Note: Hello, guys! It seems like views/stats are slowly coming back to normal and that surely lifts my spirit! I can see all the lurkers now, lol. Thank you so much for reading!

I also have to say that in 2024 we'll get to the end of this story! Finally! I don't usually update you on my writing and planning, but I'm far ahead and we're closer to the end now. It's been a crazy ride and I'm very thankful for each one of you!

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

(You gonna get what's coming - Klergy, VG LUCAS)

May 13th, 2006

Ministry of Magic

Hermione puts both hands on her desk, leaning a bit forward. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath. The decision of interrogating her father was an impossible one. She knows Harry is right in many aspects, she also knows the others agree with him, and even if at one point she thought this absurdity might be a good path to follow, now that she has to go up to Tom Riddle's office and announce this decision she made with Head D'Angelo-

She feels cold inside, her stomach churning. Her hands are shaking and she has no idea how she's going to do this. This isn't just about how powerful her father is or how he could ruin their lives if he wanted to, this is also about years of abuse and how she dealt with this man her entire life. This man took her to unimaginable limits, he hit her, he threw spells at her. And he always made it clear he was the one in charge.

A knock on her door takes her out of these thoughts. Hermione blinks a few times, brushing some tears away and standing tall while she allows whoever is out there inside.

Of course it's Harry.

His expression shows all the tension he's also feeling. He leaves the door open and Hermione frowns, not really getting why-

"Head Riddle." He says, his voice strained. "We have a meeting in fifteen minutes and I was wondering if-"

"I need to talk to the Minister. But I'll be at the meeting after."

Ron and Ginny stop by the door, also entering the room. Hermione knows they're there to lend her some courage. Which she has no words to express how much she appreciates. But also…

"Are you talking to the Minister about our decision on the investigation?" Harry asks, serious. He knows almost everyone on the floor can hear him.

"Yes." She squints, finally understanding where this is going.

"Good, then I should be there with you." He says and she purses her lips. Harry can be so stubborn in the face of danger that she has no idea how in the world this man is still alive. "It's our investigation, after all."

She opens her mouth, but Ron is faster. "Indeed. The Heads should talk to the Minister, I can conduct the meeting if the conversation takes too long."

Harry opens a tight smile. If Hermione didn't love him so much she would punch him now. Maybe I will. Later. Because they've discussed this in the morning while they were getting ready. She said she would talk with her father alone while he insisted that they should do this together.

Hermione won the argument.

But here he is. With backup. To force her to go to her father with him by her side.

Hermione sighs. He's insufferable. And she loves him even more because of it.

Nodding, she concedes this. His smile gets wider.

"Let's go, then, Head D'Angelo."

Ron and Ginny wink at her and move out before she reaches Harry. His hand brushes hers and Hermione hopes his idea doesn't put them in a terrible situation.

The walk is silent and slow, both are dragging their feet, imagining how this is gonna go. Different from that meeting when she wanted to talk about Harry's idea of going into Muggle London, now everything changed. They're together. For real. Her father suspects her more than any other time in her life, Hermione's sure. And he hates Harry. Truly does.

She gulps when they enter the elevator.

Harry stands close to her, his hands together in front of him. He's also a bit nervous, doubting this decision. She leans back and crosses her arms. She can't even talk, but-

"Thank you." She whispers to him. "For doing this with me."

He turns his head to look at her. "Always." It's a whisper but it warms her heart.

And the elevator opens.

Both look down and put some distance between them. In steady strides they reach the door and Hermione knocks.

It magically opens. Her father knows who's outside.

And he's standing there with a nasty smile on his face, his hands behind his back.

"Hermione. D'Angelo."

Her heart quickens at the tone. It's the one he uses when he's about to punish her.

She immediately wants to get out of there. She wants Harry to go. But she knows he won't. And she steps inside, steeling herself, opening a tiny smile.

"Father." She says in a neutral tone, her hands shaking slightly.

"Minister." Harry says with an obvious false respect.

"So." Riddle opens his hands. "What's this about?"

They don't sit.

"We were discussing the investigation." Hermione goes directly to the point. "Moritz seems to be out of reach for now and we need new leads." Her tongue is dry. "Since you let him escape once, father, I think interrogating you is only logical."

It's very discreet and fast, but she sees the utter disbelief and shock in his expression. It does give her some satisfaction. Harry was right on this regard. Tom Riddle wasn't expecting this at all.

But then he squints and Hermione feels like running from there.

"Logical, you say?" His tone is menacing and she locks her eyes with his. "Was this your idea, Hermione? Or D'Angelo's?" And he looks at Harry.

She wants to put herself between them-

"It was mine, indeed, Minister." Harry says. Her heart is pounding. "The IWO wants Moritz behind bars-"

"Maybe you should be behind bars, D'Angelo. You and your grandfather."

She widens her eyes. Her father never talked with Harry like this before.

"I disagreed vehemently with this idea, father." Her voice is a tone higher, she wants to change his focus and the Minister looks at her. "I told D'Angelo it was ridiculous and absurd-"

"You just said it was only logical." He cuts her with a sneer.

"Because I'm doing my job as Head. Obeying the directives the IWO sent us." She relaxes a bit. She shouldn't be this nervous. "As your daughter I know this is ludicrous. But well," Hermione moves, sitting on an armchair, crossing her legs, opening a slow smile. "What can we expect from these Italians, right? From the International Order?" She snorts. "Father, just agree to it to appease them, we both know you have nothing to do with this."

Harry snorts, shaking his head. "I'm right here-"

"You're irrelevant, D'Angelo." Riddle says, his eyes still narrow.

Hermione thanks the heavens that Harry doesn't reply to that. Her posture is relaxed but she's still very tense. Harry clears his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to another.

"Well, Minister, if that's the case then I don't see why an interrogation is such a big deal-"

"It is not. But I'm Minister, D'Angelo. I matter. I have things to do and I shouldn't waste my time with these ridiculous ideas." His tone is higher and Hermione knows he's losing his patience.

"Father. Only five questions and we're done. It's for the records. Don't give them motives to doubt you."

He scoffs and straightens his jacket, shaking his head. Then, he looks at Hermione. "Fine. You'll lead the interrogation, Hermione."

She nods and stands from the chair, ready to flee-

"Stay." Her father says. "You go, D'Angelo."

Hermione can sense the hesitation in Harry's movements, but she doesn't look at him, she only sits back down on the armchair, her eyes trained on her father.

She knows Harry wants to stay, knows he wants to protect her in some way, but she fiercely hopes he doesn't-

To her relief he walks out without showing resistance.

The door closes behind Harry and Hermione feels a piece of herself leaving.

Her father is… furious.

"THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS!" He screams, moving closer to her. She doesn't move. "Who do they think they are! To question me like this? To put me on the spotlight as if I would ever help a criminal!"

"Don't worry about it." She dismisses the topic as if it doesn't matter, but her blood is boiling.

Her father scoffs and clears his throat, changing the subject.

"I want a full report on how this investigation is going. I don't care that you only have to answer to the IWO on this regard. I wanna know what my Head Auror is doing." She discreetly gulps.

"Sure, father."

Hermione already knows she'll have to lie on this report. If her father is working with Moritz, he can't know what they have on the man. How close or not they're in catching him.

She rises from the chair, ready to head out, but he holds her arm firmly. Raising an eyebrow, she questions his action. The way he's holding her hurts.

"I thought your days of hunting down old Aurors were over." He says in a low voice.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me!" He hisses, tightening his grip. Hermione sets her jaw. "Don't play with me, Hermione. Do you remember what I said before you left for your little vacation? One slip and you'll wish you were never born."

She moves her arm, trying to escape from his hold, but he squeezes harder and she knows it'll leave a bruise.

"I remember clearly." She states, hating this man more than anything else. "But I have no idea what you want with this-"

"I hope you're keeping a distance from D'Angelo." He changes the subject again, taking her a bit by surprise. She mentally chastises herself for knowing that her face, even for a brief second, said it all.

But, closing off her expressions, she snorts. "I hate him, father. I just wish this investigation to be over so he can go back to where he belongs."

Riddle finally releases her. His posture is not menacing anymore, but Hermione knows, from experience, that these moments of absolute calmness are even more dangerous.

"I was thinking about a party. Or a small celebration at the Manor."

"A celebration?"

"Yes. For your mother."

Hermione tries not fisting her hand. He attempted to murder Bellatrix and now he wants what? To celebrate the fact that she's alive?

"It's a wonderful idea." She says naturally. "When?"

"Well, maybe you could decide this with your mother, since you two are so close." She hates his tone.

Hermione wets her lips. Veiled threats. About Harry. About Dolohov. About her relationship with her mother. He's showing her how well he knows things, how it's hard for her to hide anything from him. Warnings.

She crosses her arms. "I'll talk to her." Riddle raises an eyebrow and walks to his desk.

"You can go now."

He doesn't have to say it twice.

House by the Lake

He's setting the swing as he said he would. Harry arrived home two hours ago when his work at the Ministry ended, but Hermione stayed. She said she had a lot to do and he didn't push. He knows they'll talk about what happened inside Riddle's office and he's trying to waste his energy on something else so he doesn't totally lose his mind.

Harry sighs, sitting on the grass and looking at the result of his effort. The swing looks good, firm. It's big in a way that can hold both of them and he surely casted a nice charm on it, so it doesn't stop going until you want it to.

"I love it."

He turns his head at the sound of her voice. Hermione is getting rid of her Auror's vest, walking to him, slowly, a small smile on her face. He can't help smiling at her, his worries gone for a moment.

Rising from the ground, he hugs her tightly.

It's undeniable that she needed some time alone after whatever happened between her and Riddle and Harry gave her this space knowing full well that she'll share with him when she's ready.

Hermione kisses him softly, her emotions very clear. She's shaken, tired and worried.

Without a word he takes her hand and makes her sit with him on the swing. Harry gives the first push and it works smoothly, the charm finding a perfect rhythm.

"There are times when…" She begins, looking at the lake, her right hand on his thigh, his arm around her shoulders. "I think he knows everything." She whispers, "My mind can't wrap around the idea that all of us discovered who you are but he didn't." Harry sets his jaw, bringing her a bit closer, the wind hitting them as they go forward and back. "Sometimes I feel like we're puppets, Harry. His puppets."

He inhales sharply, gulping.

"What happened when I left the office?"

"Veiled threats. About us." She turns her head to him, kissing his cheek. "About my relationship with my mother. And Dolohov. He also wants to celebrate my mother's life." She closes her eyes.

Harry observes her profile and he cups her cheek. Hermione leans into his touch, her expression turning soft.

"I love you." He says in a whisper, kissing her.

She smiles, sighing. "Love you too." And her hand goes into his hair, caressing him. "Tell me what happened with the investigation today." She didn't leave her office after she talked with Riddle and Harry led the meeting.

"Well," He kisses her again. "we lost the lead on the rings' users, but Draco and Ginny are on it. We need to know more about the house here before barging inside or trying another undercover mission."

She doesn't react and they don't talk for minutes. They just stay there watching the way the wind blows on the surface of the lake, their bodies close together, their minds working silently, until-

"I think we should use this celebration." Harry says. "Use it to search the Manor for proofs against your father."

Hermione nods. "You read my mind, love. You can enter the Manor under the Cloak. The celebration will be enough distraction."

He nods, but then sighs, angry. "You'll have to attend it with Pettigrew, won't you?"

She makes a face. "Yes."

Harry closes his eyes, "We need to find these fucking samples. As soon as possible."

"I know." There's some pain in her voice, it falters and he looks at her. "We need to find Moritz." She states seriously.

Then, Hermione moves her wrist and stops the swing. Harry frowns at her. "What?" He asks, watching while she stands and moves away from his embrace.

"I'll take a shower and go back to some leads. I feel like the answer is right in front of us-"

"No more work today." He says and stands too, taking her hand, Hermione is about to protest, but he stops her, "You need to eat properly, take a bath and sleep." She rolls her eyes. "What? I'm not joking. We'll do this tomorrow, okay?"

Something passes in her face and he tries to understand the emotion.

"I just-" Hermione begins, then she chuckles a bit and discreetly wipes one tear away.

"Are you crying?"

He moves closer to her, his arms on her waist.

"Having you here, taking care of me, I-" She shakes her head. "It's everything."

Harry smiles. "Well, get used to it."

And they share a few more kisses before heading inside.

May 16th, 2006

Ministry of Magic

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. Chiara is sitting in front of him and there's a silence inside his office.

"Are you ready?" She asks in an even tone, controlled.

"I am. I wanna do this."

In ten minutes they'll interrogate Tom Riddle.

"I'm not the one doing it and I have to confess that I'm a little nervous myself." Chiara says sincerely. He chuckles.

"Yeah, I know what you mean."

It surprises him how calm he is, though. It feels like after he told Hermione everything there's nothing else that can faze him. Not even an angry Tom Riddle.

But he knows it's not the same for Hermione. Even if she seems calm and in control, Harry knows she's barely sleeping. He knows she woke up last night and sat on the bed for a long time. With a hand on her thigh, he tried reassuring her. He was too fucking tired and his eyes wouldn't open. He gave up when she kissed his cheek and told him to rest.

"Only five questions… Will that be enough?"

He raises an eyebrow. "I expect so. But like I said, I don't think we'll get something from him, this is just to make him uncomfortable." He says in a low voice, he and Hermione spent a lot of time thinking about these five questions.

Harry looks at the clock. Chiara follows his eyes and stands from the chair, "Fuck, let's go."

The walk from his office to the main entrance of the floor feels like an eternity and he makes a mental note to pester Hermione about the office she threw him in-

He stops on his tracks. Ron, Ginny, Draco and Hermione are talking, standing there in a circle, but… Pettigrew is with them. And he has a hand on Hermione's waist.

Her eyes move to him and Chiara and she opens a tiny smile, probably not even aware of Pettigrew's hand on her, way more worried about the interrogation they have ahead of them.

"D'Angelo." She says and moves to him, "Are you ready?"

Pocketing his hands, he nods. They'll wait for Riddle inside the interrogation room. No one else is allowed to watch it. He opens his mouth, but the elevator stops his words.

It's Riddle. He strides into the floor and a heavy silence settles. He's a bit early and his face shows it all. He thinks this interrogation is ridiculous and his patience is hanging by a thread.

"Hermione. Let's be done with it." He says harshly, not even looking at Harry.

"Indeed." She says and motions to the interrogation room.

Everyone is looking at them.

When the news that Head Riddle and Head D'Angelo would be interrogating the Minister because of the investigation the IWO is running came out, the whole floor became a gossip den. Ron said he never saw something spread so fast. It's been two days and people can't stop talking about it. Harry has no idea who started it, but his eyes land and linger on Dolohov. The man is close to his desk, a nasty sneer on his face while he follows Hermione with his eyes.

Setting his jaw, Harry tries to focus on what he needs to do right now. Dolohov is not his problem. Not at the moment. Sirius and Bellatrix are onto the man, following his steps and trying to understand what the hell he's doing back in the Ministry. Molly and Arthur are also doing their part backtracking the house Dolohov was living, searching if he's been living there for all these years, trying to discover if he has a family or not. Remus and Nymphadora are taking turns with everyone else, may it be following Dolohov or searching informations about him.

Harry has no idea how it's all going. But they do have a gathering at Grimmauld in a few days to discuss everything.

Also to discuss this interrogation that's about to happen.

A sudden nervousness takes over him when they enter the room. Without ceremony Riddle sits down, unbuttoning his jacket and sighing irritably. He opens his arms in front of him - as if saying bring it on - when Hermione and Harry sit at the other side of the table.

Hermione doesn't waste a second.

"This interrogation is being recorded by the bubble the IWO provided." She flicks her wrist and the bubble appears by their side. She clears her throat. "Head Auror Hermione Riddle and Head Auror Harry D'Angelo will conduct the interrogation of Minister of Magic, Tom Riddle, regarding the case of Khan Moritz." Riddle's eyes are on Harry now. He crosses his arms, staring back at Riddle. The man squints, some amusement in his expression. Hermione keeps talking. "This interrogation is taking place to clarify some doubts about Minister Riddle's involvement with Khan Moritz since it's everyone's knowledge that Moritz used to work here as an Alchemist." She stops to lick her lips, her eyes on her father who finally gives her his attention. "Moritz was hired in April 2002 by the Minister himself. Is that correct?" She asks Riddle, "This is not part of the interrogation yet."

Riddle makes a face of complete disdain. "It's correct." That's all.

"And in July 2004, I, as Head Auror was warned by a fellow Alchemist that Moritz was using the Ministry's resources to produce illegal drugs. I gave him a warning. However, he continued on with his activities. I received countless reports from St. Mungo's showing the same kind of new and strange overdose on adult wizards and witches." Harry can see the way Riddle slightly tenses at this. It must be a bit nerve wracking for this untouchable man to have stuff like this recorded forever on a bubble that the IWO owns. "I was able to gather concrete evidence against Moritz and in October 2004 I put together an operation to arrest him." She gulps, crossing her arms. "But as we know, the final word is always yours." Harry can tell how angry and nervous she is by the tone of her voice. And he's sure Riddle can tell the same thing. "You decided to let Moritz go. After one month he disappeared."

She stops and a silence settles.

Riddle scoffs. "So?"

"Head D'Angelo will make the first question of the five we agreed on."

"Oh, to be interrogated by a subordinated foreigner." Riddle sighs. "Only the IWO can come up with these things."

Harry sets his jaw. "Is it true that as Minister of Magic you're aware of everything that goes on inside the place?"

They decided on this also to test how much Riddle is paying attention to what they're doing on a daily basis.

"As Minister of Magic I can say that it's my job to know what happens inside my Ministry."

Harry nods. Hermione is practically frozen by his side, her eyes piercing Riddle.

"So, knowing that Moritz was behaving illegally inside your Ministry wasn't reason enough to arrest the man, even if the sentence for his doings was life in Azkaban?"

Riddle clicks his tongue. "Do you know how hard it is to find a good Alchemist?"

"That's irrelevant to what we're discussing here." Harry says firmly. "Answer the question, Minister. What were your reasons to let this man go even knowing that his drugs were killing-"

"His experiments," Riddle cuts Harry harshly, "weren't the ones responsible for killing people, D'Angelo."

"The reports couldn't be clearer-" Hermione begins, but Riddle also cuts her.

"People are responsible for killing themselves." He says in a low voice. "Drugs and powders and illicit substances are common, Hermione. Those wizards and witches who died were the ones responsible for their own deaths."

"That's a bit of a stretch." She says in an even tone. "Before Moritz's substances these deaths wouldn't have occurred."

"How can you be so sure?" Riddle leans a bit forward. Harry can't help thinking that this is losing the professional aspect of an interrogation. It doesn't feel like Riddle is the one being questioned here anymore. "You've been to a mission recently. Undercover. Isn't it true that you inhaled Moritz's substance?"

Hermione purses her lips. She stays in silence.

"Not gonna answer?" Riddle scoffs again. "Isn't it also true that you were affected by these powders when inside that night club? Do tell me, are you dead?"

The threat on his tone is so clear. And powerful. A chill runs down Harry's spine. He stops himself from taking Hermione's hand in his.

"No. I'm not dead." She states in a defying tone, her eyes narrowing.

"There you go, then. I would say it's a stretch to affirm that Moritz's substances were responsible for those deaths."

"What were your reasons for letting him go?" Harry cuts in, angry now, completely furious with the way Riddle is trying to change the focus.

Riddle waves a hand in front of him. "I just said it, D'Angelo. Are you deaf?" He mocks Harry, chuckling.

"Answer clearly for the records." Hermione says.

Riddle taps a finger on the table in front of him, his eyes on Hermione. "There was no hard evidence connecting Moritz to those deaths. And before you ask, regarding his illicit affairs inside the Ministry, he paid for them accordingly by being sacked." And Riddle stands from his chair. "Now, I do think this is over-"

"Is it true that you possess Moritz's powders inside your house?" Hermione asks and Harry widens his eyes a bit. This was not part of what they agreed on. "Is it true that you kept in touch with a procured and dangerous wizard?"

The atmosphere inside the room changes and the hairs on his nape and arms rise. Riddle is showing his teeth to Hermione, furious. And he leans on the table with both hands, his face inching closer to her.

Hermione keeps her posture straight, her eyes on Riddle's. Harry knows he shouldn't do a thing, but he does. He rises from his chair and puts himself between Riddle and Hermione, his posture menacing also, his jaw set.

"Answer the question, Minister." He says in a low voice. Under the table he feels Hermione's foot on his leg. She's surprised by his action, but her question also caught him unaware.

And now Riddle is watching both of them and this could turn into a shit show pretty fast-

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Riddle lies and clears his throat, then he moves back, squinting, his eyes going from Harry to Hermione. "Is that all, Head Riddle?" His tone is cold. Detached. Similar to the one Hermione uses sometimes when she's truly shaken and wants to pretend that she's not…

"That's all, Minister." She says, flicking her wrist. The bubble disappears.

Without another word, Riddle walks out.

Harry doesn't move. She doesn't either. He wants to talk about what just happened, but he knows they can't do that now. So, with a glance in her direction, Harry leaves the room.

Hermione stays inside.

House by the Lake

Hermione left the Ministry without talking to anyone just after she exited the interrogation room. She feels on the edge and she knows she wouldn't be able to spend another minute inside that place after that awful interrogation.

She enters their room, almost stomping her feet. There's a terrible sensation in her throat, sticky and dry at the same time, her chest feels compressed and she's having a hard time breathing. It's hard to focus on anything-

Trying to get rid of the feeling, she grunts and presses both hands on her closed eyes. There are tears wanting to fall but she won't let them, she won't cry because of this, she's tired of being played by her father, tired of how he makes her feel.

Small and insignificant.

Never enough.

She screams out in frustration, kneeling down and hugging herself. This is a dead end. This whole investigation.

She's never going to find Moritz. She's never going to find the samples. She'll have to marry Asmodeus and-

His arms close around her gently. And she takes a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"My love." He says sitting down on the floor behind her, pulling her to his arms. Hermione buries her face on the crook of his neck, turning around.

"These are angry tears." She mumbles, the pressure on her chest easing a bit. Harry hugs her tightly, kissing her forehead.

"I know." He sighs. "But I don't think it was a complete failure… he was tense. And I think it became pretty clear that we're on to him. That we won't stop-"

"It's how he makes me feel." She whispers. "The way he looks at me. Like I'm always doing something wrong. Always a disappointment." She hates the words. She hates everything. "Fuck!" She says a bit louder, her nails digging into his flesh. "I cry all the time now!" She complains, crying some more.

Harry chuckles and she snorts.

"It's part of… healing." He says in a low voice and she moves to look into his eyes.

Hermione sighs. "Damn, Harry. You're so fucking handsome." She states seriously and in two seconds they start to laugh.

He kisses her then.

It's all it takes for Hermione to feel like herself again.

When she pulls back from the kiss, Hermione smiles, kissing his cheek tenderly. "Thank you. For being here. For loving me."

He shakes his head. "You don't ever need to thank me for that. I love you freely, beautiful."

They share another kiss.

"I also think the interrogation worked in a way." Hermione says. "He was nervous… but he was also paying attention to us. The way you put yourself between-"

"Doesn't matter. I don't give a fuck. He's not going to threat or hurt you in front of me." She wants to argue- "And that's not open for debate." He says firmly. Bossy.

She tilts her head. "Bossy Harry is so extremely sexy."

He smiles, kissing her, his hand going under her vest-

A knock downstairs stops them. Hermione widens her eyes and Harry frowns.

They have no idea-

"Hermione!" It's her mother. "Are you home?"

She lets out a huge breath. "Fuck." She mumbles. "I forgot to allow her inside."

Harry stands from the floor with her. Holding hands they walk downstairs. Bellatrix smiles when she sees them, she's waiting by the french window.

Hermione opens it and Harry goes to the kitchen.

"Mum. What are you doing here?" They share a hug.

"Were you crying?" Bellatrix asks, walking inside and feeling completely at home while they head to the kitchen to meet Harry, who's already pouring them some tea. "Hello, son-in-law." He chuckles, blushing a bit.

"Hello, mother-in-law." He hands her a cup and the three sit.

"So?" Hermione asks.

"I went to the Ministry to see you after the interrogation." Bellatrix hints enough. "But ended up seeing your father instead." Hermione raises her chin in question. "Furious. Completely mad." Harry opens a discreet smile, sharing a look with Hermione. "And he wanted to talk about the celebration of my life that he's so eager to put together." Bellatrix rolls her eyes. "We defined a date, the day after tomorrow."

"Yeah?" Hermione perks up. "Do you have any idea if it's going to be a big reunion or…?"

"Not like the night of the Ball, of course, but not shabby either." Bellatrix shares a look with Harry and Hermione frowns.

"What?" She asks. "What are you two plotting behind my back?"

Harry chuckles. "Nothing goes past her." He says to Bellatrix and her mother shakes her head.

"Since she was little, Harry, it's a bit annoying."

"Right?"

"Hey! I'm right here." She's a bit shocked but also happy with how well they seem to get along. Hermione opens her mouth in faked outrage. "Tell me!"

Harry takes a deep breath. "Okay, so, I was just playing with this possibility-"

"And he mentioned it to me two nights ago when you were at Grimmauld-"

"Sirius thought it could be good-"

"Okay, stop! What are you talking about?" She asks, a bit annoyed.

"The press is going to be there, sweetie." Bellatrix states.

"And maybe you should say something… about Moritz. About who you are. About your job. About how well you protect everyone." Harry says with his eyes on hers. "Something against your father."

Yes, they talked about this… that she should expose herself, show how different she is from her father-

"I-" Hermione blinks a few times. "I'm not sure. I mean, after this interrogation and-"

"Hermione." Harry cuts her, moving to stand by her side, his hand taking hers. "I'll be there with you." He kisses her hand. "People need to see you. Know you. They need to know that when Riddle falls, they'll have you."

She widens her eyes. "What?" They did not discuss things on these terms, so… explicitly. And she doesn't even know if she has what it takes to-

"Maybe this is a premature idea." Bellatrix says and Hermione looks at her mother. "The whole thing of being there when your father falls." Hermione can't help noticing how sure they are that Tom Riddle will fall. She wished she were this certain. "But I do think you should give this interview. All journals and magazines are eager to hear from you. They want to know what you think. How you think."

Taking a deep breath she says, "But father also controls them, mum. What if this backfires?"

Bellatrix winks at her. "Do you think only the official press exists? You know underground journals and magazines are everywhere, and you know Half-Bloods and Muggleborns consume them, Hermione."

She closes her eyes.

"For now I have to be behind the curtains." Harry says, "But to change things we need everyone with us, Hermione. Purebloods, Half-Bloods, Muggleborns. They all want a leader and there's no one better than you-"

"You two decided this without even consulting me." She rises from the stool, a little irritated. "I- I'll think about this, okay? And-" She stops, putting both hands on her waist. "I'm far from the best choice. People don't trust the Riddles, mum, no matter what we say."

Bellatrix makes a face. "Maybe. But it's worth the shot." Her mother finishes the tea and hugs her. "Don't forget to allow me inside, okay? And think about this." She then looks at Harry. "Be careful under that Cloak." She winks at him and Harry smiles.

When her mother apparates, Hermione crosses her arms, her eyes on Harry.

"What?" He raises both arms in front of him, then he mockingly moves his wrist and a little white flag appears in his hand. She laughs. "I just briefly mentioned it to them because we've already discussed it. It's not my fault they thought it the best idea in the world and such."

She shakes her head when he embraces her, kissing the tip of her nose.

"Yeah, yeah." She sighs. "You know, I was thinking… maybe we should put up a wall like you had at the flat."

He frowns. "To… plan how to kill the Riddles?" He jokes and she laughs out loud.

"You're ridiculous." She says to him, kissing him hard. "And fuck, I love you too much."

He's still smiling. "I think it's a good idea. Our room?"

She nods. And together they walk back to their room, knowing that the others are taking care of things at the Ministry.

For hours they sit in an embrace, putting every little information on their wall.

May 18th, 2006

Riddle Manor

The celebration is already taking place.

Harry looks at the Manor from afar, from the apparition point. He's under the Cloak, but not entirely ready to do this.

He can't say he's totally prepared. No. He's not prepared to see Hermione with Pettigrew. He's not prepared to what he might find inside that place with the liberty he has by being invisible.

Even if he repeatedly said to Hermione that there was no reason to be nervous, he knows this is a risky move. He knows he has to be extra careful, not to mention how worried he is about her. About her failing spells and what Draco told him. He still hasn't confronted her about this, and maybe he doesn't have to… she wouldn't take more potions knowing that it might ruin her even further, would she? He gulps.

She might if she finds herself too vulnerable.

Running a hand through his hair, he walks to the mansion.

John is at the door and he's there to guarantee that Harry goes inside. So, he stops near John and whispers:

"I'm here."

John tenses and then relaxes, his eyes not moving. Harry even wonders if the man listened. But he waits, and after a minute John clears his throat and moves his head discreetly. Harry stays close to him, not sure…

John opens the door, "Hey, is everything alright?" He asks another wizard that is standing inside. Harry had no idea there was going to be a second bodyguard.

The other wizard, a huge man capable of beating the shit out of anyone, turns his head to John. He's holding a wand.

"Yeah, all good, why?" He looks suspicious.

John opens the door even more and Harry understands it's his moment to walk inside. He goes slowly but surely and he doesn't look back. He has no idea the excuse John gives, but that doesn't matter now.

He's finally inside.

Harry casted spells around him. To muffle his sounds and smell. He's pretty confident no one will notice his presence.

It's a true party. And it surprises him a bit. He thought this celebration would consist of some snotty Purebloods drinking champagne and talking in hushed tones with stiff expressions - as if there's something up their asses.

But no.

The music is loud and entertaining, most people are laughing and having actual conversations with enthusiasm. Of course the Ball had more guests, but even so, the place is fairly filled.

He walks slowly, his eyes searching for Hermione. He can already see Sirius and Eleonora. They're drinking and talking with a couple Harry doesn't recognize, but he goes to them. He needs to warn them that he's inside.

Steering away from the others - which is not that hard since the mansion is gigantic and there's a lot of space - he stops near Sirius, briefly squeezing his forearm as they previously agreed.

It startles the man and Harry laughs at the way Sirius tries to conceal it by coughing and then laughing hysterically. Eleonora looks at him with a strange expression, asking if he's okay. Sirius nods, winking at her and excusing himself for a moment.

Harry knows he'll warn the others that he's there, so, he goes back to looking for Hermione.

And when he reaches the ballroom, he sees her.

She's a vision. Almost a mirage.

This dress, differently from the one she wore at the Ball is more casual and just as sexy. Navy blue, mid thigh, it is a simple - yet elegant - dress without sleeves, but… the cleavage. It goes very low. To her stomach. It obviously shows the inner sides of her breasts. And her smooth skin is perfect. He internally groans. Not to mention her face. The makeup is not too heavy or light and yet again she looks like a Goddess with her hair up in a stiled bun.

He walks closer to her. The only thing that's not perfect is that… she's not wearing their necklace. She's wearing the same she wore at the Ball.

The Riddle's crest.

And the fucking engagement ring.

He sets his jaw when he notices Pettigrew is walking to her. Hermione is calmly talking to Ron and Ginny.

And indeed, their conversation is interrupted by Asmodeus. The man embraces Hermione by the waist, pulling her closer to him and saying something in her ear. Harry's stomach hurts. He might vomit at the scene. Hermione smiles gently, but says nothing, her eyes a bit lost in the distance, her expression neutral. But Pettigrew doesn't let go of her and when he kisses her cheek, Harry sees red.

The lights inside the place falter.

He knows it's his magic.

Hermione looks up, alarmed. Then she frowns. And in that instant Harry knows she understood what happened. A small smile plays on her lips and she looks down, then, her expression is back to the same neutrality. She sips on her champagne, going back to her conversation with Ron and Ginny, the three ignoring Asmodeus.

Yet, Pettigrew is unfazed by it. He stays there, holding Hermione, clearly wanting to provoke her with soft touches and small kisses.

Harry hates every second of it. He wants so much to punch this jerk he might go mad if he doesn't get a chance at it.

Be cool.

He tries calming down. This is not the reason why he's here.

And he walks further into the ballroom, searching for… Riddle.

The man is laughing loudly as he stands close to Bellatrix amidst a few old wizards and witches. Just as Hermione, who is playing her part, Bellatrix seems to be having the time of her life. She fakes affection when she looks at Riddle and she also leans closer to him, as if fascinated by his presence…

Harry can't help wondering if she's not under the influence of another love potion. And as he stands there it dawns on him how terrible this situation is.

Bellatrix loves John. They're happy together and she wished she had a chance at fully living this, but… she can't divorce Riddle. She can't have the life she wants. She can't be completely happy and free-

He gulps, looking down and thinking of John outside. All these years participating in her life behind the curtains, taking care of her and having to, in return, watch while Riddle treats her badly in closed doors and pretends to be the best husband in the world in front of others.

Harry fists his hands, his eyes going back to Hermione and Pettigrew.

He won't let that happen to them. He won't stand back while she has to live with Pettigrew for the rest of their days.

There's no way he'll accept this.

I won't let her marry him. No matter what.

Harry blinks and steps away to avoid a drunken man from bumping into him.

And this same man yells:

"SPEECH! SPEECH!"

It becomes a chant and Harry moves to the back of the room to watch. Riddle smiles and raises his hands, then he pulls Bellatrix to him and with a wave calls for Hermione to join them. Harry sees how this affects her, but she goes nonetheless.

"You too, Asmodeus!" Riddle yells and Hermione stops for a beat, blinking.

Pettigrew takes her hand and they walk together to join Riddle and Bellatrix. With a spell Riddle amplifies his voice before he begins to talk:

"It's with a full heart that I welcome you into my Manor." Harry crosses his arms, people are coming from all over the mansion to hear the speech. An older woman stops by his side, unaware of his presence. "What recently happened to my wife is… unacceptable." Riddle stops talking for the words to sink in and have the effect he wants. Harry on the other hand can't keep his eyes from Hermione. Her fingers are intertwined with Pettigrew's. He sets his jaw. "Someone dared to attack my family inside my own home. And we all know who did it. Muggleborns. Half-Bloods." Hermione presses her lips together. Bellatrix doesn't even flinch. "They're always threatening our peace, envying our true magic and abilities. This was a low blow and the Ministry is doing its best to catch the responsible." Harry snorts. No one is doing shit. There are no substantial proof for the Aurors to work with and since no one saw a soul at the night of the attack, that's basically it. And of course, Riddle is the responsible for this. "I have no idea what I would have done if my beloved wife hadn't come back to me." The woman by Harry's side snorts and he looks at her, curious. She's drinking her champagne and making a face at the way Riddle is kissing Bellatrix's cheek. Harry squints… "I can't exist without this woman and our amazing daughter." Harry lets out a heavy sigh. Fed up. Riddle is smiling at Hermione, but she's not smiling back. "Tonight we celebrate our ancestry and our name. To the Riddles." He raises his glass in the air and people follow. Harry cocks his head noticing that… Dolohov is standing close to the woman that was snorting a second ago, both very close to him.

"He can sure make a speech." Dolohov says.

It looks like they know each other.

"Surely. It's his strongest weapon." The woman replies.

They share a look and Harry turns to look better at them. The woman is elegant but has a sour face, a permanent unpleasant expression. Who are you? He has no idea. But now he's intrigued.

"The daughter is smoking hot, though." Dolohov says and Harry does his best not to blow his cover by killing Dolohov right there.

The woman scoffs. "Very different from the mother, don't you think?" And she lets out a sarcastic small giggle.

Harry can't be sure why no one else is paying attention to this conversation. They're openly talking about the Riddles. Inside their house.

And he wished he could stay to listen what else they're going to say, but Riddle is walking to his study with Bellatrix, Hermione, Asmodeus, Peter and Sarah.

Harry moves fast, knowing that this is an opportunity he can't miss. Once they open the door, he has to go inside, he needs to search this study thoroughly.

It doesn't surprise him that Hermione is letting everyone else enter the room before her. He smiles. She's so brilliant that sometimes it's too much to handle.

He brushes his hand on hers before entering the study. She follows right after, closing the door. A very discreet smile on her face. Harry settles at the back of the room again, leaning on the wall, safely concealed by the Cloak.

"Everyone, please, sit." Riddle says.

Harry takes a deep breath when Hermione sits with Pettigrew on the couch and he pulls her to him, kissing her temple. He bites on his tongue not to explode a thing or make the lights go berserk, relieved that he succeeds.

"What's this about, my love?" Bellatrix asks in a soft voice, but Harry notices the way she glances at Hermione and-

"Well, soon our families are going to be one, isn't that right?" Riddle says and motions a hand to Hermione and Asmodeus. "Our children are going to marry and I can't deny that this brings me immense joy." Harry notices how the words don't match his expression.

Hermione is frozen on the couch, barely breathing.

"Indeed." Asmodeus says, "I can't wait." He squeezes Hermione's arm. "We can't, right, love?"

She opens a tight smile. "It will be the happiest day of my life." She says evenly.

Peter and Sarah smile. Harry is dizzy. This can't be a conversation about the wedding-

"Is that so, Hermione?" Riddle asks. She nods, a fake smile on her face. "That's actually perfect, then."

"Is it?" She asks, her eyes narrow.

Riddle opens a cold smile, his eyes on his daughter. He's doing this on purpose.

"I know you decided on a date around September, but I was thinking, why wait this long?"

Harry inevitably moves, taking a few steps forward, unconsciously wanting to be closer to her.

"Well, father, it's what we decided-"

"You know what, love?" Asmodeus cuts her. "I think moving the date is actually perfect. Why wait, indeed? There's nothing else to consider, is there?"

Harry wants so much to kill this stronzo.

And now Hermione is truly desperate. He can see it clearly. He's sure the others also can.

She wets her lips, sharing a brief look with Bellatrix.

"I think it's the bride's decision." Bellatrix interrupts. "We all know the wedding is always more important to the woman." She says naturally as if this is not the worst thing that could happen right now.

Hermione chuckles, trying to loosen up a bit. Harry notices Asmodeus is still squeezing her arm.

"Love, why the rush?" She asks him.

Asmodeus shrugs. "Why not?"

"My son is right." Peter interrupts. "There's no reason to wait. Nothing stands in the way of this wedding happening tomorrow."

Harry widens his eyes. His heart stops beating for a moment.

But Hermione laughs out loud.

"Peter." She says with disdain. "I have to plan it all. Do you really think Hermione Riddle is going to marry without throwing the perfect wedding? The perfect party?" She looks at Riddle. "We have a name to care for, don't we, father?"

Riddle tilts his head.

But before he can say a thing, Sarah speaks. "Hermione, dear, it seems like you're trying to find excuses not to marry my son." The words fall heavy and Hermione gives Sarah a dirty look. "We're not Muggles. You can put the perfect wedding together in a day."

"That's irrelevant, Sarah." Bellatrix says harshly, angry. "What Hermione is saying is that the Riddles, differently from the Pettigrews, have to stand out. We matter, Sarah. Don't forget that it's your son marrying into this family. Not the other way around."

Sarah purses her lips, killing Bellatrix with a glare.

Hermione clears her throat. "But we can change the date if you want to, love." She says to Asmodeus, looking at him, her eyes menacing.

The man smiles and gives her a peck.

And the window's glass cracks. From top to bottom. Harry bites on his lower lip. Shit.

Riddle looks at the window, intrigued. Then his eyes narrow and he observes the others. None say a thing. Hermione is still looking at Asmodeus as if nothing happened and Harry can see that she's squeezing the man's thigh, wanting to hurt him, waiting for an answer.

Bellatrix moves her wrist and the glass from the window goes back to normal. Riddle is still looking at it, though.

But finally Asmodeus' words change his focus.

"You decide, love."

Harry can't help hating how sure of himself Asmodeus is. He's sure his plan is bulletproof. Sure that Hermione has no way of escaping their Vow. Sure that they'll marry and she'll be tied to him until their deaths.

Not so fast, idiot.

"I'm thinking… why not July, then?" She says and Harry opens his mouth, shocked.

Is she crazy? She's actually moving the date sooner-

"Perfect." Riddle says. "You have enough time to plan and it's not so far."

Harry recognizes the tone Riddle uses. This conversation is over.

Without a word, Peter and Sarah move to head out, Pettigrew stands from the couch and Hermione follows, her mother is also walking to the door.

"Hermione." Riddle stops her from exiting. "A word."

She shares a look with Bellatrix and Harry stiffens. It's the first time he's going to have an opportunity to see how Riddle treats Hermione in closed doors. And he dreads it. He fears it's way worse than what he's ready to handle.

Hermione gulps, her eyes fixed on the door closing behind her mother. They're alone now.

"Yes, father?"

"You really thought I would forget how you behaved at that ridiculous interrogation?"

She closes her eyes, fisting her hands and turning around to face her father. Harry moves to be closer to her.

"I was only doing my job the way you taught me-"

A strong wave of magic hits her hard. Harry flinches and grunts in frustration, totally furious. This must have hurt like hell. But Hermione is standing tall, defiant.

"You dared bringing up personal information!" He yells. "Did you go through my stuff?"

She sets her jaw and Harry notices she's moving her wrist, raising a shield around herself.

"Answer me!" Another wave comes from Riddle and bounces on her shield, hitting a shelf and pulverizing some books. Harry gulps, stepping closer to her.

"What if I did?" Her tone is higher than usual and she's baring her teeth. "I am a Riddle, after all. I learned from the best how to always be a step ahead!"

Harry is sure another wave of magic is coming and even if he shouldn't, he's ready to protect her-

Riddle laughs.

And his expression changes.

"Indeed." He says and shrugs. He walks to Hermione. "I'm keeping my eye on you, Hermione." Then he leans to speak into her ear. "Always." Riddle moves away and smiles. "Let's go back to the party."

Harry's petrified on the spot while he watches Riddle leave with Hermione as if nothing happened.

Only after a whole minute he lets himself relax. He was so afraid her shield might give in and-

He shakes his head. Not the time.

Now he needs to search this fucking pretentious study.

Moving fast he goes to the desk. He didn't find much the last time he searched, but his focus was on the Aurors. Now, he wants whatever he can take that might be incriminating enough against Riddle.

And in no time he does find it.

A thick file with letters. Letters from traditional Pureblood families. Giving Riddle support in exchange of silence. Giving Riddle money in exchange of silence. Giving Riddle the right publicity in exchange of silence. Countless letters.

And as an organized man, Riddle keeps the papers on the blackmail he's doing with all of them.

Not wasting a second he makes copies with a spell.

Then, he tucks it all inside an enchanted little bag Hermione gave him. Harry continues to search. Now his focus is Moritz.

But his search is not as fruitful as before.

However-

Harry stops breathing.

There's a… toy phoenix tucked under a few quills.

Exactly like the one he has.

With the toy in his hand, he blinks many times, trying to comprehend.

"What the fuck?" He whispers.

It looks exactly the same.

Hermione mentioned she had seem the toy before. Maybe she had one too.

But-

It feels too much like a coincidence.

There's a strange emotion inside him. Harry can't pinpoint it.

Against his better judgment, he takes the toy-

The door opens and he freezes.

"Yeah, I think I lost it somewhere, I'll be right back!" It's Hermione yelling to someone outside.

He relaxes. She stops in the middle of the room.

"Are you here?" She asks in a low voice and he walks to her, his arms closing around her body. She lets out a huge breath, embracing him. He wants to talk to her- "Meet me in the basement in ten minutes."

And she takes his hand, pulling him to the door. She doesn't want him to stay another minute inside, dreading the fact that her father might come back-

Indeed, Riddle opens the door.

"Found it?" He asks.

Hermione smiles, raising the necklace, their crest, in front of her.

"It was on the floor."

She moves to the door and Harry understands it's his chance of walking out while Riddle nods at Hermione, waiting for her to exit the study.

He can't say he's not relieved when he walks out.

It would be silly to waste time, so, he heads to the corridor that leads to the basement. There's no sign of Dolohov and that woman and he makes a mental note to find them after he talks with Hermione.

Very fast he reaches the door and uses the blood magic capable of opening it. Since he's bound to the Manor, he's allowed inside.

And he can't help opening a smile when he enters the basement. It's exactly the same as he remembers, no one touched a thing, maybe the only difference is a chair in front of the Mirror. He wonders if Hermione was the one who sat there…

He confesses he's been wanting to be back here since Hermione told him the truth about the Mirror. Lowering his eyes, he walks to stand in front of it.

And what he sees is truly breathtaking.

He's standing there with a huge smile on his face, wearing casual clothes and looking older. But that doesn't matter. What matters is that Hermione is by his side, also with a smile that he never saw, looking older and happier than ever. They're in an embrace and around them…

Five children.

Harry presses his lips together, moving closer to the Mirror, inevitably sitting on the chair to observe every little detail.

They're perfect. One boy looks like Hermione. And a girl looks like him. Harry chuckles fondly, an unbidden tear running down his face. The other three are a perfect mixture of both, some traces are hers, other his.

But there's no question that they're theirs. They're happy. A family.

He lowers his head, feeling the pressure on his chest, a hollowness-

A hand squeezes his shoulder. She knew exactly where he would be.

Harry pushes back his hood and their eyes meet. She's sad. And the sight of his tears makes her close her eyes.

"My mother says this shouldn't be here. I agree with her."

Sighing, he brings her to his lap and they hug. He kisses her cheek.

"You look absolutely gorgeous." He says in a low voice, a numbing sadness inside him. He already said the same thing when she got ready at their house.

She doesn't say a word, her eyes on the Mirror.

"What do you see?" Her voice is barely there.

"Us." He says firmly.

Hermione looks at him. "Tell me the whole truth, Harry." She's angry now.

He wets his lips. "And five children."

Snorting, she looks down, her chin trembling. Harry never saw her this sad. It breaks his heart in pieces. He holds her.

After a while she shakes her head and swallows hard, taking a deep breath. Then she rises from his lap.

"We're not here for this." She states in a serious tone.

He takes her hand in his. "I know." He says softly. "Love, it's fine-"

"Did you find anything inside the study?"

"A few things." He stands from the chair. "Why July?"

She makes a face. "I had to or else I'm sure the wedding would happen in a week, Harry."

He runs a hand through his hair, she's right. "A woman and Dolohov were talking at the back of the room while Riddle was giving the speech. It seemed like they knew each other pretty well. It was clear she didn't like your mother very much."

Hermione perks up. "What woman?"

"I don't know. Never saw her. But I'll look for them again, maybe I can hear another conversation."

She nods. "Okay. Feel free to search the rest of the mansion. I don't think you'll find anything, but…" She trails and shrugs.

"What about his bedroom?"

"It's just the place where he puts a bed to sleep. He barely stays there."

A silence settles after her words. He has no idea why. It feels wrong.

Hermione moves to the door but he takes her hand and brings her to him, kissing her gently. She exhales heavily, her arms closing around him while they kiss.

He won't let them separate on this awkward note.

His hand travels her body and the atmosphere changes between them in a beat. Hermione bites on his lip and he squeezes her thigh, his hand moving under her dress and finding her panties right after. He massages her clit while they keep kissing.

In no time Hermione is breathing harder, giving in to the sensations and moving her head back, closing her eyes, her hips moving with his hand. He keeps teasing her, slowly. Spreading kisses on her neck and collarbone, Harry gets lost in how it feels like to be with her.

She's disheveling him and he finally pushes her panties to the side, his fingers finding her hot entrance and folds, entering her. She lets out a soft moan, touching his forehead with hers.

They share a look.

"I love you." He says in a gentle tone and she smiles.

"I love you." She says back to him and one of her hands travel down his body, reaching his cock through the fabric.

He bites on her neck, walking slowly to the same wall they fucked for the very first time. There's a mischievous smile on his face.

Hermione chuckles when she notices exactly where they are and what's happening, but her chuckle dies down when he finds a sweet spot with his fingers and she jerks in his arms, feeling the pleasure.

Harry groans. Her hand is stroking him and just as it happened the first time they had sex, she unbuckles him pretty fast, her hands moving in a maddening way. He's already hard and in no time he presses her against the wall.

They keep kissing and touching and with his pants barely all the way down, her panties only pushed to the side, Harry slightly lifts one of her legs - that she wraps around him - an on the next second he's entering her.

Both moan at the bliss of it.

It's a proper fuck. One they need. One to make them feel a bit better about the unfairness of-

He knows they're thinking the same thing when their eyes lock. The image from the Mirror flashing through his mind.

Harry keeps thrusting and Hermione holds tight to him, meeting his eagerness in a way that's surely amazing.

It's rough and fast and they share a kiss when both reach their orgasms practically together. Harry rubs his cheek on hers and they hold each other very, very tightly.

When he looks into her eyes, he sees some tears. It wrecks him. But he says nothing and she's thankful for it.

Harry finally takes a step from her. Hermione clears her throat and puts herself back together with a spell.

"See you at home, handsome?" She asks in a soft tone and he smiles.

"See you, beautiful."

Hermione just gave an interview. It felt amazing to defy her father like that but…

She's not feeling well.

It's been a tense night and she needs some air.

She walks out into the huge backyard, the Quidditch field in the distance and her father's new deranged idea imposing on the other side.

A gigantic and tall hedge maze.

She snorts, closing her eyes and trying to send away the sadness she felt and that still lingers with what Harry saw in the Mirror.

He said she's enough. But his heart wants more. He wants a family of their own with her.

And to think that she can't give him this completely eats her from the inside out.

But… what if Bellaverde-

She's crying again. Discreetly, she brushes her tears and distances herself from the mansion. Her feet lead her to the maze, her curiosity spiking to why her father would built something like this on his backyard.

Hermione stops at the entrance, a big arch filled with all kinds of flowers at the top, inviting.

A strange sensation takes over her and she realizes it's the silence around the maze. It's too silent. Freakishly so. And it shouldn't be. There should be birds and animals close-

"Come."

It's a whisper. An eerie voice. One she doesn't recognize.

She looks around. There's no one there. She's all alone.

And the mansion seems to be even further away, extremely distant.

Hermione blinks many times, shaking her head, full alert now. This is…

"Come, Hermione."

Her head swiftly turns back to the maze. The voice is coming from inside, luring her.

She takes one step forward. Hypnotized.

It's such a strong pull. Powerful.

Irresistible.

In a daze, she steps inside.

(…)