Ownership: Harry Potter belongs to J. K. Rowling, many fanfiction authors have written of Marriage Bonds, Wizard Debts, and the characteristics of Veela, and the Hecatema belongs to Beren.

Chapter 10:

Friday morning, and Harry was having difficulty eating his breakfast for the procession of owls delivering letters. It had started the day before, most of the letters encouraging, a few disparaging, and some abusive. There was one thing in which they were unanimous. They all assumed it was up to him to relieve the world of the presence of Voldemort.

One was a red envelope. Harry frowned at it, annoyed, and Seamus said, resigned, "You might as well open it. You know Howlers can't be destroyed."

Harry pointed his wand, uttered a word, and the envelope turned to harmless ashes. He grinned at Seamus, "Want to bet?"

"How did you do that?"

"I'm not quite sure, but it seems to have worked. Maybe I should just do the lot. I doubt if there's any I actually want to read."

Hermione said, "I'll help if you like, Harry. You don't want to miss anything important." A few others volunteered, and Colin Creevey started to call the owls to him. Harry helped himself to some more cereal, since his first bowl had been spilled by an excited owl.

Neville puzzled over one, and then handed it to Harry, "You might like to read this one, Harry. But remember, it could be a trap."

Harry studied the letter from Moira Craig. It didn't sound like a trap. It sounded like a very anxious mother, and there was the reference to a previous letter delivered a few weeks before. He handed it to Hermione, "Genuine, do you think?"

Hermione read it, and sighed, "I believe it's genuine. But you can't go anyway, can you?"

"I guess not. And besides, I don't think I like the idea very much."

Ron asked, "What?" He looked over the letter, and said, "Cool! Have you got the directions?"

Harry laughed, "I don't remember her asking for you."

"If you don't want her, I do. Hecatemae are invariably beautiful, and they give a man incredible sex. Everyone knows that."

Hermione abruptly stood from the table, wand pointed at Ron's groin. Ron went quite pale and firmly shut his mouth. Hermione held her threat for long enough that he might remember, before putting away her wand.

There was a sudden cheer from the Slytherin table, and the news, in excited tones, "Vayden's brother won a Hecatema. In Ireland."

Harry glanced again at his letter. Ireland. And there had been a previous letter, left with the headmaster. For the first time, he stared at Dumbledore, wanting to know what he was thinking. There came to him the feeling of a pleased satisfaction, and the thought of favours owed. Harry said quietly, "The poor girl sends me a letter, and the old bastard takes it and sells the information to someone else. I wonder if it can be proven."

Hermione said, puzzled, "The old bastard? Dumbledore?"

"Dumbledore. He's a manipulative and deceitful man, Hermione. And always, every time, he does exactly what suits him."

"Are you going to do anything about it?"

Harry put the letter in his pocket, "I might, this time."

He didn't know whether he would even have gone chasing off after the Hecatema, but in any case, she was taken. Vayden's brother. Why would he have been in a remote corner of Ireland if he hadn't been in the know?

Linley Carlyle, Vayden's brother, caressed the dark, curly hair of the girl who lay cradled in his arms. He'd won! He'd been on the spot, the extra shield-breaking tuition had stood him in good stead, and now he was Soul Mate to a Hecatema. Just an hour from the instant he'd felt the raging Call in his blood, to Bonding her. He'd only seen one other wizard close, and he'd been wandering around, obviously with some idea where to look, but not knowing, as he had known. And now he could feel her in his head as well as on his shoulder. Her almost drugged slumber. It was in the literature, that a Hecatema would be as if tranquillised for the first day or two, before she discovered a raging appetite for sex, and then the new powers started developing. She could be overwhelmed if it was not for the Soul Mate, who somehow knew, as if by instinct, exactly how to help her cope.

Harry penned a careful letter to Moira Craig, saying that he was grateful that Fiona had thought of him, but that he hadn't had time to respond, as he hadn't received the first letter. He hoped that Fiona would be very happy with Linley. If Mrs. Craig wanted to pursue the matter of why Fiona's letter hadn't reached him, she could do so. He was willing to try and take action if she believed that the misdirection had been deliberate.

Harry forgot that he would have had to force the Bond on the girl, and instead dwelled only on the thought of a close and loving Soul Bond. A girl whom he could love, far closer than any normal love. What did it matter if he died if she died? For a love like that, it would surely be worthwhile. After all, he'd nearly died when Voldemort died, and Voldemort had caused him agony.

As soon as opportunity offered, late that evening, Harry showed Moira's letter to Snape. Snape read it carefully, and Harry said bitterly, "I never received the first letter. I could have had it again, all of the good, and none of the bad. Dumbledore stole from me."

Snape said mildly, "I thought you said you couldn't rape."

Harry got up and paced restlessly back and forth across the room, "She asked for me. It's something I need, Severus. And he sold the information to the Carlyles, he must have done."

"Yes, very likely. I don't know what can be done about it."

"Complain of course, it's against the law to interfere with someone's personal mail."

"He can argue that you had to be kept here. No-one will disagree, not when five Aurors were sent to retrieve you. Not when a lot of money has been spent on extra facilities to train you."

"Selling the information then? I'm sure I read that information about a Hecatema is strictly limited."

"Unprovable."

Harry stared at his mentor, frustrated, and finally snapped, "Maybe I should just go and challenge Dumbledore to a duel. What would happen then?"

Snape laughed and Harry glared, then abruptly swung away and left the office. Snape half-stood to stop him, but was too late. He reassured himself. The boy might have been talking recklessly, but he wasn't stupid.

It was after dark, after curfew, and very cold. Harry snapped a spell at the bars of a window on the ground floor, forgetting to use his wand. The bars fell out onto the ground, and Harry slipped through the opened window. Only when he collected his broomstick from the locker near the Quidditch pitch, did he realise what he'd done. He'd have to practise that - using magic without a wand, more than the occasional flaring up of the fire, or opening a door when his hands were full. And maybe, if he was developing that degree of power, he could do other things others couldn't do. Surely, he could escape, if he chose.

It was a clear night, full moon. The settled snow was covered with a sheen of ice, very slippery, and almost glowing in the moonlight. The shadows, on the other hand, were very dark. Harry went to the place he'd made his own. A quiet place, deep into the forest, as far from the castle as he could get. Then he tried to disapparate. He couldn't do it. He tried from a different spot, methodically, from one place after another. Each anti-apparation spell could only cover a limited area, but spells were overlapping. Harry didn't expect to find a weak spot, but knew he wouldn't sleep that night in any case.

It was after midnight when it actually worked. Harry stared around at his new surroundings, very surprised, then quickly backed away from the gates of Hogwarts. He should have thought more carefully about where it was prudent to apparate to. No point having the guards see him now. Once hidden again, a delighted smile spread across his face. The disapparation point had been beside a tangle of branches and a brook, a little too close to the home of the Acromantula Colony. He thought carefully about the exact spot, and reappeared there. Then again, he disapparated, this time appearing at the Shrieking Shack. If a figure was seen there, no-one would investigate.

He checked his pockets. No money, not a penny. But he was luckily in casual Muggle clothing, and he didn't feel like a tame return, not just yet. One could apparate to a known spot, or one could use apparation coordinates to go to an unknown spot. Harry didn't have an apparation map, but he knew the seaside town in Devon and he knew the area near his relatives' home. Devon was outside apparation range, but he used a spot near Privet Drive like a stepping stone. Then Devon, on the beach. The wind roared and he shivered, realising that that had been a very silly idea. Really best to go straight home and go to bed. Instead, he conjured himself a clumsy looking cloak, and started to walk back into town before changing his mind. Wasn't there a shallow cave? With a warming charm, he could survive the cold. And in the morning, he'd go and see Hermann.

Neville shook Ron awake. "It's three o'clock, and he's not back."

"Probably with Stephanie, that's all. Go to sleep."

"He's always back by now."

Dean said, "Be quiet, you two."

"Harry's missing."

Dean said, exasperated, "So he's with Stephanie, or maybe Malene. I noticed him looking at Malene."

Neville said quietly, "He's been brooding all day. I don't think he's with a girl."

Ron yawned and sat up, "I'll come. We'll check in the Duelling Room."

"He doesn't take Stephanie there. I don't know where he goes."

"We'll try the basements first, then. He says there are good places there."

"Where do you and Hermione go?"

Ron spoke in a disgruntled tone, "We have no need for a totally private place - so she says. I'm thinking of trying Lavender."

Neville gave him a sympathetic touch on the shoulder, but his mind was still on Harry, and he asked, "What do you think we should do if we can't find him?"

"He'd kill us if he's found a way out and we tell on him."

Severus Snape also prowled the corridors, wondering if he'd find Harry. It would not be the first time he found him in the middle of the night, usually sitting alone in one of the common sitting rooms. He paused in front of the open window, noticing its missing bars, wondering if Harry had used it to slip out. When he saw the two boys approaching, he stepped back, unobserved. The boys, too, paused at the window, and he heard Ron say that it appeared he'd gone outside.

Neville said, "Makes me wish I had a tracking charm on him."

"What did he do with the last one?"

"He said he transferred it to Mrs. Norris."

Snape remembered. Dumbledore had been livid. As far as he knew, he'd given up on tracking charms.

Ron said, resigned, "No point worrying about him. We might as well go back to bed." Snape concluded it was a good idea. Harry was a very competent wizard for his age. He'd turn up.

At dawn, Harry walked swiftly along the beach, breaking into a run once the night-time stiffness receded. It was good at the beach, always changing, always the same. He loved the beach. He thought he might settle here one day.

Shortly after nine, he walked through the town, stomach rumbling at the smells of breakfasts being served. Fast foods. What wouldn't he give for a plate of the hottest, greasiest, saltiest fast food the town had to offer? And he'd only missed one meal.

Hermann looked puzzled at the youth who greeted him, and suddenly exclaimed, "Harry? Is it you?"

Harry grinned, "It's me. I came to say hello and thanks."

"Working out?"

"No time today. I have to go back before I'm missed."

Hermann shook his head, "I remembered you as the most pathetic object I've ever seen in here."

"I took a great deal of notice of your advice. I plan to reach six feet."

Hermann laughed, "I don't think so, somehow."

"Five feet, nine?"

"Now that may be achievable. Not that exercise has a great deal to do with height."

Harry glanced at a group beginning to assemble, and said, "Your class is waiting."

Hermann beamed at him, "I'm glad you dropped in."

"I fully plan to return next summer. I love it here."

"I look forward to seeing you."

Harry raised a hand, "Two inches taller by July, you'll see."

Hermann grinned after the boy, and wondered just what the illness was that had left him so stunted and malnourished. If only he didn't have a relapse.

Harry wasn't at all sure what he wanted to do next. Staying around here might be risky if anyone knew of his escape, and trying to access his money at Gringott's would probably be worse. In the end, he tackled the hills he hadn't been strong enough to climb in the summer. No snow here. It was just cold and windy.

Snape didn't always eat at the staff table, but had been there for breakfast. Harry wasn't present, but Snape gave a sigh of relief when he walked in, perfectly normally, for lunch. Mick commented, "Neville said he had a bad night again. He wasn't at PT."

"He does look a little tired."

"He admitted to me once that he quite often didn't sleep well."

Hermione greeted Harry with relief, and ordered him to tell them where he was at all times. Harry said, "I'll warn you when I'm going to be out overnight. Will that do?"

Hermione sighed, "That'll do."

Ron asked, "Did you stun the guards or anything."

Harry spoke for their ears only, "No, but I found an unexpected way out. I'm starving, though. I had no money on me for food or shelter."

Ron asked, "Did you see your summer helper?"

"What do you know about a summer helper?"

"Dad hinted at something, and then shut up."

Harry grinned, "They think I traded sex for food."

Ron stared, "A man?"

"The mere hint that they might have been right was enough to make them stop asking questions. The Child of Light reduced to prostitution? What a thought!"

Hermione gave him an uneasy look, and Harry said, "Don't fret, Hermione. There was nothing like that."

Hermione said prissily, "I never thought there was."

"So where did you go?"

"I had trouble going anywhere. Next time, I'll take an App. Map."

"You can apparate?"

"I learned a lot last summer."

That he could escape when he chose put Harry in a much better mood. And he hadn't really wanted a Hecatema - he didn't think. Even on Monday when there were pictures of Fiona Craig and Linley Carlyle in the newspaper, he wasn't disturbed.

Seamus was, loudly complaining that he hadn't he been told. "Fiona!" He kept saying. "I never knew. She lives half a mile down the road!"

Ron said, "She sent a letter to Harry, she wanted him."

Seamus grizzled, "Why not me? I always liked her."

Hermione asked, "What about Susan? I thought you liked Susan."

"Hermione, Fiona's Hecatema!"

"So?"

Seamus stared at her as if she was stupid. "Hecatema! The best sex in the world!"

Hermione said, clearly and quite loudly, "If you boys put a little more effort into providing good sex, you might get better sex!"

The boys looked at each other and shut up. Girls never understood about Hecatemae.

***x***

Zondra Vardrier sat across from her father, who asked testily, "No-one to suit you in France, either?"

"I even found and inspected the ones who were hiding from me. And I didn't fancy any of them."

"You checked out the Aurors, of course. They're usually the most likely."

"I checked them, and I hung around at the bank for a day, and both of the main Aniragias."

Her mother asked, "So what exactly do you want? More than powerful and handsome?"

"I don't know exactly what I want, but one of the Aurors gave me this."

She spread out the copy of the Daily Prophet, Harry's picture on the front. Her mother studied it, and said, "He does look quite tempting in that first picture, but look at the group picture. He's small!"

"I wouldn't mind that, but anyway, he's only sixteen. He might grow."

"So go inspect him. See if you want him."

"There's a bigger problem. They say he's destined to fight Lord Voldemort. No-one fights Voldemort and survives."

Her parents glanced at each other. They knew of Voldemort. Her mother said, "Italy. Maybe you'd best try Italy next."

"Yes... I might just work on my English. You never know."

***x***

Harry studied the App. Map, and then went to McGonnagal, and asked if it could be arranged to have some more money out of his account. He thought it prudent not to ask for Muggle money, and when McGonnagal suspiciously asked what he needed money for, said that Ron was to buy a few things for him next time he went to Hogsmeade. It was easy enough to change money in Hogsmeade. McGonnagal sniffed, but it was his own money, after all, and she organised the amount requested. The following Saturday, Ron and Hermione spent in Hogsmeade, and on Sunday, immediately after PT, Harry went to Edinburgh. Freedom. Voldemort was gone, he was young, healthy and free. Harry told himself he was very happy. It was certainly good to be away from school.

He didn't bother closing his curtains that night. He was fully recovered and there would be no bad dreams. Neville gently shook him awake in the early hours of the morning. Harry's face was wet from his tears. He sat up and looked around, still feeling the acute sadness of his dream. Neville said firmly, "I'll make you a hot chocolate, and when you go back to sleep, you might have better dreams."

Harry reached for his dressing gown. Ron still snored, but Dean was looking at him. Harry muttered an apology.

Neville studied his friend as Harry stared into the fire in the common room. Harry glanced up and told him again to go to bed. He was fine.

"In a little while. I want you to tell me why you're unhappy. You don't talk to anyone, and you should."

Harry cast a glance at him, and looked back into his steaming mug of chocolate.

Neville said patiently, "It's not because of the Hecatema, is it? You've been miserable since you came back."

Harry shook his head, "I'm mostly perfectly happy. I have a great deal of fun. I enjoy the subjects I'm doing, and I'm working towards what I want."

"So why do you cry in your sleep?"

"I don't cry in my sleep. Hardly ever."

"You often cry in your sleep. Just that mostly you don't wake up."

Harry gave him a startled look, and said, a little resentfully, "I'll put Silencing Charms on the bed-curtains again. I didn't realise."

"Are you sorry you killed him?"

Harry shook his head, "I had to kill him. So that I could live, and so that he'd stop hurting and killing people."

"Then what? I don't understand."

"I don't properly understand myself."

"Hermione said that she thinks it was like a Soul Bond, and that maybe it nearly killed you when it broke."

Harry nodded, "It was months ago. I should be over it by now."

"Is that what happened?"

"Pretty much. There was someone there to help me. I was not alone."

"Would you have died if you had been alone?"

"Yes."

Harry knew that he would have died. His living on when his brother was dead was an aberration. Really, he should not be alive when he was only half a person. His mind torn and a piece missing. Would another person fill the void? Maybe he was being very shallow, thinking that if only he made a new bond, he would be whole again. It was that particular bond he'd lost. What if he'd tried to talk to Tom? What if they could have been like brothers? Maybe it's why Tom had become irrational, because his own mind was torn.

Something of his thoughts showed on his face, and Neville was beginning to be a lot more worried than he'd been in the beginning. He said in a light tone, "Tracey helped you, and Stephanie helps."

Harry suddenly looked up and grinned, "Don't tell anyone, but it was Stephanie and Heather both, the other night. It was incredible!"

Neville asked, "What if you looked for a girl whom you could really care about? Seems to me you don't have a scrap of feeling for those Slytherins."

"They do it because they want me to stay around. I told them that I reckoned he was dead, but I didn't argue too hard. They gave me a wonderful time."

"Well, as a would-be Healer, I'll make my first recommendation. Ask a nice girl out, and look for romance instead of mere sex."

Harry laughed, "Sex is not mere, Neville. Sex is never mere!"

Neville grinned, "Feeling better, then?"

Harry rose, "You're a good friend, Nev."

But when he went back to bed, he closed the curtains, and put the Silencing Charm on.

***x***

Professor Landen tossed an assignment on Harry's desk, and said, "A fail. I think your conceit ran away with you, Mr. Potter."

Harry looked closely at the marked questions, and agreed. Maybe it had. On the other hand, he was now with the fourth years, and he hadn't failed by more than a mark or two. Landen said, "And you want an OWL in this subject for this year. You're very optimistic."

"Yes, Sir." He was going to have it, too. His OWL exam would not be marked by Landen, and that would help. He'd devote more time to his work, and less time to self-pity. One could work around holes.

Snape looked up that evening at the knock on his office door. Harry? He wasn't expecting anyone else, and Harry had been eyeing him during the Potions class. He used his usual dry tone, "Enter!"

Harry opened the door, glanced around to check they were alone, closed the door, and said, "Hi, Severus."

Snape smiled slightly, "You've found a way out."

Harry jumped, "How did you know?"

Snape chuckled, "Don't worry. As far as I know, no other teacher noticed your absence. Are you going to tell me how?"

Harry grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye, "You might feel impelled to remedy the flaw in the castle's defences."

Snape said smoothly, "You'd best not tell me then."

"Do you want any more bits from the Baselisk? And I found some Unicorn hair."

He fished in his pocket, and produced an envelope. Snape accepted it, very pleased, and remarked, "Are you going to pay off your debt in Potions ingredients?"

"If you want. I was tempted to kill one of those hideous giant spiders the other day, only that Hagrid might have been upset."

"So your way out is through the Forbidden Forest."

"I can't see any need to have giant spiders in the world. I was wondering if you knew a spell so they couldn't reproduce. If they gradually died out, then Hagrid would probably accept it. After all, they must be very inbred."

"Won't Hermione research it for you?"

"If she thought I was going anywhere near them, she'd throw a fit!"

"And I won't?"

"Well, you haven't."

Snape was amused, "I guess I trust that you can cope."

"I am extremely careful. I'd hate to be pulled to pieces by spiders!"

"I'll give it some thought."

Harry admitted, "There is something else, if you're willing."

"Yes?"

"Apparating with a passenger. Is it difficult?"

"Why would you want to do that?"

"I want to take a girl out. And I'd be caught in an instant if I just took her to Hogsmeade."

"How about you come to my place in the Easter break, and I'll teach you then?"

Harry smiled in pleasure, "The Easter break sounds good, but the teaching is more urgent than that."

"What then?"

"I could meet you outside somewhere, maybe."

"Taking a passenger is not difficult. Just that you have to think of the both of you, and your passenger has to cooperate. But I'll give you a few goes with me before you try it with someone else. It would not impress a potential girlfriend to get her splinched."

"Next weekend then? And I doubt that Hagrid would miss one of his hundreds of spiders. If I caught one on its own, it would be safe enough."

"Take no chances. The venom's very precious. I'll tell you how to collect it - just in case."

His opportunity came when sixth year started the four week course, Cooking, Cleaning, & Repairs, (CC&R.) Thursday mornings, first period. Compulsory for everyone not doing Household Management. Neville glanced significantly at Ron when Harry abandoned them to sit with Hannah instead. Her usual companion, Susan Bones, was not in the course.

Hannah glanced at him in surprise, and Harry said casually, "I need my hand held. I haven't a clue about these spells."

Hannah said sceptically, "Seamus told Susan you've made a foldable bookcase that you can shrink when you choose. Don't tell me you can't clean!"

"I can clean a bit, but I haven't a clue about cooking or sewing or even making beds, except by hand."

"You can conjure bed and bedding, from what I hear!"

Harry gave up, and instead asked directly, "Will you come out with me one day please, Hannah?"

Hannah stared at him in absolute surprise, quite grateful when the teacher called for quiet.

It was only when they moved onto the practical exercise of cleaning up a filthy classroom, that Hannah gave any sort of answer. "I thought you were going out with Stephanie Caruthers."

"Well, sometimes, but it's not exclusive. She's spending a lot of time with Michael."

"So would you give up having sex with Stephanie and the other girls you meet?"

"Hannah... How about just a fun excursion in Edinburgh - maybe to a fun fair, or shopping or the cinema - whatever you want? Just for fun, to get to know each other better."

"Hedging your bets?"

Harry reddened a little, but he needed Stephanie, or someone like her. Just that he wanted to have some ordinary fun with Hannah Abbot.

Hannah read his posture, and sighed. He wasn't willing to give up those others, and it made his invitation seem a little false. She said testily, "And how would you get to Edinburgh, anyway? They won't even allow you out!"

"Hush! People will hear. If you don't want to come, just say so. But please don't tell anyone."

"Then you shouldn't have mentioned it."

Harry said desperately, "Hannah, please keep it quiet. I shouldn't have said. They'll put me in manacles or something if they know."

"Surely you're in too much danger when you go out of bounds."

"I'm pretty sure that Voldemort must be dead. And even if he's not, he's a long way away. I'm in no danger. Not from him."

"I won't tell anyone, then. But I should. Professor Dumbledore only wants to look after you, you know."

Harry said, "We could have a date here. We could conjure maybe some nice mats and furniture beside the swimming pool, and pretend it's the beach."

Hannah giggled, "You're getting desperate."

"Make a suggestion then. I want to go out with you."

The professor said, "Hurry up, you pair. Everyone else is finished."

Harry looked up, waved his wand, and the mess disappeared.

Hannah said scathingly, "You wanted me to hold your hand!"

Harry said, "Yes, please."

Hannah giggled and Harry thought there might be some hope after all.

Susan grabbed her friend the moment she saw her next, and asked, "Is it true? Harry asked you to go out?"

Hannah stared at her in surprise, "How did you hear?"

"It's Harry Potter! What he does gets noticed. Well, did he?"

Hannah nodded sheepishly.

"So where are you going?"

"Nowhere. I sort of said no."

Susan demanded, "Why? You've liked him since third year, haven't you?"

"He's got a girlfriend, more than one. I saw him flirting with Malene yesterday."

"And if he wants you? Are you really going to say no?"

"He doesn't really want me, I know he doesn't. I don't know why he asked me out."

Susan laughed, "Because he likes you, silly. So what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know."

Harry continued to pursue Hannah, not being pressing, but taking every opportunity to talk to her, sometimes eating at the Hufflepuff Table, ostensibly with Chris who was part of the Duelling and PT group. Except for special occasions, when eating at their own House tables was expected, there was always a little mixing, especially among the senior students, most of whom preferred to date outside their own House.

It was February, nearly Valentine's Day. There was always a Hogsmeade visit as near as possible to Valentine's Day, which was this year on a Monday. The Hogsmeade weekend was an occasion when boyfriend/girlfriend relationships tended to become 'official.' Hannah asked Harry if he had a date for Hogsmeade, and when he said no, asked why not. Harry frowned, "I'm not allowed out. You know that."

"If you were allowed, who would you take?"

"If you knocked me back again? I really don't know."

Hannah said casually, "Well, you can join us then, if you like. Susan and Seamus, Hermione and Ron. And you can come too."

Harry beamed, "As your date? And where?"

Hannah's voice was a touch cool, "As one of a group of friends. Saturday afternoon and within Hogwarts grounds. Only we girls know the venue, and we're organising a picnic. You won't have to do anything - including conjuring beds!"

Harry said, "Ahh... fine."

It was just to be as a group of friends, so Harry felt no guilt when he arranged with Heather to meet her that evening. It was in one of the large dungeons currently being used by the Construction Class. There were now five small, freestanding rooms, two of them complete. It was a matter of minutes to provide the furnishings, warmth and privacy required, and the pair settled down to give each other pleasure.

Afterwards, Harry kissed the girl, and said contentedly that sex had to be the best thing in the world.

Heather lay with a smile on her face, feeling as satisfied as he was. No competent witch had an accidental pregnancy, and Wizardkind was very resistant to infections, including those spread by sex. There was no reason to abstain from sexual activity, and morals didn't quite enter into the equation. The half-bloods and Muggle-raised youngsters were often a bit more inhibited. Hermione, for instance, very much disapproved of Harry's multiple relationships, though she hadn't said anything, and it was not as if he flaunted it.

***chapter end***