Chapter 18
Dumbledore had never felt so powerless in a long time. He had only felt this alone and cut off once and he swore to never feel this way again, and yet here he was. He used to know every move that anyone made, what his teachers had for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What they taught and how they taught it, who they favored and who they hated. He knew his students, who showed potential and who should be left by the wayside. Any, who didn't fit in simply faded into obscurity for him. They were inconsequential, unimportant.
Now?
Now all he had was the Daily Prophet and what was broadcasted on the wireless. He had spent so much time at Hogwarts that he considered the entire castle his own. He had almost forgotten his ancestral home, the one where he grew up with his brother... his sister. The house wasn't small by any means but it wasn't the grandness he had come to be used to. It had only been two days and already he felt like the walls and rooms were shrinking by the day. And he was sentenced to six years of this? Surely not! He would just have to wait for a while longer. The Aurors that had been assigned to him were strict and only spoke to him when necessary.
He needed Tonks or Shaklebolt, if one of them got assigned to his guard then he could work out a way out of this predicament. He needed to see Harry, to talk to him. What he had performed at the second task was disturbing. Before that display, he had his suspicions but couldn't confirm anything but the use of Protego Diabolica had been all the confirmation he had needed. He didn't know how but somehow in some way Harry had come into contact with Grindelwald or something left behind by Grindelwald. How that could have happened in Hogwarts of all places he had no idea.
"Damn." Dumbledore cursed there were too many things that he didn't know. Too many things had happened without his knowledge. He should've been more concerned when all of a sudden Amelia Bones showed up with orders to bolster security for the tournament. He hadn't thought of it, his own arrogance assuring him that nothing might have been going on that involved him. He had written it off as Fudge just wanted to show some political power in some way.
Then seemingly out of now where he was bound and under arrest. His belongings were seized and his office searched. Thankfully it would seem that Amelia had failed to find anything beyond the journals he had kept about Harry's first year. Not that it mattered, everything he had built up for himself over the many, many years of hard work on his part was torn apart within a single afternoon. His positions and powers were stripped and if that wasn't enough he had a lifetime ban on obtaining any positions of powers again, not to mention any jobs that dealt with minors in any way.
So he couldn't even return to the school for something as simple as a janitorial job if he grew so desperate. Not to mention that he was unable to perform the more advanced forms of magic since his wand was taken as well. His wand was another concerning matter altogether that he would have to deal with. Dumbledore sighed as he sagged in a chair, he would have much work to do in the future. They didn't understand, he was the only one who could lead them.
As opposed to this, Harry couldn't be happier at the moment. His girlfriends had come back and filled him in on the good news. He didn't read the paper since he wanted to hear it from them. However, everyone else did. Malfoy and his ilk were like giddy clowns at the news most in Gryffindor looked like someone had kicked their puppies. Ron was livid of course but hadn't made any attempts to approach Harry or his girlfriends yet. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students looked disturbed but largely unaffected and if the rest of the Slytherin students had opinions about it they didn't make them widely known.
The Heads of Houses had been quite shaken, McGonagall felt and looked betrayed and had started casting apologetic and regretful glances towards Harry. Snape had kept his usual demeanor but he had become a bit more reclusive, giving shorter answers to students and not spending a second more around people than he needed to. Flitwick and Sprout had both been thoughtful, often they would be found with their minds elsewhere.
His friends had needed a day to absorb the information but they supported him and what had gone down at the trial. His Gryffindor friends, Neville, and the Quidditch team took it the hardest but they too came around eventually. Harry was glad for that, he didn't want to go through another round of animosity with people.
Currently, Harry, Hermione, Daphne, and Susan were all enjoying the chilled air next to the lake on the Hogwarts grounds. They had set up a little picnic with a blanket complete with warming charms to keep the air a pleasant chill instead of the biting cold. Demona had gone to explore the shoreline and the nearby forest. He could feel her and her curiosity as she sniffed around the grounds. Occasionally sending him mental images of things she found. They had a few sandwiches in a bag and some tea, Hot cocoa for Harry. Don't tell anyone but he wasn't the biggest fan of tea.
He was currently laying flat his head resting in Daphne's lap with Susan and Hermione were on either side of him. Daphne was gently playing a soothing tune on her ocarina. The notes from the instrument rang beautifully through the air and seemed to wash over the group. This was perfect for Harry, he still had to worry about the tournament and what the last task might be, but for now, he could let all of that just fall away.
All that mattered right now were the three beautiful young women around him. Slowly the music came to an end and the gentle lull of the water rolling on the nearby rocky shore replaced it. Harry's eyes fluttered open as he looked up to see Daphne smiling down at him.
"I thought I had put you to sleep." Daphne said running her fingers through his hair.
"Almost, think you might've put the others to sleep though."
"Nope, close, but no." Hermione said her eyes opening up. Susan stayed quiet though as they looked at her to see that she had definitely fallen asleep cuddling up against Harry's other side holding onto his arm. Harry laughed lightly as he found her hand with his and interlaced their fingers. Yeah, this was something he could get used to.
"So what do you think about this honestly?" Harry said raising his left hand and examing the Grindelwald tattoo. Hermione took his hand to examine it a bit closer tracing the shape with her finger. To here she couldn't even tell the difference, usually with tattoos, there was a subtle texture change to the skin. This did not have that, it was just the usual, slightly calloused hands that she had come to love.
"I wish you would've waited for us, but we're your girlfriends, not your babysitters. Though this is going to cause a lot of problems if you think people are afraid of the name Voldemort just wait till you announce the name of Grindelwald to the world." Daphne had said.
"I'm glad you can talk about it with us now. It's nice to be in the know." Hermione said taking his hand in hers as she settled back into her position at his side.
"I thought you'd be more upset." Harry admitted honestly.
"I think you've had enough experience with people trying to control your every move and decision. Besides we trust you." Daphne said thinking of all that he had told him and the suffering he has had to endure because people manipulated him.
"So, when you're ready to take up your positions you'll claim Grindelwald along with Potter, you know we should head to Gringotts when we can see if there are any other family lines you are eligible to." Daphne suggested.
"You think I'm secretly the heir of an even older house?" Harry asked jokingly.
"It could happen. Perhaps it will turn out that you actually are the descendent of Salazar Slytherin after all." Daphne said referring back to his second year when everyone thought he was the heir of Slytherin. Harry chuckled at that.
"Wouldn't that be something. As soon as this tournament is over we can head to Gringotts, I think I'll need to head over there anyway. Dumbledore had full access to my family vaults and I hate to see what damage he has done."
Hermione shuddered at that, the idea that someone could have such unrestricted access to something that was meant to be secure without permission unnerved her. The damage he could've done was unthinkable, and they wouldn't be sure until they saw Harry's vaults with their own eyes. The goblins didn't like to talk about that sort of thing over letters. Speaking of letters, Harry started to get some. Quite a few Daphne had been prudent and had gone about checking them out and finding only a few that had nasty surprises.
It would seem that Dumbledore also had his hand in Harry's mail. They had made a note to look into that but they would just enjoy their victory for now.
"They got a date for Sirius's trial, should be a quick one." Hermione said.
"I saw, he's requesting to be dosed with Veritaserum can he do that?" Harry asked and felt Susan rouse from her sleep.
"He can, it's usually saved as a last resort if the defendant is unwilling to answer or found to be actively lying. But the defendant can request to be dosed from the start." Susan explained sleepily as she yawned and instinctively gently tightened her grip on Harry's hands.
"Have a nice nap?" Daphne asked and she nodded blinking the grogginess out of her eyes.
"Nothing beats sleeping with my boyfriend."
"Oh wow, didn't think you'd beat me to it. Harry, why didn't you say anything?" Daphne asked a mock tone of hurt in her voice. At first, the two were confused before it suddenly clicked with Susan as she suddenly woke up fully.
"That is not what I meant and you know it!" she said heatedly and it was then that Harry also caught up and he couldn't help it as his imagination began to fill his head with images of Susan in a dimly lit room in a rather enticing state of undress. Harry could then feel his pants begin to get rather tight as he suddenly sat up to hide his situation. It was nice that he was getting healthy now with Pomfrey's potions but he found that having a decent hormone function was giving him all sorts of new problems that he didn't have to deal with before.
"Harry? Are you okay?" Hermione asked being disturbed from her comfortable position. Harry could feel his face begin to warm slightly as he tried to calm himself though he didn't know the best way to do that.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Harry said a bit tightly. Daphne looked confused for a moment before her eyes started to widen in realization at what her teasing might have caused.
"Harry... are you...?" She wasn't going to voice it out loud but the reddening of his ears was enough to tell her she was right. Hermione and Susan looked to Daphne for an answer and she subtly gestured to down and then to Harry. It took the other two a moment before they caught what she was trying to say.
The group didn't really know what to say and were just stunned for a moment.
"Harry, you know it doesn't bother us right?" Hermione said gently, she had to sit through the sex-ed courses at home. Her parents might be a dentist but they were still medical professionals and that meant they wanted to make sure that Hermione had a proper education.
"I-I know that but still... I just never really had to, you know, deal with it before." Harry said embarrassed by his predicament. The girls didn't know what to say, they knew how it worked of course but they weren't experts. And knowing how it works doesn't mean you can properly understand. Hopefully, when Sirius was freed they could have a very meaningful discussion that was probably long overdue for Harry. Thankfully Harry's issue didn't last too much longer as he got it under control.
"Think we should head back to the castle?" Harry asked trying to get off the awkward situation. The girls nodded and began to pack up everything. Harry thought about talking to Pomfrey about his new issues but it was just so embarrassing to bring up to anyone and he had already gotten the talk from her once when she started him on this regiment of potions.
Shaking his head he mentally called Demona and she came bounding out of the forest line charging toward them. As she got close she dissipated into smoke and dove into his Shadow.
"Harry, I know this might be forward but I was wondering if maybe you'd be interested in spending the summer with me and my family." Daphne asked. Harry looked at her with wide eyes. He hadn't considered what was going to happen during the summer.
"That would be brilliant, but I think I want to wait for Sirius. He'll probably want me to move in with him since he's going to be freed soon." Harry admitted. The idea of spending the summer with Daphne, or any of his girlfriends would be a dream come true. But he had been yearning to hang out with his Godfather since he met him. And now with his trial on the way and freedom a certainty, he couldn't wait to hang out with Sirius.
"Okay, but our door is always open." She said with a smile.
"Mine too, any time you need it." Susan offered.
"Of course, you can visit me whenever you want." Hermione said.
"Well, perhaps you all can visit me, since I won't be living with the Dursleys anymore, I can invite people over." Harry said and the girls nodded. Before they could do anything for the summer they still had to get through this tournament. The group walked through the hall, most of the students were just hanging around, and classes would resume as normal tomorrow. For today the students were taking the day for themselves.
"Hey, Harry!" A pair of voices called out in tandem and Harry turned and grinned seeing the Weasley twins coming toward him.
"Hey Fred, George." He said nodding to each of the twins.
"He's Fred, I'm George." They tried and Harry rolled his eyes.
"No, You're Fred and he's George." Harry said causing the two to laugh.
"How can you tell?" Fred asked.
"George is better looking." This got George to grin as he went about straightening his collar while whipping his hair around.
"He's got a point brother."
"In your dreams, everyone knows that ladies prefer me." Fred countered doing a similar motion to George just in an opposite direction.
"What do you think ladies? The great Fred or boring George?" Fred asked pretending to flex and the girls just shook their heads. Before they could answer Jones suddenly appeared wrapping her arms around Fred and George and ruffling their hair.
"In your dreams, everyone knows that I'm the sexiest thing to ever grace the magical world." Jones claimed grinning madly. Harry laughed at that.
"Huh, that's weird, I didn't think it was opposite day." Harry joked getting a playful glare aimed at him from Jones.
"Oh haha, you think you got jokes huh?" Jones said as she began to creep forward. Harry easily sidestepped her lunge as she began to chase him around.
"You know you're not children right?" Hermione chastised the pair as Jones caught Harry and began to give him a proper nuggie. Susan and Daphne just laughed at the situation. Harry managed to get out of her hold and began to rub his head.
"That hurt!"
"It's what you deserve!"
Harry just shook his head as he turned back to look at the twins.
"So what's up?"
"It's the Quidditch pitch,"
"It's a right mess,"
"Everything's all torn up and the towers are gone,"
"We think that's where the third task is going to be." Fred and George explained in their usually switching way.
"Do you know what the task could be?" Harry asked but both twins shrugged.
"Afraid not, we only saw what they did to the pitch." Fred said and Harry nodded.
"Thanks for telling me, how's everything else?"
"Ron's still acting like a tosser,"
"Mum and Dad are still shocked,"
"Ginny is moody,"
"But beyond that nothing else is going on." Fred finished off.
"That's good... well not good but, you know what I mean." Harry said and the twins nodded.
"What are you three up to?" Jones asked.
"Just relaxing, it's been hectic for a long time and we figured that we deserved at least a short break." Harry answered and she nodded.
"That's good, you did shake up our neck of the woods quite a bit. I am very proud!" Jones grinned as Harry laughed. The group talked for a while as they walked eventually settling in the courtyard.
"So, Are you planning any cool stunts for this next task, or are you all out of tricks? Going to be hard to top what you did last time." George said.
"We'll see, I've still got a lot of time to get something together. Maybe I should summon a Volcano in the middle of the task." He thought out loud getting loud cheers from the twins and Jones.
"How about you just win and come home?" Hermione asked and Harry kissed her gently.
"Always." Harry assured her.
"We still don't know what the final task is going to be, all you got was a messed up Quidditch pitch." Daphne said and they nodded at that.
"Maybe we could help with that." The group turned to see Blaise along with Tracey, Neville, Luna, and Pansy.
"Hey, guys." Harry greeted them as they came in to join the others. "Decided to stick around Pansy?" Harry asked the girl who couldn't meet his eyes but nodded.
"Better company." She answered.
"All of us?" Harry asked again drawing Hermione closer to him.
"Harry, that's not necessary." Hermione said but she felt Susan lean against her side and from what she could feel Daphne was on Harry's other side and all three were looking at Pansy. She looked very uncomfortable at the moment. It was expected since it probably went against her pride to apologize to anyone, let alone Hermione.
"I... I am sorry, Granger. For how I acted and how I treated you. It was... inexcusable." She said doing a very good impression of a scolded child while she was. It took some effort on her part to get that out but Hermione nodded her acceptance. It was going to take more than that to be truly forgiven but it was a surprisingly good start.
"Thank you." Hermione answered back and Pansy took a seat with the group. She looked and felt out of place but she would adjust in time.
"So what do you guys know?" Harry asked and Blaise answered him.
"Well, from what I've heard it turns out a lot of the assets brought in for the original task are being kept there are too many and it would be a huge expense and waste of money to just return them. So if I'm right then the task hasn't been changed from what it was originally going to be." Blaise explained.
"Okay, do you know what they brought it?" Harry asked at this Blaise shrugged.
"I saw a pretty cat woman, she seemed to be very upset. Perhaps the Nargles are bothering her." Luna said as the group looked at her but they were used to her oddness by now.
"And that would mean?" Pansy asked as Luna began to braid grass together.
"I don't know. She liked to rhyme and riddle though."
"Rhyme and riddle? Wait, was it a sphinx?" Hermione asked as that was the only cat lady that came to her mind and Luna nodded.
"That's it! I forgot her name." Luna smiled.
"A sphinx? what a Dragon wasn't enough?" Harry groaned.
"I doubt these new organizers will allow the creatures free rain. Moody and Amelia especially. They'll have a plan to keep you safe while also giving you a challenge." Daphne assured.
"Let's hope, anything else?" Harry asked.
"I know that Sprout is being called on by the organizers recently, maybe you should brush up on your Herbology and look up some dangerous plants." Pansy stated.
"I can help you with that." Neville offered and Tracey smiled at him.
"Thanks, Nev." The group talked a while after that, talking about classes, new spells, or potions they were studying up. Harry couldn't describe how nice this was. Hanging out with real friends with his girlfriends around him. Yeah, there was still the tournament but for now, Harry felt like he had always wanted to feel. Loved and accepted by the people he cared about. It was hard to believe that when this whole thing started he was alone, ostracized by his own house and the person who he thought was his best friend, a decent enough wizard but never pushing his potential.
Now? He had not one but three girls who he loved dearly, true friends that would help him but also tell him when he was being daft. A girl who had quickly become an older sister to him. And for once, no more feeling like someone was yanking his chain around. He felt free and he couldn't have asked for more. Not to mention that he had accepted the legacy of Grindelwald which he was still sorting out how he felt about that but overall it had been positive so far.
After a while, the group began to separate to do their own things, and Harry with Daphne, Susan, and Hermione had left for the Room of Requirement. Wishing for a room meant for training they entered and found a large empty space with a padded floor and dummies lining the walls that could be used for target practice. Reaching into his robes Harry pulled out the Grimoire and began to flick through it.
"You know, I still find it a bit odd how you saw a book that looked like that and thought it was a swell idea to learn from it." Hermione joked being able to see the Grimoire was a foreboding text. However, they quickly learned that Grindelwald had fulfilled his promise but not in the way Harry had wished.
"Probably, but it's been very useful so far, just wish you could learn a bit from it." Harry said, yes as it turned out talking about the book and Grindelwald was one thing, but talking about the specific spells and rituals found within was still forbidden. When he tried to teach them the first spell he learned from the book the instructions he tried to tell them just came out garbled like normal and for them the pages were blank. He was annoyed at that but at least he could discuss it with them now.
"We'll practice our own thing over here, don't overwork yourself." Susan said as she and the other two girls walked off to the side to practice some of their DADA spells that Moody had assigned despite the no classes announcement.
Harry flipped over the pages passing the ritual and going to the next spell. He had flipped through the book as soon as he made the deal and found that unlike before every spell in the book was now available to him written out complete with instructions and diagrams. Though something interesting happened. The book referred to him specifically using his name and addressing him. It was a bit unnerving at first but after remembering that the Grimoire had a form of consciousness it probably made those changes to itself when Harry made the oath. Shaking himself from his thoughts he began to read the next spell.
"Tenelusus, You have felt the power of the elements before but you have also felt the touch of otherworldly elements that cannot be readily found within our world. I refer of course to the Flames of Purgatory and the Hellfire that your Hellhound produces. This spell functions in a similar fashion, you are calling upon magic not to simply mold and then to cast. You are calling magic to summon energies from other sources and then directing these forces. This specific force is going to be called from a realm in between our own and the realm occupied by ghosts. Yes ghosts exist in a different dimension, we might be able to perceive them but that is due to our inherent magical abilities. Muggles are unable to see ghosts because they lack that magic. This spell calls forth the energy of that realm and releases it in a concussive blast that normal shields will be ill-prepared to counter. These next series of spells will all deal with this energy but this spell will be the simplest of them all."
Harry then went to read the diagram and the wand movements for the spell. Making sure he had the proper form he summoned one of the dummies from the wall and got ready. Aiming his wand he quickly whipped it through the movements as he cast.
"Tenelusus!" He cast and the room suddenly felt very cold for him. Black energy gathered at the tip of his wand with purple flecks of energy flicking out from the energy. Harry was momentarily reminded of the Shadow raves but this energy was less like dust and more like whispy smoke. The energy then blast forward in a cone the force nearly toppled him over and the dummy didn't stand a chance as it suddenly gained something akin to scorched marks glowing slightly with purple light as it was flung to the far wall breaking apart as it did.
Harry shivered a bit as the sudden cold feeling faded from him and the energy that was left behind dissipated.
"What was that?" He heard Susan ask as he saw the girls looking at him.
"It was the next spell, it didn't affect you right?" Harry asked and the girls shook their heads.
"No, it just got cold for a second." Hermione said and Harry nodded.
"What are you girls working on?"
"Just a couple of jinxes, Moody doesn't seem to understand the concept of a break. He was the only professor that assigned any study work after McGonagall made her announcement. They're not difficult or anything but still." Daphne said with a shrug.
"Can I help?" Harry asked but the girls shook their heads.
"These aren't the most exciting spells, besides you should keep practicing with the Grimoire." Hermione assured and Harry nodded and returned to his spot. He continued to practice the spell and he started to get a feel for the magic. He imagined it like a water spout and every time he cast the spell he would open the spout and let the magic through. The magic had become more controlled after he did that. Instead of a huge blast, it was more concentrated so much so that the spell broke the dummy instead of just flinging it off. Even though it still sent it flying.
The coldness became more controlled as well, no longer blanketing the room but being concentrated on the area that the spell passed over. It was an odd feeling, he could usually feel the magic flowing through him and outwards. The only thing that felt like this was when he used his empowering technique but even then that was to augment his own magic. This spell came from a completely different source, so maybe it was more like a summoning spell in that regard.
Flipping to the next spell he began to read the text.
"Tenelancea, a more concentrated version of Tenelusus. This spell with have high velocity and power but it will also require greater control and aim. You trade a rather wide area of effect spell for precision. You will find that molding the magic into a lance or spear will aid you greatly with the casting of this spell."
The explanation was short but it was just a different more refined version of the last spell so that was expected. The diagram was similar as well to the wand movement but there were subtle changes such as a thrusting motion added to the end of the original wand motion. He practiced the motion a few times and it felt different but familiar.
"Tenelancea!" He cast getting that same chilled feeling but from the practice with the last spell, it was more controlled. The same energy appeared but this time it twisted instead of pulsed around the tip of his wand. He continued with the thrusting motion and the spell launched from his wand and gave harry a considerable kickback as his hand went sailing back from the force. The spell traveled like a dark spiraling spear as it impacted a new dummy, it didn't send it flying like the first spell but it did do a lot of contained damage and traveled much faster. When the spell faded the same scorched march was present but in a more spiral pattern and a fine slightly purple glowing hole was pierced through the center of the dummy.
Harry grinned to himself, he still had to practice with the spells a bit but they were more than worth it. He would never use it in a common duel but if he was ever attacked again he would have more options than just stunners to fall back on. Harry continued to practice the two spells while the girls worked on their assigned spells. Hours passed before they decided to call it a day on the training. Dinner was a normal affair, students continued to intermingle more regularly which was a nice thing to see. It wasn't until after dinner did Jones gather up Daphne, Susan, and Hermione for a bit of girl time as she put it.
It was a bit of a surprise but the girls were happy to talk with Jones. They kissed Harry and he left with their friends heading back to the Slytherin dorm. The girls didn't need to walk very far before they found a secluded classroom and Jones locked and secured the door.
"So... how's he doing?" Jones asked, she had been by Harry for the majority of his recovery but she wanted outside opinions.
"So far, so good. He's getting healthier by the day, he's already grown about two inches and he's put on some healthy weight." Daphne said.
"He's also doing really well with his magic. He's gotten stronger and he's practicing more." Susan said and Jones nodded. It was what she expected and she could see it in him, especially the physical aspect.
"And what about you guys?" Jones asked and at first, the girls looked like they were just going to shrug but then Hermione thought of something.
"Well, actually there is something I think we should ask you, you know since you're older." Hermione said.
"What's that?"
"Well... you see that Harry's becoming healthier with his potions. But that's not all." It was here that the other two caught on to what Hermione was talking about as they nodded.
"Right, you know he was malnourished, that affected him more than just making him shorter and thinner. His hormones were affected." Jones nodded.
"Yeah, that happens with malnutrition, and other things can affect... oh... OH! Wait, is he?" Jones asked not being able to help the amused grin that grew on her face.
"Well, he is and he isn't. It doesn't bother us but it can get awkward when certain things... arise. We just don't know what to do." Susan admitted.
"Really? Even you Daphne?" Jones asked.
"I'm a flirt not a slut! And besides, knowing what to do and actually doing it is... more daunting than I thought it would be." Daphne said. It's not like they were clueless about what they could do, but they've never had a real discussion about it.
"Shouldn't this be something you bring up with your mothers?"
"Oh, bloody hell no!" Hermione said surprising everyone with her cursing. The idea of going to her mother to ask for sexual advice to help with her polyamorous relationship was more mortifying than she could ever imagine.
"Yeah no, my mother would give me way too much information that can only be received with experience and I would like to be able to look my parents in the eyes for at least the foreseeable future." Daphne said and Susan nodded.
"My mother would just turn it into a lecture and talk me out of it. She likes me to be independent but not that independent."
"Well I should talk you out of it too, sex is a huge leap in any relationship and it shouldn't be rushed."
"It doesn't have to be sex, I don't want to do it too soon either, but perhaps other things..." Daphne said as all three girls gained a slight blush at their conversation, they couldn't help it.
"I don't get paid enough for this." Jones said rubbing her eyes. Why did she have to be such a trusted role model!?
"Sorry, if it's too much just forget it." Hermione said going to stand but a quick flick of the wand had her sitting back down.
"Nope, cat's already out of the bag." She then took a seat herself and took a deep breath. She really should request payment for this sort of thing.
Back with Harry, he was currently going over some potions with Blaise and Pansy. Tracey was still out hanging with Neville which was great and Luna had skipped off somewhere.
"You know if you paid attention more in class you'd be pretty decent at potions." Blaise said to Harry who shrugged. They were just going over some potion books and Harry had recognized many ingredients and formulas.
"Well to be fair Snape and I only just now have gotten on speaking terms."
"It probably helps that the weasel isn't hassling you for every moment of attention he can squeeze out of you." Pansy said.
"Yeah, who can imagine hanging off someone's arm and begging for their attention." Blaise jabbed and Pansy flinched a bit.
"I've learned my lesson."
"Let's hope so, I don't know about Harry but I don't give out second chances." Blaise warned. He was still guarded around Pansy which was completely understandable.
"I'm pretty forgiving but lately I've learned that not everyone deserves a second chance." Harry said. Before he might've been more willing to accept Pansy entirely but after everything that happened, it was going to take time. The group continued to study potions but that came to an end as it started to get late. Blaise bid Harry a good night and Pansy said her farewell as she retired as well. The common room was empty except for him. He was waiting for Daphne so that he could tell her and Susan, and Hermione good night. They were taking a bit long though, normally he would be worried but with Dumbledore out of the picture he felt much more secure.
Eventually, he heard the entrance of the dorm open, and in walked Jones.
"Harry. How are you doing?" She asked as she sat next to him.
"Good, and you?"
"Apprehensive."
"Why?" Jones looked at him before sagging into the sofa. She then took a deep breath as she turned to him.
"Okay, Harry I know what's going on with you."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm referring to little Harry." Jones said and Harry was confused for a moment before his eyes widened."
"W-what!?" He spluttered out embarrassedly.
"Look this is just as awkward for me too."
"We are not talking about this right now."
"Hey, if you want to wait for your Godfather that is great. But his trial isn't until next week and besides him who else do you have to talk about this stuff with. And no, no one your own age counts or is acceptable." Jones asked and Harry wanted to answer but found his answers coming up empty since besides Sirius there weren't any other adults that he was comfortable talking to. Maybe Pomfrey but that was just medical, not emotional.
"What do you want to say?" He said bracing for what was coming.
"Look, I'm giving you the talk here, you already know that. I'm just going to tell you to be... receptive. Don't let yourself be pushed around, if anything starts that you are uncomfortable with then you say so do not hold it in and stay quiet. Also, don't be pushy yourself, if a girl doesn't want to do something then don't force her."
"I wouldn't do that!"
"I know but it still has to be said."
"I'm not even doing anything with them." Harry said, it was obvious who they were talking about.
"I know, but that's not going to last especially now that you're starting to... function normally. You are going to get urges, be appropriate but don't bottle them up." Jones said and Harry just buried his face in his hands.
"D-did they ask you to do this?" Harry asked knowing that Jones had been with his Girlfriends for the past while.
"No, this is all me. Though they did ask for advice from me. You're lucky I'm so nice." Harry nodded but he was curious about that.
"Why are you so nice to me? To us?" Harry asked.
"Would you prefer otherwise?"
"No of course not. But I was just curious, at first, you were just acting as the Prefect but after that, you stuck around and you went far beyond what anyone else would have." Harry said as Jones sighed and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Dumbledore has been messing with your mail, you probably already guessed this, and I suspected this as well. I've sent you letters from when I was a kid."
"Why, just because I was the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"No, well kind of but not entirely."
"So what was it then?" Jones was quiet for a moment before she answered.
"My parents were death eaters, my mother more than my dad. My dad loved my mom something fierce, when she went and joined those lunatics he followed her. He didn't agree with anything they did, of course, he would just cause mayhem and burn down a few houses. He acted mad and random which is why so many people called him Dizzy Jones. He was really careful with it. But my mum was a completely different story, she bought into everything they were selling. She agreed with it and enjoyed it, she was a monster." Jones said her voice becoming tight with emotion as she spoke and Harry placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"It's okay, you don't have to keep going."
"No, I want you to know. It was like this for a while and eventually, they were assigned to do some terrorizing together. My dad thought they could just cause some destruction and go but my mum was satisfied with that. She... She..." She took a deep breath "She tortured a muggle family, and after she got bored she slaughtered them. They had kids! When my dad saw that he knew that woman he loved was a lie. They fought and he had to kill her, she hit him with a curse though. It was slow-acting and meant to really hurt him, to kill him slowly." She turned to look at Harry eyes misty with emotion.
"The very next day news broke out, Voldemort had been defeated by the Boy-Who-Lived! I was so happy, my daddy was going to come home and stay. He was really happy too, that's when I sent my first letter, I was so happy and wanted you to know. Of course, you were just a baby then so I might've been a bit early. As I got older I started to realize that it was a bit silly but I still wanted to thank you. Even if you didn't have anything to do with his defeat directly you were at least a part of it." She smiled at him.
"You gave my father a few years of peace that he was able to spend with me. When I saw you for the first time I wanted you to come to Slytherin, I wanted to befriend you and protect you. But you went to Gryffindor and wanted nothing to do with any Slytherin students." Harry felt a bit guilty about that but Jones waved off his apology.
"It's in the past, besides we got here eventually. I know it might be silly but..." Jones didn't know what to say, all logic told her that Harry couldn't have had anything to do with the Voldemort's fall, he was just a baby. But even still she couldn't help but feel protective of him. Harry equally didn't know what to say, he idly wondered if other students felt like Jones did but just haven't come forward.
"What happened to your dad?" Harry asked and Jones gave a sad watery smile.
"The curse claimed his life last year."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be, the bitch that killed him died a long time ago." Jones said and the pair just sat there quietly, nothing needed to be said. Everything that needed to be said had been said now they just needed to process.
"Thanks, for everything, Big Sis." Harry said smiling at Jones who laughed.
"No problem." She said and ruffled his hair affectionately "Just don't make me and aunt too soon you hear?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
_SCENE_
Here it is! Chapter 18, nothing major this chapter. Just some more practicing and romantic progression with Harry, Daphne, Hermione, and Susan. I'm trying to make it feel as natural as I can without it just being straight up smut
Chapter 19
Hermione would admit that she would fantasize about what her first romantic relationship would be like. A smart and strong boy that would hold her tight and also listen to her whenever she had something to say. Harry more than fit the bill and surpassed it. She was very disappointed with her past self for not realizing it sooner. However, she would not have imagined that in her relationship she would have to make room for two other girls.
Daphne and Susan had been a surprise for her and she at first didn't know if this would work. But they have all already come so far in their relationship and they had more than proven their commitment and love for Harry. Though the one thing she didn't consider was how their sexual relationship was going to work. Hermione might seem a bit prudish a detail that she knew but she was still a young woman with curiosities and fantasies. When Harry began to show more than just emotional interest in her and the others she felt ecstatic and nervous.
She had never considered herself to be the most pretty of girls, especially when compared with the model-ready Daphne and buxom beauty Susan. However, as this relationship progressed she had gotten more and more confident with herself. She believed in her beauty and desirability and Daphne and Susan had both helped her with that. Showing her how to take care of her hair better, and how to apply makeup properly. Her mum had tried to show her but she was never interested back then. Always studying.
Now it was different, she wanted to look good the best she could and not just for Harry but herself as well. Daphne had told her that makeup should only enhance and never smother her looks, she had taken that to heart only applying light shades of eye shadow and lip gloss. Never going overboard and believing in her own natural beauty.
This next step she was considering was a big one, bigger than anything they had done thus far. This is why currently she was sitting in the Room of Requirement which was shaped to be a modest room with a carpet and sofas complete with a fireplace. In the room with her were Daphne and Susan, they had some tea set out and for the moment it was quiet. The quiet didn't last as Susan cleared her throat.
"So... how, um, how do we want to do this?" She asked feeling very awkward at asking the question.
"You know my answer, I'm sure the room of requirement can provide us a very romantic setting."
"Yes, but are we going to... take turns?" She asked Hermione felt that same nervous butterfly feeling in her stomach whenever they broached this topic.
"Jones gave us good tips, she probably gave Harry a similar talk as well. It's going to be scary until we actually do anything." Daphne said, she put on a calm demeanor but inside she was just as nervous as the other girls. She flirted around Harry and had no problems letting him know how desirable he was to her but again words are words and actions are much more daunting.
"I don't think that's the issue here, we know it's going be nerve-racking, I think it's the idea of being altogether." Hermione said. Daphne and Susan nodded.
"Well Susan, you're the Hufflepuff, any ideas?" Daphne asked grinning as Susan rolled her eyes.
"Personally... I think we just go with it. We can plan and plan all we want. We can study, we can scheme but in the end, that's all going to go out the window. This isn't something you can plan out and have a schedule for. That will make it feel like a transaction, it needs to have emotional depth. We can plan the place and the time but what we are going to do has to come from a place of emotion, of love. You can't plan that."
"Instinct," Hermione said.
"Doesn't sound nearly as romantic but yes."
"Sorry, it's just... I thought there would be only me and the boy I loved doing this." Hermione admitted.
"Oh? Am I not pretty enough for you Hermione?" Daphne teased.
"You have to admit that this is odd."
"It is, but it's only going to feel odder if we think about it too much. Look we need to be comfortable with each other. We don't want our discomfort to ruin the experience, especially for Harry." Susan said.
"So, what do you suggest then?" Hermoine asked.
"Jones offered us the use of the Prefect's bathroom, why don't we bathe together? It would get us used to the idea of being naked together and we would become familiar with each other."
"We could invite Harry too after we're comfortable of course and only if he says yes." Daphne said and the other two nodded. They continued to talk for a while after that, before gathering their things. They would meet back up in the Prefects bathroom in a bit.
As for Harry, he was currently out in the Forbidden forest riding Demona as they walked around the forest. Hedwig flew around them sometimes resting on a branch before taking off again. The forest was very serene at the moment. It was a rare clear day with a shining sun which helped warm up the area. The golden rays sometimes peaked through the thick canopy. When they did he could see the dust and pollen adding an almost fantastical feel to the forest.
Harry took in a deep breath savoring the scent of the trees that surrounded him. This was something he could get used to, he was honest when he told Daphne that he hadn't had thought of what he might do after Hogwarts. With all the things that happened to him at the school he was almost convinced that he might not even finish his time at the school. But now, he wanted to, he wanted to spend a long life with his girlfriends but more than that he wanted to explore.
His experience in the world had been Number 4 Privet Drive, Hogsmeade, Hogwarts, Kings cross, Knockturn Alley, and Diagon Alley. But there was so much more to experience in the world. Entire wizarding communities that he honestly hadn't thought about until this year. He figured that there were other wizarding communities out there but they hadn't even tickled his fancy until now. What was it like in France? Or America?
How different were they? And what about beyond the wizarding communities. What lurked in the wilds, the seas, were there ancient magical ruins that were just waiting to be discovered. Harry had been controlled and contained his whole life. Either with people treating him like a freak or a pawn. He didn't ever want to feel like that again, he wanted to see the world and all it had to offer. Maybe traveling across the countryside riding with Demona and his girlfriends.
He really wanted to teach them some of what he was learning but he had to master the Grimoire first for that. It annoyed him a bit that Grindelwald had done something sneaky like that but it didn't surprise him. It just meant that he had to work that much harder.
His Girlfriends were another thing that was on his mind. These new urges he was facing that he never had to deal with concerned him at first. Jones's talk helped a bit but he really wanted to talk to Sirius about it but that could take a while.
He was also a bit embarrassed by the fact that he had started to have naughty dreams lately. They had always involved his girlfriends usually in a dim room and states of undress. He could control himself but the longer it went on the harder he found it to focus on things. Whenever they would kiss now he would feel the urge to let his hands explore but he kept himself in check.
Shaking his head Harry cleared his head and spurred Demona into a jog as they began to make their way back to the castle. It didn't take them long as Harry slid off Demona's back and pattered her snout affectionately. Hedwig landed on his shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately before taking off heading for the owlery.
"Harry!" Harry heard a familiar but unwelcome voice called out. Sensing his displeasure Demona began to growl but he soothed her quickly. Turning he saw Ron approaching him, he was alone but he had a scowl firmly on his face.
"What do you want Weasley?" Harry asked as he returned his attention to Demona. He received no answer but suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he could feel a sudden flux of magic. He grabbed ahold of Demona and they melted in shadows just as soon as Harry heard the shout of Stupefy. Reappearing in the shadow of a tree Harry locked onto Ron who had his wand out.
"The bloody hell do you think you're doing!?" Harry demanded whipping out his wand and training it on
"What I should've done when you started going mad!" Ron shouted firing another stupefy. Harry raised a shield and easily blocked it. Ron was never the best but without him and Hermione to hold his hand he had fallen way out of practice.
"Expelliarmus!" Ron cast and again Harry blocked the spell. This was getting annoying. Ron was pretty dumb but attacking him out of now where and after everything that Harry has shown he could do within the tournament. This was really stupid even for him.
With a quick mental command, Demona ran off to flank Ron. Ron aimed his wand to cast at her but Harry was quicker and cast a wordless disarming charm. Ron's wand went sailing through the air and into Harry's hand. Once it did he dropped it as it felt completely disgusting in his hand. The wand was uncared for feeling sticky in his hand and he could see some form of grime on the wand probably from holding his wand with greasy hands.
Wiping his hand off he approached the now pinned Weasley as he struggled under the paw of Demona.
"What do you think you were doing Weasley?" Harry asked scowling at Ron who simply returned it.
"You don't see it do you?" Ron spat out and Harry rolled his eyes.
"See what?" Harry asked, he didn't know why he was even entertaining the arse.
"The Harry I know wouldn't have done what you've done. You're using dark magic! You got Dumbledore sacked! And worst of all you're dating and hanging around Slytherins! They've done something to you!" Ron screamed his face going red with strain as he uselessly tried to push Demona off him.
Harry was just dumbfounded. So even if he was under someone's control his answer to that was to attack him?
"So you attack me? What was your plan after that?"
"McGonagall! She can help you!" Ron shouted out and Harry felt like he was talking to some screaming toddler. How had he ever become friends with Ron in the first place? Oh wait, that's right, Harry was an idiotic desperate fool who had grown up in isolation. So the first person to ever show him a hint of kindness he latched onto. Not even realizing that he was accepting a complete parasite of a human being.
Ron was a person that functioned by leeching off others. He leeched off Harry for attention from others while also hoarding Harry's attention to him. And he leeched off Hermione for school, Harry didn't know what Ron's grades looked like right now but he couldn't imagine they were very good.
"Ron, stop it. Just stop. We are not friends anymore and we never were. You used me to get attention, you used Hermione to squeak by in classes. I'm not a possession you can claim and you never knew me! You never knew my story and you never cared to ask even after four years. You never asked and the only time you did seem to care was when you and the twins came to get me during second year. And even then I feel like that was mostly Fred and George's idea." Harry growled out. He then shook his head.
"Just leave me alone, don't talk to me, to Daphne, to Susan, or Hermione. Don't harass any of my friends. I am going to say this as plainly as I possibly can. Never come near me or them again." Harry said and nodded to Demona who lifted her paw and began to walk towards the castle.
"Your dark Harry! You've gone bad! Your parents would be ashamed!" Ron screamed after him but Harry had nothing left to say as he continued walking. Ron continued to scream but Harry ignored him as he got farther and farther away. Harry didn't look back he didn't think about it he left it behind him.
Demona nuzzled him affectionately and Harry chuckled, she melted into his shadow after that. Taking a deep breath he walked through the halls thinking of what he could do. Dinner was over and classes were over, he wanted to go find his girlfriends but they were having a little get-together so he wanted to give them their privacy. So he decided to head to the room of requirement. Heading up there he was undisturbed and quickly made the training room he liked to use.
"Dobby," Harry called and with a pop, the excitable elf appeared before him.
"Master Harry Potter calls Dobby?"
"Yeah, how are you doing?" Harry asked and Dobby smiled so brightly Harry thought that perhaps he had swallowed a firefly.
"Oh Dobby be doing the best, and Harry Potter is truly a great wizard for asking!" Dobby exclaimed getting a chuckle from Harry.
"That's good Dobby, I have a task for you."
"Anything Master Harry."
"The next task for the tournament, I need some clues on what it could be. I know their using the Quidditch pitch so start looking around there, make sure you're not seen." Harry told Dobby who nodded.
"I will sir, Dobby will be happy to do this." Dobby bowed before popping away. Harry then took his wand and quickly summoned a regular viper snake.
"I need you to go and inform the others, the third task is approaching and I need to know what it is. Follow the organizers, like Professor Moody and Barty Crouch hear what they say and come back to me if any of you should learn anything." Harry hissed out and the Viper nodded to him before slithering to a small crack that the room had made for it. Harry then was about to get some light practice in but Demona suddenly leaped out of his shadow and began to snarl menacingly at a high corner of the room.
"What's wrong?" he asked and he received a mental image of a bug. It looked like some sort of beetle. Harry hurried over and looked to the shadowy corner. Demona's fangs then began to glow which illuminated the shadow revealing the beetle to his eyes. Harry was confused, how had a bug gotten into the room? Also, why was Demona being so aggressive towards it?
His musings were interrupted as the beetle suddenly took off zooming through the room and Demona chased it. She would snap at the bug her jaw making an audible pop as it closed showing the power they held. He didn't know what had her so rilled up but he trusted his Hellhound so he took his wand and took aim.
"Immobulus!" He cast and a pulse ripped from his wand easily hitting the Beetle. It went still and fell to the ground and Demona pawed around it still growling and snarling at the insect.
"What is it? It's just a bug." Harry said approaching the Beetle. Demona took a deep whiff and sent Harry an image. An image of Rita Skeeter then of the beetle. Harry was confused at first before he connected the dots. He then began to laugh, of course, this explained everything. How Rita had been able to get those secret details about his life and situations even though she was nowhere to be seen. She was an Animagus, a beetle one.
"Finite." He cast and the Immobulus spell dissipated from Rita. She righted herself and he could see her prepare to take off again.
"Yeah, I wouldn't do that if I were you, Skeeter. Demona's bite is a lot worse than her bark. How about you change back and we can talk." Harry asked and the beetle stilled before in a flush of magic in its place stood a disheveled Rita Skeeter with a sour look on her face.
"So this is how you sneak in on private conversations. I bet you're probably not registered are you?" Harry asked and Rita scowled.
"Well this is a juicy scoop, I wonder how the ministry would react to learning just how you've been getting such private details from people's lives." Harry wondered out loud as Rita's eyes went wide.
"You can't!" She cried.
"Why not? I've had quite a few headaches because of you. Not to mention that your little snooping bit could've jeopardized Dumbledore's trial. If you did that, you could've let that man go free." Harry said his tone becoming cold as he spoke.
"People have a right to information!" she claimed and Harry grinned.
"You know what, you're right. Let me just right a letter to the ministry with this information." Harry said as he walked to the door.
"No! No wait!"
"Ah, so it's only the information you want to share that people deserve to know." Harry said as Demona growled menacingly behind her. Rita flinched at the sound as she turned to stare at the Hellhound whose fangs were still glowing hot and bright as wisps of black smoke escaped her maw.
"Demona, don't eat the bug lady." Harry joked as the Hellhound huffed.
"Bug Lady!?" Rita shouted in indignation and Harry laughed.
"Well, you are a pest to a lot of people so it's pretty fitting." Harry said but Rita didn't turn to face him as Demona still commanded her attention. Harry had a golden opportunity here, he had information to blackmail Rita and get her off his back. The old Harry would've just demanded that she leave him alone and leave it at that. But there was more that could be done here.
"Looks like you're tight on choices here."
"What choices?" Rita demanded.
"Well, you could refuse my offer and I go to the ministry and you end up in Azkaban for a while. Or you can accept my offer and my lips stay shut. At least while you keep your end of the bargain." Rita sneered but Demona snarled causing Rita to jump.
"What do you want?" She asked looking none too pleased.
"It's rather simple, first you do not write anything about me or the people I care about until I approve it. You can't write anything demeaning or harmful in your articles. Simply put, you have nothing but nice things to say about us." Rita looked as if she swallowed the sourest candy in all existence at the thought.
"And in return, you can get exclusives anytime something arises that has to do with me." That got Rita's interest, exclusives from Harry Potter anytime an event occurs around him. From the trial, she knew that he was bound to be in the middle of a lot of juicy things.
"What about your girlfriends? Or Sirius Black?"
"No, You get what I've offered and nothing more, either take it or leave it." Harry said, this wasn't a negotiation and he wasn't going to treat it as such. Rita looked thoughtful but it was a farce, she didn't have a choice. It was either listen to Harry or go to Azkaban for being an unregistered Animagus.
"Fine."
"Pleasure doing business with you." Harry said as he told Demona to back off which she did but got one final growl in for good measure. Rita fixed her hair and disheveled clothes and addressed Harry.
"Very well, good day mister Potter." Rita said briskly as she left the room. Harry chuckled and when the door closed he turned to Demona and began to pet her.
"Good job girl!" Harry praised getting happy whines from the Hellhound and a wagging tail. Harry petted her for a few minutes before she wandered off and found a nice place on the floor to take a nap. Harry pulled out the Grimoire from his robes, he had gotten in the habit of carrying it around since he trained with it almost every day.
Flipping through the pages he had covered the few spells that dealt with the shadowy magic. It was mainly the same base spell but altered to achieve different effects. From the lance-like projectile to forming chains or even a wall. The strength of this magic was that was difficult to defend against. But it was next to useless for defense as well, so it was a highly offensive type of magic. He then got to the next set of spells and began to read.
"Harry, you will find that many Wizards and Witches underestimate the use of the very earth that is beneath their feet. They don't consider it and anytime a stone or boulder is banished towards them they just counter it with transfiguration or a blasting curse. However, there is a way to enhance the power of earth through the use of the empowering technique you've used in previous spells. But stone and metal are not like fire or water. It is rigid and unyielding, so the usual application of the enhancing technique that you use for the other spells will not work here.
So, what needs to be done is not charge the spell but condense it. The next spell is a spell that rupture's the earth, when the technique is applied then the spell will mutate slightly. The effect produced shall be a hardened almost metal-like earth."
Harry went through the diagram and the wand movement before raising his wand to attempt the spell. Looking down once more he focused and whipped his wand as the book instructed. He gathered the energy around him and poured it into the spell as he would normally. Only this time he tried to control it better imagining sand condensing into a rock to help him through the process.
"Terrafracta!" Harry cast as brownish-gold energy flared from the tip and shot out to the ground. There was a rumble and suddenly a sound like a cannon firing blasted through the room causing him to clench his ears as the rang and he could see Demona had jumped up in surprise and was shaking her head violently.
Harry rubbed his ears trying to soothe the ringing that invaded his hearing. Looked back over to where the spell had hit and saw that the floor had cracked and jagged spikes of stone jutted out from where it had hit. Picking up the Grimoire he flipped to the next page and saw the warning the Grindelwald had left.
"Also, I would advise not to practice this magic inside as the concussive force of the spell causes a very loud bang. It would be better for your continued hearing ability to not do this in an enclosed space." Harry shook his head, he should be used to this by now and expect it. Walking over to the stone rupture he examined the spikes and to his eye, they looked normal. He touched the stone and they didn't feel any different. Taking his wand he backed up before casting a low-powered Bombarda at the stone and it broke just like normal. The Grimoire said it would be almost metal-like but that wasn't the case.
He must've condensed the energy wrong. But he wasn't going to try again as his hearing was just starting to return and he didn't want to go deaf. He'd leave it for later. He walked over to apologize to Demona who was currently pouting.
"I'm sorry girl, I didn't know." Harry tried but she would just turn her head refusing to look at him.
"Come on, how about I get you a whole hog. I know they have some in the kitchens and I'm sure the elves wouldn't mind." Demona looked at him with a sideways glance but a feeling of acceptance washed over him. He smiled and patted her head-scratching a spot just behind her ear near her horns. It was her special spot and from the thumping of her back foot, she appreciated the attention. Having won the hound's forgiveness Harry smiled. He didn't really have anything else to do today so he resolved to meet back up with his girlfriends.
"Hey think you can find the girls?" Harry asked and Demona stood and sniffed the air for a few moments before huffing. "Okay, let's go." Harry said placing his hand on Demona as they melted into shadows. After a few moments of being in the smokey realm, Harry found himself coming out of a shadow alone Demona staying within his own shadow for now. Harry thought that was odd as he looked around and what he saw caused him to freeze.
He was currently in the Prefects bathroom and the sounds of water could be heard as they poured into the large tub in the center. The room was lit with a few candles and what light made it through the stained glass windows. But that is not what caught his attention, what caught his attention were his girlfriends. All three of them, naked before him, Hermione and Susan were in the water and Daphne sat on the edge so she was the most exposed. Hermione and Susan had noticed him first and they froze just like he did and when Daphne turned to see what caught their attention she followed suit.
They didn't speak, Harry was too afraid to do so and the girls were too shocked. Harry might've been having dreams about the girls but nothing, absolutely nothing could compare to the goddesses that were in front of him. He couldn't see much of Daphne's front as she turned only slightly to see him. Her back was smooth and flawless from her shoulders to her slim waist before coming going out again at her hips with her perfect hourglass figure. He also saw how her current sitting position flared her bum slightly and the way her wet hair clung to her shoulders and back and the droplets that decorated her skin like clear pearls of silver.
Hermione was faced towards him and she was slightly above the water so her chest was exposed her hair wet and sticking to her shoulders. Her skin was just ever so slightly tanned and he could see her nipples which were a creamy tanned color. Her body which she didn't usually show off as much as Daphne was now on partial display, with the water covering her lower half. From what he could see she had the same hourglass figure of Daphne only not as pronounced as the blondes.
Then there was Susan, her skin was the palest of the three and he could see that, unlike the other two girls who were slender and in Daphne's case a little toned, she instead had just a hint of plumpness to her. Not nearly anywhere near the imagination of what could be considered fat or overweight in any way. But it did add a sort of softness to her features and out of all three girls from what he could see she had the most pronounced curves of all the girls. He even saw her nipples which unlike Hermione's were light and pink.
Harry didn't even last a second as that now familiar tight uncomfortable feeling invaded his pants which got his sense back to him. He quickly turned around his face becoming hot as he spluttered.
"I-I am so sorry! I didn't know! I asked Demona to take me to you and then we were here. I swear I didn't know you were in the bath." Harry quickly rattled off having to bend over slightly and stand a bit awkwardly as his hardening problem made it quite uncomfortable to stand straight at this moment. The girls were still shocked but Susan was the first to shake it off and she instinctively covered her chest, more out of habit than actually wanting to.
"It's... It's okay Harry." She said taking a deep breath to calm herself as she and the other girls began to flush red at the situation. There was a long stretch of silence as the group didn't quite know what to say. The girls had wanted something like this of course but they were expecting it this soon. Harry was of a similar mindset as he desperately tried to recall the advice Jones had given him. Every fiber of his being was screaming at him to turn around and take in the beauty of his girlfriends but there was also that small yet loud part of his brain that told him to leave.
"I'll go... sorry." He said as he made his way to the door which was difficult considering his current situation.
"Harry wait!" Hermione called out causing him to stop as he swallowed nervously. "Y-you know, if you want... we wouldn't mind you joining us." She said surprising Susan and Daphne with her forwardness. Daphne then found her voice as she grinned at Hermione and winked.
"We would actually love it if you joined us." Daphne said as she turned, standing in the water and encouraging the other two to do the same which they did. Everyone's heart was beating a mile a minute, the girls could already feel a tingling sensation between their legs, and a slight warm feeling flooding from their chest and washing over them. Harry was in a similar state but he didn't have the tingling feeling, only a very hard and erect feeling that was getting more painful and uncomfortable by the second in the confines of his pants.
"I don't want to make you uncomfortable." He said and Daphne giggled.
"We're not, are we?" She asked and both Susan and Hermione voiced their agreement.
"Um... well, I guess." Harry said fiddling with the hem of his shirt. It was here Susan took the initiative and got out of the water. Harry didn't turn but with each sound of her steps, his heart seemed to try to leap out of his chest. He then felt her hands on his shoulders and move up his neck to his hair. She did that familiar motion of brushing her fingers through his hair to help calm him down.
"Here let me help you." She whispered in his ear pressing against his back. She was just as nervous as he was but she knew she had to find her inner Gryffindor right now. She took his school robe and slid it off his shoulders. This is where he felt another pair of hands, he chanced a glance and saw the wet blonde hair of Daphne as she joined Susan in helping Harry disrobe. They got his shirt off and this is where Hermione came in and started filling with his belt.
"Are you alright?" Hermione asked before she took it off. Harry was many things at the moment but uncomfortable was not one of them so he nodded.
"Yes." He said in almost a whisper, Hermione nodded and loosened his pants doing her best to calm her own nerves. It was just like Susan said, this shouldn't feel robotic or planned, just let your heart guide you. The girls might've expected this later on and not today but they weren't going to pass on the opportunity.
With their efforts, Harry now stood with them bare as the day he was born his erection now on full display gaining the girl's attention who flushed further than they already were. Daphne then took his hand and spun him around to face them. Harry couldn't help it as his eyes darted down for just a moment to get a glimpse at her most private region. He quickly looked back up but Daphne placed a calming hand behind his head and encouraged him to look back.
"You can look, we want you to look. We don't have anything to hide from you." Daphne told him in a sensual whisper Harry slowly looked back taking in the gorgeousness that was his girlfriend's naked bodies. They had always been beautiful but seeing them naked like this awakened something in Harry. He reached forward embracing the closest girl to him which at this moment was Daphne. She seemed surprised at first but accepted his embrace as their bodies pressed together and she could feel every inch of him.
He then claimed her lips in a deep passionate kiss that was usually her thing but being on the receiving end was a very pleasant surprise. They separated and Harry turned to Hermione bringing her in close this time she was the one to initiate the kiss as both their hands roamed each other's bodies as they pressed together. After her, it was Susan who reached for Harry's hands before they could reach her and guided them to her bum.
Harry's eyes widened but Susan just giggled, she had found her inner Gryffindor as they kissed and she could feel Harry's strong hands grip her rear causing her to involuntarily moan. Hearing her moan caused something to click in Harry's mind as his hips suddenly bucked causing both of them to open their eyes wide.
"Sorry." Harry said but Susan shook her head and smiled.
"It's okay Harry." She said giving him another peck on the lips. Hermione then took one of his hands as Susan took his other with Daphne leading them to the water and entered waiting for the others.
"Why don't you sit down right here." Daphne said patting the side of the large bath. Harry did so and Hermione and Susan sat on either side of him. It was here that Daphne lowered herself as she began to approach Harry. Her icy-blue eyes never once leaving his as her hands traced up his thighs.
"Do you want to keep going?" She asked, she need to make sure he was alright and not getting overwhelmed.
"Yes," Harry said finding that part of his brain that he never engaged before and fully enjoyed the situation happening right now. Daphne smiled as she brought her head down, this would be her first performance she wanted to make sure she did a good job. She stared for a moment taking in his member with her eyes before she steeled herself and engulfed him.
Harry's head went back as his eyes fluttered. He could not describe the feeling except that it was warm and wet. He could feel her tongue as it wiggled in her mouth. He involuntarily bucked again as a shuddering groan came from his mouth. Daphne felt elated at getting such a reaction out of him as she then proceeded to bob her head up and down finding a good gentle rhythm.
Susan and Hermione were both breathing rather huskily at what was going on at the moment and that tingling feeling returned with force between their legs. Susan took Harry's hand and guided it down guiding his fingers and showing him just what to do to please her.
"Harry, like this please." Susan said lowly in his ear as she nibbled on his neck. Hermione saw what Susan had done and followed her example. She didn't have much experience masturbating since she didn't do it that often, but she did know what made her feel good and she wanted Harry to know that as well.
Harry was in heaven, this new feeling that Daphne was giving him just flooded over him in waves. He could feel Susan and Hermione begin to shudder on either side of him as he followed their guidance in what they wanted and they pressed themselves to him.
Daphne continued for a while longer before she raised her head, separating from Harry with an audible pop. She then looked over to Susan and Hermione and smiled.
"Susan, Hermione do you want a turn?" She asked, she didn't care how she might've sounded she was on an emotional and physical high at the moment and felt as light and free as a feather. Hermione and Susan both nodded and Susan got up first. Daphne rose and switched with Susan as she took Harry's hand to show her how she liked it.
Susan then lowered herself like Daphne had and observed his member first. It was the first one she saw outside of healing textbooks. And this one was attached to a man she loved. She came forward placing a few kisses before taking Harry into her mouth. Again Harry was sent to heaven and he could feel a slight difference. He technique and style, even subtle things like the shape of her mouth and tongue. Harry didn't know if it was normal to notice small things like this but he really didn't care.
Susan went to it finding a rhythm that worked for her and got a good reaction out of Harry. Hermione however had begun to shudder as Harry hand's did their work. The buildup she felt growing was fast approaching, faster than she had ever felt before. She was sure it was the situation adding to the stimulation and the fact that she truly loved Harry and being like this with him was sending her to could nine.
She moaned out as her hips bucked and she felt something like a bolt of pleasurable lightning trail from her crotch and up her spine to her brain then throughout her body. Harry looked to her despite the overwhelming sensation but she soothed any worries he might have had by claiming his lips and encouraging his hand to continue.
It was a minute before Susan brought her head back up kissing Harry's member before she rose and switched spots with Hermione. Hermione was feeling charged, thinking back to her worries, her concerns they all just washed away. Logic went out the window and right now she wasn't a bookworm or a student. She was a woman who wanted to be with her man at this moment with her sister-girlfriends.
Hermione thought back to what Jones had told them, an embarrassing conversation at the time but it was prooving very useful now and she was thankful. She took him in her hand first stroking him a few times before she moved her hair out of the way and brought her lips down. For the third time, Harry bucked and groaned, and just like before he could feel a difference. Hermione felt tighter almost, and her tongue felt the smallest out of the three of them.
Harry was breathing heavily now as Hermione's head bobbed up and down and Daphne and Susan began to shudder beside him as they guided his hands and fingers with more enthusiasm as they went. Harry also began to feel something. Like a building pressure, it didn't hurt, in fact it felt good very good. It was almost like a tingle sensation as it continued to grow with Hermione's efforts.
"H-Hermione... I think... I think I'm about to..." Hermione looked up at him and took her mouth off and continued her job with her hand. She wasn't quite prepared to accept what he gave in her mouth just yet but she wouldn't leave him unsatisfied. That was one thing that Jones had emphasized was just about the worst thing you could do to a man during any sexual act.
As she stroked that pressure built up in Harry until it erupted from him and a feeling of pleasure flooded his body and mind unlike anything he had ever felt before, he could feel his member pulse and with each pulse, a wave of this pleasure washed over him again and again. At the same time, Susan and Daphne had reached their own climax and moaned in tandem as their bodies quaked.
When it was over the group was left breathing heavily with half-lidded eyes as they leaned on each other basking in the afterglow of their activity. Hermione had washed Harry's spunk off her chest where it had landed before she guided Harry down into the water so he could relax in its warmth. Susan and Daphne followed suit as the group just sat in silence. They didn't need to say anything, they had spoken in a language that only lovers could understand and they had laid everything bare. And not one of them felt a single tinge of regret.
_SCENE_
Here it is chapter 19, a climax, ignore the pun, of the romantic relationship that has been building up between Harry and his girlfriends for a while now. I really hope that I did well as this will be my first lemon seen and I tried to be as tasteful and mature as I could to not make it seem like I was just writing smut for the sake of smut.