Was and Will be
Title: Was and Will be (02)
Author name: Rosali
Author's email: ciliotta@yahoo.com
Category: Action / Adventure, Romance
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Books 1 - 5
Chapter summary: An encounter sets the base for much worse things to come. A conversation that went beyond planned and a familiar face lightens Harry's days. Two battles, big powers and intentions discovered.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based upon the characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
CHAPTER II
Two Face, Too
How to describe it?
A love so big it can move mountains
Two separated by such a huge world
A pain so deep it can't be cried
And even so, the love is still alive
. - R.L.C. "Swish and wish"
* * *
`Mate, you'll never know…'
`But what if-`
`Shut up! Man, if I hadn't been there with you, now I would seriously had believed The Daily Prophet two years ago.'
`It's not the same. It's her, you know?'
`Oy! Are you the Boy-Who-Lived, or the Boy-Who-Chickened-Out?'
`Damn you! Ok I'll go. But I swear I will personally strangle you with your lace if she turns me down'
`Yeah, yeah. And while you strangle me, I'll be saying things you don't wanna hear.' Ron smirked at his best friend and went back to try and catch Pig with his truth lace.
Harry hit him in the head playfully and Ron stuck out his tongue. Despite everything they had gone through, it was amazing how they could still behave like normal teenager most of the time.
`And how did it go with you?' Harry blurted out all of a sudden, making Ron almost cut Pig's throat with a tensing lace. `Watch out, you don't have Errol anymore mate,' he said with a satisfied grin.
`What do you mean how did it go?'
`I mean if everyone saw you dancing naked in the prefects' bathroom the other day.' Harry rolled his eyes and then focused his green eyes in Ron's, `I mean how did it go with Luna?'
Ron's ears turned pink and he made a face to his friend. `I asked her, and she said yes. That is all.'
Harry raised an eyebrow, emerald green eyes shining with amused malice. `And?'
`And what?' he spat.
`Did you snog her too? How was she?'
`I don't snog people. That's Malfoy's job, remember? And are you the world hero or a little boy?' Ron said annoyed.
`Hey, I'm still seventeen...' Harry made a gesture with his hand. `And don't change the subject!' he snapped with a little laugh. `Ron snogged Lovegood! Ron snogged Lovegood!' he started in a singsong voice.
`Shut up and go to your girl, will ya?' Ron snapped back, but smiled at his friend and nothing more had to be said between the two young men.
Harry sagged, he sighed and stood up, still in his training robes. Under the red and gold robes, he was wearing one of the red jumpers Mrs. Weasley knitted for him every Christmas with a big H on the chest and a Lion behind it. He unbuckled his wrist guards and threw them on the couch by the fire. He knew where Hermione probably was now, and walked out the portrait hole.
`Good luck,' Ron's voice called as the portrait swung close.
Harry walked through the deserted halls of school. It was almost nine and most students should already be in the common rooms, or heading there. Harry, as Head Boy, could walk around without breaking any school rules. According to Ron, that was one of the few advantages of being Head Boy.
Suddenly he heard a group of voices coming from the third floor. The same floor that had once been out of bounds because Fluffy was in one of the chambers there. Harry frowned and walked towards the voices; no clubs had meetings to this hour at night except the Defence Association. He was careful not to make any sound; for some reason he felt he had to be quiet.
`Oh I'm a beautiful ballerina!' Harry recognised that annoying, mocking voice around the corner. Malfoy. The group laughed.
`Shut up!' An angry voice Harry couldn't quite identify, tried to stop the giggles.
`At least I could resist it,' Malfoy pointed out. `Want me to curse you again?' he finished threateningly.
`Sure, you resisted it after kneeling down and praising Potter!' the voice said and it sounded oddly satisfied.
Harry flinched and couldn't help the smile that this last part drew on his face. Malfoy praising Potter, that would be fun, he thought and took one more step towards the voices. He now he had a clear view from an unseen corner. Malfoy was pointing his wand at another Slytherin Harry recognised as a fourth year called Malcolm Baddock.
`You can't do that here Draco, stop it!' Tracy put her hand on Draco's arm.
In Harry's opinion, she was the only Slytherin worth looking at. Her brown-blond curly hair somehow always fell elegantly down to her shoulders. Her purple eyes combined perfectly with her slightly tanned skin, and her school robes braced her body to every curve. Harry supposed she used spells, but damn right! They were good spells!
Draco looked at her and narrowed his eyes dangerously, but then put his wand down and addressed the fourth year he had been pointing at. `Don't you ever mention that again, understood?' he said in a low voice and kept leading the way down to the Slytherin Common Room.
Harry didn't know why, but he stepped out of his spying spot and put one hand inside his pocket; tightly holding his wand, just in case.
`Malfoy! What are you and your retinue doing out of your dungeon at this time?' he asked with the Head Boy tone he had learned from Hermione.
Draco stopped dead on his tracks, and slowly turned around. His grey eyes were carefully set in the perfect look for the occasion, as usual. This time it was something between insolence and daring but Harry could see, for a fraction of a second, the surprise in them.
`Look who's here. Heaven save me if it's not Head Boy Potty! Isn't it a little past your bedtime?' Draco started with his usual unbearably superior tone, which he had probably learned from his father.
Harry felt an urge to hit Malfoy; this had been happening a lot lately. Draco had been even more obnoxious -if it was possible- ever since Harry had received the Head Boy's badge.
`You don't want to speak to me in that tone, Malfoy. Remember that you're not Prefect anymore and I'm Head Boy,' Harry replied with a dangerous but satisfied voice. Everything was worth looking at that expression; of not being able to do anything because there was no way around Harry's affirmation.
Draco narrowed his eyes; they seemed to get a slightly darker shade of grey when he was angry. He pulled his wand out. `You know what? I don't give a damn if you put me in detention Potter if I get to kick your arse right now,' he said, walking some steps to where Harry was standing loosely but with a firm grip on his wand.
Harry tensed when Draco pulled his wand and noted Pansy Parkinson taking a step to stop Draco, but was held back by Millicent.
`Look how sweet. One of your girlfriends knows I'm going to beat the hell out of you, if you take one more step.' Harry said with a smirk worthy of a Malfoy.
Draco turned, gave the girls a venomous look, and then turned back to Harry; wand raised in a duelling position
`Want to bet on that, little hero?' he said in a cool voice.
`Stop it!' A new voice, one very familiar to Harry, came from the back. He had his wand out already, but didn't remember when he had also acquired the duelling position. Instinctively, he relaxed and started to turn but then realised it, and put his attention back to the duel he had been awaiting all year.
Hermione ran to where Harry was and took his arm firmly. `Harry, it's not worth it. We can just take points off,' she said urgently in his ear.
`Now whose girlfriend is saving whose arse?' Draco laughed, `even she thinks you're no match for me, Potty-boy,' he said with his very characteristical sneer.
Harry was about to hex him when Hermione put herself before Harry's aim.
`Ten points from Slytherin for seeking a fight in the halls; and five points each for being out of bed after nine,' Hermione said in a finishing tone. Her posture was somehow superior and determined, but Harry knew she was tense all over. He doubted anyone noticed how her brown strands of hair got a little frizzy in the ends when she was tense. All the Slytherins gasped.
`You can't do that, you filthy mudblood!' Millicent came forward, indignant.
Harry raised his wand once again but Hermione wouldn't let him. The Slytherins calling her a mudblood did not affect her anymore, and Harry was proud of it.
`Millicent, you want me to take more points off your House? Don't you think seventy is enough?'
She took a step back and turned on her heels, making a very exasperated noise on her way. Tracy and Pansy followed in silence. Draco stood where he was, shaking almost imperceptibly with rage, but Harry could tell.
`That's how I like it, now get going!' Hermione ushered them. Slowly, one by one, they started to make their way down to the dungeons; where the Slytherin Common Room was located.
Draco was the last one to leave; he stood there with his arrogant and somehow elegant posture held still. He made one last, rather rude, gesture and turned around.
`I'll get you, Potter,' he muttered, and Harry wasn't sure Hermione had heard him. I'll be more than ready, Malfoy, he thought, but didn't say anything for the sake of peace; and because he saw Hermione's look when she turned around.
`What on earth were you doing Harry? Do you have any idea how many points we could've lost if someone had found you almost duelling with Malfoy? How do you think it would look if the Head Boy ended up in detention?' She made special emphasis in the "Head Boy", which made Harry wince. `Honestly, Harry, you've got to keep your temper in check; it seems like you still can't take in that you're Head Boy. You're supposed to be an example to follow! And anyways, what were you doing out here at this time?' She said all this very fast and in the bossy tone she didn't use much anymore.
Harry opened his mouth a couple of times to argue but closed it again, and then finally spoke. `I am an example to the world!' he said, somehow lamely. He didn't like to use his fame and all that with anyone except Ron and Hermione, and maybe Ginny.
`Harry!' Hermione snapped.
`I was looking for you all right?' he said in a defeated tone. `Can we talk?' he asked, blushing a little; almost imperceptibly.
* * *
It was past midnight and Draco was still sitting by the fire, staring into it. He hadn't spoken or even moved from there since he had come back. Everyone looked at him curiously, as if waiting nervously for him to burst out yelling any moment. This hadn't been the first time Potter had gotten away with it, now that he was Head Boy; Draco couldn't do anything to him. If it had only been Potter, then he would've been able to. But with that mudblood with him, it was impossible. He was boiling inside; burning even more than the fire in front of him. But he had been taught well: A hurt pride is better when not shown, and he respected that rule. Every rule about pride was completely unbreakable in the Malfoy family.
Draco looked around and smiled to himself after everyone had cleared the room. He would get this one back. Not for anything he was in Slytherin; he would use his cunning, he would use Potter's allies against him. He would make him regret that day, and every other day when he had made Draco impotent before others.
He sat on the expensive looking rug, just in front of the centre table of the Common Room. He pulled out a piece of parchment and the Brainstorm Quill his father had given him: `Use it well,' he had said and Draco was sure he would.
As soon as the quill touched the parchment, it started scribbling furiously; if it hadn't been impossible, Draco could've sworn he saw a trace of fire after every letter was written. His hand was tired now and the quill wasn't scribbling as fast anymore. He stopped and looked at everything his brainstorm had produced. He couldn't help the sneer on his lips as he wrote.
He found things such as "Throwing Harry through the window", "Getting Hermione to fall in love with him and have sex with her in front of a tied up Harry" and "Fooling the Weasle into believing the only way to help Harry was to stick a broomstick somewhere he could never get it." He had to admit some of the ideas were rather stupid but amusing nevertheless.
`You will be sorry, Potter…' he said after revising and choosing the best ones, he put his things back in his dragonproof leather bag. It was a very dark shade of green; almost brown. You could see the scales of the dragon and the traces of the mix with the muggle material they called leather. The Malfoy Family crest was on the flap; it was a beautiful, gothic looking "M". The ends of the letter winded up like snakes and an elegant looking serpent twisted itself on the right side of the letter, like a creeper. Through the back, from the left bottom corner you could see a half-unsheathed sword that came all the way up to the right top corner of the letter.
Silently, Draco opened the door of the seventh years' dormitory and lay down on his four-poster bed; the green velvet curtains neatly pulled up. He fell asleep with a smile on his face.
* * *
Nothing could've prepared Harry for what had just happened, he was so confused now. The conversation he had just had with Hermione hadn't only been a conversation over a guy asking a girl to the Graduation Ball. It had gone way beyond that and he wasn't sure he would've wanted to hear it if he had been asked before.
After watching the pack of Slytherins leave, Harry and Hermione went outside to take a stroll around the lake and talk calmly.
`What did you want to speak to me about?'
`Uhm… Graduation isn't faraway you know? And we'll have a Ball and everything…'
`Yes Harry I'm aware of that. We're planning it remember?' Hermione said slowly.
`Right! We're planning it! Uhm... And you know how it's tradition that the Head Boy and Girl open the Ball, you know?'
Hermione frowned and leaned her head to a side with a smile.
`Yes Harry, don't worry, we'll be fine. You're not the worst dancer; and if it worries you, I can teach you some steps,' she beamed.
`No! Hermione, you're not helping! That's not what I'm trying to say!' he said exasperated but then calmed at Hermione's expression and sighed. `… what I'm trying to say is that if you wanted to be my partner for more than the first dance. If you wanted to go with me to the Ball.' His blush was now more evident, and he felt like a fourteen-year-old again.
Hermione stopped and looked at him; light brown eyes staring into bright green ones.
`Are you saying...? Oh Harry of course I would love to go with you!' she exclaimed and flung her arms around him, burying her face in his shoulder. He was a little more than a head taller than Hermione now; not like some years ago when they were the same height.
After a few moments, Harry heard sobs coming from Hermione. He frowned and put a hand on her soft hair.
`Hermione? Are you all right? Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?' Harry asked in panic.
Hermione looked up through over-bright eyes at him. `No Harry! Of course not! I mean… this is great but I can't help but feel something awful, something wicked this way's coming. And you always have to face any evil that comes our way! I don't want anything to happen to you!'
Harry just stared, bewildered. He didn't quite understand how an invitation to the Graduation Ball had come to be related to what she had just said. He had no idea Hermione felt that way and it made him feel even guiltier than usual. He had learned to live with it and somehow get over It, but seeing how she cried just broke his heart and made him feel like the worst person alive, if that was possible.
Hermione had her hands on Harry's chest and was staring at him, not able to read what he was feeling as she usually did.
`Harry?' she asked, unsure.
Harry was snapped back to reality by her call and focused his eyes on her; pure sadness and guilt in them.
`Mione, I-I don't know what to say, I didn't know you felt this way. But I-I can't help who I am and what I'm doomed to,' he said helplessly at the lack of more accurate words.
`I know, I'm sorry, I'm the one that's being stupid and weak right now. You're always so strong, determined; you're admirable Harry, you know?' Hermione said, wiping her face.
`No, that's not true and you know it. I'm only good at Quidditch and- not dying… The only thing I am, is really lucky,' he said with obvious bitterness in his tone.
`Oh Harry!' was all Hermione managed to say as she hugged him.
`Maybe we should go back…' he said and pulled from her embrace but took her hand. They walked silently to the Common Room and didn't say anything but goodnight when they reached the two staircases that led to the Head Boy and Girl chambers.
Harry flung himself on his four-poster bed and stared into the enchanted ceiling. The night was dark and fresh and there were no stars, only a huge black-blue screen which was the sky.
He sighed and stood up, walking to his trunk. He started to take out the things that were inside it until he reached the bottom. He tapped it with his wand and a small handle appeared; he opened it to reveal a second bottom with letters and things Harry didn't even remember he had put there. The first sneakoscope Ron had given him, the falcon feather quill Hermione had once given him, a small packet of letters tied with a brown lace. He found what he was looking for; a tattered photo album; the one Hagrid had given him so many years ago; he felt the old sadness rise inside him and press his chest. Apart from the photos of his parents, Harry had put pictures of his friends, him and Sirius, the DA, the Order… When he was picking it up, he noted something wrapped in a white sheet; he didn't recognise it. He frowned and left the album aside, taking the wrapped package.
He examined it first and then opened it. A sharp pain shot through his chest like an arrow when he recognised it. Cracked as it was, with the antique looking carved oak frame and some funny looking symbols around it, there it was; the mirror Sirius had given him two years ago. He rolled a hand across its surface; reviving every horrible feeling that had overwhelmed him that summer and the guilt of thinking he could've stopped what had happened if he had only opened it on time.
`Reparo…' he muttered and the cracks on the mirror smoothened; showing him a scar, a pair of green eyes and round glasses. His reflection. Harry sighed, `I wish you were here Sirius…' he mused idly. The surface of the mirror started to ripple; like water when touched. Harry blinked and kept staring, `Sirius?' he asked without really realising it.
A human face started to take form in the surface of the mirror. Long, black hair, grey eyes and white skin. Sirius. Harry eyes widened in disbelieve as he recognised his godfather's beaming expression.
`I knew you'd figure it out someday!' the man exclaimed, his grin wide.
Harry tried to speak but his throat wasn't cooperating, he was open-mouthed with astonishment.
`Harry, are you ok? It's me! Yes it's me, Sirius,' he assured. `Your father used to love walking in his underwear in the Common Room at night just in case Lily or any girl saw him,' he said with a wicked grin.
Harry burst out laughing and beamed back at his godfather. `Sirius! It really is you! I don't-, how-, where-?' So many questions were tumbling in his head he couldn't make one full sentence.
`You didn't know, I know… I told you, you would reach me anywhere with the mirror and unfortunately yes I'm still through the veil and don't think there's a way back.' He said the final words with bitterness and then looked up, `but hey! At least I can speak to you!' he tried to make it light.
`Oh great Merlin! I can't believe I never opened it before!'
`Oh my! Look at you! You must be, what? Seventeen already? How's everything? I see you made it Head Boy just like Prongs,' he said with a fatherly smile.
`Yes, I'm in seventh year. And the Head Boy thingy... don't ask me how I got it,' Harry said rather pensatively; he shrugged and smiled. `But you know what? You should've seen Malfoy's face when he saw the badge on my chest; I swear it was one of the best sights ever! The look on his face! Although he's been even more annoying all year, if that's possible…'
`Oh I bet it was worth a thousand galleons, that look,' Sirius said. `And how's… you know, the war and Voldemort? And Remus, and Hermione and the Weasleys?'
`They're all ok; it's been a hell of a couple of years. Killings and all that, but we're all still alive, if that's what you mean?'
`And Hermione?' he asked with a knowing smile and Harry blushed at the question.
`She's ok, she's Head Girl as you probably imagine, and I asked her to the Graduation Ball-`
`And…' Sirius interrupted. `Don't tell me she turned you down, that is impossible! The girl was crazy for you even if she didn't realise it…'
`No! She didn't say no. At least that's what I think. And no, she's not crazy for me, it's the other way round I think…' Harry said truthfully.
`How come-?'
`Well, we sorta argued after she-`
`Ah... I know that look…' Sirius inquired.
`Well, she said some stuff I had no idea of, you know? And how do you know that look? You don't even know what she said!'
Sirius laughed a little. `Actually I sorta do... Lily sometimes got like that, and James would look exactly like you do right now.' His grey eyes betrayed a trace of sadness at the memory of his friends. `Was it kind of… "We don't know if we're going to survive, it is horrible how I worry about you all the time!"?'
`Exactly!' Harry pointed. `She was even crying and I can't help but feel awful about it! I mean, it is, after all my fault. But I can't help who I am and what I'm meant to be, you know?'
Sirius nodded, understanding perfectly what Harry meant. `Well, it is something of an obstacle. But she's always been there, hasn't she? She won't give up on you for sure but… I reckon what you can do is be there for her, I mean; she's the world to you and vice versa. You must hold onto each other and you'll get through it… And if not, then you'll at least have had a good time together…' Sirius wasn't very knowing on the "being a father" thing but he was doing pretty good right now.
Harry smiled weakly. `I guess you're right, but I still can't help-`
`Don't. Harry, listen to me. Don't kill yourself over blame and all that stuff, try and enjoy the moment. Try to be seventeen in spite of everything…' he said urgently and Harry nodded. `I know you've never had anything of what we like to call normal; but still... you deserve it, ok Harry?'
He smiled a little more now. `There's no worst battle than one that was never fought, right?'
`Yep! That's the spirit! I reckon you should go to bed, it's probably late, isn't it?' Sirius asked.
`Yes but I don't want to go! I wanna talk to you! I lost you Sirius; I don't want to let you go!'
`I know Harry. But now you know you can speak to me whenever you want to, I promise I won't go anywhere,' he said with a sarcastic laugh. `Take care, ok? Stay out of trouble and we'll talk soon,' he told Harry, who reluctantly nodded and put the mirror face down on his night table.
`Good night Sirius,' he said softly and let his exhausted mind and body drift into a restless sleep.
* * *
It hadn't been long since they had started teaching, but it seemed there were many more witches and wizards than the four friends had imagined. They had drawn a map of all the occidental side of the world and put identifying and tracing spells on it so they would know where the soon-to-be students were.
In only a few years, Hogwarts classrooms were full of students and a lot of enemies had appeared. Some Witches and Wizards thought that teaching magic to youngsters would bring down the vertical system that had reigned so far.
This time, a huge army was coming towards the castle, much bigger than any other before. So far, it had been enough with Salazar, Godric, Helga and Rowena to keep them away from the school grounds. They had been forced into creating new races of animals; half-breeds, to help them protect Hogwarts. There had been arguments and fights about this and many more things; but the same passion and goal always united the founders, ending the disagreements.
Godric was pacing up and down and Salazar was looking at the map on the table in front of him. Helga and Rowena had taken over all the classes since they had found out that Farathed and the rest of the kings of the east had united in order to put an end to the school.
`How are we supposed to take down fifty thousand men, Salazar? The dragons won't help us anymore, and I don't think Hippogriffs and Manticores will be able to finish them all.'
Salazar didn't look up; his eyes were set on a spot on the far right of the centre-back battalion. Godric came up to him, interpreting his friend's silence.
`You have something in mind?' he asked.
Salazar didn't take his eyes off the map. `I think I may… see this spot here, and here?' he pointed. `They appear to be weak spots. Now, I reckon two of us could come here; and the other two here…' he pointed at two places with his finger; one on each side of the battalions and four little dots appeared. A red one, a green one, a blue and a yellow one. `Each pair can take two Hippogriffs and two Manticores; I'll take the basilisk… I know Godric but it's the only choice. So we'll have the element of surprise on our side, and we'll take down these two groups easily if everything goes as planned.'
Godric bit his bottom lip, he thought the basilisk had been the worst creature they had created, but Salazar seemed to be able to talk to it and control it. He didn't see any other choice.
`Then that would leave only two battalions, making it easier for us… we've taken down that number…' he said, resigned.
* * *
`That's incredible Harry! So you can really talk to Sirius!' Ron exclaimed as he ate his breakfast.
`Are you sure it was him?' Hermione asked, worried.
`Come on, Hermione! Don't be so fearful. Sirius gave that mirror to Harry and went through the veil with it! It's almost impossible that there's some kind of trick,' Ginny pointed to Hermione.
`Yeah, remember the Firebolt when it first arrived? You were crazy with worry and we assured you there was nothing wrong with it,' Neville supported his friends.
`Look, if it had been a trick then he would've killed me last night… let's say I wasn't with all my guards up.' Harry said with an obvious look to Hermione.
`I just want to check it all right?' she said, determined to ignore Harry's look.
`All right! As you wish! I'll give it to you later ok?' Harry finally agreed for the sake of peace.
They were all sitting at the Gryffindor table, closed in a tight group and talking in low voices. Ron glanced at the Ravenclaw table every once in a while and exchanged very sweet looks with Luna, who was dreamy-looking as always.
Ginny finally finished her breakfast and excused herself to go to the library; she wanted to get "The Prince of Tides" from the muggle section before anyone else.
* * *
Draco had been glancing at the Gryffindor table every once in a while, hoping to catch her by herself and get his plan going. He waited until after she had left and then stood up, walking to where he had seen her disappear. He caught with her a while later.
`Oy! Weasl-Ginny!' he called, trotting after her.
Ginny frowned when she recognised the voice, and then was utterly surprised when he called her Ginny instead of Weasel or Weasley. She turned around without really wanting to.
`What do you want, Malfoy?' she asked, annoyed. `If you're here just to be yourself and annoy me, then you can sod off!' she snapped. Draco flinched almost imperceptibly.
`Aren't we a little aggressive today?' he asked, making his best hurt and surprised face, using all the Malfoy charm he had always had, which went perfectly well with his very beautiful factions.
`Don't try the I'm-nice-and-you-just-hurt-me act, it's not going to work! Now, what do you want?' she asked exasperated.
`I-just wanted to talk, you know, what normal people do,' he said in his most innocent voice.
`There you have a good point; but then again, you're not normal, you're an annoying prat, not to mention a potential Death Eater. Cut it with the acting, will ya?' Ginny snapped.
`I'm not acting!' Draco made it sound as if he were offended, but his voice was gentle. `I was wondering if we could, like, hang out together a little more, you're not like you used to be, you've grown and you're almost nice…' Draco said with a heartbreaking smile that never failed.
Ginny examined him for a moment, and blinked. `Are you really trying to be nice? Or is this some kind of joke?' she asked.
`No, no joke here Weasley. I mean Ginny… sorry, it's just that I'm used to that…' he said elegantly, which made Ginny's will falter a little.
`Uhm… I guess you could come with me to the library…' she said, a little unsure, and Draco smiled.
* * *
The school day was over and Rowena and Helga took all the students to their Common Rooms, with strict orders not to leave them under any circumstances. They never disobeyed the Headmistresses' orders.
Soon after, they walked into the Headmasters' office. There were two desks in one story and two more on the higher story. Ceiling-high shelves surrounded the round office, all kinds of books and magical objects on them. The high ceiling depicted a scene of the foundation; the four of them were pointing at the hat Godric was holding and the finished castle was on the background.
`Finally you made it!' Godric exclaimed when Rowena and Helga entered. `Salazar's got an idea that might work…'
The two women glanced at the higher story, where Salazar was leaning over the map. Helga hurried up, closely followed by Rowena.
`This sounds really dangerous, but it appears to be our only way out,' Rowena said seriously, taking her hand to her forehead.
Helga sighed and bit her bottom lip. `When we have to fight, we have to fight… I trust you Salazar, now who is going with whom?' she asked; making up her mind.
`I'll be going with Rowena, we have a better shot with the basilisk,' Salazar said. Godric opened his mouth to argue, but his friend already knew what he was going to say, `We all have the same chances of surviving, Godric…' he just said, looking at Godric straight in the eyes. He sighed.
`Ok, let's hurry then, they're getting closer by the minute,' he said, trying to ignore his growing anxiety for Rowena and they all nodded.
Soon, they were each mounting a different winged horse, wearing their particular battle armour with the crest of their House on the chest and the Hogwarts one on the back. Gryffindor on the powerful Abraxan; Hufflepuff on the loyal Aethonan; Ravenclaw mounting the rapid Granian, and Slytherin the amazing Thestral. They charged to battle, ready to come back victorious or die on the battlefield.
The creatures were following Helga's directions and Salazar hissed to the Basilisk -which had its eyes covered- guiding him.
* * *
Ginny and Draco had started to hang out more, it turned out that Draco could be quite charming and nice after all. But that only happened when he was alone with her, because he became his usual obnoxious, unbearable self the minute he returned to his cronies. Ginny couldn't quite understand this, but she really enjoyed the time they spent together.
They had talked about the future; projects in which each one was involved, their clubs and heaps more things she couldn't quite recall. She had even told him about the DA meetings. By now the whole school knew of their existence, but no one knew more than that, except Draco now.
Neville had started questioning her on where she hung out now and her friends had all told her off whenever they saw her with Malfoy. Ginny was starting to get tired of explaining he was actually nice to her and that he had nothing up his sleeve, but they wouldn't listen. Eventually, she had given up and just rolled her eyes or ignored her friends whenever they mentioned the subject.
Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't quite understand why she was being so stubborn on this. She knew Malfoy but she seemed to have forgotten who he was.
`I'm telling you Ron; she's got something going on there…' Harry told his friend for the hundredth time.
`You think I don't bloody know, Harry? But she's being a complete arse about it and you know I can't force her into anything!' he replied angrily.
`Well, maybe it's not what it seems. Besides, she and Neville are kinda dating; I don't reckon she would do something like that to him…' Hermione defended her, although she agreed with her friends.
The subject of the other night at the lake appeared to have been erased for both Harry and Hermione, as neither mentioned any details of it to anyone. They were going to the Graduation Ball together and that was all they said to anyone.
Draco was enjoying this little plan more than he had intended at the beginning. Ginny had turned out to be a really cool girl and it was fun being around her.
His fellow Slytherins kept teasing him, saying she was his girlfriend and that they would fall in love. Draco, obviously shut them up with one word as per usual.
He already knew where the DA met, which days and at what time. Everything was going exactly as planned, and Draco was proud of himself. The Junior Death Eaters were going to meet the Defence Association one day and force them into a duel. Head Boy and Girl would be there and no Gryffindor (even though there were Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws there too) would ever turn down a duel, that would be cowardice and that was unthinkable for them.
* * *
From a high hill, the four founders glanced at the immense army they were to defeat soon. There were four battalions, each one of ten thousand men at least. The day was falling and the atmosphere was filled with a dreadful air. The darkening sky was announcing the biggest battle ever, and the growing shadows only increased the pressing sensation. It would be four against over forty thousand; but four of the most powerful wizards and witches ever, accompanied by several creatures under their command.
`This is it. Either we save our school and the future, or we die trying…' Godric Gryffindor, looking down at the battlefield and standing with a high demeanour, told his friends.
Rowena also dismounted and took Godric's side, taking his hand to give herself strength. He turned and looked at her with love in his eyes.
`I love you,' Godric told Rowena and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight, holding back tears.
`I love you too…' she whispered in his ear and mounted her Granian again; its grey fur looked silver under the dying light.
Godric then looked back at his other two friends and nodded. Salazar nodded back and Helga closed her eyes, advancing next to her battle partner.
They descended the hill silently and took their positions, ready for anything. When they were within attack range, Salazar hissed at the Basilisk and with a wave of his hand, the covering on its deadly eyes fell off. The Basilisk slithered and rose, looking at all the surprised wizards straight in the eyes; they fell limp instantly. The Basilisk bit whoever came close and whenever someone was going to attack it, Salazar threw one of his arrows and took him down.
They had to use the killing curse, although none of them really liked to. A wizard was aiming at Salazar while he was defending the Basilisk and Rowena noticed; quickly, she shot her opponent with her crossbow and yelled, `Avada Kedavra!' the man fell dead instantly.
On the other side, Godric was leading the way, Helga at his side guiding the Hippogriffs, the Manticores and the Lethifold, who had joined them while on their way. Gryffindor made a sign to Hufflepuff without looking at her and she nodded. She took a breath and took her delicate hand to the small stone that hung from her chest. She spoke and the creatures understood what she was saying, charging against the battalion. The Manticore's tail stung here and there, killing wizards in its way. Its huge paw stepped on other attackers without a backward glance. The Hippogriffs soared over the heads of the army and took off heads and sliced necks with no mercy. The ground looked as if the red light of the sunset had dyed it with blood.
Gryffindor flew over the army too; sword in hand, he pierced everything that moved and at the same time, he was keeping an eye on Helga, who was shooting daggers from a hand she had enchanted before. Her left wrist was soaked in blood, for every dagger came straight from her skin, but she didn't seem to mind and wouldn't miss one shot.
A shower of red and green sparks started to fly all over when the surprise effect had passed. Hufflepuff had to duck every spell her eyes caught. Suddenly, a red light reached the Aethonan on the chest and it started to fall, Helga along with it, shrieking. Godric turned immediately to watch her falling in slow motion. He soared to the spot and landed right next to his friend's limp body. The huge winged horse was imposing and made a small circle around them.
`Manticore!' he yelled and the beast turned around.
`Mistress!' the human head spoke and it hurried towards the two wizards. It stung at least twenty men and managed to give Gryffindor enough time to pick the Aethonan and Hufflepuff up, flying high again. The remaining wizards all pointed at the Manticore and threw the killing curse to it. At the beginning, the spells rebounded, but then it stopped moving all of a sudden and fell loudly. Godric closed his eyes and looked away, then turned back to the two forms on the back of his winged horse.
`Rennervate!' he pointed at the Aethonan and its eyes flew open. It reacted and flew, taking Helga on its back. `Take her to the hill and give her this.' He gave the horse a little flask. It appeared to understand, for it flew to the hill and out of sight.
Godric glanced at the remaining men of the battalion and took a deep breath. He raised his arms and yelled.
`Esquiterma Partilatis Conjunto!'
A gold light wrapped his body and shot through both his hands towards the men on the ground. They all slowed down its movements and some fell, paralysed. Godric, his breath ragged, managed to order the Abraxan to soar down; the Hippogriffs and the remaining Manticore followed. They wiped the ground and the ones that made it alive ran back to their lands. This battalion was finished and he went back to where Helga and the Aethonan were.
The Basilisk killed a great part of the army; and Rowena and Salazar, along with the other two Manticores and the Hippogriffs finished most of the battalion.
Just then, a wave of coldness filled the air. Salazar looked around, shivering. Rowena was pale, about to faint, and the creatures were finishing the remaining wizards.
`Dementors…' he whispered and his head started to spin. A tearing scream broke in his head; he saw his mother running to him, lying on the floor, bleeding.
`Stop it Daramar! He's just a child!'
`Move away, woman! He has to learn and I'll teach him the lesson!'
`No! Don't hurt him anymore!'
`Crucio!'
Another tearing scream. But she held her ground, protecting her son.
`I said move! Avada Kedavra!' Daramar yelled and Salazar saw his mother fall to the ground, lifeless.
Happy memory, happy memory. Slytherin told himself.
Their first time. He and Rowena had been so in love back then…
`Expecto Patronum!' he yelled and a huge silvery snake made some of the Dementors back away. There were too many. He heard another voice; Rowena's trembling one trying to do the same spell, but she collapsed to the ground. `NO!' The Dementors were closing in on her; they were going to kiss her.
Salazar gathered his remaining energies and ran towards Rowena but he tripped over something and almost fell into a deep hole, from where a blinding light was coming. He was hypnotised by it. He started to feel his body warm up and a huge energy, immense power encircling him. He could feel it running through his veins; urging to get out of his fingers. Remembering Rowena and the Dementors, he fought to focus on them.
He thought of when they had finished building the school, all of them so happy and proud. `EXPECTO PATRONUM!'' he yelled again, but this time the silvery snake wrapped the Dementors and nearly pulverised them. He ran to her and took her in his arms. She was cold as ice, and her usually coppery skin was pale as death itself. Instinctively, he looked at the bracelet in her right hand. It was flickering weakly; she's still alive, he thought relieved.
The bracelet's light started to vanish. `No, Rowena, don't leave me… don't die please…' he begged, and then felt the power that had wrapped him from the hole a few minutes ago. The white flash came from his body and went into hers, slowly warming the young woman in his arms. Salazar could see how her skin started to gain colour again. He smiled.
Rowena opened her eyes and focused on him. He let go of her; scared but amazed and stood up. The power that had taken over his body was going back to where it belonged. Salazar followed it and tried desperately to grab it, but as soon as it encircled him again, he felt his skin tearing apart, trying in vein to hold the power. All his nerves were about to burst open when he finally let it go and was thrown back to the ground; the hole closed in. He stared at it and was snapped back to reality by Rowena's voice.
`What happened?' she asked
* * *
The day had come and Draco couldn't help but feel this was going to be the best day of his life. Ginny had been really useful and now it was time to act. After the meeting and the practice, it was close to nine o'clock and the whole group was walking towards the sixth floor.
`Listen to me, today we'll have our first real battle, we've been practising and most of us know what we're doing. The DA members won't be expecting us; that gives us the surprise element on our side,' he informed.
`Are you sure this is the right way, Draco? I haven't seen any empty classrooms in this wing,' Millicent inquired.
Draco turned to her. `Always so bright, are you not, Millicent? They don't practice in an empty classroom; Ginny told me they had this room called The Room of Requirement and-` He was cut off by a high pitched whine.
`Oh, so now it's Ginny, huh? It's not Weasel or Muggle Lover anymore?' Tracy sneered at Draco, speaking in a very annoying manner.
He turned to her. `What's wrong, Tracy, you think she's going to steal the place you'll never have?' he said maliciously. She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, but stayed silent. `Good, so I was saying she told me it was around here, although she wouldn't say the exact place. We'll meet them, don't worry.'
Everyone stayed silent after this. Although they all really wanted to face the DA in a duel, they couldn't help but think that Harry Potter was their teacher- the Harry Potter. But no one dared say anything to Draco.
They kept walking, and soon after, a rumble of voices was heard from around the corner. Draco made a sign for them all to stop there. He smiled at himself and walked around the corner.
`Oy! Potter! Going back after a moonlight stroll with your little friends?'
* * *
There was only one battalion left, The Lethifold had suffocated most of the third battalion and all they'd had to do had been scare the rest while keeping an eye on the last battalion. But the creatures were wounded and tired, and the two warlocks were the only ones left. They had cast an invisibility spell on themselves, leaving the enemies astounded. Only a few had had the idea of throwing `showing spells' to find the attackers, but none of them hit either men.
Salazar looked at where he sensed Godric, worried, and spoke in his fellow Warlock's head.
`They're all right but it's only us now and I don't think the creatures are going to last much...'
`I know, I know. And the Invisibility enchantments won't last much longer, either. We must decide what to do now' Godric responded seriously in Salazar's head.
`It's only one army and-bloody hell!' One of the Showing Charms had hit a hippogriff and not one second later, it was lying dead in the ground. `Any idea is welcome, Godric!' he urged.
`Yes, but we have never been two down, Salazar!' Gryffindor's Abraxan started to shift, telling his master that they didn't have much time of the enchantment left. `You start shooting them with your arc and I guess I'll try and throw as many mass hexes as I can.' Godric's voice resounded in Salazar's head.
A few seconds later, and before Slytherin could argue back, they were visible and a shower of flashes were soaring towards them. They started ducking them and using Protecting charms.
Salazar barely had time to point and shoot as he avoided the spells. The Abraxan was flying faster than ever; up and down, left and right, in order to protect his master. Godric's sword moved rapidly all over, cutting arms, heads and whatever got in its way.
`Apericio Campo Forcip!' Salazar yelled and a small force field covered him and Godric for a split second; enough for them both to communicate and decide what to do next. Salazar nodded, panting slightly.
When they were about to combine their powers, at least fifty jets of light shot towards them and it would be impossible for either to react on time. They were going to get hit and most certainly killed, but there wasn't enough time to even apparate, the new technique the four friends had been developing for over a year.
* * *
Finally, they had all managed to beat the labyrinth curse. Even Parvati had been successful, and most of them had been able to use it on someone else, though only Neville could put it on more than one person.
Harry was soaring with joy for his students; in only three weeks they had been actually doing it! This was amazing! But knowing the right spells and hexes wouldn't be enough, obviously. It was way more complicated than just learning them, and Harry knew it. And the most frustrating thing was that he couldn't give them more than the spells and hexes; it was within each of them to know what to do.
Hermione was walking on his right, holding his hand timidly, and Ron on his left, at the back of the group. Neville and Ginny were walking together but you could see an ever-widening space between them. Neville had stopped asking Ginny about Malfoy, realising it was pointless, but he was worried-not to mention very jealous.
They all walked, chatting animatedly and unworried after Harry had checked the Marauders Map for any intruders. Lavender and Parvati were praising each other on how well each had done with the spell; Hannah and Terry were deep in conversation about variations of the curse, while Cho Chang and Oliver Wood -who had come to the meeting after a long time- were hitting it off completely. Harry just stared at them, not saying a word. After fifth year, the whole Cho business had been but a memory of a naive and very faraway time. Back then, he thought he had had it, but now-now all those things seemed like a very pleasant époque of the past.
Just then, he heard something on his left side and his hand went instinctively to his wand. His pupils widened as to see in the dark, and he tensed all over. Ron stopped when he felt his friend's reaction.
`What's wrong, Harry?' he asked, serious.
Harry looked at his best friend for a split second. `I heard something,' he just said and turned to the rest of the DA. `I'll be right back,' he said, noticing how Ron and Hermione, had gone tense also.
Ron stared after Harry - how he could always hear things that were a mile away, he would never know. Then, a voice was heard and he frowned immediately, pulling out his wand seconds before the rest of them.
`Oy! Potter! Going back after a moonlight stroll with your little friends?'
That obnoxious voice was unmistakable. The superior and mocking tone could only belong to one person: Draco Malfoy.
Harry was a few meters from his friends when he heard the voice. He turned and all of them had their wands out; he gestured for them to put them back, which they did very reluctantly.
`What do you want, Malfoy? Seventy more points taken from your house?' Harry asked defiantly.
Draco smirked and took a few more steps forward. `You're going to hide behind your lovely Head Boy's badge, are you?' he asked in a baby-ish voice that somehow sounded like an invitation for a duel.
Harry looked at Hermione, who looked as if torn between the urge to kick Malfoy's arse and her duty as Head Girl. He turned back to Malfoy.
`What, now you have to ask your mudblood girlfriend before you accept a duel?' Draco asked satisfied; knowing fully well how Harry would react to this. They had been enemies so long, they probably knew each other's reactions as well as their own.
`I told you not to call her that! And I don't even think you're a match for me in a duel,' Harry snapped, rising to his full height, which was quite some considering he was always hunching over. But he wasn't tall in the same way that Ron was; his tallness came form an air of security and power he sent away without even knowing it. He walked towards Malfoy, who was the least bit taller than him.
`Well, if you hadn't spoken Parsel back then, I would've definitely beaten you, remember?' he pointed out; and if they weren't almost the same height, you could even have said he was looking down at Harry.
Harry took a deep breath and narrowed his eyes. `Shut up, Malfoy!'
Draco laughed. `And that, my fellows, is what one could understand as an "I know you're right and that's why I'm shutting you up"' he said, turning to the group, who were all feeling Harry's anger rise.
Harry rose his wand `Acritunia!' he roared and Malfoy flew across the corridor, hitting the wall. All the Slytherins gasped, Tracy started to run to him but Hermione was already pointing her wand at her, so she didn't move. Draco stood up slowly, wincing.
`That wasn't a very fair move, now, was it?' he said. Somehow, he had managed to gather enough air to speak in his usual voice. `And they say the Gryffindors play fair...' he finished and pulled himself to his duelling position.
All the DA members had now come to where Ron and Hermione were standing and were starting to move towards Harry, who was probably throwing sparks from his body out of anger.
`Harry, don't!' Hermione cried. She knew Draco was a good dueller; mostly because she was aware of Lucius' abilities and didn't doubt he had taught his son.
Harry didn't listen to her and kept his brilliant green eyes fixed on Draco's cold grey ones. `Conditions are according to the opponents, third rule of duelling. I would've thought you knew them,' he said.
`Bombarda!' Draco yelled and Harry almost avoided the spell but it hit him sideways, leaving a very nasty wound on his left arm. It hit the wall, leaving a big hole in it.
Hermione shrieked and ran to Harry, who was looking down, holding his wounded arm tightly.
`A duel, now...' she said, looking up after half-healing Harry's arm, determined.
* * *
Inches from them, all the jets of light stopped and vanished just in front of the two men. Godric looked up when everything around him quieted. He saw one last jet of light disappear before his eyes. He reached his friend mentally.
`Salazar? Are you all right? What was that?'
`Did you see what I just saw?'
`We didn't have time to combine,' Godric assured his friend.
At that moment, a cloaked figure, in silver and maroon battle armour came into sight. In the horizon, he was riding the only and legendary Horned Pegasus. Silvery-white, with the dying sun reflecting its beautiful fur; the horse flew elegantly through the air. The man riding it was well built and the darkening orange light outlined his imposing form.
Salazar looked up, astonished, and Godric's gaze followed his friend's. He had heard Rowena talk about the legendary Protector but never really believed her. But he was right in front of him, flying to save them.
`The Legendary Protector only comes to save warlocks who are about to die before their time; before fulfilling their destiny.' Rowena's voice echoed in Godric's head.
The Protector was there, he had been summoned by the battle and the warlocks that weren't suppose to die yet.
He steadied himself in front of the two young men, the Horned Pegasus' white wings flapping in harmony. The Protector was holding a halberd; it was long, with a silver head and elaborated signs all around its thin surface. On each side of the white blade, it had two gems; a lot like the ones Rowena and Helga used. He gave a sideways look at the two young men and winked. He had outstandingly bright hazel eyes and a blond strand fell across his right eye, half covering it.
Soon, the surprised wizards started attacking and the Protector moved his halberd, forming a twister that blew away most of the attackers. The rest screamed and returned back to wherever they came from.
The invisible force field in front of Slytherin and Gryffindor disappeared; they both flew to where the Protector was. He pulled back his cloak, revealing a younger man, beautiful in every way you looked at him; it was almost inhuman. He smiled gently at the two, but his eyes were somehow sad. He bowed lightly as he vanished in the thin air.
The two men tried unsuccessfully to reach out for him but he was gone. They looked at each other and then to the now empty spot in front of them. No words were necessary; they just flew back to the hill, where Rowena and Helga were waiting.
* * *
The Junior Death Eaters and the Defence Association faced each other and a duel took place; probably the greatest duel in a very long time. Shot of lights flew from one side to the other, bodies falling and standing up again. None of them would give up and let the other one win.
Draco and Harry were face-to-face, both robes stained with blood that none knew if it was theirs or their opponent's. Harry was very fast, but so was Draco; both of them could duck and avoid the other's spells and hexes, and when they got hit, it wasn't pleasant at all. One had the facility of a natural born and the other had the care and calculation learned in a lifetime. But even so, they were very close in power level.
Both of them shot stunning spells at the other and they met in the air. A huge red circle of light was created from this collision and after a few seconds, the jets of light continued their way and hit both boys. At the beginning, nothing happened and they stared at each other. Harry was the first one to react and he threw a very strong Disarming spell at Draco; it hit him and the two boys flew backwards, reaching opposing ends of the walls and falling to the ground, unconscious.
Everyone stopped their duelling to stare at the amazing display of power presented by both boys. When Harry attacked Draco and flew back too, Hermione and Ginny gasped soundly; Ginny looked at Draco for a moment and then ran to Harry, following Hermione. Ron and Neville caught up quickly. The rest were too surprised to do anything and just stood where they were.
The Slytherins gasped too and the first one to run towards Draco was Tracy, closely followed by Malcolm. She took Draco's head, where a thin trickle of dark blood could be seen.
`Get out of here!' Hermione yelled at the Slytherins as she held Harry's head and shoulders on her lap. `Harry! Harry, can you hear me?' she asked.
The Slytherins didn't say a word. Tracy and Malcolm used a Locomotor spell to carry Draco and take him to the Common Room, for they couldn't take him to the Hospital Wing; they would definitely get in trouble if they did.
Ginny took Harry's hand and stared at the boy; looking so peaceful and helpless on the ground. There was something missing and Ginny looked around; there they were… a few feet away lay Harry's broken glasses. She took them, `Oculus Reparo,' she muttered and the round spectacles were once again as good as new.
Ron and Neville came forward and lifted Harry, taking him to the Common Room, where they performed the healing charms before leaving him in the Head Boy's Chamber. Hermione decided to stay there for the night to keep an eye on Harry.
* * *
When they got back to the castle, Godric and Salazar told the girls about the Protector appearing and saving them. They looked in every book they had for the legendary Protector and found out he only came when he was needed and vanished as soon as his mission was complete until he was summoned again.
`You saw that look too, Salazar.'
`Well, I can understand it now. I mean, how would you feel if your only goal in life was to save people's life and-`
`Warlocks' lives,' Rowena pointed out.
`He doesn't even get a thank you. Hell! He can't even be a complete being!' Salazar said fiercely.
`I know. I can't help but feel awful for him, he looked so sad, though satisfied at the same time...'
`That's not what matters now, ok? The important thing is that we saved Hogwarts and we are all alive...' A kind, woman's voice spoke; her blond strands of hair were hanging loose to her shoulders, making her look very beautiful.
She looked at Salazar with a special glint in her eyes which Rowena recognised; she looked at Salazar and then back at Helga; sighed and looked away. He will never see it... she thought heavily. Rowena knew Salazar was still in love with her, and that he would never notice how Helga looked at him.
They all turned around and Salazar stared at her for a few seconds. Then he turned back to Godric and Rowena, who were holding each other in a friendly but full of love way.
`She's right, let's just leave it there, shall we?' he offered and no one objected. `Helga, can I talk to you for a second?' he asked. Helga flinched in surprise and smiled.
`Sure. What is it?' she responded and followed him.
They walked through the halls, occasionally interrupted by a student with a question and stopping every once in a while to correct some other.
`Helga, how strong you think a warlock's body is?' he asked. `Hemingal! You know you can't levitate such heavy objects, you can kill someone!' he snapped at a boy, apparently fourteen or so years old, and waited for an answer.
Helga leaned her head to a side and looked into Salazar's peculiar eyes. They were dark grey and had little black features mixed into them. Sometimes they changed colours according to his mood. `What do you mean? You know your body is much stronger than mine or Rowena's...'
`Yes, but how much you reckon it could stand?'
`Power?' she asked. `I really wouldn't know since I'm not one, but you're really powerful. Every time I do an especially strong spell, I get real tired; a thing that doesn't happen to you. So all I can say is a lot,' she assured her friend with a little sadness in her voice.
`And what if me or Godric, when we're combined as to say, had a special powerful moment… or if an outside extra power came to us?'
`Well, if it were such an incredible power, I reckon it would probably knock you out, or tear you up... Power can be dangerous Salazar, don't mess with it,' Helga said in a very serious tone, much unlike her usual.
`I'm not-I won't, all right? But I just want to know if there's a way by which a warlock could stand greater power...' he said a little vaguely.
Helga sighed and smiled slightly. `Well, the only way would be to strengthen your body. And since you're a warlock that is pretty difficult because your body is already stronger than normal. So that would only leave you the option of joining with another being; a Symbio... But Salazar, that is really risky; Symbios can take over a person's mind and-please promise me you won't do something like that,' she begged, somehow regretting what she had just said.
Salazar bit his lip. `Yes, Helga, don't worry. I won't do anything stupid, but thanks very much,' he said and leaned to give her a kiss on the cheek. Helga just stood there, and after Salazar had left, she took her hand to her cheek and sighed.
* * *
A/N: So much information for one chapter! So all the basics are set (Basics I said eh?) Next chapter is going to be darker and I promise it'll be much more intense.
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