Chapter 20 – Classes and Oaths
The next morning I awoke to the most annoying sound ever. Ron had blown a fog horn in my ear and it was scary. I also accidently set my sheets on fire because of it.
"Ron, what the hell are you doing?"
"Waking you up sleepy head, we have an hour before our first class and you were still snoring away. Now get up before I blow this horn again." I scrambled out of bed and put my sheets out. I would ask Dobby to fix them later. I hurriedly got dressed and as I threw my robes on, Hermione and Ginny walked into the room. Hermione was looking at me in a beseeching way and Ginny was trying not to laugh.
"Harry, it's about time you got up. Luckily I saved you some toast and juice for breakfast. Come on, we need to get your schedule from McGonagall downstairs." I picked my bag up and then followed my friends down to where an impatient Head of House was standing. I walked to her and felt like a little kid again when she glared at me.
"You are lucky your friends care about you Potter or you would be completely lost for the week. Try to not to sleep-in next week. I'll see you in Transfiguration." I took my schedule and she left. I looked at it and realized that today was going to be a bitch. Double Potions. Defense and Runes with Transfiguration in the morning was not the schedule I wanted right after holidays.
"Geez, all the hard classes today and no free periods…I don't think today will be a good day." I walked out of the common and headed towards the second floor. On our way down, I realized I hadn't seen Connie this morning like I normally do.
"Hey, did anyone see Connie this morning?"
"Yeah, she was with Blaise and Colleen. Derrick has a cold at the moment and so he's in the hospital wing for the time being. She walked over and asked where you were I answered sleeping away like a rock. She giggled and told us to tell you that she'll see you in Transfiguration." Ginny led the way down to the Transfiguration room and we entered. The bell hadn't rung yet and so I sat next to Connie, who was in the front seat. Hermione and Ron sat behind us and Neville took the seat beside us while Ginny left for her class. McGonagall walked in five seconds after the bell rang and started off right into turning the elements into other elements.
"Potter, I want you to turn the glass of water I'm going to give you into air. I won't give you a spell because I want to see if you can figure it out." I grinned hugely as she sat a cup of water in front of me. I thought about the water turning into air and almost instantly it did. I darkened it by catching some dust up as I made it circle around in a bubble. The whole class gasped and clapped. I then realized that no one knew outside of our friends that I had elemental powers. Oh well, I don't mind them knowing since they all know I'm a Parseltongue too.
"Well, Mr. Potter, I don't think I'll have to worry about you with elemental magic. Ten points to Gryffindor for using your resources. Now, who can tell me the spell Mr. Potter used to do such a thing?" I grinned at her. I hadn't drawn my wand but had used the powers Connie and I share. I turned to see Hermione and, surprisingly, Ron with their hands up. Ron was called on.
"Harry used the Hydro-aero spell."
"Another ten points to Gryffindor. Now, the reason air and water are so interchangeable….." McGonagall drew out the scientific process of the similarities between the two elements and made us take notes as she went along. Once she had our minds bogged down with chemical formulas, boiling points, evaporation and such, she went on to fire and earth.
"Okay, now that water and air have been shown to be strongly connected, does anyone think that fire and earth are the same?" Neville raised his hand.
"They are only connected with elemental witches and wizards. Elementals have the ability to manipulate any element into what they want. Even the Element Potions can't do this. Outside of the special circumstance, a normal witch or wizard can't make the connection because of fire being heat and light energy and made up of only reactions while earth is a solid form and doesn't create the necessary energy to manipulate it into a combustion-able substance."
"Good Mr. Longbottom, twenty points to Gryffindor. Now fire is…." She went off on another elemental tangent and we took our notes. As she was finishing the bell rang and she yelled at us.
"I want a two foot long paper on how fire and air work together and why earth and water can be used to together but not changed to form the other." Colleen stopped us in the hallway and smiled at us.
"Hey, I need to meet you guys in the Room tonight. I have some information from the Slytherin end that I think is valid. Can you call a meeting for everyone?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later Colleen." She rushed off and I realized no one had seen us. I hope we never had to make her a spy like Snape. I continued on to my other lessons. All of our professors reminded us NEWTs are around the corner and that it was time to start studying and stop playing around. I think Snape framed it the best.
"Your NEWTs get you out of this school and into reality. While if you do well on the tests you can choose more careers to apply to, I suggest you start looking at all the choices you have because the world outside of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts won't give you a 2nd chance if you screw up. It's the first time or nothing." After that, he ended up giving us no homework.
"Well, he was the last lesson so I'll see you guys in the Room." Hermione nodded and went to ask Sinstra a question while Ron went to check on his Defense essay. Ginny and Connie came with me to the Room, Neville having to stay behind in Potions for a quick moment. We travelled to the 7th floor corridor and saw Colleen standing there. She looked tired and worn.
"Colleen, are you okay? You look like someone just….."
"Died? No, it's a little worse than that. I'll explain once we're inside and everyone is here." She opened the Room of Requirement and we went in. I sat in a chair and waited as all our friends filed in slowly. Luna came last and she shut the door. Colleen was in Derrick's lap, looking like she was about to cry or pass out. Derrick didn't look too good either from being sick. No amount of potion could take away the effects that quickly.
"Okay, Colleen, what's wrong?" I was worried for her. I know her parents disowned her because she wouldn't become a Death Eater.
"I was watching and listening to all our supplies during my break, you know I don't take Defense, and heard Malfoy talking with Nott and Avery Jr. Apparently, my parents have a new mission: get you to give yourself up. If I refuse to help they have orders to kill me and Derrick's family…like they won't either way." Colleen shed a tear and I felt for her. Voldemort was taking every advantage he could grab. He was also attacking me the only way he knew would cause me the most pain; through my friends.
"Colleen, his family is safe at Potter Manor. You just need to tell them that the Secret-Keeper is unknown and that you don't know where the Hampton's are. Everyone is safe." I felt guilt gnaw at me slightly as I realized she was still in danger and so was everyone in this room because of Voldemort's all-encompassing desire to kill me.
"Harry, thank you so much. I swear by my wizard's oath and magic that I'll never allow anyone or thing to harm you in my presence." I just looked at Colleen in surprise. She just bonded herself to my safety. If she failed then she would…no! I won't allow it. Derrick looked at her and then stared at me. I expected to be glared at or something but he looked at me in relief and then he surprised me even more.
"Harry, Colleen is a twister, a witch that is born of nature. I am bonded to her and her choices and vice-versa. I will protect you as well. You have my magical oath on it." I felt honored and slightly apprehensive too. I tended to get into a lot of trouble and my life was constantly threatened. They couldn't protect me from Voldemort, but I would do my damnedest to keep them from having to fulfill that oath too well.
"I'll try to stay as safe as possible. I don't want to lose any more family then necessary. Well, I'll see you all tomorrow." We left, because no one had had the time to check their own surveillances. Connie kept me in the room and slowly it changed to a small den with a love seat and a fire burning brightly in a fireplace.
"Connie, you know we have to be in our dorms in a half-hour right?"
"I know. Now shut up Harry and kiss me." She ended up kissing me and I let go. She controlled me completely. I ran my hands down her body, never getting tired of the fire she stirred in me, the feel of her soft, pliant body molding to mine and the scent of her engulfing my senses. Her hands were buried in my hair and tugged slightly. I growled at her and then pinned her between me and the wall. Her legs wrapped around my waist and I felt my hardening arousal make my pants tighter. She was warm through her dampening panties and I knew that I didn't have time to make love to her the way I normally do. I had a time limit now.
"Connie, I can't have sex with you. I never want to hurt you."
"Harry, just do it." She was immoral and it made me want her even more. Her mind pushed against mine and so I lowered my mouth to her neck and slipped her underwear off from under her skirt. I quickly undid my pants and let my erection free. My tip brushed against her wet folds and I groaned, slipping into her easily. She was always tight and warm, like the first time I made love to her back in the Shrieking Shack.
"Harry, I love you." Connie was breathing hard as I set still inside of her. She was trying to move but I had her pinned effectively with my body.
"I love you too." I finally withdrew and thrust back in. Her moan was loud and full as I possessed her with the fastest pace I had used yet. I felt her grip my length tightly and I came in her. I leaned into her body, trying to hold myself up. I was out of breath and sated.
"Harry, I think that's the fastest you have ever gone."
"Yeah, I think so too. Now, let's get you back to the dorm before one of the Slytherin prefects catch us out after hours." I let her down gently and she grabbed her panties. I zipped my pants up and fixed my robes as she flattened her hair and put her underwear back on. I took her hand and walked out of the room with her. I looked at my watch and realized that we had five minutes. I was thinking we couldn't get there in time but then I remembered I could slow down time. I thought of time going slower and watched as my watch slowed. I walked her down to the Slytherin common room, being scolded the whole way by her teasingly.
"Now, Harry, we can't always bend time to accommodate us having fun."
"Yeah but it's worth it even if we were late. Why don't you use time more often?'
"I don't like knowing I can be screwing up the flow of the universe. I only use it when I absolutely have to because it drains me the most. I can see you starting to sweat from the effort too. When we slow down time, it slows all over the universe in order to keep order. Oh, we're here." We were at the entrance and so we entered and saw Malfoy sitting in a chair. I smiled and realized this power had pranking opportunities. Connie kept me away from the ferret and dragged me down to her room. I opened the door to see Aphrodite still sleeping away on the bed. I kissed Connie and let her go in. I closed the door and left, knowing the tigress would want to stay here for the night. I walked back out and when I reached the fifth floor, I almost collapsed. I was so exhausted from holding time still for so long. I was breathing hard as I let time realign itself and dragged myself back to the portrait. Connie was in my mind, worried and trying not to say I-told-you-so.
Harry, do you want me to lend you some strength?
No, I'm good. Just need to get to the common room and I'll be fine. I was already at the portrait and she opened it without waiting for the password. I walked in and just collapsed onto the couch. It felt so good and I fell into a deep, restful sleep.
AN: I do realize this is probably the longest I have gone in Harry's POV but when I wrote Connie's it wasn't what was needed. Now, I know there will be question son the bond between Derrick, Colleen, and Harry but it is just a really powerful Unbreakable Vow that doesn't need any more magic then to be said. With their natural abilities, it ties them to it more tightly than any Unbreakable Vow would. I promise the Connie's POV is coming soon.