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Duel of the Hearts by Eternal Fire
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Duel of the Hearts

Eternal Fire

Albus Dumbledore sat back in his desk chair and scratched his beard. He'd just listened to Harry and Hermione explain the incident concerning Cassandra and the Malfoys from start to finish. He also had Harry explain about everything that Cassandra had done during the term, and how she'd threatened Hermione. Harry had gone on to explain how he'd rescued Hermione's parents, and why he hadn't told anyone. The headmaster was slightly miffed that Harry hadn't told him about this sooner.

"Harry…it seems that trouble just won't leave you alone," the old man chuckled.

"The boy always did have a habit of attracting it," Sirius cut in.

He leaned against one of the bookshelves with Remus and Moody standing next to him.

"Sir, what exactly do we know about Cassandra?" Harry inquired.

"I received her files from the headmaster in Salem, but there doesn't seem to be any suspicious activity in her record. In fact, she appeared to be an exemplary student until she came here."

"I just don't understand why she's so obsessed with me. I feel bad that someone could become so evil just because she felt she liked me."

"Harry…" Hermione sighed and took his hand, "…This isn't your fault. Cassandra is the only one who is responsible for her actions."

"Your fiancé is right, Potter," Moody said with a toothy grin.

"Quite right. The ministry has a team of aurors searching for the whereabouts of Miss Cross, but they haven't found anything yet."

"If she was receiving help from the Malfoys, then she could probably disappear off their radar completely," Hermione stated.

"That is very possible, but they will still do their best to find her. As for the Lucius Malfoy, that is going to be a tricky situation. We have no physical evidence that he attacked Miss Granger…or that his son did either…"

Dumbledore quieted Harry as the young man sprung to his feet.

"Don't tell me you're going to let them off the hook! They nearly killed Hermione!"

"I didn't say that, Harry, but this situation is very difficult. The Malfoys are a powerful family, and they could swing their influence anyway they choose. Even members of the Ministry itself are quite afraid of Lucius, and he will use that fear against them. We have the testimony of you, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Brown, but Lucius could merely argue that you two do not like his son and concocted the story just to smear his name."

Harry sat back down after hearing those words.

"What do you suggest, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked from her spot next to Fawkes.

"We don't have option but to wait and see what moves they make. We don't know what Cassandra is planning, or if she is going to try and harm Hermione once again. We'll just have to wait for her to resurface."

Harry sat there stewing in his chair; he was angry and extremely frustrated. He looked at Hermione sitting next to him, and she looked at him anxiously. His blood boiled at the thought of Cassandra trying to hurt Hermione or worse…the Malfoys. No, he had to get to them before they got her. But how…how could he make Cassandra play her hand.

"What if we draw her out?" he suddenly asked. The entire room looked at him in surprise.

"What did you say, Harry?" Dumbledore replied.

"What if we draw her out? Make Cassandra come to us."

"How do you plan on doing that, boy?" Moody asked incredulously. Harry actually grinned as the light bulb went off in his brain.

"The one that thing despises most is Hermione being with me. So, we give her something that can't afford to ignore."

"Honey, would just spit it out?" Hermione chorded. He looked at her and smiled.

"Herm, what do you say we get married this weekend?"

Everyone gasped at his statement.

"What are you thinking?" Sirius gasped. "We don't have time for that right now."

"Harry, that's brilliant!" Dumbledore said proudly.

"What do you mean, Albus?" McGonagall asked.

"Think about it, Minerva, if Cassandra attacked Hermione because she is involved with Harry then the last thing she wants them to do is get married. She won't allow them to get married; her pride wouldn't allow it."

"Ah…so you're using your marriage as bait…very clever," Remus stated.

"Well…I wouldn't exactly put it like that," Harry replied. He turned to the young woman next to him and took her hand.

"Hermione…please…if you don't think that this is a good idea, then I won't ever speak of it again. I know that this is a lot to ask, but it may be the only way that we can find out what she's up to. I'm sorry, I wanted to give the best wedding in the whole world, and now, I'm asking you to use it as a lure for a woman who's obsessed with me."

Hermione sat there staring at her hands. Harry was asking her if she would give up her perfect wedding in order to catch a woman that'd made both their lives miserable. But then, who said that this was their actual wedding? If all went well, Cassandra would show up, and there wouldn't even be a ceremony. Then, she and Harry could be married at a later date, and everything would be the way it should be.

"Harry…I want to do this. I know that it's not what we planned, but we're not a normal couple. I want Cassandra to pay for what she did to you. If she doesn't want us to be married, then that's exactly what she's going to see. I want the bitch put in her place, and then, we can work on having a real wedding."

All the professors gasped at Hermione's harsh language, but Harry moved closer and took her in his arms.

"Thank you, sweetheart. I promise you, you are going to have the most beautiful wedding in the whole world. I won't let anything or anyone take away from our happiness."

She laid her head on his shoulder, and he held her against his chest.

"Professor Dumbledore, can we arrange it for this weekend? We don't need anything spectacular, and I also suggest we ask Tom Hutchinson to print an article announcing it."

"Excellent idea, Harry. That will definitely capture her attention if she sees it in the Daily Prophet. Very well, I will make the necessary arrangements."

"Thank you, sir, I really appreciate this, and…um…if you don't mind…could we have the wedding here?"

"At Hogwarts? Hmm, it's been quite a while since we've had a wedding here, but I don't see why not. I'm sure Hagrid can have the grounds ready in time."

Harry turned towards Hermione again.

"Well…sweetheart…I know this may sound weird, but we better go find our best men and bridesmaids."

Everyone chuckled at Harry's words, and Hermione smiled brightly.

"I just wish that…my dad could give me away…" she said sadly.

"Don't worry, love, he will give you away - at the real wedding."

Hermione lifted her head and stared at Sirius.

"Sirius, since my parents won't be able to attend, I was wondering…could you…walk me down the aisle?"

Harry's godfather stared at her in shock; he was absolutely floored.

"Why…certainly I would, Hermione, it would be an honor."

"Sounds good to me," Harry added.

"Then it is settled; the ceremony will take place this weekend. Hopefully, that will be when this mess will come to an end," Dumbledore explained.

Harry and Hermione excused themselves and exited down the stairwell.

"Those two are walking right into the frying pan," Sirius growled. He hated having to watch his best friend's son going through this.

"Harry is doing this because he's willing to sacrifice something to protect the person that he loves. He wants to do this, and we must help him through this. It is up to the two of them how this turns out; we are merely spectators in this," Dumbledore said firmly and pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"Is this really a wise plan, Albus? We have no idea what the Malfoys or Miss Cross is up to? Can we really throw such a blatant invitation as this?"

"That is exactly why this will work, Minerva. Cassandra would never allow Harry and Hermione's wedding to go forward; she will come for both of them."

"And what about Lucius Malfoy?" Sirius asked.

"If necessary, I will handle Lucius," Dumbledore answered.

Instead of heading for their tower, Harry and Hermione headed into the Gryffindor Common Room. The entire room froze when they came in, and the two looked around at everyone staring at them. Harry looked at Hermione and grinned.

"Hey everyone, Hermione and I would like to say something."

"Yes, I would like to announce that Harry's and my wedding will be this weekend."

Nearly everyone fell off their chairs or couches. Ron was the first one to recover.

"Wow, that's really soon, but I guess you knew that you wanted to be together for a long time. You're like two peas in a pod!"

Harry walked up to his best friend and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Ron, I need a favor. I was gonna ask you. Would you be my best man?"

"Bloody hell, of course, I will, but I'm not gonna have time to plan a bachelor party."

"Shut-up Weasley," Lavender groaned and smacked his head.

Hermione walked up to her old roommate and smiled.

"Lavender, I need the same favor. Could you…be my maid of honor?"

The blond hugged her long time friend.

"Course, I will, girl, you know I'd do anything for you. But…oh no…we gotta do some serious shopping! Sorry loverboy, I gotta borrow your sweetie for a few hours."

Lavender dragged Hermione towards the portrait hole, and the two grabbed Ginny on the way out. Hermione blew Harry a kiss and winked at him as she disappeared.

Ron slapped Harry on the back.

"So…you'll be married man soon; I feel so sorry for you," he snorted.

"Come on, I have enough to do the next few days without dealing with your dry sense of humor."

"Oh, you wound me, my friend; I pride myself on my sense of humor."

"We better start working on this, or there won't be any wedding."

"Fine…but I'm not gonna stop telling jokes."

Later that night, Harry lay on his bed with his hands behind his head. He was exhausted from trying to arrange everything for the wedding. Even though he was Harry Potter, it was still hard to find things on such short notice. He let out a long yawn and heard someone open his door. Lifting his head, he saw Hermione slip into his room.

"Hey sweetheart, how was your day?"

"A shopping marathon, Lavender sure can be fussy."

"I bet; you look beat."

"So do you. I just wanna drop into bed and fall right to sleep."

"Climb on in, love, there's plenty of room."

Harry shifted over, and Hermione quietly undressed. Leaving on her lingerie, she slipped into bed and pressed herself up against her fiancé. Harry wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead. Hermione was asleep a few seconds later, and Harry soon followed her.

Author's Notes: Okay, I just came out of the most serious case of writer's block I have ever experienced! I couldn't think of anything for weeks! I know how I want the story to end, but I had no idea how I was going to get there. I'd like to thank everyone for being so patient. So…next time…let the wedding begin.