The Soul Crystal

10. Her Prince

Harry Potter and the Soul Crystal - Chapter 10

The only characters/things I own are Wendy Potter, the bubble sprites, the Soul Crystal, the flamingo seeds, the razorum spell, the twindoma spell, the deednim reecal spell, the Magical Artifacts Throughout History book, the Soul Beast, the argot, the bright spots, Ardian and Rachel Tigerlilly. Please do not use them in a story without asking me first.

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Hermione got up from her bed carefully so she wouldn't wake anyone up. She'd been checking the last few nights to make sure Harry hadn't snuck out. She was worried he would do something stupid. She put on her robe and headed for the boy's dormitory. After a quick glance around the room to see if there were any prying eyes she tip toed over to Harry's bed and saw that he was not there. Her heart caught in her throat. He had gone after the crystal. She began to panic when a whispered voice came from behind her. "I thought so."

Hermione turned around to see Harry leaning against the wall to her right. He was barely visible in the shadows. "Harry?" She sighed in relief. "Oh thank God. I thought you had....."

Harry cut her off. "You thought I went to the forest," he said with some bitterness in his voice. "You've been checking on me every night since the lake, haven't you?" He took a step out of the shadows.

Hermione bit her lower lip. "I.......I was worried about you."

"Hermione, I care about you a lot, but back off. I'm going to do this whether you like it or not. I'm not asking you to come with me."

"Harry, please. Be reasonable. This isn't worth your life!" she pleaded.

Harry set his jaw. "It's late. I'm going to bed," Harry said as he sat down on the edge of his mattress.

Hermione sat down next to Harry. "Please," she said softly through her forming tears, "I don't want to loose you. I can't loose you." Her tears began to fall freely.

Harry softened a bit. "Mione." He took her hand. "I will come back to you. I promise," he said as he kissed her lovingly.

Hermione sighed and fell into the kiss. She knew he would go no matter what she said. She felt her lips part as his tongue met hers. Such a heavenly, heartfelt kiss. How could he say he didn't love her? Suddenly, they heard a sneeze from under Harry's bed. There was a slight yelp as Harry yanked someone out by his arm. Ron was bright red as he looked at the disapproving scowls on his friend's faces. "Ummmmm. Hi?" he said nervously and stood up.

Hermione smacked Ron upside the head. "Pervert!" she scolded.

Ron waved his hands furiously back and forth. "No. It wasn't like that. Honest. I was looking for my book Harry borrowed and then you guys got into such a serious conversation...... I just thought it was best to stay out of sight." His friends sighed and he took that as his cue to go back to his bed.

Harry and Hermione said good night and she headed back to her dorm. Harry sat down on his bed and flopped backward on the mattress. He had been planning to leave for the forest just moments before she had come in. "Damn." he cursed. Oh well. It was later than he had planned on leaving. If he wanted to make sure he would be back by morning then he had have to wait till tomorrow night. The only problem was the day after tomorrow was the dance.

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The day dragged on very slowly. Harry felt like he had no patience for anything. "Harry could you pass me the posa berries?" Ron whispered.

Harry's head snapped sideways. "Do I look like your servant?!" he yelled, breaking the previously long silence.

Everyone nearly jumped out of their skin. Professor Snape had been in the middle of watching over Neville as he put the berries in his potion. Only three berries were supposed to go in but Neville dropped the entire handful and the resulting geyser pummeled Snape directly in the face. Snape wiped the goo from his eyes and glared menacingly at Harry. He stomped over to him. He did not like being made to look like a fool. "POTTER!!!" he growled. Harry sunk into his chair. "You have just lost ten points for Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindors in the class glared at their housemate. Embarrassed, Harry sunk even lower in his seat while Snape trudged over to the sink to wash his face.

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"I said. How about we go to Hogsmeade tomorrow," Hermione repeated smiling.

Harry blinked back his thoughts and shrugged. "Sure. Snape's been following me around all day. I think he's trying to find something he can use as an excuse to take more points." He rolled his eyes.

Ron laughed. Harry glared at him. "Stop laughing. It's your fault," he said as he pointed at Ron.

"It's not my fault you've got a bug up your arse today," Ron replied hotly as he crossed his arms.

"C'mon you guys. Be nice," Wendy pleaded.

"Mione! Come here a minute!" Lavender yelled across the field.

"Coming!" Hermione yelled back. She went over to Harry and gave him a quick kiss. This resulted in a 'Whoo' from Wendy and Ron. Hermione gave them a look. "I'll be right back."

As soon as Hermione was out of earshot Wendy spoke. "So when are we going?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure. I'm having a hard time dodging Mione. Last night she had an alarm spell on the doorway."

"We could put a sleepin' spell on her," Wendy suggested as she tilted her head a little and pretended to sleep.

Harry hated the idea of doing it but...."It might be the only way." He sighed. "I just hope she'll forgive me."

"I think she will," Ron offered.

"Okay. Tonight then," Harry said decidedly.

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Sirius Black laid on his back and stared at the sky. He was waiting for Hermione at the park in Hogsmeade. She had owled him earlier that week, saying it was urgent that she speak with him. A shadow overlaid his face. "Hello, Hermione."

Hermione set her purse down and joined Sirius on the grass. "I'm glad you came."

"So what is it?" Sirius said as he sat up.

"I need to know more about the Soul Crystal and the beast guarding it." Hermione twisted a strand of hair as she spoke.

"Why?" Sirius said with concern.

"I need more facts so I can convince Harry not to try and get it," Hermione said seriously.

Sirius sat quiet for a moment, then sighed. "What do you want to know?"

"Just how is the Soul Beast connected to the crystal? And why did it wake up now?"

"The Soul Beast sleeps inside the crystal until a special kind of witch or wizard comes close to the crystal's location. Then it wakes up and guards the crystal until the one that woke it up comes to claim it."

"What do you mean by 'special witch or wizard'?"

"Someone with a natural ability that others don't have. I'm very surprised it didn't wake up when Harry came to Hogwarts. Considering he's a parsletounge"

"But Harry's not evil!" Hermione squeaked.

"Doesn't have to be. Once it called the person to it and they touched the crystal it would make them evil."

Hermione cringed and then looked thoughtful. "Why didn't Harry wake it up?"

Sirius turned his head to face the opposite direction from Hermione. "It might have something to do with what he is," he said quietly to no one.

Hermione was instantly confused. "What do you mean? 'What he is.' "

Sirius suddenly turned back to Hermione. His face was severe. "Forget I said that."

Hermione was a little annoyed. "But...."

"I said forget it. It's not my place to tell you." Seeing that she had slumped her shoulders in defeat he continued. "I think the Soul Beast woke up because of Wendy."

"Wendy? Oh. Right, her beastmaster ability."

"Listen to me very carefully. We have to stop Harry at all costs. I'm assuming he's convinced Wendy to go with him. If Wendy touches that crystal she'll become like Voldemort."

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Sirius and Hermione flew back to the castle on his motorcycle. She had her eyes shut the entire time, cursing herself for not convincing him to walk. Suddenly she had an idea and asked Sirius to land his bike. "What is it?" Sirius asked when they had touched down.

"I want to do this myself," she said as she removed her helmet.

"What?" Sirius replied, confused.

"I just...I think if Harry knows I went to you about this he'll be angry and even more determined," she said as she bit her lip.

Sirius sighed. "If you're sure..." Hermione nodded. "Alright. I'll just take you close enough to the castle so you won't have so much of a walk."

Hermione replaced her helmet, put her arms around Sirius's waist and squinted her eyes shut. They took off into the afternoon sky.

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Somewhere between waving goodbye to Sirius and the Gryffindor common room Hermione's plan took a completely different form. She pushed open the portrait door, grumbling about it the whole time. The fat lady had been refusing to open the door herself lately. She said doing it themselves would help the students build character. Ron had said he thought she was just being lazy and she completely agreed.

Harry had just finished pouring a sleeping potion in Hermione's tea when she came in the room. He tossed it onto the couch where Ron palmed it. Thankfully she hadn't seen them do this. "Hi Mione," Harry smiled. She just stood there. "Mione?"

Hermione picked up her tea and nodded her head like she had decided something. "Harry. I'm going with you."

"Like Hell you are," Ron said. He stood in between Hermione and Harry. "Don't let her. She just wants to make sure we're caught."

"No, I don't. I want you to be safe is all." She poked Ron in the chest. "I also have some important information," she said as she pushed Ron out of the way.

"Okay," Harry decided.

Ron went bug-eyed. "What?!"

"I trust her," he replied plainly.

Ron sighed. "Alright," he said as he folded his arms.

Hermione sighed and went to take a sip of her tea.

"NO!" Harry yelled and grabbed the tea out of her hand. He muttered a few swears under his breath as some of the hot tea splashed out onto his hand.

"Harry!? What on Earth......?" Hermione said. She was clearly annoyed. Her expression softened a bit when she saw Harry cradling his hand. There were burns on it.

Harry quickly thought of an answer. "I saw Peeves near it earlier," he said. "I thought he might've done something to it." Hermione smiled and used her wand to heal the burns. Harry looked confused. "When did you learn how to do that?"

"I've asked Madam Pomfrey to teach me healing magic." Hermione looked a little embarassed. "I'm thinking about becoming a nurse."

"That's great Mione!" Harry exclaimed. Hermione's blush deepened.

Ron eh-hemed. "Can we stay on topic here?"

"Sorry Ron," Hermione replied. She sighed. "Wendy shouldn't go to the forest."

"Now just hold on a minute." Wendy hopped off the back of the couch where she had been sitting. "First you don't even want to go and now you're tryin' ta tell me I can't?" she growled. Wendy had a pretty short fuse when she felt she was being bossed around by people she didn't feel had a right to do so.

"If you touch that crystal you'll become evil," Hermione shot back.

"What?" Wendy scoffed.

Hermione proceeded to tell them what she had learned. Although she told them she had found the information in a book she'd had her mother send her from home.

"So I just won't touch the damned thing," Wendy offered.

"I don't think it's that simple," Hermione replied. "From what I understand you'll be drawn to it."

"We'll protect her," Harry said.

Hermione stared at Harry with disbelief. "Harry. Please use some sense for once," she said with desperation.

"If Wendy doesn't come I can't do this! I need her to control the Soul Beast." Small lines of irritation were being drawn across his face.

"She can't control the beast if she's drawn to the crystal like a bloody magnet!" Hermione said in a raised voice.

Harry sighed angrily. "Is there some kind of protection spell we can put on Wendy?"

Hermione backed down a little. "Alright I'll look," she said as she sighed. "But if I can't find something she needs to stay here."

Wendy spoke up. "Okay." Everyone looked at her for an explanation to her sudden change of mind. "Harry's got enough evil relatives," she remarked with a half laugh.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Hermione headed off to the library and came back with a huge stack of books. The gang sat down around the fireplace, hoping to pull yet another rabbit out of their hats.

.........TO BE CONTINUED

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Text from our crawl of the site, 25 November 2014.

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