Note: Hey guys! Found out I can create Polls and I left one on my profile asking what I should update next. Have no idea if you'll answer it, but if you do, I'll follow the results, if you don't, that's fine, it's just a test.
Hope you enjoy this chapter!
December 14th, 2005
Hermione's house
Harry hits the floor with a thud and a groan. Hermione laughs. Gritting his teeth, he raises swiftly and on the same breath is already lunging at her. She shrieks, surprised by how fast he moves, yet she manages to step aside, escaping his arms and deadly grip.
From across the room she smiles at him, raising an eyebrow and with her index finger, calling him. He shakes his head, wanting to smile at her provocation.
"The more you run, the greater the satisfaction when I catch you." He says in a low voice, the clear intent of his words ringing in the air.
Her smile changes and she bites her lower lip. "You're just angry I fight better than you."
Making an outraged sound, he takes two wide steps to her and tries landing a punch on her side, Hermione blocks it with her forearm, moving gracefully and with efficiency. She stops all his punches, one after the other and if he wasn't so incredulous he would be utterly fascinated.
They keep at it and she even manages to change the rhythm of their combat, instead of defending, now she's attacking. He knows she punches hard and he does his best to block out all her attempts. They never stop moving their feet while doing it and both are already pretty tired.
When Hermione said they could spend the afternoon and night together because Asmodeus had to visit some relatives with his parents outside London, Harry didn't think twice, he accepted immediately.
They went out for a long run and then went right back to her house. Pumped by the endorphin, Harry said they should train some hand to hand skills. Hermione agreed and led him to the same room they practiced the traditional. Stripping down only to his shorts, he watched while she got rid of her tank top, leaving on her sports bra and legging. And as soon as they got rid of their sneakers and socks, both moved to strike at the other.
Harry has to admit that he underestimated her. He was sure it would be easier to pin her down and claim himself victorious of this little encounter. But Hermione is a master at this. She uses her body insanely well. Even knowing that Harry is bigger and stronger, she aims for the right spots, the ones she knows a punch would do the most damage. She thinks about every move and about the energy she's using.
Gritting his teeth, he moves a step back, honestly exhausted. She clicks her tongue, and feints her next movement, while Harry tries blocking a blow that never reaches him, Hermione uses one leg to bring him down to the floor.
Again.
But this time, when he falls, hitting his back, she straddles him, her strong thighs holding his sides in place. Her hands pin his arms down on both sides of his head. He can't help smiling at her.
She's a goddess. With loose strands falling down from her ponytail and sweat coating her skin, his only thought is that he wants to lick her. He doesn't even care that he basically lost to her. Well, not yet.
"Yield?" She asks, her face coming closer to his.
"To you?" He asks, his hips already moving, teasing her. He sees the moment she loses a bit of her focus and in one go he switches their positions.
She grunts. Now Harry is on top, holding her arms. He clicks his tongue and shakes his head.
"I think you should yield." He says. She trashes under him. Uselessly. She can't win now.
Making an angry face, she grunts again. "Fuck!" She curses.
He laughs.
"I'm stronger…" He teases, his face coming close to hers, his mouth hovering above hers. He moves to kiss her neck, exactly where he knows makes her legs turn into jelly. Hermione closes her eyes at the contact.
Indulging in his wish, he licks her neck. Hermione bucks her hips up to meet his and Harry releases her arms. In a beat they're kissing, her nails digging into his back, roaming over his entire body. She opens her mouth to his tongue and Harry sighs. He's been wanting to kiss her the whole afternoon.
Slowly Hermione dominates the kiss, Harry willingly giving himself to her. One of her hands go into his hair and the other squeezes his ass. She smiles while they kiss, their sweaty bodies teasing each other's. He wants to-
Hermione turns them on the floor, straddling him and now pinning him down with wandless magic. Harry opens and closes his mouth, his eyes wide.
She laughs out loud.
He can't move.
"I think I won." She says, winking.
"This is unfair." He says through gritted teeth.
She shrugs. "Life isn't fair."
And then she gets rid of her sports bra, tossing it aside. He bites down his lower lip, feeling himself getting hard at the sight of her breasts- He stops breathing when she starts teasing her nipples with her fingers, her eyes locked on his.
"Hermione." He warns her, raising an eyebrow.
She keeps touching her breast, and he holds back a moan. "What, Harry?" She stops and leans in to kiss him, he tries biting on her lip but she pulls back. "Hmm, so angry." She chuckles. And with that devious smile, she rocks her hips, intentionally moving her hot entrance against his strained erection. He tries to move, to take her. "Do you yield?"
He doesn't answer. And she rocks her hips again, slowly.
"Do you?"
He bites his lower lip to prevent an answer from coming out. And she moves her hips again, moaning just to tease him. Then, her thighs press hard on his sides, and she repeats the movement with her hips, this time hitting a sweet spot that makes her close her eyes and open her mouth.
Harry closes his own eyes, trying again to free himself.
"Do you yield?" Her voice is so husky-
"Fuck, I yield everything, just let me touch you."
Her honest laugh fills the room and he smiles with her. Dio. He's bewitched. Fascinated by her, completely…
She stands up. He makes a face of disbelief. "Hey!"
"What? I'm going to take a shower." She says simply. "If you manage to end my spell you're more than welcome to join me." And with a wink she leaves him there.
Harry calls to her, not really angry, but already thinking how he's going to make her pay for this. He tries wandlessly undoing the spell, but he has no idea which one she used to hold him there, so it might take some time…
After a while he grunts in frustration.
Crookshanks comes swaying into the room and shamelessly rubs himself against Harry's torso. He chuckles.
"Hermione isn't very nice, is she?" He asks the cat. "I'm sure I've tried every counter spell, Crookshanks-"
"I expected more of you." She says on the threshold.
Harry raises an eyebrow, she's naked. But it doesn't seem like she took her shower. He opens a seductive smile. "Waiting for me, I see."
She narrows her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself too much… I mean, you really shouldn't if you can't even get rid-"
But he used the right counter spell the moment Crookshanks entered the room. And he knew she was outside waiting since the cat is always near her. And he tricked her just like he wanted, because in one go he stands and breaks into a run for her.
Hermione darts to her bathroom while she shrieks in the long corridor, trying to avoid him catching her. But Harry is faster. He seizes her by the waist and she yelps. They laugh together. Harry tosses her over his shoulder, smacking her ass.
"Harry!" She's laughing like a madwoman.
"You'll pay for this, miss Riddle." He says in a serious tone while he heads to her bathroom. She holds his middle.
"Oh, no, I'm so afraid. Am I getting punished?" She kisses his back, tenderly.
"Yes." He says, entering the bathroom.
Turning on the water, he settles her on the tile floor. Her eyes are dark with desire. "What will be my punishment, then?"
Taking off his shorts and underwear, he steps inside the shower with her, the water hitting both. "You have to obey me." He says. She bites her lower lip, agreeing. "Hands up. Above your head. Don't move."
He leans into her - making her press her back against the wall - his mouth close to hers, their bodies almost touching, but he refrains himself, teasing. He brushes his lips against her mouth, then cheek, jaw, her neck, her collarbone, her nipple - she holds her breath - her stomach. He stops at her sex. He looks up at her, smiling. Then he moves up, kissing her stomach, taking her nipple in his mouth, his teeth raking through her skin, making her shiver. Hermione moans and he kisses her hard.
And when she tries hooking her arms around his shoulders… "Don't move." He pulls back. She narrows her eyes. "Arms above your head." Clearly anxious, she does as she's told.
With a hand he spreads her legs by the knee, and squeezing her thighs, he moves a hand to her entrance. "You're always so wet for me." He says in a low voice, his mouth against her ear. She's breathing extremely hard, trying to maintain her control. "It drives me crazy." He bites her earlobe, his fingers teasing her, in and out slowly. "It makes me wanna bury myself inside you and never leave."
"Harry." She moans his name.
"And these moans, the sounds you make, the way you say my name when you come," He bites her neck, "I feel like a madmen, like someone that could burn down a whole city just to get to you-"
She takes his lips with hers and all his intention of teasing her fly out the window.
Insanely fast he hoists one of her legs up and she hooks it around him and in another beat he's inside her, thrusting hard and fast.
It's exactly what they wanted.
And her orgasm is intense as she holds onto him, saying his name, kissing his neck, his cheek, his mouth. He follows her shortly, taken by the pleasure.
Even before he can come down from the high of his orgasm, she's kissing him hard, bringing him impossibly closer. And he understands the feeling. If he could put into actions and not words what he feels around Hermione… or how he feels about her… it would be exactly this. A never ending thirsty. A powerful desire of holding on and never letting go.
They kiss until they forget their own names.
"So," He says while he chews the cheeseburger Hermione got from a wizarding restaurant close by, "what should we do now?"
Hermione chews on her food, thinking, her eyes a bit lost.
It was hard coming out of the shower. It seemed like they wanted to be there forever and when Harry finally washed the last bit of her body, both sighed and kissed softly, resigned that they couldn't go on with their lives inside the bathroom.
Now, as they sit at her kitchen, he can't help admiring her…
Something changed between them. Again.
Harry still doesn't know what, but after they voiced their jealousy; and especially after knowing someone saw them together and even so wanting to keep this thing between them… it says something. It says a lot. And neither is ready to deal with it, so, in a silent agreement they decided not talking about it. Whatever it is.
"Since Karkaroff is surely more than dead, we have to get a new lead." Hermione says, shaking her head. "It bothers me that whoever is seeking justice found him before we did. Think about it, Harry, his name, along with the other Aurors, was a big secret, kept extremely well. I knew because I had direct access to my father's study. And…" She trails, shaking her head again and taking another bite on her burger.
"What? Do you think someone close to your father-"
"I rather not imagine this scenario. Honestly."
"Why?"
"Because," She sighs, "if, and that's a big if, someone from my father's inner circle is betraying him this way I- I don't want to imagine what would happen if he found out. Seriously." She makes a face.
"Let's not think of this scenario, then. I know these informations were well kept from prying eyes, but we have no idea who else was involved in the Persecution all those years ago." He shrugs. "What do you think we should do to get a new lead?"
"We have to search his study."
Harry stops chewing. He cocks his head to the side and she does the same, mocking him. "Are you serious?"
"You think I went through all that trouble of bonding you to the Manor for what? But relax, we won't just invade it in the middle of the night. Tomorrow my father will be out of the city and I know my mother won't mind us walking around. Not to mention that I have to go there with time on my hands to investigate the french windows of the ballroom. We still don't know how they closed it shut that way. It will also be a good opportunity to talk with John."
"Who's John?"
"The guard. The one who was at the door checking people and letting them in. He's been with my father for years and I suspect that because of this his interrogation was a bit… sloppy."
He nods, agreeing. "So, are we breaking into your father's study?" The mere notion makes him uneasy. Of course he wants to, but Hermione will also be there and it might be a bit complicate for him to find other things on Tom Riddle.
"Yes." It's her only answer. "And before we even go, I have to say," She locks her eyes on his, "You'll obey me inside that mansion, do you understand, D'Angelo?" It's badass Head Riddle talking.
"As you wish, boss." He says in a low voice, narrowing his eyes.
"Good."
He chuckles a bit. "So bossy."
"I wouldn't be if you weren't so inclined in disobeying." She clicks her tongue.
"Touché."
"And you're free tomorrow, right? You don't have plans with Sally or anything?" She says it as nonchalantly as possible, but he hears the hint of irritation.
"No, I don't. Even if I had I would cancel." He winks at her. She smiles discreetly. "Hermione," She looks up at him, "Are you telling me what Pettigrew was doing out of England? What mission your father sent him to?"
She opens and closes her mouth. Then, she leans back on her chair. Harry straightens his back, frowning.
"He was… in Italy."
Harry crosses his arms, the anger boiling his blood. He purses his lips and closes his eyes. Fucking Pettigrew. "Doing what?" He asks as calmly as possible.
"Investigating your family."
He stands from the chair. Completely furious. Harry runs his hands through his hair. "You knew it? From the start?" He has his back to her, afraid of what her answer might do to their newfound… it.
"Yes." She says sharply.
Harry lets out a humorless laugh, looking up at the ceiling. With both hands on his waist, he tries calming down his heart. He's angry at Hermione and scared of what Pettigrew might have discovered. But before he can even think of a thing to say, he feels her arms around him, her body pressing on his back. He lets her hold him for a while and, surprisingly, it calms him immensely.
When he finally turns, he sees some doubt in her eyes. He takes her face into his hands and leans down to kiss her. "I just wished you'd told me sooner." He says in a low voice.
She nods, kissing him. "I know. I'm sorry. I-" She exhales, "I didn't want to ruin our week."
Despite everything, he opens a smile. He understands the feeling. If she had told him, he would have left her house for good. "Hmm, miss Riddle." He mocks her and she smacks his shoulder. They kiss again, holding tight to each other. "Why is your father investigating my family?" He asks after a while, their faces close together, their cheeks rubbing in a caress.
"Well, since your grandfather is running for Minister… he wants to know all about him. And I'm sure Asmo told my father of his suspicions about you and the whole thing with Lucius."
Harry nods. "I see. And did he find anything worth sharing? Maybe something I don't even know about my family."
She laughs sincerely and he kisses her neck. "The D'Angelos are very discreet. He said it was mostly more of the same. Nothing different from what is already common knowledge." Harry mumbles against her skin. "But-" She stops. Harry pulls back.
"What?"
"Be careful, Harry." She caresses his face, her eyes on his. "Asmo wants your head and he'll do whatever it takes to have it."
He opens a side smile. "Let him try." He kisses her again. "Imagine if he suspected what I'm doing right now, huh?" He says while his hand squeezes her breast.
Hermione laughs out loud now and pulls back, taking his hand and guiding him to her bedroom. Crookshanks is behind them and when they enter the room, the cat jumps on the bed immediately - on Harry's side, but he doesn't mind.
His eyes are on Hermione and she's slowly taking off her clothes, tossing them on the floor. Harry gets rid of his t-shirt and boxers.
Fast enough they're under the covers, totally naked and holding each other, face to face on their sides. Hermione kisses his nose. "I missed this." She says sincerely.
"Me too." He closes his eyes, his heart squeezing inside his chest while he brings her even closer. "We should brush our teeth, though." She laughs.
"In a bit."
His hand goes up and down her arm, making her skin react, her nipple hardening slowly. Harry watches, fascinated by her. She kisses his face, his jaw, his neck. Hermione sighs. Her own hand now caressing his back, going up and down.
"I-" He says and swallows.
"What?"
"You'll think I'm silly." He shakes his head.
"No, come on, say it."
"It's just… I feel good like this, you know? Safe." He shrugs, trying not to give his words much importance.
"I…" Hermione looks down, then back up at him. "I do too, Harry." Her voice is low, something swimming in her eyes.
He presses his lips together and touches their foreheads. "What are we going to do, Hermione?" He's asking about them, about this. And he knows she knows.
"We'll… enjoy it, Harry. For as long as it lasts."
He moves on the bed, positioning himself better and leveling their heads, pulling her closer. "And how long will it last?" Their noses are touching.
"I don't know." Her voice is low. She kisses him softly. "But I don't think we should worry about this now." He squeezes her.
"Okay. You're the boss." He says playfully, but she doesn't laugh and he raises an eyebrow.
"I'll miss you, Harry." Her words cut him. "I don't want it to sound like a goodbye, but I'm being honest. I will." She tightens her grip on his neck. "And I hate that it has to be this way."
Harry stops himself before saying that… it really doesn't have to be this way. Who decides this for them? It should be their choice. It's their lives. But he's not even sure of his feelings to assault her with questions that they both don't have the answers.
Not to mention the lies between them. Who he really is. Who she is. His real intentions. It's all a mess.
So, sighing, he kisses her slowly and stops himself from thinking about tomorrow.
What matters is now. Them. Their moment.
December 15th, 2005
Riddle Manor
"Are you sure you don't want another cup of tea, D'Angelo?" Bellatrix Riddle asks while she pours some more to herself.
Harry is sitting with her while he waits for Hermione to come back from wherever she got herself into.
The moment they arrived at the Manor, Bellatrix was already all over them and Hermione immediately excused herself.
Smiling, he denies with his head. The woman sits with her cup close to her mouth, her eyes heavy on Harry. For a while they say nothing, just smile friendly and politely to each other. And just when an awkward silence is settling between them, Bellatrix says:
"I see the way you look at my daughter, D'Angelo."
He widens his eyes. "I-" He clears his throat and she laughs.
"Don't try to hide it from me. You can come here and kiss Sally Black as much as you want, the same way my daughter can force herself to be with Asmodeus. But the eyes don't lie, D'Angelo. The smiles." She leans closer to him, "The traditional." Harry has no idea what to say. "My daughter deserves to be happy."
"Mrs Riddle, I honestly don't know what-"
"Oh, please, spare me. I'm not an idiot." She chuckles. "But I have to say, if you hurt Hermione… you'll pay for it." Then she smiles at him as if she had said nothing.
That's the moment when Hermione comes back. "Oh, I wish I had time for some tea. Come on, Harry, let's take a look at those windows, then we need to talk to John. Do you know where he is, mum?"
The way she casually talks to Bellatrix sends a chill down his spine. And a flash of absurdity crosses his mind. What exactly does he think he's doing? Getting involved with a Riddle? He grits his teeth, maybe he's past this point and there's no use mulling over it…
"I think he's tending the Pitch." Bellatrix answers and stands. "Now, I'll leave you to it." But before she leaves, she turns to Harry, "Don't forget what we talked about, D'Angelo." And she winks at him, then blows a kiss to Hermione.
Shaking his head he stands too and ignores the look Hermione is giving him. Miraculously she doesn't try finding out what her mother was talking about and they head together to the ballroom.
Harry can't deny his heart beats a tad faster when they enter the place, all the memories from that night rushing back. Hermione gives him a knowing look and they open tiny smiles.
When they reach the windows, Hermione starts looking for something. Harry stays put with his hands inside his pockets. He's a bit skeptical about this.
"Do you really think you're finding something after a month? We should have done this sooner."
"It was done sooner. By a team I assigned to do it, but honestly, if I want something done right, I have to do it myself." She sighs, her hands searching the borders of the window. "I should have come the day after, but I was so fucking swamped with work-" She clicks her tongue, "Help me, D'Angelo!"
Raising his eyebrows at her tone, he walks forward. "What do you want me to do?"
"Anything, don't just stand there!"
He shakes his head but does as he's told. Harry searches the windows for something uncommon, but it's impossible not to let his eyes wander to the courtyard. The Manor is even more majestic with the daylight. He swallows a lump on his throat. It's very similar to the Villa. To the place where he grew up and had the best moments of his life. Chewing his cheeks, he thinks about what his grandfather might be doing. What are his plans. Does he know Riddle is investigating him? Maybe Harry should let their fight behind and reach out, warn him, make amends…
"What is it?" Her voice sounds far from him, but Hermione is extremely close.
He blinks a few times. "I- nothing." She gives him a look. "It reminds me of the Villa." He says in a low voice, his head pointing to the courtyard. "I kinda of miss it."
"Why don't you visit?"
"No. I… I don't feel like it." He shrugs.
Hermione moves closer, and Harry sees her looking around before discreetly taking his hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. She gives it a gentle squeeze and smiles to him. He's overwhelmed by how much he wants to kiss her. But he only squeezes her hand back and she releases him, taking a step back.
"Well, I guess I'll have to use a little trick."
"Trick?"
"Magic leaves traces, remember? I'll try to find some here."
Harry frowns but observes her closing her eyes and raising both hands to the windows, concentrating. He knows of this, but he never tried. It's some kind of old and forgotten technique that his grandfather never bothered to teach him and Harry on the other hand never tried learning.
In awe he sees blue threads coming out of her fingertips and reaching the windows, it's incredible to see them looking for magic. And just when Harry is sure this won't help, the threads form circles around one handle and its borders. Hermione lowers her arms and they share a look before walking to the window. Faintly they can see red dots all over it. The places where the magic touched.
"Now what?" He asks.
"I have to try and discover who casted it. Or at least what spell was used."
She concentrates, her fingers touching the red dots. Harry waits. Now he wants to learn this technique, it might be useful.
Suddenly Hermione takes a step back, her eyes wide. "What?" He asks.
Shaking her head, she gives him a strange look. "Nothing. I thought I had it but it slipped through my fingers." Harry observes her swallowing hard. It hits him that she's lying. He sets his jaw and wonders if he even has the right to be angry… he's not being the honestest with her either. She probably knows who casted the spell… but why would she hide this information from him? Unless it's someone she wants to… protect. He narrows his eyes. "You were right, we won't find answers here. Let's go talk to John."
Without even glancing at him, Hermione turns around and walks away. He has no other choice than follow. She's walking extremely fast and he does his best not to pressure her. It's odd how he knows she'll tell him when she thinks it's the right time, or thing, to do.
Finally they reach the Pitch. John, the big man Harry remembers stopping him at the entrance, is flying high, checking the condition of the hoops. Hermione calls to him with a spell and the man comes fast. Harry tilts his head at the big smile John opens when he sees Hermione. And he widens his eyes when they embrace in greeting.
"John, this is-"
"Harry D'Angelo." John says. "I remember him. I never forget a face."
Harry shakes the man's hand. He must be around fifty, but he's strong and the gentle way he looks at Hermione gives Harry some kind of… peace.
"John, I'm sorry to ask you this, I know you already went through an interrogation-"
He laughs. "Hermione, it's fine. I was in fact waiting for you, I know how you like to take care of things yourself." He shakes his head. "Look, what happened was bizarre and I understand how necessary it is to question my security on that night, but I swear, there was nothing unusual or wrong with the guest list. I checked every guest and I can assure you that none was disguised with Polyjuice or any kind of charm."
Harry bites his lower lip, thinking. It's hard to believe this. But John seems sincere and Hermione is already nodding, trusting his words easily.
"I thought it was the case, but you know me, John. I had to ask."
He chuckles and puts one arm over Hermione's shoulders in a protective way, almost… fatherly. "I know, I know. But I'm just as angry with the situation as you and your parents," Hermione's mouth twitches up a bit at the corner. "But I'm doing what I can to understand how those intruders got in. I'm even looking at my memory over and over again." He shakes his head.
Hermione sighs and moves away from him. "It's okay, John. I appreciate. If you find something, anything unusual, send for me, okay?"
He agrees and with another hug from Hermione and a nod from Harry, they walk back to the house.
"Well, that was pointless." He can't help saying. "I thought you wanted to really interrogate him."
"I believe him." It's all she says.
"Just like that?" His tone is a bit higher and incredulous.
Hermione stops when they're already inside and turns to him. "Just like that, D'Angelo."
He presses his lips together. Apparently there's no questioning this further. He sighs and nods.
Resuming her walk, she makes a clear sign for him to follow and in a beat he recognizes the path they're taking. He can see the wooden doors of Riddle's study ahead. Hermione doesn't hesitate, she walks in a straight line, her eyes searching for anyone who might see them, but there's no one.
There's nothing separating Harry from Riddle's secrets. He feels himself getting a bit anxious at the notion.
She stops in front of the door for a moment and utters the blood magic to turn the knob. Harry hears it clearly, the words he might need to say if he ever dares to enter this Manor alone to search for evidence or leads. Sanguis Magicae. Does Hermione even imagine what kind of power she gave him when she blood bond him to the Manor?
The door opens and she steps inside fast, Harry follows. In a blink the door closes behind them.
Harry inhales slowly. The place is exactly the same he remembers from that night, the only difference, again, is the sunlight that makes everything less… scary.
Not waiting for his moment of contemplation to end, Hermione darts to one shelf, grabbing a few books and files. Harry blinks. Fast enough he's by her side and she gives him a file. His eyes go through the lines and words, eager to find something remotely related to the Potters' Persecution.
The minutes tick by. They don't talk.
Hermione hands him file after file. Harry tries paying attention. He'll look at this memory later and try to read everything more calmly. Right now, though-
"Can't we just search for key words?" He asks in a low voice.
She shakes her head. "Everything is extremely protected." She sighs. "Go look at his desk."
Harry obeys. And while she's there with her back turned to him, he opens the drawers. To his dismay, a lot of what's inside is the same you would expect in anyone's desk. Harry grits his teeth, frustration rising up to his chest as he knows they can't stay there much longer.
But at the last drawer, when he's practically giving up, he stops. It's empty. Harry frowns. Slowly he reaches inside, his hand going over the bottom and edges. He knocks on it, trying to find a hollow spot. And he does. Excited, he uses a spell to lift the bottom.
And inside he sees James Potter's Invisibility Cloak.
He stops breathing.
"Did you find something?" Hermione asks over her shoulder while she looks at a book.
Harry blinks several times. He's sure it's his father's Cloak. He saw it in a memory. A memory that's in Rome, at the Villa, with his grandfather. He swallows hard, his vision a bit blurry.
"Harry?" Her tone changes and he looks at her, Hermione is turning around… he closes the bottom and the drawer.
Clearing his throat, he says, "No, there's nothing here. What about you?"
She makes a face. "I think I found something, but we need to go, right now."
He nods, following their agreement that he would obey her inside the Manor. So, he just follows Hermione out the study, his heart beating fast and when they're walking out the front door, he's certain that he'll come back, sure that he'll retrieve the Cloak.
The Cloak that is his.
Harry's flat
She's pacing inside his living room and Harry lets her. By now he knows better than to push things. So, he brings her a cup of tea and settles down with some coffee.
He can't stop thinking about the Cloak and what it means. If it's with Riddle, Harry can't stop thinking that he was there that Halloween night, he saw everything, he probably helped them kill my parents.
He wants to vomit at the thought.
"So," She says and takes him out of his own mind. Harry looks at her. There's a Riddle inside his living room. A Riddle that he's having sex with. A Riddle that he… has feelings for. A Riddle that he's ready to protect at any cost. He briefly closes his eyes. He can't even imagine what his grandfather would say about this. He probably would disown Harry. "I think I know where Lestrange is."
Hermione extends a letter to him and he blinks a few times, trying to concentrate on what's happening right now. He examines the envelope. Regardless if it had a letter inside, Lestrange's address is written on it.
"I found inside a book." She's biting her lower lip, anxious. "I don't think we'll have the time to go there for the next days, but we do need to go as soon as possible."
He swallows hard. "Why can't we go now?"
"Because it's the middle of the day, Harry. We have to be sneaky about this, prepare in a way, know for sure that no one will be tracking us."
He only presses his lips together. He doesn't want to be sneaky about this. He wants answers. He wants to know who casted the Unforgivable that killed his parents. He wants to end them all.
"Maybe we can go tomorrow night?" He asks, his voice strained.
She shakes her head, exhaling heavily. "I- I can't. I'll be with Asmo and the next day we'll travel to Scotland." Harry raises his head at that, the question on his face. "We are trying to find Vernon Dursley. We discovered yesterday that he's in Scotland, Edinburgh."
He throws the envelope on the couch and stands, gritting his teeth. She's hiding everything from him and the notion makes him dizzy. "How long will you be gone?"
"At least three days. We need to understand who Vernon is before interrogating him or bringing him in."
He nods. Angry at her, at the situation, at everything.
"Fine." He sighs. "Whatever."
He wants to yell or break something.
And he realizes he can't look or talk to Hermione right now. The reality of who she is is giving him a headache. Most times when they're together he ignores the fact, but now, after going through Riddle's stuff and…
"What's wrong?" She asks softly, but not daring coming closer. He has his back to her and he shakes his head.
"Nothing."
He wants her to go. He needs to be alone. Needs to think about the Cloak. About what he's doing there. About the fact that Riddle and Pettigrew are investigating his family. Harry needs to clear his mind. And Hermione confuses him greatly. In all aspects.
"Talk to me." She says.
"I think you should leave."
"Is that what you want?" He can hear the hurt in her voice.
"Yes." He finally turns to look her in the eye.
She looks hurt. "Okay." She says slowly. "I'm going to the house where the Potters were found." He sets his jaw. "I'll be there in about an hour. I already casted a pretty damn powerful spell around the place, so no one will be able to track me there. And… you know where it is…" She leaves the invitation in the air and Harry doesn't move a muscle. She bites her lower lip. "Okay."
And she apparates.
Immediately he crumbles down, sitting on the floor while tears flow from his eyes. He tries holding them back, but it's a bit too much.
The Cloak was too much. It was his father's. A heirloom he can't have because of the Riddles. Because of how Tom Riddle hunted down his parents and killed them without reason.
Harry cries for long minutes, letting it all out.
Just when he's washing his face and taking deep breaths, he decides that he needs to go to Rome. He needs to visit his grandfather, they need to talk about his plans and Harry wants to know why he's running for Minister. Not just that but he wants to revisit his parents' memories, he needs clues that maybe now he'll be able to see.
He also decides that… he can't blame Hermione for what her father did, but he should be a bit more careful around her. She hid from him the fact that Asmodeus was investigating his family the same way she didn't tell him about Vernon Dursley being in Scotland. If he hadn't asked, he's sure she would only tell him a few minutes before going with Pettigrew. And it annoys him to no end that after all of this the only thing that really makes his blood boil is the fact that she'll be away with her boyfriend.
"Pull yourself together, Harry." He says while looking at the mirror. "Remember who you are and why you're here."
Running a hand through his hair, he glances at his watch.
Harry apparates.
Abandoned Potters' house
It's the first time he looks at the house. He never had the courage to come here because no one really knows who he is except for his parents and grandfather and they never thought visiting the house was a good idea.
Harry didn't want to come alone either, so, it was out of question for him, except for one day when he almost told Chiara everything because he wanted her company to come. But he stopped himself at the last moment.
He can't help snorting when he realizes that now that he's finally here, he's waiting for no one other than Hermione Riddle.
And she arrives just then.
Hermione immediately sees him standing there and she cocks her head. They're at the park close to the house, a bit more secluded and the perfect spot to apparate. She opens a tiny smile and comes closer.
"Are you okay?" She asks.
He nods, a side smile on his lips. And she takes that as enough indication to come even closer. In a blink her arms are around him and he hugs her back, his face burying itself on the crook of her neck. Harry inhales deeply. A calmness takes over him. Hermione kisses his face, squeezing him. Harry understands that there's no one else he'd rather do this with.
And sighing, he says, "I'm sorry about earlier-"
She kisses him. Her lips soft on his. Harry smiles to himself, his tongue gently invading her mouth. After a while she pulls back.
"You don't need to apologize." She kisses him again. "Let's go."
He nods, and to his surprise, Hermione intertwines their fingers. It gives him a warm sensation.
They walk together to the house. It's a little Muggle village filled with small and cozy houses with green grasses and beautiful flowers. Except for two. The Potters' and another across the street that looks just as abandoned as his parents'.
Harry swallows the lump on his throat. He'll need to be strong and cold, there's no reason why this house might mean something to him and he doesn't want Hermione to suspect a thing.
Glancing around, he notices the streets are empty and a chill runs down his spine. He stops walking and Hermione turns to him, her eyebrow already raised in question. When their eyes lock, it's the first time, the real first time he wished he could tell her everything.
"I think we should be more discreet." He says instead, his head motioning to the backyard.
Hermione agrees and they circle the house maintaining a fair distance not to draw any attention. But Harry doubts there's a living soul watching them now. When they step really close to the side of the house, he caresses Hermione's hand with his thumb. His heart is beating extremely fast. She looks at him over her shoulder and smiles.
"Should we try the back door?" She asks.
Harry nods and they walk together, slowly.
He releases her hand when they reach the door.
He wants to do it. He wants to enter the house first. Hermione just watches while he tries the doorknob. Harry looks at her when it turns easily in his hand, opening itself to them.
They share a heavy look.
And with all the courage he's able to muster, Harry steps inside his parents' house. Inside the place where he lived the first year of his life.
He doesn't know what he was expecting, but the abandoned furniture and personal objects laying about - after twenty-four years - are enough to bring tears to his eyes. Pursing his lips, he walks away from Hermione, pretending he's looking at something on the kitchen counter. To his relief, Hermione walks to the other side, her eyes examining everything while he tries to calm down his heart and shallow breaths.
The house itself is no novelty for him since he recognizes almost every room from his parents' memories. But it obviously feels different to be inside the place and touching the couch or the counter where he knows they sat down to eat, to talk, to teach Harry how to stand on his own-
He bites hard on his tongue trying to hold back everything he's feeling.
Walking further inside the place, he stops when he sees his father's glasses on the floor. The lens are cracked. Hypnotized by it, he crouches and takes the glasses. It feels monumental to have something of his father in his hand. Something concrete. Something that really proves he existed.
He grits his teeth.
In a blur of rage he realizes no one knows they're there. Realizes he could easily end Hermione and no one would suspect him. He could, at this very moment, inside the house where his life was ripped from him, really start his revenge by killing Tom Riddle's daughter.
He looks up. She's standing at the end of the same corridor where he's frozen in place. Hermione walks to him and he notices himself slightly moving his feet, as if ready to fight her…
…but when she stops in front of him, he can see tears running down her face, a look of hopelessness in her eyes. She purses her lips and sighs, her eyes falling to the glasses that he's clutching in his hand.
With gentleness Hermione takes the glasses from him and he hears a faint oculus reparo. She gives it back to him and Harry feels a pain he never experienced before when he sees the glasses good as new.
He wants to hold her, kiss her. Tell her everything. Be with her.
But, wetting his lips, he nods and folds the glasses, putting them away into his inner pocket. Hermione says nothing and he moves closer to her, ashamed of his previous thoughts about ending her.
Harry brushes her tears away, and she sobs silently, leaning into him. Her emotions stirs something inside him. Sighing, he brings her even closer and they stay in their embrace for a while.
Doing his best to steer the attention from him, Harry says, "Talk to me."
"It's just," Her voice comes out shaky, "it's terrible. Everything is just as they left all those years ago and-" She stops, shaking her head and moving away. Harry still holds her by the hand, needing her warmth. "Regardless the motive, regardless their crimes… they only wanted to love each other freely." She purses her lips.
He runs a hand through his hair. "I know." He says faintly, avoiding to address her obvious words.
They walk to the end of the corridor and finally up the stairs, their hands still clasped together. The house smells of dust and abandonment, nothing close to the stench that Harry found at Karkaroff's. His grandfather told him that the Aurors left Lily and James there to rot, but he called the Muggle emergency and disappeared with Harry before they arrived. He also told Harry that every trace of a possible baby had already been erased by his parents the moment they felt the threat. Matteo D'Angelo also said that the house couldn't be touched, rented or sold because he casted a strong spell around it - probably why everything is perfect even after all these years. And for that Harry is extremely thankful. He doesn't know what Hermione thinks of it, but she doesn't question either.
Reaching the master bedroom, Harry and Hermione stop at the door. He just stands there while she walks to the packed bookcase at the corner that he knows belonged to his mother. She runs her hands through the books' spines and stops at one, a gasp leaving her lips. Intrigued, Harry goes to her, stopping by her side.
Hermione is already flipping through the pages. "This book," She begins, absorbed by it, "this is probably the last copy left. It was banned many years ago."
"Why?"
He's not looking at the book.
He's looking at her.
"Because it talks about Muggles and their relations with Wizards. It's a theory about how both Cultures could help each other out." Harry widens his eyes. "I've been searching for this nonstop." She says in a lower voice.
"Really? Aren't you a little rebel?" He narrows his eyes at her, his tone a bit provocative and she blushes.
"I just love knowledge."
He chuckles. And the sound surprises even himself. He never thought he would find something to laugh at in this situation.
Not resisting her, he leans forward, taking her lips in his, their mouths moving in sync… in harmony. Harry feels his heart swelling. Hermione is… too much. Much more than he can handle.
When they separate, he touches her forehead with his. "You should take it, then. I don't think Lily would mind."
She steps back and gives him a strange look.
But then she smiles and nods, the book in her hands. "Okay. I want to perform a tracking spell here before we leave."
"Do you think you'll find anything after all this time?"
"Maybe I won't be able to tell to whom the signatures belong to, but at least we'll know how many were here the night… it happened."
"Okay," He steps back, giving her some room and holding the book for her, "You have to teach me how to do this later." He winks at her and Hermione opens a smile before saying 'of course'.
He stands still while she closes her eyes and extends her hands, the same thing he saw her doing earlier at the Manor. He finds himself turning cold from head to toe in anticipation.
Differently from what happened earlier, Harry doesn't see any threads coming out of her fingers, but he senses the air heavy around them and a powerful magic emanating from Hermione.
It's breathtaking.
It takes her a long while to open her eyes. She's shaking and Harry approaches her. It seems like she won't say a word and he frowns, worried.
"What is it?"
"I-" Finally, she looks at him and her vision clears out as she blinks. "There were a lot of people here that night." She shakes her head. "I felt twelve signatures, Harry."
He opens his mouth. "Twelve?" How the fuck?
She nods. "Like I said, I can't tell to whom they belonged to, but… it's indeed surprising. I never expected this much."
"Lily and James," He raises two fingers, counting, "plus the six Aurors."
"Yeah, okay, eight. What about the other four?"
He gulps. Could one of them be him? Would he have a magical signature at such a young age? He can't tell. The other could be his grandfather… and Tom Riddle. But that leaves one more. One more he has no idea who might be. "It seems like the more answers we seek, more questions we find."
"Indeed." She says, sighing. "I'm exhausted. We should head back," She glances at her watch, "Shit. Asmo will be at my house in thirty minutes."
He gives her the book back and they walk out of the house in total silence. When they reach the park, the streets are still empty and Hermione cups his cheek.
"I don't think we'll be able to see or talk to each other for the coming days," He makes a face, "But I'll send you brief messages through the coin, okay? If you need me, call."
He nods. "Ditto."
She smiles and they share another kiss before parting ways. When she steps back and apparates, he feels like a piece of himself went with her.
December 18th, 2005
Grimmauld
He smiles while the others talk loudly. But his thoughts are far away from the conversation taking place. Harry's focused on the coin inside his pocket. He flips it obsessively. It's been three days since he last talked to Hermione and yesterday she left with Pettigrew to Scotland. And he can't stop thinking about her and what they shared at his parents' house.
It's hard not to feel bad about the situation. While he's here with Sally and her family and their friends, his mind is unable to stop thinking about Hermione. About her smiles, warm hugs and kisses.
And the fact that she hadn't reached out to him yet is nerve wracking. He doesn't trust Pettigrew.
His eyes go back and forth watching Ginny and Sally while they yell playfully at each other while telling a story. His fingers playing with the coin. He inhales deeply, trying to loosen the tightness in his chest.
He wished Hermione were there. He wished he could enjoy this moment with her. But it's clear that the Riddles are kinda of off limits. Even if Ron is Hermione's best friend. Even if Sirius is Bellatrix's cousin. It feels to Harry that Tom Riddle has the final word in all accounts and socializing without a purpose would only be a waste of time.
"Harry, do you want more wine?" Sally asks him, her lips on his ear. He nods and she kisses his cheek, smiling.
He does his best not to cringe. He can't help hating himself a bit for what he's doing to Sally. She doesn't deserve this. In fact, maybe none of them deserve Harry trying to invade their privacy… after all, now he knows who were the Aurors-
He drinks his wine, the liquid sloshing inside the glass. He can't forget all of them wanted James to leave Lily. Not to mention that they gave away their location…
Immediately his guilty goes away. They deserve what's coming their way, and if he has to use Sally for it-
Suddenly he feels dizzy. Harry blinks, trying to send the sensation away. Then he drinks some more wine and takes a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" Sally asks, her face an expression of worry.
"I-" He tries supporting himself on the table but his hands are numb. His whole body is tingling. "I don't know…"
It becomes hard to speak and when he tries turning his head to the others, the dizziness increases. He feels his eyes turning to the back of his head, everything turning black. He knows what's happening.
He's been poisoned.
The wine!
Before he can even widen his eyes, Harry falls with a thud on the floor and the last thing he remembers is Sirius' face coming to him.