A Promise Kept - Chapter 31 - An Outing

An Outing

It was indeed rather fascinating to watch Harry work, how he observed the wand movements used to cast a spell before closing his eyes to familiarise himself with the feeling of the magic itself.

The was no denying that his grasp on it was instinctual, as was his ability to replicate just about everything Albus had shown him, some of which, was far beyond anything he would learn during his years at school.

Such things were not unheard of.

He himself had a similar grasp, had nurtured and honed it to be an incredibly useful tool in many things, and to have another just like him to work with, one he could help, was quite the unexpected privilege.

The only other he’d met so gifted was someone who had taken a terrible path in life, but Albus would never deny Gellert’s brilliance, even if his frustrating ego had seen him not work as hard as he had.

It had been the difference in the outcome of their final confrontation, and not even the Elder Wand had been able to close the gap that had formed.

Albus watched as Harry replicated yet another charm, an obscure one that would turn almost anything transparent, a particularly difficult skill that he had seen only few others manage so well.

“Excellent,” he declared, raising his wand, pondering what other magic he might test. “I wonder… Expecto Patronum!”

The warmth of the phoenix filled the room, and Harry’s eyes widened as he took in all that was happening. It elicited a shudder from the boy, an Albus was certain he’d never experienced the spell.

After a moment, he allowed the phoenix to fade and watched his student closely.

Harry again closed his eyes to study the remnants of the spell, nodding to himself thoughtfully.

“Expecto Patronum!”

A bight dome of brilliant light formed at the end of his wand, but despite the look of strained focus, a corporeal patronus did not form.

“I don’t get it,” Harry murmured. “I did everything right.”

“You did,” Albus agreed, “but the patronus charm is one that requires practice. Even the best of men cannot do everything the first time.”

Harry chuckled as he nodded.

“Then I look forward to the challenge.”

The spell had not been mentioned in the month that had gone by since, and Albus had reverted back to focusing on using transfiguration during duels. As he’d expected, Harry was making significant progress in the art, and it would certainly pay dividends when he found himself on the continent during the upcoming championships over the summer break.

Albus would be there, of course, when his duties permitted, and Filius certainly would not miss a day.

It had not escaped the Headmaster’s notice that the man had a certain spring in his step in recent weeks, and he did not doubt that he was pushing Harry harder than ever.

The boy was certainly duelling well.

His form was flawless, his repertoire enviable, but it was his natural instincts and creativity that gave him a certain edge.

Albus could think of few who could defeat him so readily, even fully-fledged witches and wizards would be hard-pressed to stand against him, but there were those he knew of that Harry would was not ready to face, and not even close to be.

Still, he could not help but notice the rather glaring similarities between the boy and the former student that had taken a worse path than any other he knew of.

The way they carried themselves with that undeniable, quiet confidence, and even their mannerisms…

If Albus did not know any better, he would say that the two were related, at the very least. A concerning observation, but one with no substance.

“Excellent,” he praised as Harry defended himself from a rather rigorous onslaught of spells that would have rendered him unconscious. “Enough.”

The boy lowered his wand after vanishing the debris surrounding them and concealed it within the sleeve of his robes.

“A Wolfe creation,” Albus observed.

Harry nodded.

“He seemed to be the best option for a wand. I have become very fond of it.”

“There is nothing quite like the bond between a wizard, or a witch, and their wand.”

“It is everything.”

Albus smiled in response.

“Indeed, just as it is with mastering the magic we can wield with them. With everything worth pursuing, it takes dedication, and practice to achieve true excellence.”

Harry nodded thoughtfully as he drew his wand once more.

“Expecto Patronum.”

Albus watched as the falcon burst from the tip of the wand and began flying laps around the classroom. For several moments, it searched for danger before vanishing through the ceiling above.

“A month?”

Harry shook his head.

“A day.”

Albus chuckled amusedly.

“That is quite the achievement.”

“I don’t like not being able to do something, not when I was so close to doing it the first time. Even though I am able to do most things easily enough, I like working on the things I struggle with, and work at it until I perfect it.”

Albus nodded.

“And that is what will set you apart from the rest, Harry. It is one thing possessing a gift or talent but pushing yourself much harder than even those who must work for things is what is important. Never lose that dedication and passion, Harry. They will be your greatest assets when things inevitably become difficult.”

“Voldemort.”

“Among others. Men like us seldom have one single enemy. They seem to emerge from the shadows throughout our lives, whether it be in our careers, our personal lives, or on the political field. There will always be those who wish to better us, for their own reasons.”

“Isn’t it inevitable that someone will manage it?”

“Indeed it is,” Albus concurred, nodding appreciatively at the young man’s wisdom. “So long as we are prepared for what comes after our personal defeats, they tend not to truly matter as much as you’d expect.”

He allowed himself to be consumed by a myriad of maudlin thoughts before nodding once more.

“Did you discuss your recent discovery with your Healer, Harry?”

The fire the boy could produce was quite magnificent, after all.

“I did, and he is uncertain on what has caused it. He said he’s never come across anything like it, but he will research it in.”

Albus chuckled to himself.

“A Healer to the very core,” he complimented, “but I fear he will find little of use. I may know someone who can shed some light on it, or at the very least, be able to investigate the matter further. I can assure you, Harry, he is a most discreet man.”

The boy frowned.

“Is it Nicholas Flamel?”

“Ah, you are aware of my relationship with him. He will be pleased, but no, it is not Nicholas. For all of his brilliance in Alchemy, and other practices, he may be of little help in this matter. No, I have another in mind, and with your permission, I will reach out to him.”

Harry nodded gratefully.

“Thank you, Professor. The maze is coming along nicely, isn’t it?”

“Hagrid has done a marvellous job,” Albus said proudly. “And what of his little friend that Sirius adopted into your household? Norbert, I believe.”

The smiled as he nodded.

“Norbert is doing exceptionally well,” he assured him fondly, and Albus found himself pondering the nature of the relationship between him and the dragon he seemed to have grown close to these past years.

(Break)

“I do not know how many times we have to have the same argument within these chambers, or even how many times Umbridge, who is not a member of the Wizengamot, is going to be allowed to push for further restrictions on creatures. That is the job of the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, not the Minister’s secretary!”

Most of the other Lords and Ladies made their agreement known, and Sirius shot a glare towards the red-faced Dolores Umbridge as he retook his seat.

Fudge appeared to ant to offer his support to the woman, as did others within his close-knit circle. The man, however, seemed to think better of doing so, and much to Umbridge’s chagrin, quickly dismissed the bill to be revisited at a later date.

Sirius would ensure he was there to face it again when necessary.

What the woman had against the likes of werewolves, hags, vampires, and Veela was not an obsession with keeping others safe. No, it was purely an unfettered hatred towards them, and her prejudice did not stop there.

Sirius had looked into the woman and found that she held half-bloods and muggleborns in such contempt.

He would be watching her closely, just as he was others.

“Edward.”

The elf appeared and offered him a bow, the tips of his ears touching the ground as they flopped forward.

“Lord Black?”

“Have you had any luck finding Pettigrew?”

“Edward has, Lord Black, but he is hidden in a place none can get to. Even the village is watched closely for any magical people and creatures.”

Sirius frowned as he leaned back in his chair.

Peter was certainly not capable of such magic. The buffoon could barely tie his laces with his wand, let alone create such a strong protection.

“Is he alone?”

“No, Lord Black. He is with three others.”

“Do you know who they are?”

“No, Lord Black. Edward is sorry.”

Sirius shook his head.

“There is no need to apologise, Edward. Just keep watching him as closely as you can, please.”

Edward smiled as he nodded.

“Of course, Lord Black.”

He vanished, and Sirius frowned once more, nodding as he pondered just who Peter could be with, but finding no comfort in the answers.

Quirrell and Voldemort had to be two of the three, but who was the third?

Sirius did not know, and it was troubling to say the least, however, without being able to investigate the matter himself, it appeared that he was to remain ignorant, for the time being.

Still, he was certain of one thing, a revelation that made him quite uncomfortable.

Voldemort, in whatever form he found himself, was back in Britain, which meant the Dark Lord had plans in motion that none would become aware of until it was too late.

Nonetheless, it wasn’t as though he could not somewhat prepare. For what exactly, he wasn’t sure.

With Voldemort, there was no telling what the man would do when he was ready.

(Break)

It was rather incredible how differently he felt since he’d made the decision to not continue studying Arithmancy and Magical Creatures. It had given Harry the additional time he needed to rest from his already overwhelming schedule.

Without the time spent in the classroom, and extra hours of homework, he finally felt as though everything else was just a little more manageable, and he certainly was not complaining about the extra sleep and clarity that had come with it.

He’d not even realised that he’d been plagued with a dense fog these past months, but it finally felt as though it was lifting, that he was thinking more clearly rather than drifting from one day to the next in a daze.

It was a most welcome change, and Harry found he was able to concentrate more on the important things.

With all he had to face in the future, he needed to be prepared, be focused on the inevitable, and ready himself for a war the world believed to be over.

Harry knew better. He knew that Voldemort was out there somewhere, biding his time for the right moment to strike, and given what he knew of the man’s exploits, that would come sooner than anyone else was prepared for, perhaps even Harry.

That did not mean, however, that he would be shying away.

As much as he had been plagued by nightmares of the man that had murdered his father, Harry had no intention of running or hiding from the Dark Lord.

On the contrary, he relished the opportunity to avenge James Potter, and to ensure his mother remained safe.

That was what motivated him to keep pushing himself, to keep getting better and better, to suffer now so that he might thrive when it was needed most, to avoid further suffering in ways he’d already endured his share of.

Such, however, was quite inevitable.

With war came loss, and with loss came pain; something Harry did not wish to focus on, not right now.

Releasing a deep breath, he took his leave from his room to join Olivia for a much-needed breakfast before his day begun. What it would bring, he was not so sure, but as he spotted Sabine entering the Great Hall just a little ahead of him, he could not help but revisit the last conversation he’d had with Wendell pertaining to the girl.

She was beautiful, and Harry had enjoyed the back and forth they’d shared over the past few years. What he needed to figure out was if that was all there was between them, and for that, he needed to speak with her, to spend a little more time in her company.

He saw no harm in it.

It wasn’t as though the two of them were likely to ever find themselves in a position that they could be married.

“What’re you smiling at?” Olivia asked, breaking into his thoughts.

“Nothing.”

The girl hummed disbelievingly.

“You’re up to something, Harry potter.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Because you’re always up to something.”

(Break)

He vividly remembered the last time he had found himself here. The country was celebrating the fall of the Dark Lord, and yet, Albus had been unable to allow himself to share in the spirit of victory.

It was false, merely a temporary setback for Tom Riddle, who was not as dead as much of the world believed.

Albus knew better, knew that the man would return, and as he had written Harry Potter’s name next to the question mark on the label of the prophecy, he knew it would be what was then a babe that would eventually free them permanently, or fall trying.

He hoped it would not come to that, not only because it meant that Tom had indeed won, but because he had become quite fond of the boy.

Harry was much like both of his parents in his ways, but also very different in others. He possessed something that most he’d ever encountered lacked, something that could not be taught, something that made Albus question his own thoughts on just how the Dark lord would be defeated.

At first, and even until rather recently, he believed there to be a series of circumstances that might unfold, that might see Harry find a path to victory without the need to truly become Tom’s equal as the words of the prophecy necessitated.

Harry, however, was not a boy, soon to be man, that would show such blind faith. No, Harry was tough, ruthless, and resilient, so much so that he would insist on defeating Lord Voldemort in only a way that would leave him satisfied.

Albus had seen it for himself, those brief flashes of desire for vengeance, and though he could never bring himself to entertain such things, he had to remind himself that he was not Harry potter.

There were those undoubtedly born for conflict, who thrived in it, and during those glimpses into what made Harry who he was, Albus did not doubt that he was one of them.

Through and through, he was a fighter, a warrior, and he conducted himself as such.

“You know where it is, Albus,” Clarence sighed as he arrived at the office of the man he had come to see. “No one has interfered with it.”

“I am pleased to hear it, Clarence, but it is not the prophecy that brings me here. I wish to pick your brain of some expertise I find myself lacking.”

Croaker turned towards him, and Albus could feel the man’s gaze on him from beneath his hood.

“My expertise.”

Albus nodded.

“I recently witnessed quite the anomaly. Someone was on the brink of death and found themselves sustained by the magic of a Veela. Not only did it assist in healing this person, but it appears their magic has somehow taken on some of the properties of the Veela itself. Their use of fire spells has become quite the spectacle to behold.”

Croaker said nothing as he continued to stare at Albus before he chuckled.

“Theoretically, not impossible, but I have not seen nor heard of it happening, not organically, at least.”

“But you know of an instance it has?”

“A few, but these occurrences were the result of meddling fools pushing boundaries they should not have, as is the way of all fools. Without inspecting the boy or testing him, I can offer no explanation.”

“I did not mention it was a boy.”

“You did not need to. I may spend most days down here, but I read the news, Albus. Bring him here Friday evening when the rest of the Ministry is empty, and we will get to the bottom of the matter.”

“The final task is on Friday.”

“Then I expect it will be even quieter here,” Clarence pointed out. “Besides, him being here will certainly ensure he is not somehow involved in the last act, wouldn’t it?”

Albus nodded.

“I will bring him.”

“Good,” Croaker declared.

He said nothing else, turning back towards whatever wonderful thing he found himself working on, and Albus took the dismissal with the intended sentiment.

At least this time, Clarence had not sworn at him, so, he assumed the man was either happy to help, or excited at the prospect of studying something new.

One could never truly tell where Clarence Croaker was concerned.

(Break)

“You already know he isn’t coming.”

“Who isn’t?”

Clara Goode quirked an eyebrow at her, and Sabine looked away from the doorway into the Arithmancy class she had been watching.

The two of them had grown up together, and there was no one that knew her better.

“Your little plaything.”

“I do not have a plaything.”

Clara shook her head amusedly.

“He’s not been here for a month now, and he hasn’t been to the Creatures classes either.”

“I have no idea what you mean.”

Clara tutted.

“The two of you are pathetic. You stare at him, and when you’re not looking, he’s staring at you. What is going on? What are you not telling me?”

Sabine shook her head.

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “We almost kissed a while ago, but Sid…”

“You didn’t!”

“No, we didn’t, but I wanted to.”

“He didn’t?”

Sabine shrugged.

“I think we both were too shy.”

“Like I said, pathetic,” Clara teased.

“Some of us are a little fussy on who we kiss.”

The girl narrowed her eyes at her.

“So, you haven’t since…”

“No. I feel like I’ve been the one chasing him, and I want him to chase me for once.”

“Then you will never get to kiss him, and probably for the best. Your father would hit the roof…”

“I know,” Sabine said with a grin.

“So, you just want to kiss Potter because it will infuriate your father?”

“No, that’s not it. I like Harry, and I know that we won’t ever get married or anything, but I don’t see the harm in enjoying it before I’m married to Winthrop.”

Clara grimaced at the mention of her intended.

“I don’t blame you,” she murmured. “I’d sooner die a virgin than let him near me. He gives me the creeps. There’s something about him that’s not right.”

“Probably his wandering eyes.”

“You mean inbred eyes. Aren’t his parents cousins?”

“So are his grandparents, and his great grandparents were auntie and nephew.”

“That explains a lot,” Clara snorted. “Anyway, you and Potter…”

“There isn’t a me and Potter. We speak occasionally and flirt, but that’s it.”

“But you want more, if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be looking out for him every second of the day.”

“I don’t do that!”

Clara hummed.

“Oh, there he is.”

Sabine turned sharply towards the door, only for her friend’s laughter to dash the little hope that had filled her chest.

“That was a mean joke, and I’m sorry. Want me to have a word with him?”

“No,” Sabine huffed. “If he wants to speak with me, he’d better be ready to put the effort in. If he doesn’t…”

She broke off with a shrug, but her gaze flitted towards the door again.

He’d abruptly stopped coming to Arithmancy lessons, and he’d scarcely been around for the entire school year. It seemed as though he was only here to play Quodpot, but Sabine knew he was attending other lessons.

Even so, that did not explain why he was so absent, and it wasn’t as though she was going to learn the reason behind it.

Maybe there was a new security measure in place after what had happened during the previous summer, but if that was so, how had he been at Hogwarts of all places during another public event that was so dangerous?

There were so many questions plaguing her, intriguing questions, but still none quite as intriguing as the boy himself.

“Is this yours?”

She frowned at the piece of parchment Clara was holding up before taking it.

The penmanship was somewhat familiar, enough to know who the note had come from, but how had he gotten it to her?

After training this evening?

“What is it?”

“Nothing,” Sabine denied as she pocketed the parchment, her gaze roaming around the Arithmancy classroom. There was no sign of Harry Potter other than the note he had somehow left on her desk whilst she’d been sitting at it.

(Break)

“It’s not the task that is bothering you, is it?”

Sirus turned from the window of his office he’d been peering out of and was met by the concerned expression of his oldest remaining friend.

No, it wasn’t the upcoming final task that was bothering him, nor was it even Umbridge’s ongoing obsession with implementing new laws that would likely see Remus lose his job.

“What is it?”

He deflated at the question.

“A bad feeling with only a little knowledge,” Sirius sighed.

Remus frowned, and Sirius held up a hand before casting a series of privacy charms to ensure they were not overheard.

“I hired a new elf,” he explained. “I had it following Malfoy, but the git is too slippery to be caught doing anything outside of his house.”

“An elf?”

“Edward. He’s a useful little bugger, but when I realised he wouldn’t get much on Lucius, I had him looking for Wormtail.”

Remus’s expression darkened at the mention of the man.

“He found him.”

“Yes, and no,” Sirius huffed. “He knows where he is, but he can’t get any nearer to him, and the protections in place will detect any magical person that gets too close.”

“No, Peter could not…”

“Exactly,” Sirius broke in gravely. “Peter could not, but his master can.”

“He’s in Britain?”

“He is.”

Remus stood and began pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace.

“He wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t up to something. It is too risky.”

“Those are my thoughts, and you see the problem. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Have you told Albus?”

“Not yet.”

“Do you think we should mention it?”

“When the tournament is done,” Sirius murmured, looking back towards the maze on the grounds. “One thing at a time, Moony.”

(Break)

He wasn’t even certain what he’d been thinking when he’d deposited the note on Sabine’s desk, and he’d not intended to overhear the conversation between the girl and her friend.

Sabine, however, had been right in her assessment. She had made all the effort in trying to get to know him, and he had simply taken a backseat, and made no effort of his own.

What he intended, he didn’t know, but as Harry finished showering and wrapped himself in a towel, he found he was looking forward to spending time with her.

With Sabine, it was different.

He’d been friends with Olivia, Maggie, Marisa, and Isabelle from the moment he’d arrived, had grown up with them throughout their time here.

Of course, he’d met Sabine during his first year, but they’d never established anything of a boundary when it came to whatever their relationship was or had ever been.

She was undoubtedly beautiful, had a similar sense of humour to his own, but more than anything, she’d never seemed to be in awe of him as the others had when they’d learned his name.

Not that Harry held it against the others in any capacity. What had happened to him as a babe was quite unheard of, and his life ever since had been shrouded in mystery to the outside world.

He chuckled at the thought.

Truthfully, there was little mystery about him.

For the most part, Harry was just like any other teenager, and this evening, he would find himself pursuing one of the things teenagers experimented with.

He’d never been on a date, not really. With Fleur, they had attended the Yule Ball together, but there had been no indication of romance. Both had been rather on edge throughout the evening, and both were acutely aware of all the eyes on them.

Not that Harry had not enjoyed it, and Fleur had certainly made for good company.

This, however, was different, even if he was still unsure on what he and Sabine would do together.

“Bloody hell!” he gasped as he caught sight of her sitting on one of the benches in the changing room. “You frightened the life out of me.”

 He did not miss her eyes roaming over his exposed torso, and they came to rest on the feathered scars on his collarbone and ribcage.

“Well, I didn’t want Sid to see me, did I?”

“I suppose that’s true,” Harry conceded. “Mind if I get changed?”

“Go ahead,” Sabine replied, folding her arms and crossing her legs as she leaned back.

Summoning his wand, Harry conjured a privacy screen, eliciting a huff from the girl.

“How rude.”

“You’re in the boys’ changing room.”

“Exactly, so I should get to enjoy it.”

“I always said you’d get me into trouble.”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

He could hear the teasing in her tone, and being lost for a response, he chose to finish getting dressed before vanishing the privacy screen.

“Is that what you want, to get me into trouble?”

Sabine hummed as she stood.

“Only in the best possible ways. Now, you asked me to come here, so, what is it you want, Harry Potter?”

As ever, she appeared to be more confident than she likely felt, and he’d not forgotten why they were here.

“I wanted to spend some time with you,” he answered honestly. “I think I owe you that much.”

“You do, now, how would you like to spend some time with me?”

Harry frowned thoughtfully before an idea entered his mind. They would undoubtedly be in trouble if they were caught, but it wasn’t as though either of them would tell anyone.

“Have you ever been to London?”

Her eyebrows almost disappeared into her hairline before a smile graced her lips.

“You’re going to take me to London?”

“It is only lunchtime there, and I can get us there and back without anyone knowing. You’ll be back in time for bed.”

“Now who’s trying to get the other into trouble?”

Harry shrugged.

“Are you in?”

“I am, but how?”

“Follow me,” Harry urged.

(Break)

Although his patience had been waning these past moons, the Dark Lord now found himself in a state of anticipation whilst he waited for the final details of his plan to come together.

Oh, it was risky, but there would be no reward without it.

“All is prepared, my lord,” Quirinus reassured him for the umpteenth time.

Lord Voldemort suspected he was reassuring himself more than him, but the words somehow brought him some much-needed comfort. What lie ahead of him would be most unpleasant, but it would not compare to the suffering he’d already endured.

No, the pain would mean it was working, and with it, his sense of purpose would be restored, only this time, he would be stronger, more powerful than any could ever have envisioned.

The very thought brough a smile to his lips, and though it was only a matter of days away, his impatience began to build just a little more.

“It will work,” he murmured, working through his calculations once again.

He would do so until the moment arrived, but he was certain in his work.

The Dark Lord was always certain.

(Break)

She couldn’t quite believe the way her day had turned out.

Only this morning, she’d been speaking with Clara about how things had, or had not, progressed with Harry, how she’d not spent any time with him since the previous year, and now, she was in London, walking arm in arm with him along a footpath next to the Thames.

Sabine had been rather taken aback by his cloak, the various portkeys he carried about himself, and his ability to alter both of their features so that they looked like entirely different people, and yet, there was no mistaking him for anyone else.

There had always been a quiet confidence about him, a presence even, and even through the glamours, she knew that she was being escorted by Harry Potter.

“We’d be better of disguising ourselves, even in the muggle world,” he said apologetically.

Sabine nodded her understanding.

She couldn’t quite fathom just how famous he was, but it had only grown since the previous summer with his attendance at the Quidditch World Cup, and even more so at the Yule Ball…

She frowned as she remembered the various articles she had seen of the boy, and the beautiful older girl he’d escorted.

“What is it?” Harry asked.

“The girl you went with to the ball…”

“Fleur. What about her?”

“Isn’t she the sister of the girl you pulled from the lake?”

Harry nodded.

“Gabrielle,” he said fondly. “Fleur asked me to go with her because I am able to fend off the effects of her magic. Gabrielle is Isabelle’s cousin, and we met during the summer after first year. She goes to Beauxbatons.”

Sabine nodded.

“Why?”

“I was just curious.”

She was.

Veela were not so prevalent in the United States as they were in Europe, but she knew enough about them to understand the effect they could have on men.

Not that she had ever met one.

“What about you, what makes you so interesting, other than your beauty that everyone gawps at you?”

Sabine laughed and felt her cheeks redden slightly from the compliment.

“My family name,” she answered simply. “We are the richest and most known family in the country, so, anyone who is or wants to be anyone, tends to pay attention to us. Honestly, it is difficult to tell who has the purest of intentions when we interact with them. There’s too much politicking.”

“I have that to look forward to myself,” Harry grumbled. “What about your family. I know you have a few brothers.”

“Seven, and six of them are older than me. I have one younger brother, Clayton. Even when I’m at home, I don’t see any of them much. The boys spend more time with my father, and to him I’m just someone to be married off to strengthen our ties with another family.”

Harry shook his head.

“Pureblood bollocks.”

“Exactly,” Sabine sighed. “So, you live with your mother and godfather?”

“And another friend of my father during the holidays,” Harry said fondly. “Remus. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts.”

“People always wonder why you didn’t go there.”

“I think my mother wanted to protect me from the fame for as long as she could, and it doesn’t help that some of Voldemort’s followers are still free.”

“I’ll never understand how they managed that.”

“Bribery and corruption,” Harry snorted humourlessly. “It’s the same here as it is anywhere else. Gold talks, and if you’re not rich, you’d better be able to handle yourself as the Lord of your family.”

“Well, for what it is worth, I think you’ll be fine. You sent my brothers packing.”

He grinned as he shook his head.

“I don’t like bullies. It wasn’t as though we were doing anything wrong.”

“No, but they’re idiots, and my father told them to watch out for me.”

“He’s not my biggest fan.”

“No, but I think he is quite impressed with you. He doesn’t seem to hold a grudge against you, and if anything, he would rather be on better terms…”

“Because of how famous I am.”

Sabine offered him an apologetic look.

“It’s the way of the world, isn’t it? I’m to be married off for political purposes, and people will want to kiss your ass for the same reason.”

“True, but we don’t have to think about any of that today. What will come will come. Some things we’ll have no control over, but others we will.”

Sabine nodded thoughtfully.

“I like that. Do you come to London often?”

“No, this is my first time. I’ve not really seen Britain much.”

“It’s nice here.”

“If you like big cities. I grew up on a ranch and prefer a quiet life.”

“We live in a manor with no neighbours. I spend most of my time in the stables, or the woodland. I sometimes even visit national parks.”

“You fancy yourself as an adventurer.”

Sabine nodded.

“I’d like to see the world before I’m married off, maybe look for lost magical places.”

“That sounds fun.”

“Then maybe we can find time to do that before, well, you know…”

“Even if you’re married, I can just come and steal you away like today.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Harry chuckled.

Sabine smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“We have to go back soon, don’t we?”

He nodded, and his wand snapped into his hand as a small burst of fire deposited a piece of parchment in front of them. Snatching it out of the air, Harry read it before it disintegrated into ash.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” he assured her. “Just a message from a friend who likes to show off. Come on, I’d best get you back before anyone notices you’re missing.”

“And you.”

“I’m always missing,” Harry said with a grin, taking a look around them before activating a portkey.

They arrived back in his room, a tidy but functional space, and he concealed them within the wonderful cloak that belonged to them. Beneath it, they were what most would consider to be uncomfortably close, but Sabine did not mind the intimacy, even less so now after having spent so much time with him.

It was odd.

There had been no need for propriety between them, neither caring much for such things, and it was easy to forget that he was Harry Potter, a boy famous since before he’d been able to hold a conversation for ridding the world of one of the very worst Dark Lords in recent memory.

Harry wasn’t as she’d expected, an in truth, Sabine was glad for it. Yes, he was confident, but there was a shyness to him, a humbleness most in his position would lack.

With him, she had felt as though she could just be herself, that her name was not at the forefront of his mind.

It was the freest she had ever felt, and Sabine could not deny that she was already saddened that it was coming to an end, for now, at least.

She would be seeing more of him. If he thought for one moment he was off the hook for the months of ignorance, he had another thing coming.

“Here we are.”

“And how do you know where my common room is?” she asked as she turned to face him.

He grinned in response.

“I know more about this castle than most.”

“Then maybe you will have to show me around.”

“Maybe.”

Sabine shook her head amusedly but realised that the two of them were only an inch apart. She could feel his warm breath on her cheek, and her own hitched in her chest as she looked into his eyes.

She could lose herself in them, and for a moment, she did, only closing them when their lips met in a chaste, but almost needy kiss.

When they broke apart, she delayed opening her eyes, wanting to revel in the moment, perhaps the only one like this she would have with someone she desired intimacy with.

“I think it might be you that gets me into trouble, Harry Potter,” she whispered, closing the distance between them once more.

This time, it was less measured, unpractised, and even somewhat clumsy, but to Sabine, and she hoped for Harry, it was perfect.