Harry Gaunt - Chapter 32

Dumbledore looked up from his desk with alarm. "Who…?" He starred off towards the door, his eyes beginning to narrow at who it might be. "Fawkes."

The phoenix stirred from his perch.

"Come."

Dumbledore stood from his desk with his wand in hand. Time was of the essence, Dumbledore couldn't wait for his old bones to walk him there as Fawkes flapped his wings. But with his trusty companion, they could arrive precisely where the intruders were.

Flash!

They disappeared with a clap. It also made for a dramatic entrance as they reappeared within dungeon corridors.

Bellatrix and Harry received quite a fright as they flinched away from the flame, which within a moment had died down to nothing as the light from Harry's Lumos filled the corridor.

Dumbledore had his wand raised up. He looked carefully between them. "Mr Gaunt." He greeted coolly. "Ms Black, good evening." He glanced down at their conjoined hands. "You are out past curfew."

He was far from approving of whatever was going on here.

"Our apologies," said Harry, trying for a moment to release from Bellatrix's hand. "We have no excuse."

He gave it a final tug.

Bellatrix huffed.

"Is that so," began Dumbledore. "Perhaps then you'd indulge me. I've been meaning to speak to you about your absence today." He finally lowered his wand. "Ms Black."

Dumbledore inclined his head to her, leaving nothing to doubt that he wanted her away.

"Of course, Headmaster." Bellatrix suppressed her annoyance as she turned to Harry, looking up at him with a teasing smile. "Goodnight Harry," she said softly. "I'll see you later."

She didn't touch him, even if she wanted to as Harry gave her 'goodnight', which was far from satisfactory.

"Goodnight Headmaster." She said it as she passed him, his colourful bird looking down on her as the Headmaster wished her one as well.

Bellatrix knew it was just pleasantries between them. It always was whenever Dumbledore spoke to a family likes hers.

Tap… tap…tap.

She could hear their footsteps trailing off as they left down a different route. Harry must have refused to take the bird then, which brought a smile to her face as she hurried along. Bellatrix was keen to arrive within her dorm, she knew how Lestrange and his lot liked to roam the castle at night, regardless of Mr Filch and his devil-eyed cat. They just didn't care.

"Serpentine." Bellatrix waited for the portrait to swing open.

Clack.

She hurried through, taking care within the greenish light of the deserted common room, which felt ire to Bellatrix given the evening they'd had. All those muggles, all those families like Martha's.

It didn't seem right to her, not that it had before but… now it was close. It wasn't just some far away thing that her father had gotten mixed up in. But now, with Harry, it was close.

"He'd been about to do it." She murmured as she ended the seventh-year dorm. "And he almost did."

Her father could have been there, and more, Lords and their only heirs. The amount of damage Harry could have done if she hadn't been there.

She shook her head. He'd have killed them, she could see it without those eyes that haunted him.

And for what, Muggles?

Harry really did hate this man; he'd even choose muggles over his fellow wizard-kind. "He needs to calm down," she said to herself as she stepped inside her room.

"Who does?"

Bellatrix jumped with an 'eep'. Cissy was sitting on her bed reading a book. "Cissy." Bellatrix shut the door and stomped towards her. "I've told you not to come in here." She tried to snatch the book away, another romance novel.

"You weren't here!" Cissy returned with heat as she fended Bellatrix off. "What was I supposed to do?" She let Bellatrix have it. "Y-you were gone."

Cissy hugged her, holding on as the two perched awkwardly on the bed. She'd been here for hours sitting waiting for her, reading under the bedside light that Bellatrix hadn't even noticed. She'd been distracted.

"Where were you?" Cissy demanded as they came apart. "I thought something terrible had happened. I even checked the tower!"

Horrid place. Cissy didn't like going there. "And it was clean!"

She demanded answers.

Bellatrix sighed. "A lot happened Cissy, but I am fine. Everything's fine." She placed the book gently into Cissy's lap. "What happened this evening?"

"This evening?"

Bellatrix nodded. "You and Malfoy. And the rest. Did they force you?"

Cissy quickly shook her head. "No, no of course not." Why would she ask such a thing? Bellatrix was being ridiculous. "Lucius invited me. We had dinner."

Cissy didn't tell Bellatrix everything, nor how while on the train she hadn't actually been with Marline, but Lucius instead.

"He's nice Bellatrix," she added at her sister's look. "Really. He's been the perfect gentleman." Cissy smiled for a moment, then dimmed upon Bellatrix's scrutiny.

Cissy stood up.

"Cissy?" Bellatrix looked at her stand away. "Cissy, I am not mad, just unsure. He's not-"

"You've never liked him." Cissy said as she turned back. "But I do. H-he's much better than Lestrange and the others. Even Rosier, and everybody likes him."

Cissy just wanted to be happy. Like Bellatrix was when she was with Harry. "You were with him weren't you," she accused knowingly, seeing the truth within her sister's gaze. "Bellatrix, you know we can't do that."

They were expressly forbidden from doing anything like that.

"There's nothing wrong with holding hands," defended Bellatrix primly.

"Yes, but what about kissing? Did you kiss?" Cissy was becoming increasingly alarmed. "W-what! You always told me never to do that!"

"And you shouldn't!" Bellatrix implored as she came to her feet. "You're only 16 Cissy, it's different for me and Harry. For pity sakes, he's Lord Gaunt! It's completely different Cissy."

Bellatrix didn't need to worry about what her family thought, Harry and Arcturus were already friends - of a sort. And this was her choice, one of the few she'd ever make. "And besides," she added to Cissy's astounded look. "Harry's more than respectable. He would never-"

"Is he now." Cissy cut-across her with a angry tone. "Because people don't seem to think so. We were there Bellatrix, he attacked that Auror! People say he almost killed him!" Cissy's voice became high with emotion. "You don't know him. Nobody does!"

And here Bellatrix was, running off for hours in the night, alone with a man that none of the Purebloods had ever met, nor heard of before a month ago.

"Where's this coming from," asked Bellatrix in open confusion. "Cissy, you like Harry. He's never done anything to hurt us, and on the train, you didn't see him." Bellatrix had seen every moment with him and Martha. "He's kind Cissy, and he's different than snots like Lucius."

It was the wrong thing to say. Bellatrix felt Cissy pull away with a frustrated scowl. "You don't know him," she stated, moving towards the door with her book in hand. "But I do. And he's more than respectable!"

Cissy tugged the door open, then left with a final look before snapping it shut.

Bellatrix couldn't believe it.

"C-Cissy?" She hurried to the door and pulled it open. "Cissy!"

But she was gone. Her footsteps running off out of sight.

"Oh Cissy…" Bellatrix leant against the doorframe, hanging her head. "Forgive me."

~~~~~~~

"Please, take a seat."

"I'd rather stand." Harry remained still within the circular space of Dumbledore's office. "What is it you wished to discuss with me."

It was late. Harry would rather be asleep as the Headmaster stood as well. "The matter of your absence from Care of Magical Creatures," he began. "You will need to serve detention I am afraid."

"For how long?" Harry returned.

"A week." Dumbledore watched his reaction shift into annoyance. "You'll be helping Hagrid, our groundskeeper. It'll be hard work, but rewarding too."

Dumbledore seemed very keen on the idea.

"I see." Harry hadn't planned on seeing Hagrid. "I will consent to a week's detention. But not with Hagrid," he said. "I'd prefer my Head of House if it's all the same to you."

Harry did wonder on that last bit; the Headmaster wasn't one to do things without cause.

"And why might I ask, is your objection to Hagrid?" He posed. "He's a nice man. Not at all how some might perceive." Dumbledore didn't try to disguise his disappointment. "You may speak frankly to me, Harry."

Harry hadn't answered. He'd merely looked away to inspect the many books within Dumbledore's bookshelf. There were small ones, big ones, tall one's and even fat one's sprawled all across it.

"Harry?"

"My name-" Harry said with emphasis as he looked back. "-is Gaunt. Do not speak to me as if we are friends, as we are clearly not." He was just like Lily, friendly to the point of disrespect. "What is the real reason you called me here. Detentions are handled by Head of House not the Headmaster."

Harry shifted his weight in agitation, gone was the warmth he'd felt beside Bellatrix.

"I am not your enemy, Mr Gaunt," said Dumbledore sincerely, choosing Mr over Lord as he'd done the day he'd first met. "I am concerned. I see so much of you as I have in others."

It was too much for Dumbledore, to stand by and do nothing when Harry was so clearly in need of help.

"What are you talking about?" Harry furrowed his brow. "You're comparing to someone else?"

Harry scoffed. He didn't have to guess who it was, which only annoyed him more as Dumbledore nodded, looking sad.

"What happened that day in the alley," asked Dumbledore suddenly. "Why did you attack the Auror when you could have left?" He paused slightly. "Do you remember?"

"Of course I remember." Harry seethed. "I remember it all."

"Then why?" Dumbledore stepped towards him. "Why Harry?"

Harry tightened his jaw. He was being mocked, Dumbledore just couldn't help it as the two kept their distance.

"That is not your concern," returned Harry with a glare. "But you can be assured that it will not happen again." Harry came to a stop closer to the door than he'd started. "Now is that all?"

He looked at Dumbledore, whose expression hadn't changed.

"Is it so hard to believe," let out Harry, his eyes what they once were the day his closest friends had died. "I made a mistake. I admit it-" Harry opened his arms. "-what do you want from me!" He shouted.

Harry couldn't hold back as he whipped the air with his hand, sending a crackling light flying towards Dumbledore.

It was petty of him, as the Headmaster shielded, the Elder Wand coming up with a startled stare.

Dumbledore gripped his wand.

"Just leave me be." Harry warned with a step towards the door. "And everything will be fine. Trust me."

If only the Headmaster had done so before, maybe then things could have been different as Harry turned, then left.

Dumbledore watched him all the while, saying not a word as the door shut behind with a quiet click.

Harry apparated.

…

"Hi Harry."

"Bell-?" Harry sighed. "Bellatrix, you can't just come into my room whenever you want," he said, looking at her perched on his bed. "Have you been here long?"

"No, not really. I just wanted to talk to you. See what Dumbledore wanted." She shrugged a little, then smiled as Harry came and sat beside her.

He fell back against the bed. "Dumbledore asked about the alley," he said, rubbing a hand against his face. "And gave me detention for a week." He felt Bellatrix lie next to him. She'd taken her shoes off. "I miss just roaming around."

Harry had enjoyed living in his house during the weeks before term started. He could pop out or stay in whenever he wanted, no curfew: no rules.

"It's not so bad," said Bellatrix, rolling on her side with her hair sprawled across the bed. Harry remained on his back, his gaze tilted up towards the ceiling. "You can't be alone all the time. It's bad for you." She poked his side with a delicate finger. "Bad."

Bellatrix didn't want Harry to be alone in that dishevelled house of his, one without furniture or a bed that was as comfy as this. She felt sleepy.

"Being alone isn't all bad," he said to her softly, looking over where she'd rested her head. It was snuggled against his shoulder. "I've been alone for some time now. I am used to it."

He felt his arm pull towards her chest, a quiet murmur all he heard.

Bellatrix was falling asleep, she must have planned this as Harry took a breath. He was going to have to be careful around her, she wasn't like the other girl's he'd known before as he tried to slip away.

He'd not used the bathroom yet.

"Harry…" Bellatrix clung to him.

"I need to get ready for bed Bellatrix," he said, turning on his side so she could see his face through sleepy eyes. "I'll be back." And if he was lucky, she wouldn't be here when he did. "But… you shouldn't be..."

She shouldn't be here. They couldn't sleep together.

"I know. And thank you." Bellatrix touched his face. "I'll see you tomorrow. Promise."

She let go and slipped away from the bed, wishing that she could stay and just be around him as she slipped her shoes on. But Cissy was right, it wasn't proper.

"Yeah." Harry got up as well. "Sleep well."

They shared a smile before she left, her footsteps tapping quietly away through the empty corridor.

Harry shut the door behind her. "At least she knows about ground rules…" he murmured, smiling with a huff as he came away. "Not that it matters."

Bellatrix would do as she wanted. That much had always been clear, and for once, Harry didn't mind.

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