A/N: I feel like I should put a disclaimer here. I own nothing Harry Potter related. There. Also, I had a guest, ak, who sent me a review in French, which I don't speak. Thanks to the magic of the internet I can respond Ginny n'est pas possédé. Elle jouera un rôle plus tard dans l'histoire, cependant. Merci pour la revue intéressante!
Hermione...
It's time to wake up, love.
The words in a voice so familiar to her caused her eyes to flutter and open. What Hermione found when she opened them wasn't the Room of Lost Things, the place she last remembered being. Upon closer inspection, it seemed that she was in the Gryffindor common room. A fire was blazing in the large fireplace, which seemed odd to her, as it was the middle of the summer and quite unnecessary.
Hello, beloved.
She quickly gained her feet, her head whipping around, looking for the source of the voice which, oddly enough, seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time. "Harry," she asked, for she knew her lover's voice when she heard it. "Where are you?"
Upstairs, the voice echoed, still strangely coming from no particular place. I'm in my dorm.
Hermione made her way up the stairs to the room that had housed the boys from their year for the past five school terms. As she opened the door, she found Harry leaning against the window, gazing out upon the school grounds. Something was strange about him though. He was Harry but, at the same time, he wasn't. His features seemed more sinister than normal, making him look years older. His hair, if possible, had to be an even darker shade of black than it was before. The light around him appeared to be absorbed by his presence. "You look...," she trailed off, looking for the right word in her mind.
Stygian. Atramentous. Shadowy. Swarthy. Adumbral. Bistered. The words flooded her mind and only by shaking her head was she able to clear it. "You look different," she finally finished, scolding herself mentally for her inability to put her thoughts into words. However, her lover continued staring out of the window as if he hadn't heard a word she said. "Harry?"
Different? This time there could be no mistake about it, she was sure Harry's lips hadn't moved when he responded. Yes, I am different than I was before. He finally turned and Hermione had to stifle a gasp. His eyes, she thought to herself. Those lovely, gorgeous eyes.
Harry's viridian orbs were literally glowing.
You are changed as well, my love. Have you not looked upon yourself since we arrived here? Hermione shook her head. Your exposure to the diadem has changed you just as my assimilation of Tom's soul piece has changed me. Look. Harry made a tiny circle in the air with his finger. A pocket-sized mirror appeared in his hand.
Hermione was about to comment on Harry's apparently new ability to perform wandless and non-verbal magic simultaneously when the voice in her head interrupted again. You are not stupid, girl, so cease acting like it. Have you not yet figured out where we are? We, she asked herself. Yes, we. Look into the mirror your lover has conjured and you will understand. Hermione did as the voice in her head bade and was startled at what she saw.
The girl staring back at her with wide eyes from the polished surface was almost completely unfamiliar to her. Her lengthy, curly brown hair was no longer. Instead, her locks were a dark black that nearly matched Harry's. And never again would she be forced to deal with the frizzy mess that was her mane. The luscious, straight brown locks were lopped off at her shoulders, creating a beautiful style that she had been thinking of adopting earlier. Her hair was not the only change. Formerly hazel, her eyes now shone a brilliant cerulean with flecks of gold distributed throughout. They reminded her of the brilliant blue sapphire in... "The diadem," she moaned.
Is right here, the voice from her head whispered. This time however, the beautiful voice came not from inside her, but from right next to her. She looked to her right and was surprised to see a brown eagle perched upon her shoulder. Evidence quickly began to arrange itself in an orderly fashion in her mind and she finally connected all of the dots. "We're not actually in your dorm, are we Harry?"
The dark form before her chuckled as he made the mirror disappear. No, my dear, we are not. We are in your mind. I was concerned when you fell unconscious and decided to use my skills as a Legilimens to see how your test was progressing. He smiled as he walked to her, taking her hands in his. I am pleased to see that you were successful in taking the knowledge of the diadem for yourself.
"Thank you, my love," Hermione said, her head bowed in submission. She turned to the large bird of prey perched on her collarbone. I would venture a guess that you are the presence that Harry detected in the diadem fighting with the piece of Tom's soul. What are you doing in my mind?
The eagle nipped affectionately at her ear, pleased that she had guessed what it was. Surely you don't think that Rowena would enchant her favorite piece of jewelry to only enhance the wisdom of the wearer when it was on their head? When you placed the diadem on your head and I found you worthy, we were joined in your subconscious. As you and your mate are playing in your mind, I appear as a separate entity.
What about when we're not playing around in my subconscious, she mentally asked the bird. Will I always seem to be conversing with someone in my head? Harry laughed uproariously as she thought this, causing her to look at him in confusion. "What are you laughing at?"
You. The effect of his voice speaking without moving his lips was unnerving and Hermione had to remind herself that Harry was actually in her mind and the Master Legilimens needed no words to converse. I have been conversing with the presence while it completed its transfer into your mind. When we reenter the physical realm, the connection between you and the entity will be complete. You will be as one and you will possess all the knowledge that it can give you. Harry took her into his arms, holding her tight. Once we leave this place, there is no going back.
"I understand, love," Hermione said into his lips as she finished with a soft kiss. She turned back to the eagle, who had left her shoulder and perched itself on the nearby window ledge. What about me will you be changing?
She was certain the bird was delighted at the question. It bobbed its head up and down and, if it could have, she was sure it would've laughed. Wonderful question. As I am nothing more than knowledge my mistress enchanted her diadem with many years ago, the only thing I can change is the knowledge you have access to. Who you become and what you do with the knowledge I leave you is your decision. The eagle hopped back on her shoulder as she separated from Harry.
And what about my hair? My eyes? You can't tell me that all you are is knowledge when I look completely different than I did before I put the diadem on my head.
The changes to your appearance you see here are the proof of your heritage. Whether they make the transition to the physical realm is up to you. Although it would seem, it added snidely as it noticed her playing with her new short hairstyle, that you have already made that decision.
Hermione harrumphed and rolled her eyes at the arrogant eagle. Insufferable bird. What about your long battle with Voldemort's soul shard? How do I know that you weren't corrupted by the presence of his soul in there with you?
I can answer that, Harry's voice answered. There is actually nothing to corrupt in the diadem. The battle that Tom fought with it was for the possession of the knowledge contained inside. Thankfully, Rowena's charms were strong enough to fend off the soul piece until now, although I'm not sure how long that would have continued.
I'm glad we found this when we did, then. The bird preened and nipped her finger as she reached up to stroke its beautiful feathers. I think I am ready, she said to nobody in particular.
Harry took her back into his arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. Then it's time to wake up, Hermione.
Wake up, Hermione.
Wake up
…
"Wake up, Hermione."
Harry's voice in her ear woke her just as it did in her earlier in her mind and her eyes lightly fluttered as they opened. Her new gold-flecked blue eyes stared into his bright emerald ones and she smiled as he stroked her hair, which was shortening, straightening and darkening as he ran his fingers through it. "Everything okay," he softly asked her.
"Better than okay," Hermione purred in contentment as she pulled Harry down for a deep kiss. She finally broke the lip lock after a long duel between their tongues. "I feel amazing."
A wave of her hand and every stitch of clothing on her body disappeared. "I want to feel even better. Fuck me, Harry." She kissed him again, more violently this time, and bit his lip softly as she withdrew. "Hard."
Later
The two young adults lay in each others' arms, stretched out on an old sofa that someone had abandoned to the Room long ago. A quick Scourgify had removed the years of dust and grime that had accumulated on the surprisingly soft couch and the teens were grateful for the comfortable surface on which to screw each others' brains out. Harry was pleased that the day and, more specifically, Hermione's joining with the diadem had gone so well. When he had received the memory of Tom being rejected by the enchanted crown, he was concerned that it would do the same to his love. Imagine his surprise when he entered her mind during the trance to find out that his mate was a descendent of Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Of course, with Hermione's vast intellect, it should really have been obvious. The aforementioned witch stirred in his arms, finally waking from her short nap. "Sleep well, lover," he asked the beautiful young woman curled into him.
"Exceptionally," Hermione stated emphatically, placing a kiss on Harry's bare chest for good measure. "I've been going over some things in my mind since the joining," she began. "We need a way to be able to use our magic without the trace activating."
"I've been thinking about that, too," Harry agreed. "The only working solution I can come up with is using a time-turner to go back in time and live a year to age ourselves to 17." He held up a hand to forestall her objections. "I'm aware of the difficulties in procuring that device and I think I speak for both of us when I say I'm unwilling to go through the past year all over again."
"Fortuitously for us, Rowena knew of a permanent aging potion, knowledge of which has since been lost. It will take me the better part of today to brew. You're fortunate that I have access to all of the knowledge that my ancestor did, lover. Merlin, the things flowing through my head..." She moaned, eyes closed in contentment, before meeting Harry's gaze once again. "You've given so much to me, my beloved. There is nothing I can do to make up for what you have done for me throughout the years but I swear to you right now that I am yours, forever, if you will have me."
Harry was beyond touched. He was serious when he promised her forever in her house, but this was beyond that. What Hermione was proposing was the equivalent of a magically binding oath. If he accepted then there would be no separating. They would be one for all time.
It was hardly a choice for him.
"There's nothing I could desire more, my love," he replied, stroking her cheek. A white glow surrounded the two of them and quickly faded into their bodies. "The bond has completed." Harry kissed her passionately, in celebration of their joining. Hermione snuggled into him, which caused a rather pleasurable reaction. He groaned and broke off the kiss. "As much as I would love to ravage you again, I believe that we have some business to attend to."
Huffing in frustration, Hermione disentangled herself from her life-mate. "You're no fun," she pouted, standing from the couch. Reveling in her nudity, she ran her hands slowly over her body. "Anytime you want me, Harry, my body is yours to do with as you please." She winked at him and placed one final, chaste kiss upon his lips before straightening and assuming the pose that Harry termed 'classic Hermione': wand on her chin, lip chewed in concentration, eyes screwed up in thought. It was nice to know that the more things changed, the more they stayed the same, he thought to himself. "First thing's first," she began. "We need clothes." She closed her eyes for a moment and a sheer, black low-cut peasant top appeared on her upper body.
"Exceptional use of conjuration," Harry murmured. "Using the room to make clothes to your specification. Impressive."
Hermione blushed in response. "Thank you, beloved." She looked down at the top and noticed her lack of an undergarment. "If I go without a bra, I'm going to need some support." With those words, a black, buckled leather corset materialized in place under her bust. "Not enough," she muttered to herself. "Maybe... ah, yes. That would do it." Hermione traced a line with her wand from the top of the corset, around her breasts, behind her neck and back again. Where her wand traveled, leather followed, forming a halter top style support for the corset and, incidentally, creating an impressive amount of cleavage by pushing her breasts up and together.
Harry stared for a long moment before he realized that Hermione was speaking to him. "W-what?"
"Boys." She rolled her eyes. "I was asking what you thought of it but I think I already know. I don't have to ask if you'd rather I wore pants or a skirt, do I?" Harry quickly shook his head and a short, ruffled black skirt appeared around her waist. "Maybe something naughty to finish it off," she said with a smirk. Black fishnets grew from her toes up to the tops of her legs, where they were quickly hidden by the bottom of the skirt. Harry got the briefest glimpse of a sexy garter belt hidden up there before his attention was captured by the appearance of some knee high leather boots.
"It's very beautiful," Harry acknowledged. "It's also really... black. Maybe a little color," he offered.
Hermione looked back down at her outfit and groaned in frustration. "Ugh, I look like Bellatrix Lestrange." She twirled her wand around the baggy sleeves of her top and blue designs began to appear on the formerly black sleeves. After a similar treatment to her skirt, Harry nodded his approval.
"Perfect, my sexy little wench." He gestured down at his current state of undress. "My turn." Exerting his will upon the room they were in, an unremarkable pair of briefs were the first to appear, followed shortly by a white button up shirt, on which he promptly rolled up the sleeves. A dark pair of trousers were next, into which the shirt was tucked. A blood red tie followed by a black double-breasted waistcoat completed his ensemble.
"Forget something," Hermione asked, humor in her tone. He followed her pointed finger to his bare feet. Harry shrugged, gave a small smile and requested the room provide him with a pair of socks and black dress shoes, which quickly appeared on his feet. "Very dashing, my love. Now, we need to leave and reset the room. I'm going to need space and ingredients to brew this potion, neither of which are available here."
"Accio Invisibility Cloak," Harry called, the unseeable garment flying across the room and into his hand. "We should get moving. There are more Horcruxes to destroy before we can confront Tom. Preparations must be made in case of interference by Dumbledore."
"We will need assistance," Hermione added as they donned the camouflaging clothing. "Someone who knows Tom and his allies and can help us destroy him."
"You already have a candidate in mind, I'm guessing?"
A dark smirk was her only reply.
A/N 2: This story is really getting away from me. I had only planned on adding a couple extra chapters to flesh out the ending for those that asked what happened after. Two extra chapters later and I still haven't even gotten to what happened after Albus was bound. Groan. Also, if I've messed any canon up in here, I apologize. Finding consistent canon is harder than Chinese Algebra. Many thanks to those that have favorited my story or reviewed the previous chapters. Reviews are love people! Let me know what you think.
AZ