Note: Thank you so much for being here with me on this journey.
How much you like this story makes me incredibly happy. Your support means the world.
And I know it's impossible to fulfill all expectations, but I do hope you...
...Enjoy!
(Where the heart is - HAEVN)
May 7th, 2006
At the House by the Lake
"So?" Hermione asks her mother, "What do you think? Do you like it?"
"It's a lovely house." Bellatrix says while they walk back inside. "And I love that it's located at a Muggle region. It gives me satisfaction knowing that your father would slit his wrists if he found out."
Hermione snorts a chuckle, she just showed her mother the house she bought close to the Muggle Village where the Potters used to live. She has been doing some renovations whenever she gets a chance and the place is finally looking more like her house than anything else.
But it lacks a lot and Hermione is aware that it'll take some time for her to organize everything the way she wants to.
Bellatrix loved the lake and the platform outside, she stated how relaxing the surroundings are and Hermione agreed. This place is perfect for her to forget everything else.
Coming here feels like therapy. And she's been hiding here since she came back from her failed mission with Harry. Not literally hiding, she still goes to work, but she barely talks more than necessary and only leaves her office if there's no other option.
"But do tell me, how are you?" Her mother asks.
Hermione sighs, fetching them some tea and sitting down at the only table - medium sized - that occupies her kitchen. Both sip in silence. She's thinking about an honest response to that.
"I'm not sure." Hermione says.
She's avoiding Harry. He didn't seek her out either. They only met while briefing the others on the mission and investigation. They're still thinking about what to do next. Maybe they should invade the German House, but Hermione is pretty sure Ludwig has an escape plan - it would be useless. And a waste of their time.
"Tell me more." Bellatrix winks at her, sipping on her tea with a little smile on her face. "I mean, things have been so crazy that we didn't take the time to talk about the way you and Harry saved my life."
Which remembers Hermione that she still needs to tell her mother that her father was the one trying to kill her.
Hermione sighs.
"On the mission, we… talked." She says in a low voice. "I told him a few things, but… it's hard, mum. I hurt him too much."
Bellatrix cocks her head. "Hard is not impossible. Sweetie, that man is crazy about you." Hermione scoffs. "What? A blind person can see it!"
"We've been ignoring each other, only talking about the investigation since then." And she hates it. They were so close again, fuck, they kissed, they almost made love-
"Harry's soft. Give him some time."
Both chuckle, sharing an inner joke about their thickness because of Tom Riddle.
"How are things at Grimmauld? Having fun with Sirius?"
Bellatrix lets out a loud laugh now. "He's insufferable! I have a theory that Eleonora only stands him because they're soulmates." Hermione gulps at that, lowering her eyes. Her mother reaches her hand on the table with hers, squeezing gently. "Regardless the time Harry needs, I'm happy you're trying. You deserve to give yourself this chance, Hermione. You've been through enough. And I'm sure you'll find your way back to each other. Trust me."
"Thank you for this, mum." Hermione squeezes her hand in return. "Now, there's something we need to talk about."
"Oh?" Her mother sips on her tea, intrigued.
"Just when we left your room at the Hospital, we heard father arriving with Peter." Bellatrix is already squinting and Hermione knows that she suspects what she's about to say. "He was the one who tried to kill you. And he was angry because Peter had failed and you were awake."
Bellatrix takes a deep breath, looking down, clearly fed up. "I suspected as much, but knowing for sure hits differently. Not that it brings me sadness… that's expected, Hermione, your father is not a good man."
"But why now? Do you have any idea if he found out something-"
"I don't know. Maybe he found out about John. Maybe he knows that I want to ruin him, that I had some part in the invasion at the night of the Ball. I don't know." She shrugs. "Or maybe he…" Bellatrix trails and Hermione raises her eyebrows.
"What?" She can see that her mother is resisting in sharing whatever she's thinking- "Don't give me that, mum. Spill it out."
Bellatrix sips on her tea. "Hermione, why do you think I never divorced your father?"
She blinks a few times. "I- first I thought it was because you loved him. Then I thought it was because of the love potion, but now… I'm not so sure." Hermione squints.
"Well, I never told you this because I didn't want to… worry you." Hermione holds her breath. "There's a tradition amongst the Riddles. An old one. About marriage. When a Riddle marries… it's for life."
"Aren't all marriages?" Her voice is low, she can feel a chill down her spine. "Wizards are very traditional-"
"Traditional, yes, literal, not so much. And well, when I married your father… it's binding till death do us part, Hermione. I can't divorce him, he can't divorce me."
She opens her mouth, surprised. And it hits her like a train- "If I do marry Asmodeus-"
"Yes."
Hermione closes her eyes. And the way Harry acted when he asked about her wedding comes to mind. She knows he won't accept this, knows it'll be pretty hard for him to ignore this reality if he doesn't open up to her to reveal his true identity. And if it all goes wrong, she'll have to marry Asmodeus… and only death will end their union.
She hates the notion. It makes her dizzy.
"I'm sorry." Bellatrix says after a while. "I- I want nothing more than for you to marry Harry."
She can't think about this now.
"Do you think father wants to dissolve your marriage?"
"Maybe."
"Does he… has a mistress?"
"One? He has a hundred, I'm sure." It shouldn't be, but it's a bit surprising how little Bellatrix cares about her husband's unfaithfulness.
"So? What then? Why now?"
"Maybe he found someone who he really wants to be with."
A silence settles, both thinking about it. Another chill goes down Hermione's spine. If her father found a woman that he loves- he doesn't love anyone. Only himself.
"Father brought Dolohov back, mum." Hermione says in a low voice, telling her mother about the night they invaded Dolohov's house, the curse he casted on her, how he saw her face and what he told her when she greeted him into the Department. "Do you have any idea what he might be planning with this? Do you think Dolohov knows about Harry?"
Bellatrix takes a moment to ponder, resting her chin on her fisted hand, her expression serious. "Sirius told me that your father only warned the counselors about Dolohov in that moment, they had no idea what was about to happen, and later when they questioned this decision, Tom reacted strongly, saying that Dolohov was an amazing Auror and they could only benefit from him being here now." Hermione makes a face. "I think Dolohov remembers what happened that night. That's the only explanation for your father to keep him close."
"But I don't understand. Why? Father took away the memory of all the other Aurors, he ruined their lives. He's hiding something big, so, why is Dolohov special? Why he gets to keep his memory? Why he gets a chance at coming back? And the timing, mum. On the next day after we went to his house…" She groans. Hermione knows it's all connected. And it gives her a terrible sensation. And a headache. "I know Harry still wants to interrogate him, but I can't see how we're going to do this with the man inside the Ministry. It could go wrong pretty fast."
"Indeed. You need to be careful. From what I know Harry hasn't talked to anyone else about this." Her mother hints and Hermione understands. He didn't try to ask for Sirius' and the others' help. "Maybe the best is to let things calm down for a bit. Focus on Moritz."
Hermione nods. "Moritz is my priority at the moment." She states in an even tone, "I need to solve things one at a time or else I'm losing it. Dolohov, Moritz, father, Asmodeus." She rolls her eyes at the last name.
"And how are things with Asmodeus?" Bellatrix asks.
"I'm so done with him. I've put him in his rightful place, but even so he keeps disappearing. He's been gone for four days, almost five, doing something for Peter…"
They share a look.
"You do know your investigation is set for failure, don't you?" Bellatrix asks in a serious tone. "If your father is working with the Pettigrews and Moritz, you'll never find the man. The IWO will give up at some point and this will be a huge nothing in no time. Moritz will continue to spread his drugs, your father will keep using them as he pleases and you'll have to marry Asmodeus."
"Oh, wow, such encouraging words, mum." She mumbles, knowing pretty well that her mother is right. Then she holds her head with both hands, defeated. "I have to believe." Hermione whispers. "Believe that we'll find Moritz, believe that I'll find the samples and that-"
"Ah! About the samples!" Bellatrix cuts her. Hermione widens her eyes, her heart beating like crazy. "I may have an idea. Have you searched Malfoy Manor?"
Hermione frowns. "No. Why?"
"Well, the Pettigrews and the Malfoys are insanely close, sweetie. Maybe Draco is the exception there, but Narcissa and Sarah are best friends. Peter is always at the Manor and since Lucius died, they've been more close than ever. What if Asmodeus hid the samples inside the mansion? You do know they have fucking dungeons."
"It… could be." Hermione looks down, pondering. It's not a crazy idea, but- "Fuck, if I could only talk about this with Draco, with the others, with anyone else-" She stops, angry.
Bellatrix sighs. "Why don't you, Hermione? What are you afraid of?"
She gulps, "I don't know…" Her voice is low. "I- some things are too complicate, mum."
Raising from the chair, Bellatrix comes to her, and with a hand on her shoulder, she says, "I'm sorry about the father you have, if it had been my choice I would have chosen differently." Hermione presses her lips together. "He took so much from you and even so you carried on and I couldn't be prouder. You're amazing, Hermione. And I love you." They share an emotional hug and she cries a bit, feeling warm and cold at the same time. "I have to go back now, but do not hesitate to reach out if you need anything, okay?" Bellatrix kisses her head. "You should visit Grimmauld."
"Are you going to stay there for how much longer?"
"For as long as I want." She winks at Hermione. "And I do love the house. I hope you make unforgettable memories here."
On this warm note, her mother leaves.
Hermione smiles.
"I hope so too." She whispers to herself, squeezing the necklace and finishing her tea.
The only thing she wants is the only thing she may not get: Harry.
But even so, she won't lose hope.
May 9th, 2006
Harry's flat
He looks outside his window. The scenery is mundane. A few short buildings like his, some stores and people enjoying the final minutes of daylight, going to restaurants and walking around.
There's a lot on his mind.
It's been five days since his mission with Hermione. Five days since she told him all those things.
And he can't stop thinking about all of it.
The binding obedience and how Tom Riddle would easily kill his own daughter if she dared to disobey him. What she said about living on the brink all those months… he can't help linking this to the strange sensation he felt that day at Crouch Jr.'s. He wanted to protect her, keep her close, maybe in a non conscious level he could feel her weakness. And then when she was sick and he went to her house… She looked terrible, indeed. It was more than a simple flu.
Fuck.
Harry has no idea how many potions she took. What kind. How strong. He's worried about this. She shouldn't have done that. And to imagine that she did this for him is… overwhelming.
The lengths of her love.
He gulps, still watching the movement outside.
On the brink she saved him from that bite-
Harry presses his forehead on the window, closing his eyes.
For the last few days he's been keeping his distance. Not because he wants to. But because he has no idea what to say to her, how to deal with this. Of course he still loves her, but that alone doesn't exclude his other emotions…
And Matteo. Harry sets his jaw. Whenever he thinks about his grandfather a boiling rage invades him. He's angry with his nonnino and also angry with himself for letting Matteo manipulate him so easily like he did that whole month in Rome. But it's not just that… he's also sad.
Sad because he can't understand. He doesn't get it. Why? If he wanted Harry to stay away from Hermione wouldn't it be easier to just deny him a second chance in London? Matteo actually pulled strings for Harry to come back-
To end Riddle.
He squints. There's something in all of this that he can't see. A hidden motive. A secret.
He crosses his arms.
There's one thing he can't stand thinking about, though.
Pettigrew.
Hermione will marry him but she explicitly said she doesn't love him. And… Pettigrew really knew about them. That's just-
He runs his hands through his hair. Then, he sighs.
The truth is undeniable.
Hermione had solid reasons to do what she did.
It's a fact that deep down he wished she had done them differently. He wished she had told him what was happening. He has no idea if they would have found a way of changing things, but from what he's seen from their bond, he's almost certain that yes, they could have ended this contract Riddle put on her.
However, the last few days away from her were like… a silent torture. Seeing her around the Ministry, talking to her about the investigation and then separating as if-
He lowers his head. Harry has no idea why he's resisting. He-
He wants to be with her. He wants to know it all. He wants to give them a chance, but…
To imagine that he needs to tell her who he is-
Stop being a coward about this. Stop.
He straightens his back and shakes his head.
It's still early in the evening, but he can already see the full moon shining bright amidst the clouds. Harry said to the others that he would stay inside, drink his potion and head to bed. Chiara is spending the night with Oliver again and it all should go smoothly just as the other full moon went.
However.
This time he's in London. Close to Hermione.
My mate.
Harry's not sure if he'll feel anything, but there's an urge inside him telling him not to drink the potion. His guts are telling him to… go out. Into the night.
He sighs, crossing his arms and considering.
Maybe he should go out tonight. He's fairly sure he won't be seized by the uncontrollable need to murder someone just to marvel at the smell of their blood.
In reality, he wants to smell the night. Hear its sounds. And maybe he's finally experiencing some of the traits a full moon can bring. It's weird, but he can tell his hearing is different. He narrows his eyes, making a face and scratching his forearm lightly, exactly where the scar from the bite lies.
It's itching a bit, reminding him of what he should be now. A werewolf.
The only reason why he's not is… Hermione. His heart swells.
Deciding, he fetches a jacket and leaves the flat. When he steps on the street, Harry inhales deeply, feeling as if he's part of the universe, part of something bigger. One with the night. One with the moon.
It's not a murderous, but a rather strange feeling that seizes him.
And he begins to walk. Aimlessly. It's a nice night and soon enough he realizes he's stepping across to Muggle London. Pocketing his hands, he pays attention to the people around him.
With an improved hearing, he can tell what's happening far away. He can hear the conversations inside the houses, conversations inside pubs and restaurants and anywhere, actually. It feels surreal. It could be annoying if he wasn't so fascinated by it. And the sensation is very different from the one he experienced with Moritz's powder. This is natural. Right.
His feet keep guiding him and he stops at a park. There's a smile on his face while he watches the children playing. Harry can hear their fast hearts beating.
It's overwhelming.
Sitting down on a bench, he looks up to the moon again.
Suddenly he wants to howl.
And he does.
The parents around the park give him a strange look, but the kids… well, the kids gather closer to him, laughing, all of them also howling. Harry laughs and howls again.
It's liberating, exciting. He can also smell how excited the children are.
This is crazy. But not in a bad way.
His heart is beating so fast. He can feel the blood pumping his veins. And he needs to waste away this energy.
So, not giving it much thought he leaves the park and starts to run. He's not really paying attention to where he's going. But it's almost like his heart knows the answer for him, so, he goes.
He has a smile on his face. And if from now on that's how it's going to be every full moon, then he's more than okay with it.
Harry has no idea for how long he runs. But it doesn't tire him, he barely feels any kind of exertion from it, so, he pushes himself, going faster, testing some boundaries, following a path that he never did before.
The streets are mostly empty and even if people were to question him, he's sure he's going at a speed that it would be hard to.
It's sensational to feel this alive.
He only stops running when he reaches another park he recognizes.
Harry blinks many times.
It can't be.
Looking back he wonders the distance he ran. It was… a lot. But it felt like nothing. He crosses his arms and walks slowly into the park. He's at the one from the little Village where…
Harry can see the house.
His parents' house.
His own feelings and senses brought him here.
In a daze he goes, his eyes on the house-
He halts.
Harry sniffs the air, paying attention now to be sure.
Yes. He can smell Hermione.
She's near.
He frowns. He can't see a person inside the house, and he can't find a reason why she might be there.
Sniffing the air again, he takes a few steps forward. She seems to be farther away.
And now he's insanely curious.
He wants to know what she's doing. Why she's there. He walks a bit in her direction, the wind guiding him. Harry wonders if he ran all the way from his flat to this park because his heart was already… looking for her. Yearning.
Remus told him more about the whole mate thing… and when one find their true mate, it's for life. Something powerful. A connection.
Another one, love. They already share the Perfect Harmony. And they have a magical bond. It's no surprise they're "animal" mates. Harry snorts a bit at the thought.
He's walking further inside the park now, crossing a bridge, noticing a wide lake. There's a house near the lake.
One single house. Pretty and medium sized.
He crosses his arms. He knows she's there. He can't smell anyone else. She's alone.
Harry takes a few more steps, slowly, testing his own resolve. Is it a good idea to be with her right now?
He clicks his tongue, stopping.
What if it's their perfect chance to finally solve everything? What if he's ready? What if this is the night he's going to tell her he's a Potter? He chews the insides of his cheeks.
He wants to give them this real shot. Hermione said she would be waiting for him.
And the least he can do is be honest with her. His secret is not bigger than what he feels for her. He won't lose her because of this.
He sighs, running a hand through his hair, he's getting closer to the house. And now he can see a wooden platform leading to the lake.
Hermione is there, he can make out her silhouette. She's sitting at the edge, her feet dangling. Her head is turned up. She's looking at the full moon.
An almost unbearable urge to go to her blinds him.
For sure the mate thing is doing its magic.
At this moment he's only filled with incredible sensations.
Love.
Desire.
Belonging.
He takes a few deep breaths, calming down a bit, leaning on a tree and closing his eyes.
Her scent is stronger now that he's closer and he can almost feel her taste on his tongue. He groans, looking at her again. A rush of wind blows her hair in the air and Harry's heart stops when the scent becomes overwhelming.
Is so very different. The sensation. And he enjoys it immensely.
He takes a step forward. Two. Three. If he takes one more he'll be running to her, seizing her in his arms, kissing her. He'll make love to her.
Another step.
And then, he breaks into a run to her.
She turns her head to look behind her shoulder when he takes the first step onto the platform. Harry stops, breathing hard, but not from the run.
No.
From the sheer excitement of being here, of having this moment with her. He knows how this night will end.
He'll tell her everything. Now.
Harry can't help opening a huge smile at her baffled face.
Hermione stands swiftly, taking a few steps to him and he moves to her.
Like magnets.
"Harry?" She blinks. "The moon- how did you find me?"
She's always making so many questions.
He doesn't waste any time answering them.
Harry closes the space between them and seizes her in his arms, lifting her from the floor, inhaling deeply and taking in her scent, hearing the frenetic beat of her heart, primitively recognizing her.
His mate.
His everything.
And there's not even a word he needs to say, Hermione can see what he's telling her in his eyes. She smiles and leans to him.
On the next second they're kissing.
Her lips are soft pressed against his. And she tastes wonderfully. Harry squeezes her in his arms, moving his head and dominating the kiss, feeling very protective and possessive towards her. She moans softly, her tongue exploring his mouth, his caressing hers, both breathing hard and smiling. He takes her lower lip between his teeth and she moans again, wrapping her legs around him.
Harry kisses her cheek, his lips seeking her skin. Her hands are already in his hair, tugging and caressing.
Their mouths find each other's again.
It will never cease to amaze him. How well they fit. How good it feels. How right it is.
There's no rush.
Even if he wants to be inside her immediately-
There's no rush.
This is how they completely understand each other. Touching, kissing, feeling.
Slowly and seductively.
There's no rush.
He wants to taste every inch of her, he wants to smell her and be with her for as long as he can.
She squeezes him in her arms, her tongue going over his lips, her nose bumping into his.
Hermione pulls back, her eyes seeking his.
"I love you." She says in a low voice, a bit pained but also filled with affection and hope.
Harry can hear her heart pounding inside her chest. So freaking fast. And he notices his is beating exactly the same.
"I love you." He whispers, still smiling.
"This is it for me, Harry. You're it. And I want to have it all." She's so serious.
"I feel the same." He gently kisses her cheek and she sighs, kissing his and then, spreading little kisses all over his face.
He chuckles, then he openly laughs.
Happiness.
He's so freaking happy.
Hermione unwraps her legs from him and he settles her on the floor.
They stare at each other for minutes, her fingers gently tracing his features. His doing the same. When his thumb reaches her mouth she kisses it. And he inhales deeply, his heart swelling. The full moon witnessing their love.
They touch their foreheads. "Fuck, I missed us so much." Harry says.
"Me too." She kisses him again. "Let's head inside."
He blinks. "Is the house yours?" He points out to the house behind them.
Hermione takes his hand in hers, leading him to the back door.
"It is." She states, smiling. "It could be ours, if you want to."
He opens his mouth, surprised. Harry tilts his head, asking if she's serious. She only raises one eyebrow.
"Maybe I want to." He says in a low voice, hugging her side, bringing her closer.
Hermione keeps smiling.
And then, for a second, he dreads her reaction when she learns the truth. That he's a Potter. Inevitably he stops at the door.
"What's wrong?" She asks with one hand on his chest. He presses his lips together. "Hey. No going back now. We're fucking doing this." Her tone is the bossy one and he smiles. Hermione pulls him inside by the t-shirt.
The house is very nice. The size, the furniture. But it's clear that it still needs a lot of work.
"I've bought it recently." Hermione says, "I'm trying to do things slowly but as you know I don't have much time on my hands, so, whenever I can, I come here and do some much needed work." She winks at him.
And taking his hand again she guides him to the only couch on the big living room. It's pretty comfortable. Harry tries relaxing, but he can't. This feels monumental.
"Harry," Their eyes lock, they're sitting close and she cups his face with one hand. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I can't force you to trust me, but if we're going to try this, we need to be honest with each other."
He can hear her heartbeats. Hermione is calm. Sure.
Inhaling deeply, and being a bit assaulted by her scent that is all over the place, he closes his eyes. He doesn't even know how to begin. Hermione takes his left hand in hers and a new kind of sensation invades him. Maybe the full moon has something to do with it, but it gives him the final push he needed.
This is Hermione.
If he can't tell her the truth, then… what's the purpose of everything? She's the only one that matters.
"Love," He says, gulping. "I- I have a secret that… I'm not sure how to share. It's kinda of hard and I'm afraid of how you might react-"
She presses her lips to his.
"Just tell me, Harry. Say it out loud." Her voice is low, their mouths almost touching.
He pulls a bit back to look at her, blinking. Is it possible that she- Harry widens his eyes.
Hermione nods slightly.
"I'm a Potter. I'm James and Lily's son." He says, looking into her eyes, paying attention to her reactions and heartbeats.
She inhales deeply, opening a smile. Her heart beats a tad faster, but not much. And he oddly can smell her… relief.
"I know." She states. "I've known for a while, love." He's in shock. Harry has no idea what to say, so, she wets her lips and does it for him, "I discovered a while ago and I've been waiting for you to feel comfortable enough to share this with me. I've been waiting for you to trust and love me enough-"
"No." He cuts her, coming back to the moment, really, truly shaken.
"No?" She tilts her head. And now her heart beats faster, she's afraid of what he might mean.
Harry squeezes her left hand. "It wasn't about trust or love. I- I wanted to tell you. So much. But I was afraid. So afraid of what you might think and…" He sighs. "I thought you would reject me-"
"Never." She touches his forehead with hers.
"How? How did you find out?" He's not quite sure how he feels about this. It's a mixture of relief with anger and shock and happiness and fear and excitement.
She makes a face. He raises an eyebrow.
"Well, I had to keep my eye on you and… I might have taken a memory from your nightstand on that day that I visited you after the attack at the funeral." She bites her lower lip. Harry only blinks.
"You took my memory?" He's not even angry. He's just baffled.
"And I'm so sorry about it." She points out. "I almost didn't watch, but I was insanely curious and to be fair, you just left it there inside the drawer-"
"Well, maybe I was a bit reckless…" He says, thinking that Sally also stole the same memory.
"I- I watched it and… when I found out you weren't blood related to the D'Angelos, I-" She shakes her head. "You do remember I was curious about the Potters and I'd seen photos of them when I was like thirteen. You look exactly like James, Harry." Her voice is low. He's paying attention. "I went to Hogwarts." He frowns. "I asked to see a picture of James. And I was sure of it. Making the connection with the fact that Lucius attacked you and all…" She trails, fidgeting, a bit nervous.
Harry runs a hand through his hair. "Are you telling me you've known since Malfoy's funeral?"
She shrugs, "Around that time, yeah. And oh, I broke into your flat."
He opens his mouth, "What?" Harry can't help snorting. "Fuck, Hermione. Isn't the Head Auror a criminal? Stealing, breaking in-"
She laughs honestly. It's the most sensational sound in the world. Harry brings her hand to his lips, kissing it.
"I saw your wall." She gulps.
He stops breathing for a second.
"I wrote those things when I first arrived and-"
"You don't need to justify yourself to me, Harry. Even back then I understood your motives and reasons." Her voice is soft.
Harry cannot believe this. He never imagined this conversation would be so easy. And that he would feel so safe and sure.
"How, though?" He can't help asking. "I explicitly wrote 'kill the Riddles'-"
"And you repeatedly saved me. Days ago you helped me save my mother's life, Harry." She gulps, squeezing his hand. "And I can't say I care that much about my father." Her words are heavy, Harry can smell anger and resentment emanating from her, metallic smells. It's so odd being able to tell her emotions like this. "Not after everything he did. And keeps doing. I don't agree with his decisions or his rule, Harry." She states.
"What are you saying?" He gulps. "That you're in this with me?"
"Yes." He sighs at the answer, his hand going to her cheek, his thumb caressing her. Hermione kisses his inner wrist. "What happened to your parents… There's something huge behind this, I'm sure. And I'll help you discover it. We'll bring them justice, love." He feels some tears falling down his face. "I'm so sorry about the whole thing."
He nods, trying to hold back his tears, closing his mouth and-
"Let it out, Harry." She whispers. "I'm here."
He cries, and Hermione holds him. She settles herself on the couch and brings his head to her lap, while he lies down. Even if Harry is bigger, he feels small in her arms, but very much protected. Hermione doesn't say a word while he lets it out, but her hands keep caressing his hair, his nape, his arms. She soothes him.
And it's the first time that Harry thinks about his parents and something unlocks inside his chest, a heaviness he wasn't even aware, going away slowly, leaving him. He can smell the sadness from her, sympathetic to his emotions.
He inhales deeply and buries his face on her stomach, trying to calm down.
Hermione waits for as long as he needs to.
Her touch is yet again, and always, like a balm.
Finally, after a long while, he brushes his last tears away, looking up at her. Hermione opens a small smile. Her nails on his scalp, gently scratching.
"Better?" She asks.
He kisses her belly. "Loads. I mean, I could live between your arms." He echoes her words from some time ago and she chuckles.
"You're too big for me to carry you around." She jokes and he chuckles with her, his arms squeezing her waist while he buries his face on her stomach again. Then Hermione inhales deeply and he can hear her heart beating faster, her smell changing to anger and some fear. "There's a lot we need to talk about, but I want to tell you the reason why I'm marrying Asmodeus."
He freezes. And snarls. Just the mention of this, the mental image of Hermione - my mate - marrying another man makes his blood boil. He would murder Pettigrew right now. Tensing, he moves from her lap, sitting by her side and looking into her eyes.
"You're not going to marry him. Is that clear?" She bites her lower lip. "You're mine." His hand squeezes her thigh. Hermione opens her mouth. "Just mine." He leans to her, kissing with some harshness, instinctively wanting to mark her.
In a blink he's on top of her on the couch, pressing himself onto her body, their kiss escalating. He can smell her arousal and it drives him crazy. He's losing control pretty fast.
There's no rush.
He stops for a moment, looking into her eyes.
"I'm yours." She says. "I've been yours since the day we met, Harry."
Sighing, he rubs his cheek on hers, leaving a red trail on her skin from his beard.
"Marry me." He says.
Hermione opens a huge smile.
"Yes."
There are no words for the happiness engulfing them. Still with his huge smile on his face, he kisses her again, both breathless and moaning softly, their bodies moving in a sensual way. Teasing. Hermione keeps saying the word 'yes' each time she gets the chance. And it gives him the warmest sensation ever.
But she stops him when his hand reaches the waistband of her shorts.
He raises an eyebrow to her.
"We need to talk."
Harry snorts, a bit annoyed, but agreeing. And she moves back to sit on the couch, serious. He runs a hand through his hair, bringing her to his lap, squeezing her in his arms, his tongue going over her skin on her neck, biting gently. She takes a deep breath, calming down.
"Okay." He nuzzles her, amazed by her scent. "Tell me, then."
He can tell she's nervous about this.
"Harry. This is important and I want you to promise me that you won't do something stupid."
"Define stupid." She cocks her head, raising an eyebrow. He can't help laughing. "Angry Hermione is so sexy." He squeezes her thigh again, rocking his hips up.
She kisses him, biting his lip, hurting a bit. He grunts.
"Do you like angry Hermione?" Her voice is low. "How about murderous Hermione if you don't listen to me?"
He chuckles. Then he sighs. Her smell tells him this is very important and he nods, "Okay, I'm listening."
"Promise me you won't do something stupid."
"You have to tell me first. Then I can promise-"
"No. Promise me now."
He grits his teeth, narrowing his eyes. "I don't like how this is going. What the fuck is the deal with Pettigrew?"
"I'm waiting."
He rolls his eyes, "Fine. I won't do stupid things."
Hermione gulps, looking down, then back up at him. He feels a bit cold inside. This is… not good.
"Asmo found out who you are, Harry." Her voice is very low and he widens his eyes. "He was the one who hired that man to kill you at the funeral." He blinks many times, registering the information, "He took your blood and the Ministry holds blood samples of every person that is interrogated or a suspect. Asmo took your father's sample and made a spell to confirm your identity."
"What?" He whispers, shaking.
"I know." She closes her eyes. "This is… impossible to go against. We can stop people from reading our minds, and we can learn how to lie under Veritaserum, but this proof Asmo has is final. There's no way of denying the truth of it."
"But- how- why-" He doesn't know what he wants to say. How in the world is he still alive, how-
"Harry, listen." His attention goes back to her. "When we went to Edinburgh, I was going to end things with Asmo. I wanted to be with you and I couldn't stand another day of that bullshit." He sets his jaw, squeezing her. "He proposed and I said no."
He widens his eyes. "You said no?"
"Of course I said no, Harry. You're my only yes."
He touches her forehead with his, sighing. Finally, the knife - that same knife that was inside his chest each time he saw her with Pettigrew - leaves him for good. It's almost like he can feel it being plucked.
Never, not even for a second, they weren't each other's.
She kisses his cheek. "When I said no, he asked if it was because of you. He saw us that day at the Manor."
Harry groans. "Fucking shit."
"Even so, I was ready to end things with him and defy my father to be with you. But-" She chokes.
"What? Tell me." He can feel the fear inside him, a notion so terrible of-
"He told me he knew the truth about you and showed me the blood samples." Harry shakes his head. No. "I asked what he wanted to keep it a secret-" She presses her lips together, he already knows what she's going to say and- "He wants to marry me. Wants our children to be the sole heirs of the Riddle fortune."
It flashes through his mind the image of Hermione pregnant with Pettigrew by her side, holding her- Harry wants to punch something.
"No. You can't do that, Hermione. You'll ruin your life-"
"I made a Vow with him, Harry. To marry him."
He stops breathing.
Harry feels dizzy. There are tears threatening to run down his face again.
"No." He whispers, the only word he's capable of saying right now. "No." He buries his face on the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent, trying to think properly- "I'll kill him." He says, snarling, the portion of 'beast' inside him roaring loudly.
Hermione is shaking her head.
"You can't. Harry, no." She holds his face. "If something happens to him or his family, there's someone ready to release this to the press." Harry can't believe this, an anger takes over him and he fists his hand, gritting his teeth, thinking about that motherfucker who is going to ruin his life with Hermione- "Please." His attention goes back to her. "Calm down." She kisses his cheek, then his nose, his closed eyelids… Harry tries breathing deeply and slowly.
He knows she's sad. He can smell it. And it makes him murderous. He whines, closing his arms around her.
"You shouldn't have done that, Hermione." He says while leaving a gentle kiss on her neck. "Fuck. No. There must be something we can do to change this."
And it hits him how unfair he was being to her. All this time she was protecting him, shielding him from threats while he kept thinking she didn't love him enough, or didn't want to fight for them. While she already knew his true identity-
Dio. What an asshole.
"Well, I've been trying to find the samples, but I swear, I already went to almost every place I could think of." She sighs. "I won't stop looking for them, though."
"But… you Vowed you would marry him." He says, gulping. "Even if we find the samples… you have to go through with it."
She makes a face. "You see, I agreed I would say yes to his proposal if he held on to the samples and the truth of you being a Potter. And I was very specific when we made the Vow. I don't even think Asmodeus was paying enough attention."
"What are you saying? That you Vowed to say yes to his proposal but not to actually marry him?"
She opens a mischievous smile. "Exactly."
Harry exhales heavily, shaking his head. Then, he kisses her. "My brilliant soulmate." He says with their lips close. She nibbles at his lower lip.
"He has no idea, and I want to keep it that way. But I need to find the samples, it's the only way of stopping this. Because if the wedding comes and I refuse to go through with it…"
"So, let's find these samples."
She opens a smile. "Yes."
"And then this nightmare will be over." He kisses her cheek. "And I'll make you my wife."
She inhales deeply at the word. He can smell her happiness, excitement, horniness, and also… sadness. He moves his head to look into her eyes, a question on his face.
He can see there's something more she needs to tell him.
"Harry-" She begins, stopping, biting her lower lip and closing her eyes. Hermione starts to cry and he squeezes her in his arms.
"What? Love, what is it?"
She keeps crying silently and he does the only thing he can at the moment: he holds her, his lips seeking her tears, his thumb brushing them away. She's sad and unsure. Afraid.
"There's something you need to know and I'm just… so freaking scared of telling you this."
He blinks, "Now I'm a bit scared too." He says in a low voice. "I can smell how much this messes with you." She looks down, shaking her head. "Hey, beautiful." He moves her chin up with his fingers. "No matter what, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. This is it."
"I want to be your wife more than anything else, Harry." She says, brushing a few tears. "But it wouldn't be fair to you if I don't tell you the whole truth." She takes a deep breath and he waits, tense. "I-" Her face scrunches into an ugly cry.
"Just say it, love. Say it. It's okay." He says softly.
Harry gives her a peck.
"I- I can't have children."
He blinks, opening his mouth. A thousand things go through his mind at once. He can't deny it hurts to hear this. But…
"It changes nothing." He whispers. "Love." He hugs her, breathing deeply. Hermione is crying compulsively in his arms. Sobbing. "I'm here." Harry tries soothing her. It's overwhelming how sad and hurt she smells. He groans deep in his throat, feeling her pain and trying to calm her.
He's restless because his mate is like this. Suffering.
"I- I'm so sorry." She sobs.
"It's okay, Hermione." He kisses her neck. "My love, it's okay."
She sniffs. "No, it's not." Hermione shakes her head. "And it's not fair to you." Her voice is low and she moves back to look at him. "I understand if you feel like-"
"Stop." He says in a serious tone. "Stop. If this is the reality of things, then it is. It's not fair to both of us. But it doesn't change my love for you. It doesn't change how much I want to be with you."
She's still suffering, trying to calm down. Harry waits.
"What if in twenty years you resent me for this?" She asks in a whisper.
He touches her nose with his. "I won't. Look me in the eyes." She does. "I won't." She gulps. "Okay?"
Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and says, "Okay."
They hug again, squeezing each other.
Harry never seriously thought about kids. When he proposed to Chiara, he imagined they would have a few, but it was not something he yearned. It's like his revenge always came first. There was no time to think about this. And he never considered what being a father truly means.
Of course that when it first crossed his mind that he was in love with Hermione and wanted to propose to her, he considered a family of their own. Of course he thought that she was the only woman he wanted to be the mother of his children, but-
But she's enough. If he can have her, he has everything.
He sighs, kissing her cheek.
In reality he's sad because of how much this affects her. He can smell and feel it. Not to mention the way she's crying. Painfully.
"Tell me about it, Hermione." He says, pulling from their hug and looking into her eyes. "When did you find out?"
"I was sixteen." She presses her lips together. "I- the healer's words were 'you might try, but it'll never happen'." She swallows hard. "No one knows about this, Harry. Just my mother. I obliviated the healer." He nods, understanding. "And… my mother told me recently that it's probably my father's fault-" She chokes again.
"What?" He sees red again, a furious anger taking over him. Harry grits his teeth, fisting a hand. "He did this to you?" He's breathing hard.
"His experiments did. My mother tried stopping the whole thing, but-" She shakes her head. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't you dare apologizing!" He hisses. Then he exhales, calming down a bit. Her fingers massage his scalp. "He deserves to die." Harry states in a serious tone. "Fuck, Hermione. Having you in my arms is the only thing stopping me from killing him right now."
She touches his forehead with hers. "We can't act on our impulses, love. You're too emotional, Harry. We need to think things through. Each step. Each moment." She gives him a peck. "Don't you think I wanted to murder him at the Hospital? When I found out he tried to kill my mother?" She sets her jaw. "He'll pay. We'll make him pay."
"When?" He asks, still seeing red.
"Patience." She says. "He's very powerful, Harry. Scarily so."
"I can-"
"You can't." She gives him a pointed look. "But the both of us," She motions between them, her left hand finding his. The bond comes to life and Harry groans. "We can."
"Together." He whispers.
She opens a tiny smile. "Together."
He kisses her, trying to lighten the moment and take her pain away. Also in an attempt to get his mind out of his murderous thoughts.
Hermione kisses him slowly, exploring his mouth as if they've never done this before. It's so good. So right. And he moves to pull her t-shirt up. She helps him and in a blink he's unclasping her bra. She pushes his jacket off and he moves to get rid of it, her lips on his neck. He groans. He's getting hard pretty fast and when his t-shirt is also on the floor, the way she rakes her nails through his chest drives him crazy.
Harry can smell her arousal, stronger this time. And there's a need so latent inside him, something he never experienced before that's certainly overwhelming. It's like he was born to live this moment, to be inside her, to satisfy his mate, to breed.
He moans, standing from the couch and taking her with him. Walking to- he has no idea, he doesn't even understand why he's up. So, he presses her against the nearest wall, her legs around him. He rakes his teeth on her neck, then lower, reaching her breast, licking. Hermione moans softly, her hands, as always, in his hair, tugging.
"There's-" She's breathless, "A bed upstairs."
He groans, rocking his hips onto hers, his senses on overdrive. He seeks her lips again, kissing a bit aggressively. Claiming her. She corresponds, their bare chests rubbing on each other's. He can feel her nipples, smell all of her, hear her heart, her moans-
"Fuck the bed." He says, biting her neck. His hands now squeezing her butt, certainly bruising. "I need to be inside you." And he thinks about all their clothes disappearing. It's not a surprise that they do vanish.
He feels her hot entrance and she leans her head back, closing her eyes when he enters her. Her legs closing even more around him to take his length.
Harry stops for a second. And they look at each other. There will never be a sensation so strong and perfect like this one.
"I love you." She says, kissing him. "So much." She kisses his jaw. "So fucking much."
He grits his teeth, groaning. The werewolf thing is taking over him. He's not sure he'll be able to do this slowly or romantically as he thought-
"I don't think-" He bites his lower lip hard when she clenches her walls around him, teasing. "I can't-"
"Fuck me." She says in a serious tone. "Hard."
The air leaves him. Because that's exactly what he needs. Probably she feels the same.
It's been too long.
He effortlessly holds her against the wall, his fingers digging into the flesh of her ass with force. Her arms are around his neck and he moves his hips. Then he thrusts deep. Slow. Feeling every inch, every little sensation. She closes her eyes, he can smell the sheer lust from her. Their desire speaking louder than any other emotion.
He's breathing so hard. His heart is going so freaking fast.
It's amazing.
Harry fucks her against the wall. Hard. They don't say a word. He can only hear and concentrate on how their bodies meet. The perfect sensation.
He can only smell her. Look at her.
He presses his lips to hers.
Hermione moves one hand to her clit, stimulating madly, looking into his eyes.
It's bliss.
And he can easily tell when she's about to reach her orgasm. Her muscles tensing, her body shaking, her heart beating a tad faster, her breathing-
The notion of her pleasure makes him come first, groaning in an animalistic way, thrusting deep. She bites his neck, following him, letting out a sound that resembles his.
They're sweating. And the smell of their union feels like the finest drug to Harry. "Dio. You smell heavenly." He licks her, still pressing her against the wall.
Hermione laughs. "My wolfy Harry." She says, rubbing her cheek against his, both marveling at the intimate sensation.
He looks at her, smiling. "I love you." He kisses her cheek. "I love you." He says again, and then, he screams to the ceiling, "I LOVE YOU, HERMIONE RIDDLE!"
"AND I LOVE YOU, HARRY POTTER!"
They laugh. It exhilarates him to hear his true name from her lips.
It feels so damn good.
"It should be illegal to be this happy." She says in a whisper.
He shakes his head, finally moving away from the wall, taking her in his arms. "This is just the beginning, love."
She opens the brightest smile ever and his heart swells yet again.
Harry walks up the stairs with her, searching for the bed.
It's just the beginning.
END OF PART FOUR