Eliza was thankful to be out of the great hall. She knew that no harm would come to her in Hogwarts, but she still had wished Draco would have walked her home. The Halls were empty and way to quiet, there was not even a sign of Peeves or her house ghost the bloody Barron. Eliza suddenly heard footsteps behind her. She smiled; maybe Malfoy had decided to escort her home after all. She spoke
"Nice of you to join me."
"You sure about that?" Harry responded reluctantly
Eliza turned to face him
"What do you want?" She scowled
"Draco asked me to make sure you got back safe." He said, she looked so beautiful he wanted to take her right there
"I'm a big girl I can manage." She said. She wished Harry would leave her be, it hurt so much to be mean to him but she had no choice.
"Even so, it would make me feel better if I knew you were back safe." He said
"It's not about you, now is it?"
"Hate me all you want Eliza, but I'm walking you home." He said a little angry
"Hate you I will, and you are not walking me home!" she screamed
That was it. Harry had had enough.
"You are a hypocrite! You talk all this talk about second chances and you won't even give one to the person who needs it the most. I have spent the last few days beating myself up about what I said. But what good will it do, if you don't care enough about me to hear me out?" Harry yelled
Eliza wanted to yell back, but she could not find the words. She turned on a heel and ran, not towards Slytherin but toward the entrance of Hogwarts. Harry watched with horror as she disappeared into the darkness
Harry wondered the grounds for a half a hour looking for Eliza. It felt good to get that off his chest, but he wished he had not made her upset again. He did not like this trend in their relationship. Relationship? Harry wasn't sure that was the right word. Harry had searched all the usual places to no avail, he was about to give up and go back to the castle for help when he thought of one last place to check.
Staring out at the now iced over lake, there she was. Harry could see her shiver form the harsh winds that hit her bare skin. He took off his suit jacket and silently crept up behind her. To his surprise she did not flinch when he wrapped her in the jacket. They stood there for a while staring out at the lake. Harry finally spoke up.
"Eliza I'm sorry."
"I know Harry, but it's too late." She whispered
"Why!" he said desperately
"You hurt me Harry. Look you aren't Ron and I'm not Hermione. We aren't going to just put this behind us and pretend like nothing has changed. I put my feelings out there for you, and not only did you reject me, you insulted my father, I can't just go on Harry." She cried
Harry knew he would lose her if he didn't tell her why he had been so nervous to let his feelings show. He had to come clean about the watch. Maybe if she knew why he could never be with her, that he was trying to protect her, she would forgive him.
"I respect your decision whatever it is, but before you make it, I need to tell you something…please!" he pleaded
"Fine Harry." She gave in
"You ever heard of the Medori Watch?
"Sure, the watch that starts with a kiss from you true love, then ends in a tragedy in a year's time…but it's a myth Harry."
"No its not I have It." He whispered.
She looked skeptical. Harry silently pulled the Rhine stoned covered watch out if his pocket. Eliza's eyes got big with wonder and horror.
"Harry!" she gasped
"It belonged to my mother. It was passed down to me from my aunt. She didn't know the whole story of it of course. She didn't know that she would basically be cursing me and the person I love." He said has his foot kicked at the pebbles on the ground
"Harry it's not possible, it's an old sorcerers myth. My father use to read me the story when I was little. It was my favorite piece of Sorcery history," She cried
"It's no myth Eliza." He continued "That's why I can't have feelings for you, because the minute we do anything, its gonna start counting down for us." He sighed
Eliza just nodded; she understood why Harry didn't want to explore their feelings. However it didn't make her feel better about not being able to have Harry. But she did under stand. She knew what she had to do next. If her father knew what she was about to tell Harry he would surely send her straight back to the states. However she didn't want to keep anything from Harry any longer.
"Harry, I have to tell you something." She said
"Anything."
"The watch, you know who made it?
"Nicholas Flemell." He replied
"Do you know what he was?"
"A sorcerer." He said simply
"Yes, that's right. I told you my dad read me fables and history of Sorcerers and Sorceresses." She paused
Harry just waited for her to continue, he was not sure where she was going with this.
"Well he didn't do it to entertain me. He wanted me to know my history." She continued
Harry was taken aback
"I'm a Sorceress Harry." She whispered
"Sorcerers are extinct, Flamell was the last. Besides Snapes not a Sorcerer, and your mom is a Muggle. " Harry said confused
"But she isn't. She was raised that way. And probably would have never known of magic if she had never met my dad. But he knew it the minute he saw her. She's not a witch. She is a sorceress. Not full fledged of course, she is part Muggle. Harry Sorcerers aren't extinct; they just want you to think they are. You know why?" she asked
"Sorcerers use wand less magic, and are gifted with more extreme gifts than wizards." He said remembering what he had learned in history class
"That's right, some can control the elements, some can read minds some can even stop time. Wizards and witches feared sorcerers and pretty much snuffed out them all. But some survived and made their way to America. Well one of them was my great great grandfather Harry. He moved to the U.S. and started a new life without magic. Well by the time my mom was born, there was no knowledge of magic in our family at all." She breathed
"Until Snape." He said
"Yes. And when they had me Harry, they had a full-fledged sorceress. Well I wont get all my powers until my 17th birthday, but you get my drift. That's why my dad would not let me come to Hogwarts, he wanted to make sure I would be safe from Voldermort." She said
"But you aren't, he knows about you. That's why your father was attacked." He replied
"I know, since it's not a secret anymore, he wants me as near to him as possible. Voldermort only knows he has a daughter, he doesn't know that I'm a sorceress."
Suddenly it hit Harry like a ton of bricks
"That why you can't use your wand! That's how you got out of those chains. Eliza your father is right Voldermort would be after you if he knew what you are. You are probably more powerful then anyone at this school...even me." Said Harry realizing that he probably would be of no use if Eliza ever had to be protected
Eliza read his mind
"No one will ever be as powerful as you Harry. And yes that's why I can't use my wand, its hard to channel that energy through a wand" She smiled sadly
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked hurt
"My dad made me promise, besides I was scared you would think I was a freak. She stated
"Never, you're beautiful." He blurted "Especially tonight."
"I feel like a Muggle prostitute" she blushed "But I wanted you to eat your heart out."
"It worked on me and every other guy in the school." Harry laughed
There was a long silence before either one spoke
"Have you told Dumbledore about the watch?" Eliza asked
"I was, but stuff always came up. I don't want to worry him with it." Harry mumbled
"Harry you know better than anyone Nicholas Flamell was a very powerful sorcerer, and was a great man. However some of his creations, the sorcerer stone, the watch, well in the wrong hands they can do more bad then good." Eliza said seriously
"So you think that there maybe more to the watch?" Harry asked
"Yes, and if Voldermort knows you have the watch…well one more reason for him to try to kill you." She said with fear "Promise me you will tell Dumbledore!"
Harry was touched and scared by her fear
"I promise." He said honestly
He scooped Eliza in a hug. It was good to feel her skin again. Her chocolate skin felt cold and smooth against him. He almost fainted when he felt Eliza run her fingernails down his back. Harry did not even notice that his own hands had made his way under his suit jacket that now covered Eliza. His fingers played along the edges of the silky straps that covered her chest. Harry could feel her nipples perk up from the cold, trough the thin material that covered them. A part of Harry had also perked up, but it wasn't because of the cold. This was dangerous territory for them both and he knew it.
Eliza felt at peace being this close to Harry. At the same time she knew that she did not want to force Harry to be with her, if he felt it was best they be apart. She tried to release herself from his hug. To her surprised Harry would not let her go. In fact he squeezed her tighter.
Harry had made up his mind. He could not go his whole life without her. And it wasn't fair denying her his love. He thought of his parents in that moment. James Potter would not let a watch stand in the way of the love he had for his wife and Harry's mother Lilly. He would fight for his love, not deny it. Wait…what was Harry saying? Did he love Eliza? He already knew the answer. He had loved a lot of people in his life, his parents, Hermione, Serious, Remus Lupin, Ron and the rest of the Weasleys.
He did not love Eliza
He was in love with her and madly at that. He remembered how he felt back in Dunnington's cave when she was in danger. He felt as if his air supply would be taken away. He remembered how he felt addicted to her touch, and how he longed to touch her. He loved Eliza Montana Snape and in that moment decided how much.
Harry cupped Eliza's chin in his hand and titled her head up so he was staring directly in to those shiny hazel eyes. Unlike Harry, her lips were full and pouty, he longed to kiss them. This was not a moment for words but actions. But Harry knew he had to speak, he did not want to do anything without her full understanding, he wanted no doubts no regrets. He needed perfect harmony
"I want to kiss you." He said, it hurt Harry to breathe
sakes." She pleaded
"When we kiss, this watch will start to tick. And when it does, we have one year before our lives are changed for ever, for good or bad." He whisper
"Harry that watch will tick only if you love me." She cried
"As I said that watch will start to tick once I kiss you. Eliza I love you, and I think you love me. If I am wrong or if you are not ready let me know." he said strongly
" Harry, in order for that watch to work I have to be just as much in love with you as you are with me. It takes two people to have true love"
She started to cry harder
"What are you saying?" He asked hopeful
"I'm saying I want you to kiss me Harry Potter. And when you do that watch will indeed start to tick." She said between sobs
Harry could not take the chatter anymore. Their first kiss wasn't a light and delicate affair. Harry attacked her lips with such force that he thought her would knock her down to the ground. Yet Eliza held her ground. Parting her lips so she could let Harry's tongue in. Harry was happy to oblige. He let his tongue maneuver in her mouth before exiting to trace the outline of her lips with it. Eliza's hands pulled and yanked Harry's messy hair all over the place. She then put her hands on the back of Harry's head and pulled it as close to hers as it would go, she wanted him to become one with her body.
When they finally broke apart Harry had tears in his eyes. His life would never be the same; he had found a soul mate. He would not die for this woman he would live for her. He pulled out the Medori Watch from his back pocket. He and Eliza stood hand in hand and looked down at the watch just in time to see it take its first tick.