-On a brief note: Azadeh's character will get stronger again around Chapter 30. Gotta make her look like she's a little worn down right now, hell, wouldn't you be?-

Guess I gotta put the disclaimer on there, a.k.a. savine one's ass from being sued. I do not own any of the Harry Potter characters, just Azadeh and anything else that is reining in my little head.

Chapter 24

Azadeh was allowed to go back to work after about one week and was hoping she didn't miss any of Hermione's orders, thankfully she hadn't. Her mind was now on Ron and what happened to him. From what she understood, was that either he had been executed or was given back to the Weasleys after having been tortured and wasn't quite the same. Hermione mentioned that he tried to buy her with what little money he had, so perhaps he was still alive?

Why they were still alive was amazing to Azadeh. She knew that Voldemort wouldn't show any compassion, so did Harry break a deal before he was completely changed, did he remember making it and never said anything, for fear that if Voldemort found out, he would have Azadeh killed? It was getting frustrating and her deadline was getting closer and closer.

Finally, another order from Hermione and since there were no others, she asked Melissa if she could stay and chat, that she had gotten along with this girl and felt she made a friend. "All right, I guess it wouldn't hurt to stay for an hour, though I'm not paying you to chat...but, since you're a good employee and it's slow," she shrugged her shoulders.

Azadeh smiled for the first time in a while. Melissa felt bad for her, it was rumored what had happened. She was taken to get information on the Shamans, and when she couldn't give it...Lucius Malfoy nearly killed her. 'So, not even a Death Eater's wife is immune," Melissa thought to herself as she watched Azadeh disappear from the fireplace.

Hermione practically ran to the fireplace when it said, "delivery!" She hugged Azadeh and was so happy to see her, but immediately knew something was off.

"What's wrong," Hermione immediately asked.

"Nothing...it's nothing," Azadeh said silently.

"Look, you can tell me...Jasper isn't here, he's out of town and thankfully didn't ask me to go with him. I think he's running around with some girl named 'Eliza' or something, so I know he won't be back any time soon...so, please, don't be afraid to tell me."

Azadeh fell on her knees and started to cry, Hermione held her, she had also heard the rumors but no one was ever allowed to say anything. She cried, all this time, Azadeh had put up a strong front, but Lucius was her breaking point. The intimidation she could handle, the fear of being caught, but when he beat her like he did, it felt like she had been broken in some way, but she couldn't tell you how. She had explained all this to Hermione, who could only have a look of absolute anguish.

"HE'S SUCH A BASTARD! He's a giant of a man compared to you and I...but I'm not suprised.., what did your husband do?" Hermione was hoping that this man she was married to, didn't agree with Lucius's behavior.

"He tried to kill him."

"GOOD."

"But there's so much more to it...the man I'm married to, he's not really like them."

"Azadeh, I know you'd like to think that way...but, he just doesn't show that side to you, he's a Death Eater," Hermione looked sympathetically at her.

She started to tear again, "no, you don't understand...I know he's not really like them."

Hermione looked confused, "but sweetheart.."

"NO! You don't understand! He's not like them...because he's Harry..."

She froze, "HARRY WHO?"

The name escaped Azadeh's lips, but she didn't really hear herself say it, it was all surreal and Hermione shook her head as if she didn't want to believe it.

"It can't be true, it can't be! I saw him DIE!" But then she remembered how Dumbledore did the same thing, there was a way around it, to make people think you were dead.

"No, he's not. I even have a picture of us together, I'm really not supposed to show it to anyone, I'd get into trouble," Azadeh whispered softly and took the picture out of her cloak, handing it to Hermione. "Here."

Hermione's eyes watered, her brow furrowing in disbelief...it was in fact, Harry. "How did he...what happened?"

"I don't know."

"I know he saw Ginny fall, trying to protect him...Voldemort killed her right in front of him and he snapped, but who wouldn't? But did he just go crazy or something?"

"I was thinking, what if he made a deal with Voldemort...to save you and Ron, knowing that he won, knowing you weren't able to defeat Voldemort at that point... Did Harry disappear at any point and time during the battle?"

"Yes, but we just thought he was trying to come up with another battle plan, it never occured to us that he would talk to Voldemort," Hermione felt stupid just then. Of course he'd sacrafice himself to save his friends, but she'd always thought it would be through death, not selling his soul to the devil.

"It would make sense though, wouldn't it? Voldemort would be sick enough to make the offer, knowing he had his arch enemy working for him. 'The-boy-who-lived' was on his payroll, it would bring satisfaction and triumph every time he saw Harry."

Hermione looked down, "knowing that we would still be prisoners in some way, anyway." She caressed her bracelet.

"Yes. Ron and his family so poor, he couldn't buy you...the woman he loved, and you purchased by a wizard that agreed with Vodemort's ethics. Keeping the trio apart, but still destroying your lives at the same time, only not through death...you were to experience a living nightmare. That's why I think your memories weren't altered like Harry's, so you would always remember..."

"Have you tried getting him to remember, I mean, not in an obvious manner...?"

"Yes, he doesn't. But I can tell it's frustrating him...he WANTS to remember. it's just, every time I get close...something else happens."

"What do we do?"

"Hermione Granger is asking ME, 'what do we do?' I didn't look you up for ANY reason!" Azadeh smirked through her tears.

"I KNEW IT! You know me, don't you?"

Azadeh nodded and then told her the story of how they had found her and her father's rebellion. "Even Harry was there...," she looked down.

"Yes...I remember, Harry mentioned you," Hermione smirked. Azadeh blushed, feeling slightly guilty for some reason. "...and he kept mentioning you too, made Ginny nervous."

"Oh?" she grinned.

"You know...I could tell, the way he looked at you. I never told Ginny my suspicions, but I felt that he really, really CARED for you. Did you know, he even wanted to take you along when we went to face Voldemort?" Hermione watched as Azadeh shook her head. "Yep, and you should have seen Ginny's face, she threw a bit of fit. Ron and I tried to explain how you would be a benefit since you had magic we didn't know or understand...but Harry let it go, he was tired of arguing the fact and he was under enough stress as it was. In hindsight, maybe it was a good thing that you didn't...you could have ended up like Ginny or with someone else other than Harry."

The bell rang at the fireplace, it was time for Azadeh to go, they hugged each other, "I'll see you soon."

"Meanwhile, I'll look up some spells to try and make him remember, maybe even potions?" Hermione smiled.

"That's our Hermione," Azadeh smiled. "And I'll try and find Ron, though I don't know if I can garauntee it." She only nodded her head sadly, Hermione still loved Ron, but had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again.

Azadeh flooed home as she promised Harry and went upstairs to bed. For some reason, all of what she felt, what she had to do, the worries that weighed on her mind...made her so tired. She plopped onto the bed, kicking off her shoes, and looking up at the ceiling and thinking what a mess it all was. How was SHE going to get a hold of Ron or any of the others? She had more freedom than Hermione, but still, it was restricted and almost everything she did could be watched. So far, she hoped anyway, her little meetings with Hermione hadn't been discovered...yet, but it would only be a matter of time when they were. Azadeh didn't want to think about it anymore, she rolled over and fell asleep.

Azadeh slightly awoke to find herself surrounded by warmth, she blinked open her eyes to find Harry next to her, with his arms around her as usual. "Hi, I found you asleep." She nodded. "Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm just very tired lately," Azadeh watched as Harry's face lite up, she knew what he was thinking...a 'pregnant' sort of tired. "It's NOT what you think." His face fell slightly.

"Are they working you too hard then?"

"No, I just have a lot on my mind."

"I know, because of what happened. You've barely smiled all week, he won't touch you again.. You know, I did try and come and see you today." Azadeh turned over and looked neutrally at him, but smiled gently, on the inside she was panicking.

"I went on a delivery..."

"For a full hour?" Harry cocked one eyebrow.

"Yeah, there was a girl I met and we started talking, had tea and since it was slow...but if you came to visit me, you should of had Melissa call me, I would have come back..."

He smiled, "you sure?" Azadeh only had a look of 'don't be an ass'. "Just making sure."

"Why?"

"Because I know about the men who are a little too eager to give you big tips, Melissa mentioned it in humor, but I didn't find it funny..."

"They aren't stupid enought to, so don't worry about it. You know, for someone who works part-time, I do okay for myself. Which reminds me, you're birthday is coming up..."

"And so is yours...," Harry grinned.

"What do you want?"

"You without anything on, except a large red bow," Harry watched as she blushed.

"How about you?"

"I'm afraid what I want is far too big for maybe even you to give," her face turned sad.

"Tell me..."

"For you to remember...everything, if we were with my father, he could help you...I don't know how to do it..."

Harry felt conflicted, he didn't know whether to be angry or to feel remorse. "Aren't I good enough?" he asked bitterly.

"You're more than enough, I didn't mean anything by it...but after what I saw in the hospital, it snapped me back to reality. This world isn't for..."

"Don't say anything else," he snapped.

"Harry, I..."

"NOT ANOTHER WORD," Harry got up and left the room. Azadeh could only look down in saddness.