Chapter 31: Getting to know him
San Juan was hot... but worse than that, it was humid… Too humid. Severus hated warm climates. He was a person who loved the cold and the dark. He and summer were natural enemies. His animagus form didn't appreciate the Caribbean either. Nice views. Lots of nice fruit. Horrible weather… But there was no other way. Having to leave the UK wasn't something he wanted to do, but he would persevere. This was too important. Severus had been walking toward what he heard was the best place to hide in the town. He would have to stay there for a while. Merlin knew if he could reach Potter, but he had to try. He moved through a dark alley. He had done research, and the magical population in Puerto Rico was scarce. Most wizards and witches had moved to the United States.
Right when he was about to conjure a patronus to send a message to Potter, he felt a wand tip pressed against his spine. A voice whispered against his ear, "One wrong move, and you are dead."
"I can swear on my magic that I am only here to help Harry Potter," he whispered back. It had to be someone from Potter's side. Anyone from Riddle's side would have killed him on sight. He raised his hands so the person could see he was unarmed, "My wand is in my front left pocket. Take it. I have no intention to defend myself..."
The wand was taken away. Another voice whispered, "Where's the other wand, Snape?"
"Left thigh holster," he whispered back. Whoever this was knew him. That could either be good or awful.
Yet another voice whispered, "Muggle weapons?"
"Knives. Back pockets. Handgun in the suitcase's hidden compartment. Don't you dare open the suitcase! We would be dead in seconds!"
"Don't tell me what to do. I am not stupid. There could be anything in there. I won't risk it in public. Any muggle could see us. I, unlike you, give a damn about them," the first voice replied, no longer whispering but keeping his volume low.
"Kingsley?!"
Kingsley Shacklebolt's dragonhide-covered arm tightened around Severus' neck, choking him, "Shut it!"
Severus nodded as much as he could, but suddenly blinding pain made him collapse in Kingsley's hold.
"Oh, this is just fucking great. Bloody hell. Let's get going," Kingsley apparated them both. The Aurors left after applying some spells to the suitcase to stabilize it as much as possible.
Potter Castle hadn't seen this much activity or occupants since the previous war. Harry felt a tug on his magic as soon as he was in House of Potter's ancestral home; energy went up from his feet into the rest of his body, reinvigorating him. The same happened to Hermione. It was as if the house was celebrating having its Lord and Lady home again. The orphan elves Ruki had relocated to the castle and had been ready with gurneys, potions, bandages, meals, and drinks. As soon as Harry and Hermione were checked, an eager young elf called them over to a table covered with paper bags and water bottles. He assured them everything would be well and shushed them away to their room, insisting they needed to rest.
While Harry called the island via mirror to update Andromeda so she could share the news, Hermione opened the bag curiously to find a plastic-wrapped ham and cheese sandwich, an energy bar, a small apple, and a large square of chocolate filled with caramel. She silently thanked Lavender for planning this with Ruki. Harry apparated them to the master bedroom. They looked around a bit. It was beautiful and elegant if a bit old school. Everything was spotless. The teens ate in companionable silence. Once they finished, Hermione vanished the bags and bottles.
"Alright, let me have it," Harry sighed.
Hermione took a deep breath and stood up, pacing, "I am going to ask you a question, and I need you to be honest. Magic marrying us was real to you?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, of course."
"Do you understand what marriage means?"
"I think I do."
"I think you don't."
"Because I didn't grow up with a good example of marriage, you mean?" Harry replied, trying not to sound as annoyed as that thought made him feel. It wasn't like he chose that.
Hermione nodded, but there was no malice nor judgment in her eyes, only curiosity.
"Hermione-"
"Harry, I realize that we never really sat down and talked about what us being married means going forward, but we need to do that."
Harry nodded. "I agree."
"What are your expectations of this marriage?"
He had none, "Huh?"
"Let me rephrase that. What do you expect of me as your wife?" Hermione summoned a notepad and a self-inking feather from a writing desk in the room.
Harry frowned in concentration. He was silent for a long time. His face went through many different expressions.
"Harry?"
"I don't expect anything because I don't feel entitled to anything… because I didn't get to earn your affection… because I didn't woo or court you properly. I didn't propose to you, and you didn't get to accept or refuse. Magic decided for us. I don't want to ask you for more than you have already done, Hermione. You have done too much for me already."
Hermione blinked repeatedly. His response was so mature. "First of all," she put the writing supplies aside. "You did earn my affection. You have been doing so since our first year at Hogwarts. As for wooing me, you would be surprised by the things you do every day that make me feel completely wooed… If you had had to propose, I would have accepted. I love you so much, Harry… Everything I have done for you, I would do it again. Even my parents. Although I would ensure their health and location could be monitored continually."
"I love you too, Hermione… What about you? What do you want from me?"
"Respect, honesty, loyalty, and love. That's all," Hermione replied with a small smile.
"You have them."
"It doesn't feel like it."
Harry's eyes widened. He felt sirens go off in his head. This was bad. She wasn't yelling. She was composed and too calm. He had to thread carefully.
"You said Magic decided for us."
He nodded.
"Did you like that?"
Harry blinked. This was a tricky question.
"I am not asking about the final result of us being married... Did you like not having a choice?"
"No."
"Then why on earth would you think I'd feel any different when you denied me of choice and took off to battle without me?!"
Harry sighed. He whispered, "You are right."
Hermione didn't hear him, "Listen to me very well, Harry. I will not have treating me as anything other than an equal. We are best friends, partners, and spouses. We don't ice each other out. We don't leave each other behind. When we are to face danger, we face it together. If we go to battle, we go together. If we have to die in this war, we will die together, taking as many of them as possible with us. No ifs, no buts, no excuses."
"Your parents-"
"Harry, I love my parents, but they are being difficult as a punishment. My dad kept baiting me and fighting with me, so I was distracted enough not to feel you leaving. My mom tried to warn me, but I was too upset at my dad, so I didn't listen."
"I will not apologize for trying to keep you safe and with them. They hate me enough as it is."
"Then don't. I understand your reasoning. My parents don't hate you. They don't know you enough to hate you. I must make my own choices, Harry, and I choose you. Every day and night, come hell or high water, I choose you. I am only going to say this once. If you don't respect me enough to understand that my choice is always going to be you and that my place is by your side, and you ever decide to disrespect that choice and leave me behind again, we will be getting a divorce so fast that your broom will wish it were that quick. Am I making myself clear?"
Harry couldn't help the tears that started falling as he nodded slowly. He was so lucky to have Hermione as his wife. No one had ever said something like this to him, especially not someone he loved and depended on this much. Hermione pulled him up and brought him to bed in the same position they got into bed that night back in the tent. It felt like a lifetime ago, even if it had only been some months.
"I love you so much," Harry whispered as he lay his head on her chest and heard her heartbeat. "I am sorry I didn't let you choose. It won't happen again."
"It better not… What do you want from me?"
"Same as you, actually. Respect, honesty, loyalty, and love," Harry replied.
"You have them… always," Hermione pecked his lips.
"Good. Just so you know, Lady Potter… We are never divorcing. You are stuck with me forever," Harry smiled against the delicate skin of her décolletage and daringly kissed her there.
"You can't do that when you swore on your magic that we wouldn't consummate this marriage," Hermione complained.
"Fine. Platonic touch. Got it," Harry laughed.
"Not exactly platonic… just not explicit," she laughed, pulling him in for a toe-curling kiss.
Harry sighed. They were filthy from battle, but they didn't care. However, he realized he didn't want Hermione to associate his touch and kisses with smoke-stained, torn clothes and bits of debris, sweat, and blood, "Maybe we should shower…"
"We definitely should," Hermione pulled him into what she somehow knew was the bathroom.
Emma Granger was currently trying to decide whether she should physically harm her husband enough so he would stop going off about Harry Potter. She wasn't over the moon that her daughter was married at her age, but they weren't even being intimate. That was responsible considering the circumstances, and no matter what, Emma couldn't help but be glad at the fact that all she saw in the young man's beautiful expressive eyes was love, care, concern, respect, admiration, and a bit of fear, when he looked at their daughter.
"And to top it all off, they aren't even really married!"
"They are married. They just haven't had a ceremony," Andromeda interjected, rolling her eyes. She was done with this man disrespecting Harry. While on the island, she had gotten to know the young man, and he didn't deserve any of this.
"I am not talking to you!"
Andromeda turned with such a ferocious expression on her face that any magical would have thought she was her sister, but before she could tell him off, Emma intervened.
"Daniel! ENOUGH! I am so sorry, Andromeda. My husband can be an ass when he doesn't get his way," Emma replied.
"Take care, Mr. Granger. You have already hurt Harry a lot, and if you disrespect me, you may find yourself with headache-relieving potions that just don't work!" Andromeda snapped.
Daniel exclaimed, "I never lay a hand on him!"
"It's not only words hurt, Mr. Granger. You have no idea of the kind of person you are disparaging. Harry Potter was chosen by a phoenix to be their familiar. That kind of thing doesn't just happen. Familiars are magical animals that share a bond beyond normal pets and owners. Dharma always knows where he is, be it the beach or China. Phoenixes are a symbol of rebirth, resiliency, and purity. As such, they only choose humans they know can make them proud. Dharma's magic makes her able to know his heart and his thoughts, and she chose to bond with him because of his soul. He is a kind, loving, responsible young man. He has been through hell and nightmarish experiences you can't imagine. Yet he is still respectful and protective and willing to do anything to provide relief to others for no reason than it being the right thing to do. You are too hasty to judge Harry. All he has ever wanted is a family. What saddens me most is that I know he had hopes in his heart that you would one day accept him in your family, but it didn't take long for him to realize how mistaken he was."
"You can't expect me to be happy about this and welcome him with open arms!"
"I don't. I expected you to be happy that your daughter's soulmate adores her. I expected you to realize how lucky she has been to have magic marry her to someone smart, strong, honest, loyal, charitable, loving… But you don't care about that."
"We do care."
"You better care. It isn't going away despite how you feel about their bond and marriage. Soulmates do not divorce. They can't."
"What?!"
"Can't?!"
"If one gets hurt, the other will feel the pain. If one of them dies, the other will probably follow… They can technically get legally divorced, but their souls are bound for life regardless."
"You are telling me that magic married my baby to that ticking time bomb that is Harry Potter, who is being hunted by countless criminals and just left to go battle goblins and giants, and that if he dies, so will she? What the hell?!"
"First of all, Harry's only crime was being born. He didn't choose this life. It was forced upon him. His parents died trying to save him. If he is a bomb, he didn't want to be that. He has done nothing but try to live a normal life, and life keeps denying him. He was taken to live with magic-hating, abusive relatives. His godfather, who should have raised him, spent twelve years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, and when he finally escaped, he was soon murdered. For years, that boy has been forced into terrible positions and deathly scenarios."
"How bad can a school be?" Daniel thought out loud.
"You will soon learn that Hogwarts is a death trap more than it is a school… This is a pensieve," Andromeda levitated the device to them. She showed them a set of vials that contained a silvery liquid. "These vials are Harry's memories from his first year at Hogwarts. You can ask for Hermione's memories and Harry's memories of other years later."
"How is it relevant to watch memories from when he was eleven?"
"We hate what we don't know. That is part of being human. I want you to get to know him so you can see him as a person first and not as the man who stole your daughter. I want you to see what he has had to face and how little support he has done it. I want you to see his personality. Until you watch all of this, I don't want to hear another unkind word about Harry in this Infirmary, or so help me Merlin, I will make you feel like those massive cluster headaches were nothing."
Daniel and Emma looked uncomfortable. Him more than her.
"Is Harry okay with this?"
"Do you even care?"
"I am a war veteran. It would be very disrespectful of me to dive into a fellow warrior's memories without his consent."
Emma blinked. "If you won't, I will. I want to get to know him, and from what we have heard, seeing the world through his eyes is probably the best way to do that. We can separate myth and legend from who he really is in that way. They will not separate Daniel, and his memories aren't as adulterated as the opinions or memories of others might be clouded by subjectivity."
"Like mother like daughter," Andromeda nodded with a smirk. "When you are ready, take the vial, uncap it, and pour the contents in here. Take a deep breath and put your face underwater. You will feel it pulling you in. Don't fight it. Your body will remain where you are, and your consciousness will be pulled in. You will be able to walk through the memories. Bear in mind that no matter how terrifying or dangerous what you see may look, you can't be hurt. It's a memory."
Emma's eyes widened at that. Just how much horror had this kid seen? "Alright. Daniel, we have to do this."
"Fine, but if he hates us, I want the healer to tell him I didn't want to do this and that it was your idea."
"I can live with that," Emma uncapped the vial and poured it into the pensieve.
"It truly is for the best. We don't know how long it will take to hear about the result of their mission. This way, you can do something useful while we wait," Andromeda said sternly.
The Grangers were shocked. They were responsible parents. They loved their daughter. Hermione was a rainbow baby after several disappointments. Daniel and Emma had worked hard to provide her with everything she could need and want. They had been rewarded by a brilliant, sweet, loving girl who was always curious and kind. Neither expected her to be magical, but her accidental magic started when she was young. They thought she had the gift of telekinesis, but no… she was just a witch. Learning about magic and a hidden world shocked the whole family, but they supported Hermione. It was difficult because they could never truly be a part of her other world, but damn it, they tried as hard as they could to be supportive and understanding all her Hogwarts years.
It was now a mystery to them, as they watched this collection of horror snippets, how Harry Potter was even alive. The more they saw of his memories, the more shocked they were. His relatives used him as a slave. They hit him, insulted him, denied him food, and all the while, they showered their whale of a child with gifts and attention. It was hard for them to believe that the Dudley they met was the same Dudley in the memories. He had changed a lot. His parents were cruel, unfair, and plain hateful. The worst part was that they clearly could afford providing both children a decent life. The Grangers knew Smeltings was very expensive… and the Dursleys did give their spoiled brat thirty-six birthday gifts.
Emma was an only child, but she couldn't imagine -had she had a sister- that she could ever hate her nephew or mistreat him like that. Dressing him in hand-me-downs the child had to tie around his body to keep them from falling? Wait… Where's his bedroom? My God! Daniel looked ready to kill people when he saw that Harry Potter, who was clearly very wealthy, was made to live in worse conditions than most families' pets. He lived in a tiny dusty cupboard under the stairs, complete with spiders and with no heating. He slept on a thin layer of foam, not even a mattress. There was a latch outside his door to lock him inside. He had scars and was clearly in pain from all the beatings. A memory of ten-year-old Harry trying to clean and bandage a nasty, deep cut on the back of his leg caused by a belt, from the look of it, had Emma wanting to revive the Dursleys just so she could kill them with her drills.
Dudley falling into the snake pit was very obviously accidental magic. He deserved it, of course, after harshly shoving Harry away from the display. Memories got a bit hazy after Harry's uncle grabbed him by his hair the second they were back in the house, and the door was closed. Daniel was appalled when he saw how the whale that was Vernon Dursley threw thin, small Harry around as if he was a rag doll. It was a miracle that the child had grown up well-adjusted. Memories went back to focused when he was in a bathroom. His brain had probably blacked out from the beating.
He was wearing only underwear, and his bony back and the back of his legs were covered in bruises. They could also see his front, which was mostly fine. His lips were split into two different parts. One eye was swollen shut, inflamed, and black. The other was red with blood. There were deep purple bruises and reddish ones, but they weren't all recent. Some were fading into greens and pinks and even yellows. He had crisscross scars. Did they whip him? Daniel had to hug his wife, and they couldn't help the tears. Harry was TEN. No one was comforting him. He was rocking back and forth, soothing himself. He was hurt, scared, and in pain, and he was biting a rag to keep himself quiet. Heaven forbid the Dursleys heard him in pain from the damage they caused. It would only make things worse. He should have been playing with toys and having fun learning. Except… He didn't have any toys or books or even decent clothes.
Then, the whole letter debacle had them shocked. Why didn't a professor simply go to the Dursley's door to deliver the letter as they did with Hermione? Why on earth did the letter say The Cupboard Under the Stairs as the destination? That meant that whoever sent it knew that he had a cupboard for a room. And clearly, they did nothing. Sending dozens of owls was overkill. Putting them inside eggs was ingenious and amusing, but Daniel and Emma would have run away too if they had been bombarded by letters coming by the hundreds through their fireplace and mail slot. Why would Dumbledore send a giant? As if that wouldn't terrify both the Dursleys and Harry even more. It did pull their heartstrings that Harry had never celebrated a birthday. His drawing a cake in dust was heartbreaking. Had he truly never had a birthday cake before? It was kind of Hagrid to bake him… whatever that was, but it didn't look tasty. All the grief that this letter deal had caused could have been avoided. And giving Dudley a tail was excessive and barbaric!
The Dursleys were horrible people. Hiding Harry's origins until he was old enough, they could understand. Children should only be given the information they can handle. Usually, they will let you know what they can handle by asking questions. Say a child asks about how babies are made. You don't explain relationships and love and the failure of contraception. You answer what they are asking, keeping it simple and with language they can understand. But lying to him about the manner of his parents' deaths was unforgivable. Doing so in a way meant to make the boy feel bad was criminal. The Potters died heroes. They deserved respect. Their child deserved to know his origins.
The Grangers had so many questions about the whole promenade through Diagon Alley. If Voldemort's followers were still alive, why would anyone risk showing off the kid their leader wanted dead? Why take him to retrieve something dangerous? Come to think of it, why the hell did the envelope get stamped with "Top Secret"? Those rails had them closing their eyes tightly. They never had to use those when Hermione opened an account in Gringotts, but then again, they had opened a small account. It was for school supplies only, so the exchange rate wouldn't be so expensive. Seeing the mountains of gold coins in Harry's vault was telling. It was clear to them that the vault they saw was only for school expenses. There was no way that money could support a fully staffed private island.
The cryptic wandmaker was creepy. But seeing the wand react to Harry was impressive. The wand that chose their daughters had only shoot sparks. Harry's wand bathed him with light and caused strong winds in the store. They could appreciate Hagrid giving Harry a pet. The kid was very lonely, but how he explained Voldemort wasn't appropriate. Harry needed someone for emotional support. It was too much information to just dump on a child. Especially if you are going to tell the kid that the man who killed his parents and tried to kill him is not dead like some people think he is.
What was Hagrid thinking leaving a child alone in such a busy station? The Weasleys being there was… convenient. Too convenient. The Grangers were sure it was planned. But at least they helped him. Ronald's reaction to meeting Harry was strange. Asking to see his scar was indelicate and just strange. The glint in the boy's eyes when he saw Harry's money was worrisome. Seeing their daughter through Harry's eyes was surprising, and it reminded them of how young and small she had been. Harry was genuinely impressed at their daughter's magical skills. Ronald looked upset and envious. Their daughter was… an acquired taste, especially at that age.
Then came Hogwarts which was a nightmarish death trap. What in the bloody hell was that place? A Forbidden Forest? A Giant Squid? Moving staircases that if you were unlucky to step off at the wrong time, you could plunge several floors down? Hogwarts was, to them, a dystopian nightmare… and yet, Harry's life in Privet Drive was so awful that this was the first place he felt at home. That fact hurt them. The kid had been through
Professors like the one with the greasy hair hating the kid just because didn't sit well with them. A terrible influence from the redhead had Harry doing the bare minimum in classes. Albus Dumbledore was certifiably insane. Hiding a magical object that a terrorist wanted inside the school where the last person the terrorist tried to kill was currently staying at? What the hell?! They were confused by the stuttering professor. How was he supposed to teach the kids to defend themselves from dark things when he looked half-dead with fright at any sudden movement?
Several other memories allowed them to see Harry in a different light. Refusing Malfoy's clear attempt at manipulating him. He was kind and polite, despite having people around him gawking often and even professors treating him differently because of who he was. The start of term notices and Harry's 'what the fuck is this place?' reaction of puzzlement mirrored their own. What the hell did the headmaster mean by "The third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death"? More importantly, why was there something capable of killing painfully inside a school? They were for a rude awakening because Hogwarts seemed full of those. Things calmed down with memories of classes, classmates, and professors, but then… they saw Harry flying to fetch the remember something or other. He stood up for Neville against Draco, clearly the class bully, and they weren't even close friends. Harry was truly moved when Hermione showed him a trophy with his dad's name on it. Wait, that McGonagall person in the trophy was the professor? Confusing. They thought Minerva was much older than Harry's parents.
Seeing Harry, Hermione, and Ron break into the very room that housed the deadly thing they had been warned about by the Headmaster was terrifying. That they could even smell the beast's awful breath shocked them. Why could a spell that a first year could do be able to open the doors to a painful death?! Anyone could wander in there! They managed to escape the three-headed dog unscathed… Their daughter placing death as less serious than expulsion gave them a better understanding of what this world meant to her. They were proud to see her do well in class even when Ronald was being a prat about it. Harry looked conflicted with Ronald being a prat when he realized Hermione heard his mean comments and ran away crying, but he didn't go after her. He was concerned, though. They were trying not to judge Harry too much, but then they saw it.
A twelve feet tall mountain troll with his towering burly body and tiny head got into the bathroom while their daughter was crying her eyes out still after Ron's insensitive comments. It smelled so foul that they almost threw up. They tried to keep in mind what Andromeda said, that a memory couldn't hurt them, but this was like they lived the moment. The troll came at their daughter with its club. When Daniel saw Hermione run to try and escape, he knew that she wouldn't make it a second time. Harry apparently knew that too because without any regard for his own safety, he held onto the club and landed on the troll's shoulders, attacking the monster and stabbing him with the wand. The Grangers yelled with their daughter and the other kids.
Ronald had only done something when Harry yelled at him for help. And their daughter had to tell him what to do. Harry's ability to keep his cool when a giant irate creature was trying to bludgeon him was very telling of just how many times he had been abused at home. Once the troll was unconscious and Harry retrieved his wand from his nose, the professors finally reached the bathroom. Professor McGonagall immediately thought it was the boys. Harry noticed an injury on Snape. The Grangers were shocked that they didn't immediately check the children for injuries. Seeing their daughter take the blame for the troll incident made them feel proud, as did her fast friendship with Harry. He was doing his best to make amends for not defending her to Ron, but they were constantly annoyed at the redhead's eyerolls and snide comments that went unchecked.
So, one professor gave Harry a broom? And the mean one wished him luck? That didn't sound well. Daniel saw him almost outfly his BMW, so he knew the kid was good at flying. But that didn't matter. How the hell was that legal? Were the kids insured? There were no security nets to catch them. Seeing the captain be bludgeoned directly and fall unconscious to the ground from such height made them feel as if there were no rules to the game. Then, one girl was savagely attacked by two boys in green, resulting in her crashing against the stands and falling to the ground unconscious too. Why wasn't the sport gender segregated? The other team made the most of it and started scoring goal after goal. The potions professor seemed to be cursing the broom that was doing its best to throw Harry off it.
Next, their jaws hit the ground. Hermione had actually set a professor's robe on fire. What the hell? Who was that kid? It was like they didn't know her. Her actions did distract the professor, which stopped Harry's broom from shaking wildly so he could return to the game. Seeing the boy fight hard with his counterpart as they plunged and having Harry barely pull up in time not to crash was quite something. His standing on the broom handle had both dentists shanking their heads. He would obviously fall. It was simple physics. They just didn't expect him to throw up… a snitch? That was what the little ones were called. He had caught the snitch with his mouth. The boy was something else.
Hagrid kept volunteering information only to regret it. Nicholas Flammel sounded familiar to them. Hermione must have mentioned him at some point. The Grangers had to admit that Hogwarts at Christmas was beautiful. Their daughter suggesting the restricted section was shocking. Harry, shocked at having any Christmas presents, told them he had never received a Christmas present before. That Invisibility Cloak was impressive, but why would the sender not sign the letter? Why not ask a professor about Flammel instead of risking going to a restricted section in the dead of night where books had some spirits(?) trapped in them that would scream bloody murder when opened? Fortunately, the boy got out. The fight between Snape and Quirrell was worrisome. Snape threatened Quirrell, and for a minute, the Grangers thought the boy would be trapped. What was that spiel about loyalty? Loyalty to whom? What was that about?
Neither Granger was ready for that mirror. Harry was so happy to see his parents and see them smile at him. He couldn't touch them, but he could stare at them, touching him, and smiling at him for hours. Emma sobbed into her hands. Ronald, who had a family, only saw the successes he could potentially have if he worked for it. All Harry saw was what he wanted but could never ever have. It was so sad to see such a young child so broken. He stopped eating. He didn't want to play with his classmates. He wanted to stare into the mirror all day. Dumbledore's decision to move the mirror was indeed for the best, but it was cruel that Harry felt even more lonely and depressed than before. At least Hedwig seemed to know this and would come seek him out to keep him company and give him some love.
Nicholas Flammel was finally found in a chocolate frog card. The Philosopher's Stone? Dear Lord. They had read about that. So, it was real. That someone had celebrated their 665th birthday was horrible. How could a person look like at that age? Like a mummy, probably. The Grangers were shocked again when they saw that the main doors had no security. Why could kids just leave the building in the dead of night? Hagrid insisted that Snape was a good guy. What did he know that they didn't? More importantly, why wouldn't he tell Harry? Hagrid was a strange character. He named a giant three-headed dog Fluffy? And dragons were real… apparently. Was Hagrid dumb, or was he just pretending to be dumb? A stranger just happened to have something very illegal that he admittedly wanted, and he just took it and volunteered information that could endanger the stone. Stranger danger was evidently a foreign concept to him. Norbert was a bad idea. There was too much wood in that home to house a dragon.
Draco did what Daniel and Emma expected and told on the kids. At least he was punished too, but why on earth was the punishment going to the very same Forbidden Forest that they were told not to go to by the Headmaster?! And at night?! It was lunacy. Three eleven-year-olds and a twelve-year-old without much supervision going somewhere only holding old school oil lamps. They didn't have any way to protect themselves or walkie-talkies to ask for help. They had to agree with Draco… wait. Werewolves? Why the bloody hell are there werewolves within walking distance of a school?! Mr. Filch didn't help either, saying there were more than werewolves. He made it sound like there were worse things out there. Why work at a school when you clearly despise children?!
Hagrid's concern for his dragon made them feel he was just a big kid at heart. However, the road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions. That didn't mean he wasn't dangerous, immature, or that he wasn't misguided. The forest was eerie, cold, and the kind of place one can easily get lost if they are not careful, especially at night. Unicorn blood looked like silver paint. It was beautiful and very sad to see. Cool, unicorns exist. Horrible, they are being murdered. Harry saw a shadow and tensed up. Hagrid splitting them into two small groups and making Harry and Draco go alone with the dog was not reassuring.
Daniel and Emma walked as close as they could to the boys. Draco heard howling in the distance. Fang growled as they came to a clearing, and the kids saw a cloaked figure on top of a slain unicorn. Harry's hand went to his forehead immediately, and he was in evident pain. The creature lifted its head, and they could see silvery blood dripping from its mouth. Daniel grimaced and tried hard not to throw up. Draco did the only sensible thing to do for a child in his position. He screamed and ran away immediately, and so did Fang. Harry started to retreat, and the cloaked figure that seemed to float approached him. His head throbbed, and he fell as he walked backward, tripping over a root. Out of nowhere, a… centaur? Yes, a centaur jumped in front of Harry and defended him with his hooves, making the figure fly away. His pain diminished as the figure got further away.
Firenze, the centaur, warned him to leave and that the forest was not safe for him. The explanation about the creature and what slaughtering a unicorn did was frightening and nauseating. It made a lot of sense that if Voldemort was alive and hurt, he would think of a unicorn as means to an end while he could get what he truly wanted. If Voldemort knew that the Philosopher Stone was in Hogwarts, it was only a matter of time. Creating a distraction… like the troll! Of course! He had already tried to get it but failed! Firenze had their respect. At least he knew that you simply do not leave children unattended in such circumstances. He only left when Hagrid and the other kids arrived, and Harry was no longer alone.
The children tried to tell adults about their discoveries. Harry was certain that Snape was trying to steal the stone for Voldemort. Hermione insisted that while Dumbledore was in the castle, Voldemort wouldn't dare to try and break in to steal the stone. Apparently, the terrorist feared Dumbledore for some reason… Harry reached the same conclusion about the dragon, and Hagrid confirmed his theory. He even let slip how to control the giant dog. When the kids went to talk to Professor McGonagall, she told them that Dumbledore was summoned urgently by the Ministry. The professor was upset that they knew about the stone but guaranteed it was safe where it was. That made no sense. When Snape accused them of being up to something, both Grangers noticed that he looked intensely into Harry's eyes. Could he read minds like Luna? They needed to ask Hermione.
Not being heard by the adults in charge, Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to make sure the stone was alright. Daniel and Emma held hands tightly. This was a horrible idea. It was kind of Neville to try to stop them. Harry felt horrible about Hermione petrifying the kid. They huddled under the Invisibility Cloak, and once more, the door opened with a simple spell. The dog was snoring as the harp played itself in the background. The kids pushed the paw from the trap door. Right as they opened the door, the music stopped. Harry volunteered to go first and told them to return for a teacher if things went wrong. He could be falling to his death for all he knew. They fell on some roots that started wrapping themselves around them, trying to choke them.
Their daughter's skills to think under pressure were impressive. Harry had done as she had said right away, but Ron refused to listen, so their daughter scrambled to find a spell that would deter the roots. It worked. And instead of thanking her, Ron said it was lucky they didn't panic. Harry corrected him and gave credit to Hermione. Then came flying keys. Emma looked at her husband. They were thinking the same thing. This obstacle course from hell seemed to be designed specifically for the three kids to be able to get through it. The adult that went before them would have had no issues doing any of these things. A door opening with a basic spell? A dog that would fall asleep with any music? A killer plant that a first year would know how to deter? Having to fly to find the right key? Harry being a seeker… When they got to the next task, Daniel mouthed, For fucks sake! It was a chessboard. Who happened to be great at chess? Ron Weasley.
If the supposed greatest wizard of all time was in Hogwarts, why were the protections on the stone so childish? Why wasn't it on Dumbledore 24/7? If he was so great, and Voldemort was so afraid, why wasn't it stuck to his body? Maybe a necklace? Maybe a secret pocket in his robes? He could have borrowed Harry's cloak and wrapped the stone with it, then put it in a safe box or something. It made no sense. Why were magical folk obsessed with finding the most complicated solutions to simple problems? A cabinet in his desk would make more sense and risk a lot fewer lives than this 'alternative.' Why not just destroy the stone? There was no logic to any of this.
That the pieces destroyed each other was bad. Ron self-sacrificing made sense. It wasn't any less awful to watch a child, even one they didn't like, be attacked in such a way by an animated statue. That Harry sent their daughter back to get help made them see another side of the kid. He wouldn't shy away from responsibility, no matter how daunting or scary. Seeing Hermione encourage him made Emma and Daniel realize her daughter had been head over heels for the boy since then. Whether Magic had married them or not, they would have ended up together eventually.
Harry went to the next room on his own. The kid was so scared, but he was putting on a brave face. What came after that was so terrifying that the Grangers wanted to pull away from the pensieve altogether. There, doing his best to look like a Bond villain, in front of the Mirror of Erised, was… not Snape. Professor Quirrell taunted Harry, demonstrating his stuttering was a rouse. Apparently, Snape had been trying to save Harry's life from Quirrell's curse. The commotion from the fire made Quirrell lose eye contact, which saved Harry from being thrown off the broom. The professor admitted to letting in the troll. What kind of vetting did Hogwarts do before they hired someone? None, it seemed. All along, Snape was trying to stop Quirrell. Harry's scar reacted when Quirrell's turban faced him. A creepy, echoey voice told the professor to use Harry. Harry looked around, but he saw no source for this voice.
Harry walked toward the mirror and saw his reflection wink, then took the stone and put it in his pocket. He lied through his teeth, and the voice accused him. Quirrell told the voice he was too weak, but the voice insisted, and so Quirrell peeled off his turban to reveal… a terrifying face on the back of his head. The horror Harry felt at seeing the parasite. It was Voldemort. He told Quirrell that Harry had the Philosopher's stone in his pocket. Harry tried to run, but a ring of fire surrounded them. Voldemort offered Harry to join him or die essentially. Harry refused. Voldemort taunted him about his parents being brave too. He said that together, they could bring the Potters back. Daniel and Emma gasped. No child should be put in that position.
It would have been too easy to say yes. Having his family was the greatest desire of his life, as proven by the Mirror of Erised. All Harry had to do was give him the stone. Voldemort tried to corrupt the boy by refusing the existence of good and evil. Life was all about power. If he wanted it, he could get it. Anything he wanted in return for the stone. His parents back for the stone. But Harry's moral compass was strong, and he called Voldemort a liar. When Quirrell was instructed to kill the boy, Emma couldn't help but scream. Daniel was torn between wanting to look away from the scene and feeling unable to do so. The professor flew to Harry as he had done in the forest and started choking him.
Harry let go of the stone. When he was about to choke to death, the boy got angry and held onto Quirrell's hand, trying to pull it away. It started smoking and turned to ash as Quirrell screamed in agony. Harry looked at his hands in horror but clearly acted out of self-preservation. Whatever this was, it could help him save himself, so he stepped in between the professor and the stone and held onto the professor's head. Quirrell screamed in agony but fell to the floor. His clothes with a pile of ash. Harry took the stone, but a sort of spirit of dark smoke attacked him, going through him. Harry fell unconscious, the stone back in his hand.
The next memory was Harry in what looked like a hospital. There were get well cards and candy on his bedside table. The Headmaster came to visit. Harry was concerned about Ron and Hermione more than himself. He asked for explanations about the stone and its whereabouts. He was told the stone was destroyed. Apparently, Flammel would die once his affairs were in order. Dumbledore's explanation about how Harry got the stone was too simplified for the Grangers' taste. Harry had hopes that with the stone gone, Voldemort would stay gone, but he was disabused of that notion by Dumbledore. His explanation of Quirrell not being able to touch Harry was too simplistic as well. Love. Love could destroy Horcruxes. Right.
The end-of-year feast with the House Cup results made the Grangers uncomfortable. It wasn't fair to include points last minute. Whether they benefitted their daughter or not. It was evident that Dumbledore was rigging the game. The Slytherins were rightfully angry. They were proud of their daughter, but still. 50 points for breaking school rules. If Harry, Ron, and Hermione broke school rules regardless of their reasons and Hermione and Ron got 50 points, why would Dumbledore give Harry 60? Clearly, the man meant it to tie them with the other house, but giving Neville just 10 points was disproportionate. He was the only one who followed the rules and was trying to keep them safe.
Harry was anxious about going back to hell. He went to say goodbye to Hagrid, and the man gave him an album with photos of him and his parents. Clearly, he had never received anything like that, and it impacted him profoundly. Hagrid's idea of threatening the Dursleys with magic was amusing if dangerous. It could easily backfire. In any-
The memories started fading away, and they felt themselves being pulled back harshly. They were drenched in sweat and on their Infirmary beds.
"Sorry for the rude pullback, but we got word. Harry and Hermione are in Potter Castle. They are safe," Andomeda announced.
"Thank God!" Emma felt she could breathe better.
Daniel let out a slow sigh, "Did they win?"
"They drove out the traitors and took many with them, but it was some progress. Many are wounded, and we had a few deaths, mostly goblins and one elf, but we lost a couple of soldiers, and the General is badly injured. Neville almost lost an arm, and Luna almost died, but Harry, Hermione, and the elves managed to heal her," Andromeda announced.
"When are they coming back?" Emma asked.
"When they determine it is safe to move. Things are hard out there… That should give you enough to meditate on. If Harry chooses to share the rest of the years, or Hermione wants to share hers, you can come and request the pensieve at your leisure," Andromeda took the with her as she went to check on other patients.
Daniel and Emma had a lot to consider. Daniel was feeling awful about how he treated Harry. He still wasn't happy about Hermione being 'married,' but at least now he better understood who her 'husband' was.
"Daniel…"
"I know"
"We are going to have to apologize to our daughter and our son-in-law," Emma said with a frown.
"I know."
"If we don't include him in our family, we will lose a daughter. I don't know about you, but I would rather we gain a son," Emma said.
"I know."
"Say something other than 'I know,' damn it!" Emma was exasperated by his monotone.
"It's just… You know how as parents we will never think anyone is good enough for our baby?"
"Yes. We are very biased. It's in the job description," Emma nodded.
"I know. But in this case, we are wrong."
Emma gawked for about a minute until she found her voice, "I didn't expect you to take things like this until we had seen seven years' worth of memories, at least."
"I still want to see the memories, but I want to get to know the man he is now. Our daughter is smart. She chose to stay with him all these years. There must be more than one reason."
Emma nodded slowly. She would have never thought her husband's attitude would change so quickly, but she was glad for it.
"Lord Potter," the queen took hold of his hand. "Your elves and people have taken exceptional care of me. I have thanked them, but I want to thank you. You and Lady Potter have proven to be true allies to the goblin nation. You are a great fighter. Much improved."
Harry shook his head, "We consider goblins our friends. It was the least we could do, Your Majesty."
"Learn to take a compliment, young man. After all, I don't bestow those often," the queen smiled.
"Thank you. I appreciate it," Harry replied. "We've worked hard for this family we are building and are proud to see how everyone is constantly improving."
"Much better. Lady Potter, I am so sorry I was mistaken about your parents. I truly thought I wouldn't make it. I didn't want not to share what we had found."
"I understand, Your Majesty. Rather, I want to thank you and the goblins for all your effort. It must have taken a long time and significant resources to discover what you did… and it could have been them. I am just so glad that it wasn't," Hermione smiled.
"My soldiers and I need to go back to Gringotts. Someone may decide to try and take over," the queen said. "Do these bracelets have Gringotts as a possible destination?"
"No, Your Majesty. I didn't want to assume we would be welcome. I wouldn't add you unless you agree."
"Add us, please. You are always welcome in our land," the queen replied. This young man had grown a lot in these months.
Harry smiled and nodded with a blush. She trusts me! Finally!
Hermione smiled at both of them, You deserve it, love.
Harry took all the bracelets and made complicated movements and a small chant. The emerald pieces shone once. Hermione stared in awe. That was really complicated magic. "It should take you to the lobby inside Gringotts."
"Wonderful. I will call to let you know if all went well," the queen smiled.
"Yes, please do. It's the first time I am casting that on my own," Harry replied.
The kidnapped people in the dungeons were only spared by Voldemort when he made sure that neither had moved or done anything to harm Bellatrix or their heiress. He did violent legilimens and left them with scrambled, confusing memories. When he realized the baby was really gone, Voldemort left as if in a trance, holding the bloodied body to his chest. He went outside into the forest, found, and slaughtered a unicorn. He made sure to gather the first blood inside a gold goblet. Unicorn blood wasn't all the same or carried the same properties. He needed the very first blood before the creature had any time to feel fear, and the blood filled with adrenaline.
Voldemort took slow, shaky breaths. He regretted ever wanting a child. The pain he now felt from the loss was indescribable. However, he had a limited window to make the most of it. A Horcrux was not viable because he didn't kill the child, and it had been dead for a few minutes already. Voldemort grabbed his knife and cut open the baby's cold chest. He dug inside her and ripped out her tiny heart. After a deep breath to calm himself and remember the words, he dipped the heart in the blood glistening inside the gold goblet and muttered incantations that hadn't been heard by anyone for many decades. Then, he ate the heart and swallowed the silvery blood.
The flesh was tender but chewy. The blood was bittersweet and thick. It was difficult to keep it down, but he wouldn't throw up. His pain at losing his heiress was such that he wanted others to experience blinding, unadulterated, non-stopping agony. This ritual was so he could feed his core from their pain. He made a hole in the ground with a spell and placed the heartless child's remains in it, setting them ablaze. He made two cuts in his forearm and pushed his claw-like nails deep into the skin, pushing his magic into the bloody mess as his feet dug into the earth on both sides of the baby's body. The lay line below connected to his feet and up to his core. His followers around the world were to experience life-altering pain.
All over, Death Eaters fell to their knees, screaming in more pain than they had ever experienced before. Many were outed by this as they were in their jobs when they fell to the ground. Many were screaming while their tattoo bled. Some had ripped off their sleeves in their pain to try and cast healing spells. Others were straight out seizing with foam in their mouths. There were far too many witnesses. The corrupt officials wouldn't be able to erase so many memories, and as this happened all around the globe, both magical and non-magical, something changed. In the wizarding world, fed-up parents, families, business owners, and even everyday people who avoided conflict like the plague finally seemed to wake up.
Enough was enough. So many of the people writhing on the ground were supposed to be leaders. They were supposed to be respected and role models. Directors of prestigious institutions, members of the Wizengamot, and law enforcement... and they were all collapsing. The wizarding world citizens made the most of the revealed Death Eaters' momentary incapacitation, and citizens' arrests took place all over the United Kingdom and even in other countries. Retired Aurors and Defense Masters were helping tie down the criminals. Some Death Eaters were lucky, and they were in the privacy of homes or offices when the ritual took place, and hence, they remained free from arrests.
However, every Death Eater felt bound tighter than ever by their cruel master, their cores severely emptied, their souls crushed in his fist. On this dark day, they all regretted ever taking the Death Eater oath. The pain was such that many of them would rather be dead. Voldemort was thriving, and all this energy helped heal and improve his body. By the time he was done leeching the life force off his followers, he could move without any pain, and his sores and burns were mostly healed.
Now, calm, healed and recharged, he could find and slaughter Severus for taking Nagini and killing the baby… and perhaps Bellatrix. Riddle didn't care much about the woman anymore. She had tried her best to serve her purpose, and the opportunity was violently removed. Not to mention, she was probably dead. She would always be his favorite soldier, but even as he felt terrible pain at what happened to his child, he realized that the fog that was present in his mind that made him feel and care about her was gone. Finally. Additionally, one good thing to come out of this… He was no longer nauseous. Potter was an afterthought right now. Severus… Severus had all his wrath and his undivided attention. His right hand and best soldier he had -after Bellatrix- was now enemy number one.
Sirius grimaced as he applied dittany to his cuts. Amelia was still sleeping, so a couple of bones could mend, but all her injuries would heal in time. She had fought so hard. She deserved the rest. He kissed her forehead and penned her a note. He needed to call Andi and see how things were going back on the island. As he stood to leave, Remus walked into the castle's Infirmary dragging his bloody leg behind him.
Remus grimaced, "How is she?"
"Core exhaustion and a couple of broken bones. She should be fine in a few days," Sirius smiled.
"Good," Remus placed the empty vials he was holding in a basket.
"Remy, what happened to your leg?" Sirius frowned.
"It was… um… busted."
"Mhmm… I figured. Did the healing elves look at it?"
"No. I am fine."
Sirius lifted a brow at him. "Sit down… Let me look at it."
Remus shook his head. "I am fine."
"That wasn't a request. Sit your ass down before I bend you over my knee. Just because your wolf side is impervious to a lot it doesn't mean that you don't deserve to be treated. Sit down," Sirius insisted. He put the curtains around the bed. "I have seen your dangly bits before. Don't act like you are embarrassed now."
"Shut up!" Remus did blush at that comment, but he wouldn't concede. "I am not embarrassed. I just think it's unnecessary."
Sirius pushed Remus down to the bed and ripped off his pants with impressive dexterity and efficiency. Underneath, he was wearing protective garments that were soaked with blood. They were sticky with sweat, and Merlin knows what else. Remus took deep breaths. He tried not to blush deeper as Sirius took special scissors and began cutting up the sides of the garment and peeling it off him slowly. Why was he overwhelmed? Sirius was sweaty. He could smell him and his aftershave. No. Stop thinking about that, "Did you call Andi yet?" Good thinking. Safe topic.
"No. We can call her when I am done with you," Sirius frowned.
He did the diagnostic spells and gasped. Remus was too distracted trying to keep his cool to give a damn. His eyes were closed tightly. His hands held onto fistfuls of the blanket underneath.
"REMUS JOHN LUPIN!"
"What?" Remus opened his eyes and found Sirius looking down with anger and sorrow.
"What the hell?!" Sirius' hands rested on his hips.
"What do you mean?" Remus blinked, trying to read the diagnostic, which was backward to him.
"You brute self-sacrificing oaf! Torn ligaments and half-torn muscles are what I mean," Sirius slapped the back of Remus' head. "How are you even walking?!"
"Ouch! It doesn't hurt that bad."
"Maybe not now, but the full moon is coming up, and it will hurt you like a bitch then," Sirius' hand was placed on his thigh, where an unnatural depression was clearly visible.
Remus grimaced as Sirius did several spells and began to bandage his leg against a ferule so he wouldn't bend his knee, "That's unnecessary."
"No, it's not! For once, let me take care of you, love," Sirius finished his work and kissed Remus' forehead.
Remus closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Thank you."
Sirius sat beside him after maneuvering his body so his leg would be stretched over the bed.
"Did you see the general?"
"Yes. His wife is with him. It's pretty touch-and-go at this point. The goblin healers that were with the queen are helping too."
"Fuck. I hope he makes it out alive…"
"Yeah, me too."
"You know Moony… I think these are the shittiest circumstances we have faced in… ever. But I am glad we are together," Sirius sighed and intertwined his fingers with Remus' own. "I am so glad we are in this together this time."
Remus took a deep, shaky breath. He couldn't help what all of this was making him feel. Sirius would always be home to him, but he was married, and he had a child on the way, and Sirius was engaged. He felt Padfoot's soft hair on his neck. The Marauder lay his head on Remus' shoulder like he had done thousands of times before when they were teens, but not for a long time… Remus kissed the top of Sirius' head and placed his head over his friend's head with a sigh. He didn't need to say he was glad too. Sirius knew. It was implied.
"Remy… I am sorry I didn't get to be there for you before… I am sorry I died on you. I am sorry we couldn't mourn together, and I am so sorry you had to mourn me," Sirius said, his voice barely more than a whisper.
Remus bit the inside of his cheek so he wouldn't just collapse, bawling, "I am so glad you are here now. I wasn't there for you last time. I should have told Dumbledore to stuff it and taken you home with me. You would have been better and safer… and maybe you wouldn't have walked into your death as you did.."
Sirius gasped and lifted his head, staring into Remus' eyes in shock, "You… You… You know?"
"I spent a good year studying that damned veil when it took you away from me. I know you let go. I know it wouldn't have been able to rip you away from the land of the living if you hadn't been willing to go," Remus replied. "I never judged you. I know you were battling terrible demons, and I didn't make you feel like you could toss them over to me so I could beat them up for you. I am really sorry about that."
Sirius chuckled and sobbed at the same time. He hugged Remus tightly. "I love you, man."
"I love you too."
They stayed hugging for a while. Sirius thought he saw Amelia move, but she seemed asleep. He let go slowly.
"Where's Harry?" Sirius asked, cuddling into Remus' side.
"With Hermione, resting."
"Does he know about the general?"
"No. Mrs. Xu doesn't want to cause more alarm than necessary. The kids are drained from healing Luna. Poor kid. I really thought she was gone…"
"So did I…"
"Did you call Tonks yet?"
Remus felt tears escape his eyes, but he nodded.
"What's wrong, Moony?" Sirius lifted his head when he felt drops on his scalp and found Remus' eyes looking sad and haunted.
Remus just shook his head and took a shaky breath, "Nothing."
"Don't nothing me. I know you."
"I can't talk about it. I'll be fine in time," Remus replied with a small shrug.
Sirius frowned. Lately, Remus was downcast and morose. He lifted his friend's chin so the amber eyes would have to look at him, "Moony… You know I am here for you, yes?"
"I do."
Sirius tried not to be annoyed at this circumspect response, "You know you can talk to me about anything, right?"
"Yes."
Ugh, not the monosyllabic answers, Sirius groaned in his mind. "Moony, you know I love you no matter what, yes?"
Remus looked at him, and for a split second, Sirius could have sworn in front of anyone that Moony's eyes drifted to his lips, "I know."
Amelia heard the whole exchange through a thin separation of the curtain and frame. She felt panic deep in her stomach. Clearly, Remus had feelings for Sirius that went beyond friendship, but did Sirius reciprocate that? He called him love with such tenderness. It was different from the tone she called her love. Hers was very fast and flowed off his tongue. His was slow, and it sounded like he savored the word every time. It irked her exceedingly. Regardless, she vowed to herself that she wouldn't go down without a fight. She needed to talk to Tonks pronto.
"Do you have your mirror on you?" Remus asked.
"Yeah, but it broke," Sirius grimaced.
"Mine is in my pants that you so angrily ripped off me," Remus side-eyed him. "Maybe it survived."
"I thought you liked it rough, lover boy," Sirius chuckled as he accioed the pants and pulled out the intact mirror.
"I thought you were engaged, former lover boy," Remus replied with a frown.
"Nope. No formers, no exes, never. You are stuck with me, Remy," Sirius laughed.
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Remus replied. "Let's make the call."
Harry and Hermione paced outside the castle's Infirmary. The general was still in an induced comma. He had saved three younger warriors, but as a result of this, he received shrapnel from their own explosives. The warriors had panicked and not jumped away. Had he not jumped and pushed them away, they would be dead. Mrs. Xu was holding out better than they expected.
"Harry," she called out to him from her spot on the floor.
Harry crouched in front of her, "Yes?"
"I… I don't want to even think about it… But… If… If the worst happens…"
"Mrs. Xu-"
"Please let me finish. If the worst does h-happen, I can't promise you our s-soldiers will stay and f-fight. Their loyalty is to m-my husband, not me. I can s-stay and f-fight. But I can't s-speak for o-others… I am only bringing it up because the adaptations to your military strategy would have to be significant…"
Harry took her hands, "Mrs. Xu, please. None of that matters right now. We will figure it out like we always do. You and your husband come first. Is there anything we can do? Anything we can get you?"
"Do… Do you think Dharma could give us some tears?"
Harry closed his eyes. Dharma?
Yes?
General Xu is not doing well. Could you give us some tears to help?
For the general, absolutely. He is a brave, righteous man.
Thank you.
Dharma appeared perched on Hermione's shoulder. She was ready with an uncapped vial. Dharma began crying, and Hermione had to summon another vial.
Mrs. Xu approached the bird. "Thank you so much, Dharma… This gives me hope."
"He is a good man. I hope he gets better."
Mrs. Xu knocked on the door, and a healer goblin took the vials to administer to the general. Harry and Hermione excused themselves to go see Moony. They were worried he wouldn't heal fast enough for the full moon.
Inside Moony's room, an argument was growing more heated by the minute.
"Of course he can't be trusted!" Narcissa snapped.
"You don't know that!" Sirius fired back.
"I don't trust her either!" Narcissa pressed.
"Amelia is my fiancé! I trust her. That is more than enough! Frankly, I don't give a fuck about what you think! You married bloody Lucius Malfoy! That tells me your judgment skills are subpar!"
Harry and Hermione shared a look. When Sirius used formal words in anger, he was royally pissed.
"Both of you shut up!" Remus grunted.
Harry knocked. "Remus? Can we come in?"
"Please come back later,"
"You guys didn't ward the room. Your screams can be heard down the hall," Hermione replied.
Narcissa opened the door, excused herself, and left. Harry and Hermione came in hand in hand and warded the room.
"How is your leg, Remus?"
"Fine… like I keep telling Sirius. He's exaggerating," Remus frowned at Padfoot, who rolled his eyes.
"All you need to do is rest a few days. Don't be such a baby."
"You keep babying me. What am I supposed to do but act accordingly?" Remus narrowed his eyes.
Sirius mirrored the expression, "You will always be my baby boy, love, but you are not putting weight on that leg on my watch. Period."
Harry and Hermione shared a thought 'Something is going on here, and I don't even know if we want to know what it is.'
Harry cleared his throat, "Who can't we trust?"
"Amelia created a watch with a similar spell to that of the mirrors…"
"So? I imagine it's useful for Aurors to have something like that…" Harry shrugged.
Sirius took a deep breath, "Kingsley called Amy."
Harry immediately tensed up, "Oh? Is he okay?"
Hermione frowned, "Is he still one of us?"
"He is okay, and he is one of us," Remus replied.
"He has someone in custody in San Juan."
"That's outside his jurisdiction. Won't he get sacked-?" Like Amelia was left unsaid.
"He says it doesn't matter anymore."
"Why?" Hermione frowned.
"The person in his custody has a wealth of information, apparently," Sirius paused and sighed, "And a horcrux…"
"What?!" Harry and Hemione blinked simultaneously as they processed that.
"Who is it?"
"He wouldn't say. He wants to bring him to Potter Isle, pending your approval," Remus replied.
"It has to be a deserter," Harry frowned. "I don't want Death Eaters on our island. It's too risky."
"He is willing to enter into a Fealty Oath or an Unbreakable Vow just so you hear what he has to say," Remus said.
Harry frowned. Hermione gasped. Her eyes went wide. Both looked at each other. Many emotions shook their bond. They had strong suspicions.
"Hermione?" Remus asked.
"Harry?"
They couldn't answer because someone was pounding at the door.
Harry rushed to open it.
A breathless Neville was outside. "L-Luna just h-had a vision…" he said in between pants. He clearly ran all the way from the Infirmary at top speed.
"What did she see?"
"You w-won't believe this."
"Tell us…"
"She saw m-my grandmother k-kidnapped… she was with t-two muggles… She thinks t-the muggles were your aunt and uncle."
Harry went white as a sheet. "What?!"
Hermione covered her gaping mouth. "Where?!"
"Hogwarts."
"I… She says she saw Riddle… He was…" Neville looked conflicted beyond his ability to breathe. "He was holding a bloodied baby. It looked dead…" Neville's breathing started to calm down.
"Fucking hell. Is Bellatrix alive?" Sirius asked.
"Luna doesn't know..."
"Are they okay?" Remus asked.
Neville replied, many emotions on his face, "She thinks they are hurt but alive…"
"Are you okay, Neville?" Harry finally asked.
"I don't even know how I feel. You?" Neville asked back.
"I have no idea either... Does Dudley know?"
"No."
"Don't tell him unless we know for sure. It wouldn't be fair to get his hopes up."
"I don't understand. They found the bodies. We had a ceremony and everything," Hermione shook her head.
"Riddle… He was messing with me! FUCK! Just like with the vision at the Department of Mysteries!" Harry's core let out a wave that exploded the windows outward. Sirius' animagus instincts had made him jump into Remus' bed, forcing Moony to lie down. Neville fell on the couch, which creaked loudly. Only Hermione stayed upright. The castle began to shake slowly.
"Harry… breathe… We need this secondary location upright," Hermione kissed him, and he calmed down as the kiss progressed slowly.
"Ahem… Guys, sorry to interrupt," Neville stood up, feeling a bit woozy.
Behind Harry and Hermione, Sirius and Remus froze. They were staring into each other's eyes intensely.
"It's fine, Neville," Hermione smiled.
"We need to do some planning. I'll go get everyone and wait for you in the library," Neville said and took off.
Harry nodded, "Thank you. We will be there shortly."
Hermione noticed Sirius and Remus were still in the same compromising position. She lifted a brow at them, "Is there something you want to tell us?"
Harry turned to his godfather and uncle with a frown. Sirius jumped off the bed, blushing furiously.
"Nothing. Go ahead. We will catch up. I need help getting up with this torture device on my leg," Remus replied.
Harry and Hermione stared at them for a few seconds, during which the Marauders blushed further but, in the end, the couple shared a look and left.
Sirius turned to Remus, "We need to talk about this."
"About what?"
"THIS! Whatever this is. Once we are out of the meeting, we will talk about this, and you better tell me the truth."
"Fine," Remus replied. As Sirius helped him up and handed him crutches, Remus wished he could find a way not to have that talk. He would soon find out that life sometimes hears you loud and clear.
A/N: Thank you for reading! This took a long time to put together and is the longer chapter so far. I have also been working on ToG. An update should be up soon. Hats off to writers with three or more stories that are constantly updated. It could be a full-time job. I hope you are safe and healthy wherever you are. A couple of my stories are now in Wattpad (ALChabarq). I also have an AO3 account (lucych_7), but I haven't uploaded my stories there yet. I just let you know in case you prefer reading on either of those sites. I appreciate all of you that follow me as an author and all my stories. I love that there are times when I have waves of new readers and followers, as I like to think you have shared the story with others. Since this story has been a long work in progress, I am grateful for your patience and for your love of my work. -Lux-