Christmas at Potter Mansion…
Harry looked at his family and friends. He'd shrunk down everyone's trunks, so they were lightly encumbered. Smiling, he pulled out an old sock.
"This is a portkey to our destination. Everyone should make sure they're touching it, and then I'll activate it. We'll arrive outside and have a short walk to our final destination," he said before he held out the sock.
"This isn't one of Sirius' old socks, is it?" asked Ally with an impudent grin.
"No, Ally. Dumbledore gave it to me, which probably explains why he always wants socks for Christmas. He keeps using them for portkeys," Harry replied with a laugh.
With everyone touching the sock, he activated the portkey and felt that customary tug behind his navel. A moment later they were all picking themselves up off the ground.
"Strange. Portkeys never knock me over," muttered Sirius.
"I'm afraid that's my fault, Sirius. The portkey took power from me to work since I triggered it. I limited how much power it took, but I can never get it right, so I always overpower them. That's why we land and fall," Harry said with a shrug.
"Alright Harry, now where are we? Hermione here is worried that her parents are going to kill her and we seem to be on a country lane in the middle of nowhere," said Lily.
He grinned at her, and then laughed. "If you'll follow me, you'll see where we are. I will tell you that we're roughly an hour's drive northwest of London. Now, no more questions. Just follow me everyone," he replied, beginning the walk up the lane
They hadn't traveled more than a hundred feet when the road turned and the trees fell away to reveal a large, manicured lawn. Several hundred yards up the road was a mansion. In the distance, two other structures were visible. The lights of the mansion glowed a warm welcome. Off to one side, a Quidditch pitch could be seen.
Lily put her hand on his arm. "Harry?" she asked in alarm.
"Welcome home, Mum. Welcome to Potter Mansion. I hope you like it," he said shyly. Ally gripped Hermione's arm and was practically bouncing up and down. Hermione looked intrigued.
"But…how? When?" breathed Lily.
"I bought it last week. I've been getting it cleaned up and ready for all of us to spend Christmas at home," he replied. Then he turned to Hermione and looked at her meaningfully. "All of us," he repeated.
"Way to go, Harry," Sirius said with a grin.
"But the cost… Harry, this is too much…" protested Lily.
"Mum, don't worry about the cost. Besides, we're probably going to spend more money before its finished. It came furnished, but it might not suit your tastes. I just know I saw the place and decided I wanted it. It's a place to raise a family," he told her quietly. No one missed his comment, or the fact that, as he said it, he had reached out for Hermione's hand.
"Come on, let's get out of the cold."
Harry led his family up the road to the mansion. As they approached the entrance, the doors swung open and several house elves and two humans stepped out.
"Mum! Dad!" Hermione squeaked and rushed forward to hug her parents.
Harry turned to his mother. "Mum, this is my friend Dobby," he said, introducing her to the little elf, who beamed a huge smile at Harry.
"Dobby, would you show everyone to their rooms, then bring them down to the study where Mr. and Mrs. Granger and I will be waiting for them?"
Harry ushered them all inside. He followed the Grangers into the study, while the house elves led a group of bemused people to their rooms.
Harry stopped in surprise when he spotted the Christmas tree with boxes of trimmings nearby.
"How did it go, Harry?" asked Mrs. Granger.
He grinned. "Exactly as I planned, Mrs. Granger. And I can't thank you both enough for letting me include Hermione."
"Yes, well, I knew she wasn't very happy when we told her about the Christmas plans. But with my sister so ill, we needed to be close by, just in case. This suits and allows us to still be a cell phone call away," Jane Granger replied.
"Hermione's had nothing but good things to say about you in her letters, Harry. But I have to admit that some of it confuses me," Frank Granger said seriously.
"I can understand that, sir. How about if we sit down later tonight and discuss some of that? For now, all you really need to know is that I care for her more than I could ever put into words and would rather die than see her get hurt," Harry said quietly.
Frank Granger eyed the tall, dark haired young man in front of him and nodded approvingly. "Well said, lad. Nothing like cutting straight to the chase, as it were. We'll talk more tonight," he said, and then looked up as the door slid open to let the others enter.
Ally's eye's lit up when she spotted the huge Christmas tree in need of decorating. In short order, everyone was pulling bulbs and lights from the boxes on the floor and set to work on the forlorn looking tree. The Grangers even got into the mood, seeing magic used to enhance the decorations. In a corner of the room a muggle stereo played Christmas music. House elves, under the supervision of Dobby, cycled in, bringing decorations, drinks and snacks.
The day began to wind down and, as the sun set, they lit the tree. Hermione stood next to Harry and was surprised to see a tear run down his cheek.
"Harry?" she said softly, taking his hand in hers.
He wiped the tear away and gave her a weak smile. "Sorry," he said softly. "It's my first real Christmas tree."
He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. She closed her eyes for a moment, not caring that her parents were watching them both. He leaned his head against hers and stared at the tree in wonder.
"Master Harry? Dinner is being served, sir," announced Dobby from the doorway.
Harry smiled and took Hermione's hand. "Thank you, Dobby. Shall we have dinner?" he asked, leading everyone to the main dinning room.
Sitting at the table, Harry placed Lily to his right and Hermione to his left. Dobby had outdone himself in getting dinner ready.
"Harry?" asked Lily, "I can understand the house, but the elves? Where did you get them from?"
"They came from the Malfoy estate, Mum. Dumbledore told me about them a few days before I bought the house. I bought the elves, then I freed them and hired them on here."
"You bought them, Harry?" asked Hermione in outrage.
Harry took one look at her and started laughing. "Hermione, what ever you do, think of a better name this time."
She blushed when she realized he was talking about something her counterpart had done and apparently she was interested in as well.
"Oh… well still, Harry, despite what the other Hermione did, I want an explanation."
"I promise you'll get one, but not tonight, I think. From the look on your parents faces, I'd say you've opened a can of worms that needs to be addressed."
"Dear," said Jane Granger, "what do you mean by 'other Hermione'?"
"Yes," piped up Frank, "that's something I've wanted explained for awhile."
Harry sighed and put down his fork. "Alright, this will require some time, so please bear with me. I first need to set the stage for the explanation…" Then he paused, thinking.
"Imagine a world and, next to that world, is a mirror. What happens in one world happens in the other. The only differences between the two worlds are minor ones." He waited a moment for the Grangers to catch his meaning. The both nodded for him to continue.
"Now, instead of one mirror, imagine an infinite number of mirrors. The difference between adjoining mirrors are minor, but the differences between one mirror and another one hundred mirrors away could be profound.
"Alright, let's pretend for a moment that someone could travel from one mirror to another. What would they find?" asked Harry.
Ally made a move to speak, but Lily stopped her and watched the Grangers carefully.
"I suppose that traveler would find a world similar, but not quite the same," offered Jane.
"That's precisely what I've done, Mrs. Granger. I've traveled from one mirror to another. In the Wizarding world, I'm called a Dimensional Traveler. I left my universe for this one. It was not a decision I made lightly, but I felt it was one of the two options left to me at the time," he told her.
"So you knew Hermione in your world, Harry?" asked Frank, his brow furrowed, trying to wrap his mind around the concepts.
Harry nodded. "I met Hermione in her first year and she became one of my best friends, Mr. Granger. In our first year, I helped save her from a mountain troll. After that we were very close friends, her Ron Weasley and I. They called us the golden trio."
"Why did you make the jump?" Jane asked.
He sighed and looked at Lily pleadingly. She smiled and placed a hand on his arm.
"In this world," Lily said softly, "my son was killed as an infant. An evil wizard killed him, but the curse he used bounced back for some unknown reason and killed the evil wizard as well.
"In Harry's world, neither Harry nor the evil wizard died. The evil wizard went on to lead a war against Wizarding society, and Harry here went on to lead Wizarding society to victory in that war. But the victory came at a cost that he couldn't easily handle. He had no family, and most of his friends had been killed in the war. He faced a life alone, or he could risk a dimensional trip and maybe find family again," she concluded, shivering. Harry had risked everything in his jump and she knew he had no way of returning to his universe.
During her explanation Harry stood and walked over to the window, staring out blindly.
"In my world, my family is gone, the woman I loved is dead. My friends, my teachers, all killed. I had almost no one and people thought I was either a hero to be worshipped or a deranged killer who should be executed. I didn't know if the dimensional trip would work or not, I just knew that even death would be better than what I was living without…" he murmured.
Ally jumped from her seat and rushed over to Harry, hugging him and crying softly. He wrapped both arms around her and smiled gently.
"Imagine arriving in a new place and discovering the mother you never met, the godfather you watched die two years previous is still alive, you have a wonderful little sister who is growing up to be a beautiful young woman and, best of all, one of your best friends, a girl you've loved for years, is still the same kind and gentle soul she always was. There's no evil wizard and you have a chance to recapture a little of what you lost. A man would be a fool not to take advantage of what the fates had served up."
Harry led Ally back to the table, where he kissed her on the cheek and motioned to her to sit again. Then he placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, but his eyes, and his heart, were fixed firmly on Hermione.
"This world isn't perfect, Mr. and Mrs. Granger. No world is. But the world is what we make of it. And this world is now my home. It contains my family… and people whom I love."
Jane looked at Hermione, who stared up at Harry with misty eyes, and she reached out, placing her hand on her daughters. "I, for one, am glad you came here, Harry," Jane said. "Hermione's letters home have changed completely from her previous years. For the first time in ages she sounds happy at school."
"I hope that's the case as well, Mrs. Granger. I know she's made me very happy. She's my best friend. I couldn't imagine life without her," he replied, not looking away from Hermione.
"Master Harry? If everyone would retire to the study, we'll serve coffee and dessert," announced Dobby.
"Thank you, Dobby."
Once they had moved into the study, Frank turned to Sirius. "You've been awful quiet during all this, Mr. Black."
Sirius looked at the muggle for a long moment. "Mr. Granger, I teach defense. It's a required course. Before school began, I watched Harry challenge three of my best students to a duel, at three to one odds. After he'd beat all three, he made them apologize to every muggle born and half blood in the school.
"Harry has been awarded our societies highest honors and it hasn't gone to his head. I've watched him stand up to bullies on both sides of the blood question. Before he came to Hogwarts, a girl like Hermione was in danger from the bigots in our society. At the dance last night, I saw every muggle born and half blood in the school who was able to attend had a date, and most of those dates were with pure bloods. Harry did that. He's forcing people to change their attitudes. He's showing them where they're wrong, and most are smart enough to see the error of their ways.
"I didn't say anything because Harry coming to this world is, in my opinion, a precious gift. Oh, not just because I get to know him, but because I've learned that he is an honorable man with honorable intentions. I'm proud to know him and prouder to have him as my godson."
Frank Granger looked at Sirius for a moment longer before nodding and turning to look at Harry. "I didn't really expect to ask this question of anyone just yet, but what are your intentions towards my daughter?"
Jane choked on her tea.
"Dad!" Hermione exclaimed.
"No, Hermione. It's a fair question," Harry said calmly, but watching Frank carefully.
Hermione blinked and looked surprised. Everyone else watched curiously.
He took a deep breath. "Sir, it is my intention, with your permission, to court your daughter. It is my greatest hope that someday she might find me suitable and agree to become my wife."
Jane's jaw dropped and she stared between Harry and Frank. Hermione leapt to her feet and grabbed Harry in a hug, burying her face in his chest.
He reached down and tilted her head up. "I'm sorry if I've embarrassed you, sweetheart, but he asked. I know I haven't even told you that, but I had to tell him the truth," he whispered.
When she smiled, he turned to face her father once more.
"You're both a bit young for that sort of thing," protested Jane when Frank didn't say anything. Frank reached over and gripped his wife's hand.
"Actually, it's not uncommon for witches and wizards to marry early. James and I went from graduation to the wedding. There were twenty other weddings that day, and only one pregnant bride, if I remember rightly," Lily commented.
Frank heaved a great sigh and smiled weakly. "My old grandfather once told me that if you didn't want to hear the answers you shouldn't ask the questions. Harry, you have my permission to court Hermione. I rely on both of you to do the adult thing. And please, do try not to make us grandparents before you hit twenty?"
Hermione blushed and buried her head in Harry's chest, embarrassed once more, but Harry grinned.
Much later that evening Harry stumbled into the kitchen looking for a cup of tea and was surprised to see Lily still up, sitting with Sirius.
He stopped and looked at the two in surprise for a moment. "Mum?" he asked, and then he smiled and shook his head.
Lily looked a little guilty, but she poured Harry a cup of tea.
"I hope we didn't wake you," she said, putting the teapot back on the table.
"Me? Merlin no, Mum, I was having problems sleeping again. I didn't expect to be going through all that with the Grangers tonight. So, are your rooms all right? Is the furniture to your liking? The colors?"
"Everything's perfect. I still can't believe you managed to do all this in a little over a weeks time," she replied.
Harry ducked his head and looked at his cup. "It wasn't all that hard. Money helps grease the wheels. But to be honest, if it weren't for the elves, it wouldn't have been ready in time."
Sirius stood up and stretched. Lily glanced at him, and then stood also. Harry smirked into his cup and, as they headed for the door, he stopped them both.
"Sirius."
"Harry?"
"I approve… but if you ever hurt her, there won't be a hole deep enough for you to hide in," he told the older man, his tone firm and matter-of-fact.
"I won't, Harry. I can't. She has become my life," Sirius said quietly, gazing into Lily's eyes.
Lily touched his cheek gently before turning to smile at her son.
Harry waved at the pair as they left the room. He then picked up his cup and went into the study, where he could look at the lit tree in the dark. He sat in one of the comfortable armchairs and stared for a while until the door opened again.
"Mrs. Granger?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't think anyone would be in here."
"No, please, it's fine. Why don't you sit down and join me?"
"I'm sorry for what my husband put you through this evening, Harry. It wasn't called for, and on the first night in your new home?" she shook her head as she down in the armchair next to his.
Harry waved his hand at her. "Please, Mrs. Granger, if I had a daughter like Hermione, I'd want to protect her too."
Jane Granger leaned forward to stare at him for a moment. "Harry, Hermione wasn't the woman you loved in your world, was she?"
He frowned for a moment and then started to chuckle sadly. "You know, had you asked me that question at different times, you would have gotten different answers. A year ago, I would have said no, but a life without Hermione would have still been unthinkable, even then. Then not six months ago, I would have said no as well, but I would have stressed how much I still needed her in my life.
"The simple fact, Mrs. Granger, is that I truly loved two women. One I thought I was going to marry. The other? Well, I worked hard to convince myself that she was nothing more than a sister to me, even though she was much more than that. In my universe, Hermione is married by now, or at least she should have been... over the summer actually.
"It's funny how things change a person. I had to finally admit to myself that I loved Hermione and I couldn't stand the thought of her marrying, even if it was to my best mate. I suppose it's one of the reasons why I attempted the dimensional jump."
He fell silent and reached for his cup.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to press you," Jane began.
"It's alright. I've had a lot of time to examine my feelings for Hermione, as well as my feelings about a lot of things. They say introspection is a healthy thing. Maybe it is, I don't know. I do know this, however. I once felt as though I had my heart ripped out of my chest and I seriously considered taking my life, as it was too unbearable to go on. Maybe the dimensional jump was a halfhearted attempt at suicide. I didn't know what would be here on the other side, or if I could even make the jump. Now, here I am, and I reached out to Hermione because I needed her friendship above all things. I found my friend and I learned to love her again. And, more surprising, she loves me."
Jane smiled gently. "So what are your plans for the future?"
"After graduation I'll be entering a mastery program at Hogwarts, ma'am. I'll be going for my second mastery. My first mastery, in defense, was awarded back in my old world. Now I'll be going for my runes mastery. I've also accepting a teaching position at Hogwarts. But, from our surroundings, I'm sure you can see that I don't need to work a day in my life. I'll be working because I want to. Hermione will have the same option."
Jane remained silent for several minutes before she stood. "Thank you for being so honest and open with me. Good night, Harry, and do try to get some sleep," she said patting his shoulder fondly.
Harry nodded as the older woman left the room. A few minutes later he also returned to his bedroom and slipped into his bed.
It was two days after Christmas before Hermione finally managed to get some private time with Harry. She found him sitting in the library. He had been pensive and quiet all morning and she was worried about him. The weather had turned particularly foul, a wet freezing rain whipped across the property. She found him sitting in front of a fire, a book open in his lap.
"Hey there. Are you alright?"
He smiled up at her as she leaned over the back of the couch. "I'll be alright."
"But you're not alright. Ally said you were in pain."
Harry frowned and shook his head. "You know, having a sister who's empathic is a liability."
"Maybe, but why are you in pain?"
"It's just the weather, sweetheart. When it gets bad, like now, several of my old injuries ache. It will pass with the weather."
"I know you seem to have a lot of scars."
"I know I'm nothing much to look at, Hermione," he said, annoyed.
She walked around to the front of the couch and sat on the footstool in front of him. "That wasn't what I meant. You seem to have more scars than your fight with Voldemort can account for. I tried asking Madam Pomfrey about it, but she wouldn't tell me anything." Her tone softened. "Harry, I'm not trying to pry, but you said some serious things to my parents about us having a life together. I find the idea very appealing, but if I'm going to marry you, I think I deserve to know why the man I love has more scars than he should. I deserve to know why his beautiful body has been marred like that."
He blinked in surprise. "It's not a pretty story. Will you settle for the short version, or are you going to insist on the full version?"
She grinned… he knew her so well. She moved to the far end of the couch, sat down and patted her leg. He smiled, put his book on the footstool she'd just vacated and stretched out, his head in her lap.
"Tell me what ever you can," she said, turning serious.
He closed his eyes and shivered slightly as she ran a hand through his hair. "Most of what you see isn't from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. It's from my aunt and uncle."
"They abused you?" she asked in a hushed tone. Her eyes grew wide in horror.
Harry nodded. She bent over him and kiss his head. "I won't ask you any more. In time, when you're ready, you'll tell me. But it explains a lot of things, like why you wept at the sight of the Christmas tree."
"I may know little about being a good parent, or being a good lover, but I know exactly how not to act. Just don't act like my aunt or uncle. I don't really like to talk about it. It's even harder to talk about that than it is to talk about Voldemort," he whispered, his expression was haunted and grim.
She continued to run her fingers through his hair, trying to comfort him. "It's alright. Just relax. We don't have to talk about it."
He slowly relaxed against her, his eyes still closed. She thought that he'd drifted off to sleep when he suddenly spoke.
"I don't want you going to America or one of those places, Hermione. I'd really like you to stay here in England, with me," he said softly.
She smiled down at him. "I'm not going to America or Australia or Canada, Harry. I've accepted an apprenticeship with Professor Flitwick. He told me the last apprentice he had was your mother."
Harry bolted upright and turned to face her. His gaze met hers for a long moment before he reached out and pulled her into his arms. "Good, then we'll be together. I'll be pursuing a mastery in Runes and have accepted the assistant professor post in defense at Hogwarts."
"Why do you think I accepted the offer from Professor Flitwick? When he told me you would be at the castle as part of the staff, and that your mother would be overseeing your mastery in Runes, I knew that I had to stay. The apprenticeship will allow me a chance to go for my mastery in charms in a few years, and it will give us both time together."
The two sat cuddling for a long while before Harry spoke again.
"Hermione, I know it's probably proper for me to get you a ring first and then ask you to marry me, but if I asked you first, then you'd be able to help me pick out a ring that you'd like to wear. That would make sense wouldn't it? I mean…"
"Harry?"
"Your helping to pick out a ring would be a smart thing. Right?"
"Harry!"
He blinked and looked at her blankly.
"You're babbling. Are you trying to ask me to marry you?" she asked incredulously.
He swallowed nervously and nodded. She stared at him for a long moment and noted the look in his eyes. She'd seen the look before. He'd let down all his defenses and was laying his heart bare.
"I'd be honored to marry you," she told him softly before shyly dropping her eyes from his.
He stared at her a moment, then reached out with a shaking hand to touch her cheek. "Really?" he asked in a whisper. When she nodded, he pulled her into a hug. "Tomorrow we'll get a ring, then we'll tell our families. What do you think?"
"It's perfect," she replied softly. "Perfect. Oh, Harry, thank you!" She tightened her hold on him and wondered if she'd ever had a better holiday.
The next few days were hectic for the couple. They had traveled to Diagon Ally where he had her pick out a modest sized diamond ring. She had initially picked out a much smaller ring, but he finally gave the sales person a minimum value and she led them over to a group of rings with much larger stones.
Hermione protested about the cost until she spotted a three carat pear cut diamond surrounded by emeralds and fell in love with the design. Harry didn't flinch from the price, he merely handed the sales person his Gringotts card and had it sized to her finger and charmed right there in the shop.
Their return to Potter Mansion later that day caused quite a stir. Initially, Lily and the Grangers were shocked by their announcement. Once the shock wore off and people began talking rather than shouting, they calmed and realized that Harry had everything worked out.
They were planning on a wedding next Christmas. In the meantime, both would continue with their educations, although Harry was asking that, this summer, both families take an extended vacation together. He felt it would be a good chance for the two families to get to know each other better and, as Harry put it, 'to see the mountains… I've dreamed of it, but have never seen real mountains… or the ocean…'
With his statement, those in the room vowed to overcome all obstacles to make sure his dream came true.
Harry explained his plan concerning his long-term career goals. That little bombshell left Hermione, Lily and Sirius speechless, and Ally on the floor laughing her head off. None of them could ever imagine telling Dumbledore that they were out for his job.
The remaining days were spent with Hermione, Jane, Lily and Ally closeted in the study, making plans. Harry, Frank and Sirius wandered about the property, discussing ways to improve it. Frank was impressed with the size of the property and the buildings. They explored the unfinished out buildings and tried to decide what to do with them. Frank suggested that a swimming pool might not be a bad addition.
Dumbledore had asked that Hermione, Ally and Harry return to school via the Hogwarts Express. He made an exception for their leaving because of Harry's desire to surprise his family, but the return trip was another matter. As head boy, it was expected that he be on the train.
Return to Hogwarts…
The trip back to Hogwarts was largely uneventful, until Lavender Brown stopped in to greet them and spotted Hermione's engagement ring. That started a parade of Gryffindor girls, and more than a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, to their compartment.
Harry sat back and watched Hermione carefully. This was a different Hermione than the one he had left behind. When that Hermione had gotten engaged after the final battle, it had been a subdued affair. This Hermione, his Hermione, was sharing her happiness with her fellow classmates and it made him feel good. It made him feel like he was seeing an aspect of her he hadn't noticed before.
The parade of girls continued for most of the trip. Harry sat next to Hermione, holding her hand and dozing lightly while she told and retold the story of his clumsy proposal and their trip to buy the ring.
Harry had to agree. In retrospect, it had been clumsy and badly executed. He had been terrified, waiting for her answer. But it worked out in the long run. He did promise that he'd try to be more romantic with her. It wasn't something that he was used to, but for her, he'd make the effort.
Though he hadn't wanted to make the trip back to Hogwarts on the train, he discovered one thing to be grateful for during the trip. With all the girls visiting their compartment, it got him out of the ever-constant discussion about wedding issues. He had come to realize that a man asking a woman to marry him initiated one of the most complex processes known to mankind, Wizard or Muggle. He really didn't care about colors or fabrics, flowers or food, but quickly discovered that, to the bride-to-be, they could be life-altering choices. When he realized just how important these things were to her, he made the effort to at least lookas though he cared.
He was surprised to discover that Hermione wasn't the only seventh year girl coming back to school with a major change in their status. Four others, one a pureblood, was betrothed, and two mixed bloods were also engaged. Surprisingly, one muggle born girl was engaged to a pureblood Hufflepuff.
Later, in the Great Hall, Dumbledore stood and made some second term announcements, then congratulated the happy couples. While he smiled merrily at the happy couples, each head of house glared down at the boys involved, trying to convey a message of, 'You will behave yourselves'.
McGonagall stared sternly at Harry for roughly half a minute before she smiled slightly and lifted her own cup in salute. She wasn't about to try to stare him down, and he was more responsible than some of the teachers. Not to mention the fact that his mother worked at the school.
Slytherin Rage…
Ginny Weasley slipped into the Slytherin common room after dinner. She had been working in the dungeons and was nearly ready to put her plan in motion. She had returned to Hogwarts and was incensed to discover that Hermione Granger had accepted a proposal of marriage from Harry Potter.
She paced in front of the fireplace, her mind whirling with possibilities and plans. How could he be attracted to that cow? She thought frantically. She must have ensorcelled him. He knew better than to fall for a mudblood. His blood was too pure, too perfect, to muddy with such filth! She stopped suddenly, her eyes narrowed. This would take a character assassination of the highest order.
She smiled as the plan formed in her mind. She'd ruin the mudblood bitch and do it in such a way that he'd never want to touch her again. Her smile broadened as her eyes fell upon the two Slytherins who would be most likely to help her… with little convincing. She turned and unbuttoned a few buttons on her blouse to show some cleavage. Then she turned and walked over to Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
"Vinny? Greg?" she purred, "I need a favor and, if it works out right, you'll get the chance to have some real fun."
Both boys looked at her briefly then their eyes dropped to her cleavage and they nodded dumbly.
Lust in the classroom…
"Harry, while you received your Defense mastery based on deed, I'm quite afraid that the Runes mastery will only be partially based on what you've already accomplished. I've talked with your mother on the topic, and she quite agrees with me."
Harry leaned back in the chair and crossed his legs before motioning for Dumbledore to continue.
"Your mother and I feel that the area where you're weakest isn't your magic skills or even your talents in those areas, but in your ability to write them down."
"Excuse me, sir?" Harry replied, shocked.
"My boy, you've created a completely new set of runes and have taken the craft to a new level. When you explain them, even in a classroom setting, you have no trouble conveying your ideas. No, the problem comes in when you try to express your ideas on paper."
Dumbledore took one look at Harry's face and laughed deeply. "Oh, my dear boy! If only you could see yourself. This isn't the end of the world, Harry. We have several options open to us to correct this problem, so we'll try the simplest first. We've enrolled you in a muggle school for classes in writing. Twice a week, for two hours a day, you will attend the school and, hopefully, learn the skill you need."
Harry sunk down a little further in his chair as the Headmaster continued.
Hermione exited the Arithmancy classroom, her last class of the day, looking forward to meeting up with Harry for dinner. The classroom was at the far west end of the castle and most of the students who took the class had already left the corridor, heading back to the Ravenclaw common room.
"Imperio," hissed a voice behind her. She tried to spin around, but it was too late. A calm, happy, almost giddy sensation washed over her.
"Follow me," hissed Ginny Weasley, after checking the corridor for witnesses.
Hermione turned and followed the redhead happily.
When they entered a small, unused classroom, Ginny shut the door behind them and held out her hand. "Give me the ring, then strip out of your clothes."
Greg Goyle and Vincent Crabbe were both in the room and, after hearing Ginny's command, they grinned at each other.
Hermione's brow furrowed and beads of sweat appeared upon it, but she was unable to break the compulsion. She removed her ring, and then began taking off her clothing.
Ginny shoved the ring in her pocket. She'd return it, tearfully of course, to Harry, but only after Hermione made her public confession.
"Strip, you two," she ordered Goyle and Crabbe. "She's going to blow you both, and maybe more, before she's ready to leave. Make sure you're long gone from here before Potter shows up!"
Ginny waited until Hermione had stripped down to her nickers before she stopped her and handed her a potion. "Drink this," she ordered. "Lust of Athena," Ginny said to the others, trying not to look at their nakedness. "In three minutes, she'll be horny enough to fuck the entire Royal Navy, and she'll stay that way for twenty four hours."
Hermione drank the potion quickly, and then stood waiting for the next set of orders.
Ginny waited and watched as her eyes glazed over. "She's all yours," she said over her shoulder. Opening the door, she left the room, laughing at the thought of the mudblood's coming humiliation.
In the Headmaster's office, Harry held up a hand and Dumbledore stopped talking. He watched Harry intently. The young man's complexion went from a normal, healthy color to a pasty white before he stood, his legs shaky.
"Hermione's in trouble. Her ward just triggered," he told the Headmaster, his voice low. His magic flared ominously and the castle vibrated as Hogwarts responded to his commands.
"Albus, go to the west wing, near the Arithmancy classroom," he ordered, then slipped into the shadows.
Still laughing, Ginny closed the door to the classroom. She had taken only a few steps before she froze, and then blanched. Coming down the hall was a wave of blackness so dense it looked solid. The darkness stopped a foot from her nose and coalesced into Harry Potter.
She gave a frightened squeak and reached for her wand. Harry's hand snapped out, catching her wrist. With a deft twist, he snapped the bones. He summoned her wand to his other hand while she screeched in pain. Still holding her wrist, he lifted his hand and Ginny found herself dangling in the air, the broken bones grinding against one another. He then moved her to a wall and stuck her there with a quiet command. Her wand was stuck to the wall next, though well out of her reach.
"It's too late, Potter!" she sneered, grinding her teeth against the pain. "Besides, she's not good enough for you! Right now she's probably giving Crabbe or Goyle a blow job!"
Harry turned to look at her and she fell silent under his gaze. "She's not, Weasley, you are. I can sense the Imperius curse you used on her…and a lust potion?" He tilted his head and examined her, his expression telling her just how much he loathed her. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? Did you think I wouldn't forgive her? You're nothing but a petty, foolish child, Ginevra, and I'll see you get the kiss for what you've done," he told her, his voice so cold she actually shivered.
She whimpered in fear then. Looking up the corridor, she saw several teachers, and the Headmaster approaching and nearly breathed a sigh of relief.
Harry waved a hand and set a shield, preventing anyone from coming closer. Then he turned to the classroom and vanished the door.
The spectacle before him was enough to cause even Harry to pause in shock. Crabbe and Goyle were fighting over Hermione, who sat on the floor, staring at the two half naked boys. Her body was ridged, her eyes hot and hazy with desire.
Harry stunned both Slytherins and moved them out, pinning them to the wall next to Ginny. He then ripped off his cloak and transfigured it into a blanket.
Hermione turned to him and her eyes lit up. She was breathing hard and, as he watched, she licked her lips suggestively.
"Sleep" he murmured.
Her eyes fluttered closed and she relaxed, sliding down into sleep. He wrapped her in the blanket, lifted her in his arms and carried her out of the classroom. He walked up the corridor where a crowd of people stood, anxiously awaiting his news.
Dropping the shield, he spoke directly to Dumbledore. "She's been drugged and placed under the Imperius curse. Check their wands. I'm taking her to my mother's apartment, where I can guard her until the drug wears off. Albus, call the Aurors. If they're still in the castle by tomorrow, you'll not like my reaction."
The Headmaster nodded mutely. His eyes had lost their customary twinkle and he seemed to have aged fifty years. He knew Harry wasn't making an idle threat. Miss Granger had been the victim of a violent sex crime and, before that, an unforgivable curse.
"Minerva, collect the wands and test every one of them. Search them thoroughly, and bring them to my office. I'll contact their families, then the DMLE."
Lily stepped forward and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Let me help you."
He nodded, his eyes grim.
Lily's apartment…
Harry gently laid Hermione down on the bed, and then transfigured the blanket into a warm, long nightshirt.
Lily watched, her heart breaking, as Harry made her as comfortable as possible, and then pulled the blankets up around her.
"Shouldn't we talk to Professor Snape or Poppy about an antidote, Harry?" Lily asked in concern.
"We can't, Mum," he told her, his voice filled with anguish. "The potion they used was the Lust of Athena. Any attempt to dose her can cause permanent damage. We have to ride it out. She'll sleep four hours or so, and then I'll have to let her up for an hour before putting her back to sleep. It's going to be a long twenty four hours before the potion wears off." He paused for a moment, his eyes closed. "Niamh!"
The white phoenix appeared on the headboard of the bed and trilled a welcome to Lily and Harry.
You called, Harry wizard?
"Niamh, I need you to watch Hermione. Some bad people attacked her today and made her very sick. If I'm not here when she wakes up, I need you to come get me. Will you do that that for me?" he asked the white phoenix softly.
I will watch for you, Harry wizard. The old one with the glass eyes wants to speak to you.
He nodded. "Mum, I'm going to go talk to Dumbledore. Will you stay with her? I'll be back as soon as I can," he entreated.
Lily hugged her son. "Of course I'll watch over her."
He glanced at Hermione's sleeping form for a moment, his eyes grief stricken. Then, taking three steps back, he slipped into the shadows and was gone.
Headmasters Office…
Harry stepped out of the shadows and into a crowded office. He was surprised to see so many teachers, several Aurors and Molly and Arthur Weasley. Everyone was talking at once and Dumbledore looked like he was ready to pull out his hair. On a chair placed before the Headmasters desk was Ginny Weasley.
"QUIET!" shouted Harry. Many people jumped, startled, and most turned to stare at him, shocked to find him there. "I'll stun the next person who opens their mouth. Now, Headmaster, you have the floor." He moved then to stand behind Albus and watched those in the room.
Dumbledore shot him a grateful glance before facing Kingsley Shacklebolt. "Earlier this evening, Miss Weasley placed another student under the Imperius curse, robbed her, then drugged her against her will. The student was then left to the machinations of two young men, the intended victim of a sexual assault…"
"Which never happened," Harry interjected.
Shacklebolt looked at Harry in surprise. "Did you witness this, Mr. Potter?"
"Not the initial assault, Auror Shacklebolt. When I arrived on the scene, I found Miss Granger on the floor, naked, While Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle fought over which one would be first to use her. I disarmed Ginevra and stunned the other two. Then I did an assessment of Miss Granger's condition. She had been placed under the Imperius curse and forced to drink the Lust of Athena potion.
"Miss Granger is currently being watched by my mother. As you probably know, the potion has no antidote and to try to mitigate the effects using another potion can cause her permanent harm. I can bypass that somewhat by inducing sleep, but I can't make her sleep the entire twenty four hour period it takes for the potion to run its course," Harry said scowling.
"What will happen to my little girl?" whimpered Molly Weasley.
"I'm afraid I cannot fully answer that as yet, Mrs. Weasley. At a minimum, her wand will be snapped and she'll be expelled. Miss Granger, when she recovers, can opt to press charges. Mr. Potter also has the right, as Lord Potter and her betrothed, to bring the matter directly to the Wizengamot and demand a trial. Normally the Ministry will accept our snapping her wand and expelling her in lieu of a trial," said Dumbledore heavily. He then glanced at Harry and everyone's eyes turned to him.
"If Miss Granger fails to recover entirely, I will demand a trial in front of the Wizengamot. If necessary, I will invoke a Familial Requital," Harry told them, his eyes hard, his expression grim.
Ginny broke down and wept and Molly clutched at husband. "By what right do you claim justified vendetta?" whispered Arthur.
"Your daughter has harmed my betrothed. I have spurned her advances and warned her repeatedly during the year, so she decided to vent her spleen on the woman I love. I will not stand idly by and allow that to happen. If Miss Granger recovers, unharmed, then she will be expelled and forever banned from performing magic. If, on the other hand, Miss Granger suffers permanent injury, I will demand justice before the law."
He stepped back then and stood silently. Arthur pushed Molly away from him and straightened to his full height. His expression turned grim as he realized that his options were few and his daughter's actions truly reprehensible.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley, this day you have brought shame to yourself and to your family name. If I could disown you, I would. But I cannot, as you have brought upon us the threat of Familial Requital. However…" He turned quickly then and reached towards Dumbledore's desk and picked up her wand. As she watched, her eyes wide with horror, he snapped in half.
Ginny wailed and slid to the floor.
Arthur seemed to age twenty years in a few short minutes and his gaze softened. He turned to Shacklebolt. "Auror, I surrender my daughter into your custody until all legal proceedings have run their course… I cannot condone her actions, but I beg of you to treat her gently. She is my only daughter." The grief in his voice was like a living thing to those in the room. Turning way from his daughter, he looked at Harry, who nodded, accepting the situation.
Shacklebolt stepped forward and placed manacles around Ginny's wrists. He then laid a portkey around her neck and a moment later, they were both gone.
"Headmaster, unless you've need of me, I'll return to my betrothed side," Harry said quietly.
Albus nodded and watched him vanish before turning back to deal with Arthur and Molly.
Lily's apartment…
Harry reappeared in Lily's apartment to find Sirius and Lily sitting at the small table, sharing a pot of tea. He joined them, drained from the events of the day.
Lily poured Harry a cup of tea, while Sirius watched as the younger man tried to wipe the fatigue from his face.
"Well, Weasley has been expelled and turned over to the Aurors. Crabbe and Goyle were already gone when I got up there. The Ministry is waiting to see if Hermione recovers completely before deciding whether or not to press charges," he told them.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Harry? I can deal with Hermione when she wakes, dear," asked Lily.
He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mum, but you can't really deal with it. When I put her to sleep I used a spell you can't touch. I'm directly manipulating her brain's sleep center."
Lily's expression grew shocked. "Is that even possible?"
He smiled tiredly and waved a hand at Sirius. "Sleep," he murmured, and the man slumped over in his chair, snoring gently.
Lily laughed wickedly at the sleeping Sirius. Harry stood and walked to the door to his old room.
"You realize that the potion's going to make it just as hard on you as it will on her, right?" his mother asked.
"I know, but I have to do this," Harry said softly.
Stepping into the room, he cast a binding spell on Hermione, to keep her body frozen in bed, though she would be able to move her head. He then cast a silencing charm on the room. Conjuring a damp cloth, he gently wiped Hermione's face with it. The potion had subtly enhanced her features. Her allure was now almost Veela-like in its intensity. He brought up his full occlumency shields, hoping they would help a little.
When Hermione blinked and looked around groggily, he tried to smile. "Shh… don't talk, sweetheart. You've been drugged with the Lust of Athena. It's going to take some time to work out of your system."
She wet her lips. It was a simple act, so natural and done many times a day. And yet, when she did it, he trembled and tore his eyes away from her. She had turned the act into something loaded with sensuality and promises of pleasure.
"Harry," she purred, "release me, my love. I'll make it worth your while. It's so warm in here. Wouldn't you like to remove my clothes for me?"
An hour later, a sweat soaked Harry stepped out of the bedroom and sat at the table. Ally handed him a cold glass of pumpkin juice, which he quickly gulped down.
"Merlin, facing Voldemort was easier than this! She'll sleep for another four hours, thankfully, but it's going to be a long night. Why don't you get some sleep, Mum?"
"I can't sleep," she protested. "Not like this. My future daughter-in-law has been drugged and my son has condemned himself to the torture of caring for her while she's awake. I don't know if your own father could have resisted me had I been Hermione's situation. You have an enormous strength of will, Harry."
"Perhaps, but she's testing me sorely, Mum. I haven't wanted to pressure her into going further than kissing, and we haven't. Now she's offering freely what I want so much from her and I don't dare, lest I risk losing her forever. I want her. I want to awake up and see her sleeping next to me. But not like this. Never like this. I want her to want me because she wants me, not because of a potion" He paused then, scowling at what he'd just said. "Does that even make sense?" he asked, shaking his head tiredly.
Lily smiled at her son. "It makes a lot more sense than you can imagine, Harry. And she'll respect you even more when this is over. She loves you and she wants you as much as you want her. When you're both ready, it will happen and it will mean more than any casual romp you might have had." She then reached into her pocket and pulled out Hermione's engagement ring. "When she becomes more lucid, put this back where it belongs. It will give you something else to talk about for a while. The Headmaster dropped it off earlier, while you were with her."
Harry nodded gratefully and pocketed the precious ring. He stood then and walked to the couch. Stretching out upon it, he set his watch to chime in three and a half hours. Moments later, he was asleep.
Lily stayed close to her quarters, having the house elves serve meals there for the next twenty hours. She was worried about Harry. He had given up trying to sleep and was wearing himself out. She watched him go into his old room for the last time. Hopefully he would emerge with Hermione, clear of the drug. She had become more lucid as time passed, but he'd had to explain the situation to her every time she awoke.
Harry closed the door behind him. He was exhausted, his body felt like it had been beaten and his mind was sluggish. He stepped over to the bed where Hermione lay and she looked up at him. She was unable to move, as he hadn't ended the binding charm.
"Hang on, Hermione. Let me check that the potion is gone, then I'll see if it's done any permanent damage," he told her softly. He reached and pulled his staff from the air and waved it over her once with no apparent reaction. Nodding to himself, his next spell caused the emerald on his staff to pulse brightly when he slowly ran it from her head to her toes.
He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned against the bedpost. With a flick of the staff, he released her binds.
Hermione sat up and looked around in shock. This wasn't any room she knew. "Harry, where am I and why am I here?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out her ring. He hadn't given it to her earlier because he hadn't wanted to risk touching her. The effect she had on him had been too much for him and the drain of keeping his occlumency shields in place had contributed to the condition he now find himself in.
He handed her the ring and smiled tiredly at her. "You were attacked, Hermione…"
The door to the bedroom opened and Lily, Sirius and Ally came in. Hermione pulled the covers up to her neck.
Harry could see the unasked question in Lily's eyes. He nodded and she closed her eyes, giving a silent prayer of thanks. Then she became all business. "Good, you're finally awake. We'll get you something to eat in a moment, dear. Harry, Sirius and Ally are here to take you back to your room so you can rest. You've exhausted yourself taking care of Hermione. Now it's time for you to sleep. I'll explain everything to her."
Harry stood wearily and let Sirius lead him from the room. Within ten minutes, he had kicked off his shoes, fallen into bed and slipped into sleep.
He slept nearly twelve solid hours, so tired he never moved, even when he dreamed. It was the smell of food that finally woke him, stiff and uncomfortable. Someone nearby was eating and he could clearly smell bacon and coffee.
He climbed out of the bed slowly, groaning to himself as his muscles protested and his bones creaked. Then he stumbled, barefoot, out to the little common room. Hermione was sitting in the small kitchen area, reading over her homework. Nearby was a full pot of coffee and breakfast was kept warm under a charm. She looked up when he entered.
"Good morning, sleepyhead. You've slept a long time," she said, smiling. "Madam Pomfrey checked you over about an hour ago and thought you'd be up around now, so I took the liberty of having breakfast brought up, even if it is five in the morning. I think we've both managed to mess up our days and nights a little."
He sat at the table and ran a hand through his hair. She still affected him like she was under the potion! He accepted the cup and smiled thankfully at her, but he kicked his occlumency shields up to full power.
"Did Madam Pomfrey check you out? Are you alright?" he asked in a concerned voice.
Hermione nodded and pulled up a chair next to his. "She did. She says I'm fine and that all traces of the potion are gone. She was more concerned about you."
"Me? I wasn't the one attacked," he protested.
"Harry," she replied softly, "that potion does things to people. You spent hours with me while that potion was at full power. How you managed to control yourself is beyond me. I can see from here that you're still affected and fighting it. You're trembling and trying hard not to look at me."
He dropped his eyes and mumbled an apology.
When she reached over and touched his hand, he closed his eyes and bit at his lip nervously.
"So it's true, then. Madam Pomfrey said that your desire for me would be a bit extreme."
"Maybe I'll hop into the shower," he offered, standing up quickly.
"It wouldn't help, you know. We need to work this out the regular way."
Harry snatched his hand away from her. "No. I want you, Hermione, more than I can possibly say, but not like this. I didn't give in while you were quite graphically offering me every possible delight I could imagine and I'm not going to give in to this now."
"Harry…"
"Please, I don't want our first time to be because we were caught up in some potion's effect!"
Hermione moved to him and wrapped him in her embrace. He trembled against her and groaned into her shoulder.
"Oh, love, the potion impacted you, but all it's done is magnify the desire you already felt. Most of what you're feeling is because I've been teasing you unmercifully for the last day." She pulled away slightly and gazed into his eyes. Then, taking him by the hand, she led him back into the bedroom. Her expression was calm, though her eyes spoke of deeper emotions.
"I may be free of the potion, but that doesn't mean I don't want you. I'll always want you, in this world and the next, " she murmured huskily, pushing him onto the bed. She followed him down, flowing over his body and kissing him softly.
Harry wrapped his arms around her, sinking into the kiss as his thoughts spun away.
Around the lake…
Harry sat on a large rock, Hermione close beside him, and they both watched as the giant squid performed lazy back flips in the lake.
"It's not gone, you know," he said.
"Hmm?" she replied. He was kneading her shoulders and she was leaning into his touch, enjoying the sensation.
"The desire. It's not gone, just temporarily under control," he told her.
"Good. I don't want you to lose that, ever." she replied with a smile.
"Ah… what did I tell you, Lily? Young love is a wonder to behold, with a magic all its own," came a voice.
Hermione stood and began to turn around, but Harry stopped her, pulling her back against him. "And a good day to you, Albus," he said, looking up at his friend and mentor. Lily stood next to the Headmaster, smiling at the young couple.
"Tell me, young Harry. How is it that everywhere around us, the country lies in a deep winter freeze, but here at Hogwarts, the conditions more resemble early summer or late spring?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling gaily.
Harry looked around the grounds for a moment, surprise. Then, gazing at the older man, he grinned impudently. "Magic, Albus. Magic."
Hermione giggled softly. Lilly laughed outright.
"Ah, I thought that might be the case. Will it last long?" Dumbledore asked.
"At least until Graduation, Albus. Let's say it's a gift to the school this year, an early summer."
The old wizard gazed around and nodded thoughtfully. "Strangely enough, when your father reached a certain point in his courtship with your mother, he managed to arrange for the house elves to serve her favorite dessert dish every day for a month. I haven't been able to look at an éclair the same ever since. I dare say this is a better demonstration of the joy one has when a soul mate is found."
Éclair's! Merlin, I'd almost forgotten that," Lily said, her face flushed with embarrassment.
Harry and Hermione both laughed. Dumbledore watched her with affection, smiling at her blush, before he turned back to Harry.
"I wanted to thank you both for not pressing any further charges against the Weasley's. Young Ronald has withdrawn from the school at his own request. We could never prove it, but we think he helped make the potion used on Miss Granger."
"I am truly sorry it came down to that, but Ginevra crossed a line that should not have been crossed. She got off lucky," Harry replied.
Hermione tensed in his arms and he reached up to caress her cheek.
"I agree. It was a terrible business, but it's behind us now and even the Slytherins are disgusted by her actions. I've had more than a few come to me, asking if they could apologize to you both."
"That's not necessary, Albus. We don't hold them responsible for it. Like you said, it's past. Now I think it's time to look to the future."
"And what do you see in our future?" asked Hermione curiously.
Harry smiled at her, his eyes glowing. "I see magic, of course, and family. But mostly, I see love… always love."
FINIShed