Disclaimer: I don not own Harry Potter, I just write for fun!

Chapter 25:

It was the day before the yule ball; Hermione had long since recovered from the attack and was currently curled up in a little ball on the middle cushion of the couch in the common room asleep.
Harry was sat by her reading through the latest book in the series Hermione had introduced him to. He had to smile at a muggles interpretation of a lizard like being that lived to serve.
He thought that if they were real the House Elves and they would have immediately gotten along.

Ginny was sat the other side with Neville sat on the arm of the couch. Neville was busy trying to get Ginny to tell her about her dress for the ball.
Harry looked over and had to smile at the pair – he was truly happy that Ginny had gotten over her childhood crush on him and found true happiness with Neville.

He looked over to the chair where their visitors from Ravenclaw were sat. Draco settled into the chair holding one side of a thick runes tome, Luna on his lap holding the other side – both having an animated whispered debate it seemed.

Harry looked to the click and was surprised with how early it was – they had all got up at a ridiculous hour to catch the coaches to Hogsmead so the boys could get their dress robes. The girls were coming with them to make sure they didn't clash. Draco and Luna had been so impatient to meet up at first that they'd asked the portrait to see if any of their friends were in the common room and if so let them know they were there.

Harry looked down to the curled up catgirl and had to smile, she looked so peaceful lay there.
He once more thanked whatever fates had gifted him with getting to know Hermione.
Every time he saw her he fell a little more for her. She brought meaning to his days.

The clock above the mantle started to chime eight o'clock making everyone except for the unconscious feline start.
Harry flicked his wand banishing his book back to his trunk as Draco slid that impossibly large book into his pocket.

"Draco?" Neville asked looking in shock towards the pocket.
"Oh yeah, this one." Draco said quietly poking Luna in the side making her giggle. "Figured out how to make an expansion and feather-light charm work on clothes. Mixed in is a variation of a summoning charm. I just have to think about what I want in my pocket and that's all I pull out."
Neville looked to Luna obviously impressed.

"You should write that down and submit it to the Charms Chapters magazine. You might get an honourary mastery out of it. That's really impressive." Luna blushed and looked down mumbling something.

As she finished Draco's face took on a dangerous cast.
"Luna, I've told you before you are not 'Nothing Special' you are a beautiful girl who has had a life nobody deserves. I will keep telling you this until you believe it, those who keep whispering that about you can go and – what's that muggle saying – fly a kite." He finished wrapping his arm about her and pulling her in for a hug.

Luna looked up to see Neville and Ginny nodding in agreement while Harry had carefully got up and was gently stroking Hermione's shoulder.
"Hermione love, it's time to get up. They'll be serving breakfast soon." Harry had to smile at Hermione as she yawned. The way she scrunched her small muzzle was too cute he thought.

As she finished and looked bleary about the room she smiled when she saw who was there.
"Oka - *yawn* okay I'm awake" She said uncurling and stretching with a small mew as Harry stood up and held his hands out.
Hermione took them with a smile as he helped her to stand before they all made their way to the portrait hole.

Once out in the corridor Harry wrapped his arm about Hermione's waist, smiling as he felt her tail wrap about his along with her arm. He once again sent a silent thank you to Winky who had spent one of her free afternoon's with Hermione, helping the catgirl to adjust all her trousers and jeans so they had a hole to allow her tail to comfortably fit through.

He looked across to her once more and had to smile at the blouse she was wearing.
On the collar fold overs were two 'Hello Kitty' pin badges. Ever since the group had accepted her without question she had started taking pride in her feline side.

His eyes travelled down to see the curve of her breast pressing against the fabric of her blouse, giving away the fact she had gone without a bra that day. Keeping up his surreptitious checking out he carried on looking down to where her tight jeans hugged her figure perfectly.

He brought his gaze back to her head where she had brushed her hair to fine ringlets cascading about her face, with only the barest tips of her ears poking out the top.
He decided he needed to watch where he was walking again before he lost control of himself and pulled her into one of the broom closets and kissed her until she forgot her own name.

As he did he was surprised to see they were already approaching the great hall.
'Damn! How long was I checking her out?' He thought as they entered and took their seats opposite Cedric and Fleur just as Cedric was leaning over to place a light kiss on Fleur's cheek.

"Not you too" Draco groaned as he sat next to Harry as Luna joined him.
"It's bad enough when these pair," He poked his thumb towards Harry and Hermione. "Get all lovey dovey" Cedric chuckled at the outburst before he answered.
"Sorry Draco, sometimes when you're with a beautiful woman you just have to kiss them." Fleur didn't say anything just smiled as she laid her head on Cedric's shoulder.

Harry saw Draco get a thoughtful look on his face before he turned towards Luna who was currently biting down on a piece of toast.
Before anyone realised what he was planning Draco quickly kissed Luna on the cheek and then turned to Cedric and spoke.
"What like that?"

-o.O.O.o-

Luna had frozen in place still holding the toast to her mouth that she was half way biting through, her eyes going wide. Sure Draco had done some flirting and heavily hinted that he was falling for her, but this was the first definite sign he'd given that he meant it.

Luna carefully put the toast down, turned to look towards Draco who after he had said his question to Cedric had looked back to Luna, obvious worry on his face.
Luna had to be sure though, she'd been hurt too many times since she'd come to Hogwarts to get her hopes up too high.

"Draco, why did you kiss me? Was it just to make a point?" She asked quietly.
She saw Draco swallow down a gulp before he spoke.
"No, Luna I kissed you because, well I really like you. I was hoping that maybe, if someone hasn't already asked you. Would you go to the ball with me, as my date, possibly leading to more?"

Luna didn't think she could smile as much as she was smiling right now as she wrapped her arms about Draco squeaking out "yesyesyes."
She had wanted him to ask her ever since the ball had been announced, hoping that it would lead to them maybe getting together.

Ever since that day he'd used her imaginary animals against her and admitted how much he'd come to care about her, she'd started to think about the possibility of them being together and had liked where those thoughts had gone.

She let go of Draco and turned back to her breakfast with a beaming smile.
Looking up when she heard a sniff she saw Fleur was busy wiping her eyes before the part vela spoke.
"Zat 'as got to be one of ze most romantic zing's I 'ave seen." Luna just managed to contain her joy to smiles as she edged closer to Draco. She was overjoyed when she felt him wrap an arm about her shoulder.

-o.O.O.o-

"Damn Drakee . . ."
"Way to set . . ."
"The bar for . . ."
"Us mere mortals."
The twins said from behind them. Harry just laughed as Hermione rolled her eyes before they all carried on chatting until everyone had come to breakfast and was now ready for Hogsmead.

Harry was the first to stand as he extended his arm to Hermione.
"Would my Lady allow me to escort her this day?" he said with a grin, making the inside of Hermione's ears turn a bright pink.
"Behave." She whispered as she got up and took his arm. Harry just laughed as he and Hermione led the way out of the hall to the carriages.

Once they were there they noticed you could 'only' fit four to a carriage. He looked over to Cedric with a devious grin, Cedric quickly picking up on what Harry was about to do smiled.
The surprised shrieks of two witches echoed across the area as Harry quickly picked Hermione up bridal style and Cedric did the same to Fleur.

Before the girls could even think to complain, Harry and Cedric had climbed in the coach and sat their girls on their laps.
Harry looked out the door to see Viktor sneaking up behind Katie as Neville did the same to Ginny.
Moments later there were two more squeals as they were swept off their feet and into the carriage.

Now with eight in the carriage the door closed as it made its way towards Hogsmead.
"Harry James Pot-mmf!" Harry stopped Hermione's budding lecture by pulling her lips to his.
Moments later he felt her tongue trace the seam of his lips which he parted to allow her tongue to slip in.

As their tongues duelled he tightened his grip on her as she adjusted how she was sat on his lap slightly, before wrapping her arms about his neck, as he moved his to support her back.
They lost themselves to the passion of each other's lips, not noticing the other occupants of the carriage doing the same.

The only sounds were gentle moans and the parting of lips when breath became necessary.
It was a slightly dishevelled group that left the carriage when it arrived in Hogsmead.
"Wow, If you kiss like zat monsieur Cedric, I can't wait to zee what else 'ou can do" Fleur said slightly breathless causing the Hufflepuff chaser to blush bright red in embarrassment to everyone else's chuckling.

Harry and Hermione were the last to head into Gladrags as Hermione held him back a little.
"Harry I'm so looking forwards to your 16th birthday this summer." She said in an almost growl before turning and sauntering into the shop ahead of him, hips swaying seductively.
Harry groaned as he followed silently begging for the strength to resist her temptress ways until then.

What followed was a practical lesson for the boys in the group as to why you should never let a group of girls loose in a clothes shop and tell them price is no limit. As soon as those words were out the boys wondered what they'd let themselves in for as the girls all decided that the dresses they had for the ball were their make do choices.

Harry edged over to Viktor and whispered. "Do you think they'd notice if we disappeared for an hour?"
Viktor turned to open his mouth when Hermione's voice from across the room spoke out.
"Harry James Potter! You are not going anywhere until we're sure my new dress and your dress robes don't clash!"

"Damn feline hearing." Harry mumbled as Viktor chuckled at Harry's discomfort, that was until Katie arrived with a pile of men's dress robes.
"Vik, I need you to try these on, I need to know which ones are best." The look Viktor shot towards Harry when he started laughing could have withered a stone rose.

Cedric and Neville never just let everyone else get on with it as they chatted.
"You know, I think I'm jealous of Draco now. With having Luna owl ordered hers and his outfits, he didn't need to deal with this" Harry heard Neville say to Cedric who was busy nodding his head and simply saying "Yes Dear" to everything Fleur wanted.

Cedric grimaced as Neville finished. "What's worse is that was Draco's idea. He put the catalogues in front of Luna and told her just to bring the bill to him! And that was as everyone else was getting in the carriages. Had I waited up instead of wanting to make Fleur jump, I'd have done the same." He finished with a sigh as Fleur rejected another dress.

Three hours later a quartet of very happy girls left the shop by a quartet of frazzled boys, somehow they'd managed to decide on the boy's dress robes while still hiding which dresses they were getting.
"Okay, I don't know about you lot!" Harry said loud enough to be heard by everyone in the group. "But I'm hungry. Three Broomsticks, my treat!" With that, and without waiting for anyone to argue he started heading there straight away.

Once inside he looked around until he spotted a suitably large free table and sat down with a groan.
Hermione slid in to the seat next to him and placed a gentle kiss to his cheek before she held up the menu between them.
"Thank you for being so patient Harry." Harry grunted before he answered her. "Next time I'm just giving you the money and running for a cabin in the hills."

Hearing what he'd said Neville laughed, ignoring the glare he got from Ginny.
"Harry mate, make sure you got a spare room for me – oomf" He finished as Ginny not so gently elbowed him.

"Oh Sooo sorry Neville, my arm MUST have slipped" Ginny said her face the picture of innocence as her words dripped insincerity. The rest of the table just laughed at Neville's plaintive expression before Madam Rosemerta came and took their orders.

After she'd gone Harry felt Hermione pressing against him slightly more than normal, carefully wrapping his arm about her he pulled her closer and moved his lips close to her ear so he could whisper his question without embarrassing her.
"Love you're getting a little frisky again. You going into heat?" Hermione's small nod was all the confirmation he needed.

He carefully moved his arm from about her shoulders down to her waist, keeping the attention on him as he steered the conversation towards quidditch, he un-tucked her blouse slightly and slipped his hand under against the fine fur on her waist, letting his fingers gently stroke her, trying to help her fulfil the need for affection.

As he did so he felt a small amount of the tension leave her body and sighed in relief. He knew Hermione loved it when they were affectionate, but he was wearing one of the tighter pairs of jeans he'd got since coming under Sirius's guardianship, and didn't need the discomfort of becoming too aroused right now.

He hadn't however counted on just how observant Ginny was until he caught her glance towards where his hand was. Thankfully she didn't say anything, just raised an eyebrow.
Harry gave a tiny shake of his head but knew she would want explanations later.

It was to his great relief that their food was brought over, Hermione's little meow when she saw the fresh poached haddock caused the rest of the group to chuckle as she tried to hide her face in Harry's shoulder in embarrassment.

"Hey cat, its okay. We all know you'll react like that sometimes, it really doesn't bother us." Ginny said quietly as she reached over the table to take one of Hermione's hands in her own, running her thumb gently over the fur.

"Oui, I am half bird and I zink 'ou are purrrfect." Fleur said with a small smile. Harry felt Hermione's chuckle at Fleur's little joke before she turned back to face the group properly.
"Thanks" Was all she said, but the emotion she put in that one word told them all just how much she meant it.

The rest of the meal passed quietly as they all chatted about the coming task in February.
Much to Hermione's relief Harry was not going to deny everyone's help in this.
It was during their in-depth discussion about the kelp beds and what dangers they may face there and how to deal with them that other members of the group started to trickle into the pub. Joining the discussion when they had something relevant to say.

No-one noticed the reporters on the outskirts taking notes until one reporter had had enough and stood up saying out loud.
"Am I hearing this right? Our esteemed ministry are putting four hostages at the bottom of a freezing lake! To be guarded by Merpeople, with one of those hostages a VEELA?" Fleur had tear's running down her cheeks as she turned to face the reporter. Too upset to speak properly she just nodded.

Harry stood up and spoke for her.
"It's true, they're going to put her 8 year old sister down there."
By now the whole pub had gone quiet, then from somewhere in the crowd a voice spoke up.
"I dunno 'bout you! But I want Auror's down there watchin' the hostages! I want them safe! Stick that in your article!" the reporter nodded before disapparating.

The other reporters all looked to Harry before he pointed to one of them.
"Henry West, Magical USA Today. Have any of you been asked permission for hostages to be used?"
All four of the champion's shook their heads in the negative.
Just then a short portly man with slick back hair and a sneer on his face spoke up.

"Is it true you would really risk your life for a half breed beast?" Harry's body tensed up as he, along with the other champion's and Neville turned to face the man, Ginny moving round the table to hold Hermione. The look of rage and magic flowing off the wizards and witches in the group made everyone clear a path from between the man and the group.

"You sir have just insulted The Lady Hermione Black, Protected of The Houses Longbottom and Potter. Who are you?" The man still held a sneer on his face as he spoke.
"I am the Editor in Chief of the Daily Prophet. Why?"

Harry looked to Neville and waited. At Neville's nod Harry turned back to the man.
"You're fired. The Potter's, Black's and Longbottom's together hold 90% ownership of that rag."
"Ha, you can't do that! You haven't got Lord Black with you to agree to that!"
Throughout the crowd people were all shaking their head at the stupidity of this man as Hermione stood up and moved to stand next to Harry.

"Sir do you know who I am?" She called to him.
"Yeah, You're Hermione Granger, Half-Breed Mudblood." Hermione tried not to flinch at the words, and took strength from the fact Harry was stood there with her before she spoke up.

"Wrong. I am Lady Hermione Jane Black, Adopted Daughter of Lord Sirius Orion Black, the man I call FATHER!"

Unseen by anyone Ginny had called one of Harry's free-bonded elves and passed him a note to take to Sirius while this was going on before she stood to join the group next to Neville, drawing her wand to match her boyfriend's ready-stance. The editor obviously didn't see the danger he was in as he continued.

"Feh, you lie, I'm a Pureblood and know no Pureblood wizard would sully their family with the likes of you! For your lies I demand the Aurors be called"
"Lucky for you I'm a Senior Auror then!" Sirius's voice sounded from the doorway as he strode to stand between the tournament group and the Prophets editor.

"Lord Black, how nice to see you. I'm the Editor in Chief of the Daily Prophet" The man turned to Sneer towards Hermione. "That beast claims you adopted her!"
*SMACK* Sirius's back hand across the man's face echoed through the room.
"You sir have just insulted a Daughter of the Ancient and Noble House of Black. For your actions I call you to Duel. Immediately!" The editor's face paled at these words, the truth sinking in finally that he had just offended one of the oldest pureblood houses in England.

Sirius turned away from him and Harry watched as he stepped up to Hermione.
"You okay?" Hermione nodded with a small smile. "Yes dad." Before she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug.
"DIFFINDO!" The curse came flying straight towards the back of Sirius's neck and would have killed him had Harry not blocked it with a conjured slab of marble.

Sirius straightened and turned around to the now shaking man.
"Okay, sod the duel I'm just going to arrest your worthless hide – oh and if my godson and Mr. Longbottom agree. You're Fired!" The editor collapsed to the floor shaking his head.
"no – you can't! I've served the prophet faithfully for years!" Sirius snorted as he advanced on the man disarming him.

"So you didn't call to have a major shareholder receive the Dementors kiss on sight. You didn't agree to publish articles published by Skeeter that would have had my daughter executed? You didn't do all you could to have her arrested just?" Sirius snorted as he put Magic suppressing cuffs on the man.

"you're under arrest for Attacking a Daughter of the House of Black, Attacking a protected person of the Houses Longbottom and Potter, and also Attempted Murder" with those last words her pulled out a portkey and kept hold of the former editor.

He turned to face Harry before he spoke.
"See you kiddies in two days on the platform." And disappeared with the man he'd arrested.
Harry collapsed back into his seat, Hermione joining him, curling up on his lap.
He could feel her trembling with tension.

Letting out an explosive sigh he looked towards the other reporters in the room.
"Guy's please make sure that gets reported accurately." The reporters all nodded before they started disapperating, just leaving the students in the pub.

Rosemerta came over with a tray full of drinks, setting them on the table before she spoke.
"On the house, and you pay no attention to what that idiot said my dear." She said to Hermione, who was still trembling slightly as what had happened fully hit her.

Harry just held her close, not saying anything, just holding her.
A couple of hours later he noticed shed finally stopped trembling and looked down to find she had fallen asleep against him. She looked so peaceful that he had to smile. He carefully bent his head down to place a light kiss on her head before he looked to the others and nodded for the door.

Carefully standing up he made sure not to disturb Hermione as he picked her up, carrying her to the carriage that would take her back to the castle. Viktor held the door open for him as the others waited for him to settle down before quietly joining him, using the same seating arrangements as before.

Once the carriage stopped outside the castle Harry was very careful not to startle Hermione awake when he carried her from the carriage. Deciding he would wake her once they were back in the common room where it was warm.

Viktor joined them agreeing to help Neville get a transfiguration spell down that he'd been struggling with, in turn Neville was going to help him with his Herbology essay on Venomous Tentacular. No one had been surprised when Viktor switched schools to Hogwarts when the hat had placed him in Gryffindor.

Once they were all settled in the room, Harry on his and Hermione's favourite chair he started to gently shake her awake. She blinked a couple of times looking up at him through those beautiful brown eyes of hers before she leaned up and gave him a chaste kiss to the lips before snuggling against him as he accioed the book he was reading that morning.

They spent the rest of the afternoon sharing the book ignoring the comings and goings of the common room, just enjoying being in each other's presence.

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