Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Hermione does. Ginny just wishes she did. (I think I'm gonna win the bidding war)
Thanks again to Karma for being a wonderful Beta.
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After dinner Harry and Hermione returned to the common room. As they relaxed together on their favorite couch, Hermione, without thinking how it would sound, asked "Harry can I have your basilisk tonight?" Hearing the gasps, then laughter from the rest of their Housemates, the two blushed a deep red.
Harry still blushing said "Er, yeah 'Mione, lemme go get it. But I'd like to borrow your phoenix in return" before darting upstairs to the 4th year dorm. Entering the room Harry opened his trunk and started looking for the stuffed toy his betrothed had given him.
As he was looking for this, Ron asked him in a oddly gruff tone what Harry was doing. Harry being distracted looking through his trunk replied also without thinking. "Oh Hermione wants my basilisk tonight. Oh there it is."
Hearing a strangled shout from the overly jealous ginger, Harry looked up while extracting the stuffed toy, and seeing Ron started to draw his wand, ears and face red as his hair, Harry lifted the toy up and said quickly "Stuffed toy mate, stuffed toy." Then with a question in his tone and eyes, "Why do you care anyway Ron, all you seem to do is fight with her, and belittle the things she enjoys."
Ron seemed to deflate a little at the question, then with a sigh, replied "I fancy her Harry, I guess the reason I always argue with her, is because she looks very pretty when she's angry"
Harry shook his head at how thick his former friend was. "Ron, two things; one, that's not a healthy way to have a relationship, it's fairly abusive actually. Find someone whose interests you share. And two; Hermione and I are betrothed. I asked her over Christmas and she said yes. Not counting her Parents or Sirius who were there, you're the third person to find out."
Ron slumped down on his bed. Harry looked at the somewhat depressed redhead, and said "Look I'll be back in a bit, we can maybe talk then. I need to run this down to 'Mione." Harry then went back down to the common room to join his betrothed. As he plopped down next to Hermione, Harry shot to Hermione "Ron knows now. And he wasn't happy when he found out. He thought that he 'fancied' you and that the fact that when you get angry you're pretty, is a valid reason to argue with you. Given the way he's acting I'd recommend that we keep an eye out for Ginny" over their link.
Hermione shook her head a little, then grinning handed Harry the stuffed phoenix he had given her, while she grabbed for the stuffed basilisk he had brought down. The phoenix was very similar to her birthmark, except this one's wings were stretched for gliding, not raised to take off. Harry lifted the phoenix to his face and took a sniff, he could smell Hermione's favorite body spray, a mix of cinnamon and vanilla, and some subtle floral scent. Jasmine or honeysuckle, it was too faint to be sure. "If only I could figure out a way to add that hint of old parchment and ink, it would smell just like her" Harry thought to himself, as he grinned then snuggled against his betrothed.
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The next morning, Luna, Harry, and Hermione were eating breakfast in the Great Hall, when Ginny walked up carrying a small package. Sitting down across from the trio, the youngest Weasley handed Harry the package saying, "Happy Christmas Harry, I know it's a little belated, but I made these for you myself"
Harry opened the small box, and found some home made mince pies. Hermione quickly reached in and grabbed one. To Ginny's horror, Hermione took a bite. Within seconds Harry felt a very base, very primal emotion flood across his bond with Hermione. Harry quickly handed the box to Luna and whispered a request that she take the box to McGonagall and tell her everything. As Harry was finishing his request of Luna, Hermione stood and dragging Harry to his feet, and pulled him from the Great Hall.
About an hour later the two extremely rumpled teens entered the Hospital Wing, and Harry called for Madam Pomphrey. Explaining what had happened caused the two to blush furiously, apparently the raw unkeyed Amortentia in the pie had caused Hermione to keep dragging Harry into the nearest broom closet, and snog him to within an inch of his life. Only Harry's iron willpower had kept the two from going farther from light petting while they were making out.
Explaining that he didn't know what had happened, but that shortly after eating a mince pie that Ginny had given him, Hermione had become extremely 'friendly' caused Harry to blush harder.
Madam Pomphrey merely sighed, grateful that this time it wasn't Harry that was looking at a stay in the wing. Gesturing with her wand, Poppy preformed a few diagnostic charms and found that Hermione was under the effects of a very powerful love potion.
Harry learning of this became extremely angry, especially as Hermione had been affected by something that had been meant to target him. Hoping to calm down her enraged betrothed, Hermione sent to Harry, "I figured the little bitch was up to something. Remember your mum called her a potion's princess. That's why I ate it. This way we have her on attempting to dose you and dosing me. Plus I know you had Luna take the remainder of them up to Professional McGonagall. With that and what Madam Pomphrey has determined, the little ginger tramp is going down."
Harry just shook his head a little and chuckled at his betrothed's anger, "Sweetie, Mum also said that we should be immune to love potions because of our bond. You didn't need to take the bullet for me," he replied.
While the two teens were conversing with each other, Madam Pomphrey got Hermione settled into one of the beds, and started adding to her records. After the parchment work was done, she flooed McGonagall's office, to inform her of what had been determined, and the possible causes.
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Minerva McGonagall was a very angry Head of House. "To think that one of my students could possibly attempt to use a love potion on another person was unbelievable. And that the person that it was being used on was Harry Potter! Didn't that poor boy have enough to deal with?" she thought to herself.
As she walked into the Hospital Wing, she saw her two favorite students, Hermione laying on a hospital bed, and Harry sitting next to her, holding her hand.
"Hermione are you okay?" McGonagall asked, "Madam Pomphrey told me that you had been dosed with some kind of potion."
Harry glanced at Hermione then looked up, "Ginny Weasley gave me a package of mince pies that she stated that she had made herself. Since Hermione was curious as to how a home made one tasted, she grabbed one," Harry continued the story that they had told Madam Pomphrey, avoiding mentioning the side trips to the broom closets, only mentioning that there had been some distractions.
Professor McGonagall seeing the two teens blushing when Harry mentioned 'distractions' could easily guess what kind.
"Very well you two, now I need to go speak with Madam Pomphrey. You two stay here until one of us returns. And Hermione don't worry about classes for today. I'll make sure you're excused." McGonagall said before heading back to the Matron's office.
Once in the privacy of Poppy's office, McGonagall asked what had been found.
Poppy informed McGonagall that the two had come in, and the state Hermione had been in. Running a sequence of tests, she had found that Hermione had been dosed with Amortentia, "The poor girl is just lucky the potion was unkeyed. Things could have been very embarrassing otherwise. As it is, I'm sure there will be some comments from the more crass students," the nurse finished.
McGonagall shook her head. Attempting to dose Harry and actually dosing another student, and with Amortentia at that. The Weasley girl was looking at a suspension at the least and a possible expulsion and that was if she was lucky. If either Harry or Hermione decided to press charges, the stupid girl could wind up in Azkaban for at least a year.
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A few days later, after Madam Pomphrey was sure that all the traces of the potion had been cleared from Hermione's system, the two were allowed to go back to their dorms. Madam Pomphrey and Professor McGonagall had allowed Harry's presence, both because he was betrothed to Hermione and thus her closest next of kin, and because they knew that if Hermione had had a relapse with the potion, Harry would have been the safest person for her to be near. Both because he would protect her from others advances, and because as he proved on the way to the Hospital wing, his self control wouldn't allow them to go farther than either would have normally been comfortable with.
Harry had also made sure that Hermione had his stuffed basilisk to snuggle with at night, as well as her color coded chaos of notes and revision schedules.
That night after finally being released Hermione brought the egg up to Harry and suggested that they listen to it that night to ensure that nothing had changed from their time line.
The two teens grabbed swimming clothes from their dorms then snuck out to the prefect's bath under Harry's invisibility cloak.
Whispering the password, the two entered the bath and going to separate changing rooms, got into their swim clothes. Harry had changed quickly and was already in the water with the egg on the ledge waiting for Hermione.
At Hermione's soft, "Harry?" he looked up and nearly lost all higher brain function. Seeing Hermione in a beautiful crème bikini, watching her smooth soft skin flexing and shifting, Harry knew he saw perfection.
Not hearing any reaction from her betrothed, Hermione was a little worried, she knew intellectually that Harry thought she was pretty, but years of teasing about her 'plain' looks had still left scars on her self esteem. Hoping that Harry would enjoy the bikini was the only thing that had given her courage enough to wear it tonight alone with him. Finally Harry let out a breath and softly said, "Sweet Morgana Hermione. You're gorgeous!"
Flushing at the praise, Hermione giggled at the wave of a baser emotion that flashed across their link before Harry regained control of his hormones, "Sorry sport" Hermione replied with another giggle, "the bikini is lined, so no free show tonight".
Harry flushed again as Hermione had obviously read the short hope that had flashed across his mind. Grabbing the egg and ducking underwater Harry opened it and listened as the mermaid song lilted through the water.
"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching ponder this;
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,
And to recover what we took,
But past an hour, the prospect's black,
Too late it's gone, it won't come back."
As the song started repeating itself, Harry closed the lid, and returned to the surface, "Yep that's the same message as last time" Harry said.
"Well actually hearing the song, I can understand how you were worried last time around. And knowing what we know now, I say that you get Gabrielle when you're down there for me," Hermione said calmly.
"Of course we still need to find some gillyweed," Harry said slightly morosely.
As soon as Harry said 'gillyweed' there was a small 'pop' and Dobby appeared near the edge of the pool.
"Did Master Harry say that he be needing some gillyweed?" Dobby asked hopefully
Hermione looked at Dobby with an odd expression on her face, "Um yeah Dobby. Harry was wondering where we could find some".
Dobby got an oddly proud look on his face, and then replied, "Dobby is having some gillyweed. Dobby is hearing Master Harry and his Grangy talking to their friend Neville about Gillyweed. So Dobby is acquiring some from the greasy one."
Harry hearing Dobby calling Snape 'the greasy one' started laughing so hard he fell back against Hermione and nearly slid into the water until she grabbed him under the arms to hold him up.
"Dobby you're a genius. If you weren't already working for Hogwarts I'd hire you in a second," Harry gasped out.
The odd little elf got a gleam in his eyes, and then replied, "Dobby would be happy to be working for the Great Harry Potter. Dobby almost hates to ask this, but would you hire Dobby's friend Winky as well. Winky not be taking not having a family to care for well. She be needing the bonding very much right now."
Sharing a look with Harry, Hermione replied in his stead, "Dobby, Harry is living with his Godfather Sirius, and they do have Kreacher already, two elves are enough for them. But I am betrothed to Harry and I could use a good elf as a ladies maid. The only issue I could see is that my parents are muggle. Would Winky be willing to work in a muggle home while I'm there until Harry and I get married?"
Dobby's eyes grew wider at Hermione's offer. Dobby knew that the Great Harry Potter's Miss Grangy didn't like the fact that elves had to be bonded either to a person or a place, so for her to offer this was amazing to the little elf.
"Dobby will be asking Winky, but Dobby be thinking Winky be saying yes. Winky be needing a family," Dobby said carefully.
Harry finally spoke up. "Well Dobby, since you have some gillyweed, how does this sound. Go bring us a couple of doses, and while you're on your way, bring Winky back here as well and Hermione can ask. If Winky says yes, we can all bond."
Dobby started nodding so fast Harry though his ears might flap off.
With a quick 'pop' Dobby disappeared. Once again alone the two teens started to kiss, thinking Dobby might be awhile getting the gillyweed and finding Winky. Almost as soon as their snog started to get interesting, their was a double 'pop' and Dobby reappeared with a small jar holding five doses of gillyweed and Winky.
Climbing out of the pool sized bath, both Harry and Hermione knelt by the two elves so that they were at eye level.
Sharing another glance, Hermione spoke, "Winky I am looking for a ladies maid, and in a few years after Harry and I get married I'll also need a nanny. Your friend Dobby said that you would be a great maid and nanny. I only have one real concern. For parts of the year when I'm not at school here, or when I'm not with Harry, I'll be living with my parents, both of whom are muggles. Will you be able to work at their house, or will you have to stay with Harry during those times? As they are my parents, they're allowed to know about magic and magical beings."
Winky appeared to think about this for a while, "Winky is allowed to work around muggles that can know about magic. But Mistress will be needing to let her parents know about Winky," The little elf finally replied.
Hermione thought quickly, she really hated the idea of owning another being even if that being needed to be owned. Having an idea, Hermione said, "I'll be happy to bond with you then Winky. Now Winky and Dobby, Harry and I would like you both to wear a uniform. Before either of you get worried, this isn't clothes, this would be a proper uniform to show the Potter crest, as well as so that my Mum or Dad don't panic or get the wrong ideas. We'd also both like you to have an allowance, this isn't pay this is so that if either of you sees something that you'd like to get for someone, you can do so properly."
Dobby and Winky shared a glance, they knew a snow job when they heard one, but if this would keep the Master and Mistress happy then they'd accept it. Besides they could use the money to help acquire nice things for the Master and Mistress. The two elves nodded to each other and replied in stereo, "Yes Mistress Grangy."
After bonding with the elves, the two teens decided to test out the gillyweed to see how quickly it took effect, and how long it lasted. Quickly chewing the rubbery substance, the two felt pain in their necks and sides as the gills started to form. Sinking beneath the water the two teens found that their hands and feet had grown webbing, and they could see perfectly beneath the water.
Seeing Hermione in her beautiful bikini Harry felt an overwhelming urge to kiss his betrothed. The two teens quickly found that as they had no need to actually break off to breathe as their gills took care of that for them, allowed for a snog of truly epic duration.
All too shortly the effects of the gillyweed started to wear off so the two teens made their way to the surface. Looking at the jar again, Harry noticed that there were three more doses of the gillyweed. This would allow them another hour snog at a later time as well as leaving a dose for the Challenge.
Drying themselves off the two teens changed back into their regular clothes and returned to Gryffindor Tower and to bed.
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A/N In response to some of the questions about Chapter 20, I borrowed the effect of the charm Sirius taught Harry from the full version of Seel'vor's A Harmonious Way of Life, though the charm wasn't named there, nor was an incantation given. I came up with the incantation myself using an English to Latin translator. As to calling it a Willy Wonka charm, well I figured that might give people an idea of what it did. Look up Ron White and Willy Wonka, that part of his show was priceless. Thanks to everyone that leaves a review and thanks to everyone that's favorited or alerted either me or the story. You guys make it all worth while. The Merperson song is taken directly from GOF