Chapter 6
Monday, 2 September 1996
Potter House, Pottershire
"Did you know my aunt and uncle were murdered by Voldemort two Saturdays ago?" Harry asked Amelia when she and Sirius arrived for dinner. Katie and her parents were already in the parlour. Nick wasn't there, he was off at Cambridge preparing for his first year as an engineering student.
"No," Amelia replied, looking surprised. "How did you find out?" Harry led them to the parlour as it wasn't quite time for dinner and Remus and Tonks hadn't arrived yet.
"Bloody Dumbledore told me," Harry groused. "Yesterday!"
"When did he learn of it?" Amelia asked.
"The day after it happened, when Hestia Jones showed up for her guard shift," Harry informed her. "I wish he'd shut the Order down. They're bloody useless."
"Someone was guarding the place and Voldemort got past them and killed your relatives without them knowing?" Sirius asked, confused.
"No," Harry sighed. "Mundungus Fletcher…" Amelia snorted at the mention of his name as Harry opened the door to the parlour. "…was supposed to be there, but he'd buggered off to a pub and got soused. Probably saved his life. Not like he could've done anything against Riddle."
"No," Amelia agreed. "I bet not. Hello." The conversation was put on hold for a moment while greetings were made. After they'd sat, Sirius raised a question.
"What about your cousin?" he asked.
"I guess he was out with his gang when Riddle attacked," Harry told him. "He's at Smeltings, his boarding school. Dunno what's going to happen to him – probably go live with his Aunt Marge."
"Isn't she the one with the dog that you… inflated?" Sirius asked, having heard the story before.
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
"Will he be safe there?" Amelia asked.
"I don't think anyone in the wizarding world knows where Marge lives, if that's what you mean," Harry allowed. "As for safe… The dog's a bloody menace, and so's his owner. She's no clue how to handle children… though Dudley's not really that anymore."
"How old is he?" Brenda asked, joining the conversation.
"Five weeks older than me," Harry said. "So, sixteen."
"He's not magical?" she wanted to know.
"No, he's a muggle," Harry told her.
"Then he'll need a guardian for two more years," Brenda said. "In the regular UK, you're not legally an adult until you turn eighteen."
"Is there a way we can check in with him?" Harry asked Amelia. "Y'know, just to make sure he's alright?"
"I can have Tonks swing by… what did you say it was called?" Amelia asked.
"Smeltings," Harry repeated.
"I can have Tonks swing by Smeltings, posing as the local authority, to make sure he's alright," Amelia promised.
"Are you thinking about bringing him here?" Sirius asked. He was aware of more of the history between Harry and the Dursleys than anyone present save maybe Katie. He knew Harry didn't exactly get on with Dudley.
"Hadn't really thought about it," Harry replied honestly. "I suppose he could come here. I mean, if the choice is here or Marge, I know what I'd do. I don't know what he wants, and I don't know if he even likes me. He seemed to be alright when I left last summer, but who knows what he thinks now. A wizard just killed his mum and dad."
"I see your point," Sirius said.
"I'll have Tonks sound him out; discreetly, of course," Amelia said. "Where's Smeltings located, do you know?"
"Erm… Reading, I think," Harry replied. He seemed to recall that it wasn't too terribly far from Little Whinging.
"That's less than an hour and a half from us on the M4," Brenda said. "You could bring him right here through the spare trunk Harry gave Katie, and you'd avoid all that nasty London traffic."
"I'm sure the earliest he could come is Christmas," Sam interjected. "Assuming he wants to."
"It shouldn't be too hard to square it with the muggle authorities," Amelia said helpfully. "That, and a memory charm on this Aunt Marge, and we're all set." This was getting ridiculous, Harry thought. He wasn't even sure he wanted Dudley there. He had no idea if Dudley wanted to come.
"If you want, I can try to get appointed his guardian," Sirius told Harry. "It'd make thing easier."
"Let's see what Tonks finds out, before we go making any long-range plans," Harry said.
"What am I finding out?" Tonks asked, pushing the door open. Harry was relieved, because it meant dinner could start.
-oooo-
"Alright, you lot," Ginny called out to the massed group of Gryffindors at the Hogwarts quidditch pitch that Saturday. "Today we're looking for a chaser, a beater, a reserve beater, and a reserve seeker. The reserves'll be acting as reserve chasers as well. If you're interested in chaser, please stand over by Katie. If you're interested in beater, please go stand over by Jimmy. If you're interested in seeker, stand over by Harry. If you're just here to watch, get the hell off my pitch! There's the stands." She pointed, then turned around to the team as the group split up.
"We're gonna have to run this a bit differently from last year, since we're so short-handed," Ginny told them. "Harry, you just do the same thing as last year. Ron, I'm gonna need you to help Jimmy judge the beaters, since we don't have another, and you've done that before at home. I'll help Katie look for chasers, and Demelza can guard the hoops. Once we're all done, we'll pick the starters, then send the reserves over to Katie and I for reserve chaser selection. Ron, you can take over the hoops for that bit." Everyone nodded. "Great. Let's get to it."
By this time, Harry had a gaggle of four hopefuls behind him. He saw two of the same people as last year: third year Natalie McDonald, and fifth year Colin Creevey. The other seeker candidates were second year Euan Abercrombie, and third year Nigel Wolpert. Harry greeted them and then ran them through the same paces he had the year before. They raced. Then they followed him as he flew all out. Finally, the four hopefuls competed in the tiered exercise, competing in pairs against each other as seekers, chasing him, with the winners going again against each other.
To his surprise, Colin had improved greatly over the last year. Harry found he and Nigel were neck and neck for second place through the first two tests. Neither of the boys could quite catch up to Natalie, though. Natalie had clearly practised in the intervening year as well, and handily won. Harry suspected that had she been this good the year before, she might've beaten Ginny to the reserve slot.
"Euan," Harry said when they landed at the conclusion of the trials. "Thanks for the effort. Colin, I'm really impressed with the work you put in. You were far better than last year. Nigel, good work out there as well. Natalie… you clearly won the seeker portion of the trials this year. Keep up the good work in the chaser portion." He looked over to where Ginny was standing with Katie watching the beaters finish up. "Best head over to Ginny to let her know you're ready for the chaser bit," he told them.
Harry watched the rest of practice, but didn't have anything to really do until the end. Once the trials were complete, Ginny and the rest of the team landed. She herded all the hopefuls away so the team could talk.
"Alright, Harry… Seeker?" Ginny asked, starting with him.
"Natalie," Harry said without hesitation.
"She was good in the chaser portion as well," Katie nodded, accepting his recommendation.
"Done," Ginny agreed. "Jimmy? Ron? Beater?"
"Richie," Jimmy said immediately. Richie Cootes was his best friend.
"Yeah, OK," Ron agreed.
"And for reserve?" Ginny moved on, seemingly accepting their choice.
"I think Dean was next best," Jimmy said, glancing at Ron.
"You'll not be shagging him in the showers, will you?" Ron asked, a pained look on his face.
"What would you care?" Ginny asked sharply. "You don't shower with us anyway. That shouldn't factor into your decision."
"Fine, yeah, Dean was next best," Ron agreed grumpily.
"Good," Ginny nodded, then looked at Katie and Demelza. "Starting chaser?" Katie looked at Demelza then back at Ginny.
"Fay," Katie said. "She didn't score as much as McLaggen, but she was better at passing, and she shared the quaffle more. Plus, I really don't want that arsehole on the team."
"She was good," Ginny agreed. "What about Carl Hopkins?"
"He was fast, and all, but he threw like a girl," Demelza informed them. "He had lots of shots on goal, and they were accurate, but they were quite weak, almost lobs. Fay had a lot more heat."
"OK, I think we got it," Ginny said before she turned and walked over to the group. "Our new chaser is Fay Dunbar," she announced. "Our starting beater in Richie Cootes. Our reserve beater is Dean Thomas. Our reserve seeker is Natalie McDonald. Thanks for coming out everybody. If you didn't make the team this year, come back again next year. We'll need another chaser."
Harry shook his head as he watched Cormac McLaggen stalk away again, complaining loudly to the underclassmen about how he'd been cheated again. Ginny waved over the newbies and explained that the first formal practice would be the next afternoon at Harry's place. She also wrote down their full names to give to Harry so he could grant them access.
"C'mon, Harry," Katie said, pulling him along. They were done for the day. "I've got some revision I need to get done." Harry understood. Katie had started complaining about revision from that first Monday. Apparently, NEWT year was at least as difficult as OWL year had been, at least as far as workload was concerned.
"Alright," Harry agreed. "I should probably knock out my revision as well."
-oooo-
Natalie, it turned out, was far better competition for Harry than Ginny had been. Ginny was a Weasley, which meant she was a natural flier, a born strategist, and brimming with ideas; all things that served her well as the captain. Natalie, on the other hand, was driven. While she might've been a natural flier as well, she put in the work to become excellent. She'd clearly studied seeker theory, and practised hard. Harry was better, true, but only because he had four years of experience and a top broom.
"She's bloody exhausting," Harry told Katie as they walked back to the changing room at the pitch near Potter House. "That practice was like the hardest parts of match play, except it went on for three hours."
"Now you know how the rest of us feel all the time," Katie grinned.
"You're complaining?!" Natalie moaned from behind him. "That practice was like Hell on Earth! You're not saying we're doing that every time, are you?"
"I guess you forced me to up my game," Harry told her, tossing the exhausted witch a smile over his shoulder.
"You should take that as a compliment," Katie suggested to her as they entered the changing room. It was the moment of truth. Being the first practice of the season, the team had all come dressed, and hadn't been in the changing room before. Sure, the old hands knew what to expect, and to a lesser extent, Fay. Harry also assumed that Dean and Richie had some prior knowledge thanks to their friends. Still, it was time to see how the new members handled things.
Ron, of course, was already gone up to the house. He would pop through the trunks at the exchange and shower at his house in Weasleyshire, foregoing the changing room as usual. Upon entering, Harry saw Ginny already shucking her uniform with Dean right behind her. Apparently, he was eager to be a part of this strange ritual. Jimmy, Demelza, and Richie were right behind them, though Richie seemed a little shy about disrobing in front of Demelza, despite the fact that Harry was practically certain that he remembered Richie nude in the pool at one of his parties, though that might've been the beach.
Harry hurried to remove his kit before one of the newbies could inadvertently take his shower spot. He was down to his boxers when he noticed Natalie standing wide eyed and open-mouthed at the door. Harry grinned and elbowed Katie, who glanced over.
"C'mon Natalie," Katie advised. "You need to shower before dinner."
Looking around the rest of the room, Harry spotted Fay, who was about halfway through undressing. She looked uncomfortable, shyly facing away from the centre of the room. To her credit, though, she was steadily removing her armour. Jimmy, Demelza, and Richie were all practically nude already, and Dean and Ginny had already scampered into the showers. Seeing Katie was done undressing, Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
"Don't wanna lose my spot," Harry informed her, grabbing two towels as he passed the stack. Stepping into the shower, Harry was brought up short.
"I suppose that answers that question," Katie observed, as she leaned around Harry to see Ginny on all fours being taken from behind by Dean. They were in George and Angelina's old spot.
"Which question?" Harry asked. "Will there be shagging in the showers this year? Or, how big is Dean's cock?" He grinned and went to turn on his shower.
"Both?" Katie asked, taking the shower next to him, and turning on her water to Ginny crying out in pleasure. Harry looked over at her. Her tits were maybe a little larger than the year before, and someone had finally taught the younger witch about the finer points of body grooming. From the side view Harry was getting, he could tell Dean was thick, but couldn't really see how long he was. Long enough, Harry supposed.
"Did you talk with her about… y'know?" Harry asked, gesturing at his pubic hair.
"I might've," Katie replied coyly. At that point Jimmy, Demelza, and Richie entered the shower.
"Wait," Jimmy said, seeing where the others were. "Are we not in the same spots anymore?"
"Seeing as the twins and their girls aren't here anymore, I'd say shower where you want," Harry said. "We can settle on permanent spots later." Jimmy nodded and pulled Demelza down to the end where Fred and Alicia used to shower. Richie took the next shower, which should've been Ron's. Fay appeared next, clutching her towel in front of her.
"It works better if you hang the towel up first," Katie told her. "Doesn't get as wet that way."
Fay blushed, found the peg nearest the door, hung up her towel, and retreated to the showerhead nearest the door. While she was shy about her body, Harry didn't think there was anything she needed to be shy about.
Fay had straight chestnut hair that hung about a quarter way down her back, bright blue eyes, and flawless white skin. Her robes hid a quite nice figure, average height, with C cup breasts capped with bright pink areolae and prominent nipples. She had a flat stomach, a classic hourglass figure, and a neatly trimmed triangle of pubic hair. When she retreated to her shower, Harry got a nice view of her bum, which was nearly perfect, and capped nicely shaped legs. Harry was instantly hard.
"Like what you see?" Katie leaned over and whispered, grinning at him and glancing down at his cock. He quickly turned away, embarrassed that his girlfriend had caught him looking and liking it. "I'll admit," she continued. "She's pretty fit."
Katie had barely pulled back to her shower before Natalie had entered. Like Jimmy and Richie, she was a third year. Once she'd processed what was going on, and seen everyone else nude, she didn't seem shy about her body. Harry decided she had a very nice one for a thirteen-year-old.
She had an athletic body, a little shorter than Fay, her B cups were perfectly sized for her, and she was completely free of hair below her head.
"Now, she's a little young for you," Katie whispered, leaning over again, as Natalie took the shower between Richie and Fay.
"Didn't say she wasn't," Harry said casually. He glanced at Richie, to see if he'd seen his new shower neighbour, but Richie was distracted. Harry looked farther along and saw what had distracted him. Jimmy and Demelza were taking a page from Dean and Ginny and having some fun. Harry got a big grin as he saw Demelza on her knees taking Jimmy's cock into her mouth.
"Looks like we've just replaced the twins," Katie said, following Harry's line of sight.
"I dunno," Harry replied. "I don't think Dean and Jimmy're keen on switching."
"You never know," Katie replied airily. She looked over at Natalie and Fay, who were goggling at the two pairs shagging. "Don't worry. You lot're safe over there. Probably won't even get come on you."
"And if you do, it washes right off," Ginny gasped out through moans. Since Harry had entered, Ginny had moved onto her back, with Dean on top of her, thrusting down from above.
"Do I want to know how she knows that?" Fay asked softly. "Wasn't it her brothers who were shagging in the shower last year?" It was so quiet Harry almost didn't hear her, like she was talking to herself. He knew from experience that that was just how she talked.
"Oh, no!" Katie rushed to correct her. "Ginny got Harry's come on her. I was blowing him, and some got away from me."
"You didn't tell me you shagged in the showers too," Fay responded.
"We haven't," Katie countered. "Just blowjobs and hand jobs so far."
"That's pretty much shagging," Natalie pointed out.
"Depends on who you ask, I suppose," Katie said, reaching out for Harry's hard cock, her hand covered in soapy bubbles. Both Natalie and Fay's eyes were locked on her hand as it moved up and down Harry's manhood. He couldn't help but make a gurgling noise in his throat. "Doesn't look like sex to me." She glanced over at where Dean was thrusting enthusiastically into Ginny. "Far less exercise."
Katie stepped closer to get a better hold, abandoning her shower for Harry's. Harry closed his eyes and reached up to grope her breast, drawing a finger lightly over her left nipple as his palm cupped the underside of her breast. She shuddered and her lips formed a smile.
"Keep that up and I'll want payment," Katie breathed. Harry's reply was to snake his hand down to her cunny and slide that finger between her folds. For nearly two minutes the only noise in the shower was the running water, the slapping of flesh, and the moans of pleasure. When Harry opened his eyes, he could see Natalie watching Dean and Ginny, her hand between her legs, finger working furiously. On the far side, Richie was watching his best friend get his blowjob and pulling hard at his own dick. Fay, ever the shy introvert, was watching Harry and Katie with interest, arms stiffly at her side, but she was unconsciously rubbing her thighs together as she stood under the shower spray.
"OH YEAH!" shouted Ginny, coming hard. Harry looked over, eyes drawn by Ginny's cry and shuddering body. Harry noticed she wasn't the only one coming, as on the other side of the showers, Jimmy was painting Demelza's face with come as his eyes were locked on Ginny's writhing form. Demelza didn't look pissed, though. She was smiling too as she squeezed the last few drops from Jimmy's shrinking cock. Richie then came, his first burst hitting Demelza in the back before he could angle it away from her. Natalie moaned out her own orgasm, eyes still locked on Dean's thrusting cock.
That sent Harry over the edge, and he shot long ropes of jism, falling just a foot short of Fay. A few more splashes fell shorter, as his balls emptied. As he finished, Katie mewled and shuddered, orgasming. Harry stopped his finger and Katie released his shrinking manhood. He sighed happily and kissed her.
"Is everyone done?" Harry asked, looking over at them.
"Al… most…" Dean grunted, thrusting twice more before pulling out and shooting his seed all over Ginny's stomach. Then Dean leaned over and kissed Ginny as she lay, exhausted on the floor. "Done," he said, looking up at Harry.
"Everyone good with their shower spots?" Harry looked around the room, getting nods. He retrieved his wand and upon returning transfigured the tile above their showers into nameplates, including one for Ron between Katie and Ginny should the red-headed boy ever decide to shower there.
-oooo-
Dinner that night was at Harry's. It was a welcome of sorts for the new teammates, though his other Gryffindor friends were invited as well. Lee Jordan was the only one there who wasn't currently a student.
"How was practice?" Neville asked as they ate. He was sitting next to Hermione as Hannah hadn't been invited just this once.
"Really good, actually," Ginny replied. She'd piled her plate high with salmon. Harry didn't care for fish himself, but recognised that others did.
"And how was after practice?" Leanne asked.
"That's for the team to know and you to never find out, nosey parker," Katie volleyed back in a good-natured fashion.
"It must've gone well, then," Leanne observed. Richie, Natalie, and Fay all blushed. "Very well."
"Besides the tradition of us practising here at the estate," Harry said, changing the subject, having hastily finished his bite of pork chop, "there's another tradition that you new lot can take advantage of. Now that you're on the team and therefore on-the-list I've more than enough room and far more comfortable beds than the dorm. You lot're free to stay here if you please. Just let me know if you want a room."
"I've been staying with Ginny in her room," Dean said. "Hope that's OK."
"It'd be better if you didn't bring it up," Ron groused from next to Vicki Frobisher.
"You're going to have to make peace with her dating at some point, Ron," Harry pointed out. "What happens when she gets married and starts having kids? She's not the virgin Mary."
"Who?" Ron asked, then shook his head. "Never mind. Just, the less I hear about what she's doing, the better."
"How about the rest of you?" Harry asked. "Richie? Natalie? Fay?"
"I'll take a room," Richie piped up. I've seen Jimmy and Demelza's. It's posh. And this is delicious," he gestured at his plate. "I could get used to living here."
"I'm in as well," Natalie agreed, her mind easily swayed by the opulence and food.
"Fay?" Harry asked. "If not, you'll not hurt my feelings. It's not required, and you'll still be a welcomed guest."
"I'll not lie," she allowed. "Living here has quite an appeal. Can I think on it?"
"The invitation's always open," Harry replied. "Whenever you want to move in is fine." In response, Fay nodded. Leanne, Ginny – and obviously Dean – Jimmy, and Demelza were all already residents, having moved in on 1 September. Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Lee all had their own places, but were frequent visitors, especially at mealtimes and on weekends. Vicki slept at school, Harry assumed, but seemed to spend most of her time with Ron, which meant she was also a frequent guest.
-oooo-
On Monday, Fay approached Harry after their last class of the day, double Potions. Harry was walking out of the dungeons with Ron, Hermione, and Neville, when she stopped him.
"What's up, Fay?" Harry asked. She glanced at the other three, and hesitated.
"Let's go," Hermione suggested to the others. "I need to check out a book from the library and then want to drop off my books before dinner." She led them away in the direction of the library.
"I… I think I'd like to stay at yours," Fay told him hesitantly after the rest of the Gryffindors had passed.
"Sure," Harry said simply. "Katie and I'd love to have you. Everything OK?"
"I think so," Fay said. As if by mutual consensus the two of them started walking towards Gryffindor House. "When I got back last night Lavender and Parvati were all over me, asking me things. It made me… uncomfortable."
"Sorry to hear that," Harry commiserated. "Were they asking about me?"
"Not just you," Fay replied. Harry could see a war of emotions on her face. "They asked about the team."
"What about the team?" Harry wanted to know, but he had a pretty good idea.
"About the showers," Fay admitted.
"What'd they want to know?" Harry wondered. There were a good variety of questions they could've asked.
"Whether we all… had intercourse," Fay said, blushing.
"I suppose someone wasn't as discreet as we'd hoped," Harry said, wondering who'd blabbed. There were always rumours, though, and if anyone was up on castle gossip, it'd be Lavender and Parvati. "What'd you tell them?"
"Nothing!" Fay said quickly. "I was so embarrassed. How do you respond to that sort of question?"
"I'd probably've made a joke about it," Harry admitted. "Katie'd straight up tell 'em it wasn't their business who anybody shagged. Ginny… she'd just punch that bitch Lavender right in the mouth." Fay, surprised, snorted.
"What?!" she asked.
"Oh, yeah," Harry chuckled. "She bloody hates Lavender after what she did to Ron. Didn't you hear about that?"
"You mean his breakup with Susan?" Fay asked. "Hermione told me."
"Well, you'll not be getting impertinent questions like that at mine," Harry told her, realising after he said it that Leanne did in fact ask such questions. "Look, I've got seventh period free, so I'm going to go home and catch up on some Arithmancy revision. It's killing me. Just grab your things… actually. Dobby!" Dobby appeared right in front of Harry. "Can you gather Fay's things from her dorm and move them into one of the spare guest rooms at Potter House?"
"Dobby can!" the elf declared, and popped away quickly.
"That's that sorted," Harry said lightly. "Now, just pop by whenever you like. Just use the trunk in Katie's room. I've got to go slog through Arithmancy."
"I didn't know you're taking Arithmancy," Fay said.
"Independent study," Harry informed her. "Dropped Divination. Absolute rubbish. Picked up Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Runes's no problem. Arithmancy… I've just started and it's so… opaque, if that makes sense."
"I'd be happy to help you," Fay offered. "I'm no Hermione, but I'm not bad at Arithmancy."
-oooo-
An hour later, Katie found Harry and Fay in the library at Potter House, sitting together on a leather couch, pouring over Harry's Arithmancy text. There were several pieces of scratch paper spread out on the coffee table in front of them, covered in pencil markings.
"You know," Katie said, starting them. "It's not nice to steal a girl's boyfriend." She looked upset.
"I… I… No! It's not what it looks like," Fay protested, eyes wide. "I was just…"
"Relax," Katie said, her face breaking into a grin as she crossed the room. "I'm just taking the mickey. She flopped down on Harry's other side and glanced at the book. "Arithmancy, huh?" she asked. "Good job you can help him on that, because I'm pants at it. It's my lowest grade."
"So, it's EE or an A?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes.
"Depends on the semester," Katie admitted.
"Fay's moving in," Harry informed her, changing the subject. "Dobby's already brought her things."
"Which room," Katie asked.
"Dunno," Harry shrugged. "Dobby!"
"Yes, Harry?" Dobby asked after popping in.
"Which room did you put Fay in?" he asked.
"I is putting Miss Fay in Miss Katie's old rooms," Dobby told him.
"Thanks, Dobby," Harry said. Dobby nodded and popped out.
"Right next to us, then," Katie said, glancing at Harry. "We'll have to be sure to keep it down." She grinned, then looked at Fay. "Unless Fay likes to eavesdrop." Fay blushed and looked down.
-oooo-
Harry looked out the window. The train had just passed over a sweeping viaduct. The track turned to follow the line of the ridgetop, giving him a panoramic view of the valley below. The rhythmic click-clack of the train's wheels were soothing. He reached over and took Katie's hand, squeezing it.
Suddenly, the train screeched to a stop. Harry looked around, and saw several Death Eaters standing on a rocky outcropping a few meters away. Dementors hovered around them.
"We need to leave!" Harry said urgently. Beside him, Katie still had a smile plastered on her face.
"But we've got to wait until King's Cross," Hermione said from across the compartment.
"No!" Harry insisted. "We need to leave now! There's Death Eaters outside!" As if to punctuate his statement, the train was rocked by a massive explosion. "We've got to hurry!" He stood, and tried pulling Katie with him, but she wouldn't budge.
"Stop being such a Hurry Harry," Katie joked. "Relax."
"But…" Harry finally realised she wouldn't come and dropped her hand. Pulling out his wand, he opened the compartment door and peered carefully into the corridor. At the far end, he saw three Death Eaters coming straight for him.
"Hello again, Potter," the first one said, advancing quickly as his robes billowed behind him.
"Confringo!" Harry shouted. He'd been quite forceful, but only a small red ball of magic left his wand. It flew true, and hit the Death Eater in the chest, causing a small explosion. When the smoke cleared, the Death Eater still came on, with a gaping hole in his chest.
"Confringo!" Harry tried again, with the same result.
"That's not very nice, Potter," the Death Eater informed him, pulling off his mask as he came. Harry could now see that it was Lucius Malfoy bearing down on him… raising his wand at him… "Confringo!"
"Harry…" Katie said, stepping in front of him, right into the path of the red spell. His girlfriend was blasted apart in front of him. Harry could feel the blood and gore spattered all over his body.
"Nooooooooo!" Harry cried. Suddenly he was in total darkness, nude and covered in sweat.
"Harry!" Katie said, shaking him. She was sitting up in bed next to him, her wand tip lit to provide light and a concerned look on her face. "Harry!"
"What…" Harry gulped. He sat up, the covers already kicked off him, and saw a large sweat stain on the sheets. "Fuck."
"What happened?" Katie asked.
"Nightmare," Harry choked out.
"What about?" Katie pressed, concerned. She reached over to her nightstand and fetched a glass of water, handing it to Harry, who drank deeply.
"The Death Eater attack on the Express," Harry said briefly as he handed her the glass back. "Thanks, love."
"I take it the attack didn't go the same in your dream as happened in real life?" Katie reasoned.
"You wouldn't leave," Harry explained. "Malfoy came down the corridor, and I shot two blasting curses at him. I hit, and they blasted a hole in his chest, but he kept coming. Then he shot a blasting curse at me, but you stepped in front of it and…"
"I died," Katie finished when he couldn't. "I didn't die, Harry. I'm right here. I'll always be right here." She hugged him. He hugged her back, like a man dying of thirst hugs a barrel of water.
"Was this the first time you had this dream?" Katie asked after Harry had hugged her for several minutes. It took Harry another minute to answer.
"No," he replied softly.
"How many times?" Katie pressed.
"I dunno," Harry answered. "A lot. Almost every night at the beginning."
"Merlin's pants!" Katie gasped. "Why are you just telling me now?"
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
"Why didn't you tell me after the first few times?" Katie asked, concerned.
"What good would it do?" Harry asked.
"I can help you!" Katie blurted, as though it were obvious.
"How?" Harry asked, not really believing her.
"Did I help with Umbridge?" Katie asked rhetorically. "Did I help with learning about your family?" Harry nodded dumbly. "What on Earth would make you think I wouldn't help with this?"
"I dunno," Harry shrugged, ashamed.
"First thing tomorrow, I'm popping over to Brenda's to see if she can set you up with a psychologist to talk about it. They might be able to help you with other problems too, like your childhood."
"But…" Harry said, then paused. "What about magic?"
"Then I'll talk to Madam Pomfrey with you," Katie promised. "I'm sure she can find someone appropriate."
"I don't know how much time I'll have to talk to a psychologist," Harry told her. "Between school and quidditch and you…"
"We'll make time," Katie promised. "You having nightmares every night is something important enough to do that. I'll not have you seeing me die every night, or even every week."
"Wasn't just you," Harry told her.
"Who?" Katie wondered.
"You, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Ron, Susan, Hannah, Jimmy, Fred and George together once…" Harry trailed off. "You're the one I see most often."
"Fuck…" Katie said sadly. Then she got her resolve back. "First thing tomorrow morning."