Story: Moira
Chapter Thirty Nine: Seen Secrets

"See that symbol in the letter?" Harry pointed to the triangle eye. "I think it has something to do with the riddle. Perhaps it's a cryptic word because it's not a rune. Maybe if we say the word, the box will open."

Ginny squinted her eyes at it for a while. "I-I think I have seen it in The Tales of Beedle the Bard."

"The tales of who?" Harry asked.

"Beedle the Bard, of course! It is a widely known magical children's fairytales collection." Harry snorted. "Oh come on, Harry! There are so many wonderful tales in that book!"

"This symbol cannot be a children's fairytale. Dumbledore knew all too well he was sending me the letter. Why would he engrave a children's fairytale symbol on the letter then?! It doesn't look like a runic alphabet either. . ."

"From all these years I have spent with him, I can tell that he wants us to do something. Something which led him to commit a 'foolish mistake' as he said. I think this is it, Harry. We need to find out about the symbol and keep the box close," Ginny suggested. Harry nodded lightly and put all the things back to his moleskin pouch and wore it around his neck again. Silence reigned for a few minutes before Ginny broke it tentatively.

"So, what now?" Ginny asked slowly.

"What?"

"Do – do we part like. . . for forever?"

Harry sharply turned around to face her, his eyes betraying no emotions. "It is up to you," he said in a monotonous voice. Ginny looked deep into his eyes and smiled sadly.

"When will you stop showing a mask of yourself to me?"

"I believe that wasn't the topic we were discussing."

"Well," Ginny started, shifting uncomfortably on the moist grass. "I-I don't think Giselle would have walked away from her Godric even if they were meant to be separated for a year."

Harry laughed, a real laugh this time, then leaned in close enough to whisper against her lips. "If Giselle wanted Godric to be hers, she only had to ask. I'm sure the bloke, whoever he is, is not an idiot to not oblige."

His warm breath tickled her lips. Unable to do anything more, she pulled him closer by his collar and their lips met, not to be parted for a while.

_____________

"Seriously? They say you are leaving this Friday and all you do is eat!"

"Wot do ya 'xpect me to do? 'Nog you?"

She turned pink.

"Really? Then let's not experiment the dishes now."

"Hey! 'O dair! You're using my worz agai-"

"Ronald! It's disgusting! Eat before you speak!"

"I 'hought it was zhink 'efore you speak!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. She was about to retort when Neville and Luna slumped down on the seat facing them: Neville was looking nervous.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked slowly.

"Just –" Neville's voice came out in a crack and he clearly his throat. "Just looking for a place to sit without being a third wheel."

Ron burst out laughing and Hermione sweat dropped. "Draco?" she asked. Neville nodded.

"Oh well. It must be sad that you have to part, isn't it?" Luna asked Ron pointedly. Hermione turned to glare at him when he shrugged. Neville and Luna exchanged stealthy looks. "I was just wondering what would you do if Cupid caused you to part forever," Luna leaned in and emphasized the last word with a widened eye.

"What?" Ron and Hermione asked in unison then looked at each other.

"I don't understand!" Ron said clearly having swallowed his food.

"Neither do I!" Hermione put in but she was not talking to Luna or Neville.

"You don't know? Hermione Jean Granger doesn't know? Then I should suppose the earth has fallen into a white hole," Ron said.

"White hole? It's a black hole, Ron," Hermione corrected nonchalantly.

"No, it's a white hole. You aren't as dark as I am, you are quite ethereal; and you definitely don't eat as much as I do," Ron added with a wink. She looked rather coloured.

Neville and Luna looked at each other with grins on their faces and slowly left the flirting couple on their own.

After all, someone had to play the role of a Cupid.

____________

"You will write to me, won't you?" Her voice was so low that he considered himself to be fortunate enough to hear her.

"Of course I will, love. What makes you think I won't write to you?"

"Dunno. What if you listen to Harry and stop writing to me? You know, you are his die hard worshipper." The last phase was followed by laughter from the conversing pair.

"Truly! He is so intimidating!"

"Draco, you haven't told me something. . ." The green fire of the Slytherin common room cast a faint glint in her reluctant eyes. Draco nodded as if to urge her on. "Didn't you tell that you were born here?"

"I-I was, yeah."

"Then why are you studying in Durmstrang, a school which is located in the far north east when you have Hogwarts so close?"

"Astoria, look. Harry probably won't permit all these secrets getting out –" Astoria frowned. "but I want to be frank with the girl I love. Harry's master forced us to move to Bulgaria along with him. Even Ron had to tag along with his family."

"W-what did you do there?"

"The Dark Lord trained Harry to be powerful. . ."
_______________

Three days before the departure, Draco and Astoria were taking a leisure walk down the numerous corridors of Hogwarts. It was a peaceful night as any but they knew it was going to be one of their last nights together for a long time.

"And then he sort of jumped in and told, 'I love chickens!'. You must have seen the look on ol' Batty's face! It looked as if he was stung by a bee!" Draco was narrating a prank previously performed by Ron on their History of Magic teacher.

"Ron is quite funny!" Astoria laughed. Draco joined in the laughter too.

"And I am a joke to you?"

The pair of laughing teenagers suddenly craned their neck and found Theodore Nott standing in front of them, his back to a closed window.

"Nott," Draco said firmly.

"You betrayed me, Malfoy. Thought Master meant more to you than Potter."

"What are blabbing about?"

"You very well know what I am saying!"

"So what?" Draco asked with little patience in his tone. "So what if Harry killed the Dark Lord?"

"I don't expect you to be perfect, Malfoy. You are a blood traitor, forming friendships with worthless mutts and mudbloods. You betrayed the Dark Lord the day you chose Harry over me! You traitor–!" Without waiting for a minute, he fired a purple coloured hex at the blonde boy. The hex deflected off a shield and hit a nearby portrait, causing the frame to melt away and the inhabitants to run away in fear. Draco and Astoria, albeit startled, looked around for their savior whilst simultaneously withdrawing their wands.

From behind the shadows emerged Harry, Ginny behind him; both had furious looks and held their wand in their hands.

"Don't you dare call Hermione that!" Ginny hissed. Nott snorted.

"As if she's the best magic wielder! Eh? You are worser than scum, Weas–" There was a loud bang and a flash of dark light and Nott fell down to the ground, clutching his chest. With widened eyes, Draco and Astoria saw a black, threatening aura around Harry: when he opened his eyes, they were bloodlust red.

"What–did–you–just–say?" Harry accentuated every word as he spat them at Nott, who was clearly looking startled.

"Harry, no!" Ginny shouted but he was not listening to her: he was strutting to the frightened Durmstrang boy. Draco and Astoria grabbed each other as a black smoke filled Harry's right hand.

"What–did–you–just–say?!" Harry shouted. Ginny ran to him and grabbed his arm.

"Harry, no! You don't know what you are –" she struggled to hold him back. "are going to do! You will regret it – Harry stop!" Harry had broken free of her hold and was charging towards Nott. Suddenly, a rock wall formed between the two and with a touch of Harry's hand, it demolished into debris, letting ash fly everywhere. Harry's eyes flashed dangerously.

"Draco! Get Nott out of here!" Ginny ordered then tackled Harry in a one-sided hug. She pointed her wand at Nott. "Now, Draco! Obliviate!"

Draco quickly pulled Nott into a classroom and shut it tight as Astoria placed more privacy charms around them, obscuring the vision of the inhabitants of the portraits around them as well. Ginny was whispering in a staggering Harry's ear.

"Calm down, Harry. You know I'm not worthless and that's enough for me. I don't care about Nott and neither should you. Trust me, calm down." Harry's eyes unfocused a little before he lost consciousness, leaving a staggering Ginny to support his weight to the ground. A flash of metal caught Draco's eye but he paid no heed. He quickly helped Ginny, followed by an anxious looking Astoria.

"What's happened to him?! Is he okay?" Astoria asked.

"He needs water. The Room! Draco, help me to the Room of Requirement!"

"The room of what?" Draco asked, supporting Harry by his shoulder. Ginny took his other arm.

"Tori, lead!"

Without wasting a moment's time, Astoria ran in front of them. Ginny threw a cloak around them and they started walking with as much speed as possible whilst supporting the unconscious boy.

Soon enough, the four friends were in a stony room, illuminated by greenish beams of the fire: it looked like the Slytherin common room. Ginny conjured some water and sprinkled them at Harry.

"Food. Get something! Please!" she shouted. Astoria nodded and ran out, panting heavily.

"Where's Ron when you need him? He always has a stock of sandwiches in his pocket," Draco mumbled. Ginny, however, wasn't paying attention. She was holding Harry's hand as if her life depended on it.

Minutes later, Harry opened his eyes.

"Harry!" Draco shouted with relief. He was glad his seizures did not take control over him as he waited anxiously for Harry to wake up.

"Hey," Harry said weakly and looked at Ginny who had worry lines all over her forehead. He looked up at Draco and his eyes widened. "D-Draco?"

"Yeah. It's OK. Tell me what happened after you – feel fine," Draco added hastily. Harry gave Ginny a pained look: something Draco had not seen on his face until then. Astoria returned at that moment and handed Ginny a packet of iced wands.

"Couldn't get more. That's all Daphne had," she said breathlessly before plopping on the arm of Draco's chair. Ginny nodded and handed Harry one of them. He reluctantly took one but did not eat. After a glare from Ginny, he ate it. The pair shared a silent conversation as Draco and Astoria looked on anxiously. After a few seconds, Harry nodded weakly and Ginny faced them.

"Harry loses control over his power if he loses control over his emotions."

"That has never happened before?" Draco half-asked.

"Yes bec–" Harry coughed then sat up. He smartly avoided Ginny's glares. "because I never harboured much emotions before I met this crazy girl." Ginny glared even more furiously at him but he only smirked at her. 

"What was that black thing?" Astoria asked nervously. Harry and Ginny turned away from each other.

"The Power of Destruction."

What do you think Draco and Astoria will think of Harry now? Comment! ;)

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Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x