Chapter 10: Finally Alone and Luna's Tasks
24 February 1995, Professor McGonagall's Office, Hermione knocked. They entered after McGonagall bid them in. She looked at her two students, a small smile came to her face.
"I am going to be giving you private quarters. Normally, something I am against with a male and female student. Since the biggest problem seems to be coming from your own house." McGonagall said, seemingly grim. "I noticed both, Weasleys had their wands out."
"Do you know if they cast anything?" Hermione asked, worried.
"Not that I am witness to, Miss Granger," McGonagall answered, looking at Hermione. "If you flash when you kiss. There was a spell on the one that flashes."
"Is there any way we can go to Gringott's tomorrow?" Hermione asked, looking at McGonagall.
"As your Head of House, I can authorize you going. Is there a reason?" McGonagall answered, curious.
"Harry has some family business," Hermione answered, smiling.
"I guess this has to do with what should have happened his first time there?" McGonagall asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, it does," Hermione said, nodding.
"Very well, meet me here, after breakfast, tomorrow. I hope you will be back before dinner time." McGonagall said, looking between the two. "I will have your new quarters ready, by the time you return."
"Make sure the house-elves don't overwork themselves," Harry said, looking concerned.
"You always seem to find ways to surprise me, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said, looking at Harry.
"I just agree with my girlfriend about these things," Harry said, looking at Hermione and smiling.
"If someone tells you we were not in our dorms, it is because of a warning we got," Hermione said, looking worried.
"Care to elaborate?" McGonagall asked, concerned.
"A friend, we trust, said if we go to our dorms, we would die," Hermione answered and sighed. "They have not been wrong yet."
"It has to do with our Weasley problem," Harry said, looking down. "We give you our word. All we will do is sleep. I am not ready for anything else just yet, with the tournament and other problems."
"Unfortunately, the quarters, in question, are not ready yet," McGonagall said, looking between the two.
"We have a place, we can sleep," Hermione said, smiling lightly. "We want to wait for after we are married before we do anything other than what we have been."
"A wise decision on your parts. You will, of course, talk to Poppy if you change your minds?" McGonagall stated, looking stern.
"Of course, we are not ready for children." Hermione answered, looking down.
"So I should expect a status change soon?" McGonagall asked her lips curled slightly.
Hermione nodded slightly. "Hopefully betrothed soon."
"Very well, your new quarters will be permanently assigned to you, until you graduate," McGonagall said, nodding. "It will ruffle a few feathers, but those feathers deserve to be ruffled." She smiled.
Her smile caught the teens off guard.
"Merlin knows, Mr. Potter deserves some happiness in his life," McGonagall said, looking at Harry. "Off you go, I will see you two after breakfast."
The teens nodded and left the office. They headed back to the unused classroom.
Inside the classroom, Hermione had locked the door. She then turned and studied the desks. She was deep in thought when Harry wrapped his arms around her from behind. He didn't say anything, just held her.
"It might be easier to just make one bed." She said and blushed, from embarrassment.
He buried his face in her hair. "Well, we will be fully clothed and sleeping."
"I never shared a bed before." She said, nervous.
"Neither have I, but I could think of worst people to share it with." He said as he nodded his agreement.
"I will make a place for us to change." She said, looking at the blackboard, it would do for a privacy screen. "The teacher's desk will be big enough to make a bed." She pointed her wand at the blackboard.
The blackboard shifted and turned into a divider.
She reluctantly stepped away from him. "I am going to get changed for bed. Then you can." She said, walking over. She looked at him. Her eyes found his, she sighed. Then she went behind the divider to change into her nightclothes.
When she came out, she was wearing a nightgown, and dressing robe. She went to the desk and began to prepare it. "Get changed. You can stare at me all you want after you are done."
He gathered his things and went to the divider. He looked at her. "How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?" He asked and went to get changed.
"I wonder the same thing." She sighed and returned to preparing the desk.
Waving her wand, the desk transfigured into a slightly bigger version of their beds in the dorms. She frowned. She had hoped for a little bit bigger. It would have to do. Looking over, her eyes went wide. Her mouth opened agape.
He was in a pair of pajamas and a dressing gown. The pajamas were ones she had sent him. It was a simple gesture. Something to make him comfortable, when he was at the Dursleys. She had gotten them while in France. "I always sleep in these." He said, smiling. They were getting small but still fit well. When she got them, she chose a couple of sizes too big.
She smiled. Walking over, she wrapped him in a hug. "Does it have to do with how they feel, or who gave them to you?"
"Both." He answered and returned her hug. "Mostly because you gave them to me. I am glad now they were oversize."
"I did it because you were used to wearing oversize things. They seem to fit better now." She said, looking at the bed. "I was hoping for a bit bigger, but you have to keep the mass. I stretched it to the limits of the base materials."
"We can make it work. I am fine sleeping close to you." He said and kissed the top of her head. "Anyone else, and I'd make another bed."
"I wouldn't share a bed with anyone else either. Ginny tried. I sleep on her floor, at the Burrow." She said, looking at him again.
"Another reason to not go to that place." He said, smiling.
"Well, time to quit avoiding it." She said and went over to the bed. "The door can't be unlocked until I lower the charm." She placed her dressing robe at the foot of the bed and turned down the covers.
He came over and did the same, on his side.
"Time to see what our marriage bed will be like." She said, giggling as they climbed into bed. She turned to face him. "Good night, my love."
"Good night, my heart." He said, getting comfortable.
Soon sleep overcame them.
At first, Hermione was confused. She was lying in bed. Her pillow was harder than she remembered. It was covered in a soft material. There was a hard object next to her. She was up against it. Her leg was over it. She felt something else under her leg. Her eyes opened. She had her head on someone's chest. They had their arm around her. She felt safe. Slowly, she looked up into their face. It was Harry. The night before came back to her. She smiled. They must have changed positions in the night. She was cuddled up next to him. She sighed. 'I could get used to this.' She felt bad for her older self, never getting to wake up like this every morning. Then and there, she was glad her older self came back to make changes. She felt his breathing change. Then she noticed what her leg was on. Her eyes went wide. The arm around her squeezed her tight.
His eyes opened, he looked at her. His cheeks flushed red. "Sorry." It was a whisper.
Realizing why he had said it, she blushed. "Don't be." She replied, snuggling close to him. "I take it as a compliment. Good morning, Love." She moved up and pecked his lips.
"Good morning, Beautiful." He said, smiling.
She handed him his glasses. "As much as I would love a lay in, we have a busy day." She sighed and got up. She stretched. "Best nights sleep, I have had."
"Me too." He agreed and got up. He quickly grabbed his dressing robe.
She giggled. "No need to be embarrassed." She said, looking at him.
He looked away and blushed.
She looked down, her nightgown had shifted, it barely was covering her chest. She blushed, adjusted it, and grabbed her dressing robe. Putting it on, she went to a desk and grabbed her wand.
He raised his hands in surrender.
She giggled and returned the bed into the desk.
"Hard to believe we slept on a desk, with a couple of books and parchment." He said smiling, magic was great.
"It makes me happy." She paused. "When I see you look like that. We have been around magic for four years. Yet, it still amazes you."
"You amaze me, Hermione." He admitted smiling at her. "You always have."
She looked at him, adoringly. She sighed. "We better get changed and head to breakfast." She said, smiling at him. She took her clothes to get changed.
He gathered his things and waited his turn.
As soon as they were dressed and everything was returned to its original form, they left for the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall, Harry and Hermione went and sat at their normal spot. Ivy was next to enter and scowled at the Slytherin table and joined Harry and Hermione. Luna skipped into the Hall and sat next to Hermione, after hugging her. Neville was followed by Hannah and Susan.
"We got work in the greenhouses." Neville said, sitting down next to Ivy.
The two girls sat next to Neville. They seemed nervous.
Ivy smiled. "Relax, none of us bite." She paused. "Unless you ask us to. Then probably Neville will."
Neville and the girls blushed.
"I'm kidding," Ivy said, giggling. "The rumors are bad. People have Hermione sneaking into the kitchens at night. Neville here has a harem forming. Luna is Harry's second girlfriend. And I am the future Mrs. Viktor Krum."
"Wait, I'm doing what?" Hermione asked, confused.
"Sneaking into the kitchens at night. Supposedly you did it last night." Ivy answered, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I can prove I wasn't there last night," Hermione said upset. "Wait." She remembered fake Moody. "Polyjuice."
"You mean someone turned into you and went to the kitchens?" Harry asked, upset as well.
"They could have gotten a hair from my hairbrush. My things are still in the dorm." Hermione answered, thinking. "It would have to be a Gryffindor."
"Ginny?" Harry asked in thought. "We sort of had the elves keep her out of the kitchens."
Hermione grabbed Harry's cheeks and kissed him. Both, she and Harry, flashed brightly.
Everyone, in the hall, looked at the two of them. They were all in shock.
Hermione scanned the table looking for a specific redhead. Seeing Ginny, Hermione scowled at her.
"I will handle Ginny," Luna said, smiling. "You have to go. Set an appointment for a week after summer vacation begins. Remember to get betrothed." She hugged Hermione.
"We get private quarters when we get back," Hermione said, returning Luna's hug. "You be careful."
"I got help," Luna said, smiling again. "Ivy will be with me as well."
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, follow me." McGonagall said as she walked up to them.
"Miss Granger." Professor Snape said, scowling at Hermione.
"She has permission, Severus." McGonagall said, glaring at the Potions Professor. "The Headmaster agreed with me. This is an extreme circumstance."
"Fine, but not in my classroom," Snape said, walking off sulking.
McGonagall turned back to the two teens. "I will make sure everything is all set by the time you return." She said, leading them from the Great Hall.
Luna looked around. She had to help Harry and Hermione. She had gotten some of the potion stores over the last couple of months. It seems like someone was helping the Weasleys, from inside the castle. Professor Snape was out. She had already looked into it. Having Ivy around paid off when researching the Head of Slytherin House.
Luna looked at Ivy. Soon they would be heading to the kitchens. If a fake Hermione was there, then it meant trouble. It was obviously Ginny. How to prove it? How much potion does Ginny have? What else are they planning on using it for?
Ivy looked at Luna and nodded. They got up and left the Great Hall.
"Who was talking about Hermione being in the kitchens last night?" Luna asked, turning her silvery eyes towards Ivy.
"A couple of Slytherin prefects." Ivy answered and shivered. "They missed her, but got a good enough look to know it was her." Would she ever get used to those eyes?
"Okay," Luna said and smiled. "So, we suspect Ginny is using polyjuice to get Hermione in trouble."
They approached the painting of a bowl of fruit, Luna tickled the pear and opened the door. They entered the kitchen.
"Hello," Luna said. smiling at the house-elves. "Can one of you find the time to answer a few questions we have?"
"Oh, Miss Loony," Dobby answered, smiling at Luna. "I can answer questions."
"Was Hermione here last night?" Ivy asked, looking at the strange creature.
"Oh, yes, Miss Hermy came in. she gave Tipsy a nutrient potion for Master Harry," Dobby answered, looking between the two girls. "Also said to give one to herself."
"Do you have the bottles?" Luna asked, frowning. "We think they weren't nutrient potions. Also, it wasn't Hermione. Ginny used polyjuice."
An elf off next to a table dropped something. "Tipsy is sorry. She acted and sounded like Miss Hermy."
"You are not in trouble," Ivy said, smiling. "We just need the bottles the potion was in."
Tipsy nodded and vanished. A little bit later, the elf reappeared holding two bottles. He handed them to Ivy.
Ivy sniffed them. She frowned. "Liquid Lust? Ewe."
Luna frowned. "At least she kissed Harry." She said. Her smile returned.
"I do not want to know how they got the hairs from Krum. They need to be from a certain area of the body. Ron's, of course, being a Weasley, would be understandable. Both are in hers. Harry's was just Ginny's hairs."
Luna nodded. "I will add them to the rest of the ones I got." She said as she took the bottles. "Do I want to know how you knew the hairs used?" She smiled at Ivy.
"Well, Krum reeks of cologne. I got enough of that at the Yule Ball. And Ron would be obvious." Ivy answered and scowled. "Ginny wears this flowery perfume. I got two male scents from one and one female scent from the other. Now, Liquid Lust is a N.E.W.T. potion. So if brewed here, you need to find a Sixth or Seventh year helping them."
Luna nodded. "Or their brothers."
"Oh yeah, the troublemaker twins. It's not above their ability to brew it." Ivy said, smiling wickedly. "They might have seen it as a prank."
"I will have to find them and ask about what they know," Luna said, looking dreamy. "They might be able to help us."
"Or we will be tipping off the enemy to us." Ivy said, frowning. "They won't talk to me. I'm Slytherin. You have a better chance as a Claw. I do owe them for a couple of pranks they pulled on me, two years ago. So I can pay them back if they cause problems."