A longer chapter this time. Enjoy!

10. Meetings

As suggested by Hermione, Harry sent Rita Skeeter a letter asking her to meet him after the last funerals, to discuss her offer of acting as his media officer. He let Daphne, who was becoming his social secretary, handle the details.

Harry set the meeting in a muggle restaurant that had private rooms, quite suitable for discussing business and other matters that needed some privacy. Staying in muggle area also assured him a certain amount of discretion which could not be attained in magical environment. He chose to meet Rita with Hermione, or "my brain", as he fondly called her. He also asked Daphne to be present, as she seemed to be very keen in all nuances of wizarding life.

Rita arrived punctually. She was dressed in what looked like a dark green designer's business suit and wore elegant yet simple eyeglasses, very unlike the image everybody had known as "Reporter Rita". She actually fitted quite well in the business environment, Harry and the girls were also wearing business suits. Harry's was dark gray while the girls' were lighter shades of gray with just a hint of color in their blouses.

Rita seemed a bit surprised at seeing Daphne there but was smart enough not to comment about it. She wasn't surprised to see Hermione there. After knowing of their long friendship and suspecting a bit more, it was just natural to see her at Harry's side.

They first ordered their meal. Hermione had to help Rita choose, as some of the portion names were not familiar to the reporter, not being used in the magical cooking.

As soon as the waiter left, Harry asked, "Why do you offer to be my press officer? What's in that for you and why should I accept your offer?"

Rita didn't even raise a brow at the direct approach. "You all know I've been working for many years as a reporter. It was quite a good living until my secret was discovered and I was forced to quit." She was glaring at Hermione when she said this, but the latter seemed indifferent.

"I had to write books instead, but these couldn't give me the same standard of living I've been accustomed to, and then the war took away my drive to meddle with others' lives, showing me just how fragile our hold on life is. Yet I need a living and I know all the tricks of the trade. I can make sure that things you want known are published most effectively and things you don't never reach the printing press. I can help you advance any projects you want, using both my knowledge of the media and the connections I've been cultivating for many years."

Harry was still looking at her with undecipherable expression. This made her a bit nervous, yet she stuck to her plan. "I know I've not been very nice to you two, most of the time," she motioned at Harry and Hermione, "but that was caused by a lot of pressure from the minister at that time. He saw you, Lord Potter, as a threat and forced the media to distort your image to suit his purpose. Miss Granger, being your close friend, had to suffer some of the brunt as well. I'm really sorry for that, yet it seems like the readers liked my articles best when I acted nastily. Had I been nice to you they would not have been interested."

"Why do you think you can make them want to read 'nice' articles about Harry or about me or any of his other friends?" Hermione asked.

Rita smiled, making Hermione guess that the woman had already thought about this question and had her answer well rehearsed. "Once people knew that Rita Skeeter is a sarcastic bitch they wouldn't accept any other style, yet I can write under a different pseudonym. I've tried it a few times before. It was even refreshing to be positive about things, but the editors wanted me to write differently."

The first course was served, pausing their conversation for a few minutes. They soon continued, although the atmosphere warmed a bit.

Hermione asked most of the questions, with Daphne adding a few as well, while Harry only listened. It was only after dessert when he talked again. "Fine! I believe you are well qualified for the post, but I'm not yet sure if I can trust you. My past experience has left me with a very bitter taste about the media in general and about you in particular. If I am to accept you into my service then you'll have to take a vow to assure your loyalty and your truthfulness. Once you take that vow we can negotiate the terms and set the schedule. Will you take the vow?"

Rita looked a bit ill at ease, but nodded her agreement. Daphne took a parchment out of her handbag and unfolded it, showing Rita the exact text of the vow. It was expertly crafted to block all loopholes and assure that everything was covered. Rita blanched a bit when reading it, but then swallowed hard and asked "Do you want me to take the vow now?"

"Only if you want to. I can give you another day for thinking about it, if you want, but that vow is necessary before we can proceed. I'm sure you understand why," Harry told her.

Rita only thought for a moment before answering "I'll take it now, if you don't mind."

She read the parchment once more and then stood up, raised her wand in the air and recited the text loud and clear. Once she finished her vow, a silvery mist came out of her wand, covering her in a shining sheet that soon seemed to be absorbed into her body, leaving no visible residue.

Harry smiled at her now. "Well, I believe you can discuss the details with these two fine ladies. I trust them to keep my interest in mind and also be fair to you."

"Of course, Lord Potter," Rita replied.

"You may just call me Harry unless it is an official occasion," he smiled at her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some other things to tend to. I'll just pay the bill and make sure you can stay here for as long as you need to finish your discussions."

He bowed graciously towards the ladies and kissed the hands of each before leaving the room.

While the ladies continued their business meeting, Harry headed for another kind of meeting. Although he didn't lack sex, the letters he had received intrigued him. He enlisted Kreacher's help to contact a few of the senders, those who looked most attractive in the attached photos. Now he was heading to meet one of them.

The young woman was waiting exactly where he asked her to wait: in the middle of a very busy shopping mall, in front of a computer shop. It wasn't difficult to recognize her as she seemed quite out of place, although she was wearing muggle clothing. She seemed to be frightened by every bit of technology around: the moving banners, the large screen displays, the PA system which kept announcing about various sales. She was also the only one of her age not holding some kind of electronic instrument.

She seemed relieved as she saw him approach and her face soon sported a large smile. "Oh, Harry! I was afraid I would miss you in this multitude! Why have you insisted on meeting at such a horrible place?"

"Good afternoon, Janice. I've heard most women liked shopping, so..." he didn't finish the sentence.

"I thought we wanted something quite different..." she reminded him teasingly.

"Well, of course. There's a shop here where we can buy contraceptives and then there's a small hotel across the road..." he said suggestively.

She blushed only slightly. "We can skip the contraceptives. I'm on potion, and I can also use the contraceptive charm if you want to be extra sure." She said the last sentence in a hushed voice, although Harry was sure nobody could hear her even from two paces away in the din there.

Harry led her out of the mall and stopped between two parked lorries. "Give me your hand. I'll apparate us both."

They soon found themselves in a small cottage surrounded by a seemingly infinite grass field. Janice didn't waste her time. A minute after arriving she was already naked and was busily attacking Harry's clothing.

"Why do you wear so many clothes?" she complained.

"Sorry, I had an important business meeting," he said, just as busy letting his hands explore her body.

Janice managed to get Harry naked before they reached the bedroom. She pushed him to the bed and straddled his hips. "Do you mind if I'm on the top?" she asked him.

"That's quite fine with me," he said.

They didn't talk much. Janice, despite her bravado, wasn't very experienced, yet was very enthusiastic. She tried different positions until she found one she liked, in which Harry felt he was going deeper into her than he thought possible. He couldn't think much, though.

Their movements hastened, yet Harry didn't mind. While Janice was certainly attractive and quite pretty and his body was enjoying her, he felt almost nothing. His in and out movements reminded him of a sewing machine he had once seen. Yet his body did like it. The slick, warm tunnel around his erection felt wonderful, and the ripples of her muscles took him closer and closer to his climax. Not wanting to disappoint her and damage his own reputation, Harry started massaging her clit as he was nibbling at her tits. Janice's moans turned soon into screams as she reached her peak. A few more in-out movements brought Harry to the peak as well. He felt thankful it was over.

Janice hugged him tightly as her orgasm subsided. "Thank you, Harry. You are my first," she whispered in his ear.

"Your first?" He didn't feel any resistance going in and she surely didn't seem to feel pain.

"Well, yes. I used my brush handle to break my hymen as soon as you agreed to meet me, so that it would be perfect. And it was!"

She started kissing him all over. It was quite nice being kissed this way, but it was a bit unnerving, because as much as he enjoyed their physical contact, it was severely lacking. Her kisses meant nothing to him; her body could just as well be a doll, and her emotions didn't really interest him, yet he didn't want her to notice his feelings, or the lack of. He mechanically caressed her and felt her tremble at his touch.

They stayed that way a bit longer, as their breath calmed down. Janice clung to him as if he was her link to life and her warm and soft body had a calming effect on Harry.

He woke up, feeling a bit sticky and with some light-brown hair tickling his nose. It took him a moment to register his environment and remember the shagging he took part in. Janice was looking at his face admiringly, her brown eyes trying to get all the details and record them for eternity in her memory. Noticing he was awake she caressed his face and then said, "I'd like us to do it once more."

Harry looked at her again. She was really beautiful, with long straight hair, brown eyes, which he forcefully refrained from comparing to some other eyes he loved so much to look at, perfect neck and shoulders, large, firm breasts, yet not too large, slim waist, trimmed pubic hair and that delicious slit between her inviting long shapely legs. Just a few weeks ago he would have considered her a dream come true, yet now he found her lacking in a way he couldn't even explain. He wasn't in love with any of the four expecting mothers, but he had feelings towards them. He had no feelings towards this young woman, and it bothered him.

"I don't think it is a good idea," he told Janice. "It should better stay a one-time experience, so you'll cherish it more."

He saw some wetness in her eyes, but she nodded understandingly. He furtively checked the bedside clock.

"Let's clean up and I'll take you back," he suggested.

A few minutes later he deposited her at the entrance to the mall.

"I'll always cherish our meeting," Janice told him. She then kissed his lips tightly, turned around and ran away. Harry looked for a safe place for apparition and then disappeared.

Harry was tackled by a bushy haired missile as soon as he set foot in the entrance hall. Hermione hugged him tightly, tears of relief in her eyes. "Oh, Harry! We've been so worried about you! We tried searching everywhere but you just disappeared for hours on end."

She released her hug only to check him over at arm's length. "At least you seem to be alright," she noted after a moment. Her face was changing now from worry and relief into rage.

"Where have you been all this time? You could have been in danger and nobody would have been able to help you, not knowing where you went."

Harry tried to calm her with his smile, but she was in no mood for such frivolities. "Harry James Potter – you are not above being spanked by me if you don't give me a full answer NOW!"

She looked extremely scary and her wand was emitting red sparks. He knew he should be on his best behavior or he would be hexed very painfully.

"I only met one of those girls who wanted sex with me," he said meekly.

"You should have told me or one of the other girls here," she said. She still looked furious, yet Harry could also discern some hurt in her eyes. It made him even more worried than her rage.

"It was absolutely safe, really," he tried convincing her. "We met at a muggle mall and then I took her to a warded place. Nobody could have followed us and I didn't tell her where we were."

"She could have had tracing spells on her. Somebody could have been holding her hand, staying invisible with a cloak or a spell and..."

Harry raised his hand to stop her. "The wards would have removed any tracking spell and stopped anybody with ill intentions from coming in, including that girl. These are intent based wards, cast by my ancestors and maintained by the Goblins."

"Well, you still had to tell us. I was so worried..." Hermione could no longer hold her tears. She collapsed on his shoulder, sobbing her frustration and her anguish. Harry held her for a few minutes and then led her gently to the sofa, where he sat with her, patting her bushy mane and whispering comforting sounds in her ear. He could hear "I was afraid I've lost you," mumbled in between sobs.

It took Hermione almost half an hour to calm down. The other girls assembled around, caressing her and trying to comfort her as well. Daphne and Luna even gave Harry a dirty look, making him wonder how badly he had hurt his friend.

Eventually she stopped sobbing. Then, noticing she was still leaning on Harry, she sat upright again and moved a bit, putting some distance between them, before going back into her interrogation.

"Where did you take her?"

"It's a small cottage in the middle of nowhere. It was used as a hunting lodge and has been all but abandoned for almost a century. I found about it in the documents we had taken from our vault." He didn't notice the wrong phrasing.

"We took many documents from your vault, but I thought you've shown me all of them," she frowned.

"Oh, I'm sure you've seen it, but paid no attention. It is only big enough for a couple with possibly a guest or two and has no facilities needed for our whole group."

Hermione was still frowning. "I want to see it, to be sure you are safe there."

"Whenever you wish..." he said with a smile.

"Now!"

"OK, fine... I'll take you now." He led her outside, held her hand and apparated.

They returned about ten minutes later. Hermione seemed to still be angry at him, but Harry was relieved. She approved his security measures and agreed it was safe enough for the occasional shags, yet she still seemed a bit hurt.

"If you insist on using that place, fine, but you must tell one of us whenever you go there, just in case," she said to him.

"OK. I've also added you to the ward permissions, so you can always check on me. That should help reduce your worries."

She smiled bitterly. "I always worry when I can't see you."

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