CHAPTER 27: A PROPOSAL ON THE SHORE
The afternoon passed by quickly, with Narcissa excusing herself around two o'clock to pick up Draco. Andromeda and Tonks stayed for dinner before leaving around six, giving Harry and Bellatrix a chance to relax together.
"So, what do you need to talk to my degenerate cousin about in his position as Lord Black?" Bellatrix asked nonchalantly, her curiosity piqued.
"Black family business, of course," Harry replied teasingly, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
"Bella, you have to tell him," Bellatrix urged, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Harry shook his head with a smile. "No, I can't yet. But if all goes well, I'll tell you tomorrow," he promised, hoping to alleviate her curiosity.
"Fine. So, what all did you see underwater?" Bellatrix asked, changing the subject with eager anticipation evident in her voice.
And so, Harry began to recount their underwater adventure, describing the sights they had encountered beneath the waves, from swaying seaweed to vibrant coral reefs, relishing the opportunity to share the experience with Bellatrix.
Harry had arrived at the shack twenty minutes ago, his nerves getting the best of him as he paced back and forth, anxiously awaiting Sirius's arrival. He never thought he would feel this jittery about asking Sirius for something, but the weight of his request made each passing minute feel like an eternity.
Suddenly, there was a soft 'pop,' and Harry turned to see his godfather materialize about ten feet away from him.
"Good, you're here. Are you ready to get going?" Sirius asked eagerly, his usual exuberance shining through.
Harry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation ahead. "Yes, but first, I need to talk to you about Black family business, Lord Black," Harry said, his tone more formal than usual.
Sirius's expression shifted, a hint of surprise flickering across his features before he regained his composure. "Very well, Mr. Peverell. What can I do for you?" Sirius responded, his tone taking on an unusual seriousness.
"Lord Black, I wish to ask you for Bellatrix's hand in marriage," Harry stated, his words measured as he bowed his head slightly, adhering to the formalities dictated by tradition.
Sirius's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the unexpected request. "Have you discussed this with her?" he inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity.
"No, custom dictates I ask her head of the house first," Harry replied, meeting Sirius's gaze with unwavering determination.
"Bugger the customs, you have my permission to marry her and the best of luck to you. Now, enough of this pureblood posturing lark; we have an adventure to get to," Sirius exclaimed impatiently, his enthusiasm for their upcoming adventure shining through.
Harry felt a wave of relief wash over him at Sirius's words. "I wanted to do it the right way," Harry explained with a shrug, grateful for Sirius's understanding.
"Yeah, I get it. I've been pondering doing the same with Amy's grandfather, but it's too early just yet," Sirius admitted, leading Harry towards the entrance of the tunnel on the other side of the sitting room.
"Really? From what I knew of you in my timeline, you were a bit of a rake," Harry remarked in surprise.
"I was, but almost spending your life in Azkaban can change your perspective," Sirius explained solemnly as he stepped into the tunnel.
"Well, best of luck to you with Amelia," Harry offered sincerely, stooping down and following behind Sirius as they awkwardly navigated through the narrow tunnel.
"Thanks. You will have to meet with my grandfather after you and Bellatrix get engaged," Sirius mentioned casually as they continued their journey through the dimly lit passageway.
"Why?" Harry asked, feeling a familiar knot of nervousness forming in his stomach once again.
"Because he was furious with the contract Cygnus signed with Randolph LeStrange and will want to ensure that you are worthy," Sirius explained with a smirk, relishing the thought of the impending meeting.
"Oh, bugger!" Harry exclaimed as they reached the Hogwarts end of the tunnel, the weight of meeting Sirius's grandfather adding to his already frayed nerves.
"I actually think the two of you will get along fine, just don't let him know you spank Bellatrix," Sirius teased with a chuckle, lightening the mood with his characteristic humor.
Harry chuckled nervously, shifting the conversation away from the potentially awkward topic. "Haha, did you bring the cloak?" he asked, pulling out the familiar garment.
"Of course," Sirius replied, his tone conveying a hint of amusement at the question's obviousness.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Harry intoned, tapping the blank parchment of the Marauder's Map with his wand. He watched with fascination as the lines of the map formed before his eyes, revealing the whereabouts of the inhabitants of Hogwarts.
"So, who's in the castle?" Sirius inquired, peering over Harry's shoulder to examine the map.
Harry scanned the map, noting the positions of various staff members. "There are four people in the castle," he reported, pointing out the locations on the map. "Argus Filch is in his office, Sprout is in the greenhouses, Madam Pince is in the Library, and Minerva McGonagall is in the head's office. Filius Flitwick is in the kitchens."
Sirius studied the map alongside Harry, nodding in agreement. "Okay, let's get moving," he declared, reaching his arm out of the tunnel to touch the knot on the side of the Whomping Willow, signaling the tree to cease its violent thrashing.
They quickly crawled out of the tunnel and moved out of range of the Whomping Willow's branches before Sirius threw the cloak over them both. Unconcerned about ducking down, they crossed the lawn swiftly, their invisible presence concealing their movements from any prying eyes. As they reached the main doors, Harry was surprised to find them wide open.
"Strange," Harry muttered under his breath, checking the Marauder's Map to ensure they were still undetected. Seeing that Filch was now heading down the second-floor corridor towards Myrtle's bathroom, Harry devised a new plan.
"New plan, we're heading by Filch's office real quick," Harry whispered to Sirius as they crossed the entrance hall.
"Okay, what for?" Sirius inquired, matching Harry's quiet tone as they made their way down the hallway to the left of the Great Hall, moving slower now to ensure the cloak covered their feet.
"Filch has this timeline's version of the map," Harry explained quietly as they approached the tiny office.
Slipping inside, they found the room as cramped and odorous as Harry remembered. The infamous chains hung on the wall behind Filch's desk, while a rusty oil lamp provided dim illumination in the windowless space. Wooden file cabinets lined the walls, containing records of students' punishments. Harry couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed a drawer labeled S. Black/J. Potter, a stark contrast to the F. Weasley/G. Weasley drawer in his time.
"What's so funny?" Sirius inquired, casting a curious glance around their surroundings.
"You and my dad had a whole drawer of detentions," Harry replied with a chuckle, gesturing toward the designated drawer.
Sirius grinned, a glint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "You wouldn't believe all the things we got detention for here."
"Yeah, I would. In my sixth year, I had detention every Saturday. My punishment was to go through your old detention write-ups. Anyway, we had better hurry," Harry remarked, casting a quick glance at the map in his hand.
"Which drawer is the map in?" Sirius asked, curiosity piqued.
"That one," Harry indicated, pointing to a drawer boldly labelled, 'Confiscated and Extremely Dangerous.'
Sirius smoothly slipped out from under the cloak and opened the drawer. The blank piece of parchment lay solitary within, and Sirius wasted no time in snatching it up before sliding back under the cloak's concealment.
"Alright, let's go," Sirius declared as he pocketed the map.
"Give that to my younger self when he starts Hogwarts," Harry suggested as they began making their way back to the grand staircase.
"Not bloody likely. I'll hang onto it so I can keep tabs on him," Sirius retorted as they reached the entrance hall.
Harry glanced at the map again, noting with mild surprise that his name appeared as 'Harry Peverell.' He half-expected it to show up as 'Reaper,' considering the weight of claiming the name at Gringotts must have held.
"We're clear, let's move," Harry asserted, taking the lead as they ascended the staircase.
Navigating their way to the seventh floor, they encountered minimal obstacles, only veering off course once to evade Peeves on the third floor.
"What is this?" Sirius queried with a hint of fascination as they halted before a tapestry depicting a barmy wizard attempting to instruct trolls in ballet.
Stepping out from under the cloak, Harry paced three times in front of the wall opposite the tapestry. Sirius followed suit, removing the cloak just as a door materialized in the previously bare wall.
"This is the Room of Hidden Things," Harry explained as he pushed open the door, beckoning Sirius to follow.
Entering the room, they were met with a sight that stretched the bounds of imagination. The cavernous space easily dwarfed the Great Hall, with mountains of miscellaneous items piled high. Small paths meandered between the heaps, likely trodden by house-elves who frequented the chamber.
Furniture of every description littered the room, alongside an array of garments—socks, robes, scarves, shoes—and a rather sizable mound of undergarments, both male and female.
Sirius's eyes widened in awe as they ventured further, encountering stacks of books, bottles of potions, broomsticks, swords, knives, and even a full-sized stuffed troll.
"Where did all of this come from?" Sirius marveled, trailing behind Harry down one of the winding paths.
"I don't know for sure, but I suspect much of it is contraband hidden by students. As for the clothes and furniture, it's likely the work of the elves; they seem to frequent this room," Harry explained, his voice tinged with intrigue.
"We never found this room up here, though one time when James and I were trying to ditch Filch, we stumbled upon a secret passage that led to an alcove across from the Fat Lady's portrait. Never could find it again, though," Sirius mused, his tone tinged with nostalgia.
"Interesting. The room takes on more forms than just this; you just have to pace in front of the wall and think about what you need, and the room will appear," Harry elucidated, scanning the cluttered expanse until he spotted the tarnished cabinet where he knew the diadem was resting.
"Stay back for a moment," Harry instructed, motioning for Sirius to hang back as he approached the cabinet.
When he drew within three feet of it, Harry caught sight of the diadem nestled atop a heap of discarded items. Drawing his dagger, he closed the remaining distance and plunged it into the crown. A piercing shriek tore through the air, accompanied by a billowing black mist that erupted from the diadem before dissipating, leaving behind the faint scent of sulfur.
Harry swiftly retrieved the warped tiara, noting a sickle-sized hole burnt black around the edges, and slipped it into the pocket of his robes.
"What the bloody hell was that?!" Sirius exclaimed from behind him, his voice filled with astonishment and concern.
"Are you familiar with a Horcrux?" Harry inquired, his curiosity piqued as he settled into the worn, tattered armchair.
"No, what's a Horcrux?" Sirius questioned, still visibly shaken from the earlier encounter.
"It's the darkest of dark magic. To create a Horcrux, you split your soul and place a fragment of it into an object. This serves as an anchor, tying your soul to the mortal realm. It's as close to immortality as a wizard can achieve," Harry elucidated, his voice tinged with solemnity.
"So, Voldemort made that... thing. That's how he returned in your time, right?" Sirius deduced, his expression contorted with disgust as he settled onto a nearby trunk.
"Exactly. This was the last one he intentionally created. Bellatrix and I destroyed all the others a few nights ago. But there's one more that I still have no idea how to deal with," Harry admitted, a troubled furrow creasing his brow.
"Why can't you do what you just did to that tiara thingy?" Sirius questioned, his confusion evident.
"Because... because that piece of his soul isn't in an object. It's in a person," Harry confessed quietly, his gaze distant and lost.
"In a person? You can put a piece of your soul in another person?!" Sirius exclaimed, his horror palpable.
"You can, but I don't think Voldemort intended to," Harry clarified, meeting Sirius's gaze with a somber look.
"Who is it?" Sirius asked, a sinking feeling beginning to take hold.
"My younger self," Harry revealed, his tone heavy with sadness.
"No! How?" Sirius's voice wavered weakly, his disbelief evident.
"The night Voldemort killed my parents and then cast the killing curse at me, it backfired. I think Voldemort intended to use my death to create another Horcrux, and his soul was already fractured. When the curse rebounded, a piece of his soul was blasted from the whole. I was the only living thing in the house, so that shard of his soul latched onto me," Harry explained, his expression twisted with revulsion at the memory.
"But you got rid of it, didn't you? Why can't you do the same for Harry?" Sirius asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
"Because I took a killing curse to the face to get rid of mine, and the only reason I didn't die was because Voldemort used my blood in his resurrection ritual, keeping my mother's sacrifice alive," Harry explained wearily.
"Bugger. So, how can we get that thing out of him?" Sirius demanded, his frustration evident.
"I have no idea, but we have a decade or so to figure it out," Harry replied, attempting to sound optimistic despite the weight of uncertainty.
"What about Dumbledore? Do you think he would know how to remove it?" Sirius queried.
"No, it was his idea for me to take the killing curse. I mean, he was right that I would survive, but I would prefer not to take his lead on this," Harry said, rising from his seat.
"Okay, but you're a real ass for not telling me this sooner," Sirius retorted as he stood up as well.
"After you blurted out my secret twice, I didn't feel all that confident in your ability to keep your mouth shut," Harry replied with a shrug as they began to make their way toward the exit.
"Fair point. So, what does this mean for Harry?" Sirius asked curiously.
"Not much right now. Voldemort's wrath is in Albania and won't affect him much," Harry replied thoughtfully.
"What about when he returns to England?" Sirius pressed, halting in front of the door.
"When Voldemort was close to me, I would feel pain in my scar. I could feel his strong emotions and experience pain. Many times, when my mind was relaxed, I could even see through his eyes. I suppose the best thing you can do for Harry is to teach him Occlumency," Harry suggested, recalling his tumultuous lessons with Snape.
"I'll have to see if Cissa can do that. I'm horrible at the mind Arts," Sirius admitted as he retrieved the cloak from his pocket.
"Let's get out of here. We can come back to seal off the chamber another time," Harry suggested, not feeling up to the task at hand today.
"Okay, we can take the one-eyed witch passage to get out of here," Sirius proposed, double-checking the map to ensure a clear path.
During their walk to the third floor, Harry reflected on his decision to confide in Sirius. Initially, he had wanted to keep the burden to himself, but he ultimately felt that Sirius deserved to know. He didn't want to replicate what Dumbledore had done to him—keeping crucial information concealed.
Their journey to the one-eyed witch proceeded smoothly, save for the challenge of squeezing through the entrance of the tunnel.
Once they emerged and crossed beyond Hogwarts' protective wards, Harry turned to Sirius.
"Look, I'm sorry I dumped all of that on you, but I promise I will do everything in my power to get that thing out of him," Harry pledged earnestly.
"Yeah, I will too. Thanks for telling me," Sirius responded softly, still appearing somewhat unsettled.
"Apparate to my place. You can use my Floo to go to Cissa's," Harry offered, receiving a nod in return.
With that, Harry spun on the spot and vanished with a soft 'pop,' leaving Sirius to follow suit and begin his journey to Harry's residence.
Sirius arrived at Harry's place via Apparition, his mind still reeling from the weight of the revelations Harry had shared. Stepping into the familiar surroundings of Harry's home, he made his way to the fireplace, ready to use the Floo Network to reach Narcissa's.
As the emerald flames flickered to life, Sirius tossed a handful of Floo powder into the hearth, his mind churning with thoughts of the daunting task ahead. Stepping into the flames, he called out, "Malfoy Manor!"
With a whoosh, Sirius was whisked away, engulfed by the swirling green fire as he traveled through the Floo Network to Narcissa's grand estate.
Emerging from the fireplace at Malfoy Manor, Sirius straightened himself out, steeling his resolve for the upcoming conversation with Narcissa. He knew that convincing her to teach Harry Occlumency wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to do whatever it took to protect Harry and help him navigate the challenges that lay ahead.
Taking a deep breath, Sirius strode purposefully through the opulent halls of the manor, his thoughts consumed by the task at hand and the promise he had made to Harry.
Harry found himself standing on the beach in front of his house, greeted by the joyful sounds of laughter from children playing nearby. Turning his gaze toward the ocean, he spotted the three Black sisters lounging in chairs, while Harry and Draco frolicked in the sand under a large beach umbrella not far away. Nearby, Narcissa observed the scene serenely, while Tonks dashed playfully from incoming waves, her laughter echoing along the shoreline.
"Pop," came Sirius's voice from a few feet behind him.
"Good call. They're all here," Harry remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he started walking toward the group.
"Yeah, why don't you stick around for a while? You could use some sun," Harry suggested with a smirk, knowing Sirius's tendency to prefer indoor activities.
"Oi," Sirius exclaimed in mock indignation, trailing behind Harry as they approached the gathering.
Over the next few hours, Sirius gradually returned to his old self, relishing the simple joys of the beach and the company of his family. However, Harry couldn't help but notice Sirius casting wistful glances at his younger self from time to time.
As the afternoon wore on, Andromeda and Tonks departed to go shopping for school clothes, much to the young girl's dismay. Shortly after, Sirius and Narcissa decided to take the toddlers inside to clean up and have a meal, leaving Harry and Bellatrix alone on the beach.
"Did you get the Horcrux?" Bellatrix inquired after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
"Yes, I destroyed it there," Harry confirmed, reaching over to retrieve his discarded cloak and pulling it out of his pocket to show her.
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"So all that's left is little Harry?" Bellatrix inquired, her gaze fixed on the mangled tiara.
"Yeah, I told Sirius about that. He didn't take it well," Harry replied somberly, tossing the diadem onto his cloak.
"He did seem a bit off," Bellatrix mused thoughtfully.
"I also asked him for his blessing," Harry mentioned casually, drawing his wand and casting a silent summoning charm.
As the ring box flew through the air, Harry's heart raced with anticipation. This was it, he told himself, trying to calm the nerves that danced within him.
"His blessing for what?" Bellatrix asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
Standing from his seat, Harry knelt at Bellatrix's side, his hand trembling slightly as he raised the box. Opening it, he offered it to her, his heart pounding in his chest as he nervously posed the question, "Bellatrix, I know this is sudden, but I know that you're the only one for me. Will you marry me?"
Harry had never felt this nervous in his life as he awaited her answer, his breath caught in his throat.
"Y-yes," Bellatrix whispered softly, her voice trembling with emotion. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she extended her left hand to him.
With trembling hands, Harry slid the silver engagement ring onto her finger. Bellatrix's eyes sparkled with happiness as she launched herself at him, capturing his lips in a passionate kiss. The force of her embrace caught Harry off guard, and they tumbled onto the soft sand, their lips locked in a fervent embrace that spoke volumes of their love and commitment to each other.
As they lay intertwined on the soft sand, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their embrace and the echo of their shared joy. Harry felt a sense of completeness wash over him, a feeling he had never experienced before. With Bellatrix in his arms, he knew that he had found his true partner, someone who understood him in a way no one else could.
Breaking the kiss, Harry gazed into Bellatrix's eyes, his heart overflowing with love. "I can't believe this is happening," he whispered, his voice filled with wonder.
Bellatrix smiled radiantly, her cheeks flushed with emotion. "Neither can I, but I couldn't be happier," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
They lay together in silence for a while, content to bask in the glow of their newfound love. The gentle lapping of the waves and the distant cries of seagulls provided a soothing backdrop to their shared moment of bliss.
Eventually, they rose from the sand, their hands still intertwined as they made their way back toward the house. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the beach and painting the sky in shades of pink and orange.
As they approached the house, Harry felt a sense of anticipation building within him. He knew that their engagement marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, one filled with love, laughter, and countless adventures together.
With Bellatrix by his side, Harry felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. And as they stepped through the door, hand in hand, he knew that their love would guide them through it all.
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