126Wizards in Winter
A/N: Title is taken from the music by the Trans Siberian Orchestra.
Genera: Romance/Drama Ships: Harry/Hermione Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns the characters, settings and the bits of dialogue that is recognizable
Chapter 10: Wedding Surprises
Recap from chapter 9
Albus Dumbledore played a waiting game. Harry would be back at school soon, along with Miss Granger and he would have a talk with them. There was something going on that he wanted to know about. The letter that Miss Granger sent to Harry over Christmas was protected in a way he had never seen before. He knew that Miss Granger was a powerful witch, even though she was a muggle born. He hated to admit that she was even more powerful than any of the purebloods at Hogwarts. To have stunned Miss Lovegood (who was a pureblood), just for touching the letter meant for Harry, was worrisome. Yes, a talk to Miss Granger would definitely be necessary. He couldn't have the girl outdo the purebloods in all her subjects. The old families would not stand for it. To have Harry Potter mixing his blood with hers would be disastrous. James Potter had married Lily Evans, much to the consternation of the old families who had tried to arrange a suitable marriage with one of their own. The Granger girl would have to be discouraged from thinking she could marry into the Potter line. There were several pureblood witches that would be more suitable. Ones that could be more easily manipulated for the greater good. 'Yes', he thought. "Perhaps Ginny Weasley would be perfect. Molly would jump at the chance to have her daughter marry Harry. Now I only need to find someone for Ms. Granger." Then a horrible thought struck as he remembered that Harry and Hermione had bonded. "Damn! Why did they have to bond?" Albus knew there was no way to break the bond. Trying to do so would probably kill them, never mind it was illegal to interfere. "Well maybe they can be persuaded to not marry."
Of course that was doomed to failure, since he was unaware that they had already married minutes ago. end of recap
The wedding went off without a hitch, at least the muggle part. Now it was time for the magical part. Amelia wanted the muggles out, as they couldn't witness the magical ceremony. When she mentioned it to Harry and Hermione, she received a bit of a shock.
"Madam Bones," Hermione begged, "my mother is a squib, she should be there and I think my father might be one too."
"Excuse me?" Amelia startled. "What line is she from?"
"Umm, I'll need a magical oath for you not to reveal that to anyone if I tell you," Hermione explained.
"And your father?" Madam Bones persisted.
At that point, Wendell, having overheard, interrupted. "Madam Bones, my mother just informed me that I'm also a squib from the Dagworth-Granger line."
Hermione panicked. "Dad? That can't be spread around either. Please, Madam Bones, If Voldemort found out, or more importantly, Headmaster Dumbledore, there would be so much trouble."
"Mrs Potter, I'm sure the headmaster…"
"NO! He is not to be trusted! He's already interfered in Harry's life too much."
"Very well, I'll make the oath, but it's against my better judgement," Amelia replied.
After the magical oath, Hermione told a bit of background. "My mother's maiden name is Paquette and is from a very old line of French witches. I didn't know about the Dagworth-Granger connection, but it makes sense. Aunt Beryl told you today, Daddy?"
"Yes, princess, I suspected something for years, but until today I had no idea. Is the line well known?"
Amelia answered, "Very well known Dr. Granger. Everyone thought the line had died out, but if you are indeed related to the Dagworth-Grangers and your wife to the Paquette line, then I see no reason that you can't attend. You realise that this will have an effect on the wizarding society once this becomes known. I can keep it quiet for now, but not forever, it will become known if anyone bothers to check. This could even raise your stature in society, Mrs. Potter."
"I won't hear of it until Voldemort is truly gone," Hermione replied.
Wendell grinned. "That may be sooner than we think since I blasted him with a shotgun when he tried to break in a few days ago."
"Interesting," Amelia replied. It's too bad you didn't kill him."
Harry cleared his throat to be heard. "I'm afraid I'm the only one that can kill him, Madam Bones. There's a prophesy."
"You've seen the prophesy, Mr. Potter?"
"No, Professor Dumbledore heard it and finally told me. This is one of the reasons we distrust him. He could have told me years ago. He's tried to control my life ever since I was born, apparently."
"Well, if there's a prophesy, then it'll be recorded in the Department of Mysteries. Since it involves you, Mr. Potter, you may retrieve it. I can arrange that if you'd like; in fact I'd advise you to do so. Has Voldemort learned of the prophesy?"
"According to Dumbledore, he heard only part of it."
"Then it would be imperative that you retrieve it and after listening, destroy it. How did he hear only part of it?"
"Apparently a spy heard only part of it and reported to him," Harry replied.
"A spy, you say, hmm, I wonder if the spy is Dumbledores favourite Death Eater, Severus Snape?"
"Snape?" Harry growled. "That greasy git has hated me since I first stepped into Hogwarts."
Hermione, seeing they were getting off track, reminded them that they had one more important ceremony left. "Harry? Let's not get distracted right now, we have to finish the magical ceremony."
Amelia smiled, trust Mrs. Potter to bring her new husband's focus to the matter at hand. "She's right, Mr. Potter, you must complete the magical binding for the Ministry to recognise that you're married. Shall we continue?"
Harry sighed then grinned. "Of course, please excuse me, I'm easily distracted by my wife's beauty."
"Prat, I have a better way to distract you later," she smirked.
Ten minutes later, Madam Bones had performed the marriage ritual and the intense golden glow that surrounded the couple startled everyone the moment Harry and Hermione kissed.
Unfortunately, Harry collapsed seconds later, his scar bleeding, as a ghostly black essence rose from his scar with an ear shattering scream. It hung a few inches in front of him before dissolving.
Hermione screamed in terror and fainted.
Miles away, Tom Riddle writhed in agony as he felt his magic weaken once again. The wounds from Wendell's shotgun pellets opened and blood once again leaked from the Dark Lord. Severus Snape, however, was unable to stop the bleeding.
Blood replenishing potions enabled Riddle to survive, but he slipped into a coma.
Severus was beside himself in panic. If the Dark Lord died, there would be hell to pay from his followers. Several were already accusing him of incompetence.
It was touch and go for a week before a slight improvement was noted.
Finally, after the second week, Severus was able to pronounce the Dark Lord was recovered enough and he breathed a sigh of relief. Albus would want to know but he dared not leave until his master fully recovered. His other master would have to wait; a thing Albus was unused to.
Monica revived Hermione and she shakily sat up. "What happened?"
"You fainted, Dear. Something came out of Harry's scar. Wendell is looking after him. It was the creepiest thing I've ever seen!"
"His scar! Oh My God! We've always wondered about the scar, but now it seems we were right in thinking it was…"
"It was what, Mrs. Potter?" Amelia asked. She had her own suspicions about Harry's famous scar.
"Umm…" Hermione prevaricated. "Maybe we can talk about this later," she whispered. "When there is a bit more privacy?"
Amelia realized that she was probably right and acquiesced with a nod.
Wendell revived Harry and had cleaned up his scar, applying a plaster to his forehead. "Are you alright Harry? You scared the bejesus out of us."
"I'm fine." Was his standard response. Of course nobody believed him, having heard that many times before.
"Harry? We need to talk… in private!" Hermione reminded her new husband.
Amelia followed Hermione and Harry into her bedroom where she locked the door and cast privacy spells at the door and walls.
"So, Mr and Mrs Potter, I have a suspicion about Harry's scar that seems to have been confirmed just now. Would you like to tell me about it?"
"Um, we originally thought that it had something to do with the connection Harry had with Voldemort," Hermione related.
"Indeed," Amelia replied. "What we witnessed, I have never seen before, but if I had to guess, it would be some sort of possession."
"Not a possession, Madam Bones, at least not how you are thinking. We believe it was a part of Voldemort's soul trapped in Harry's scar."
Harry resumed the tale from his new wife. "The Headmaster and I have been hunting for a way that Voldemort was able to return after he supposedly died when he attacked my parents and died when he attacked me as a baby. Professor Dumbledore found that he'd created 'Soul Anchors' before he died the first time and we had located and destroyed some of them."
"You mean Horcrux's? As in more than one? That is very dark and evil magic Mr. Potter, in fact, it's a closely kept secret that few know about. I'm surprised that Albus has mentioned it to you."
"I found the first one in my second year when Ginny Weasley was possessed by a diary of Tom Riddle. We found another recently in a tainted Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw and took it to Professor Dumbledore to destroy. We destroyed a third in a cave and now, apparently the one behind my scar. We had initially believed that that one wasn't a horcrux, but it proved to be one after all."
"Just how many did he make?" Amelia shuddered at the thought.
"We think probably a total of seven as a significant magical number with Voldemort being the seventh part of his soul, so two more. The Professor suspects one is Hufflepuff's cup and we suspect his snake Nagini, although Professor Dumbledore disagrees. There is a possibility that Harry was an accidental one and there could be a further one not found yet," Hermione stated. "Salazar's Ring would be a good guess, I think."
Amelia gasped at this information. Morgana! I knew the man was insane, but this? It's appalling to think he would be crazy enough to split his soul that many times.
(End Chapter 10)