If Walls Could Talk / Harry Potter x HOTD crossover

30. Incendio

''It's a willful blindness, the King.'' Larys said as the door closed. ''I mean, you'd surely suffer the same affliction, if it came to it.''

''I would not. Lord Lyonel is to escort Ser Harwin back to Harrenhal to watch over his seat whilst he continues to serve as Hand.'' Alicent informed him

''But the Hand is compromised by the acts of his son. My father... cannot give unbiased counsel to the King.'' Larys said confidently.

''It is now that I most rue the absence of my own father. He wouldn't hesitate to speak the truth to the King. If Otto Hightower were still Hand...''

''You cannot say, my Queen, that your father would be impartial in this matter.'' Larys reminded her

''No, but he would be partial to me!'' Alicent spat back before letting out a long sigh. ''In all of King's Landing, is there no one to take my side?''

"Is it weird being back?" Daemon questioned. "I know you are too old for tuck in but entertain me." He requested as he sat on the edge of Vaera's bed. 

"It's nice to be back, different but nice. I missed you and Cookie." Vaera assured. "But I liked school. I can't wait to show you what I learned, when I can show you... next time you visit." 

"Oh speaking of which, Severus mentioned something like a report card? I didnt understand but he said it had something to do with your grades. A feel like as a good parent I should look at those right?" Daemon remarked. Vaera chuckled getting up and rummaging through her desk before remembering she put in on her desk's bulletin, she carefully removed the nail and handed it to him. 

"Outstanding... Exceeds Expectations... Exceeds Expectations... Acceptable in... defense against the dark arts... another outstanding. That sounds good right, great!" Daemon agreed. 

"Yeah, I'm really happy with my grades." Vaera agreed. "I'm hoping our defense against the dark arts professor next year will not be a Voldemort follower and instead actually teach us." Vaera agreed. 

"How did you get an outstanding in defense against the dark arts when Vaera said your professor didnt teach you?" Daemon questioned Davina. 

"Severus taught me. He has always wanted to be the defense against the dark arts professor and I wanted to learn, Squirrel wasnt doing a good job." 

"Squirrel?" Daemon questioned. 

"Squirrel Quirrell." Davina agreed. "Wore Voldemort on the back of his head, he hid the dark lord in his turban! The whole year!" 

"Thats weird, sounds suffocating." Daemon remarked. "You like Severus?" 

"He was a good teacher." Davina agreed. "I might have invited him to meet Fury and visit Westeros." Davina added. "BUt I also invited him to Christmas and he said no to that so he probably wont come until he has to fetch us." 

"I'm glad you have someone looking out for you." Daemon remarked. 

"Harry thought Severus was evil and I swear- oh carrot cake! He still owes me." Davina declared. "I told him Severus wasnt the one trying to steal the- House elves-"

"What?" Daemon laughed out. 

"House elves can make anything!" Davina exclaimed. "They could make me carrot cake just like that!" She snapped her fingers. 

"Doesnt the staff do that now?" Daemon countered. 

"Good point but the house elves are cuter." Davina admitted. 

+

''Be good to your mother, lads. I'll visit when I can. But that may be some time.'' Harwin remarked looking down at the boys. ''Theodore, Jace. I will return... I promise.'' Harwin looked between them, jace was too sad to speak. ''I will be a stranger when we meet again.'' Harwin realized softly as Harwin hugged Jace goodbye.

''Princess.'' Harwin whispered as he headed out. Theo followed after him. 

''We will exchange letters by raven. Won't that be fun?'' Rhaenyra questioned as they watched Harwin leave.

''Is Harwin Strong my father? Am I a bastard?' Jace questioned looking up at her.

''You are a Targaryen. That's all that matters.'' Rhaenyra corrected.

"Ser Harwin..." Theo chased to catch up. Harwin turned to him. "I know..." Theo whispered. "And... well I'm glad it's you." Harwin offered him a small smile. 

"I'm sorry Theodore." Harwin whispered tears tugging at the corners of his eyes. 

"Don't be... we will see each other again." Theo assured. harwin nodded a tear slipped down his face as Theo hugged him. 

"I want you to have this." HArwin pulled the ring off his finger. "Family heirloom." Theo looked down at the Strong sigil on the ring. "I want you to have it, even if you never wear it." Theo put it on and it was too big for his fingers but he tried to keep it on. Harwin chuckled. 

"I will put it on a chain." Theo remarked. 

"Take care of your mother for me." harwin requested, Theo nodded as Harwin climbed up onto his horse, nodding to him as Lyonel led them away. 

''A word?''

''I take it he's gone.''

''We're finished here. We're leaving.'' Rhaenyra demanded

''What of your offer? Theodore and Helaena?'' Laenor countered.

''I have been undermined... and made a spectacle. They whisper about me in the corridors. Well, I leave them to it.'' Rhaenyra hissed

''To Dragonstone then?'' Laenor offered

''We should've left years ago.'' Rhaenyra admitted

''What of your position?'' Laenor countered ''You've always said if you were absent from court, she would pour her honey in your father's ear."

"The wise sailor flees the storm as it gathers.'' Rhaenyra offered she glanced back at Qarl. ''Laenor... bring him. We'll need every sword we can muster.''

"Um no." Davina corrected. "You are staying put." Mattheo smiled back at her.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." Davina agreed. "Come on, your brother deserves it, Rhaenyra deserves punishment but she is never going to get it, let them go be idiots and you can stay with me."

"In your chambers?" Mattheo half teased kissing her cheek.

"Back off strong." Daemon corrected.

"They already left, I'm staying back with Larys." Mattheo assured. 

"Oh," Davina whispered. "Well thats good." 

"You were going to miss me." Mattheo realized. 

"I mean I got so used to seeing you every day that being away from you all summer would be really weird." Davina offered with a shrug. 

"You can admit it, you were going to miss me." 

mattheo should have said a better goodbye to his brother and father though when they left because he didnt realize he would never see them again. Isn't that how death goes? Gone. Loose ends forever flying in the wind. 

When the fires overtook Harenhall it was like magic. The consuming them and the word Incendio echoed through Harwin's mind as he was burned alive.