Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 3 - Prisoner of Azkaban – part 2
August, AD1993, an undisclosed place on the outskirts of Ottery St Catchpole in Devon.
"Here should be good enough." Tanya did a last look at the surroundings to confirm she had only trees and grass as witnesses.
Taking the resurrection stone in her hand, she hesitantly turned it thrice. The same as last time, Visha appeared.
"Lieutenant colonel, ma'am!" She saluted her former superior officer.
Tanya kept her gaze down, unable to look her in the eyes.
"Something wrong lieutenant colonel? You don't look too well." Visha, like usual, was a caring and friendly girl.
"Did you skip a meal? This is not healthy! You are never going to grow if you don't properly eat!"
"… do you despise me?"
"Eh?"
"Are the dreams I am having with you a form of curse from beyond the grave?"
"WHAT?! Of course not!"
"Why not? After I murdered you to save my own skin!" Tanya averted her eyes, her lips trembling.
"My death was my own choice. It was the only way to make sure the one I loved the most would survive."
This response made Tanya grimace.
"WHY?! I don't understand! Why love me so much?! Now you must know the truth about me! I am not- was never a little girl!"
Visha simply cocked her head in a sign of confusion.
"I am twisted, I have all sorts of bad complexes, and I don't feel love for anyone besides myself! Worse, I use people without care!"
It was almost refreshing to say the truth out aloud.
"You were solely a convenient tool to do all my bindings! An expendable human resource!"
She opened her mouth and took a big breath.
"A MEAT SHIELD!"
Betraying her expectations, Visha didn't show any indication of hatred or disgust.
"To tell the truth, I was a little angry after finding out about some of your dark secrets!" Visha puffed her cheeks.
"I was your adjutant! You could have trusted me more!"
"That was the sole reason?! Because I didn't tell her?!"
"But ultimately, I still love you."
"W-WHY?!"
"Hmmm… I don't know how to answer… what about the lieutenant colonel? Why do you love me?"
"I-I never said- Y-your coffee! I miss the coffees you used to make!"
"Boo-hoo! It's not nice to lie! You recently learned how to make an away better coffee, didn't you?"
"Ugh!"
"Please lieutenant colonel, tell me with your own words what you feel about me."
Tanya buried her head in her hands.
"What am I doing? Why did I call her back?!" This feeling of frustration allied to hopelessness was crushing to say the least!
"This is insane! You- you are not even Visha! You are a projection based on my memories of her! A MORE CONVINCING GHOST CREATED BY THE STONE'S POWER!" Tanya shouted this supposition out aloud in an attempt to convince herself.
"She is a ghost! An impostor! S-so, I don't need to feel so bad!"
"Lieutenant colonel, you don't really believe that do you?"
"Ugh!"
"Okay! If you think I am a fake, then, tell me what you feel for the real Visha."
All Tanya had to do was drop the stone and this would be all over but her hand refused to let go of the accursed object!
"I can't escape, can I?" Utterly defeated, her remaining choice was to agree with the 'terms of surrender'.
"Fine! I admit! I-I love you! I don't know since when or why, I just do!"
"Do you see? It is the same with me!" Visha's bright smile had a calming effect on Tanya, her heart decelerated, replaced by a warm feeling in her chest.
"At long last we closed the distance between our souls! We finally understood each other!"
"D-don't exaggerate!" Tanya blushed furiously.
"No, it's true. I am so happy we had this last talk!"
"'Last'?"
"I can now leave in peace…"
"She is leaving?!"
"… knowing that you-"
"NO!"
"Tanya?"
"Y-you can't leave! Not again!" Suddenly, the simple thought became unbearable.
"We can be together! Look!" Tanya showed the resurrection stone in her hand.
"I will use this thing everyday! No, even better yet. I can carry it around and we could be together all the time!"
"Tanya! Don't!"
"Why not? We have a new chance for us! Why not use it?!" Despite the frown on the older girl's face, a deep sadness was conveyed to her.
"We can make it work- Ah!" Tanya tried to reach Visha but instead passed through her.
"Remember what happened to the original owner of this hallow."
With a startle, she recalled Cadmus Peverell. Tanya could see herself, driven mad by the despair of not being able to ever touch her loved one.
"Our time with each other ended a longtime ago. I know it's sad, but you must swear to never use the stone again."
"What? No! We can meet from time to time-"
"Tanya!" Visha's tone left no room for argument. Tanya felt like she had just been dumped.
"I… promise…" Hearing those words, Visha regained her lovely smile.
"Now, can you grant me a last wish? Once more, say that you love me! This is the last thing I wanna ever hear you say."
"No! Don't leave me! You were the only person to ever love me!" Tanya pleaded, wishing more than anything to touch her.
"Everything is going to be fine! That young boy will show you the path to love."
She was about to shout that it was impossible. However, she chose to not take away Visha's peace of mind in their final moments. Instead, Tanya nodded her head, making the dead woman beam at her tenderly.
"Visha, I love you!"
"Thank you so much, Tanya!"
"I want to be always with you! Sob!"
"Me too!"
"Sob! I adore you, like you so much, Visha!" Tears ran in torrents down her cheeks.
"Don't go away! I love you!"
"I love you too Tanya! Now, let me go." Tanya slowly raised the hand holding the stone and…
"Thank you so much for the precious memories! Those priceless gifts will remain a part of my soul for-"
… dropped it.
Tanya was left alone between the trees and grass. The only sounds were her sobs.
She picked up the stone, how easy it would be to call her back but she made a promise.
"TANYA!" Harry appeared out of nowhere.
"Why are you out here? I thought you had- what is wrong?"
"Sob! Why does it hurt so much?! Sob!" She wanted to give an excuse for this situation but no lies would come from her mouth.
He closed their distance and hugged her.
"I am sorry! You are suffering because I am weak!"
This declaration puzzled Tanya.
"Don't go away! I will get strong and beat Voldemort! So don't risk yourself anymore!"
This was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this situation and manipulate him but she felt too drained.
"No, I have a better idea. Let's fight together to earn our happy ending!"
Neither said anything anymore. He let her cry in his arms and after some time passed, he carried her back to the Burrow.
After Tanya's first breakdown, Molly Weasley basically forced the two children to return with her to the Burrow in order to spend the remainder of the summer vacation under her watchful eyes. Fudge was pleased to give his blessing, hearing that someone would keep a close eye on Harry Potter.
At the time, Tanya didn't care. In her disordered mindset all she could think about was seeing Visha again.
"Love! I will never understand why people overvalue this stupid and irrational bullshit! It's a pointless investment! The risk of losing everything doesn't compensate the low profit!I knew I shouldn't let myself ever be swept away by it!" It had happened nonetheless. And now, she would need to handle and mend her broken heart.
The good news was that Tanya has been having dreamless nights after saying her good-bye to Visha. On the other hand, her heart ached with longing during her waking times.
In a way, it was fortuitous how Harry wasn't the only one convinced that Tanya tried to run away once more. The continuous vigilance from him, Hermione, Luna and the entire Weasley family, despite annoying her to no end, proved to be the distraction she needed.
Moreover, motivated by this paranoia, the girls even demanded for her to sleep with them in the same little bed in Ginny's room. It was a wonder how she even got to sleep at all, being sandwiched between Ginny and Hermione, plus Luna as a pillow!
"… and for hundreds of years, people have yet to find the lost treasure."
It was night and before sleep, Luna was telling another 'mystery story' from her father's tabloid. Today was about Rowena Ravenclaw's lost diadem.
"Hence, it became a tradition for all Ravenclaw's graduates to donate what they can afford to contribute to a reward for any clues about its whereabouts. This has been repeated for several years and now it has accumulated a small fortune!"
Luna showed the current value. Tanya widened her eyes, there wasn't anything 'small' about this fortune!
"I would buy the new firebolt broom for me and all my brothers and buy a new bigger house for each of us!" Ginny exclaimed excitedly.
"I'd rather keep it. I would become wiser!" Hermione, in turn, expressed a completely different opinion.
Tanya, by her part, planned to use this light mood to make her proposal.
"Thanks for the story Luna and by the way, I was thinking I could sleep on the floor tonight."
The mood was instantly ruined and the three girls glared at her with a vengeance.
"So you can slip out in the middle of night?! Young lady, you are not out of our sight until you swear to never run away anymore!" Ginny spoke with the same severity her mother was infamous for.
"I did swear-"
"You are not running after you-know-who again! Where is the girl who advised us to let the adults care for us? 'We are children'! Remember?!" Now this was plain rude! Hermione was using her own words to tell her off!
"I just want to sleep alone!"
"You are not trying to run to Harry's bed, are you?" Luna's innocent question had the potency of a bomb as the other girls froze agape.
"You two did spend a night together in the Leak cauldron."
"I-I had no choice! Harry forced me!"
There was a tense silence.
""HE FORCED YOU?!"" If possible, the two girls widened their eyes even more.
"Tanya, how far have Harry forced you to go?!" Of course, Hermione, full of concern, jumped to the wrong conclusions.
"Did he snog you? Or did he make you go… all the way?!"
Tanya was flustered while Ginny and Luna waited attentively for the answer.
"You interpreted me wrong. We only sleep! Before I could say anything, he was already snoring!"
"Oh! I see. I would also be frustrated if I was Harry's girlfriend and he was too shy to do anything!" By the way Ginny sounded, she was utterly disenchanted.
"Yep! So typical of Harry! That time in the bathroom, he let professor McGonagall interrupt him after Tanya gave such a dramatic mating call!" Luna shook her head in criticism.
"Mating call?! What do you think I am? A bitch in heat?!"
"Language Tanya! You may be frustrated, but don't blame Luna for Harry's naivety!"
"Me?Frustrated?!" Hermione's comment briefly made Tanya wish to strangle her.
"I know it can be a little infuriating but don't give up on him yet!"
"Oh! You have no idea how much I wish I could!"
"This reminds me of you two during our first year! It was so cute! No one conceding the first step, you were being too proud and Harry so dense!"
Hermione's statement puzzled her.
"What is she saying? Wasn't she-?"
'… the one he loves the most is a muggle-born.'
"Wait!She was referring toME?!"
'… this muggle-born certainly loves him back…'
"GAH! I enabled her too!"
"Harry put into his mind that you loved him like a brother! I had to pester him otherwise or you two would never go beyond friendship!"
"You little BITCH!" It was now clear why Tanya's plan failed. This nosy brat wasn't in love with Harry, she was trying to get them together!
Harry was so starved for love that he gullibly took all of Hermione's frivolous dreams of romance to face value! And why wouldn't he? There was this 'cute' girl hitting on him, trying to win over his brotherly affection!
"No thanks is necessary, but I will be very upset if you don't make me the godmother of your first born!"
"Grrrr! I REALLY WANT TO STRANGLE YOU!!"
Ginny let out a sigh.
"Hold on! Here is someone who actually likes Harry!"
Just a year ago, Ginny would antagonize Tanya over her feelings for Harry Potter. This had a reversal after her life was saved. They are 'friends' now, and friends always help each other in the matters of love, right?
"Ginny, how do you feel about me and Harry? I can see that you fancy him."
"D-don't mind me! Harry chose you. And we are friends, so I will fully support you!"
"This is exactly what I don't want you stupid girl! Come on! Fight over him!"
"Besides, I could never compare. You are so cute, Tanya! I had a doll-"
"Let me guess. I look exactly like a doll your father gave you?"
"YES! She must be around here somewhere."
"Did every girl have the same doll?!"
"Anyway, Harry may be infatuated with me now, but I am sure that with time, he will go back seeing me more like a sister figure. So you can't give up!"
"Tanya- Sob! You are a true friend! Even after I treated you so badly!" It seemed that Tanya's scheme merely made the Weasley girl get emotional.
"This is Tanya for your information. Always putting her friends', and most of all, Harry's happiness before her own! Sniff!" Hermione also wiped a few tears from her face.
"Ugh! Are all the girls such morons or only those three?!"
"And Tanya, you are wrong about something. Harry will never think of you as a sister. I saw how deep his love for you ran after he tried to t-take his own life to stay with you!"
Ginny hesitantly shared her testimony of the events following Tanya's poisoning. The other girls gasped in shock at this revelation.
"It's far worse than I first thought!" Tanya felt a tinge of despair as the implications hit her.
"I can come back to life through Pandora Lovegood, in Harry's case, death would be definitive!"
Harry probably couldn't kill himself, but he could be less motivated to defeat Voldemort.
"Does this mean that I am stuck here?!" There was no other solution. Even in possession of the elder wand, she would need to stay until the dark lord is dead. Only, this could take several years, and an adult Harry Potter would hardly remain naive!
Suddenly, a bed shared with three girls sounded like the safest place to be!
"If you are afraid, please don't be. I will protect you from those bigoted sods!"
"Mr Weasley, no one harassed me!" Tanya reassured Arthur Weasley once more that no pure-bloods had been threatening her.
"Can't he be like everyone else and believe I was tracking Voldemort down?"
"Dad, your concern is unneeded!"
"Yeah! Didn't you know? Her highness is more pure-blood than any of us!"
Fred and George comically bowed to her.
This was getting tiresome! Over and over, Tanya explained she was no princess! That Lucius Malfoy merely put together a fantasy using some dubious facts about a wizard that may or may not have existed in the first place.
"So, it's all a coincidence?" By the looks of disbelief in Mr Weasley and all of her audience, they weren't convinced.
"Do I resemble a princessso much?!" Actually, she understood that from their point of view, Tanya had too many oddities around her and this gave a plausible clarification.
"Ahhhh! But it's such a wonderful story! Tanya, the princess of the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks!" Except for Luna, who believed in an even odder explanation!
Tanya grunted. Harry Potter's girlfriend, an acromantula transfigured as a girl, a pure-blooded princess, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack… just how many other misunderstandings happened out there?!
"Hey! I had an idea! Do you think the vampires would-"
"I have no patience to handle this!" Tanya shrugged at Luna's ramblings the moment the word vampires left her mouth.
"Whatever!"
It was apparently the right thing to do as Tanya was rewarded with Luna's departure, she only mentioned having something urgent to discuss with her father. The rest of the day was brimming with promises of peace and tranquility, until Mrs Weasley brought up a disturbing topic during lunch!
"With Ron so busy and little Tanya missing we couldn't visit Charlie! I hope he is not forgetting to eat while caring for these beasts! I am telling you! That young man needs a FIANCE! Someone who would take his mind out of dragons for a change." By the way the old witch was looking at Tanya, the message was clear.
"Let him have his dragons! I already have my own share of trouble!"
"Mrs Weasley! Tanya is my girlfriend!" Tanya's 'share of trouble' spoke a little put off.
"Forgive me, dear! After that mistake last year, I can't stop thinking how adorable my grandchildren would be if they came from Tanya! I also think this of you sometimes! Tanya would marry one of my boys and Harry would be with Ginny!"
"MUM!" Ginny shouted, covering her bright red face.
"Err- W-what made Ron busy?" Harry asked, deciding to drop the topic.
"You didn't read the news?"
Ron was akin to a veteran soldier suffering from PTSD as he told the horrors he had to go through to become 'the arachnopacifier'.
"It was the first week after school ended. The minister came in person to ask ME of all people, to talk with the spiders on his behalf!" Ron sighed hard and gave a small glare to Tanya.
"They wanted Tanya, but she was missing! Then Aragog asked for the 'delicious looking' human boy!"
"Why didn't they call Hagrid?"
"He couldn't. His old case was being reinvestigated. You know, Myrtle's death being all you-know-who's fault."
Thus began the one month long period when Ron would commune daily to the acromantula's lair to mediate the talks.
"In the end, the ministry promised to keep them fed as long as their numbers didn't increase too much. Aragog in turn, agreed that from now on, none of his children would attack another person."
"Ron! I am so proud of you! To think that my son, so afraid of spiders, would make peace with acromantulas!"
"Well, I did gain something. Fudge said I couldn't embarrass myself using a second hand wand. I almost didn't pick the right one because Mr Oliwander rushed the choosing, scared that Tanya could turn up looking for me!"
"As long as he keeps quiet, he can be resentful and even spite me as much as he wants."
"Totally not worth it! I swear, those spiders still want to eat me! And there were also poor Scabbers! I thought of taking him with me to calm down my nerves but he seems quite down since."
"What part wasn't worth it? You got acquainted with the minister for magic and performed an outstanding job! You are on the path to a bright future! Maybe you will even be a head boy like Bill and ME!" Percy said, not missing another chance to flash his head boy badge.
"Hey! Stop giving weird ideas to our little Ronniekins!"
"Yeah! Ronniekins isn't becoming a stuffy git like you!"
The twins indignant declared. Clearly using this opportunity to bully Percy.
"Unless- Is that what you want, Ron?"
"If you wish to be head boy, of course you can!"
Percy's bullying was totally forgotten for the chance to pamper Ron.
"Yes, you can be ANYTHING you want to be! With our full support!"
"We will never judge you! We love you, all of us do!"
"S-stop saying you love me all the time! It's creepy!"
This has been going on the entire summer. No one knew why they became so overly nice to Ron. The target himself believed that this was all part of some very elaborated trick against him.
"If that's what you really want, Ron, better start studying more! Even Harry has more chances than you." Hermione said, nodding her head.
"What's that supposed to mean? You think Harry is better than me?"
"No! I am only saying you need to work hard!"
"Oh yeah? I reckon you are jealous! Because it doesn't matter how much you work, TANYA is becoming head girl!"
Hermione twitched like she was slapped in the face. Despite liking Tanya, this was a sore subject to her.
"Be it Ron or Harry as head boy, in any case we will be happy for them!" Mr Weasley took the cue to try to light the mood.
"I bet your relatives would be very proud of you Harry!"
"The Dursleys? I doubt- AHHH!" Harry made a big leap from his seat.
"I left the Dursleys! Blimey! I got so distracted I completely forgot it was not a dream!"
With a blank expression, he seemed unable to decide if he should be happy or sad.
"Don't you dare go all 'Stockholm syndrome' on me! You whine all the time about how unhappy you were with them!" Tanya remarked bluntly.
"Yeah, but Dumbledore said it wouldn't be a good idea! What about my mum's protection?"
"That dubious thing is unnecessary! I will protect you!"
"To hear that your own girlfriend will protect you… makes me feel kind of lame, you know?" Harry said grimacing away.
"And why did you ask uncle Vernon to confess being jealous of my dad?"
"Because I thought this would give you a sense of closure."
"Ugh! I lost my chance! There was so much I wanted to say!"
"Then go visit and say what you want."
"Ahhhh! Never mind. Are you sure the nuns of your orphanage will accept me?"
"I am more afraid that you will be too welcomed!" This time it was Tanya who grimaced away.
"What is this talk about you leaving your relatives' house, Harry?"
With Mr Weasley's question, Harry told the full story of the bad years he lived under his uncle and aunt. At the end, his audience was baffled.
"If you have no place to call home, why don't you two stay here?" This proposal was met with cheers from most of the present. Tanya, though, was considering the pros and cons.
"Hmm… that may not be a bad idea. This place holds a certain strategic value."
"Arthur? We can't! We can barely feed ourselves!"
"The prize money we won will let us do fine for some time! Besides, Percy will start working as soon as he graduates."
"Can we really stay?" Tanya could see that the idea was very appealing to Harry.
"Yes. Only, sleep in different rooms, okay?"
This comment mirrored the vehemently denial the Weasley couple expressed when they first arrived and Harry asked to share a bed with her.
"Now I am really glad I imposed the rule of not kissing in public!" Because as long as she was watched all the time, the boy wouldn't try anything funny.
"Huh? What is wrong with a couple sleeping together? Percy said it was alright." Harry said innocently.
"PERCY SAID WHAT?!"
All eyes turned to the new head boy.
"Percy! What nonsense have you been filling Harry's head with?!"
Percy looked like a cornered rat under his mother's angry gaze.
"Gulp! I only said he could do it when he was older!"
"Now young man! If little Tanya ended pregnant-"
"Potter wouldn't be breathing now!" The newly arrived professor Snape declared as a matter of fact.
"I was informed of your new escape attempt." Severus Snape brought this up as soon as they were left alone.
"…" At Tanya's silence, he chose to not press further.
"You will discover that the sisters at your orphanage won't pester about your absence this summer. They 'accidentally' drank a forgetfulness potion."
"Did you do this to get a favor? Now I am obliged to go back to school?"
"It passed through my mind, but no. I won't force you."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. However, I need to ask. Why not go back? All your friends are going back."
"And lots of new dangers! Or are you going to say nothing will happen this year?"
"In fact, after Myrtle babbled you were responsible for her wounds, the ghosts have been restless as of late. Sir Nicholas in particular."
He noted a discrete grin forming in her mouth and the word 'tempting' seemed to escape her lips.
"I am afraid the headmaster placed new rules regarding 'ghost mistreat' in case you are scheming to use this fact as an excuse to do a purge."
"Aff! I knew I should've acted sooner!"
"You do realize this prejudice towards ghosts is uncharacteristically irrational of you?" Her glare was the hint he needed to see how outraged she felt.
"The so-called 'amortal beings' are dangerous! They may start as pranksters like Peeves or annoyances like Myrtle. But give them a few centuries and we may end with a catastrophe in our hands! All I did was create a deterrent!"
"That is not your true reason!"
"The original idea was to use it against Voldemort-"
"No, this sounds more personal. As though a ghost or a similar non-being harmed or offended you in the past."
"I-I don't know what you are talking about!" Her discomfort was proof enough of her lie.
"Could this be the cause of your recent distress? Did a ghost upset you?"
She was startled by the question and even a little embarrassed.
"N-no! I was- was after… something. And when I found it, I discovered that I- err, lost another thing that was very important…"
"Can't you be a little less vague?"
"Sorry, no."
"Are you going to consider returning?"
Seeing Tanya shaking her head made Severus Snape feel defeated. He couldn't convince her to return to school and neither find out the motive behind her sadness.
"I don't want to lose you too."
Tanya blinked at him in confusion.
"What am I saying?" He himself was confused by his own words.
"There was this person, someone who I loved very much. One day I offended her and our bond was severed."
"Why I am telling her this?!" The answer was pretty obvious: he didn't want to let her go.
"This sent her to the arms of my most detested foe! I was so angry!"
Teaching her, having meals together, talking or just enjoying her presence. Those were by far the only moments of joy he had nowadays.
"I felt so lost that I made the worst mistake of my life! One bad decision and she died… because of me…"
And the loneliness was unbearable! There is no way he could endure it again!
"How long did you grieve for her?"
"Even today, I am still grieving."
"What? Does this mean that the pain never goes away?!"
"It is like an open wound. With time, it will hurt less but never disappear."
"This is outright STUPID! Why love someone then?!"
"I asked myself this an uncountable number of times. Why have this 'mental illness'?"
"Right?!"
"And on many occasions I caught myself brewing a forgetfulness potion to be freed of her painful memory…"
"Hey! That's a BRILLIANT idea!"
"… only to spill it all over the sink."
"Eh?"
"I couldn't KILL my memories of her too…"
He noticed how this last comment left her distressed yet chose to continue.
"If my suffering keeps even a small part of her alive, I will suffer gladly."
"W-why would someone wish to be miserable forever?!"
"No, you didn't understand. I am not unhappy anymore, ever since YOU came into my life."
"M-me?"
"The first time I saw you, I thought Lily had sent you to heal my soul. Like you were meant to be our daughter."
For a moment he was afraid of her reaction. Would she reject him? Or mistake his feelings for an indecency?
"I can't believe it! Another person love me? What is your people's problem?! I- I am unworthy of love!"
"Don't say that. There are some sides of you that I find kind of 'less appealing'. Your taste in boys for example! But ultimately, I still love you."
Those words must have impacted on her because she began to cry like in that day in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Sob! Y-you are an IDIOT! A mindless JERK! An oblivious IGNORANT! Sob!"
Despite the insults, he embraced her.
"In your days as a runaway, were you physically hurt?"
"N-no."
"Became involved in any type of crime?"
"No!"
"Will you promise to never do anything of the sort ever again?"
"… sure."
"Then, everything is alright. There is no need to come back if you don't desire to do so. I only ask for you to send me a few owls from time to time."
This would need to suffice. Even if they were apart, as long as she was safe and healthy, there was hope of a reunion.
"I will think about it."
"Hum?"
"About going back."
The professor's mouth twisted in the biggest smile he ever did in those last few years.
"Success! By Merlin, I am not going to loose her- Ah?" The professor flinched, noticing that at some point, all the Weasleys children plus Granger and Potter returned to the room.
They were all looking agape at him, probably shocked seeing him all smile and hugs.
"What are you dunderheads looking at?! Mention this to anyone and I swear I will turn all your lives into a constant hell!"
Tanya finally got over her melancholy close to the last day of summer recess, just in time to prepare for the starting of the new term. Contrary to her best judgment, she accepted to return to Hogwarts.
"What other choice do I have? I need to keep Harry safeand, like the other hallows, there may be a clue for the wand."
This was only a part of her motivation. Tanya felt she couldn't waste professor Snape's exposing his feelings. He laid his own soul bare to her and in doing so, he lifted her own spirit.
It was invigorating to know how someone else went through a situation so similar to her own and managed to withstand the turmoil.
And yet, she felt no remorse knowing she would eventually abandon him. One way or another, she will return to her ordinary simple life and leave all the bad memories behind. Even if this reduces him to a broken man!
"Sorry professor, sorry Visha…I am not going to spend my entire life suffering!"
"… as if the spiders weren't enough, now I have to watch for another bloody monster after Scabbers?!" Tanya was brought back from her musings at Ron yelling over Hermione's recently acquired pet.
"Fine! I will leave him in the luggage rack! Happy now?"
"You can bet! And pray that I don't squash him when-"
"No, no, little brother! Leave your luggage to us!"
"Yeah! You go and relax with your friends."
Fred and George kept their strange behavior. Their treatment of Ron was borderline worshiping.
"I don't know what they are planning but it will be huge!" And better be soon, or Ron's paranoia alone will drive him nuts.
Tanya dismissed the redhead boy's afflictions in her search for a vacant compartment. Many of her year mates turned up, curious to ask where she had been, but she merely ignored them.
"I don't have the disposition to- Wait! Where is Harry?"
"He is already out of my sight?"
"I am here! Mr Weasley was giving me some last minute advice."
"Did he spill the beans? No. An innocent boy like Harry would be very upset." Tanya knew about the relationship Harry had with Sirius Black, but she was uncertain if letting the boy know anything would do any good.
They didn't find an empty compartment and settled with one with a sleeping adult. Hermione's deduction about him being their new defense against the dark arts teacher made Tanya a little agitated. Their last two teachers turned out to be troublesome to say the least. And this year, there was another possibility.
"Could he be Black in disguise?!"
Instinctively, Tanya began to read his mana signature. Unfortunately, she never met Sirius Black to do a comparison.
"What is that?" Nonetheless, there was an anomaly in his magical energy. Something akin to the rotten mana she saw in the Gaunt shack.
"Strange, this pattern looks more like a disease."
"Tanya, you okay?"
"I am fine, let's just take a seat."
It began to rain heavily while Harry told his friends about the warning he got from Arthur Weasley.
Luna and Ginny were nowhere to be seen as Ron unceremoniously kicked them out when he noticed that Harry wanted to talk privately.
The Lovegood girl was reluctant to go, insisting she had something to say about the Quibbler's next issue. She was satisfied after Tanya compromised to hear her news as soon as they arrived.
"It seems this year I won't have a reason to send her off!"
"… he reckons I'd go chasing someone who may be after my life! Can you imagine that?!" Harry concluded his story clearly annoyed with Mr Weasley 'unfounded' lack of trust.
The three listeners merely glared at him.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? I don't voluntarily-"
"If you drag me into another of your troubles, I am dumping you!" Tanya's warning took the desired effect as Harry became flustered.
"O-okay… I will… behave…" He whimpered, sitting tight with his gaze downwards.
"Mate! Don't let her talk you out with a single pull of the leash! If it was me, I'd show who is the boss!"
Despite all his bravado, Ron flinched when she glanced his way.
"'Leach' you say? Then why am I this anxious?!" Tanya doubted this threat would make any difference. At least now, she had a valid reason to break up with him.
"Harry, instead of the usual mischief, you can take Tanya to a date in Hogsmeade."
Hermione just reminded her of this unpleasant detail. Starting this year, they were allowed to leave the castle.
"This is bad! If he catches me alone, our deal of no kissing in public will be void! He could take me to an empty place and- For the record, Hogsmeade doesn't have love hotels, right?!"
"I can't! I totally forgot about the permission!" Harry chagrin was evident by his heavy sigh.
"Ah! I never asked for one either." Tanya recalled this wonderful fact!
"Whoa! You two alone in the castle? Please, don't go snogging in the first broom cupboard because we are not around!" Ron finished chuckling.
Tanya felt goosebumps. By the glint in Harry's eyes, he was seriously considering this suggestion!
"Gah! I knew coming back was a bad move!"
"Harry! Please, show some self-restraint!"
"Thank you Hermione! Good to know you aresticking your nose in my favor!"
"You two may be going through puberty, but this is not an excuse to give in to every single craving!"
"Craving?"
"You know, urges! You are in an age where you may wish to do 'STUFF' you were not comfortable doing before."
"Ah! Is that why I had those dreams of snogging and sleeping with Tanya?"
"I really didn't wish to hear this!"
"Of course! This is a signal that you are a healthy boy. Tanya herself must be having the same sort of dreams."
"D-don't you dare to slander me!"
"Sorry Tanya. I only want to make sure you two are well informed. No matter how intense your snogging sessions are, you must never cross that forbidden line!"
"Whose side is she really on?"
"B-but if you two can't resist, w-well… there are some WAYS you can f-feel good together while avoiding the danger of conceiving a child."
"Some ways? WHAT WAYS?" If before, Harry's eyes glinted, now they outright shone!
"I once read you can use your-"
"STOP GIVING HIM IDEAS!"
Tanya was about to berate Hermione further when they noticed the arrival of another boy. Draco Malfoy, who for once, was apart from his two goons.
"What do you want, Malfoy?!"
"Shut it Potter! I am not here for you." The young Malfoy was looking right at Tanya.
He stood in front of the little girl with a serious and somewhat thwarted look on his face. Then knelt down while grasping both her hands.
"Hey! What is-"
"I am here to fulfill the promise made between our families centuries ago. Your highness, princess Tanya of the Degretschow, will you marry me?"
Tanya could see now it was a mistake to threaten Lucius Malfoy months ago. Besides obtaining a clue for the stone, she meant to scare him into never messing with her or Harry. Only, it had the reverse effect: He wants to bring her into the family!
"It was exactly as professor Snape foresaw." Tanya's response for this proposal was pure lethargy.
"W-W-W-WHAT?!" By comparison, Harry was pissed off.
He forcefully stole her hands from Malfoy's grasp and pulled her closer to him.
"BACK OFF! She is mine! If someone is going to marry her, then that someone is me!"
"You? Pfff! Didn't she tell you? She is royalty! With the purest blood and mightiest magic! She is worth more than her weight in gold!"
"She may be a princess but she chose me!"
"Father said this is a phase. She will outgrow this silly infatuation!"
"She loves me! We will be together forever!"
"Forever where? I can give her a mansion! What can you give her, Potter?"
"W-well-" Harry had no room to argue as he recently became homeless.
"At most, you and Weasley could someday rent together a doghouse or a hut under a smelly bridge!" Draco let out this last burn and turned again to Tanya.
"If you really want him, your highness, I won't bother you anymore. But, please, give me an answer."
"Sorry. Not gonna happen."
"Oh, well! What a bummer! I tried!" Malfoy said very fast and departed from the compartment. Leaving the occupants flabbergasted.
"Wow! From someone so eager to get hitched, he got over pretty quick!"
"Ginny and Colin heard Tanya's ancestry origins from Draco's father. Mr Malfoy must have demanded his son to try to win her over."
"He was totally relieved. Any bloke who really knew Tanya would be mental to wish- Oh! Sorry mate!"
Tanya ignored Ron's rude remark and even Hermione's nonsense of her 'true origin', more preoccupied with a more urgent matter.
"Harry, you can release me now."
"I don't want to!"
"What?"
"Y-you can't leave me because I don't have a house yet!"
"That's actually a good idea. I can say he is not ready to be my boyfriend since he can't provide for himself-"
'… Tanya…' She felt a shiver run down her spine hearing her her name whispered close to her ear.
"What did you say?" It could only be Harry since he was so close.
"Don't leave me because I have no house yet!"
"No, after that. You whispered something?"
"Hey! Did we stop?" Tanya paid no attention to Ron. What Harry said, or better, the way he uttered her name was for some reason, scary.
'… you… my present…'
Again he did it, and Tanya jumped from his arms like they were on fire.
"S-stop doing that!"
"Huh? What?" Harry asked clueless.
'… let's unpack you…'
"!" With a jolt, Tanya returned to Harry's embrace. The whisper this time came from the door's direction.
"Tanya, you okay? You look so pale- Ah?"
Lights went out without any warning.
'… my beloved… doll…'
It was Loria! Like in her photoshoot session, she was having auditory hallucinations!
"What's going on?" A new boy asked, entering the compartment.
"… was looking for you." Next, it was Ginny.
"… is Tanya alright?" Then Luna.
And, no. She wasn't alright.
'… hardly wait to…'
Without any apparent reason, she was hearing that pervert whispering. A wave of disgust came over her. It was like she could feel his breathing over her body!
"You are not here! You are dead, dead, DEAD!"
"… Tanya… talk… me…"
The people around were calling her. Obviously worried about her behavior. She couldn't answer, or even care. She was shivering hard and trying to block his voice.
"S-so cold!" The air was freezing and heavy, the impression was that she would never be… cheerful? With the lingering sanity of her mind, she recalled reading about these symptoms before.
Darting her eyes open and even in the dark, she confirmed the presence of the dementor.
'… HAVE YOU ALL TO MYSELF!' This time Loria shouted all over the place.
And yet, she felt strength returning to her mind. For once, her affliction had a form she could KILL!
With a savage grin on her face, she fired her ghost destroying reductor. The dementor had no chance to act as he was reduced to smoke!
Or was what she hoped. It was a repeat of what happened with Tom Riddle's memory as the hooded figure materialized back in the next second.
"I was afraid this was gonna happen!" She was starting to regret all the time invested on creating this damn spell. So far it was totally useless!
She had to think of another strategy, however it was unlikely the enemy would give her the chance! For now, the idea was to keep blasting the creature until- Her magic failed!
Now she was scared, it was very much like that occasion with Lockhart!
"… need to… take Harry and… run-"
"WE ARE NOT HIDING SIRIUS BLACK! GO AWAY!" The new professor yelled and shot a silver spell, driving the dementor away just as Tanya's mind was about to shut down in despair.
"Ah! Harry! What is wrong?!" Hearing Hermione calling the boy, made her realize that he had passed out. Tanya had her hands full fighting to stay on her toes and was unable to care about anyone else.
"Fuck! So that was a dementor?! Books don't do justice, they are much worse!"
This was a disgrace! She was caught completely off guard! If the new DADA teacher wasn't competent for a change, she could be either driven insane or soulless!
"Eat. It will help." She silently accepted the big slab of chocolate offered.
"S-sorry! I let you down!" Harry didn't take long to wake up. He kept pestering her, trying to alleviate his shame for blacking out.
She couldn't humor him, her fatigue only less than the headache beginning to form.
"Are you really okay? I heard you scream-"
"HARRY! Please, be silent for a moment, okay?!"
She didn't have to press the matter further. Spirits were low, this experience was awful for all involved and no one wished to discuss it.
The rest of the trip was fast, and when the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, with her magic fully restored, Tanya quickly flew to the castle. She skipped the sorting and the feast. Her headache had gotten worse and she wished more than anything to sleep.
AN: Sorry for the delay and if the quality is not up to standards this time around, but I had a few problems in my personal life. It seems that being too angry is bad for my creative mind. No, seriously! I still want to bite off my boss' head! That bitch! Thanks to her, I had the worst Christmas and new year! But… I learned my lesson. From now on, a job is merely a job. Nothing less, nothing more. Thank you guys for hearing my ramblings…
I don't want to give any spoiler, but Tanya scene with Visha was inspired by the last scene of Angel Beats anime series. If you saw, you know what I mean. Or, at least, I wish it has the same feel.
I forgot to put a scene in the last arc about Luna talking about the diadem. I think it's unnecessary to tell that Tanya will find many horcruxes in the near future, right?
I wonder if anyone can guess what the twins are thinking by treating Ron so well? I created this plot based in a theory I once saw online…
This chapter was supposed to introduce Trelawney, but it become too big and I put her the next.
Next chapter: In many years from now, Tanya will remember this day as the worst she ever had at Hogwarts!
Reviews:
Ocansino: Thank you and sorry, but all the dreams and thoughts were necessities.
Setokayba2n: Tanya will wish to learn the obliviate spell later on for a very good reason! And as I showed in the first interlude, she has a few traumas.
Hank22117: I believe, this story will have about 60 chapters, maybe 70. I still don't know how much chapters arcs 4 and 5 will have, but they will be bigger than the initial arcs. By comparison, the final years will be very short. It's possible that year 6 will have about 3 or 4 chapters and year 7 only one.
Rothai: Tested! Thank you so much for your comment. This year promise to bring a hell lot of traumas to Tanya!