Disclaimer
I don't own Harry Potter.
If fact, if you get down to it I probably own very little of the ideas being used in this story. But I am not getting paid for them and have hopefully put them together in a new and interesting way.
Enjoy.
Authors Note
It's great to see how many people have read my last chapter. That Stat's page in your profile is brilliant.
For all those who have reviewed, thanks. You've given me some wonderful feedback.
I don't want to give anything away too soon but some of you are on the right track. The pace won't pick up for a few chapters; I'm still working on a day by day basis. I have a few things I am working through but hopefully I will be able to pick the pace up in a while.
I am sort of writing this story without much of a plan so I still have to work out what is going to happen.
Don't worry. I have several chapters to be proofed so this story is not going to disappear. I am going to try to post a chapter a month.
And without any further adieu, here is the next chapter for your enjoyment.
Chapter 4
Harry and Hermione were woken far too soon. It might have been late morning but after their late night, mid afternoon would have been too early. Groaning and looking and looking at each other through their blurred vision in the bright morning light they began deciphering what had woken them. The not so dulcet tones of one Ronald Weasley.
"I'm fine I tell you. Why can't you just let me leave?"
"Mr Weasley, you may have been released from St Mungo's but you were released into my care. That means that you stay put until I say otherwise." Madam Pomfrey ordered.
Ron's voice descended into illegible grumbling.
"I guess Ron's back." Harry's voice was distorted from having just woken up.
"Yeah. Sounds like he's okay. I wonder what kept him." Hermione replied.
"We'll know soon enough." Harry yawned and stretched. He started to get out of bed, adjusting his shirt that had been gotten twisted in the night. "How do you manage with these things?"
"You get used to them, and mine aren't so big so I have fewer problems. Clothes aren't the best things too be sleeping in anyway."
Harry looked towards the other end of the hospital but his view was blocked by a screen. He shrugged and headed to the nearby bathroom door.
"Can you warn Ron about my changes, I'll be back in a minute."
Hermione nodded and got up as well. Neither had undressed when they got back and it showed. Attempting to straighten her clothing she walked a little stiffly around the screen to see her other best friend.
"Hey Ron, how are you doing?" She asked.
"Hi, Hermione. I'd be better if I could get out of here. How are you? I didn't think you would still be in here." He replied.
"I'm still on a potions regiment so Madam Pomfrey is keeping me close until the end of the year. What did the mind healer have to say?"
"That I was jealous, petty, suffered an inferiority complex, and would never accomplish anything because I was too lazy. And that took them about half an hour. They spent the rest of the time making sure those brains didn't implant any personalities in me. They didn't but they scrambled some of my older memories and left a few behind. They have sorted most of it out but I've been given some Occlumency exercises to keep working on to finish it off. Majorly boring stuff but I have to do it. I have a few checkups over the summer and I have to take it easy. How's Harry? I was hoping I would have seen him already."
"Umm. Harry has been in the Hospital wing since the morning after the Department of Mysteries. Malfoy attacked him after breakfast that next morning and forced a potion into him. He's okay but there have been a few side effects from it. One in particular is very noticeable and has proven to be very hard for him to adapt to. So Be Nice." Hermione ended glaring at the red-head.
"Okay, okay. I'll do my best." Ron grumped.
"Hey you two, bathrooms free if you want it Hermione. Good to have you back Ron." Harry joined his two friends.
"Thanks Harry." Hermione gave one last glare at Ron before heading to the bathroom.
Ron was just staring at Harry, mouth hanging open.
"Wake up Ron." Harry shoved his friends shoulder gently.
Ron shook himself. "What happened to you?" He stuttered.
"Side-effect of the potion Malfoy gave me. Dumbledore said that Snape is looking into it but doesn't expect there to be any news until about the same time as school starts for next year."
"Umm." Ron's eyes kept dropping then snapping back.
"Hermione and Ginny have been helpful, on the odd occasion that they aren't teasing me about it." Harry grumbled a little sitting on a bed next to Ron's and crossing his arms over his chest. "The whole situation has been really awkward, and you have no idea how uncomfortable I am taking a shower."
Ron blushed at that thought. "I'd have thought you'd have been having fun?"
"Yeah? Try it from this end."Harry replied tiredly.
"Ron, are you really okay?"
"Yeah. Occasional headaches but I'm sure you know how that is. I just need to take it easy this summer." Ron grinned suddenly. "I actually have a healer's permission to not do any homework this summer."
"Not that you do anyway." Harry shot back.
"Yeah, but now Mum and Hermione can't complain."
Hermione bounced back and sat next to Harry. "What can't I complain about?"
"Ron not doing any studying this summer. He has a healer saying he's not allowed to." Harry replied.
"Well then I guess he won't be joining us." Hermione said.
"Huh? What am I missing?" Ron looked rapidly between his two friends.
"I found out that I have to beat Voldemort and Hermione, Ginny and some other friends are going to help me. We have begun laying out some major study plans for the summer. There is a lot to learn and not much time to learn it in." Harry explained.
"Studying? You're going to spend the summer studying? What about Quidditch?" Ron looked flabbergasted.
"I'll play some Quidditch, maybe even learn how to swim, but I need to learn. I need to study harder than ever. I don't have a choice. Dumbledore may go on about waiting until I graduate but the sooner I start the more prepared I'll be. He is not going to wait until I'm ready." Harry finished quietly but the determination was easily visible.
"I hear you. When school starts next year you'll have to catch me up with the good stuff."
"Okay, Ron. You are going to have to work really hard though. We will be way ahead of you."
"How far are you planning on going?" Ron frowned.
"As far as possible. The longer I take the more people will suffer. Voldemort is out in the open now; he has no reason to hold back."
Ron looked worried. "How bad is this going to get?"
"I really dread to think." Harry's hand clenched, his knuckles whitening. "I am going to do everything in my power to minimise it though."
Hermione reached over to Harry and placed both of her hands on the one nearest to her, squeezing gently. "And I'm going to help, anyway I can. And so will Ginny and Luna and the others."
"Thanks." Harry smiled slightly at her.
"I'm here too y'know." Ron interrupted feeling a little left out. "I'm not backing out now. Who are the others?"
"Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Padma Patil, Daphne Greengrass, and Tracy Davis." Hermione replied.
"I remember Padma from the Yule ball and Susan, and Hannah from the DA. Who are Daphne and Tracy?" Ron queried.
"They're in our year." Hermione answered.
"Which house? Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw?"
"Slytherin."
"Are you crazy?" Ron exploded. "You're trusting those Death Eaters. They'll send you straight to you-know-who."
"No they won't." Harry said quietly but firmly. "They won't betray us. They can't. They swore an oath to me. And it was their choice to, I didn't even suggest it."
"But they're Slytherin's..." Ron's voice dropped to almost a whine.
"So?" Harry's quiet question shocked Ron.
"You-know who was a Slytherin, All Death Eater's were Slytherin's."
"Not all of them, there was at least one Gryffindor I know of. I suspect that all the other two houses have former member's they would rather forget. And none of that indicates that all Slytherin's are Death Eaters."
"Slytherin's are evil." Ron stated stubbornly.
"No, they are Ambitious. It just so happens that the ones that we are most familiar with, for unpleasant reasons, are also delusional. Ambitious just means that they want to be the best; they have a 'thirst to prove themselves'. There is nothing evil about that."
"I still don't know why you want to have anything to do with them?" Ron grumbled.
"They have a different point of view. One that I believe will help us. And we need all the help we can get."
"Don't expect me to have anything to do with them. When did you get so smart anyway?"
"I dunno. Ever since this happened I've been thinking quicker and easier. My head just feels so much better. Better than ever actually."
Ron was about to retort but was interrupted by Madam Pomfrey's return.
"Here are your potions, and breakfast will be here soon for you two sleepyheads." She said as she passed potions to Ron and Hermione.
"Good morning, Madam Pomfrey, and thank you." Hermione said politely, accepting her potions.
Ron just nodded as he downed the potion quickly; joining Hermione with nearly identical grimaces due to the taste.
Harry smiled. "It's so nice to be on the other end of this for a change."
Hermione thumped his shoulder, not too gently either.
"Ouch." Harry rubbed his shoulder as he frowned at Hermione. "Hitting a girl? What's next huh?"
"I'm a girl too so you can't pull that one on me."
"So when do we get out?" Ron asked Madam Pomfrey.
"I'll check you after lunch to make sure but you should be able to leave then. These two will not be leaving until tomorrow."
"We go home tomorrow."
"That is correct."
"That sucks for you two." Ron turned to his friends.
"I took a bit of damage from that curse. I'm going to be on potions for the next month." Hermione said by way of explanation.
Harry shrugged. "Where else could I sleep?"
"In the dorm like you normally do."
"Looking like this? What do you think McGonagall would have to say if you suggested that?"
"Nothing good. You're right. It's just weird without you there."
"Can't be that weird, I'm in here often enough."
Ron laughed. "You must have the record for amount of time spent in the Hospital wing."
"I did hope to leave my mark here. Hospital wing attendance and largest variety of rules broken, and without being punished for most of them." Harry grinned as the other two laughed.
The trio dissolved into their quiet chat through until after lunch.
!HPEaSE!
Ginny and Luna joined them after lunch. Lunch had been their first meal of the day given their lie in after the late night adventure in the bowls of the school. Both of them still had damp hair showing how recently they had awoken.
Ginny had pretty well bounced into the room. Having faced her demon's the night before she felt better than she had in years. She may not have scored a major victory but she had definitely gained ground. She knew it and it showed. She hadn't felt this good in years.
Luna floated in after her. She looked the same as always but she had been shocked last night. The basilisk was beyond anything she had expected. Ginny was one of her few friends, how close she had come to losing Ginny terrified her. Harry was the one who had saved Ginny. Harry had accepted her without question, regardless of how had portrayed herself. The DA was the most fun she had ever had and it was Harry who had attracted everyone, who had gotten everyone working together. Her respect for him had grown, taking on a basilisk that big at age twelve for someone he barely knew, and winning? Luna truly believed that Harry was the future of the wizarding world, and she wanted to help make it a good one.
Ginny sat down next to Harry, on the other side of him to Hermione, and looked over to the next bed at her brother. "Hello Ronny dear. Are you feeling well?"
"Sod off."
"You're feeling that good? I am very glad to hear it."
Harry and Hermione started laughing at the siblings antics.
"It's nice to see someone else getting teased for a change." Harry commented to Hermione.
"I've always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling." Hermione replied.
"Ron has a few; perhaps he is willing to lend you a few. You could have your choice of younger or older."
"You can have them all." Ron grumbled. "Especially this one here."
"Oh, please." Ginny gushed. "Hermione, big sis." She threw herself across Harry's lap to hug a giggling Hermione. "We can stay up late, and put on makeup, and play dress ups and, and." Ginny couldn't contain her giggles anymore.
"So, Hermione, what is it like having a little sister?" Harry asked, pushing Ginny off his lap.
"It's not bad. You should try it."
Ginny grinned up from the floor and hugged Hermione's legs. "Sorry. I'm taken by big sis here. You'll have to find someone else."
"Okay. Hey Luna, I've got a vacant little sister position I'm trying to fill. Are you interested?" Harry looked over at the Ravenclaw.
"Will you help me chase away the Nargles and hunt for a Snorkack?" She asked.
"Sure, no problem." Harry shrugged.
Luna jumped over Ginny and crashed into Harry flattening him onto the bed. "Yay. I have a big sister too."
"That is quiet enough racket from you lot. Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave. I'm sure that you have packing to so since you will be leaving tomorrow. Miss Granger, back to bed. You need to take it easy, so get some rest. Mr Potter, you should rest too, we don't know what other side effects may occur. Just because you are fine now doesn't mean you can just play around like nothing happened. Mr Weasley, you are free to leave now as well. I suggest you pack before the leaving feast tonight. Shoo." Madam Pomfrey scolded. She had been drawn from her office by the laughter.
"Will Harry and Hermione be able to join us at the leaving feast?" Ginny asked as she stood.
"We will see."
"I may not go anyway. I'm not sure I'm ready to face everyone just yet." Harry said.
"Okay." Ginny looked a little down. "Can I come and say goodnight afterwards?" Her question was mostly directed at Madam Pomfrey. Mostly, but not totally.
"If you behave." Madam Pomfrey replied.
"I will look forward to seeing you then. You can let me know what happened at the feast." Harry said to the younger red-head.
Ginny's face lit up. "See you later then Harry, big sis. Come on Ron." She grabbed her brother's arm and started dragged him out of bed.
"Bye big sister. Bye Hermione." Luna followed the Gryffindors.
"See you later." Harry and Hermione chorused.
Harry and Hermione returned to their beds in the now empty room.
"That was nice of you Harry. Luna could use some more family. I'm sure that her father loves her deeply but he seems more focused on finding his imaginary creatures." Hermione sighed. "I wonder how much of her obsession is her own from losing her mother and how much it is a way to connect with her father."
"I don't know. But she has friends now. And if she really wants to be my little sister then I'll let her. It could be fun."
"Would you be her big sister or big brother?" Hermione grinned. "I think she would prefer the former."
"Given my current condition she seems to be getting both. Actually, given that she's been a girl longer than me, I would be her big brother and she would be my big sister. "
Hermione laughed.
When she calmed down she asked, "How are you coping?"
"Are you going to ask me that every day?"
"Yep. At least until I know that you are okay with it. So no lying missy."
"It's still difficult. I'm still uncomfortable."
"It's to be expected. I'd actually be disappointed if you had adapted that much already. It would mean that you were a little more perverted that I would be comfortable with."
"Thanks." Harry replied dryly.
"You welcome." Hermione chirped. "It actually means that I am comfortable suggesting that you take the time to explore yourself properly the next time you shower."
"What are you suggesting? You are saying that I should, you know..." Harry looked shocked as her started turning red.
"You don't have to go that far, although it would give you a unique perspective on pleasuring women that any future partners you have would appreciate. What I'm saying is that you have to get comfortable with yourself. Some of the area's you would be avoiding at the moment that need extra attention paid to them when washing."
"I really don't want to have this conversation."
"We can put it off for a bit. But there is a lot you need to know or you could have a lot of problems. There is a lot that can go wrong with women's bodies, and you need to be aware of it. We don't know how long it will take to get you turned back."
Harry looked down, sadly. "Do you think that this will affect me in other ways?"
Hermione looked at Harry intently, trying to divine his actual question. "Do you mean 'Will I stop liking girls in that way'?"
Harry flushed but nodded.
Hermione smiled softly. "Would you prefer to look at my boobs or Ron's penis?" She asked suddenly.
"You." Harry responded quickly, then turned bright red and looked away.
"That was quick. You think I look good do you? You'd like to see me naked wouldn't you?"
Harry flushed even more; Hermione didn't even think it was possible. He turned further away and ducked his head.
Hermione's smile widened as she moved to sit next to Harry on his bed and hugged him from behind.
"Thank you. It's nice to know that you think I'm attractive. I don't mind being looked at when it's done respectfully. I don't like being leered at though."
'I'll remember that. Always stare at your bits respectfully."
"Prat." Hermione slapped his shoulder gently.
"Hermione," Harry asked after a quiet pause, "how am I going to go on if I can't get turned back?"
"We will work something out." She reassured him. "Being a woman will be a big adjustment for you but it is not as bad as you think. I've managed pretty well for the last 16 years. I think you will find that things won't change as much as you think. There are defiantly going to be some big changes in a few areas but the rest of it won't change."
"Really?"
"You'll see." Hermione gave him a soft smile.
"Thanks. And thanks for not teasing me, for a change."
"That's mostly just to keep your mind off it and your spirits up. And I've just thought up a really good one too." Hermione giggled.
"Oh go on. I wouldn't want you to explode due to repressed teasing."
"Why thank you sir. You are most kind."
"Just get on with it. I want some more sleep before dinner."
Hermione rose and returned to her bed. "It was just that even if you do still like girls, I'm sure that you can find a nice one who will accept you just as you are. Sleep well, Harry."
A growl was all she got in return.
!HPEaSE!
They woke up a little before dinner. Harry was ignoring Hermione for the last crack she had made but Hermione wasn't bothered. She was please she had managed to tease him so well. She could tell that he wasn't really angry at her and would get ever it soon. She was reading quietly, watching him out of the corner of her eye as he sat in though.
"Hermione?"
Hermione jumped at the sudden question. "Yes Harry?"
"Would a girl really still want to be with me? Even if I didn't get changed back?"
"Yes. I'm sure that if you meet someone that is really special, they will accept you. Breasts and all."
"Do you know anyone like that?"
"I don't know, sorry." Hermione looked down. She understood Harry's problem. Even if there was someone for him, he still had to find her. "I think that there are a few girls we know that could be very happy having a relationship with you and seeing how it goes. I just don't know how they will handle the whole female thing."
"Hey." She brightened suddenly. "Daphne seemed interested when we were talking before you woke up after Malfoy's attack. Actually, she mentioned that there might be a marriage contract between your two families."
"Great. Not only have I been turned into a girl and will probably never have a chance at a normal relationship but I may have to marry someone I only met for the first time the two days ago."
"She only thought it a possibility. That was after she was teasing Ginny about sharing you with her." Hermione blushed at the next memory.
Harry caught it. "That blush meant something. Come on, spill. It's your turn to be embarrassed."
"Okay, I'll take this hit. After Daphne suggested that she and Ginny share you, she offered the other position to me."
"Oh. Did you accept?"
"No. I can't say I wasn't tempted though."
"Tempted, Hermione?"
Hermione turned really red. "Did I say that out loud?" She covered her face with her hands.
"You find me attractive. That's really nice to know. I really appreciate it. I have never had a problem with being looked at respectfully but please don't stare, you know I get too much of that already."
"Okay. I deserved that."
"Do you really like me like that?" Harry asked gently, but very seriously.
Hermione looked at him and could see the honesty in his eyes and face. "Yeah. Ever since first year when you jumped on that troll to save me you have been really special to me. You are the best friend I ever had. I hoped that maybe we could become closer but it never seemed to happen." Hermione looked down.
"I know why, but you probably won't like it."
"You see me as a sister. I know."
"No actually."
Hermione looked up in surprise.
"The reason is how you treated me. Making sure I eat right, do my homework on time, going to bed early, scolding me when I'm naughty."
"You didn't like it did you. I was too pushy. I forced you away from me." She started tearing. "Five years on I still make the same mistakes don't I?"
"No Hermione. It wasn't a mistake and I do like you. It was just..." Harry took a deep breath. "You treated me how I hoped my mother would treat me." He finished quietly.
Hermione froze. "You mean that I lost my chance with you because you saw me as a mother figure? I think that may be worse."
"I'm sorry. I never had one and you seemed to fit."
"What about Mrs Weasley?"
"Apart from the fact I met you first, she's too over baring. Plus she already has so many kids. And I couldn't see her as the sort of person my mum would be after over a decade with my marauder dad. And she never really did the homework and stuff nag, not to me anyway."
"True, I'll give you that." Hermione thought for a second. "If I can find someone to replace me as your mother figure do you think we could give it a go?"
"Sure, why not. Do you want me in pants or are you going to find me a nice dress to wear on or first date?"
"I think we can find you something nice." Hermione finally had a smile on her face.
Hermione reached for the glass of water on her night stand and paused when she saw a letter addressed to her next to it. Opening and reading it she broke into a smile.
"Harry, my parents said you can stay at my place for the beginning of summer at least. They won't make a commitment of more than a few weeks but you have somewhere to stay until we work something out."
"Thanks Hermione. Do you think that they will mind going to Diagon Alley before going home?"
"I don't think so. I usually try to go there pretty early on anyway. They probably won't mind getting it out of the way sooner. Why?"
"I want to sell that basilisk meat to the goblins and sort out some wards for your house and the others as well. I might check on that marriage contract as well."
"Good idea. Want some company?"
"Please. Merlin knows I need your help most of the time."
"True. Very true."
They laughed.
"Why didn't you say you might want to try and be with me before?" Harry asked.
"I didn't think you would ever see me like that. And I don't know how I will handle a relationship with you if you can't be turned back."
Harry gasped. "You think I won't?"
"I honestly don't know. From what I heard about the attack something major happened. I don't know how it has affected you? I honestly want to believe that you will get to be turned back. I just don't know that I do." Hermione slumped again. '"I'm sorry, that's not want you want to hear."
"I want the truth. I know that something big happened. Some good and some bad. But I need you to be honest with me. Always, okay?"
"Okay Harry. I promise." Hermione looked straight at him, the honest of her pledge in her eyes.
"Thanks."
!HPEaSE!
Ginny and Luna were not the only visitors they had. Padma, Susan and Hannah had shown up on their way to dinner.
"Hello you two, how are you feeling?" Susan asked brightly.
"We're pretty good. Our sleep was interrupted by Ron's return to Hogwarts but we caught a nap after lunch." Hermione replied after she and Harry had shared a look.
"That's good. I got a reply back from my aunt. She wants to meet you as soon as possible and is willing to spend some time with you tomorrow afternoon if necessary. She isn't sure about letting you stay though but we could change that later."
"He is staying with me first off so that's fine." Hermione said.
"I was hoping to go to Gringotts as soon as we get off the train. She is welcome to meet us there." Harry added.
"Daphne caught up with me before we came. She and Tracy are fine. They won't be able to see you today because they have to keep up appearances with the other Slytherin's for the moment." Padma said. "They will meet us on the train for a few minutes and get our summer plans sorted. Daphne asked me to tell you that she enjoyed your first date and wonders when the Shrieking Shack appears on the itinerary."
"Probably not until we come back next year. If she is particularly eager we could take a trip on the first weekend back."
"That won't be a Hogsmeade weekend."
"That's part of the fun."
"I can see why you get in so much trouble." Padma shook her head.
"You don't know the half of it." Hermione interrupted.
"Oh goodie. Story time." Hannah bounced on her toes.
"Later. Maybe over the summer." Harry said.
"Oh, pooh." Hannah slumped.
Susan laughed at her friend.
"We need to get going to dinner. We will visit afterwards and let you know anything new."
"Ginny and Luna are going to visit after dinner as well." Hermione said.
"Sounds like a party." Susan replied.
The girls said their goodbyes and left.
!HPEaSE!
Harry and Hermione had enjoyed a quiet dinner together and were relaxing while they waited for their friends to visit. They were reading; Harry was enjoying the animagus book McGonagall had given him and had made good headway. He knew enough from his chats with Sirius that some of the animal senses would still be available in his human form and almost all animals had at least one sense that would surpass a human's. Sirius had said that his and James's duelling abilities had been enhanced by their animagus senses once learnt and correctly honed and applied. It was because of this he had moved the animagus transformation to one of the top items on his list of things to do.
This was how their friends found them, buried in their books. Ginny practically bounced over to Hermione and hugged her.
"Hello big sis. You are looking much better. When can you leave?"
Hermione returned the hug then swatted her. "I hope to get out of here tomorrow. I do hope I'll be ready." She rolled her eyes as she finished.
Luna laughed as she climbed into bed next to Harry and cuddled up.
"Big Sis?" Hannah asked. "And why is Luna in bed with Harry?"
"Joke from earlier today about Ginny having too many brothers and her wanting a sister instead." Hermione replied. "Harry offered to be Luna's older... sibling."
"Although that doesn't explain why Luna is in bed with me." Harry commented looking down at the younger girl.
Luna snuggled up a little more and looked up at him. "I wanted a bedtime story. Something about Crumple-Horned Snorkacks."
"Later. I need to hear about what happened at dinner."
"Not a lot. Dumbledore just let everyone know that you-know-who had been seen at the Ministry and had been confirmed as active. He said everyone needed to be extra careful over the summer."
"That it?" Harry was surprised. "No more advise than that? Like how to actually be careful. Really useful."
"He does seem to keep all the really important details to himself doesn't he?" Susan commented.
"Yeah, and doesn't hand any of them out until it's too late." Harry was nearly growling.
"Isn't that a little harsh?' Hannah asked.
"That's why I lost my godfather. If Dumbledore had told me that there was a prophesy and Voldemort could send false visions. I wouldn't have fallen for Voldemort's plan. I would have known that I couldn't trust anything; I would have tried harder at Occlumency. I may not have been fooled."
"You don't know that, Harry." Hermione tried to reassure him.
"No I don't, but I would have been more wary. Maybe I would have still fallen but I wouldn't have fallen so easily."
"We will never know unfortunately." Hermione saddened.
"Yeah. Let's not repeat this mistake okay? I don't want to lose anyone else."
"Agreed!" Hermione echoed vehemently.
The other girls added their agreement.
"Is there anything else?" Luna asked, looking between the other girls.
"Yes." Padma spoke up. "I talked to Daphne and she said she will hold you to the trip to the Shrieking Shack first weekend back."
"Anything else?" Luna was nearly bouncing now.
"Excited much?" Harry asked.
"Well, when all this is finished I get my story."
Everyone laughed at that.
"Okay, Luna. Give me a minute; I don't really know any bed time stories." Harry concentrated.
"Something with a Snorkack." Luna bounced next to Harry.
"Right. Umm... okay, here goes."
Harry took a deep breath. "Once upon a time there was a Crumpled Horned Snorkack called... Mary. Mary lived with her parents and older brother and sister in a nice house overlooking a vast forest. Mary liked taking walks in the forest and one day took a much longer walk than normal. She came across a cave that had a nice wooden door and a window covering the opening. She knocked on the door, curious to see who lived there."
"Who lived there?" Luna asked.
"If you are patient I will tell you."
Harry looked around and saw that all the girls had settled in to listen with Hermione particularly intent. Harry knew her well enough to know she was trying to place what the story he use using was.
"No one answered when she knocked so she tried the door and found that it opened easily and quietly. Peeking in she saw a nice room that that had been well lived in. She was going to go when her nose picked up a delicious smell. She had been walking for quite a long time and the smell made her aware she was very hungry. Not seeing anyone around she decided to investigate the smell and at the far end of the room she found a kitchen with a table. On the table were 3 bowls of porridge. Mary was a young Snorkack and while she knew better that to help herself to other peoples' food she was hungry and fell victim to temptation. She tasted the biggest bowl and found it was too hot. The smallest bowl was cold but the middle bowl was just the right temperature and one taste became two, then four, then before she knew it she had finished the bowl. Now she was tired and wanted to rest. Seeing a couple of doors decided to check them out. Behind the first door was a large double bed. Sitting on it she found it uncomfortable. Trying the other door she found a smaller room with a small bed. This bed was much more comfortable and soon she fell asleep."
Harry paused to take a drink of water.
"Now the occupants' of the house Mary had found were three bears who had taken a walk while their porridge cooled. They returned and found the front door open. Looking around they found that someone had been eating their food. The mother bear was very upset to realise that her breakfast had been eaten completely. They continued their search and the mother and father bear found that their bed had been disturbed. The baby bear ran in shouting. Mamma, Papa, there is someone sleeping in my bed. Running into the baby bears room they found Mary snuggled in amongst the sheets. Waking her they were very angry at her for intruding in their home, eating their food and sleeping in their beds. Mary was in tears trying to apologise. She had never meant to intrude as she had but her longer than usual walk had caught up with her. She how upset she was made the bears back off. They could see that Mary was very sorry and was a well behaved Snorkack. Accepting her apology and giving her a tissue to wipe away her tears they pointed her back to her home and sent her on her way. When Mary got home her mother grab her in a hug saying how worried she was about how long she had been gone. Mary found herself washed, given a glass of warm milk and bundled into bed where she snuggled amongst her warm sheets and went to sleep dreaming warm and happy dreams. Which is where you should be now."
While Luna hugged Harry, the other girls gave a round of applause for the story.
"Okay sis. Good night and thank you for the story." With one final hug Luna got up and skipped out of the room.
"That is not a bad idea actually." Hannah said. "I'm still tired form last night and I have a bit of packing I want to do tonight. Good night all, and thank you for the story Harry. I'm sure I will have warm and happy dreams too."
Susan and Padma said good night as well and left with Hannah.
"That was surprisingly good for having been made up on the spot." Ginny commented.
"An interesting variation on Goldilocks and the three Bears. A favourite of yours perhaps?" Hermione added. "I noticed a few changes, including the double bed for the parents, not for the younger children I think."
"It's one of the stories I learn to read with at primary school. And I never got the separate beds bit, my Aunt and Uncle were Dudley's parents and they shared a bed. They prided themselves on being 'normal' so the bear's not sharing just struck me as odd. Although the thought of them in bed together is nauseating. But not as much as the thought of them conceiving Dudley."
A chorus of Ewww's followed that statement.
"Although, come to think of it, they do treat Dudley as if he was the second coming of Christ, perhaps we could make a case for Immaculate Conception?"
That got the two girls laughing.
"Anyway, that just one of the few good memories I have." Harry went quiet.
"Well that was really sweet. Harry giving Luna a bed time story. Can I have one too? I wish I had a camera. We had better not let this get out or all the other kids here will want one too." Ginny was teasing Harry.
"Sod off, Ginny." Harry was suddenly angry.
"Hey, I was just teasing. You don't have to get like that."
"I suppose your parents gave you lots of bed time stories." Harry was nearly sneering at her.
"Yeah. What's your problem Harry." Ginny was getting angry now.
"How many stories do you think I got in my cupboard?"
Ginny froze and went completely white, eyes tearing.
"I never got any. Not one. I didn't even get a hug if I had a nightmare."
Hermione eyes were tearing as well as she exchanged a glance with Ginny. By unspoken agreement they moved to join Harry. Ginny practically ran around the bed and dove in to bury Harry in a hug whispering apologies in his ear. Hermione joined from the other side seconds later.
"Talk to us Harry. Help us understand." Hermione tried to encourage him to unload the tragic childhood that had been inflicted on him.
"They never hugged me. The only time they even touched me was to smack me or yank me around, throw me into my cupboard." Harry's tears were spilling down his cheeks. "I didn't know my name until I went to school. They told me as they pushed me out the door. Before they just called me 'boy' or 'freak'. I liked school at first. The teachers were nice and encouraging and I worked really hard until the first lot of grades went home. I was punished for doing better than Dudley. For showing him up. So I stopped trying. And the teachers decided that I was one of the kids who just slacked around and stopped trying to help.
"Dudley got really bad scores. It was hard to do worse. Sometimes he would deliberately to exceptionally bad to get me in trouble. Getting me in trouble was his second favourite hobby and he did it a lot. His favourite was beating me up himself, Harry Hunting he called it. He chased all the other kids away from me and beat up any who tried to be my friend. I tried to hide from him and his friends every break at school. I managed to hide in the library for a bit and read all that I could, until one of the librarians mentioned what an avid reader I was to my Aunt and Uncle. I was punished again for that and told to stay away from there. Another hiding place lost."
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other through their tears and Harry finally spilled everything he had been holding back for so many years. When he finally finished he was exhausted. Getting him to drink some water and wiping away his tears, the two Gryffindor girls managed to get Harry settled for the night.
They looked at each other helplessly, at a loss for words, as they gently stroked Harry's hair and shoulder until Madam Pomfrey chased them back to their beds.