A new Life for Harry Potter.

Authors Note: Hey guys sorry this is so late a snow storm knocked out my cable. Anyways here is chapter 26, 27 will be out in a few days. I gotta say thanks for all the reviews and votes I got you guys rock ^_^!

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The next morning found Hermione sitting alone on a swing in the south end of the roof garden. She had spent the day avoiding everyone so she wouldn’t have to bring down the others with her sullen mood. She still couldn’t believe Rabastan had yelled at her to stay away from Severus. Didn’t her feelings matter at all to him, couldn’t he see how she felt about Severus. Just thinking of what happened last night between her and her uncle brought tears to her eyes. Hermione wanted very much to be close to her family but she wouldn’t bow down to silly archaic rules. Hermione was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn’t hear anyone approach.



“I thought I’d find you here. Are you alright, Bella says she hasn’t been able to find you all morning?” Her uncle Rodolphus asked. He sat next to her on the swing and waited quietly for her to answer.



“I’m quite well I just needed some fresh air.” She told him. He nodded in understanding.



“I understand you and Rabastan had a bit of an argument last night. Do you mind telling me what it was about?” He asked. Hermione sniffled trying to hold back her tears. She didn’t know if she should tell Rodolphus about what happened; she wouldn’t be able to stand having both her uncle’s mad at her.



“Rabastan seems to think Severus isn’t good enough for me because he is a half blood. Why does that even matter, doesn’t love count for anything?” She asked him. Rodolphus sighed. He too felt that Severus wasn’t good enough for Hermione but not because of his blood statues but because no man would ever be good enough. He was sure that was what was really bothering Rabastan but that he had just let his prejudice get in the way.



“Hermione you have to understand where Rabastan is coming from. You are all we have left of Regina. Rabastan loved your mother more than you could possible know; when she died Rabastan lost a big part of himself. When you came into our lives it was like having her back; I think Rabastan is just scared of losing you.” He told her.



“What was she like, my mother?” Hermione asked. She was awed by the brilliant smile that lit up Rodolphus’ face.



“Your mother was the most beautiful person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know. Regina was the youngest and favorite. Before she was born our father was a hard and cold man, he demanded nothing less than perfection from his family. When your mother came she brought love into the house, laughter; she was the heart and soul of our family. When your mother was twelve our parents died, I had already married Bella and was out of the house. Taking care of her became Rabastan’s responsibility; he doted on her. When Regina met Duncan, Rabastan acted the same way, he forbid her to see him, vowed to disown her if she didn’t listen.” He told her. Hermione sat quietly completely enthralled with the story.



“How did my parents end up together?” Hermione asked. Rodolphus chuckled at the memory.



“It was your father that convinced Rabastan to lighten up. I’m not sure what Duncan said to him and Rabastan refuses to tell me, but whatever it was made Rabastan change his mind. Right after your mum and dad graduated from Hogwarts they married, a few short years later they had you and then…we lost them.” He told her. Hermione could see the pain in Rodolphus’ eye. It hurt her to see him like that but at the same time it made her happy to know her mother was loved.



“What do you think about Severus and I being together?” She asked him. Rodolphus sighed and Hermione prepared herself for bad news.



“I think that you know yourself and your heart better than me or Rabastan ever will. If you feel that Severus is the right person then go for it. Life can be cut short in a second, you have to seize what happiness you can; no matter what I’ll always be here for you.” He told her. Hermione smiled at him through her happy tears. That sat in comfortable silence for awhile longer, just enjoying the garden and each other’s company.

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Meanwhile a few floors below Helaine and Tom where in their bedroom enjoying a late breakfast. Tom was in his usual attire of black robes while Helaine was only dressed in one of Tom’s white button down shirts. They had spent the night and most of the morning making love and Helaine was too tired and sore to get properly dressed. She looked over at Tom from the rim of her tea cup and smiled. He looked so serious as he read the paper; it always made Helaine smile when she saw the little crinkle that formed on his brow when he read.



It was little moments like this that made Helaine feel that she could actually love Tom, maybe even spend the rest of her life with him. Then reality would set in and she would remind herself of whom the man truly is. There was so much she didn’t know about him but was still too afraid to ask. It was odd the way she felt about him; she was completely comfortable with him being inside her but she couldn’t bring herself to even ask him simple questions.



Helaine wanted to know him, to share something with him besides a bed. Sometimes Helaine felt guilty for caring for the man who destroyed her family; but she couldn’t stop her feelings. Helaine squared her shoulders determined to get answers to the questions she had been waiting to ask. She cleared her throat to get Tom’s attention; he looked at her from over his news paper.



“Tom what made you so interested in the dark arts?” Helaine blurted out. Tom didn’t say anything for a moment he just stared at her with a serious look on his face. Helaine was just about to tell him to forget it when he answered her.



“At first my attraction was just that of a curious child. From the moment I stepped inside Hogwarts it was drilled into my mind that the dark art weren’t to be practiced; only learned in order to resist its pull. All my life I’ve strived for greatness, to be better than my peers. Once I started learning the arts I became obsessed with learning all of its secrets. I’ve learned through my many years of study that dark magic isn’t really dark just hard to control. That is why so many fear it.” He told her. Helaine was hanging off his every word; she cleared her throat preparing to ask another question.



“Why do you hate muggle’s and muggle borns? I know your half blood so I don’t understand your reasons for hating them.” Helaine said. Tom sighed and looked uncomfortable like he didn’t want to answer the question. Helaine just stared at him not willing to back down.



“I don’t hate them I never have. I feel that if muggle borns want to be a part of our society that they should cut ties to their muggle backgrounds. Most muggle born children are abused by their parents or guardians once it’s discovered they can do magic.” He said. Helaine thought back to how she was treated by the Dursley’s and had to agree.



“Those children will never have anything really in common with their muggle families. They will always be different so wouldn’t it be better to just remove them from their muggle parents and place them into a magical home?” He asked her. Helaine thought about that for a moment before she answered.



“Even if some children would be better off without their muggle families it doesn’t give you the right to kill innocent people. You talk about preserving our way of life to keep magic within magical communities, yet you slaughter magical families and creatures that oppose you. If you continue like this there will be nothing left to preserve.” She told him.



“Is it wrong to fight for what you believe in? Dumbledore had been teaching you from the very beginning that in the end you would have to kill me. Wasn’t it your belief that in order for our world to be good once more that my followers and I had to die? Isn’t that the same thing? You believed that ending my life was the right thing to do yet you would punish me for doing the same thing.” He said. Helaine didn’t really know how to reply. They fell into an uncomfortable silence. Helaine had once last question to ask and decided just to get it over with.



“Tom why did you kill my parents and attempt to kill me?” She asked. He winched at the question. He knew she would ask him that eventually but he still wasn’t prepared to answer. He looked away from her and stood ready to leave the room. Helaine jumped from her seat and stood in his path stopping his escape.



“Tom please answer me?” Helaine asked. She placed her hands on his chest and looked up at him with pleading tear filled eyes. Tom couldn’t bear seeing the look on her face, he had to get away. He pushed past her and hurriedly left the room. Once outside he collapsed against the door. He could hear her crying on the other side and the sound made his heart bleed. He wanted to tell her, but how could he. He knew once she found out the truth of that night she would hate him forever. He had come too far to lose her now. With one last look at the door Tom fled to his study.

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