Harry Potter and the Knights of the Roundtable
Author's Note: I'd like to apoligize to my readers for taking so long to update this story. I was suffering from a severe case of writers block when it came to this story. In addition, I had been concentrating on another story, in between working full time and going back to school for my masters.
I now have three stories going, so my new plan is to try and update each story with one chapter each before moving onto the next chapter. So please bear with me. Now, on with the story!
Chapter 8
"Harry, wake up!" Ginny's voice yelled as her brother shook Harry's shoulders, trying to rouse him. Harry bolted up.
"What? What's wrong?" he said excitedly, then calmed as he saw Ginny and Ron staring at him. "What are you doing here? And why did you wake me up?"
"It's Hermione." Ginny said. "She's having a terrible nightmare. I can't wake her up. The last time she was like this was when you were missing." Harry paled slightly. "Harry, you have to go to her." Standing up, Harry reached for his bathrobe and put it on. Ginny then led him out of the room and down the hall to the room she shared with Hermione.
Opening the door, Harry stepped inside. The room was dark and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust. When they did, he saw Hermione sleeping peacefully in her bed. He whirled around, only to see the door to the room slam shut. He moved over to it and tried to open it, but couldn't.
*****
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Ron asked. He, Ginny, and Draco were standing outside in the hall and had just finished casting multiple locking charms on the doors.
"Yes." Ginny said. "You know how long it took them to admit they love each other; do you honestly think that they'd move any faster on this? I don't know about you two, but I've had enough of listening to Hermione's dreams for the last three and half weeks. Its obvious they bloody want each other."
"Yeah, but isn't this cheating?" Ron asked.
"Nope." Draco said. "Ginny checked the book; none of us have this day."
"Who does?" Ron asked.
"Professor McGonnagall." Ginny answered, grinning.
"You guys do realize that Harry's going to be out for revenge. I wouldn't be surprised if it's double-torture circuit for a week when he gets out." Ron replied.
*****
Harry spent several minutes trying to force the door open. Finally, giving up, he turned back towards where Hermione had been sleeping and started. Apparently his efforts to open the door had caused her to awaken.
"Harry!" she whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"Ginny woke me up, saying you were having a nightmare and couldn't wake you." Harry explained. "She said the last time it happened was when I was missing. She asked me to come here and try to wake you. But when I got in the room, she closed the door behind me and locked it. I can't get it open now."
"Why would she do that?" Hermione asked. As if in response to her question, the lights in the room lit up, giving Harry a good look at Hermione. The sight that greeted him caused his breath to hold in his chest.
Hermione was wearing a gray tank top and shorts, both of which hug the contours of her body in a most flattering way, leaving very little to the imagination. Harry felt a stirring in the lower part of his body. He quickly turned away to hide his embarrassment.
"I see you're both awake." Ginny's voice boomed throughout the room, startling Harry and Hermione. "By now I suppose you've realized Harry, that we brought you to Hermione's under false pretenses. And I bet you're wondering why? It's quite simple really. We, your friends, have been forced to watch for years as you two danced around your feelings for each other. Now, you've finally admitted your feelings to each other, but now there's a new problem. Ever since you have gotten together, we have watched as your passion has been building. Its obvious you want each other; we've all seen the way you look at each other and have witnessed those snogging sessions that could melt steal; and yet you still haven't done anything about it. Instead you drive your roommates insane by keeping them awake because of your dreams." Harry and Hermione blushed at this statement.
"So, rather than allow this to continue, we decided to force the issue. Thanks to everything you've taught us, as well as a little help from two certain house elves we all know and love, you are both going to remain in this room until you take care of this little issue. The door will not open until then, if you want it. Oh, and by the way, when I finish speaking, the room will become soundproof, so by all means, feel free to make as much noise as you like."
*****
Harry awoke the next morning feeling something on his chest. It took him a moment to clear his eyes before he was able to focus. Looking down he smiled as he saw Hermione, her eyes closed in slumber, sleeping on his chest. His mind raced back to the events of the previous night.
FLASHBACK
Harry and Hermione stood in silence for several moments after Ginny's voice vanished. Finally, Hermione spoke.
"She's right you know." Hermione said, walking slowly over to Harry. "Based on past history, we do tend to take the long way around to things." She stopped several steps from him. "And I can't deny that I haven't been thinking about it ever since we confessed our feelings."
"I know." Harry said, quietly. "I've been thinking about it too. A lot." He took several steps forward, until they were standing nose to nose. They stood motionless, each one's eyes searching the others' for an answer to an unspoken question. After a moment, they both found the answer they were looking for.
A second later they had embraced each other and began kissing passionately. Hermione felt Harry's tongue brush against her lips and parted them slightly to allow him access. They stood, kissing for a few moments, the fire of passion building inside of them.
Still kissing they stumbled their way back to Hermione's bed. Hermione pulled Harry's robe off him and pulled Harry down onto the bed with her. He broke the kiss.
"I love you Hermione." He said. She smiled.
"I love you too, Harry." She replied. Harry began running his hands over her body while he alternately kissed her lips, checks, and neck. She moaned as his hands caressed her flesh. After several minutes he stopped and pulled her tank top off, exposing her flesh to his mouth.
END FLASHBACK
Harry smiled as he relived the memory. It had been the most intense experience of his life, and considering all he had been through, that was saying something. They made love several times, each time filled with more passion and love than the last. Hermione's stirring brought him out of his memories.
"Morning sweetheart." He said, smiling. He then placed a quick kiss on her forehead.
"Morning." She said smiling, lifting her head up and planning a kiss on his lips. "Last night was wonderful Harry."
"Yeah, we'll have to do something nice for Ginny and the others." Harry said. Hermione grinned in a mischievous way.
"We will…AFTER we get even for tricking us." She said.
*****
"I told you they'd make us pay for our little plan." Ron said. He, Ginny, and Draco were walking back to their dorms after having run through the Torture Circuit four times. They were all tired, dirty, and out of breathe.
"Yeah, but it was worth it." Ginny said. "Now we won't have to put up with hearing them dream about each other." That morning the decision had been made that Harry and Hermione would now share living quarters.
"True, but I could have done without the torture." Draco replied. Ron and Ginny nodded their agreement. After a few minutes they reached their destination and separated as they each went into their rooms.
Twenty minutes later, they met up again in the hall, each now showered and in a clean uniform. Together, they began making their way back to the entrance of the Knights complex, their destination being the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Because their training had progress as fast as it had, Harry had decided to move up his recruitment of the next batch of Knights. He was going to announce those chosen at dinner.
Entering the Great Hall, they found the atmosphere more energized than usual. Everyone had learned of Harry's announcement and was on edge. They spotted Harry and Hermione over at the Knights table, engaged in conversation. Also seated at the table were Neville, Cho, Jennifer, Moira, Jason, and Eric.
"Hi sweetheart." Ron said to Jennifer as they approached the table. She stood up and gave him a kiss.
"Hey! Get a room!" Harry called out, smirking. "How did you guys enjoy the workout?"
"I can't believe you made us go through that four times." Ginny said, settling into the chair next to Eric.
"Yeah, you should be thanking us." Draco said smirking. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well, we did appreciate the intent, but your methods were not exactly noble." Hermione said. Draco was about to open his mouth in retort, when Dumbledore's voice cut through the noise of the hall.
"Before the feast begins, I have been informed by Mr. Potter that the next group of recruits for membership in the Knights has been selected. Some, not being students of Hogwarts, have already been notified in secret and are now waiting in my office until the announcement. The rest are among you." Dumbledore said, pulling a piece of parchment from his robes. "When I call your name, please make your way over to Mr. Potter." He motioned towards Harry who had gotten out of his seat and was now standing at the head of the Knight's table.
"Fred and George Weasley, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, Luna Lovegood, Parvarti and Padma Patil, Bill Weasley, Charlie Weasley, Terry Boot, Roger Davies, Hannah Abbot, Ernie MacMillian, Susan Bones, and Viktor Krum." Gasps arose in the hall at the mention of the Bulgarian Seeker's name. In moments, all those mentioned were standing in front of Harry.
The entire hall listened intently has Harry swore them into the Knights. When he was finished, the hall erupted into cheers and applause as Harry motioned for the new members to take their seats at the table. Ron and Ginny stood up and congratulated their older brothers.
"You do realize you going to be taken orders from us?" Ginny asked Bill. He grinned.
"So what else is new Gin? You always did have Charlie and I wrapped around your finger." He said.
The next hour passed extremely quickly, with the conversation centering around some of the more surprising choices Harry had made for the next group of Knights. Just as the feast was about to end, alarms began wailing. Harry immediately jumped up and muttered a spell. The wall behind the Knight table shimmered momentarily before an image of the situation map in the Knight's chamber appeared.
"It's Voldemort." He said. "He's attacking the ministry." Everyone at the Knights table jumped out of their seats. "You guys stay here." Harry said motioning to the new members. "The rest of you, follow me." A moment later, Harry and the others did something that was supposed to be impossible. With a small pop, they disapparated from the Great Hall.