Chapter 10
Harry felt he had plenty on his plate when this tournament began, now it felt like lady fate was just piling more on. More than likely she was cackling while she did it, taking great joy in Harry's plights. After Daphne and Susan had explained to Hermione and him what a Family ring was and the implications of it being in Dumbledore's was staggering.
How did it end up there? How did he have it and how did he get it? Was it given to him? If so, then why? Did he take it? Harry had way too many questions with no way to answer them. At least not yet, once Susan's aunt came into the picture, he would have more options. Until then they had to keep on being as normal as possible.
So here Harry was sitting on his bed in the Slytherin dorms, he hadn't left since he got in last night. It must've been close to noon, and he couldn't really remember if he went to sleep or not since the last thing he remembered doing was staring at the ring and now he was doing it again. Rolling the ring in his hand feeling the warmth that spread across wherever it touched his skin. Something he had never seen or even heard of and yet here he was finding some strange comfort in its presence.
He had already committed the details to memory, Hermione had promised to search the library for any information she could find on House Potter and see if the insignia had any significance. Daphne and Susan offered to help which Hermione accepted. Speaking of the insignia Harry rolled the ring so he could see the face. The same falcon clutching the crown, examining the crown closer Harry saw that it too was carved with intricate markings and designs.
He couldn't make them out but figured it was just for decorative effect. More than once Harry had wanted to put the ring on it felt like he needed to put it on. However, the words of Susan and Daphne helped stop him every time. If he put the ring on he would be officially and magically announcing that he was the head of House Potter and rise to the rank of a new lord. That means sitting in on Wizengamot meetings and trials, dealing with the duties of being a Lord. Those duties include but are not limited to family finances, estate management, and engaging in more than one high society gathering.
They had mentioned that he could appoint a regent until he was ready but there was no one he trusted to take the post at the moment. At least no one who could since his first and so far only choice was Sirius. So now he had to just hold it in his hand and resist at every turn to put it on. He couldn't even leave it in a drawer or his trunk. He tried that earlier in the morning and the thing just somehow either ended up in his pocket or his hand.
It was a need little thing that's for sure. Instead, he stuffed it in his pocket and opened up the Grimoire to read up a little extra on the Protego Diabolica spell. Skimming through the initial description he began where the more in-depth explanation of the spell came in.
This spell is going to be unlike anything you have attempted before. To most, the fact that the Protego spell is a charm might indicate that this spell is also a charm is a false conclusion. It is neither a charm nor a form of conjuration. I would dedicate this spell more comfortably in the realm of summoning much like the Canis Infernus spell. The spell itself casts and handles much like a charm however that is only during the initial casting itself.
Once you truly begin to draw the spell out you will feel it. The constant hunger that exists only within the flames of purgatory, the flames that this spell summons. It is paramount that you do not allow it any chance to engage any of its surroundings which includes yourself. The caster is only safe from this spell once they mastered the beast that waits within the flames. You must not treat this as a bond, this will not be a cord that connects you to the beast as with the hellhound or any other of the conjured beings from the spells you have learned up until now.
This will forever be a leash, a chain for you to control and bring the beast to heel. You will never be companions, you will never be allies, you will forever be master and servant. If you waver even for a moment that hunger that waits within the flames will gladly devour you.
With that being said, once you truly control this force it will follow your commands without fail or hesitance. If you command it to devour a forest it will do so without fail unless an outside force works against it. The forces that can achieve this are few and far in-between. However, even with this spell's incredible ability and thirst for destruction, it is one of the greatest defense spells in the world if not the greatest. Mastery over this spell shall reduce any one of your enemies to cinders and the flames will consume even those, but it will not touch or harm your allies.
This requires great mastery over the spell and the beast that lurks within but once you master you can stand in the middle of the wrath of purgatory your allies by your side unharmed and untouched. It will require a great amount of strength and power but if you have made it this far you have plenty of both. It will take no short amount of willpower either, this spell will test your resolve more than any other, even the ones that have yet to be revealed to you.
The more Harry read about the spell the more nervous he became just thinking about attempting it. Forget actually casting the spell just attempting felt impossible. He thought towards the entity that the book spoke of describing it as hunger was foreboding. Unlike with Demona this would not be bonded, the book had said as much, could he handle that sort of power?
Harry laughed at himself, even with how dangerous the spell was he somehow knew it would be less stressful than his family ring. With a spell at least when you master it you can control it, with his ring he was sure that there would be no end of headaches when he put it on. So for now at least Harry was content to just have the ring in his possession. He could feel an oddly familiar warmth even when the ring wasn't on his finger so there was comfort in just having it close. plus it's not like he was in any danger of losing it as the thing was incredibly clingy.
Harry went to read a bit more until he was startled by a sudden series of bangs against his door. The surprise made him drop his book and instinctively go for his wand before he was able to calm himself and keep Demona from charging the door. Instead, he got up and quickly made his way to the door which was still banging. Becoming quite perturbed he swung his door open and stepped back as Blaise nearly fell in his fist up and his body obviously had just been leaning on the door.
"Blaise?" Harry asked sounding a bit annoyed then he saw the disheveled state his friend was in. The boy had looked like he had just run a marathon and it showed with his usually well-kept appearance and clothes being noticeably wrinkled. With the hem of his shirt untucked in a rather sloppy fashion and his tie which was always taught and neat was also loose and unaligned.
"Harry!... trouble... Great Hall!" Blaise gasped out trying to catch his breath.
"What?" Harry asked not really understanding what his friend was trying to say.
"Hermione... in trouble... it's Weasley." He gasped out and that was all Harry needed to hear as he quickly barrelled past his friend heading straight towards the exit. Behind him, Blaise grimaced but followed the other boy out of the common room trying his best to match Harry's pace. Harry sped through the halls of the dungeon and up the stairs towards the upper corridors.
Harry didn't register much of anything as he passed and barrelled right through students that got in his way much to their annoyance. He ran until finally, he came upon the large corridor that lead to the Great Hall. He could already see something was going on seeing the large crowd of students. Some professors were already trying to make their way through but it was slow going.
Harry could see Daphne and Susan on the outer fringes of the crowd trying to get through as well. He quickly made his way over to them.
"What's going on?" He asked as both girls turned wide-eyed.
"It's Weasley, he and Hermione got into an argument over the Prophet this morning." Susan said stepping away from the crowd.
"Why aren't you with her?" Harry asked and this time Daphne answered.
"We were on our way out of the Hall when Weasley came around, she told us just to head to class and she would handle it. Obviously, we won't make that mistake again." Daphne explained roughly elbowing a boy who bumped into her.
Harry nodded to them both and looked around but this crowd wasn't dispersing soon and he couldn't see what was happening in the center where Hermione was. With a growl, he took a few steps back from the crowd with a scowl on his face.
"Demona!" Harry called out and not even a second later Demona manifested beside Harry in a cyclone of flames and shadows, some of the closer students noticed and began to disperse to getaway. Though the majority of the crowd did not. Harry looked to her and sent her his desire through their bond.
Demona began to snarl and growl viciously as her lips curled back revealing her fangs which had begun to glow like molten metal and wisps of smoke and flecks of flams escaped her maw. Harry could feel the air become hotter and hotter as she took in a deep breath and unleashed a roar.
The roar that had ripped from the Hellhound's throat was a testament to their name. The sound was truly something that one would imagine a creature of Hell would make. It was a deep guttural growling sound that was very wolfish but it was mixed with something that sounded like an animalistic scream. The roar blasted through the air like a cannon Harry could feel the bones inside his body almost reverberate with the sound. The closest students had all ducked down their hands immediately going to their ears to try to drown out the sound but to little avail.
Demona held her roar for only ten seconds but it was enough to get everyone present and possibly the rest of the school's attention. Seeing the very angry Harry and the glowing fangs of Demona they nearly ran over each other to leave the scene. With the retreating crowd, the Professors along with Harry, Daphne, and Susan were able to make their way forward.
The sight that greeted them was Ron on his bum swatting at bats made of his own snot wand lying beside him. There was also Hermione her wand firmly in her hand but her other hand was covering her mouth and when she saw Harry she quickly turned away which caused him some confusion.
"Hermione are you alright?" Harry asked and she just nodded.
"Miss Granger perhaps you should let me have a look." McGonagall said as she approached. Hermione glanced at Harry and shook her head.
"That's alright Professor, I'll just go to Madam Pomfrey later." Hermione said though it sounded strange. Like she was trying to talk and bite her bottom lip at the same time.
"Hermione? What's wrong?" Harry tried again this time gently turning the girl to face him but she kept her mouth covered and eyes down.
"Hermione." Harry tried again and when she didn't respond he gently grabbed her wrist to move her hand. She resisted a bit at first but eventually gave in to reveal what she was hiding. She looked up to him shyly like she was scared of his reaction. Harry though just narrowed his eyes as his scowl came back full force.
It would seem Ron hexed Hermione's teeth so that they protruded cartoonishly past her lips like beaver teeth. Though they were also horribly yellow and slightly chipped as well. Overall not the best-looking dental job.
Instead of commenting Harry just turned to glare towards Ron who had been alleviated of his boogie bats by Professor Flitwick.
"Why did you do this?" Harry asked his voice slightly growling as Demona matched him snarling with her head next to his over his shoulder. Before Ron could answer, not that he was going to with how terrified he currently was with Demona, Professor Snape stepped forward.
"Potter, perhaps you should send your attack dog away first." Snape suggested and Harry looked towards the potions master then at the other Professors who all looked to be on edge with the enormous Hellhound present.
"Demona." Harry urged gently the Hellhound stepped back before nuzzling against Hermoine for a moment before melting back into Harry's shadow. With the Demona gone, or at least out of sight the rest of the Professors seemed to relax.
"So what happened?" Harry asked.
"Indeed I would like to know as well, Mr. Weasley?" McGonagall asked looking towards the red-headed boy. Ron for his part seemed to find that Gryffindorish courage and glared at Harry and pointed a finger at him.
"It's all his fault!" He screamed.
"Funny, I don't think Harry was here until just now. Try again." Daphne snorted mockingly.
"Shut it snake!" Ron spat.
"Weasley! At least try to keep the remnants of your breakfast and saliva within your mouth when you speak. Miss Greengrass, do not antagonize the situation." Snape said quickly to the two of them Daphne just nodded but didn't look the least bit ashamed.
"Mr. Weasley the truth." McGonagall tried again.
"I told you it's his fault! First, he cheats his way into this tournament and now he takes Hermione away from me!" Ron said still pointing an accusing finger towards Harry.
"Hermione isn't yours." Susan said not liking how Ron phrased that.
"Mr. Weasley you are not making any sense. Mr. Potter was not in the great Hall and only arrived recently. Despite your... grievances... with him, that does not explain why you decided to hex Miss Granger." McGonagall said though struggling a bit to find a word to describe Ron's whining.
"Miss Granger, perhaps you can give us the story leading up to this altercation?" Flitwick asked.
"We were just leaving to head to classes when Ronald came up and started to argue with me. I told Daphne and Susan to go on thinking I could talk him down but that didn't work. He sent the hex at me and after that I defended myself." Hermione explained becoming self-conscious in the middle of her statement and covering her teeth again.
"And the reason for his animosity?" McGonagall asked.
"It was the Prophet, Professor." Susan answered, "Weasley didn't like what was printed and harrassed Hermione about it." She explained and McGonagall looked at the Hufflepuff.
"I didn't have the chance to read the Prophet myself so I do not know what was printed. In any case, hexing a fellow student is no way to settle an argument especially one as petty as this. twenty points from Gryffindor, and detention with my Mr. Weasley for the next three days." McGonagall and Ron looked like he was going to argue but a stern glare and pursed lips from McGonagall stuck the would-be complaint in his throat.
"Miss Granger, perhaps you should make your way to the Hospital Wing to let Pomfrey take a look at that." Flitwick suggested as Hermione nodded and began to make her way to the Hospital wing with Daphne, Susan, and Harry following.
"Harry, if you would." Dumbledore called out causing the group to stop. In his head, Harry was cursing since this was the sort of thing they were trying to avoid. Turning he was careful to look anywhere but directly in the Headmaster's eyes. focusing on his nose or lips instead.
"Yes sir?" Harry asked.
"I just wished to have a quick word with you, if you would accompany me to my office?" Dumbledore asked though Harry knew it wasn't a request.
"Sir, Harry didn't do anything wrong." Daphne said joining Harry at his side.
"Oh he is not in any sort of trouble, I just wish to have a word with him." Dumbledore said waving his hand to placate Daphne but the Slytherin saw through that.
"Then why must he accompany you to your office? Surely you can speak to him now since he's here." Daphne returned doing her best to not sound suspicious or guarded just genuinely curious and Harry found she was doing a great job. Thankfully for them, the Professors were around so he couldn't really do anything here.
"I merely thought that he would be more comfortable talking in private that is all Miss Greengrass." Dumbledore answered doing a stunningly good job at his grandfatherly act. But Harry and the others knew what he wanted. He wanted to get Harry away from everyone else in order to attempt to read his mind again or influence him away from his new magic. With that little display with Demona, there was no way it wasn't at least on his mind.
"Professor, I'm okay answering any questions right here, what's the matter?" Harry said doing his best to match Daphne with his own innocent tone.
Dumbledore sighed knowing he couldn't continue getting Harry alone with his Professors around. Even if McGonagall had left with Ron leaving only Flitwick and Snape there. Snape wouldn't be a problem but Flitwick would be quite curious as to why Dumbledore would require Harry to be alone with him.
"I just wished to speak with Harry about the beast he conjured as well as the Prophet. I read the entry that I believe set Ronald off in his misguided argument with Miss Granger." Dumbledore explained.
"Indeed, Potter, summoning that beast was quite the leap in this situation. In the future, it would do you well to attempt different means of passage or simply allow us to do our jobs." Snape said sternly.
"I understand Professor I just wanted to get to Hermione and it was the first thing I thought of." Harry said.
"You should think your plans through more thoroughly then. In any event, the deed is done and we are wasting time talking about it. I have a class to teach and I believe that Miss Granger would be beside herself if she was even a second late to any class so perhaps you should make haste to the hospital." Snape said in his usual drawl but Harry latched onto the opportunity and turned with his friends after nodding to the Professor and left for the Hospital Wing.
Snape followed suit his cloak billowing as he walked toward his classroom. Flitwick left to his class as well and Dumbledore returned to his office the barest of scrunched-up brows being the only proof of his displeasure at not being able to get Harry alone.
Seeing Harry summon that beast to scare off the students had disturbed him greatly. The magic that Harry employed in the first task had already sent alarms ringing in his head, mainly his use of Shadow Ravens and the aforementioned Hellhound. The ability to conjure magical creatures was a feat that no one was able to accomplish. The magical strain was far too much and Wizards and Witches both said it was like something was draining their magic when they attempted it.
To Dumbledore, there had been only one man who had successfully developed a technique to achieve this. Though he had never shared the technique with anyone. Just that thought alone... that Harry had somehow come into contact with...
No, it was just simply impossible and could have been a coincidence. Harry is a bright boy despite what his academic scores may suggest so it is possible he developed the technique himself or at least accidentally recreated it and didn't even realize he had.
In any event, there was too much happening around Harry that was outside of his control or his knowledge. And Harry's new choice in friends was worrisome. Susan Bones was a nice girl and wasn't much of a problem but her aunt can cause problems for Dumbledore.
Then there were his new Slytherin friends. Daphne, Blaise, and the older seventh-year Jones. He had known Daniel Greengrass, Daphne's father, and Megan Jones's father Vector Jones. Both of which he knew to be Deatheaters with both being found guilty of their crimes and doing time in Azkaban.
Dumbledore was a fierce advocate of nonlethal means of combat as well as second chances. However even still he did not want Harry near any possible dark influences no matter how slight. Blaise was another problem as his mother had a reputation as a Black Widow. Having married seven times with each husband mysteriously dying and her walking away with a hefty amount of gold from each. Now he didn't believe Harry was going to be snatched up by Miss Zabini but it was still a dark area he didn't want Harry near.
To make matters worse his initial plan to gently dose Harry with a weak version of disgust potion had failed. It was meant to be a gradual change so it wasn't sudden or noticed and it would just seem that Harry just gravitated back to his Gryffindor friends. That obviously didn't work as for some reason Harry had kept tossing his drink and the cup was confiscated by Snape. There were too many factors here and Dumbledore needed to get Harry back on the proper path.
With Harry, though the group had made it to the Hospital and Hermione was currently being checked by Pomfrey.
"So will someone tell me what made Ron act like a git?" Harry asked looking at Susan and Daphne.
"Oh you mean besides the fact that it's Weasley we're talking about?" Daphne asked with a smirk and Harry rolled his eyes.
"It was the Prophet." Susan answered.
"Yeah I know that part but what exactly?"
"Well... I don't know how but apparently Skeeter had managed to figure out we were all on a date. All of us together that is, I don't know how but she even managed to get snippets of our conversation." Susan explained as Harry's eyes widened.
"Wait how is that possible?"
"I intend to find out, but in any event, Weasley saw the article and went straight for Hermione. You know how that went but it also means that the rest of the school is privy to our... unique, relationship." Daphne said but shrugged soon after "Doesn't seem like much of a problem to me, just means I can kiss you without having to be all careful about it."
The blush that came upon Susan's and Harry's faces caused her to giggle slightly.
"You are shameless, but I must admit having it in the open is rather nice." Susan said with a blush and Harry just smiled shyly.
"Are you girls going to be okay though? I mean is anyone going to give you trouble?" Harry asked concerned and Susan took his hand in hers.
"No, besides the usuals of course like Weasley and Malfoy. But other than that I feel like it's going to be just your average shock and awe questions from everyone." Susan reassured.
"I just don't want you to be targeted because of me." Harry said as Daphne and Susan both smiled at that with Daphne coming over to his other side to take his other hand.
"We are quite capably you know, but it's still sweet." Daphne said kissing his cheek.
"So... um, does this mean I can call you my girlfriends now? Or do we need a few more dates?" Harry asked a bit hesitantly not knowing the proper procedure when it came to this sort of thing. The girls looked at him strangely before breaking out into light giggles.
"Well, I sure hope we're girlfriend and boyfriend. After all the rest of the schools knows so you should too." Daphne said with an amused smile.
"Yeah, even though Daphne is going to be a really bad influence on you." Susan said jokingly.
"Hey! This was your plan in the first place, Hufflepuff." Daphne countered.
"Yes, but you need to be a bit more restrained."
"But I want to snog!" Daphne whined childishly causing Harry to blush. Then he remembered Jones's advice about being a bit more assertive and decided to go for it.
"I... I wouldn't mind that. I guess." Harry tried with a blush ever-present on his face as Susan looked at him with wide eyes while Daphne just had an ear-to-ear face-splitting grin.
"See, he likes it." Daphne said.
"You've corrupted him... we can try kissing later though." Susan admitted with a blush. Before they could continue Hermione returned.
"Everything alright?" Harry asked and Hermione smiled showing off her teeth. Harry had already thought Hermione had a beautiful smile but he did notice that this time her teeth were better aligned.
"Oh, she changed your teeth?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, she just made it all even. Do you like it?" Hermione asked still smiling though a blush was being to dust on her cheeks.
"I thought it was good before, it's still good now though." Harry answered honestly and Hermione just nodded.
"Thanks Harry, we are going to be late to class though." Hermione said sounding more than a little dejected at that thought. The others laughed at that as they left the hospital. They were pretty late as they headed towards Defence Against the Dark Arts. Susan split away from them.
When they entered they saw that Moody was already lecturing and but stopped upon their arrival.
"Late! That'll be twenty from Gryffindor and ten from Slytherin. Hope you can catch up because I'm not going back!" The ex-Auror shouted without looking back. The trio quickly made for some open desks and sat down. Quickly looking at the board it showed that Moody was discussing the Reducto curse and other related spells that achieved the same effect.
"Now as I was saying, this curse doesn't just blast apart your opposition like the explosion charm or the blasting curse. No, this spell quite literally reduces the object you are casting into dust." Moody said finishing his chalk writing by underlining the words DEADLY FORCE.
"This curse has a multitude of uses, only the small-minded will think to use this curse on a person. Yes, you can reduce them to a red mist but only if you hit them good and proper. If you nick someone on the arm all you are going to get is a missing arm. It is much more useful to use on your surroundings. The scaffolding on the ceiling so that it collapses, the floorboards underneath your opponent's feet. Possibly even the cover they are trying to hide behind. Beyond that, if you find yourself trapped you could use this curse to free yourself. Either by destroying whatever is trapping you or if you cannot do that..."
He paused then stamped his prosthetic leg.
"Get rid of the limb that is trapped." He said causing most of the class to reel back from shock as his magical eye looked over the students wildly. "This spell is not for the faint of heart and is not to be used lightly. However, you must always understand the workings of any spell even if you don't plan to use it yourself. Understanding it means you can recognize it you can counter it, dodge it, or block it." Moody explained waving his wand causing his desk and the board to be shoved to the side of the room.
"Everyone stand, form a line!" Moody barked and everyone scrambled to do so as he waved his wand again causing the desks to be shoved to the side providing more space and room. Then he brought a small figure from his desk and dropped it to the floor and enlarged it to reveal a mannequin with its legs spread and arms held out wide.
Harry found himself with Hermione and Daphne in front of him in the line as Moody began to demonstrate how to perform the curse. He didn't notice who was behind him till he felt a tap on his back and turned to see Blaise.
"So... Hermione, Daphne, and Susan?" the boy asked with a grin as Harry just smiled sheepishly.
"Well... yes, I was just as surprised as you." Harry whispered back.
"Mate, how?" Blaise asked shaking his head "I was sure it would've been Daphne, most of us knew she fancied you. I guess I was still right only one out of three points though."
"They asked me out. I just said yes, it's not like we've been dating for a very long time."
"Oh, so it's official now? Like all three are your girlfriends it wasn't just a one-off trial date or something?"
"No... at least they say I'm their boyfriend so... yes, yes we are dating." Harry answered feeling the heat in his face as he talked.
"Mate, you're making me look bad you know that right? Now I got to get four girlfriends. I'm the good-looking one here." Blaise said with an overdramatic expression. Harry just chuckled and shook his head.
"Hey, you know about girls right?"
"I suppose."
"Well, do you know any good date ideas or anything, or what they like to get as gifts?" Harry whispered making sure that Hermione and Daphne didn't hear them but they were busy being interrogated by Tracey.
"Oh, well that depends on the girl honestly. I know Daphne the best so I know she likes potions. She also is a fan of horses, I remember her little sister talking about how their family owns a ranch where they take care of horses. You'd probably have a better chance talking to her sister." Blaise said and Harry nodded as he thought. He had seen Daphne with a younger Slytherin girl at times about two years under them.
"Okay, thanks... what's her sister's name?"
"Astoria, shouldn't I be the one asking for advice since you have the three girlfriends?" Blaise asked jokingly as Harry rolled his eyes. It didn't take long for them to reach the front with Tracey going first, the spell was rather good but only succeeded in reducing the mannequin's arm and shoulder to dust. Daphne and Hermione did much better getting the entire torso.
"Potter! You're up!" Moody shouted as Harry stepped away from the rest of the line and raised his wand as the mannequin repaired itself to its original form. Harry then raised his wand in the ready position and took in a breath. This was a perfect time to see how his training was affecting his ordinary spells.
"Reducto!" Harry cast the slightly bluish bolt of magic screaming across the room causing the air around it to ripple as a spiral tail of energy followed it. As it impacted there was a flash of that matching blue light flooded the room. When it faded the mannequin was still there seemingly untouched by his curse which confused Harry. He did the spell perfectly he was sure of it.
"Ha! That's the best you got Potter, even your little girlfriends can do better than that." Malfoy jeered getting laughs from his group but Harry just ignored him as Moody looked at the mannequin critically. He then walked over to the mannequin his magic eye roaming across it wildly. He then gently blew against its face.
After he did that the entire body broke apart in a cloud of fine dust causing the laughter to die in the air as the student's eyes all widened.
"Well done Potter, ten points to Gryffindor for complete obliteration of the target." Moody said an almost evil grin on his face. Harry quickly made his way to the back of the line. Malfoy had tried to mock him on the way back making kissy faces and such. Was he seriously trying to mock him for having three girlfriends?
The rest of the class went by rather quickly which led to Harry heading out with his friends. Malfoy had again tried to mock Harry as they walked doing the same overdramatic romantic gestures.
"Are you really trying to mock him for having a girlfriend? Let alone three?" Blaise asked the very same thought that Harry had when Draco tried this the first time.
"Oh, he's just jealous that Harry has us while he has nothing." Daphne claimed with a smirk while Malfoy scowled.
"That's not true and you know it!" Pansy hastily defended trying to grab Draco's hand but he quickly wrenched it away causing a flash of hurt to pass through the girl's eyes.
"I have nothing to be jealous about Greengrass, in fact, that should be all you. Consorting with a half-blood and blood-traitor is bad enough, but a mudblood? You might as well go and snog some fresh garbage, it'll probably be cleaner anyway." Malfoy sneered causing Harry and all his friend's eyes to narrow.
"Watch your mouth Malfoy." Blaise snarled but Hermione spoke up before anyone could draw their wands.
"Yes Malfoy, I am garbage." Hermione nodded as the group turned to her in shock and Malfoy looked a little surprised at first but grinned thinking he had won.
"In fact, I am such garbage that I am constantly at the top of our year in all our classes. I get spells down faster than you ever even dreamed of, not to mention that I'm doing this as a muggleborn. I wasn't raised in this environment, I wasn't taught magic early on and yet I still manage to beat out every other pureblood in our year. Remind me... when was the last time you were in the top ten?" Hermione asked though at this point Malfoy's face had begun to get a shade of red that nearly put Ron to shame.
"I'm muggleborn what's your excuse?" Hermione finished and turned swiftly Harry and the rest followed stunned, in fact, they were so stunned they failed to notice Malfoy brandish his wand aiming straight for Hermione's back.
"Oh no, you don't!" Moody suddenly called out having been watching the exchange from the front of his classroom. With speed, only an ex-Auror could obtain from years of experience and training he had Malfoy forcefully transfigured into a Ferret.
"What a cowardly, pathetic excuse of a wizard. To curse someone while their back is turned. I see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, in this case, it appears it was also run over by a centaur!" Moody cried out. The group had been stunned at first but soon began to break out into laughter at the sight.
"Alastor, if you would please." A familiar voice rang out catching everyone's attention. They turned to see Dumbledore standing there in the corridor lips pursed slightly.
"Ugh." Moody groaned out as he turned the boy back who looked around wildly before shooting to his feet with a glare towards the Dark Art's Professor.
"Just wait until my father hears about this!" He threatened as Moody sneered.
"Is that a threat boy?" He yelled out stepping forward which was all that was needed to make the greasy blonde git run for the hills his group follow suit.
"Alastor, while I can certainly appreciate you defending a student, transfiguration is not a suitable punishment."
"I'm not apologizing." Moody claimed and Dumbledore just shook his head as if expecting that.
"In any case Harry, If you can join me in my office?" Dumbledore said and Harry, Daphne, and Hermione just had to do a double-take. Was he still trying this? He had failed this morning with the teachers present.
"Why Professor? It was Malfoy that began this altercation, not Harry." Blaise pointed out before anyone else said a word.
"Aye! You should be chasing down the blonde Ferret, never know when he may try to curse someone behind their backs again." Moody agreed.
"Mr. Malfoy will be spoken to, and I believe that the situation would not have escalated to such a degree if Miss Granger had not egged the boy on." Dumbledore stated casting a disappointed glance towards the girl.
"So she's just supposed to let people call her mudblood whenever it strikes their fancy?" Harry asked upset.
"Oh no, but there are better ways to handle the situation, such as walking away. Violence, whether physical, magical, or verbal should never be your first choice." Dumbledore explained in that familiar grandfatherly voice.
"With all due respect Professor, if someone is bullying you, you should stand up to them and that's what Hermione did." Daphne claimed, getting nods from everyone save Moody who was just watching the back and forth.
"Yes, but it should be done in a way that can assuage violence not lead up to it," Dumbledore explained again pushing the pacifist route as best he could. "In any event, I do not wish to speak to Harry about this incident but about the Prophet this morning."
"That's not very appropriate Albus." Moody said rejoining the conversation and looking towards the Headmaster suspiciously.
"I merely have some concerns."
"Be that as it may, you are not his guardian or head of house. If you have a problem you bring it up with McGonagall so she may speak with her student." Moody brought up his magical eye now scanning the Headmaster who was mentally cursing. Damn Moody and his paranoia.
"Of course, forgive me in my old age some of these simplicities escape me." Dumbledore said with a light chuckle as he walked away.
"That was... weird." Tracey said and Moody hadn't stopped staring at Dumbledore until he was out of sight.
"Does he often do that?" Moody inquired and Harry nodded.
"Yes, just for me though."
"Wait really?" Blaise asked and Harry nodded. Moody just pursed his lips, Dumbledore was a secretive person and had always had plans upon plans that he would never disclose with anybody. If Moody had learned anything about Albus over the years it was that he wasn't interested in talking to Harry about his newfound relationships, no he wanted something else.
"Constant vigilance." He stated and reentered his classroom. The rest of the group went on their way as well. Thankfully the rest of the day had gone by relatively normal except for being stopped every second with questions about Harry's new relationships. Ron and Malfoy had been sufficiently cowed for the remainder of the day and with any luck for the rest week.
Ginny had been surprisingly quiet and seemed to avoid Harry now. They had talked much recently but it was noticeable when he brought it up Hermione had told him that she would take care of it. Susan had had a pretty good day as well seeing as how Cedric had talked to the Hufflepuffs the night before. Well more like scolded them, in any event, there were being a little less abrasive around Harry and so Susan wasn't being harassed by anyone over her new relationship with Harry but still plenty of curious inquiries.
After a full day the Harry, Daphne, Susan, and Hermione found themselves back in Myrtle's bathroom.
"So, we're public now I guess." Hermione said to the group who nodded. "To be honest I wish there was just a little more time for us to just be... I don't know exclusive?" She added on.
"Well, It's not all bad, and I'm glad it got out so soon. I like holding Harry's hand in public." Susan said emphasizing her point by grabbing said boy's hand.
"Yes and the snogging, when is that going to happen again?" Daphne asked with a sultry smirk which caused everyone to blush.
"Not now, I want my first kiss to be somewhere a little more romantic than the loo." Hermione said with a shake of her head.
"The astronomy towers not that far away, it has a lovely view of the stars." Daphne suggested and Susan and Hermione both shook their heads at Daphne's eagerness.
"Well, she's not wrong." Harry said though he was just stating that as a point of fact.
"You are corrupting Harry!" Susan exclaimed pulling Harry close.
"Is that a bad thing? I don't think it's a bad thing." Daphne claimed.
"We shouldn't rush this Daphne, it should be natural." Hermione said as Daphne sighed.
"Oh alright." Harry laughed feeling very relaxed around the girls and greatly enjoying being held by Susan even though he was blushing since she was holding him close enough that her breast was pressed against him.
Tentatively he reached a hand around her waist and returned her embrace. upon feeling his motion she smiled widely and just held him tighter. He was a bit nervous with his hand placement and kept it relatively high so as not to appear pervy but he was greatly enjoying the contact.
That was when Hermione slid up to his other side and rested her head against his shoulder and her hand found his.
"Hey, no fair." Daphne said as she came over to and spread his legs so she could rest against his chest. Thankfully despite her forwardness, she didn't get close to his lower region not wanting to make him uncomfortable. She did agree with Hermione that everything should come naturally.
"This is actually really nice." Susan said as the four just fell into a comfortable silence. Daphne had begun to gently run her fingers over Harry's knees while Hermione had begun to run her thumb over the back of Harry's hand as she held it. Harry for that moment let everything fall away. The tournament, the trouble with Ron and the Headmaster, the family ring just all of it.
Instead, he focused entirely on the three girls that surrounded him. Harry wasn't an expert on love, he didn't truly understand it and much of that was due to the Dursley's but he could say that right now he felt safe. He felt right. The warmth around him was something he always craved but never knew about, but now he did.
Perhaps this is what love was, and if it was, he couldn't wait to explore more of it.
_SCENE_
Here is ch 10, Sorry for the late update but you know... school. In any event, not much to say in this chapter, their relationship is out in the open now so that will introduce some new dynamics that they will display in public. Demona is getting some more power as she becomes more and more accustomed to this realm so exciting stuff there. Also, Harry is getting more powerful but not to the level he needs in order to attempt Protego Diabolica. I can say this, when he does cast it, it will be a sight to see. Hope ya'll enjoy this one, I'm starting to use Grammarly to help with the grammar mistakes and what not so hope my writing comes out better now. I will be going back to check the previous chapters as well and I already did ch 9
Chapter 11
"So... this is a dilemma." Hermione stated looking at Susan and Daphne. The three girls as well as the rest of the school had just received word of the upcoming Yule Ball that would be taking place soon. Usually, it wouldn't have been much of a problem but seeing as Harry was in a relationship with all three of them it was a bit of a troublesome situation. All the girls were more than willing to attend the Ball with Harry but he had been hesitant not wanting to show any form of favoritism over the others. As a result, he had been avoiding them for fear of upsetting any of them.
"It's sweet how he can be so concerned with our feelings but he should know it doesn't matter who he takes this time. He can just take the other two on dates later." Susan said with Daphne nodding but Hermione merely swayed her head side to side in a show of agreeance but also disagreeing at the same time.
"Yeah it is, but that's the problem, isn't it. Harry doesn't like hurting people if they don't deserve it or he doesn't need to. Especially if he cares about them. Maybe we should've put off asking him out until after the Ball." Hermione suggested.
"Well too late to put that charm back into the wand. Though we should've expected this, it was going to come up at some point. Personally, I'm glad it's coming up early if he started having these thoughts months down the road it would be more problematic." Daphne said legs dangling from the desk she sat on top of.
"I guess that's true, we can work out all the kinks in the early stages so that it can be much smoother down the road." Hermione agreed.
"I wish he could just take all of us." Susan stated and Daphne smirked at her.
"I'm sure he would if he could, though McGonagall was clear he needed a singular date."
"I just don't understand why." Susan huffed.
"Maybe she's a prude."
"Professor McGonagall is not a prude. I am sure she has a good reason for this restriction." Hermione defended her favorite teacher.
"It's not like it's a huge problem, he's just going to have the opening dance and dinner with one of us. That doesn't mean he can't still dance the other two of us. We're not going to be separated or anything." Daphne said.
"Yeah we get that but Harry isn't the best when it comes to... romantic relationships," Hermione stated.
"I think he's doing pretty well so far with us." Susan said looking at the Gryffindor girl.
"Yeah but we've only been dating for a few days now and let us be honest we've taken the lead a lot of the time haven't we." Hermione pointed out as Daphne nodded.
"True, we've got to be careful with that too. This has to be an equal relationship not just us with him but him with us too." The other girls nodded at Daphne's words remembering what she told them that Jones had told Harry.
"So should we just wait? Let him sort this out on his own?" Susan asked looking between the girls.
"That's the thing, I don't know. I want to find him and let him know that it is okay but I know Harry will likely feel obligated to go with none of us just avoid hurting our feelings." Hermione said rubbing her eyes.
"So what he just doesn't go at all?" Daphne said not liking that outcome at all.
"Ugh... this is so difficult. It's like he's scared or something." Susan said.
"He is, look as far as meaningful relationships Harry has barely a handful. He had Ron but that was just parasitic and unhealthy. He has me obviously but we've only ever been friends. Then his Godfather is a wanted criminal who can't even give him advice because of the ministry. That is it, everyone else has been acquaintances and he's only just started to get to know the people in Slytherin besides Malfoy and only recently started dating you two as well." Hermione explained and Susan and Daphne shared a look.
"That's... true. I don't like it but it's true. We might be dating but he still has to build the relationship with us two first." Daphne said gesturing between herself and Susan.
"Do you think we went too fast? Maybe we should've just been friends for a little while first." Susan said tucking a lock of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear.
"Susan, if I'm being honest, then yes I think we might've gone a bit too quickly." Daphne admitted as Susan deflated, she was the one who had been very pushy about asking him out as soon as Hermione agreed. Daphne had gone with it of course but she knew she was showing the most excitement.
"Shocking coming from you." Hermione couldn't help but joke as Daphne chuckled.
"I'll admit that I am very flirtatious with him. But still..."
"So what? We break it off and try to develop before trying again?" Susan asked and Hermione quickly shook her head.
"Absolutely not!" Hermione exclaimed quickly catching both girls by surprise.
"Well I don't like the idea either but... why not?" Daphne asked.
"As I said, Harry has only a handful of relationships, real relationships. If we all suddenly break things off it's going to send the wrong message to him even if we try to explain. Maybe we jumped the gun so to speak."
"Jumped the gun?" Susan interrupted but Hermione brushed her off.
"Muggle expression. The point is, we dived headfirst into this a bit hastily, but it's too important to us, not to mention Harry, for us to just call it off at the first bump. It will go far better if we stick to it and talk to him and let him work things out with us. It will let you two form a better bond with him and show him that he can trust you. He took a risk himself accepting our mad Hufflepuff plan. Show him that that leap of faith wasn't a mistake." Hermione explained looking at Susan and Daphne who shared a look as well.
"Damn Hermione, maybe you should be a love doctor or something." Daphne joked causing the girls to laugh lightly.
"Okay, so just show him that we care and he can trust us no matter what." Susan summarized.
"Yes." Hermione answered.
Meanwhile, Harry was in his usual classroom, he had trained a bit but after his legs got wobbly on him he called it quits and instead decided to torture himself with the Golden Egg. As usual, it was fruitless even using his new casting technique had little effect on silencing charms and the like.
Though honestly his mind and heart wasn't in it. He kept thinking back to the girls and the Ball that was coming around. At first, when he heard about it he wasn't really worried. He figured that it would be something like their first date with each girl taking turns. However, McGonangal had made it abundantly that he could only have one official date.
She had explained that he would be dining with that one date and having the opening dance with said date. Harry had become very worried about that. Despite the assurances he had received immediately after from the girls couldn't silence the thoughts bouncing around in his head. Harry was as far from experienced in the romantic sense as you could get. It showed during his first date when he just let the girls run the show.
Now he was going to have to make a choice between the three of them for a public outing. He could already hear the whispers about how he picked a favorite. In his head, he couldn't get the voices of the damned Dursleys out of his head either. Demona had been helpful with that but it seemed that his subconscious was especially nasty with this problem.
He could hear Dudley and Vernon screaming at him, talking about how a freak like him would never find love. Or that they only wanted to be with him out of pity. The worst had to be the lines from Petunia... hearing her voice in his head about how he would just end up getting them killed. Like how he got his mother killed.
Harry knew that they were just twisted subconscious demons born from years of abuse. But even still, it became difficult to remember that point at times. And now they were screaming that he was selfish and a waste of space. That he was taking advantage of the girls in his life. Petunia had even gone so far as to claim that whoever he chooses will just die that much quicker.
Harry at this point had covered his face and began taking deep breaths. He really wished he was confident enough to just ask one of them to the dance. In his head, he knew that it would be fine. That no matter who he went with the other two wouldn't be hurt or feel lesser for it. But he couldn't help the pit that formed in his stomach whenever he started to consider who to pick.
It was here he was brought out of his thoughts when Demona had begun to nudge him with her wet and warm nose. She had flooded him with warmth through their bond as he reached up to rub her jaw. The Hellhound lifted her chin slightly to allow him better access.
"I don't suppose you got any idea's on how to do this?" Harry asked but Demona was too entranced by his pets to answer, not that she would anyway seeing that she couldn't really speak. Instead, he just sat there petting his enormous Hellhound like she was nothing more than a common house dog. She had placed her head in his lap and it was large enough that he could lean over and embrace it. Slowly the voices became quiet once again as all he felt was the warmth emanating between them.
"Thanks, girl, that helped a lot," Harry said, he could still use some verbal advice but this had helped him calm down tremendously. Standing up Demona melted back into his shadow as he gathered his things. Making sure to curse the Egg as he put it back in its bag. As he left the classroom he walked at a leisurely pace not feeling the need to rush. Instead, he used the opportunity to think of people he could go to for advice.
He thought about his teachers and McGonagal seemed like the most likely choice. He briefly even entertained the idea of going to Snape but quickly dismissed that. They were more civil that's for sure but he wasn't going to go asking about relationship advice from Snape of all people. He then thought of any other older figures that he could ask, the only real older students he truly knew were the ones on the Gryffindor Quidditch team or Jones.
Harry's Quidditch team was something he hadn't considered in a while. Despite Ron and his harassment during the early stages of this tournament, those on the team hadn't truly been a part of that. He had just been avoiding them as he had with Hermione by accident. He made a mental side note to get back in touch with his team.
But back with to the matter of advice, Jones seemed to be the best choice. She had been very helpful after his first date. And despite her mad tendencies, she was quite helpful when it came to advice. He was going to have to get her something for Christmas with how much she was helping him out. Nodding to himself he began to make his way to the Slytherin Common room to see if he could find her. At least that was his initial plan. Though that came to a screeching halt when a blonde raven claw suddenly stood in his way with a whimsy smile on her face.
"It's all going to work out." She said to him her smile never leaving her face.
"I'm sorry?" Harry asked.
"The Ball and your dates, they'll work out you'll see." She stated and now Harry was very confused.
"Wait, how did you know about that?"
"I don't know." She said and then looked down and her smile widened as she suddenly bent down to look at his shadow.
"And aren't you just a pretty thing. My name's Luna what's yours?" The now named Luna asked his shadow. To anyone else, it would look extremely odd to be talking to someone's shadow, but Harry did in fact have something in his shadow. Though only his friends understood that, most just assumed it was a spell of some sort.
"Wait hold on."
"What is wrong Harry?" Luna asked her head tilted to the side rather cutely.
"Let's just back up a few steps. What do you mean it'll work out?" Harry asked.
"Oh, I mean your dates of course."
"Okay, so you know about the Ball and my... girlfriends. But I can only go with one." Harry said, it still felt weird to say girlfriends but in a good way.
"I know that. But that doesn't mean you can't go with all of them."
"You just said you knew I can only go with one."
"Why do you only have to go with one?"
"Because McGonagal said I can only take one girl as a date."
"Does that mean the others aren't going to go?"
"Well... no."
"Are you not going to want to dance with them?"
"No, of course not."
"Then what's the problem?"
"I can only go with one."
"But Harry you just said that they'll be there and you'll dance with them."
"I did... ugh it's not about that it's about... you know..."
"You're worried about the other girls feeling like they aren't as important."
"Yeah... wait, what's going on?"
"We are having a conversation."
"I get that! Okay, how are you understanding all this? I've never met you before." Harry exclaimed his head spinning, it wasn't every day a total stranger came up to you and knew all your woes and issues.
"I suppose that's true. Well, I am Luna Lovegood, a third-year, and you are Harry Potter. There now we aren't strangers." She said with a wide smile.
"Um... nice to meet you?" He asked.
"Yes, it is nice to meet you too. So have you decided to take Hermione to the Ball? Or perhaps Susan, Susan's nice. Also, Daphne seems kind of cold to me but I know she's a marshmallow to you and the other girls."
"No, I haven't. That's kind of my problem." Harry said but the girl just shrugged.
"I don't think it would be a problem, Hermione is smart and brave, Susan is kind and considerate, Daphne is strong and understanding. How could be being in a relationship with those three be a problem."
"No, that's not what I meant. I'm talking about the Ball."
"Oh, I love Balls! You get to dress up like a princess and dance with a handsome prince. Though I wish the Nargles didn't steal my nice shoes, it'd be hard to look like a princess without pretty shoes. Though I don't mind being barefoot, even if my toes get a bit cold at times." Luna said drawing attention to her feet which were bare against the stone.
"Someone stole your shoes?"
"Yup! The Nargles, there very nasty sometimes and often steal my things but it's all in good fun." Luna said and Harry thought he saw something flash in her eyes as she explained. He felt like he was familiar with whatever it was but couldn't place it.
"That's... not nice. What were we talking about again?"
"Your dates, I said that it was all going to work out!"
"Right... what makes you say that?"
"No idea! But I think you need something more than that. I know Megan has a free period right now and should be in the common room. The Slytherin one that is. That is who you wanted to talk to right?"
"Yeah... Wait how did you know that?"
"No idea! Bye-bye Harry, bye pretty wolf." Luna said waving to Harry and then to his shadow where Demona was. Before Harry could say anything else Luna had skipped off her blonde curly hair bouncing along with her Ravenclaw robes.
"What just happened?" Harry asked but no one was around to answer. "Okay..." Harry shook his head and continued walking making his way to the Slytherin Common room. Though the words of Luna kept bouncing in his mind. As odd as it was she made some sense even if how she explained it whipped him back and forth with every word. With her advice in mind, he continued to the common room entering the cooly lit room and finding it largely empty save for a few of the older Slytherin students who had free periods.
Among those students was Jones who was in the process of writing some things down in a journal with a rather large textbook next to her. Walking up behind her he peeked over her shoulder and what she was writing nearly made his head spin. He was fairly sure that they were runes at but they were written in every direction sometimes overlapping or curving. With the runes, it was like she was making some form of a diagram. In a way, it reminded him of some of the diagrams that he found in his Grimoire but even more complicated.
"You know if you're going to try to sneak a peek make sure your shadow isn't where I can see it." Harry jumped as Jones spoke and turned to look at him a smirk on her face.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." He apologized and Jones just shrugged.
"Sit, you need something, you got that look on your face." Jones said and Harry playfully scowled.
"What look?"
"That 'oh I'm overthinking something so I better go find the most beautiful and talented witch in all the world to help me' look." She said casually haughtily flipping her hair. Harry sat across from her but rolled his eyes when he did.
"Don't forget to add incredibly humble to that list." He joked but she nodded.
"Indeed, whilst I may be a goddess in human form I do come off as incredibly humble." Harry just scoffed while Jones giggled. "So what does the great Dark Lord Harry Potter need from me?" She asked and Harry groaned at her favorite teasing moniker for him.
"Are you ever going to not call me that?"
"Maybe once you get a better title, the boy-who-lived just doesn't have that great of a ring to it." Harry would have argued but he had more pressing matters on his mind.
"It's the about the Ball that's coming up. I'm just worried about it."
"Harry... I'm flattered but what would your girlfriends think." That got Harry to blush.
"What!? No that's... How did you even come to that conclusion!?" Harry exclaimed and Jones just cackled away.
"I'm just messing with you. So you're worried about the Ball? Wait no, you're worried about the girls aren't you?" Jones guessed and Harry nodded.
"So what's the problem? Do you not want to go?"
"No, it's not that it's... well Professor McGonagall said that I can only take one date." Harry said and they sat there for a moment before Jones leaned forward.
"Is that it?" She asked and Harry nodded. At this Jones sighed and shook her head.
"Harry, just because you can only take one date doesn't mean you will have to ignore the other two."
"No, I understand that it's just..."
"Just what?"
"I don't want to make the other two feel, I don't know lesser?" Jones was quiet for a moment before slowly nodding.
"I get that, a little. But Harry If you chose to take Hermione as your official date do you think that Susan or Daphne would suddenly crumble? They wouldn't, they're big girls and unless you ignore them the entire night they're not going to feel any lesser at all." Jones explained and Harry while understanding the words still couldn't help the feeling of worry in his gut.
Jones picked up on this and sighed before looking down at the diagram she was working on. Picking up her quill she put some final touches before spinning the journal to face Harry.
"Harry look at this what do you see?" Harry raised an eyebrow but obliged anyway.
"Um... runes I think."
"What kind of runes, why are they set up like this? Can you make sense of it?" Jones asked and Harry took another look, and while it looked vaguely familiar to him he still couldn't make heads or tails of it.
"No."
"That's okay, this matrix is just like your relationship. At first, it's confusing, you don't understand what to do and you might even be frightened about messing up." Jones explained pulling out her wand then beginning to tap it on the runes causing them to light up.
"It's okay to not understand, to be unsure but don't freeze up because then you'll never figure it out. You are going to make mistakes, just like they will make mistakes. Your first date proves that but you didn't give up, instead, you talked about it and will do better the next time. This is no different than that." As she talked jones continued activating the runes until the final run began to glow and they began to float off the page forming a sphere of light.
"But once you figure it out you are going to find that the results will be beautiful." After this, the sphere suddenly morphed into a Butterfly of shining golden light that fluttered around the room with golden dust falling from its wings as it did. Once it came back it appeared to melt back into the page separating into separate runes once again and losing its glow.
"So, in short, relax don't get too worked up over it, and have some faith in the girls as well." Harry smiled a little and nodded.
"Okay, I get it."
"Good, you know I'm going to have to start charging you for these little talks." Jones joked and Harry rolled his eyes.
"You wouldn't."
"I don't know, I have a reputation to uphold and you keep forcing me to get all serious and stuff."
"I'm not forcing you." Harry defended.
"I feel forced." Jones quickly replied.
"Oh, whatever." Harry sighed as he stood "Seriously though, thanks."
"Yeah Yeah, get out of here, I'll send you the bill." Harry laughed a little at that but let her get back to her work. Jones shook her head a bit as Harry left making his way to his room. Returning to her work she began to begin a new rune matrix when one of the other Slytherins in the room playfully sneered.
"Getting soft Jones?" The male student joked as Jones's familiar mad glint returned to her eyes.
"Wanna test that theory?" She challenged a wicked smirk on her face as the student quickly backed down returning to his studies. She huffed flipping her hair as she did going back to her runes.
Meanwhile, Harry inside his room was thinking. The talk with Jones was very helpful and soothed most of his worries. Luna was as well, in an odd sort of way he'd make sure to thank her properly the next time he saw her. But right now he had to decide who to take to Ball.
Hermione was the one who came to mind first, he had known her the longest and also knew her the best out of all three of them. Though he did have to give them all careful consideration. Susan was very beautiful and kind she was would be an ideal date. Then there was Daphne she was definitely more flirtatious than Hermione or Susan but she had a soft side as well even Harry could tell that much.
Any one of the girls would be wonderful to take but he had to officially take only one. He still couldn't help but feel a bit of a pit in his stomach despite what Jones and Luna said. But it would be scary at first even still he had to pull on his bit of Gryffindor bravery in this case. Also even if he was officially taking one he wasn't going to ignore the other two. Absolutely not.
Looking down to his shadow a pair of smoldering eyes stared back at him.
"Oh, do you want to say your two cents as well?" Harry asked playfully and he felt a rush of hot air as Demona snorted in his face. Laughing he felt the slow embracing warmth that accompanied Demona's bond.
"Do you have any suggestions about who I should take?" He asked and suddenly Susan flashed in his mind. He laughed again.
"Good choice but are you sure you're not just choosing her because she snuck you that whole ham?" He asked and his answer was just another puff of air.
Before he could continue though there was a knock at the door. Getting up the person that greeted him as he opened it was Blaise.
"Hey, you got a minute?" the dark skin teen asked.
"Uh, sure." Harry answered stepping aside.
"Thanks." Blaise said stepping in and setting himself down on the opposite bed.
"So what do you need?"
"Well... I need some help with the Ball." Blaise said a sheepish smile on his face as he said this. Harry's eyebrows raised before he chuckled.
"I am probably the last person that can you help you out there. I'm kinda having troubles of my own."
"Oh? Like what, you got three dates for the Ball how could you be having any trouble?"
"That's kinda my problem, you see McGonagall says I can only take one of them."
"What? Why?"
"Your guess is as good as mine." Harry shrugged.
"Well, it's not like your going to hurt the other girl's feelings they'll understand."
"Yeah, I know."
"Oh... good."
"So what's your problem." Harry asked getting back to the original reason Blaise was here.
"The opposite of yours, I got no one to ask." That made Harry frown, Harry was socially stunted not blind.
"No way, I've seen how some of the girls look at you, you could probably ask anyone to the Ball and they say yes."
"Wow, how observant you are, except when it comes to yourself." Blaise teased lightly.
"Hey!... I have no argument for that." Harry admitted a bit bashfully.
"Yeah, besides I don't want to go with just any girl you know."
"I get that, did you try to ask anyone at least?"
"I was going to ask Tracey..." Harry's eyes widened a bit at this.
"As a friend, but she apparently already has a date. So now everyone has a real date but me and that just won't due." He said shaking his head and Harry was sort of following his reasoning.
"Okay... I'm going to be honest I've got nothing." Harry said raising his hands in a shrugging motion.
"C'mon you've got have some suggestions."
"I've only recently begun to expand my number of friends and the only girls that I really know are Hermione, Susan, Daphne, Jones, and Tracey."
"Well I can't ask Jones, she'd turn me into shoes to wear at the Ball."
"She would not."
"You don't know Potter, you don't know." Blaise said with a shiver. What had Jones done to earn that sort of reputation anyway? Harry sighed but then an image of a certain blonde Ravenclaw flashed through his mind. Quickly glancing down he saw Demona's eyes before they vanished.
"Luna Lovegood?" Harry asked out loud even though he didn't mean to.
"Luna Lovegood?" Blaise asked getting Harry's attention.
"Uh... yeah she's a Ravenclaw I met recently. Do you know her?"
"I think I might've heard the name in passing a couple of times." Blaise said thinking.
"She's a year under us, maybe that's why."
"Oh, that makes sense. You just met her?"
"Yeah, she's... interesting."
"Interesting in the good way or bad way?"
"Depend I guess. She's nice."
"Okay, I'll ask for her then see what she's like. Any other suggestions?"
"It's a miracle that I have one." Harry joked as Blaise chuckled.
After that Harry and Blaise just talked about various things, like their classes and spells they were studying. Harry couldn't talk about the spells he was working on but he could talk about how well he was doing. Overall he felt he was making good progress. Having a true teacher would help a lot but based on where he started he was progressing at a fine pace from what he could tell.
He didn't feel so wiped out after his usual training sessions. In fact, he felt like he might be able to try out the Protego Diabolica spell soon. Perhaps after the Ball. If only the riddle of his Egg would go as smoothly but unfortunately no such luck. Why they even said it was riddle was pure hogwash. There was no riddle to the Egg just odd carvings that so far seemed to be purely decorative and unbearable screeching.
"Okay, I'm gonna go now." Harry said getting up finishing up his conversation with Blaise.
"Good luck mate." Harry smiled and nodded and the two teens left the room and left. They must've been talking for longer than Harry thought because many of the Slytherin students seemed to have come back from their classes.
"Potter, still polluting the air with your stink then?" came a snide voice that Harry just rolled his eyes at. He had gotten quite good at ignoring Malfoy.
"Maybe you should take a shower, cause that's not me." Harry quipped.
"How long are you going to hide here? For someone that's the golden boy of Gryffindor doesn't seem very brave hiding out here just because you were bullied a bit now does it." Malfoy attempted to insult Harry.
"Remind me again who's in the top of our year and who hasn't even made the top ten?" Harry returned and Malfoy growled remembering the incident with Hermione.
"Draco doesn't need to be in the top ten he has nothing to prove!" Pansy replied coming to Malfoy's defense though it was a rather weak one.
"Shut up Parkinson!" Malfoy growled out causing Pansy to flinch slightly.
"Whatever I've got things to do." Harry said and left before Malfoy could make another dig at him. Making his way through the corridors he passed a couple of students heading out of classes for the day.
As he walked he made it a point to be a little more observant of the groups that he passed up. Before he would've sworn that everyone in the school mainly stuck to their own. And while that was true in some cases he found that it wasn't nearly as widespread as he thought previously. Turns out when you open your eyes a bit and do a bit of observation outside of what you know you notice some things. For example, it would seem that many Hufflepuff students intermingled with many of the other houses. In fact he saw quite a few that grouped up with some Slytherins. It was a unique pair, at least to him, the kind and compassionate Puffs being friends with the usually calculating Slytherins.
It was rather nice seeing just how intermingled the school was beside Malfoy and Ron the school was a lot like what he imagined a big school like this would be like when he was young. Leaving his idle musings behind he made his way towards the bathroom that the girls usually hung out in as of late. As he approached he heard familiar voices and made sure no one saw him when he entered.
"Hello?" He called out already knowing who would answer.
"Hey Harry, decided to finally stop avoiding us?" He heard the familiar voice of Daphne as he walked in to see the girl in question sitting up on one of the sinks giving him that playful smirk she always likes to use. Next to her Hermione and Susan sat on the floor looking over a book but both turned to greet him with a smile.
"Yeah, sorry..." he apologized looking back he was being a bit rude to the girls.
"Oh sorry he says, I don't know is that okay for you Susan?" Daphne asked in a playful appalled voice and Susan placed her hand upon her chest faining a heartbreak.
"I don't know, it still hurts." She teased and Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Oh shush you two."
"Oh fine." Daphne sighed they all shared a little laugh at that as Harry smiled.
"I am sorry about avoiding you... I was just."
"It's fine Harry, just don't make it a habit okay?" Daphne said.
"Right, I'll do that. Um, so there's something we need to talk about." Harry said taking a seat next to Hermione and Susan on the floor with Daphne looking down on them.
"It's about the Ball. So I know McGonagall said that I'm only allowed to officially take one of you to the Ball as my date. But I just want you to know that even though I may ask one of you doesn't mean I don't think that the other two are... um lesser? No, wait, um less important? There's a better way to say this." The girls all giggled at Harry's flustered explanation and Hermione and Susan each placed a comforting hand on each of his knees.
"It's fine Harry we understand. We know if you could we would all be your dates." Susan said giving him a reassuring squeeze.
"Thanks, So..." He gulped he hadn't really reached a decision yet concerning the girls and who he should take officially. Though he knew that no matter who he decided to take he would make sure that all three of them had a great time. No matter what.
_SCENE_
Okay I am alive, and I am so sorry for the very late upload, I've been having a sever case of writers block and with school starting back up it's just been a bit of an adjustment along with a new job. However I am getting back into it and this chapter kinda shows my writers block as it's my shortest one and I am no all that happy with it. Though you will notice that I left a cliff hanger concerning the official date for Harry potter. So I am going to be putting up a poll so ya'll can vote on it and we'll let our community decide who is the official date. So again sorry for the late upload and I will try to get back on top of it.