A/N: So, this is Chapter One for My Cheating Heart Book 2.
I do hope that you will enjoy the 2nd Book and will continue to support this story, just like how you stayed with me through the 1st Book.
This will be the last book for My Cheating Heart. Maybe 20 Chapters to 30 chapters max. One thing is certain, it will be shorter than the 1st book.
I am kind of nervous about your feedback on this new chapter since it sort of reminds me of the feeling of posting something entirely fresh.
Anyway, your follows, reviews, and faves make me happy.
I am very excited to hear from you.
Plugging my one-shots:
How Joy Came To Be - fluffy smut with a plot
Lurking In The Shadows - Creature Harry and a Horror Romance featuring smut
The Wedding Speech - Godfather Harry fluff
Our Promise - Wedding fluff
Plugging my new multi-chapter story (don't worry MCH 2 is my main priority):
Exerting Control - An angsty post-war BDSM Story
Yes! I have been rather busy with other stories, so that's MCH 2 took a little time.
My Cheating Heart Book 2
By: tweety-src-clt9
Chapter One: Saving Hermione's Sanity
Deputy Chief of the ICW Medical Research Department, Abimbola Omenuko ran as quickly as possible towards Lord Potter's temporary quarters. Harry Potter had never left the ICW Headquarters ever since he portkeyed to Switzerland when Chief Healer Granger was kidnapped on the 27th of December.
As one of the healers in-charge of Hermione Granger's case, he is the one who formulated the antidote to the horrid muggle substance, cocaine, injected into her bloodstream. Finally, they were able to counter the substance and have all of it diluted from her system via the antidote. After that, they were able to flush the substance out of her body using a spell that forces the person to excrete them via urination. Even in her semi-comatose state, the spell compels the Chief to urinate what's left of the substance.
Now, they only have one task left. They have to bring the Chief back. The drug along with her bastard of a kidnapper's memories trapped Hermione's mind in the darkness. They must force her to come back to them. If not, if her spirit decides to let go, she could still die. Or worse, she would live but she will never be sane again.
As he got closer and closer to Lord Potter's temporary quarters, he cannot help but reminisce on all the things that have happened recently. Sometime in November, Lord Potter came to Switzerland with a distress call from Britain because the epidemic has worsened to epic proportions. When the Chief along with Rosier and Irie handled the case, he had to admit that he was very worried about Hermione. He knew how much pain she left behind in Britain. To his surprise, not only did the Chief lead the operations and the healing of the children, but also, she was able to find healing for all her heartaches. The best thing, Hermione Granger finally found her happiness once again. Ironically, the one man they all loathed because he hurt their beloved Chief so much, is also the same man who has finally made Hermione's eyes sparkle with joy. And then, that bastard tried to kill that joy again by kidnapping her for his dark fantasies of reclaiming Egypt.
During the quest for finding the cure to the epidemic, Harry Potter impressed the hell out of him. It was so obvious that he was a very good man at his very core. A good man who made a big mistake during his youth who is willing to do just about anything to rectify them. Also, he loves the Chief very much.
His respect for the Chief's husband continued to increase as the days passed, ever since he got to know more and more about him during his research for the antidote potion.
He had never seen any other man more in love with his wife, than Lord Harry James Potter.
He did not know the full details, of how the powerful Lord, ended the life of the leader of the largest syndicate in Magical Europe, but he's heard enough rumors. The only thing he is sure of, Harry Potter performed extraordinary feats of magic, just so he could finally end the threat to his wife's life.
Because of Harry Potter's great love for Hermione Granger, and the fact that he is most likely the Most Powerful Wizard Alive, he is very confident that they can save the Chief.
They must save Hermione Jean Granger, the Lady Potter…
Not only is she the Brightest Witch of the Generation, but also, he cannot fathom Lord Potter's reaction should Hermione die.
Harry Potter would never survive her death…
Finally, he reached the door to Lord Potter's chambers. They will be bringing his wife back to the realm of the sane and of the living soon…
Harry Potter is laying on a small single bed inside the ICW Headquarters. It's his thirteenth night in Switzerland ever since Hermione's kidnapping. He wants to stay by her bedside but the healers won't allow him.
So, here he is forcing himself to sleep. He was very worried about Hermione. She's never woken up ever since they were able to rescue her. While he knows that the healers have already flushed the cocaine out of her system, Hermione is still not safe. If they cannot heal her mind, she might lose her sanity or worse, die…
Every night, before he succumbs to the land of dreams, he keeps on contemplating whether or not he should just go and perform the ritual of being the Master of Death so that he could beseech the Creator and the incumbent Protector of the Gates to the Afterlife to grant him a second chance to fix things, but he also took Osiris' advice into consideration.
With that, he decided to postpone his decision. He would give it one month. If Hermione will not get better within his set time frame, he would perform the Ritual of Attestation without her; so that he can get one more chance to set things right.
He was about to close his eyes when he heard a knock on the door. He immediately got out of bed and ran to open it. It could only be either of two things. Hermione is awake. Or worse, something wrong had happened to her.
"Yes? What is it? Is Hermione alright?", the worry in his voice is very evident as he opened the door.
"Lord Potter, we need your help in healing the Chief's mind", Abim said.
"Of course", he agreed immediately as he raised a hand to summon his cloak. He wrapped it around himself as he took hold of Abim's arm. He apparated them outside Hermione's hospital room.
He heard Abim gasp, so he glanced at the African healer.
"Is something wrong?", he inquired.
"It's just, it's impossible to apparate to any other part of the ICW headquarters except the Hall of Heroes", Abim stated.
"Oh, er, I didn't know that", he said sheepishly. Great Potter! Way to unconsciously show-off your powers!
"Anyway, Lord Potter, are you ready?", Abim said.
"What do I have to do exactly?"
"You will have to enter her mind using legilimency and show her memories of how you love her… Make her believe that she could still trust a man… Our mind healer believes that she is trapped under the dark bastard's memories hence, her magical shield on herself. So, we need you to convince her to escape her self-inflicted mental lockdown", Abim summarized.
"Alright. Is there anything else I should know before we enter her hospital room?"
"Er, when the Chief wakes up, she might be, er, horny", Abim muttered sheepishly.
"Excuse me?", he was aghast.
"Upon conducting tests on the substance, we found out that it is some sort of hyper stimulant. So, since the Chief will only trust you amongst all men, she will most likely want to make love to you repeatedly. Until the lingering effects of the cocaine wanes", Abim explained.
"I see", he mused.
"So, er, I suggest that you take some stamina potions, just in case."
"No, it's alright. I won't need it. Will that be all?", Harry wanted to make sure that he already has all the important details that he is supposed to be privy to.
"Well, I guess we're ready to go inside", Abim said with a nod. Harry turned the doorknob as he entered Hermione's hospital room.
He could see his Hermione there. She was still wearing the clothes that resembled that of an ancient Egyptian royal since her magic prevented anyone from taking them off. She was pale and still.
He took a deep calming breath to center his mind and his magic. Legilimency takes a lot of toll on someone's magic but he is willing to magically drain himself just so he could save her.
"Lord Potter, I trust that Healer Omenuko already told you what to do," Healer Rostova, Hermione's mind healer greeted him.
"Yes, Abim already briefed me. I'm ready. Let's do this", his voice filled with determination.
"Here, Lord Potter, drink up. In case the Chief wakes up horny, and you need to, er, you know", Healer Chien, Hermione's healer that checks up on the damage on her magic handed him a gooey green potion.
"No thank you. I'll be fine", he replied. His eyes were focused on his still unconscious wife.
"Alright. We need you to kneel by her right side, please. And then, all three of us will join our magic together as we lower the magical shields she cast on herself", Healer Rostova ordered.
"Got it", he said with a nod as he walked towards Hermione's bedside. Since her bed was lowered, he could kneel easily and his eyes could keep direct contact on her beautiful face.
"On Healer Omenuko's count of three, we will lower her shields, another count of three and then you Lord Potter will immediately use legilimency on the Chief…", Healer Rostova said.
"On my count, lowering the Chief's magical shields in…Three… Two…One…Go", Abim said firmly. Harry could feel the magic pulse around the hospital room even if his eyes were glued on his wife.
"Shield lowering, Lord Potter you're up in… Three…Two…One…Go", as Abimbola Omenuko gave the signal, Harry took a deep breath as he focused his magic. When his eyes glowed, he entered his wife's mind…
What he first saw as he gently entered her mind and tickled the walls of her Occlumency shields is just plain darkness…
"Hermione? Love? Are you there? It's me, Harry", he called out to the darkness.
His eyes roamed around but all he could see is black.
It felt like there is no hope and no tinge of happiness inside his wife's beautiful mind.
"Hermione? My love, are you here?", he tried once again.
Finally, after what seemed like many minutes, he heard a faint sound.
He could hear the sound of sobs. His Hermione's sobs. It was a very sad sound that is breaking his heart. What did Hermione do to ever deserve such pain and torture?
Despite the darkness, he concentrated on the sound of crying that he could hear from a distance. It was the only sound in this dark, cold, and lonely mindscape.
He quickened his footsteps as he followed the sound. As the sound gets louder and louder, he broke into a sprint. And then, he saw a wooden door.
He pressed his ear on the door and indeed, the sound of his Hermione's sobs was emanating from the inside. He slowly turned the doorknob. He smiled faintly when it opened. Good thing it is not locked.
He quietly walked inside the room. He found himself inside a very large library of sorts. This library is only lightened by torches scattered all around. He noticed that most of the torches are turned off. Maybe it symbolizes Hermione's will to fight. He certainly hopes that it was not the case. Because if it is, then he must find her as soon as possible…before it's too late.
When he reached the middle of the library, there was a high pile of books arranged in a circle that seemed to barricade something. Since he could hear the sobs from behind the tower of books, he sighed.
Finally, he found Hermione.
"Hermione? My love? Are you alright?", his voice very gentle. He knows that she is too vulnerable and too scared right now.
"Wh-who are you?", she replied in between sniffs.
"It's me. Harry. Your once best friend. Your husband. The man who loves you with every fiber of his being."
"You-you're not the – bad man?", she sniffed.
"No, love. I will keep you safe. The bad man is dead. I killed him. He can't hurt you anymore!", he reassured her.
"Re – really?", his heart broke at the disbelief in her voice.
"Yes, I am not a bad man... I will end anything that dares to try to hurt you", he promised.
"I remember a little boy… He had black hair and round glasses… He always comes to save me… He jumped on the back of a large monster in some bathroom for me… And then, I could hear his voice when I was like stone… Why did that boy not save me from the bad man?", her voice small and afraid.
I'm an Idiot! Of course! I was tasked to show my memories to her. I need to show her how much I love her and that I will always be there for her. Instead, I let myself be lured by her mindscape… But maybe, by making contact with her actual voice and spirit, I could strengthen our connection...
"Can I remove the books, Hermione? So that I could bring you to that little boy? You know, your hero?", he coerced her in a sweet and friendly voice.
"Really? You'll take me to my hero?", he could hear a mixture of apprehension and hope in her tone.
"Yes, I'll take you to your hero. I promise."
"What's your name", she replied.
"Just call me Harry."
"Hello."
"Can I remove the books, please? So that I can bring you to your hero?", he said encouragingly.
"Okay", she agreed.
He used wandless magic to slowly move the books to the side so he could walk through the barrier. He bit his bottom lip to stop himself from tearing up. He needs to reassure Hermione so that she will trust him. If he cries, he might end up scaring her and she won't trust him.
His Hermione was there looking so sad and broken. She looked like her nineteen-year-old self. He could see his young, innocent, and meek wife in her current form. This Hermione is not the headstrong Chief Healer Granger. This Hermione is the one he broke many years ago. The one he had hurt so much because of his stupidity, pettiness, and misplaced pride.
"Hello, Hermione", he greeted cheerfully.
"Hi, Harry", she wiped the tears from her face.
"Will you take my hand? I will take you to your hero. I promise that he is waiting for you. But you need to trust me because he sent me to go after you", he said with a smile.
"Really? My hero sent you?", she looked up to him. She was squatting on the floor like a lost little girl.
"Yes. If you'll just take my hand", he extended his right hand to her.
"Are you sure you're not working for the bad man?", she gave him a curious look. Her chocolate brown eyes gave him a penetrating stare.
"Yes. I hate the bad man so I killed him. I will take you to your hero, he sent me to you", he convinced her of his honest intentions.
"You remind me of someone", she mused as she continued to look at him.
"Really? Who?"
"My hero. But you're older. He's a little boy. Brave, isn't he?", she gave a light chuckle even if her eyes were puffy and red from all the tears she had shed.
"Come on, take my hand. When I get you to a safe place, in your hero's arms, I will buy you all the books you could want", he enticed her with thoughts of books. His Hermione had always loved books. Her place of solace inside her vast, but now dark mindscape is a proof of that fact!
"Really? I love books!", her eyes sparkled with joy at the thought of books which made him chuckle lightly.
"Well then, take my hand, Hermione. I'll bring you to your hero. You will be safe. And then, I will buy you thousands of books if you want", this time he knelt in front of her as he extended his hand.
"You know, Harry, I like you", she gave him a light smile before she slowly reached out to hold him.
As their hands touched, he immediately fed her of the many memories they have shared…
Harry held Hermione's hand as he apparated them to his memory of their first meeting at the Hogwarts' Express…
He showed her how much his eleven-year-old self is so amazed at her raw magical abilities when she fixed his glasses for him. He let everything out into the open. Even his thoughts could be heard by Hermione. He chuckled as the nineteen-year-old version of Hermione blushed when she heard his younger self say that he finds her wild curly hair cute because it reminded him of his untamable locks.
The next memory he showed her is the Halloween of their first year. He showed her his guilt when he did not defend her from Ron's harsh words. And then, he showed her that he was the first person to remember her when Quirrell announced there was a troll in the dungeons. When the rescue scene played out, Hermione's eyes were focused on the scene. As the troll fell, Hermione had a bright smile on her face.
"I told you my hero is a very brave little boy!", she clapped her hands in excitement.
"Your hero's strength is you. So, you must fight with all your might to return to him", he gave her a big smile despite the sadness in his heart. He could only hope that he will be able to bring his Hermione back.
"Show me more, please Harry. I want to return to my hero", her voice now filled with determination.
"You must fight, Hermione. Your hero cannot survive without you", this time he let a tear fall.
"I will fight, Harry. I promise", she said this in a way that reminded him of his wife, the Chief Healer Granger.
After that, she just became quiet. Her eyes absorbing all the details of his memories…
He showed her memories of their second year. He showed her how he visited her every day when she got petrified. He showed her how determined he was to write notes in class so that he could give them to her when she wakes up. And then, she heard him promise that he will make whoever it was that dared to hurt her, pay for what they did. He even showed her his battle with the basilisk and the diary Horcrux. She gasped when she heard him say sorry to her in his head for failing her, when he thought that he would die from the basilisk venom, just mere seconds before Fawkes, the phoenix, saved his life with his magical tears.
He then took them to memories of their third year. He showed her the memory wherein he promised to stop his burgeoning crush on her since he felt that Ron fancied her too. He also let her see the guilt he felt when he stopped talking to her for some time because of the Firebolt. He then let her feel how happy he was when her arms were wrapped around him as they rode Buckbeak during their time travel adventure to save the Hippogriff and his Godfather, Sirius Black.
His best memories of their fourth year were focused on the Yule Ball. He let her hear his thoughts of regret about not asking her to be his date when she walked down the Grand Staircase looking so beautiful in her periwinkle blue robes. He also let her see that he was happy for her since everyone else now got to see the Hermione he's always seen. Her beauty shines from the inside. Aside from that, he let her hear his thoughts on how grateful he was to her every time he successfully conquers and survives the challenges he faced at the Tri-Wizard tournament. He let her know just how much he appreciated her help and support.
For memories of their fifth year, he showed her what happened during his date with Cho Chang. He let her see why Cho got mad at him. He's constant prattling on and on about how brilliant and wonderful his best friend, Hermione is, became the reason why the Ravenclaw got very angry. And then, came the saddest memory of all. He showed her how his world stopped when he saw her get hit by the dark purple curse at the Department of Mysteries. He let her hear his thoughts about him all ready to give up the fight because he cannot live without her. He also let her see how much relief and renewed energy flowed through him when Neville announced that he could still feel her pulse.
The memories of their sixth year were focused on how much it hurt him that she gets so mad because of the Prince's potions book when he only wants to make her proud by getting better grades in class. He also showed her how much he appreciated her compliment about him being as fanciable as ever before the Quidditch tryouts started. She heard his thoughts when he comforted her when Ron kissed Lavender Brown. She heard that he thought Ronald Weasley is the luckiest bloke in Hogwarts to have Hermione Granger, the Brightest Witch of the Age, be so in love with him that she's crying her heart out.
It was very hard for him to show her memories of the Horcrux Hunt, Malfoy Manor, and the Final Battle but he knows that he has to do it. So, he showed her how often he thought of his guilt for dragging her into all of his problems. At the same time, he also let her know that he feels so blessed to have her by his side despite all the darkness in the war.
After that, he skipped memories to the time after Viola Lily died. He showed her his guilt. His drunken episodes. The times he thrashed rooms at the manor because of his anger at himself. And then he showed her how she became his motivation to be better. He showed her how he built the foundation for Viola Lily. He showed her the memory of his kneeling outside her parents' home in Australia just to get any information about her and to simply beg for their forgiveness.
Finally, he let her see snippets of their important memories ever since they saw each other again after ten years…
When all of that is done, he now had tears in his eyes since he too was lost in the haze of all the happy and sad moments they have shared…
"Harry?", a feminine voice broke him from his musings. As he turned around to the voice, his face broke into a big grin.
He could now see his Hermione standing there. His Hermione who is so kind that she forgave him after all his mistakes. His Hermione, the Lady Potter, and the Chief Healer Granger.
"Hermione? You remember me?", his heart beating wildly in his chest as he waited for her answer.
"Harry! You saved me!", she jumped into his arms as they hugged each other tightly.
Harry could feel something shift in Hermione's mindscape…
Everything seems lighter and happier now…
"Harry!", Hermione's eyes opened as she screamed his name.
"Hermione, you're alright!", Harry Potter broke out of the trance of legilimency.
"Harry! So hot! I want you! Make love to me!", she was sweaty and panting hard. Her pupils dilated and her cheeks flushed.
"Ah, er, right!", he said awkwardly as he turned to the three healers in the room.
"Lord Potter take her to your home or somewhere that she feels safe and secure. And then, well, let her release the heat and the, er, horniness", Abimbola Omenuko said awkwardly.
"As expected, the cocaine still has after-effects. So, er, Lord Potter, just, er, make love to the Chief until her hyper-sensitized sexual aggression dies down", Healer Rostova added.
"Right! Okay!", Harry muttered.
"Love, not here, okay. I'll take you back to the penthouse. Just let me set up a quick portkey", he reassured his wife.
"Okay…Hurry", she moaned. He decided to just use her hospital bed as the portkey so that it will be more comfortable for her. Grabbing a firm hold of her bed, he activated the portkey bound for the master bedroom in his penthouse.
I'll make love to you all day and all night Hermione… Just as long as you're safe in my arms, always…
"Do you think the Chief will be alright?", Abimbola Omenuko asked Healer Rostova.
"Yes, I think she will be. She just needs to let the heat out", came the Russian healer's reply.
"It seems Lord Potter is in for a long steamy day and night. Maybe three days given the cocaine dose", Healer Chien chuckled.
"You think he should have taken the Stamina Potions?", Healer Rostova inquired.
"Well, he's most likely the Most Powerful Wizard Alive. His magic will help him", Abim remarked.
"Well, maybe the Potters will have a baby after this", Healer Chien added.
"No. The cocaine has anti-conception effects so, very unlikely. Although, Lord Potter is really in a for a very wild night", Abim replied making the other two healers laugh.
Thank Merlin for Harry Potter's extraordinary magic!
The entire legilimency therapy only took one session that lasted for less than thirty minutes. Lord Potter's magic is a thing of beauty. Coupled with his love for Hermione Granger, Harry Potter will surely do anything to save her.