…

Just a few days later Harry was released from the hospital. He still had bruises and cuts everywhere, but he looked much better. The color had returned to his cheeks and his bright eyes were green again. He went home, he was really tired. But when he opened the door the pain hit him again like a hundred knives. The house smelled like her, all her things were around and he could not help but release a few tears. He wanted to cry, to smash everything around him. He wondered what was wrong with him. Every woman who had dated him had left him. And he had suffered a great deal for it. The pain was unbearable now, he wondered if he should go to her apartment and settle the matter once and for all. He needed to see her. He wanted to look her in the eye and ask her why. And so he did. He took his car and drove all the way to her apartment. But when he stopped the car, he could not go down and face her. He decided to do something first. He needed all the strength she could give him. He appeared himself at Hogwarts, one of the advantages that had being him. He walked through the corridors; he had once called home, and reached the fat lady.

'Do you mind telling Anna I am here to see her?'

'Of course' she answered briefly.

She disappeared and a few minutes later the secret passage opened, a brown haired green eyed girl was coming trough. She seemed happy to see him.

'Dad! What are you doing here? You should be at the hospital.'

He smiled warmly at her.

'I came to see you.'

She hugged him with all she had and looked at him, his eyes watering. He was a very emotional man sometimes, especially with her.

'You need to rest. I was so worried.'

'I am fine.'

He said trying to finish the conversation about his wounds.

'How is school going?'

Anna was in her second year, and she had her mum's brain and skills when it came to studying. She was organized and passed all her tests.

'No changes since you asked me yesterday dad.'

He laughed. Truth is, he just needed to see her. She was always that peaceful spirit that made him feel at ease.

'Are you ok?' he looked kind of moody.

'Yes I just wanted to see you, it is being a while.'

'Do you want to go for a walk?'

'Sure, let's visit Hagrid.'

Katherine POV

She had been waiting for days, but he never came. She knew he had been released from the hospital. Maybe he just did not want to see her anymore. She could not blame him. She decided to go out and entertain herself. She was going to get the first cab she could get, when of the back of her eye, she saw his car was parked down the street. She was certain, it was his car. But he was not inside. Was he in danger again? She wondered. She should do something so she grabbed her phone and called Hermione.

'Is he with you?'

'No he is not Katherine but he doesn't want to see you.'

'Then why is his car parked just outside my apartment?'

'I don't know.'

'Well he is not in it and he did not come to see me, should we worry?'

'I don't know, did you sell him out again?'

Katherine went quiet, of course she deserved it but it hurt anyway.

'Would I be calling you if that was the case?'

'Who knows…'

'Hermione I am serious, he could be in danger as we speak.'

'I'll call him.'

She hung up the phone and Katherine waited next to the car. Minutes passed like hours until Hermione sent her a message. "He is fine, leave him alone." She had not even bothered calling back. If he was ok, then he would return to the car soon enough, so she decided to wait.

Harry POV

Harry left Hagrid's cabin in a much better spirit. They talked about those good old Hogwarts years. Anna loved to hear his dad talking about his years at Hogwarts and never minded listening to the same stories over and over again. She was lucky to have him as a parent. She did not know much about her mum, but she knew better than asking Harry. Every time she had brought up the topic Harry had tried to dodge it like a bludger, and he was good at it. At least she knew she was the product of pure love, at least from her father to her mother.

They walked still laughing about Hagrid's terrible cooking. He had tried to make a cake this time. Failing horribly, as always.

'I have to go now Annie.'

'So soon?'

'There is something I have to do. Something I've been avoiding for a while.'

'You are going to see her.'

Harry looked at her impressed by how intuitive she was.

'You don't need to tell me, it is written all over your face. I hope you find the answers you are looking for.'

'Thank you.'

Anna was an old spirit, he knew that much. He hugged her tightly.

'I love you.'

'I know. I love you too daddy.'

He looked into her eyes, and knew what he had to do.

He appeared himself inside his car. But someone unexpected was waiting inside for him. Katherine. She had dozed off after hours waiting for him. He took a minute before waking her up. She looked so beautiful sleeping in the back of his car, and he wondered how making a family with her would be like. He wanted to hear her side of the story more than ever now. He loved her, that was clear. Even after all she had done to him. He still loved her. He got out of the car and sat next to her in the back seat. She had been awake all that time wondering if he was going to say something. Finally he touched her arm and she "woke up".

'I'm sorry, I was waiting for you outside but it was cold so I decided to wait inside the car.'

'How did you know I was coming back?'

'Why would you park next to my house if you weren't?'

She had a point.

'You wanted me to hear you out, and I am here. Go ahead.'

She moved uncomfortable on her side of the car. She had been repeating the speech in her head many, many times but now that she had him in front of her…she did not know where to start.

'Harry…I…I don't know where to start…'

'Wow Katherine Pierce is speechless; this is not something you see often.' He was bitter, just as he intended to be.

'Please, this is difficult for me.'

'Oh is it?' he asked sarcastically.

'Look Harry I am sorry, I love you. I was scared.'

'Is that all you have to say?'

'Look, when I first saw you I knew who you were, I knew you would be a great way of looking for protection. But that was just at first. Then we started talking and dating and I don't know exactly when I went madly in love with you but…I am sorry I lied to you. At first I wanted to use you but once I met you, I just couldn't…And to be honest the other day at the shop, I never thought they would do what they did, I had it under control until you appeared and our feelings got in the middle. I had to lie to survive, you know me, that's what I do and you chose to love me any way, why are you backing out now?'

'You did not know what they would do?Really? You got to be kidding me. You know who I am, what I did to their families and friends. Were you expecting some sort of merci from them?'

'I told you, I was scared.'

'We are all scared Katherine, but it is the way we act in those moments that define who we are. This one in particular defined you just fine.'

She went quiet for a few moments; she did not know what to say. What she had done was inexcusable. Finally she spoke.

'I can only say I am sorry Harry. I was wrong.'

She took her jacket and opened the car door.

'Nothing I say will fix this, I am leaving tomorrow. I'll never bother you again.'

Harry said nothing as he watched her leave. He wanted to run after her, his heart ached. But his brain was telling him to drive away and never look back. He decided to call Hermione one last time.

'I need you.' He said at the end of the line, his voice sounded broken.

'Where are you?'

'My car, outside her apartment.'

It took her just a second to appear next to him with a beer in hand.

'I thought you might need it.'

He drank from it as if it was the last beer in the world.

'Better?'

'What should I do Hermione?'

'Did you speak to her?'

'Yes.'

'And?'

'She said she was scared, she said she did not know she loved me until she saw me hurt.'

'Lovely, maybe she likes S&M.'

'Hermione…'

'Look harry, I think you should follow your heart.'

'My heart is telling me to jump.'

'Then jump.'

'What if…'

'Look Harry, life is about making mistakes. I am your friend and as a friend I should encourage you to go back home and stop thinking about her. But you know what? Nobody is learnt anything from hiding their heads underwater until the storm has passed. We learn as we go, and if she has to be your next mistake you will learn from it. But I think I rather know, than live my whole life wondering what would have happened if I took the chance. She might break your heart again but you know what? You are already heartbroken now. You have nothing to lose. And the best part is, you will heal, sooner or later.'

He said nothing at all, but opened the car door and run towards her apartment door. He went upstairs running and when he got to her flat she was opening the door with tears in her eyes.

'One last chance, it is all I am offering. Betray me again and I swear Klaus will not be the only one hunting you for life.'

She threw everything she was holding in her hands and jumped to his lips, they kissed. Longing each other, they drank from one another and when they looked into each other's eyes they knew. They would never spend a moment apart in their whole lives.

The End