Harry Potter and the Pattern of Fate Redue by Sadsack's newAccnt

by SadSackII

Book 1 The Serpent's Truth: Truth about one founder is not what is taught. Did he see more and be more than taught? Harry and Co. are about to find out that the universe and magic is not what they've learned. Will they survive? Can they grow and return in time to save the school, world, and all they love? pro OOC Ginny(non-fanon or canon) Harry/Multi read AN for more warnings.

36. Chapter 36

Disclaimer: I am not J K Rowling or Robert Jordan and their worlds of Harry Potter and the Wheel of Time. These two created the fun little worlds I have decided to play in with no thought of profit to myself. So I promise that if I did own these I wouldn't have had Hermione with Ron, though I would have been happy to see her be married to Rand al'Thor if ever the two worlds should meet.

Chapter Thirty Five: Feeding the Fire

Sunlight filtering into the wagon through its small windows wakes Ginny as she lay cuddled into her friend's soft muscular body. Last night had been intense with the rains washing over the forest and forcing the band of Tinkers to weather the storm locked down tight in the wagon's. For Gin this meant her and Moreni having a long overdue talk. What was decided was a surprise for her in that her friend requested that they try a relationship on a trial basis, but not to where they would be betraying Gin's Circle, just as log as Moreni is given a chance to join. And if the others are discovered to be dead or remain away for over a year the Tinker girl and her will become a full and official couple.

Plus it was a chance to get her friend to accept that becoming an Aes Sedai is the only option in life for the free spirited girl and that the same held true for little Grinna, Moreni's baby sister. The idea of being Aes Sedai is frightening in the 3rd Age as many blame the witches for the Breaking and the rest of the nonsense that the Taint driven madness of the men has wrought on the world. Plus for Tinker's it means possibly going against the Way of the Leaf, which says any violence is an unforgivable sin.

Rubbing her semi nude friend's shoulder where the girl had her held tight from behind as if she were a giant plushy, Gin wanted to get up and be about the day. She has to make her morning calls, take her bath, and well just do something. The Traveling People were a beautiful lot but it was dreadfully boring to live as one as they are never in any hurry whatsoever.

Moreni awakes with a cute snort then yawns. "Mornin' Love. Care for a kiss?"

The boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable were being explored by them. Especially after the first time Gin-Gin saw Moreni dance. It was a clear night with a stunning full moon over head. One in which she were feeling rather low from everything in her life seeming to conspire against her getting a move on and finding her loves and the rest of her family. Though the start of the day had been brilliant, the night was shrouding her heart in sorrows.

Flickering orange campfire light was illuminating the haphazard ring of luridly colourful wagons and the equally brightly dressed people gathered. Ange and Ali were getting food for Fred since he is stuck in the wagon the Traveling People put him in. His healing fully was going to take much longer than Gin's as his injuries were not mostly centered around a strange ter'angriel. Her brother was lucky to be alive was how the two other witches told her about the camp's Healer's diagnoses.

Sitting drinking a cup of strong wine, Ginny was worried for her possibly last remaining sibling's life. Plus she was uncomfortable with how she is still on fire with an attraction to Moreni. The dusky girl was so alluring it was mind boggling.

Clapping in a slow beat as if summoning someone is beginning as the boy Talven slips into a seat beside her. His rakish smile was distracting but he were not in any way attractive to her, though she hopes he won't make her say it out loud. Thankfully Grinna sneaks into the space between them and saves her from making a scene. The boy was a good sort but his gender outside of Harry does nothing for her now.

Why look at other boys when she has the best man alive for her. Girls on the other hand were very hard to not let her libido study in detail. Too bad it makes dealing with her attraction to Moreni all that harder.

Out of the shadows of the dark sides of the wagon's prances in most of the more agile women of the camp. It was startling as they sashay in with mirroring challenging looks for the gathering. Even Gin's two sister in-laws were stopped cold to watch in an entranced awe as the beat suddenly shifts to a heartbeat pace and the dancers begin a very alluring show of power and feminine allure.

It was incredible, but no one exists for her save Moreni whom is moving inexorably to her and her alone. The way the girl moves and is trapping her gaze with a shared one of promised mutual desire has her enraptured. This was almost holy and sacred as it were just them celebrating a shared need for one another. Her heartbeat was in synch this primal beat and evocative music accompanying her seducer's dance.

When the dance ended she was unsure of as she finds herself out in the deep woods in a glade lit only in the silver moonlight. Holding her hand is her seductive new friend as they are still entwined together by a mutual hungry gaze for one another.

"I'm-" she tries to start but is stopped by Moreni's hand on her mouth.

"I know you belong to others, but not tonight." her friend whispers in a aching voice before kissing her in the silver glory of the moon beaming down on them alone.

Resisting for a few seconds, she starts to melt as Moreni is a marvelous girl. Finally saited some they part and she begs. "I love five perfect souls. I don't want to betray them, but you make it so hard to resist."

Dazed from the kiss Moreni giggles softly, "That was my first true lovers kiss... Ginevra, I want to be your girl. I felt that the first time I saw you dancing the flames. You terrify me and yet I must have you. I'm expected to marry to keep my wagon in the People, but I can't they are pretty in a way, but not amazing to me. Please Ginevra, consider what I'm about to ask you. Will you marry me? I will marry you and the others if you wish it. We of my People are open to what is called Sister-Wives. Mostly it is an agreement to share our lives with another woman and maybe find a man to father a child on one of us. There are so few of us that are not related that we have to find mates outside of our caravans. However it takes two to raise children properly. Most girls of our ages are quick with capturing the eye of a wandering man, but I- I don't fit that."

"Your gay. Its alright. So am I for the most part. I am taken though." she aches to say yes though. Besides her love of Harry and Circle she is also afraid to be alone and unloved. If her lovers are dead... "Yes Moreni, but only later. I have to know if my witches are alive too. Plus my Harry may be out there and I both love and belong to him."

"I could be yours and theirs in order to be yours." Moreni begs with longing hope.

"We all share him and each other. I wont be yours alone. I can't do that to them." she apologizes to her paramour. "I wont do that to you either."

Moreni kisses her again to soften her up, "What if I could be able to join that? Would you let me then? I will wait as long as it takes, but if we can live like that, I'll do it."

Yielding to that she nods with a moan as Moreni kisses her again. Slower than she could pay attention to, her possible new Circlemate is unlacing their dresses. Their kisses grow more passionate as soon she is enfolded in a beautiful dusky angel clad only in silvery magical seeming light. Her own hunger has her slipping free of her own clothing till they are both are worshipers of womanhood locked into a love taboo to most alive, and she knew they didn't care.

Moreni guides her hand downwards to the darker girl's with's secret. The touch was exquisite but not right. Snapping back to reality, Gin knows if she stays she will let go and betray her loves' trust. In tears she flees into the dark woods away from her secret lover in burning shame.

It took days for her to speak even a word to anyone again, especially to her patient new lover. The girl's care and silent watch for her along with sharing a wagon alone together has her forgive herself. Now they live by the specter that they may be only together till the next day or hour. They also have reached a quiet agreement that if the others in Gin's life don't return they will marry within the year. Thinking of it has her roll over to wrap herself around her friend to share a long satisfying kiss.

"We really need to be getting up." she dithers to play with her Moreni's curly hair. "We're supposed to be learning the dance more together. Or I'll be learning while you teach me."

Purring under the intimate touch her girl sighs, "That is the deal isn't it. You promised to teach me how to dance the flames and I'll teach you how to move sexy like we tuath'an do."

"Sexy, yes. So very sexy." she purrs and gets up. "Plus I'll be Speaking the Flames today for a while. Light I am so very lazy as of late."

"Not lazy, relaxed. Our ways suit you well." Moreni tries to hide the fear of what may be heard in the flames. Seeing that Gin-Gin kisses her on the nose playfully.

Her lover laughs and tickles her. Soon they are out of breath and tangled in each other with longing eyes for what they offer each other. But they were bound to a different set of rules than other couples.

Dressing each other with care and attention to details, they step out into the light. Letting her girl help her down the steps she feels pretty and delicate as if her other loves were there with them. In the glory of the day she smiles and breaths deep of the forest's crisp clean air.

Steering her way to the main campfire she sits down as Moreni gets them plates of the morning meal cooked by others. Two days from now they will be preparing the meals for their week at the stoves as life in the People was on a rotation. This allows them to practice other trades while some get to just relax. It is a peaceful life, and maybe if her and Moreni were not witches in need of training and protection of their kind, she may have loved settling down to this. Just her and the loves of her life in a free life where no one was out to kill or eat them.

Talven chipper as ever swaggers over to plop his young backside down beside her, his dark features are alive with humour and naked interest in her. She initially just nods at him then sets to Speaking her loves through the large warm fire.

No one replies save a yelp or two from some good wives, and a man screaming in horror about witches bedeviling the Children's own cook fires.

Feeling sorry for the women but balancing it is the pure humour of Whitecloaks afraid of their own fires has her sigh in not complete defeat.

Moreni is handing her a plate laden down with wild mushrooms sauteed in fresh butter alongside a pile of sugar glazed wild berries. It smells heavenly.

"Good day Ginny?" Talven questions her with interest. The Tinkers were accepting of her weird morning rituals by now, but the boy was always acting like it were a shame she didn't just give up, "Why are you still so glum? We are in the midst of a long run of amazing smashingly bright clear days. The woods are screaming out in hopes of us taking what the days offer with both hands and live free. You've mourned enough for now, I think you should see that your departed are not wishing you live in pain and sorrow."

She gave him a dark look at that. It does nothing as he keeps on with a wide wave of his arms towards the woods, "Why don't you join me on a walk of the forest? I think I can show you how much there is to live for. Tonight is supposed to be another night of dance and song, let me teach you to dance and laugh again."

Grinna sits on her other side, between her and Moreni, "Oh do go on brother. I'm sure if you keep at this she may one day smile at you. Ginny he fancies you is what he is trying to say."

"Grinna!" the boy yowls through a full face blush that rouges his dark features.

"Well its true." the girl smirks in victory.

Moreni decides to save her from more of this, "She's spoken for Talven. You know this."

"The dead don't count when they keep the beautiful living from living." he counters and turns to her with open longing, "Come dance with me and I will lift you out of this dolorous humour."

Listening to the boy she thought how nice it must be to be to live in utter obliviousness to the surrounding truths of others lives. To actually think like a child again would be nice. Only her first year at school spent as the sex slave of Tom Riddle had banished any naive innocence from her a long time ago. Then to have it proven again every year following has her sure that evil would love to devour the boy whole. She adores these people but much of their way of life is impossible in the harsh light of reality.

"Told you Tal!" Grinna declares with a cheer.

Ignoring Grinna, he goes on to touch her knee, "Please let me help you to live Ginny."

Moreni frowns and about speaks when Ginny picks up his hand firmly, "I am spoken for. Please accept that. You may wish to win me but others have firm claim on me." She meets his oldest sister's eyes to say silently that the boy means nothing to her.

Grinna laughs, "She must have a devastating beau Tal. You really must let her go. Ginevra he adores you too much to lat it lay where it is."

Talven's blush was now spreading to even his visible hands peeking out of his canary yellow voluminous silk shirt. His eyes were hungry though for her, as if she were the sole woman he's ever seen. Or is it that he thinks he's entitled to her? She is afraid to ask.

Seeing her discomfort Moreni comes to her aid again, "Never mind them Ginevra, they insist on teasing each other relentlessly. Why don't you eat and come with me to learn more of the dance like we decided. I so very much wish to dance like you do. What a sight we will make together. Your man wont ever wish to let go ever again."

Grateful and a bit warm at the thought of it, her and all her girls melting Harry's mind with their dancing was rather steamy. Especially how Moreni made it clear they would be sharing the love making as well. Harry and her circle just could not be gone. Nodding with a savored bite of strawberry and sugar glaze in defense from saying something cross with Talven, she is slammed into by Grinna.

"We get to learn together!" the girl cheers, "Carlain says I'm old enough now."

Barely hanging onto her plate of food, she swallows out, "What about Ange and Ali then, I bet they'll love to learn it too? They can also help teach both of you the way to dance like me."

"Of course. Every proper woman should know how to keep her men from straying." old Carlain, the Healer of the encampment and Grana of the two girls speaks up from behind her. "I've never had to go for wont of a husband these past eighty-two years since my braids were let out because of it. The better I got in the skillful use of it has only made them that more pliable. Oh stop that Talven! You look a mule like that. If you do maybe one day Ginevra will deign to dance it for you. Or at least you can hope it." the woman gave Moreni and her a weighty study with that. "So do be a good boy and help the men fix ol' Grevel's axle."

Brightening with a blush for Ginny he makes his apologies to pop up and run join the men. Idly she compares the boy with her Harry. The contrasts were frighteningly clear. She knew what made Harjit special compared to other boys. Where most hated to be confronted by a girl when wrong or challenged at all, they would either erupt in fury or flat out run away. Her Harry though was a stubborn stone unwilling to let it best him and instead found a way to adapt or weather the storms. If it were from the Circle he would let them move him, but was ever ready to be their safe anchor against the storms. All he did this even if it cost him his very life.

Carlain pats her shoulder with a sigh, "Don't judge all men against one. It is unfair to them. I've had five husbands and each was unique and I loved them all for it. But in this case I see a fire in you that would scorch young Talven to ashes. He sees life as his to have, not as a real man with seasoning to him to where he understands he has duties to others as well."

Thoughts of Harry come unbidden to her at this. All the versions of him she's seen via the ter'angriel. He was different but not drastically so, unlike Talven and him. The boy just wasn't interesting to her.

"I only have love for one man in this life." Gin-Gin confesses before she thinks it out, glad she refrains from mentioning her loves in the Circle and the woman's own granddaughter.

"I know. You have the look. We can hope things work out." the woman pats her shoulder but is also studying her and Moreni with a frown.

Grinna giggles ecstatically, "I bet he's devastatingly handsome like I said before. A prince of some sort most like."

"He is." Gin answers in a giggling admission, but lets Moreni take custody of her hand, "When we meet up again, I'll introduce you."

That receives a querying cock of the head from Grinna and a sad sigh from Carlain. Moreni glows as she rubs circles in their grip with her thumb.

Carlain's face grows thoughtful with a hint of sorrow, then claps her aged hands in finality, "The Pattern finds a way I think. Come on girls let us be about it today. Grinna go and tell the other ladies we will be coming soon. Moreni dear go find and get Ange and Ali to join us."

The two girls dash away at this, leaving Gin alone with the woman, "So you will be taking both my baby girls with you?"

"You know they have no choice. I can feel that you too can use the One Power." she states without an ounce of shame.

"Will you care for them?" Carlain asks with a sad sigh.

"I will. How long have you known they can?" she inquires of the Wilder Healer.

"Not long. I am not powerful, but I felt it a few months back on Moreni. It is why we are coming this way, to get her to Salidar but not let her know it. As for myself, lighting candles is my limit. Moreni's going to be a wonder. Is it that which draws you to her?" Carlain bluntly questions her. "She is young and impulsive. You frighten me because she may not hold your heart as long as she hopes."

"I've warned her. I will marry her if my loves are all gone, or if they welcome her in. If not I won't leave them for her if it comes to it. That is the best I have to offer to her or you and I warned her of this. I do fancy her and if not for my loves I would gladly be her witch, to be the woman to share my life with her till the Wheel calls us home." she puts it bluntly as there is little hiding things at this point. She does have to know though, "Does this mean you do not object to our being women lovers?"

"I find it disturbing as it is unnatural and as such may be sinful in the eyes of the Creator. Such unnatural things always bring evil curses upon those unwary of it." the old Healer grunts with equal honesty. "Yet it is her choice and path to take. All I can say or do is offer my love and hope she awakes and finds a fine beau to awaken passion in her as you have."

Accepting that in its honesty and its concern for the fire hearted girl, Ginny lets the ancient Carlain lead her to the hidden glade the dance training is to be held in. It stuns her to find out where it is though. A fiery blush burns up her cheeks as she is certain this is where her and Moreni almost went all the way.

Grinna notices her blush but misunderstands it and chirrups, "I know its exciting isn't it, but I'd die if someone saw me learning it."

"Some lessons are easier or clearer to different women. It is a mark of a good woman to not let life trip them up and get them to hide from finding the best paths they have for love." Carlain sagely cuts in with a weighing glance upon Gin-Gin.

Grinna's naive view of life has the girl laughing sheepishly, "Then I pray I'll be very good at it all then. Like Ginevra and Moreni seem to be."

Out of the woods, Moreni titters from beside Gin's sister in-laws, "And who would you do this dance for? You're young yet and the Caravan is nearly one and all related to you."

"She will find her path as you seem to have Mor. For the now lets dance before the storms return to trying to drown us again." Carlain sniffles as she gazes on Ginny's hand being claimed possessively by Moreni.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wind blowing off the surf as it tears up over the beach on a course to the ancient partly cobbled highway brings a shiver to the weary shoulders of the band of travelers braving these wilds in search of civilization. Walking to Illian was proving an adventure in and of itself for these worn thin sojourners. Another misadventure in a long running set of them that has now put a miserable burden on Hermione's heart. She knows mentally that there is nothing that she could have done earlier was likely to have significantly altered the mess they are in just now. That knowledge is paltry when her self recrimination takes charge of her thinking.

There have been so many mistakes she made in the past from riding the waves of others directions or ideas of what is good and safe. Not just the obvious of choosing to follow the blitzed out directions of Corilta Sedai in sailing the Sea of Storms. Or then there is the guidance of Dumbledore like in Third Year when he assured her that they Time Turner was a safe but weighty responsibility to undertake using to learn a few more classes than is sane or worth it. She about killed Harry and herself in that one, even if it aided her in getting Sirius rescued. She should have used it wiser, like helping Harry catch the miserable rat Scabbers instead of letting the old man confiscate it after merely doing his bidding. The man has to be flying on the good stuff to think that letting Pettigrew free was a worthwhile cost to Sirius having to remain on the run. Then there is Ron and Harry.

She could write a whole book on her mistakes with them, and that is the easy stuff. The harder is her love of Harry and why in all that the Light stands for did she never see to his welfare in the summers. Her mum and Papi would have been ready to tear down walls at discovering how the boy was used. That and how the old man had been keeping both him and her in a near constant game of chase the Dark Lord year in and year out. All while she was listening to the man's occasional mentions that Ron Weasley was a fine honorable wizard and that Harry was on a course for a life beyond what a girl like her can keep up with. The man had brainwashed her subtly that she was trash and Harry had no place for her type.

"Crickets he needs his beard yanked out by the roots." she spits against the win gusts.

Life would've been far different if she had been a true Lioness and accepted herself as worthy of her own life and loves. That she was better than just a cast off Muggleborn that only the likes of Ron could ever love or care for in their world. She was born for Harry not the dirty lazy Ron. That she has a right to love the boy she truly loves, that she can and should love the witches she adores nearly equally with her Harry. Burn the words of an old sod that keeps secrets even when there is good reason not to. Ron may be worth some girl's attention, but not her. If she had been a better person Harry and Gin-Gin would've been rescued from their torments. She may have felt herself worthy of being friends with Par and Lav instead of living hidden from them in the dorms. It was all her fault that they lived these horrific last few years. If only she had been brave they may have been all together before all this and had never let idiot Sisters lead them out to sea to die.

Safe bets kill she thinks and she has been living for to long in them.

"Harry don't be dead and return to us. Return to me." she mumbles miserably into the folds of her heaviest cloak's hood.

Keeping from freezing with the bitter gales stalking them all along the shore front, they had to turn inland. Unfortunately the sharp cutting winds followed them in with harrowing blasts of freeze drying cold dragged from the depths of the oceans. It was laughable how they were hounded from the summer beaches by unnatural arctic blasts that belong in the frozen north lands not the sultry south. Thus they had to doff the lighter dress of the south in favor of what a borderlander may consider solid winter gear.

Towns along the way have proven to be sparse or non existent along their routes so far. Thus they were having to slog it by foot as they have not found a single horse for them. Aes Sedai, Accepted, Novices, and Sea Captains are not given to long treks on foot she is now very certain of. Luckily Warder training has gave George less a hard run of it. That said she thinks there are blisters on her blisters and there is a stiffness in her knees that simply won't go away.

Another problem with this lack of civilization, they have yet to find solid dry shelter since leaving the beach front where there were a few caves high enough above the tide line for them to camp the nights in. Of course they could whip out their tents from their extended purses, but that risks the mad Sister with them snatching the lot as ter'angriel for the glory of the Tower's hidden stash. That may only be a problem if the mad woman snaps out of the Bond Loss long enough to realize how they got things out of the blue so to speak. The poor witch is beyond gone around the twist with sorrow.

George, rightfully fearing what the woman might well try to do to stabilize her loss, was out scouting the way as a good Warder should. Hermione also suspected he was also busy searching for any sign whatsoever of the others. Fearing that they were truly all that had made it, none wishes him to stop seeking for hope. Discovery of the others was a sore point for them all as guilt ate at them with every step away from the killer seas.

Pulling her cloak up tighter in an attempt to ward off more than the chill biting at her, Ione glances about at the others. Her eyes drift over her girlfriend Daphne, their was no way to not look on her and fail to smile. Her first sex partner was taking her breath away just by being near her. Giving in like they had was wrong in a way as they had promised to do that only if the rest were with them, but survival from the horror of the ship sinking under them had left them both a bit wild with need. Same with Luna whom they included soon into their play. Of course they've strove to not get so carried away as they had that first night. However they had went further and further every time they let go. As wrong as it was they couldn't stay long apart.

Sighing with love of her pureblood princess, Hermione tries and fails to not giggle at the feel of her heart fluttering from the memories. It really is a truism that sex is a bonding event, especially ones first times. Even more so when done with one that love is shared. This special connection has her wish for and want so much more of her lover's tender caresses and touches. How incredible would it have been to have done that all with the rest of their lovers? Just the mental images is enough to have her stumble a step from the needs it spawns in her core.

Turning to meet and share a look Daphne too blushes then frowns with a noticeable shiver. Ione's witch was obviously busy Listening to the Wind and should be left to it. They had to keep abreast of the weather to not be caught flat footed as they had been out on the Sea of Storms. So Hermione mouths "Later luv."

Nodding with a quick kiss face, Daph returns to the hard work of Saidar weather tracking. Seeing that Hermione is forced to think of her own Talents and gifts. Most were strange as can be in her opinion. One of her favorites she has been practicing with heavier of late is what some may not think of as related to the One Power. She has an innate ability to catalogue and remember every book, lessen, or weave she has ever seen or read. For books it is as if she remembers them page for page, including whatever is on the page like notes, stains, illuminations, or creases. The rest is like a moveable video that she can shift angles or speeds to study them fuller. However she must be asleep to access them fist, like a library she can check out for in the day, but only if she picks them out in her dreamscape library. However the more she works with the One Power and expanding her knowledge of it, she finds the process faster and easier to access. It also has been reaching back into her past, like her primers in school or her first Dr. Suess or other children's books. Plus the many secret stash periodicals her Papi had hidden in his closet's footlocker, of which she has to avoid scrounging up too often. Well if she wants to not pounce Harry the first time they meet back up...

If they ever did.

Shaking that off as she fights through the pain in her feet from this personal Trail of Tears, she returns her thoughts on her Talents to ignore her agonies, both physical and emotional. Which thinking of these discomforts leads her to her other heavily worked one. Taming it was not so much a pleasure but an act of self defense. It was at first a weird background to her thoughts, now she must keep focused on it to a moderate extent or she'll go crackers by it. Sensing the elemental, chemical, magical, mechanical, and metaphysical makeup of anything she touches with bare skin is incredible in theory but for a time it was so overpowering she couldn't even stand the brush of her own clothing. Now, with concerted concentration she is able to also extrapolate the purposes of what she touches if she focuses on the item specifically. Thankfully the more contact with what she touches the easier it is to push it aside. This included her lovers, though she never told them of the wild ride it was to share touches or hand holds. Blessedly it was muted when Harry held her the most of the lot, it was as if his buried deep purpose and powers were protecting her. Her Circle on the other hand have the feel of being her in other bodies, so it is easier to let go with her lovers now.

Another powerful one for her is harder to pin down. She only gets its fullest effect if she wrapped herself up in her quilted throw from Harry and enter a near empty meditative state of being. Once there her mind and soul can meld itself with a person she focuses on. If managed she can feel, see, and hear what they are experiencing. It works the best with those she has the strongest connections with though it is difficult to maintain at greater distances even then. She has thought of trying it with finding the rest of her loves, however it needs her throw and it is in the purses with the tents. They may put up a notice-me-not to get it out, but it then has to be done in a very safe and controlled environment. Marching headlong over the Illian countryside is hardly that. Thus she wishes it was not her gift as it hurts to think they have a tool to aid them but can not use it for fear of losing it or endangering themselves.

Surreptitiously watching her Daphne at work she longs to have been braver again. What would it have been like at Hogwarts to be openly friends with Slytherins? What would it have been like to have had her lovers all there and free to explore each other as Daph, Luna, and herself have been doing of late? To have not been alone and staring endlessly up into the stonework of the Infirmary? Thank the Creator that Harjit had taken to coming and holding her hand. She can feel it still the madness creeping in...

Shaking that off with a shiver and a vow to geld the old bastard for covering up that cock up year by a swish of wand and muttered memory charm, Hermione lets her eyes take in the others. Emmatilde is coming along as a Novice as the girl was handily blinking on and off with embracing drills. Only the slightest input or encouragements from the Accepted were needed now. Luna is the one in charge of the Novice today and is clearly the most beloved by the sweet Ghealdaner farm girl. How close the sweet silly squib witch is to attaining the Accepted's banded dress is up for debate. However Ione is a bit proud how the girl has lost some of the air headed approach to study and has instead poured a near single minded drive into the work to learn what is required. Where once the farm girl was unfocused and hardly willing to ever truly be a real witch their friend has the potential to be a competent channelor like Kaliandra Sedai was. Losing Else Grinwell and Seandra from stupidity in the first and bred in fear for the latter must have shifted the girl's world dramatically. Then there is the loss of the girl's hero Harry...

Again Hermione stumbles from thinking too hard and too long. She aches to cry. She aches to enfold herself in the arms of her lovers and forget life in total. Thank heavens that Luna must have sensed her turmoil and catches her sneakily by slipping under her arm. Meeting her tiny lover's wide blue eyes she sniffles in silent anguish. Luna's mere presence is a balm to her, kind of like how Harry had been in Second Year's petrification. Better in a way as they were openly lovers here, unlike how she was too afraid to let herself love Harry back then.

Stopping them in their slogging walk, Luna pulls her into a needful kiss. It stilled her inner anguished thoughts and self recriminations as it were just the two of them. She were a thing to love, not a foolish ignorant chit too stupid to be loved by anyone worth a Tinker's Dam.

"They were getting rather distracting to even me. Next time you are swarmed by them like this find me or Daphne for this very efficacious treatment. We may require more vigorous treatments later when we have greater lengths of time." her girlfriend says in heavily accented English. Two facts burst into Hermione's mind from her love's care and statement.

They have been so immersed in this life and Age they were becoming less and less people of the 7th Age, though they will never wholly be 3rd Age natives either. Then there is the wonderful joy they share as lovers in this Age. They knew each other and what is needed from themselves to care for the others. Well that and the memory of Luna's becoming her second sex partner and one of her first in a ménage à trois. The vivid memory has her kiss her witch with a giggle of pleasure. Yes becoming sexually active in full has altered her world view.

"Love to if we're not drowned again tonight." she rubs their noses together.

Giggling too, Luna stays in under her arm as they start walking with the others. "Goody. I need it I fear. Ione... we have to return home but I care not to do so. I'm afraid I will no longer be able to live that life I had there. I want to be a mother not what Daddy wished of me. I want you and our Circle mothers too, not the cast offs that we were in Hogwarts. Don't you think it will be fun to have our Harry's babies grow up free of... I can't be alone again."

"We'll never be that again if we can still fight for our family." she assures her lover.

They all have been shaken to the core by the sinking of the Fair Eyed Lad. It was a miserable ship but on it was all the family any of them had in this harsh Age. A harsh Age they are becoming to see as their home over that dream like other one. Did Slytherin feel that way from his multiple journeys here?

Enjoying having Luna pressed into her where it felt natural and easy to wrap an arm around the tiny girl's waist, she feels powerful and capable. One day she plans to rip the heart out of Elaida, but does feel that the woman helped awaken her to her truth. If only Luna did not have to suffer in the offing.

Watching the Captain hovering beside Corilta Sedai, she almost snickers at the imagination of the pair becoming lovers. The two were inseparable since the shipwreck stole away all those they both loved too. Only thing that kept her from mentioning the thought to her own loves and friends is that Captain Nerman is probably straighter than a nun on Sunday. Now would the roguish woman be as prim and reserved as the nun, the answer is a glaring no. It is no secret that the woman has an eye on Hermione's man but has too much respect for Daphne to really make a try at his bed.

But the two older women were rather close and needing of each other now that they were bereft of their loved ones. Even if she is discovering her lesbian side's glories, Hermione has to remind herself that many other women were gay. So she keeps forcing her libido down to keep a clear eyed view of what is love and friendship is what one wishes to make it. For these two ahead of her and her girlfriend, love of each other was more that of sisters by other mothers over star crossed lovers.

It is heart warming to see that the Sister shredded by Bond Loss is healing. The woman terrifies Hermione as it will be her own fate when her Harry is taken in truth. She refuses to allow herself to think him dead now though her logical side mocks such sentiments. Her lone defense against that is her Luna's ardent faith him, Gin, and Par are out there alive and looking for them. Unlike her, the Captain knew very well that the woman's treasured boyoes are all gone in the sinking of their ship. So even without Bond Loss, the seawoman needs the love of the mentally ruined Sister just as deeply.

Luna's rogue arm around her slides down to claim a hold of her bum, causing her to jump a bit as she's never been so freely groped before. If it would have been Ron, even when she hung her heart out for him, the hexes would have became legendary. Coming from one of her true soul mates it is exquisite to feel claimed openly. Maybe if she had let herself allow her and the Circle to bond their Warder they'd be together now? Maybe she needed to have pressed Harry and the others to have become sexually bonded earlier too they could've stood stronger in going over land to Salidar.

Grimacing Daphne announces in a stern command, "Storm is not turning with the arctic low pushing in from the North. Its not screaming as hungrily as the one in the Sea of Storms, but it is cackling a bit more than I like. My bones ache from its building nearness."

Translation of that in Hermione's mind is they won't likely die but will get drenched to their already sodden bones. Just a normal night for them on this muddy mess of a road trip.

Biting back a vociferous curse at this nasty turn, Hermione draws Luna protectively in tight. At this rate they will never reach safety till sometime next year. If then if her suspicions were proven true. If true though, they may well miss the others if they were alive and doing as they were and heading towards Slidar. Missing her Harry, Par, and Gin-Gin will kill her and her two lovers here with her. They all would do just about anything to have everyone back safe, and in the case of their Harry, Par, and Ginny- back in their arms to never part again.

Wet misting sprinkles were coming in shortly following Daphne's proclamation, adding enough vinegar to the group's turmoil, Hermione did spit out, "Mother's milk in a bloody cup. Lets get to some better cover, like that hillock George mentioned earlier last check in."

If only they could trust the older women they'd whip out their tents on the double quick.

Rousing from the living death that Corilta has been trapped in, the Blue Sister gazes dully about before it sunk in that they were in for it, "We'll stop here if Cloria thinks its wise or safe. I can't stomach the thought of us losing more of us."

Sniffing the air and gauging the wicked looking sky coming in from the distant sea, the Captain spat, "Burn me for a reef rat I do be for disliking this land gazing. I bend ter Daphne on this one Cora. It don't be favorable ter me eyes but nothing do be right on the land as fer as I be telling. Findin' a safe harbour sounds sane an'a needful ter me."

Making the agreed upon signal of a Gryffendor Red and Gold burst of firework like light, so that George knows to return to them but not with sword drawn, they flip their cowling hoods up higher. Fearing the downpour's wrath Hermione hurries them on to the shielding sanctuary of the still distant hillock to escape any flooding as the lands here about are prone to, knowing that the Warder trained wizard will find them. It wasn't far but felt it by the time the rains really began coming in heavily.

Scrambling to a shaded ledge overlooking a cliff face on one side and walled in from the north by prickly hedges, they try arranging a protective barrier of dry brush and some Air weaves tied off to deflect some of the troublesome rainfall.

Sitting huddled together in two distinct groups the weary band await the return of George to make any further plans. The Captain takes to combing the rat's nest of hair that Corilta has been cultivating but won't let any save the other older woman touch. The sighs and looks of pleasure from the Sister tell them the woman is in a better mood today. Emmatilde is starting to run embracing drills with a quite determination to her tired face. Seeing that dedication and figuring it could be a while till George pops back in, Hermione has three options. One is mentally reread her favorite romance novels she has readily in store, which may lead her to getting unduly frisky. Or she can return to studying her fourth year texts from home to better translate the spells to weaves that require less hand movements. Then there is practicing the Hundred Weaves of attaining the Shawl. She knew them all but the trickiest bit is not the overly complex useless weaves themselves, but instead the pacing and ability to do them without distraction. Daphne and Luna join her in the work each of them casting the set with quiet focus. Every now and again Corilta would wake up and correct one of them for the pace or neatness.

Wondering if this was a way to return the Sister to the land of the sane, Hermione started letting in a slip or two to increase the witches attention. It helps some as the Sister loses a touch of the hopeless dolor the poor Aes Sedai is buried under. Soon the older witch is engaging to show them more of the tedious lot. The other girls see the good its doing the Blue Sister and soon, even Emmatilde is eliciting aid from the woman on the most basic of Novice weaves.

During one of Emmatilde's questions, Daphne leans over to kiss Hermione meaningfully in thanks. Luna simply beams a million watt smile to light up the storm darkening skies.

Working these weaves has another unforseen effect for her in particular. Doing something productive for a change was giving her less time to worry and gnaw at her own supposed faults and troubles. In the intricate work is a chance for her to excise her inner demons from her thinking and strained heart. Worry and loss vanish in the effort to produce these convoluted difficultly paced weaves. Thus her analytical mind is too occupied to keep her from simply breathing over ripping into herself to no one's benefit. Free of the stress for the time being she is able to galvanize her soul, mind, and heart towards becoming a full Sister herself. Her missing loves would wish her to live, not destroy what they loved in her just because she dared to survive what took them. A similar train of thoughts were visible in her Daphne and Luna.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sashey, step, step, sliding step with a sultry shimmy, coupled with a challenging look, turn suddenly with a come hither look back at her audience. Ginevra Molly Weasley was not a simple drab ginger any more for the now, she is a beast. She is what the Creator meant when crafting womanhood. She is not just in the dance, she is the dance. She is the goddess of life, love, womanhood, passion, desire, and a being of pure sexual energy. This dance of the Tuath'an is not just a simple thing of prescribed steps in time with only a special beat. No its moves were a bare fraction of the whole, it is attitude. Without the right hungry attitude and passion in her whole being its mood is lost and fails to form the secret place a woman can create in it for her and her chosen target audience. Yet if she has it flowing and infusing her as she performs, she is the seductive fire that will consume her chosen with lust and need.

Performing this right she has to set fire to her own desires for her Harry, Circle, and the wide hungry eyed Moreni. As she was taught by the old Tinker women she must be seen as available. To not let it be discovered she is already taken by any other watching her, her desire must project her chosen loves over the world as a whole. It helps that Moreni, her treasured friend is in the middle of the lot of the older women of the caravan instructing her, Grinna, Ange, Ali, and another girl from the camp. These women were clapping in time for the dancers, and she is fighting her fears of losing her Harry and Circle to dwell solely in the raging fire of lustful passion burning in her soul. By how enraptured Moreni is and a few of the other ladies, she is finding herself in the dance. Moreni may not be her soul mates, but the girl is her dear friend and possible betrothed if the rest are lost, so the fire was still very hot inside her.

Concentrating on the fantasy of Harry hiding in the bushes behind Moreni, she imagines Daphne and Luna holding hands with the Tinker girl. All three were entranced by and nakedly maddened by it for her and her fellow dancers, whom are Ione and Par instead of those here in reality. Passing steps and twirling changes of place has her and her Circlemates dancing with her setting fire to their audience. Her sexual core was scorching hot as she was seducing Harry and them all with her inferno burning her up with need for him and them. A furious blaze engulfing them as it were her for them.

Whipping of her skirts to nearly showing her legs in full, but in fact only reveals her lower calves and bare feet, she tosses her head to the side as if mad that her loves were not drawing daggers to cut down any daring challenge them for her hand. Rolling her back away from them she shimmy steps, highlighting her comely skirt hidden bum. Rocking back steps invites them to enjoy the view of her behind only to deny that with one twisting swishing sashay to draw them to her hips and angry lustful eyes burning holes in them. Seducing them into sitting up to lean towards her as she is nearing in mincing inviting steps. Turning around with swaying hip bucking steps to force them to grow ever more mad with need of what lay hidden under skirt. She is all they see. She is all they want. She is the mistress of their dreams and wants. She is the lover they must win or die away from thirst.

In her fantasy her and her Circle are planning to finally break down Harry's fearful reserves to finally take them. They are on fire for each other too and are almost stoked to fearful blaze they will also forget themselves to make love to one another. In this dream state their man in the bushes is drawn to the sound of the beat and her rapid steps along with the moans of desire from them watching, he is changed from a mere man into a force of male sexual energy. She knows he is there and is daring him to come and take her, to make his claim on her as her one and only husband. Igniting her lovely witches by adding a rolling lean to reveal her lack of a brassier under her loose top, they crawl towards her on hands and knees in worshipful passion, he is enslaved by her seduction. This is when her Harjit will finally crack and charge in to come and roughly grasp her by her writhing hips to kiss her and stake his claim. The dam will be gone and only their mutual desire is left to quench their burning thirsts for one another.

If not for her immersing herself totally in this crazy fantasy she'd die of embarrassment and fail to even make a single step from how intimate and intense this dance is. However in the grip of this dreamland of her lust, she is a fire of passion that is devouring all watching her now. Each of her steps and swished skirt is an explosion of the prize her passion and love is. Smiles of approval in the shared bobbing nods of the older women is encouraging but nowhere as much as the open mouthed lip licking of her Moreni, the girl who seduced her so well with this very dance.

But all this is forgotten as the women stop clapping. Carlain's features twist into pure fury when the woman stands to march towards the bushes near where Ginny imaged her Harry to be.

Poking the place with a knotty walking stick the Healer commands, "Talven, we know you're out there. Don't pretend it isn't so, and come in here right this instant young man."

"Well I'm not this Talven chap you think, but I might as well come in anyway. You see my sister, sister in-law, and fiancé were dancing. So very well too if I might be so bold to mention. Of Course mum will kill them like as not if she saw even a quarter of that, and me simply for catching a delightful glimpse of it too." her brother's voice laughs from the poked shrubbery.

Burning up in a full body scorching hot blush, Gin is ready to give Fred what for, but is stopped short. The brother that steps out is not Fred, but George! He bore no bandages on him whatsoever from being a human missile shot into the flying galley stove. So it had to be her dear missing brother George!

Hyper ventilating from the joy she is unable to hold in the tears.

Alicia came to the same conclusion and flung herself into the wizard with a loud keening wail of long denied relief. Other women were yelping in fright at the arrival of the stranger that looks nearly exactly like the mummy wrapped man in camp. Yet those like Moreni are just left in a state of dazed confusion. None of this is settled as Fred bursts in at a limping cudgel welding charge to defend them all. Seeing his twin brother alive and returned to them, he stumbles into a group hug as he stammers from a storm of emotions as potent as that storm that ripped them apart.

"George! Where have you bloody well been?" Fred splutters out eventually with twin rivers of tears drenching his face and bandages.

"Trudging through half the bloody underbrush of Illian. Did you know there are a million or more hungry mosquitoes calling the ruddy Light cursed country home?" George laughs with tears in his eyes and clinging to both his brother and the sobbing Alicia.

Ginny was torn by her own wildly jumping and leaping heart. Her brother's safe return was magnificent but she could not stop scanning the woods. Seeing that, or simply knowing what they were all thinking of, George spoke with a tightening emotion rich voice. "I'm out scouting for my group. We thought we were all that made it. Corilta Sedai is a right nutty mess, and so we were beating it for Illian or Salidar if we could get clear of the rotten weather dogging us since making landfall. The Captain is useless on land. Emm is trying to be mother to us all."

She can't stand it waiting any longer as her heart is screaming in dread she will soon get more bad news. "Harry, my Circle?" Her voice is cracking from a war of hope and dread carving strips from her soul.

"Hermione, Daphne, and Luna are as mad in grief from thinking your lost too." he says saving her from some of the pain but tears away more when he adds, "Harry and Par are not with us either, I'm truly sorry there. We also don't know where Nev, Pads, Blaise, and Tracey are so we might find them all together if we found each other."

Moreni is quiet and watching her as she is crumbling from joy and sorrow under a spritzing of rain beginning to sprinkle upon the gathering. Hope is not dead though. She can't make her heart beat right as she begs her brother, "Where are my loves?"

Hope, it always comes down to that ethereal fickle emotion. Vapor some days has more substance to it to her chagrin.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wind was picking up and Hermione is beginning to worry for the safe return of George. They also had only managed to find minimal protection from the souring weather as the gusts are wrapping around the hillock from the wrong direction. Fear is re-breaking the spare and insane Corilta, whose soul is fraught with troubling loss of Warder and near sister friends. Trying to shore up their coverage from the wind the girls put up more walls of Air to deflect the breath stealing gusts. While they were at this Captain Nerman sees to handling the jumbled Sister's well being. Glad for the aid in caring for the fractured Aes Sedai, Ione could focus more on protecting them. As Daphne had said, she was considered their leader and thus has to be the one to guide them in more than keeping them dry on this inexplicable giant rock in the almost cool weather rain forest of Illian.

Huddling next to the wall like inner face of the cliff ledge cave, praying it will be sufficient to sit out the storm here, the worn out women are thankful to no longer be in the freezing gale directly. They do dread the thought that this storm may cost them more loved ones as George has yet to return. His loss would likely finish off poor Corilta for certain.

"Are you certain you gave him the proper signal?" Daphne waspishly snaps at her when the rain starts to lance near parallel with the lay of the land from the cutting wind. Above the canopy of trees it is hard to see much of the sky as the storm has made the air thick with water to where it seems likely a soul out in that would drown where they stood.

Glowering in reply, Hermione gazes out across the dark woods with constant murmuring prayers. Light and an electric crack so loud and near it is deafening has her jump and crawl backwards to join the others.

Wailing the Blue Sister tries to flee on the other hand as their world is blinded be bright light and noise together. More come but thankfully no where as close as that one had been, each giving the ground a trimmer that reverberates in Hermione's chest. Grabbing hold of the shattered witch, Captain Nerman kept the woman from flinging herself off the ledges edge. Making shushing noises that were being drowned out by the rumbling thinder rattling them all. It did irritate Ione that her own need for comforting has to wait, mostly because of the mad cow.

Feeling some shame for feeling that way, she still feels it nonetheless.

"Could he be hurt?" she worries while trying not to shake from her own terror of being cooked alive by a rogue lightning strike to their refuge from the flooding of the road visible to them from here. "Maybe we should go back and look for him. He should be back by now."

Luna scoots closer to her and Daphne to take their hands in her slight ones., "He'll be safe. Relax my loves for the now."

Biting her lip while scanning the rain lashed woods, Hermione questions that, "How can you be so certain?"

"I just am?" the tiny blonde confided in her confidently, laying her head on Ione's breasts like a comforting pillow, "Just as I am certain you are going to lead us to the rest and one day to a home of our own."

A surge of the One Power followed by a gasp from the rugged woman sea captain has them all jump as if another lightening bolt struck too close for comfort. Captain Nerman was staring in baffled wonder upon Corilta Sedai, whom was wailing in sorrow even louder than before.

Afraid what the woman has done, but unsure what it could be as the other woman is unhurt, Hermione shares a worried glance with her Circlemates.

Soon the Sister cries out pitifully, "I'm so sorry! I... I just... Oh Light I've wronged you Cloria!"

"Don't..." Captain Nerman was shivering and slurring drunkenly, "You just be a restin' now Cora. I don'na be knowin' 'ow yer be be in me 'ead, but I don'na be offended."

Colour drains from Hermione's and her friends faces at this pronouncement, she asks herself and them in utter disbelief, "She can't have? Could she?"

Corilta is sobbing an crawling on her knees to the Captain, "I bonded you, Cloria! I'm evil, pure evil."

"No'm, thet be a nothin' ter be callin' wrong Cora. Yer jus' be fer restin' up fer the now." the old she seadog comforts the witch woozily, "I be honored to be yer Warder."

Gears were squeakily churning and chugging rustily in Hermione's gobsmacked mind. It was just not a thing done. Forced bonding is close to rape, if not worse as it kept the bonded victim trapped forever unless the White Tower acts and removes the bond. But as reprehensible as this even were in that respect, it was eye opening that a woman could and can be bonded as a man. Luna hinted that Elaida threatened that as the tiny witches fate, but that was dismissed as cruel threats to scare her Circlemate. This was nothing of the like. It was amazing to learn that bonding wasn't just an opposite sex action. It was ramming open the gates of a whole new plethora of ideas of things to consider. An inkling of a plan to bond Harry to the Circle successfully begins to formulate in her stunned mind. Along with that is marvelous ideas on the Circle being included along with their claiming Harjit finally.

Meanwhile Corilta pleads some more for forgiveness, "I can remove this. I will-"

"Don' yer be a thinkin' er'a tryin' Cora luv. I do be fer a wantin' this 'ere yer givin' me." the bonded beached sea captain declares, "Well no be so sudden like. Bloody be shockin', but I be burned if yer do be fer takin' it back. I been a livin' lonely fer ter long now. Me boy sank in'a tradin' mission from Illian ter Shara. Me 'usband get 'imself gutted in Tanchico o'er a game of dice an'a girly 'alf me age. As fer me daughter yer know she up an ran off ter a 'andsome laddy of a bloody borderlander."

"But I did the unthinkable to you?" sniffles Corilta miserably.

Hugging the Aes Sedai close, Captain Nerman cuts that off, "It be abrupt, I won' be a lyin', but I be fine still fer it. An' yer be special ter me. We be near sisters I think. The sea be rough an' thar Wheel be rougher still, but I be lovin' it all the more."

Both women were a bit weepy. Stunned speechless the girls move away to give the new bondmates some privacy after the deeply intimate act. Disturbed by how the two became bound together and that they witnessed it, the younger witches tried to process it all. One clear fact was that they could not escape is the feelings of loss for their own loved ones.

While they wait insilence, Hermione and her friends began working again with the One Power. This time it isn't the stringent parts of learning to be Sisters of the White Tower, but the simpler casual weaves. It was a coping mechanism that helps them keep from cracking. Mixing in games with Emmatilde where they toss around balls of light to build up the girl's control, they try banishing the fears searing their hearts. Chief of these was the terrible fact none of them are likely to make it to the end of this journey.

Rustling in the woods has them all begin battle weaves in alarm. When the invader, or more invaders break out from the brush it was a relief to strong for them to stay holding Saidar let alone their war weaves. Hope was soaring as the lot enter the flashing light from the storm.

Forgetting herself Hermione charges with tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she slams into Gin-Gin whom meets her halfway for a hug that turns into a wild hungry snogging as joy sends their hearts high above the wicked clouds. Daphne and Luna are none too far behind and it is soon a four way laughing reunion of lovers that are more happy than their decorum can contain. They just could not get enough of one another.

When they have to stop for lack of air and the wish to simply hold onto each other, Ione notices a nervous almost sad beautiful girl next to the hedge wall. It was astounding to imagine this girl being here in the flesh, let alone this Age, "Myrtle?"

Luna too is gazing on the girl in bewildered wonder, "She can't be?"

"Moreni?" Ginny asks them in confusion. "She is my friend and-"

The girl appears ready to run away in tears, but Luna holds out a hand to the stranger, "Welcome to our family Moreni. Though you have a greater destiny here than what your wishes will allow. Welcome and for the now join us as you belong to us just not forever as you are here."

The girl is as confused as the rest of the Circle, but decides to take the invitation with a happy laugh that is less bitter than what Myrtle has save for Harry. With a tender joy Gin-Gin enfolds the girl with them in their group hug. Touching the girl, Ione is a bit shocked to become aware of a horrible discovery. In the grip of her Talent to understand a thing to its fullest she feels a cancer that has spread throughout the girls marrow and blood. Moreni has only a year or less more the like of life left, if lucky as her illness comes from an untreated first few draw sicknesses trying to Heal the unHealable. Not even the One Power can Heal death, nor can it save a girl left to long without training when it is needed. It's a miracle the girl has lived this long as it is.

Trying not to cry, Hermione cheerfully greets the stranger, "Welcome home. The Circle welcomes you. Anyone Gin loves we love."

Luna nods and buries her head into Ione's side, warm dampness follows the contact.

They could at least make the rest of the girl's life a joy. Though Hermione will now partly hate her gift for revealing this to her. She is so damn tired of death.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Howling storm driven rain is drumming over the outside of the gypsy wagon where the girls were riding out the storm. Daphne was beyond overjoyed to be reunited with Ginny and the others, and then it was so much more poignant to still be missing the rest. Her cousin Tracey and friend Blaise were her closest friends since going to Hogwarts. Then she has become comfortable in having Neville and Pads as companions till they were nearly family too. But missing Harry and Par stung her deep.

As Luna puts it, "We all are one and to be parted from the rest leaves our world's colourless and disjointed."

Slight rocking of the wooden home on wheels being hammered by the rain storm's fury had them all jumpy by the fresh memories of disaster bourn on such weather. The saving grace for them is that as frightening as it feels to be rocked so violently, it was not near like the sounds and feel of breaking wood sinking into the abyss. Drowning out there had been the fate of many they knew, but here on dry land in a sturdy wagon it is less likely.

Outside the tiny window, what Daphne could see was dark angry clouds that have yet to really unleash the full vast stores of water inside them. However the rushing lashes of the moment is announcing how bad it is going to be sooner than later. The lone window was a pleasure for her burgeoning claustrophobia birthed in her from the shipwreck. At least it was till a man seeing it runs over to close the shutters, sealing the women inside. A few small oil lamps are all that is holding at bey the stifling airless darkness, but in the offing is adding to the uncomfortable heat.

Sweat dampening her mood and shift has her wishing for a cooling rush of air. However her mind is thoroughly concentrated on the conversation that has sprung up in an excited buzzing among her friends and future bonded lovers. If what Ione is suggesting is even plausible, it gives Daph a lot to consider. It is both fantastic as it is exceptionally perfect for an answer to what has bothered them since Harry had agreed to be shared.

"But are we all ready to be fully shared as well?" Ginny asks with interest the very same question nagging Daphne herself just then.

"Why not? We will be whole. When I thought I'd lost you as well as Par and Harry, I found the grief hunting me with every idle thought. I could only stay active for so long." Hermione confesses with conviction, echoing Daphne's own heartache just as equally, "When we came to this Age, I was just best friends with you and Harry. Then as we've lived and faced all that has came our way here in this mirror world, I've found myself. Found my true sexuality, my own voice, my true loves, my strengths, and my purposes in life so I need this. I need all of my Circle as well as my Harry. Not having you all safe and locked up in my protective embrace, I'll go mad even if I'm risking the same fate of Corilta by greater magnitudes. When it comes down to it, the risk to me is negligible compared to losing any of my lovers to an uncertain fate that I may have stopped by this bonding. I want to be marked as yours and to have all of you marked mine, not just our Harry alone. To Shayol Ghul with any pooh poohing our love. I'm your witch as you all are mine."

Humming to herself before putting in her own thoughts, Luna smiles, "We compliment each others inadequacies. I know I can often get sidetracked now and again, but then one or the other of you helps to steer me back to myself."

By now Daphne has grown used to the miniature flighty blonde's accurate summations of events and situations. In a very real way she almost counts on them to help steer her own course by. But it was a salient point Ginny has made, and so with an irritated flip of her sweaty hair, she chooses to be heard as well.

"You realize we will have not only each other marked, but also have us all crowded in our skulls. It won't just be us and our Harry but everyone of us in the bond." Daphne fought to not sound snippy because of the twin rivers of sweat running down her spine and between her breasts.

England, Tar Valon, Cairhein, and Andor were all temperate cool climates compared to boggily humid Illian and Tear.

Ironically Daphne's words has Gin-Gin suddenly change course, "That actually sounds amazing. After Tom I've never fully trusted my own thoughts. If I had friends that loved me in there I know he wouldn't have a chance of twisting me around ever again. I was so alone."

That has Daph hit by an epiphany for someone they love just as much, "You don't suppose that we can help our lovely wizard with this. Maybe cure him, or at the very least bolster his inner mental defenses. If we are all inside there with him, that ruddy bit of Tom will be destabilized and easier to banish. Our Circle could be a wall of love then, not just our mark on him."

"I'm in!" Emmatilde's exuberant announcement startles Daphne into a half jump out of her seat. "I know Seandra will be as well if we find her. Harry needs us and I owe him my life."

"We've got t-shirts." Gin-Gin's irreverent inappropriate Weasley humour pops up in a snickering reaction to the Ghealdaner girl's proclamation, confusing the 3rd Ager something dreadfully. "Trust me their awesome."

Glaring at Ginny for that, Hermione politely pointed out some salient difficulties with the Ghealdaner's joining the Circle, "You belong here in this world while we belong in another Ages after this one. It will be hard on us when and if we go home. You might not want to stay there or maybe there will be something holding you in this one."

"I'm bloody well going with you." the girl resolutely decides, "You don't know what it is like to be saved from death or worse. Hrry did that for me and I want to always be there for him now."

"Like I said t-shirts. Would you like a small or medium. Of course larger ones can be used as nighties." Ginny broke out laughing, "Listen Emm, Ione, myself, and Par all three can attest to how exactly we know what you're talking about. But we also know that we truly love Harry as women love their husbands. Then there is the issues of the Wheel and Pattern to consider. What if you are meant to do something here and can't as your there with us? It could mean disaster."

"But what if I'm meant to be there and not here?" counters the girl with fire.

Moreni, the devastating Tinker girl Ginny has been lounging with has been silent till now, "Ginevra what of me? I will not leave you. I am in love with you and belong to you."

Hermione makes a tiny noise nearly missed by Daphne. Luna though asks, "There is space for you, but not as you are here for as long as you hope. You know or fear this. Hiding it will not save you. Let us love you for as long as you have."

"You know?" the girl weepily demands, with Gin looking concerned. "I've tried to keep the pain in. Not even my Grana knows."

"She suspects I think. Tell Ginny as she is your chosen for as long as you have. We all are including Emm for the now. Do not fear, Harry will welcome you and be what your Grana wishes for you for the time we have here." Luna tenderly touches the girl's knee. "You are going to reshape what is seen as what must be done for our kind on this side of the Spine, though I am afraid that is no consolation."

Ginny is studying the girl then asks, "What am I missing Mor?"

"I broke something in me when I tried to pray to the Pattern to spare my parents. I feel it inside and it hurts. It abates when I'm near you." Moreni sobs but is held tighter by the frightened Gin.

"She has only a few months at most Gin." Hermione breaks down to admit.

Daphne wants to cry herself as she asks, "How? What happened?"

"Untreated first draw sicknesses. It's a cancer eating her alive. She is in horrendous pain as its spread through out her body." Hermione now sobs into Luna's arms. "I felt it through my sense of the make up of things."

Gin-Gin asks quietly, "Moreni do you want a ceremony wedding us to you before we leave for Salidar? I think we should hold each other and be happy for as long as we can."

Moreni is silent then nods fiercely, "Yes Ginevra. If you wish it I'd love it if all our Circle can too. I just met them but I won't separate you from them. I see how much you love them."

Tears were flowing freely in the wagon as the two share a kiss that is so beautiful it stabs a dagger in Daphne's heart as it is one of celebration and the beginning of a long goodbye.

During all this Ange and Ali were quiet as mice, which is unusual for the highly opinionated duo. Angelina finally cuts in with a tearful firmness, "Why not stay open to all of it. Listen we don't know what our futures hold even with Luna's Sight considered. Look at the bloody Fair Eyed Lad, or what took place in Tar Valon. Far as that goes, us being sent here was a bit of a wild ride don't you lot think? For now lets just wait and see. When the rest return to us, then we can decide things on a more clear headed consensus. Till then lets live for the moment. We all could die tomorrow or even tonight."

Daphne felt that was great advice but the thoughts of not holding her loves as close as she can no matter the cost has to be fixed. If her Gin can love a dying girl knowing full well the sheer anguish of it, then why should Daph hide from her own heart's loves?

"Ione, I'm in. If we were bonded to him and one another before taking that holly jolly holiday on the bloody Sea of Storms we'd know where are our loves. Even more we'd know how too." she places her vote.

"Oh goody we have a consensus." Luna cheers waterily while petting Hermione's hair.

Alicia laughs roughly through the tears, "Daphne has a point Ange. After the ship went down I thought my life died with George. Now I get a reset and a chance to do better so I think I'm going to bond his lovely bum. Burn the Light cursed rules against Accepted having Warders."

That has them all raise imaginary toasts in cheery salutes.

Angelina stands up and takes Ali's hand to troop to the door, "No time like the present. We will have our rogues and that is all there is to it. Ladies don't wait up. We'll be in our boys tent all night and they're going to bloody well like it. If Corilta objects, tough kitties."

When they run out cackling madly under the drenching rain's soaking them to the bone, the wagon is left quiet. An awkward moment as it were now solely those in the Circle or wishing to be. It was time for a few more revelations and she prays it won't hurt them.

Catching Luna and Hermione's eyes, she starts to speak with a bit of fear, "Gin, we have something you need to hear."

Emmatilde's eyes swung to her with interest and opens up, "Daphne wants to say she was really hard on Corilta Sedai."

Stunned at the girl's deflection, she nods but tries to speak again, but once more Emm interupts. "It was needed though. Hermione and the Captain are alive because of it."

Ginny, with Moreni held close like a precious living doll, asks, "What happened?"

Hermione blurts out, "We had sex Gin-Gin."

The cat was out of the bag now. Emmatilde is biting her lip in fear as she watches them all.

Ginny on the other hand was excited, "You had sex with each other or with Corilta?"

Shuddering Daphne admits, "No I hexed the Sister till she taught me Healing. Then later me and Hermione did it then Luna joined us."

"Awesome!" Ginny laughs with hunger in her eyes for them, "So we can do it now? I am so randy of late I might scream or jump any one of you."

Emm looks frightened by that, "Really? Me too?"

"At this point I'd jump the Captain." grinning like a Cheshire Cat, their Fire Bug is on fire with desire for them, "Me and Moreni are about around the twist from denying ourselves."

The Tinker girl blushes but doesn't deny it. In fact the girl takes the opportunity to guide Gin's hand under that eye wrenching yellow nighty.

Swallowing loudly Emmatilde jumps up and looks at them with nervous eyes flickering to meet each of their faces. "It doesn't bother you to have sex before marriage?"

"Uhh hello girl, were women. Most people don't allow that." Ione points out with exasperation.

Looking conflicted then defiant, Emmatilde interrogates them, "So is Harry okay with it yet about all of you? He will not be hurt by anyone if I can help it."

"He is. He wants us to love and live if we lose him." Daphne replies with a hitch in her throat.

Thinking on it for a second or two, Emm asks, "Give me time to think on if I can do... that with... another girl. I can do it with Harry in a heartbeat. You lot... I don't know."

They didn't even get a chance to speak before the girl is out the door in a flash of brown cloak over age yellowed shift. The thought of following is in Daphne's head but is halted dead by Gin's Moreni chirping, "She won't go for it I think. Ginevra, I'm about to cross some borders and never leave again. Is that alright?"

"Not a problem but we have to tell them of the ter'angriel." Gin-Gin answers with a touch of terror, "No one outside of us can know of it. What it does is too powerful and intimate to let any have at it. Lock the door so Talven can't burst in for a sneaky peek at my bits again. Hermione, you can read things better than any Sister or witch alive that I know. When you touch this be very careful or you will lose your mind and self in the very turnings of the Wheel and Ages."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Laying gasping in exhaustion, Hermione was glad to be away from Godric's Hollow. Harry was outside angry at the loss of his wand and his failure to beat Voldemort tonight. She was frightened herself for the fact they have yet to find a way to destroy a Horcrux. Godric's Sword must be able to, but they were missing it as the Ministry refused to let the have it even if Dumbledore willed it to Harry.

She wants to cry.

Ron has ditched them and they seem to be only running in a hamster wheel when it comes to finding and killing the Horcrux of the Dark Lord.

"Why Ron?" she pleads to the heavens above the canvas above her.

The pitiful call disgusts her.

Sitting up, Hermione shakes her head in confusion at the rogue thought that was hers but not.

"So this is what Gin-Gin warned me of." she says but it was not her own thought or words.

"Crickets, I'm going mad." she worries.

"No your not. I'm you but not. I'm from a mirror world to yours. Its difficult to say how, but I am here living through you, but not as well. Ginny says I can make you do some things but its taxing. She's brilliant and smashingly gorgeous but is not us and can't see as we can. Tell you what-" she tries to make a deal but is stopped by her other self.

"I feel your emotions. You and her are lovers? How? What of Ron?" the other her demands with heat.

"Ron is a dirty git that treats us like shite. We chose Harry and our Circle over his rotten hide. Now is that a problem?" she cuts through most of the history to save time.

"So... Harry?" hope in that is a burning bonfire.

"You want him? Them lets trade. You think of all that you've read and learned of Horcrux and I will give you keys how to be so much more than a mere bright eyed and bushy tailed witch." she offers herself a deal she herself wouldn't turn away from...

...Slipping out to seek her Harry with caution, Hermione hears the noise of a war of wills raging out in the woods. Taking charge of herself in both personas, she Apparates to the source of the row. In a pop she is there to see Ron fighting mentally to hold onto the Sword of Gryffendor over a wild tableau of Tainted magic. Harry is begging the boy to just do it, to not listen to the dark image. In it is her and Harry locked in a sexual embrace, mocking the boy.

Striding into the fray she whips off a Shield that silences the monestrous voice and illusion. Yanking the sword away from her treacherous beau she rams it into the heart of the writhing bubbling mess of unholy darkness. An explosion of Saidin is about to destroy them. With pure hate she caps it with a heavy weave of all five elements to hold it in. So with a whimper it is done. One more is finished.

Ron is gazing up at her with hopeful joy. She studies him then spits, "Go chase Lav again if that is the best you can do. Better yet I'm going to go catch her myself, you can go bugger off if all you came back for is me. The ship is full, the anchors are hoisted, and I'll be buggered if I let you rip my heart out again. You can come with us, but only to help us beat the rat bastard."

She sees the look of consternation of the two boys she has been living in the shadow of all these long years. One she knew was as crushed by others as much as she. He though is the lone one to stick by her side.

Marching up to him with a seductive sway to her steps she takes his shirt in her hands to kiss him with years of denied desire. When they part she purrs, "Lets go kill the rotter, but first I think we have a few friends to get together. What do you think if we shag Ginny together and to hell with any blighter saying boo to it. You, me, her, Luna, and others have a lot of time to make up for. Can you live with that?"

He nods a bit in a daze.

"Good, Ron get off your hind end and put away the tent. Maybe we can find you a girl someday but not me, not anymore." she took her time kissing her Harry then...

...Shaking off her dizziness, Hermione blushes and looks at the others, "This we will never mention to any not bound directly to us. That was..."

"I know. So did you learn anything?" Ginny asks with eagerness.

"Maybe, I was having to catch up on a lot of things in that world. Something about a ruddy book of fairy tales as her lone clue to go on. Dumbledore was playing his games with us I wager. She gave me what she had, and they are going to go through Slytherin's Truth themselves. Well after she has her Harry and Circle fully gathered and already a union. I think she was thinking of rocking his cute bum till he can't think straight, then do the same to you. Ron she may well hang by his tongue from the Astronomy Tower."

She now knew though that her Harry is just one of possibly seven of the filthy things. But she was no more certain what they were as Dumbledore had Harry thinking he could say nothing more than they were created by a blood murder ritual to prolong the caster's life.

Feeling dirty at the thought of it, she is caught unawares by Ginny taking her hand to pull her into a long deep kiss. "We will figure it out. Lets rest now, it takes a lot out of a witch to let it work. How about you, me, and our Circle find some light tonight? I am a frisky kitten..."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Moonlight glows with a silvery hue that mocks her. Standing on the edges of the camp knowing that she is trapped and forbidden from escaping this colourless life, Parvati stares up on the moon hanging over the world with a mournful pride. She wonders if it were as the ancients said, that the moon is for women as the sun is for men. Life basking in the glory of Harry had been days of unending hope, and her nights were pure treasures of love in the shared joy of the Circle once they'd escaped Elaida. Now she is a living ghost.

Her ears prick at the muted moans and cries of passion coming from her sister being ravished by Neville. The two couples holding her prisoner in this life were blessed with their loves, but none could care a whit that hers were dead. A state of being they refuse to allow her.

Tracey is studiously acting as if not there solely as her goaler. Railing at the woman was not going to get her free. For that she needs a chance to get near the flames, to offer herself up to the old gods so that her turmoil can end in a fiery finally. Burnt like the wicked whore given to abomination that she is deserves.

"Don't Par." Tracey warns her with a lightness that she wishes to denounce as a blatant lie.

"You don't need to keep watch on me. If you but walk away it will be solved for all of you." she sniffs in defiance. "Let the invert bitch whore have some dignity won't you?"

Shrugging her silky Shawl from Harry, she turns away from the witch and the moon's vista beckoning her home. Trudging to the camps center she is unable to get within five feet of the fire crackling cheerfully out of reach. It wouldn't be if they gave her a chance to embrace Saidar, but nothing doing.

Sitting in the orange light, she works to break free and end this all right now. Tracey grunts and swats her bum with a switch of Air. "Don't try it Par, we love you too much to let you murder yourself. So just relax and return to the land of the living."

Saying or displaying any untoward comments to that lie has earned her more than a few humiliating punishments. So she keeps her peace and bids her time. They will get careless soon and then she can find her way home into her departed loves arms.

Sitting down she fiddles with her torn skirt hem. It almost worked to try spurring her horse over the cliff face back in that town where the Wise Mother had vanished with every scrap of possessions in that adorable cabin. The only thing left was a small scrap of cloth that she found and hid under her top. It was a red cockade. Her Harry loved them and she at least has one till she can be returned to him and the Circle.

"Harry, Par? We love you." she imagines as she is gripping her secret prize under her top. It was gone too soon to be more than a delusion, but she took it as a sign that she must be ready again. They will slip and she will be free forever.

Tracey eyes her so she pretends to not be holding anything and for certain be unthinking. They must trust her to keep clear of her end. Little will they be prepared when she has her chance.

Taking a cup of water from Blaise she stares in the flames. In her minds eye is Gin-Gin in that last moments of their lives together. Alive and fighting beside her to live. A passionate witch she prayed would find safety even if she were doomed.

"I will join you Gin. Soon we will all be home in the final embrace. Soon I will be free of them and be returned to you all in the here after. Just be patient with me. Soon I will feed the fire its meal of my flesh so that I will be alive in our eternal graves." she vows to the flames and reaches towards the fire arms open and praying it was time. Time to be free.

"Oh no you don't girl. Why can't you just live?" she hears with out hearing. She is close to the fire and he salvation.

Red light explodes in her sight and she can only cry in defeat...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++WOT/HP+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sitting up with the lamp in her hands. Others would be burned by its heat as she tries reaching out to her love again. Moreni and Ione are startled awake by her movements. Their mussed and tousled beauties were breath taking to behold but nothing was going to distract her from her Par's declaration. She did not like the sound of it.

"Light keep her, oh please keep her." she begs the universe and the Creator.

Rocking in anguish she holds the tiny flame and calls again and again to no use as the message is gone. Tears are rivering down her cheeks as she prays for her love's life to be saved.

Moreni and Ione take the lamp away and hug her close. All her strength was fleeing he as she hears her lover weep into what ever fire she was at out there. Alone and afraid while she is in here making love to her other love's. The guilt is murdering her.

"What is it Gin?" Daphne asks from beside Luna, "What did you hear?"

"Par needs us. But I don't know where she is. Oh light protect her." she breaks down and cuddles into Moreni and Ione's arms. "What use is Speaking the Flames if I can't save my loves?" She curses her Talent.

"Hope." Moreni offers her softly, "You now have hope. We will find her for the Wheel is never truly cruel just works strangely. If it didn't have its own ways we would never have met and I would've died alone and forgotten."

Hermione agrees with a shuddering breath, "Myrt- Moreni is right, we are bound to the Wheel and must ride it to the end it has for us. That is the best any can do."