AN: Check the first chapter for disclaimers

Certain sections of this chapter have been cut short in the FF version. Check out AO3 for the full version. I intend to continue this practice from this point on, to protect the 'delicate FF readers' who don't read disclaimers. My username on ao3 is Indigogus.

Now, Enjoy!

Knowing that he couldn't refuse because of the contract he had signed, and why would he even want to really, Helen had asked Chester to give Susan a good time. He had taken her on an exploration date around the castle on Sunday. Later Susan had turned up glowing, with thoroughly kissed lips that were permanently stretched in a huge smile, advertising her satisfaction and enjoyment.

Susan had sincerely thanked her for the make-over and her advice. She, of course, was unaware that Helen had set the date up. Since Robert was in the same boat, Helen planned on him taking Susan out next and maybe going a step further.

Helen looked over her latest follower dressed gothically, in a tight little black dress which showed a hint of cleavage and left her arms bare. The dress was on the shorter side, showing the top of the fishnet stockings that covered her legs and ended in black heeled boots. While her accessories were also black, her makeup was normal, accentuating her eyes and bringing out her beauty.

Helen had transformed her from just another redhead into a hot gal with a preference of black clothing. Right now, she was listening to Hermione giving an explanation regarding computers and the internet, having dropped muggle studies on Helen's advice leaving her with just CoMC and Ancient Runes.

Susan approached Helen after the class was over. "I had fun today. Chester was nice, just like you said. I was slightly apprehensive of going out with an older boy but he was a gentleman the whole time." Smirking coyly, she continued "Well, at least, until I forced him to not be by claiming his lips."

Helen smirked in reply nodding towards her lips "I can see that. I'm glad you had a good time. So, what do you think of dating now?"

"Well," said Susan, still playing innocent, "I've only been on one date, with just one boy. How can I tell without having more to compare?"

Helen's smirk widened at that, "Now, that's my girl. I agree with your assessment. You should certainly have a larger set to draw any conclusions. I wish you luck in your endeavors." She gave auburn hair girl a mock salute, before both dissolved into giggles.

XXXXX

Helen joined her friends for lunch on Monday. Since she didn't have any classes in the morning, she had remained in the oval the whole morning researching her next ritual. It wasn't an essential ritual but might give some unexpected positive results. Helen had planned on doing it next weekend.

As she sat down, Mandy leaned over to her, "Hey, Helen, have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning — they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted."

"Where?" Helen asked, as she made her plate.

"Not too far from here, Helmsdale I think." said Mandy, who looked excited. "It was a Muggle who saw him. Of course, she didn't really understand. The Muggles think he's just an ordinary criminal, so she phoned the telephone hotline. By the time the Ministry of Magic got there, he was gone."

"Hmm," Helen replied nonchalantly, thinking about what exactly was Black's plan. She knew the rumours of course that he was coming to Hogwarts to go after her, to finish what his master started. Obviously that was not true, considering that he wasn't a death eater. So what is his motive to come here risking capture and Dementors?

She tried thinking from every angle and the only reason she could think of was that he wanted to check on her, but that was just plain stupid of him. If something were to happen to her, it would have been national news and would have even reached him in Azkaban.

So either Azkaban had addled his mind or his motive was something different. Considering that he broke out of the most secure prison in the world, Helen was leaning towards the latter.

Since, at this moment, all she could do was wait and see, Helen shrugged off the issue and made her way to the first Defense against the Dark arts class of the year.

Professor Lupin wasn't there when they arrived at his first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. They all sat down, took out their books, quills, and parchment, and were talking when he finally entered the room. Lupin smiled vaguely and placed his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He was as shabby as ever but looked healthier than he had on the train, as though he had had a few square meals.

"Good afternoon," he said. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags. Today's will be a practical lesson. You will need only your wands."

The class got excited as practical classes, while rare, were hugely popular under Lockhart. If Lupin was more practical focused, he would become a very popular figure very soon.

"Right then," said Professor Lupin, when everyone was ready. "If you'd follow me."

Puzzled but interested, the class got to its feet and followed Professor Lupin out of the classroom. He led them along to the ground floor, where the first thing they saw was Peeves the Poltergeist, who was floating upside down in midair and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum.

Peeves didn't look up until Professor Lupin was two feet away; then he wiggled his curly-toed feet and broke into song.

"Loony, loopy Lupin," Peeves sang. "Loony, loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin —"

Rude and unmanageable as he almost always was, Peeves usually showed some respect toward the teachers. Everyone looked quickly at Professor Lupin to see how he would take this; to their surprise, he was still smiling.

"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said pleasantly. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get into his brooms."

Peeves paid no attention to Professor Lupin's words, except to blow a loud wet raspberry. Professor Lupin gave a small sigh and took out his wand.

"This is a useful little spell," he told the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely."

He raised the wand to shoulder height, said, "Waddiwasi!" and pointed it at Peeves.

With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shot out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirled upright and zoomed away, cursing.

"Cool, sir!" said Ron Weasley in amazement.

"Thank you, Ronald," said Professor Lupin, putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?"

They set off again, the class looking at shabby Professor Lupin with increased respect. He led them down a second corridor and stopped, right outside the staffroom door.

"Inside, please," said Professor Lupin, opening it and standing back.

The staffroom, a long, paneled room full of old, mismatched chairs, was empty. Professor Lupin directed them all inside. Quickly, the excited class filled the room.

"Now, then," said Professor Lupin, beckoning the class toward the end of the room, where there was nothing but an old wardrobe where the teachers kept their spare robes. As Professor Lupin went to stand next to it, the wardrobe gave a sudden wobble, banging off the wall.

"Nothing to worry about," said Professor Lupin calmly because a few people had jumped backward in alarm. "There's a Boggart in there."

Most people seemed to feel that this was something to worry about. Neville Longbottom gave Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and Susan eyed the now rattling door knob apprehensively.

"Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces," said Professor Lupin. "Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks — I've even met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice.

"So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"

No hands raised immediately. Hermione looked eager to answer the question but tempered her desire, now knowing that the teacher asked such questions for the benefit of those who didn't know the answer. After a few seconds, Lavender Brown tentatively raised her hand.

"It's a shape-shifter?" she put that up like a question. When Lupin nodded and smiled at her, she went on a little more confidently, "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most."

"Couldn't have put it better myself," said Professor Lupin, and Lavender glowed. "So the Boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us fear the most.

"This means," said Professor Lupin, choosing to ignore Neville's small sputter of terror, "that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Ron?"

Weasley's face was all scrunched up in thought and slowly he spoke up.

"Er — because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?"

"Precisely," said Professor Lupin, "it's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart, it becomes confused. I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake — tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening.

"The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing.

"We will practice the charm without wands first. After me, please... riddikulus!"

"Riddikulus!" said the class together.

"Good," said Professor Lupin. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where I'll need some assistance. Neville?"

The wardrobe shook again, though not as much as Neville, who walked forward as though he were heading for the gallows.

"Right, Neville," said Professor Lupin. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?"

Neville's lips moved, but no noise came out.

"I didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," said Professor Lupin cheerfully.

Neville looked around rather wildly, as though begging someone to help him, then said, in barely more than a whisper, "Professor Snape."

Nearly everyone laughed. Even Neville grinned apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looked thoughtful. Helen, who had been paying only the barest of attention to the class, got interested as well.

"Professor Snape... hmmm... Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?"

"Er — yes," said Neville nervously. "But — I don't want the Boggart to turn into her either."

"No, no, you misunderstand me," said Professor Lupin, now smiling. "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?"

Neville looked startled, but said, "Well... always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress... green, normally... and sometimes a fox-fur scarf."

"And a handbag?" prompted Professor Lupin.

"A big red one," said Neville.

"Right then," said Professor Lupin. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"

"Yes," said Neville uncertainly, plainly wondering what was coming next.

"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape," said Lupin. "And you will raise your wand — thus — and cry 'Riddikulus' — and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, and that green dress, with that big red handbag."

There was a great shout of laughter. The wardrobe wobbled more violently. Helen looked on as well, it would be amusing either way, if Neville succeeded or failed.

"If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to shift his attention to each of us in turn," said Professor Lupin. "I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most, and imagine how you might force it to look comical..."

Helen, frowned, already aware what scared her the most and didn't want the whole class to see that. Many people had their eyes shut tight. Padma was muttering to herself, "Defang it." Helen wondered if Padma was scared of some kind of snake.

"Everyone ready?" asked Professor Lupin.

"Neville, we're going to back away," said Professor Lupin. "Let you have a clear field, all right? I'll call the next person forward… Everyone back, now, so Neville can get a clear shot —"

They all retreated, backed against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. He looked pale and frightened, but he had pushed up the sleeves of his robes and was holding his wand ready.

"On the count of three, Neville," said Professor Lupin, who was pointing his own wand at the handle of the wardrobe. "One — two — three —now!"

A jet of sparks shot from the end of Professor Lupin's wand and hit the doorknob. The wardrobe burst open. Tall, dark and dangerous, Severus stepped out, his eyes flashing at Neville.

Neville backed away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Severus was bearing down upon him, reaching inside his robes.

"R — r — riddikulus! " squeaked Neville.

There was a noise like a whip crack. Severus stumbled; he was wearing a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, and he was swinging a huge crimson handbag.

There was a roar of laughter, even Helen had to laugh, this was just too hilarious; the Boggart paused, confused, and Professor Lupin shouted, "Parvati! Forward!

Parvati walked forward, her face set. Snape rounded on her. There was another crack, and where he had stood was a huge King cobra, while was poised to strike, showing its fangs -

"Riddikulus!" cried Parvati.

The fangs dropped to the ground comically like a denture, leaving the snake defanged, literally.

"Seamus!" roared Professor Lupin.

Seamus darted past Parvati.

Crack! Where the snake had been was a woman with floor length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face — a banshee. She opened her mouth wide and an unearthly sound filled the room, a long, wailing shriek that caused goosebumps on Helen's arms — "Riddikulus!" shouted Seamus.

The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat; her voice was gone.

Hermione stepped up next and the boggart turned into… Helen. Helen was taken aback for a second, before the boggart turned away from Hermione, as if deserting her.

With a choke, Hermione cried "Riddikulus!" and the boggart turned into a cute kitten playing with a yarn.

Crack! The kitten turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then —crack! — became a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before —crack! — becoming a single, bloody eyeball.

"It's confused!" shouted Lupin. "We're getting there! Dean!"

Dean hurried forward.

Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began to creep along the floor like a crab.

"Riddikulus!" yelled Dean.

There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap.

"Excellent! Ron, you next!"

Ronald leapt forward.

Crack!

Quite a few people screamed. A giant Acromantula, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing on Weasley, clicking its pincers menacingly. The boy, however, showed courage and stood his ground and then-

"Riddikulus!" bellowed Weasley, and the spider's legs vanished; it rolled over and over; Lavender Brown squealed and ran out of its way and it came to a halt at Helen's feet.

Crack! There was a little skeletal girl, with very little clothes which were tattered and dirty. Her hair was limp and she was bent over, as if unable to support her weight. She started raising her head, but before her eyes became visible-

"Here!" shouted Professor Lupin suddenly, hurrying forward. Crack!

The girl vanished. For a second, everyone looked wildly around to see where the boggart was. Then they saw a silvery-white orb hanging in the air in front of Lupin, who said, "Riddikulus!" almost lazily.

Crack!

"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" said Lupin as the Boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined.

"Riddikulus!" he shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the Boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone.

Helen was annoyed with Lupin because he had deliberately stepped in between her and the boggart. What did he think? That it'd turn into Voldemort? What nonsense!

Still annoyed, Helen missed the class dismissal, but as she saw Hermione moving out, she quickly went to her side and pulled her into a dark alcove.

She hugged the girl tightly, whispering sweet nothings, as she cried. Once Hermione had calmed down somewhat, Helen pulled her away slightly to look into her eyes. "I'll never leave you, Hermione. I promise that. Moreover, I'll not let anyone take you away from me. You are stuck with me now, forever," she said with a smile.

Hermione cheered up at her quip and hugged her again tightly. After a few moments, she pulled away only to smash her lips to Helen's. Her tongue swiftly invaded Helen's mouth seeking her's and started duelling aggressively. After making out furiously for a few minutes, she pulled back slightly to lean her forehead against the taller girl and whispered softly, "I love you, Helen."

"I love you too, Hermione." Helen replied and gave the brunette a peck on the lips.

As they separated, Hermione asked Helen about her boggart. "Who was that girl? Your boggart?"

Helen considered whether she should answer, and after pondering for a bit decided to answer, "That was me. Or rather what I would have become if I didn't have magic, if I was powerless."

Hermione looked horrified and Helen explained her earlier life to her girlfriend after ordering her to never repeat what she told her. She then went on to explain what she had done to the Dursleys, essentially brainwashing and enslaving them. Hermione looked concerned for a moment, before accepting Helen's judgement on the matter.

Soon, Hermione had to go to history, something Helen had taken to completely skip this year, so they separated after exchanging another kiss and went separate ways, with Helen heading to the dungeons. She planned on telling Severus about Neville's boggart, making sure he would be extra cruel to the chubby boy. The Longbottom heir's psychological torture was quite fun to watch.

XXXXX

The tryouts were brief for the Ravenclaw house quidditch team with Micheal and Isabel Newton, Roger's dorm mate, selected as reserves, and everyone else keeping their positions.

After the tryouts, Helen went back to her room to freshen up and get ready for a date with Cedric. Since the dementors had ruined any outdoor option by turning the weather cold and depressing, they were going to have their date in the room of requirement with a house elf servicing the food. Helen already had a format in mind for the room and was going to dress accordingly.

She wore a short yellow wrap dress with small pink flowers printed over it and short sleeves. The dress was held in place by a tie under her breasts, which she had knotted under her right side. Because of the nature of the dress, it had a deep V neck which showed a hint of her cleavage and most of her right thigh whenever she walked.

She paired the dress with simple brown slip-on sandals and yellow hoops to match the dress. She kept the makeup light and her hair open, kept in place over her left shoulder by some subtly hidden hairpins. Helen inspected herself one last time in the mirror, picked her handbag and went out to the oval, receiving wolf whistles from her yearmates.

"Don't wait up," she quipped with a smirk and descended to the common room. Once outside, she looked around and found Cedric waiting just a few feet away from the entrance of the Ravenclaw common room, leaving against the wall. He was also in easy going clothes of chinos and a full sleeve form fitting top, with the sleeves folded halfway up his forearms, showcasing his toned and muscular frame, looking scrumptious.

As he spotted her, a smile bloomed on his face. He pushed away from the wall and approached her, taking her hand and giving her a peck on her lips. "You look stunning," he whispered in her ear.

Helen gave him a lingering kiss on his check and whispered back, "You look quite ravishing yourself. I see that you followed my suggestion of light clothing. Good."

"So, where are we going?" asked Cedric once they separated from their amorous greeting.

"You'll see. Come." Helen replied and started leading him towards the Room of Requirement. On the way there, she explained to him about the Room of Requirement and how it was the greatest place in Hogwarts. She let go of his hand and started pacing in front of the blank wall, while concentrating on what she wanted.

On her third pass, a door appeared and they went inside to appear in a small beach-house with white walls. They appeared in the living room which had floor to ceiling windows at the back showing a beautiful white sandy beach and clear blue water with gentle waves lapping the shore. The light was not too bright with an artificial sun fixed low in the horizon and the weather was warm.

Cedric appeared surprised and amazed at where he was and what the room could do. However, Helen soon pulled him out of his observation and pulled him out of the back, leaving her handbag and sandals at the porch and stepped in the sand barefoot. Cedric followed her example and got rid of his shoes, folded his trousers and they walked in the lapping water hand in hand. They had a lovely romantic walk along the beach while they talked about random topics. After a while, they turned back on the never ending beach and started walking back to the beachhouse. Once back, Helen, with a seductive smirk, let go of Cedric's hand and untied the knot holding her dress together.

Cedric's eyes widened at her action and nearly popped when she slowly, sensually unwrapped her dress, displaying to him a tiny yellow bikini she was wearing underneath. She let the dress drop, stepped up to him while swaying her hips and gave him a kiss next to his ear and whispered saucily, "Coming?"

She then skipped away and went into the calm blue water. Cedric stood there for a moment with a gaping mouth, before springing into action, undressing and running after her into the water. They swam around, played and splashed each other for about an hour before Cedric carried her back to the house. Helen had her legs wrapped around his waist while his hands held her almost bare bum tightly, taking advantage of her tiny thong. Their lips were moving tantalizingly against each other as Cedric stepped out of water and onto the huge towel spread on the beach, courtesy of the elves.

Cedric gently lowered her on the towel and straightened up to gaze at her with heated eyes. Helen knew she would be a voluptuous sight, wet and lying vulnerably, with barely there scraps of clothes covering her bits. Feeling mischievous, Helen reached for the basket, pulled out a plate full of fruits and looked at him coyly, "Hungry?"

The look on his face was priceless, but Cedric being a gentleman, put up a brave face and sat down beside her, picking an apple to bite into it. Helen, however, was not done teasing and picked up a strawberry, bit into it and moaned at the taste exaggeratedly.

Cedric's head whipped towards her, as he looked at her dazed and aroused, and a tent reappeared in his underpants. Helen took another bite and moaned again, closing her eyes. She did not get a chance to take a third bite into the fruit, as her mouth was claimed by Cedric's lips while his hands firmly pushed her down on the towel.

Helen returned the kiss with a smirk, wrapping her limbs around him, pulling him into her. Her hands explored his wide muscled back as their tongues started massaging each other. Helen pressed his bum using her heels, pushing him against her core and drew a groan from him, which she swallowed.

After making out for a while, Helen gently pushed Cedric to sit up and straddled his lap. As he attacked her neck, her hands reached behind her to untie her bikini top and the two of them would spend the next hour giving themselves to each other as a declaration of their love.

Full version on ao3

After a while, Cedric stroked her back, wanting to talk and Helen raised her head, supporting it with her left hand. Ced was briefly distracted by her nude form but focused back on her.

"I've been thinking about what you told me back at my place this summer. You know, about the oaths."

Helen gave a nod indicating him to continue, curious where this was going.

"You told me that Hermione also did the same." On seeing her nod again, Cedric continued "She's also your girlfriend."

Looking into her eyes, he said, "And I'm your boyfriend."

He sat up, forcing her to sit up as well. They were close and facing each other, Helen with a curious look on her face while Cedric looked determined. He raised his hand and stroked her jaw and cupped her cheek.

"And there's also the fact that I'm in love with you." He spoke clearly while looking into her eyes.

Helen gave him a beautiful smile and leaned forward, claiming his lips in a sweet kiss. Pulling back, she said, "I love you too, Ced."

They both smiled at their proclamation of love for each other and exchanged a few more kisses and whispered 'I love you's in between.

Cedric once again settled down and spoke seriously, "Can you tell me the wording of Hermione's oath?"

Looking at the handsome boy seriously, Helen spoke knowing where this was going "You know it's not a competition, right? You don't have to give me an oath just because Hermione did."

"I know," he replied, "but I want to." He looked at her imploringly, willing her to tell him the words as well as to take him as hers.

After considering a while, Helen sighed and gave him the wordings on Hermione's oath, knowing that he'd back down after hearing about Hermione's ultimate dedication to her.

He did baulk at the wordings, but didn't back down. Instead, he contemplated the implications of such an oath silently for a long time, all the while looking at her. Helen was tempted to read his mind to know what he was thinking, but refrained from doing it.

Several minutes later he came to a decision and got up, making his way to his clothes. Helen felt heartbroken, knowing that binding himself to her for an eternity was a step too far for him. She contemplated obliviating him, removing his memory of this conversation.

However, he surprised her when he returned, still naked, but now holding his wand and came to a stop in front of her, looking at her expectedly. Helen was genuinely surprised, expecting him to not go for it. Dazed, she stood up and Cedric raised his wand, repeating Hermione's words in his name.

Once Helen had accepted his oath, she lunged forward and hugged him tightly, whispering "I love you, Cedric." He hugged her back whispering his love for her in her ear.

They stood there for a while before his hands slid low to her bum, squeezing it, and he lowered her on the towel. He went to his knees between her legs and said with a mischievous smile, "Let me service you, Mistress" before lowering his mouth. No one saw them that day, or night for that matter.

Date dress - (forward slash) Bsco-Yellow-Floral-Wrap-Dress-i.158978809.2387606924 (In case FF blocks my link attempt search 'Bsco yellow Floral Wrap Dress' and the first image will be it)

Thank you again to my talented beta, 1saaa, for your meticulous hard work and for bearing with my rambling.

Beta's note: I'd hardly call myself talented. But if you insist XD

Please Review.