Full Circle

Chapter 13 – Dreamweaver

“So, Arabella? How does this sound?

Madame Eliza Dumbledore Solare and the late Master David Allen Solare

request the honor of your presence at the wedding of their daughter

Miss Katherine Rose

to

Master Tom Riddle

this Twelfth of September in the year of our ancestors –

Thirty Seven Hundred and Twenty-One.

 

This time Harry recognized Dumbledore’s niece almost immediately, though it was obvious that in this scene she was now a few years older. He was starting to become accustomed to arriving in unusual places under the guise of a dream. When the nocturnal haze began to fade, Harry found himself standing in what appeared to be a formal parlor watching Kate sitting a mahogany roll back desk, busily scratching her quill along a parchment. Her hair was longer now and a little bit blonder as it fell in twisted curls down her back. A few times she sighed loudly and nibbled on the feathered tip before muttering a spell to erase the ink she had already written in order to start again.

Finally she stood up to face her closest school mate (the former Arabella McNeil), who was curled on the sofa concentrating on sewing tiny pearl beads to what looked to be a lace veil. She glanced up at Kate and raised her eyebrow. “Thirty Seven Hundred and Twenty-One? But it’s only 1948…”

Kate smiled at her muggleborn friend. “While it’s totally acceptable to use muggle dates in casual conversation, when a couple is planning a wedding in the Great Cathedral of the Seasons it is only proper to use ancestral time – which, of course, predates standard Gregorian calendar by almost two thousand years.”

“I see. Well, in that case, that sounds like a perfectly logical wedding invitation, but shouldn’t you use Tom’s full name? Thomas sounds much more sophisticated and I’m sure he has a middle name you could use.”

Kate unknowingly twisted a curl around her finger as she thought. “I’m under the impression that his name is just plain old Tom. As for his middle name, I’ve honestly never asked…”

“And this is the man you plan to take as your future husband? Geez, Katie, you don’t place much emphasis on details, do you?”

“I’m detailed-orientated enough to know that you’re attaching those pearls to the wrong end of that lace.” The words were mocking, but Kate’s voice was gentle as she laughed. “But thank goodness you know how to sew! I’m so bad that I’d likely bleed to death from pin pricks to my fingers. Louisa Applegate thinks it’s an abomination that a grown woman doesn’t know how to stitch, but then again – who was I supposed to learn it from? And while I’m sure I could have whipped up a spell to adhere them to the fabric…”

Arabella nodded. “It just wouldn’t be the same. Yes, I understand.” She began to pull the thread from the rows she had done, glad that she had only gotten two done before the error was realized.

“Well, I guess I should wait for Tom to arrive before I start printing these initiations,” said Kate as she crossed back over to the desk. Harry, who was growing tired of standing, decided to make himself comfortable on a high backed armchair by the fireplace. He wondered if Kate’s mother was still at St. Mungo’s and whether Dumbledore was for or against his niece’s impending wedding. A sharp knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Come in!” Kate replied and the door seemed to push itself open of its own accord. Harry looked over the back of the chair, yet could not see anyone enter the room. “Yes, Mina. What is it?”

Finally Harry saw it – or in this case – her. Mina, it appeared, was the Solare Family house elf. Smaller than Dobby, though rounder than his wife Winky – Mina wore a crisp white pinafore and a puffy white bonnet covered her curly gray hair. It was safe to assume this was a standard house elf uniform (thought not exactly clothes) and he knew Hermione would be pleased that not all elves in private homes wore ratty dish towels. Of course, she’d prefer them to have salary and two weeks vacation, but Harry acknowledged that this was better than nothing.

Mina wobbled over to her mistress, balancing a scrolled parchment on top of a shiny silver platter. “A letta has just arrived for you Miz Kay-tee. Tiberon brought eet.”

 Kate untied the scarlet ribbon and unraveled the paper in front of her. Her eyes scanned the words quickly, her mouth thinning into a frown before she even finished reading. She furrowed her brow as fingers tightened around the edges of the page. The color rose into her cheeks as she handed the paper to Arabella. “Well, it was nice of them to inform me before I finished the announcements.” Harry half thought she was going to spit on the letter with disdain. He crossed over to the girls in an attempt to read the notice over their shoulders.

 

Dear Miss Solare,

 

While we are pleased to learn about your interest in holding your future wedding ceremony at the Great Cathedral of the Seasons, we regret to inform you that we will be unable to fulfill your request. Unfortunately, we have discovered that either one or both of the immediate wedding party does not meet the basic ancestral guidelines created to support the creation of the truest of magical unions. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we wish you all the happiness in your future.

 

Most sincerely,

Gwendolyn Merewether

High Priestess

 

 

“So, what’s all the excitement about?” All three of them turned at the cool voice of Tom Riddle, who had just apparted into the room. Arabella was obviously confused at the letter, but Harry understood immediately why Kate snatched the parchment out of her hands and crumpled it up. Neither of them looked happy to see him.

“Well, look at the time,” Arabella said in a high, fake voice. “I hate to leave so quickly, but I promised Elsbeth I’d bake her a batch of tarts for her Sunday brunch.” And before anyone could say another word, she disappeared with a pop.

Tom turned to Kate with a scowl. “Who is the letter from?”

She paled slightly, looking strangely small in his presence. “Oh, it’s nothing Tom. Nothing important anyway.” Quickly she picked up the sample invitation from her desktop. “Just out of curiosity, what’s your middle name? I was wording the announcements this afternoon and Arabella thought-”

 “Stop changing the subject. Who is the letter from?” It was evident that Tom would not be deterred so easily.

Pretending to ignore his inquisition, she silently pushed back the white lace curtains and opened a pair elegant French doors leading onto a patio. Stepping outside, she breathed in the late spring air - a sweet fruity scent that made school children restless in their classrooms. Kate walked across the smoothed brick pathway and sat down on a wide stone bench located in front of a colorful flower bush. “Tom, I was thinking. Why don’t we have the wedding right here in the garden? Can’t you imagine how beautiful it will be in September? It would be just a perfect spot to get married.”

He sat down beside her, the tension in his movements softening. “But Katie…” Tom looked directly into her eyes, their deep green color a reflection of the vivid foliage that surrounded them. “I thought you always dreamed about getting married at the Great Cathedral of the Seasons. You told me that over seventeen generations of wizards and witches in your family had been married there. Why break those years of tradition so that we can wed in your backyard?”

Harry felt the urge to walk away and give the two of them some privacy before realizing that this wasn’t really happening. This was his dream and there must be a reason why these scenes were playing out in his own mind. Regardless, he could tell that Kate was fighting back the urge to cry. Her nose was pinched as if she had just rubbed her face in an onion.

“We can’t get married at the Cathedral. It appears they have certain restrictions concerning the types of couples they wed.”

The muscles in Tom’s jaw clenched. “What do you mean….restrictions?”

Kate tried desperately to avoid eye contact with her fiancé. “Ancestral guidelines. They will only confirm unions between pure-blooded couples…”

“Goddamit!” His muggle heritage even obvious in the insults he chose. Tom stood up and turned away from her in anger. “How dare they! How can they destroy my lovely bride’s dreams – the magical wedding she had imagined ever since she was just a tiny little witch – all because I’m a half-blood?” He started to stalk back and forth like an animal in a cage, his left hand unconsciously rubbing his right fist as if preparing for a fight.

“I’m sick and tired of these purebloods finding subtle ways of telling me that I’m not good enough because of my bastard muggle father. First they insisted only purebloods get into Slytherin – I proved them wrong on the very first day and they were never the wiser. Then people assumed that only purebloods could become prefects and I did that as well as become Head Boy. I had top marks in all of my classes and now I have an excellent career in Foreign Wizard Communications.”

Suddenly, Tom looked back at his future wife with demented grin. “Well, let me tell you Kate – I’ve already proven that I’m not like any wizard they’ve ever seen. Someday, I’m going to bigger and better than all of these haughty purebloods. Eventually they will see my power and will have no choice but to respect me – worship me. Imagine their faces when they learn the most powerful wizard of all time is a fucking half blood.”

Kate’s eyes grew wide and looked like she was not sure whether to be angry or scared by his words. “Then, my little princess….you will have your wedding – a spectacular ceremony in their silly little “sacred” cathedral.” He leaned in close to her and whispered, “Because you deserve for every dream you have to come true.” Kate felt a shiver run up her spine and forced herself to present him with a weak smile. Unconsciously, she reached for the necklace around her neck - a twisted golden chain that with teardrop shaped crystal charm. What was unusual about the necklace was that the charm was actually a small vial that held a few drops of sparkling red liquid, which from a distance made it look like painted glass. She had received it as an engagement gift from her Uncle Aberforth just a week before…

Suddenly, Harry felt himself hooked behind the navel and hurled through space and time with the sickening sensation of a portkey. Next he was in the Transfiguration office as Dumbledore filled the tiny crystal, placed it in a velvet bag and handed it to his brother with instructions to present to Kate as a gift. Do not mention that this is from me because I’m afraid she won’t wear it if she knows. Tell her it’s a family heirloom – something our mother had wanted to give her only granddaughter on her wedding day. Just as long as she always wears it…I know that she will be safe.

Then Harry’s head began to spin with all the images that he saw. The wedding was held in the garden, Aberforth walked Kate down the isle, Mrs. Solare sat in the front row but it was apparent that her mind was miles away. The pictures moved quicker like a muggle film on fast forward - the ceremony was over and the reception had begun. People were singing and clapping their hands, louder and more incoherent as they gathered in a circle to watch the bride and groom dance.

Kate looked enchanting, her robe a pale ivory, beautiful white flowers embedded in her reddish blond curls. Her eyes glittered, her smile glowed with happiness and Harry could clearly see the necklace twinkling on her collarbone. Tom looked handsome in a black wedding robe and acted charming to all of his guests even the ones he obviously disliked. But for some reason, Harry could never again get a good look at his face. Everything blurred - creating fuzzy edges, splashes of color – a feeling of being five years old and twirling around and around with your arms to the sky until you got dizzy….

And Harry got dizzy, lightheaded, confused – backwards and upside down – darkness growing around him until there nothing to see at all. And then he opened his eyes.

First he expected to see crimson curtains that surround his four poster bed in Gryffindor Tower, but then he remembered that he had fallen asleep under the starry sky in the middle of the woods on a cold winter’s night! And yet, when he finally came to, he saw neither of these settings unfold.

He was lying in a crumbled heap in the corner of a kitchen lit only by the dying embers of the fireplace. There was a small wooden table in the center of the room where she was sitting hunched over, her head held in her hands. In front of her was a triple layered cake with buttercream icing and white roses on top. Despite how delicious it looked, not a single sliced had been eaten yet. Kate lifted her head slowly and stared out the kitchen window, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

Her body was pretty much the same as it had been in the previous scene, though she did look frumpier in her green flannel night gown. Her hair was still long and pulled tightly into a bun on the top of her head. But it was when Kate unexpectedly turned and stared into Harry’s corner (almost as if she could see him sitting there), that he could see how much she had aged. Her face was thin and the dark circles under her eyes only accentuated her pasty complexion. It was a look he was familiar with – a body ravaged from sleepless nights.

Kate jumped slightly when she heard him come home, but he could see her bottle up her anxiety and put on a brave front before walking into the next room. Harry quickly got up to follow her. Tom Riddle had immediately gone into his office and started sorting through piles of parchment on the desk. He did not bother to look up when Kate entered the room.

“Where have you been?” she hissed.

“If you must know, I’ve been at work.” Her presence was a mere inconvenience to him.

“I don’t believe that for one minute, Tom. Tell me where you’ve really been?”

He grunted. “Since when have you become so overly interested in my business affairs?”

“Since my husband doesn’t bother to come home to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary!”

Tom glanced up at her and Harry could swear he could see something just beyond his eyes. “And what exactly do I have to celebrate?”

            A ceramic statue of Salazar Slytherin stood on the edge of Tom’s desk until Kate grasped it in her hands and smashed it against the wall. Both he and Harry flinched even though the dozens of pieces that flew through the air would not have been able to cut through Harry’s skin. “I am your wife!” she screamed.

            “A wife who for ten years has been unable to bear me a child - an heir for the legacy that I’m currently creating. What good is a woman who can not grant me this single wish?”

            His words hit her like a verbal slap across the face. “I can’t believe you just said that,” she replied, her voice hollow. “With everything I’ve done for you…years of effort I’ve put into this marriage and all you care about is the fact that I can’t have children? Am I really worth nothing to you?”

            “Listen, Kate. I’m really not in the mood for this argument. You don’t know the shit I’ve been through today.”

            She bristled. “Well, it’s nothing compared to everything you’re going to go through after I’m gone.” And before he had a chance to look up, she had walked out of the room. When he realized that she had left, Tom bolted out of his seat and ran down the hallway and up the large oak staircase leading the master bedroom. Harry practically stumbled on the steps in his effort to follow.

            Tears were streaming down her reddened cheeks as Kate shoved some of her personal belongings into a black leather suitcase. Around her, dozens of robes lay in haphazard piles on the floor and furniture. This is it! I can’t stay here any longer. Not like this…

            Kate didn’t even have a chance to react when Tom stormed into the room and grab her around the waist. He whipped her around and tightened his large hands around her thin arms in a way that would ensure bruises on her skin tomorrow.

            “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

            “Get off of me!” she yelled and tried to pull away.

He reached around her neck and pulled the golden chain of her necklace taunt so that it cut into her throat. Harry suddenly felt like he was being strangled. Tom twisted the cord until it finally snapped and flung the charm against the hard wooden floor. Harry grasped for breath as the tear shaped vial shattered on the ground.

Just as long as she always wears it…I know that she will be safe.

            Tom pushed Kate backwards onto their bed and climbed on top of her, pinning down her legs with his own.

            “Stop it, Tom. I’m serious,” she cried, but her words were weak and caught in her throat. He did not look at her as he covered her mouth with his strong left hand. She struggled helplessly against him while he used his right hand to rip apart the top of her night gown and roughly fondled her breasts. Kate curled up her legs to try to push her husband off with her knees, but he was too powerful. The expression on his face was inhuman and she was forced to close her eyes to avoid his vicious, wild glare. Harry felt his heart pound furiously in his chest, he too wanting to look away.

            Desperate, Kate sunk her teeth into Tom’s hand and a scream escape her mouth in the moment that he pulled away. But this act only irritated him further and he smacked her across the face in rebuttal. Harry placed his hand on his own stinging cheek and was utterly confused by the entire situation. Tom quickly undid his trousers and managed to pushed Kate’s robes up over her hips before prying her legs apart. Harry felt pinned to the wall and despite his frantic effort, he was also trapped in a subservient position. Ghost hands ran themselves over his body, touching and grasping inappropriately even though there was no one there.

            Suddenly there was a painful jabbing sensation in his lower stomach that made Harry grit his teeth and groan. The feeling gradually increased - a tense burning hurt and he was torn between his desire to vomit or cry. In front of him, he could still see Tom as he repeatedly forced himself upon Kate, brutally raping, tearing her apart. She no longer had the strength to fight him nor could she find the man she had married, the boy she had once loved beneath the beast that he had become.

            In the corner, Harry also grew weak - his body being ravaged by an invisible source, that in reality, would be impossible for him to experience as a male. And yet he felt whatever Kate felt - her pain, hopelessness, insolation. Finally, Tom pushed himself off of her, grunted as he pulled up his trousers and stalked out of the room. When the pressure had finally stopped, Harry slid down the wall and crashed onto the floor. He instinctively curled up into a ball, his arms pulling his legs closely into his chest. His throat was sore and his body was exhausted. In the background, he could hear Kate’s muffled tears buried in a pillow.

            When Harry opened his eyes, he found himself once again in the middle of the woods. Sirius had finally fallen asleep and was sprawled out on his back on the edge of the clearing. Harry breathed a sigh of relief once he realized that he had returned to the real, physical world. But there was no way for him to deny that his body was sore from the events of his dreams and his cheeks were still damp from his hot, salty tears.