Majo Kon-ki The Marriage of Tanya the Witch
(The marriage chronicles of a witch)
Arc 5 - Order of the Phoenix – part 1
August, AD 1995, the Granger family home in London.
"Hmm…! N-no… it's not true…! Sob!" In her room late at night, Hermione Granger was caught in a nightmare.
'POTTER IS DEAD!'
"Don't… please…!" This has been going on since that haunting night at Hogwarts, where she had seen Harry lying lifeless and then Tanya…
'Harry… how did this happen… COME TO ME! DEATHLY HALLOWS!'
"Tanya… don't do it… you are going to… sob!"
'… use your life… destroy the hallows!'
"… mione… wake up!"
"What?!" In an instant, her eyes snapped open.
"Ron?!" Seeing her red-headed friend in the room, she almost believed she was still dreaming.
"Sorry to wake you, I saw you turning in bed and-"
"RON!" She leaped into his arms.
"Ah!"
"I was so scared…! The dreams won't stop! I see Harry and- Tanya…"
"Figured as much." A melancholic sigh slipped from him.
"Back home, Ginny and Luna are the same."
"Luna?"
"One day she turned up crying and has been holed up in Ginny's room ever since."
Hermione should have seen this coming. In her pain, she almost forgot that there would be many more people affected by the whole ordeal. Parvati and Lavender, for instance, were constantly sending owls asking about their dorm mate.
"This ain't helping the Burrow's already low spirits… even mum cries when she reckons we can't see."
"Did you receive any news? About any change? Have you seen them?!" Hermione inquired rapidly.
"Easy there! News comes to me every day, and it's all the same. And no, I didn't lay eyes on them. Professor Dumbledore's adamant about locking folks out with the Fidelius."
For the second time in her life, Hermione harbored a strong distaste for the headmaster.
"But I want- I need to see them!"
"Trust me, according to what mum let slip, it's a sad sight."
"Doesn't matter I MUST SEE MY FRIENDS!" Her despair was so intense that she came close to pushing Ron.
"Alright, alright! Actually, count me in too. Tomorrow, I'll get mum to owl Dumbledore again."
"Really?! Oh, thank you!" Relieved with his promise, she relaxed in his arms.
"By the way…" Now that their emotional moment concluded, she was reminded of an important unanswered detail.
"… what are you doing here?"
"Me? I came to check on you, of course! You didn't bother replying to the last letter I sent!"
"Ron, that was merely three days ago. I was quite occupied responding to Parvati and Lavender."
"W-well, with all the craziness happening, I got a tad worried, you know!"
Hermione flashed him a warm smile. Despite his own suffering, he prioritized others.
"It is so like him to cross such a distance to-"
"Wait a minute! How did you come here?" Ron averted his gaze.
"Ron?"
"Sorry! I broke in! George taught me how to lock pic-"
"I mean here in London. How did you- Oh no! Did your father acquire another flying car?!"
"Nah, mum put her foot down, dad is not allowed to get another one…"
Relief washed over Hermione.
"… so, I used a broom."
"!" In the blink of an eye, her relief turned into bewildering incredulity.
"You are insane! What if you were seen?!"
"I only flew to the outskirts, then I walked the rest of the distance."
"The outskirts?! That is too far! It must have taken hours to get here!"
"Y-yeah, nearly a full day, mostly cause I, uh, got a bit lost along the way…" He admitted blushing.
"Couldn't you have your parents or Percy apparate you?"
"Dad and mum are busy. And Percy… I will tell you another day!" Hermione decided to not pry by his tone of voice.
"How about using the knight bus?"
"I don't have a single knut…"
"Ronald Weasley! Of all the irresponsible-" She stopped in her tracks. He went through all this for her, it seemed ungrateful to criticize. Besides, she was genuinely glad to have him there.
"I can cut him some slack… this once."
"T-thank you for going through this trouble for me…"
He shot her a surprised look, likely because she wasn't chewing him out as usual.
"… it made me very happy! I love you!"
An awkward silence followed these words.
"Wait! What did I just say out aloud?!"
Ron blinked.
"Oh no! What I meant to say was 'I loved it'! What will he think of me?!"
"Don't sweat it, you'd do the same for me, no doubt. And I love you too!"
"!" For a moment Hermione's heart accelerated, until she comprehended that by his laid back tone, his 'love you' was more akin to 'thank you' or 'good day'.
Typically, this would have irked her, but she had already committed to giving him a break.
"Well, I suppose I should start walking back home." He said, turning towards the room's door.
"Going out at this hour?! You can't! The streets can be dangerous!"
"Huh? What makes it dangerous? This ain't the Forbidden Forest; there aren't any creatures roaming around."
"NO! Don't go! I can't lose you too!" To stop him from leaving, she hopped back into his arms.
"Whoa?!"
"S-spend the night here and tomorrow I will accompany you to the station!"
He couldn't deny her, seeing how upset she was.
"Alright, can I bunk on the couch in the living room?"
Hermione caught her breath; she couldn't believe what she was about to propose.
"H-how about s-sleeping with m-me? There is lots of space in my bed."
He gave her a blank stare.
"What am I saying?! He will think I am some sort of-"
"Works for me." He replied smiling.
"Y-you are alright with it?!"
"Yup!" He kicked off his shoes and climbed into her bed.
"Y-y-you know we are only going to sleep, right? RIGHT?!"
"What else are we supposed to do? Can't play cards or chess in the dark."
"… is he joking?"
"And if you're worried about snoring, forget it. I shared a bed with Ginny loads of times, and she never once complained."
Being labeled on par with a sister did manage to draw a frown from her. Nonetheless, she laid down next to him.
"Oi! You've got it wrong. This is way too cramped!"
"You are not insinuating I am fat, are you?"
"What? No!"
Deep down, she was searching for a reason to bicker.
"Hmm… maybe if we do this?" She blushed hard as he pulled her close to him.
"I-i-it is as if we are two lovers embracing in bed!" Hermione felt herself engulfed in a flood of intense emotions that she couldn't quite pinpoint.
After a few minutes, while wrestling with her feelings, she realized she needed some space or she wouldn't be able to sleep.
"Ron, err, could you give me some-" She was interrupted by a snore.
"Argh! Am I so unattractive to him that he falls asleep so quickly?!" Absolutely furious with the boy, she wished she had given him a piece of her mind earlier.
"Grr! Oh, you just wait until tomorrow!" She would eventually drift off to sleep, lulled by the soothing sound of his heartbeat, with no new nightmares haunting her. In fact, she ended up oversleeping and when her parents came to wake her, they'd be in for the shock of their lives.
"…gwahaha! You've got no idea how furious Dumbledore was! Old Dung looked like he was about to wet his pants!" Sirius barked in laughter recalling a certain incident.
"That'll teach him to try his antics while on duty! Don't you reckon, Harry?"
"…" Despite his good humor, his 'audience' didn't utter a sound.
"By the way, want to meet my favorite cousin's daughter?!" He enthusiastically asked.
"She's got this special knack which makes her the life of any party!"
"…" Once more, there was no sign he was heard.
"Err, I could introduce you to Kingsley Shacklebolt!" This next topic was sure to pique his godson's interest.
"He's a top-notch Auror, you see. Maybe he could share a few pointers with you. I remember you talking about wanting to be an Auror one day to protect-"
Under his breath, he cursed himself for almost bringing up the one topic he should have avoided during their conversation.
"… how about meeting the true Mad-eye Moody, Harry?"
"…"
Nothing. Over the past two months, he stayed the same. Harry's undivided attention and singular focus were exclusively devoted to staring at Tanya as she lay in bed…
"Harry, I know we already talked about-"
"Tanya… is going to… come back…"
"Harry, she is DEAD! For Merlin's sake!"
"She is… coming back… she promised me…" Witnessing his godson miserably clinging to a futile hope, Sirius couldn't help but feel contempt for Dumbledore, for casting the bloody spell to preserve Tanya's body.
"Listen! Sooner or later, your magical reserves will dry up, and you'll be left watching her body decomposing right in front of you!" Despite Sirius' reservations, it was something Harry needed to hear.
"He has to move forward with his life!"
"She is not going to decompose! I AM NOT LETTING IT HAPPEN!" Shivering, Sirius watched as the scream brought up a swirling gust of magic wind around Harry.
"Blimey! Can't let him lose control!" Because on the last occasion this happened, it didn't end well for Sirius.
"Alright, alright! You are right! No need to get upset!" With little choice, he conceded to calm Harry down. It took several tense seconds before the magical wind finally started to subside.
"T-then, Harry, at least eat something. Molly left some food-"
"I am not hungry…"
"I can't believe this! I can't recall when I last saw you actually eating anything!"
"I am… not… hungry…" Sirius emitted a grunt as Harry reverted to a trance, attentively watching over Tanya.
"He doesn't eat, doesn't drink any liquid and doesn't need to use the loo…"
'Miss Degurechaff didn't simply revive him; she supercharged him with an excess of vitality and magic. I believefor quite some time, Harrywon't be needing external sustenance.' As customary, Dumbledore had a proper answer. Furthermore, he elucidated this is why Harry can supply the immense amount of magic needed to keep Tanya's body fresh.
'And be cautioned that the combination of a grieving boy with magic of such intensity could represent a peril to those nearby. I am not asking to leave him, just to give him some space.' However, Sirius couldn't heed those words; he was still the boy's godfather and had the obligation to give his best in helping him.
"It almost resulted in a tragedy. In my defense, I only mentioned for him to step outside, take a breath of fresh air…"
'I AM NOT LEAVING TANYA'S SIDE! I WON'T LET HER DIE!' Like in their previous conversation, magic started to swirl around the boy, and soon enough, it felt as if a cyclone had been unleashed on Sirius.
'I implore you not to attempt this again. Instead of an arm and leg, it could have been your neck being broken!' Dumbledore emphasized without any humor.
"I… is there anything I can do?" In his mind, day after day, Sirius repeated this question incessantly.
"Tell me, Prongs! How do I help your son?!" Naturally, no answer came to him.
"Tanya…" As Harry faithfully carried out his unrelenting duty of watching over his 'sleeping beauty' fiancee, he couldn't shake the memories of the countless events which led her to this unfortunate state.
Starting with the cemetery…
'Harry!' He could sense the depth of her worry through the scream she let out when Quirrell cut him.
'… and, for master, a fitting CONSORT!' The recollection of Malfoy's father presenting Tanya as if she were a trophy filled him with fury.
'NOOOOO! S-S-SOMEONE! ANYONE, HELP ME!' Panic had overwhelmed him upon hearing her so frightened. She sounded too much like she was during the Boggart class.
'No…!Harry… please, you promised… help me…! HARRY! HARRY! HARRY!'
"How could I deny her anything hearing her plead so desperately?" Ignoring all the pain, drawing strength from who-knows-where, he set himself free.
'GET AWAY FROM MY FIANCEE YOU SON OF A BITCH!' Driven by his anger, he unleashed everything he had into his assault.
"I remember feeling thrilled with each spell that landed on him…" And for a brief moment, he genuinely believed he could avenge Tanya's humiliations and ultimately bring an end to his parents' murderer.
'Why do you think I chose you to give me blood?!' Regrettably, Harry's luck had run out. Voldemort devised a flawless strategy to counter all of his advantages.
"Tanya's spell became ineffective, and I lost my mum's protection… along with any hope of getting out alive."
'Die Potter- GAH!' As per usual, it was Tanya the one who saved the day.
"She never stops amusing me! Using a gun against an unsuspecting wizard?! Brilliant!"
'HARRY! We are retreating, come to me!' No need to ask twice; Harry willingly rushed to his beloved fiancee. However, as soon as his hand touched the trophy…
'AVADA KEDAVRA!' … his world plunged into darkness.
"All that talk about a tunnel with a light at the end must be rubbish. At least, while I was DEAD, all I saw was the dark…"
'… no god… save him myself…' An eternity had passed before he could hear her voice again, faintly.
'You idiot… come back!'
'Tanya?' With difficulty, he tried to speak. He perceived two forces were at play on him: one tugging on him while the other tried to keep him still.
'Harry! You have much ahead of yourself…' Above all, he wanted to talk with her, to reassure her he didn't mean to leave.
'T-think of your friends…' Images of all the people he cherished flickered through his mind: Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and many others. It was a far cry from his old life with the Dursleys, the realization of the numerous friends he has today filled him with joy.
'I don't want to leave!' Frantically, he struggled with the unseen force restraining him, his efforts aimless until he eventually managed to grasp it.
'A snake…?' He had judged by touch.
'Once I kill it, I can go back!'
'… come back… I will… m-marry you… right NOW!'
'!' Suddenly, Harry was engulfed by a surge of energy. He completely forgot about harming the presumed snake he had grabbed and, instead, pulled it with him… towards the person he held most dear. At last, he saw a light at the end of the tunnel and it was Tanya. Her love had transformed into a luminous beacon, dissipating all darkness with a single, magical kiss.
'I heard you… calling for me.'
"It was funny, just few minutesbefore, I was so grateful for having so many friends, but they instantly disappeared from my memories.Tanya, gleaming in a silver glow, was all I had in my mind."
'Stupid boy, your life doesn't belong solely to you, there are many things I want you to do!'
'I know. And I shall remain at your side, all my life, until death do us part!' Following his pledge, time blurred as they shared more kisses. The surrounding screams faded into the background as Harry remained entirely captivated by Tanya. It took him a while to notice that she had grown cold in his arms, it was as if she had entered a profound trance.
'Miss Degurechaff! Harry is alright, whatever you are doing, you must stop!' In the midst of the crowd's cheers, Harry discerned these urgent words spoken by Professor Dumbledore.
'Tanya? TANYA, TALK TO ME!' Dread filled him as he saw no response to his calls and shakes, fear returning in full force.
"And while I was busy thinking what else to do, HE appeared…"
'GIRL! THIS WASN'T PART OF OUR DEAL!' One of the countless spirits made visible by Tanya's magic floated down. It was clear that he was Ignotus Peverell.
'BECAUSE OF THIS MESS, THE RULES OFREALITY ARE ABOUT TO COLLAPSE!' Harry couldn't comprehend the exact meaning of his words, only that, given Professor Dumbledore's previous unease, something really bad was coming.
'HURRY UP! USE YOUR LIFE TO DESTROY THE HALLOWS! BEFORE THE UNIVERSE ENDS!' Finally, Tanya showed a reaction. Directing her gaze towards the object in her hand, she opened her mouth, releasing something resembling a breath of silver fire, causing the wand to evaporate.
Immediately, everything went back to normal. The silver light no longer enveloped Tanya's body, the stars were back in the skies, and Peverell, like all other spirits, had disappeared.
"No, not everything, Tanya had- she was…" The following events were a hazy blur for him; he vaguely remembers people around him shouting their names, and Professor Dumbledore explaining why she was… dead.
'Her mission was to destroy the deathly hallows, as you are well aware.'
'NO! She changed her mind! She said we would stay together!' Desperately, he clung onto Dumbledore.
'And a minute ago, she promised we would marry right away!'
'Harry…' At last, Professor Dumbledore relented. Though with some hesitation, he cast a spell on Tanya.
'I am placing a charm to protect her body from deterioration. However, I am afraid the duty to uphold it shall be yours.' Lastly, the professor vowed to find a way to bring Tanya back.
"… and ever since, I've been waiting…" Gently, he clasped her hand in his.
"So cold! It was always warm… when I touched her, when she touched me andeven when she punched me!" He let out a small chuckle, under these circumstances, a punch from her would be a welcomed blessing.
"Will I never feel your warmth again…?!" This thought was unbearable, the simple notion making him go into a panic fit.
"Please…! Wake up…! L-look, I-I will warm you up!" He carefully settled beside his fiancee.
"Maybe… this is what I have to do! I have to give back all the warmth she gave me during those four years!" In his heart, he acknowledged he was deceiving himself. Yet, he closed his eyes, hoping it would somehow become a reality.
Watching the flames die out, Dumbledore sighed wearily. Once more, he found himself needing to reassure Sirius that he was putting forth his best efforts to aid both Tanya and Harry. The timing couldn't have been more inconvenient, as he had a similar talk a mere hour before with Molly Weasley, reminding her why entry into 12 Grimmauld Place must remain prohibited.
"Why must they persist in forcing me to repeat myself- ugh!" The headmaster experienced a sudden onset of dizziness, causing him to lean against a nearby wall for support.
"The frequency of these dizzy spells is becoming a growing concern." Then again, Dumbledore's past two months have been incredibly busy as he diligently sought members for the new Order of the Phoenix.
"And Cornelius isn't making this any easier." The minister, consumed by paranoia, unwittingly played into Voldemort's hands, becoming his greatest ally. The relentless attacks on the news were significantly impeding the progress of Dumbledore's vital task.
"I am nearly inclined to pity him. I, too, experienced profound fear upon witnessing Tanya's transformation…" Temporarily setting aside those thoughts, Dumbledore, still experiencing fatigue, settled into his desk. However, rather than taking a break, he resumed one of the two research projects he had been working on during his free hours.
He gazed intently at the item in his hands, the last memories of Herpo the fool, the creator of the most terrible of all dark magic…
"Horcrux! So, this is the method you employed, Tom!" From the instant Harry disclosed Tom Riddle's diary's attempt on Ginny Weasley's life, Dumbledore harbored suspicions. Those suspicions transformed into near-certainty upon witnessing the emergence of that snake-like piece of soul from Harry's scar.
"Except, a Horcrux was intended to be a single object." And it was an undeniable truth that he was now aware of two such creations.
'… I am afraid of the state of my sanity should my soul be broken in more than half…' Dumbledore learned from this sentence that Herpo the fool wasn't so foolish.
"How about you, Tom? Were you so imprudent as to manufacture several- hum?" Dumbledore's eyes widened as he moved on to the next paragraph.
'… easier than looking for a lover willing to give her life for me…'
"COULD THIS BE…?!" With enthusiasm, he flipped back a few pages, pleased to discover a clue related to his other research project.
"A ritual…?" Herpo wrote a brief mention about a method for reviving the recently deceased by transferring life essence through lip contact.
Actually, the concept of reviving a loved one with a 'kiss of love' is a well-known tale in both the magical and muggle worlds. Nonetheless, even among wizards, it is commonly dismissed as nothing more than a fairy tale.
"Regardless, this was how Tanya brought Harry back to life." Moreover, what convinced Dumbledore to give the book a careful second reading was that it was the first mention he had seen of it being referred to as a ritual.
"Hmm… is this- no." Hours passed as he meticulously combed through the book…
"What about- no!" … to find no further reference was mentioned.
"No! It has to be- Ah." Reaching the final pages of the book, Dumbledore, filled with frustration, started reading it once more, only to arrive at the same disheartening conclusion.
"If this ritual ever existed, it is lost to time…" Dumbledore sank into his chair, the weight of his new failure combined with the awareness of the great sorrow it would inflict upon many, seemed to drain away the last dregs of his strength.
"… what… will I tell… Harry…?" In vain, he tried to fend off the encroaching drowsiness, yet his fatigue extended beyond mere physical exhaustion.
"… Tanya… won't be… coming back… exactly like… Ariana…" With his eyelids so heavy, he closed his eyes…
"ARIANA!" At the sound of the all-too-familiar shout, Albus Dumbledore's eyes fluttered open.
Once more, he was back at the point in the past when he, Aberforth, and Gellert found out the poor girl had died, a tragic casualty of their fight.
"N-no! I can't go to jail!" Without giving a second glance, Gellert bolted away, leaving a petrified young Albus behind, while Aberforth wept inconsolably beside their sister's lifeless form.
"Why…? Oh, why must I endure the torment of witnessing the same scene all over again?!" Despite being aware that it was a dream, he was unable to dispel the lingering sadness. Dumbledore pondered whether this was a punishment for failing to save Tanya. To experience the same sorrow he would bring to Harry soon.
"Brian! Quit just standing there! Put that big brain of yours to use and save her!" In response to his brother's plea, he recited one of the main rules of magic.
"No magic can bring the dead back…!" Gritting his teeth, Albus braced himself for what would come next: a punch from Albeforth, accompanied by vehement accusations of it all being his fault.
"That- THAT IS NOT TRUE AND YOU KNOW IT!"
"What in the heavens?!" This part diverged from his memories.
"Do what the princess taught you!" Aberforth closed his eyes, immersed in profound concentration. Upon reopening them, a subtle silver glow emanated.
"!" It closely mirrored Tanya's, though in her case, the radiance was more intense, enveloping her entire body.
Dumbledore observed in a daze as Aberforth kissed Ariana, passing on his life force to her. A few moments later, her eyes snapped open, while his brother collapsed lifeless.
"ABERFORTH!" The young Dumbledore sank to his knees.
"What does this mean…? WAS I BOUND TO LOSE A SIBLING ANYWAY?!" He wasn't yelling at anyone in particular; rather, he was exasperated by the sheer injustice of it all.
"Is this the answer?! One life for another? I have to sacrifice someone else to bring Tanya back?!"
"You got it wrong, Brian." Raising his head, Dumbledore was greeted by Arianna, her face adorned with a gentle expression.
"No one has to die, all I have to do is return a little of what he gave me, look." In a mimicry of their brother's gesture, Ariana harnessed all her magic and 'kissed' it to Aberforth. Immediately, he was restored to life, and his sister remained standing.
"The bond we share as siblings will keep our lives intertwined and in good health."
"A bond…?" Dumbledore noticed a subtle aura linking the two.
"That is the main factor to make it work! A bond from a sibling, a lover, or a fiancee!"
""Yes…"" Nodding in unison, their shining eyes shifted color, transitioning from silver to a brilliant yellow.
"That faithless child won't accept a miracle from me." Arianna's words carried a mature tone, a stark departure from her usual innocence.
"So, instead, I bless you with this knowledge." Aberforth finished, his tone mirroring the one from their sister precisely.
""I shall present you with a last blessing."" Once more, their words echoed in perfect harmony as they spoke simultaneously.
""The reward you so much seek, shall soon be yours.""
Dumbledore's eyes flickered open.
"What…? Where…?" Surveying his surroundings, he realized he had reverted to his elderly form, finding himself once more in his office at Hogwarts.
"What a peculiar dream!" In all his long years, he had never encountered a dream as vivid and lucid as this one.
"What's even more significant is that it provided the answer I was searching for!" Without delay, he wrote down every single detail of what he saw.
"Harry must give back a bit of what he took… a preexisting bond will keep their lives intertwined and in good health… no problem, they are lovers who got engaged-" He paused, carefully considering the implications of the plan he was piecing together.
"I would be subjecting Harry's life to a serious and ominous risk!" Additionally, there was the chance he was deluding himself with a solution fabricated by his own guilty conscience.
"Before proceeding, obtaining more information is essential." Dumbledore doubted he would uncover anything useful among the books he had at his disposal, given the highly specific nature of the topic.
"There's a chance someone in the Department of Mysteries has explored research on life as energy-" His eyes widened as an old memory unexpectedly surfaced in his mind.
"Life as an energy… MANA!" Dumbledore became aware the research was already in his possession. He rummaged through his drawers until he located an exact copy of Tanya's essay from four years ago.
In haste, he flipped through the pages until he reached the necessary section.
'… it is my belief that all living beings have a 'mana core' between their soul and physical body. This ethereal organ acts as the essence of life, and also as the source of individual magic. Furthermore, upon the death of the wizard or witch, it may create a ghost…' From the depths of his being, Dumbledore let out a chuckle, the very first in months.
"To think her own theories would be the key to saving her life!"
While Dumbledore completed the final preparations for the ritual he had dreamed about, Harry, at 12 Grimmauld Place, was experiencing a vivid and lucid dream of his own.
"Mr Potter, it's your turn."
"Huh?" Harry stared at the pretty Asian woman in front of him with confusion.
"Where am I? What is this place?" Surveying his surroundings, it appeared he was in a waiting room.
"What am I doing here? Isn't there something important I should be doing…?"
"Mr Potter…? I said it's your turn, the chief will see you now." The same woman from before, whom he surmised to be either a receptionist or secretary, broke his train of thought.
"Err, why?" At this question, she shot him a puzzled look.
"Excuse me? Aren't you here for a job interview?"
"Oh, r-right!" Embarrassed, he decided to pretend that he remembered.
"Sorry, it's nerves!" Quickly Harry flew by her, entering the room.
"What am I doing-"
"Hello, Mr Potter. How gracious of you to finally honor me with your presence." Instantly, Harry felt a pang of regret as he was confronted by an Asian counterpart to Snape, whose glare was just as potent.
"Something tells me I won't have the job…"
"Let's get started already; there are others waiting their turns, and I have pressing matters to attend to!" He concluded by gesturing towards the chair positioned in front of his desk. Reluctantly, Harry sat down.
"First and foremost, tell me, what motivated you to try to work at our company?"
"M-me?! Err…" Harry stared blankly while the man eyed him fiercely waiting for his answer.
"I don't even know how I got here! What am I supposed to say?!"
"… b-because I like how you do… business planning! I heard this company is a model for all the others!"
"Hmm!" This reply appeared to satisfy the man, evident from the subtle relaxation of his features.
"Whew! I am glad I remembered my talk with- Tanya?!" Harry was abruptly reminded of his fiancee.
"It's reassuring to see you can discern…"
"Tanya, she won't wake up!"
"… understand that personnel is vital…"
"What the hell am I doing here?!"
"… the ability to handle administrative tasks efficiently makes you a valuable asset."
"I have to go back! What if the spell fails and- Huh?" The man's words caught his attention.
"It's a skill set which can lead to a promising and versatile career path…"
"I heard this talk before…" And with the same tone of enthusiasm about such a boring subject.
"… especially if you are aiming for…"
""…a leadership position."" With a sudden comprehension dawning on him, Harry leaped from his seat, his eyes widening in astonishment.
"T-Tanya?! Is that you?!" In a gesture which seemed to offer further proof, the man smirked in the same manner as she often did.
"Congratulations, Harry! You've successfully passed your first test!"
"TANYA!" Tears welled in his eyes as he was overwhelmed with happiness for being able to talk with her.
"Next, for your second- h-hey! What are you- mmmphhh?!" On impulse, Harry passionately kissed the man.
It wasn't until a full minute had passed that he let go of him, needing to catch his breath.
"I-I guess you passed the second test too…!" He spoke with a mix of irritation and embarrassment evident in his tone.
"Tanya! Sob! I am so happy you are alright!"
"… aren't you going to say anything about my current appearance?"
"Oh, right. What's with the Snape-like form? Polyjuice? And when are you coming back to normal?" 'Tanya' shook his head.
"This is my normal now, Harry. I can't and won't go back to a little girl's body!"
Harry blinked.
"You are joking, right?" Again, 'Tanya' shook his head.
"I won't bother you with the details, just understand this change is definitive."
"T-then, maybe we can try-"
"… and I am not homosexual!"
"… me neither!" Harry sadly acknowledged. Recognizing that the kiss from before, wasn't as good as usual.
"How are we going to have any 'intimacy'?!" Harry despaired as he fully grasped the gravity of the situation.
"For our relationship to work, we need a girl- !" The solution came to his mind surprisingly easily.
"If you won't turn back, I am going to be the girl!"
This appeared to catch 'Tanya' off guard as he stared in astonishment at Harry.
"Can it be done?"
"Well, yes, I guess but… do you realize how big of a change this will be?"
"I don't care as long as we stay together!"
"…" Blankly, the man gazed at him before releasing a deep sigh.
"We will have to ask that piece of shit-"
"YOU CAN'T!" Following this shout, the receptionist burst into the room and embraced the male Tanya protectively.
"The chief is mine! I won't hand him over!"
Harry stared in utter disbelief.
"Of course, it wasn't enough to become a man, he had to be handsome!" Indicating that women were about to become his love rivals as well…
"Piss off!" Rudely, Harry reminded her he wasn't going to sit idly by as someone attempted to take his loved one away.
"We love each other! Tanya, tell her!" However, contrary to his expectations, the male Tanya directed a tender gaze to the receptionist.
"Harry, I am sorry. This person is the one whom I truly love."
"… what?" He couldn't possibly believe that.
"… it is a lie…" Still, there was no denying the gentle and loving manner in which Tanya held her.
"IT'S NOT TRUE!" Consumed by anger, Harry impulsively threw his chair.
"YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!" Next, he scattered the papers on the desk in a fit of frustration.
"YOU- YOU PROMISED TO MARRY ME!" He finished by pointing an accusatory finger at the man's hand, somehow, the engagement ring was there.
Startled at first, the male Tanya subsequently nodded in agreement.
"Yes, I did… and I am a man of my word." He promptly disengaged himself from the woman's embrace.
"Chief?!"
"YES!" Harry experienced a sense of triumph and, most importantly, relief for obtaining that expensive piece of jewelry.
"No… Sob! Don't go away!"
"Please, don't cry… I am so sorry, I am bound to a promise…"
"W-what?!" In shock, Harry observed the unfolding scene.
"His tone… it's as if he is sacrificing himself!" As though their marriage would be driven by obligation rather than love.
"Sob! Chief, don't leave me! Sob!" Harry averted his gaze; he couldn't bear to watch as the male Tanya began to gently console the receptionist.
"N-never before have I seen her treat someone with so much care,not even me!"
"You have to understand that I must-"
"NO!" With this desperate scream, the teary woman compelled Harry to turn and meet her gaze.
"Please! We spent two whole lives waiting to be together again! Let me make the chief HAPPY!" Her words broke Harry's heart.
"It is as if I am the villain here…" Considering his perspective, he confronted two options: either insist on Tanya being with him based on their promise or grant her the freedom to find happiness with the person she truly loved.
The honest and kind Harry had only one answer to give…
"Okay- Sob!" Harry turned away; he didn't want to be seen crying.
"Take Tanya… I won't get in your way, just promise me you will make her- him happy!" Harry heard nothing but silence. Looking over his shoulder, he discovered he was alone in the room.
"Tanya?! You didn't say goodbye?!" This proved too much for him, and he collapsed onto the floor, weeping.
"Maybe… Sob… she didn't love me at all… Sob!"
"Cease your tears, my child." Harry couldn't localize the source of the voice, he was alone in the room.
"I am right here, on the table." Examining the desk, he found a miniature soldier figurine.
"This wasn't here before- Wait! A talking doll?!"
"How rude!" The soldier figurine exclaimed, confirming its identity as the speaker.
"To begin with, this is not a doll, it's a Christmas nutcracker!"
"… in other words, a nutcracker DOLL."
"Furthermore, this is simply an avatar. Consider it a privilege, for you are communicating with the omnipotent Holy Father in heaven, the architect of all that is and will ever be!"
"You are god?!"
"Do I sense a hint of disbelief in your tone? Surely, I haven't encountered another unbeliever, have I?"
This made Harry ponder. He couldn't recall anyone discussing God with him before. At least, not his relatives.
"Err, forgive me, Mr Christmas nutcracker, I-"
"'Mr Christmas nutcracker'?! I must request that you refrain from addressing me in such a manner!" Harry watched in awe as the nutcracker seemingly popped a vein in its little head.
"I swear! If it were not for your indispensable task with that child, I would consider sending you to the nearest war-torn world for this offense!"
"… is the doll pouting?!" It was increasingly challenging to suppress laughter at the sight before him.
"Hmpf! I don't have the time to teach you manners. For now, you may call me Being X and-"
"'Being X'?!"
"This is a name that I have developed a liking for. It was given to me by a certain-"
"… pfff!" It was too hilarious; Harry burst into laughter.
"D-don't you dare to ridicule God, boy! I AM WARNING YOU!"
"Chuckle! T-this is a dream, right? It has to be! Hahahaha!" With all the obvious signs, he realized what was going on. Everything that he saw was based on his memories. Like, Tanya, when they first met, joked about a nutcracker claiming to be god. She becoming a man was something Ron believed to be true during their first year. Plus, the appearance was probably because once Malfoy had said she was Snape's daughter.
"Should have known the moment I saw Tanya as a Japanese Snape!" Moreover, whether being a man or girl, she would never exchange him for another.
"Yeah, Tanya is my fiancee! Meaning once I wake up, she will still be… dead." All signs of his previous laughter vanished from his face.
"I must repeat, my child: you need not suffer sorrow any longer." Despite his former anger, 'God' spoke in a soothing tone.
"You didn't meet your true loved one. It was all part of a test." This made Harry irked. The conception of being made to suffer merely for a doll's amusement.
"Stupid dream!"
"Nonetheless, I fashioned an exceptionally persuasive duplicate in order to ascertain your feelings."
"…" Harry listened uninterested. The sole reason he wished for this dream not to conclude was the prospect of returning to the lifeless Tanya.
"And you have succeeded admirably! You demonstrated the ability to recognize your loved one despite a complete change in appearance, expressed a willingness to love her in an unattractive body, and, ultimately, prioritized her happiness over your own!"
"If you are god, shouldn't you know this stuff all along?"
"Please refrain from impertinence! While I can perceive all potential outcomes, you mortals possess free will."
"Aff, whatever…"
"Just my luck: I have a lucid dream and it has to be boring!"
"You are not particularly pleased, am I correct?"
"You can bet…"
"Starting from this point, you shall be! I deem you worthy of taking my most loved child as your bride!"
"You mean, Tanya?!" He asked dumbfounded.
"Yes! Rejoice, Harry Potter, for God himself bestows his blessing upon your union!"
"I can't believe it…!"
"You have finally come to comprehend the extent of your good-"
"… after women, now I have to bear dolls wanting to become my rivals?!"
"What?!"
"You said you love Tanya the most!" Harry glared at the doll, full of suspicion.
"My dear boy, love manifests in various forms. Regard mine as akin to the profound affection shared between a parent and a child."
"… really?"
"Why should I grant my blessing upon your marriage if my desire is to have her for myself?"
"…" Actually, Harry stopped listening upon hearing Tanya be referred to as 'loved'.
"If you are lying-"
"GOD DOESN'T LIE, BOY!" The entire desk shook with his furious outcry. Subsequently, there was a pause, during which the doll/god appeared to require a moment to regain its composure.
"A-anyway! You shall act as my instrument for an important task concerning that child. And to seal our covenant, I shall bestow upon you three miracles."
"Miracles?"
"… wishes. Anything your heart desires."
"… all I want is for Tanya to be alright." He replied unhesitatingly.
"I cannot comply with this request…"
"You said anything-!"
"… as the miracle in question is already in progress."
"Wha- You mean, Tanya is coming back?!" Somehow, the doll nodded its head.
Harry was close to erupting with happiness but restrained himself.
"I can't forget this isn't real. What he must mean is that Tanya will be part of the dream once I make those wishes." Full of anticipation for their reunion, even in a dream, he opted to play along.
"Then, I want to be always with her!" This emanated from his heart, his greatest wish.
"While it is not feasible for two souls to remain together indefinitely…" The doll began.
"… I shall ensure that despite any circumstances which may cause separation, she will ultimately find her way back to you!"
"Not quite what I wanted to hear, in any case…"
"As my second wish, I want to make Tanya happy! Every single instant of every single day!"
"This presents a similar dilemma as your initial miracle. No one can always be happy. Besides, I am concerned that with so much effort on your part, you would ultimately succumb to exhaustion."
"Err, how about making me never tire when it counts?"
"'When it counts'…?" Harry could swear he saw the doll's checks redden.
"Very well. Henceforth, despite any fatigue, in regard to the pleasures of the flesh, you shall unfailingly ensure her satisfaction!" At this, Harry flushed deeply.
"H-h-hey! This wasn't what I mean-" Harry decided to brush it aside. After all, it wasn't real.
"Still, I want to think carefully of my last wish." Carefully, he searched his mind and heart for what he had been desiring the most.
"My last wish is to…" He murmured a little embarrassed.
"It shall be precisely as you wished!" The thought of this wish coming true caused a gentle flutter in Harry's heart.
"It turned out to be a nice dream in the end."
'… Harry…'
"Huh? Did someone call me?"
"This is where we part ways, and right on time…"
"Eh?! The dream is going to end?! NOW?! Before the best part?!"
'… Harry…!'
"… oh, and before you leave, consider sending me an occasional prayer as a token of gratitude, will you?"
"You want to be paid-"
"HARRY!" Abruptly, Harry opened his eyes to find Dumbledore shaking him awake.
"Hmmm…?! Professor…?!"
"I am sorry, my boy! However, I have urgent news! I believe I found a way to help Tanya!"
"!" An hour later, with the ritual underway, Harry would be sending dozens of prayers of thanks to Being X.
In a place beyond space and time, we find another dream coming true… apparently.
"Hehehe! Where are you, you piece of shit?!" Tanya Degurechaff was exhilarated pursuing Being X through the cosmos.
With her new powers, she found out the truth about the fake god. It turns out he wasn't a poltergeist but merely a member of a highly advanced civilization living on Mars.
"All that talk about being a god and he is a Martian! All my headaches came from a 'little green man'!" Naturally, Tanya wasn't about to let it slide; she promptly launched her onslaught- preemptive strike on his planet.
"A shame Mars couldn't resist… oh, well." Regrettably, despite the devastation of his homeworld, Being X still possessed the means to flee across the universe.
"Hmmm… is he here or in that other galaxy?" She was contemplating conducting a thorough search of every planet.
"Bah! It would take too long!" Ultimately, she concluded that obliterating both galaxies would be a quicker solution.
"Huhuh! I am starting to get better at making planets collide- AH! THERE YOU ARE! STOP RUNNING AWAY!" Finally, the pretender surfaced, trying to escape to another system.
"GWAHAHAHA! Not so powerful anymore, are you? All you can do is flee with your tail between your legs!" As it was apparently useless to throw planets at him, Tanya opted to try her hand with STARS instead.
"Come on! Just surrender before the universe becomes a giant black hole-"
"Your audacity in even considering such misuse of power in a dream is staggering!" Tanya was taken aback by the familiar voice which echoed from all directions simultaneously.
"… Peverell? Wait, did you say this is all a dream?"
"Why? Disappointed that you didn't truly destroy the universe?!"
The sight of asteroids that had once been planets on one side and black holes on the other, left Tanya experiencing a sincere sense of shame.
"It was fortuitous that I put you into an induced sleep while I figured out a way to remove your divinity! Else, this is exactly what would have happened!"
"… sorry. I admit this wasn't the correct behavior of a civilized, rational person. I really don't know what came over me."
"I do, you were overwhelmed by the power of the master of death." She let out a breath of relief as her boss seemed to calm down.
"It made you lose all sense of mortality, and your inhibitions followed suit."
"Oh? So that is what-"
"IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN TO BEGIN WITH!" His thundering shout resonated with an intensity it felt as though it filled the entire universe that Tanya had laid waste to.
"I told you! Use the power of the master of death ONLY to destroy the hallows! Look at what you have done!"
Tanya was able to open the eyes she didn't register were closed. She deduced he revoked the command which had kept her asleep.
Surrounding her was a void of white emptiness, with Ignotus Peverell as the sole other inhabitant.
"So, what have I done?" The moment she voiced the question, a gasp reached her ears. Swiftly turning to locate its source, Tanya found herself locking eyes with… Tanya.
""What?! Who is she?"" Both asked in perfect synchrony.
"This is the result of your irresponsibility!"
""What do you mean?"" Again, both Tanyas posed the same question simultaneously.
"While you were the master of death, all existing knowledge was made available to you. Your soul began a process of evolving your being into a superior spirit, a new God to be more precise."
"Yes, and you had to put me to sleep or…"
"… I would have blown the universe trying to catch Being X."
"It wouldn't come to that. Your simple existence would change the cosmic equilibrium. A universe would start anew, at the cost of the old one!"
Tanya didn't want to make excuses, nonetheless she couldn't shake the feeling this whole mess was equally Peverell's fault as much as it was hers.
"As the boss, he had the obligation to inform me of how dangerous those trinkets truly were!" Besides, she failed to see how duplicating her would solve the issue.
"This doesn't answer why you made a copy of me." Her clone beat her out in asking first and had the gall to insinuate she was the fake.
"Hold on! You are the copy!"
"What?! How dare you-"
"YOU TWO BE SILENT! Haven't you realized that you are both the original?!"
The Tanyas stared at each other in disbelief.
""Huh?! How is this possible?!""
"This was the single solution I had at hand. By dividing your essence into two separated beings, the divine wisdom 'leaked' from your, now, lesser souls."
Tanya worried she may have lost more than her god-like powers. However, so far, she couldn't identify any significant change besides the fact she had become two.
"Meaning this other person is much as 'me' as myself- AH?!" Examining her other self closely, she discovered a detail that went unnoticed so far.
"W-why are you naked?!"
"GAH!" The other Tanya covered herself.
"I-I should ask the same to you!"
"GAH!" The first Tanya was made aware of her own lack of clothing and tried to cover as much as she could with her bare hands.
"Peverell! Please, c-can't you get some clothes on us?!"
Despite the grunt he gave, with a move of his hand, they were both instantly clothed. One Tanya recovered her school uniform while the other…
"Hey! Why am I wearing a skirt while she got a military uniform?!" The other Tanya smirked seeing she was back to the clothes she wore in her lieutenant colonel days in the Empire.
"I gave you two clothes you used to wear in both your lives. This is my personal way to differentiate one from the other"
Behind him, 'witch' Tanya could see her other self giving her a disdainful smirk, annoying her to no end.
"Bitch- wait! Did I just insult myself?"
"A-anyway, can't you give me a pair of pants-"
"QUIET! I AM NOT HERE TO GRANT ALL YOUR SELFISH WISHES!"
The Tanyas took a step back, seeing as their boss was still pissed off.
"Listen, if this is about almost blowing up the dream universe, I already said I am sorry!" 'Lieutenant colonel' Tanya remarked.
"Actually, it was me who apologized!" She chose to not delve in this detail.
"Besides, you should be proud, I completed my missions. And believe me, destroying the hallows was easy compared to protecting Harry Potter-"
"WHO SAID YOU HAD TO PROTECT HIM?!"
""Eh?""
"YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO INTERFERE WITH HIM!"
""Huh?""
AN: Sorry for the delay but this is what happens when you give so few reviews. In the future, should this happen again, I will purposely delay longer! (seriously, you guys will have to give me many reviews next time or I will take a long vacation of two months at least!)
About Ron and Hermione, sorry but it will take one more year for them to get together.
Unfortunately, I couldn't have two scenes I had planned. One would have Snape and Voldemort and the other, Fudge and Umbridge.
Tanya was divided into two exact halves. I had this idea from an old movie I once saw, 'The little Buda' with Keanu Reeves. In it, an illuminated man reincarnates and gets his soul divided into three separated children. I thought that, maybe once a soul reached a certain level, it could choose to go to other higher planes of existence or have the soul cut in half to go back to this world.
Tanya dreaming that Being X is a Martian is homage to the original web novel, which I found rumors that in the end, Being X is this and Earth is preparing to go to war against him…? Frankly, I thought this would ruin the story for me. In my opinion, Being X should remain more of a mystery, we never find out if he is truly God, the Devil or something entirely else. Here I even offered another alternative, Tanya's belief that he is an amortal magical creature, very ancient and powerful but still not God.
Some of you may find Being X too different from the original but I have something on mind planned for him. There was an incident that made him change his ways, and before this arc is over, I will show what happened.
Next chapter: Tanya will revisit that other world. It's time for us to see what happened with Rerugen, Grantz and maybe have Tanya watch a movie about her life.