SOUL PIECES
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Because, if I did, Tom Riddle would have killed Ginny in CoS. ^.~
AN: Like always, I couldn't do it without Acoustics1220 help. Thank you!
And just because today is 07/07/07...here it is chapter 28. I hope you like it, even if it is almost a filler chapter.
ETA: For a better comprehension of this chapter (the Horcrux part), you need to remember the early chapters- especially chapters 6 and 7. ^.^
Chapter 28: The Evil that Lies Within
Hermione Granger was lost.
She didn't know what to think or what to do. Part of her knew, or at least suspected this all along. It did made sense- the voice, the anger, the change in her personality, but this didn't mean it was less difficult.
"Dark Magic, Miss Granger," Madam Pomfrey had said.
Dark Magic.
" The same kind of enchantment you have inside of you when Mister Potter brought you here almost a year ago."
Those words simply wouldn't leave her thoughts- her mind. They continued to swim around in her mind again, again, and again.
Wandering without a clear destiny through the empty streets of Hogsmeade, Hermione couldn't remember how she had managed to go there, how she had left the Castle, the Hospital Wing.
Everything seemed to be a surreal nightmare.
"What am I going to do? What am I go-" Hermione was muttering to herself when a not so strange voice spoke behind her.
"Maybe I can help you, Miss Granger."
Hermione stopped abruptly, and slowly turned around.
"Y-You are..."
The person held up a hand at her, smiling strangely. "Aberforth Dumbledore. May we have a private talk?" He looked her up and down. "My brother wishes to speak with you."
***
McGonagall's Manor
The youngest Weasley looked at him with bright eyes, leaning down towards him and kissed him on the mouth.
And Harry…
…and Harry kissed her back. Yes, he kissed her back. He kissed her back and realized that he felt…nothing. Nothing at all. Neither love nor lust. Nothing.
So, Harry broke the kiss, pushed her off of him and stood up.
"What the hell was that?" he demanded,. "What the hell, Ginny?!"
"H-Harry?" Ginny asked unsurely, moving a hand towards him.
He waved it off. "God Damit, Ginny! I'm with Hermione!"
"You two broke up, Harry!" she cried. "Everybody saw her little fit that night!" She tried once again but Harry held up a hand motioning for her to stop.
"No, Ginny," Harry said tiredly, "please, don't." He took a deep breath. "You are a really nice girl, and- and what we had was nice. But it was just it- it was nice. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Bu-"
"Yes, Hermione and I had a fight. You saw, everybody saw it." He closed his eyes slowly; he blinked and looked back at her. "I can't say it has been easy, Ginny...Being a parent, this war...everything. But one thing I can say with certainly- I am half of a wizard without her, I'm half of a man. I love her. I love her so much that it's even hard to describe. I don't love her only because she's the mother of my son, or because she is my best friend, or because she treats me as Harry, not the Chosen One, or because-" He stopped and gave a little laugh. "I just love her."
"But she's not pret-"
"Please, Ginny, don't make it even harder- don't lower yourself to this." He looked straight into her eyes. "I don't love you. And even if there wasn't Hermione- I would still not love you."
Ginny brought a hand to her mouth, a strangled sob escaping her lips. Deep inside, she always knew. Even during those amazing snogs during her fifth year, Ginny knew he didn't love her- at least not in the way she wanted him to. And hearing, hearing him say that- her heart seemed to shatter with the pain. But she would not cry in front of him. No. She still had a little of self esteem, a little bit of respect for herself.
She wouldn't humiliate herself anymore.
"O-Okay," she spoke in an oddly controlled voice, "n-now, if- if you excuse me..." Ginny couldn't finish; fighting back the tears she didn't wish him to see, she walked away.
Harry watched her entering the manor with sorrow but also with a lighter heart. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his usual messy hair.
"You did the right thing," a voice spoke behind him. He turned around and saw Claire.
"Professor-"
Claire sighed but smiled nonetheless. She had told him countless times that there was no need to use titles, but he always would call her ma'am or professor. Claire could understand why. He felt uncomfortable, uneasy around her.
And to tell the truth, she also felt somewhat uneasy around him.
It wasn't because of some romantic feeling, or something like that. It was something like shame. Perhaps it might sound a little ridiculous, unbelievable- but part of her felt ashamed that a student, a pupil had seen her, had known her in such state like he had that night. And she had promised herself so many times that she wouldn't do that again, that she wouldn't have 'one night stands', of 'nights of wine and sex', like a friend had once called her nights out. However she couldn't. It was almost like addiction- she didn't know. But she knew she wouldn't let a young couple separate because of her weakness.
And she also knew that Harry Potter was half of the wizard he could be without Hermione Granger.
"You did the right thing," she repeated, motioning him to have a seat on a nearby bench.
"I didn't want her to suffer," Harry said, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. He looked up at Claire. "I may not love her, but Ginny is a good girl."
Claire nodded. "Yes, I'm sure she is," she said, "but she needs to know when she loses a battle. Remus had said it was a bad idea to have her training you."
"He was right."
Claire looked strangely at the young wizard. "Do you think so?"
Harry stared at her as if she had two heads. "Of course I think so! Look what just happened! As if I didn't have problems already!"
She gave him a small smile. "Yes, look what just happened." It seemed like she was almost talking to herself. "She let go the truth, or the lie, about all that 'I don't like him anymore', and you- you finally told her, with no half words, or pretends that you love her." Harry opened his mouth but then decided to close it. "She had to hear it."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think you are right." And then he shrugged. "Not that it really matters right now. Great savior I am!" Harry let out a dry laugh. "Can't concentrate, the training with Lupin and Moody …bad to worse...the girl-" He sighed deeply. "It doesn't matter anymore. I just blew all my chances..."
Claire leaned closer and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him forcefully. "For Merlin's sake, Potter!" she cried. "Stop this pity party! Yes, you made a mistake. Yes! EVERYBODY is allowed to make mistakes- even the Boy-Who-Lived." She let go of his shoulders, and placed a hand on his cheek. "Why don't you take the day off? Go to London, take a walk on those Muggle streets...take this morning to yourself, and then- go home- and talk to her. Everyone can see you two love each other. Don't waste this love."
Harry looked surprised at Claire. "But-But I have training with Moody in the afternoon, and-"
Claire held up a hand making him stop. "Go. I'll talk with Alastor."
**
Hog's Head Basement
"This is your house," Hermione commented, looking through the place, "you live here." It was a large saloon, rounded in its shape; there were few pieces of furniture- just two small racks with some objects, a large wooden table surrounded by ten seats, a three seat sofa, and two armchairs. There were also three wooden doors (aside from that one she had walked through), and Hermione pondered that they might lead to other rooms.
On the walls, there were some artifacts, two shelves with a few books, and a couple of pictures.
The pictures.
Hermione looked at one in particular. She couldn't help but feel like crying. "Professor," she whispered.
The old man in the portrait smiled kindly at her. "Ah, Miss Granger, how are you?" Dumbledore said and then turned his blue gaze at his brother. "Thank you, Aberforth for bringing her here."
"We don't have time for small pleasures, Albus!" Aberforth said loudly and firmly, startling Hermione.
"I know," Dumbledore said, "you are right, my brother. We don't have much time."
Hermione felt like she had just interrupted the middle of a play. "Professor?"
"Miss Granger...Hermione," Dumbledore spoke in a calm, but firm voice, his eyes weren't twinkling but solemn, "first I would like to apologize. I committed a mistake. A horrible mistake. Unthinkable, I led Harry; actually you on a deadly path. I did the same mistake that Tom did years ago: I only saw the end, and not its possible counter-effects."
Hermione felt her heart beat faster against her chest. He knew! Professor Dumbledore knew what had happened to her! How could he? How could he let this happen?!
"You knew!" she accused, her voice growing louder. "You let this happen!" She pressed knuckles to her eyes as tears came unbidden. "I can't believe it! I trusted you! And now? What am I gonna do? Do I have to kill myself? Or will Harry have to do it for me? Can you even imagine how it will be for Harry?! And James-what about my son?!" She was nearly in hysterics.
"Miss Granger!" Dumbledore spoke firmly, "Hermione. Please, try to remain calm. You are a very intelligent witch; 'the brightest witch of your age'- isn't that how people usually call you? So you know that losing your mind won't help anything." He stroked absently at his long white beard. "I didn't know about the implications of Hufflepuff's Cup until last night when Severus..."
"Severus? Snape knows about it? How-?"
"If you let Albus finish!" Aberforth gruffly stated, Hermione huffed, crossing her arms, eyes narrowing at Dumbledore's portrait.
"I have never told anything about the Horcruxes to anyone aside from Harry, you, and Mister Weasley, my brother Aberforth, and Professor McGonagall." Hermione's eyes opened wide. "Yes, Miss Granger, Minerva knows about it. Why she never said anything? You'll have to ask her yourself, but here between us, I think that she wants Harry to tell her first." His eyes twinkled. "Something about trust." Aberforth cleared his throat. "Severus never knew about the Horcruxes- never until-" He paused as if he was considering something. "He came here yesterday. He and- He had this disturbing knowledge about the Hufflepuff Cup. As you, Harry, and Mister Weasley had discovered the key to destroy the Cup was loyalty; trust. Only the one he truly trusted could destroy that Horcrux. However,"
"However he also set up a trap," Hermione spoke for him. Her brain was working fast. "You could trust but not entirely. So, if this person tried to betray him and destroy the Horcrux..." She took a deep breath. "The Horcrux wouldn't be destroyed- just removed. Moved to this person's body."
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, Miss Granger," he confirmed, "unfortunately."
"And how did Snape...?"
"Today is not the time, Hermione," was Dumbledore's answer.
"Ha!" Hermione laughed obnoxiously. "Today is not the time? Wonderful! You know Professor you were right when you said that people call me the brightest witch of my age- but right now, this doesn't mean a damn thing! I am losing it! Day by day my mind is getting worse! Harry and I had talked about Post Partum depression, but part of me knew that wasn't it. I wasn't- I am not- feeling depressed. I feel anger, I hear a hateful voice, I want to hurt to people I love-" She brought a hand to her mouth smothering a loud sob. "Even my magic-" Hermione stopped as if she had realized something. "I knew- I was feeling that my magic was weaker...mine and Harry's magic. I am affecting Harry's magic too." It wasn't a question. "I'm affecting Harry's magic," she repeated in a whisper, "oh god!"
"Yes, Miss Granger you are. However, don't think that keeping away from him will help. On the contrary. Your love is something tremendously necessary to defeat Tom, and to keep Harry alive."
"Harry and I are not together anymore." She couldn't understand why, but her cheeks flushed as she spoke.
"Minerva told me about a nasty fight." Hermione raised her eyebrows indignantly. "He also told me about an abominate course of action Mister Potter took."
Unconsciously, Hermione brought a hand to her face- the same side that Harry had hit her; there was still a faint bruise. "H-He h-hit me," she spoke in a small voice. If Hermione closed her eyes she still could see Harry, the man she loved more than anything in the world raising that hard hand at her and... "He hit me."
"A horrible thing. Terrible," Dumbledore spoke grimly, "There's nothing that can justify such a detestable act. However, this sounds so unlike Mister Potter...what I want to say is that this darkness inside you has been affecting- besides yourself- not only Harry's magic, but his behavior. I can't say with certainty without asking him but I have been thinking-"
Hermione held up a hand making him stop. "W-Wait just a minute, Professor...H-How can you...I mean..."she was babbling.
"Ah, Miss Granger, not everything is in 'Hogwarts: a History'." Hermione looked affronted. "Yes, Hogwarts' portraits have some limitations as you could see. However, these limitations aren't applied to portraits outside the Castle. Why is that? Oh well, the founders had a peculiar sense of humor."
"Then why didn't you tell us, Harry, about this portrait?" Her tone was nearly accusatory.
"It wasn't the right time."
Hermione laughed insolently, very unlike her, but she did not speak. She wanted to scream, demand, curse, everything, but a part of her still kept telling her to remain calm, sober. She needed to control her emotions; her life- and everyone else's lives depended on that.
"This voice," she finally spoke after some moments of silence. She had to be rational. She had to think logically with her brain. "Is this Voldemort?"
"No," a grave voice spoke, and it wasn't Dumbledore's. She turned around and saw Snape.
"Severus! Glad you managed to come!" Dumbledore greeted his former Potions Master with a smile, and Hermione couldn't help but think that he was really amusing. Especially because Severus Snape only clucked in response.
"The voice you heard isn't the Dark Lord. At least not completely." he finished.
"I don't understand, sir," Hermione replied, "what do you mean by 'not completely'?"
Severus huffed impatiently. "Yes, miss Granger," he replied with annoyance, "not completely."
"This doesn't make sense!"
"If you could stop being an insufferable Know-it-"
"Severus!" Dumbledore's exclaimed in advertence.
Snape narrowed his eyes, turning his gaze from the portrait and Hermione. "What you have inside you, Granger, is only a seventh part of the Dark Lord's Soul. An Echo."
"What Snape is saying," Aberforth interrupted, receiving a dirty look from the former Potions Master, "is that you aren't possessed by Voldemort's soul- you are poisoned." Hermione looked confused.
"It's different from Harry and Voldemort's connection, Miss Granger," Dumbledore tried to explain, "In Harry's case, Voldemort has a connection to him through the scar- and he is aware of it. In your case- not. "You just have a part of his soul, Granger," Snape spoke again, "only a part but a evil- dark part that is slowly poisoning your own soul. Until now, the Dark Lord isn't aware of this. However, we can't be so sure about the future."
"But why couldn't I feel any of these symptoms soon after..."
"I think I can explain it," Aberforth said, "soon after you destroyed the Cup, Horace gave a Potion to prevent you from dying..."
"He was only curing the injuries, not the Horcrux," Hermione murmured.
Aberforth nodded. "Yes, it was just a palliative solution."
"But then- he knows..."
Dumbledore shook his head. "No, when Minerva told me what had happened and I had to tell her about the Horcruxes; a decision that I had had to make a long time ago.'
"Okay! But he still knows!"
"Horace asked to be Obliviated, Miss Granger," Dumbledore clarified.
Hermione couldn't help but snort. "Of course..." she muttered, "but it still doesn't explain why I'm starting to feel this- this darkness only now."
"Your and Potter's foolishness helped with that," Snape replied dryly.
"Your son, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said kindly, "you were carrying a powerful and pure being. Your pregnancy along with the Muggle Disease worked like a barrier to the split soul inside you. It was a protection from nature."
"However, now," Aberforth interrupted his brother, "you don't have this kind of protection anymore."
"So, what am I going to do?" her voice was almost daring, filled with bitterness. "Maybe I should kill myself?"
"If this would result in something, perhaps," was Snape's reply. "However, it's not that simple, Granger. We can kill you, tell Potter to kill you; it wouldn't make any difference."
"Lovely," Hermione muttered.
"Killing you will not destroy the split soul inside you. It will be just a non-talkative object with a Horcrux." He paused and gave her a sneer. "Perhaps it's not-"
Hermione had always considered herself a mature person, someone who almost never acted by their emotions but sometimes she simply couldn't take it. She still had human blood running through her veins.
"What is your problem, sir?" The last word was practically a spat. Six eyes stared at her. "No, I'm not being influenced right now. I just want to know why you are so spiteful towards me. Yeah, I know you don't like Harry. Yes! Everyone knows you haven't been able to grow up enough to realize that Harry isn't his father- okay! But me? What I did do wrong? Is it because I am a Muggleborn? Is it because I actually know the answers of your questions in class?" She took two deep breaths. "Tell me, sir, if you despise me so much, why did you come here? Why did you go through the trouble to-" She shifted on her feet. "You know, I'm tired. I'm tired of not being myself anymore. Yes, because this Hermione here isn't the real one- it's just an excuse! I'm tired of not control my emotions, acting like a bitch, to cry so easily!" Hermione smiled sadly. "But at least now I know what my problem is, huh? Not that it's really comforting."
"Yes, Miss Granger," Snape replied coolly, "I have my own considerations about your person. However, I do not hate you- I can even accept you have a somewhat sharpened mind."
"Wonderful to hear," Hermione muttered loud enough that the others heard her.
"And the reasons I am aiding you are only mine." He put a hand inside his robes' pocket and took off a middle sized red bottle from it. "Here is the same kind of Potion Slughorn gave you a few months back. Just a little more fortified)-"
"But I thought-"
"Like its first version," Snape continued, as if he had not heard Hermione, "it's just a palliative solution- but is handy. You must drink a half goblet of this potion once a day. It won't release the soul inside you- but it will form a protecting barrier." Snape handed the bottle to Hermione, who took it. "This will help you to control yourself and your magic."
Hermione nodded seriously, gazing first at the bottle in her hand and then at the man in front of her. "Will this help Harry too?" she asked quietly. Even with all the problems she and Harry were having, and the hurt he had caused her, Hermione didn't want to see him weaker- and because of her.
"Yes, miss Granger." She heard Dumbledore's voice instead of Snape's. "This will help to protect Harry. However, I think I can assume it won't be necessary in a few days, or weeks...time is a little confusing when you are on the other side." Hermione looked doubtful at the former Headmaster, but he only smiled looking over his half-moon spectacles. "However, Miss Granger, this potion and anything else will be valuable without your love." Hermione opened her mouth but closed it. Snape let slip a not so discrete snort, and Aberforth...Hermione was sure he had rolled his eyes. "Yes, Miss Granger," Dumbledore continued, "your love."
Hermione just nodded. She wasn't in a mood to discuss her and Harry's private affairs with Aberforth and Snape as witnesses! Not to mention she was truly tired. "I think I may go," she said. She wanted to ask more things, to discuss, to learn- but she was smart enough to know that her brain was practically shutting down. Hermione needed a couple of days to digest all of that had happened.
"Of course, Miss Granger," Aberforth agreed, "but why don't you drink your first dose right now?" With a movement of hands, he transfigured a golden coin (that he had just taken from his pocket) into a goblet. "Here," he said, lending it to her.
Gingerly, Hermione opened the Potion's bottle and poured the liquid until it was a half dose. When it was done, she guarded the bottle in her jumper's pocket and then took the goblet from Aberforth, drinking its contents in one gulp.
The Potion wasn't tasty, but not horrible like Polyjuice Potion or the Potions she had had to take after Dolohov's curse.
She also didn't feel any sudden change in her body, or in her psyche. But she didn't really think it would happen.
Hermione just felt...normal.
And perhaps, that was a good sign.
Hermione was about to bid her good bye when Snape interrupted her once again. "One more thing, Granger," he said in a not so pleasurable voice, "this Potion will help you and Potter. However, I can't say it will be enough for when we find a solution for your predicament."
She looked questioningly between Snape and Dumbledore's portrait.
"What Severus is trying to say, Miss Granger," Dumbledore clarified, "is that a Horcrux in a human being is a very delicate issue, and we don't have ways to know if this potion will be effective for a long time or if Tom will be able to, let's say, find out, about this connection."
Hermione bowed her head. She could understand what they were talking about.
"Alright," she said, pursing her lips. The idea didn't seem very appealing. "I guess you will be the one to teach me, sir." Her eyes bored into Snape's. For a second he almost betrayed himself with a glint of surprise, but then just nodded. "Where? When?"
"The day after tomorrow, Granger," he simply said, "here." Hermione just nodded and then turned her gaze to Dumbledore's portrait. "Professor," she said bowing her head. It was still too much information for her to even try to be polite. "Mr. Aberforth." She did the same to Dumbledore's brother and then to Snape. "Sir."
Silently, Hermione walked towards the door and was about to open it when Snape's voice called out to her.
"Granger," he called, and she turned back and gazed at him, "I just expect that you'll be more useful in Occlumency than Potter."
Hermione Granger did not reply.
AN: Okay, this was chapter 28. Now the story will go to a new direction- and things will get finally settled to our lovely couple. At least, in way....*evil grin*
*
Obviously I won't be able to finish the story before DH. So, I guess it will be an AU story (but, really, all fanfictions are AU). No matter what happened with DH, I will be still around and I'll finish this and my other stories.
Of course I don't know if you'll be still interested but- oh well...
To tell the truth I'm not looking forward DH. HBP disappointed me in many levels (and I'm not talking about ships).
Oh well...
Happy weekend everyone!
Sweet-Lemmon. :)