Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 1 - Philosopher's Stone – part 5
Halloween, AD1991, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"It is not my fault…" Hermione thought, trying to convince herself of this fact.
After she heard Degurechaff and the troll leaving the bathroom, it still took a few minutes until she was brave enough to leave herself. As she did, a panting Ron Weasley almost knocked her down.
"Y-you? Where is Harry? And Tanya?" Ron asked, trying to take his breath.
"Harry was here?" It was all she managed to say.
"Bollocks!" The boy cursed and grabbed her by the arm and both returned to Gryffindor common room.
From what she could tell from Ron, his idea was to take her to safety and then return to look for his friend but…
"Please! I need to go back!" Hermione heard Ron Weasley plead with his brothers.
"We can't Ron! The troll may be still out there. It's too dangerous!" Percy Weasley said.
"But, but… Harry is out there! I thought that he was running with me, but when I looked behind, he was not! The troll was coming after Tanya when I last saw! The blood thing was furious!"
"I know, but you can't leave. There is nothing you can do." One of the twins said.
Ron tried to argue with his brothers and even slip past them. But the three boys were blocking the exit to make sure their young brother wouldn't leave.
Most of the Gryffindors were nearby and none knew what to say that would help in this situation.
The boy finally gave up and approached Hermione, looking very dejected.
"You okay?" Ron asked her, even if he was suffering, he was still worried about her.
The red-headed boy threw himself to the closest couch and grabbed his head in despair.
"If Harry dies it will be all my fault!"
Hermione felt compelled to agree with him. A dark part of herself told her to turn this boy into the scapegoat she needed. No one would know the part she played in the deaths of Tanya Degurechaff and Harry Potter. She could just blame it all on-
"What the- what am I thinking?! Was I always such an awful person? This is why I have no friends… And Tanya may have given her life to save mine!" Hermjone thought, beginning to feel ashamed with herself.
'… I don't care about grades or being best in class, what I really want are friends.'
"N-no!What if she was speaking the truth?!"
She finally understood. It was all an excuse to hate Tanya. The shorter girl was smarter, and unlike Hermione, she shared her knowledge, took the time to help others and even cared for her to try to console her. And what was her reward?
'I HATE YOU! And I really wish… wish that you were… dead.'
"Oh god! Why did I say that?"
"I abandoned Harry-"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Hermione shouted.
She came closer to Ron and held his hand.
"It was all my fault! If I wasn't so jealous and didn't make so much fuss, Tanya wouldn't go after me… and neither would Harry! If there is someone responsible, THAT IS ME!" She shouted so everyone present could hear.
Hermione began to weep, Ron knowing how she felt, tried to comfort her as best he could.
At that moment, the entrance to the Gryffindor common room opened.
"… and I must remind you again, don't let this act of pure luck inflate your head Mr Potter! A mountain troll is very dangerous, even to a fully grown wizard!" Professor McGonagall was saying.
"But professor! It was not me who-" The voice of Harry Potter was heard.
"Stop being modest Harry. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here." And that was Tanya Degurechaff.
"But-"
"And how is your ankle, miss Degurechaff?"
"Madam Pomfrey fixed it, I don't feel pain anymore. I still marvel at how convenient magic can be."
"Don't get too used to it. There is a limit of times magic can cure the same wound- Is something wrong here" The professor asked, realizing the heavy mood in the room.
The entire room was looking at them with eyes wide.
"YOU ARE ALIVE!" Ron was the first to recover from the shock and run to Harry and give him a bear hug.
The other Gryffindors had a mix of relief and happiness at seeing the two kids alright.
"They are alright! Oh, thank Merlin!" The first impulse from Hermione was to run to them, but she was still embarrassed with her part in this fiasco. Unintentionally, she hid herself in the closest corner.
"Sorry that I left you there mate!" Ron apologized.
"Huh? You didn't leave me. I choose to not run and leave Tanya by herself." Harry explained.
"Oh, right! Sorry I didn't help you out there Tanya…" Ron also apologized to Tanya.
"No, given the situation, you did the right thing-"
"Speaking of that, Mr Potter already explained why he was there. But what about you miss Degurechaff?"
"Me? I was in the bathroom with Granger- Wait! Where is Hermione Granger?" Tanya asked about her.
"Oh no! She didn't get back?" Now she was worrying about her. This only made Hermione feel worse.
Hermione left her hiding place and presented herself.
"Ah! There you are Hermione! For a moment you scared me."
"Why are you being so nice to me? After all the awful things I said…"
"What? No! I am sorry I said some mean things to you-"
"Everything you said was the truth! I didn't really want to be the best, I wanted you out of the way, so the teachers would pamper me!"
"Then, how about we forgive each other-"
Tanya didn't have a chance to finish as Hermione gave her a bear hug just like Ron did to Harry.
"Oh! I am sorry! I am so sorry!" Hermione was so full of regret that she started to weep on Tanya.
"D-don't be like this! I already forgave you!"
"Oh! Thank you! Thank you!" This time, her tears were from happiness.
"I thought the troll caught both of you!"
"Err, Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagal called her, but she couldn't hear.
"And… And… I was so rude when you tried to console me!"
"H-Hermione!" This time it was Ron, but again, she didn't hear.
"She is so light…" Hermione noticed how small this girl really is.
"I am shorty myself and still taller than her. But I must say, this only makes her look adorable! Why was I so angry with her again? She is so cute! She kind ofresembles a doll I-"
"HERMIONE!" This time Harry shouted.
"Huh? Oh! Right! I also should apologize to you Harry-"
"You are choking Tanya!"
Hermione looked down and confirmed it to be true. The poor girl was trying to no avail to free herself from her hug.
"Wha- Oh! I am sorry!" She apologized again and released the girl.
"She is kind of frail, actually."
"N-no, i-it's okay… You just caught me by surprise."
Hermione turned to professor McGonagall. It was time to assume responsibility.
"Professor, it's all my fault. Tanya was in danger only because I was jealous of her recent success. If it wasn't for me, Harry and Ron would not be there too. So, if you want to punish or even e-expel someone then it should be me!"
"Miss Granger-"
"No! It is the fault of whoever let that troll lose. And speaking of that. Professor, how is that possible?" Tanya interceded in Hermione's favor.
"W-what?"
"That troll, how is it possible that one got in the castle in the first place? Doesn't the school have measures against situations like this? And are trolls even from this region?"
"W-well… Y-you see…"
What a rare occasion. Professor McGonagal was always so confident and sure of herself. Now she was abashed.
"Bah! Bet it was Peeves. This looks like one of his pranks!" Ron said.
"You are absolutely right! This was probably that poltergeist! I will talk later with the Bloody Baron to find the appropriate punishment." Professor McGonagall immediately agreed with him.
"And what about them, professor?" Percy Weasley asked, referring to Harry, Tanya and Hermione.
"I believe the scare was punishment enough for everyone… this time."
Hermione let go a breath of relief for not being expelled.
"And what happened to the troll?" Ron asked, only now letting go of Harry.
"That's what I am trying to say! Tanya-"
"Harry killed it!" Tanya cut Harry, responding quickly.
"He did?!" Hermione asked.
"Yup! All by himself!"
"A single boy killed the troll, all by himself?" Percy Weasley mirrored the feeling of everyone in the room.
Hermione agreed with him. An adult killing a troll would already be hard enough. But a boy? Not a chance!
"Hum? Don't believe me? Did you forget? Harry already defeated a dark lord as a toddler. How hard would a troll be to someone like that?"
This revelation prompted reactions in all present.
"Ah!" One of the twins exclaimed.
"T-that's right!" The other Weasley twin agreed.
"We forgot about that!" This time it was Dean Thomas.
"Well, let's admit that Harry acts so ordinarily that we kind of forgot that he is the boy-who-lived." Lavender Brown remarked.
"Tanya! Please tell us what happened!" Asked Neville, very eager to hear.
"I admit that I am curious about the details." Professor McGnagal cut in.
"Alright, alright. Everyone gather around, I will tell how heroic Harry Potter was and…" Tanya said, like an announcer about to tell a long story.
"But I didn't do anything-!"
Everyone present ignored Harry, as they made themselves comfortable to better hear what Tanya witnessed.
"… and also, very modest."
In the end, it was never truly clear who was responsible for the troll. Tanya wondered if it was really the poltergeist… She considered interrogating him, but for what the Weasley twins said, he was a pest. Apparently, she was lucky to have never crossed paths yet. She definitely doesn't want to meet him. Regular ghosts were annoying enough.
Moreover, the teachers acted very suspicious in the next few days. Not even professor Snape wanted to talk about the matter. She even wondered if this had anything to do with the forbidden third-floor. Could they actually be breeding trolls there?!
'…anyone going to the third-floor is going to suffer a most painful death…' Could this be what the headmaster was referring to? Could this mean that at any given moment, the castle could end full of those things? And what if Harry was far from Tanya? What if he got so seriously injured that it would be impossible for him to fight Voldemort? It seems that Harry would not have his 'free year' after all, at least the basics of combat he will need to learn.
And about Harry, she had to give him an excuse as to why she lied about him defeating the troll. Tanya just said of fearing that later, the professors could pressure her into becoming an auror or a hit wizard. Which is the truth. It is best that she doesn't get too much attention as a warrior or like in her previous life she could end again as some sort of soldier dealing with high risk missions.
This time around, she would sell her image as a scholar. And, so far it was proceeding spectacularly well. Her thesis on this world's magic was given to the department of mysteries, and not long afterward, they sent an owl informing that her theories would be studied and a spot as a researcher would be left open for her when she graduates from Hogwarts. The director wanted to hire her already, saying that such a remarkable witch would only waste her time at school when she had so much to teach. Tanya felt tempted to take the offer on the spot as a job doing research away from danger was a long-awaited dream. However she couldn't disregard Pereverel's words demanding that she should go to this school.
Fortunately, wizards and witches from today were still too attached to their traditions, not to say too afraid of changing. This means that they would study her theories very slowly, it would be doubtful that they would take any major initiative in the next decade or two. Meaning that by the time of her graduation, if Tanya didn't find the hallows yet, she would have a high paying and secure job. Actually, this future looked so good that she almost wished to stay to see.
Besides, Tanya had to stay to overlook Harry's education and growth. As it appears it would be her responsibility to train the boy, because if it was up to Quirrell, nobody would ever learn anything about self defense.
Tanya didn't like Quirrell. It was his insufferable stuttering, his tardiness, his sloppiness! In sum, he was very much the sort of incompetent worker that killed the salaryman. His classes never taught anything at all, most students had already given up paying attention anyway. But there was something else about him: he was 'odd'… Tanya's instincts screamed at her that he was a threat, even when his back was turned- no. It was as if with his back turned, he became truly dangerous?
Her time as a soldier taught her to always rely on her sharp instincts, but maybe, this environment was messing with it. Tanya was wondering if she was mistaken as the man proved to be a coward. People said that when the troll appeared, he fainted! At least regarding bravery, Harry was better than him. When the boy saw her being chased by that creature, he didn't run, instead he wanted to help. He was still useless though…
This was another motive for her lie. Tanya really didn't want to play the damsel in distress or give credit to someone that didn't earn it. Nonetheless, she thought that, maybe if the boy was forced into the role of the hero, this could be the push he needed to become one. But it seems that he is not ashamed of being saved by a girl!
At least Hermione' hostilities were over. In good part because Tanya didn't need to please the teachers anymore. Meaning she now could have all the attention she always wanted. She still followed Tanya, feeling guilty over that incident, and since Harry is always after Tanya, and Ron is after Harry, those three became close.
Hermione was a good influence in the boy's life, just like with Ron Weasley, they tended to get along very well on a day-to-day basis. But unlike the boy, she was aware that Harry had to be diligent with his schoolwork and on more than one occasion became a reliable ally in convincing Harry into studying.
And Tanya may be planning too ahead of time but, perhaps Hermione could someday become Mrs Potter? Everyone would like that, right? And since she feels so much guilt/gratitude towards Tanya, she would become a convenient puppet to support her control over Harry Potter…
Tanya couldn't foresee how big of a ruckus her 'homework' would cause in this stagnant world. It was a matter of time before the press learned of her achievement and the school found itself receiving lots of owls asking for her to give an interview.
And after careful consideration, the headmaster allowed for only one interview to be held for the Witch Weekly magazine.
Tanya was concerned. Journalists in Great Britain were infamous for their 'poison-pen' articles. But professor Mcgonagall assured her that Witch Weekly was chosen because the interviewer was one of good reputation.
The interview was actually easy, she merely had to repeat what she wrote in her essay and give a little information about her personal life. The journalist was particularly interested in the fact that she was acquainted with Harry Potter. That wasn't unexpected. The unexpected only came later.
They wanted to take a photograph of her dressed in traditional clothing for the article.
Tanya argued that her Hogwarts uniform was already very traditional. The journalist, though, wanted something that, in his exact words, 'screamed witch'.
And that is how she came to be dressed in a long, black dress with a pointed hat and was even asked to hold a broom…
She tried to tell them that wasn't a witch's attire. That was a muggle's Halloween costume!
"JUST HOW MANY TIMES SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME?!" Tanya couldn't stop remembering her photoshoot session after receiving the silver wings. Those four hellish days!
That time was embarrassing! Her very dignity had taken a huge blow.
"At least they didn't force a corset on me-" Before her thought ended, a spell was used to shape her figure.
"O-of course such a convenient (and painful) spell existed!"
This time it would only be a couple of photographs. She would not spend days like that time. It was not like it was worse.
At least she was allowed to be alone with the photographer and professor Macgonagal and no student around…
"Oh dear! Look how cute she is!"
"Huh? Who said that?" Tanya looked around. It wasn't the professor and the photographer hadn't arrived yet.
"Like a doll- no, a witch doll!"
"I hope they hang her picture here with us!"
"'Hang with us'?" Tanya looked up and saw numerous portraits all looking at her.
"Hello there my fair lady!" Said the portrait of an old gentleman, waving at her.
"Afff… I really hate this place!" She faked a smile and waved back.
"Sorry I am late!" The photographer arrived at last.
"Finally!" Tanya thought, eager to end this.
He entered the room with his back turned, fiddling with his camera. Tanya noticed that he wasn't English, as his speech had an almost imperceptive accent.
"I heard this accent before, but in Imperial- German."
"Please just give me a moment- Oh! It's ready!" he said again in that 'discreet accent'.
"Oh! I know! Isn't that Rus-"
Tanya almost stumbled as she saw the man's face.
He was a middle-aged man, with a balding head and wearing glasses. And given his accent he was of Russian origin.
"No, no! It's not him!"
"Are you alright miss Degurechaff? You look a little pale." Professor McGonagall asked, sensing her disturbance.
"I-I am fine… just a little tired." She lied. Truth was that Tanya was feeling very uncomfortable.
"Hello! My name is…" The photographer introduced himself, but Tanya couldn't pay attention. Just standing was becoming hard.
The photographer was a different person when you take a close look at him, but his characteristics were too similar to Loria. A man that Tanya wanted to forget more than anything.
"… start now?"
"Huh?"
"The photograph?"
"O-oh! Y-yes, of course!"
"Are you really alright miss Degurechaff?"
"Y-yes! Let's get this over with."
"GODDAMN YOU LORIA!" She cursed the already deceased man. Once again lamenting she never got her revenge.
"N-no use thinking about the past! I need to look to my future… back home… and not remembering anything."
"Please get in position!" The photographer told her.
"Now… smile!"
'…my doll…'
"W-what did you say?"
"Hum? I asked for you to smile."
"Am I having auditory hallucinations?!"
Her rational mind was already coming to the conclusion that she was having a panic attack brought on by the memories of her horrific experience shortly before her death.
"T-this must be… b-because of the s-similarities… between b-both men… and I am w-wearing a dress not too d-different from that… that t-time… I-I n-need to finish this f-fast…"
She made a faint smile and was relieved when she saw the flash of the camera.
Tanya was already leaving when the photographer stopped her.
"Hum… I think we can do better. Let's try again, Okay?"
"W-what? F-fine."
"Please lift your face a little…"
'… and your dress. I really want to see your cute knees!'
"!"
The next few minutes seemed like hours to her. Tanya would keep smiling and the photographer would still think that she could do better. She had also to concentrate hard to block as much as possible 'Loria's words'. This was proving to be extremely tiring for her.
"No, no. Let's try one more time?"
'…yes… let's be together forever!'
"I AM ALREADY DOING MY BEST YOU IDIOT!"
Something finally snapped inside of Tanya. She must have glared, because the photographer yelped. Then she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and brought the most beautiful and radiant smile she had ever made.
The photographer seemed awed. Because it took a few seconds for him to take the picture.
"That's what I was waiting for!"
The photographer started to babble how Tanya was going to win some stupid prize but she didn't listen. She wanted to go as far away from him as possible. Unfortunately, that smile took all her remaining strength as she only saw darkness…
"Ugh! W-where am I?" She felt dizzy and weak, so it was hard to get up from bed.
"Oh! You woke up! I was starting to get worried about you."
"Sorry… Don't know what came over me… Did I ruin the picture?" Tanya said, rubbing her eyes.
"It's in moments like this that I miss a cup of coffee."
"What picture? Have you been dreaming, my doll?"
Tanya widened her eyes. This time it wasn't the photographer. Loria, the true Loria was standing in front of her bed!
"N-no! T-that's i-impossible! YOU ARE DEAD!"
"Dead? Me? That must have been a really scary dream, my precious. But there is no need for concern. I am right here. So, come to my arms." He gestured for her to come over.
Unexpectedly, Tanya obeyed. She got up from the bed and slowly walked towards him.
"No! I-I don't want to! G-get away from me!" Tanya had no control over her body as she drew closer to him.
'… Tanya…'
"Shh! Don't worry. I am never leaving your side. Now say it, the way I like."
"I… feel… so… cold…" Tanya spoke slowly.
"I-I can't control my voice?!"
'Tanya… up…'
"Please… I… beg… you…" Tanya put her hands in her dress and was slowly lifting it.
"Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop! STOP!"
'Tanya, wake up!'
"Make me-"
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Tanya jumped out of her bed. She looked around very frightened.
"Tanya you okay?! You were having a nightmare!" She saw Hermione with a worried face.
"It was all just a dream?" Tanya held her face and discovered that she was drenched in sweat.
"C-could that be a memory? No! I don't want to remember what that… THATSWINE DID TO ME!!" Tanya braced herself, realizing she was still wearing the 'witch' dress.
She didn't hesitate to take the clothing out as fast as possible and throw it on the floor.
"Much better…" Tanya took deep breaths, satisfied that the nightmare was over.
"T-Tanya! Cover yourself!"
Tanya looked at Hermione…
"What is her problem? As I am painfully aware everyday, we are both girls-"
… covering Ron Weasley's eyes.
"W-why is Ron Weasley here- Wait! If Ron is here, this means…"
Tanya turned and saw Harry Potter looking at her with a puzzled expression.
"…" She was looking at him with surprise.
"…" He was still looking at her with a puzzled look. His eyes slowly darted down…
That was the cue Tanya needed as she quickly took the sheet from the bed and covered herself.
Hermione let go of Ron and immediately acted in defense of Tanya's honor.
"Harry! You shouldn't look at a girl when she is undressed!"
"Eh? But she is wearing shorts."
"You still saw her b-breasts!"
"Huh? What breasts?"
"HARRY POTTER! Never make less of a girl's breast size even if they are small or non-existent- Oh! S-sorry Tanya!"
"Moments like this make me wonder if I should be angry or not." Tanya thought with a deadpan expression.
"N-no. It's alright, I prefer like this-"
"Don't be discouraged! I know someday they will grow big! You will certainly become so beautiful that lots of men will make lines just to court you!"
"GAK! Don't say such ominous things!"
"Wow! You really hate dresses." Ron remarked, looking at the outfit laying on the floor.
And as a side note, exactly like the photographer predicted, Tanya eventually received a ward as 'Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile'.
It was official. Harry Potter didn't understand Tanya Degurechaff. He tried to tell her that Snape was up to no good but she wouldn't even listen!
Harry tried to make her see the unfair way that Snape treated the Gryffindors. Well, almost all Gryffindors, Tanya herself being the sole exception, not only Snape didn't bully her but he also seemed to like her. At that, Tanya rebuffed that he was the head of the Slytherin house, so it was normal for him to show a preferential treatment towards them, she even said that professors Sprout and Flitwick did the same. And it was professor Mcgonagall the odd one since she treated all students the same way, this way breaking a sort of 'balance' of the school.
Next, he told her how Snape tried to jinx his broom during the game, but Tanya without hesitation said that he would never do such a thing, worse, she claimed that he was probably trying to help him!
"How could she know that? She wasn't even there!"
This was another thing that upset Harry. It was his first time playing and she didn't go to see him! She just declared not liking quidditch because it used brooms, something that she had no interest in.
"Who spends time in a library during a game? Even Hermione was there to cheer me on!"
Harry then told her about everything he saw in the last few months. His belief that Snape was trying to get something being guarded on the forbidden third floor.
"How do you know there is something being guarded on the third floor? You didn't go there, did you?" Harry understood too late the grave mistake he made. Now he had to tell the whole truth.
This prompted a series of reactions from her. At first she widened her eyes and began poking his body searching for injuries. Then her face morphed into fury. Like the first time they met, she pulled the collar of his shirt so their eyes were gazing at each other.
She scolded him, saying he could have died. That this is the sort of behavior could have him expelled and sent back to his uncle's house.
"Now listen to me! I am ordering you! From now on, after your lessons are over you will go directly to your room to study!"
Harry was starting to get annoyed at her and that exploded when she tried to order him around.
"You…! YOU! STOP ACTING LIKE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ORDER ME AROUND ALL THE TIME! WE ARE NOT EVEN RELATED!"
Tanya was taken by surprise with his outburst. She turned around and spoke very low.
"I… I am just… worried about you. First a troll and now, you tell me that there is a three-headed dog in this castle. It's just… I can't lose you…"
"Ah!" Her words hit him like arrows.
"But then again, now you have other friends besides myself…" She said referring to Ron and Hermione.
"Ron can keep you company and Hermione can help with your studies… You don't need me anymore."
Harry didn't have any defense against that. It's true. He felt more at ease talking with Ron and Hermione. And Tanya could be very temperamental and bossy sometimes! She was always trying to force him to study, controlling if he was doing all his schoolwork right. And ever since the troll, she demanded for him to study defense against the dart arts more seriously to compensate professor Quirrell's incompetence. She was making him study the subject so hard that it would be no surprise if he knew more than the teacher himself! And speaking of the troll, it took months for people to get over the boy-who-lived thing, but now he is a celebrity all over again! All because she doesn't wanna be an auror!
"You won't even deny?! Fine! Have it your way! If you were going to use and then dispose of me, at least don't try to turn me against professor Snape with your made up stories! He is my only friend!" Then, she ran out of the room without showing her face.
"She wasn't c-crying… right?"
Harry felt his chest tighten, he immediately regretted screaming at her. Tanya Degurechaff was the first friend he made, and since coming to Hogwarts, she was always helping him in some way. Be it studying, practicing magic, giving emotional support or just talking with him. Her only selfish moment was lying about the troll-
"Could she betrying to protect my pride? If people knew that I was saved by such a small girl, I would become the laughing stock of the whole school! Not to say that the slytherins- No, Malfoy would make fun of me until our graduation." This made a lot of sense. Harry knew Tanya to be a very caring girl.
"I am the boy, I am the one who should help a girl in need and not the other way around! Ah! This is just like that time with Mrs Lovegood…" In the few months he knew her, Tanya saved at least three people's lives. His own being one of them. And how did he thank her? By being a total prat just because she worried about him!
After that, Harry tried many times to talk to her, but things just got too awkward between them. Before he knew it it was almost Christmas and they hadn't made up yet! And this was killing Harry. At least Ron and, to his surprise, Hermione, stayed at his side.
It was like Tanya said. Ron was a friend for any occasion and Hermione helped with his studies. However, there was one thing they could not replace her.
"Blimey Harry! No!" Ron denied him vehemently…
"B-but just for a moment!" … while Harry insisted.
"I said no! It's too embarrassing!"
"Come on! There is no one around, it's like shaking hands! Haven't you ever shaken another boy's hand?"
"Fine! But only because nobody is here! And be quick!"
Ron offered his hand to Harry, looking away and blushing.
And this was what nobody could replace Tanya. At his friend's confirmation, Harry frantically grabbed the other boy's hand. Acting like an addict that needed his 'fix'.
"Ahhh… It's not the same!"
"Told you so. Now let go before-"
"What are you two doing?" Asked Hermione, suddenly popping up.
"Gah!" Ron almost jumped from his chair.
"Hum? Oh! Please! Don't tell me you are doing this with Ron too!" She noticed both boys holding hands.
"Hey! You asked Hermione too?!"
Harry just looked the other way so they couldn't see the embarrassment in his face.
"Should know that since it didn't work with Hermione, Ron wouldn't cut in either."
"Harry! This is ridiculous! Just apologize to Tanya!"
"B-but I don't know what to say! I never had any friends before a few months ago and never fought with one before. I don't know how to apologize! Not to say that I did nothing wrong in the first place."
"Nothing wrong? You broke school rules!"
"You mean 'we' broke school rules, right?" Ron reminded her.
"My point is, Tanya was right in being angry."
"But the three of us were there and she was angry with only me!"
Both Hermione and Ron let out groans.
"I think it is obvious why she was angry with only you…"
"Huh?"
"Do you want to hear why I am with you and not her?"
Harry nodded his head. He's really been wanting to ask for some time.
"Because she asked me to. Tanya said that if even I was far from you, your grades would fall. See? Even in such a situation, she still cares about you."
"…"
"Tanya may act tough but she is actually a very frail little girl."
"I-I still don't know what to say to her…"
Hermione grunted.
"Anyway. You two, keep looking, you know, about Flamel. And send me an owl if you find anything." She gathered her luggage and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Harry… GO APOLOGIZE TO TANYA!" And then she stormed off.
"T-that was scary!"
"Err, Harry. Can you let go of my hand now?"
"Goddamn you Harry Potter!" Tanya thought not for the first time this month.
The boy admitted breaking school rules and risking his life in a confrontation with a three-headed dog! And that wasn't all, he made up some sort of 'conspiracy theory' that professor Snape was trying to steal something and wanted him dead! How ridiculous could that be?
But she made a blunder. By trying to make him see reason, she created a strain in their relationship!
"Again, I forgot I am dealing with children here. Immature children!"
For almost two months she waited for him to take the initiative and apologize but it seems that he is too prideful! This was making her lose sleep as she would turn in bed at night thinking of a way to force him to talk with her.
"Aff! And everything was proceeding so well!"
Tanya had to ensure that Harry Potter became the hero that will save the wizarding world. Who knows what sort of slacker he will become if she is not around!
"It seems that I'll need to be the one to give in… I just hope that I don't need to forsake professor Snape."
She let out a heavy sigh and went to the common room looking for Harry Potter.
"… if that's what I think it is. They're rare, and really valuable."
She heard Ron talking and was sure that he was with Harry.
"What is-?" Harry noticed Tanya.
"Oh! H-hello Tanya…"
"Hi Harry. Merry Christmas."
"Y-yeah, merry Christmas to you too."
An awkward silence followed. Just like how it's been in the last months with the two.
"Shit! Are you not going to say anything at all? Were you always so stuck-up?"
"Listen Harry, it's not that I think you are a liar. Professor Snape helped me a few years ago when I was in a tight spot. It would be very ungrateful of me to accuse him. And I really think this is all a big misunderstanding."
"N-no, I am sorry! I should have taken your feelings into account. I was a prat!"
"Hum? Is he giving in?"
"So, are we friends again?"
"YES! Forever!"
"Great! This was easier than I thought!"
"Hmmm… You two want to be left alone?" Ron joked, noticing the 'mood'.
"Huh? Why would we want to be alone?" Harry asked innocently.
"Good thing he is such a blockhead…" His friend remarked.
"Anyway, what are you two doing?"
"We were opening our Christmas presents!"
"Ah, Sorry! I didn't get anything for you two. As you know I have no money."
"It's okay! And please, you can have those. Hermione gave me a box of chocolate frogs but I think she would understand if I gave it to you."
"I already got some from Hermione too. But, you know me, I am not one to refuse chocolate." Tanya said, taking the box.
"But I feel bad, is there something you want-"
She didn't finish as Harry gestured towards her hand.
"Of course that is what he would want!"
"I missed this…" The boy whispered, taking her hand.
"I really want you to know, you are important to me. Ron and Hermione are also important to me but you are irreplaceable! Truth is, I-I was afraid that you wouldn't forgive me even if I apologized. I really, really like you!"
"Ugh! I really don't like the way he is looking at me. He only thinks of me as a friend, right?" She thought scared, but then noticed something else.
"Wait! You didn't apologize only because you were afraid of what I would do?"
"W-well, it was the first time I ever fought with a friend."
"He wasn't acting proud. He was just wimping away from a confrontation!You mean that all this time that I lost sleep was because you were being too abashed to apologize?!"
Crack.
"Ouch! You are crushing my hand!"
"Oh! Sorry! By the way. What is that?" Tanya changed the subject before giving in to the temptation to actually crush his hand.
"I still don't know-"
"It's an invisibility cloak!" Ron answered.
"An invisibility cloak?"
"Try it on!"
Harry put on the cloak and true to Ron's words, the part covered by the fabric vanished.
It was when Tanya noticed that a note fell from it.
She picked it up and read.
"Wait! WAIT A MOMENT!" The hand holding the note was shaking.
Tanya looked into invisible cloaks in the past since one of the hallows was one. They were very rare magical garments as it was very difficult to make one and there were already a few more reliable charms that could produce the same effect. Not to mention that its material was of a very fragile fabric, it would be very hard to keep it from wearing out.
And that is what drew Tanya's attention to the note. It said that the cloak belonged to Harry's father, someone that was dead for the last ten years. It should be damaged by now and yet, it looked brand new. There might be the case that it was very well keep but-
"If what I am thinking is right, there is only a way to make sure!"
"Harry! Do you mind if I see it…?" Tanya shyly asked.
"Of course not! Here." Harry took off the cloak and offered it to her.
'… don't worry, you will know if it is a deathly hallow the first time you touch it.' She remembered Peverell's words, as her hand drew closer to the cloak.
"But how will I-!"
The instant she touched the cloak, Tanya felt a cold reach her entire being. As if her body had aged in just a few seconds and then turned to ashes…
Tanya fell, her breath labored as the illusion of her death faded, the cloak still in her hand.
"Tanya?! You okay?" Harry asked worriedly.
"N-never been better!" She answered back, a genuine smile on her face.
She had just found the first deathly hallow…!
AN: Tanya found the first hallow. But this doesn't mean that she will own it yet. In this story, just like with the elder wand, there will be some rules to becoming the true owner of a hallow. The wand will be just like in the original, the actual owner must be defeated, but with the other two, there will be other rules. Rules that illustrate the death they represent. The wand represent murder, so it has to be taken by force. The stone represent suicide, so something has to be done by the new owner initiative. And the cloak represent natural death, so, it must either be given or inherited.
About Macgonagal in this chapter. She is trying to cover about the troll, since she knows how he got in the castle in the first place. In her mind, Quirrel did some mistake and the troll escaped into the castle. Professor Snape was the only one to start distrusting him as he thought it was strange that the troll escaped, but the defense of the three-headed dog was still in place… Or at least this is what I believe it happened in the original story.
The part were McGonagall says: 'Don't get used to it… there is a limit of times magic can cure the same wound'. Is a theory of mine about a wound that McGonagal herself has. Because of wound she has, she didn't became a professional quidditch player. So far in Harry Potter universe, I understand that only wounds caused by curses or spells of dark origin could permanently hurt someone. So, my theory is that McGonagall was too much reckless in her youth and had many injuries playing and close to her graduation she had a wound that could no longer be healed because it reached a limit of times it could heal. Of course… She could just have just chose to not play anymore. But I think that this would serve as a good excuse to not be reckless.
The part about Tanya thinking that Hermione would became a good Mrs Potter, is a homage of sorts to the Harry/Hermione shipping that is extreme popular even to this day. I must say that I like Harry/Ginny more… But I like to read different things from time to time. Like Harry/Luna and I liked some Harry/Daphne Grengrass fanfics recently.
About Loria. As I said before, nothing really happened, but Tanya has blanks in her memory and she believe that during this time she was raped and her mind blocked the memories. I will be able to develop this in arc 3 and she will only know the truth in some moment between arcs 4 and 5.
I also corrected a good number of grammar mistakes. Please, if you guys see it, send a review saying the words I did wrong right?
Next chapter, the mirror of erised. And the countdown to the end of this arc started, only three more chapters to go.
Reviews:
To tony549: Thank you, I am very happy that this story at least amuses you. And thank you for pointing my mistake. If you notice more in the future, please warn me.
To Lubber: As I promised, their relationship improved in this chapter.
To duked: Thank you. I am very happy that you are liking so much. It's just as you said, Tanya is now around children and that may bother her at times. About training them, that would be hard as Tanya don't want anymore anything with military life.
To Rein Tenebres: Thank you. And I look forward to doing more.
To Enkidu Uruk: Thank you. I think that Snape and Tanya should have a few moments in the future.