Soul Pieces

SOUL PIECES

Chapter 13: A chat with the hat

Hogsmeade; it was a sunny day. He saw Hermione with two other people.

They were arguing.

Stop. Blur.

Curses.

Blur.

Hermione was hit.

Blur.

Ginny looked at him. She had blood on her hands.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm so sorry."

"Noooooo!"

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Grimmauld Place. Harry Potter woke up after another nightmare.

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A few doors ahead, Hermione Granger had just decided to tell Harry about the pregnancy. She would tell him after they came back from Hogwarts; after he had time to speak to the sorting hat.

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Hogwarts: Headmistress' Office.

Ridiculous. Harry Potter was feeling ridiculous with that old Hat on his head and Hermione and Ron looking at him expectantly.

Okay, he knew he should be the one to wear it, but ...it's ridiculous! He just hoped that the Hat would give him at least one clue about the Horcrux.

Well, well, Mister Potter! I missed you this year, you know?

(Sorry, I can't say the same.)

Always the Potter Temper...

(I hate to interrupt, but I need to ask you some important questions.)

You want to talk about the Dark Lord.

(How did you know?)

I know many things, Potter.

(Whatever, I need to know if Riddle utilized you...)

The Dark Lord didn't use me or any other object that belonged to my former owner.

(So, the object he used is from Ravenclaw! You probably don't know which object is though, right?)

Everything has a reason. Nothing is an accident.
Every piece has a purpose.
All pieces need the others.
They are meant to be together.
They complete each other.
Different, but, at same time, equals:
The blue, the green, the brown;
Protection, intuition and inspiration.

(What?)

It's the Lion Task.

(But you said that Riddle didn't take any object from Gryffindor!)

The lion will be able to destroy the fifth evil.

(But how will I find what object it is? We read everything about Ravenclaw and we didn't find anything meaningful!)

Neither everything is writing on the books.

(Great. Just, great!)

Look inside you. Look at your desires, your love for Miss Granger.

(I don't love Hermione!)

You know that's not true.

(I c-c-can't.)

Your heart is hers and you know this. You always knew.
Your heart, mind and soul belong to her.

(No, I can 't...)

Love and Desire, Mister Potter! Now, you must go.

(But you didn't say anything!)

No, Mister Potter, I told you EVERYTHING...
But, perhaps, the Lady could help you...

And the Hat became silent.

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Harry was even more confused after his encounter with the hat than he was before the visit. But the truth was that he didn't want to think about Horcruxes, lions and ladies (whatever that meant). His mind was confused.

He only could think about Hermione. Okay, he knew he probably did like Hermione as a little more than a friend... but love?

He couldn't love her; she was his best friend. Their situation was a little different...because they were sleeping together, but...

You can lie to everybody else but you can't lie to yourself forever, a little voice at the back of his mind berated. And that day he knew he couldn't deny it anymore.

He knew he was desperately in love with his best friend, so he made a decision.

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Hermione was nervous. It was almost midnight and she knew Harry would soon join her.

Merlin! She would tell him about the baby and how she loved him. She would tell him everything.

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At exactly midnight, Harry entered Hermione's bedroom. He gave her a small smile and sat on her bed beside her.

God, she's so beautiful.

He took her small hands in his.

"I need to tell you something," they said at same time.

They laughed a little and then, Harry spoke again, "Please, you first."

"Oh, no."

He probably wants to talk about the Horcruxes. It's better if I tell him afterwards.

"Okay," he said and took a long, slow breath. "You know Mione, that we've known each other for seven years. You have always been by my side. No matter what."

"No, last year I..."

"Let's not talk about last year. I want to talk about now. Things have changed. Our relationship has changed."

"Oh, God! He's going to say he loves me!" she screamed inside her head.

"We spend almost every night together and I love the way the things are but..." he hesitated.

But you want more! Me too, Harry! I want to be with you and our baby...

"But..." he couldn't finish.

Hermione smiled and began to caress his face.

"It's alright, Harry. Don't be afraid."

He closed his eyes. This is so difficult...

"Well, the thing is...I want to stop."

Hermione looked at him in surprise. Her hand wasn't on his face anymore.

"What are you talking about, Harry?"

"I'm saying that I don't want to sleep with you anymore. The sex is really great, you're amazing, really! But I need to focus on other things. So, well, that's it I guess." He paused and looked away from her. "I hope you're not upset. It's just sex, right? We're still best friends; but tell me, what did you want to say?" he asked.