Hermione woke up feeling relaxed and happy, unfortunately she didn't end the day that way. Ron was off all day at Beauxbaton and she, Harry and Ginny waved him off wishing him the best of luck. Today, like Monday was a day for studies and they'd been requested to attend a special late class. Hermione tried to focus on studying but her mind kept drifting between the dates she'd had and the ones she'd yet to go on. Finally she drew up a list over lunch in the library.

Theo – Slytherin (snake – maybe using me?), kind, down to earth, fun, intelligent… shy?

Draco – Slytherin (snake – hiding something?), intelligent, surprisingly witty for a boy who used the same insults for six years, surprisingly learned humility, actually cared to listen to my opinions and debate things in a friendly way, is really trying to be a better man, ambitious, keeps me on my toes.

Erik – Likes to study and read, great conversationalist, kind, open, loves his brother, lives really far away, doesn't think I should have all the answers and likes that I ask questions even encourages me to ask and challenge myself more

Blaise – Slytherin (snake – insincere?) intelligent, charming, romantic, easy to be around and talk to, funny, philanthropist

Oliver – Brave, Quidditch… ?

Kiril - ?

Charlie – Weasley, funny, lives far away, compassionate about animals, never made fun of me about S.P.E.W, always talked to me like an adult ?

Viktor – First boy to make me feel pretty, likes that I'm smart, funny, down to earth, can laugh at himself, a good friend, honest, loyal, loves me.

Hermione read over the list and sighed, hopefully the list would help more after she could narrow down a few of them, maybe she should try to find out the things she wanted in a husband like Daphne had once asked her.

In My Husband (And Marriage) I want…

Honesty, Friendship, Passion, Intelligence, Ambition, Laughter, Conversation, Compassion, Wit, Adventure, Support, Encouragement, a little romance, someone who challenges me

Hermione sighed and abandoned the list, each man had at least a few of the qualities but what she wanted was love. She shook her head at the two lists. She'd just have to spend a little more time figuring out what she wanted.

Deciding there was nothing to be done until after all her dates she put the lists away and focused on NEWT work, skipping lunch. After supper the seventeen and older girls were assembled in a spare classroom faced with the Headmistress, the new Transfiguration Professor, Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfry.

"Ladies." McGonagall caught their attention. "This evening we have devoted as a preparedness class for you in your future marriages."

The girls all looked at each other wondering if any one knew what the special class was for.

"Sex." Madame Pomfry had spoken up making more than one girl blush, "I'm aware most of you are adult enough to know about the mechanics of how a baby is made but in review…" By now all girls were a little red and more so as she continued. "The male genital will expand and harden, the average size is about three point five to four inches long in its flaccid state, once erect the average is six inches with an average girth of three point five to four inches. Occasionally this number is much smaller or bigger, each is as different as the wizard it belongs to. Once erect it will fit inside your passage where his seed will be deposited to your womb. Within your womb are eggs that his seed will attempt to fertilize, should this occur you will become pregnant. Your womb is sealed by a very thin barrier that the male will have to break through and this can be quite painful however the barrier does not repair after its been torn so only the first time will be painful for you. There may be blood but that is normal and you can become pregnant on this first encounter or it may take many encounters for his seed and your egg to come together."

Quite red herself McGonagall stepped forward again, "Thank you Madame Pomfry." She faced the girls, "On your wedding night you and your husband will come together and while the mechanics are rather simple there are many questions you might have about the marriage act. We are all here to answer your questions and to hopefully make you as comfortable as possible. Professor Wells will be leading this discussion on both Wizarding and Muggle acts of… coming together. We seek to educate you not only on the mechanics but to make you a little more knowledgable and at ease with what you may find in the marriage bed and what you ought to have had a long time and courtship to prepare you for. As with the other classes this one is elective and those of you who choose to may leave now that we've reviewed the basic mechanics as required by the ministry. However if you remain the discussion will become much more… intimate and so we have requested you all to sign a document of confidentiality and discretion. What is discussed in this room is not to be used as a weapon to taunt or tease each other, we will be completely honest with you as you will be with us, a state that we have decided will be much facilitated by a mild potion you will all sign consent for."

She paused and then flicked her wand two papers appearing before them. Hermione hesitated, blushed and then signed them both. She was pleasantly surprised that every girl did the same, none leaving. The papers vanished and two vials appeared, Hermione was surprised to see the Professors all holding them as well.

"The first is a very mild truth serum." Poppy explained, "The second is to combat embarrassment and has a calming effect."

"We are all taking them as well." Professsor Sprout stated the obvious, so you know we'll be honest too."

"You will no doubt learn embarrassing things about each other as well as us but I feel this is the best." McGonagall agreed drinking back the potions, all the others followed suit.

"Now." Professor Wells stepped forward with a smile, "This discussion will be as girl friends, no professors, no students, just women talking bluntly and opening about sex, love and lust." She waved her wand and all the desks disappeared and the girls jumped as their chairs vanished. The floor became littered with pillows and the lights dimmed with snacks and butterbeer appearing in the center of the circle formed by the pillows.

They all sat and shifted sipping the butterbeer, no one wanting to start.

"I've had sex." Pansy shocked them all by starting.

"With who?" Hermione's mind immediately went to Draco.

"Zach Smith." She shrugged.

"You never told me." Daphne frowned at her.

"It wasn't that good." Pansy made a face.

"The first time never is." McGonagall told them.

"Yours wasn't professor?" Astoria asked with a blush.

"I think just for here you may all call me Minerva and no it wasn't, uncomfortable and fumbling, very quick as well which is just as well since it was almost curfew."

"You lost your virginity at Hogwarts?" Ginny gasped.

"So did I and I agree with Minerva, my first name is Pomona."

"Poppy."

"Lara."

All the girls smiled at this and nodded.

"Where were you pro… Minerva?" A Ravenclaw named Sophia spoke up.

"The broom cupboard beside the Quidditch pitch."

"Hah, I was in the potions classroom with a Slytherin boy." Poppy laughed.

"Filtch's office with a Gryffindor." Pomona laughed.

All the girls were looking at their professors in shock.

"I had sex with Blaise in the girls loo." One girl called out making Hermione's stomach drop.

"I lost mine to Harry in that same broom cupboard." Ginny admitted with a blush looking at her Headmistress.

"George Weasley gave me my first tumble in a secret passage."

"Ernie and I did it in the ROR." Daphne admitted.

"How many of you have never?" Lara asked them.

Hermione blushed as she held up her hand, Astoria did too as well as two other girls, Susan Bones and Sophia.

"You and Ron never?" Ginny gasped.

Hermione shook her head, "Not all the way. It was… weird."

"I let Dane kiss me and then Neville too." Astoria broke the attention away from the red Hermione."

"Go Story!" Her sister praised.

"You never told me how the date went!" Hermione gasped.

"Well, obviously, and you never told us how your date with Blaise went either." Daphne pressed.

"She came in glowing and wouldn't tell us either." Ginny told her with a grin.

"You let Blaise take you out?" One girl asked shocked.

"She let Theo and even Malfoy take her out." Another called out.

"Theo is definitely marriageable."

"Malfoy? That was true?"

"Blaise will give you a good first time or at least not an awful one, it's a good thing Hermione. I let him pop my cherry before I started seeing my boyfriend."

"She should be focusing on finding a husband." Another girl protested.

"As if she doesn't have options." Another girl snorted.

"Yeah, she's set why do you think she's being so nice about helping the Slytherin boys?"

"She's not helping them." Daphne defended, "She's dating them!"

A girl snorted, "No one dates Blaise in terms of marriage."

"Why not?"

"Girls." Minerva cut in.

"Sorry." They all muttered.

"Let's refocus shall we?" Lara took control. "So the first time, is not great. Usually fumbling and quick if your partner doesn't know what he's doing but it hurts so the quick part doesn't much matter. Sometimes a skilled lover makes it good but its still always uncomfortable."

"It does get good though." Daphne sighed and then blushed brightly. "I didn't mean that to be out loud."

"Why isn't Blaise marriageable?" Hermione asked unable to let the topic drop.

"He is." Daphne insisted.

Three girls snorted and Daphne, Pansy and Astoria all glared at them.

"He's a flirt, probably a playboy."

"He doesn't take anything seriously."

"Have you seen him, he's so good looking and charming, no one is that smooth."

"Yeah, he's a snake Hermione."

"Blaise takes things seriously." She picked the one that bothered her the most.

"Like what?" The girl lifted her eyebrow.

"Yeah, he never even took a side in the war, just waited to see who the winner was." One of the others spoke up.

Hermione shook her head, "He was helping people."

"Right." One snorted.

"You just don't know him." Hermione hissed. "Blaise is wonderful, any witch would be lucky he would consider marrying her!"

"You can't be serious." The girl snorted, "You aren't thinking of accepting Blaise Zabini as a suitor?"

"I'm not." At the girls smug smile Hermione gave her one back, "I don't need to. I already know I want him to ask."

All three girls sat back in shock while Ginny, Daphne and Astoria all grinned.

"Are you really considering Malfoy and Nott too?" A timid voice asked.

Hermione nodded, "I don't know either of them well enough to decide yet but maybe after a second date."

"Nott is really smart and he was never mean to me like the other Slytherins." One girl voiced, "You think he'd consider me?"

Hermione smiled at her, "Maybe."

"He would." Daphne confirmed, smiling at the shy Ravenclaw muggle born.

"Draco is different too, he's… he's… not Malfoy anymore." Hermione sighed.

"Why don't you just get engaged to one? Why are you risking courting? I mean its traditional for a wizard to court more than one witch if they aren't betrothed so you might not end up with any of them?"

"I don't want to rush into it." Hermione blushed, "Anymore than I have to anyways."

"That's smart. I'm still not sure about Seamus." Padma sighed.

"He's good enough." Pavarati insisted. "I'd accept if Tom asked me even if he isn't perfect."

"I think Hermione is right." Astoria blushed. "I'm letting Neville and Dane both court me and Neville is going to ask Luna Lovegood too and Dane told me he is courting a witch his mother picked for him and one he and his brother have been friends with for years."

"Dane is?" Hermione asked surprised.

"Yeah, he and Erik both promised to court one witch their mum picked out for them."

"Who is Erik courting?"

Astoria shrugged, "Dane didn't tell me about them, just about the two other girls he was courting."

"Them?" Ginny demanded.

"They both agreed to court at least three witches, well their mum wanted five and went off on Erik after he left the program but then Dane did too and they made her agree that three was enough."

"Oh." Hermione blushed. "Well she's right, we should all be trying to find the best match we can."

"So you have Erik and Blaise for sure are you going to go for three too?" Pansy asked, surprisingly nicely.

"She already has Viktor too but Hermione agreed to a date with another Durmstang boys and three each that Daphne and I set her up on."

"Yeah, you need at least five Hermione." Daphne agreed.

"I agreed to two Ginny." Hermione corrected.

"Three!" Daphne protested.

"Oh, right, I agreed we could drop it to two because she was going out with Draco on her own and who knows, maybe another wizard or two will want to."

"She only went out with Draco once." Pansy rolled her eyes.

"She hasn't had time to go out with him again, she needs a second date with him and Theo before she can decide and she has a date with Oliver and Charlie."

"Charlie your brother?"

Ginny nodded.

"Oliver Wood?"

Ginny nodded again at the Ravenclaw girls.

"They're both catches."

"Want to help set me up Ginny?"

The two girls spoke at once laughing.

"Maybe we should get back to sex." A hufflepuff suggested.

"Right." Ginny nodded as they all turned to the professors.

"Alright, now that we are all a bit more comfortable with each other." Lara smiled at them all. "Let's talk about sex. Do any of you have any questions, concerns, or things you want to talk about?"

"Is it true you can't have sex while courting?"

Minerva nodded her head, "In tradition a wizard would court five witches and a witch might have upwards to a dozen suitors. While some sexual acts do occur a spell is bound in the contract to prevent sex before the engagement to a specific person, to even the playing field so to speak."

"Wizards are much more liberal than muggles with sex I think." A hufflepuff spoke up.

"Yes." Lara nodded. "Historically the magical community has always been more open about sexuality, in women especially."

"Even underage?" Hermione asked, intrigued by the new information as she always was to learn.

"A witch and wizard are of age to consent at fifteen but it is not deemed appropriate or socially accepted before seventeen." Poppy informed them.

"It was thirteen in my day." Minerva shook her head, "I waited until almost sixteen though, that is far too young in my opinion."

"Yeah." All the girls nodded.

"So its ok to have sex at fifteen but you can't get married before seventeen?" A Ravenclaw asked.

"Yes." Pomona agreed, "You need parental consent to marry under seventeen."

"You can be betrothed by six though." Pansy informed her, "Officially I mean, unofficially I was promised to Draco at birth."

"Yeah, I was promised to Theo right away too." Daphne sighed.

"So this is kind of lucky for you."

"Not the restrictions." One girl made a face, "I mean I get not marry another pureblood but why couldn't I just marry a half-blood? It would make the field so much less narrow."

"Yeah." Pansy sighed.

"So were engaged to Draco when you had sex with another boy?" Hermione asked shocked.

Pansy shrugged, "It's not like he was holding out for me either and we were betrothed not engaged, he was still supposed to court me after graduation and then we'd get engaged."

"I get the whole concept but what…"Astoria blushed, "What's it like?"

"After the first time, it's great." Daphne smiled at her sister.

"Right but… what's it like?"

"You've only kissed a boy right?"

Astoria nodded at the Ravenclaw, "Katrina, right?" She questioned before continuing, "Dane was my first kiss and then Neville and they were both very sweet and gentle though I think Neville was really nervous because even though Dane just brushed my lips Neville's was more… quick."

"No tongue?" Someone gasped.

"Leave her alone." Daphne hissed as Astoria blushed.

"Kissing is fun." Ginny broke the slight tension "and wait until he puts his hand up your shirt the first time."

They all explained what Hermione termed 'bases' to Astoria, opening the conversation to really talk about sex and then after a while about fantasies.

"I once had one about Professor Snape." Pansy admitted.

"Me too." Hermione laughed.

All the other girls looked at them in shock. "Snape!" They all giggled.

"Really girls!" Pomona gasped.

"Severus had such an attractive voice." Minerva admitted to their surprise.

"Minnie!" Pomona gasped.

"He might have been quite a bit younger but I can still appreciate a man Mona."

"He had such long fingers too." Poppy sighed.

"I saw him once without his robes, just a nice shirt when he stormed in to stop a fight in the common room and he was really fit too." Pansy sighed.

"He spent the night at Grimmauld a few times and once I saw him shirtless." Hermione admitted with a blush. "He had lots of scars but fit doesn't cover it. He was a little slim but nothing but muscles, you could see each one." Hermione was red enough to shame a Weasley, "It was his voice though, when he wasn't being horrible, just lecturing us in class, it was… sexy."

"I had a fantasy about Hagrid once." Jenna spoke up blushing.

"What?" They all gasped.

She blushed, "Well he is so large."

"Ew." Ginny made a face. "He's harry."

"No Harry is who you sleep with." Daphne quipped.

"He's so gentle with the animals and funny." Hannah defended her housemate.

"I had one about Ron." Susan admitted.

"Weasley?" Hermione asked.

Susan nodded, "He was licking my body covered in coconut crème."

Ginny laughed, "He'd love that too."

"Yeah Susan, you might be made for him." Hermione laughed.

"I had a fantasy about him once when Lav was dating him." Parvati supplied, "Actually about him, Lav and me."

"I kind of thought you and she were… you know… that you were exempt from the law." Hannah admitted quiety.

Parvati blushed, "Dad would murder me."

Padma put her hand on her sisters shoulder, "Tom's ok and you only have to have one baby."

"Wait." Pansy stopped her. "You really are a lesbo?"

Padma glared at her while Parvati looked at her hands. Pansy rolled her eyes at Padma, "You too twin?"

"No." Padma shook her head, hissing, "But there is nothing wrong with Parvati!"

Pansy held up her hands, "I just meant, if you are carrying on the family why would he care?"

"It's just not proper." Parvati sighed.

"So?"

"Leave her alone Pans."

"No. If she doesn't like men she shouldn't have to marry one and pop out his kid!"

"A little defensive Pans?"

"Shut up!" Pansy hissed.

"Oh my god!" Astoria cried, "Are you a lesbian?"

Pansy snorted, "I can't be. I'm an only child. The last Parkinson. I have to have a baby."

"You can still have a baby if you're a lesbian." Hermione protested.

"How?" Pansy snorted.

Hermione went on to explain muggle practices to them and Pansy looked thoughtful as Poppy also explained some things witches were doing to have babies as well these days.

"Do you like girls?" Hannah asked quietly.

Pansy blushed, "No." She looked at her hands, "I just don't care for blokes is all and the sex doesn't get that much better after the first time… its just… fine."

Daphne put her hand on her friends shoulder, "It's ok if you might be Pans. Maybe you'd be happier."

Pansy snorted, "Can we talk about something else?"

"Anybody ever fancy it outside?" Jenna asked.

"I did… with Professor Lupin, not on the full moon but near it, when he'd be, you know, aggressive." Holly admitted.

Hermione and Ginny gaped at her and then Daphne as she agreed, "Me too."

"You never? Thought about it with him?" Hannah looked shocked at the two Gryffindors.

"I rather fancied Sirius." Luna sighed.

"Me too." Ginny agreed, "Hermione fancied both of them."

"Together?" Astoria burst out blushing.

"That would be something!" Hannah grinned.

"Sirius was very adventurous though I don't think Remus would have been so easy to convince, he really was something to shag though."

They all turned to their newest professor in shock who blushed. "I was at Hogwarts with them. Remus was my first. In the Transfiguration classroom actually."

"Please not my desk." Minerva groaned.

"Sorry." Lara laughed with a blush.

"Fred and I did it there too." Holly, one of the Ravenclaws admitted.

"I always fancied the twins together, they were always so in sync." Hannah sighed.

"I fancied Percy." Sophia admitted. "He was so nice to me and sounded so authorative when he'd tutor me."

They laughed and admitted a few other crushes before a knock at the door had them all blushing and giggling.

Minerva got up to answer it and the girls could only giggle more when Professor Lupin came in.

"We're all back." He informed his coworkers nodding at the girls politely.

"Then we'll call it a night Ladies. Please remember the agreement you signed and anytime any of you would like to talk about anything feel free to come to any of us, we will be as forthcoming and discreet as this evening."

"Goodnight." The girls all thanked the professors and walked to the Great Hall together talking before splitting into their proper houses to go to their dorms. On the way up Hermione's mind spun, one she now knew far to much about her Professors personal lives but kind of liked how they now seemed like peers as well as mentors. Mostly she thought about how behind she was in experience from most witches, how, well to use Ron's description, prude, she could really be. She had even been shy about kissing Blaise's cheek when she'd wanted him to kiss her all night. She wondered what he'd be like to kiss. What would any of them kiss like? Would Theo be as shy as he seemed? Would Erik have as much saliva as Ron sometimes did? Would it be a battle of tongues like it was minds with Draco? Charlie was so confident all the time, she bet he'd kiss like that too. Hermione's heart raced as she thought about kissing each of them, a kiss could determine so much, she was sure it would help her decide who she was most compatible with. She lay in bed, trying to think which boy she wanted to kiss the most and if she should just go kiss all of them so she could add that to her list of comparisons so she'd really make a proper informed decision. Why hadn't any of them tried to kiss her? Dane had kissed Astoria was Erik only attracted to her mind? Blaise had the perfect opportunity while they danced, it had been so romantic, so why hadn't he? Would any of them kiss her? Hermione sighed and turned over trying to empty her mind, instead she saw Blaise shagging Holly in the girls loo. Hermione punched her pillow as she turned over and tried again, this time she saw Erik in her head with the most beautiful witch on his arm. It was going to be a long night.