EVoNet Forward

Chapter 13

Set-up

It had been an amusing few months leading to April. Harry had been playing his brother and brothers' friends for fools. Though, not really difficult when friends with Ronald Weasley, Hermione did give Harry the odd suspicious look, but he sometimes wondered whether she just wanted to give him a blow-job or something – well, not really, but that would be nicer than the suspicion, but he was certain she was stupidly in love with Terry; not that he even had the tiniest clue – funny thing was, Terry must have liked her somewhat as he did listen to her, which was a surprise.

Harry was having a great first week during the Easter Holidays, and as per the norm since first year, he stayed at the castle while everyone else went home with their families – well, not everyone, unfortunately his 'brother' had to stay at the school too as their parents worked there, and that meant Ron staying, and Hermione staying, but the majority of the school did go home – well, at least four fifths from Harry's guestimate, but it wasn't Christmas, so some kids had parents still working away and didn't want to be left alone for the next two weeks. Since Harry did not seem to have much in the way of family it was his only option, and Sirius was a slob, so that was a straight up no-go. Though, Susan had invited him home with her as she did each holiday, (her aunt was cautious, but was fine with him), and he too refused each time, so Harry had nowhere to go, and he was fine with that.

Harry did not want to make trouble for Susan's aunt, or Susan – or any of his other friends since he stared his one-man campaign on Dumbledore, he didn't want to purpose extra targets for him. The only reason, Dumbledore was quite 'lame' when dealing with Harry was the reason Harry waited till year seven to stand up to them and fight back. Harry was now an adult. James Potter no longer had any real power against him, and the only thing he could really do is disown him, but James would hesitate on that as it would look bad to other families to have a 'black sheep' – a throw-a-way son, especially one of strong magical blood no matter how much James would deny that other families could see beyond their own noses. Anyway, Harry had lots to do that he could do better at school. He could not do anything big, as believe it or not, it's easier to be up to no good with crowds of students around and not get caught.

It was an odd, chilly day when Harry was conveniently walking passed Transfiguration to see some scared little Slyths, once again being picked on by the jokes on Gryffindors name, well, the Weasley one with a few crony's that chose to stay behind, but Terry was not in committee by the look of things, as he was likely with Hermione, being oblivious as usual – poor Hermione – Harry would give her advice, but Terry didn't deserve him being too kind – pity could only get him so far. It was good though as Ron didn't seem to like being around Hermione much, probably because he was brainless, so that meant Ron was on the board without the White King or Queen – the pathetic little Bishop trying to exert a position of power that didn't belong to him – the only places that had some potential – some interest were the King and Queen.

Harry was quite amused as the little Slyths saw him and ran over to use him as protection. The Gryffindors turned to give chase only to stop as Harry was with them, holding a terrified little girls hand. They all seemed to pause as one as they saw the Hufflepuff boy smirking, wearing his yellow and black school uniform, his robe left undone and wearing a normal school uniform underneath, unlike most wizards who would not wear muggle clothes at all.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Harry asked, disgusted with this crap still going on. He just could not stand Ron calling them evil while he was the one terrorising them.

"Shut it Hufflepuff!" Ron spat out in a superior tone, as if Hufflepuffs were beneath him, as if. "We can do what we like to put those filthy little Slytherins in their place! We're just teaching them that they're nothing but evil scum!"

Harry looked down at the cute little Slytherin girl as she was shaking, holding onto his hand and arm. He looked back up at Ronald, his eyes like sheets of ice with laser cannons incorporated with nuclear silos ready to launch their salvos.

"You really don't understand irony do you, Weasley!?" he asked while his eyes narrowed as the boy didn't seem to know what irony was. "You're the evil scum, here, Ronald because the good guys do not torment innocent kids. All you're doing, you piece of shit is giving them one option for later life. You will be responsible for taking their lives away, for putting such hate in their innocent hearts, and I will not allow it, you heartless smeg!"

"Yeah, well what are you going to do?" he demanded while he drew his wand with his 'gang' in tow.

"Not me Weasley…" he replied, again amused with the situation.

"However, I shall!"

It was a cold and dangerous voice that spoke as Professor Snape stepped out of the shadows of a secret corridor dressed all in black, like the reaper come to fuck up Gryffindors day. "You Gryffindors shall each be receiving detention with me for the next week for bullying, and look, no precious Boy-Who-Lived, so I have you!"

"W-what!" Ron stuttered out looking around but he had been captured in a corridor with no paintings so no other teacher sent by Dumbledore to get them out of trouble as Snape was the only one who would give out detentions to Terry's friends other than McGonagall who still gave detentions, and only Dumbledore himself could overrule her, and even then – without Terry, Dumbledore didn't care about them.

"I suggest you get moving Weasley!" Snape said and Weasley and his gang quickly hurried away before Snape could give them extra detentions. Snape gave Harry a nod and left too.

Harry turned to the Slyths and they grinned up at him with the girl jumping up into his arms for a hug, kissing his cheek. "You guys did really well, maybe you could get some rolls in the movies," he said as he held the girl, and confusing them. "I'll tell you about that another day," he added, smiling as he put the girl down.

"Okay, one for Megan," he said pulling out some bags of sweets and handed her one bag. "Then for Kelly, and Michael and Jeffery…" he said handing them out to the kids as payment before they thanked him, and he led them to the Entrance Hall just in case they got 'attacked' for real while he was not around to protect them.

Harry left the little Slytherins in the hall and carried on his way. He really did have much more stuff to do and getting Ron a detention with Snape was just a tiny part of that, but mainly a distraction. Therefore, he went back to his common room and sat down by the fire to warm up, and a little annoyed so many kids stayed at school for the holiday. However, Harry drew out his wand when out of nowhere a pretty-blonde girl hopped down onto his lap before he could begin tuning.

"Hannah!" he groaned as she wiggled her butt on his lap, giggling as she snuggled up. "Couldn't you see I was busy?" he asked, rolling his eyes, but accepted her kiss, tongue in mouth before she pulled back looking smug.

"Yep," she agreed, smirking as she moved, trying to undo his belt. "Harry you shouldn't wear muggle clothes, 'cause then I can't get instant access to the goodness down there."

He laughed and stopped her hands. "Wow, you would give me a hand job right here in front of everybody wouldn't you?"

"As long as they don't see my bits, I would suck it here," she agreed cheekily. "When Susie get in, do you want to have a three-way in her Prefects room?" she asked, which made Harry almost groan as he remembered that Susan stayed this year since he wouldn't go home with her in protest, and to keep him company, which was why Hannah chose to stay too.

"I have… stuff to do," he forced out before nodding. "Okay, but I can only take two hours away from business, unless you wait till tonight and bedtime, then we can stay over."

"Deal!" she agreed hopping up off his lap, leaning over and kissing him before hurrying away to find Susan.

"How do you do that?" he was interrupted a few moments later by Justin of his year with Ernie sitting with him. Harry just looked at him trying to figure out what he meant, as he did a lot of weird stuff he could mean.

"I mean with the girls. You have both Susan and Hannah all over you, and they know about each other, and then other girls too from Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and even Gryffindor. I heard a rumour that you went and did something in a broom closet with Lavender Brown and the Patil sisters!"

"Oh, yeah, good memories!" he said with a wired look before shaking it off and shrugging. "And I don't know, but I'm good looking with a great body because I work out, and I'm powerful and talented, and apparently the honey's love the kind bad boy anti-hero thing."

"But two of them are Gryffindors that run in the Circle of Douches," he replied, using a name Harry had come up with just before the Easter holiday, and now they were called it behind their backs by Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students, and the Slytherins used it as an insult, openly to their faces.

"Actually, I always pictured them in the cheer squad," he said before frowning. "We really need a cheerleader squad, but then again, don't want to inflate Terry's ego any more than it already is," he said laughing with the other boys.

"So, are you still manipulating Terry with this whole prank thing?" Ernie asked eagerly interested.

"Oh," he laughed, shrugging. "I almost forgot about that I've been so busy, but yeah. It gets my mind off things and makes me laugh. Joker is quite the handful, and very talented. It's hard just keeping up with his pranks, let alone beating them, but I've been giving it my all," he said, and they were sure he was lying.

They were about to reply when a cute out of breath brown haired girl two years below them interrupted, smiling and blushing deeply as she stopped before Harry, her cheeks darkening, and she might as well have had little hearts in her eyes.

"Harry," she said with her smile, her blue eyes roaming all over him to the other boys awe and hero worship that he didn't have to even try, and no matter how much the 'light' called him evil, the girls either didn't care, or in most cases knew it was a load of bullshit.

"This Hermione Granger Gryffindor asked me to get you for her," she said, pleased that she got the message out.

"Oh, right, where is she?" he asked, curious as he stood up and put his wand away.

"Oh, sorry," she said giggling. "She's just down the corridor near the kitchens portrait," she said, embarrassed she forgot to tell him such an important part.

"Thanks," he said before turning to the other boys. "Well later guys," he said before stealing a kiss from the girls' lips and leaving her in dreamland.

"He makes it look so easy," Ernie said sadly. "Maybe we should start exercising and the girls will be like that for us?" he suggested with a grin.

"Well," Justin said thoughtfully. "I suppose it's worth a shot."

They will have given up by the next day.

Harry saw Hermione fidgeting with her fingers nervously as she waited for him. "Okay, Hermione-baby, what's going down!?" he fifties-gangster-talked her as he asked the question.

She smiled a little as he just had a way of making people, girls mostly smile or laugh. She hated to admit it, even to herself but she liked him a lot more than she liked Ron. He was kind and fun and did not go out of his way to upset people as Ron did. That was not to mention how hot she thought he was, and that he had become one of the very few boys she thought about while alone, in bed, playing with herself, but when he was in her thoughts; their time was not spent 'making love', but quickly shook those thoughts off, blushing as she remembered who this was and knew he could likely read her if she wasn't careful. Anyway, that was just childish fantasy, but she had seen him without a top, so knew how fit he was.

Though, she also knew from the rumour-mill that Harry was quite the player with the ladies, but none of them had said bad about him because he was apparently so good to them. This left Hermione plenty of things to think through, and it left her feeling unsure.

However, Hermione came to one absolute truth. Harry Potter was a better human being than Terry Potter would ever be, and it broke her heart to acknowledge that because she was going to do stupid things for Terry that would get her in trouble unless she could – fix him? Harry was not only smarter, but also more powerful, kinder, gentler, and an actual loving person. He cared about Rose's happiness whereas Terry could not care less – Terry had been broken by his mother and father whereas Harry wa neglected and hated, but that had only made him a better person for it.

Terry was selfish while Harry was giving. Sure, she knows Harry was using Terry, and even her to some extent, but he was doing what they wanted, so she said nothing about it. It was nice being around someone who could match – no – he could surpass her intelligence, and that was refreshing. It was obvious with this prank thing that Harry was playing them, but as long as he was helping Terry, she didn't care.

"Umm," Hermione replied, fidgeting uncomfortably, especially while her mind was traversing down avenues it probably should not. If Dumbledore found out, he would be so disappointed.

"Wow, worried that Dumbledore will find out you've come to me, alone, snappy," he interrupted, and she went wide-eyed with shock, even though she had suspected he would learn something that useful, but why would he tell her?

"Y-you know Legilimency!" she accused, worried.

Harry just shrugged, feeling quite amused by her quick mind, but also disappointed she did not use it the way she could, for 'good', or more importantly, for him. However, he scanned her mind, her secrets, the silly plot, and what Hermione would do for Terry. That brother of his was an idiot to not see how devoted this cute nerd was to him, silly girl, but maybe in time – when things change – when Terry's eyes were opened wide, she would get what she wanted – what she deserved for being such a great friend.

Hermione had so much squandered potential that she wasted on the unappreciative Dumbledore and his 'Greater Good' for Terry and whatnot, like doing Ron's homework through some kind of fear that she would be alone if she didn't, and then out of that loop – taken from Terry – forced away when Ron was the expendable member of that group, not her.

"You're really easy to read," Harry finally said, amused. "Your mind is so organised. It's like looking for a book in the library. All I need is to search alphabetically, by subject, by genre, and bingo, I have your memory. Though, I'll admit that I don't enter people's heads nearly as much as Dumbledore. Even Snape is more restrained than that, but I figure he doesn't want to fart around with the teenage dramas!"

"B-but I've been learning occlumency from Dumbledore with Terry and Ron… a well organised mind is a safe mind," she recited the old man as if that meant anything to him, and she knew she shouldn't have told him, but she couldn't help herself as she wanted to understand why he could take everything she was whenever he wanted; she needed to know how to fix that and if Harry had the answers, she would take them; she should, shouldn't she?

"And where do you get off accusing Dumbledore of such things?" Hermione demanded as she shook her head, frowning as she shouldn't doubt Dumbledore's intentions, should she?

Harry rolled his eyes, sighing. "Other than his control of the portraits, how else do you think he knows so much? How do you think he has so much control over you? A well organised mind is easy to navigate without security protocols. It's like a computer with no password. I can just type in the search bar what I want to find, and bingo, I have it. Anything I want to find is easy to take from you especially, as you're quite good at opening yourself to attack. It's like you've given me a map with all of your secrets lovingly marked with adorable little crosses."

"B-but that is impossible," she said defiantly, and though she did believe him, she didn't want to believe Dumbledore would do that to them. "Dumbledore wouldn't lie to us. Why would he want to make it easier for people to look inside our minds?"

"Not people, Hermione… him," he replied, amused that she had not figured out that Dumbledore is not teaching them anything. "He must believe you are a gift from the Goddess of Naivety. With easy access he can make sure you haven't gained a mind of your own, and manipulate your thoughts, tweak them ever so slightly, keeping you in the 'light'."

"Then prove it!" she demanded, angry at the accusations. "You only saw the surface because I haven't gotten that far in occlumency yet!"

"You overheard Lavender bragging about having sex with me a few weeks ago," he said to her shock as she paled. "Ever since then you've been fantasising about me more than usual - what it would have been like to secretly watch. You even join in inside your head after a while when we 'catch' you masturbating to us… you like to make it just about shagging, having a good time, enjoying yourself," he laughed as she went bright red, highly embarrassed. "You should up your imagination a little though, I can be a little rougher, better, more fun than that," he said as her pale cheeks looked like they were going to burst into flames as tears prickled the corners of her eyes, she was so humiliated.

"Or maybe this will help you believe me… the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches, born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not, and either must die-."

"Harry, stop, okay," the embarrassed and concerned girl quickly interrupted but the corridor was free from anyone – or paintings. "I believe you, okay!" Hermione said shuddering at how easy he pulled her fantasy from her mind, but more so the prophecy from her mind, or maybe Terry or Ron's, not that Ron had much of a mind, but no – he likely didn't need Terry or Ron as neither of them would have given him so much eye contact, but she knew she had, even now she didn't want to look away no matter how embarrassed and ashamed she was, she chose not to look away. "I don't know any occlumency!" she was quick to interrupt with wide eyes, red faced and feeling sicker than when she came to him, now unsure, questions whirling in her mind, out of control, confusion, and doubt. "Then how… how do I learn occlumency?" she asked, sounding desperate and strained. "And, you won't tell anyone my secrets, will you?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "No, Hermione, I won't tell anyone, your mind is yours. I'll also say that none of those – naughty thoughts are wrong. They're perfectly normal things, Hermione. But I will keep your secrets, and don't worry. Dumbledore is – strict in what he wants. He is highly disciplined in the arts of the mind. He has no interest in 'the dramas' and will only look for what he wants to know.

"As for learning occlumency, it's quite the opposite of what you've been told; a cluttered mind is a lot safer. You should store your important memories within codded vaults, hidden within your deepest mind. It is a meditation to hide your secrets within your imagination – you'll likely have to work on that imagination part – or just steal an idea from a book or movie or whatever. Then you use unimportant memories such as fantasy, love, hate… things like playing games, your fist kiss, classes, your first day at school, the moment you found out you're a witch, excitement. These are the thoughts, emotions, and memories that you should leave lying around, neat or otherwise, as those emotional thoughts are drawing, distracting, inviting to an invader to a cluttered mind as those are the feelings of 'secrets'.

"This allows for an intruder to enter, but not find anything important, and most times will just leave, believing you don't know what they want to know, because they're arrogant enough to not think of you as potentially protected – or worse, and arrogant enough to believe they could breach your defences, and believe me when I say most practitioners of the art thing highly of their talents because so few people practice the defence they get big headed. There are more advanced forms of occlumency, such as faking memories, or just refusing access by making barriers around the mind, but this way is very efficient for a beginner to begin with."

"That… actually sounds more…" Hermione began but trailed off, sighing. "I don't know what to believe anymore. I see you and we 'hang' out while you are planning a prank for Terry to pull off and I feel. I feel happy. I – I feel safe around you. I can talk with you about many things that Ron and Terry just cannot comprehend. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be friends with two boys who you have to dumb down for constantly?"

Harry laughed, rolling his eyes as he leant up against the wall. "Nope, but I do find it a little… irritating that not nearly as many people at school understand how intelligent I am. I try not to show off my smarts, fitting in; making friends, people I know will love me. It's important to feel love, and to love."

"You do care about people," she said, looking down at her feet. "I can see that though you're a dark wizard that you're not evil!"

Harry laughed at that, embarrassing her. "I wouldn't let anyone else hear you say that, Hermione, or you'll surely be reprimanded, and it will take a while to regain Dumbledore's trust."

She started, looking at Harry. "That's why I came… I needed to tell you. I – I overheard Dumbledore. He was talking with your parents about b-banishing you from the magical world."

"Yes, I know, but it's still nice of you to tell me," he replied, smiling. "Though, that's not the only reason you're here, but it was kind of you to tell me."

"B-but, don't you understand that they'll seal away your magic?"

"Yes, my mana, phases of Zero Point Energy, which is the scientific term for what you call magic," he agreed, shrugging. "Because they fear and hate change so much, and Dumbledore fears me because he knows I could possibly succeed. Not only that, but Dumbledore fears me because he knows, he knows that someday given the chance, I might just shrug and say 'WTF' before blowing his brains out and ending his bullshit just like that – a pointless and messy death.

"Voldemort isn't the only one with a prophesised defeat," he said to her shock and awe, quivering at Voldemort's name, awed that he not only said it, but said it with such nonchalance, but more so at the thought of a prophecy predicting Dumbledore's downfall. It looked like Dumbledore was trying to stop his own defeat; but ultimately, he may be the reason Harry has reason to put him down.

Self-fulfilling prophecy, just like the one with Terry. If these men never heard of them, they likely would not have begun, working in motion. It seemed sad that two of the greatest wizards in a century were that idiotic that they started their own defeats, but really, was Dumbledore that bad, or stupid?

"And you're not scared?" she asked, scared enough for him, shuddering at the thought of the physical and mental pain and anguish of sealing her magic away, and that was if the books were being mild, and since they didn't go into any detail she was certain they were.

He smiled and reached over pulling her into his arms, he felt her shaking as she melted into his embrace. "In truth, I'm terrified. Magic is my right of birth," Harry said while she held onto him tightly. "It would be like muggles chopping off your legs because one day you might choose to kick someone. I want to give magic – the right of magic to everyone, but Dumbledore fears equality because he'll become just another crazy old guy who needs to be taken care of in a retirement home. The 'muggle' world would force his retirement, and they would reform and absorb this corrupt government. There would no longer be dark and light and in fighting.

"My dream is to give magic to all of the Earths people," he said with such passion that Hermione could not help the tears as even the 'light' had no ambition such as his. She could picture a wonderful world where she did not feel so distant from her parents because of her powers, where she could learn to be who she wanted to be, and not worry over what some old man thought and said.

"B-but… you're willing to sacrifice everything for it!?" she asked, concerned. "Harry, you… you're the only person at this school that I've actually gotten along with on the same mental level. In fact, sometimes you make me feel stupid. I wish I had been placed in Hufflepuff with you, or even Ravenclaw. I could have done better away from Gryffindor."

Harry laughed as he let her pull from his comfort, staring at him in confusion. "The hat normally doesn't care what house it puts you, but I do know that Dumbledore gets it to choose certain people for certain houses, like me, here – well, this would have been his second choice," he laughed while her eyes widened in surprise. "Though, still expecting me to give in to stereotyping.

"Then you in Gryffindor. After all, the hero needs his researcher, and muggle-born or not, it did not matter. All that mattered was you're smart and have so much… too much faith in authority without knowing much about the magical world that you accept in blind faith the words from a 'wise' old man as absolute truth – wizard - 'wise-man'?"

She looked away wiping her eyes on her robe sleeve while he continued to hold her hand. She looked so sad and confused. "Thank you," she said, lowering her eyes. "Harry, will you be my first kiss?" she asked suddenly, not looking up, blushing brightly as she kept eye contact as she needed to do this even though she was so conflicted.

"I would have thought that Krum dude would have…?"

"He tried to, but I was too embarrassed, and I'm kind of pleased now though," she quickly answered, more embarrassed than before when she felt his hand lift her chin; her eyes widened as his lips met hers before her eyes quickly closed as she saw his green orbs.

Harry kissed Hermione. Her lips moving with his, his tongue entering her mouth he pulled her tighter, flush with his strong, powerful body. She wrapped her arms around him, her tongue meeting his, and she could almost forget everything just for this feeling. Harry was quite a bit taller than Terry, and much-much stronger. She could feel it, what other girls had said, his power, so warm and comforting, but it was over much too soon. He pulled back, sucking on her tongue, her eyes opened, and she felt weak in the knees with her chest pounding painfully.

"T-thank you," she whispered breathlessly as he smirked while she held one hand in her robe pocket and the other to her chest with her cheeks burning bright red. Harry turned from her and headed back to his common room leaving her to contemplate what just happened.

She did not know what to do or say for a moment, and felt like following him, but she did not, she turned away and headed back to the Entrance Hall where Terry and Ron waited eagerly.

"Well?" Terry asked and she was uncertain, but she pulled out the wand. Harry's ash coloured wand and Terry eagerly took it, but she knew something was wrong. Wand lore. The wand didn't choose her, and she could tell it didn't choose Terry either. That could only mean one thing. The wand was still Harry's, which mean it wouldn't work right; it didn't consider either of them worthy masters.

"Yes," Terry said looking the ash grey coloured wand over eagerly. "I'll show you Harry, making a fool of me all the time, and now I have your wand," he laughed like a stereotypical TV villain and Hermione internally groaned.

Terry laughed more when he swished the wand only to scream like a little girl as the wand turned, morphing and growing up and out into a huge serpent with six different long reptilian wings running its centre with scales of different shades of blacks and greys, and started coiling around him with cold black eyes and steaming fowl venom dripping from her fangs and teeth, wings spread wide open. Hermione had tried to warn him when it dawned on her, she couldn't keep a secret from Harry, and soon, Terry was panicking and struggling as he fell to the floor crying.

Hermione could only watch in shock as Ron tried to save him, but Ron was worse at magic than either of them, especially this kind, and his attack spells were disbursed by the small dragons scales like they were nothing to her, and that was reasonable as Ron wasn't remotely powerful. Hermione could only feel relieved when Harry walked out of the basement doors smiling at her; he winked. She realised he knew all along that she was up to no good, but the longer she talked to him like they were, the more she realised he should be the hero, not anyone else, she forgot herself just to finish her task as she worried about Terry; the kiss was just a little bonus, maybe fuel for that night.

"I wondered where my darling wand went!" Harry said happily, but Hermione knew he knew. "Echo – that's enough," Harry said in English since he was concentrating on not accidently speaking snake, and he didn't need Draconian either as she understood him perfectly well, no matter the language. Echo looked up at him and hissed and growled in disdain. "Yes, I know he dared try to wield you, but now I'm here, let's go darling." The serpent seemed to pout childishly before she unwrapped from Terry and flapped her wings, Hermione saw she had two scaly back legs with clawed feet and another two front legs with clawed hands, and by the look, Terry was lucky those claws hadn't torn into him as his robe was shredded. The serpent had a rough of black fur over her head where little black and deep purple sparks of magic tensed the fibres making the hairs look more like razor sharp needles, and her eyes were that same purple centred leading out to black with no whites, but Hermione only noticed the shift of purple because she was close enough to see two sets of eyelids blink, up and down and side to side, and the underside membranes of the dragons wings had that same sheen of dark deep purple.

The serpent landed on Harry and pulled herself up around his shoulders and hissing and growling down towards Terry in disgust while her fur kind of relaxed to Harry's gentle petting. The dragon like snake was at least about as long as Harry stood tall at six foot one, maybe a little longer, and was probably quite heavy as she brought down Terry so easily, Hermione summarised, but Harry didn't stagger when she landed and moved on him, and her claws didn't even knock a stitch from his uniform. Terry was still gagging on the floor from the dragon's acidic breathe, even throwing up a little, but that purple-grey she saw coming from it before, or the boiling saliva wasn't bothering Harry and it was now less noticeable – almost not there.

Hermione almost felt like she saw the beautiful visage of a spirit of the dragon in human form behind Harry with six huge wings and scales with Egyptian kissed brown human parts and black/grey scaly parts and mused long razer sharpened hair down her back and clawed hands and feet in a black leather scaled armour before the image seemed to fail as the serpent retook her wand form and Harry placed her away in his holster on his arm – not pocket, Hermione wondered how she forgot he kept his wand in a holster, but she pulled it from his pocket – he was testing her resolve?

Harry didn't say any more. He didn't have too. His wand was off-limits. It had security protocols, and Hermione knew that there was nothing they could do, as stealing a wand was an extreme no-no unless you were doing so for lawful or loreful reasons, which neither was. This was out of spite, and they lost, and Hermione should have thought about that. Harry wasn't the only wizard or witch to use powerful magics to protect their things, wands especially – some people didn't treat their wands like replaceable tools, some treated their wands like valuable extensions of themselves.

Smirking, Harry narrowed his amused eyes at Hermione as he turned from his terrified brother and Ron as they shockingly averted their eyes from Harry in fear. Harry chuckled slightly as he walked passed Hermione, and started her as he spanked her butt, viciously hard as her punishment for actually trying something so – predictable, before leaving back towards his common room. The disturbing thing Hermione realised as her rear stung like never before as tears stung her eyes realising, he forced magic to hit harder and knew she wouldn't be sitting right for a week as she didn't deserve to relieve the pain with cream.

She believed he should have hit her more. She didn't deserve clemency. She had committed the crime. She could suffer the punishment. She left quickly to find a quiet place to cry where Terry and Ron couldn't see her, and it stung to move, but she hurried anyway.

To Be Continued…