Soul Pieces

SOUL PIECES

Chapter 04: Holy and UnHoly

"Blood Hell! But tell me Hermione, how in hell do you know that?"

"Well, Ronald, if you had read Hogwarts, a History, you would know that Hufflepuff's parents named her after the place she was born: the Holy Island," Hermione said in an impatient voice.

"Well, Hermy, why would I read that damn book if you know it by heart?"

"Ronald..."

"Shut up you two!" Harry cried, a little irritated with his two friends.

Merlin, how he hated that bickering... that- that- flirting!

No, they aren't flirting...There're nothing between them, right? Yep, right.

But they kissed each other...

Yep, kissed. Past tense!

Well, but if wasn't a war time...

I know! I know! They would be together!

Together!

And I would be very happy for them...

Don't lie...

Shut up!

"Harry?" he heard Hermione's voice. "Are you all right?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry. Just thinking...But, Mione, does this mean, what I think it does?"

"Yes, Harry. I may be wrong, but I think we know where Hufflepuff's Cup is."

"Godric's Hollow."

"Yes. Everything seems to lead that way. Whether you like or not, Godric's Hollow has a very important meaning for Voldemort."

Released of the initial surprise, Ron asked, "Okay, I agree with you, Hermione. But there is one thing. How was You-Know-Who able to put the Cup there? Because, think, before the attack, he couldn't have put it there. The only person who could have done it was Pettigrew, but You-Know-Who wouldn't risk his spy. And after the attack, well, he didn't have ....a body."

"Yeah, I'm thinking the same thing," replied Hermione.

"Not to mention that the Cup must have been in another place, another meaningful place, until he could put it at Godric's Hollow," intervened Harry.

"Hogwarts."

"Yes, Ron. The question now is how did he manage to get it in there?"

"Not only how, Harry, but, why? Why put the cup there? I know, I mentioned the importance of Godric's Hollow and that it's located on the same island where Helga Hufflepuff lived, but I don't think Voldemort was too interested in Hufflepuff's history. Why didn't he leave the cup at Hogwarts? Or why didn't he use something from Gryffindor? There's something missing."

"I don't know, 'Mione."

"I think, Harry, that we need to talk with Dumbledore."

The two boys looked at her as if she had two heads. Talk with Dumbledore?

"Hermione..."Ron began but was interrupted by Harry.

"No, Ron! Hermione is right. We need to talk to Dumbledore. The portrait, Ron, the portrait!"

At the same time, Hermione was writing a note. After finishing, she gave Harry the parchment.

"Harry, send Hedwig to McGonagall."

Harry opened the note and read:

"Dear Professor,

We need, with urgency, to see Dumbledore's portrait.

Sincerely,

The Trio. "

)))))))))))))))))))

Several hours later, Hedwig returned with an answer.

"Look, Harry! Ron! There is a reply."

Harry opened the envelope and noticed a note and a chocolate frog card.

Dear Trio,

Please hold the card and say the place where the portrait is five minutes after you receive this note. I will be waiting.

Sincerely,

Professor M.M."

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Five minutes! Five minutes!" Hermione began to panic.

Ron shook his head and said, "Calm down, Hermione."

"Ron's right. Calm down. I'll write a note to Remus and Tonks. Take the card."

"Remus and Tonks,

We needed to see Professor M.

Don't worry.

Harry, Ron and Hermione. "

"Let's go!" Harry announced.

The trio held the card and shouted together,

"Hogwarts. Headmistress' Office!"

The usual pull on his navel threw Harry's body and in a few seconds they were arrived at Hogwarts. A tired Headmistress was waiting for them.

"So, there you are. I hope is everything alright."

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley Miss. Granger," a very familiar voice greeted. Dumbledore.

There he was, the most powerful wizard in the world and he was in a portrait. The three friends looked at him with discomfort and sadness in their eyes.

"Good Afternoon, Professor," the said in unison.

"Good Afternoon to you too, my dears. And please, don't look at me with those sad eyes. Harry, is everything okay with you, my boy?"

"Yes, Professor. I'm living with Hermione (Ron made a little movement, showing discomfort. The others pretended not to notice) and Remus in Tonks' house."

"I know, Harry. Now, Minerva told me you needed to talk to me. But before we start, Mr.Weasley...."

Ron jumped when he heard her name. Bloody Hell, it's creepy!

"Don't be afraid, dear Ronald. I'll only ask if you already saw the chocolate frog card?"

"No..."

"Take a look, please."

Ron took the card and when he saw the picture, his eyes opened wide, a big smile on his face.

"Look, Harry! It's Agrippa! Agrippa! I can't believe it! Thank you, Professor!"

"You're welcome. Now, Minerva..."

"I already know, Albus. I'm leaving. I'll be at my former office." She turned to Harry, Hermione and Ron. "Mr. Potter, Mr.Weasley, Miss Granger. After your meeting with Professor Dumbledore, please come to my office. The old one."

Before they could reply, she had already left.

"So, what do you need to talk about?"

"Professor, we think we know where the Hufflepuff's cup is." And then Hermione told him everything.

When she finished, Dumbledore had the familiar twinkle with his eyes.

"Very good. You were faster than I thought."

Those words made Harry's bloody began to boil.

"What! Did you already know? I can't believe it!"

"Harry..."

"No, Hermione.... he knew!"

"No, Harry I didn't know. I only had my suspicions."

"So why hadn't you said anything?"

"I didn't have time."

Those words seemed to have thrown an arrow into everyone hearts.

He didn't have time. He died before...

"But now, you're here. Well, almost. So, why hadn't you..."

"I need you to understand one thing. I am not allowed to say anything. Let me explain. I am not a person anymore; I am an image, a picture. I can't say meaningful things to you, things that might change something or someone. You must bring the answers, I can't give you the questions," said Dumbledore.

Ron looked at the old Professor like he was crazy.

"I don't think death did him any good. Now he's really mental," the redhead muttered

Harry had to agree.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake you two!" cried an exasperated Hermione. "Didn't you understand? We brought the answers! "

"Hermione..."

"No, listen! He couldn't say where the Cup is. But we already know this. Now we can ask him the questions, the why and how! He only can answer a direct question."

"Very good, Miss Granger. Boys, do you understand?"

"Well..."

"I can only answer a specific type of question. I can't elaborate beyond the answer to that specific question. I can't call you to say something. You have to come here and ask As Miss Granger said, you brought to me two questions: How and Why. Now, I will tell you.

"As you may know, Hogwarts was founded by the four most powerful wizards and witches of their time. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw lived here in Scotland. Salazar Slytherin lived in East Anglia and Helga Hufflepuff in Wales. Godric and Salazar already knew each other and the fact that he and Rowena lived nearby made those two friends."

"But Helga? How?"

"Rowena found out about a witch in Ireland who was teaching magic ..."

"Queen Mavae," intervened Ron. The other two looked at him. "Chocolate frog card," he explained.

"Yes, Mr. Weasley, Queen Mavae. When Rowena found out about that, she wanted to know the Queen so she went to Ireland. There, she knew a young witch from Wales, who was visiting Queen Mavae with the same reason as Rowena. Rowena and this witch became instant friends."

"Helga Hufflepuff."

"Yes, Harry. So, they became very good friends but Rowena had to return to Scotland and then she told Godric about the Queen and Helga ..."

"And he went to Wales ..."

"Yes, and then he met her. And they fell in love,"

"What?" Ron exclaimed. "Godric Gryffindor. The Godric Gryffindor fell in love with a Hufflepuff?! Bloody Hell!"

"Ron!" Hermione admonished.

"So, that's why Godric's Hollow..."

"Yes, Harry. Godric's Hollow was the place where they met each other. With time, the big property became a small village."

"But why did Voldemort...."

"You see, Tom doesn't agree with Rowena and Godric's ideals, but what he most despises is Helga's ideal in particular."

"A school without prejudice. A school where everyone can study."

"Yes, Miss Granger. And your father, Harry, followed Hufflepuff's ideal."

"He was a pure blood who married a Muggleborn. But Professor, I don't understand how he put the cup there if the cup was here in Hogwarts..."

"Quirrell!" Hermione cried out. "Professor Quirrell. He took the cup and brought it to Godric's Hollow. After Voldemort's downfall, Hogwarts wasn't so meaningful anymore and Voldemort needed to go back there!"

"Needed? I don't understand," Harry interjected.

"Harry, his wand! Voldemort's wand was left there! As a spirit or whatever else he became, he couldn't take the wand himself, so..."

"Quirrell took it and probably hid it somewhere until Voldemort could use the wand again."

"Very good, very good. I think you understand now," Dumbledore praised.

"But Professor, how we will get the cup? I mean, the others objects were surrounded by some type of trap."

"I don't know, Miss Granger. But do you remember what kind..."

"Poison. The horcruxes related to Slytherin were in a kind of poison. Snake poison. Slytherin's snake."

"Very good, Miss Granger. Now the three of you must go. I think Professor McGonagall wants to see you." And with that, the old Headmaster left his portrait.

"Oh, great help. What did he mean about Slytherin's snake?"

"Ron, the symbol of Slytherin is a snake, therefore he trap where the cup is must have something to do with Hufflepuff's symbol."

"But Hufflepuff's symbol is a badger, a bloody badger! I can see the pattern if it's snake. Snake equals poison. But a badger...a badger is...a badger."

"I don't know, Ron. I really don't but we need to find out," Hermione said. And they left Dumbledore's old office and went to see Professor McGonagall.

***

At Professor McGonagall's former office, the three found out that the old professor wasn't alone. Remus Lupin was with her.

"Remus, what are you doing here?" Harry asked.

"I think I'm the one who should ask that question," he replied. "I came to take you home. I brought a portkey."

"I don't understand, why did you have to bring a portkey, couldn't Professor...?"

"No, Mr. Potter. I only can give you a portkey to leave your destination, not to enter it."

"It's Tonk's house, Harry. Only she can make a portkey to enter the house," answered Hermione.

"Oh."

"Very well. You two go with Mr. Lupin," she said pointing at Harry and Hermione. "You, Mr. Weasley, can use my fireplace. Your mother opened the floo connection to the Burrow only for this."

The three looked a little disappointed. They had so much to discuss and Harry wanted to talk to Ron. Alone.

The dark hair wizard didn't know if it was a Dumbledore's influence. But, the fact was that Professor McGonagall seemed to notice something different in him.

"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley. I would like to talk to Miss Granger in private. Could you please...?"

Harry smiled.

"Sure. Ron and I will be outside."

***

"Ron," Harry began. "Er..."

The other boy already knew what Harry wanted to know.

"She misses you, Harry. Sometimes, I heard her crying."

Harry felt terrible. Ginny was crying while he was having dirty dreams about Hermione.

"I'm sorry, Ron."

"You know, Harry, if you were another bloke, I would hex you. But, despite the fact that I don't like to see my sis suffering, I think you did the right thing. This year won't be easy, mate. And how would you feel when you might have to lie to her?"

"Terrible," Harry responded.

"Yeah, she doesn't know what we need to do. We can't have distractions this year," he inhaled a deep breath. "No heart business."

"You and Hermione," Harry started.

"Yeah. I think she told you, didn't she? That's all right. We, well, especially me, I waste too much time. But like in your case, I think it was better this way. At least, I talked to her."

Harry didn't know what to say. He saw the sadness in his friend's eyes. The awkward silence was broken by Remus' voice. They were leaving.

+++

Tonks' House

Almost Midnight

Harry was in his bed. He had so many thoughts running through his mind at the same time that it almost hurt. So much information in one single day...

Shaking his head, he got up from bed and went to the bathroom; he needed to wash his face. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even notice that the light inside the bathroom was on. He had just opened the door...

"Oh, my god! Harry!"

It was Hermione. She was wearing only her panties. She was intended to take a shower...

Harry knew he should have turned around and left, but he couldn't. He simply stood there, completely paralyzed, watching her trying to cover her naked breasts with her small hands.

"Harry, please! Leave!"

The young wizard didn't say a word. He just turned around and left.

Harry stood outside the door in the hallway and he could hear the sound of running water inside the bathroom. Smiling, he went to his room.

Some time later, he left his room again. He went to the hall and stopped in front Hermione's bedroom. The light was on. Lightly, he knocked.

"'Mione, it's me, Harry. May I come in?"

"Yeah, Harry," she responded.

Hermione was in her bed, rubbing behind Crookshanks' ear. She was fully clothed in pink pajamas.

Harry sat on the bed, facing her.

"I'm really sorry, Hermione. Really."

"It's alright, Harry. I mean, it was a little shock, but I know it was an accident. And it was my mistake too. I forgot to lock the door."

He took her hands in his.

"We aren't children anymore," he said in a very low voice.

"No, we aren't."

"But we're friends. And we always will be."

Harry then hugged her and they remained that way, in silence, in each other arms.

Without letting her go, he whispered into her hair, "By the way, you have really nice breasts."

She didn't move. Only replied, "Your body isn't bad either."

He let her go in surprise.

"Oh, come on Harry. I had already told you last year how fanciable you are."

"So, do you fancy me?"

"No, Harry. I don't, but I'm not blind. And I know you like to walk at night around the house without a shirt on."

"Hermione! Have you been watching me?"

"Don't give me that face, Potter. I know very well that you watch me too."

"Hermione, I never..."

"Let me think...um...a towel ...a young dark hair wizard running to his dorm...."

Harry's face turned red like a tomato.

"It's all right, Harry."

She hugged him again.

"And, do you dream about me, Harry?"

With a sly voice, he whispered, "Every night, Hermione. Every night."