clouds floating by. Lily and James were discussing wedding vows with Dumbledore, who was to officiate the ceremony. Harry himself was smoothing gold chains over his butterfly collar.

"Knew you'd be back," he said, smirking. "But, er, we've already got witnesses."

Tom stepped forward. "I am Lord Voldemort. Avada Kedavra!" A bolt of green light shot out of Tom's wand.

"No no nono!" Araminta screamed as Harry ducked out of the way. "Not him! James!"

"Why are you doing this?" Harry demanded, his emerald orbs flashing with anger and Visine.

"I read a story. Let me tell you a little about it." He whipped out Araminta's diary and tossed it to him. "Inside, you'll find out about me. But you'll also find out about someone else. A woman. A brave, wonderful, perfect, powerful woman who's traveled across space and time for love. Let me explain this in the words of Johan Wolfgang von Goethe: ...since I seldom have the opportunity to read, it must be something I can really enjoy. And I like those writers best who help me find my world again, where the sort of things happen that happen all around me, and the story is as interesting and sympathetic as my own life at home, which may not be paradise but is, on the whole, a source of quite inexplicable joy to me. In other words, dimwit, I like to read what I like to read and what's it to you?"

Harry thought a long moment. "I guess no one forces me to read anything," he ventured.

"Correct." Tom turned his wand on Harry's parents. "Let's try this again. Avada Kedavra."

Lily and James exploded in a shower of sparks and the world went blurry as time changed around them. Araminta could see that a scar was developing on Harry's forehead and that his boyish good looks were returning. Tom, on the other hand, was growing uglier with each second.

"Are you sure you won't join me?" Voldemort stroked a finger along Araminta's chin. "I'd make you my queen."

Araminta gave Tom one last farewell kiss, using her hands in unexpected places to heighten his pleasure. "Thank you, love, but no. My place is here, on Harry's pedestal; yours is the realm of the evil overlord. We'd only make each other unhappy in the end."

Voldemort gave her a squeezy-hug and stepped back. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but snapped it shut with a sad smile. Then, he Apparated while the magical laws of physics were still up in the air.

The world settled. Araminta lifted Harry's head to her lap and soothed him with gentle strokes until he opened luminous eyes to see her. "Araminta?" he croaked out. "I dreamed that I lost you. It was the worst nightmare."

"It was only a dream, Harry." Araminta smiled. "I love you, and it was only a dream."