Author's Note:
Busy couple of days coming up, so you get the new chapter a few days early. Enjoy!
Reviews and Comments: To Seriously Sam: Ginny definitely heard Harry talk about those different players like fifty times or more. I love the vase scene and aww Hannah has earned acorn status. To briana_t: Thank you! And yes, Harry definitely loves finding Ginny's snitch haha. To disasterslytherin: Yes, thank you! I love Ron being super sweet to Hermione and that's so sweet that you think this has replaced the HP original plot! To AQuickRead91: I don't know what Mills & Boon is lol. Hmm, you don't think Blaise is talking about Snape, well, you'll have to wait and see! To Steelcode: We should all be proud of Neville. Haha, yes, I loved the idea of Mina just grabbing a hold of that big white beard and Dumbledore's not even mad. To EbonyRivers: Thank you! Unfortunately, I think every author receives negative comments. Thank you for saying I do well at juggling a large cast, I do try to give everyone their moments when I can. Haha, I love that you said you feel "cliffhanger season" is coming up! But let's be honest — you're not wrong haha! To QuietReader: Thank you for saying the story feels far superior to the original, what an honour! And wow, you think I "breathe life into words on a page" — thank you!
To xXMizz Alec VolturiXx: I agree, Granny McGonagall's Quidditch obsession is adorable! To Nightwing2013: Sometimes I like my smut and yes, the plot will move forward more. To gemini614: Thank you. I agree, sometimes we need a smut break. And yes, Narcissa had a small memorial and I think it was important that Andromeda let Draco know about it considering the circumstances. To Mehnoya01: Thank you! Ron and Hermione scene I am particularly proud of so I'm glad people enjoyed it. To selenao: Harry and Ginny are not quite there yet, remember Ron and Hermione are both older. Ron is already seventeen and Hermione will be eighteen in September. To scrappy8: Thank you!
To Wolf's scream: Yes, premium arses LOL. As to Draco and Blaise, well, we will see where their story goes next. To Shouldna: Thank you! I love Zee as Harry's mum as well! To Nuno Neves: Happy Birthday (belated) and you're welcome! I felt it was about time we saw some Draco and Blaise. Luna is amazing, I agree. To dessalee: Thank you! I'm not particularly a fan of gender swap stories in general, they just don't hold my attention. The only one I've ever enjoyed is Gryffindor's Girl by SilverStarWolfe. To Dianne: Thank you! As stated above, I think that Ron and Hermione would be intimate first mostly because they are older than Harry and Ginny. I think age has a lot to do with it. Wishing you well in India, reading about scary it is there right now. Please stay safe! To alix33: Always happy to make you snort with laughter! Haha, yes, I would also gladly snog Wood to shut him up. To WinkingSkeever: Thank you.
To nothatchhavi: Thank you! And yes, Hannah definitely wants to feel like a melted marshmallow. I agree, I think Hermione would only swear in front of Ron. McGonagall is definitely a sweet grandmother. Sirius would totally have loved Mina tugging on Dumbledore's beard! To tim2604: Hannah did make a big discovery about herself and she definitely loves it. I love the idea of Neville helping her realize what a beautiful woman she is. Yes, again with the French! And I agree, French are known to be amazing lovers so why not keep that cliché going! To pix25: Learned more about penises than you would have liked? You're welcome, I think LOL.
To Rusty-malla Hayek: Thank you very much! To Zee Goddess: I still love your name. I'm honoured that you came back to my fic, despite the break you took. Thank you for saying my "plot isn't some simple canon follower… it's delicate and beautiful with amazing character development" — thank you! To Mikhail: Thank you! Um… I really don't know which chapters provide that, but if you want to PM me with which characters specifically, I can help that way!
This chapter is very smutty at the beginning.
WARNING: This chapter is very graphic.
My posting schedule: Weekly.
Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER TWO-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY-THREE:
Ginny woke a little while later, still wrapped around Harry and naked on the long sofa. A cool spring breeze came in through the window and she shivered. Harry's face was still nestled in her tits and it made her giggle. She pulled his glasses off the top of her head, putting them on the table behind her. Her movements made him shift and his semi-hard cock brushed her thigh.
Harry woke slowly, his lips pressing against her nipple as he did. He only blinked once before he simply wrapped his mouth around it and sucked softly.
Ginny made a soft moan and his eyes twinkled.
He let go and kissed her breasts, rolling onto his back and pulling her with him. "What time is it?"
"I don't know," she told him. "Late."
Harry's hands threaded through her hair. "Late is good," he murmured, kissing her.
Ginny slid her hand down, gripping him in her hand. "Not too late for someone."
Harry's smile was slow. "What? I always want you."
Ginny let him go, her hand sliding up his chest. "I want to try something."
Harry's eyebrow rose. "Oh?"
Ginny sat up, still gloriously naked, and his eyes raked over her hungrily. He was squinting at her without his glasses, but he wasn't going to need them for this. Ginny slid her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, her lips pressing against his throat.
"Have you ever wanted," she whispered, letting her tongue lick his earlobe and then down his throat. "To have my mouth around you," — lick — "while your" — kiss — "mouth is on me?"
Her mouth wrapped around his nipple at the last word and his cock merely grew harder.
"You mean, at… at the same time?"
Ginny flattened her tongue over his nipple, sucking it into her mouth as her thumb brushed the opposite one. "Yes."
Harry swallowed. "Oh, fuck yes!"
Ginny's mouth continued to tease the peak. "The problem is, keeping ourselves on par with the other. I've heard it can be quite challenging."
Harry wanted to ask her what she meant, but her teeth had grazed the peak and the flash of painful pleasure was enough to make his cock bob desperately between his legs.
"You see," Ginny said, her tongue continuing to lap at his nipple. "I heard it's hard to concentrate" — suck — "when someone is" — flick — "busy concentrating" — suck — "on pleasuring you."
Considering Harry could barely see straight, he figured that might be true. "I'm up for it if you are."
Her brown eyes twinkled before she deliberately let her gaze move down to his erection. "Oh, I can see that you're up for it without a doubt."
Harry swallowed. He stretched out flat on his back, his head resting on the pillow, grateful this sofa was long enough to sit six people. He kept his eyes on Ginny, watching in amusement as she took another pillow and shoved it under his bum. Her long red hair danced behind her as she straddled him.
Harry danced his fingers over her arse. "You'll erm, have to face the other way."
Ginny blushed, but she turned around, gasping when Harry's strong hands gripped her hips and pulled her back over his mouth. It felt strange, she thought. It felt so strange to sit on his face, to be in this position. Or it did. Until his tongue swiped over her. And then… then it felt glorious.
Such a simple thing, she thought, but to have his tongue take her in this direction was just different enough to be interesting. He licked her, his hands holding her arse in place as his tongue slid through her folds. When he tickled her clit with the tip of it, she shuddered and then remembered that it was supposed to be a two way street.
Her eyes fell on his erection. It looked different from this angle, staring straight at her in a different way. She leaned forward across his body and the movement made his tongue go deeper inside of her and she moaned. Oh Merlin, how was she supposed to focus on pleasing him when he was doing that to her…
But she pressed her lips against the tip of him and then took him into her mouth.
Harry's tongue slid deeper into Ginny as her mouth wrapped around him and he groaned against her. The vibrations of his groan made Ginny tremble around him and he tried not to lose control as her mouth moved over him. Godric, this was… there was no way he could focus on her when that sweet mouth was doing… She moaned around him and he used his tongue more aggressively, squeezing her bum in his hands as he focused on her clit. The moment his tongue touched her there, her hips began to grind against him.
He couldn't suppress his smile as he kissed her bud, sucking it into his mouth.
Ginny gasped, burying her face in his stomach. Oh, Merlin, he was… gods, it felt good. It felt so good. She squealed, her hips moving without her realizing it and his hard cock brushed her cheek. Curses! He'd distracted her again.
She opened her mouth to take him inside once more, this time focusing on him and trying to ignore the building desire that was growing inside of her. She leaned forward, opened her mouth wider and slid all of him into her mouth. From this angle, it was much easier to take his full length. She sucked, her tongue lapping at him, teasing the head of him and she moaned as she slowly slid her lips off and then back on. She watched the way his balls lifted as she sucked him, admiring the way they shifted and moved from this new angle.
When she sucked again, she let her hands move to massage his sack, squeezing just enough to make him grunt against her. And then he sucked on the right side of her clit and she cried out, his cock still in her mouth.
She was close, Harry could feel it, and he thanked Godric for it because if she touched his balls one more time, he was going to combust. This was better than anything that he had ever imagined and so much more challenging than he would have thought. He licked her clit thoroughly, relishing in teasing her before he sucked. He tugged the tiny bud under his tongue and swiped a finger through her folds.
Ginny lost it.
Ginny moaned around his cock, the orgasm sweeping through her like a hurricane. Her hand gripped him tightly as she moaned around the head of him and he went over the edge with her. Ginny held him in her mouth as he finished, her hips riding his face, unable to stop herself as she scrambled for something to help stop this pressure from exploding out of her.
When she finally managed to catch her breath, she lay like the dead over Harry, his lips brushing her thighs, and she thought there was no way she could ever move again. Harry had other ideas. He shifted her to the side and then slowly crawled towards her and kissed her lips, nuzzling his face in her neck.
"So, that was fucking brilliant."
"Mmm," Ginny said, burying her own face in his neck.
"You were right," he whispered. "Takes an extraordinary amount of concentration."
Ginny only made a sighing sound. His hands cupped her bum as he pulled her tight against him, his relaxed length against her stomach as her cheek rested on his shoulder. He tugged the afghan around them and she snuggled closer into him.
"Perhaps next time, we can make bets on who loses it first?"
Ginny pressed a kiss to his shoulder. "What will the winner get?"
Harry's mouth pressed against her ear. "Bragging rights."
And she couldn't help but laugh as she snuggled into his arms and a moment later, they were both fast asleep.
~ ASC ~
Hermione was startled awake by the snoring beside her. It was just loud and consistent enough that she wondered how she had slept through it all. She moved closer to the tall redhead who was making such sounds, and rested her chin on his chest. Her fingers danced through the short reddish gold hair there, a big smile on her face.
She and Ron had made love. Twice.
She shifted and winced a bit at the soreness it caused, but when she remembered what brought upon that soreness, she couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. She reached up to run her fingers through his thick mane of red hair and he stirred, those impossibly blue eyes blinking under long golden lashes.
"Hey," he said, his wide grin spreading across his freckled face.
"Hey," she said back.
Ron's arms came around her and the warmth that spread through her made her smile widen.
"I love you," Hermione said.
Ron's lips met hers for a tender kiss that stole her breath away. "I love you."
Hermione lifted her wrist to look at her watch and scrambled out of his arms. "Ron! It's three in the morning!"
Ron tucked his arms behind his head, comfortable in his nakedness spread out on the blanket, and cocked an eyebrow at her. "And?"
His jeans hit him in the chest.
"Get dressed! We're prefects!"
When his lips merely twitched in response, she scowled.
"Ron! It's three AM! We can't be caught out of bed at this time of night! Gryffindor Tower isn't exactly around the corner! Getting back to the portrait hole without being caught will be a miracle!"
She attempted to click her bra into place and Ron grabbed her waist, tugging her back down onto the blanket with him. His lips captured hers for a long kiss, ignoring her protests as his fingers tangled in that bushy dark hair that had seemed to get bigger from the heat of the Roman bath. She melted into his arms and sighed against his lips when he rested his forehead against hers.
"Breathe. We'll get back to the tower, I promise."
She let out a slow breath. "Without getting caught?"
"Without getting caught," he assured her. He kissed her again before he pulled back to look into her golden brown eyes. "How do you feel? Are you sore? I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Hermione's eyes softened as his hands ran up and down her back. "You didn't hurt me. I am sore, but in a good way."
His blue eyes stared into hers and when he spoke, it was a whisper. "Any regrets?"
"Not one," she replied. "But there is one thing?"
His eyebrow rose and her fingers danced along the nape of his neck. "What's that?"
"I'm a bit of a perfectionist…"
"Hermione, I know the first time wasn't the best, but the second was —"
"Better," she agreed, her lips curving. "So, the third time would be even better than the second, right?"
"Definitely," he said, his eyes twinkling.
"Which means, if my theory is correct, which of course it is, we'll have to practice — a lot. And you know how much I like to study every angle," she said, her hand slipping down to grip him in her hand, "and every position until I know for certain that we're both doing it perfectly. Don't you agree?"
Ron's breath hitched as her thumb stroked the head of his cock. "Completely."
Then his lips covered hers.
It was another thirty minutes before they scrambled for their clothes and snuck into the hall. By some miracle, they made it all the way back to Gryffindor Tower without being caught. He kissed her once more on the stairs and when he made it up to his dorm and climbed into his bed, he couldn't stop grinning.
~ ASC ~
Harry woke to a red haze around his eyes that made him blink in confusion before he realized that it was sunlight through the vibrant red hair of his girlfriend. At some point he had rolled onto his back, Ginny was sleeping curled up around him, legs tangled with his under the afghan. He wandlessly summoned his glasses, putting them on so that he could take her in. As he looked at her naked form he suddenly and vividly remembered what they had done last night and his already morning-ready cock, gave a twitch.
He let his fingers trail over her freckled shoulder, mentally ticking off the twelve freckles on her left shoulder as opposed to the ten on her right and it was only a moment before those chocolate brown eyes fluttered open. Her face snuggled into his chest before she sat up, the blanket falling down and giving Harry a spectacular view of her gorgeous tits.
"It's morning," she said.
Harry leaned forward to kiss one of her breasts. "Mmm, it is."
Ginny tugged his face up to hers to kiss him. "We stayed here all night."
"We did," he said, kissing her again.
She blinked at him. "If McGonagall finds out, we will be killed."
He chuckled. "Nah, she has a soft spot for us right now. Giving her the cup and all."
Ginny relaxed a bit at that and let Harry tug her back into his arms. His lips met hers and it was only a moment before she was pinned to the sofa, Harry rising over her as he kissed her thoroughly. His cock pressed against her hip and she moaned.
"Someone is very awake."
He grinned. "Yes, yes I am."
Ginny made to say something sassy, but Harry had suddenly shimmied down the couch and spread her legs. When he tossed his glasses on the table, her breath hitched, and then his mouth was on her. She bit her lip as Harry's mouth got to work and when she made a small gasp, Harry thought that waking up to this, to do this, next to her, was exactly where he wanted to be.
And then he swiped his tongue over her and the sound she made only spurred him on. Yes, he was exactly where he wanted to be.
~ ASC ~
Ginny had barely finished eating her breakfast that morning before Hermione was pulling her out of the Great hall.
"Hermione, where's the fire?" Ginny asked as she hastily swallowed her last bite of her toast.
By the time she and Harry had left the tower room and made it back to Gryffindor, she'd only had time for a quick shower to catch breakfast as it was. The fact that Harry had indeed missed breakfast made her wonder if she had tired him a little more than she thought. But now, she was hurrying after Hermione who moved surprisingly quickly for someone with short legs.
Hermione refused to answer her until they were out in the courtyard. Ginny sat with her on a bench in the corner by the wall, the warm morning sunshine shining down on them, and waited. She thought Hermione looked like she might burst. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide, and her hair seemed to be even more unruly than normal.
"What is it?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip. "I had sex."
Then she covered her mouth with her hand as if the words had slipped out.
Ginny's eyes widened. "You —really?"
She nodded. "I know it's weird because he's your brother, but I just had to tell someone and I can't exactly tell Harry and I… Ginny, are you cross with me for sleeping with your brother?"
Ginny smiled, surprised at the jealousy that swamped her. She was happy for her friend and her brother. It didn't matter that she and Harry had been dating longer. It didn't matter that she and Harry had done plenty of other things. Wonderful things. Downright naughty things, really. Just thinking about last night made her tingle all over as she remembered what it had felt like to have him in her mouth while his tongue had been... she crossed her legs discreetly. She knew that deep down, she wasn't ready to take that next step. Not yet. Though sometimes she wondered what was really holding her back. Was it Tom? Was it the memory of that bone or was it something more? Until she knew, she understood it wasn't the right time yet.
"Ginny? Did I lose you somewhere?"
"Sorry," Ginny said, shaking her head. "And no, of course I'm not cross with you! I'm not like Ron who has to make it all weird and awkward! Are you happy?"
"Yes," Hermione said, her cheeks flushing. "I'm a little sore this morning, but when I remember why it hurts, it's... it's worth it, you know? He was so gentle and so sweet and so careful. He kept making sure that I was okay and… are you sure you're okay talking about this?"
"Yes! You're my friend. Go on!"
Hermione blushed. "All right... it was just... it was just wonderful. I love him."
Ginny smiled. "I'm glad that he was good to you. He loves you very much."
Hermione's eyes brightened at those words. "And the second time, Ginny, it didn't hurt at all, outside of the general ache from the first time. But then it was just... lovely," she breathed, her brown eyes twinkling. "We went to the bath. You remember that Roman bath that we found when we were searching the chamber? We went for a dip and then he had set up a blanket and pillow and well... it wasn't planned, not really, but it was just right. We fell asleep there and when we woke we... we did it again."
"Hermione Granger!" Ginny exclaimed. "You naughty girl!"
Hermione grinned. "I can't stop smiling!"
"That's a good thing," Ginny told her.
"Exams start in one week, Ginny! I need to focus on my studies but then he looks at me like that…"
Ginny wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. "And you want him to take off your knickers."
Hermione's blush was enough of an answer.
"You'll study, Hermione. You always do. But don't be afraid to let Ron convince you to take a few healthy breaks. After all, an orgasm is very good for your health."
Hermione bit her bottom lip and Ginny laughed. She had a feeling that as much as her friend protested, it wasn't going to be Ron who was causing the distractions. She stood up, offering her hand to her friend.
"Come on. You can stay distracted by helping me study for my OWLs. I'll even let you make me a revision schedule as long as you promise to schedule me in Harry-time."
"Harry-time is not a real thing, Ginny," Hermione lectured. "OWLs are important! They help shape your whole future!"
"Uh-huh. And I need Harry-time to help me get my own healthy breaks in. Don't worry, I'll help add orgasm time to your chart, too."
Hermione sputtered in response and Ginny smirked as her friend hurried after her.
~ ASC ~
Snape tried to keep his temper in check as he stared at Dumbledore. He didn't understand how the old man before him could be so stubborn and tenacious. Snape had literally told him exactly what he needed to know, exactly what to worry about.
"I've done everything that you've ever asked me," Snape said, carefully. "I may have grumbled about it, but I've done it without question."
"And you will do this as well," Dumbledore said, calmly.
Snape's nostrils flared. "Just because the giants have suggested the causeway doesn't mean that it's the best place to meet. If I Imperius Slughorn there, who knows what could happen?"
"I trust you to reverse the effects immediately," Dumbledore told him. "You told me that he's considering attacking the school in an attempt to get to me and to Horace. If it's me that he wants, I will allow myself to be persuaded to leave the castle. Having Horace with me will only help."
"Persuaded to leave the... Bloody fucking Salazar, Albus! Are you even listening to yourself? This has too many holes in it! If you leave this castle, you might not come back!"
Dumbledore tapped his long fingers together. "I'm aware, Severus. But the safety of the student body is at question."
"And your safety isn't?"
"Would you care if it wasn't?"
Snape frowned. "You'd be walking into a trap! If you're lured out of the school, you have no protection but yourself."
"Am I so incompetent that this would worry you?"
"You're missing the point," Snape spat. "The Dark Lord is well aware of this meeting!"
Dumbledore tapped his fingers again. "I will be with Horace on the Giant's Causeway to speak with the Gurg. Ministry officials will be there, including Agent Mitchell Hoffman. Aurors and Defence Squad members will be there. We will be prepared for this and we won't be alone. You just need to play your role in the meantime. We will speak more of it at the meeting tonight."
Snape turned and stormed out of the room, his cloak billowing out behind him without responding. He didn't wait. He moved quickly through the castle and out to the Apparition point. He arrived in Ireland a moment later, moving towards the black stoned castle. The wolves let him through and he was greeted by Bellarosa.
"I wish to speak to the Dark Lord," he said.
Bellarosa nodded and disappeared into the room down the hall. A moment later she returned. "He'll see you now."
Snape moved into the room. Voldemort was seated in the large high back chair, a glass of scotch in his hand, and maps opened on the table before him. He didn't look up as Snape entered.
"Severus, Bellarosa says that you have news for me?"
"Yes, my Lord. I've come to tell you that Dumbledore has agreed to bring Slughorn along for the meeting with the Gurg on the Causeway."
Voldemort raised a brow. "Will he now?"
"Slughorn will be in place, my Lord. I guarantee it."
Voldemort leaned back in the chair, his red gleaming eyes staring at him. "And the other?"
Snape swallowed the bile that rose up in his throat. "I'll take care of it."
Voldemort's lips curved. "Excellent. And Severus, no matter the outcome of this meet, you must still pretend to be on their side until that precise moment. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"Good. We're going to need as much time as possible so that the potion will be an vital distraction. You're sure it will work?"
"Without a doubt, my Lord," Snape said. "Potter is enraptured by her. It very well could destroy him."
Voldemort's red eyes gleamed. "Well, that would be a delightful bonus, wouldn't it?"
Snape bowed as he left the room, closing the door behind him, but he didn't go home. Instead he headed down to the dungeons, nodding at Lucian Bole by the door and knocked on the first door on his left. The tall, skinny boy who opened it frowned when he saw him.
"Mr Pritchard," Snape said, curtly.
"Professor," the boy spoke.
"May I come in?"
Graham Pritchard moved away from the door to let Snape enter the room. Snape was vaguely aware of the large bedchamber and his eyes fell on the young sleeping girl in the big bed. At five months pregnant, her belly was obvious.
"Are you comfortable here?"
"Peachy," Graham said.
Snape bit his tongue to prevent himself from responding to the sarcastic comment. "Tomorrow when I instruct you, do as I say."
Pritchard raised an eyebrow. "And if I don't?"
Snape's dark eyes met his. "Trust me."
Pritchard swallowed, looking back at where his wife was sleeping. "And Shanae?"
"She's safe as long as she's pregnant."
Pritchard nodded, his eyes nervous. "I'll see you tomorrow, Sir."
Snape moved from the room and headed to the next one where Malcolm Baddock was staying to repeat the same message. Baddock was chained to the bed, naked and shivering in the chilly room. Snape immediately removed the chains and tossed him some clothes.
"Where's your wife?"
Baddock's eyes were dull as he spoke. "Haven't seen her in two days."
"And yet she left you tied up?"
Baddock nodded. "Alecto said her pregnancy made her randy. She said it's my job to be here for her when she needs a good shagging."
Snape bit back the vile that rose to his throat. He knew exactly what kind of horrible things Alecto Carrow Baddock was doing to her young husband. "Mr Baddock, tomorrow you will be coming to Hogwarts with us on a mission."
Baddock's eyebrows rose as he finished getting dressed, eagerly reaching for the food that had been sitting just out of his reach for the last two days. "I am?"
Snape refreshed the food for him as he nodded. "When I instruct you, you will do exactly as I say. Understood?"
Baddock nodded. "Yes, Sir."
Snape closed the door behind him, leaving Baddock to his meal just as Bellatrix came down the stairs.
"Severus, I didn't know that we had our little spy in the house."
"I'm just filling in a few of the young ones on the mission for tomorrow. It's a go."
Bellatrix's eyebrow rose. "And they'll be joining in?"
"The Dark Lord agrees with me that they're the best choice. The Order won't be seeing them as adversaries, but as children. They will be very helpful."
"And will probably end up dead," Bellatrix said. "But better them than us, I suppose. Baddock's already played his role anyway. With Alecto being pregnant, she doesn't have much need of him anymore outside of a good shag."
Snape only stared at her. "What are you doing down here?"
She held up the tray of potions she was carrying. "Pregnancy potions. We need to keep our young women strong and healthy."
Snape thought it was best not to mention the irony of her comment. "And you're the one providing it? I've been the one brewing them."
Bellatrix glowered at him. "These women will give birth to healthy pureblood children, Severus! They're bringing in the dawn of a new age! I'm just making sure that they're getting the potions you made."
Snape only nodded in response. "Make sure that you give them the vitamin potion as well. I'll brew another big batch of it and send it along this evening."
She nodded before her eyes danced in glee. "Oh, and Severus? Perhaps you should get Woodrow to fill in for Rudy tomorrow. I'm afraid that he's going to be terribly indisposed."
Snape raised an eyebrow as she licked her bottom lip. Her eyes were glinting in a madness that he knew that he had no desire to decipher. He knew better than to ask why her husband wouldn't be joining them. "I will speak to Woodrow then. Tomorrow."
As he left, he felt as greasy as his hair and he hoped that Woodrow Selwyn would be willing to step in for Rodolphus. The last thing he needed was for anything to go wrong tomorrow.
But he couldn't help but think that it was already too late for that.
~ ASC ~
Zee was grateful for McGonagall as the woman snuggled Mina in her arms at the Order meeting. Having an extra set of hands was always appreciated and when Remus took Leo from her, she smiled, stretching her arms. She absolutely loved being a mother and yet she still felt a twinge of guilt whenever she felt relieved that someone else wanted to hold her children even for a moment. Sorcha squeezed her hand and she felt better. Her mother always could understand her moods well.
The Order meeting was packed and it made Zee curious as to why Dumbledore had called them all forward. It was the last week of exams for most Hogwarts students and Zee was mentally ticking off the days until Harry would be coming home. He was writing his last final for History of Magic tomorrow morning and she knew that Ginny would be finishing her OWLs tomorrow afternoon. The sudden call for an emergency Order meeting had made her nervous and she wondered what was going on.
Almost the entire Order was present including Xander and Althea who were back in London for the next month. Althea was still worried about Dante Dragomir and she wanted to overturn every possible rock when it came to finding him. Their kids were staying with her brother Apollo and his wife, Medea, back in Greece. Charlie was the only member not present and Dumbledore hadn't informed Harry or the other students, which also concerned her. Though she was grateful for that as well as she knew that they were amidst exams. Despite how much Harry would want to be there, she desperately wanted him nowhere near the causeway tomorrow.
Dumbledore called the meeting to attention and tugged her away from her thoughts.
"As you know, there have been some rumblings about Voldemort as of late and the allies that he has been gathering. Before Christmas, three giants stepped into our alliance and since then we have been working towards helping the others decide to join our cause. The Gurg has finally agreed to a meeting tomorrow at seven on the Giant's Causeway in Ireland."
Remus' brow furrowed. "On the causeway? Albus, that's right in their territory."
"I'm aware," Dumbledore said.
Remus let out a slow breath. "Going to their territory is taking a huge chance. What if something happens and our undercovers don't get to you in time? There will be undercovers present, right?"
"I realize that there is risk, Remus, but this meeting with the Gurg has the potential to change everything. If we can convince the Gurg to turn to our side, we would be gaining a strong ally."
"I didn't mean..." Remus took a deep breath. "You think that he's going to hit the school."
"I think that he has plans to take the school at some point in an effort to get to Harry, but for now, I am the obstacle that he needs to cross. He wants me and he wants Slughorn and here we will both be, in the open speaking to the Gurg."
"And you're giving him the chance? Albus, this is still a very risky move," Remus insisted.
Dumbledore smiled. "I highly doubt that he will be the one to make an appearance tomorrow night, Remus. Severus tells me that he wants Horace to get to me. I am curious as to why. It seems like a very strange thing and I want to know why Horace would be the one he would send."
"Because you trust him!" Remus exclaimed.
Dumbledore frowned. "No, that's not something Voldemort would consider. There's something else at play here. I just haven't figured it out yet."
"That's because it feels like a trap," Moody barked, his scarred face making his sneer more pronounced.
"I fully expect there to be Death Eaters there tomorrow," Dumbledore told them. "But we won't be going alone either. Hoffman is already working with the Defence Squad to have Aurors and a unit there to assist if necessary. But we are going only to talk. As a show of our good faith, I will be joining Agent Hoffman and Horace to speak with them. We will present them with a gift and listen to what they have to say."
"The causeway has too many places for Death Eaters to be lying in wait," Tonks warned. "It's a prime spot for an ambush."
Moody still looked apprehensive. "Lupin's right, I don't know, Albus. Something about this doesn't sit well with me. Why go all the way out there?"
"Do you think that the giants can come any closer?" Dumbledore asked. "Hagrid attempted to speak to them before and it failed. This is our second chance and where they want to meet us."
Zee tapped her nails on the table. "It is the most logical place to meet considering how suspicious the giants would look if they came to us, but what exactly is the plan?"
"Thank you, Zahira," Dumbledore said. "There is a plan in place. Horace will have a chest full of potions and healing salves for the giants as part of the gift and I will enchant a branch of Gubraithian Fire."
Hagrid whistled. "That will impress 'em that will."
"It's a gift," Dumbledore continued. "One that we hope will help open the lines of communication. Severus?"
Snape's eyes were bored as he spoke. "The Dark Lord is aware of the meeting and there will be both vampires and werewolves nearby. Not many. He is only looking to spy himself, but he also wants to kidnap Horace if he can. He has need of him to brew a potion."
Slughorn turned sheet white at these words.
"We're not going to let that happen, Horace," Dumbledore assured him. "We will speak to the Gurg and that is it."
"Why does he want Slughorn?" Tonks asked. "What kind of potion?"
"I was once his professor," Slughorn said. "He was a bright boy with big ambitions and I helped him nurture that, but then when I began to see the side his ambition was taking… it scared me and I think he knew that. I… I know things about him."
"Things that Voldemort might consider dangerous to fall upon the wrong ears," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling.
What could Horace Slughorn possibly have that Voldemort wanted? Dumbledore said it was more than the man being his old head of house, but she didn't know what and she had a sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore not only knew the answer, but wasn't saying for a reason. Sirius had always told her the man was full of secrets. Zee's eyes met Remus and she knew that he was thinking the same thing before it clicked.
The Horcruxes, Zee realized with alarming clarity. Slughorn must have known he was thinking about them in some way. It was the only reason she could think of for wanting to go after an old professor.
"What about this potion?" Tonks repeated. "What kind of potion does Voldemort need Slughorn to brew over you?"
Snape pursed his lips. "I am not made aware of every step in the Dark Lord's plan. He will be giving me instructions tomorrow. We all have a role to play."
Tonks' eyes narrowed. "And what side will you be on tomorrow, Severus?"
"Severus knows his task," Dumbledore interrupted. "If the giants accept our gifts, hopefully they will listen to us talk. If we can hear them out and make an alliance with them, it will greatly hurt Voldemort's cause."
"And Dragomir?" Althea asked. "Has there been any news of him?"
"We're hoping to find out," Dumbledore told her. "Severus has confirmed that Voldemort has a new prisoner, but he hasn't been given access to them."
"I don't know who it is," Snape admitted. "But they've been well guarded and concealed and only Crouch and Bellatrix have been allowed in to see them."
McGonagall was rubbing Mina's back gently as she spoke. "He trusts them above all the others?"
Snape nodded. "Yes. They are his most sadistic followers and he gives them complete freedom to do what they wish on all of the prisoners."
"And you think that it's Dragomir?" Xander asked, gripping his wife's hand tightly.
"I believe so," Snape said. "But as I said, I have never seen who is being kept there."
"If it is Dragomir," Remus said. "We have a bigger problem. Althea warned us that Voldemort wants to use what Dragomir knows on Dumbledore."
"Yes," Dumbledore said, his brow furrowing. "But I do not believe just yet. This is about Horace. Voldemort wants him to be present at the meeting with the Gurg… I don't understand that. Horace doesn't speak Jötunn and he has no knowledge that I'm aware of that will be beneficial to have him there. No, this is about Slughorn and I think having him there might help us figure out why."
"So, you're going to dangle Slughorn like bait?" Tonks goggled. "Have we honestly sunk that low in terms of planning?"
"It's for the best," Dumbledore insisted. "We won't let anything happen to him. You will be on the causeway, Lupin, along with some of your best Aurors."
Tonks didn't look convinced by this.
Emmeline Vance raised her wand. "I have two other Hit Witches I'm bringing with me tomorrow. They've been training in the Terra Troops under Scrimgeour as well and they have a good eye. If something does go amiss, having as many trained witches and wizards out there can only help keep Slughorn safe."
Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you, Emmeline."
"I'll be ther' as well, Albus," Hagrid said.
Dumbledore nodded in thanks.
Slughorn was still pale, chewing on his bottom lip as if he still wasn't sure how he had been convinced to go along with this plan in the first place.
"Right, because it's all for the greater good," Remus muttered. Tonks squeezed his thigh under the table and he tried to calm himself as Kingsley spoke up.
"Everything will be set for tomorrow and people will be in place. If something does go wrong, backup will be available, but it should be a peaceful meeting with the Gurg and nothing more."
"But we're blatantly ignoring the fact that Voldemort wants both you and Slughorn and we're dangling both of you in front of the giants tomorrow like a big, shiny prize?" Moody said, gruffly.
"It's a peace talk," Elphias Doge repeated. "There's no need to be so paranoid about everything, Alastor."
Moody only gave the old man a stern look. "Constant vigilance is not the same as paranoia."
"There will be people around in case," Kingsley repeated. "Undercovers as Remus mentioned and agents from the DRCMC, the Defence Department, and a few others. Adrian and Maia have agreed to come once Snape told us there would be other wolves there."
"Echo as well," Remus said. "And a few others. We're still concerned about the wolf influx on Staffa and the causeway is right across the sea. It would be a smart Apparition point to be on Staffa and then ambush the causeway."
Kingsley nodded and explained who else would be nearby if they were needed, asking questions about the wolves that Remus did his best to answer.
It wasn't long before Dumbledore dismissed them, claiming that everything was in order for the next evening. McGonagall passed Mina back to Zee as she moved across the room to speak to Doge.
Misha stood up to speak to Dumbledore and Sorcha squeezed Zee's hand in hers. "You wish to go."
Zee hesitated, kissing her daughter's cheek as she held her. "Lady Godiva and I could help if needed, but…"
Sorcha smiled. "You are not a terrible mother for leaving them with me for the evening. Times are dangerous, mo ghràidh, and even mamas must fight when it's time."
Zee knew her mother was right and as much as she itched to be there tomorrow, to potentially witness peace talks with the giants, something that hadn't ever been done before in her lifetime, she knew that she didn't have to go. Yet there was something about this plan that unnerved her and she didn't know what it was. There would be undercovers around the area. Order members would be there. Remus and Tonks would be there. They would know if something happened, but to meet on the Causeway, to talk to the Gurg… she could understand why that made Remus nervous.
Zee thanked Remus when he passed Leo back to her. She held him firmly on her opposite shoulder, kissing her son's chubby cheeks as he smiled at her. "Perhaps I will put myself in the backup category for now. After all, it is just a meeting, right?"
Sorcha nodded, but Zee couldn't help but wonder if tomorrow night was going to be as simple as they all seemed to think.
~ ASC ~
Bellatrix was biding her time.
People always claimed that she was rash and prone to making poor choices because of a lack of patience, but she could be patient. She knew how to be patient when it mattered most and this… this mattered.
She had kept her eyes on Isabella, watching the beautiful young woman blossom into pregnancy, watching the way Rodolphus' eyes widened in wonder as her stomach grew with his child. Once the eighteen-year-old had passed the three month mark and the healer claimed her pregnancy looked good, Rodolphus had put his foot down. No one was to touch his bride.
Isabella was put up in one of the Lestrange flats in Paris. The studio flat was grand and took up the entire top floor of an old theatre. The apartment had six bedrooms, four baths, a large kitchen, a large dining room, a sitting room, and a small library. Rodolphus moved his new wife there and gave her an allowance to shop as much as she wanted. He was the only one allowed access to the flat, though Isabella, having proven herself worthy with her pregnancy, was given the freedom to go where she wished.
It infuriated Bellatrix.
Isabella and her shining long black hair, her perfect dark skin, and those golden eyes. She was all curves, young and beautiful, vibrant and new… everything Bellatrix would no longer be.
She hated her.
When the young woman hit four months pregnant, Rodolphus grew excited as he told Bellatrix how soon he would finally be a father, and she knew that she had come to her decision. Tomorrow, the Dark Lord had plans. He was expecting her to be there and she would be, with a big smile on her face, but tonight… tonight, she had something else important to take care of.
Bellatrix changed into black lace that barely covered the essentials before she summoned her husband up to their bedchamber in Avery Castle. When Rodolphus entered and took in her attire, his eyes widened.
"Bella, my love, you look stunning," he said, closing the door behind her. "You know I am off to Paris tonight. Isabella is alone and I want to keep an eye on her."
"I know," Bellatrix said, annoyed that he had once more chosen his young bride over her. She moved across the room to dance her fingers along his torso. "But you can be a bit late, can you not?" She took his hand, slipping it into her black knickers and his hazel eyes softened.
"I will always have time to pleasure you, Bella."
The joy that statement always brought her was shrouded in her anger and she clamped it down, letting her husband's fingers tease her before she spoke. "I brought a gift for you."
His eyebrow rose as she used her wand to open the bed curtains and he was greeted to the sight of the beautiful naked woman there. Her skin was soft, full breasts, small waist, long blonde hair. Her arms were tied above her head, holding her to the bed posts and she had a cloth stuffed in her mouth.
"For me?"
"For us," Bellatrix corrected, sliding her tongue over his cheek. "A Muggleborn. She was hiding in St Mungo's as a receptionist, pretending to be a real witch. Healer Pucey found her for us."
Bellatrix watched her husband's eyes sparkle. "How did he find her?"
"One of the surveys," Bellatrix told him. "I kidnapped her on her way home tonight. She's fresh, love. Dominic Pucey knows just what we like…"
Rodolphus nodded, pulling his wife into a long, passionate kiss that almost made her falter as his fingers continued to tease her. "May I?"
At her look, he took his wand and used the Cruciatus. The torture curse ripped through the young woman on the bed, her screams muffled by the gag as her body shook, pulling in unnatural ways and being confined by the chains. Bellatrix knew being chained up made the curse that much worse. Rodolphus' eyes gleamed before he lifted the curse and smiled at his wife when she undid his trousers, hand moving over his growing erection.
"You always know what pleases me, Bella," he said, using the torture curse on the woman again.
Bellatrix continued to undress her husband before she moved onto the bed. She danced her fingers over the woman's naked body, as she screamed in pain. Rodolphus removed the curse as the woman tried to catch her breath. Bellatrix leaned over her, flicking the woman's nipples until they hardened to peaks and then with her eyes on her husband, bent her head to suck on them. Rodolphus practically groaned in ecstasy, joining them on the bed.
The woman was crying as both Bellatrix and Rodolphus dragged their tongues over her breasts and then Bellatrix used the Cruciatus again and the woman screamed.
Bellatrix moved over to straddle her husband. "You know what the sounds of screams do to me…"
He kissed her, grinding himself against her as the woman screamed and cried next to them.
By the time they finished torturing the woman to death, Rodolphus was rock hard and she was even randier than she'd been before. Bellatrix shoved the body off the bed and demanded of her husband to use his mouth on her. He did. Over and over as she writhed in her own pleasure. She came three times before she finally straddled him and took him deep inside of her. She rode him quickly, eyes on his, and just when he was about to finish, she pulled away, nails dragging down his chest as she kissed him, hard enough to break the skin.
"Bella…" he groaned. "Bella, I need you."
Bellatrix smiled, her eyes on his as she licked his shaft. "You love it when I don't let you come."
"Let me come," he begged.
She smiled, her eyes gleaming in a familiar way that should have alarmed him, but her mouth was wrapping around him and he could think of nothing else. She sucked him, savouring him, and he moaned her name, his fingers in her dark curls.
"I'm close, so close," Rodolphus murmured. "Let me come in your mouth, love. I need this."
Bellatrix removed her mouth to give attention to his balls as he groaned. Her wand found her hand only a second before her jagged-edged dagger did. She wrapped her mouth around the tip of him just as the blade stabbed through his testicles. His eyes widened in shock as the scream tore through him, blood spilling like water and spraying Bellatrix's face.
She didn't stop sucking on him as she twisted the knife, slicing them clean off as more blood sprayed. She lifted her eyes to his and slowly removed her mouth from his cock, her hands smearing the blood up his chest as he stared at her with wide shocked eyes. The blade was still in her right hand as she spoke.
"I let you rape whomever you want," she said in a soft, mad voice as she smeared his blood all over his chest. "I let you fuck anyone as long as you always come home to me. I am your wife. Your real wife and yet you disrespected me and took another."
"Bella," he gasped. "Bella, please…"
She kept her eyes on him before she gripped his cock in her hand. "I let others do things to me when you want to watch. I always put you first. We torture and fuck together and yet, you still chose her over me."
"No," he begged. "I didn't! I didn't!"
Her dark eyes were full of manic gleam as she took the blade and finished the job with one clean slice. Rodolphus screamed. She moved from the bed, his mangled bollocks and cock in her hands and he watched in horror as she threw them into the fire. Then she grabbed her silk robe from the back of the door and with a small smile opened the bedroom door.
Dominic Pucey was waiting there, a small chest in his hands.
"Take care of my husband," Bellatrix said. "It's important that he doesn't bleed out. I very much want him alive."
Then she closed the door behind her and sauntered down to the large bath at the end of the hall.
Bellarosa opened the door as she approached, taking in the blood that covered Bellatrix's face, hands, and torso. "You did it then?"
Bellatrix closed the bathroom door behind her before she eyed the woman. "No one cheats on me, Bellarosa. No one."
Bellarosa nodded. "I feel very much the same. Now, let's get you a glass of wine as we clean off that blood, yes?"
Bellatrix nodded, her eyes still gleaming in madness. "Yes, let's do that. After all, tomorrow is a big day."
The cackle that tore through her was enough to make the hair on Bellarosa's arms stand up on end, but the woman didn't speak as she helped the other wash off her husband's blood.
~ ASC ~
Harry tugged out his mirror that evening with a glance at the clock. The sight of Zee's curly head made him pause. It was almost nine thirty and the twins usually were in bed by eight thirty on a good day; it was rare for Zee to call him so late. He frowned as he spoke into the mirror.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong, sweetie," Zee assured him, brushing a curl out of her eye. "How did your exam go? You had International Magical Relations?"
Harry nodded, settling himself in the armchair in the corner of the common room. "Yeah. It went good I think. Carthaginian explains things very well."
"And then the ancient Greek?" Zee asked.
"Semi-good," he said. "I think I passed, but I wouldn't hold out hope for much better than that."
"Well, you did say next year you're only going to focus on the core subjects to get into the academy and I think that's wise. NEWTs are difficult enough on their own without adding in extra classes," Zee said.
"Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, just History of Magic tomorrow and I'm free. This time next week I will be home."
"And I can't wait," Zee said, making him grin. "But there is something that I want to talk to you about."
Harry frowned. "I knew something was up."
"I wasn't going to bother you with it as I want you to be focused on your final tomorrow."
"I am," he assured her. "Hermione has been making me study for days. She spent three hours quizzing me this evening. I'm ready. Now, what's going on?"
"Sorry I'm late," Remus said, coming into the view of the mirror. "Harry, how did your International Magical Relations exam go?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Zee will fill you in. Uncle Remus, what's going on?"
Remus cleared his throat. "The giants have agreed to a peace talk on the evening of the twenty-third at seven."
"A peace talk? Wait, tomorrow night? Does that mean they don't want to follow Voldemort anymore?"
Remus hesitated. "It means that they are willing to listen if we are. Dumbledore says the plan is well in order. Professor Slughorn will be there, alongside Dumbledore, with a chest of potions as part of the gift. Agent Hoffman from the DRCMC will be there to help translate as Dumbledore only knows a little of the giant language."
"Mitchell has been working with them for years and the ones who spoke to him before Yule have joined our side. He's a wonderful magizoologist and he wants to help," Zee cut in.
Harry stared at the mirror, scratching his chin. "So, they'll be talking?"
"Yes," Remus continued. "However, there is risk involved. The Ministry is sending some agents and Aurors undercover to be in the area. If you remember, Staffa has been full of werewolves and the meet with the giants will only be across the sea on the causeway. We're expecting Voldemort to have spies nearby. Snape informs us he knows about the talk."
"So, it's a trap?"
Remus shook his head. "I don't know. We're prepared, Harry. The Defence Department has been building towards this kind of thing for the last year and a half. Sirius made sure that they would be ready if we needed them. Kingsley will have Aurors there himself, we'll all be carrying our coins in case something goes wrong and we need more help."
"Wait — you're going to be there?" Harry exclaimed. "Let me come, I —"
"No!" Remus and Zee both said at the same time.
"I've been training with Dumbledore," Harry insisted. "I'm ready. Let me be there to help."
"You have an exam tomorrow," Zee said. "You need to be at school where you belong."
"I'll be done that exam by eleven," Harry answered. "This isn't until the evening. If it's just a talk, let me come and see what's going on."
"No," Remus said again. "Harry, you have been training and I know how good of a fighter you've become, but you're still only sixteen."
"I'll be seventeen next month!"
Remus' look made him close his mouth.
"You're only sixteen," Remus continued. "School is your most important priority. If something does go amiss tomorrow, you will hear about it. But Dumbledore seems to think that this is the opportunity we've been waiting on and that Voldemort will make a move on Slughorn."
Harry frowned. "I thought that he gave up on him?"
"No, he's been biding his time according to Snape," Remus explained. "But it sounds like above all, he wants Slughorn. There's still a lot about this that I don't know. Dumbledore knows more than he's said and Snape himself only knows part of the plan. It seems that Voldemort is feeding him information on a step by step basis."
"That makes us both think that something else is at play," Zee said. "Remus and Tonks will be out there tomorrow night and so will I."
"Zee, don't go there. Mina and Leo need you."
"And they'll have me," Zee told him. "I've already spoken to Papa. The twins will stay with Mama here at the cottage and I will be with my father and Lady Godiva. He's one of the top Aurors in the Russian Ministry, Harry, and I have a panther. I can take care of myself."
Harry knew that was true, but he couldn't help but think three days from now would mark the one year anniversary of Sirius' death. If something happened tomorrow and he lost one of them too… He closed his eyes.
"You'll remember to shield like Papa does?"
Zee's eyes softened. "Promise."
"Harry, as soon as everything finishes up, I'll come to Hogwarts and we'll talk, all right? I will tell you everything that happens."
Harry nodded. "Okay."
Remus' whiskey eyes stared into his through the mirror. "Now, promise me you will stay at Hogwarts and not make any attempt to show up at the causeway tomorrow?"
Harry started to roll his eyes but Remus' look made him pause. "I'm not a complete idiot, you know."
"No. You're not an idiot at all and that's what concerns me," Remus said.
A smile tugged on Harry's lips. "I promise to stay at school like a good little boy."
Remus' expression sobered. "I know you're not a little boy anymore, Little Prongs. I know that you've become a man and I know that in one month you will be an official adult. But if anything, your lessons with Dumbledore and with Misha have only shown me what you're capable of. Forgive me for wanting you to be prepared rather than in the thick of it."
Harry swallowed. "Uncle Rem, I can help out there. I know I can."
"I know you can, too," Remus said. "But whatever happens tomorrow, you won't be in the thick of it. As far as Dumbledore is concerned, this is just a peace talk with the giants and nothing more."
"And as far as you're concerned?"
Remus exchanged a look with Zee. "I think it's a trap and one that I don't fully understand. Voldemort wants to get his hands on Dumbledore and we know that he wants Slughorn, putting them out in the open like this… I don't know, Harry. I think we're missing something. But what I do know, is that tomorrow night we will be out there and we will be ready for whatever comes our way or what doesn't."
Harry frowned. He didn't think that was really an answer.
Zee blew him a kiss. "We love you. Get some sleep and do amazing on that exam tomorrow like we know you will."
"I love you, too," he said.
"Call me after the exam and tell me how it goes."
Harry smiled. "I will."
"And Harry? After the talk tomorrow night, I'll meet you in my suite. I'll tell you everything." Remus promised.
Harry only nodded, still unsure as to what this supposed peace talk was going to accomplish.