Harry looked at the letter delivered by the Ministry Owl earlier that afternoon. Tomorrow, 1 PM.
The time for the Unbreakable Bond.
Harry sighed.
He was no longer sure if Hermionie wanted to do anything with him. But of course, she would help Ginny. Those two were inseparable. The realization made his heart ache. It should have been Harry, not Ginny. But he himself messed everything up. Isn't it? Ron and Hermionie were two people whom Harry was unable to judge. He could see things clearly, their rights and wrongs, but when it came to judging them, Harry failed. He couldn't. Harry knew, he always supported them blindly. But Merlin knows what had gotten into him on that night of the fall out.
Since his recovery, he had tried to analyze his own emotions while combating Mione on that fated night. What triggered such violence in him? Harry didn't know. He tried to focus on the details but he failed. Again and again and again...
Sometimes Harry felt like a black hole sucking in all his emotions, memories, senses. He had often been labeled as the most terrifying Auror in existence. Some of the torture methods he had adapted had been criticized openly by the experts. Even Harry felt disgusted when he looked back at those tortures in retrospect. Was the dual with Mione just a glimpse of that future darkness that was about to engulf Harry as the years passed? Harry didn't know.
If only things had not gotten so terribly wrong that night.
Harry held his head in his hands.
He could feel the throbbing of his head increase. Of late he was having these headaches very frequently. Not that he was a stranger to headaches, he practically grew up with them, thanks to that shitload,Voldemort. But this one was different. The Healers had checked his body thoroughly using both muggle technologies and wizard techniques but nothing was detected. No dark Magic, no illness.
Ginny was worried. But Harry didn't care much. He was an Auror, he played with death every moment. Why would he be afraid of headaches?
Harry leaned back in his chair.
His mind was in turmoil. Hermionie Granger was not a simple girl. Of all people, Harry knew that very well. But one thing kept on bugging him since he met Hermionie again. The uncontrollable wildness in himself that made him behave so inappropriately in front of the Malfoys. What triggered that? Was it his emotions or was it something in Hermionie?
As he closed his eyes, his mind took him a decade back. Mione was an apprentice at Mungro's and Harry and Ron were training as Aurors. They were all busy. The trainings kept the days busy and their respective redheads kept the weekends busier. Harry barely got any chance to meet Hermionie. Well, both Harry and Hermionie met Ron seperately, but somewhere the resonance between Harry and Hermionie was fading and Harry badly wanted to mend it.
That afternoon Harry went near Mungro's for some personal work and he decided to catch up with Mione over lunch. They were eating and talking and laughing one moment and the next moment Mione stared at him, glass eyed and soul less. Harry can promise in Dumbledore's name, the temperature around them dropped just the same way it happened when the Dementors were around.
How long was that moment?
May be thirty seconds or forty? Harry was not sure. But to him, that felt like an eternity. It scared the shit out of him.
Mione Mione.... he had called out in fear, grabbing her by the wrist and vigorously shaking her out of her trance.
She winced in pain.
And she was back.
She blinked, everything returned to normal.
But that's it. No explanations, nothing.
Harry tried to talk about it. But Mione refused to answer.
All he was able to get from her was one cold quote, Not everything is up for discussion Harry, certain things are better when not pondered upon.
There are truths that live with people and die with them. Hermionie's darkness was such a truth for Harry. He felt things about her that others didn't. And that truth would die with him. If only Mione trusted him enough to share.
Was Harry sure about taking any help from Hermione while propagating his bloodline? If selfish reasons were seen, yes ofcourse. But if greater reasons were considered, not at all.
When Hermionie announced to the World that she would help to carry forward the Potter bloodline, Harry and Ginny knew what she meant. She meant IVF of Granger Potter seeds and planting them in Ginny's body. And that was a relief for Harry. He was not ready to be close to his earlier best friend in any possible way. There was something in her that scared him.
Ginny.... poor Ginny. Would she really like to bear Granger Potter bloodline? Would she be okay when none of their future kids would emerge a redhead?
Harry shuddered once again as he remembered the night when Ginny was kidnapped. It was all Harry's fault. He knew deep down, he was Ginny's culprit. But she never blamed him. Not even once.
He was too careless, way too hind sighted at that time.He should have listened to Ron when he urged for Ginny's security but Harry underestimated the alliances the Giants had.
And Harry fall prey to that trap only because he was overconfident.
Another sigh escaped him.
His thoughts were killing him today. Such turmoil won't lead him anywhere.
Harry once again glared at the paper. It took them one month to get a date. Harry wouldn't have batted an eyelid a month before. But after that Rosewood Villa night he was not sure of anything.
The other Couples got their dates much earlier but Shacklebolt told Harry that Hermionie had requested some time citing her daughter's health issues and hence the delay.
Harry bitterly thought about the day he accidentally bumped into Mione in the nearest Cafe. All he did was to hold her hand as he tried to rekindle the old friendship. He sincerely wanted to apologize for his stupidity on the night of the fallout and also for his idiocy in the Rosewood Villa. But who knew she would splash him with Coffee and create such a scene!!! Now Gin was not speaking with him and he was sleeping on the couch.
It made no sense.
Infact, nothing made any sense.
Harry felt agitated and he wanted to call it a day when Ron burst it.
They have given us an ultimatum.
6 months Mate... 6 Months...
What do you think? Can we? Jewel thinks...
And he stopped mid sentence.
He looked at the letter on Harry's table.
So... she.... does she really have a daughter with the Ferret?
Harry nodded.
Did they... mmmm.... they...
Harry wanted to punch Ron.
Even after all these years all he cared for was sex. What a pathetic looser...
What do you think Ron? Harry wasn't ready to talk about the IVF kid and sperm stealing drama with Ron. It was Mione's secret and Harry had no right to discuss that with their idiot redhead friend.
But tell me one thing Ron, what's wrong with you and Jewel ? Harry skillfully diverted the topic.
Ron immediately deflated like a Ballon.
Eh... I can't get my boi up with that bitch man.. she is such a scheming bimbo.
Harry burst into laughter.
Ah... now you realize she is a bimbo? Waaa... what an early realization mate....
Ron glared at Harry.
He was already pissed about the Harry Hermionie Malfoy situation. Harry's joke made him see red.
Ah..... says the man who couldn't listen to my warning when I asked you to protect your family back then? What do you think of yourself Harry, you are infallible? Because of you my sister is in that condition now. You are a murderer Harry, you killed my nephew. But you must be happy now. You will get yourself upgraded kids now. The mighty KNOW IT ALL KIDS WHO LIVED...
RON.... Harry warned him.
His head was throbbing worse than before and he knew he won't be able to keep his composure longer.
Don't Ron me Harry Potter. You have always stolen the limelight tactfully. THE BOY WHO LIVED... THE DESTROYER OF THE ELDER WAND.....THE AUROR WHO CHALLENGES MAD EYE... THE HERO WHO RENOUNCES MINISTRY POSITION TO SERVE THE PEOPLE... THE HERO RETURNS TO STEAL THE MALFOY BRIDE... You have finally shown your true self Harry...
Ron was fuming in anger. And so was Harry.
His head almost exploded and Harry could feel his darkness expanding.
Stop it Ron... stop it. You don't want to cross me like this.... TAKE IT BAAAAAACK....
Ron shouted even louder.
Over my fucking dead body Harry. You are the most pathetic scheming man I have ever seen. Meione did the right thing by choosing Ferret. Even he is better.... Much.. Much..
Ron couldn't complete his sentence.
Harry saw his palm raising and then he saw a greenish yellow flash.
A FORBIDDEN COLOUR.
A FORBIDDEN CURSE.
The next thing Harry knew was Ron flying back and hitting the wall, his eyes wide with surprise.
What curse did he use ? Harry didn't know.
But he saw Ron falling like a rock and gasping for air. His eyes bulged out and his face turned redder than a beet.
Harry came back to his senses.
What the hell has he done!!!!
He rushed to help Ron.
But he didn't know what to do.
HELP.... HELP ...
Harry screamed almost blasting his own lungs.
Merlin NO. What did he just do?
He didn't want to kill Ronald Weasley.
He was his damn best mate.