Chapter 10
"About lunch?" Harry asked, spinning around in confusion as Neville spoke. He'd planned on eating whatever the elves put before him but perhaps there was a better suggestion forthcoming. Although just how that could involve Neville's wand was beyond Harry.
A quick glance at his watch told him it was still too early for his favorite New York deli. Hell, it was too early for lunch in general but he'd make it work. At the very least the elves were always eager to help.
"What?" Neville blinked, his wand faltering between Harry and Emily. "Why would I want to talk about lunch?"
"I don't know. We were talking about lunch and you interrupted," Harry said. Neville faltered for a moment before slashing his wand toward Emily.
"Who is she?" he demanded.
"Emily," Emily said with a bored yawn.
"Emily," Harry agreed.
"Emily who?" Neville spat.
"Price," Emily said.
"Price," Harry agreed.
"I am going to hex both of you if you don't give me a real answer," Neville said, his voice adopting the same harsh edge Harry had learned to associate with Aurors during his time in Japan. It was always slightly jarring just how quickly they could slip into that persona, even after years of not using it.
"You're welcome to try," Harry responded, darkly. The edge he'd sensed from Neville causing his muscles to tense. The more intelligent part of his brain knew that there was no reason to posture with Neville, but he knew he was too competitive to let such an opportunity slide.
"Is that a threat?" Neville shifted his wand away from Emily and let it rest on Harry. Harry couldn't help the smile that flickered to his lips. He liked the pre-battle banter. He always had. Even if he hadn't given Grindelwald the satisfaction.
"I don't know, Neville. Is it?" Harry countered. This time he shifted his stance and faced Neville fully. He didn't reach for his wand, knowing it would at least appear like he wasn't being overtly threatening. Of course, it wasn't like he needed the wood anyway. And Neville knew it.
Neville's expression hardened but only for a moment. After that moment a sort of realization washed over his face. He didn't lower his wand, but Harry could see that he knew the outcome of the fight if they were to cross spells.
After another moment his eyes flashed to Emily and Harry could sense his thoughts changing. While he didn't think he could beat Harry in a straight fight, the petite brunette who didn't seem to be paying attention seemed to be a more realistic target.
He assumed Harry wouldn't let him live much after that. But if she was at all related to the woman he thought she was, then it would be a sacrifice worthy of his parent's legacy. He grit his teeth together and let his magic flow to him.
Harry raised his brows in surprise as Neville drew forth power. It was the last thing he'd expected from the other man. After Flitwick and McGonagall had ceded to his judgment, he figured everyone else would too. But, then again, he hadn't told Neville anything concrete. Of course, he wasn't sure if he'd told anyone anything concrete about the woman standing behind him.
"What are you two doing?" Hermione Granger shrieked. Both Harry and Neville turned toward the path leading back to the castle proper and saw that the head of the Department of Magical Education was sprinting toward them.
"Nothing," Harry said, innocently, as she came to a stop a few feet away from them. She was panting with the effort of the sprint, flailing her arms around and trying to get between them.
"We were training," Neville commented. Harry noticed that despite it all, he still had his wand drawn on him. And that he wasn't ready to admit he was about to attempt to curse Harry.
"Training?" Hermione gasped. "I could feel what you were doing from the Great Hall. It felt like, well, it felt like Nagasaki!"
"That was them," Neville said, nodding toward Harry.
"Don't drag me into this. It was only him," Emily chided. "I've committed my share of atrocities but I certainly had nothing to do with that corruption."
"How did you bring that here?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing as they focused on Harry. He frowned to himself. He wasn't sure anyone would be able to place it that quickly. But Hermione had hit it on the head with her first guess.
Of course, very few others would have the same experiences she did. And there were still quite a few people who didn't believe there'd been anything wrong with the Japanese countryside. And so very few magicals had even bothered to visit either before or after. It wasn't much more than an open secret. But if she could figure it out that easily it meant others would be able to as well.
"It came out of him," Neville said. Hermione raised her brows and peered over at Harry.
"Really?" she asked.
"Yes," he shrugged. "Just a trick I picked up in Japan."
"Interesting," Hermione said, her eyes narrowing as they focused even more on him. "I do have one more important question."
"What's that?" Harry asked.
"If you were training, then why is his wand still drawn on you? And why is Ms. Price hiding behind you?" Hermione asked.
"Coincidence," Emily shot back, obviously disgusted at the notion that she was hiding behind anyone. As if to prove her point she side-stepped out from behind Harry and glared at both Neville and Hermione.
"Constant Vigilance?" Neville quipped. But he lowered his wand and let the tension fade out of his shoulders. He wasn't quite ready to take his gaze off of Emily, though.
"Which is a fair assessment," Harry agreed. "And really, we were training. Neville just happened to be smarter than most and put two and two together rather quickly."
"It's fairly obvious when you're both throwing around that much power. I'm not sure how anyone couldn't know exactly who she is," Neville spat. Anger was still evident on his face and in his tone. "Was I the last to know?"
"Well, currently, at any rate," Harry said. "But only a few people know. It's not like I go around advertising it."
"Who?" Neville demanded.
"Flitwick, McGonagall, Fumiko, Avery," Harry listed. He debated adding Farah Patel but had no idea if Neville even knew the woman so he dismissed the name. "Hermione figured it out too, but, well, they'd met."
"Excuse me?" Neville yelled. But it had the desired effect as his anger shifted from Harry to Hermione.
"For like a whole two minutes," Hermione glared at Harry, clearly understanding what he was trying to do.
"When the hell did that happen?" Neville yelled. Hermione cowered away from the increased volume while Harry raised his brows as he peered between the two. He'd never seen an outburst of anger from Neville and had to wonder how long he'd been bottling that in.
"When we were at the ministry our fifth year," Hermione said. "We ran into her there."
"Where she saved us," Harry said.
"I was only there for you," Emily scoffed. "The other two got in the way."
"Saved you? What the hell are you talking about?" Neville asked.
"You didn't believe Fudge's story of how we lured Lord Voldemort to the ministry where I defeated her in single combat, did you?" Harry laughed.
"You were up on the stage next to him while he went on about it, nodding along with his words!" Neville argued, waving his arms in annoyance as they talked.
"I was in shock," Harry shrugged.
"Because you killed Lord Voldemort," Neville said.
"Well that part is true," Harry agreed.
"What happened?" Neville asked. The tension slowly fading from his body the more they talked.
"It's a long story," Harry said.
"No it isn't," Emily retorted.
"Of course it is," Harry argued.
"You were an idiot. You fell for an obvious trap. You almost got your friends killed. I showed up to save the day and died in the process," Emily said, crossing her arms. "Four whole sentences. Such a long story."
"Well when you tell it like that," Harry sulked.
"So you're really her," Neville said. His gaze shifted toward Emily. She shrugged her shoulders, raising her left hand to move a strand of hair behind her ear, but otherwise didn't answer him.
"She is," Hermione affirmed.
"You're followers tortured my parents to insanity," Neville said, his force hardening with each of the words until the final one came through gritted teeth.
"They did," Emily admitted.
"You don't even deny it?" Neville asked.
"It happened. What's to deny?" Emily countered. Neville raised his brows at her. He clearly hadn't expected that response.
"And what's your excuse for it?" Neville asked.
"I was dead when it happened," Emily said. Neville frowned more as he stared at her.
"And you expect me to believe it wasn't done on your orders?" Neville asked.
"You can believe whatever you want to believe," Emily said. "The fact remains that the Death Eaters didn't touch them while I was alive."
"And that's an excuse?" Neville asked.
"I know I fostered the image of an omniscient all-powerful witch but in the end I'm no more or less human than you are," Emily said. "I couldn't control everyone when I was alive. I'm not sure how people expected me to do so when I was dead."
"That's definitely one of her favorite arguments," Harry said. Emily glared at him. Hermione also glared at him. He shrugged his shoulders. Neville didn't acknowledge him.
"I thought we were getting lunch," she countered. "I haven't eaten anything yet today and I'm getting crabby."
"Crabbier than normal at any rate," Harry said. Emily intensified her glare but to her disappointment Harry didn't burst into flames.
"I can go find Avery," she said. "At least he and Fumiko are amusing."
"Neither are remotely as charming as I am," Harry said with the brightest smile he could manage.
"Fumiko is actually very charming," Hermione said. Harry turned to give her his best hurt expression as Emily nodded her agreement.
"You're okay with this, Hermione?" Neville asked. Hermione shook her head.
"No," she said. "I think she's dangerous."
"And you knowingly let her in the school anyway?" Neville added.
"If she's here she's much less dangerous than if she's anywhere else," Hermione argued. "And I trust Harry to keep her from doing anything outrightly evil."
"Thanks, Hermione, I appreciate that," Harry interjected.
"He'd try at any rate," Emily said.
"I'd keep your mouth shut," Hermione scolded.
"Excuse me?" Emily snapped.
"You heard me," Hermione said.
"Girl," Emily started.
"You can threaten me all you like but you're not going to do anything to harm me."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Emily muttered.
"If you harm me Harry would be very upset with you. And I don't think you're suicidal enough to do that. Even if it is what you'd prefer. And if you tried something now Harry would defend me and that would stop you," Hermione said. Emily's brows furrowed and she turned her glare on Hermione. But she didn't refute her statement and tension again filled the air.
"That's a big risk to take, Hermione," Neville said. He was shifting to put himself between her and Emily but to his surprise Emily immediately softened. She didn't respond but instead looked at Harry in annoyance. Harry sighed before he spoke.
"We're keeping her from lunch. Should we continue this inside?" Harry asked.
"I'd actually prefer if we had this conversation outdoors where I can see everyone that can possibly hear us," Hermione said.
"What review did I miss this time?" Harry asked.
"You didn't," Hermione said. "I'm assuming you read Rita's article this morning?"
"Saw the headline. Haven't read the paper yet. Neville and I were out here pretty early this morning before the paper."
"Why were you out that early? You hate being up early," Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing. "Are you planning on rushing off and doing something else stupid that's going to make my job a nightmare?"
"Probably eventually," Harry said.
"No," Neville interjected. "He told me a few weeks back that he'd show me a spell I saw him use. Today was the first chance we had. And it's always good to train. Keeps both the mind and the body fit." Neville said.
"And an educator should always be willing to take the time to learn," Harry added, using an argument she'd used before.
"Quiet you," Hermione scoffed. "How did she wind up involved in your training?"
"She just showed up when we were finishing and she and Harry had a quick duel," Neville continued.
"Who won?" Hermione asked, her brows rising with interest.
"Draw," Harry shrugged.
"Harry won easily," Neville said. "She was defenseless, he wasn't. He had many chances to end the fight well before it did. He let her get a few shots in while posturing at the end and then claimed it was a draw."
"Hey," Emily scoffed.
"You know it's true," Neville said. Emily glared at him as if she were offended by his assessment but otherwise kept her mouth shut. Harry only shrugged in a way that indicated he wasn't going to argue with Neville.
"Well, then you know the main reason why, despite my annoyance, I'm not overly worried about her," Hermione said. "At least for now."
"I don't like it," Neville said but he finally put his wand away and moved next to Hermione.
"He's literally the only person who does," Hermione scoffed. "Her included."
"Well, she's not wrong there," Emily said.
"Why are you here, Hemrione?" Harry asked. "Not that I don't enjoy your company and your visits."
"There have been about forty requests to interview you this morning," Hermione said.
"How is that any different than any other day?" Harry asked.
"Because now they all want to know why you wandered into France and attacked a man merely trying to help in a crisis," Hermione said, her expression darkening as she spoke.
"Because he's an evil megalomaniac that caused one of the greatest Wizarding wars of all time?" Harry countered.
"Rita left that part out," Hermione said.
"And the part about how the tower he was in wound up uprooted and destroying an entire Muggle town? Killing what, seven, eight thousand?"
"Glossed over as an unfortunate and mostly unrelated accident," Hermione said.
"Pretty sure that's not how you spell manslaughter," Harry scoffed.
"He claimed he didn't do it," Hermione said. "That it was some reaction from the charms malfunctioning that couldn't be prevented."
"That's a good excuse. Remind me to remember that one for later," Harry said.
"It's not a joking matter," Hermione said.
"Gellert Grindelwald is wandering around, free, after his life sentences and no one seems to care. I find it to be a joke," Harry said.
"He's repentant and offering to help wherever possible. There's a growing group of people that seem to think he's served his time and should be allowed to help out. On a leash of course," Hermione continued. "And most of them know that they can't match him and would rather not have him decide to eliminate them."
"Of course," Harry added.
"And the French are letting him. They're so shocked by the explosion that they have no idea what else to do. Some are arguing that they're safer with him. And that he's clearly reformed," Hermione continued.
"And no one is bringing up that the most likely explanation for the explosion is Gellert himself?" Harry asked.
"There were some mutterings but it's widely been agreed that it would be impossible for someone to do that with magic. It's just beyond the scope of anything that the magical world has seen," Hermione said.
"I could do it," Emily shrugged. It drew a look from Neville.
"I wouldn't admit to that in public," Hermione countered.
"Actually that might not be a horrid idea," Harry said.
"To drag Lord Voldemort out in public and admit to knowing how to create a massive magical explosion?" Hermione sounded aghast.
"No," Harry said. "To show how one person could do it. I could then say it was completely possible for him to do it."
"And he'd just counter that you very well could have done it," Hermione said.
"Because I have a history of magical mayhem," Harry scoffed. Emily snorted when he said it.
"Are you being serious right now?" Hermione asked.
"You do have a history of causing magical mayhem," Neville said.
"Well fine but not of murdering a bunch of Muggles," Harry said. Emily snorted once again.
"Seriously, Harry?" Hermione sighed.
"Fine. I don't have a history of murdering undeserving Muggles going about their every day business," Harry corrected.
"No. But she does," Hermione said. It drew another glare from Emily, but she didn't comment. "And Fudge is looking for any excuse to run you out of the country. So you better hope that no one else finds out who she is. A stray word could end your tenure."
"I'm well aware of that. He can't seriously think that I'm more of a threat than Grindelwald," Harry said.
"Of course he does. Because you are," Emily said.
"What?" Harry laughed at the notion.
"She's right," Hermione said, looking annoyed at having to agree with Emily. "To him, you are more of a threat. Grindelwald never put much stock in England. He left it alone last time. You're here."
"He left it alone because he couldn't fight Dumbledore, not because of anything else. Dumbledore isn't here any longer," Harry said.
"And Grindelwald doesn't have nearly the support he did. And Rita defending him will automatically put some people on edge. Although she does have some credibility given that you proved her right years ago and she's kept between the lines more or less since," Hermione said. Harry frowned at the memory. At the time it seemed like a logical way to fight Umbridge. But he had done his own bit to make Rita back into an A-list reporter.
"You still haven't told me why you came. I can't imagine it's because people want to interview me or accuse me of something," Harry said. "That happens every day."
"No. It isn't. You know what's going to happen next," Hermione said.
"Fudge is going to slowly needle away at Harry Potter and do everything in his power to wrest me out of Hogwarts. And you're going to have to act like you're doing his bidding from time to time," Harry said.
"Precisely," Hermione said.
"I trust you, Hermione," Harry said. He saw Neville smirk next to her and thought it best not to comment. "You do what you need to do. I'll be fine."
"I'm sure. But that's still not why I bothered coming here today," Hermione continued.
"Alright," Harry said. "Enlighten me then."
"I'm involved," Hermione said. "I need to be involved. I need to know what you're planning on doing. So that I can actually defend you if need be. Or, at the very least, find a way to divert his attention in the meantime. Fudge is furious in general that you showed up and ruined his plans for Hogwarts. And he's not accustomed to not getting what he wants."
"It might not be wise for you to know everything," Neville said before Harry could speak. "In the Auror office we used to joke that plausible deniability was one of the best defenses. And it's not wrong. There's no reason for you to risk your future if it's not necessary."
"I say it is necessary," Hermione said. "From where I sit I see three options. Fudge, Grindelwald, and Harry. And they're idiots if they think I'd side with anyone against Harry Potter."
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said. He frowned at her words though. She'd left out a rather obvious fourth option. Hogwarts itself. In her shoes it wouldn't be difficult to pin what she knew of Fudge against what she knew of Harry and play them against each other. If she wanted to, she could come up with far more control than either of them. And become a hero in the process.
"So I need to know what you're planning," Hermione pleaded.
"Nothing at the moment," Harry said.
"Harry," Hermione groaned.
"It's the truth, Hermione," Harry said. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I had some vague ideas but I haven't formed anything akin to a plan."
"You just don't want me to argue with you and tell you it's a stupid idea," Hermione scoffed.
"All of his ideas are stupid ideas," Emily interjected.
"Thanks," Harry said.
"You were presumably his idea," Neville pointed out.
"Proving my point," Emily said. Neville chuckled but nodded, a small smile creeping onto his face.
"Fair enough," Neville said.
"I don't believe you," Hermione responded, keeping her eyes focused on Harry.
"It's the truth," Harry shrugged. "I have no plans for Grindelwald at the moment. I've been a bit busy with other things. I'm open to suggestions."
"Go explode him," Emily suggested.
"I tried that already," Harry said. "If you'd like to join me I'll try it again."
"Pass," Emily said.
"Harry," Hermione groaned.
"Hold on," Neville said. He paused for a moment and peered between the two of them. "If you're not going to help him with Grindelwald then why are you even here?"
"I don't know," Emily shrugged.
"She'll help me with Grindelwald," Harry said, a note of command in his voice. Emily glared at him but didn't comment. "She just doesn't think we can win."
"How can Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter not beat Grindelwald?" Neville asked.
"I don't know," Harry admitted. "I'm still confused as to how Harry Potter couldn't beat Gellert Grindelwald. I was overconfident, sure. But I'm not sure it would have mattered one way or the other. It was like fighting a brick wall."
"I remember that feeling," Emily added. "Like no matter what you do you can't even chip away at it."
"That sounds familiar," Neville said with a sideways glance to Harry.
"It sums it up," Harry agreed. "But you were a teenager when you fought him. You got stronger after."
"And it seems so did he," Emily said. "And I'm not what I was."
"Give it time," Harry said reassuringly. Emily's response was to let out her breath in a long sigh, as if Harry had missed the point and she was sick of arguing with him.
"What if I don't want to be what I was?" she asked.
"We so very rarely get what we want," Harry said.
"I've already died twice, Harry. It seems like pure insanity to venture down that path once more. You should have just let me go," Emily said.
"Well, at the very least, I suspect the third time will be permanent," Harry said.
"That's a horrible thing to say," Hermione commented.
"He's not wrong," Emily shrugged. "The truth is the truth, no matter what people would want to believe. Can we eat yet? I'm seriously starving."
"You can go," Hermione said. "I still want to talk to Harry."
"I'm staying then."
"What more can we possibly have to talk about?" Harry asked.
"We've been talking in circles. So a great deal," Hermione countered.
"Is that going to change?" Harry asked. "You want to know what I'm planning to do with Grindelwald. I don't know what I'm planning to do with Grindelwald."
"I still don't believe you, but fine," Hermione said.
"Really? Hermione Granger doesn't believe I don't have a plan?" Harry teased. "Do you even remember me from school?"
"Fair point," she sighed. "Maybe we should move into a sitting room instead of standing outside by the lake in the cold."
"Not worried about being overheard now?" Harry asked.
"I don't think we'll have anything worth overhearing," Hermione admitted. "So let's play the part of a bantering group of, well, friends." She let her gaze linger on Emily as she finished the sentence. Neville's eyes also flashed to the other woman for a moment. Emily's response was only to shrug.
"Alright. We haven't had a chance to just talk in a while. Might be a nice change of pace. Although shouldn't I be expecting a score of reporters to show up and question me about Rita's article?" Harry asked as he started to lead the group back to the castle.
"I made it clear that you would be very unhappy with anyone visiting and badgering you about anything until tomorrow at best. I suspect there's a healthy enough fear of you that they'll oblige in person. But I suspect you'll have quite a few floo messages to sort through this evening," Hermione said.
"That's what Avery is for," Harry shrugged his shoulders in disinterest.
"It's a wonder he liked me better," Emily scoffed from behind.
"I've not forced him into any life-threatening situations," Harry countered.
"Oslo," Neville said.
"That was as much his idea as mine," Harry said.
"I introduced him to his wife," Emily countered right back.
"So did I," Harry said. "And gave the Best Man speech at his wedding."
"I'm sure you think that," Emily laughed as they entered the castle. Harry looked over his shoulder to glare at her as he led the group of them to a private sitting room near his office.
He gave the password to the rotund statue of Egg the Contemptible and watched as it hopped out of the way of a hidden doorway. He opened the door by pressing his hand onto the middle panel of the wooden door until it swung open.
He had full control over the room but he hadn't bothered changing it from how Dumbledore had set it up. It featured a large fireplace in the corner, a pair of matching chairs and a large leather couch circled a coffee table. Bookshelves lined the walls, housing fairly common spell books but making the room feel like a small, personal library.
"After you," he said with a sweeping arm motion as his three companions entered the room. He left them there for a few minutes, under the guise of going to tell the elves that they needed some refreshments.
In actuality he stepped into his office, sat at his desk chair, and sent a quick note to Avery about what he should expect if he was caught out. Neither the man or Fumiko responded to him, but he hadn't expected them to.
He spent a few moments pushing paper around his desk before he rested back in the chair and closed his eyes. He hadn't slept well the night before, and waking early to train with Neville hadn't helped his cause.
Harry only allowed himself about ten minutes of rest. Ten minutes where his thoughts drifted to much happier places and much happier days. A pang of guilt shot through his chest, souring his stomach, as those thoughts started to focus on one specific woman.
He could feel her there with him. He could sense her around him. He could practically smell her as he sat in his office. When he couldn't take it any more he rose from the chair and returned to the sitting room.
It wasn't a surprise to see a large platter of food adorning the coffee table. Pitchers of various drinks lined the rim of the table. Hermione and Neville were seated in two wingback chairs on the opposite side of the room from him. Neither of them were eating but Hermione had a glass of wine in her hand and Neville had some type of whisky on the table beside his chair.
Emily sat at the far corner of the couch, attempting to make herself as small as possible. She'd piled a plate high with what appeared to be one of everything the elves had provided and was picking her way methodically through it. Harry wasn't sure if he should be surprised or relieved that she'd chosen tea for her drink.
Neville and Hermione stopped talking when he entered the room. Both of them turned their gazes to him. Emily did not turn her attention away from her food. Not even when he sat on the other end of the couch as him.
"Everything alright?" Hermione asked.
"Fine. Just stopped by my office briefly. Couldn't remember if I'd left a book there or in my bedroom. Wanted to make sure," Harry lied easily. Hermione took a sip of her wine before coming up with a response.
"Anything good?" she asked.
"Not really," Harry responded. "Just some Charms tome Dumbledore left in his office. Interesting but nothing groundbreaking."
"I see," Hermione said.
"Neither of you are eating. Can I have the elves bring something else?" Harry asked. He leaned forward toward the platters before him and plucked up a couple of pieces of meat from a charcuterie platter.
"I didn't want to get hexed by taking anything before Miss Price had her fill," Neville said, with a pointed glare at Emily. Who may have commented if not for the fact that her mouth was filled with food.
Neville summoned a plate and started to fill it with various meats and cheeses, mostly ignoring the fruit. Harry summoned a pear to him and conjured a knife to cut slices of it while Neville prepared a plate. He set the plate down on the table near his whisky before building a second one and floating it over toward Hermione.
She plucked it out of the air and set it in her lap but didn't make any motion to eat anything from it. An awkward silence filled the room for the next few minutes, before Neville asked Hermione a question about her work. It was innocuous and largely irrelevant but it got her talking. And that was really all they needed.
Hermione and Neville carried the conversation. Harry paid enough attention to make a comment here or there when it was necessary but spent more of his time focusing on Emily. While the other two looked at her on occasion, they never directly addressed her. Which, frankly, Emily didn't seem to mind.
She said next to nothing and, once she finished with her food, simply sat on the couch, looking rather bored with the entire situation. Harry half wanted to tell her she could leave, but also wanted to see how she would react being around his friends for an extended time.
She perked up some when the Averys showed up to chat as the afternoon wore on. Fumiko engaged her in more conversation than Hermione or Neville bothered with. Harry found himself wondering just what the other woman thought of Emily. They hadn't had much of a chance to discuss it.
Although he knew that she and Alex had to have talked about it in great detail. And that she could have likely learned far more about Emily from Alex than she could from him. Still, the brief interactions he'd seen between the two of them had been nothing but jovial with each other.
Fumiko, Harry thought, had that effect on people.
The Averys only stayed for a little bit. They'd only even come to the castle that day on a whim and were planning on dining in London. Fumiko asked if he wanted them to send anything back but he declined.
They lapsed back into silence after. But it felt more comfortable than before. It only lasted for a few minutes before someone knocked on the door. Harry raised his hand and opened the door with a wave.
He saw Hermione's eyes widen at whomever was standing in the door, which he found curious. Neville noticed as well and furrowed his brow, turning his gaze to the entrance of the sitting room. He tilted his head to the side in confusion and then chuckled. Harry thought he heard him say 'brown' but he'd started to turn to look over his shoulder. He froze when he saw who stood in the doorway.
"Oh this should be fun," Emily said. "Someone get the elves to make popcorn.."
"Uh, Hi," Neville added with a glance at Emily.
"Hello Healer Patel," Hermione said, stiffly. "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"I'm here for her," Priya Patel said from the doorway. Harry swallowed hard as he looked at her. He'd seen her recently enough, when she'd come to heal his wounds after Grindelwald. But he'd been unable to do much at that point other than lay there. And he'd had another woman and his recent defeat, at the front of his mind.
"Me?" Emily asked, twisting herself around on the couch to get a better look at the woman in the doorway. She wore her lime green healer's robes. Her hair was pulled back into a pristine bun. Small silver earrings hung from her ears. Harry thought he saw the glint of a silver chain around her neck and a familiar silver watch adorned her wrist.
He recognized the look of her readily. She looked tired, wearing the same expression that she often wore at the end of a shift. But her eyes did not light up when she saw him, sending an unwanted pang through his chest.
"Yes, you," Priya said, her gaze resting on Emily on the couch. "My grandmother is feeling under the weather and asked that I come for your checkup."
"Uh, alright," Emily said. Her gaze shifted to Harry's watch to check the time. He wondered if something had even been scheduled and if she simply hadn't remembered.
"We'll get out of your hair," Hermione said, peering between Harry and Priya.
"Actually," Neville interjected. "Dinner in London doesn't sound like a bad idea. Would you like to join me, Hermione?"
"Uh, alright," Hermione blinked at him. Harry barely registered their conversation as his eyes stayed focused on Priya. His two friends stepped past her and left the office.
"I hate to have to ask, Miss Price, but my grandmother didn't have charts or anything. I know she has you on a potions regimen. Do you mind fetching them so I can see what exactly she's had you taking and if it should continue?" Priya asked in her best Doctor voice. Emily's eyes narrowed for a brief moment before a sort of realization washed over her face as she looked between Harry and Priya.
"Sure," Emily said. She slid off of the couch and sauntered out of the room, not sparing another glance for Harry or Priya.
Harry stood and once the room was empty he and Priya stared at each other. Her eyes locked onto his and silence reigned. Once Harry couldn't take it any more he spoke.
"How was the wedding?" Harry asked. He swallowed hard against the word, his throat seeming to constrict as he said it. He'd intended only to create some type of conversation before Emily returned. But as soon as he said it he knew it was the wrong word.
"It was fine," Priya bit off. Harry frowned and lowered his eyes from hers. His gaze flashed to her hands. She wore no rings, but she never did while working.
"It wasn't yours, was it?" Harry asked. He'd forced himself to be in the dark about Priya Patel. He hadn't allowed himself to think any further on the event after both she and Farha referenced it.
"Of course not," Priya snorted. "My wedding will be in London."
"Oh," Harry said. "Of course. India was enjoyable though?"
"It was fine," Priya said. "Less fun than the last time I was there but it was to be expected."
"I see," Harry said. "Priya…I…"
"Why did you bring her back?" Priya asked, ignoring the words that lingered on Harry's tongue.
"Because I lost," Harry said. "And it wasn't close."
"So you said. But you're you. And you were being over confident and were not prepared. I'm sure round two would go completely differently," Priya said. "Much like it did with the Japanese Aurors."
"I was, that's true. But I don't think it would have mattered," Harry said.
"So you say," Priya said.
"It was like nothing I've ever experienced, Priya. I may as well have been throwing pebbles at a wall for as effective as I was. It was, well, I suspect it was like what people feel like when they're trying to fight me," Harry said.
"Fine, but tell me honestly. Did you use everything at your disposal?" Priya asked, her eyes narrowing. She surprised him by taking a few steps closer to her. He matched her and they were standing nearly within arm's reach.
"Of course not," he said. "You know I wouldn't do that around others."
"It won't do what you think it will. None of our research shows that as a possibility," Priya argued.
"Maybe. But that's not what it feels like when it's unleashed. And that's not a risk I'm willing to take," Harry said. "They don't deserve that."
"If he's like you say you may not have a choice."
"I may not," he agreed. "I've thought about that ever since my blood magic failed."
"Blood magic isn't as powerful as people think," Priya said.
"Maybe, maybe not," Harry shrugged.
"So you think she'll help with that?" Priya asked.
"I don't think she'll have a choice," Harry said. "So yes, I think she'll help."
"You told me you thought you were stronger than the version of her who came back the first time," Priya said. Harry remembered that conversation rather fondly. Not for the nature of the topics, but rather because most of it happened while they cuddled outside under a blanket on a conjured couch watching the snowfall around their home.
"I stand by that," Harry said. "But she doesn't need to be stronger than me. The two of us will be able to come up with something."
"Do you love her?" Priya asked, her voice breaking as she spoke. The words caught him off guard. He'd hurt her.
Of course he knew that. He'd known that for a while. But it still sat wrong in his mind. He wasn't supposed to ever hurt her. He was supposed to protect her. The words didn't come as he tried to speak.
He took another step toward her, wanting to hug her to ease the hurt he could feel coming from her. He wanted to say something to make it all okay. But he didn't know what that could possibly be.
"I did," Harry admitted. He'd admitted that before. Of course at that time they'd had considerably less intimate knowledge of each other. And had considerably more whisky in their system.
"You've said that much before."
"I have," Harry admitted. "When I thought I was going to die in the ministry. After I'd watched Ron and Hermione get hexed. After the Aurors kept flooding in through the fires. When I could see the curses flying at me…well….When she was there after it all, saving me. Yes, at that point I loved her."
"I know, Harry. She saved you. She was one of the first people to actually care for you, to help you. Anyone would have fallen in love with that. I don't care about the past. I'm asking if you love her," Priya said. She crossed her arms over her chest and Harry caught the glint of silver on her neck once more.
It sent another pang through his chest. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to straighten out his thoughts. When he opened them she seemed even closer to him than she had been a minute before. He thought he could smell her perfume.
He wanted to reach out to her. To grab her and pull her to him. To press her body into the wall and bury his face into her hair. He wanted to trail his lips down over her, to feel her skin, to taste her perfume on his tongue, to feel her body writhing against his once more.
But he wasn't brave enough to do any of those things. Instead, he answered her question.
"No," he admitted, honestly. "I barely even like her."
"She looked cozy on your little war council," Priya said.
"That's not at all what we were doing," Harry said. "And she's only there because she has nowhere else to go and is terrified of being alone."
"And how do you know that?" Priya asked.
"Because I'm terrified of being alone," Harry said. Priya opened her mouth to argue but then paused. Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on his words. He'd told her everything. Every little detail of how he was connected to Lord Voldemort. He'd even let her into his mind to feel some of it. He'd shown her parts of the diary, and he'd let her join him in memories of the battle at the ministry.
"So she stays," Priya said. He could hear her unspoken words clearly in his head, though. If you're so afraid of being alone…then why? Wouldn't it have been so much easier….? He couldn't even let his own monologue finish that thoughts.
"For now," Harry said. "Is your grandmother alright? She doesn't seem like the type to let anything minor keep her from her work."
"She's fine," Priya said with an annoyed look at him. "I think she wanted me to see her. I think she thought it would prove her point about us."
"She told you that too?"
"Of course."
"I'm sorry," he said, running a hand through his hair.
"You should be," Priya scoffed. She shifted her weight around, her shoulders slumping slightly as she tilted her head to look at him. It caused more of the silver chain around her neck to be visible.
He moved before he thought. His hand rose up and reached out for her. She froze as the tips of his fingers traced across the bronze skin of her neck. He slid his index finger under the chain and lifted it up. It emerged slowly from underneath her robes, a diamond ring looped around the end of the chain.
He let it drop and stared at it as it fell against her chest. He could feel her eyes on him. He stared until Emily cleared her throat from the doorway.
"I have the potions," she said. Priya tucked the necklace back underneath her robes and turned to look at her newest patient.
"Great. If you'll excuse us, Professor Potter," she said, her tone adopting the stern self-importance of a Healer. Harry had heard it enough to know he was dismissed.
He'd taken far too long to say whatever he wanted, or whatever he needed to say and now the moment was gone. It was all too familiar of a feeling of late. He swallowed against a lump in his throat and nodded, leaving Priya Patel to her examination of Emily Riddle.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing, I do appreciate all of the support I get. If you'd like to support me more I am available on PAT RE ON at TE7Writes. The next two chapters of Cleansing the Sins are already active over there. Thanks again and have a happy holidays!