Author's Note: This chapter contains material rated R--for Raging hormones and for Real sex. There is material contained within this chapter of a sexual nature and if you can't handle that, please go read a G or PG-rated fic. Harry and Hermione are 16 (going on 17 for Hermione) and they've been sharing a bed for nearly a month. There's going to be some…er. .well…."Rites of Passage" in this chapter! Please don't' complain to FF.net if you have a problem--email me if you take issue and explain why.
Also, some have commented on the whole lying to Ron and the Weasley's thing: Recall that Harry and Hermione had only just first kissed on his birthday and decided to try to date later that night after his party when Ron and family had just arrived. They were still fledgling in this relationship and were still getting the feel of it without having to try to explain it someone else. The Weasleys were only at Grimmauld Place for about 4 days before Mrs. W left in a huff when she assumed that Ginny had been being a "scarlet woman" around Harry and she wanted to get them apart to avoid a new brood of weaslets. It happened quickly and Harry's was at the mercy of Ginny and Hermione's pleas to go with this for now. Hey-- he is a 16-year-old boy and if you recall, when the whole thing was spun, it was Ginny who said it and then promptly shut Harry up and stunned him into a prolonged silence by kissing him. Poor boy. He never had a chance.
Chapter 23 Rites of Passage
"Severus Snape, you sexy bitch!"
Shocked silence was an understatement. It felt like at least a half-minute before a loud, 'thud!' broke the silence. (Apparently George fell off his chair.) Harry became aware of a hand tightly gripping his arm as he stared, slack-mouthed, at Snape who, although frozen in place at the greeting, still managed to make his robes billow. Harry watched in horrified shock as Snape's head drew back and, with a haughty toss of his greasy locks, seemed to sneer as if to say, "It's about time someone noticed."
Harry became aware that something was shaking him and after ruling out the end of the world apocalypse, realized it was Remus, gripping his arm in a futile attempt to hold back from, Harry guessed, either spewing or riotous laughter.
It turned out to be the latter, and Remus wasn't alone. The jovial mood of the night returned with fury as nearly no one could hold back after realizing Snape was not going to cast an Unforgivable at Fred (yet). Harry was still dazed. I'm going to be blamed for this somehow. I just know it. I can't believe that the words 'Snape' and 's-' –no! I can't even think it! They don't belong in the same sentence!
"Oh," Remus was finally managing words now, "Harry! I've never—oh, ho! Merlin—I've never ever missed James and Sirius so much as right now—they would've sold their wands to see that!" Remus was having troubling managing to sit up, laugh, breathe and talk, all at the same time and was still holding on to Harry's arm to help with the remaining upright part. "They'd both rush out an buy pensieves just so they could put that memory in there and relive it over and over—and to show it to everyone else!"
Harry, still riveted to watching Snape, saw him turn and lock eyes with him, his lip curling into a sneer—or was that—no, a smile? Oh god, it is the end of the world!
"I'm so sorry," Snape began in a silky voice that made Remus begin to snigger even more, "to interrupt this little—fest of joviality—I had been under the impression that a meeting of the Order might have been in progress?" He ended in a question, as if expecting an excuse for their deviation from his expectations.
"Severus," Albus, twinkling with mirth, was beside Snape, "so good to finally see you. Would you care to join us?"
Snape surveyed the room, his dark gaze falling upon Remus who was sent, yet again, into twitters, and sneered, "I think not. I do, however, sir, have business to discuss." He gave Dumbledore a significant look.
Dumbledore caught Harry's eye and motioned towards the door, "Harry?"
After a moment, Harry realized he was to follow them for this discussion of business. Harry walked over, much to Snape's obvious disdain, and then followed them both out of the Practice Hall and down and into the library.
"You have news for us, Severus?" Dumbledore asked as he lit a fire and conjured a third armchair, which Snape, merely, glanced at, and did not use.
"Yes, sir, indeed." Snape raked a look over Harry one might normally reserve for a mating pair of flobberworms, and said, "It seems, my Lord is seeking to implement a new plan and has sent me to return with specific instructions, of which, I have been instructed to tell you. It is my belief, at this time, that his true and overall intents are to be withheld from my full knowledge."
"Your Lord?" Harry inquired, incredulously as he leaned forward in his armchair.
Snape bristled and looked down his hooked nose at Harry who glared back. He rolled his eyes, "Potter, I have spent approximately a fortnight in the Dark Lord's presence, how exactly do you think I've been addressing him during that time, hmm?" He turned back to Dumbledore, who seemed relieved to not have to break up an argument between the two already. "Albus, I was really rather hoping for an intelligent, discussion, perhaps, on this matter?"
Harry scowled at the implication of his lacking intelligence and Dumbledore spoke with a hint of warning, "Severus, you know as well as anyone the reasons for Harry's presence and involvement. These same reasons," he looked at Harry then and back to Snape, "require that the both of you learn to work together, for the sake of a common goal. Now, you were saying Severus?"
Snape straightened himself, refusing to look contrite for even a brief moment, and said, "It is his wish, sir, that I watch Potter, and report back to him of the skills, which he does possess. The skills and abilities to defend himself." He glanced at Harry, appearing slightly uneasy, and continued, in a lower voice, "It was his instruction, sir, for me to inform you that my instructions had been to gain the vacant position of Professor of Defence for this next term, at any cost. Sir."
Harry felt a twinge of amusement, watching Snape discuss the position he had coveted for several years now, but had always been refused. Harry turned eagerly to see Dumbledore's reaction.
He was templing his long fingers beneath his chin and staring intently at Snape. "Voldemort wishes for you to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts this year?" Snape nodded, with a slight grimace at the name. "He wishes for you to watch Harry in this class and then report back to him?" Snape nodded again. "Hmm," Dumbledore contemplated.
"Why?" Harry asked. He wondered if Snape weren't making it up just to finally get the job.
Snape narrowed his eyes, as if about to formulate a sarcastic remark upon Harry's lacking intelligence again. Before he could speak, Dumbledore mused, "Why indeed, Harry. It's the first question we must ask whenever Lord Voldemort seeks any action or knowledge. What say he on his missing servants, Severus?"
Snape seemed disappointed in the change of subject but answered, "He has been attempting to communicate with them or reach them through the Mark." He rubbed his own left forearm, as if recalling pain. "He has concluded that they must not be anywhere on the Isle. However, he believes he may have located someone else—Karkaroff, I believe. He seems to have plans for him."
"He is able to feel the presence of those bearing the Mark?" Dumbledore asked quietly.
Snape nodded, "Yes, he told me directly that the Mark, taken willingly, binds a wizard to him for better or worse. He said he would use it to track those taken from him, as well as those who would flee."
Dumbledore nodded again, "So he wishes you to remain placed here and gain a new position from which, to observe Harry. Tell me, Severus, is it your belief that he fully trusts you once again?" Dumbledore peered intently over his half-moon glasses at Snape, who seemed taken aback at the frank question.
"Well, sir, I –I am not ever truly sure of that. I am not sure how much he ever trusted myself, nor anyone else, in the first place. I believe," he paused and Harry noted, was holding Dumbledore's gaze, "that he trusts me to do what I am instructed to do. I know he wishes me to play you and maintain my appearance as your spy—he knows and wishes me to tell you of my instructions. So, his true plans, sir, I believe I am not meant to know at this point—meaning, I venture, that no—he does not fully trust me. Then again, I do not believe he tells any one servant all his plans."
Harry was amazed to realize the very many layers of duplicity that Snape had to wear in his role. Both Voldemort and Dumbledore believed him to be their spy, while each knew the other, believed the same. Snape, Harry knew, as a master Occlumens, would be able to hide his true thoughts, beliefs, and loyalties to either or both, as he wished. It seemed, Harry thought, that no one but Snape himself, could truly know on which side his loyalties truly lay.
"Well," Dumbledore sighed, "I think it may be best, for now, to go along with this and bide our time until his plans might become more plain."
"But," Harry interjected, slightly panicked, "we can't go another year with a Defense teacher who does nothing!" He saw (even felt) the flare up of fury from Snape and quickly added, "No—I mean, he can't want Sn--, er, Professor Snape to actually teach the course, can he? He must be thinking like Fudge—that he wants someone to make sure we don't get a real education!" Snape's anger was not abating much. "The fewer people who can defend themselves, the easier a job he'd have! He must want to control what you be teaching us?"
Dumbledore chimed in before Snape could muster a reply, "Has he given an instruction as the content of your teachings?"
Snape looked back and forth, from Harry to Dumbledore and then back to Harry. "No, he has not."
Harry's mouth snapped shut; he didn't know what to make of it. Dumbledore merely nodded, "A test perhaps, for you then. No matter, I had already prepared the lessons to be taught for this year myself. You will use these, Severus. The official story you may tell him, if necessary, is that I was unable to secure anyone for the position, given its reputation. You may tell him that I had planned on teaching the course myself and therefore, had the plans prepared in advance and your using and adherence to them, was a condition of your getting the position."
Dumbledore then turned to Harry, "This will mean we have a rather last minute vacancy for professor of Potion making. What do you think, Harry, the student reaction to this change will be?"
Harry muttered immediately, "Potions will improve dramatically."
Snape scowled and Dumbledore smiled. "I will work out the details later. Before we return to the meeting tonight, and we do have one thing to cover in the meeting, Severus, can you tell us if Voldemort suffered any visions from Harry, or felt the connection between them yet again?"
Snape considered it for only a moment, and answered, "I do not believe so."
Harry's heart fell. So much for snogging to conquer the Dark Lord. He heard Dumbledore ask Snape to meet them in the Practice Hall in a few moments.
"Harry?" He turned to see Dumbledore watching him with a twinkle. "I think it possible that Voldemort's focus upon seeking the location of his servants, may have kept his mind busy and blocked your connection these past few weeks. It is still possible, it might work." Harry gave him a brief smile, embarrassed his disappointment had shown so obviously.
They returned to the Practice Hall, where people were still feasting and the bottle of Firewhiskey was now out upon the table. Harry grabbed a seat beside Hermione and couldn't help a grin as he entertained the idea of having to tell her they would just have to continue and try harder.
"What's happening? Can you—"
"If I might have your attention, please!" Dumbledore was standing at the head of the table and holding up his hands for a plea of silence. Finally the noise dropped and only the sound of Fred and George's occasional hiccupping could be heard. "Thank you. Now, There has been little actual business discussed thus far tonight, does anyone have anything to bring up?" No one spoke and Dumbledore nodded. "In case some of you are not aware, Emmeline's committee, dedicated to ensuring safety of the Hogwarts Express, received an overwhelming response back from parents, almost all in favor of their children riding the Express. It has also been confirmed by the responses that indeed, several select students, with family ties to Death Eaters are also to be aboard the train. There is no news on this from you, Severus, is there?" Snape shook his head. "Very well, then. With the precautions we have prepared, I believe we have little to be worried about."
Emmeline Vance caught Harry's eye and mouthed a, "thank you," to him. He knew she meant his interview had helped allay public concerns, allowing her department avoid an overload of portkeys to arrange.
"Also," Dumbledore continued, "Hermione has been working on a project this summer which shall enable greater ease and efficiency of brief communications between members of the Order, as well as facilitate rapid mobilization in an emergency event. Hermione—if you would?" He gestured for her to come up.
Harry had almost forgot about this. She had had most of the work done last year really, and only been perfecting it for use by the Order this summer.
Hermione drew out a small coin purse and began walking about and handing out a Galleon to each person. "These are fake Galleons, so please do not spend them. They have been enchanted—Fred and George this should look quite familiar to you."
"Can we spend the ones from DA yet, 'Mione?" Fred asked, teetering precariously to one side on his chair.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "I said they were fake—that really wouldn't be very good. You can give it back, though?" Fred pretended not to hear and Harry concluded he would try to spend it somewhere. "Anyway, these coins will all serve to be a means of communication between each of us—from one person to everyone else.
"If you look carefully at the roman numerals on the edge of the coin, which is normally just a serial number, those numbers will change upon a message being sent. They will change to show the apparating coordinates of whomever sent the message. The message–only a few words--will flash on the face of the coin when you tap it with your wand and do a revealing charm."
"How will we know if there is a new message?" Mr. Weasley asked, turning over the coin, fascinated.
"Gets warm," answered George. "Right?"
Hermione nodded, "Right. Keep it in your pocket. A when the numbers—coordinates on the coin change, it grows warm—then you know to take it out and reveal the message. Now," Hermione was biting her lip, unsure, "this is the part that seems to be slightly iffy—I had intended for the coins to be able to also identify on the them from who the message was sent, however, this greatly increases the enchantment load upon the item. But, when I was working on it and asking Harry and Remus to help me try it out, I seemed to get a distinctly different feel from each of them—I think it's possible, there might be distinct feelings for each person who might activate them. We'll have to find out."
Snape was looking at his carefully, handling it gingerly. "Protean Charm?"
Hermione blinked, knowing he was thinking of the other Protean Charm he already carried around with him everywhere. "Yes, it is." Harry could see she was apprehensive as to what Snape's scathing comment would be.
Snape sniffed and said, "Yes, you should feel a different twinge for everyone who sets it off."
Harry imagined it was the same with the Dark Marks on the Death Eaters arms; that when one was used to summon the rest, they could tell whose was being used to do the summoning—if they knew it well enough.
Mrs. Weasley hurriedly cast sobering charms on the twins, as well as Mundungus, so they could remember what they learned and they went around the room and everyone practiced using the coins. Sure enough, they got to feel a slightly different twinge for everyone who set it off. Harry thought it was kind of neat and could already recognize some people as they gave the same twinge when they set off a Perimeter Charm. Moody also noted this.
"That went well, don't you think?" Harry asked Hermione as they cleared away the remaining dishes from the Practice Hall.
"Mmm," Hermione said as she vanished the table and chairs.
"Those Galleons are great. Did you notice Dumbledore felt a bit like a twinkle? I didn't even know a twinkle had a feeling, but I guess it does." No answer. "Don't you want to know what Snape had to say?"
When Hermione spun and looked at him with such eagerness, he laughed out loud. "You really think I'm not going to tell you these things?" He rolled his eyes and mimicked her voice, "Honestly—Hermione!"
She screwed up her face and made to swat him, but Harry was too fast and dodged her and then ducked out the hall and into his room, laughing.
"So?" she demanded as she followed him and flopped down on the sofa near the fire.
Harry lit the fire and dropped down onto the rug in front of the fire and leaned back on his elbows. "So—what?"
Hermione pointed her wand at him and shot out a few sparks at him.
"Ok!! Ow!! Damn!" Harry rubbed his arm where her sparks had hit. "Blimey—you might damage me or something."
Hermione snorted, "Damage you? As if!"
Harry muttered, "I'm delicate."
"Delicate!" She snorted again, "That—you are not, Harry Potter! Now, quit stalling and spill."
Harry laid back, made a show of reaching for the button on his jeans and said resignedly, "All right, you going to lend me a hand again?"
Hermione kicked at his elbow and pointed her wand at him again, "Potter…" she said warningly.
Laughing, Harry said, "Well, I know who the new Defense professor will be."
Hermione sobered quickly, "Who?" and slid down onto the floor beside Harry.
"Guess."
"Remus?"
"Nope."
"Dumbledore?"
"Nuh-uh."
"Er, hmm." Then Hermione gasped, "No!"
"Yup."
"No way!" she smacked him on the chest, as she looked suitably shocked.
Harry nodded, figuring only the truth could be this terrifying. "I'm afraid it's true."
Hermione squealed and threw her arms around Harry. "Oh!! Harry!! That's so great! I was wondering… Oh!" Harry was finding her squeals to be a little too close to some kind of happy feeling and began to think perhaps she really didn't realize just whom he had meant.
"Er," he tried to speak but she suddenly began to kiss him and he promptly told his mouth to shut up and kiss her back.
She broke away finally, gasping and smiling, and said, "Oh, Harry, I know you'll be great!"
"You do realize I am talking about Snape, don't you?" Harry asked, not understanding her last comment.
The sudden change in the look on her face was so drastic, it was downright humorous.
"Guess not, then," Harry said. "So who did you think it—oh, me? Er, now you're raving!"
"Snape?" she asked in a small voice. "You're sure?"
Harry nodded dolefully and explained what Snape had all said after returning and Dumbledore's decision to go along for now.
"You realize, Harry, we should probably plan on doing the DA again this year, then?" Hermione said when he had finished recounting.
"Why's that? Snape would kill me if he thought I was trying to go around him—he nearly did when I insinuated he wouldn't teach us anything under orders from Voldemort."
"But that's just it—everyone in school knows how you and Snape get along—or, rather—don't. It would seem only natural for you to suspect him as being a Death Eater now and to go behind his back and continue with our group. In fact, Dumbledore might even ask that we do it—we wouldn't want to seem too trusting of Snape, not when people like Malfoy think they know whose side he's on."
Harry really had been thinking about wanting to do the DA again this next year as he had been learning so many new things, he was quite eager to begin to teach others. However, he had thought he should at least wait to see whom the next teacher was before planning to go on around them. Now, with it being Snape, Harry was quite keen on the idea.
"Yeah, I think you're right, Hermione. I'll ask Dumbledore about it; he'll be over Sunday." Harry folded his arms behind his head as his mind began planning out lessons.
Hermione rolled over onto her stomach then, and placed a hand on Harry's chest and began to fiddle with the collar of his shirt. "So," she began, drawing Harry's thoughts back into the present, "any word on whether our efforts have been paying off?"
Harry was yet again, amazed how the mere tone of her voice, could instantly alter the seeming direction and rate of blood flow in his body.
"Well," he said, "actually Dumbledore reckons that with Voldemort being so focused on tracking the missing Death Eaters, that he was also blocking out any connection to me. But," Harry moved one hand from the back of his head, around now to smooth back Hermione's hair on one side of her face, "he did say that we might keep on trying."
Hermione leaned down and cupped his face as she lowered her mouth to his. The kiss was slow and gentle. Harry broke it off and said, "He recommended you show me that book."
Hermione froze and stared at Harry. She blinked twice and muttered sounding like, "…been back...week."
Harry was very interested in this new reaction to his bringing up The Book. Usually she had ignored him completely or denied any knowledge of which he spoke. "What was that?" he asked, trying to hide a grin.
Hermione was decidedly not meeting his eyes, as she pulled away and sat up, she muttered again, still incoherent.
Harry decided to take matters into his own hands and, in a flash, pulled her to him, rolled over atop her, pinning her against the ground and gave short tickles to her ribs, making her shriek. Harry lowered his head and gave her a stern look. "I'm afraid you're going to have speak more clearly, Ms. Granger. I don't believe I heard you the first two times—now what was that?"
Hermione raised her chin in defiance and, as much as Harry loved when she played hard to get like this, he loved breaking her down even more so he tickled her again, getting her ribs beneath her shirt, for a good half-minute.
"Stop!" she gasped out. "Stop!"
"Ready to speak?" he asked and when she hesitated again, he tightened the grip his legs had around hers, making her squirm, knowing she wouldn't be able to fend off another tickle attack.
"It's back! I returned it!"
"Huh?" His hold on her slackened and she took advantage of his momentary lapse by pushing him off of her and jumping up off the floor.
"I said," she taunted, out of his reach, "I already returned it. I don't have it anymore."
Harry jumped up, apparated to just behind Hermione and grabbed her around the waist and then spoke in her ear, "What do you mean you returned it? To where?"
She spun around in his arms and faced him. Using a look she had perfected over the past month, designed and tested, it seemed, to specifically and purposefully derail any and all off Harry's thoughts, she answered innocently, "Why of course, to where I got it from."
Harry, just barely managing to hold on to his ability to think as he watched her lower lip be worried by her teeth and then, alternately, be soothed by he tongue, inquired weakly, "And, er, where, did you, er, yes, where'd you get it, ah, from?"
Hermione pressed in tighter against him, teasing him by just ghosting her lips over his. "You," she answered breathily. "I got it from you—it was on your bookshelf," she said, pointing across the room at the shelves on Harry's wall. Harry turned sceptically to glance at the shelves and then back, expecting to lean in and capture her teasing mouth, but was left holding nothing but thin air as Hermione had disapparated from his arms.
He heard her voice call out from somewhere outside his room, "I'm heading for a nice long hot bath--have fun!"
Harry was still numb and desperately sorting through a myriad of emotions: the anticipation that quite possibly, the book was right in his room and his to look at finally, the arousal from the idea of Hermione about to get naked and wet in the bathroom, and the utter feeling of emptiness and vacancy, with which her sudden and unexpected disapparition from his arms, had just left him.
The latter one won out as he began to fill with a mounting despair, brought on by an irrational panic from a rapidly replaying and ever-increasing feeling of loss. He had just been holding the most wonderful feeling in the world and been happy--really and truly happy--only to have that feeling vanish from his very arms leaving him with a gaping void and an enveloping fear of loneliness. He found himself reflexively hurrying out of his room, down the hall, and rapping on her door.
"Yes—" Hermione answered the door in her dressing gown and was immediately engulfed by Harry in an embrace.
"Don't do that!" he insisted as he held her fiercely; trying to make sure she filled every empty place he had ever felt. "Don't—ever—do—that!" His words were choppy as he buried his face into her shoulder and neck. "Disapparating like that—don't—it's—the most awful, empty feeling—"
He couldn't feel her presence enough nor hold her tight enough. He could feel burning tears in his eyes and he didn't even care. "Just don't leave me—like that—ever," he choked out as she was holding him just as tight now, one hand stroking the hair on the back of neck to soothe him.
"Oh," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
"I can't—" he nearly sobbed as he shuddered. In one moment he had experienced just a mere fraction of the loss that actually losing her could cause him to suffer. It overwhelmed to know that although he was fully aware it was still a silly overreaction that he still had not the power to control it.
He realized she could surely feel his tears on her skin and he still didn't care. He had to have her know how much she meant to him, how it would crush him to ever lose her. "You don't—" His mind failed to offer words that might truly convey his needs.
"Shh," she said and backed up, still holding him tight, into her room.
"God, Hermione—" he was shaking as he held her.
"Harry, I'm here." He gave a sob and sniffed. "I'm not going anywhere." Hermione's voice was tremulous now, as she was moved by his intensity.
Harry sniffed again and turned his head to rub his forehead against her neck, feeling his own tears on her. He moved to kiss away his tears from her neck and tasted their salt upon his lips. He kissed her jaw and still felt his need to make her feel real to him as she gently removed his glasses and kissed the corner of his eye. He opened his eyes to look into her caring brown ones and as he moved up to kiss her lips, he heard it in his head: I love you. He was sure the words would have came out of his very own mouth if it hadn't, just at that very moment, touched to kiss hers.
His mind mapped every feel of her lips against his—their softness, their dewy moisture, and their taste of salt, still from his own tears. He needed this. He needed her. He moved to kiss her face as he rubbed each eye against each of her cheeks and then moved to kiss away his tears from her face. What, before he had only felt as a swell of emotion deep inside his stomach, he now felt more as a rolling ocean: swelling, cresting, then crashing to roll again within in his entire body.
He felt like a wave had finally crested too high and crashed down upon him as she whispered into his ear, "I love you."
Whatever strength he had been working to regain, he lost at the sound of her words and he sobbed again. "Don't—" he choked out as he clutched her desperately again. He'd lost his anchor in this sea and was now struggling just to keep from drowning.
"I love you, Harry," she repeated more firmly into his ear.
"Don't say it!" he rushed out between shudders. "Don't'—"
Hermione maneuvered him gently back another step and tried to step out of his arms and move onto her bed, but he couldn't let go. She was now kneeling on her bed and he was still clutching her around her waist. She cradled his head to her chest as he still cried and tried to breathe deeply to regain some control. He murmured something unintelligible against her stomach so she leaned back, still kneeling, and pull his face to hers, kissing one eye.
He was only whispering and she had to listen very carefully to hear him as he said, "Everyone who's ever—just don't—they're gone—all gone—I can't lose you…."
Hearing Hermione say those words had brought on a whole new association to fear—Harry had flashed through the faces of those who he had known to love him and they were nearly all dead: his mum, his dad, Sirius—it was all he could list before he had succumbed to the fear of adding another to that list.
Lupin's characterization of someone who loved another, being willing to die for that person had been on Harry's mind since the conversation. It was mad, Harry thought, that love would be evidenced by death. It felt to him, like a lousy gift and he would have traded more than a dozen Firebolts and all the gold in Gringotts to have just one person back.
Hermione, putting together his incoherent words, kissed his face and pulled him to sit on the bed as she sat in his lap. "Harry, you know there are plenty of people right here who love—"
"For now!" He blinked rapidly as he looked at her.
She shook her head and held a finger to his lips, "Harry, you know—"
He held her fingers away from his mouth and pleaded, "Just don't say it." He had never felt like such a liar as he saying those words. He knew he wanted to hear her say it—over and over, in fact. Her telling him she loved him had been a moment of delirious bliss, except, that is, for the associations that then took over his mind and made him fear her placing herself among those who'd left him before.
Hermione nodded and kissed his face again. He was still shaking with some waning sobs and she bid him, "Here, lie back." They lie together, facing each other on her bed and still holding each other and looking deep into the reflected depth of the other's eyes; Hermione assuring him with her mere presence.
After shudders had subsided and tears had dried, they began to kiss. Their kisses and caresses were loving. As Harry had forbidden her to say the words, even as he now already regretted it, he imagined it was with actions they each were expressing these words.
And so it was, as their breathing grew more rapid and their looks, heated, that Hermione broke the silence when she felt his hardness pressing against her hip, by asking, "Will you make love to me?"
It was a meeting of two worlds in Harry's mind as the question brought him to an event he had hoped to occur, but with words, he hadn't imagined he'd hear. He'd been thinking of the event as the next progressive step in their physical relationship and an event that would cure his virginal condition—a coveted rite of passage. But now, making love seemed like the final step in expressing what he couldn't with words; just as her offer expressed from her. Both reasons from the two wholly different worlds of thinking seemed to make this right.
His body caught up to his heart as it processed her question and he twitched against her.
"Will you?" she asked again and his eyes smoldered.
He dove in to catch her mouth in a kiss that ended lightly as he nodded against her, catching and holding her gaze. "You sure?" he asked as he kissed her mouth once again.
"Yes," she whispered as her hands lightly traced down his chest and to his waist, where they untucked his shirt hem from his trousers. He finally took his arms from around her for the first time since he'd entered the room as she tugged his shirt up and over his head. He returned an arm around her as he leaned down to kiss her again and moved his other hand to untie her dressing gown. She stilled his hand and whispered, "It's all I have on."
Harry, not sure whether to berate himself for not realizing this sooner or to just rip off the rest of clothes and go to it, stilled and let her guide him. Hermione unbuttoned his jeans slowly and then peered down his body and to his feet. "Your shoes are still on," she said smiling.
Harry smiled back as he toed off his shoes and dropped them off the bed. He kissed her again, this time on the spot just below her ear that never failed to make her relax and moan. This time was no different as Hermione's head fell back into the pillow as Harry kissed and tickled with his tongue. He was also, simultaneously, trying to toe off his socks and having some difficulties.
"What are you trying to do?" Hermione asked with amusement as she felt his feet moving.
Harry laughed against her neck, "Trying to get my socks off." He knew which ones they were and thought he wouldn't look too sexy wearing just them and a grin.
Hermione looked down and giggled. "Um, why don't they match?"
Harry rolled his eyes as he sat up to peel them off, saying, "Dobby," as if that explained it all. The elf had taken it upon himself to make sure all of Harry's socks had been properly mismatched in his wardrobe. Harry was usually too asleep in the morning to care to try to match them back up.
After he finally removed the mismatched socks from his feet, Harry lay back beside Hermione and traced her jaw and cheek with the pad of his thumb as his other hand rested on her waist. Hermione's hands were gliding over the smoothness of his chest. She reached one hand up and around his neck, bringing his head to hers for a deep kiss as her fingers laced through his hair.
She opened her mouth completely to him and Harry took it, mapping it with his tongue and coaxing hers to caress his. Her fingers combing through his messy locks were sending thrills through him. His feet had begun to tangle with hers and he bent one knee, sliding it up and between hers. The hand on her waist now slid over her hip and onto her thigh.
Hermione encourage him by leaning back to give more space between them and by scraping her nails gently against his scalp. Harry broke free from the kiss, gasping, and moved his kisses lower, to her neck and collar of her dressing gown. His hand, at the same time, sought to find the opening of her gown and as it did, dropped down to caress the inner of her other thigh.
He could feel her heat, even just inches away. They'd never been completely without any form of undergarments on before and that thought was present in his mind now. Hermione moved to lay more on her back and Harry leaned on his side, over her. He met her eyes, so full of trust, and meant to reach up and kiss her but his gaze caught sight of her dressing gown, which had gaped open slightly and he detoured to kiss her chest and follow the collar line down to her breast. He even brought up his hand from her thigh to cup her breast as he licked around her nipple, making her arch up and into his mouth.
Both of her hands laced through his hair, holding his head to her as he licked and sucked. She moaned as Harry drew open her gown to reveal her other breast and he lavished his attentions upon it. He was pressed against her thigh and the pressure was driving him mad so much so, that when her hand trailed down to he front of his jeans, he had to gasp and pull back to regain control.
"Take off your jeans," Hermione whispered.
Harry let his heart rate slow and then leaned back to unbutton them the rest of the way. He took a deep, shuddering breath and asked, "Should we get under the bed covers?" Hermione nodded and Harry scooted over and off the bed. He looked around and saw that the bedroom door was still open. He gulped and with his wand, closed and locked it. He also turned and found the fireplace on the far wall of the room and lit it.
"Good thing you noticed the door was open," said Hermione, slightly shocked they would have not noticed that. She was standing behind Harry and he turned then to face her. She reflexively drew closed her dressing gown and Harry brought his hands to hers, locking his gaze with hers. He entwined the fingers of their hands and kissed her. He lowered their hands and untwined one as he moved to untie her gown. Her hand, meanwhile, went to ease down his jeans. As they had already been unbuttoned completely, they slid right down, enabling him to step out of them.
He had untied her outer dressing gown tie only to realize that the inner tie was still done. Hermione turned then from him and drew back the bed covers. She turned back to him and her eyes were at his waist. She flicked her gaze up for a moment to question, "May I?" as she moved her hands to his waistband.
Harry swallowed audibly and nodded, with an ever so slight shiver at the anticipation of being completely naked in front of Hermione. She had touched him before and her hand had ventured into his boxers before, but he'd never been utterly starkers like this before with anyone—not that there had been anyone else besides Hermione.
He had to help her ease them over himself and he heard her intake of breath as she saw him fully for the first time. He pushed aside any awkwardness by focusing on putting his hands on her waist and sliding one hand in her gown to untie the last barrier.
As the gown fell open, he gazed down at her, hungrily drinking in the sight of her and mapping everything he had only touched under the cover of darkness. She looked everything he had imagined and better. She was real. He moved his hands to her waist now beneath the gown as he drank in the sight of her, oblivious to her observing him. Harry moved one hand up to her shoulder and pushed back the cotton of the dressing gown so it fell back and down her arm. She shrugged it off the other shoulder and she let it fall to the floor.
Be calm. You've read all about this. He needs this. You want this. Stop staring at his body, damnit—look at his eyes. Yes, those eyes could talk me into anything.
Hermione stepped closer to him, extending one hand to his shoulder and drawing him to her. How in the world am I supposed to be near him with that, just pointing at me?
Harry anticipated this awkwardness and turned slightly to the side as he pulled Hermione closer to him. I can feel him, no it, against my hip. God, I love the feel of Harry's arms; feeling his muscles flex as he moves to touch me. He could touch me anywhere—I want him to touch me everywhere.
"I love it when you touch me," Hermione whispered, feeling Harry shiver from her words.
"I love touching you," Harry murmured as he lowered his head to kiss Hermione. "And kissing," he adds as his lips are pressed against hers.
The feel of total skin-on-skin contact was intoxicating and Hermione turned slightly to more completely press their bodies together. His erection slid against her and was now pressed in between their stomachs, making her feel the most tremulous flutters deep inside.
God, I want him. Inside me. Hermione opened her mouth and tilted back her head, offering herself to Harry.
Her offer was taken as Harry devoured her mouth and sought to probe as deep as he possibly could into her supplicant mouth; he had her arching her back as he bent her backwards.
Gasping she finally, straightened up, resting her forehead against his. As they locked eyes, each spoke, stopped then smiled.
"You first," Hermione said.
Harry searched her eyes as he asked, "Are you sure about this?"
"Oh, Harry—" I love you, you prat, but you won't let me say it, now will you. But you'll know—I promise that. Hermione smiled determinedly back at him, "I'm sure."
Harry smiled that smile that began with his eyes, moved down his face and just barely made his mouth quirk up. It was a smile that Hermione had observed so many times and she had noticed that very few people would ever see it as a smile. But she knew Harry; she knew him so well.
"What were you going to say?" Harry asked, still locked to her eyes as his hands ran up and down her bare back, venturing just a fraction lower and lower each time they stroked downward.
Hermione felt a flush and let it propel her onward, "I was wondering if you had, er, a preference…on how to do this?" There're benefits to each position, but I think whatever he wants, is what I want to give him. He looks confused, er… "I mean, what position… If, that is, there's one you want." I sound like such an idiot.
Harry felt realization wash over him, and a little relief too as he had hadn't known what she meant at first. "Er, well, whatever." His gaze drank in her face and blinked, "I want to see you." His hands stroked in unison down her back and slowed as they crested over the swell of her bottom. "I want to feel you." His eyes closed as he breathed in the smell of her hair.
Hermione drew her head back, gave him a lingering kiss and then stepped back, holding onto his hands. "Ok," she took a deep, stabilizing breath, turned and climbed onto the bed, leading him while still holding one hand.
Hermione stayed kneeling as Harry kneeled onto the bed and watched her every move to follow her lead. She ran her hands over his chest looking him up and down and feeling herself swoon at the naked sight of him again. She pushed him back so he was sitting with his back up against the headboard, feeling his eyes watching her every move.
She leaned in to kiss him again, feeling his hands go to her waist, slid down her hips and then back up to her waist. He was ever so lightly trying to draw her closer to him and Hermione lifted one knee over his thighs, broke the kiss and placed herself over his thighs. She watched him look down at her body and felt a twinge of self-consciousness before it was chased away by Harry leaning towards her to wrap his arms around her and plunder her mouth yet again.
He finally pulled back when lungs demanded air and he let himself fall back against the headboard again. Hermione leaned with him and moved forward a few inches. She stroked his face with one hand, watching him lean into her caress and then, with her other hand, reached down and took him into her hand.
She had quickly found out during their nightly snogging expeditions that that she loved the feel of him in her hand. It felt like holding onto something she had long been searching for and sorely missed.
"Hermione," Harry rasped out, his eyes half-lidded as his fingers tightened on her hips, "I'm gonna…" He eased her hand away from its stroking and placed her hand around his neck as he brought her to him again for a kiss, quickly moving from her mouth to her neck and shoulders.
She straightened up and Harry was given perfect access to her breasts. He went from one to the other and finally settled on cupping both in his hands and he kissed, licked and sucked at each, in turn. Hermione was arching against him and pressing herself to his mouth as she twined her hands through his hair.
Harry could feel himself rubbing just barely against the back of her thigh and he was dying for more. Still sucking and tonguing the nipple of her breast, he slid one hand down, between her legs, up her inner thigh and cupped her.
One thing Hermione had done, and he had been ever so grateful, was the first time he had ever touched her down here, she moved his hand to show him where to touch. He slid his fingers now slowly into her folds and this new positioning gave him a unique angle to use his thumb to seek out the spot that made her fingers claw at his scalp while his fingers could delve further back into what he now found to be wetness.
Hermione moaned and began to move against his hand, still pressing herself into his mouth. Harry, between the sensation of her hands running through his hair, his mouth devouring every inch of her breasts he could, and the incredible heat his hand was working into, was almost caught off guard when her hips bucked and she swayed back, causing his member to collide with his delving fingers. It was only an instant but it was enough to turn Harry's thoughts completely to his own desire.
He drew back his hand from between her legs leaned back to catch pull her mouth down to his. His hands went to her hips as he silently pleaded with her to lower herself onto him. As she did and he felt his tip contact heat and wetness, his head lolled back and he thought he just might pass out. But she had paused and he rolled his head back forward to lock eyes with Hermione. They leaned their heads together and held each other's gaze as she pushed down onto him. Harry fought to keep his eyes open to watch Hermione whose eyes closed for a few moments as she pushed down to take him in.
Breathing deeply, she opened her eyes to look at Harry after she had finally adjusted to having him inside her. God, I love you. God, I love this. You inside me, you between my legs, you holding me, and you, with your green eyes, binding me to you. "I'm yours," she breathed out.
Harry kissed her with hunger and passion that was matched eagerly, by Hermione's. As their mouths battled for dominance, Hermione began to wiggle and moved up and down, causing them both to gasp out and shudder at the sensation of her sliding up and down upon him. Harry clutched her to him and drew her down upon his shaft, kissing her fiercely and pushing up and into her. "Oh, God," he breathed out.
As she felt him pulse inside her and his mouth groan as he tightened his arms around her, Hermione felt a swell of satisfaction. He came. Harry and I just made love. She smiled against his shoulder as she ran her hands through his thoroughly tousled locks and felt the spasms of his muscles contracting in his arms as he held her.
Hermione kissed his neck and leaned back to kiss his face as his arms finally relaxed around her. Harry fell back against the headboard, pulling Hermione with him, his face plastered with a blissful, dopey grin as he still breathed out heavily through his mouth.
He barely noticed as Hermione kissed his face, his neck, even his chest and began to rock against him, feeling a building sensation from her grinding herself against him. Harry only began to notice, after a minutes of recovery, when she began moaning and arching her back, making him feel a stirring in his loins that brought him back to the full awareness that he was still buried inside her. He brushed and held back her hair on one side as she was licking one of his own nipples to an excited state.
She noticed he was awake again and leaned back, locking her eyes to his as she worked to grind herself against him. It was a feral look she beheld his eyes with as she alternated between closing her eyes in pleasure and meeting his gaze. Something wicked in her was building and getting excited as she realized he was getting turned on again by watching her get off. Feeling him harden inside her was only intensifying her building pleasure and desire.
Harry stroked her cheek and brushed back the hair from her face again. The sight of her head rolling upon her shoulders, making her hair fall all about and over her eyes was a decidedly sexy look he had only ever associated before with some glossy picture or a woman, the likes of which he'd surely never before met.
"You're so beautiful," he whispered and he saw her smile at him. "So beautiful. So…sexy. Hot." Harry was caressing her face again and repeatedly pushing back her wild hair from her face to watch her. "You're brilliant. Lovely. You look lovely…feel lovely. You…feel…incredible."
He struggled to block out how wonderful it felt for him as she moved. He could feel the added wetness inside her from when he came and he was trying to talk to keep his mind from blowing himself again before she got off. "God, Hermione, you are so wonderful…brilliant."
As her moans grew louder and her rocking more jerky, she cried out, "Oh, Harry! God!" as she bit her lip and fell forward into his waiting embrace. Harry devoured her mouth and felt her tightening repeatedly around him. He wanted her. He slid down against the headboard and drove up into her, making her cry out again. Again he drove up, and again. He felt her nails digging in to his back and he wanted her losing control. He thrust up over and over, feeling his balls tighten, signalling his impending release. He held her hips and worked her against him as he thrust up again and as she whimpered in his ear, he came again, thrusting throughout as he felt her raking her nails against him each time he rubbed against her.
Exhausted, they both slid down, into the bed and Hermione finally fell off to the side with a wet squelching noise. Harry smiled at the sound and grabbed his wand and performed a quick charm to vanish the leftover mess.
"Do I want to know where you learned that?" Hermione asked sleepily.
She felt Harry smirk against her neck and he pulled her close under the covers. "Charms class. Vanishing charm. Works well for, er, sticky messes." He yawned and added, "I've used it before with you…you never did notice?"
"When?"
Harry laughed against her ear, "When I needed to."
"With me?" Hermione pulled back to look at his face, "When?"
"God, you think with all we did…you never made me…you know?" Several nights, through the barrier of clothing, then had lined things up pretty much as close as they could get and the rough friction of their clothing made vanishing charms a necessity several times before Harry could properly fall asleep.
"I knew you did some spell, but I thought it was a spell to calm yourself or something…you never…I never…I mean you didn't…"
"Make any noise? Yeah, you live in a dorm with four guys and you'll learn to stifle the noise, too."
"Silencing charms, Harry—they work well," said Hermione knowingly.
"Yeah well, we don't all read ahead. Old habits die hard." Harry kissed her on the lips again and sighed. "You really are brilliant."
Wit the dying fire the only light in the room, Hermione could just make out the green glint of his eyes as she asked shyly, "Do you really think I'm beautiful?"
"Stunning," he said as if she should know this. "Stunningly beautiful. Stupefyingly." He kissed her on the forehead again before drifting off into dreamless sleep.
Hermione awoke to feel fingers playing with a curl of her hair. She fluttered open her eyelashes to see Harry perched up on his elbow, looking down at her through his glasses and wearing a dreamy grin.
"Mmm," she sighed as she rolled over against him and snuggled into his chest as he scooted down beside her.
"How come you've got a different view out your window than mine?" Harry asked as he gave her a peck on her temple. 'Mine facing that same way have a completely different view, why?"
"Mmm, mchntmnt," she mumbled.
"I know they're enchanted, but why are they different, I wonder?"
Hermione yawned and rolled onto her back as she stretched. "It's the view from a seaside inn where my parents took me often on holidays. I chose it when I moved in." She rolled back to face Harry and kissed him.
Harry kept her mouth longer than she'd intended and he pulled her closer to press against him and feel him digging into her thigh. He bent and insinuated his knee between her legs and he soon rolled atop her as she spread her legs for him to open herself for him.
He tried valiantly to last longer than a few minutes but lost the battle of willpower when Hermione whispered in his ear how good he felt inside of her and then laced her fingers through his hair.
He collapsed on top of her, catching his breath and waiting for the room to stop spinning. When he finally realized he might be crushing Hermione, he rolled off and kissed her face.
"Do you have training today?" Hermione asked a now sleepy again Harry.
"Mm, what's today?"
"Saturday."
"Shit." His eyes opened wide and he looked around quickly for a clock. "What time is it?"
Hermione spotted the clock above the mantle and said, "Eight o'clock, oh no!"
Harry scrambled out of bed, getting tangled in the bed covers and swearing again. "Bugger, if Moody's already here—hell! I didn't even cast a Perimeter Charm last night—" The color drained from his face as he envisioned Moody trudging up to the Practice Hall to meet Harry at seven and finding it empty, looking for him, only to see through all the walls and doors and see him, tangled and naked with Hermione.
He was hurriedly jumping on one foot as he tugged on his jeans and searched the room for his shirt. Hermione summoned it, along with his shoes and socks for him as she found her dressing gown and tied it closed.
He paused after slipping on his shoes, to stand before Hermione. He leaned his head against hers and smiled, "You really are brilliant, you know."
She smiled back and kissed him, "Hurry up."
He grinned, saying, "I'm already late," and kissed her again, making her push him away to leave finally. "I owe you!" he called out as he left.
But Harry never found Moody waiting for him. In fact, he found the house empty. Not even a house elf was to be found. In the kitchen he found breakfast left in the warming oven. He pulled it out and hurriedly ate, expecting Moody or someone to walk in any moment and chastise him for forgetting about training.
But no one showed up and after he'd finished, he pilled a plate high for Hermione and added it to a tray with a pot of tea and carried it upstairs for Hermione. She wasn't in her room when he arrived and he walked to his room and heard the shower in the bathroom, making him grin.
He set the tray down in his room and changed his shirt to a new one with a fleeting thought he could also use a shower, and he would greatly love to be in there right now but, he still had a fear that someone would return, wondering where he was. Not to mention, Hermione just might hex for presuming to walk in on her bathing.
Figuring he only had one more full day before he had to leave for Hogwarts, he pulled out and opened his trunk to begin packing. He had emptied his trunk completely and was wondering how he'd fit everything into he now had into it when he heard Hermione come out of the bathroom.
"Hey, in here," he called.
She was all showered and dressed for the day (much to Harry's disappointment) and stopped when she heard Harry call.
"Moody leave?" she asked.
Harry shook his head. "Dunno. Didn't find him. Didn't find anybody. Brought you breakfast," he said as he gestured tot he tray on his bed.
Hermione grinned and said, "Be right back."
She returned and sat on his bed to eat her breakfast as Harry asked, "Do you know the spell to enlarge things?"
Hermione choked on a sausage and swallowed to say, "Harry, I think you have nothing to worry about. From what I've read, you're quite well—"
"That's not what I meant!" Harry said quickly waving his hand, but then inquired curiously, "Really?"
Hermione laughed, "Really."
Harry looked pleased and then remembered what he had wanted to know, "Er, I mean to enlarge a space—like my trunk so it has more room. I know it's transfiguration to change the dimension, but how do I get it so it appears the same from the outside?"
Hermione summoned a book from her room, Practically Enchanting, and searched the proper charm to add to the transfigured trunk as she ate her breakfast.
Harry picked up a carefully folded robe from first year and sat on his bed across from Hermione. "Did you still have a mirror from Remus?" he asked.
"Huh," she said distractedly, still thumbing through the book.
Harry was gingerly unwrapping the robe to reveal the broken shards of the mirror from Sirius.
"Oh, I found it—" Hermione stopped when she saw Harry looking down at the broken mirror in his lap. "It didn't work? That's right, I still have the other one—you never used it, oh, Harry, I'm sorry you couldn't repair it," she said moving towards him to look at the shards.
"No, that's not it, I never tried." He sighed and looked at her, "You still have yours?"
"Yeah, it's in my room." Hermione was furrowing her brow, looking between Harry and the mirror shards, trying to understand.
Harry nodded and turned back to the mirror. "I broke it," he said, "after Sirius…died." He breathed out putting those two words together. Quietly, he said, "I thought he might…might have had it with him when he went through…his mirror…I tried…nothing…." He drew in a deep breath and pointed his wand at it, whispering, "Reparo."
The mirror mended and Harry saw his reflection in it. He closed his eyes and felt Hermione slip her arms around him from behind. "I miss him, too," she whispered.
Harry had thought it might be realistic to think he'd be over losing Sirius by the time school was set to begin. Now, he felt the grief and guilt just as strong as the beginning of the summer. He felt it because there had been many days where he never even thought about Sirius. He'd been busy with training. But I started training because of Sirius—to get revenge. Busy with Hermione. Somehow, I think he might approve of that, actually. Dumbledore hadn't brought up the idea of a Life Celebration for Sirius yet since the first letter and Harry was grateful to not feel pressure for overcoming his grief. He wondered if he was the only one they were waiting for to complete grieving, but then quickly remembered that Remus was surely considered as also grieving.
Now, with the mirror repaired, he felt like he was forgiving himself for not using it. He vowed to think about Sirius more and to work towards being grateful for having known him. He also vowed to talk to Remus about Sirius.
The next day, after Harry and Hermione managed to unstuck themselves from each other and finally stumbled out of bed just before noon, Harry was back to working on packing when he stumbled upon a book--the book--on his shelf of various books, that had been in his room when he moved in.
Well, blow me over… Harry flipped open the book and after tearing his eyes away from the picture of a couple doing rather, intimate things to each other (they paused a second upon Harry's opening to the page to wink at him), he saw there was also written descriptions of performing the acts in the picture.
Harry slipped the book over and looked at the front cover: What a Witch Wants: A Wizard's Guide to Bringing out the Wicked in Any Witch. "Gor blimey," Harry breathed out. This was definitely required reading--from front to back.
He flipped open the cover and saw some writing inside that read:
Harry,
May you benefit from this as many before you have. Your father and I bought this the summer before our sixth year in Knockturn Alley. Hopefully this can save you the trip and help you out along the way. We leased it out to other mates at school. Turned quite a few knuts, we did.
Sirius
There was a small voice in his head that shouted indignantly at Hermione for "borrowing" his book--a book from Sirius to him--no less! But that voice was trampled over by the one singing the praises of Harry's luck at having such a wonderful and thoughtful godfather…or maybe just such a brilliantly cool godfather.
A knock at his door made Harry jump and he turned, hiding the book behind his back, to see Professor Dumbledore in the doorway. "I'm a bit early today, if you're not too busy, may I come in, Harry?" His eyes twinkled as he took in the sight of Harry's room with piles of books and robes across the bed indicating Harry's attempts to pack.
"Erm," Harry fought the panicky feeling that he had been caught doing something illicit and cleared his throat. "Come in, Professor. Pardon my mess, I've been sorting through things to attempt to pack finally." Harry shoved The Book onto a small pile of other books, pilled a few more on top of that and then beckoned to the armchair that wasn't covered in robes for Professor Dumbledore to have a seat.
Dumbledore spoke as Harry banished a few other articles of clothing from the other chair and sat down, "I had not planned on much of a lesson today, Harry. I think you deserve another day off before you head back to a new year of studies. Did you get Remus' owl last night?"
"Yes." Remus had owled Harry and Hermione the night before, explaining that Moody had requested his help in the finishing of the extra security around and in Hogwarts. Remus had said he would be back for Sunday dinner and surely not miss the last night they were all to spend at Grimmauld Place. "He's still returning this evening?" Harry inquired.
"Yes, he is." Dumbledore twinkled as he watched Harry, making him feel slightly uncomfortable. Too much twinkly Dumbledore was always something of which to be wary, Harry thought.
"I hope you've been able to enjoy much of your holiday, yes?" he asked.
Harry's considered the question slowly in his mind. Dumbledore had adopted a method of slyly testing Harry's Occlumency skills by asking questions such as this to try to catch Harry off his guard and revealing some thoughts. But Harry had caught on quickly and always reserved his thoughts now to account for this. He thought, of course, about Hermione and smiled, "Yes, sir. I have."
Dumbledore smiled. "Good. That was one of many of my hopes for you this summer. It was the only one which I had not already confirmed that you'd attained."
Harry flushed and fought a smile at the praise of meeting Dumbledore's expectations.
"I wish to commend you, Harry, on your working through the challenge the other night." His look grew slightly more solemn but was still intense as his sky blue eyes peered over his half moon glasses. "I had not really expected you to be able to get through." Dumbledore quirked a wry half-smile, saying, "I had intended to set up an unattainable goal which would allow any member of the Order to try their hand at going against you in a controlled manner."
Harry had an image of using his wand-turned-sword to cast a shield charm. He hadn't told anyone about this yet and he began to suspect Dumbledore surely must have heard from McGonagall about what he had done. Harry looked down and fidgeted with a chess piece on the table between them.
"Minerva tells me you had conjured a sword just before you stunned her, which we could see was just before you blasted the hedges away."
As Dumbledore spoke, Harry's face fell, as he berated himself for not closing his mind upon thinking about this, something he done many times before during the course of his training and "chats" with Dumbledore.
"Harry?" He looked up at the professor. "I didn't read that through your mind…oh." A look of dawning comprehension and mild sheepishness crossed over the headmaster's face and he smiled as he confessed, "Perhaps, it was I who left my mind open. Tell me, what did you see?"
Harry was wide-eyed and recalled, saying, "Well, I think I had an image of what Professor McGonagall would have seen before she was stunned and then, I got the thought, er, feeling? That she had told you."
Dumbledore nodded, smiling, "Yes. Well, then, you are progressing on to the next natural stage of becoming an Occlumens; your mind--closed off to external penetration, is becoming more receptive to seeing more clearly what is reflected from other minds." He gave Harry a serious look, "It will take time to get used to it and trust it. Use it wisely."
Harry nodded, excited. Even since Dumbledore explained how he would progress, he had looked forward to this. He knew it was how Snape had always tried to catch him in things as he had tried to stare Harry down.
Dumbledore watched Harry's excitement with amusement, "Progress, is always exciting, isn't it? Tell me, do you know how you blasted away the hedges in the maze?"
"Er, well," Harry bit his lip, knowing everyone had assumed it was a blasting curse. "I'm not sure how but, well, I wasn't entirely a blasting curse."
Dumbledore's eyes sparked. "I thought not." He held a finger aloft in the air as he intoned, "I had specifically recalled how you used it with some limited success in the Tournament maze and I reinforced the hedges to resist that curse. So, what was it then?" Dumbledore leaned forward and looked keenly interested to know.
Unfortunately, Harry didn't "Well, I'm not quite sure you see…it just kind of felt like the thing to do…" Harry trailed off, feeling lame.
Dumbledore looked disappointed for a moment before recovering. "Well, then. It certainly worked." He eyed Harry for a moment before saying, "It was The sword, wasn't it?"
Harry nodded. "I had rather been thinking of conjuring something to physically attack the hedges, but, well, it just kind of …popped up?" Harry's answer sounded more like a question.
"Hmm, I see." Dumbledore shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you, Harry. That sword, as far back as I have read from the records from those who have held the position of Lead Light of the Order, has always been seen as a symbolic and imbued magical artifact that was meant to provide inner strength and courage." He paused, looking at Harry, "That's twice it has come to your hands to allow you to wield it."
Harry thought of something else that he recalled when the sword had come to his hand. "Sir? There's something else, when I held it…actually, it happened at the induction as well, sir…" He wasn't sure how to say this. Harry still recalled Ron telling him that hearing voices was never a good thing, even in the wizarding world. "Remember when I told you about the voices…that reminded me of the ones from the veil? The ones I said I sometimes cold hear or dreamt about?" Dumbledore nodded slowly, watching Harry closely. "Well," he took a deep breath, "I heard them. When I was holding the sword. Both times." He also recalled hearing his father, but thought was surely a figment of his imagination and he wasn't exactly ready to be thought of as a nutter so close after the public was finally seeing him as not a mental case.
After a minute, Dumbledore spoke, "Do you hear them still, as you said you did before?"
"Yes," Harry said but then thought better on it. "Well, not so much really." He couldn't recall dreaming about them for some time now really. And as for quiet time where he was just thinking, there wasn't much of that. "Not so much of late," he added.
"And your scar?" Dumbledore inquired, gesturing to it. "Any feelings in it?"
"Nope. None." Harry shook his head.
"Well, curious, indeed. I will have to think on this. Ah, on to another topic." Dumbledore grinned at Harry as he pulled out a roll of parchment from his robe.
"Here is your schedule for the upcoming term, Harry. I had it prepared ahead and brought it along so I might explain some of the things on here -- some which I have taken the liberty to add." He handed the timetable to Harry.
"You will see, Harry, that I added Healing to your schedule as well as what I've termed Private Study which is when I'd like to continue working with you on Occlumency and other discussions as needed. Meetings of the Order are still to occur each Friday evening but are not listed on your timetable."
Harry saw that his schedule, although with less classes, was still very full as the courses were now almost all double time periods. He was pleased to see he still had a few breaks each day besides his evenings and meals free.
"Who is teaching Healing, Professor?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore smiled, "You know him." Not Snape. "Firenze. Centaurs are very gifted in the healing arts and he has agreed to take this post for us while Professor Trelawney resumes her post as teaching Divination." Thank God, because two classes with Snape would have been unthinkable.
"Of course, I am also presuming and hoping you might still wish to continue tutoring your fellow students? A group with such a fine name should not cease after such a short run."
Harry grinned, "I was hoping you wouldn't mind. Hermione reckons it would be expected what with Sn--, Professor Snape, teaching Defense. We'd understand to keep the illusion of it as a secret group, sir. Professor Snape would be, well, irate to think we're going around him, yes?"
Dumbledore nodded, agreeing. "There is one more thing. I know your free time is not abundant, Harry, however I would feel remiss to not offer you this," Dumbledore said as he pulled out a shiny red and gold pin from a pocket.
Harry's jaw dropped to see the Gryffindor Prefect badge being proffered before him. "But…what about…" Ron? What happened to Ron? He looked up at Dumbledore, "I can't…sir…"
Dumbledore nodded and took Harry's hand and placed the badge in it and closed his fist over it. "Ronald has resigned his post, effective over a week ago. I believe he cited wishing to pursue his studies as the reason for his resignation." Harry looked into Dumbledore's eyes, still not sure about this. "He may have meant studies to be quidditch, however, he did resign, leaving the post open."
Harry looked down and opened his hand, seeing the badge glinting up at him. "But sire, I'm not sure…" he trailed off.
Dumbledore rose from his chair and laid a hand on Harry's shoulder as he said, "If you can think of a better choice, I'm open to it?" Harry said nothing, still looking at the Prefect badge. With a squeeze to Harry's shoulder he turned to leave, saying, "Then I'll leave you to it."
That night Remus, Harry and Hermione had a lingering dinner where they even convinced Dobby and Winky to join them for pudding. Hermione and Remus were continually off on intellectual ponderings, leaving Harry to field Dobby's many questions and comments.
"Dobby and Winky is to go back to Hogwarts, now, Harry Potter, sir. Is Harry Potter happy about this? We can remain here if Harry Potter wishes, sir? If you needs Dobby, sir, Dobby is hoping Harry Potter will just ask him and he will help Harry Potter sir."
Harry tried to change the subject to how many hats Dobby now had as he had gotten sick of hearing his name after the seventy-sixth time.
Harry was pulled back into the adult conversation when he heard Remus say, "Actually, I will also be travelling to Hogwarts with you tomorrow."
"Really?" Harry asked, excitedly.
Remus smiled, "Yes, in disguise, however." Before Harry and Hermione could ask about the disguise, Remus stopped them, smiling, "You'll just have to guess."
"How are we getting there?" Hermione asked.
"Well," Remus answered, "We've used Kings Cross as an apparition point in your training this summer for a reason. With the aid of Harry's cloak, you two may easily apparate undetected to the station. I will go before you and Kingsley, one of the Aurors assigned to accompany the Express, will follow you."
The next morning, Remus had to tap his foot as he waited for Harry and Hermione to hurriedly gather the last of their things and rush down to the entrance hall. (They had not been able to drag themselves out of bed and away from each other until Remus sent Hedwig in through the window with a note, blatantly address to both Harry and Hermione, telling them to get out of bed before he alerted the Order that they were missing.)
"Got everything? Oh, Crookshanks!" Hermione dashed upstairs, nearly knocking over Harry as he levitated his trunk in front of him with a backpack over his shoulder. He had already sent Hedwig on ahead and fond room in his expanded trunk for her cage.
"Shrink your trunks, Harry. It'll be easier to apparate with them," Remus instructed.
Harry shrunk his and Hermione's trunk to the size of a snitch. He tucked both into his trouser pocket as he turned to see Hermione carrying an annoyed Crookshanks in his carrier.
"All right, where's my trunk now?" she asked, looking around, frazzled.
"In my trousers," said a smirking Harry.
Hermione gave him a look, not sure what to say.
Harry shrugged, "Remus had me shrink them."
Hermione's eyes glinted, "Oh, I was wondering how you'd have room in there for them."
"Okay," Remus sighed exasperatedly, "apparate now, flirt later, " as he checked his watch.
With a 'Pop!', Kingsley arrived, "Sorry I'm late. Good news, everyone who had opted for portkeys, changed their minds and now everyone is on the train. Shall we go?"
"Oh, it's nearly ten-to!" Hermione wailed as Remus left with a 'pop!'.
Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak from his bag and twirled it open for Hermione to come and join him under it. "Shall we?"
Under the cloak, their eyes met and Harry said, "Together, on the count of three, ready? One-two-three!"
The apparated at the same time to the apparition point they'd used during training several times before. Remus had had them using the Invisibility cloak before as well, as it was an excellent tool to get them to practice their precision when apparating and it also made sure no one who wasn't supposed to, noticed them popping in and out.
As they arrived under the cloak, Harry snaked a hand around to pull Hermione close for a quick kiss, ending with a squeeze on her bum, making her squeak.
"I take it that's you two," they heard Remus say from close by. As Hermione turned away from Harry and trailed her hand to land a well-placed grope, they saw Kinglsey appear beside them.
"Ok," Remus said, "Take it off and follow me."
With a flourish, Harry gave Hermione one last nip on her ear as he whipped off the cloak and folding it up quickly, stuffed it into his bag, smirking as he saw Hermione looking slightly bothered.
They hurried out from the alcove they'd apparated to and went through the barrier to Platform 9 and ¾. When they arrived, they saw the usual hustle and bustle that every departure had, however, they noted an increase in the number of adults present.
Remus called as he trotted away quickly, "See you there!"
"Oh, we need to hurry to get a car," Hermione said.
"Yeah, get your buttocks in a car, kiddies!" cried a familiar voice.
"Tonks!" Hermione cried, giving her a hug and then walking together towards the train. Hermione turned back, "C'mon Harry!"
Harry shook his head and nodded at Kingsley, "Thanks, I'd best follow before I get left behind."
On the train, Harry followed Hermione, who had lost Tonks as they boarded. "Oh!" Hermione whirled around to look, stricken, at Harry. "I forgot--I need to be in the Prefect's car--no wonder we're not finding Ron anywhere." Harry stammered a few moments, realizing he would be expected, as well, but also realizing that he had not yet told anyone--even Hermione-- that he had a Prefect badge. "I'll see when I get done, Harry!" Hermione called as she handed Crookshanks over to Harry who still didn't feel right about going to the Prefect car.
Just then, he heard another familiar voice, "Hello, Harry." He turned to see Luna Lovegood, already dressed in her robes with a silver and blue Ravenclaw prefect badge. "I am supposed to head to the front car, Harry, but when I get back, you'll have to see my pictures of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack." And with that, she breezed past Harry.
Harry turned to see a dreamy-eyed Neville looking after her. "Oh, Hello Harry. Oh! Thanks for owling me yesterday to tell me to take Potions! Are you sure," he looked around furtively, "he's not teaching it?"
Harry nodded. He had owled Neville the day before to alert him that Snape was no longer teaching Potions this year and urged Neville to take the class as he and Hermione were both enrolled in it.
"Brilliant," he said smiling in a way Harry rarely ever say Neville smile. "Luna says she just loves Potions…" he trailed off and Harry got the distinct impression that Neville rather fancied Luna Lovegood.
"Hey Neville," Harry began as a thought formed in his head, "I nearly forgot."
Harry shifted Crookshanks over to his hip and dug in his pocket. "Professor Dumbledore asked me to give this to you when I saw you. It's a last minute thing after Ron resigned." Harry handed the Prefect badge over to Neville, watching his eyes go wide in astonishment.
"You'd better hurry--just blame me for being late in giving it to you--Prefects are in the front car." He turned and looked down the corridor, saying, "I think you can just follow Luna as that's where she was heading."
With a smile, he watched Neville stammer, "Wow, but…well…"
"You'd better hurry," Harry warned, not wanting him to go through a self-deprecating list of why he didn't deserve it.
Neville looked up to see Harry's earnest smile and said feebly, "My trunk, Trevor, they're in the car," he said pointing at the car to the right.
"I'll watch them," Harry offered and he watched Neville hurry off down the corridor.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Ok, almost to Hogwarts……now that's one helluva long chapter…..forgive me for not getting all the way to school. Blame Harry and Hermione-- they just couldn't keep their hormonal hands off each other and caused this chapter to run loooooong.