Harry Potter and the Triptych
Author: Vickles
Disclaimer: I think JKR is suspicious of the affair I share with her characters, but I don't care. I refuse to quit writing a story that makes them happier than she ever will! *runs off sobbing*
Rating: PG-13
Author's note: Happy (early) Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans! To all of my readers, enjoy!
~*~
"But how did your mum's bracelet get to Borgin and Burkes?" Ron asked later as the three of them sat in front of the crackling fire in Harry's bedroom.
"That's a good question," Harry responded tiredly, "and one I would definitely like the answer to. The first thing we need to do is get it back."
"Great idea. I think the lot of us are starting to feel stifled in this place. We need to get out," Ron commented, "So how are we going to do it?"
"Well…" Hermione said in a way that practically made the wheels turning in hear head visible, "Breaking in during the night and taking it back, which I have a feeling is what you were thinking," Ron smirked guiltily, "may not be the best idea. If we decided to disguise ourselves and purchase it, however…"
"Are you suggesting we buy the bracelet that belongs to my mum?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Well, I did look at the price, and while it is a bit on the expensive side, it's really nothing we can't afford. And, if we disguise and purchase it, not only do we create aliases to use at our disposal, but we keep the heat away from ourselves. If word reached Voldemort that the bracelet were to be stolen, and you know that it very well could and most likely would, he'd know that we were behind it. I'm all for us starting this adventure, or whatever you want to call it, but there's no reason for us to reveal all of our playing cards just yet." Hermione smiled a little, clearly pleased with her plan.
After a moment of silence, Ron let out a low whistle, "Remind me not to be your enemy, Hermione. That's genius really, creating aliases."
"I'm surprised you didn't think of it first, actually, Ron," Hermione commented.
Harry grinned at her, giving her a kiss on the cheek, "Merlin, we really have corrupted you, haven't we?"
Ron grinned as well, "I would say so," he paused and yawned. "What time is it?"
Harry looked down at it watch, "Eleven o'clock! What time is Gretta coming in the morning?" he asked Hermione.
"She's not. She owled earlier and said she had an appointment tomorrow so we will see her Wednesday morning. We still have Moody tomorrow afternoon, though, so don't sleep too late, you two."
"Yes ma'am," Ron smiled as he saluted her and stood, "Goodnight, then."
"Goodnight, Ron," Harry and Hermione replied as Ron let himself out. Harry stood and walked over to the bed, settling in under the comforter. Hermione put the fire out and followed suit, relaxing in next to him. Sleep did not come quickly, however. Feeling that Harry was still wide-awake, Hermione turned to him, propping herself up on her elbow. "What is it?" she asked, gently running a hand through his hair.
Harry opened his eyes, turning and mimicking Hermione's position. "Do you think it's possible that my mother practiced Dark Magic?"
Hermione sighed lightly, "I thought that might be troubling you."
"What do you think about it?" Harry asked.
Hermione bit her lip, "Honestly, from what I've heard and learned of your mum and what I've seen in that house I don't think it's possible. Then again, I know how much she loved you, and we know that she may have known what would happen. Maybe there's something about that bracelet that helped save you that night, and maybe your mother loved you so much that she was willing to do anything, including use Dark Magic, to save you. There are two things we'll need in order to find that out, though."
"Which would be…" Harry prompted.
"That bracelet and access to the inside of your mother's diary."
~*~
The next morning was spent planning for the evening's expedition, which would begin after Moody's lesson. Ron and Harry worked with Harry's Dueling Board in the attic, brushing up on their basic dueling skills in case of emergency, also sparring with each other a bit. Meanwhile, Hermione meticulously designed every aspect of their disguises.
After a hearty lunch, they gathered in the attic with Moody. As Harry and Hermione worked together on their powers in one corner, Ron and Moody worked on channeling Ron's emotions in another. When a few hours had passed Moody called it a day and the three teens anxiously ran downstairs.
"Take these," Hermione told Ron and Harry once they were inside the kitchen, handing them each a pin with two wands crossing each other and a standard skull in the middle. "They basically contain a blueprint of what we will look like. They also are part of our aliases. We will wear them on our cloaks in Knockturn Alley to keep our appearances even when the spell wears off. When we are ready, we'll each say this incantation," she handed them the written incantation on a small piece of parchment.
"Why couldn't we have done this second year instead of using Polyjuice?" Ron asked, making a face.
"Well, Polyjuice is meant to aide in the impersonation of someone, so this is a bit different. Also," Hermione blushed, "this technique wasn't created yet."
Harry smiled a little, "What do you mean?"
Hermione fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable, "Well, I've just been doing some experiments and research over the past two years when I've had spare time. This is one of my more successful results."
"How on Earth did you have spare time?" Ron asked, clearly shocked.
Hermione shrugged, "I don't have Quidditch or detention most of the time, for that matter. It also doesn't take me as long to finish my homework."
Harry and Ron simply looked at her for a moment in disbelief before returning to the task at hand. After uttering the incantation they each attached their pins to their cloaks. The three of them were all rather plain-looking, sure not to stand out, and bore a resemblance similar to that of siblings. Ron and Harry were each pale with brown wavy hair and seemed to have aged a few years, Harry appearing the oldest. Hermione was her same age and slightly darker with dark blond hair that fell straight down her back. All three of them shared similar green-brown eyes.
"Well," Ron said, "This is interesting, I'd say. Would you mind telling us who we are, Hermione?"
"Right," Hermione replied, "Harry, you are…"
"Joseph Brill," Harry said, shaking the unfamiliar clerk's outstretched hand, "And this is my brother Greg, as well as our sister, Linda." Harry would hardly recognize his voice without the action, which Hermione had done with a simple masquerade charm they had learned sixth year. Harry brushed his cloak where his pin was attached, drawing the clerk's attention to it.
"Some supporters of Voldemort wear them," Hermione had told them earlier, "Mostly wealthy families that are deeply rooted in the Dark Arts in general. It is less obvious than a Dark Mark, which we would not have, being Yanks and all. With these pins he'll know we're wealthy, and more inclined to be courteous for the sake of profiting."
The clerk noticed the pin and smiled at his customers. "And may I ask what you are interested in purchasing today?"
"Actually," Harry smiled, "We were interested in buying that bracelet there in your store window."
The man's smile grew wider as he went to retrieve the bracelet, undoubtedly happy at the prospect of making such a hefty sale. "This is actually a rare piece in our collection," he told Harry as he came back to the counter, "As of yet we have not found what powers it contains, if it contains any."
Harry held in his sigh of relief, glad that the bracelet seemed not to be a dark object, "That's fine. It's a present for our sister, here, she just became of age. She spotted it in the window and demanded it."
"Excellent. And will you be purchasing anything else today?" The three exchanged a glance. Having already browsed for the cup when they came in, it appeared that their business was done.
"No. If you could just put that in a box we'll be on our way." Harry paid for the bracelet and soon they were home again.
"So what do we do know?" Ron asked as they ate dinner later. They had already worked quite a bit on the bracelet, placing spells and charms on it, attempting to figure out what it was, nearly positive that it was not simply a bracelet. After a time they had decided to give up and let it sit for the night.
Hermione said nothing and Harry shrugged, "I don't know, but it's good that we go the bracelet back."
"Yeah," Ron replied, ending any discussion for the rest of the evening.
~*~
Hermione cursed silently, having stubbed her toe on the foot of the bed. Looking up and seeing that, to her relief, Harry was still asleep, Hermione continued quietly to their closet. Gently she turned the brass knob and entered the tiny room, turning on the light after closing the door behind her. She walked to the back corner and crouched down, retrieving the diary and boxed bracelet and sitting on the carpeted floor. She felt the familiar twist in her stomach that came on the verge of possibly solving a great puzzle.
Hermione looked again at the steadfast lock that held the diary shut. Engravings were etched into the gold; engravings that, Hermione now realized, matched the ones on the heart. Se So she studied the lock, she looked for a place to put the heart, no longer doubting that it was some sort of key. When she found nothing, Hermione began touching the heart to the lock. After several minutes she became tired and frustrated and began tracing the engraved swirls on the lock with the tip of the heart. It was after tracing a particular swirl in one of the corners that the lock glowed and popped open.
Hermione's eyes grew wide, but she could not bring herself to open the diary. Instead, she locked it again, restoring it and the bracelet to their original positions on the closet. Quickly she turned out the light and moved back into bed next to Harry.
Harry opened his eyes sleepily, "Where did you go?"
"I just had to use the loo," Hermione whispered gently, "You can go back to sleep."
Harry nodded and closed is eyes, pulling her close with her back against his chest and his arms around her. Hermione relaxed as his slow breathing lulled her back to sleep, not prepared to process what she had just done.
~*~
Tuesday passed quickly as the three worked with Tonks and Remus, successfully draining them of any energy they may have acquired. This was what had become of their weekdays. In the morning they would rise, showers and eating breakfast, have a lesson, eat lunch, have a lesson, eat dinner, work on their essays for Gretta, try to figure out something in relation to the Horcruxes, maybe talk a bit, and then go to sleep, always exhausted. Then, in the morning, they would get up and do it all over again. After cleaning up the dishes, Hermione went upstairs to find Harry and Ron inspecting the diary and the bracelet, though separately.
"What are you two doing?" Hermione asked, attempting to sound nonchalant.
"Trying to figure out a way to open this along with trying to figure out what the heck this is other than your ordinary bracelet," Ron replied before returning to inspect the lock on the diary.
Hermione felt a knot forming in her stomach, but simply walked over and sat on the floor next to them, "Have you found anything?"
"Nothing," Harry sighed, "I'm just so annoyed, feeling like the answer's right in front of me. Have you got any ideas?"
Hermione paused, a part of her wanting to tell them, but another part of her, the part that was afraid of what might lie in the pages of the diary, "No, not really. Have you tried breaking the lock?"
"You mean other than the fifteen ways we tried yesterday?" Ron snapped, clearly irritated with not being able to crack this, "Yes. Nothings worked. I tried exploding the lock and the stupid thing snapped at me." He held up his finger where Hermione found a small cut.
Hermione smiled and kissed it, "Well, at least we've learned that it doesn't like explosions. Maybe you could try…"
"Stroking it?" Harry replied with a grin, "I highly doubt it's as simple as that."
"Yeah," Ron said, then chuckled, "Plus Harry's already tried it."
When Wednesday morning rolled around, they were grateful for Gretta's subdued lessons.
Harry and Hermione watched nervously as Gretta read their unabridged essays. Having decided to be honest when Gretta asked the three of them to write about their relationships with each other, Harry began to wonder if he had been too honest. He recalled describing his feelings about Hermione when she was around in detail.
"I appreciate that you two were honest with me. If you had concealed this we would certainly have problems later on. I am also pleased to tell you that I will not be giving you your last written assignment." She laughed as the trio failed to contain their smiles.
"I want you to try and figure out what is triggering your powers. From what Professor McGonagall and your other trainers have told me this has been particularly difficult. Feel free to risk outlandish guesses. If you would like, you can try and figures out what triggers each other's powers, too."
Hermione was practically bouncing in excitement, while Ron and Harry looked rather ill and intimidated. Gretta smiled and bid them goodbye, leaving them for the afternoon, which they spent working on their essays and then had a quick practice and workout with Tonks.
Hours later Hermione was washing away the sweat (and smell) of herself when she heard the door open and close in the bedroom. Wondering what Harry was doing heading to bed so early (it was only 9 o'clock, after all) Hermione quickly finished her bath (her sore muscles protesting all the while) and donned her pajamas and bathrobe.
She found Harry sitting quietly on the side of the bed, his elbows resting on his knees. Gently she crept onto the mattress behind him, enveloping him in her arms. "How are you doing?" she asked quietly.
Harry shrugged, lifting one of her hands and softly kissing the back of it. "Come here," he said softly, moving back on the bed and sitting Hermione on his lap.
Hermione rested her head on his shoulder, speaking after several minutes, "Are you going to tell me what's on your mind or am I going to have to drag it out of you?"
"It's just…" Harry started and then stopped, closing his mouth and opening it again, "I don't think I will go back to Godric's Hollow anymore. At least not for awhile." Hermione nodded understandingly and Harry went on, "You and Ron and anyone else I suppose can go if you want to, but I just… it's too hard to go there. Okay?"
"Okay. Speaking of Ron, where has he been at nights?" Hermione asked changing the subject since she could tell Harry didn't want to talk about it.
"He told me that he been helping out at Fred and George's store in Diagon Alley, earning some extra money." Harry replied.
"Oh. Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah?"
"I've been thinking…perhaps we should tell Professor McGonagall, Tonks, and Remus about the Horcruxes. They may know things, especially McGonagall and Remus, since they were part of the original Order of the Phoenix."
Harry remained silent for several moments, staring blankly ahead, before answering, "I think you're right."
"I know…you do?" Hermione asked, shocked.
Harry smiled at her, chuckling a bit, "Yes, I should think you'd be used to being right by now."
"I am, I just thought you might need more convincing," Hermione replied.
Harry grinned, "Well, now that you mentioned it, I'm starting to doubt my decision."
"Oh, I see…" Hermione said, beginning to kiss him, "And what might I need to do to persuade you?"
Harry merely smiled as her lips continued to touch his skin, "This…this is good."
~*~
"That's why we decided to tell you," Harry finished the following evening as he, Hermione, Ron, Professor McGonagall, Tonks, and Remus sat around the kitchen table. "We figure that you are all more familiar with happenings in the dark world, or that you'd at least know something about what kind of objects he might have chosen or where we might be able to find them."
"How many still need to be found?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Well, we're assuming there are six, not including the one inside of Voldemort himself. Harry destroyed the diary and Dumbledore destroyed the ring. We also know that the locket is one, though someone has already stolen it, and Helga Hufflepuff's cup is believed to be one. According to Dumbledore, Voldemort's snake, Nagini, is most likely one, so that only leaves one more," Hermione answered.
"Have you considered that…well, that Harry might be one?" Remus quizzed, frowning at the thought.
"Me?" Harry replied, shocked.
"I've though about it," Hermione replied, "But I strongly doubt it. I believe that Voldemort prepared all of the Horcruxes around the same time, and long before he encountered Harry. That said, I've been reading up a bit on Horcruxes since there are a couple of books about them in Harry's room that Dumbledore left. From what I can tell, it's next to impossible to create on by accident, let alone in another person."
"Bloody hell," Tonks mumbled, "That is one petrified man."
"Definitely," Ron replied.
"What do you two mean?" Harry asked.
"To be that frightened of death that he's willing to split his soul," Tonks responded with a shudder, "There is something seriously wrong with that man."
Remus snorted, "You think?"
"Well, that's quite enough about that for one evening," Professor McGonagall said, ending the discussion, "It was very wise of you three to tell us and it is greatly appreciated that you trust us with this. I can promise that we will be keeping our eyes open and that, should anything come up, you will be informed immediately."
"Thanks," the three answered.
"So who's up for a game of Exploding Snap?" Ron asked after a moment. Harry, Remus, and Tonks immediately jumped up and followed him upstairs. Hermione hung back to help Dobby with the dishes (she finally gotten him to quit trying to stop her).
"Miss Granger, may I have a moment?" the Headmistress asked.
"Sure," Hermione replied, drying her hands and walking back to the table.
"Surely you realize that school is starting up in a few weeks," she began, "And I assume that you plan to stay here with Misters Potter and Weasley?"
"Yes, ma'am, that's correct. Why?"
"Because I would like to offer you the position of Head Girl," Professor McGonagall told her with a hint of a smile.
Hermione smiled sadly, "Professor, I mean Headmistress, you don't know how much it means to me that you would offer me that, but I am not changing my mind."
"You could help them from school, you know…they could come, too, even if not to attend as students." Professor McGonagall insisted.
"That's a wonderful offer," Hermione replied, "But we need to be here. Hogwarts would give us many limitations, and I need to be available to Harry and Ron all of the time. I'm sorry."
"Not as sorry as I am. It's going to be quite a challenge finding someone to replace you," Professor McGonagall said with a sigh.
"I'm sure you'll find someone. Look on the bright side. Without Harry and Ron or Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, you won't be needing a Head Girl quite as much."
Professor McGonagall grinned, "Now that, Miss Granger, is a beautiful silver lining."
~*~
"Hermione?" Ron's voice came from the doorway, "What's wrong?"
Hermione looked up, taken from her thoughts as she sat on the bed, "Nothing, I was just thinking."
Ron came over and sat next to her, "I'm not buying it. Something's upsetting you, I can feel it."
Hermione sighed and cast a charm so that Harry would not hear from the bathroom, where he was taking a shower. "I've been keeping something from you and Harry."
"What is it?" Ron asked, clearly concerned.
"I…" Hermione bit her lip, "Please don't tell Harry. A couple of nights ago I figured out how to open Lily's diary."
"You what? How?" Ron quizzed, clearly surprised.
"The bracelet charm is a key," Hermione answered.
"Really? How did you…" Ron stopped, realizing that Hermione was still troubled, "So why don't you want to tell Harry?"
Hermione shrugged, "I'm afraid of what's in there. There might be things that he's better off not knowing."
"Or there's another reason…" Ron prodded gently.
"It's just…" Hermione sighed, "It's her diary, Ron. I'm sure you've never kept one, but I have, and there are things in mine that I wouldn't want my kids to know, let alone their friends.
"I understand," Ron replied, "but I think we both know that you'll have to tell him eventually, and that sooner is always better than later."
Hermione sighed, "I'll tell him…" she bit her lip, "tomorrow night. I have to try and think of how I am going to say this."
Ron smiled as they heard Harry turn off the shower, "Good." Hermione took down the charm and a few moments later Harry walked out, clad in pajama bottoms.
He smiled at them, "I think I am the only guy on this planet who can find his girlfriend and best mate on the same bed and not be suspicious."
"Says who?" Ron asked, draping a suggestive arm over Hermione's shoulder and wiggling his eyebrows. Hermione played along and leaned into Ron, who smiled, "Looks like you have competition, mate."
"I see. You want to come over here and fight like a real man?" Harry asked.
"I sure do," Ron replied, scooting off the bed, "And you know what? I can do it with my shirt on. What do you have to say to that, `Oh Chosen One'?"
Harry grinned, "I am shaking with fear, `Oh Red and Freckled One'."
Ron clapped his hands together, "Then let the fight for `Oh Bushy One' begin!" The fight did begin, of course, but only after Ron received a good few pillows to the head. After about fifteen minutes Harry was ultimately proclaimed champion. Ron soon left, and Harry came to Hermione with a grin plastered on his face.
"Have I won fair lady's heart in my noble fight against the `Freckled One'?" He asked, standing in front of her as she knelt on the bed, wrapping her arms around him.
Hermione shook her head, and at Harry's crestfallen she added, "You did not win my heart in that fight for you already had it."
Harry smiled, pleased, and kissed her, "Good."
~*~
Hermione stood next to Ron, watching as Harry and Tonks dueled mercilessly. Their training session had ended forty-five minutes ago, and since then he and Tonks had been having at each other. Sometimes they would forgo their wands and begin doing what Hermione could only consider martial arts, though unlike anything she ever learned about in the muggle world. This was quicker, more powerful, and appeared to be much more painful. Tonks was easily more skilled than Harry in this, but he seemed to be holding his own quite well. Back and forth it would go, the brutal beatings and occasional quips being exchanged like cards in a game of poker.
After receiving a kick in the gut, one that looked so painful Hermione winced and had to cover her eyes for a moment; Harry gritted through the pain and lunged past Tonks, retrieving his wand that had been previously knocked out of his hand. Tonks, having miscalculated and overestimating the amount of downtime she would receive for kicking Harry, was stupefied on the spot. Breathing heavily, Harry walked over and revived her, grinning proudly.
"Bloody hell, Potter," Tonks sighed as Harry pulled her to her feet, "You've been practicing with that birthday present of yours, haven't you?"
"Yeah," Harry said as he took in gulps of air, "Though I would definitely say that you are much more of a challenge. Do they teach you to kick like that when you become an Auror?"
"A bit. Most of if comes with on-the-job experience. I am scared of the day when you learn to kick like that. Merlin, I am thirsty!" Tonks finished, changing the subject and heading to the door, Ron and Harry close behind, but Hermione held Harry back. As soon as Ron and Tonks had descended a decent amount of stairs, Hermione closed the door and pushed Harry against it, kissing him urgently.
"What…has," Harry said between kisses, "gotten…into you?"
"That," Hermione said, running her hands up and down his arms, "Was the single most sexiest thing I have ever seen." She pushed herself upon him again, thrusting her tongue in his mouth.
Before Harry could say anything else, the doorbell rang. "For the love of Merlin!" he exclaimed as Hermione immediately stopped her ministrations and began pulling him down the stairs, "We've been here for weeks and that doorbell hasn't rung once, figures that it would ring now." Hermione simply smiled at him and tugged him to the door as Tonks and Ron entered the foyer as well.
Harry walked to the door and opened it, but nothing could have prepared him for what stood behind it. There may have been a collective gasp coming from behind him, but Harry wasn't sure, for all that his brain registered was that on his doorstep stood Draco Malfoy, appearing to have been beaten almost unconscious.
If that were not truly odd enough, Malfoy seemed just as surprised to see them, for the only words he muttered were, "Oh Bloody Hell," before promptly fainting on the doorstep at Harry's feet.
~*~
A/N: Big thanks to Lady Starlight as always, for she really makes this story so much better. Another big thanks to all of you who left all of those great reviews, you really got me motivated to write more, hence the quick update. Thank you!
P.S. I will be posting a one-shot sometime between today and Thursday (unrelated to this story, but cute nonetheless) so go check it out! :)
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