Disclaimer: I do not own anybody named Potter or any part of the HP universe.
Author's Note: This where the teens wake up and start adjusting. I hope you enjoy.
Chapter Three
Harry woke up after what seemed like the very best night's sleep wondering why he felt so good. Eyes still closed and mind half asleep he decided it must be a mixture of having had no nightmares and this wonderfully warm blanket on top of him. He smiled in his near sleep state and was about to slide back into dreamland when somebody poked him.
"Ginny, she said to let him sleep until he woke by himself," he heard Hermione say from off to the left.
"But I'm hungry!" Ginny's voice replied and he felt another poke. "Harry are you awake yet?" He took a deep breath and smelled her perfume, this made him smile again. "He's smiling Hermione. Doesn't that mean he's awake?"
Ron's voice cut in, "You're lying naked on top of him for Merlin's sake! Of course he's smiling."
Harry tried to jump out of bed at that and found that he couldn't move anything below the neck. His eyes flew open just as he heard Hermione say, "We just talked about this Ron!"
"I know! I'm not complaining. Just saying that I'd expect him to be smiling in his sleep." Ron said.
"What's going on?" Harry asked. "Why can't I move?"
Ginny's face appeared above his, "We figured you'd jump out of bed as soon as you realized I was on top of you and if you did you end up injuring both of us according to the Unspeakable so she hit you with a binding spell from the neck down."
"Yes," Hermione said, "it must be something they teach here because it's not in the course books anywhere and I've never seen it in the library anywhere."
"She went to get food," Ginny continued, "and we don't even know the name of the spell, since she cast it silently, so we can't free you until she gets back." Ginny looked a little guilty, "She also said we couldn't eat until we were all awake so she could check on us."
He heard somebody's stomach rumbling and then Luna's laughter from off to the right, "Ginny's stomach has been growling as loud as Ron's since she woke up and she finally convinced Maria to go get food as long as she promised not to try and wake you."
Looking around as much as he could Harry could see the five friends that had come to the Ministry with him but he was shocked at what he saw. Hermione was lying on her side resting on one hand which was a natural enough pose for her but not when Ron was between her and the mattress. She had a sheet pulled up casually showing more cleavage than Harry was comfortable seeing from a girl he considered a sister to him. Ron was bare chested at least and seemed a lot less upset than Harry figured he would be.
Quickly looking to the other side he saw that Luna was sitting on Neville's lap with the sheet around her waist and she was as bare as the boy underneath her. "Luna!" Harry said shocked.
"They're just breasts Harry," she said with unconcealed amusement. "By the time all this is over I'd imagine we'll all have seen each other naked and there's nothing wrong with that." She smiled brightly, "I suppose they are Neville's now too but he doesn't mind if you see them. Right Neville?"
Neville was more than a bit red but his voice was firm, "That's right Luna, you can show them to whomever you choose. Just try not to get me in to too many duels okay?"
Just then Ginny's stomach growled again and Ron's did too. "Hermione? Maybe if you explain to Harry what the Unspeakable told us he'd be less worried. I'm sure you remember all of it and this way we might get to eat sooner since she won't have to explain again."
"Okay Ron," she replied. She told Harry essentially the same information the adults had been given earlier. Making sure to emphasize the necessity of constant skin contact until the bond stabilized because she knew Harry was a very modest person with low self esteem about his looks. She also made sure that he knew it was Voldemort's fault, if anyone's, and certainly not his.
As Harry was taking it all in the door opened and Maria came through floating a long narrow table laden with foods of all sorts and five crystal pitchers, "Okay just let me resecure the door then we can get the show on the road."
She cast several spells on the door then turned towards them, "I see Harry is awake. Did you bring him up to speed?"
"Yes," Hermione replied.
"Excellent! I just need to do a good diagnostic then you can eat while I tell you more," Maria said as she pulled her wand for the first time. She first released the bind on Harry then did a very complicated looking but totally silent spell on each teen. "Well the bonds are proceeding well enough. It seems you are merging magical cores and healing each other. Ginny and Harry will need to drink a special vitamin solution as it looks like he was malnourished as a child and still has some vitamin deficiencies to make up and you are both more scarred than the others. I also detected residual traces of dark magic and of all things Basilisk venom that your combined magics are purging. You will both be eating like fiends for a few days and speaking of eating I'll bring you each a tray and you can decide how best to eat without losing connection." As she prepared three trays she added, "Just remember that the more skin in contact the faster and more thorough the bonding. You can get by for a short with just holding hands, long enough to use the loo at least, but the more the better alright?'
Everyone replied, "Yes."
"Have any idea how are we going to eat like this?" Harry asked.
Ginny replied, "I know how we can do it but I need you to just do it and not argue." She looked him right in the eye, "Okay?"
Harry looked confused but nodded, "Sure!"
"Good! Your modesty is cute but I don't want it getting between me and breakfast," she replied. "Okay first I'm going to roll over and sit up. You sit up behind me and tuck the sheet in under you so Neville doesn't see my goodies then take the tray in both hands."
Harry who was blushing already before she got to the part about "goodies" turned as red as the Gryffindor banner. He was quick to catch the sheet and follow her instructions though. As soon as he was holding the tray Ginny took several bites of food then swallowing tapped her left shoulder, "Put your chin right here Potter and open up."
"You don't have to ..." Harry started to say but she cut him off with a forkful of egg.
"It's just easier this way," she replied in between bites. Harry was glad to see that unlike Ron she didn't talk with her mouth full.
"I can wait until ..." he started another sentence to have it ended by toast the way he liked it, with butter and strawberry jam.
"Be quiet and let me feed us I'll smush it in your hair," she replied with a smirk.
Harry wanted to shrug but he was holding the tray so he just did what he was told. He was used to that. 'At least I trust Ginny,' he thought. With his his mind thus made up Harry looked over to see how Hermione was handling Ron.
She had used the sheet to not only cover them both appropriately but somehow to tie his hands to the bed frame. As he turned back for the next mouthful he heard her lecturing him on table manners and stating that if they were going to be bound together for life he would learn to eat in a civilized manner or he wouldn't eat at all. She fed both of them at a measured pace regardless of any protests and punched him every time he tried to talk with his mouth full.
Harry would have teased him but in truth he'd be glad not to have Ron spewing half-eaten food across the table at meals and it's not like he could talk. He was being fed like a toddler in a high chair.
After being fed some fruit he frowned, "I don't usually eat fruit."
"You have a habit of not eating a properly," she said while feeding him scrambled eggs. "And you heard the unspeakable, you have vitamin deficiencies. If no one else will take care of you, not even you, then I'll do it. You will be eating better from now on, at school or over the summer. I won't let anyone starve you this summer. No matter how "improper" Mum says it is or who states it's for the 'Greater Good'."
"Thank you Ginny," Harry said. "That means a lot to me."
"Good," she smiled. "Now stop talking! I'm still hungry enough to eat a hippogriff."
Harry was hungry too so he shut up again. While chewing the next mouthful he looked over at Luna and Neville.
They were also sitting up but facing each other with the tray caught between their chests. Luna was still topless but you couldn't really see anything now. Not that Harry was looking. They were taking turns feeding each other and were both smiling.
Harry turned back and was surprised at how fast the food was gone. "Can we get some more?" he asked. Ginny seconded the suggestion and so did Ron after a careful look at Hermione.
"I have to admit that I'm still hungry too," Hermione said.
"Of course," Maria said and brought both couples a second tray of food. "What about you two?" she asked Luna and Neville.
"We're not finished yet but I think we might need another bowl of fruit and some more juice later."
"Just say when," the unspeakable replied. "Also if any of you feel any pain, or discomfort, let me know. Or any sort of funny feeling at all."
"Yes, ma'am," they all replied.
After they'd all eaten their fill Maria did more diagnostic charms, "Your ankle should be healed by now Luna. Neville is in good shape. Hermione is as well. Ron seems to be in the middle of a growth spurt and his arms are healing from the Cognivore attack." She turned to Harry and Ginny, "You are both healing from the inside out. I'll give you both the vitamin drink in an hour or two. Sorry but you'll both need to drink it even if Harry is the only one with the deficiency. The good news is that it doesn't taste bad. Well not unless you hate citrus fruits. The scars will fade last and it will be very enlightening to see what happens to the scar." She left them and started checking equipment mounted on the walls and some of the artifacts in the room.
An hour later Claudia came in with a small tray of mugs and checked them over as well, "You are all healing nicely. You should see the last old scars disappear after several hours or perhaps a day for Mr. and Mrs. Potter," Harry blinked at that but was too shocked to interrupt. Claudia saw his shock and responded to it, "I believe I mentioned that the bond you share with Ginny is a legal marriage as well as anything else it might be. You are now three married couples, the Weasleys, Potters, and Longbottoms."
Harry blushed and nodded, "Do you think I'll really be able to see without my glasses?"
"Oh yes," she replied. "It is clear from my diagnostic spell that it was lack of vitamin A that caused your weak vision in the first place so once you are healed up that should be gone." She picked up two of the ceramic mugs and started passing them out. "These are the vitamin supplements. I brought six because with the healing going on the rest of you might need them as well."
Harry frowned at his but drank it all, "Hey, that's better than most potions."
"That's because it's not magic. It's just a vitamin supplement so we can flavor it without altering it it," Maria said. She finished her readings and then floated the breakfast table and her notes out the door leaving them with Claudia.
Hermione started asking her about her work and soon the two were deep in discussion. Some of it Harry found quite interesting, but he tuned out other aspects trusting Hermione to remember and tell him what he needed to know. She looked like she was enjoying herself immensely and Ginny wasn't far behind, asking her own questions and venturing hypotheses. He was happy for them but his mind wandered and he could tell that Neville was only paying partial attention too.
Ron was paying more attention to making sure the top sheet was covering Hermione properly than to the discussion but that wasn't surprising. Harry couldn't tell if Luna was paying attention or not, he never could. He wasn't going to be making any assumptions though. He was always surprised by how much she'd understood during D.A. meetings and her grades were excellent.
Eventually though Harry's attention was called to a problem he hadn't quite anticipated. He whispered in Ginny's ear, "I have to use the loo."
Her eyes widened as she realized that they couldn't separate even for that. She whispered back, "I understand Harry. We'll figure something out. Want me to ask?"
He blushed, "Would you mind? If I tried I'd stutter. I can barely tell you and you're …"
She nodded, "I understand Harry." Raising her voice back to normal she said, "Excuse me but where is the nearest restroom?"
"We have a full bath connected to the room," Claudia said. "It would be too awkward to have to leave in the middle of something to go to a public one so most research rooms have one en suite." She pointed to a corner, "There is a spell over the entrance that blocks sight and sound but if you walk in to that corner you'll find it."
"Thank you ma'am," Ginny replied. Looking at Harry she saw he was almost panicked. Softening her voice she said, "Harry do you trust me?"
"Of course Ginny," he replied.
"Enough to close your eyes and let me lead until you're more comfortable with things?" she asked.
"Things?" he asked in a stressed voice.
"Please Harry," she said stroking his arm, "just close your eyes and trust me. I don't mind helping you anyway I can. You saved my life remember?" He nodded and she continued, "So just close your eyes and follow me."
"Okay Ginny," Harry said with a deep breath. "I do trust you." He closed his eyes.
Ginny looked around, "Can everyone close their eyes please? This will be hard enough with worrying about carrying the sheet and who is seeing what. So please everyone close your eyes until I say and we'll do the same for you when you go, okay?"
Once everyone had closed their eyes she sat up and grabbed Harry's hand. Swinging her legs off the table she stood up. "Stand up behind me and I'll put your hands on my shoulders then we'll go okay?"
Harry said nothing but did as she asked. He started to say many things most of them apologies but she shushed him as soon as he started and he soon realized he was making no sense and was just quiet. He felt the change from thick carpet to tile wanted to opened his eyes but was too nervous. "How are you so calm Ginny?"
She chuckled, "I grew up sharing a bathroom with six brothers. Even with the best of intentions we occasionally walked in on each other and remember I also grew up with the twins. Mum punished them when she caught them but that wasn't even half the time. You get used to it after awhile and they stop when they realize you don't care what they see." She patted his arm, "You'll get used to this too. Now come right over here," she led him a few steps over and moved carefully behind him so they never lost contact and her hands were on his shoulders.
When he still couldn't do it she asked gently, "Do you mind if I go first?"
His answer wasn't very coherent but the gist was clear so she took his hands in hers and sat down. Either that helped or his urgency defeated his shyness because he was able to go afterward and he was relaxed enough to smile while they maneuvered to keep contact as they washed their hands.
Ginny put his hands on her shoulders to lead him out, "You can keep them open now it you want but I'm the only one of that knows where the concealed exit is."
"Lead the way and thank you Ginny," Harry said.
She poked her head out through the spell and asked everyone to close their eyes again. Soon they were back in bed and under a sheet.
"Thank you everyone!" Harry said. "And a very big and special thank you to Ginny. I was panicking and she saved the day."
She smiled and stroked his hand, "It was my pleasure Harry. I told you, six brothers, including the twins, and one bathroom. It was nothing I haven't seen before by accident." She suddenly grinned, "Only much larger."
"Oi!" Ron objected, "Be silent you! Or do you want me to tell Harry about you?"
Luna giggled, "So that means what she said is true?"
"No, it does not!" Ron replied hotly. "It means she's being mean and I get to tell Harry about what happens when she eats Curry Vindaloo." He was grinning as she blushed bright red.
Harry sat up and hugged her, "It's okay Ginny. It doesn't matter what your reaction is, it won't make you any less beautiful or desirable to me."
The other two girls went "Awww!" simultaneously and Ginny turned and kissed him.
