Author Note: April 21st 1997 to May 4th 1997
It had been almost a month since Dumbledore had given them the task of finding out what Slughorn knew about Riddle. The man had evaded, deflected and generally ignored anything up to and including direct questions. This had the effect of chilling his enthusiasm for recruiting Harry and Hermione to his Slug Club.
The last two weeks Harry had been juggling so many tasks that he was about ready to go insane. As captain for the Gryffindor Quidditch team he had to develop plans and tactics, balance each player's egos and temperament. Thankfully Katie Bell was about as close to not having an ego as any Gryffindor could get. Which put her at the entire opposite end of the spectrum from Cormac. Ron was still playing as Keeper due to Harry at least wanting to make the other teams have to work a little bit to score. However Harry had been trying to find a position for Cormac that he was as good as he thought he was at. Dean Thomas was back on the team as a chaser. And they were at least holding their own and with some luck might
Ginny had written back saying she wanted to work on being a friend and then asked Harry about the Quidditch games and other things that were going on at the school. She was sounding slightly like herself, aside from carefully not mentioning Hermione by name.
Harry had won a vial of liquid luck but instead of using it on Slughorn carefully locked it up to use as a last resort. Hermione and Luna had both agreed that it was a much more tactically useful resource than for intelligence. They would figure out a way to motivate Slughorn to help them.
Ron had returned to the friendship, again, as he had been working very hard to become more mature. Especially as even Percy had found out about his impregnating Lavender and written him a lengthy and scathing letter of reprimand. As Ron had joined them Lavender was with them as well. The two of them were not dating yet but they were working out what their relationship was at all. They did agree though that no matter what they would put aside any animosity for the good of their child. Harry approved quite happily he told Ron.
"So yeah Ron if you mess this up. I'll probably release Hermione to deal with you."
Hermione had walked into the common room to hear Harry's comment, "Release Hermione? What am I, The Kraken?" She asked with a snort, "And why would I be released anyhow."
Ron shook his head, "Oh no reason at all."
"I was just talking to Ron about how I was happy he and Lavender were going to work together for their son. And if he messed it up I'd let you deal with him because you'd come up with some very interesting methods of making his life miserable."
"Oh yeah. Okay. That's a fair cop." She said with a smile.
They were sitting in a unused classroom with Luna though trying to figure out what to do about Slughorn when Lavender said, "I think you guys are going about it the wrong way."
Hermione shrugged, "Well if you have a better idea we'll be glad to hear it."
"Well you've been going at it by trying to confront him, convince him to help out of his better nature. He doesn't have one. He's a hedonistic self centered dirty old man." She said with a frown.
Hermione frowned, "I've never noticed that. He's always been very polite and professional with me."
Lavender gave Hermione an amused smirk, "Uh hun, no offense but you don't have quite the assets to interest him." She said giving a wave towards her billowy bosom, "Even before getting pregnant caused the girls to start growing if I inhaled deeply my grades went up five points."
Hermione glanced down at her C's and sighed, "Okay so how does that help us?"
Lavender smiled, "Neville, your family produces some of the best tobacco in the Uk right?"
"Yeah the Longbottom leaf is considered one of the best. We sell worldwide."
Lavender nodded, "You think you could get me a few of those Prima Fumarellos?"
Neville looked thoughtful for a moment then nodded, "Yeah, how many?"
"Well a box would be nice but as many you can." Lavender said. "Harry do you think you could get me some of your families wine?"
"My what?"
"The Potter vino de Italia? From your Italian vineyards?" Lavender asked.
"You've got vineyards?" Ron asked suddenly.
Harry looked at Hermione who sighed, "Yes you have vineyards. Remember the list of Potter-Black assets Professor Dumbledore gave you?"
"Yeah the ones I asked you to figure out what was important and what wasn't?" He asked for clarification.
"Yes. You own a vineyard on the Amalfi coast, well technically its on an island in the ocean off of the coast. It produces some very nice and expensive wines. It has been in your family for around a couple of hundred years." She explained before turning back to Lavender. "Yes, we can get at least one or two bottles, any particular vintage?"
"Well one of the best you can get."
Hermione nodded making notes.
Harry was looking confused, "How is this going to help?"
"Well Professor Slughorn's birthday is April 28th. I found that out by talking to Hannah. So I was going to say you let me plan a small party for him. For his birthday and I'll get him to tell me whatever you want to know."
Harry looked at the grinning Lavender for a long moment before going "Yeah, I see. Give him some nice wine, some good cigars, have some pretty girls talk to him. Butter him up."
"Exactly. He's a Slytherin, It'll be easier to get him to cooperate when you appeal to his shady nature more than his better one."
"And if he wants to screw you?" Ron glared.
Lavender looked slightly disgusted but shrugged, "There are ways around that."
Harry nodded, "We need to confirm what he told Riddle. This is the best way that doesn't waste a vial of liquid luck. Lavender don't take any risks though. Neither you nor anyone else need to do anything you're not comfortable with."
"Well why's she got to be involved anyhow?" Ron grumped.
Lavender glared at him, "Because I have the assets to do the job. Unless you want to take a poly-juice or see how good Hermione's transfiguration skills are?"
Ron gulped with a frown though. Lavender smiled.
===xxx
Lavender had gathered the two girls with the largest breasts that were in the 6th and 7th year. She knew there were several girls in the younger classes that puberty had blessed already but while she didn't think Professor Slughorn went that way, and she certainly didn't want to encourage that. Susan Bones and Victoria Frobisher were both old enough, with Victoria already of legal age. She would have tried to get Millicent but since she was Slytherin, Lavender doubted she would have wanted to help their plan.
"Okay so you want us to seduce Professor Slughorn into telling us what he knows about someone named Tom Riddle?" Victoria a tall busty blonde seventh year asked with a frown.
"Yes, he was a student here back when Slughorn first taught here."
"And this is important why?" Victoria asked again. She was a Gryffindor about to graduate this year.
"Because Harry needs it for his efforts against, you-know-who. Its important to him and Hermione and that makes it important for us to do."
"So what are we going to do?" Susan asked.
"Well, I thought we would throw him a birthday party tomorrow evening. We dress nicely. Somewhat low cut you know. Nothing too slutty. Get him drunk and distracted and get him talking. It should work."
"So just how far are we supposed to go to get this information?" Susan asked in concern.
"Well we don't have to go all the way. We don't have to do anything we're not comfortable with." Lavender explained.
Victoria clucked her tongue before saying, "Alright, but since I'm above legal age I'll do the dirty work. You two should stay out of it. Dress nicely, help me get him talking but don't actually do anything. And don't freak out if I do anything."
"What are you talking about?" Susan asked.
"Look I want to be an auror after I graduate. Sometimes you have to do some dirty things to get the job done. If this is as important for Potter to get the information as you think it is then I'll do it. Just remind Potter I expect to get compensated very nicely for it."
"I'm sure he'll be more than happy to figure something out." Lavender said.
"Good. Now let's get a plan." Victoria said eagerly.
===xxx
The next evening, just after office hours, the five girls all met just outside Slughorn's office and quarters. It was the second floor just below the hospital wing and behind a large oak door.
Susan Bones was wearing a skirt that came to her mid shin and a scoop necked blouse. Victoria was wearing a tight cotton button front blouse with several of the buttons undone showing the cleavage her push up bra created. Her knee length skirt showed plenty of long tanned legs. Lavender was wearing a smooth cotton blouse with a V neck and a knee length skirt herself. She was in her late fourth month but with her slightly chubby belly she had not yet begun to show. Her breasts though had already swollen a cup size. So she had a fine display of cleavage to rival Victoria and Susan.
"Wow you guys are going all out." Susan said looking at the four bottles of wine, and a box of cigars Lavender was carrying. Victoria had a box of chocolate covered crystallized pineapple that Harry had provided.
"Yeah. Any last minute regrets? You can still walk away." Lavender said.
Neither of the other girls turned away so Lavender nodded to Susan who knocked on the door. A few moments later the professor opened the door. Looking at the quintet of girls he gave a wide grin to them.
"Well hello ladies what brings you here tonight?"
Lavender grinned back as she held up the wine bottles, "Well we found out it was your brithday and since you've been the best potions professor we've had we wanted to give you a few birthday gifts."
Looking at the bottles he smiled thoughtfully before stepping out of the doorway, "Well then plase come in, come in."
Lavender noticed he was wearing a set of bright green silken pajamas with a silk robe tied loosely over them. Leather house slippers covered his feet.
"Hmm. So what sort of gifts did you have in mind?" He asked jovially.
Susan came over to him running her finger down his chest, "Oh well there's wine, some cigars and we thought we would sit and just enjoy talking to you about your life. I mean you must have seen a lot of amazing things."
He chuckled, "Oh quite a few amazing things. Uh Miss Bones your aunt isn't going to hear about anything that goes on here tonight will she?" He asked with a little bit of worry in his voice."
Susan smiled, "Oh I don't think we need to involve her. She can be so straight laced you know."
Slughorn smiled, "Well no I don't think we do. And let me tell you about when she was a student here." He said sliding his arm low around Susan's waist. His hand just barely touching the top curve of her bottom.
Looking at the bottles, "Oh Potter vineyards vintage 1968. That was a very good year. Perhaps you ladies would not mind sharing this with me?"
Victoria smirked, "I don't mind."
Lavender put her hand on her abdomen, which had the double effect of pulling her shirt tighter over her bosom, "I really shouldn't given the condition I'm in."
"Oh yes. Wine would be bad for an expectant mother I suppose. Well my dear?" He asked Susan.
"Sure. I won't mind." She said glaring at Lavender briefly before smiling at the older professor whose hand was gently running in a circle on her lower back. Underneath her shirt. Dirty old man indeed.
"Oh Longbottom leaf Primo Fumarello! Nice. I may have to reconsider Mr Longbottom for the club."
Lavender let Victoria open the wine and under Slughorn's instruction pour it in the proper way so that it could breathe and enhance the flavor. Victoria could see Susan was becoming more uncomfortable as the professor continued so she took him over to his large wingback chair with his glass of wine and a cigar. Placing herself on his lap he chuckled like a perverted Santa as he made herself comfortable.
"Tell me about some of the amazing people you know. Do you know Celstina Warbeck?"
"Oh my yes." And he began to regale them with a great many stories about her, some of the concerts he had been given some free tickets to. The sort of people he had met there. Sipping the wine while Victoria hung on every word and drank her own glass, or at least appeared to.
Susan and Lavender sat nearby prompting him with other safe celebrities and such. He had gone through two and a half bottles when Victoria stretched arching her back. Two of the buttons of her shirt gave up and flung themselves across the room exposing the top of her forest green brassiere.
"Oh dear it seems you may have had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction. Horace slurred slightly. His eyes struggling to focus on the cleft between the mounds.
"Oh pooh. It happens so often with these things. I take after my mother you know."
"Ah yes I do remember your mother dear. Quite blessed she was as well."
"Yes she is. So I was wondering though did you ever know a student named Tom Riddle?"
Slughorn twitched as she said that name. Frowning crookedly as he tried to focus on her face, but his eyes drawn to the verdant coverings. "Who told you to ask about that?"
"No one I was going through some old student trophies and saw his name for services to the school. I just wanted to know more about him since we never hear about him." Did he die in the first war?" She pouted as she ran her hand over his bald pate.
Lavender was glad she wasn't the one sitting in his lap she would have already thrown up. Susan looked awkwardly around the room.
"He was killed you might say, yes. Yes he was killed by a very dark wizard." Slughorn said softly.
"Oh pity. Oh my its getting rather warm don't you think?" She said unbuttoning the rest of her blouse. Exposing the full ripe melons hidden behind their emerald constraints.
"Yes it does seem to be." He said swallowing the last bit of the wine in his glass which Lavender refilled quickly. She had been making sure he never held an empty glass longer than a heartbeat all evening.
"So this Tom Riddle was he a good student?" Victoria asked running her finger along the fringe of his hair.
Horace seemed to be transfixed by her breathing, "I really. I suppose you might say he was very skilled. A charming young man."
"Oh? Is that all you have to say about him? I want to know all about him. I'm sure you could help give me the complete knowledge, I'm someone who really likes to complete things." She purred as she moved her hand to his cheek and ran her thumb across his lips.
"I. Taught him. Yes. He was in my little club. A bright and promising young man. He had a circle of friends. The usual sort of thing. I really can't tell you more than that. I should be getting to bed and so should all of you its probably past curfew." he stammered as sweat broke out on his head.
Victoria frowned as she stuck her tongue in her cheek briefly. Lavender saw her eyes narrow before she leaned back reaching behind her to undo her bra. Sliding it off she was sitting in his lap topless. Her tear drop shaped melons brushing his chest as she leaned in to whisper, "Oh Horace. I'm sure you can tell me sooo much more than that. Now don't be so stingy with what you know."
Susan looked shocked and went to leave quietly when she heard the professor's strained voice say, "There is so much more about Tom I can tell you but please don't tell anyone else. I'd be ruined." She stopped and looking at Lavender carefully sat so she could hear what was said without watching any of the events.
Sliding around so she was straddling his lap Victoria kissed him squarely on the lips before leaning back to take his hands and place them on her breasts. "Oh I will keep your secrets Horace. After all I'm exposing so much of my own to you. Its the least you could do in return."
Slughorn was breathing hard but nodded, "Yes. Yes indeed. You might know Tom Riddle more in his current incarnation as the Dark Lord."
"You knew the Dark Lord when he was a student here?" Victoria asked in amazement. Susan looked at Lavender in shock, she only nodded in confirmation.
"Yes, yes he was. I'm sorry to say." Horace was still massaging her breasts as she moaned softly.
"Oh well its not like you helped him? Did you?" She asked with her arms around his neck.
"Would it matter if I did?" He asked.
"No not really. You know if you tell me I might even be willing to reward you for telling me."
He smiled drunkenly before saying, "I told Tom about the Horcruxes. What book to find them in and everything. I had read about them and wondered how it would work. Then I discovered the price. You would remain immortal but not have eternal youth which sort of defeats the reason for being immortal."
"Oh yeah. That would be quite a deal breaker." Victoria said after a moment to process that the man she as grinding on his lap had helped the dark lord with something. She had no idea what a Horcrux was but it was probably evil. "Being young and powerful and so lusty forever would be the best."
"Oh yes. Only Tom didn't care about that. All he cared about was that his empire would be eternal, led by him forever. Only the foolish boy split himself too many times. Another of the flaws with those things was the more you created the w-weaker and more unstable you made your soul. He thought he could become more powerful than Merlin. More powerful than all of the founders of Hogwarts. He was far too obsessed with them you know. He studied them always. Every little thing about them he could." Horace was saying as Victoria rubbed his head. Letting him put his face between her mounds after he said that.
"Oh yeah Horace. Tell me more this story is so exciting and stimulating." Victoria thought she sounded like an idiot but Slughorn's ego was being inflated by this so he kept talking. She laughed as it seemed like his ego was the only thing being inflated.
"You want to hear about Tom? That's what gets your quim a quivering?" Horace chuckled, "Well I've certainly met some strange birds in my life."
Victoria stopped and pulled back from him, "What you don't like it? Don't like me?"
"Oh I didn't say that now did I? No I'll tell you all about Tom. Everything I know and helped him learn. He was such a bright boy. Willing and eager to learn things. Things to make him stronger and more powerful. I pointed out the right books he could use, the right information. I helped create the Dark Lord." Slughorn sounded both horrified and proud of that accomplishment.
"Oh wow. So you're the real power? The real one? You really created him?" She said standing up. She hooked her thumbs in the waist of her skirt and purred, "The more you tell me the more I take off Horace baby."
Slughorn gave a little gasp of loss as she did so reaching out to her. "Well, I sort of did so. I pointed him in the right direction. Gave him a few ideas for what might have become the anchors he used. Imagine that he was going to use just common everyday items and hide them sitting around. I jokingly suggested since he was so obsessed with the founders why didn't he use something of theirs. An ironic little joke you see."
She grinned as she slid her skirt down revealing matching knickers to the bra that was sitting on the floor. "Oh really it must be so haard to find any of their relics now."
"Oh yes. But I knew Borgin and Burkes would be able to. Those two buy and sell anything, legal or not." He licked his lips watching her hook her thumbs into her knickers. "They would help him find anything he wanted. I'm sure of it. I helped him get a job there you know. I'm good friends with Borgin. Old friend indeed."
"And why would you want to help him?" Victoria pouted sliding the knickers down just enough to begin to show the hint of hair.
Slughorn's face was turning red and flushed as he kept leering, "Well he promised me power, a position and life of ease. Only I found out he wanted me dead because I knew his secrets. The secrets of the Horcrux. How he wanted a seven part soul. The mystic number."
She kept slowly sliding them down as he spoke. His eyes becoming glazed as she swiveled her hips. "A seven part soul? Wouldn't that be bad?"
"Oh yes. It drove him quite mad, made him very reckless and unstable. He turned on me and ordered his followers to kill me. All of them had owed me their money, position, fame. I had helped groom them, get them into their lives and that's the thanks they give me. Fine lot of them." he lurched forward trying to reach her as her knickers had fallen to the floor. Slughorn landed in a heap alongside them.
Victoria pulled her knickers back on and assembled her clothes. "Damn I thought he'd never pass out. He must have the tolerance of a Hippogriff."
"I need to tell aunt Amelia about what he's done. Sounds like he's been a right spider in the web." Susan declared.
"Yeah. Nasty bastard. So you think we got what Potter needed?" Victoria asked covering herself.
Lavender nodded, "Yeah I think so."
"Good because I need a shower. That was not as much fun as you might think." She shivered in disgust.
The three girls checked to make sure the professor was still breathing and left him when they found he was. Susan bade them good night and returned tot he Hufflepuff common room. Victoria and Lavender heading for Gryffindor. A wealth of information that would be quite useful they thought.
===xxx
The next day Lavender gave Harry and the others a long list of notes. Her and Victoria had worked to compile them into a sorted and proper report. Victoria reminding Lavender to explain to Harry he owed her greatly.
"What exactly did she have in mind for repayment?" Hermione asked a slight bit possessively.
"Well I don't think she wants to take a ride on his broomstick if that's what you're worried about." Lavender joked.
"Good." Hermione didn't joke.
"Look. I'll keep her in mind if I get to be in a position to repay her. Until then we've got the information and we can take it to the headmaster. This has been real helpful and I'll thank her. Personally." Harry said. "Just not too personally."
The group began to put more of the puzzle together.
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Jadesabrexiv: Thank you. I try to avoid pointless fluff whenever possible. And this story is going to try and keep each chapter a short, quick, tightly focused on each specific interaction, moment. A snapshot in time.