Two Worlds of Magic, ch. 18-19
Hermione had been lying on the coach for almost three hours since she had awaked.
She felt terribly empty inside. Her eyes ached from long crying, and she could tell they were red and swollen.
It was light outside, so it was probably day time. And still she didn’t hear a thing. Everithing was deadly quiet.
And only one thing never left her mind - Ginny died.
It was so impossible, so improbable and at the same time - so very true.
She lost a sister. Because Ginny was like a sister to her.
“See ya on the match, Hermione! Ron promised me to wash all my dishes during a whole week for my going there!”
They were to meet at the Quidditch match at Saturday.
Ginny will never see Quidditch again.
Hermione felt the tears appear again. Her temples began throbbing. She covered her face with hands.
“Oh, have you heard that? Victor Crum is playing! Missed him, huh?”
No, she didn’t miss Krum, she is missing her, Ginny, now.
Hermione jumped to her feet, the blanket falling on the floor.
I can’t take it, she thought desperately, pacing the room angrily, I can’t deal with it.
She didn’t even have time to tell Ginny about her new work, about House.
She stopped abruptly. She hasn’t thought about House for quite long.
Is he ok? Is he angry with her for leaving like that? Did he understand that she was a witch?!
A moment distraction from the thoughts of Ginny was just the very thing she needed. She needed something to busy herself with, something to think of. House was exactly that thing.
He certainly summed up two and two and guessed who she really was. He was the smartest guy she knew after all, except may be Dumbledore. How did he react then? Was he mad? Or may be he simply didn’t believe it? He probably went to Wilson for explanations. Well, Wilson, being a milksop as he was, would certainly tell him everything after being put under some pressure or even blackmail.
So what now? Would she have problems with the Ministry about Secrecy Status? Not that she cared so much about it now, when so many people died and Ginny…
Ginny again. Everything she tried to think of would eventually end up on Ginny! She was so tired of it! She just wanted to sleep normally a little bit, without awful dreams of someone dying again and again.
How could Harry live with this since he was fourteen? She thought unhappily.
And one more thing.
She killed a person.
She fell on the coach, petrified with that thought. She only remembered that now. She could feel her stomach jump and her heart freeze. Not only she voluntarily killed a man, but she also enjoyed the process. She enjoyed torturing him.
Now, what kind of person was she?
Hermione had always believed she had a big kind heart, so her parents and later her teachers told her. She believed she was quite kind.
But she killed Greyback not with her kindness, didn’t she?
How could she then look her friends in the eye with the knowing that she was nothing better than a Death Eater. It didn’t matter after all that he was a killer of her friends, a Death Eater. Only one thing matters now - she’s the killer.
I am a killer, she thought as the tear rolled down her cheek. I can be a Death Eater as well.
A decision was made immediately. She couldn’t stay in that house with these people any more. She felt dirty and sick, as if by staying in Burrow she could infect other Weasleys with her dirt.
Hermione quickly found her clothes in the darkness and put them on. She will send them a Patronus, but now she had to leave. She will now go home and try to sleep there.
She looked around one last time, and with a heart-rending thought that nothing will be ok now, she disapparated straight to her flat.
A small cry of astonishment did catch her off-guard.
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“You know, you can go to her place and see whether she had returned yet or not.” Wilson said reasonably to House, who was rummaging in his Chinese food with a sour face.
House glanced at him.
“Oh, you’re still here.” He said. “And I thought it was Chinese talking to me in that annoying voice.”
“House I am serious!” Wilson repeated sternly. “If you don’t do it, then I’ll do!” he told House and even got to his feet.
House looked at him with surprise.
“And where’s the blackmail?” He asked his friend.
“Oh, I dunno,” Wilson said sarcastically, making a thoughtful expression. “She’s probably very high-strung now after that fight in the Ministry, and she needs someone to comfort her, and I’m sure she’d throw herself on anyone in that moment.” He said and then added smugly “Would you like that person to be me, and not you?”
House frowned. May be Wilson was right and he did need to see Hermione?
He could surely take advantage of her condition to put his hand down her pants, and she would certainly fall for his charm.
But would he do that?
She was Hermione after all, and he did not intend on hurting her by no means.
Why the hell have I gone all that sugar and spice and everything nice?
Because I like her.
Did he?
Fuck, was he even sure it was not a simple lust? Because if it was, he had better leave it and forget.
And, for heavens sake, she is a witch!
He hasn’t even thought that through yet. That fact was somewhere outside of his head. He just couldn’t take it, accept it, because he still couldn’t believe it. At least, until he see the real magic.
But I did see the magic. She showed it to me, he thought, remembering the time in the cafeteria, when Hermione showed him her ‘tricks’, using magic in fact.
But that didn’t count because he didn’t take that as magic then.
But now, no matter what Wilson told him, he needed a proof. Because he did not want to be done.
“You’re right” He told Wilson thoughtfully.
Wilson stopped talking sharply and stared at House.
“Really?” He asked him in disbelief. “You are really gonna do as I adviced you?”
House made a wry face. Wilson sounded like he was gonna cry with joy.
“I’m touched” Wilson said seriously, and House understood that he meant it.
“Ok, ok” House said, getting up and heading to the door, “C’mon, you’ll carry me to Hermione’s.”
“What? Now?” Wilson said, glancing at his watch. “But it’s only two o’clock! You can’t leave in the middle of your work day!”
House smirked at him. “Can I?”
Wilson frowned. “Well, I can’t”
“Oh, I’m sure your little sick kiddies would survive a couple hours without you!”
After a heavy silence, Wilson finally nodded, still looking wrathful.
“You know, I’m only doing it for the greater good.” He said as they were going to the parking.
“Meaning?”
“It would be good for everyone in the hospital when you finally become staid” Wilson told him. “Cuddy will be furious about our leaving!” he added.
“Cuddy will be furious about everything I do” House said, smirking smugly. “But the fact that you left like that can possibly bring her a heart attack”
“You are welcome, House” Wilson said sarcastically, getting into the car.
They sat in the Wilson’s car for a while in silence, until Wilson started a car and a radio switched on, filling the silence with some stupid love song.
They were driving for almost five minutes when House spoke finally.
“You know,” He began hesitantly, looking at his hands. “I do appreciate your helping me around”
Wilson stared at him, surprised.
“Well… Thank you for such a difficult confession for you, but House, please, stop talking like that, you scary me with that hearty talks!”
“So, when you want me to begin that hearty-”
“Look, we are here” Wilson interrupted him, pointing at the light house through the window.
House looked through the window where Wilson was pointing to see a small light house where Hermione supposed to live. He suddenly felt doubts about whether he should go there. What if Hermione is not on the mood to see him? Two of her friends died, so why not?
He sighed heavily, knowing that Wilson was watching him. He wouldn’t give him a satisfaction of seeing House’s feelings, would he? He’s Gregory House after all, so he’ll keep his emotions under control otherwise it would harm his reputation.
“Are we going there or do you need another five minutes to stare at me like an idiot?” He said to Wilson sarcastically, seeing something like relief on his friend’s face for a moment.
“Oh, you really shouldn’t thank me for getting you here on my car, House!” Wilson grumbled, getting out of the car and waiting for House to do the same. Seeing that House was failing at getting in his feet, he offered him his help hand.
“Ouch!” Wilson exclaimed as House hit him in the knee with his cane. He almost fell on the ground, rubbing his knee and hissing.
“Awe” House said with mock sympathy. “Do you need my help to get to the house?”
Wilson only glared at him, trying to stand straight.
“Oh, c’mon, let’s go! Stop whining!” House asked him but it sounded like a demand. And no longer waiting for Wilson, he headed to the front door.
“Do you know on what floor does she live?” Wilson asked House, on catching up with him, limping.
“Yup” House said, pressing the lift button and waiting for the lift to come.
“And?”
But House didn’t respond, because the lift doors opened, and House stepped in, suddenly looking almost scarred.
“House! What’s wrong?” Wilson called, but House looked somewhere behind Wilson.
Hardly had Wilson looked around, walking out of the lift cabin, when House pressed the sixth floor button, leaving Wilson behind.
“Sixth floor!” He shouted through the closing lift doors.
On stepping out of the lift on the sixth floor, he looked around to see four doors, each leading to a different flat. He stopped.
Not that he didn’t know, in what flat Hermione lived, it was №21 if he was not mistaken, but his enthusiasm completely left him. Good that he had some time to collect himself while limping Wilson was getting to that floor.
But still, somewhere deep inside, he felt the childish fear as in some cheap drama TV show, he’d find Hermione now with some young sexy playboy, kissing on the kitchen table.
Well, then, he’d be glad to remove his testicles without anesthesia.
“That was very nice of you, House” He herd behind and turned around to see offended Wilson.
“Why so long, Jimmy boy? Problems with the lift?”
“Very funny House!” Wilson growled. “I’ve just dislocate my ankle while getting here-”
He was interrupted by a quiet pop sound behind them both. House turned around, and he was quite shocked to see Hermione appear right from within the air. He made a small cry of astonishment, and she looked around probably as shocked as they both were. She cleaned her throat.
“Wh- what are you doing here?” she stammered.
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Sorry that it is small, guys, but I’ve started my piano lessons and I am also starting a novel, so as you can see not really loads of time…
But still, this chapter took a lot from me, so I do hope you’ll reward me by some reviews!
Love, smuchi.
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Chapter Nineteen.
Well, hello, my dear friends!
As you can see this chapter is quite long (for me, at least) so be nice and review the chapter ! J
I’d also like to thank all who reviewed to the previous one, and, of course, charmed-san especially, because she had been giving me a great help and support all the way long!
charmed-san: I won’t tell you everything now because you wouldn’t be interested this way, but I’ll tell you that Hermione will have to experience not the best of times…
So now read, enjoy and review!
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Oh my God, oh my God, I’ve just apparated in front of a muggle! Hermione thought, being in the current moment at the edge of hysterics.
She apparated in front of House, muggle, and not just used some random common spell that the Ministry wouldn’t even notice, but apparated!
She’ll have great problems with the Ministry right up to hearing of her case. Great Merlin, they would take her wand! And it’s completely her fault! Who apparates being in such a depressed condition?! No wonder she even missed her place and found herself in the hall instead of her room!
And more to it, she had now two pairs of shocked eyes on her.
Wonderful.
“Wh- what are you doing here?” she managed to say, trying her best to sound calm, as if appearing from within the air women were an everyday thing to House.
“Not that I’m not surprised to see you here, all… unexpected” House finally said, still looking a bit bewildered. His expression would make her laugh in every other day, but now she didn’t even think of smiling. She just stood there, not knowing what to do, feeling panic, grief, weariness and scare rising in her all at once.
How she wish to just lie down and never wake up again.
“How was… the battle?” Wilson asked her awkwardly with concern, and she couldn’t help it, she tried, she really did, but tears ran down her cheeks all the same.
And she burst out sobbing.
She cried loudly and ugly, not like beautiful women do in the movies. It was not some drunken tears but crying with a great effort. She’d thought she had no tears left, but she was obviously mistaken.
Hermione couldn’t stand anymore. She leaned against the white wall, not caring that her clothes would be dyed with whitewashing, and slided down.
She was so tired.
She could feel strong arms around her that grabbed her and lifted her in the air. She didn’t even bother to open her eyes to look whether it was Wilson or House. But she liked the arms, they were warm and safe. She buried her nose in the bend of the man’s neck and screwed her eyes shut.
May be she just close her eyes and when she’d open them everything will be alias?
“Hermione”
Someone’s calling her. Who?
“Hermione!”
House. Such a soft voice. I’ve never heard him sound like that.
“Hermione, please, take off the protected spell from the door, otherwise we won’t be able to come in”
And that’s Wilson. Of course, they won’t come in; I put here the strongest Protecting Charm I could manage.
“Finite Protectum Maximo.” she muttered so quietly she doubted that the spell would work, but she more felt than heard that the door opened. She remembered that she had to say the password.
“In essence divided?” she added in half sleep.
Arms immediately took her in her flat. She noticed they moved too slowly as if something bothered the man who was carrying her.
So it was House, obviously, slow because of his cane.
She didn’t even resist, she just let him carry her even though she knew she’d be humiliated later. She was just in hysterics now, she’ll be better later.
Hermione felt House put her down on her bed and covered with something, probably, her blankets. She felt so devastated and ruined, as if all her emotions left her, leaving only a yawning hole of grief that seemed to be stuck in her forever, and nothing would ever make her feel better. She would never be able to love again…
She could imagine now how it felt after a Dementor Kiss.
Tears appeared again but she didn’t even have the strength to get angry. Self-pity was proper thing right now, so she just let the feeling swallow her up.
After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality could be a few minutes only, she fell asleep.
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That was awful. That was the most awful thing that had happened to him for the last few years, because he never felt such a hurt for another human being.
Of course he imagined her being depressed, but what he saw was far from his naïve thoughts.
She was like a ghost - pale, light, almost transparent, with big black circles round her eyes. And eyes… eyes was the worst, as if she would never feel the joy and happiness again. And they were dark. Not the color, they still were that clear brown color, but the expression changed.
Because she changed herself obviously, and not in the good way.
Something was telling him that she would never be the same Hermione again.
And that fact hurt him the most.
“Oh God,” Wilson sighed, sitting down on the chair across the table to be face-to-face with House. They were sitting in Hermione’s kitchen. “Poor Hermione, again and again she has to loose everything that is dear to her, and that’s never enough” He said with such a pity that House convulsed a little.
Wilson rubbed his eyes and looked at House.
“Is she sleeping?” he asked in the hearty voice. House nodded.
“Tell me more about the war.” House asked his friend.
Wilson shook his head.
“I don’t know anything else other that I told you already.” He said in the same disgusting hearty voice.
“Oh please, you know about it as well as you know that I’ll get it of you anyway, so lets safe our time and you just tell me!” House said, frowning. “And for fucks sake get away that freakin hearty tone, you make me think you’re some Mother Teresa!”
“Ok” Wilson finally said after long silence. “But I still don’t know very much, only what I could read in the Daily Prophet, the magic newspaper,” he explained to House confused face. “Anyways…” He made a long-suffering sigh.
“When Hermione, Harry and Ron were at their forth year at Hogwarts,” he began as if he was a professional story-teller, “Voldemort rose with the help of the craziest ones of his Death Eaters. A seven-year student died then, right in front of Harry Potter. They were fourteen then” he added.
“Fourteen?” House interrupted him. “What kind of school it is? The school for degenerates, if children are fourteen in their fourth year?”
“No, House, children go to Hogwarts only at the age of eleven not a year earlier. They are allowed to have a wand only when they’re eleven.” Wilson explained, and House could hear some new notes in his tone, and he could recognize it as envy. Well, that he could understand.
“That year was very hard for all of them,” Wilson continued, and his look became unfocused. “Some random journalist Rita Skiter accused Harry of lying to everyone about the Voldemort’s rise, than Hermione of tempting Harry. It was not true, of course,” he added quickly, noticing House’s eyes flash. “But nevertheless. The next year, Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black, who then was considered as a criminal died. There was a fight at the Ministry that day, loads of Death Eaters vs. six teenagers, Harry, Ron and Hermione included. Sirius Black was the only living Harry’s relative and he was friends with Hermione and Ron, too. That was Hermione’s first loss.”
He fell silent for a moment, letting House to think over the information he’d just heard.
“The next year the open war began. Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard for the last five centuries , the headmaster of Hogwarts, the only one real protector and the smartest person I’ve ever known” He ignored the offended look House shot him “was killed. By professor Severus Snape.” He finished, looking at now both furious and terrified House.
“Wh-What the fuck?! And they let him walk ri-” he began furiously.
“And as we found out later, the headmaster left the document where he informed everyone that he personally made Snape kill him, leaving that git no choice.” Wilson said, showing with his tone what he really thought of Snape.
“The seventh year was to be their last year at Hogwarts but they didn’t go there even though it was the only one safe place in England. They three went out to find and destroy Voldemort’s horcruxes that-”
“Wait, what?” House questioned.
“I’ll tell you without details - horcruxe - is one of the darkest magic of the world. It splits one’s soul in a piece and you leave that piece of soul in horcruxe…”
He stopped, seeing that House was looking at him like on an idiot.
“I guess I will never have a hoxruce because nothing can split my hard stone soul” House said sarcastically.
“Oh stop it, House, you don’t know what you’re talking about!” Wilson said, annoyed. “And it’s horcruxe”
“Whatever, because I understand no word from your definition of horcruxe”
“Well, you can split your soul by voluntarily killing a human being,” Wilson said quickly. “And that split piece of soul you have to put in something material and safe for it. The thing in which you put your soul called horcruxe. It gives you an extra live. So if I kill you, but you’d made a horcruxe before, you wouldn’t actually die, but stay in alive in the form of bodiless spirit unless you have that horcruxe.” Wilson finished awkwardly, not liking the topic obviously.
“So,” House said thoughtfully “I can split my soul, and my horcruxe will be some… spoon, for example. And when someone cut my head off I won’t die?” Wilson nodded. “Cool” House said, smiling dreamily.
“House!” Wilson demanded. “And you don’t actually care that you have to kill for that?!”
“Relax Jimmy boy, I’m only kidding.” House said defensively. “But I would not refuse to the opportunity to come and scare you in your dreams…”
Wilson made another long-suffering sigh.
“To be completely sure that he was immortal, he made thirteen horcruxes. It took almost ten years from Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy destroy them all.”
“Malfoy?!” House repeated now angrily.
“Yes, Malfoy” Wilson confirmed. “He and Hermione began dating when they were sixteen. It was a secret at first, then… Anyway, he was there when Death Eaters killed Hermione’s Mum. They married a year before the end of the war.
The last year of the war was the most terrible. Almost all of Hermione’s friends were killed, Charlie Weasley included. There was a Battle of Hogwarts where Harry Potter finally killed Lord Voldemort.” Wilson rubbed his forehead. “And that’s all, I guess.”
“Wow” House said, unable to think of anything else to say.
He could now understand that sad look in Hermione’s eyes that was always with her. Now, he supposed, it would be far worse.
Why? Hasn’t she already had enough grief in her life? It almost physically hurt him when he looked at her and saw her like that.
He couldn’t guess what he was gonna do now.
Suddenly, a pop could be heard, and in the middle of the room appeared Harry Potter himself. House could still remember him when they visited Hermione in the hospital.
He could see changes in him, too - very pale, even more thin, unhealthy shine in his eyes and dark circles under them. He also was grieving hard.
Potter stood there, looking at them very surprised, his wand in his hand.
“Oh,” he said quietly. “I thought there would be no one in here.” He looked closer. “I guess you’re Dr House and Dr Wilson?” He asked them politely.
Wilson nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Potter, and there’s no need to oblivate us, I’m a squib, and House is aware of your being a wizard. Hermione has recently apparate in front of him” He said as politely as Potter.
Potter lowered his wand, which was pointing at them the whole time, making House feel uncomfortable.
“Appareted?” Potter repeated stupidly, then shook his head. “Oh, yes, right, she disapparated from the Burrow and left the note that she would go home.” He murmured. “So where’s she?”
“She’s sleeping” House spoke, surprised that his voice sounded so hoarse suddenly.
Potter looked at him sadly.
“She had hysterics, didn’t she?” He more stated than asked them.
“Yeah.” Wilson said. “And quite hard one”
Harry nodded again.
“Well, I guess I should wait for her to wake up here” He said, sitting down on the one of the chairs. “It’s just… she left so suddenly, we were worried.” He took off his ridiculous round glasses and rubbed his bridge. “And that freakin news…” He looked at Wilson, desperation obvious on his face.
“Can you imagine, they want to hold an election now and remove Kingley from the post of a Minister!” He blurted unhappily.
So that magic people wanna change their Minister?
“Seriosly?!” Wilson said incredibly. “But why?!”
“You probably know that most off the Death Eaters are people from reach ancient families with loads of money! They probably intend to put some of their gits on the post and make their own rules!” Potter exclaimed, jumping from his seat and beginning to pace around the room.
“And can you imagine what did Kingley tell me today?!” He demanded, looking at Wilson again. “They wanna arrest Ron and Hermione for killing that FUCKING DEATH EATERS!” The last words he shouted, his face absolutely white.
Oh fuck! Arrest Hermione?! What the hell?!
“She killed that werewolf Greyback yesterday on the Battle!” Potter told him, answering to the unspoken question. “They don’t care he killed more than fifty people and that it was self-defense, they just wanna avenge their Lord!” He sat down again, breathing wildly.
House stared at his hands. Ten minutes ago he couldn’t imagine anything worse that had already happened, now that ‘worse’ came. What could he do? How could he help to prevent his Hermione from getting hurt again? Shit, if he could only kick their fucking asses!
They all suddenly heard a noise from Hermione’s room, and House understood she had woken up from Potters screams. Oh God, she had better be sleeping, she’s not gonna to get good news now.
He shook his head, trying to get away the feeling of grief that appeared about an hour ago. He only now understood just how much he loved Hermione, he loved her so much, and he still couldn’t do anything for her! What’s the use of him?!
House saw Potter stand up and head to her room to probably talk to her and tell her the news. He touched the man with his cane by the shoulder, making Potter turn to face him.
“Please,” He said as quietly as he could, hating the pleading notes in his voice. “Be careful. Take care of her” He paused, looking Potter straight in the eye. “She means a lot to me”
He was very grateful to Potter, who didn’t start asking him questions but simply nodded, and House knew that he understood.
Hermione had good friends after all.
When Potter entered Hermione’s room, House knew that this blow could be too hard for Hermione.
And he swore to himself he’d do anything in his power to protect this time the person he loved.
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