Ramblings and Dribbles

by WolfgangNH

This is a posting of ramblings, dribbles, one-shots, unfinished ideas or other stuff I just don't think deserves it's own storyline. Some I plan to finish someday, others are what they are. This is mature reading for some posts. Some items may be well developed, others are not yet, and may never be. There will many different pairings, and sometimes none.

35. A Mid-Winter's Ever

Rambling and Dribbles: A dribble that I hope some enjoy.

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A Mid-Winter's Eve

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Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter does not belong to me.

Warning: This is a mature story with mature themes including a polyamorous relationship, explicit scenes and other themes.

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Premise:

It all starts with a curious Hermione. She is currently taking Ancient Magics as part of her NEWTs and gets invited to attend and Imbolc Celebration. Imbolc is the pagan holiday, celebrated between Yule, the winter solstice, and Ostara, the spring equinox. It is the celebration of the rebirth of magic to herald in Spring, when the earth is rebirthed.

During the Celebration, the Rights of Bridgit are often observed. This involved a sacrifice, something important to the person seeking the blessing of the mother and warrior goddess. The blood of a virgin is one of the most powerful sacrifices, and thus Daphne Greengrass seeks to use this power to change her life.

Harry, not really knowing any of this, is happily dragged along by his girlfriend, Hermione, to witness the celebration. Caught in the moment, and by the magic, he is drawn into both girls' wiles, leading to a good night for them all and consequences that none of them could fully foresee…

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Notes:

1)This is a Harry/ Hermione / Daphne as the main pairing

2)Weasleys are split between being hated on and not

a.Molly, Bill, Percy against Harry. They think all the Weasley misfortunes are because of him and the Potters

b.Arthur is convinced by Molly, but still doubts

c.Twins support Harry

d.Ginny had been dating Harry, but the arguments in her family have Harry breaking up with her.

3)Voldemort is dead

a.Harry killed him by sending him through the veil on the night of the DOM. He is forced into the veil.

4)Death Eaters are gone

a.The soul bonded Death Mark killed them when Voldemort is killed

5)The remaining Blood Purists are forced to move more towards the grey and neutrals so that they are not crushed in the aftermath of the DOM

a.Narcissa comes out as one of the top leaders in this shift, mostly to save Draco

6)Harry is Regent Potter and Regent Black

a.Laws and rules around ancient and Sacred Twenty-Eight blood lines require any person that is heir to more than one be recognized as a single person for each house, thus magic can recognize a single person ad multiple people.

7)Daphne was 'using' Harry to break a betrothal she didn't want, instead it goes slightly wrong, but not in a way she is sad about

a.This leads to the betrothal transferring from Draco, an heir of House Black, to Harry, the Regent and future Lord.

8)Other consequences of the rites lead to Harry having a Lady Potter and Lady Black

9)Not really caring for the politics, Harry and his girls look for a way to live their lives as Dumbles wants to draw Harry back into a fraught political environment that is unsure of Harry

a.Leads to Harry and the girls mostly abandoning the Wizengamot and Ministry to start work for the goblins. Harry finds he is good at Treasure Hunting and recovery and become one of their top people

b.Unsure if he might get involved in politics to see changes. Narcissa and other are to spearhead a more 'moderate' Ministry

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Chapter 1

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February 2, 1998

Hogwarts, Scotland

"Hermione, what are we doing and why are we sneaking out of the castle?" Harry asked his bushy hair friend. Well, she was more than a friend since New Year's, but they had kept it quiet after the blow-up at the Burrow on Christmas which had found him on a couch at her parents' house.

She gave him a smile, as though she had just found out some secret she was dying to investigate. He usually only saw that particular light in her eyes when she rushed off to the library. "You know how we've been studying the old pagan holidays, rituals and celebrations this year in Ancient Magics?"

"Yeah, you've told me about them. Are you saying this is a class project?"

"Not exactly. Where is your invisibility cloak?" she demanded.

He raised an eye brown. "The broom closet wasn't enough earlier?" he asked, laughing when she gave him a look.

"We are allowed to attend, but I'm not sure if the Head girl should be seen sneaking out at ten at night," she told him.

"Is it sneaking if you have permission?"

"Well, I only said we are allowed to attend. Anyone over seventeen can attend," she told him.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Does that mean the professors don't know?"

"Well, I hear Professor McGonagall and Professor Vector attend most of them. This is the side of magic that is almost never talked about. I want to see what happens and want you there with me," she told him.

Harry laughed at her. "You know you only had to ask."

She moved in, pecking him on his lips. "I know."

He took out his cloak and they made their way down to the old gates of the practice field. Just outside the door they were met by six people. "Is that you, Granger?"

"I have Harry with me too," she said.

Harry rose an eyebrow to see the long blonde hair of a girl he had spoken to a handful of times over the last year or so. Even in the dull light from the windows at the school he could see the pale skin of Daphne Greengrass.

"The more the merrier," a dark skin boy said from behind the blonde.

"Anyone else?" Greengrass questioned.

"No," she said.

"Right, take one of these cloaks and a cross," she told them. Harry was surprised to see the bulking forms of Crabbe and Goyle step forward. Crabbe had two cloaks and Goyle had an armful of four pointed stars made of grass.

"Bridgit's Crosses," Hermione said.

"What? Are you sure we should be going with them?" Harry questioned in a whisper.

"Listen, Potter, this is a sacred night. Only those that wish to anger the gods would do anything bad," Greengrass told him.

"Daph, we should get going," a girl with long, straight brown hair told them.

"I know, Trace. Get those on and let's go," Greengrass demanded.

"Who's the last one?" Harry enquirer.

"Bulstrode," Zabini replied.

"No Malfoy?" Harry put to them.

Greengrass snorted. "The Malfoys, like others, only talk about the old ways. Do you want to join us or not?"

"Who else will be there?" Harry was full of questions tonight.

"About twenty-five of us. Are you done with your twenty questions?" the blonde girl demanded.

"Harry, Daphne asked and promised our safe passage. I've worked with her and most of the others here for the last few years in classes. I want to see this," she told him.

Harry relaxed some. "Sorry, Hermione. I'm just still a little on edge from, you know."

She put a hand on his arm. "I know."

A few minutes later they were in black cloaks that had elaborate green and white embroidery around the edges and hem. They all held Bridgit's Crosses and were silent as they rushed across the grounds to the edge of the Forbidden Forest just behind the owlery. There was a large group of students. Harry recognized most of them. Neville, Susan, and Hannah were among a group of Hufflepuffs and sixth year Gryffindors. Many Ravenclaws and a few sixth year Slytherin rounded out the twenty-five of them there. Standing on the side of a path were Professors McGonagall, Sinistra, Babbling and Sprout.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward. "I assume everyone is here. Tonight is the celebration of Imbolc. We will lead you to the circle and the elves have already lain out the feast. For those celebrating the event, you must all be seventeen or older," Professor McGonagall told them, her eyes resting on him and Hermione for a moment. "Bathsheba, if you want to start the procession."

Harry looked to Hermione. This was a different McGonagall.

Professor Babbling held a Bridgit's cross over her head before starting an incantation in a language Harry didn't recognize. Most of those around them started the same chant. Whatever language it was, Harry could feel the magic around them start to respond. Hermione shivered as well. "Get in line behind me," Greengrass told them.

They did, following Greengrass into the dark forest. Hermione was between him and the blonde, but something had Harry feeling a little protective of both of them as the forest around them seemed to stop breathing. It was still. No rustling of branches or leaves overhead. No sound of animal or beast, only the quiet incanting of most of the people with them.

As they walked further into the forest, the trees grew thicker, the darkness only broken by a few candles that were evenly dispersed through the line, Hermione reached behind herself and took his hand. In the cold February night, her hair grew frizzier, like there was a static charge in the air. It was a good fifteen minutes before they suddenly took a turn and a large clearing opened up at the end of the path. In all his adventures in the Forbidden Forest, he had never seen this place.

Walking out of the trees, Harry's eyes grew as they came into the outer ring of a druid stone circle. There were two concentric circles, the first twenty feet out from the centre, the centre circle fifty feet across. Daphne led them into the circle, indicating they should stand next to her. Zabini lined up to his right, Davis beyond him. The rest lined up, all equally placed as though directed there by some unknown force.

In the light of the half moon and the handful of candles, Harry made out a shape made of sticks and covered in moss. It was a rough shape of a man with rounded shoulders, long limbs and horns on its head. "What is that?" Harry whispered to Hermione.

"Shhh," Daphne snapped as Professor Babbling stepped into the centre. She was still talking in the language that he didn't recognize as she walked up to the statue. This went on for a few minutes s as the moon rose higher in the sky. The magic in the circle grew, making him feel a little like he was drifting. It was a pleasant feeling, but it was unlike any magic he had felt before. Hermione and most around the figure started to sway with the growing power.

Suddenly Professor Babbling cried out, "Glaoimid ar an dia adharcach, chun athbhreith na talún a bheannú. Glaoimid ar an máthair breith na ndaoine a thiocfaidh isteach in earrach a saoil a bheannú. Iarraimid ar an mbeirt beannú a thabhairt dóibh siúd a leanann na seanbhealaí agus an síol a theastaíonn uaidh a thabhairt don talamh chun é a bhreith arís."

The magic spiked in a pleasant way. It coursed through his body from his feet to his groin, then his balls before continuing up his spine, over his arms and ending in a shiver up his neck. Harry couldn't remember channelling so much power, not even when he defeated Voldemort almost two years ago. It was like his body was dancing with electricity. Professor Babbling pointed her wand at the figure, igniting it in a bright orange fire. As soon as it burst into flames, Harry let out a breath as the power rushed out of his body. A pulse rushed out from the circle, shaking the trees. A moment later, there were calls of animals and what he thought were excited yells from the centaurs.

Harry swayed a little. Hermione stumbled. Harry had to catch her as Greengrass fell to her knees. As Hermione fell into him it was another shock. Hermione gasped as the magic in both of them swung back and forth. It was like a wave bouncing from one side of Harry and crashing off the other side of Hermione before coming back to crash inside him. He almost fell as he tried to steady the magic in them. No one around the circle was unaffected, with most falling to their knees, others swaying until falling over, like Professor Babbling.

"What was that?" Harry croaked; his mouth dry from how much magic had just been in him. He still felt supercharged, but not as much as he had before the pulse.

"Is it always that strong?" Hermione asked. There was a quality to her voice that had Harry responding as his cock went semi rigid.

"I've never," Greengrass said in a voice that sounded like her thoughts were far away.

"Bathsheba," Professor Vector addressed the Runes professor, walking up on unsteady legs to the woman with concern.

"Merlin, what was that?" Zabini asked.

"I don't know, but I felt that," Davis said, leaning as heavily into the dark skin boy as Hermione was them.

"Help me get Daphne up," Hermione told him, her legs still too weak to really stand. Harry moved to extend a hand.

Greengrass looked up at him. Harry felt his breath catch. Her light blonde hair looked to be as full of power as Hermione's as silky strands gently floated around her. She had brilliant dark blue eyes that Harry felt enthralled with. It was like when he looked into Hermione's eyes. She reached a hand to his. "How are you standing after that?"

Harry gave her a wry grin. "I feel more energized than ever."

Hermione giggled. "You feel excited about something," she commented as he realized his now fully erect cock was digging into her side as he pulled Greengrass up. When her hand touched his he could feel the magic in her. It snapped, sending more waves between the three of them, with Harry at the centre of the maelstrom. Harry gasped to feel the surge of magic in all three of them, not to mention the near orgasmic feel of it. This time his knees did give out, bringing all three of them to the ground. Both girls gasped louder than him.

"Bloody hell," he got out after a moment.

Professor Babbling was standing. "The Great Horned God has given his blessing. It is stronger than any I have felt in the thirteen years I have led this," she said to the surprised voices around her. "If anyone would like, I am sure the Great Mother and the goddess Bridgit would bless any union or sacrifice you would make tonight. Until then, let us eat." She clapped her hands. "Bring the mead and wine."

A half dozen house elves came out from between some of stones and torches were lit on the outside of the Druid circle.

"What is going on?" Harry asked, trying to figure out why he felt like he was channelling the magic of ten men and looking at the blonde like he did the brunette. His body wanted both.

Daphne replied, "Merlin, Potter. How strong are you?"

"I told you he was," Hermione said, almost challenging Daphne to say anything different.

Daphne's blues eyes were locked on his again. An elf came over and held out two goblets. "The good masters should drink to honour the night," a familiar house elf said.

"Dobby?"

The elf smiled. "Dobby bring mead for the Great Harry and the misses."

A deep drink from the goblets had them all recovering enough to stand. Laughter was already coming from the tables. Dobby gave them a smile as they stood before leading them towards the tables and benches. "Are you two alright?"

"I didn't know you cared, Potter," Greengrass joked. Harry didn't miss how hard she was clinging to his arm, as though she was still a little unsteady. Hermione was squeezing his hand tight.

"It's Harry, if you call her Hermione," Harry told her.

"I only call her Daphne because of the years we have been in runes and ancient magics," Hermione told him.

Daphne smiled at Hermione. "And even that is a great compliment. Please call me Daphne."

They sat at a table, the food smelling delectable and Harry finding himself starving for some reason. Harry was between them. "So, Daphne, what happened tonight?"

"Hermione didn't tell you?"

"I wanted to see it and then explain things," Hermione said, he didn't miss the flush on her face.

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Really?" Something passed between the girls that Harry was curious about until his stomach growled.

Daphne chuckled. "You must have gotten a large blessing. I can feel your body burning through magic."

"Is that what that feeling is?" Hermione asked, a pensive look on her face.

"I thought you knew that our magic would be 'reborn' tonight. This is the rebirth festival. The magic that was passing through the three of us is the same effect, just not everyone touches each other," Daphne told them.

"Why?" Harry asked.

"Reborn. You mean it cleans our magic?" Hermione asked. "I don't remember reading that."

"Not all knowledge is in a book or in Hogwarts. Eat and drink. I'm sure you are hungry as the blessing does its work," Daphne told them, taking up a silver goblet of mead.

Harry and Hermione reached for their own cups before eating. Harry wasn't sure how many cups of the honey tasting drink he had before Daphne suddenly asked, "Do you both want to make a sacrifice to Bridget and the Earth Mother?"

Harry was feeling lightheaded but really good. In his fuzzy state he had noticed that he was feeling a little randy. The way Hermione had been rubbing his leg, and sometimes going high enough to run her hand up his cock, had him ready to drag her off somewhere to snog... maybe get a little bolder tonight as well.

"What type of sacrifice?" Hermione asked, her hand roaming up again. Harry couldn't keep his groan in as she gave his shaft a gentle squeeze.

Daphne's eyes became half lidded and he sucked in a breath when her hand found its way onto his other calf, and then soon over Hermione's. Hermione started before giving a questioning look to Daphne. Harry was between bliss and fear to have two girls' hands on his shaft like that. "The blood of a virgin," Daphne said in a soft, seductive voice.

Hermione took in a shark breath. "You don't mean to kill someone?"

Daphne laughed, sending sparks of pleasure through him. "If you don't move your hands, I'm not sure I can hold it in," Harry told them.

Hermione looked to him.

"I don't mean kill anyone, Hermione. There are other ways to get the blood of a virgin," Daphne told her, the girl's hand holding him a little tighter. Instead of being painful, the extra pressure was rather enjoyable.

Harry groaned, his eyes closing for a moment. "I don't care what you bloody do. I'm about to strip one of you down," Harry told them, knowing he wouldn't normally say that, but he wasn't really thinking with the head on his shoulders at the moment.

Hermione bit her lip. Her hand tightened and Harry felt about ready to explode, never having been touched like that before. "Is this the 'traditional' part you were trying to tell me about?" Hermione asked.

"I told you, until you try it, don't be so negative about what you don't understand," Daphne told her, leaning over towards Hermione.

Hermione leaned over him. It was as though both girls were drawn to each other. Harry really liked Hermione, and would never cheat on her, but what guy didn't dream of two gorgeous witches kissing each other while holding his cock. Harry wanted them to kiss before internally chastise himself, thinking that he was just drunk and daydreaming. That was until Hermione said, "Sex magic is forbidden at Hogwarts."

Harry's eyes widened.

"It's not sex magic. It's a sacrifice to the gods for the gift they have given us. Can't you feel the magic in you. I know it's the most I have ever felt and all I want right now is to feel a man inside me for the first time. I want to feel Harry in me, and I want to kiss you," Daphne told Hermione.

Hermione looked a little shocked until Daphne leaned over more, her chest under her robes brushing against his. He really did almost lose his nut to see their lips meet. Hermione looked really shocked for a moment until she started to return the kiss. Harry was having a hard time to breath, trying to keep himself from exploding in his trousers, "Do I get a say?" the last of his resistance asked.

The two girls broke apart. The sultry look on both their faces had his blood running hot. Hermione's and Daphne's chest were heaving as they were trying to catch their breaths. Hermione finally looked away from the dark blue eyes of the blonde. "Harry, I want you inside me too."

Harry groaned, a shiver running through his body. Daphne looked at him. "Take Hermione first. She's yours. Just save enough for me," Daphne begged.

"Bloody Merlin," Harry said.

Something had him standing. Hermione launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist, needing him to hold her up by her nice arse, as Daphne led them away from the table. Daphne's mouth found its way onto his jaw, to Hermione's mouth, then to his. He wasn't sure he was aware of what he was fully doing as he lay Hermione onto some thick furs inside a tent just big enough for the three of them to move around comfortably. Hermione was kissing him, then kissing his jaw and neck. He pawed at her in a way that seemed to make them both needy. He had to sit up to take off his cloak and jumper. When he did, Daphne slipped her arms around his neck. In his half-drunk, magic fuelled lust, he attacked her mouth like he had Hermione's. She pushed his cloak off, then worked his shirt off.

Meanwhile Hermione was desperately trying to shimmy out of her jeans and to get her own jumper off. Harry let her go for his belt and push his trousers down as he slipped a hand inside of Daphne's cloak to be surprised when his hand touched the smooth skin of her stomach and side. Harry pulled back to look at Daphne, some common sense coming back into him for just a moment. "Wait, are you sure?"

"This may be the only time I ever get a choice. I like you, Harry. I have for a while. I really like Hermione. Tonight is a night to celebrate the rebirth of magic and the young. Celebrate with me?" she just about pleaded as she undid the last clasp on her cloak. Harry watched in some wonder as she opened it and let it fall down her arms. Daphne Greengrass was a goddess in her own right. Her slim waist, decent breasts with large nipples and the neatly trimmed muff between her legs were breath taking.

Harry was about to kiss her again when he sucked in a sharp breath. Something warm and wet had just latched onto him. Looking down he saw a sight that was beauty incarnate. Hermione had managed to get her clothes off. Her breasts were a little larger than Daphne's with small nipples and an athletic body. What had made him take in such a sharp breath and hold it was the site and feel of her mouth around the tip of his cock. Her tongue moved and he sucked in a sharp breath. Daphne looked down and did her own intake. "That fits in me?" Daphne asked.

Hermione smiled around his cock and moved her head up more.

"OH fuck," he muttered, feeling himself tense already. No one had ever given him a blowjob and here was his girlfriend working to take him all in while another girl was watching in rapped attention.

Daphne giggled at him. "I think that is the intention tonight."

Hermione pulled back and started to move her head. Kneeling over her and having her doing this had Harry watching in rapped attention. He only looked away when Daphne leaned over. "I never thought that would turn me on," she told him, taking his hand. Harry ran his fingers through her curlies as she moved to kiss him. Harry wasn't sure what was better? Daphne grabbing his shoulders as he learned to play with the blonde or Hermione doing her best to get him off. Harry lost that fight quickly.

"Hermione," he tried to warn her.

Instead of pulling her head back, she dove her mouth onto his cock. Harry bit down on the spot he was sucking on Daphne's neck as he unloaded in Hermione's mouth. Daphne cried out in pain from the bite as his fingers dug deeper into her. A second later, her fingernails dug into his shoulders as her body started to shake. His hand was slick but became drenched as she cried out.

Hermione gagged a little on how much he spurted into her mouth before trying to swallow.

"Merlin, Hermione," he muttered. Daphne was panting and using him to keep herself up, his fingers still in her warm twat. Her body was still shaking.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked Daphne

"Fine," she said, finally letting him go and moving down to kiss Hermione.

Hermione smiled as she let him out her mouth. "I want you in me now," she told him. Daphne's mouth was then over Hermione's.

Harry moved down, something telling him this was what he was supposed to do tonight. She spread her legs. Harry moved to between them, his semi-flaccid cock coming to rest on the fold of her core. Hermione moaned into Daphne's mouth.

The kiss they shared had his hard-on return quickly. The feel of Hermione's slick folds had helped as well as her writhing under him. His body involuntarily rocked his hips. Harry had a primal need to dive into her, but held back, slightly unsure of himself and not wanting to hurt her. Seeing her heaving chest and Daphne's hand touching Hermione's underswell was seriously taxing his resolve.

Hermione reached her hands to grasp his forearms. Harry moved his eyes up to lock her eyes with his. He didn't miss how her lips were puffy and wet from kissing. Her expressive chocolate eyes were half lidded. They were staring at him, the magic in her clear for him to see and drawing him in. His cock seemed to grow more.

"Do you want me?" he asked her.

"Always," she responded. "Please, Harry, I want you inside me."

It was all he needed, leaning down to kiss her as he pulled back. It took a time or two to figure out how to line up with her core, but when he did, he pressed into her. She was tight and moist. Hermione whimpered a little. He went to stop, and she put her hand on his hips to pull him in. Harry pressed past an even tighter spot. Daphne moved in to lean over him. He fought his excitement to feel Hermione's breast against his chest and Daphne's against his arm and back. When Daphne kissed the back of his neck, Harry pressed as far in as he could, his crotch against Hermione's now.

She let out another whimper.

"I'm not hurting you?" he asked.

"Just move slowly. It does hurt us the first time," Daphne whispered into his ear. Harry hissed as she took his earlobe into her mouth.

"I want you," Hermione said, her eyes closing as he slowly moved in and out. The sensation was even better than when he had been in her mouth. Daphne continued to kiss his neck and back, encouraging him on.

Hermione started to make noises of pleasure. Going with the moment, his mouth left hers and moved to her chest as he moved his hips. Hermione moaned when he kissed her left breast, then took a nipple in his mouth. Her hands came up into his hair to hold his head there. He felt Daphne move back to Hermione's head.

Hermione was quickly bucking her hips as he thrust into her. He didn't think it took long before he was cuming for the second time that night. He thrust as far into her as he could. Hermione cried out through Daphne's lips as he spent himself inside her tight core, her walls convulsing around him. He grunted, unable to say anything else as his magic melded with hers in that instance.

When they were done, he used his shaky arms to keep himself from falling on her. She was breathing as heavily as him. Daphne was moving between them. This time when she kissed him, her tongue was in his mouth. Their tongues battled each other for a bit.

Harry pulled back, his body still going through its high, but already responding to the blonde girl. He moved to be on his knees. Daphne shuffled so her front was pressed against him. She willingly moved her neck to the side as he kissed along her chin, neck, shoulder and to her breasts. Like Hermione, she put her hands into his hair to hold him as he sucked on her nipple.

"I want you inside me," she whispered.

Hermione had recovered and her wandering hands had Daphne moaning as Hermione gently played with Daphne's chest. "Lay on Hermione," he told her, the lust and the magic flowing between them guiding them.

Daphne lain down on Hermione, there pussies lined up over each other. Hermione pulled Daphne into a kiss. Harry didn't ask this time, feeling pulled to her. Harry was on his knees as he took Daphne's hips. Pressing the tip of his cock against her entrance, Daphne moaned, which grew as Hermione's hands roamed over the blonde's body. Daphne moved her crotch up, rocking back and forth. Harry took in a sharp breath as the tip of his head moved in and out of her.

For whatever reason, he plunged straight into Daphne. She was tighter than Hermione and let out a whimper of pain. It was enough to have him stop. She was clenched very tightly around him as he had fully buried himself. "It will be alright," Hermione whispered to Daphne.

After a moment, she calmed, and he felt her unclench. "Should I keep going? I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Just be gentler," Daphne said, looking over her shoulder. Daphne rocked her hips some, a small moan leaving her after a moment of doing so. Hermione began to kiss Daphne's shoulder and upper chest. Her rocking hips slowly had Harry take up the motion, moving in a slow way. As he took over, she let his hands on her hips guide her.

Harry started slow. As her breath quickened, more moans and other sounds came out of her. Hermione lavished her chest with kisses and caresses as Daphne arched her back and pushed up on her outstretched arms. Harry was now pushing and pulling her on his long pole, grunting at the sensation.

When she suddenly started to quiver, a cry of pleasure escaping her, Harry lost it as she tightened around him again. He pulled her so he was buried as far in as he could be. He felt her juices dripping out as he pumped his nut into her. Daphne's magic pulled on his before pushing back. The sensation had him shoot even more into her at the excitement it induced.

After a moment, Harry pulled out. Daphne collapsed on Hermione as her arms and legs gave out. Hermione wrapped her arms around Daphne as Daphne put her head over Hermione's shoulder, her body still shivering as she caught her breath.

Harry sat heavily next to the girls, his own breath going in heaving gasps. For the first time since this night started, he was finally coming down from the high that the magic around them had started.

Hermione looked over at him. 'I love you', Hemione mouthed.

'Love you too,' he said without hesitation.

Daphne pushed herself up on her arms so she could shift. Her head fell onto Hermione's breasts. "Can I sleep with you two? Just for tonight?"

Harry gave her an understanding smile. Something had happened between them tonight, more than just all three of them losing their virginity. Harry felt his magic reaching out for both of them.

Looking around, he found a few blankets. "Come here," her said.

Daphne rolled off Hermione. It took a few minutes for Daphne to be on her side, her head on his chest and a hand on his stomach. Hermione had her head in the crook of his arm, one hand rubbing the side of his head, the other pushing the still sweaty hair of Daphne off her face. Harry kissed Daphne on the top of her head.

"I think she's already asleep," Hermione told him, giving her own yawn.

Harry shifted to kiss her head. "I'm knackered."

"I am too," she said, suddenly sounding as though she was just barely awake.

Harry drifted off to two girls on him. Their chests on his side were exciting but sleep quickly overtook him as well.

-oOo-

Irish: Glaoimid ar an dia adharcach, chun athbhreith na talún a bheannú. Glaoimid ar an máthair breith na ndaoine a thiocfaidh isteach in earrach a saoil a bheannú. Iarraimid ar an mbeirt beannú a thabhairt dóibh siúd a leanann na seanbhealaí agus an síol a theastaíonn uaidh a thabhairt don talamh chun é a bhreith arís. = We call the horned god, to bless the rebirth of the land. We call the mother to bless the birth of those that shall enter the spring of their lives. We call on both to bless those that follow the old ways and give the earth the seed it needs to be reborn.

-oOo-

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Chapter 2

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February 3, 1998

Forbidden Forest, Hogwarts, Scotland

Someone shook the tent. Harry opened his eyes. The tent was dark, but at this time of the year in Scotland it was always dark early in the morning.

The tent shook again. "Time to get up. Breakfast starts in an hour, and you must attend classes," he heard Professor McGonagall.

Daphne was curled up against his side, still sleeping. Looking down, he could see her chest moving in a rhythmic fashion. Hermione's head was on his chest now. She yawned then groaned. "My head hurts," she told him.

He felt like he had a slight headache but enjoyed the girls too much to let it affect him. "Yeah."

As he started to process what had happened last night, he wasn't sure what to do.

"Daphne," Hermione said, reaching over to shake the blonde awake.

"Five more," she said.

"We have to get up," Harry told them. He would have sat up, but that wasn't possible.

Daphne's arm went over his stomach. "What if I don't want to leave?"

Harry's eyes rose some. Hermione shifted to look up at him. He could tell something had really shifted last night. It wasn't just the sex, though that had been really good... at least he thought so with how he was feeling. Something in Hermione's eyes looked conflicted.

"We have to go to class," Hermione told them.

As they started to move, Harry couldn't help his eyes from roaming over their bodies. Daphne seemed to be moving a little more gingerly than Hermione. He felt guilty. Daphne seemed to catch onto it as he watched her slip her arms into her cloak. "Harry, thank you for last night. It was very nice, and I hope whomever I marry will be as nice."

"Did I hurt you?"

She gave him a soft smile. He had never seen her smile before. It made her look very beautiful. "It is supposed to hurt the first time. By the end it felt really good."

"I agree. You were brilliant last night," Hermione told him, kissing his cheek. Hermione looked to Daphne. She bit her lip before saying. "Daphne, this doesn't affect you, right?"

"No. Participating in celebrations do not affect me. I'll see you for our normal study time? I don't think any of us have classes today. You are invited too, Potter," Daphne said, her aloofness coming back.

"Please, call me Harry. I have my workout and training I need to do," Harry told them.

Daphne looked at him curiously. "Training and workout?"

"Harry is taking a special class in duelling. Professor Flitwick has him on a strict workout routine," Hermione explained.

"Is that why you looked like a chiselled statue?" Daphne questioned.

"Probably," he commented, pulling his jumper on. He felt pleased with himself to see the way Daphne had looked at him.

Hermione chuckled. "You liked his six pack too?"

"You are a lucky witch, Hermione. I'll call you Harry if we are in private, but it's Potter otherwise," she told them, standing up and moving towards the flap.

"Hold on, I'll walk you both up," Harry told her.

When they walked out, Hermione's hand in his, Professor McGonagall was waiting. "You are the last ones. If you need, Madam Pomfrey will be in the hospital wing through the end of breakfast."

"I'll see them up there, professor," Harry told her.

"I can go with Daphne. You go start your workout so we can go to the library this afternoon," she told him, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"You sure?"

"I'm sure," Hermione replied.

He walked with them to the training yard, getting a peck on his lips from Hermione when they went their separate ways. Harry could see the longing in Daphne's eyes as they walked away. Harry found it very hard to leave them both, or to resist kissing Daphne as well. As he had time to really process it, he wasn't sure if last night had been a mistake... especially now that he wanted both girls to sleep with him like that again.

After changing, Harry went back out to the cold grounds, did his stretching and then started his run.

-oOo-

On the way to the hospital wing...

"Hermione, are you alright with last night?" Daphne asked.

Hermione's mind was racing as much as the headache would allow it too. She had always struggled some with how she felt for both sexes. There was no doubt that she really liked boys... men. Harry was definitely a man but seeing Daphne kissing Harry and her tits bouncing just before her face as Harry had her ride his cock, had turned her on as much as it had having Harry in her last night.

This was not what her parents had taught her, and wizards seemed even more conservative that her parents' beliefs in the Anglican church. Hermione was more open though, and the blonde Daphne Greengrass has caught her eye for a while. Even with that, she was feeling a small seed of jealousy creeping up inside her.

Would Harry prefer Daphne or her now that they had had a threesome?

"Hermione?" Daphne questioned.

"I don't know. Last night was... different," Hermione told her.

"It was part of the celebration. I imagine it was different than what muggles would do," Daphne replied.

"I didn't mean like that. It was just... different," Hermione told her.

They were both silent for a moment before Daphne said, "I can't tell you how turned on I was when you took Harry into your mouth. Do you do that often?"

Hermione blushed. "First time, actually. Do you think he liked it?"

"Yes," Daphne told her. After a moment, she said very quietly, "I think I would like to do that to Harry too."

Hermione stopped. Daphne pulled up short, turning to catch her eye. Hermione was so torn at the moment. She was really tearing herself up inside about knowing she was supposed to be monogamous, but she had really enjoyed having more than one partner last night. All she knew was that she meant it when she mouthed to Harry she loved him. "Daphne, I don't know if that should happen again," she finally said, her fear of Harry wanting someone else making her say so.

Daphne looked a little uncertain. "What if Harry was required to have two wives?"

Hermione just stared at the blonde. "What?"

Daphne took in a deep breath. "What if Harry was required to have two wives. Would you accept me?"

Hermione blinked a few times. "Why would Harry have two wives? That's not legal and I can't see him having a mistress," she said... not trying to think of the trim blonde.

"Technically, it is against the law, but technically, Harry is two people in our world," Daphne replied.

"Explain," Hermione demanded after a moment. She was starting to think last night was just an innocent threesome brought on by the magic, but if it could be more...

"Harry is the heir to the Potters and heir to the Blacks. Both families are old, with potential seats in the Wizengamot and are recognized as members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. I know most don't put a lot of stock in that now, but there are laws and traditions about keeping those houses alive," Daphne told her.

Hermione made a face. "You mean like the Malfoys?"

Daphne shook her head. "The Malfoys are relatively new blood here in Britain. Yes, they have a long history in France, but Draco is only the third generation born on our soil. His family only received official pureblood status with Draco. They claim to be part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but the original were the families that signed the Ministry Charter almost eight hundred years ago. My family is considered to be old, but we have only been her for about three hundred years. We came from Norway before then," Daphne explained.

Hermione's mind was racing. "If Harry was that important, why did Fudge and the Ministry try to discredit him and drive him away?"

"Politics. Just because he has the blood and now holds the reigns of two such old houses doesn't mean that others won't try to get one up over him, especially since the old houses have special privileges when they want to claim them," Daphne said.

"Harry knows that he could apply to be on the Wizengamot, but special privileges? You mean like multiple wives?" Hermione questioned.

"Each house of the Sacred Twenty-Eight is recognized as their own entity. They can't be combined or joined with another house. If you marry Harry, you will be required to give heirs for both. If he was to have two wives, then we could each represent one," Daphne told her.

Hermione's eyes narrowed a little. "You wanted Harry to sleep with you. Why?"

Daphne stood tall, looking more like a lady of an important House. "I was not trying to mislead either of you, but if the goddess accepted the spilling of my blood, then I will be cleansed of all binding magics. My sister and I are bound to marriage contracts to the Malfoys. Since they didn't have a second son, the magic of the contracts could have him claim either or both of us."

Hermione was frowning. "You used me," she accused. "You knew I wanted to see some of those celebrations."

"I did, but I didn't," Daphne confessed. She rushed to go on as Hermione put a hand on her hip. "I wanted you to come. I think more Muggleborn should be invited to our sacred holy nights. You must have been curious."

"I was. I am. That isn't all, is it?" Hermione demanded.

"I also wanted Harry. I know he is a powerful wizard. The letting of a virgin's blood may not have been enough. You can't tell me you didn't feel how much magic he was blessed with. He is more powerful than any handful of us. I also know you look at me," Daphne told her. "I've had a crush on Harry for a while. Tracey has teased me how you look at me, and I admit I find you rather attractive too. With the breaking of the bond of the contract, I need another contract bond. I was hoping you and Harry would accept me? If you do, Astoria can break her contract as well. This isn't just about me, Hermione."

"Bloody hell," she muttered. Harry and the red head had been bad influences on her over the years. As she tried to figure this, she asked, "Tracey didn't see me looking at her, did she?"

Daphne smiled. "Me. Tracey. Lavender Brown. Susan Bones. You have good tastes."

Hermione felt her face flush a little. She might like to taste Daphne. "Daphne? Is it acceptable for Harry to have two wives?"

"Yes," Daphne replied.

"You still used us," Hermione said. "Harry hates to be used or manipulated. He might be upset about this."

Daphne finally looked a little apprehensive. "Will Harry be that upset?"

"I don't know," Hermione told her. "I never thought he would have a threesome with me and you, so I don't know."

"Are you angry?" Daphne pressed.

"Some," Hermione replied. "Are you sore?"

"Merlin, yes. I still don't know how he fit in me, but, bloody hell, I want him again," Daphne told her.

Hermione bit her lip. "I do too," she confessed after a moment. "I want you there too."

Daphne perked up a little. "You would accept me?"

Hermione chewed on her lip. "Let's talk with Harry," she suggested.

Daphne stood tall. "I want some pain potion first."

-oOo-

Around the Black Loch...

Harry ran along the edge of the Black Lake. The path skirted the shoreline along the Hogwarts border, then plunged into a section of the Black Forest they were allowed to enter. It was a mile long path that brought him to grassy clearing at the end of the lake. Not far beyond, the Forbidden Forest started and covered the other side of the lake.

As he ran, his thoughts drifted back to the tingling sensation of having two very naked young woman cuddled against him. Daphne and Hermione were of similar builds. Thinking back, Daphne's hips had been a little wider while Hermione's nipples and areolas had been darker.

A smile had crept onto his face to think that Daphne had also been louder.

As he thought that, a frown replaced the smile.

He had just had sex for the first time. He had had sex with two incredibly beautiful girls. Hermione was his girlfriend of all of a month and some change. They had snogged and hands had roamed, but no clothes had come off yet. Well, not before last night. He really cared for her and would never cheat on her or leave her after everything they had been through. On the other hand, he found that he now wanted Daphne too.

How that would work... he knew it wouldn't.

"Bloody fuck," he huffed out.

Harry pushed himself, hoping he could run away from this new conflict. He ran out of the Black Forest as full speed, racing towards the rock he usually tapped before turning around. He was about to touch it when there was the chirp of an owl.

Harry looked up to see a black eagle owl swooping down. He came to stop, leaning a hand against the rock as he watched the owl. There were two thick envelopes attached to its leg. He slowed, putting his hand on the rock and leaning over. He was heaving for breath, having covered the distance from the school in almost half the time he normally would.

The owl landed on a rock next to him.

"Just a moment," he said, working to catch his breath. He got a sharp rebuke in reply. "You nip me, and I'll fry up like a chicken."

The owl, who looked about to do just that, took a step back, making him take a step to get the letters. Looking at it, he was wondering why Gringotts had sent him a statement. He had received one over Christmas break and shouldn't get another one until April.

One was addressed to Regent Potter and the other Regent Black. That had been an annoying thing he had found out over the summer once he turned seventeen. The Potters and Blacks were two different Houses. Harry had wanted to disband the Blacks, like Sirius' will requested, but when the goblins told him he couldn't unless he wanted to give the Blacks to Malfoy, Harry had claimed the magical line of the Blacks as fast as he could.

The owl gave him a baleful hoot before flying off.

"You have a good day too," he called after the bird.

He had a quick debate before breaking the seal on the Potter envelope first. "Come again?" he asked no one in particular as he read the letter a second time. Frantically he ripped open the letter for Regent Black. This one contained a cover letter and a multi-page legal looking document.

He scanned it quickly. "Bloody Hell!"

Harry started to run back to the castle.

-oOo-

Infirmary...

Daphne's insides were swirling. She may be cool and collected to the outside world, but that only hid the turbulence she often felt beneath her veneer. For years now Draco had been telling her she was his. As part of the marriage clauses with his mother to Lucius Malfoy, all marriage contracts not fulfilled would head to Draco, the next inline now that all the other Blacks were dead. Unfortunately, that would mean Draco was going to be head to two houses. The Malfoys may not officially be part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, but with Draco being the third pureblood Malfoy born on British soil, it meant he would now be bound by the old laws, needing to sire children for both the Malfoys and Blacks. He was using that to torture Astoria and her, wanting to excise marriage contracts that would see them both with the blonde ponce.

What sickened her even more was the fact he kept telling her his fantasies to see both of them sucking him off. If he were to marry them, they would have to comply.

The contracts were written in such a way he could make them. Sharing a guy with her sister just did nothing for Daphne. Sharing a guy with the likes of Granger... now that was a fantasy, she could like... and had enjoyed it last night.

Last night was as much about escaping Malfoy and hopefully freeing her sister, as it had been her hoping she had a choice, at least once in her life. She hadn't lied to Harry and Hermione about that. She really did want to have a choice the first time. A small smile came over face to think of it. The fact she knew Harry now outranked Malfoy had her hoping the bond would be broken by the true head of the Blacks.

Tracey and Hannah Abbott were also in the infirmary when they arrived. Abbott gave them a knowing smile as she walked past them. "Have a good night girls?"

"About as pleasant as it looks you did," Hermione said from besides her.

"I got my choice. Did you?" Daphne asked.

Abbott smirked. "Susan just left and Neville was grinning all the way to the Great Hall. You tell me? Oh, you know you both have bruises all over your necks, right?" With a cheeky grin the girl skipped out the door.

Hermione blushed, her hands going to her neck. Daphne giggled a little. Apparently, she was still feeling a little loopy because she didn't usually giggle. "Wear them with pride. We honoured Bridgit and the Earth Mother last night."

Madam Pomfrey came out of her office, took one look at them and said, "Both of you?"

"Yes, ma'am," Hermione replied.

"Sit on a bed. Ms Davis, you can go when you are ready," Madam Pomfrey told her.

Daphne's best friend hopped out of bed then plopped rather unceremoniously next to Daphne, bouncing them both on the squeaky springs of the old bed. "You look to be walking a little gingerly," Tracey said with a huge smile. "So do you, Granger."

"You know why, you prat." Daphne rolled her eyes at Tracey.

"So the plan worked? Does Granger know? Does she approve? Where all those marks only from Potter?" Tracey questioned, a slightly mischievous hint to her voice.

"And what about those on your neck?" Daphne questioned.

"Oh, Blaise and I had some fun. You know he is meeting his betrothed this summer, so he was hoping for a little fling," Tracey said, rocking on the bed looking really pleased with herself. "Now, are all your bruises from Potter?"

Hermione answered. "It was a group thing," the girl said in a tone that had Daphne looking at her. Daphne had been curious what it might be like to be in a good poly-amorous relationship when she had had her better fantasies to escape Malfoy's sick ones.

Tracey gave Daphne a smug look as though saying 'Told you so'.

Daphne's glare said, 'Shove it!'.

Tracey laughed, being prevented from saying anything else when Madam Pomfrey came over with a small tray of potions which she set on a table at the end of the beds. "If you don't mind, I would like to just do a small check-up before I give you anything. All the students I have seen so far appear to have some extra magic in them today."

The way Tracey was still rocking on the bed, a huge smile on her face, had Daphne wondering how much extra magic.

"Is that why I feel so awake?" Hermione asked.

"Most likely, dear. If you received any of the blessing, then I dare say that all of you may find your spells more powerful for a while," the matron informed them. When she ran her wand over her, the matron looked surprised. When she did it again, Daphne was looking at the Healer curiously. "If you don't mind me asking, did you make a sacrifice of your virgin blood?"

Daphne felt her cheeks flush a little. That was something she didn't mind talking with Hermione about, or even telling Tracey, but it was not something she expected the matron to just ask so bluntly. The expression on her face must have said it all.

"I see. And you, Ms Granger, did you do the same?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Hermione looked more comfortable with the question. "Yes, Madam Pomfrey."

The matron nodded, running her wand over Hermione. The woman nodded as though understanding something. "Would you both mind if I do some other diagnostics?"

"Why? Is something wrong?" Hermione asked nervously.

"I wouldn't say wrong, but something unusual." The matron's wand was going again. When she swished the wand between Hermione and her, Tracey's gasp was louder than both Hermione's and hers. Daphne almost felt like crying. The bond to the contract was still there. The golden cord looking stronger than before. It faded as it raced towards the door. There was also a new one. A silvery cord extended between Hermione and her. Another silvery cord ran from Hermione towards the doors.

"What the bloody hell are those?" Tracy demanded.

Hermione looked at the cords, the representation of bonds. "Are these what I think they are?"

"Magical bonds," Daphne whispered.

"Strong ones at that. Who are you betrothed too, Ms Greengrass?" the matron asked.

"Malfoy," she said morosely.

Hermione took in a sharp breath.

The matron frowned. "I don't doubt you believe that, but I never thought Mr Malfoy had any feelings for Ms Granger. This silvery bond strand is usually only made between those that have some feelings towards each other, and by the strength of it, probably gave their sacrifice to the same young man."

"Daph, you said the contract was with the Heir to the Blacks," Tracey said. "You said Draco claimed that at fifteen."

"It is," Daphne said in a confused voice. "He claimed the contract before Potter was declared primary heir. Last night should have broken that contract."

"When is Draco's birthday?" Hermione questioned. Daphne could see the gears turning in the girl's head.

"Sometime near the end of June," Daphne told her.

Hermione bit her lip. "Sirius declared Harry his heir before the fourth year. We found out at the will reading almost two years ago that Harry had been emancipated when he was declared for the Triwizard Tournament."

Daphne's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "Harry is Regent Black? I just thought him primary heir until he was twenty-one."

"Since Sirius died. The goblins didn't tell him about any betrothals though," Hermione replied dubiously.

"The Malfoys had claimed them. Harry wouldn't get them but should have been able to find them in the family's documents," Daphne replied.

"Harry claimed you last night, with his right of regency," Tracey deduced.

"That would explain the betrothal bond," Madam Pomfrey stated.

The doors to the infirmary burst open. Harry charged in, holding a fist full of parchment work. Magic was radiating off him. "What the bloody hell is all this?" he demanded.

"Oh, this won't be good," Hermione groaned as though she understood the situation right away.

-oOo-

Infirmary, Hogwarts, Scotland...

Harry's chest was heaving as he held up the stack of parchments in his hand. Daphne, Hermione, Tracey Davis and Madam Pomfrey were all looking at him. Davis shied back while Hermione and Daphne seemed to lean towards him. Madam Pomfrey rose her hands. "Easy there, Potter. No reason to be upset at the moment."

Harry looked to the matron. "No reason?" He even sounded deranged in his own head.

"Harry, what's in your hands?" Hermione asked.

He looked to her, noticing a braided silver cord going from her to him. Blinking, he noticed another going from her to Daphne. Even more surprising was the golden strand between him and Daphne. "What the bloody hell?" Harry blurted out. "Why are their ropes connecting us?"

He didn't realize his magic flared some, making the cords to the two girls increase in diameter.

"Mr Potter, I must ask you to calm down, please," she told him, moving to a rack of potions she had put on a table by the girls.

"CALM DOWN! I get letters from Gringotts that Daphne and I are betrothed. She is the intended Heiress Black and Hermione is now the intended Heiress Potter! What the hell is going on. I thought you said that nothing would come of last night," he asked desperately towards Hermione. "I love you, Hermione, but what is this!"

Hermione stood up. "It's alright, Harry. I don't think this is anything bad," she said.

Harry let out a pulse of magic. After last night, he really did like these two girls, but to be betrothed? To have no say in the matter? He didn't even get to really explore what this all meant before he proposed to one of them... "Merlin, Hermione, don't I ever get a choice!"

The understanding in her eyes had him calming a little. "Yes, you have a choice," she said.

"How! You know what magically binding contracts are like! You told me what betrothals are like as well. Do I own Daphne now? It that what this is? Did I just trap her into this... this... whatever this was that happened between us last night?" Harry begged for an answer. His magic flared more, pushing the two beds closest away from him. "I never meant to trap you like this, Daphne."

Daphne looked like she didn't know what to say. He could see tears grow in her eyes. Madam Pomfrey handed Hermione a small potion vile with a dull red potion in it while whispering into her ear. Daphne stood when Hermione took her hand.

"What about us, Hermione? How can I marry two witches? I like Daphne. Merlin, I like both of you, but you've been my best friends since we first came to Hogwarts," he said. The pull to both of them grew as they came closer, but he knew he couldn't have them both.

"Harry, it will be alright," Hermione said calmly as she came to stand close to him. Daphne looked to be squeezing the life out of Hermione's hand.

"How will this be alright?" Harry asked her, really hoping she had an answer.

Hermione pulled Daphne so she was standing just besides her. "Tell him what you told me."

Harry looked to Daphne. Daphne looked uncertain for a moment before taking in a breath and standing tall. "You are Regent Black and Regent Potter. According to the old ways and laws enacted for the original Sacred Twenty-Eight, that makes you two people," Daphne told him.

Harry blinked at her, his magic starting to settle some. When Daphne didn't say anything else, he looked to Hermione. "I don't know all the details, but if what Daphne says is correct, you can have a wife for each magical line since they can't be combined. Otherwise, if you only wanted me, I would have to give you children for both magical lines."

Harry blinked again. His mind felt remarkably blank for what should have been a frantic thought stream. As it sank in, his magic pulled in more. "You are telling me," he started, looking at Hermione, then Daphne, "that I am considered two people before magic?"

"Yes," Daphne said after a moment.

"Because of this, I can have two women? As my wives?"

Daphne nodded. "Yes."

He stared at her for a moment. "Last night, did you intentionally trick me and Hermione into what we did so this would happen?"

Daphne's face crumpled, causing a falling sensation in his gut. He had been betrayed and tricked before and she had used their stupor from the magic and drinks to get him to make love to her, because to Harry, sex just wasn't sex. He would never have just slept with either of them just for that. When it came to Hermione, she was a woman he loved. The last two years had really shown him that. Daphne was someone he was definitely attracted too. Someone that had earnestly asked him for help. The fact he was feeling pulled to her magic hadn't helped... well, it had, but not in the way he meant.

"I didn't ask you to have sex with me to bind you into this contract. I only hoped that with my sacrifice, it would break the contract. The contract bound my younger sister and I to the Heir of the Blacks. Draco was threatening to claim both of us and what he wanted us to do..." Daphne trailed off, a shiver passing through her.

Harry felt his protective nature kick up. Hermione headed him off at the pass. "Harry, I don't think she meant to trap you or herself. Daphne was looking for a way out of a bad situation. She also told me she has had a crush on you for a while."

Harry looked to Hermione briefly before turning back to the dark blue eyes of Daphne. She was looking at him pleadingly. He let out a breath and the raging magic in him subsided. As it left him, Harry could feel how much exertion he had put his body through between last night, the run out to the end of the lake and to push harder to get back here and his sudden flaring just now. His knees gave out and he crashed to the floor.

"HARRY!" both girls exclaimed, dropping down to keep him from falling over.

"Whoa," he said as a headache came crashing in.

Seeing it was safe to approach now, Madam Pomfrey came rushing over, her wand up and silently working a series of spells.

"Harry! Are you alright?" Hermione asked, steadying him on his knees.

"Fine... though the world is spinning some," he told her. He looked to Daphne. "You didn't mean for me to get this?" He held the papers up.

Daphne shook her head. "I just wanted to save Astoria and maybe see if you and Hermione would want me. I'm not lying that you could have two wives or that I've had a crush on you."

Harry nodded, then looked to Hermione. "Do you want this too?"

Hermione searched his eyes for a long moment before leaning in and kissing him gently. "I won't say no if this is what you want."

"Do we have a choice?" he asked, knowing how magical contracts worked.

"Not really, Mr Potter. There are bonds between the three of you. With you claiming each witch last night, and the sheer power you seem to have now, there is no breaking those bonds. How are you staying upright? According to my scans you are near exhaustion," she asked.

Harry smiled, before swaying some. "I feel like I could still run a marathon," he told the matron before his head lolled back and his eyes rolled into his head.

-oOo-

-oOo-

Chapter 3

-oOo-

February 3, 1998

Hogwarts, Scotland

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, former Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Warlocks, receiver of two Orders of Merlin, stood at a window in his tower.

He was looking over the grounds towards the Dark Forest. A frown marred his features as he looked at patches of the ground where the snow had melted over the night. He could see some of the dead grass already showing a bright green, like it did in the early spring. It was still a month or so too early for any signs like that, but after the magical pulse he had felt last night, he wasn't surprised.

Last night had been Imbolc. The pagan holiday celebrating the coming spring and the rebirth of magic. At one time, most of the school would have marched through the forest to the old druid circle to honour the old deities that still called some of this land home.

It had been celebrations and rituals like that that had led to some of the most powerful Dark Lords in recent times and had been the reason he had led a campaign against the old ways for nearly seventy years now. It didn't matter that he participated in events like that when he was young, or that some of his one prodigious power came from some rituals at significant holidays, he had come to realize how dangerous it was. The unfortunate thing was that magic wanted these celebrations, and some families were resistant to give up their roots.

Thus, he let those that he had not been able to convert, or outlaw, use these holidays to let lady magic know some still believed. But those numbers were still falling. This year only twenty-seven students out of a hundred possible had attended. No one under seventeen was allowed to the rituals anymore. That had been one victory he had achieved. Even with that, it had been the most in almost two decades, and the next year class he knew of only ten that might attend.

What was concerning him, though, was the reaction from last night. It had been generations since he had felt such a strong blessing. It concerned him. The last thing he wanted was a resurgence of the old, wilder magics. That could be a recipe for disaster, not to mention increase the chances of a breach of the Statute of Secrecy.

"Headmaster, Professor McGonagall just passed me," a gargoyle statue from above his office door called out.

"Thank you. See her right in," he told the office's guardian. It wasn't long before the door opened as she reached the landing. "Good morning, Minerva. I take it the Rites of Imbolc went well?"

"Better than I can remember in a long time. I haven't felt this invigorated in many years," Minerva told him. "Pipsy, tea please."

Albus turned to his Transfiguration Professor and long-time friend. One of the few he allowed himself. He learned long ago getting to close to people could be bad. Looking at Minerva, his brow rose. The woman, usually dower and long of face, had a small smile today. Years of wrinkles and worry lines looked to have melted away over the night. Always a powerful witch, he could feel she was more so this morning. The slight kick to her step was more reminiscent of the woman twenty years ago. It would appear the rites has had more of an effect than he had expected.

"Yes, the signs of a successful blessing can be seen on the grounds, and it appears in you as well," he pointed out. Albus moved to the tea table in the corner as a taller house elf placed a tea service and two plates of breakfast onto the table.

"It was rather impressive. There were also some enjoying the Rites of Bridgit after the Horned God gave his blessing. I'm sure Poppy will let us know if we need to worry of anything," Minerva informed him while she prepared a strong black tea.

"I still think it wrong that we endorse activities like this," Albus told her, reaching for his own cup.

"I would rather supervise these old rites than to leave the students on their own. They are all of age and we have no say in what they wish to do," she pointed out, putting some fried eggs and hash onto her plate.

"You are right. It is better we support those that still believe than let them do this on their own. Are you feeling well?" he asked, noticing her leg bouncing. It was a habit she had stopped some years ago.

"I just feel more energized then usual and my bones don't ache like they have," she told him.

Albus tried to hide his frown. This was a most unusually powerful blessing. "Will I need to expect any angry Floo calls from parents?"

"You know Poppy tries to keep all girls over thirteen on potions to prevent anything. I also stay out of the student's business. Again, they are all of age and can make their own decisions," Minerva told him.

Albus was starting to worry some. This was unlike Minerva... well, a much younger Minerva had expressed those same sentiments, but not for some time. As he pondered this, he watched in curiosity as she ate her breakfast, then went back for more. A real concern was starting to gnaw at him. Imbolc was the night of rebirth, of cleansing. Could it be possible she had been cleansed of some magic he hadn't realized that had taken hold of her? Or was it just the power that had been unleashed?

They sat in silence as she finished her second plate. When done, she sighed. "I haven't felt this hungry in a while. Anything else, Albus?"

"I was just wondering who had attended, and again, is there anything I might need to head off?"

She gave him a look over her wire rim glasses. "You know I never talk about those activities and who might have been involved. Poppy made sure she was available if anyone needed to go the infirmary."

"I didn't mean any offense or to pry into something that is understandable personal. I just worry about consequences when magic and hormones are so high," he told her.

"Yes, well, I don't think there is anything to worry about. Even if there is, you know nights of magical celebrations the laws cannot override what magic decides, so if there is anything, it is up to the students and their families," Minerva reminded him.

Yes, that was something that had crawled up his craw a few times. No matter what he tried, Magic would not allow him to change the protections of those rites. "I would not want to interfere with any family business. I just know how emotional things can get should there be consequences."

"If that is so, I don't think a young woman would talk to the headmaster about such items. Let Poppy and I handle any issues that might arise," she said as though the issue was decided.

They were about done when he looked up. There was something niggling at the wards. A very powerful wizard was entering the castle. A very powerful wizard that was bleeding out power like it was nothing. A small bell started to go off on his desk. Minerva looked at it. "Is that a danger? I can feel the wards trying to protect the castle."

"I'm afraid it is something. We must investigate," he told her, standing and leaving what was left of his meal and tea. He moved as fast as he could, which was considerable for his age. Magic was wonderful. The fact the ability to channel his magic into his body to move like this had come from a ritual when he was younger had slipped his mind in his old age...

By the time they had made it to the infirmary, Albus felt the magical flow give way. He opened the door just in time to see a black-haired boy pass out. Two older year girls were moving to hold him up so that his head didn't hit the floor. Poppy was standing over him, her wand going. "I can levitate him onto a bed."

"Is he going to be alright?" a very concerned blonde girl asked.

"I'm sure he will be, but Potter has used an extreme amount of magic in the last twenty-four hours, if my scans are correct. You two are also showing signs of channelling massive amounts of magic and should rest for the day," Poppy told the girls.

"Poppy, what happened?" Albus asked.

"Just some high emotions after last night. Nothing to be concerned with," Poppy told him.

Instead of sitting on the bed indicated, Ms Granger used her wand to summon two chairs over to them. The two girls sat on the side opposite of the working matron. Seeing them sitting with Harry like that had alarm bells going off in his head. Ms Davis was silently watching the scene from a few beds away. Surely the boy hadn't fornicated with three witches on the same night?

"Perhaps the young witches should leave?" he suggested.

"I'm not going anywhere," Granger told him. He knew the girl was besotted with the boy. Anyone with eyes could see that. The fact she had been involved with all of Harry's adventures, including that disastrous night in the Department of Mysteries, he had no qualms about how she might feel about this. His concern was to separate them and perhaps counter anything that might have occurred last night.

"Surely the matron will need room to work..." he started to say.

"Headmaster, Ms Granger and Ms Greengrass are not in the way. I also have not finished with them. There isn't much to do for Mr Potter except let him rest. He may sleep the rest of the day," she said. Poppy twitched her wand, summoning several screens over.

"Are you sure he just needs to rest? Surely if you need to complete any exams or treatments then Ms Granger and Ms Greengrass should lay in other beds?" Albus suggested.

"Albus, this is not your concern. Poppy, will the three of them be alright?" Minerva asked.

"They will be fine. I really can't discuss anything about them unless they give me permission," Poppy told them.

"I do not give my permission," Ms Greengrass spoke up.

"Surely if there is something wrong, as Headmaster, I should know," Albus tried to convince them.

The look Ms Granger was giving him let Albus know that the rift between him, Harry and a few of his friends had not mended.

"Myself, Harry and Daphne are all of age. Unless there is a situation needing an immediate response as lain out in the Hogwarts Charter, the Headmaster has no 'right to know'," the girl said in a hard tone.

She was correct, of course, but that didn't mean that he still didn't need to know. Poppy levitated the curtains around the bed, cutting the three children off from him. "Ms Davis, if you can be quiet, you may join them," Poppy told the brunette.

"Yes, ma'am," Davis responded before slipping into the curtains.

"If you excuse me, Albus, I still have treatments I need to give," Poppy said as she moved to a rack of potions.

"Poppy, what happened in here? I felt a large magical spike before we stepped in. Did Ms Greengrass or Granger do something they shouldn't?" Albus pressed.

"Albus, that is none of your concern unless Poppy feels it is," Minerva stated.

"It is unusual to have a magical spike like that and Harry is one that has been through much in his young life," he countered.

Poppy stepped back up to the curtains hung on metal rollers. "There was nothing unusual about what occurred. Now excuse me."

Albus stared at the screens. About the only magic he was not allowed to get through in the entire castle were the silencing and privacy spells that came into effect the moment the curtains had been put up. He stared at the enclosed bed.

"Albus, if Poppy says this isn't your business, then I must press it isn't," Minerva told him.

He was quiet for a few. "Harry slept with all three girls last night?"

"If they did or did not, that is a personal thing between those young adults. Are you really trying to pry into their privacy like that?" Minerva asked.

Until the end of fifth year, Albus had known just about everything to do with Harry Potter. He had his spies, trackers and counters to a boy that exuded power. He needed Harry. The world needed Harry. That was until that night that Sirius Black and Voldemort had died. Black at the hands of his cousin. Voldemort by Harry himself. It was a feat that Albus had thought impossible, never have even considered the Veil in the DOM. Any soul going through that mysterious object had no way of coming back. It had also been proven that night once a soul, any part of a soul, went through, then all the other parts would as well. He had stepped into the chamber just as Tom had been blasted back. His shoulder had touched the moving material, and then was dragged kicking and screaming into the ethereal material. Mere seconds after the man had disappeared, everyone watching the last tantrum of a Dark Lord, Harry had cried out, his hands going to his scar, only to have a black mist pour out of it. He watched in fascinated horror as the boy screamed, blood pouring from the wound while the Death Veil sucked the mist into it.

As Harry screamed, he started to watch in morbid horror when all the Death Eaters in the chamber fell to their knees, screams of intense pain coming from them all. Black mist had rose from the left arms of everyone that had a mark. As he watched them, unable to do anything, another black cloud rushed into the chamber. The unearthly screams as the black cloud passed him still sent shivers up his spine. Harry fell over as the second cloud was sucked into the arch.

The Death Eaters all screamed, even if stunned, as it had no effect, until Albus counted seven of the clouds enter the Veil.

With some convulsing, the eight Death Eaters in the chamber all passed away.

The only saving grace was that Cornelius and many others had seen some of the fight between Harry and Voldemort. The inquest into those events had been done behind closed doors, clearing the six students that had gone there, claiming they had been kidnapped so that the Death Eaters could get a prophesy. It was never acknowledged that Voldemort had come back, but the Minister did say that Harry and him were cleared, having found a conspiracy that had caused the death of nearly a hundred and thirty wizards and witches, most of them Purebloods.

It had caused a stir, but it meant that Harry wasn't some hero. No. Harry Potter had been allowed to fade away. Yes, he was the Boy-Who-Lived, but wasn't seen as some great hero. All the damage to their reputations already done. The debacle after the Tournament had seen him sacked from his seat of power, and the way Cornelius played everyone after the DOM had seen him stay sacked.

Plans for Harry to die had failed. He had believed that the boy would have too.

Now, he had new plans to have the boy take up his family seat in the Wizengamot. Unfortunately, in his infinite wisdom to not tell Harry or Sirius about the prophesy, the boy blamed him for Sirius' death, Ms Granger almost dying and Ronald Weasley to be in the Pius Thickness ward of St Mungo's since that night.

"If you excuse me, Albus, I do have classes today," Minerva interrupted his musings. "Please leave the students alone. This is a personal matter between them."

"Of course, Minerva." Albus frowned as he looked at the closed curtains. How was he going to satisfy some of his promises if something had happened between Harry and those three girls?

It was a pile of papers on the floor that caught his attention when he went to turn to leave. Picking them up, his eyes widened...

-oOo-

A while later...

Hermione wasn't sure how comfortable it was, but Daphne had curled up on the large chair Hermione had conjured. Somehow the blonde girl's head had wound up in her lap. Hermione felt tired now that the excitement of last night and this morning were wearing off, but she didn't want to sleep. Instead, she was going through Harry's mail the Matron had brought into the curtains a while ago. She hoped Harry wouldn't mind, but knowing the letters involved the three of them, her curiosity had won out.

She didn't realize her hand was running through Daphne's hair as she read the contract. Harry hadn't been wrong. The way this was worded, it did indicate that he essentially owned her now. Being Regent Black, his betrothed was his responsibility. Harry wasn't happy earlier and would be less so to understand some of the clauses. She wasn't sure if it had been the Blacks or Daphne's great-grandfather who had been the bastard. It essentially read as though the Greengrasses were to sell two daughters to the Blacks in exchange for a political alliance and eighty thousand galleons each, to be paid upon marriage or enactment of the betrothal.

There was a transfer clause if there were no current heirs within ten years of the girls, or if the Regent Black choose to.

She knew that these things could happen, having to learn what betrothals were after being approached by Anthony Goldstein last year, and this was one of the worst ones. She was looking for ways out and could only find two. Either Harry rejected the Greengrasses, which would break the contract and potentially cost him or the Greengrass girls their magic, or he could declare the contract fulfilled after one of the girls were pregnant and the other not married into the family yet.

Daphne shifted. Hermione looked down to see Daphne snuggled into her lap.

Hermione gave a sad smile. Daphne had never shown this much affection before. The girl was usually cold as ice to everyone. She pushed the golden locks away from her face and over her ears. Daphne Greengrass was beautiful. Her high cheek bones, full lips and the dark blue eyes she knew to be under those lids had Hermione just as enthralled as the emerald-green eyes of the boy on the bed. For months, years really, she had fought the urges, knowing she could only end up with Harry. Being a lesbian or bisexual in the Wizard World was not usually an accepted thing.

Daphne sighed and nuzzled her cheek into the back of Hermione's hand when she brushed the blonde's cheek.

"Merlin, what will Harry think?" she asked, looking at the contract again.

"I'm hoping that he will say yes," another girl's voice interrupted her thoughts. It had been barely more than a whisper.

Hermione looked up, her hand moving towards her wand not having heard the girl come into the curtains. The girl held up her hands. "I swear I don't mean your boy or my sister any harm."

Hermione relaxed, recognizing Astoria. The girl was slightly taller than Daphne with a willowier frame. Her eyes were a shade darker than Daphne's, while her hair was lighter, being closer to a platinum blonde, with Daphne being more of a mid-shade blonde. Beyond that, the younger girl looked remarkable like her sister. Daphne had confessed that Astoria had been deathly ill until Voldemort had been defeated. She didn't know the full details, but that sickness had led to her leaner frame and slightly sunken eyes, though the girl looked much better than she had almost two years ago.

Hermione moved her hand to her lips, indicating the two sleeping people.

The girl nodded before sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked to Harry and then to Daphne. "Can I assume it worked?"

"You knew too?" Hermione asked, a slight hint of annoyance in her tone.

"Daphne told Tracey and I of the plan. If it didn't work, I was to try to follow another," Astoria told Hermione. "I don't particularly want to be a plaything of Malfoy or be force to do things with my sister I'd rather not."

"Yes, Daphne told me," Hermione confessed.

Astoria leaned over to move a stray piece of hair from her sister's face. "Did he wear her out that much?"

Hermione couldn't keep the smile off her face. It may have only been once, but the magic that had been coursing through them was tiring in itself as her body got used to it. She was thankful for the pain potion, even if she was looking forward to doing it again. "It was a little late before we fell asleep."

Astoria gave her a lascivious smirk. "I'm sure." The girl became serious a moment later. "Seriously, did it work?"

Hermione looked at the papers on the arm of chair. Indicating the paperwork, she said, not being able to keep the disdain out of her voice, "It would appear that Harry is now the proud owner of one Daphne Greengrass. Harry would have never agreed to something like this."

Instead of being upset, like Hermione would be, Astoria let out a relieved breath while her shoulders slumped. "Thank Merlin. Potter doesn't seem like someone to push the fealty clauses. Do you know if he will claim me as well?"

The girl was a little apprehensive.

Hermione shook her head. "No. Harry isn't like that. He wants a family and to be loved, but he would never force it. We'll have a talk with him when he's awake."

Astoria gave a relieved smile. "I'm sorry if this isn't what you wanted, but Daphne thought Harry was the best way to be rid of Malfoy. Though, I'm not sure she meant to make a play for him."

Hermione sighed. "He would have done it, even without the trickery. He has this saving people thing, you know," she told Astoria in a mildly exasperated voice that spoke of how she cared for Harry.

Astoria giggled. "Yeah, I think everyone knows about that."

Daphne shifted at Astoria's giggles. "Can't a girl sleep?"

"She could, but I think the girl she is sleeping with is more interesting than sleep," Astoria teased. She was pleased to see her sister and Hermione blush some.

Daphne sat up, half her hair wild from where it had been on Hermione's lap. Astoria giggled again. "I like the hair."

Daphne gave her a grumpy look. "You're a pain, you know?"

"I know," Astoria said cheerfully. "So, is he as good looking under the sheets as he has been in his Quidditch robes this year?"

Daphne stuck her nose up. "That is for us to know."

"And you not to find out," Hermione told the girl.

"Not even once? By the size of the tent there, her looks to have a basilisk in there." Astoria motioned to the obvious erection Harry had under the sheets.

"Merlin, it felt like one too," Daphne said under her breath, turning red as she realized she had said it out loud.

Hermione's face was matching Daphne's. "It did, didn't it?"

Daphne gave a shy look to Hermione. "I really didn't think it would fit inside me. It felt good though."

Astoria looked between the two girls and started to laugh. This earned her a glare from her sister and Hermione. "You too are too easy."

Hermione gave her a harder glare. "Don't talk about something you don't know."

"He can't be that big. I mean, he's still a little smaller than half the boys in our year," Astoria said, giving Harry a dubious look.

"He's more built than you think," Daphne defended Harry.

Astoria gave them a disbelieving look. "Come off it, Daphne."

Hermione huffed. "Until you sleep with a man, don't talk about things you don't know."

Without warning, Astoria took a hand full of the sheets over Harry, probably thinking she would just get a shock value out of her sister and the curly hair girl. Hermione moved but wasn't fast enough to stop her. Madam Pomfrey had stripped off his clothes for her check-up and hadn't put any back on. It was the same she had required of Daphne and her, but since they were awake, they were able to redress.

Whatever Harry was dreaming about must have been really good... though Hermione had a good idea what type of dreams he might have after last night. Anyways, whatever he was dreaming had him rock hard and at full mast. It was the first time that Hermione had been able to see Harry in his all. Last night was too lust filled to really take in all the details, except how much he had filled her mouth and then her pussy. Both things she had found enjoyable, especially to see how Harry had enjoyed it too.

Seeing him in the light, in his all, had her catching her breath. Daphne took in a sharp breath. Astoria gasped, her eyes going wide. Looking at it, Hermione could easily say it would take both her hands, and then some, to fully hold his length. He was also thicker than what she thought her mother had described most men to be like. Admittedly, he was about as big as she thought she could take, but it had felt good.

"It may not be a basilisk, but that is bigger than the others I've seen," Astoria said.

Daphne snapped out of her stupor. "ASTORIA!"

"What? You can still do things without having sex," her fifteen-year-old sister remarked.

Hermione jumped up, covering Harry. He grunted and rolled onto his side. "I like when you kiss Daphne..." he muttered in his sleep. "Between your kiss..."

Astoria started to giggle again as the two girls blushed. "Sounds like fun."

"Bint!" Daphne yelled as she hit her sister's arm.

-oOo-

The Burrow, Devon, England

The knock on the door had Molly Weasley getting up from the easy chair in the sitting room. It had been a busy day. She had been bustling around the house, cleaning, organizing and brewing some potions to restock their cabinet. Over the Christmas break they had used some of the pain and healing spells. Even with five adults wizards and two still in Hogwarts, they still managed to hurt themselves playing impromptu games of quidditch and wrestling. Charlie just didn't know his strength at times, being built like a mini-giant with his years at the dragon preserve.

Percy found it all childish, but at least he was coming around again with that girl, Penelope Clearwater. She felt that she wasn't right for her Percy, but she wasn't willing to lose him. She already had one child that was lost to them, she didn't need another. That still didn't mean she wouldn't try to push him towards that nice secretary in Arthur's department. Audrey Trent was the right type of woman, with nice hips for childbearing and a lineage that was respectable. Clearwater was a Muggleborn, and since that Granger girl had rejected her Ronald, she wasn't too keen on Muggleborn for her children. They just didn't understand proper wizarding traditions.

Thus, she hoped Percy would cotton on before he did something stupid, like getting the girl pregnant or proposing to her.

Then there was Bill and his new wife. Bill had been the pride of her brood. Head boy. Ten OWL's of exceed expectation or higher, outstandings on his eight NEWTs, hired into Gringotts as an apprentice Curse Breaker before he even graduated had her bursting with pride. Of course she would have preferred him to go into the Ministry. With his blood status and obvious drive, he could have quickly moved through the ranks and possibly been head of a department within fifteen years. Instead, he already made three or four times what Arthur made. The only downside had been his rather roguish looks and personality over the last few years, ending in the marriage to the French half-beast.

Sighing, she had decided a while ago she could live with that, as long as all their children were redheads, and the bint didn't overrule her in her own house again. Molly was the matron of the house and when you were under her roof, you did as she said, not as his wife said. Her poor boy was wiped.

Then there was Charlie. At twenty-six, Charlie had never brought home a girl, never dated as far as she knew and had never even talked of one besides as friends. If she didn't know better, she would think he batted for the other team, but none of her children would be like that. It just wasn't accepted or condoned. Even Arthur had a low opinion of those that preferred the same sex. She was hoping he would be home over Easter. If Percy didn't show interest in Audrey, perhaps Arthur could invite her over to meet Charlie?

Even more worrying than Charlie were her twins. They liked women. There was no doubt there. Unfortunately, she wasn't sure they didn't like both sexes. She had heard a few rumours of wild parties in their flat above the store. One of the witches across the way, the counter woman at Reginald's Grocers in Diagon Alley, had been overheard about watching some strange things when they forgot to close their curtains. Molly just couldn't believe those stories of multiple partners, or that George had been seen serving another wizard... she shuttered. It just couldn't be true.

Putting the images out of her head, she hoped her twenty-year-old twins would settle soon. She liked Angelina Johnson. She was a half-blood that knew about their customs, even if she was currently playing for the Holyhead Harpies, she had the feeling the girl would settle down once children came into play. It was also obvious that she deeply cared for Fred.

Katie Bell was another she approved of. Another half-blood, her family owned two apothecaries, one in Diagon Alley, the other in Hogsmeade. Being raised in the traditional way, she had a feeling the girl would be a good mother. The fact she had nice hips and a body that looked ripe for children helped in Molly's opinion. She wanted grandchildren, already feeling disappointed that none of her adult children had given her any yet. She had Bill when she was nineteen. There should be no reason that at twenty-eight he should already have two or three, except his work had kept him busy and he wasn't allowed to marry while going through his apprenticeship, but that had been over with five years ago...

Yes, Molly wanted grandkids. She missed doting on her own young children. It was starting to feel very lonely in the house knowing it would only be Ginny coming home over Easter, unless Charlie changed his mind.

Thinking on her two younger children, she sighed again.

Ronald had followed that Potter boy into the debacle of the Department of Mysteries in June of nineteen-ninety-six. It was getting close to two years that her youngest boy had been attacked by Death Eaters and some brain things that the Unspeakables had been working with. Whatever they had done to Ron had scrambled his brain to the point that no mind healer could figure out how to fix him. He was stuck thinking he was a star player of the Chudley Cannon's, while still best friends with the Potter brat and going to marry Gwenog Jones. He was so scrambled he couldn't even remember how to cast a spell, never mind tie his shoes, but he would tell you how he was the top Keeper in the league and how he had led the Cannon's to their third trophy in three years and was being recruited by the English National team.

She wasn't sure what pained her more: to see Ron so delusional or the fact he often struck up conversations with the man that had tried to obliviate him? She hated Gilderoy Lockheart almost as much as Potter now. Of course, it made it worse to see the Longbottoms and often find Madam Longbottom in the ward when she would go see Ron. Her grandson was just as culpable as Potter. Especially since he had backed Harry Potter's story of Ron throwing that mudblood before the curse that had nearly killed the girl. Her Ron would never do that. He was an honourable boy that had told her a few times about how selfish and self-adulating Potter was.

No. Molly Weasley didn't believe any of the rumours of her Ronald being jealous, self-serving or selfish enough to try and use someone else as a shield.

The fact Ginny said she had seen it too, was even more galling.

Yes. For years she had built up the feats of one Harry Potter, extolling the virtues of the Boy-Who-Lived, to her daughter. Molly had hoped, planned even, that Ginny would catch his eye, quickly becoming her son-in-law soon after they graduated. Her daughter would give the boy a large family, something that Albus had told her Potter would want. In that large family, Potter would be so thankful that he would share the Potter fortune and raise the Weasley's back to where they belonged as members of the Sacred Twenty-Eight again, with the wealth they would need to regain the power the Weasley's once held.

It was the sole reason she had gone after Weasleys. The Weasleys were once a prominent family that Arthur's father had been trying to rebuild. Her family, the Prewitts, had offered to help Regent Weasley invest and build up the family's wealth again. As part of the marriage her family would support the Weasleys to petition for the seat they once held on the Wizengamot. She had been quite pleased with the betrothal contract, willingly giving herself to the elder brother, Ronald Weasley.

Then, in her seventh year, everything went wrong. Ronald was an Auror. He was killed in April of nineteen-sixty-eight, the contract transferred to Arthur, the second oldest of four boys. Arthur had been a tall, lanky boy of seventeen when that happened. He was getting top marks in his classes, even if he had this strange muggle obsession. He was also as endowed as his brother had been, so she gladly crawled into his bed as soon as she could. If she had known then how her life would have turned out, she would have pressed her brothers to change the contract to one of the younger Weasley brother. Both Garry and Benjamin had become more successful than Arthur, though they still lacked the push to elevate the family, if she had been one of their wives, she would have been able to help. Unfortunately, her brothers had been killed before that could be done and Aunt Muriel wouldn't hear anything against the current contract. With Arthur being the eldest now and Head of the Weasleys, she had been forced to marry him, while her husband and his love of muggles had seen the Weasleys fall even more from prominence.

Potter had been the answer to turn this all around. Until Ronald was sent round the bend, she had encouraged it, even had plans to force it. Now, she wanted Potter's gold, but not the boy. Unfortunately, Ginny hadn't seen her view of how dangerous and bad of a person Potter had been. Instead, her daughter had crawled into his bed the end of last year. At least, she assumed her daughter had with how smitten the boy had been with her.

It was disgusting to see how her daughter hung to him. Potter was more reserved but seemed pleased enough. What boy wouldn't be to have a willing girl spreading her legs. It had all come to a boil when he came for Christmas dinner. She just couldn't keep her mouth closed, having the arse sitting at her table in the chair that should have been Ron's. No. It was just too much.

That had led to row that saw wands drawn... as well as lines in her family. Ginny and her twins had stood on the other side of the table, standing with Potter, while the rest were all pointing their wands towards Potter. Before spells could be thrown, Arthur had stepped in, reminding them all how Potter had saved a few of them and he wouldn't have wands drawn on the boy. Potter had been allowed to leave without any harm. She would have liked to curse him like he had cursed her Ronald.

Ginny and her twins had followed him, none of them coming back. This had surprised her, since Ginny had gone to the twins to stay for the rest of the Christmas Break. George had come back to get her stuff just before the Hogwarts Express left, ignoring her opinions on Potter. The only good thing was that George had told her that Potter and Ginny had broken up. Of course, he had been rude in yelling at her, Molly not remembering how she had been yelling at him, but the fact was, Potter had thrown her girl to the curb, just like she knew he would.

The knock came again. She moved to the window to see the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, standing on her doorstep. Bustling to the door, she opened it, a smile on her face. "Hello, Albus. It's been a few months since you came by for tea," she said jovially. Molly was comforted that one of the most prominent wizards of their time showed such favour to her family.

"Ah, yes. Things have been busy lately, so I have not had the time to enjoy your excellent hospitably," the man said with a genuine smile.

She showed him and put a kettle on. "Is this a social visit or is there something we can do for the Order?" Molly asked, putting her best china and some snack cakes onto the only silver server platter she had. It was one of the few heirlooms she still had from her mother.

"A bit more of Order business than a social business," he replied.

The kettle whistled and she poured the hot water into a put with the freshest tea leaves she had. "Arthur and I are always willing to help, you know this." Molly was always willing to help as it meant a few extra galleons, which was always nice. "Though there hasn't been much need of late."

"No, I agree. The need of the Order seems to be waning with many of the Dark families giving up their Blood Supremacy and moving more towards the grey and neutral houses, but there is still need," Albus told her.

She put the best teacup before Albus, taking the other for herself. After serving it up, she took a seat. "What can we help you with?"

"Well, I have recently come across some disturbing news that might jeopardize my promise to raise the Weasley's back into the Sacred Twenty-Eight," he told her.

She frowned. "You said that we would be getting a substantial amount form the Lestrange estate. My great-grandmother was a Lestrange," she told him. The gold would be pittance to the Potter wealth, but she had been counting on it for well over a year now, ever since the goblins had said she would be the last person to be able to inherit the last of their wealth once the estate was paid off.

"Alas, I do not know. The goblins will not talk to be about that and some of the estate is still caught in the Ministry. I will enquire again in the DMLE law offices if everything is resolved," he promised her. "What I am more concerned with is Harry Potter."

Molly's jovial slant changed suddenly. "What about Potter?"

Her sudden vehemence had Albus raise an eyebrow. "I was under the impression that he was involved with your daughter..."

"The arse is well through with Ginny, though he has left a mess behind him. Ginny, George and Fred won't even talk to me or the rest of the family after Christmas," she said bitterly.

Albus looked at her for a moment. "I wasn't aware of that. I thought Harry and Ginny were still dating."

Molly gave a dark laugh. "Not now. Arthur and I have finally decided to press charges against Potter. We will be compensated for what he did to our Ronald."

"You can't do that. What about your plans to see the boy as part of your family?" the man questioned.

"I would sooner drown the half-blood bastard than have him give me any grandchildren. Ginny has already whored herself to him. We don't need any more shame. As it is, she will probably not be able to find a proper husband now," she just about snapped.

Albus sighed. "I see." When he stood up, she was shocked.

"Are you leaving already? You haven't even touched your tea," she pointed out.

"Alas, I came to talk about the potential of future nuptials and plans to help your family, but it would appear you are amenable," he told her. Albus reached into his pocket and place five galleons on the table. "When I call on you in the future, I hope you will still be amenable."

Her anger flared up. "You can't have meant for Ginny to still marry Potter! He got my Ronald put into St Mungo's, probably for the rest of his life. I have three children that won't talk to me now. Not to mention that he almost got Percy fired from the Ministry and the little prat wasn't even grateful enough to pay for his stays here. That was good gold and silver we paid to host him at your prodding."

Albus electric blue eyes stared at her. The normally caring and happy man was looking at her in a way that had her taking a step back. "Mrs Weasley, let me remind you that Harry Potter is responsible for saving your daughter, your husband, giving Fred and George the means to start their most successful shop and stopped Willian from being cursed the night he defeated Voldemort in the Department of Ministries. I am sure if he wanted, he could press for his own compensation under the laws of our lands. He is part of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and elite group that the Weasleys were removed from three generations ago after they had tried to reverse the decisions of the Wizengamot on marriage and muggle mixing. I would caution you to do anything against Harry Potter or we may lose him as a potential alley in the coming years if he decides to enter the Wizengamot."

Molly, sacred, but being a Gryffindor and known for the same temper that her brothers had at times, came right back. "Good riddance then. It was the Potters that were against the Weasleys at that time. It was an alliance that they were leading members in that forced my family out of the Wizengamot. Since then, the Weasleys have lost out fortune, our standing and most of the respect that should be bestowed to such an old house. I will have Potter's money and House Weasley will rise again."

Albus bristled at her. She felt his power expand. The teacups rattled, as did many other objects around the kitchen. "I once thought you were one that believed in the Greater Good. I can see now you only care for your greater good. I don't think you will be called upon to do services to the Order of the Phoenix again. Good day, Mrs Weasley," the man said in a derisive tone. He turned and was out the door before she could come back at him.

Truth be told, Molly had been afraid, very afraid, at the last show of power from Dumbledore. That fear grew as she realized that she might have just lost them the grace of Albus Dumbledore. As she thought about it, her fear turned into anger. No. It had been Potter. Potter has just cost the family more. She would be talking to their solicitor to increase the compensation they were looking for to pay for Ronald's bills, the lost life he now had, the fact Potter was responsible for endangering Ginny and Arthur... why else would there not be a life debt from both if Potter had not been involved. It didn't matter that only one-life debt could be held at a time and Dumbledore had told them that Granger had one. To Molly Weasley, all their misfortunes came down to a Potter.