𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗬

ACT TWO, CHAPTER FIFTEEN
the girl named after a planet.

HER HEAD WAS pounding and her body was aching, but overall, Venus was just confused.

She slowly fluttered her eyes open to see lights on the ceiling. Venus groaned and pressed a hand to her throbbing head, trying her best not to overexert herself.

"Oh God," she let out, her voice hoarse.

"Easy, darling," the familiar voice of Harry said.

She moved her head a little to the side to see Harry staring down at her next to her bed, his green eyes filled with concern and melancholy. Venus moved the hand from her head to place it on his cheek. Harry subconsciously leaned into her touch and lifted up his own hand, clutching her wrist gently and starting to rub his thumb back and forth on her skin.

"What . . . what happened?" Venus asked. "I just remember jumping in front of Charlie and Eli . . . did you save the Prophecy?"

Harry sighed. "It's kind of a long story, Star."

She gestured around the room, which she now recognized to be the hospital wing. "I've got time. I'm willing to listen if you're willing to tell." Even though her head was on a pillow, she still gave him a nod of understanding. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

Harry's shoulders visibly relaxed. He then held out both of his hands to her. Venus placed her hands in his, and gently, he pulled her up. She moved herself back so that her back was resting against the pillows. Venus took a quick look around the hospital wing. Pretty much the entire group who went to the Ministry, minus Penelope, were here, asleep in the beds. She then looked back to Harry, keeping their hands interlocked.

"The Prophecy's broken," Harry revealed quietly. "After you got Stunned, there was another fight back in that room with the weird veil. It smashed, but Dumbledore had a copy of it in his office." He glanced over at one of the sleeping others in the room before focusing on Venus again. "You can't tell anyone this, okay?"

"I won't," she reassured him. "Promise."

Harry let out a deep breath. "The Prophecy was about Voldemort and I. It said neither can live while the other survives. Which means . . ."

"You kill Voldemort and you survive," Venus finished.

"Or Voldemort kills me and he survives."

Venus shook her head, worry filling every inch of her being. "No. That's not going to happen, because — because we're going to figure out how to beat him."

"There's something else, Star," Harry admitted, and this time his eyes turned glassy. "Sirius, he . . . he's gone."

She froze in shock. "What?"

"He was battling Bellatrix, and . . ." he paused for a moment and took a deep breath. "He went through the veil. I thought we could get him back, but — but we can't."

Venus frowned and squeezed his hands tighter, her heart shattering into a million pieces. She knew that Sirius was Harry's last chance at an actual parental figure, being his godfather, after all. And now he was suddenly just gone? Venus couldn't even imagine what Harry was going through. However, she knew that he was blaming himself. Voldemort had gotten into his mind and made this whole thing happen. Venus wasn't going to let the guilt eat him alive.

"We'll get through it," she told him quietly. "I'll be here every step of the way if you need me to be."

"Actually, I . . ." Harry trailed off, choking on his words a little bit and letting go of her hands. "I don't think we should see each other anymore, Star."

Venus felt a sharp pain go through her heart, and everything froze. "What?"

"Listen, Venus. You mean so much to me. But now, after Cedric, after Sirius . . . I can't let anyone close to me get hurt." He swallowed nervously and hesitated for a moment. "The thought of you getting hurt because of me . . . I love you too much for that to happen."

Everything around Venus seemed to go in slow motion. Love. That was such a big word — but Venus didn't doubt, even for a second, that she felt the same way. Maybe it had only been about five months, but all of the butterflies and heart racing Harry caused told Venus that this boy was something different.

"Harry," Venus began softly. "Hey, look at me." Harry looked back up at her, and she gave him a small smile once his pretty green eyes locked with hers. "You might think you're protecting me, but I can handle myself. Besides, love makes us stronger, not weaker. And if you think even for a second that I'm leaving your side through all of this, you're wrong. I'm already in too deep."

"I should've known you would've said that," Harry said.

"You can't get rid of me that easily. And hey." She leaned forwards — ignoring her aching body — and took his face in her hands. "I love you too."

A small grin spread across Harry's face. He pressed his lips onto hers for a moment, and the feeling of adoration for the boy somehow grew larger in Venus, which she didn't know was possible because she already adored him so much. Little did she know that Harry was feeling the same way.

Harry pulled away, but kept their faces close. "I was nervous you weren't going to take the I love you well."

Venus giggled. "You idiot. You really thought I didn't love you back?"

╞════════ ༺ ༻ ════════╡

IT WAS EXPECTED that the newspaper that was so against Harry would turn its mind around the second the Ministry changed their mind as well.

HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS

In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of
     Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-
     Who-Must-Not-Be Named has returned to
     this country and is active once more.
"It is with great regret that I must confirm
     that the wizard styling himself Lord — well,
     you know who I mean — is alive and among
     us again," said Fudge, looking tired and
     flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is
     with almost equal regret that we report the
     mass revolt of the Dementors of Azkaban,
     who have show themselves averse to continuing
     in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the
     Dementors are currently taking direction
from Lord — Thingy.
"We urge the magical population to remain
vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing
guides to elementary home and personal
     defense that will be delivered free to all
     Wizarding homes within the coming month."
The Minister's statement was met with
     dismay and alarm from the Wizarding
     community, which as recently as last
     Wednesday was receiving Ministry assurances
     that there was "no truth whatsoever in these
     persistent rumors that You-Know-Who is
     operating amongst us once more."
Details of the events that led to the
     Ministry turn around are still hazy, though it
     is believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named
     and a select band of followers (known as Death
     Eaters) gained entry to the Ministry of Magic
     itself on Thursday evening.
Albus Dumbledore, newly reinstated
headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
     and Wizardry, reinstated member of the
     International Confederation of Wizards, and
     reinstated Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot,
     was unavailable for comment last night. He
     has insisted for a year that You-Know-Who
     was not dead, as was widely hoped and
     believed, but recruiting followers once more
     for a fresh attempt to seize power. Meanwhile
     the Boy Who Lived—

"There you are, Harry, I knew they'd drag you into it somehow," Hermione stated as she looked at him over the top of the paper.

Currently, everyone who had gone to the Ministry were all with each other in the hospital wing. Hermione had received her copy of the Sunday Prophet and was reading them the front page, which was, of course, about Voldemort while Ginny sat with her. Ron's bed was right next to them, and Penelope was sitting at the edge of it. Neville was sitting on a chair between the two beds. Venus, Harry, Charlotte, and Elijah had dragged over another bed, and she was currently seated in between Harry and Charlotte with her hand interlocked with Harry's. Luna had come for a visit, but she seemed to not hear anything Hermione was saying because she was reading the latest edition of The Quibbler upside down.

"He's the Boy Who Lived again now, though, isn't he?" Ron voiced darkly. "Not such a show-off maniac anymore, eh?"

Ron took a handful of Chocolate Frogs from the towering pile on his bedside cabinet. He tossed a couple to Harry, Ginny, and Neville. Harry momentarily let go of Venus' hand to open his. Harry then broke off a piece of the chocolate and offered to Venus. She smiled and took it, taking a bite and savoring the sweet taste.

Hermione's eyes were now scanning down the article. "Yes, they're very complimentary about you now, Harry, A lone voice of truth . . . perceived as unbalanced, yet never wavered in his story . . . forced to bear ridicule and slander . . . hmmm." Hermione frowned. "I notice they don't mention the fact that it was them doing all the ridiculing and slandering, though . . ."

She then winced and put a hand to her ribs. Venus wasn't there for that because she was floating through space, but apparently a Death Eater named Dolohov had used a curse on her that he couldn't actually say out loud. It wasn't as powerful since the incantation wasn't spoken, but Hermione still had to take ten types of potions every day. She was improving well, but it was obvious that she was completely and utterly bored being stuck in the hospital wing.

"You-Know-Who's Last Attempt to Take Over, pages two to four, What the Ministry Should Have Told Us, page five, Why Nobody Listened to Albus Dumbledore, pages six to eight, Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter, page nine . . . well—" Hermione paused to fold up the newspaper and throw it aside "—it's certainly given them lots to write about. And that interview with Harry isn't exclusive, it's the one that was in The Quibbler months ago . . ."

"Daddy sold it to them," Luna told them vaguely, turning a page of The Quibbler. "He got a very good price for it too, so we're going to go on an expedition to Sweden this summer and see if we can catch a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."

Venus smiled slightly at that. She absolutely adored Luna and all of her antics.

Hermione sat up straighter and slightly winced again. "So anyway, what's going on in school?"

"Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp," Ginny replied. "He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off—"

"Why?" Hermione interrupted, seemingly startled.

"Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic."

"I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George," Ron said through a mouthful of chocolate frog. Penelope instantly scolded him for doing so, so he swallowed the chocolate. He then pointed to the Chocolate Frogs beside him. "They sent me all these, you know. Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?"

"So has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore's back?" Hermione questioned, looking quite disapproving at the mention of the twins and their joke shop.

"Yes, everything's settled right back down again," Neville answered.

"I s'pose Filch is happy, is he?" Ron inquired as he propped a Chocolate Frog card featuring Dumbledore against his water jug.

Charlotte scoffed at that. "Are you kidding? That dude's the most miserable I've ever seen him." She then lowered her voice. "He keeps going on and on about how Umbridge was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts . . . maybe I should get him a therapist, too."

Elijah then chimed in, looking a lot calmer now that exams were over. "Lottie, at this rate, you'd have to get, like, ten people a therapist."

"I stand by what I said."

The group of ten then averted their gaze to the bed opposite of them. Laying on it was Umbridge herself, gazing blankly up at the ceiling. Dumbledore had walked into the forest alone to rescue her from the Centaurs. Nobody knew how he had managed to emerge from the trees supporting Umbridge without a scratch on it, and Umbridge was certainly not telling anyone. For the time that Umbridge had been back at the castle, she hadn't spoken a word. Nobody knew what was wrong with her either. Her usually neat mousy hair was ruffled, untidy, and knotted with twigs and leaves, but she seemed to be unscathed otherwise.

"Madam Pomfrey says she's just in shock," Hermione recalled in a whisper.

"Sulking, more like," Ginny corrected.

"Yeah, she shows signs of life if you do this," Ron announced.

He then made soft clip-clopping noises with his tongue. Umbridge immediately shot up from her bed and looked around wildly. Venus raised her eyebrow.

"Anything wrong, Professor?" Madam Pomfrey called, poking her head around her office door.

"No . . . no . . . no, I must have been dreaming. . . ." Umbridge stammered, sinking back into her pillows.

"Huh," Venus commented with a small laugh.

Hermione recovered from her laughter. "Speaking of Centaurs, who's Divination teacher now? Is Firenze staying?"

"He's got to, the other Centaurs won't take him back, will they?" Harry responded.

"It looks like he and Trelawney are both going to teach," Ginny said.

"Bet Dumbledore wishes he could've got rid of Trelawney for good," Ron cut in, now eating his fourteenth Frog. "Mind you, the whole subjects useless if you ask me, Firenze isn't a lot better . . ."

"How can you say that?" Hermione demanded. "After we've just found out that there are real Prophecies?"

Venus glanced over at Harry for a quick moment. As far as she knew, he hadn't told the others about the Prophecy and how he was destined to either be a murderer or a victim. She gave his hand a small squeeze.

"It is a pity it broke," Hermione admitted quietly, shaking her head.

"Yeah, it is," Ron agreed. "Still, at least You-Know-Who never found out what was in it either — where are you going?"

This was in response to Harry standing up, in which Ron looked both surprised and disappointed.

"Er — Hagrid's," Harry replied. "You know, he just got back and I promised I'd go down and see him and tell him how you two are . . . well, five, if you count Star, Charlie, and Eli . . ."

"I can go with you," Venus offered, concern flowing through her veins.

"I'll be okay, Venus."

"Oh all right then," Ron stated grumpily, staring out the window at the patch of bright blue sky outside. "Wish we could come . . ."

"Say hello to him for us!" Hermione yelled after him. "And ask him what's happening about . . . about his little friend!"

Venus watched after Harry until the door of the hospital wing closed. She could tell that he was struggling, even though he was trying to hide it. All she could do at this point is not push him.

╞════════ ༺ ༻ ════════╡

TERM HAD COME to an end, and with that came the end of Umbridge's reign at Hogwarts. She had left the day before the end of term with the intent of leaving undetected, but Peeves had found her on her way out. Peeves had chased after her while taking turns whacking her with a walking stick and a sock full of chalk. It caused for a celebration in the Great Hall.

While Venus packed up her trunk to go back home, she had thought about her time at Hogwarts so far. Moving across the Atlantic Ocean and going from Ilvermorny to Hogwarts had been nerve-wracking. However, she couldn't say that she was homesick for Ilvermorny as much as she was. Of course, she still missed her apartment in New York City and the hills of Massachusetts, but she had found a new home in Hogwarts and in London. It had brought her new friends and a boyfriend, one she had so much adoration for.

She seemed to get déjà vu from that first day on the train as she sat on the Hogwarts Express to get home. This time, they had more people in their compartment. There was Venus, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Penelope, Penelope's friends Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass, Charlotte, Elijah, Neville, and Ginny.

The scene was so normal for them. Penelope was talking to Tracey and Daphne about what plans they all had for the summer, Elijah was reading, Hermione was reading an issue of the Daily Prophet, Ginny was doing a quiz in The Quibbler, Neville was stroking his Mumbulus mimbletonia, which had grown a lot over the year and was making strange noises when it was touched, and Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess. Venus, on the other hand, was talking to Charlotte about the differences between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts.

"Well, I think the main one is the Sorting," Venus told her. "Back at Ilvermorny, we get sorted by wooden statues while all of the older students watch from the balcony above. And then we don't get our wands until after the Sorting . . ."

Meanwhile, Hermione kept reading out snippets from the Prophet. Every single one of them were articles about how to repel Dementors, attempts by the Ministry to track down Death Eaters, and hysterical letters claiming that the writer had seen Lord Voldemort in person.

Hermione sighed gloomily and folded up the newspaper. "It hasn't really started yet. But it won't be long now . . ."

"Hey, Harry, Venus," Ron voiced, nodding towards the glass window that showed the corridor of the train.

Venus looked over. Cho Chang was passing, accompanied by Marietta Edgecombe, who was wearing a balaclava. Harry then turned back to Venus, and the two of them shared an amused look.

"What's — er — going on with you, her, and Venus, anyway?" Ron inquired quietly to them. "You know, after the whole asking Venus out for Valentine's Day in front of her incident?"

"Nothing," Harry replied truthfully. He then smiled at Venus. "Doesn't matter, anyways."

"I — er — heard she's going out with someone else now," Hermione revealed tentatively.

"You're well out of it, mate," Ron told Harry forcefully. "I mean, she's quite good-looking and all that, but you want someone a bit more cheerful. Thank God you found Venus."

Venus laughed slightly. "Thanks, Ron."

Harry then shrugged. "She's probably cheerful enough with someone else." He then kissed his girlfriend's cheek quickly, making her smile. "Besides, I'm happy with Venus."

"Who's she with now anyway?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Michael Corner," Ginny answered.

Ron then craned around in his seat to stare at her. "Michael — but—" he stammered. "But you were going out with him!"

"Not anymore. He didn't like Gryffindor beating Ravenclaw at Quidditch and got really sulky, so I ditched him and he ran off to comfort Cho instead."

Ron seemed very delighted at the news. "Well, I always thought he was a bit of an idiot. Good for you. Just choose someone — better — next time."

"Well, I've chosen Dean Thomas, would you say he's better?" Ginny questioned vaguely after Penelope told Ron she thought it was funny he had a say in who his sister dated.

"WHAT?" Ron shouted.

He upended the chessboard. Crookshanks dove after the pieces while Hedwig, Pigwidgeon, Aria, and Annabeth (Penelope's owl) all began to twitter and hoot angrily from overhead.

The train then slowed down in the approach to King's Cross. Venus was obviously excited to see her parents, but she would miss everyone terribly.

Venus gathered her trunk and owl cage. Her, Harry, Ron, Penelope, Venus, Ginny, Charlotte, and Elijah all went off the train as one group while Neville, Tracey, and Daphne went off to their families on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The ticket inspector then signaled to them that it was safe to walk through the magical barrier between platforms nine and ten.

Once Venus moved through, her eyes set on two people — her parents. Along with them were Mad-Eye Moody with a bowler hat pulled over his magical eye, Remus Lupin, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley dressed in clothes that made Venus assume they were trying to look like Muggles, Fred and George in new suits, and Tonks with two people that looked like her.

Venus set down her things and immediately ran to her parents. They brought her into their comforting embrace and squeezed her tight.

"Oh, my baby," Mary said. "I missed you so much."

"I mean, it's not a competition, but I actually missed you more, Vennie," Atlas interrupted.

Venus smiled at them. "I've missed you guys too. This term, it's been . . . hectic."

Mary's eyes held understanding. "We can talk about it when we get home, okay? But we have to do something first."

Venus' eyebrows knit. "What?"

"Mess with some Muggles," Atlas explained. "Come on."

He led the way back to the group. Venus found Harry and he instantly laced their fingers together. She then noticed that they were making their way to three very normal people waiting at the station, who all looked very appalled.

Venus looked over to Harry. "Is this your family?"

He nodded. "Those are my Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley. The Dursleys."

"Gross."

"I know, right?"

"Good afternoon," Mr. Weasley said pleasantly to Vernon as their group stopped in front of him. "You might remember me, my name's Arthur Weasley."

Vernon's face seemed to turn a deep shade of purple as he glared at Mr. Weasley. Petunia looked both frightened and embarrassed and kept glancing around like she was afraid someone would see her. Dudley was currently trying to make himself seem smaller, but was miserably failing.

Mr. Weasley continued to smile. "We thought we'd just have a few words with you about Harry."

"Yeah," Moody growled. "About how he's treated when he's at your place."

"I am not aware that it is any of your business what goes on in my house—" Vernon started to say.

"I expect what you're not aware of would fill several books, Dursley."

"Anyway, that's not the point," Tonks interjected, her bubblegum pink hair seeming to offend Petunia because she closed her eyes rather than look at her. "The point is, if we findout you've been horrible to Harry—"

"—and make no mistake, we'll hear about it," Lupin added.

"Yes, even if you won't let Harry use the fellytone—" Mr. Weasley began.

"Telephone," Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, if we get any hint that Potter's been mistreated in any way, you'll have us to answer to," Moody stated firmly.

"Are you threatening me, sir?" Vernon demanded loudly.

"Yes, I am."

"And do I look like the kind of man who can be intimidated?"

"Well . . ." Moody said, pushing back his bowler hat to reveal his revolving magical eye. Vernon jumped backwards in horror and collided with a luggage trolley. Venus tried to keep a straight face. "Yes, I'd have to say you do, Dursley." He turned to look at Harry. "So, Potter . . . give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along . . ."

Petunia whimpered. Venus rolled her eyes at that. This was just ridiculous.

Everyone then began to say goodbye to Harry. Venus waited off to the side, letting everyone else go first so she could say goodbye last. Finally, once Penelope finished saying goodbye, it was Venus' turn.

She instantly reached up and took his face in her hands. A small smile appeared on Harry's face and he placed his hands on her hips.

"If you need any place to stay, you can always come to my house," Venus told him. "I said it back before winter break. The offer still stands."

Harry nodded. "I got it, Star. Thank you."

"Write to me?" she pleaded.

"Every day," Harry joked.

Venus rolled her eyes again, but this time it was playful. "C'mere."

She pulled his face closer. Harry pressed his lips onto hers, and just like every time, Venus felt butterflies rush throughout her entire body. The kiss was quick, but it meant everything nonetheless. Venus and Harry completely ignored the gasps from Harry's relatives as they pulled away and smiled at each other.

Venus looked into his pretty green eyes. "You'll be okay, Harry. I promise."

He gave her a tight smile, and Venus knew it was fake because his eyes didn't sparkle like they normally did. "I know."

"I'm always an owl away."

Harry kissed her forehead gently before pulling her into a tight hug. "I love you, Star."

"I love you too," Venus said quietly as she hugged him back, but she meant it wholeheartedly.

The two of them finally untangled from each other. Harry gathered his belongings, raised a hand in farewell to the group on the platform, and led the way out of the station with Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley behind him.

Venus sighed and watched after him, her heart racing against her chest. Because home is where the heart is, and Venus Black was one hundred percent positive that her heart was with Harry Potter.

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𝙴𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝙵 𝙰𝙲𝚃 𝚃𝚆𝙾

HOW IS THIS BOOK DONE WHAT

anyways, the sequel will be out soon! I'll post an announcement at the end of this book when it's released :)

let me know if you want a dt on the sequel!!!