Soul Pieces

SOUL PIECES

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter. It’s sad, I know.

Chapter 07: The Cup, the otter and the girl

September, 4th. 7:00 A.M.
Godric’s Hollow, Wales.
Inside the public cemetery of Godric’s Hollow, only a few birds heard a series soft “POP” s. The apparition of the three teenagers followed the sound: Two boys and a girl.
“Blimey!” exclaimed the redheaded boy. “Godric’s Hollow, at last! Well, Is everybody whole?”
The girl rolled her eyes and muttered something. 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.
“Oh, sure, Hermione.” He took a deep breath, “Well, let’s go. Lupin told me the location of-of…the grave.”
Hermione and Ron nodded with their heads and followed their dark hair friend.

***
The Potter’s grave wasn’t too far away from the Cemetery’s entry. It’s 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 really noticing, Harry dropped on 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 bests friends Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger.”
“I miss you so much! It’s hard, you know. So many people expecting that I save their lives. And the worst thing is that I know that I am the only one…”
Harry continued to ‘talk’ silently with his parents until he heard his redheaded friends 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 a 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.
And they disapparated.

***

The house where Harry lived the first 15 months of his life was at that moment a little less than ruins. It was a big house and if 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 happenings, 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, at that moment was a pile of dust, old furniture, and broken glass. Harry thought that maybe he could feel something. But the truth is that he didn’t feel a thing. He didn’t feel any special connection with the place.
“You don’t think there are spiders 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 ok?”
“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.
“Mate, do you know what’s your room?” said Ron.
“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 or thoughts stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Harry…”
“Hermione…. 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 some toys all over the floor. The only piece of furniture that was ‘complete’ was the cradle. And soon they understand 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, Mione.”
“No, it’s only appears easy. First, no one entered this house. You heard when Remus said that people think that the house is haunted. Second, even if someone did enter, this someone 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 already had touched (well, tried) to get the cup, but something like an electrical barrier threw him against the wall.
“Harry! Oh, my Lord!” Hermione cried.
“Are you alright, mating?”
“Yeah, yeah” he said weakly, as he tried to regain his composure. “I think Hermione is right.”
The girl looked at him as she said now do you believe?
“You know, Riddle was very clever. He knew that a patronus is different for each person. This makes destroying the cup almost impossible.”
“Yeah, but he never could 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 ok. It’s what I am.”
“Never call yourself that again, Mione. Never,” said Harry very seriously.
“Ok, Harry. Now, before I cast my patronus….” she said biting her lower lip nervously.

“What?” Harry knew her well enough to know that was something.
“Well, maybe, I don’t know, but, maybe, after well, you know…I’m not completely sure, but 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 in stubborn. You’re damn right Hermione Granger!
“Well, as I was saying before being INTERRUPTED, maybe I’ll pass out. But, I need to ask you 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 had said, I know you too well and I know I can’t trust you in this matter.”
Ron really tried not smiled (maybe the murderous Harry’s look made him NOT).
“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 cuddle…”
“What! 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 with the original size again. “Well, I think it is. “
“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 guys. 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 “EXPECTRUM PATRONO !”
A beautiful silver otter appeared from her wand. The ‘animal’ floated around the room and them 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 kind of magnet. And finally the otter came near Hermione and the girl took the cup.
At that moment, the whole room started shaking. A kind of fog appeared around her.
Harry tried came 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, the girl collapsed on the floor.
“Hermione!” both boys cried at the same time.
They ran to her, but then, Ron remembered the promise and came to the cradle and 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!” Such beautiful hands…”And the shadow…”
But then she began to convulse.
“Harry, what’s happening?”
“I think she’s fighting the shadow! We need 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 knightbus.”
“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 seeing entering the house with the blood traitor and the mudblood girl. Master had already said he probably want to visit Godric’s Hollow. Silly Boy!”
“Harry! It’s Bellatrix! What’re we gonna do?”
“Thank Merlin I brought my cloak. Ron, I’m gonna use my cloak to hide me and Hermione. You apparate to Grimmauld Place and ask Remus for help. Go!”
“Take care, mate!” said Ron and 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 some voices and doors being open and closed. He could feel they were approaching.
Thank Merlin you stopped convulsing. I’m sure you will be ok, Mione.
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 boys 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 with 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 showed up! You know, you don’t have a chance! Not now that your beloved Dumbledore is no more! He probably is with my dear cousin! Do you miss my cousin, Potty? I’m sure you do! You know, I never felt so happy then when I killed him!”
Harry was about to explode. How dare she!? How dare she talk about Sírius?
However, 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 we have here?”
Oh, Merlin.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Kisses,
Sweet-Lemmon