A Dark Love

Harry's secret

Harry sighed, clenching his teeth together to suppress the wave of bitter emotions that washed over him. Concentrating, he turned on the spot and disapparated. He opened his eyes to the sight of Hogsmead. It was evening and the streets were quiet and empty, but it was not the usual quiet. A heavy tangible fear seemed to linger everywhere, shopkeepers peering nervously through the windows at every small sound, faces pinched with suppressed, ever constant terror. A paranoia so constant it was barely talked about, furtively whispered of, for the constant fear that He was watching. He had eyes and ears everywhere; your closest friend could be your most dangerous enemy. Harry walked back to the castle in peaceful silence. He alone was not afraid of Voldemort.
He had slipped into the common room and was reclining in an armchair just letting his thoughts wander into the peaceful oblivion of sleep when a voice hissed in his ear. " Harry, where have you been?" It was Hermione. He inwardly cursed himself. How could he have been so careless?? Of course his lame excuses had always pacified Ron, but he had been a fool to think Hermione would be so easily satisfied. " Er, " he grunted, " You know, bathroom". Her brown eyes narrowed to angry slits, " I'm not an idiot Harry I can tell when your lying to me. Some things been off with you for a while and you won't tell me or Ron. I thought we were in this together!!" " We are Hermione but...but things have changed. I can't explain it right now. Someday you'll know but not right now. I'm sorry" She looked at him, hurt " If this is about V-Voldemort, you can tell us Harry. You know you can tell me anything." " You wouldn't understand, no one could!!!" and with that he stormed off. Later, as he got into bed, Harry felt a hard lump under his pillow Reaching down he saw a little box. He opened it breathlessly and looked with wonder at the little ring inside. It was a curving silver snake; it's head was a regular snake head but it's tail had the head of a lion on it, between the two was a glistening diamond. Tears dripping down his face, Harry slid it down his ring finger and went to bed. As he drifted to sleep, a smile formed on his face, " I'm engaged to Lord Voldemort" the words felt right in his head.