I did it! I got another chapter out! I know that some (more like all) of you hated me for doing that to Harry and Wynter, but it had to happen and now the story can move forward; starting with this new chapter. Those of you who follow me on Tumblr (phoenixmaiden) already somewhat know what is going to happen, since I sometimes give some info away. But now it is here for everyone! I hope you all really enjoy it, I poured my heart into this one and tried to make it as real as possible. Enjoy!
EDITED: 8/5/17
Meant To Be
Chapter 21
In an office at Riddle Manor, while everyone was asleep in their beds, Tom was sitting behind his desk doing paper work. It was completely quiet with no one around, just the crackling of the fire, rustling of papers and the scratching of his quill. It was really quite peaceful and it was the only time that he was not bothered by annoying people. Not that he chose to stay up late and do work, but with spending so much time with Harry and Wynter, he ended up neglecting it and it ended up piling up on his desk. He wasn't complaining though, he would take spending time with his little family over paperwork any day.
Just thinking about them brought a smile to his face. Wynter, so small and full of life, looking at everything with such curiosity and joy. It was certainly a breath of fresh air being around her as she took in all the new things around her; treating everyday objects and experiences with such enthusiasm. Big, bright green eyes staring up at him with such love and trust; grinning at him with a toothless smile every time she saw him.
And Harry. Where did he even start with Harry? He was a pain in the ass, never doing what he wanted him to do; always got in his way, annoyed him to end. And yet...Harry was the most beautiful creature he had ever set eyes on. He had this boyish charm about him, a little rough around the edges, and most of all, he fought back. Tom couldn't think of the last time someone had to argue back, to get up in his face and tell him no. It was refreshing...and also very irritating. But that was how their relationship was; always challenging each other, getting on each other's nerves, and talking to each other, laughing, having fun. Harry could be quite an intelligent conversationalist when he actually used that brain of his. Speaking with Harry and making those green eyes darken in anger and irritation and how fast he could do it was always a game for him; though as time went on it got harder for Tom to do so as Harry learned to deal with him. But the harder the challenge the greater the fun and also the reward.
-Master,- Nagini hissed from her spot in front of the fire, -You have a creepy look on your face.-
Tom sat up and glared at his familiar, -I do not-
-You do, it is most frightening.-
Tom scowled and focused on the papers in front of him. He could hear her hissing in amusement as she watched him try and fail to be more professional. Tom shook his head and started worked on going through reports and plans on his next course of action. He didn't get much done before his mind was right back where it started.
Just thinking about Harry was enough to drive him up the wall; it made him wish he was back at the cottage. He knew what he would find here if he did. Deep green eyes, ones that Wynter had inherited, would stare at him in mild annoyance and amusement from beneath wild ebony locks that stuck up every which way no matter how hard he tried to tame it. Soft, full pink lips begging to be kissed. Creamy, sun kissed skin that he loved to touch and caress; it still amazed him as to how sensitive Harry was when he touched him, no matter how many times they made love. And his legs, god his legs! After years of Quidditch training, Auror training and years of running from him, Harry's legs were well toned and lightly muscled and Tom loved they wrapped around him and held him tight when they moved together. It always made him feel so... wrong.
Tom sat up straight and frowned. No that wasn't right, it wasn't wrong. It felt great, fantastic even, not wrong. There was nothing wrong with it, it wasn't wrong. Nothing was wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Something was wrong.
The moment he pieced that thought together, warning bells went off in his head and he concentrated as to what was causing it. He surged to his feet when he noticed that the source was coming from the cottage. The cottage that Harry and Wynter were; where his family was and something had happened to cause the alarms he had placed to go off.
Fear coursed through him at the thought of something happening to his family, his mind supplying scenarios as to what he might find, each one worse than the next. The fear was very real and kept building and building the more he thought about it. It was mind numbing and he couldn't do anything as it clouded his thoughts. Panic started to set in soon after making all rational thought disappear as he realized he couldn't get out. He needed to get out! But that didn't make any sense, Tom needed to go to them how could he get out when he wasn't there. He couldn't move, he needed to move, why wasn't he moving, why wasn't anything making sense!
Tom needed to think, but the fear and panic were overwhelming and he found himself gripping his desk until his knuckles were white, his breathing coming in short and quick as he fought the hysteria welling up inside him. He was finding it hard to breathe, his thoughts scattered and disorganized, his fear controlling him, driving him, to...to what? He was standing in his office, yet it was all there. It didn't fit, none of it fit, he needed to go to Harry and Wynter, they needed him, why wasn't he moving?
-Master?- a voice hissed in front of him and he blinked to see Nagini draped over his desk as she peered into his face. -Is something the matter?-
-Nagini- he breathed, gaining control over himself.
-Good, you're back to normal.- She looked down, seemingly apologetic, -I didn't mean to tease you.-
-No, no. It's not that, it's...- Suddenly it clicked. It wasn't like him to completely lose control of his emotions. The panic and fear that he was feeling were distant now like it was coming from far away and he realized that it wasn't coming from him.
"Harry," he whispered. It was coming from Harry. Their link, usually closed off and dormant ever since the incident several years ago when he used it to influence Harry and now in recent years out of respect for the other, but now it was wide open and Harry's fear and desperation came through loud and clear.
Wasting no time, Tom quickly apparated out of the manor to save his family.
xxx
Arriving on scene, Dumbledore and the members of the Order of the Phoenix came up the path to witness a small cottage up in flames.
"Oh my god! Harry!" Hermione Granger cried out and ran forward with Ron Weasley right behind her. The flames held them at bay as it consumed everything in sight.
Dark smoke was funneling up into the air, making it very hard to see and to breathe. The walls of the house were completely black and still burning. Flames flickered from inside, amazingly bright in the middle of the night, consuming everything. The plants around the property and the garden that Harry had so lovingly planted and grown had caught the flames and were only adding fuel to the fire, making it spread further.
"Make sure it doesn't spread to the trees! The rest of you spread out and put out the fire!" he called out. The members quickly dispersed as the followed his order.
The air was soon filled with sounds of the crackling fire, shouted commands and pleas for Harry to answer them from inside and gushing water from wands as they tried to put it out.
"Put it out it's spreading over there!"
"Harry, can you hear me! Call out!"
It was utter chaos as everyone from the Order of the Phoenix ran around and attempted to put out the fire on the cottage. No one really knew as to why they were in the middle of nowhere, only that Harry Potter was trapped inside. Dumbledore knew he would have questions later when they discovered Harry and the new addition to his family tree. But he would have to deal with that later.
What Dumbledore wanted to know was how all the charms and wards had been taken down in an instant without any warning. They had been so careful, he just hoped Harry and Wynter were okay. As he thought this, a section of the roof caved in, the sound loud and echoing as the house creaked under the strain of holding itself up.
"Albus, the door is not opening!" Minerva said coming over to him, "Windows too."
Albus closed his eyes and pushed back the worry he felt. He could only imagine the terror Harry must be feeling if he had no way to get out. "They are charmed shut then."
"Why?"
"I have no idea," he strode forward to release the charms on the house keeping them outside.
From the left side of the cottage, he heard the sound of breaking glass and the fire from inside flared once more, joining the rest of it outside and destroying the progress they had made. Almost simultaneously, all the other glass on the house exploded outward, all the compressed air suddenly released. Everyone dived out of the way or turned away as hot air and fire turned into an inferno, making more of the house give way.
Out of the corner of his eye, Dumbledore saw a shadow shoot out of a broken window. Turning quickly toward it with his wand raised he looked around, dread pooling into his stomach, but he saw nothing. Whatever the shadow was, it had disappeared.
Dumbledore quickly joined in with the others' efforts in putting out the fire by forming a big bubble full of water over the house and letting the water rain down, dousing the fire. He left the other's put out the rest of the flames and, covering his mouth with his robes to hold the smoke at bay, strode into the cottage with a few willing members behind him.
The flames were hot and intense as they made their way inside. A few members started to put out the fire as he and the rest, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley included, looked around for any sign of Harry and Wynter. There was no answer to their calling out to them, nor any movement. They maneuvered around the debris from the caved in ceiling and searched the bedrooms.
They were empty.
It was then that Dumbledore knew that his fear was very real, that his old mind had been playing tricks on him. Harry and his daughter were missing.
xxx
Tired and dirty, the members of the Order of the Phoenix trooped into the Noble House of Black, one that Harry had generously let them continue to use, and sat down around the kitchen table. Immediately, questions started to fly.
"What was with that fire?
"Was Potter really there?"
"I thought he was training, not playing house."
"Harry wasn't there, where did he go?"
"You don't think he was captured do you?"
"Albus, what's going on?"
"Did you put him there?"
Dumbledore ignored the questions aimed at him and settled himself at the head of the table. As he gathered himself, he looked around. Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger sat huddled together, their faces drawn in worry for their friend and god-daughter. Hoping that they were alright and where ever they were and hoping that the worst of what they thought didn't come to pass. Dumbledore hoped so too.
Minerva sat down in the seat to his right and folding her hands on the table, stared at him for a moment with her unnerving green eyes, before speaking. "Albus?" Just that one word had a heavy weight to them with a thousand questions that needed answering.
Dumbledore sighed and straightened himself to address the room. Everyone quieted without him having to say anything. "I have, regretfully, been keeping something from all of you regarding Harry."
"Professor!" Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley exclaimed with wide eyes.
He held up a hand to silence them and they looked down at the table, not daring to look at any one, especially Molly who was looking at them with suspicion.
"I believe," he continued, "it is time I told you the truth."
Yay! They were rescued. See? I wouldn't let anything happen to them. Tom will take good care of them, you'll see. It will all come out in the next chapter. And also the Order is finally going to know about Wynter, you'll see their reactions to it too maybe in the next chapter or the one after; I haven't decided. Thank you all for the reviews, keep them coming!
