Hufflepuff boy - Cedric Diggory x male oc x Viktor Krum

70

All light has left the sky. The stooped figure hobbles along, past the pub, where shadows play against the windows and muffled voices can be heard. Cayden, Harry and Hermione follow.

Hermione eyes the woman ahead, then looks about their surroundings, feeling trapped. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"We look like ordinary Muggles." Harry said.

"Muggles who've just been laying flowers on your parents' grave." Hermione said.

Just then, up ahead, the stooped woman holds up her hand and the three stops. Seconds later, a group of Snatchers passes by the alley. As they vanish, the woman continues on.

"Relax. This is right. I know it." Harry said.

The woman hobbles on. The lane is lined with modest cottages with small and tidy garden. Hermione barely gives them a glance, nervously eyeing the woman ahead, before realizing she is walking alone.

She turns and sees Cayden and Harry standing several yards back, staring at a dark cottage, its garden overgrown with weeds, its roof entirely covered in ivy and snow.

Hermione returns to them, looks and gasps. "Omigod..."

"This is where they died, Hermione. This is where he murdered them." Harry said.

Hermione studies Harry's bitter profile, then the house, careful not to disturb the moment with words.

Absently, Cayden places his fingers upon the locket at his chest. It is trembling-- over-so-slightly. Then, without turning, while still staring at the house, he speaks. "You're Bathilda, aren't you?"

Hermione blinks, confused, then turns and jumps. The old woman is standing only yards away, watching them.

≪ °❈° ≫

The door rattles open and Bathilda Bagshot hobbles inside, followed first by Harry, then Cayden, then Hermione who wrinkles her nose. As Bathilda exits the room, Hermione glances about.

"Harry, I'm not sure about this." Hermione voiced out her concerns.

"Hermione, she knew Dumbledore. She might have the sword. Besides, she's barely knee-high to a house-elf. I think we can overpower her if it turns ugly." Harry said, waving off her concern.

"There's something odd about her. And what's that smell?" Hermione questioned.

"She's gaga, remember?" Harry said.

Bathilda returns, holding a box of matches. She strikes one, tries to light a candle, but her movement are clumsy.

"Here. Let me do that." Harry said.

"You have a lovely house, Miss Bagshot." Hermione said, eyeing a photograph of a curiously compelling young girl, then runs a finger along a table. It comes away thick with dust. She frowns, looks up and finds Bathilda watching her.

Harry stands by a chest of drawers, holding the match over a grouping of photographs. Coated in dust, the figures in the frames flit like ghosts behind veils. Harry picks one up, wipes away the dust with his wand. In it a merry-faced boy looks out, his cherry expression belying a particularly intense gaze.

"His name. Can you tell me his name?" Harry asked.

Bathilda stares at the photograph solemnly, then peers up at Harry. Her eyes are thick with cataracts.

Harry stares, unnerved, then Cayden and Hermione walks over, looking at the picture. "This is him, Hermione. The one I saw in Gregorovitch's wandshop. The thief. Miss Bagshot, who is he?"

She looks at him, then jerks her head towards the stairs.

"She wants us to go upstairs." Harry said.

"All right..." Hermione said, about to move but Bathilda shakes her head, pointing at Harry.

"She wants me to go. Alone." Harry said, looking at Cayden and Hermione.

"Why?" Cayden asked, speaking for the first time.

"It's all right. You two stay here." Harry said.

"Harry..." Hermione said.

Harry holds up his hand, silencing her, then follows Bathilda. Just before he disappears, he looks back and winks, but Cayden and Hermione doesn't look reassured.

≪ °❈° ≫

Cayden walks to the sitting room, looking at the table where a book called 'The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore' is. He reaches out to it, taking it.

Cayden feels Hermione's breath behind his neck, looking at the note attached to the book.

"Dear Batty. Thanks for your help. You said everything... even if you don't remember. Rita." The note read.

Cayden puts down the book and turns around with Hermione beside him, walking out of the sitting room and both he and Hermione peers into the adjacent hallway. A sliver of the kitchen can be seen and a faint buzzing is heard. A strange shadow dances on one kitchen wall, of specks moving.

They share a look and approaches. As they nears the kitchen, they eyes the cloud of specks swarming the wall curiously. The buzzing grows to a hiss as the room comes into view.

Cayden wraps his arm around Hermione's neck and placed his hand on her mouth, quieting the gasp that was about to let out of her mouth as he and Hermione looks at the clotted blood streaking the sink and great wide swaths of red stain the floor where hundreds of flies swarm.

"I have something for you..."

Cayden looks up to the ceiling, feeling Hermione does the same. The Horcrux on his chest twitches. He lets go of Hermione and moves to the stairs with Hermione behind him, wands drawn.

Cayden moves faster when he heard a thump. "Harry!" He calls out, kicking the bedroom door. He didn't hesitate to use a spell on the snake, and dives aside when Nagini begin to whips angrily. He points his wand at the snake again. "Confringo!"

As his spell caroms off the trembling walls. Harry leaps, sweeping Hermione towards the smoldering window. As the three of them pitch themselves into the night, the mirror explodes and shards of glass, reflecting bits of the three and giant snake, tumble in the night, slowly vanishing into nothingness.

≪ °❈° ≫

Cayden groans, pushing against the ground in the tent and stood up, looking at Hermione.

"Harry... Harry, can you hear me...?" Hermione asked.

"Yes." Harry respond.

"Good. That's good..." Hermione said, glancing at Cayden who moves to the table.

"We got away." Cayden said, sitting down.

"Yes." Hermione answered.

"Are you both alright?" Harry asked.

"We're fine. But you've been sick. Rest... Rest a bit more..." Hermione answered.