Alarums and Excursions

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Author's Note: Edited 7/30/2015.

Chapter 10

Harry woke up in a strange bed. He wasn't terribly surprised or worried about that but what did worry him was he could feel a warm body curled up on either side. He was afraid to open his eyes and see who they were when a familiar voice spoke, "You're in the infirmary here. When you didn't come back we went looking and found you. The infirmary here has only one bed but the healer didn't think you'd mind sharing considering you were all naked on top of each other when we found you."

Still keeping his eyes closed Harry hears a shoe tapping, "So are you going to tell me what happened or are you going to keep pretending to be asleep?"

"I guess that's not really a choice is it?" Harry says and sighs.

"No," is the terse reply.

Opening his eyes Harry says, "We were swimming. Yes, without suits. There was a shark. I banished it and got the other back to shore then I passed out. I don't know what happened after that." It's easy for him to sound matter of fact when he's this tired and he decides that what he's told her are the only important parts anyway.

Fortunately she takes his explanation at face value and runs with it. "I guess that scared them and the shock of the encounter, plus being already tired magically, along with trying to wake you up was too much for them."

"You're brilliant as always," he replies. "Now can you help me get out from under before they wake up?"

"Fine," she replies. "I'll levitate Susan and you roll out from underneath." Hermione closes her eyes as she is lifting the girl.

As soon as Susan is lifted Harry rolls off the bed and grabs his wand. He casts the spell to conjure clothing "Vestimentum!" and hurriedly dresses. Conjured clothing doesn't last long but a few hours should be enough to get him back to his room where he can dress properly.

"Okay, I'm decent," he says.

She smirks, "Well you're dressed anyway."

He gives a fake laugh, "Oh, ha ha, very funny Hermione." He looks bad at the bed where the two girls are now snuggling with each other under the sheet, "I'll just be off then and you can update them when they awake right?"

She raises both eyebrows, "Trouble in paradise? Is there some reason you don't want them to see you?"

"No, I'm just hoping to get back to my room before my conjured clothing goes poof," he says. She does not look convinced so he sighs and adds, "A little rest alone in a bed might be nice too. Or at least actually restful."

She laughs, "Now that I'll believe." She waves him toward the door, "Go on, get some rest then. I'll fill them in when they awaken."

"Thanks Hermione! You're the best!" he says and kisses her cheek before dashing out of the room.

Reaching his room he dresses and then heads for the converted ballroom looking for any of the professors. Inside he sees Professor Dihn, "Hello professor."

"Harry," the teacher calls him over. "Let me explain how we're going to do this. Our main problem has always been one of time. How to teach years of classes in the space of one. You all have done admirably with the accelerated coursework last semester but we at the limits of that approach I think. If we continued that way you would certainly finish our abbreviated sixth year curriculum and perhaps get part of the way through seventh but then we'd have to let you all go home for the summer to avoid undue notice. Our sources say that Riddle and his minions will be active this summer and we want you to be educated past N.E.W.T. level if possible before you run into him again."

"So you managed to find a way?" Harry asked. "Does it involve time turners?"

"No, it's a variant on pensieves," Thuvan explained. They had combined the spell for creating pensieves with the spell that created the enchanted paintings and a few others to create an interactive tutorial that took place at the speed of thought so what might seem like hours of instruction was in fact only seconds. It not only sped up instruction but allowed each teacher to teach different classes at the same time. Or at at least their virtual echoes could.

The professor finished his explanation with "So tomorrow you will all begin Sixth Year at the speed of one week per hour. At this accelerated rate and concentrating on the same subjects we've been stressing since you arrived we expect you to be ready for your N.E.W.T.S. by the third week. Then the advanced training begins."

"Sounds good Professor Dihn," Harry said. "I'll make sure everyone is here after exercise tomorrow."

The next morning they started their pensieve training. Harry and Ginny were in the first pensieve. Ron and Hermione were in the second and Luna, Neville, and Susan used the third. They returned to their bodies after four hours of outside time to eat and chat.

"Wow, I almost can't believe it's only been four hours," Hermione said.

Harry nodded, "Yeah, it really felt like four weeks were passing but never being hungry, or sore, or tired from spellcasting made it clear that it was a virtual experience."

"Well yes," Hermione agreed. "It was a very realistic one though and Ronald insisted on meals anyway so I usually ate with him."

Susan grinned, "That was a great part of it! Being able to eat anything you wanted without worrying about your weight. It was heavenly."

Luna agreed, "That part was nice but I do wish you'd start wearing clothes again inside. I don't mind so much for me but you are distracting Neville terribly in class."

Susan blushed but just a little, "Well there aren't any clothes there but what we were in. And I hate wearing the same thing day after day, even if it isn't technically dirty it keeps making me feel like I need another shower." She shrugged, "So I just stopped wearing them."

The other boys were looking shocked but Ginny was smirking, "I have to try that when we go back in. It sounds fun."

Harry groaned, "I'm trying to learn Ginny! Don't make it any harder than it is."

Hermione said, "You could always carry spare clothes with you Sue. I shrink them and stick them in my pockets so I can switch off."

Luna nodded, "That sounds like a good idea. I'd offer to switch clothes with you but you wouldn't fit into my clothes."

"That's for sure!" Ron said smirking. "Now I wish you were in our pensieve Susan! Hermione is always fully dressed during the day."

Hermione slapped him on the back of the head, "Try not to be a pig Ron."

After lunch they went back in for what was four hours on the outside but four weeks on the inside. By Saturday morning they'd managed to finish the abbreviated Sixth Year material in forty virtual weeks and were all ready for a few days off.

The next morning Susan found Ginny in the bathroom in front of the full length mirror frowning, "What's wrong Ginny?"

"I don't look any older," Ginny replied.

Susan smiled, "It's only been a week even if it feels like most of a year."

Ginny still frowned, "It's been months since we got here. Real months too and I still look the same."

"You are in better shape," Susan said. Stepping in the shower she raised her voice to continue trying to cheer up her friend. "You are more toned, stronger, and have more stamina."

"Maybe," came the reply. "But all that exercise also means that I went from A cup to don't even bother measuring. If I cut my hair people will think I'm a boy."

"No," Sue said. "Not at all. Your face is too pretty for that."

"My dad is tall and thin and mum is short and curvy," Ginny continued. "So what did I get? Short and thin."

"Would you trade bodies with Eloise Midgen or Millie Bulstrode?" Susan asked.

"No," Ginny replied. She sighed, "I know I could look worse but I wish I had either T or A even if I can't have both."

"Harry likes what you have Ginny," Susan said. "He liked you best out of all the girls at school even before we got here so what are you worried about?"

"When we leave here he'll be a legal adult with looks, money, and power. Why would he stay with me when he could have just about any woman in the world?"

"Because he loves you," Susan said. "Trust me, I can tell these things and he loves you fiercely. We'll finish this little battle we find ourselves in and then it's marriage and a boatload of kids for both of you." She smiled, "I'm the one who should be worried about becoming an old maid."

Ginny finally smiled, "Oh I can't see that ever happening future business partner." She turned toward the shower, "That reminds me how do you like my made just for redheads stuff? Is it working for you?"

Susan smiled, glad to have broken her friend's bad mood. "Yeah, it works well. I think we'll have a winner on our hands if we can reach enough redheads in the magical world. Maybe you can do one just for blondes too?" She smirked, "Natural ones I mean."

Ginny shrugged, "If we don't get enough customers with the line for redheads I'll try it. So what do you want to do today? I've missed hanging out with you. It may only have been a week in real time but it sure feels longer."

Susan nodded, "I've missed you too. Maybe we can drag Harry to the beach again? We can stay out of the water and just work on our tans."

Ginny nodded, "I like that idea. I've learned some wandless magic from Harry while we were in the modified pensieve so we can swim as long as you stay close to us." Ginny grinned, "And as long as you promise not to break his brain again."

Susan smirked, "I think it was you threatening to spank my bare ass that did it. So as long as you can keep your hot little hands off my ass I think he'll be fine."

Ginny giggled, "Okay, that's a plan then. Now I'll go grab Harry and cook some breakfast first."

"Don't forget to put some clothes on first!" Susan called after her. She wasn't sure Ginny had heard but she wasn't really worried either way.

Ginny and Susan did manage to drag Harry to the beach after breakfast. He didn't even complain when they got naked although he didn't join them.

"I see you got him past some of that horrible shyness Ginny," Susan said.

"You helped," Ginny replied. "Both before and because I used your idea of not wearing anything while in the pensieve with Harry." She pouted, "He still won't do much more than kiss though."

"Sorry love," Harry said. "I just don't think it's the right time for that yet. Slow remember?"

"I think I'll start calling you Snail," Ginny said. Then she kissed him, "But I'll wait until you feel it's right because I love you."

They spent the day talking about what they'd do after all this mess was solved. "Susan likes the shampoo and bodywash I made Harry," Ginny said. "It looks like we might be able to open that store after all."

"It can wait until after your honeymoon though," Susan said. "I mean we'll all have our N.E.W.T.s by summer so it's not like we'll still have studying to do."

"Won't you need a N.E.W.T. in Potions first?" Harry said.

"Why?" Sue replied. "Ginny already knows how to make it. We don't need even an O.W.L. to get started."

Ginny nodded, "If someone else was teaching I might go just to round out my knowledge but not with Snape as Potions Professor. If we have to we can hire one just to say we have one on staff."

"We could get private tutoring later if we want," Susan said. "There isn't a lot of adult education in Magical Britain but there is some and if afford it if we decide later we need it."

"Well I think you'll do well," Harry said. "It's a lovely and original idea and I'll be happy to fund it for an equal share in the profits." He smiled, "A few more investments like yours and twins' shop and I'll be able to relax and let the money roll in while I snooze in the sun. It'll make a nice change."

Ginny snorted, "Well I don't think you're ready to be retired yet Harry. I think you'd get bored with just napping in short order. Good thing too."

"Oh?" Harry said. "Why is it good?"

"Because if I'm minding the shop then you'll be minding the children and I think they'll be enough to keep you too busy to do much napping," she replied. Then both girls started giggling at his expression.