SOUL PIECES
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Chapter 07: The Cup, the otter and the girl
September 4th
7:00 am
Godric's Hollow, Wales
Inside the public cemetery in Godric's Hollow, only a few birds heard the pops signifying the apparition of three teenagers: Two boys and one girl.
"Blimey!" exclaimed the redheaded boy. "Godric's Hollow, at last! Well, is everybody whole?"
The girl rolled her eyes and muttered something under her breath while the other boy remained silent. His green eyes seemed to scan the stone garden in front of them.
"Harry?" the girl said, putting her right hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
The sound of her voice startled him.
"Sure, Hermione," he said as he took a deep breath. "Well, let's go then. Remus told me the location of-of…the grave."
Hermione and Ron nodded and followed their dark haired friend.
***
The Potter's graves weren't too far away from the Cemetery's entry. It was a simple gravestone with a Celtic cross engraved and the following words:
James Potter Lily Evans Potter
*1960 + 31/10/1981 *1960+31/10/1981
Beloved Friends and Parents.
Two True Gryffindors that will never be forgotten.
Always in ours hearts,
Your friends and son
Without noticing what he was doing, Harry dropped to his knees, tears falling from his eyes. Hermione and Ron left for a walk; that moment was only for Harry, he needed to be alone.
"Mom, Dad," he managed to say between small sobs. "It's me, Harry. I'm sorry that I hadn't come here sooner. I'm seventeen now, I don't know if you guys can see me…I live in Sirius family's house, well, the house is mine now. You know…since Sirius died…I wonder if he's with you. I live there with Remus, Sirius' cousin Tonks and my two best friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger.
"I miss you so much. It's hard, you know. There are so many people expecting me to save their lives and the worst thing is that I know that I'm the only one who can do it…"
Harry continued to talk silently with his parents until he heard Ron's voice.
"Harry, mate. It's almost nine."
"Oh," he said and stood from the grass. He had tears all over his face. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cry," he added, a little embarrassed.
Ron didn't know what to say. After all, what do you say at moments like these? Hermione came and hugged him.
"You don't have anything to be sorry for, Harry. After all you are human," she whispered into his ear and gave him a kiss on his cheek.
He smiled.
"I think it's time to see the house," Hermione said.
"Yeah," the two boys answered in agreement as they disapparated.
***
The house where Harry lived the first fifteen months of his life was, at that moment, a little less than ruins. It was a big house and if it wasn't for the moss covering the walls and the rotten wood on the windows, it could be said that it was a beautiful house.
The three friends stopped in front of the large wooden door and before they entered, Harry spoke.
"Guys, I want to tell you something before we enter the house."
"What is the matter?"
"If something happens, anything at all, I want you two to leave."
"What?"
"You heard me, Hermione. I want you two to leave. Especially you."
"Especially me? May I ask why?"
"Oh, well, you are…"
"A girl! Is that what you were going to say, Harry James Potter?"
"Er…"
"Don't argue with her mate. Listen to me, you'll lose," muttered Ron.
"Yes, I'm a girl! I'm the girl who saved yours and Ron's arses several times! Now, if that's all, I think we should go inside," and she opened the door.
Shaking his head, Harry followed her.
The place that sixteen years ago should have been a living room, was a pile of dust, old furniture, and broken glass. Harry thought that maybe he could feel something but the truth was that he didn't feel a thing. He didn't feel any special connection with the place.
"You don't think there are spiders in here, do you?" he heard Ron whisper.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake! We came here to deal with Voldemort's soul and you're afraid of spiders!" cried an exasperated Hermione. "Harry, is everything alright?"
"Yeah, the cup isn't here. It's upstairs. In my old room," he said
"How? How do you…?"
"I don't know how, Ron. I just know. Come on!"
***
The second floor was a long hall with several doors on each side.
"Mate, do you know which one your room is?" Ron asked.
"No, I think we…"
"Here, this is your old room, Harry," interrupted Hermione, showing a door with a little wooden sight with 'Harry' painted in the middle.
He opened the door. If the living room didn't have any effect on him at all, this room was completely different. This was the place where his mother had died. He closed his eyes, ignoring the tears that started to fall.
No, not Harry! Please not Harry!
His memories stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Harry…"
"Hermione…. I'm sorry."
She didn't answer, only gave him a little hug.
The bedroom was in the same condition as the living room, with dusty broken furniture and toys all over the floor. The only piece of furniture that was in one piece was the cradle and they soon understood why. Inside the cradle was the cup.
"Er, guys…."said Ron "Don't you think it's a little too easy? You know, the cup is right in front of us…"
"I think Ron's right, Hermione."
"No, it's only appears easy. First, no one entered this house. You heard when Remus said that people think the house is haunted. Second, even if someone did enter, they could never get the cup."
"What do you mean never? "
"Ron, that's my patronus' job. We already talked about this."
"But perhaps I," interrupted Harry, walking near the huddle.
"Harry, don't!" Hermione tried to say but the young wizard had already tried to get the cup, but an electrical barrier threw him against the wall.
"Harry! Oh, my Lord!" Hermione cried.
"Are you alright, mate?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said weakly, as he tried to regain his composure. "I think Hermione is right."
She looked at him.
"You know, this is very clever, the patronus is different for each person. This makes destroying the cup almost impossible."
"Yeah, but You-Know-Who would never suspect that the only person who can do this is Harry Potter's best friend."
"Yes, Ron, it's really ironic, and not only his best friend. But his mudblood best friend."
"Hermione!" both boys said at same time.
"It's alright. It's what I am."
"Never call yourself that again, Hermione. Never," Harry said very seriously.
"Okay, Harry. Now, before I cast my patronus…." she said biting her lower lip nervously.
"What?" Harry knew her well enough to know there was something else.
"Well, maybe, I don't know, but, maybe, after well, you know…I'm not completely sure, I read some books, you know, after you told us your chat with Dumbledore and, um, maybe…"
"Spill it."
"Maybe I'll pass out after."
"What? Why didn't you say that before?"
"Because, Harry, I know you! And I know you wouldn't have let me come…"
He didn't say a word, only crossed his arms against his chest stubbornly. You're damn right Hermione Granger, he thought.
"Well, as I was saying before being interrupted, maybe I'll pass out. But I need to ask Ron one thing. You need to swear to me, swear in name of our friendship."
Ron looked at her with surprise but before he could answer, Harry spoke.
"Why Ron? Why don't I need to swear too?"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Because, as I already said, I know you too well and I know I can't trust you in this matter."
Ron really tried not to smile but perhaps Harry's murderous look made him hold it in.
"But…"
"No, buts! Now Ron, do you?"
"Of course! Anything you want. You can trust me."
"So, if I pass out, before you go check if I'm dead or alive I want you to put the fake cup on the cradle…"
"But Hermione…."
"You promised, Ron!"
Hermione's right I could never do that.
"Yes, I know I promised but I think we need to …" he said taking off a small cup that was inside his pocket.
"Oh, right! " Hermione pointed her wand to the cup, muttered the reducto contra spell and the cup was the original size again.
"Good Luck, Hermione"
"Yeah, good luck."
"Thank you. It's been a real honor being part of your lives. I am really proud of you two. I hope you never forget me," she said in a very low voice and then, with a small smile, rose and pointed her wand to the cup, shut her eyes and cried, "EXPECTO PATROUM!"
A beautiful silver otter appeared from her wand. The animal floated around the room and then jumped inside the cradle, exactly where the cup was. Then, the otter jumped off the cradle but this time the cup was floating inside of the patronus, as if the otter was a of magnet. Finally, the otter came near Hermione and she took the cup.
At that moment, the room started shaking and fog appeared around her.
Harry tried to get closer but was stopped by Ron.
"No, mate."
And Harry watched in horror, as the Hufflepuff cup exploded and disappeared. In the place of the cup appeared a dark shadow that entered Hermione's body. After that, she collapsed on the floor.
"Hermione!" both boys cried at the same time.
They ran to her, but then Ron remembered the promise and went to the cradle to put the fake cup inside. When he turned around, he saw Harry crying with Hermione in his arms.
"Please, Hermione! Please, wake up! Don't die on me! We can't go on without you. I can't go on." he cried in despair.
Ron kneeled beside his friend. He also had tears in his eyes.
"Harry?"
"Her hands and arms are burned, Ron, and the shadow…"
But then she began to convulse.
"Harry, what's happening?"
"I think she's fighting the shadow! We need to get her out!"
"But we can't apparate with her in this state."
"Right. Let me think….I know, we leave the house and then take the Knight Bus."
"Brilliant, mate!"
Harry was about to say something when he and Ron heard a voice coming from downstairs.
"Are you sure the boy is here, Bella?"
"Yes, Carrow. He was seen entering the house with the blood traitor and the mudblood girl. Master had already said he probably wanted to visit Godric's Hollow. Silly Boy!"
"Harry, it's Bellatrix! What're we going to do?"
"Thank Merlin I brought my cloak. Ron, I'm going to use my cloak to hide Hermione and me. You apparate to Grimmauld Place and ask Remus for help. Go!"
"Take care, mate!" said Ron who quickly disapparated.
Harry carried Hermione behind a broken armchair and covered them with his invisibility cloak.
***
Harry didn't know how much time had passed. He could hear voices and doors being opened and closed. He could feel they were approaching.
Thank Merlin you stopped convulsing. I'm sure you will be just fine, Hermione.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a male voice that he didn't recognize.
"Here!" the voice said. "Look Bella, I think this is the boy's old bedroom."
Bellatrix Lestrange laughed.
"The boy is here" she said. "He is hiding"
Harry's heart began to move very fast. He grabbed Hermione even tighter.
Please Ron! Fast!
"Look, Bella!" another voice shouted. "What's this? Do you think this cup is made of gold?"
"Don't touch it!" the woman cried. "You heard what the Master said! If we saw a cup we can't touch it, now let's find the boy!"
"Potty! Potty! I think it's time you came out! You know, you don't have a chance! Not now that your beloved Dumbledore is no more! He's with my dear cousin now! Do you miss my cousin, Potty? I'm sure you do! You know, I never felt happier> than when I killed him!"
Harry was about to explode. How dare she!? How dare she talk about Sírius?
He knew he couldn't do anything, not at that moment. He began to despair when he saw her come near him. He couldn't move because of the pieces of furniture behind him.
She was close.
He closed his mouth, trying not to breath. And then, the worst happened. Bellatrix's legs touched the invisible couple.
She smiled, a sarcastic smile and with her left hand, uncovered Harry and Hermione.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?"
Oh, Merlin.
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Thanks to my beta Mabel!
Next Chapter: Hogwarts, Slughorn and Ron says some truths about the war.
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