Disclaimers…
The Harry Potter world is not mine. J.K.R. planted this garden, I am just adding a few weeds of my own. Any similarities to any real people alive or dead, is either a total accident, or was with their consent. Any likeness to Real Magic is either an accident, or not… you decide.
Chapter 7
Harry finally gave enough information to satisfy his friends. Taking as little time as possible, Harry made himself presentable. They all set off to their classes. The Trio set off for Herbology while Ginny headed for the dungeons and Potions. Nobody noticed the careful way Ginny folded the soiled handkerchief and put it into her pocket.
The trio arrived late to the greenhouse for their Herbology class. All three of them had to smooth things over with their partners. Harry, still recovering from his emotional morning, was unprepared for the way his partner, Terrie Shire, acted. Harry saw her when he first entered the greenhouse. She had her head bent over the potting table with a frown on her face. The minor commotion of the trio's arrival made her look up. As soon as she saw Harry, the frown vanished. A smile was followed by a mischievous look spreading over her face.
"Long time no see, stranger," Terrie drawled when Harry made his way to their work station. Her voice changed pitch and in a tone of mock anger, she continued talking. "You missed more then half of the class, mister. I will have you know I had to suffer, working my fingers to the bone because you wanted to have a lay about this morning." Harry made his face into a scowl and set himself to imitate Uncle Vernon.
"Now Petunia," Harry grumbled. "You know I have a lot on my mind."
Terrie smiled as if she had just won the house cup, not knowing that Harry's aunt was named Petunia or how much Harry despised his treatment at her hands.
"Well, I had to do your share of the work this morning." Terrie spoke in a normal voice. "You are just going to have to make it up to me." Harry jumped and Terrie giggled. She had just pinched Harry's bum.
Harry had missed a lot of lessons about how people interacted during the years that the Dursleys had deprived him of every opportunity they could. A large part of his modesty around girls came from the fact that he just didn't know what was expected of him. It wasn't that Harry was slow or thick witted. He just never had a good example to follow. In short, Harry was clueless.
During the last thirty minutes of class, Harry was blushing like a sunrise. Terrie used every opportunity she could find or invent to touch Harry. Any time she faced him, she pressed her chest forward so he could feel the curves of her breasts brushing against him. If Terrie had to turn away from Harry to talk to someone else, she would rub her bottom against him. If he held still, he would caress Harry's arm. All the while, Terrie tried to maintain a conversation with Harry. Using the topic of Herbology, Terrie used every innuendo she could. Mercifully, Harry missed most of them.
Harry blushed constantly. When rubbed her bottom against his hips or pressed her breasts against his arm Harry would stammer an apology. The touch of her fingers made him nervous. Harry only caught the meaning of a quarter of Terrie's suggestive comments, but it was enough to make him jumpy. Harry was trying to decide if he should try to make her stop. It was with a great flood of relief that Harry heard the bell that signaled the end of class.
Harry put Ron and Hermione between himself and Terrie as quickly as he could without running. A faked coughing fit gave Harry an excuse for his red face. The rest of the day passed with some sense of normalcy. There were a lot of questioning looks from students. The story of Harry's collapse Sunday had spread to the whole school. Malfoy thought that it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
The trio was just making their way to the great hall for dinner when Draco and his shadows approached.
"Forgot how to fly, Potter?" Draco sneered. "Or did the stench of the unwashed Weasleys make you faint?" Reflexively, Harry and Hermione grabbed on to on to Ron keep him from physically attacking Draco.
"Draco, is Nagini your mother or your father?" Harry asked in a flat voice. It was Malfoy's turn to sputter. He whipped out his wand and aimed it at Harry. A large hand clamped on to Draco's wrist. Harry was surprised to see Gary Stone was attached to that hand.
"Release me," Draco ordered.
"Drop the wand, boy." Gary's voice dripped with contempt.
"Filthy muggle. Let go of me."
"The rules forbid attacking a student with magic. Drop the wand."
"You are mistaken, if you think I care what a filthy muggle has to say." Draco was struggling against the grip on his wrist, but the hand holding him didn't move in the slightest. "My father will hear of this!"
"Your father would do well to hear of this. It is apparent that he had neglected your education in matters of propriety. I am employed by this school as such you are to obey me." With a slow twist of his wrist Gary made Draco's arm bend painfully.
Draco swore at Gary Stone as his hand became limp. The wand clattered to the floor. As soon as the wand was out of Draco's hand Gary let go of his wrist.
"Five points from Slytherin, "Hermione said with a vicious grin. "Attempting to attack a student with magic."
"Five points from Slytherin," Harry followed. "Failure to compile with school staff."
"Ten Galleons," Ron thrust a citation at Malfoy. "Brandishing a wand in the presents of a muggle." Draco glared at them
"Detention," Pronounced Gary. "For insulting a member of the faculty, failure to follow directions, and attempting to attack a fellow Prefect." He kicked Draco's wand across the foyer. "Good evening to you." Gary entered the Great Hall. Harry and his friends followed, leaving Malfoy swearing at Crabbe and Goyle in their wake.
Gary Stone did not normally dine at the staff table. Harry was unprepared to see him walk to the head table. His muggle clothing stood out against the sea of robed students as he moved between the tables. Harry, Hermione, and Ron made their way to their normal places at the Gryffindor table while Gary took a seat beside Hagrid.
"If I may have your attention," Dumbledore stood at his place at the head table. When the Great Hall fell quiet, he continued speaking. "It has been brought to my attention how much last year's Yule Ball was enjoyed by all who were in attendance." A soft murmur rippled through the students. "It had not been decided weather or not to hold another Yule Ball this year, but it is under consideration. This evening it is my pleasure to announce a school dance. This shall not be a formal event, and all students are welcome to attend. The dance will be held after the annual Halloween feast as a continuation of the festivities. Thank you." The headmaster resumed his seat and the great hall was instantly filled with excited chatter.
Automatically, Harry's eyes sought out Cho Chang. Cho, who was looking to Harry, met his gaze. Harry gave a shy smile. Cho smiled warmly and nodded her head. His smile spread into a wide grin and he nodded back. Her smile brightened and they held their eye contact a moment longer, before their attention was drawn in other directions.
"Harry?" Ginny was suddenly between Harry and Ron.
"Ginny!" Ron protested his sister's embarrassing behavior.
"I'll have you know, Ron, that there is nothing wrong with a girl asking a boy to a dance." Ginny said hotly. "Is there, Harry?"
"Nothing wrong with it all." Harry agreed before focusing his attention on his plate. He really didn't want to be involved in the scene that was about to take place.
"See." Ginny said with a glare for her brother. "Why should girls have to wait? We have as much right to ask for what we want as anybody. There is no reason for a girl to wait around for some dull witted boy to work up the nerve to ask her. There is a Queen on the throne, Ron. If a Queen can make important choices for the nation, a girl can make important choices for herself." Ron, who had flinched from his sister's rant, sullenly turned his attention back to the food on the table.
"Fine," Ron gave an exasperated sigh. "Do what you want."
"Too right I will." Ginny turned back to Harry. Her face and voice softened, and Harry tried not to notice. "Harry, will you go to the dance with me?"
Harry froze with his fork in his mouth. He could feel his face turning pink. Ginny stood next to him, smiling expectantly. With deliberate slowness, Harry set his fork down and chewed his mouthful of food. He then took a sip of water and carefully put the cup down on the table. Without looking up at Ginny Harry spoke in a quiet voice.
"I'm sorry Ginny. I would like to, but I am already going with someone else." Harry felt his appetite vanish.
"Liar!" Ginny screamed at Harry. Her eyes filled with tears as she ran from the great hall. Harry just stared at his plate.
"Harry," Hermione spoke in a mild tone. "The dance was just announced. How can you already be going with somebody else?"
"Yeah." Ron joined in. "You got something going with a girl and you not telling us?" Harry willed himself not to blush as he reached for his fork again.
"Harry?" Hermione persisted.
"I bet it is that girl from Herbology." Ron said with a grin. "You were all over her in the greenhouse today."
"Terrie Shire?" Hermione's voice was filed with shock and was pitched higher then normal.
"You didn't see?" When Hermione shook her head, Ron gave her a distorted account of what had happened that morning by the potting table. To hear Ron tell it, Harry and Terrie were all but dry-shagging through their school robes. Hermione knew Ron was embellishing wildly on the truth, but she obviously believed that Harry had been actively participating in whatever Ron was blowing out of proportion.
"So, Harry," Hermione asked with an unreadable look in her eyes. "Are your and Terrie an item?"
"Ron," Harry said without answering. "You and Hermione make a great couple." At Harry's words, Hermione gave a blushing smile and Ron looked shocked almost to the point of panic. "You two are equally confused." Harry's friends were now wearing identical frowns. With a grin, Harry finished his dinner.
It was a quiet trio that moved to leave the great hall together. Harry felt it was an unfortunately eventful night in the foyer. Harry had just made it out of the great hall when Terrie Shire intercepted him.
"Harry, are you looking forward to the Halloween dance?" Terrie fell into step with the trio and walked beside Harry as she talked.
"I suppose I am at that," Harry said truthfully, thinking of Cho. Terrie slipped her arm around Harry's and forced him to slow down. "What?" Harry was confused by her actions, even if his friends were not.
"We'll see you latter," Ron said.
"Don't be too long," Hermione Added. Harry's friends walked away smiling.
"Where are you going?" Harry protested their abandonment of him in Terrie's company.
Terrie took advantage of the opportunity. She was of an equal height with Harry. He had never been very big, a trait common of successful Seekers. Years of virtual slavery at the Dursley's doing all the heavy labor, in addition to running to escape Dudley from the moment his fat cousin learned to walk, had left Harry with a well muscled body. The near starvation had made Harry slimmer then would be normal for a boy his age. Terrie Shire, clinging to his arm, had dragged Harry to the side of the corridor and pressed her body against him to trap against the wall. Right now she was very aware of the hard muscles under Harry's school uniform. With her left hand, she coaxed Harry's right hand to her hip. Her right hand was working its way around Harry's waist.
Harry's felt confused and embarrassed. His upraising had made it hard for him to see himself as attractive to anybody. Harry tried to keep his attention on Terrie's face. Her hazel colored eyes were taking in the details of Harry's face. Her dusty blonde hair framed an apple shaped face and flowed down past her shoulders. There was glistening layer of a modest colored gloss on her parted lips. Harry could also smell a floral scent of perfume. Harry tried keep his attention on Terrie's face, but wasn't doing a very good job.
Terrie held Harry in place with the pressure of her body against his. Harry could feel the heat of her body where she held her hips against his. Terrie could feel the reaction she was causing. Harry may be shy, but his body was reacting in a satisfying manner. Terrie wanted to encourage more reactions from Harry, so she rubbed her breasts against his chest. Harry felt his body becoming excited. When Terrie moved her breasts on his chest, Harry looked down to where she was pressed against him. Terrie gave a small, victorious smile.
"Harry?" Terrie breathed, putting her lips next to his ear. "I am really looking forward to the Halloween dance." She brushed her lips over Harry's ear and he flinched back. "Harry." Terrie kissed his cheek. "Would you be my date to the dance?" She bent her head to kiss the side of his neck.
"Ter.. Terrie," Harry stammered her name. "Terrie. I can't. I'm sorry." He was starting to wiggle his body, trying to escape. The movement just made Terry smile more.
"Why not, Harry?" Terrie pulled back so he could see her pout. "Don't you like me?"
"It… It's just that I am already going with some one else."
"Oh," Terrie did her best to sound disappointed. "I understand. But Harry, you have to understand something."
"What's that?"
"I am in Hufflepuff, Harry. We are not afraid of working hard to get what we want." Terrie turned around without letting the pressure off of Harry's body. She stood with her bottom pressed against his hips and reached back to grab Harry's hands. With a tight grip on his fingers she pulled his arms around her waist, and wiggled her hips. "The harder something is to get, the more it is worth." Terrie slid Harry's hands up her body, almost to her breasts, before letting go of him and walking away.
Harry watched her walk off with a roll to her hips and felt a sense of relief wash over him. The encounter had left Harry weak in the knees. The blush finally faded from his face as Harry walked to his common room. Approaching the portrait of the Fat Lady Harry was grateful that his robes concealed the way his body had betrayed him in reaction to Terrie.
Saturday had started bright and clear. Harry woke ready for a weekend to help escape some of the stress that had come with the first week of October. Ginny was still not talking to him. Terrie had spent the week stalking Harry. Try as he might Harry could never manage to find time to talk with Cho. Just to add to Harry's problems girls were asking him to the dance.
'At lease this time,' Harry reflected to himself, 'I have a reason to tell all those girls no.' 'It feels good to know I have a date.' Harry felt good about the surety of having a partner for the dance. The absence of doubt was like the absence of a heavy load from Harry's back. The fact that Harry's date was Cho had him nearly walking on air.
When Harry and his friends arrived at the great hall for breakfast, they were all looking forward to a good weekend.
"Harry." Harry turned when he heard Cho call his name. The Ravenclaw team was headed to Quidditch practice. "I have a question." Cho came over to him as her teammates walked on.
"G'morning Cho. Perfect day for flying," Harry observed.
"Have to practice to beat Gryffindor and your new brooms." Cho gave Harry a warm smile. "Harry, do you know what you will wear to the Halloween dance?"
"Well," Harry paused and felt a small blush in his cheeks. He had not really given it any thought. "I don't have much." Harry confessed to his lack of wardrobe. "I was thinking of my dress robes. The green ones."
"Alright," Cho said without hesitation. "I have to practice. See you latter." With another warm smile, Cho dashed off to join her team. With a smile of his own, Harry joined his friends for breakfast.
Harry could see the questions about to explode from Ron and Hermione, who had witnessed the whole exchange. The morning mail cut them off before they could begin. Harry was a little surprised to see Tiffany De'Fey's raven arrive with a letter tied to its leg. The black bird brought a few comments from Harry's friends as it landed on his shoulder.
"Thank you, Maggie." Harry said to the raven as he untied the letter. The raven waited on his shoulder patiently as Harry read the letter.
"Dear Harry," Tiffany had written. "I hope your new players keep your team on your winning run. I am more of an earthy person myself, so I don't follow Quidditch too much. I hope classes are well. My mum has plenty to share with me, but sometimes I do envy you a formal education.
My mum says we will be visiting kin in Scotland this December. What is your schedule for the Holidays? Maybe we can find time to meet.
Write soon,
Tiffany D."
"Kiss." Harry nearly jumped at the voice in his ear. "Kiss." The sharp voice of the raven said again. Harry looked at the bird like as if it was mental. "Kiss." The raven's voice carried all to well over the conversations in the great hall. People were starting to look towards Harry. "Kiss."
"All right, already." Harry turned to face the bird. It pecked gently at Harry's nose, then with a swish spread its wings and flew from the table. Harry's friends were giggling. It was the voice of Dean that ended the moment of mirth.
"Cool!" Dean's voice was filled with wonder and awe. "Seamus?"
"I see it," Seamus sounded as awestruck as Dean. "Awesome." Harry looked where the pair was staring. The sight was impressive, Harry had to admit.
It was a nearly a meter long. A grey triangle covered with dozens of blinking lights majestically cruising along over the Gryffindor table. A model of an Imperial Star Destroyer from Star Wars (tm) approached Harry with a soft rumble that sent ripples through cups of juice. When it was directly over Harry's plate, the ISD dropped a rolled letter. Once its message was delivered, it turned slowly and headed back the way it came. The Star Ship was making quite a stir in the great hall. Many of the wizarding born students had no idea what it was.
This became painfully clear just short of the doors into the great hall. Draco and his goons were just coming in for breakfast. Malfoy looked like he was furious and ready to explode. When he saw the grey shape about to pass over his head, Draco whipped out his wand. Dean, Seamus, Even Neville started to jump to their feet, but they never made it. Sparks flew from Draco's wand. Ripples of light passed over the ISD's hull when it was hit, but the shields held. Then it returned fire.
A burst of red bolts of energy shot out of the model and struck Draco making him let out a sharp cry of surprise and pain. With his cronies joining in, he pointed his wand at the ship again. The ISD was rocked when the curses hit. One penetrated the shields to leave a black scorch mark on the hull. This time the ISD let lose in full Imperial stile.
Even as the ship opened fire, a swarm of small black shapes burst out of the open hanger. Like angry hornets the little back things buzzed around the ill fated trio. With tiny flashes of red, they stung at Draco. The ISD was not staying out of the fight. Its red bolts left welts on exposed skin and burnt spots on robes. Little blue darts of energy stuck, making muscles twitch and spasm.
All through the great hall, students were roaring with laughter. Goyle collapsed on the steps. Crabbe looked like he was caught between having seizures and trying to dance. Malfoy had quickly had enough and, with Crabbe right be hind him, fled from the great hall. There was a loud cheer to be heard as the ISD recovered its miniscule fighters and resumed its course.
"Yes!" Dean shouted with a wide grin.
"Wizard!" Ron exclaimed, clearly impressed. Even Hermione was excited about the display, all though for a different reason.
"I wonder how they managed all of that." Her eyes were filled with questions. It wasn't until Seamus prompted him that Harry remembered the letter the ISD had dropped.
"Harry, when you and your friends are done with breakfast, come on down for some TV.
Gary."
Harry passed the note around to his friends. Hermione scowled at the letter, but otherwise it was met with enthusiasm. As they ate breakfast, the boys talked about their favorite shows. Dean, Seamus, and Harry alternately tried to explain everything to Ron and Neville. The two wizarding born boys were completely lost in the conversation.
When breakfast was finished Hermione announced her intention of studying in the library. She went on to extend an invitation for the others to join her. Harry wondered why she was so surprised when nobody accepted. With a sniff, she headed for the library while the boys made their way to the front doors.
It really was a perfect day. The air was clear, the sun was shining, and Malfoy had been humiliated at breakfast. The five fifth years set off across the grounds. The little house of Gary Stone looked totally unremarkable as the boys knocked on the door.
"It's open. Come on in." Gary's voice called out." He was sitting at the coffee table frowning at the black marks on the ISD model that lay up-side down on the table. "Good morning Gentlemen."
"Who?" Dean launched in.
"Where?" Seamus added without missing a beat.
"Good morning, Gary. Thank you for your invitation."
"Glad you came, but who shot at the messenger?" he gestured to the model.
"Malfoy," Ron sneered as he said the name.
"Figures." Gary paused for a moment before brightening. "Well it is Sci-Fi Saturday boys. Harry, why don't you help me with the snacks…"
"Snacks?" a confused Neville interrupted. "But we only just now finished breakfast."
"You're new at this I see." Gary's voice sounded amused. "Somebody fill him in." With that Gary and Harry went into the kitchen. Harry was sure magic was at work in this house. The kitchen was huge compared to the outside of the building. Come to think of it, so was the living room. "I hope nobody is on a special diet." Gary set a pair of empty trays on the kitchen table. "Harry, grab us some colas and the dips from the fridge, would you. I'll get the munchies."
The pair returned to the living room carrying loaded trays of junk food. Everybody found places to sit. Gary took the Lay-Z-boy for himself and produced a handful of remote controls. Ron and Harry took the side unit of the wrap-around sofa. Dean and Seamus sat on ether side Neville along the long body of the sofa.
"We'll start with the classics today," Gary said. "We need to build the foundations for a better understanding of what is to come." He sounded like a teacher at the start of term. "Feel free to take notes as there may be a quiz later." Neville and Ron both groaned and the others laughed. "Ready for take-off?" Gary pulled the lever on the side of his chair and his seat reclined as the foot rest came up. The food and drinks were quickly distributed as Gary started pushing buttons on the remotes. The big-screen television lit up with static then speakers around the room crackled. Everybody settled down as the room and screen went dark. Then the music started; Powerful music that invoked cheers from Dean and Seamus.
The morning was spent watching the forces of good and evil locked in an ongoing war in a far away galaxy. Neville and Ron, without any prompting, booed and cheered in all the right places. Food was eaten and thrown. Sodas were drunk, spilled, and worn. For hours, five students forgot about tests, stress, strife, and the Dark Lord that threatened their world. A good time was had by all.
"I guess you lot should be on your way." The last of the credits were scrolling off the top of the screen. Gary stood up and stretched as he spoke. "I have other things to do today, and I am sure you do to." Everybody was in good cheer as they parted company. Harry looked at the mess they had made of the living room and offered to help clean up.
"I got it covered," Gary insisted. "Off with you." The five students made their escape before Gary could change his mind.
They headed up to the castle for an early supper. All of them were talking about the movies. It didn't mater that Neville didn't understand Ion Drives or that Ron new nothing of robotics. The story was simple enough to enjoy with out knowing how everything worked. The five Gryffindors entered the castle in high spirits; not caring about the lone Slytherin with a face filled with rage headed the way they had come.
