Chapter Ten by Soul Bound
Chapter 10 of 10
Snarky SandWitchesHarry has something to discuss with the Grey Lady, and then he has a few more things to discuss with Gabrielle... How will it go? And of course, we check in with Neville and our favorite snarky couple.
Disclaimer: Please don't sue me. I swear I'm not interested in selling this story.
Okay, thanks go to RobisonRocket as always for the awesome beta job, and an apology goes to all of you from me for making you wait more than the promised two weeks for this chapter. Sorry! I hope it's worth the wait. :-)
"Just through here, then," squeaked Professor Flitwick. "She's usually . . . oh, yes! Hello, my Lady!"
"Professor," came the Grey Lady's voice as she acknowledged Flitwick with a nod. "And . . . Harry Potter. It has been some time since last we met."
Harry smiled. "Yeah, it has."
"My Lady," said Flitwick, "we seem to have misplaced two of our Professors. I thought perhaps you could help us."
"Perhaps I can. Do you know where they've gone?"
"You once mentioned a corridor in the castle that exists to find those who need understanding and help them to it. It seems that this place has found Professors Granger and Snape."
Harry watched as the Lady's features lit up with an enigmatic smile. "Ah, yes . . . The Lost Corridor. It's been many years since it has made an appearance. This is rather exciting, I must say."
"Indeed," said Flitwick, his own excitement apparent. "Can you tell us how long they will be gone and if they are safe?"
"The corridor will keep them until they have come to the understanding they have lacked, and they are quite safe. This castle will not harm them. They will find their way back to us when the time is right...you needn't worry. I must tell my mother's portrait of this. She created the corridor herself, you see . . . ."
"Er," said Harry, "speaking of your mother, I actually wanted to ask you something about . . . um, her . . . ." Harry felt a bit uncomfortable voicing his thoughts, but a glance at the Grey Lady's open expression gave him a bit more confidence. "Well, it's just . . . I'm getting married, and..."
"Oh!" Flitwick interrupted. "Wonderful! May I ask who the lucky woman is, Mr Potter?"
"Oh, erm, I don't think you know her. It's Gabrielle Delacour . . . She's Fleur sister, and she's . . ." Harry smiled and flushed a bit. "Well, anyway. Miss Lady, uh, Miss Grey..."
"You may call me Helena."
"Right. Well, I was thinking . . . A few years ago, when I was doing researching on your mother while I was looking for her diadem, I remember coming across a picture of her where she was wearing a small necklace. It was gold...in the shape of some sort of knot, and it was inlaid with..."
"Blue sapphires. Yes, I know the one you mean. I keep it in a safe place...it was her favorite. The knot is the symbol of promises kept, and the sapphires represent peace and calm. The diamond they surround represents the steadfastness of true friendship. The necklace was a gift to her from a man she was very fond of."
Harry couldn't help grinning. "Yes, that's the one. I know this is extremely presumptuous, but I was wondering if you might consider letting me . . ." At this point, Harry lost his courage. Asking out loud for something he had absolutely no right to was a lot harder than he'd anticipated. He suddenly felt very foolish and was glad for the distraction that staring at his shoes afforded him. "I . . ." He searched for something to say that could save him and came up with nothing, and finally he looked up helplessly. He found the Grey Lady smiling gently at him.
"Young man," she said, "do not be embarrassed. If you are asking me if I'd be willing to part with the necklace so that you might give it to the woman you have chosen, I would gladly do so."
Harry's eyes widened in surprise. If he was honest with himself, he hadn't really thought this through, but if he had, he certainly wouldn't have expected her to be so accommodating. "But, you can't...I mean, you . . . It's thousands of years old, and it belonged to your moth..."
Helena Ravenclaw chuckled, and Harry felt completely lost. "You have done much for our world. If anyone has the right to ask for my mother's necklace, I believe that person is you. You see, I have no use for it now...a ghost can hardly wear jewellery. I have been keeping it safe, but I think that I've now found a better place for it...with you and your future wife. I have no doubt that its meaning will not be lost between two who are devoted to one another, and I can't think of a person I would trust with something so special more than you, Harry Potter, whose love saved a world."
Harry felt himself blush furiously. That was perhaps going a bit far, he thought. "I . . . thanks," he muttered, inspecting his shoes again. When he finally looked up again, he found her smiling at him, and he couldn't help returning the expression.
"Come," she said. "I'll show you to its hiding place."
Harry glanced at Professor Flitwick, who hadn't said a word during their exchange, and said, "Professor . . .? Maybe you should head..."
"Oh! Right! Of course, I'll meet you in the Headmistress' office. I should let her know . . ." His voice trailed off as he hurried away, and Harry turned to follow the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw.
* * *
When Harry reached the office of the Headmistress, he was unsurprised to find Professor Flitwick, as well as both Neville and McGonagall, convened in an odd assortment of conjured chairs. He slipped in and conjured himself a seat, completely unnoticed by the arguing persons around him, until he bumped his knee into Minerva's large, oak desk and swore a little more loudly than was probably necessary.
"Oh! Mr Potter, good. Now that you're here, I'm sure you can make Filius see sense."
Harry grit his teeth and rubbed his knee, trying to soothe the stabbing pain. A single grunt was his only reply to McGonagall, but it was apparently all she needed, for she charged ahead at full speed.
"I saw them, I tell you. After I spoke with Albus, I transformed and found the corridor. I saw them though the wall, although they couldn't see or hear me, and I tell you they were at each other's throats. Honestly, I have no idea what the castle hopes to accomplish trapping those two together . . . ."
"They always argue, Minerva," said Flitwick.
"Yes, but she struck him, Filius."
"Probably deserved it..." muttered Harry, still smarting from his knee and feeling irritable.
"What was that?" McGonagall said sharply.
"Nothing."
"Headmistress, I must insist that we let this run its course. I suspected, and the Grey Lady confirmed my suspicions, that the corridor is there for a reason and that our professors are in no danger there. If you saw them arguing, I'm sure it was something that needed to be argued about. Let them alone."
McGonagall pursed her lips and crossed her arms. "I still think that we should do whatever we can to get them out of there. Who knows how long the corridor might keep them if we do nothing? Aside from my worries about their well-being, I simply cannot afford to have two of my teachers absent indefinitely. I have young Percy Weasley teaching Hermione's classes, and...well, the lad is a bit over-eager . . . . Seems to take the position a bit too. . . But that is neither here nor there."
"Professor," said Neville, finally chiming in, "perhaps we should just let them be . . . . I mean, I want her back as much as you do," his cheeks flushed pink, "but I don't know . . . If the castle thinks they need to be there, then maybe we should just trust it. I think they'll probably be back with us soon anyway, right?"
McGonagall sighed. "Potter? Any thoughts?"
"Er . . ." The truth was that Harry didn't really have an opinion. He was sure that his friend was fine, and frankly, his mind was elsewhere...on more important matters, like the conversation he would need to have with his fiancée when he returned home. "What he said," he finally pronounced.
"What who said?" asked the woman, narrowing her eyes.
"Er, Prof...Nev...Flitwick. Professor Flitwick."
"Mr Potter, you weren't even listening, were you?"
"I..."
"Oh, never mind. It appears I'm going to be overruled...but in the meanwhile, if Percy Weasley assigns one more detention for not using 'standard black ink,' the two of you are taking the detentions. I wash my hands of it."
Neville rolled his eyes, and Harry got to his feet. He wasn't sure if the meeting was over, but he figured it was better to leave now before the Headmistress started in on something else.
"Right, then," he said quickly. "Let me know when they're back, and...yes." With that, he hurried out of the office before another word could be said. As he walked out to the front gates, he pondered what he was going to say to Gabrielle, what she was going to say to him. He wasn't sure what would come of the impending conversation, but he hoped everything would turn out all right. All he could do was be honest, and he planned to do just that. As he closed the gates behind him, he took a deep breath, then Apparated home.
* * *
Gabrielle sat in Harry's favorite overstuffed armchair, facing the front door and waiting for her fiancé. Any minute now, he would come through the door, and her questions would be answered once and for all.
* * *
Back at Hogwarts, Neville left the Headmistress's office and headed for his own quarters. Over the past few hours, he'd come to a decision. Talking to Harry at the pub had really helped to give him the confidence he'd been lacking. He was no longer afraid that she would say no to him. After all, if Harry thought so much of him, and of them together, that had to mean something good. Neville had lived his whole life by what other people had told him to do...even in his early childhood, he'd relied on those around him to make his decisions and help him along. He'd been convinced he wasn't strong enough or smart enough or brave enough to figure things out on his own. In school, he had often relied on Hermione to help him through his classes and on his other Gryffindor friends to lead before him.
Well, over the last little while, he'd realized that when it came down to it...and now it had...he needed to take control. A real man makes his own way, he thought. I am a real man, and if I want her love me and respect me, she needs to know that I did this on my own. Help from my friends can only get me so far, and now, the rest is up to me.
Still, it would be nice if Hermione came back soon . . . .
* * *
Harry closed the front door behind him and hung his cloak on the hook before stepping slowly into his living room. "Hi, Gab," he said softly, crossing the room slowly and taking a seat in the chair facing hers. "So, let's talk."
"Yes, let's."
Harry couldn't tell from her tone what she was thinking, so he remained silent, watching her until she finally spoke.
"'Arry, I 'ave talked wiz Draco."
He felt his eyes widen, and his heart sped up. "Oh," he said. "I . . . when?"
"Just a leetle while ago. 'E was 'ere. 'Arry, I asked 'im if 'e loves you."
Harry's heart stopped beating in his chest for just a moment. "What . . . what did he say?" he managed to whisper hoarsely.
She didn't answer, but said, "'Arry, do you love me?"
An easy question. "Yes, I do love you...very much. You know I do."
Gabrielle nodded, and the knot in Harry's stomach untied itself ever so slightly. Still, she hadn't answered him . . . .
"But you also love Draco." It was a statement, not a question, and Harry didn't know how to respond. "I am right, yes?"
Now was the time for that honestly. Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "I think I do, Gab . . . . I have for a long time. But I do love you as well."
"When you look at me, do you see 'im? Draco and I look very much alike . . . ."
Another easy question. Harry smiled. "No. I look at you and see you. You're beautiful, you're strong, and . . . you're you. You're special. I've never met anyone else like you. You're all I've ever wanted in a woman. I could never look at you and see someone else."
Gabrielle smiled. "I'm glad to 'ear zat, 'Arry. What do you see when you look at Draco?"
At this, Harry hesitated. It wasn't that he was afraid to be honest, and he wasn't ashamed of the answer, but he didn't want to hurt her . . . .
"Eet's okay. You can tell me. I want to know, or I wouldn't 'ave asked."
Harry nodded, collecting his thoughts before speaking. He pictured Draco Malfoy in his mind as he answered. "When I look at him, I see his eyes. They were the first things I ever noticed, really noticed, about him. And then I see him smile, and I think of the first time he ever smiled at me, truly smiled at me instead of sneering. And then . . . I hear him laugh, and I remember when we first became friends and he had the decency to laugh at my ridiculous jokes, like you do . . . And I look at him and feel him holding me when I finally visited Remus' grave again. I see all those things, but the thing is . . . I see special things in you the same way, memories and things about you that will only ever be between the two of us. I do love him, but I love you, too. I know I do. I don't feel like loving him takes away from what I feel for you. Does that make sense?"
Gabby smiled softly at him and said, "I 'ave something to tell you as well. When I told you earlier zat I would 'ave to call my uzzer lover, I was only 'alf-kidding. You see, Draco spent several months in France wiz me before I came 'ere."
Harry's mouth dropped open. "You mean..."
She nodded and smiled slyly. "We were togezzer. And . . . we still care very much for each uzzer. Eet really only ended because 'e 'ad to leave France. We . . . 'aven't been togezzer since, but I often miss 'im, and I believe 'e misses me, too. When I spoke wiz 'im earlier, I could tell zat zere is still much between us zat was left unfinished. And . . . 'Arry, 'e does love you."
Harry found it hard to swallow.
"Eet was very obvious. I was afraid at first because I thought zat eef you loved 'im, you could not love me. I thought you should only love me. But zen, after 'e left, I sat here, and I thought even more about eet, and now zat I've listened to you, I 'ave realized something. Eet ees okay zat you love us both. I know zat I am all ze woman you will ever need, and eef you love another man, eet does not make what we 'ave mean any less. Especially eef zat man ees Draco. 'E ees very special, and eet does not surprise me zat you love him."
"Are . . . are you sure?" Harry asked hesitantly. He wasn't certain he could believe what she was telling him. "That's . . . a lot to ask of you...to be okay with your husband being in love with two people. I would understand if you hated me for it. But, I've chosen you. Even if I do love him, I've chosen you."
"I could never 'ate you, 'Arry. Not for zis or for anything else. I was jealous at first, but zen I realized that we 'ave a part of each uzzer zat can't be replaced."
Harry's entire mind and body lightened. For not knowing how she would take his honesty, this had gone better than he had ever thought possible. And it made him love her that much more to know that she accepted this about him without judging him or being angry. "This is exactly why I'm marrying you, Gab. There's nobody else like you. Thank you for being willing to understand. I wouldn't have blamed you if you hadn't."
"I do understand. I know what eet ees to have more love zan you know what to do wiz. I can love you, and I can love Draco, and I know zat you are ze same way. Eet's one of ze things zat I admire most about you...your ability to love.
"'Arry..." she said, this time frowning slightly, "when I told Draco zat we were to be married, I 'ave never seen 'im look so sad. Eet was only for a moment...you know 'ow 'e 'ides himself...but eet was zere. I...I don't want 'im to be sad. I don't want 'im to lose us both."
"I don't, either," Harry whispered, his voice catching as he thought of how he would feel if Gabby and Draco married each other and left him on his own. He felt completely torn. He loved Gabby and Draco, and he wanted them both, but . . . "I wouldn't ever let anything come between us. I asked you to marry me, and I meant it."
"I know," she said simply. "'Arry, eef eets okay wiz both of us, I think zat we should . . . I don't think zat Draco should lose us. I don't want to lose 'im, and you don't want to lose 'im . . . ."
Harry felt a warmth start to grow in his chest. "You think . . . we should be together, the . . . the three of us?"
She nodded. "And you?"
"I think so, too," he said.
"Well, zen eet seems we need to speak wiz Draco. I will call 'im now, I think."
Harry almost couldn't believe what was happening. This was more than he could ever have hoped for. He didn't think there was a more fortunate man in the world. His fiancée really was very special. He wanted more than anything for her to be happy, and he felt very lucky indeed that having Draco would make her happy, too. And yet, he wanted her to know . . . "Gab, wait," he said as she reached for the Floo powder. "If you didn't want this...if you told me that this wasn't okay, if you ever tell me it's not okay...we wouldn't do it."
She smiled back at him and said, "And zat ees why eet's okay."
* * *
Draco Malfoy sat in his study, just opening a bottle of his strongest whiskey. He was going to get good and drunk, and nobody was going to stop him. A little over an hour ago, Gabrielle had informed him the she was marrying Harry...that they were marrying each other. Harry was marrying Gabrielle, and Gabrielle was marrying Harry, and neither of them was marrying Draco. He took his first swig and closed his eyes. He imagined he could already feel the alcohol doing its job. Soon, if all went according to plan, he wouldn't be able to think anymore, and that would be beautiful . . . . He took another swallow.
He wouldn't let the memories of his body surrounding Harry's into his mind. He wouldn't. He hadn't let himself dwell on them before, and he wouldn't now. And he wouldn't think of the tears on Gabrielle's face when he had left her that day in France...or the way she smelled. He certainly wouldn't think of the way his heart had broken an hour before at Gabrielle's words. "I will be 'Arry's wife soon."
Another swallow it was . . .
Damn it! Why wouldn't the buzz he needed just come already?!
Whoosh!
"Draco?"
Oh, God, no . . .
He looked frantically around the room for a quick escape route, but before he could even get out of his chair, Gabrielle's head was sitting in his fire. He felt another stabbing pain in his chest as he met her eyes.
Why the fuck didn't I ward the Floo?
"Draco, 'Arry and I need to speak wiz you."
Draco snorted. "I think I'll pass. Why don't the two of the plan your honeymoon...or whatever it is you do when you're not . . ." He took another swallow of whiskey and almost choked.
"Draco, we really do need to see you. Come, please . . ."
Draco shook his head. "No, the last thing I need is..."
"Draco?" came Harry's familiar voice, and Draco froze. "Come through. We want to talk to you."
"I . . ." He swallowed hard and stared at the floor, wishing they would just go away and leave him to his whiskey. But when he heard Harry say, "Please?" he couldn't help himself. He took a deep breath and nodded, then got to his feet and set his still almost-full bottle down. She disappeared, and he followed, soon finding himself standing in Harry's living room. It looked the same as it had a year ago, an hour ago, but now, everything was different. He stared at the floor, clenching his jaw.
"Draco . . ." Harry said softly, and he knew, just knew, that Harry was about to say something that Draco could never forgive him for. He was going to give Draco his pity. With his eyes fixed steadfastly on the carpet, he didn't see Harry and Gabby look at each other. He didn't see them smile and nod, and when he heard Harry moving towards him, he just knew that Harry was going to give him a friendly hug and ask for his blessing, and wasn't going to be able to bear it.
When Harry stopped in front of him and lifted Draco's chin with his fingers, Draco shut his eyes as tightly as he could and so was rather surprised when he felt Harry's lips crush his own. His eyes flew open as he gasped, and Harry's tongue took that opportunity to dart into his mouth. Harry's hands didn't hesitate for a moment as they clutched Draco to him, and Draco found himself helpless to do anything but surrender. How long they kissed, Draco couldn't be sure. All he knew was Harry, and it didn't occur to him at all that there was another person in the room or that that person happened to be Harry's fiancée until he felt a second set of arms find their way around him from behind.
Suddenly, he froze. Harry was kissing him, and Harry was engaged. . . and his fiancée wasn't shouting at the top of her lungs. . . . "Wha...?"
"Shhh," Gabrielle whispered in his ear, and then she was kissing him, and that was perfect, too. Her kiss was completely different from Harry's, but he lost himself in this one as well. Where Harry's had been passionate, demanding, hers was sweet and almost gentle. And when she pulled away from his mouth and found Harry's, Draco felt he couldn't breathe, watching them. Each of them took one of his hands, and when they broke apart and smiled at each other, Draco was at a loss.
"You...what are...what are you doing?"
"I 'ad a talk wiz 'Arry, Draco. Zere ees much to say. Come."
* * *
Hermione released Severus' hand for just a moment as she pushed the new door open. She reached for it again as soon as they'd stepped through, and . . . "This is lovely," she said, smiling up at Severus. They stood in the midst of a clearing...a forest clearing. It was twilight, and the evening mist was just beginning to settle. "So, where from here?" she asked.
"Actually," he said, a perplexed look on his face, "for once, I think I know exactly where to go."
SB's Notes: Well, there you have it. Thanks for sticking with us this far, and I hope you've all had as much fun as we have. The story is winding down, and there should only be one or two more chapters left and possibly an epilogue. LadyintheCloak is up next, and it's going to be fun to see what she comes up with!
Story Actions
To follow, favorite, like, and more either log in or create an account.
Leave a Review
Log in to leave a review.
Latest 25 Reviews for The Lost Corridor
210 Reviews | 6.53/10 Average
Aw... yay for Harry's multiple blonde lovers!I love the Hermione/Snape story, too!I think it's great how you have more than one plot happening.I can't wait for the next chapter!
lol, return of Draco...I love the idea of a memory room...
Nice, I had a feeling it wouldn't be Luna or Draco.It would've be too easy...Nice work Southern!
I'm just curious if you are going to finish this fic. I love it so far.
I like this story a lot. It's been quite a while since there's been an update, though. I hope more will be coming soon. I look forward to the rest of the story.
I adore the story and am only disappointed with the delay in updates! Eagerly awaiting more....
Thank you for your update, I loved it:-) I loved that Harry, Gabrielle and Draco will stay together, not leaveing one behind, hurt and alone, a brilliant solution:-) I hope we will see more of Hermione and Severus in the next chapter, it seems like Severus have come to a place he knows. Update soon!!!
Whoa! There really was some Draco and Harry action! :) And that last line was great!
Really liked the bit of playful Snape in this - not OOC but kind of cocky playful - I could see that of him. Liked the 'blonde' bit too - for a minute I really did wonder if it was Draco :)Really enjoyable!!
Oohhh, SQUEEE! I love this chapter, so much! The Harry/Draco/Gabrielle pairing made me happy. And Severus and Hermione are being cute, so all is well. ^_^ Thanks for writing!
Maow!*(Translation: Update faster!)~Lotmhath spoken(...Well, okay, Lotm hath meowed mightily, but it still amounts to the same thing!)
Simply LOVELY what you did with Draco and Harry and Gabrielle. Very nicely written!
Harry and Draco and Gabrielle? Whoa. Pretty cool, actually. I liked that chapter even if it was pretty much Severus and Hermione free.
Loving this story. How i love a snarky sev!! Keep up the excellent work, looking forward to more!
Wow! Lovely chapter, glad to get the Draco/Harry/Gabby triangle resolved, Great story twist. Alas poor Neville, who is his love interest? Missed the Severus and Hermionesequence, Hope we get that back in the next chappy. But I liked the way you handled Harry/Gabby/Draco! Well done!Looking forward to more!
Very lovely, Soul Bound. I don't see why a woman should not have two husbands she loves - who also love one another - if it pleases them all.
But I'm mainly a Severus/Hermione 'shipper, so I missed them this chapter. Still, it was very, very enjoyable. Good job.
This chapter should be called "fortune favors the bold". Harry/Draco/Gabrielle wasn't a combination that ever entered my mind, but y'all have made it work. I can picture Percy as a classroom dictator. Still waiting for more on Neville...
Aw! That was absolutely beautiful, well done, you!!!
Wow, seems that Severus isn't the only insecure one around. Although, if Gabrielle is going to find out anything unexpected about Harry, better now than after they're married.
Simply perfect. I loved it.
Well that was quite a nice way to resolve that little difficulty. And yummy too! Now it looks like the only one who will be left unfulfilled will be Neville. Oh well, I am sure there is someone out there for him too. Thanks for posting, JoAnne
oh a draco/harry/gabs story that would be so cool
That was really sweet and beautiful.