Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 3 - Prisoner of Azkaban – part 8 and final
June, AD1994, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"Miss Degurechaff, how long have you been pursuing the deathly hallows?" Dumbledore asked Tanya as soon as professor Snape was unceremoniously kicked out.
The little girl gazed at him from her seat not knowing how to start. Never could she guess the headmaster would have a deathly hallow! She had no strategy ready to handle such a situation!
"Since before I was born."
"Before you were born?" This puzzling answer bought her a few seconds to make a decision. Would she tell him the truth or make up a more sympathetic story? In the end, she chose to tell a balance between the two.
"I was originally born and lived in Japan, a normal eight-year-old girl. Until the day I was kidnapped by a mysterious entity…"
Dumbledore silently heard her improvised half-true, half-fake tale of how she, then an innocent little girl, was thrown into a distant world by the whims of a powerful poltergeist, for the simple reason she wasn't willing to worship it as a god.
"… it was a living hell! I was already a child soldier during a different world's version of our first world war, I also had to struggle to survive the constant attacks of the poltergeist's many followers! All mindless puppets, determined to 'kill the heretic' and one finally took me down!"
"Merlin Gracious! You died?!" Dumbledore seemed shaken, exactly as she wished.
Tanya finished her account by explaining the details of her deal with Ignotus Peverell.
"… and in his last visit, Peverell told me I would find clues about the hallows here in Hogwarts."
"What a fantastic story!"
"No! It is a crazy story! That is why I never told anybody!"
"I see what you mean. Under normal circumstances I would have you checked for curses or mental diseases."
"Thought as much."
"And besides the elder wand, have you found the others?"
"We both know Harry has the cloak."
"And the stone?"
"I found it in the Gaunt family's home last spring."
"Y-you have it?!" Tanya could see his eyes sparkling with interest.
"The three hallows are all reunited in this castle under different owners. Waiting for someone to claim the title of 'master of death'."
"My perception of the master of death was an abstract concept, such as truly accepting the inevitability of death. Mr Peverell did not give more specific insight into what it would entail to become one?"
"He only warned that once I became one, I should wish for the destruction of the hallows and nothing else."
"Most intriguing…" Dumbledore closed his eyes, taking a moment to digest everything she had said.
"Miss Degurechaff, I must ask you: Is that the reason you approached Harry? Because you knew he owned the cloak?"
"Of course not! Peverell never gave me any information about the hallows' owners. Apparently, the dead have restrictions on sharing knowledge with the living. I was very surprised on that Christmas morning."
"Then, you actually fell in love with him at first sight?"
"WHAT?! DEFINITELY NO! I WAS-" Tanya stopped herself. She couldn't let him know she wanted Harry to be ready to kill Voldemort. Dumbledore might figure out her twisted persona seeing as she was willing to even pose as his girlfriend in her efforts to strengthen him.
"I really didn't want to do this!"
"I-I think so… since I first saw Harry, I can't think of anything else…" Tanya didn't need to fake a blush. It was humiliating but a girl in LOVE would be more easy to sympathize with!
"There is no need to be embarrassed! Or are you fretting over the fact of you being older than him?"
"More over the fact of me being originally of the same gender!"
"I won't say age can't be an obstacle. However, the simple act of loving someone is a marvelous occurrence! Instead, you ought to be proud. My apologies for ever considering you had ulterior motives."
Despite her awkwardness, she saw a golden opportunity to satisfy a last small curiosity.
"Why? Is this YOUR motive?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The reason you have been putting Harry through so much danger is to take the cloak from him?!" She could see the headmaster was taken aback with the accusatory tone of her voice.
"Miss Degurechaff! Let's not delve into this again! There are certain circumstances you can't understand!"
"Then explain! No more lies!" Tanya gave him no room to argue. Tonight she would get the truth from him.
"Very well." Hesitantly, he conceded.
"There is a prophecy. Its contents tell us Harry may defeat Lord Voldemort someday."
"A prophecy?!"
It was now Dumbledore's turn to tell a quick tale. About Trelawney's prediction, Voldemort's knowledge of its first part and the final result being the death of the Potters.
"The power the Dark Lord knows not, could it be the spell I taught Harry to kill him?"
"The one you use against ghosts? Was it for Voldemort? I was led to believe you created it to kill Peeves. I mean, before he becomes a quasi god like your kidnapper."
"Err, Peeves' destruction was an accident. I was merely testing the spell."
"Even if it was kinda fun!"
"Oh! I see. About your question, there is no way to ascertain. We must consider your presence here as an unexpected addition. In truth, you are no different from a time traveler and being here so long means that you may have inadvertently disturbed time. Perhaps, catastrophically!"
Dumbledore's words awakened an old fear in her: What if her actions ended achieving worse results?
'Let the servant rejoin his master!' In any case, it would be better if the headmaster never hears about Trelawney's newest prophecy. One which confirmed Tanya's presence as harmful.
"More than ever, it's imperative for Pettigrew to go back to Voldemort!"
"I share your concerns. And I swear, with the three hallows in my hands, I will leave immediately-"
"I am not letting you have the Elder wand."
"Eh?" Tanya was perplexed. After hearing her sob story and concluding she was dangerous for this time-line, he was going to deny her?!
"I don't need to hurt you if that is what you are afraid of. One disarming charm and it will change allegiance."
"I am aware. I didn't kill the former owner to gain its favor…" For an instant, Dumbledore lost focus on her, seemingly recalling an old memory.
"What of Harry? You realize he will suffer from your absence."
Tanya resisted the impulse to face-palm herself. This was another side of 'lovebirds', they are meant to be 'together forever'!
She let out an inward grunt. Once more, she will need to use an undesired weapon!
"I can't be with him, not being so DIRTY!" The professor widened his eyes.
"My child, don't say that! Harry will never hold it against you! To this day, he keeps blaming himself for not arriving on time to save you!"
"Err, actually, I need to clarify something…"
Tanya told him her last moments in that world. How when peace was attained, she was abandoned, traded like goods to another nation and defiled.
"Lockhart tried to force me but Harry came to my rescue before anything happened. He, in fact, saved me. I-it still made me remember those days-"
"OH! MERCIFUL MERLIN! WHAT A RELIEF!" The professor said beaming at her, the happiest expression she ever saw in his face.
"Huh?!"
"Ah! F-forgive me! I-I, err, can't help feeling relieved for such a horrendous act not occurring in my school!"
"I will forgive you if you give me your wand you senseless old fart!"
"A-anyway, to be frank, more than ever, I realize I can't fully trust you." The relief from his face was immediately replaced with a scowl.
"You allowed your teachers and friends to have a misconceived idea of your situation! Do you have any idea how much suffering it caused Minerva and Severus?! And your friends?! I already told you Harry blamed himself!"
As the headmaster went full sermon mode, Tanya registered that her undesirable weapon backfired spectacularly.
"If this was a lie, what else is? Through the years, I heard many strange rumors about you. The most alarming, the one suggesting you are a princess of a long lineage of dark wizards."
"Now, hold on-"
"I must consider the possibility you fabricated a fantastic story to deceive me into helping you achieve world domination as your ancestors so much sought."
"GAH! How many times do I need to explain?! That story is a fairy tale!"
"Regardless, understand that I can't give a dangerous artifact to someone I don't know for sure is being truthful. The wand's last user did unimaginable acts!"
"Shit! Will I need to fight him? It would be risky since I don't know anything about his strength!"
"Let me guess, you want evidence."
"Yes. Perhaps, you could let me read your thoughts with legilimency-"
"NEVER!" Tanya jumped back.
"N-no one is going to enter my head! No one is violating my body again!" Her distress was not faking.
"Alright! Please calm down, forget I ever suggested it." Dumbledore patiently waited until she could recompose herself to make his next suggestion.
"How about a memory? I have a pensieve, an object which allows-"
"I know what a pensieve is."
"Then, would you grant me one of your memories of that world?"
"Dammit!" Tanya realized too late she had messed up. She needed a memory to make him pity her!
However, Tanya's former life would hardly be seen as pitiable. Instead, she turned the life of others into a pitiable hell! She had lost count of how many times she's been ruthless, cruel, or just plain mean. It was all in order to survive, only Dumbledore might not see that way.
A memory of Being X was out of the question as well. His immense powers could end convincing Dumbledore of that fake being truly a god. He could turn into a new apostle!
"Maybe those hellish days with Lorya- NO! I-I won't have those memories preserved! Come on, a memory showing me with a sad expression or crying!" Yet, none came to mind. There were many times she wanted to cry though. Like when she lost an officer to a rotten potato or when the Empire let slip the unique opportunity to win the war.
"Aff, crying makes me remember Grantz during- wait, that is it!" Tanya quickly formulated a plan, one so risky it could jeopardize forever her chances with Dumbledore.
"If you don't mind, I don't want to see it." Thinking back, in his eagerness to finally solve the great mystery named Tanya Degurechaff, he completely ignored the warning bells in his head caused by her refusal to revisit the memory. Never could he know what he was about to witness.
As soon as Dumbledore arrived, he saw the little girl floating above the ruins of a city, probably somewhere in France by the designs of the architecture.
"… in accordance with article 8, clause 5 of the wartime combat treaty…" He almost regretted being fluent in French and being able to understand her well as a part of him wished she was lying. The visage of a young child holding a tool for killing didn't sit well with him.
From what he could observe, she was negotiating the release of prisoners in the city of Arene. A place Dumbledore had never heard of, meaning that at least in name, it only existed in this other world.
"Oh, no!" Unfortunately, her efforts were all in vain as a defenseless soldier was shot down. Looking at the girl, he expected some sort of emotional reaction but she watched everything with the impassiveness of a veteran auror.
"… I've fulfilled my duty by demanding their surrender…" He heard the girl murmur this time in german.
"What is she planning?"
"Let's get to work, protecting our people!" With those words, all hell broke loose.
Dumbledore stared in disbelief as Tanya shot out with pure satisfaction on her lips, her eyes wide in a mad frenzy. People were falling like flies under her vicious attack and not all were armed, most were merely trying to run from her.
"THERE IS NO WAY ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE ENEMY SOLDIERS!"
From the distance, mortars' shells rained over the city. Dumbledore's view was obscured by the flames, the smoke and all the explosions. There was no way to discern anything anymore. An eternity later, the sound of shots began to decrease at last.
"Is the battle over- MY GOODNESS!" The shots stopped altogether and now he wished the smoke didn't clear. Piles of bodies littered everywhere, some burned beyond recognition!
"A-are those- CHILDREN?!" The young and the old mixed within the dead! It took all his will to not throw up.
"Oh Merlin! I never knew such a nightmare was possible!" He did see memories of battlefields in the past but never something of this magnitude!
"How miss Degurechaff remains sane amidst-" Dumbledore was aghast. Around him, soldiers tensely rushed to help their wounded all the while avoiding eye contact with the dead. Yet, she alone kept her calm expression.
The headmaster had his gaze fixated on her. Waiting- HOPING she would show the smallest hint of remorse!
"Roger that. I will do my best." Instead of hope, he was met with more despair as following new orders, the girl readied her weapon to take down civilians trying to leave the city!
"COMMANDER!" Dumbledore let out an exasperated sigh of relief as a young soldier interrupted her.
"Please! Listen to him!" He knew it was useless, yet couldn't help trying to encourage this brave young man. It still ended the worst possible way.
"We shoot the enemy or they will shoot us." Following her twisted reasoning, the young man, with tears leaking his eyes, picked up the rifle she had dropped at his feet. Despite his trembling hands, he took aim and fired.
"B-by the heavens, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" The headmaster cried out as soon as he reappeared. His face was very pale and he was breathing hard, like he had just witnessed hell or something close to it.
Tanya longed to smile, but it would ruin the ruse.
"YOU KILLED INNOCENT CITIZENS, EVEN CHILDREN! IT WAS A BLOODBATH!"
The memory she presented the headmaster was the taking of Arene. An event popularly called THE ARENE MASSACRE. Tanya had to admit it was one of the most brutal moments in the war.
"I know, it haunts me to this day-"
"WHAT?! Please! I saw you berating the sole soldier who expressed remorse!"
Professor Dumbledore had lost his cool, that was all she needed.
"You think I don't regret it?!"
"How could I think otherwise?! Your actions were akin to those of a psychopath!"
At first one would think it was a bad idea to show that particular memory. Regular people always react badly to some necessities of war.
"T-this is- How could you be so cruel? Sob!" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow seeing her tears.
"You are right, at some point, I traded my own humanity to survive…"
However, Tanya needed the headmaster to have his judgment clouded by inducing a strong emotional reaction. Preferably, righteous anger.
"I was only a scared child kidnapped and thrown into a strange world! When I was discovered as a mage, I was kidnapped again and brainwashed into what they called a 'true patriotic soldier'. Before long, I began to accept in my heart the absurdities I was told to do. It came to the point that I would shoot people without feeling anything- NO! I would be proud of myself for thinking it was a job well done!"
"Miss Degurechaff-"
"Please! Don't think that I don't care! If it was true, I wouldn't hear their screams… or see their faces every time I close my eyes!"
Next step, show a pitiable little girl who was secretly suffering from all her past transgressions.
"Sometimes, I wonder if being sold out to that pervert wasn't a deserving punishment! If it at least washed away the blood…"
She had to use all the weapons in her arsenal, even one so distasteful!
"Just hold on a moment! No one deserves to suffer such violence! NO ONE!" The headmaster yelled, taking her hands in his.
"You fought to stay alive so someday you would find forgiveness! And you will be forgiven, this is what I believe! I may have been too hard on you, my apologies."
His anger, so justified before, now became a reason for equally great shame.
"You are wrong, I can't make it up to the people of a distant world!" Dumbledore gasped, he couldn't find encouraging words for her unique case.
"I will never find forgiveness, I am condemned to relive those horrendous days for the rest of my days!"
And now, the coup de grace: stroke his ego, recalling he is the only one who can SAVE her.
"Or until I fulfill my task. Please professor Dumbledore, help me! Help me to go back home!"
"I- w-what of Harry?"
"I love Harry so much but- Sob! I hurt him all the time! Sob! Have you forgotten? I once cut off his arm!"
"Y-you had your reason-"
"Give me the wand! I promise to destroy the hallows…! So I can be me again, so I can forget everything! I BEG YOU!"
Dumbledore seemed completely uncertain of what to do. Maybe a small push and he would concede…
"Ah! F-forgive me! I am demanding too much, you may think I am trying to coerce you!"
"Eh? N-no. By no means! It was my fault, I shouldn't have forced you!"
… but there was also the possibility of him realizing her ruse. It would be better to stop.
"Mind if we continue this discussion another day? I am afraid I am too upset…"
"What- I mean, o-okay."
Tanya rushed out of his office. Last she saw him, the headmaster had pity written all over his face. By now, her teary face was carved in his thoughts. The more time he took to fulfill her wish, the more would be his anxiety thinking of her 'suffering'!
As Tanya made her way back to the Gryffindor tower, it was very hard to not skip or dance. She just achieved a great feat. Tonight, she managed to FOOL the legendary Albus Dumbledore!
"Tanya! You okay now?"
As she passed through the fat lady portrait, secretly radiant after her recent victory, Tanya found Harry, Ron and Hermione waiting for her.
"Y-yeah! Did professor Dumbledore help you?" A chuckle escaped her lips.
"Not yet but I am hopeful he will soon!"
She was puzzled when the hint of her great news raised grunts from Harry and Hermione while Ron beamed.
"Oh, what a bugger. D-does it mean we can go back to where we left off?! Or would you rather have Hermione? It's fine to me either way-"
"RON!" Hermione screamed with a mix of anger and shame. Harry was not too different.
"How dare you ask if my girlfriend wants to KISS you?!"
"Kiss?" For some reason, the word sends echoes in her head. Like she was forgetting something important and embarrassing.
"What are you three talking-"
'It's okay, I can give you motivation!'
"GAHHH! I-I KISSED HARRY!" Tanya blushed furiously, same as her boyfriend.
"Whew! Professor Dumbledore did cure you." Hermione smiled at her.
"I-it is kinda obvious-"
'Then I want a kiss! Please close your eyes.'
"GAHHH! I KISSED YOU AND YOU KISSED ME TOO!"
"WHAT?! I merely gave you, ahem, an antidote!" Despite her excuse, Hermione was pink in her cheeks.
"Ugh! I can't believe the love potion was this utter failure!" Depending on the point of view it was actually a success taking into account that Tanya managed a patronus. However, the effects shouldn't have been so catastrophic! The amount of the ingredients was so small the potion was nearly just water!
'THIS IS MAGIC, NOT SCIENCE! IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY!'
She remembers professor Snape yelling at her. This lack of discernment was caused by her views of magic in that other world. There, magic was considered something akin to another branch of science, so she took potion making as a form of chemistry.
"What an amateur's mistake! Did I really think three- wait, three?!" Tanya turned her trembling head to Ron Weasley.
'… the first time in years I won't be sleeping with another man! I want to- mmmph?!'
"EEEWWW! I KISSED RON! BLARGH!"
"Hey! Why is the reaction to me worse?!" Ron buffed, clearly feeling outraged.
"I-I need to wash my mouth! No, a full bath! And I am not wearing these clothes ever- Ah?"
"Uh-oh!" Like Tanya, Harry noticed how her blouse had only two buttons in place.
'Love me to your heart's content!' This last memory made Tanya start to shake uncontrollably.
"I-I reckon something really bad is about to happen!" Ron gave heed to his instincts and was slowly making his way to the closest exit.
'Perfect! Now we can all make love together!' Her shaking stopped.
"Tanya! You are not doing what I think you are-"
"GYYYYYAAAAHHHH!" Tanya fired the first spell that come to her mind and now, there were three new decorations hanging in the Gryffindor's common room.
"ARGH!"
"I KNEW IT!"
"Uhhh! How many times are we going to end this way?!"
The three of them wouldn't be wailing just because they were trapped in a web if they knew what Tanya was thinking of doing to them!
"I-I am vanishing those e-events from existence!"
"T-Tanya?!"
She took out her RED wand.
"I don't have any more forgetfulness potions. Besides, my faith in my ability to brew took a huge blow. So I am erasing your memories with a spell!"
"""WHAT?!"""
"There are a few cases when this charm causes permanent impairment to the mind but I am willing to take the risk!" By the fear in their eyes, they could see Tanya was deadly serious!
"GAH! Spare us!"
"Tanya please! We are your friends!"
"A-and I am your boyfriend!"
Nothing they said could convince her to stop. Tanya took aim-
"Yousaidyouowedme!" Ron blurted quickly.
"Eh? What?"
"W-when I told everyone you were afraid of dresses, you said you owed me!"
Tanya clicked her tongue. He was right, he did her a great service that night and she did promise!
"Y-you can pay me back by letting us go!"
There was a poignant pause. The three waited anxiously for the girl's decision.
"We never speak about 'that'?"
"""THAT NEVER HAPPENED!"""
"What the heck, I am going to forget about this very soon after all."
"Alright, we have a deal."
The three let out breaths of relief. And their agreement was done at the right time as their head boy, Percy, arrived to check the noises.
"What is going on here?! I heard screams!"
Tanya just glared at the three children hanging from the ceiling.
"""NOTHING!""" They promptly answered.
Tanya had no idea how well her little deception worked on Dumbledore. If she didn't leave at that exact moment, he certainly would have surrendered the wand without complaining.
Remembering the unfortunate child crying in front of him brought up a crushing feeling of guilt. It didn't help that he was staring at the two objects in his table: WEAPONS to be used in case she becomes a threat.
"My goodness! What was I thinking?!" He should know someone motivated by fear will make a grave mistake, and now, he made two!
"For almost two years I thought only the worst of her and all his time, she was merely a lost little girl trying to get home."
Although, who could blame him? The headmaster had met two dark lords and Tanya Degurechaff gave the very same signs as them. She was bright, charismatic, resourceful, owner of great powers and had the willingness to use them as the incidents with Marcus Flint and Peeves proved. Finally, when Severus told him the old tale of Degretschow, Dumbledore panicked!
"I imagined she had delusions of being some sort of lost princessand her research of the hallows was her wish to follow Gellert's footsteps." Not to say, the many nights of sleep Dumbledore lost pacing in his office worried about her intentions with Harry. He decided he needed insurance, it took a considerable amount of time, rare materials (which she, ironically, provided herself) and galleons but a few months later he had at his disposal the first weapon.
"I was already planning how I would test it when Remus arrived at my office."
'Her boggart! I think she was sexually assaulted!' Even after seeing the incident in the classroom, he couldn't really believe it. His first assumption was that she was planning another scheme and faked the entire incident. He decided to finally confront her and almost had a heart attack!
"I was so scared! Sob!"
'…I was so scared Brian…!'
Because there was no sign of Tanya Degurechaff.
"Please… don't let anyone hurt me!"
'… daddy just didn't want them to hurt me again…'
No, instead, the headmaster saw Harry consoling ARIANA!
It took a moment too long for him to regain his senses. To remember his sister was long dead and the one Harry was trying to calm down was Tanya Degurechaff.
That night, he realized for the first time how similar they were. Both were blonds with a small physique and Tanya was exactly the same as his sister was when he first saw her after those muggle boys had committed a horrendous act of violence on her!
"And what was my action not too long after? To prepare a second insurance to defend myself from a girl who I easily hurt today!" He threw himself in his chair, psychologically fatigued.
"I am despicable! Another little girl was crying because of me!" The headmaster chastised himself. How many people would suffer all for the GREATER GOOD?!
"How many innocent bystanders am Igoing to hurt? How many little girls would die?How many times Am I… going to KILL Ariana again and again?!" He shook his head.
"Miss Degurechaff is not Ariana." A fact Dumbledore had to remind himself for the umpteenth time this year. To think there was a time he berated Severus Snape for considering the girl as a replacement for Lily Potter.
'… in my dream, Lily was my wife and Tanya was adopted into our family…' Dumbledore couldn't recriminate his dreaming now. He was allowing himself a very nice one too!
"Maybe… Ariana isn't dead. Like Tanya, she was cast away into a distant world and is still fighting a way to come back." In this fantasy, Dumbledore hoped someone was helping his sister.
"Such as how I shall assist miss Degurechaff!" He decided he would help that little girl to return home, he would purposely lose the Elder wand to her. Thus, solving another old problem of his: A way to end the elder wand's long story of murder.
For the first time in a long time, Albus Dumbledore felt good with himself! Even if, once more, he was deluding himself with thoughts that helping Tanya was the same as helping his sister.
"Fawkes, my friend, I will need you to deliver a letter to- hum?"
The headmaster turned with a startle. He noticed an unexpected guest.
"Are you- professor Trelawney? What are you doing here? I never gave you the password-" His divination professor had her eyes unfocused, her mouth sagging, and her feet were unsteady. Dumbledore gasped, he saw her in this state only a single time.
"Sybill, tell me what you see." No good news ever left a seer's mouth. However, this time the words were particularly dreadful!
"M-miss Degurechaff has to- Good grief!"
Next day, while most of the students were enjoying their last Hogsmeade visit, Tanya was meeting professor Snape in the courtyard with the intention of resolving her last matters.
"I sent your message to Lucius, are you sure it's wise to have dealings with him?"
"Tell me yourself. Weren't you the one who convinced him I was pure blooded royalty?"
"You must be cautious, Lucius Malfoy is a parasite! A little worm willing to sell out his own mother in order to survive, if she wasn't already dead!"
His character was irrelevant. At this moment, Tanya needed someone with the right connections to reach Pettigrew in Azkaban and plan his escape.
"With a bit of luck, I will be back home before this month- Ah!"
'I am not unhappy anymore, ever since YOU came into my life.' Tanya took a long look at the professor in front of her.
"Hum? Is there something in my face?"
"N-nothing, I just want you to know, you are my best friend! The one who never abandoned me!"
"Unlike that traitor Rerugen!"
"Why are you bringing this up?" Tanya's attempt to express her honest feelings backfired. Instead it made him suspicious.
"You- You are not planning to run away again, are you?!"
"What?! No! I was-" Real quick he pulled her into a hug.
"Those days you were missing were unbearable! It was worse only when- When I found out what that bastard had done to you!"
"Sheesh, you are not making this any easier!"
"Thank you. And don't worry, I am going nowhere." She felt awful for lying to him.
"I merely believe we should always be ready in case something happens."
"Nothing is happening to you! I won't let it!"
"Thank you! But as a precaution, I have a request, if you don't mind?"
"I will do anything for you!" His answer was brimming with enthusiasm and delight.
"Err, should I not be around, can you take care of Harry?" His face instantly morphed into a scowl.
This was a simple precaution. Soon she would be going after Voldemort to prepare the stage for Harry to kill him. In case something goes horribly wrong and Tanya finds herself as Luna's sister, she needs someone trustworthy to keep an eye on the troublemaker.
"Tanya! W-what are you doing?" And speaking of the devil, he was there with his two inseparable friends. Jealousy made his eyes greener than usual seeing the professor still holding Tanya in an embrace.
Begrudgingly, Snape let go of her and turned to leave.
"About your request, don't worry! I will make sure he will be fine! Humpf!"
Tanya watched the professor leave with a sentiment of nostalgia realizing that this might be the last time she saw him.
"Farewell, my friend."
"You know, I don't see why professor Snape can't be nice to us all." Looking at Hermione, Tanya felt a tinge of awkwardness. Truth was, she wished to avoid those three, for obvious reasons!
"I can't see what you kiss- I mean, what you see in him!"
Or better yet, it was awkward with Hermione and Harry, because Ron was…
"Annoying! Quitstaring at me and blushing you idiot!" She turned to the sulking Harry, deciding it was better to concern herself with only one innocent little boy per time.
"Harry, why the long face? You don't think I am in love with professor Snape, do you?"
"WHA- O-of course not!"
"Good, because he is only a good friend and you…" Tanya smirked, intertwining his fingers with hers.
"… you are the one I love the most!"
"Oh!" This act made Harry's frown change into a goofy smile.
"Aff, a good thing he is so easy to please." There was a chance of yesterday's fiasco leaving Harry insecure about her feelings. In this critical stage, the smallest variable could put all her plans to waste, right when she is so close to her objective! Thus, she decided to play the clingy girlfriend, at least until the cloak was hers and Voldemort was dead.
"Could you two not kiss- I mean! Could you two not flirt in front of us?"
"Why? Are you jealous?" Harry grinned, pulling Tanya closer to him.
"Hey! Don't exaggerate, you brat!"
"Jealous? Me?! Of kiss- Of course not!"
Three pairs of eyes stared at Ron in wonder.
"Ron, can you tell us why you are repeating the word 'kiss' non stop?" Hermione asked, puffing her cheeks.
Ron reddened and took a glance at Tanya.
"I knew it!" Contrary to his promise, Ron wasn't able to forget last night.
Harry and Hermione were now fully glaring at him.
"D-do I need to remind you what is gonna become of us if you keep talking about what, err, didn't happen?!" Harry pleaded with a fearful tone in his voice.
"I am kiss- I mean, sorry!"
Tanya had enough, she took her wand and was already visualizing the spell.
The visage of the 'devil of the Rhine' wand caused gasps of fear.
"Honestly! Repeat that word again and I am going to hex you!"
"Okay, okay! I get it! Bloody kiss-"
"Silencio!" Hermione shot the silencing charm right at his 'kisser'.
"…?" It apparently worked since Ron opened his mouth and no sound came out.
"Thank you, Hermione. Hope it lasts a LONG time!" They couldn't help but laugh as Ron desperately tried to cast a counterspell.
"It's nice to see you kids laughing. Huh? Why is Ron sucking his wand?"
"Ah! Professor Lupin!" Their defense against the dark arts teacher approached with the headmaster not too far behind.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, sorry about last night…"
As the other professor and students chatted, Tanya and Dumbledore silently stared at each other. She had yet to know if last night's ploy was a success or not.
"He does seem kinda down." The old man had bags under unfocused and tired eyes. The lack of sleep was evident, and she could also detect he was uncomfortable in her presence!
"Hehehe! Signs that guilt is eating him up! Perhaps later I will-"
"DON'T GO!" Her thoughts trailed off at Harry's yell.
By what Tanya could catch, Lupin told them that he was leaving after being exposed as a werewolf. This news left Harry and his friends clearly upset.
"It was Snape! I know it was him!" And needless to say, in his frustration, Harry was taking it out on the easiest target.
"He made the potions, so he knew! That little son of a-"
"That's enough!" Tanya cut in, a serious tone in her voice.
"You can't protect him this time!"
"I told Malfoy and Greengrass about professor Lupin being a werewolf."
""WHAT?!"" Harry and Hermione cried out, whereas Ron merely opened his mouth.
"Forgive me professor but you broke our agreement!"
This was another matter Tanya had to solve. Should Voldemort's dismissal take longer, she couldn't have someone so dangerous around Harry!
"Forget being a werewolf, he is irresponsible!"
"True, I forgot about my potion and almost attacked Harry."
"Tanya how could you-"
"No, she is right. Once again, I broke the rules Dumbledore had given me. I am too immature, someone not worthy to be a teacher."
"That's not true! You were the best…" While Harry pressed his efforts to convince Lupin, Tanya was a little concerned.
"Dumbledore is not resentful for what I did, right?!" Maybe it wasn't a good idea to have Lupin kicked out. She could be seen as biased and any sympathy the headmaster had for her could disappear!
"M-maybe I can convince- Eh?" Trying to figure out a solution, she didn't even see Lupin leave.
Dumbledore was now informing Harry about the last procedures concerning the transfer of his custody to the Weasleys.
"Sirius also expressed his wish to take you in. If you would rather live with him, there is still time for you to choose."
"My parents wanted me to be with Sirius but I like the Wealeys very much. So, I will go to where Tanya wishes for us to go!" Harry said all smiles towards her, showing he wasn't angry over professor Lupin.
"Understood, I ask for you two to calmly consider your options before deciding. Take as much time as necessary. As such, you will not be going to London with your school mates."
Having finished with Harry, the headmaster slowly turned his gaze to Tanya.
"And Miss Degurechaff…"
This was the moment of truth!
"In the matter of your request, Fawkes shall deliver you a letter in the next few days at most."
"HOORAY!"
"I am so happy right now, I love you so much!" Harry had a satisfied look as he rested his head in Tanya's lap. Being the last students in the entire school, they were 'enjoying' each other's company in the middle of the quidditch field.
"It's always going to be like this, right? After we move to Sirius' place?"
"Y-yeah." Tanya answered while caressing Harry's head. She had spent the last few days being as graceful and pleasant as possible to him, all to create the perfect opportunity to ask for the cloak.
However, she didn't anticipate for all of this pampering to be so damn stressful!
"Grrr! A few more days of this and I will end up murdering him with my own hands!"
"I think Ron fancies you."
Tanya let out an exasperated sigh. A few hours ago, the students left for their summer break. Hermione, Ginny and Luna were a little worried to leave her, considering everything that happened this year.
Ron for his part was still acting all shy around Tanya and using the word 'kiss' in every sentence!
Tanya could stand it all simple because this was possibly the last time she would be seeing those annoying kids.
"Err, i-it doesn't matter! You are the o-only one for me…"
"Bleargh!"
"Sorry, I can't get the image of you two kissing out of my head!"
"Harry, that never happened, remember?!"
"But- eh?" Tanya pulled her wand.
"Gulp! N-nice weather today, don't you think?!" Guessing his memories were at risk, Harry wisely tried to change the subject.
"Although, not as nice as you, I love you."
"Does he have to tell me this every five minutes?! It is so tiresome!" She took deep breaths trying to bottle it all up.
"T-think of the cloak! I survived bullets, explosions, communists! I can take-"
"Love you! Love you! Love you very much!"
"ARGH!That does it! My duties as his girlfriend are officially over!"
"Harry! There is something I wish to ask- hum?" An eagle owl flew to her and dropped a letter.
Looking as it had the Malfoy's seal, she expected it to be news about her plans to break Pettigrew out. Taking the contents out of the envelope, she began to read.
"Stupid magical world never heard about habeas corpus-"
"WHAT?!" Tanya yelled and stood up so fast that Harry fell face down in the grass.
"O-ouch! Something wrong?"
Yes, something was terribly wrong! Peter Pettigrew had taken his own life!
Tanya felt despair as the consequences sank in. Without Pettigrew, there was no means of finding Voldemort, Harry won't be fulfilling his purpose any time soon!
And there was also Trelawney's prediction. Without the return of his servant, the dark lord could somehow grow stronger by the powers of her operation orb!
"What Should I do?" Tanya had to make a hard decision. Either return home and put the entire world at jeopardy or stay for an undetermined amount of time as Harry's girlfriend and help him in the conflict to come.
"Tanya?" Then as Tanya stared at her boyfriend, the one she had been spoiling and receiving embarrassing words of love, she realized her choice was quite easy!
"Okay, new plan! I use the great power of the elder wand to send the type 95 into outer space before blowing it up! Voldemort is not having it!" Harry might fight him alone, but she already trained him to the best of her abilities.
"Hopefully,Harry won't take pity on Voldemort like he did with Sirius."
Having come to a decision, Tanya tore Malfoy's letter to shreds.
"Stupid Malfoy had ONE job-"
"The letter is from Malfoy?" Tanya was so focused on her new problem she forgot Harry was close by.
"It's from his father."
"Why did you get a letter from Malfoy's dad? Is he still trying to marry you to Draco?!" Tanya was caught with her guard down. She couldn't tell him she tried to use her status as a 'princess' to have Lucius Malfoy help her free Peter Pettigrew.
"Hum… yes?" Tanya took a step back under Harry's pissed off gaze!
"Tanya…" He took her hands and pulled her to him, so close, she felt his breath
"Y-yes?!"
"Have I told you about my exam's results?"
"Eh? Ah! No, you didn't." She was relieved. For a moment, she thought he was going to push her down to prove his love was far greater.
"I got perfect notes, including in potions!"
"Oh, really? Congratulations. Mine were perfect too, except divination of course. I never returned to do the exam."
Harry was staring at her with eyes full of love and also of expectation.
"Huh? Why is he-"
'If I have good grades, we kiss on the last day of the term?' This totally slipped from her mind!
"Y-y-you can't expect me to k-k-kiss you!"
"You promised to not change your mind."
"W-well- Ah! I already gave you your reward, remember? B-before the patronus?"
"Oh! I don't know what you are talking about. Something that never happened?" Tanya paled as Harry used their deal against her.
"Tanya, I can't take this anymore! Justin, Cedric, Malfoy and even Ron! It is as if all boys want to take you from me! I want to feel that you love only me, this time, without a love potion!" Unfortunately, she didn't have a single reason to say no, they were even alone right now.
Harry's fingers found their way to her face and gently caressed her cheek.
"Can I?" Tanya hesitantly nodded her head.
"I-it's okay! I will forget it anyway." He shyly brushed their lips together and less than a second later, pulled away.
"That's it? Well, it wasn't so bad-" Suddenly, Harry pulled her back to him, her mouth was taken into a stronger, deeper and more intense kiss!
"Mmmphhh?" Tanya couldn't believe this was happening! She was letting a boy kiss her! And this time, there was no intoxicating effect of a love potion!
"STOP! This feels…" Awful? Disgusting? Sickening? No, for some reason, Tanya wasn't able to find the right word.
"… feels… it feels… mmmh…" No coherent thought remained, her senses were completely overwhelmed by an alien sensation.
After an undetermined amount of time had passed, Harry ended the kiss, Tanya fell, her breathing labored.
"Ah! Sorry! I got carried away!"
"N-no… I am… alright… it's just-"
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? WHAT HAD THIS BOY DONE TO ME?!" It was like her mind was shut down and her body was no longer hers.
"Weird, it felt as if I was a-A GIRL?" In that brief instant the kiss lasted, the salaryman was completely erased from existence! 'Tanya' had become her true identity!
"NO! IN MY SOUL I AM STILL A MAN!" Many times she made such claims. Nonetheless, the most relevant question is: since when does a 'soul' have a gender? And if it ever had, weren't sensations in general an authority of the body?
Despite her having memories of being a 'he', it wasn't set in stone that the preferences of TWO lives ago would linger. And in regards to homosexuality, this was a rare occurrence if one were to consider. In most cases, allurement, lust and intercourse happened between a MALE and a FEMALE.
She could only blame nature for making her that way. Nature or GOD!
"IT'S ALL THAT PIECE OF SHIT BEING X'S FAULT! I KNOW IT- Ah?" Like a ray of hope, Dumbledore's phoenix descended from the skies and dropped the instrument of her salvation in her hands.
"Was that Fawkes?" Tanya ignored Harry. With hands trembling from excitement, she quickly ripped the envelope open.
"OH! YES! FINALLY!" She was reading with the biggest smile on her face-
"What the?!" Her smile was frozen…
"… eh?" … and ultimately vanished from her face.
Tanya fell to her knees, a gobsmacked expression. The letter flying away with a gust of wind.
'To my dear Tanya Degurechaff,
After a long deliberation I came to the conclusion I am unable to give up custody of the Elder wand.
I comprehend this may cause great distress, nonetheless try to understand my reasoning:
Harry is depending on you, for his emotional health and his safety as I am afraid we can no longer rely on his mother's powerful protection.
It's your belief your sole path to find peace is in oblivion, yet I disagree. It may happen that, although your memory has been erased, deep down in your soul, you will still carry the horrors.
By my own experience, only by doing a greater good can we wash away our regrets and obtain redemption.
Consider this extra period of time as an opportunity to build up small acts of kindness enough to heal your heavy heart.
When the dark lord is dealt with, I promise to relinquish my ownership of the wand and even help you back to your true home.
Until then, I request you to keep giving support, protection and mostly of all, love to Harry.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore'
Before disappearing from view, Fawkes intercepted the letter and burned it to ashes to ensure its secrecy.
"Tanya?! You okay?!" Harry was shaking the apparently catatonic girl.
"Say something! Anything!"
"How…"
"Huh?"
"HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!"
End of Arc 3
AN: First of all, many thanks to bantam88 from AO3. From now on, he will be helping me to point out mistakes before I upload a new chapter.
I considered revealing what the two weapons Dumbledore has are. But I think I will hold it for now. Those objects will cause serious problems for Tanya but it will be in a far future.
I also was about to reveal Trelawney's new prediction, but it hit me it would be more interesting if I upheld it for now.
It is only mentioned that Ariana Dumbledore was hurt by muggles, but I once heard a theory in the internet that she was actually raped by them. This would make sense looking as she couldn't even go to school. But then, in the fantastic beasts movie, it is revealed she was an Obscurial… which I thought ridiculous! It is like they were trying to absolve Dumbledore of his crime. Like saying: 'Oh! She was going to die anyway…'. In truth, I believe Newt even said something of the sort to him. So, I am going to ignore that part of the story.
Oh! And I almost had Being X appearing in this chapter…
As always, thank you all for the reviews, they have been all wonderful! And again, I must remind that guest reviews are no longer allowed. Some were sent and unfortunately deleted without being read.
In the next month, I start getting ready the next arc, so, no new chapter until June.
Next chapter: Another interlude showing Lily Potter's conception. The day Tanya merrily declared to Harry she was going to cheat on him…