A/N: I hope everyone is safe and coping in this time of strife. Thanks to My Awesome Alpha/Beta Kaystar742. This chapter contains the first adult scene, it is clearly marked if that isn't your cup of tea, please enjoy regardless.
29 Fallout and Questions
Four educators sat in Minerva McGonagall's office, trying to figure out what needed to be done. Both Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall herself were relatively sure they knew exactly what needed doing, but wanted the other two to have their say first.
To Minerva's left was Pomona Sprout, Herbology mistress and head of Hufflepuff house. Long thought to be the house of the leftovers by some, the four knew she led a true pack of badgers and protected her charges fiercely. The house of the loyal was a house that was not messed with for a reason. Gryffindors may charge to retaliate, and Ravenclaws may have the creative and obscure responses, but when the puffs came at you, they all came at you. They were a single entity, but only if you were a 'Puff.
To Minerva's right was Fillius Flitwick, Charms Master and head of Ravenclaw. The house of the wise tended to stay out of most squabbles, tending to stick to themselves and their books. Minerva thought that while her own Miss Granger would have done well in his house, she was about the search for knowledge and sharing what was found. Most ravenclaws seemed to thirst for knowledge for knowledge's sake. While Hermione would search for years to find a cure for some ailment, a Ravenclaw would pursue it as a side hobby and merely note it when it was found. Miss Granger would brew it herself if it meant someone didn't have to suffer.
"What is this about Minerva? Planning a revolution?" Pomona asked.,
"The revolution has already begun, Pomona," Poppy answered for her friend. "The question is do we support or oppose it?"
"Why do you think it has already begun?" Flitwick asked curiously. "I agree there are troubling indications, but do you really think it's so far gone? And who do you think the revolution is against?"
"There are multiple on the brink. The spark is struck, the only question is will it find tinder and flare, or merely smolder for a time. Too many things have happened in the last few years, especially around Mr. Potter, to let things stay the same forever." Minerva said sagely.
"I'll admit the boy has had a string of bad luck," Sprout agreed, "but not enough to go to changing the whole system."
"If only you knew," Poppy said sadly. "We've all failed that boy miserably Pomona, every single one of us. In fact, about the only person in this school who hasn't failed him is Hermione Granger."
"That's a bit harsh isn't it?" Flitwick sounded offended. "Surely the happenings of one boy won't make or break the future."
"I'm not trying to be that melodramatic Filliius, but there is more going on with that boy than even I know about yet. In the past eight months I've gotten to know him better than anyone else in this school, save Miss Granger. In that time I've had to continually reevaluate my own actions as I've realized just how much I've failed him."
"You? How?" Pomona asked.
"Both of us actually," Poppy confirmed, her voice heavy. "Did you realize he was abused by his Muggle relatives? He was treated no better than Malfoys' house elf since he was about four years old. Didn't even know his name till he went to school, thought it was 'Freak' or 'Boy'."
"I was there the day Dumbledore left him with them." Minerva spoke into the silence, "I had watched them all day and knew they were no good, but I allowed Albus to convince me he would be safe with them. That was my first failure. The next was believing him when I inquired about the boy. Always a positive report. Sadly, Albus never once checked on him that I can tell."
"And that is our fault?" Flitwick was a bit put off.
"No Fillius, that part was mine," Minerva admitted. "However, none of us caught his behavior that would have warned us his home life was that bad. We don't see it often, but with muggle raised, we do see it occasionally."
"I failed the first time when I let Albus dismiss his scars as the result of blowing up all the glass in a room in a fit of accidental magic. I let my faith in the man blind my duty to the boy." Poppy admitted.
"Then, look at the incidents over the years." Minerva continued, "The protections for the object Ablus was guarding first year. Can any of us say that properly educated, grown wizards wouldn't have blown through those obstacles? I know my first obstacle was overridden by Albus, and I made the one he decreed. Anyone else? Flying keys? Devil snare? Really?"
"What flying keys?" Flitwick asked, "My part was a rune sequence locked door behind a fidelius charm."
"And I sure as dickens didn't use devil's snare," Pomona objected. "Madraggora, Venomous Tentacula, and the like it was."
"The trio; Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley the youngest, faced the following obstacles: A simple locked door opened by Alohamora. Hagrids pet Cerberus, Fluffy. A patch of Devils snare. A door locked by a key that had wings in a room of such keys, and a broom provided to chase it. A giant wizarding chess set where the player must be a piece. A mountain troll. A logic puzzle involving which potion to drink. And finally a bit of trickery involving the Mirror of Erised."
"Are you serious?" Pomona asked, "That's what he used to guard whatever it was? That sounds tailor made for those three."
"We think it was." Poppy sighed.
"We can continue with the next few years, but we feel that Albus is deliberately managing things for Mr. Potter for some reason. Every year some new obstacle for him to overcome. Granted the thing with his godfather last year was likely not deliberate, but I'll bet he took advantage of it."
"I think you'd better tell us more," Flitwick leaned forward in his chair, "and then we can discuss what we do next."
In their room the next morning, the pair at the center of the Professors' discussion lay still entwined in their sheets, thinking. They lay there, silent, both lost in their thoughts.
"Harry?" Hermione finally breaking the silence.
"Yes love?" he asked, turning slowly to face her.
"We changed everything last night, didn't we?"
"I don't know." Harry sighed, reaching out to hold her reassuringly. "I didn't mean for that to all come out like it did. Not that I don't mean every word, but to say what I said, to who I said it? Probably not my best moment."
"I don't know about that." She smiled at him, savoring his embrace. "Oh I agree that the timing and mode of address could be better, but I also think they were things that needed to be said. You were right, everyone knows that you worked together, and that you are the reason everyone is alive. But you were targeted anyway. And the others did nothing about it. I'm just worried about what will change."
"You think anything will?"
"I don't know." She sighed, biting her lower lip. "I mean, I hope things change for the better, and that people realize that it needs to, but will it? I don't know. There is so much that could change, and not all of it is for the better."
"No, it's not." He agreed, lightly caressing her arm. "But we have each other, we have friends and your family. We even have Sirius and Remus, though if those two jokers are an asset or a loss is debatable." He smiled at her chuckle before continuing. "There's a lot of factors for us as well, so I think it's just a matter of time now. I think things will change, and whether or not it's good or bad, only time will tell."
"How long do you think?"
"I don't know. Could be years, could be sooner."
"I hope it's soon," Hermione said, the emotion thick in her voice and unshed tears glistening in her eyes. "So much has happened to you, I really hope it's soon so you, so we will be ok."
"We will be." He hugged her to him. "No matter what, we'll be together, and that's all that matters for now."
"Oh, Harry," she sighed again, leaning close and kissing him. "You shouldn't say things like that when I can't show you how much that means to me without hurting you. I really wish you weren't bruised head to toe right now."
"Uh, love?"
"Year Harry."
"I'm not really bruised anymore." He grinned a little. "There are a few tender spots but for the most part, I'm fairly healed."
"Oh really…" Hermione let her voice trail off suggestively as she resumed kissing her husband. She slowly, gently, rolled him on top of her, his lips chasing hers. She brought her hands down his arms, then on to his sides, bringing the hem of his shirt up and off, exposing his muscled chest to her.
"Hermione?" He asked softly, his voice laced with desire.
"We made a deal, Mr. Potter, to explore." Hermione's voice took a sultry timber. "And so far, I like what I see." She leaned up just a bit, softly kissing his collar bone. She pulled back with a slight grimace. "Sorry, Harry, but that bruise cream tastes awful."
"It's ok," Harry laughed, smiling down at her. "I'll just take a shower and then we can continue."
"Why wait?"
"Huh?" Harry looked at her confused as he rolled off her. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I'm going to start the shower." Hermione explained as she stood and started walking to the bathroom. "Care to join me?"
Harry stared in amazement as Hermione undid the tie to one shoulder of her night dress, then the other. The smooth silky garment slid down her body as she walked and his eyes never left. The creamy white garment first exposed her back, smooth and somehow erotic. Next it revealed her bum, the firm toned muscles moving sensuously as she walked. Her shapely legs stepped out of the piled cloth, and Harry forgot to breath. Before him, walking away, was the most beautiful sight he'd ever seen. She paused in the doorway, looking back over her shoulder.
"You coming?" she asked innocently, teasingly.
*Lemon alert*
Once she'd disappeared into the bathroom Harry remembered to breath again. Quickly divesting himself of the rest of his pajamas he joined her in the bathroom, finding her already in the shower. As he entered, she turned to face him, stepped up to him, and gently placed a hand on his chest.
"First rule:No embarrassment. We are trying to get reactions out of each other, not hide them." She said silkily.
"Second rule," He responded, his hands gently caressing her sides, "if, at any time, either of us says stop, we stop."
"Rule three," Hermione grinned as she pulled him closer, "you are not allowed to wash yourself."
"Oh really, so you get to wash me and I get to wash you?"
"Something like that," Hermione grinned wider, kissing him softly, "Now get under the spray so I can explore… er … wash you properly."
"Yes dear," Harry grinned, moving under the hot water, "But remember, I get to wash you next."
"That's enough water, come here." Hermione gently pulled him from the spray, not completely out, but enough so she could start. She positioned him so the water was against his chest, his back to her. Taking some shampoo, she slowly worked it into his hair, massaging his scalp as she went, paying special attention to the spot just behind his ears. She stepped half a step closer, allowing her breasts to press lightly against his back as she worked. His groan was all the encouragement she needed as she continued to work, ensuring all the hair at the back of his neck was washed as well. She lightly pushed him back under the spray, and helped him wash it all out. Next, she spun them around, placing herself in the spray facing his back, with him out of the spray entirely. Thankfully, it was warm enough that he wouldn't get cold.
Lathering some soap on a wash rag, she began to wash his back. She started at his shoulders, gently scrubbing her way down to his bum. He groaned a bit when she got his lower back, and noting this, spent a little extra time there. Next, she got a bit more soap, and stepping up to his back again, she reached her hands under his arms to hug him from behind and start on his front. This time he didn't groan, he full on moaned as her hands worked their way down his chest and across his Quidditch hardened abs.
Harry shuddered as Hermione's hands traced his abs, her fingers trailed to his sides and teased the vee of his hips. Her breath hitched as she felt the lines of his body, felt the muscles and bones beneath the skin. Grinning evilly, she stopped just short of the one part he desperately wished she'd wash. Getting more soap, she knelt down and continued to wash his legs, outsides first. As he reached his feet, she told him to turn around. As he turned she found herself face to, well, wow.
Hermione's mind stopped working as she faced the evidence of his desire. While she knew the theory, and read many books, this was the first time she'd observed a penis. Sure, she'd felt it a time or two when they'd been snogging heavily, felt it pressed against her belly or her leg, but to see it in all its glory was… Wow. She knew he was not huge, nor small. She guessed between 15 and 18cm, which given he still had time to grow was impressive, but not excessively so. It was also nicely thick, not overly so, she guessed she'd be able to fit her hand around it nicely and looked forward to trying. She remembered to breath as she pushed the desire to kiss it down and resumed her mission, her brain finally restarting itself.
Starting at his feet, she began to wash up the insides of his calves, then teased his knees as she headed up. He started to moan again as she began to wash his inner thighs. She grinned at the effect she was having on him, and continued up, slowly, teasingly. She watched as he steadied himself against the wall as she finally reached the apex of his legs. Her fingers brushed his bollocks once, twice, then she took them in her hands to give them a thorough cleaning.
"Hermione…" He moaned as she gave in to her desire and kissed the head, before standing to face him.
"Relax, Harry," she whispered in his ear. "Relax and let me take care of you, love."
Hermione's hand finally found the grip they both desired, and she grinned at the proof she was right, she could wrap her hand around his cock nicely. Slowly stroking up and down his throbbing manhood, she kissed him hard, pouring all the love and desire she could into the kiss. His tail wrapped around her hand, holding her hand to him, and she knew he wouldn't last long. Between the being the first time someone other than him had touched him and the long tease she'd done, she knew he was close. She continued to kiss him, hard, passionately as she stroked a little faster, a little harder.
"I.. I'm…" He stuttered, breaking the kiss momentarily.
"Do it," Hermione encouraged him, "let go."
She resumed kissing him as deeply as she could, their tongues battling, as he groaned into her. She felt his cock twitch in her hand, his hips bucking, then he broke their embrace to call her name. In her hand, is cock twitched harder, and surged as he exploded in her hand. Jet after jet of his seed pulsed from his member, splashing her and the walls of the shower with the evidence of his desire. She kissed his neck, hugging him tight as his knees buckled and he fought to keep upright.
"Merlin Hermione, that was… that… wow." Harry stuttered, once he recovered the ability to speak.
"I did good then?" She asked innocently.
"No," He grinned at her look of incredulity, "you did amazing. How I got so lucky as to have you as my love is beyond me."
"You're just saying that cause I…" Hermione blushed and fidgeted. "You know."
"No, I felt that before we started this." He pulled her close again and just held her. "That you feel this way, that you want to do this, with me, is humbling, Love."
"I love you, Harry, of course I want to do this."
"Well, since this is what you want," He grinned, spinning them slowly so she was back under the spray, "I believe it's now my turn."
"You don't have to, Harry—" She was cut off as he kissed her again.
"I want to." His whispered response came once they parted for breath. He eased her under the water, letting the water cascade down her as he first shampooed, then conditioned her hair. Each time he worked the hair product into her hair, he massaged her scalp and neck, and especially her ears, causing her to purr.
As she rinsed the last of the conditioner from her hair, he turned her, placing her as she had placed him, just outside the spray. Taking her body wash, a lavender scented muggle product, he started washing her back. He worked the slick soap over her back, using the opportunity to massage the knots in her shoulders and back away. As he reached her waist, he grinned and withdrew a little, only to surprise her by grabbing both cheeks of her ass simultaneously. Her moan told him he had done good, and continued to caress her rear, soaping it up thoroughly.
Harry took more body wash and knelt, working his hands down her legs, thumbs and fingers teasing her inner thighs, but still ensuring they got all of her clean. As he worked, her tail wrapped around his shoulders, holding him close, almost pulling him to her. As it did, he caught a new smell. Despite the scents of the shampoo, conditioner, and her body wash, all smells that were intoxicating to him, a new one joined them. Sweet, almost fruity, yet teasing of more, he couldn't figure out what it was, just that he loved it.
When Hermione turned to face him, he found himself facing her most intimate part, and the new scent hit him full force. With a start he realized it was her arousal. That fact almost forced the beauty of the sight before him from his mind. Her nether lips were slightly swollen, puffing out just a bit, accenting the slit they protected. Above, her smooth skin beconned for a kiss. He leaned forward, and tentatively kissed just above the start of her slit, feather light and almost non existent, it was still enough to cause her legs to tremble. Standing, he slowly turned her back around.
"Harry, Go back, please?" She moaned.
"Patience, I still have to wash your front." Harry kissed her just below her jaw, his soapy hands circling her waist and starting to caress her belly. He let them explore, tickling her a bit when he explored her belly button, before moving up. He gently washed her breasts, taking a long time to do so, savoring Hermione moans of pleasure as he circled and teased her firm mounds. The first time he took them full in his palms, thumbs and fingers teasing her rock hard nipples as they worked, she almost fell. Only Harry's strong arms encircling her held her upright. When she regained her feet, she set herself, pressing back into his embrace and turned her head to kiss him as he continued to 'wash' her.
Harry felt her regain her footing, her tail now wrapping itself around his waist while the rest of her pressed back into him. He ignored her moan of disappointment as his right hand left the wonder of her breast, he had other places for it to wash. Moving his left hand across her chest to her right breast, he gently squeezed as his right hand slid from her waist down, over her mons and his middle finger slid between her soaking folds to caress her. His finger slid easily through her slick folds to the entrance to her core, circling, teasing. Her knees weak, her purrs began to vibrate her entire body. He left her entrance, trailed his hand up her cleft and found the hard nub of her clit. It only took two circles of the sensitive bundle of nerves before Hermione let out a moaning yowl and cried his name, her body convulsing in the throws of passion.
Harry held her tight, holding her up as her legs let go and she slumped in exhaustion. Slowly she regained her footing shakily, her muscles still experiencing aftershocks of the orgasm he'd given her. Turning in his arms, she circled his neck and kissed him softly, lovingly.
"Wow" She purred, half hanging from his neck. "That was amazing Harry, thank you."
"You see," He grinned, gripping her bum to help hold her up, "You're not the only one who can research and study."
*End Lemon*
In unused classrooms and quiet corners, between the stacks in the library and on notes passed in class, students began to talk as well. The twins discussed things with the Gryffindor quidditch team. The chasers held a meeting of the younger Gryffindor girls. Cedric Diggory was questioned by the Puffs. Luna found herself cornered by several older Ravenclaws who for once were not teasing her but asking her questions.
It wasn't much, not at first, but it was enough to start people thinking about odd things at odd moments. Over weeks and months, especially over the summer, the students of Hogwarts started asking questions.
