AN: Thank you all for the reviews, and for keeping up with my story! I'm so sorry that I haven't been keeping up with the updates, but my life has been crazy hectic, and I'm working hard to finish this. So enjoy!
Recap: "Harry took a deep breath and pulled Daphne close to him so that their bodies were touching. Then ever so slowly he leant down and kissed her lips tenderly, his lips barely moving across hers as if he was holding back. After several seconds he pulled away and looked down to see a blush spread across Daphne's face. Bowing to her he said, "I bid you farewell my lady. Tonight was spectacular." With that he walked away, leaving a breathless Daphne standing in front of her door.
Harry walked into his suite and found Sirius and Remus sitting on the couch waiting for him. 'They found one Harry. The goblins have found one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.'"
"Well what did they find?"
"They found a cup in the Lestrange family vault. The letter said they need you to be there to destroy it, which would require you to leave the trunk. They also want to talk to you about other leads, and the letter sounds as if they won't do anything without your input first." Remus explained.
"How am I supposed to leave? I'm only 15; I can't be expected to make all the decisions for this war. I've only had 2 months of training! And it was mostly schoolwork. I can't defeat Voldemort with that! I don't want to die! Not now when I finally have my family." Harry yelled hysterically.
"Calm down Harry!" Sirius yelled, standing to go after the teen, but Harry had run from the room.
He sprinted to the pool and collapsed next to it. Sobbing, he buried his head in his hands and shook uncontrollably. He got himself under control after a few minutes but couldn't shake the feeling of utter sadness. He gazed at the pool longingly, wishing he could just escape the pressure of having to save the wizarding world. "You aren't doing it for them darling." A soft, feminine voice said. "You're doing it for yourself, for your parents, for everyone that you love." The words washed over Harry and he relaxed slightly.
"Did Sirius ask you to find me?"
"No, I read the letter earlier, and I knew you'd be really upset Harry." She knelt next to him and held his face between her hands. "But I'm here for you, tell me what's wrong, you know that whatever it is I'll stand beside you."
"I'm so scared 'Mione! I don't think I can handle the pressure of this war. I can't be a leader; I've never had any experience doing anything like this."
"We'll figure it out Harry. You can start taking leadership on slowly, but you are a leader. Whenever we've been in danger you've taken over, and come up with a plan to get us safely out of the situation. You could start leading sessions during topics or something like that."
"I'm just not sure. I know that I need more training, and I'm not sure that I can achieve that with everyone here. I'm trying to facilitate this crazy social life while learning to defeat Voldemort and it isn't working. I couldn't defeat him if we battled now."
"I promise that we'll figure this out Harry. I think that we need to focus more on training than anything. You will survive, and that is the most important thing!"
Harry nodded and pulled Hermione to him in a tight hug. She let him hold her and buried her head in his shoulder. After a few minutes he pulled her back so he could look into her eyes. Noticing the tears swimming in them he said, "I love you, more than anyone I've ever known. I can't imagine my life without you in it. You are my rock."
Harry stroked the side of her face and brushed his thumb over her lips. Slowly his lips met hers and he kissed her hungrily. Her hands wound into his hair, and she pulled him closer, intensifying the kiss. She felt his tongue pressing at her lips and she quickly opened them. His tongue shot into her mouth, sensually rubbing over hers. Harry moved his hands down to stroke her sides. She moaned softly into his mouth and it spurred Harry on. He moved his tongue in and out of her mouth faster. Hermione's hands flew to the top of Harry's shirt and unbuttoned the top button.
A cough broke the couple apart. They looked up to see a very disgruntled Daphne and a smiling Astoria standing over them. "Lord Black figured you would need someone to look out for you, but Miss Granger seems to have it under control." Astoria said, breaking into giggles.
Daphne glared at the couple before turning and walking away. Harry stared at her retreating back completely bewildered. Hermione stood and followed the blonde from the room. Harry glanced to Astoria, utter confusion on his face. "What did I do?"
"My sister doesn't like to share Lord Potter. I think seeing you and Miss Granger together made everything real."
"Are you sure that's all? Is it a reaction to my behavior with Miss Granger?"
"That is a possibility; my sister is the picture of modesty." Harry grimaced, thinking about how he had kissed Daphne earlier. "However, I attribute it to jealousy."
"Should I go after her?"
"I'd let Miss Granger speak to her first. Besides, I have something that I need to ask you." Harry nodded, barely paying attention to the younger girl. "How do you feel about me?"
Harry started in surprise, and looked at Astoria, hoping to judge what she wanted to hear from her expression. However it told him nothing and he decided to be truthful. "I feel as though you are my younger sister."
The girl smiled, "I feel the same way about you Lord Potter, and I hope that we shall always be close. However, I cannot see myself married to you. I have been encouraging my parents to try for another child, and after slipping them a few potions they listened. My mother is with child, and if it is a boy the contract between our Houses will not include me."
"You will have to marry Mr. Malfoy."
"I am quite aware. I have…feelings for him. We developed a friendship once we learned of the contract between us, although it was secret because we didn't want to hurt my sister's feelings." Harry nodded, remembering what Daphne had told him.
"Now that I know how you feel I don't feel like such a cad for saying that I was going to try and break the contract between us when I got older. I just feel too much of a brotherly affection for you Toria. I am one of the seven, and can convince the others to outlaw set plural marriages. We are the rulers, and should be allowed to do as we choose."
Astoria nodded in approval. "That would be a wonderful thing Harry. You could convince anyone to do anything you wanted after you defeat He-Who-Likes-To-Over-Hyphenate."
Harry chuckled; glad he had the young girl in his life. He escorted her back to her House's common room, and then knocked on Daphne's door. Once given the permission to enter he walked in and sat on her bed, noticing Hermione in a chair by the desk. No one spoke, and Harry waited for Daphne to say something. After several minutes of painful silence she stood and walked so she was standing in front of Harry. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't there for you, and that I left you in your time of need. I was confused because I was disturbed at the scene between you and Miss Granger, but she pointed out that you are engaged, and therefore have certain rights to her. I was jealous; I couldn't stand the thought that you wanted her more than me, and she pointed out that it isn't one of us against the other, but that you needed her because she understands you better as things stand now."
"It's going to take a lot of work, but the three of us are going to have to figure out how to live together, and how to do so peacefully. Although it is different now because Miss Granger was my best friend before this all started, I hope that we shall all three be best friends, and that you two will be great friends who will not feel jealousy towards each other. As of now I love Miss Granger deeply, but I am starting to develop deep feelings for Miss Greengrass, and do not wish to lose either of you. But right now there is a deeper issue than that of our relationship. Lord Black and Mr. Lupin just informed me that the goblins have found a horcrux, and I think I know how to deal with this new development. Miss Granger can you please gather all of the instructors as well as Mr. Longbottom, and then meet Miss Greengrass and me in the dining room? Also inform everyone else to meet there in an hour."
"Certainly Lord Potter." with that Hermione walked out of the room, leaving Daphne and Harry alone together.
"Harry…I'm so sorry" Daphne said, staring at her hands. She glanced up and noticed Harry smiling at her, and he opened his arms and gestured to her to come to him. She practically flew into his arms, and stood in his embrace for several minutes, hiding her face in his shoulder.
"It's ok, don't worry Miss Greengrass. I understand. Now come, let's get ready for the meeting, I want to be there first."
"Why are we all here?" Hannah whined.
"We are waiting for Lord Potter and Mr. Longbottom." Sirius snapped, wondering how he had ever dealt with teenage girls. After a few more minutes of tense silence, Harry and Neville walked in and took a seat at the table. Sirius then stood, "we received some information today that has drastically altered our plans. It will be impossible for all of us to remain in the trunk for the duration of the 'year'. The pace of training must be excelled and that cannot happen with everyone here. All instructors will stay as well as Lord Potter, Miss Granger, Miss Greengrass, Mr. Longbottom, and a perspective wife of his choosing. Our schedule will be different. The afternoon will become a time for learning practical application of the morning's subject in dueling. It will be extremely difficult, but we are preparing to fight an evil never seen before. Everyone not staying must leave before morning. There will be a meeting at 10 for everyone still here, and training will resume on Monday morning at the normal time." With that Sirius, harry, Hermione, McGonagall, Remus and the Greengrass family left the room.
Neville looked around the table at the eight women remaining and took a deep breath. "I don't think any of you are aware of the nature of the contracts between us. They are simply contracts for consideration of marriage and the last two months have satisfied the consideration part of them. I've only ever planned on having two wives, with the preference being one. I have observed you and had Miss Granger assist me, as an un-biased third party, with my decision. I'm sorry to have to reject all of you, but this is the way of the House of Longbottom. If you would prefer to hear your fate in private you may leave the table, if not I will just tell you now." Neville paused giving them time to leave, but no one stood so he continued on. "Shall I start with who is staying?" the women nodded, and Neville took a deep breathe. He walked over and knelt in front of Pansy. "Miss Parkinson, over the past two months you have captured my full attention, and I couldn't bear to walk away from you now. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife, and the future Lady Longbottom?"
The girl clasped a hand to her mouth, and then glared at the boy. "Why me? I am not as pretty as Parvati, as intelligent as Susan, or as likeable as Hannah. What can I offer that they cannot?"
"I care for you, deeply. If that isn't enough for you then say so, but you are the one chosen by my heart." Pansy smiled, and then fell into Neville's embrace. "That wasn't my real proposal; I just wanted to show the other girls how much you matter to me. We're too young to be engaged, but when the day comes, it will be you." He whispered in her ear.
"I accept Mr. Longbottom," she said loud enough for the others to hear, while allowing Neville to know that waiting was what she wanted.
Neville smiled at her and then stood, wondering how he should deliver the next bit of news. "Unfortunately Miss Patil and Miss Abbott I'm going to ask you to leave. Neither one of you show characteristics that I am looking for in a wife." Hannah began sobbing while Parvati begun flinging things at Neville. "Dobby, Winky." The two house elves appeared, bowing to Neville. "Please remove Miss Patil and Miss Abbott from the trunk. Escort them to their homes."
The girls, their escorts, and the elves disappeared with a loud crack. "What about me Mr. Longbottom?"
"Miss Bones, I am still considering you to become my second wife. However, if you agree you must stay here and train hard, without the guarantee that we will end up married."
"Will you have reached a decision after the 'year' in the trunk?"
"Yes."
"Then I accept. If it doesn't work out I will only have wasted a week in actual time, and I do want to help in the fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"Then stay. I offer you no promises, but we will get to know each other better in the next eight months."
Sweat dripped off Harry's brow as he cast yet another shield in front of Neville. He turned quickly and cast a widespread cutting curse, hitting two of his intended victims. He fired off a two spell combination of a bone breaking curse and stunning spell leaving two enemies incapacitated. Harry quickly rolled left and traded opponents with Neville, leaving the other boy to face the one remaining henchmen as Harry took on the main opponent. Harry was quickly put on the defensive, only able to dodge and shield against the rapid number of curses being fired by his enemy. Moments later Neville incapacitated the last henchmen and turned around to help Harry by taking the defensive role. This allowed Harry to start firing off every offensive spell he knew. After five minutes of stalemate a cutting curse hit his enemy's arm. Neville dropped back allowing Harry to have full control of the fight as he made sure the fallen henchmen would stay down. Harry began throwing darker curses; meant to hurt his enemy, not just take him out of the fight. Finally Harry won the upper hand, and threw another combination of bone breaking curses at his opponent, causing them to fall to the ground. Harry stood above the person and said, "I'd cast a severing curse at your head and finish you off."
"Very good," Remus said, sitting shakily. "I'm going to need a medic now, and then we will all discuss the battle." Hermione ran over, and quickly healed Remus, as Daphne healed Harry. Once Sirius, Lord Greengrass, and McGonagall were woken and healed everyone sat in a circle to discuss the battle that had just taken place. "Harry, Neville, you did a good job strategizing before the battle began. Neville you managed to handle my attacks well and give cover to Harry as he took out Minerva and Alcander. You were then able to take out Sirius before turning back and helping Harry defend against my attacks. You pulled back at the right time, allowing Harry to focus without being distracted. Harry, you managed to take out your first two opponents quickly and without much loss of power or strength. When you were attacking me, you managed to get a hit quickly, and turned the tide of the battle, and took me down hard. You had a plan for how you were going to end me, and that's the most important part. You didn't hesitate, you attacked well."
"I'm just concerned that this was the first time we were able to take you down, and we have been training this hard for three months now. We only have seven months left in here, and I'm not sure that I can get enough training, knowledge, and experience to take down Voldemort."
"Like you said Harry, we've only been at this for three months. By the time we're done you'll be able to singlehandedly take down all of us, and when we get back to real time, you'll have the rest of your summer and then be entering your fifth year, which you have successfully completed now. You will have a lot of time to practice with even more experienced duelers. Sirius and I have arranged for several aurors to battle you, as well as Professor Flitwick, and even Professor Snape. Now before you complain, you know that Professor Snape won't hold back against you and he will be a great training tool." Harry nodded stiffly. He knew that if he wanted to battle Voldemort and come out on the other side alive, he would have to train with the best, no matter his personal feelings for them. "Go get cleaned up, the lesson is over for today."
Harry hurried to his room and showered, before making his way to the den. After the other women had taken their leave the trunk's magic had expanded the den, making it a place where all the teens hung out when they weren't busy training. Neville was the only one there and Harry sat on the couch opposite of him. "How do you think training went today?"
"It was alright. You were really powerful today, and I think that I'm improving."
"You definitely are Neville. You were great at holding back Moony until I got rid of Lord Greengrass and Grandmum, and then you were able to take Dad out on your own. We make a really great team. I hope that you are standing next to me when I go into battle."
"I'll be there Harry; you don't need to question it. I was talking to your Dad and I think we should try and start building an army next year. We're going to need people to fight beside us, people that we can trust, and that have the skills needed to go into battle. I would prefer for it to be all fifth, sixth, and seventh year males. I don't want to get women involved, although ours already are. And I want to keep them from getting more involved. They need to be able to protect themselves, but I don't want them there in the battle."
"I agree. There is no doubt in my mind that the final battle will take place at Hogwarts. We can let them guard the common rooms, along with some other trusted females. Do you think they would accept that?"
"I certainly do Harry." Daphne's voice sounded as she walked into the room. " I know that being with you puts me in a certain amount of danger, and I'm glad that I can protect myself if I need to, but battle is no place for a lady." She sat next to Harry on the couch and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, causing her to lean into him. Daphne smile up at him, "I'm glad that you understand that although the rules have been different the last three months, that I still want to act like the lady I truly am. We still need to talk about how we are going to be at Hogwarts, but that will be a more private conversation."
"I agree with Daphne, by the way." Pansy said, entering the room. She sat next to Neville and laid her head on his shoulder. "I don't want to battle, but she and I can definitely protect the Slytherin Common Room, or anything else that needs to be watched. I doubt the Death Eaters would attack Slytherin. It will most likely be empty."
"Astoria is working on changing Malfoy's attitude. He won't have near the amount of power he used to once the truth about Voldemort being back comes out. Harry, are you going to call a special Wizengamot meeting back in real time?"
"After I speak to Dumbledore. We are going to have a special meeting, and I think that he has some information that will be useful to me. Neville, I'm going to need you as some extra muscle in that meeting."
"Of course Harry. Because my father has been in St. Mungo's for so long, I can claim my title on my fifteenth birthday. Which I suppose will technically be my sixteenth, because of our year in here, but if you wait until after our birthday's we can confront Dumbledore." Harry nodded in agreement and the two couples sat in silence for several minutes. Hermione came in and sat on Harry's other side, holding his hand in hers. Susan joined them as well; sitting on Neville's other side.
"Daph, 'Mione, can the two of you come up with a plan to get back at the Weasley's for what they tried to do to us? I don't want to punish anyone not involved, but I want vengeance to be swift."
"I'd like to help as well," Pansy said. "You and Hermione have become my friends, and I can come up with something to punish them justly." She said with an evil smirk, reminding her friends why she was a Slytherin. The three girls got up and left, leaving Harry, Neville and Susan sitting in companionable silence.
After several minutes, Harry said, "What is going on between the two of you?"
Susan glanced at Neville before saying, "We are only friends. I think that I realized that Neville and I would never work out, and that I miss Justin more than I thought I would. But I want to help defeat Voldemort. I don't want to live in fear like this anymore. And with Auntie being who she is, I think that it's wise I know how to defend myself."
Harry nodded. "It will be good to have ambassadors in other houses if Neville and I try to start this army. Could you recommend people to us that would be willing to work hard and fight?"
"Of course. Even though Hannah was a pain while here she is really a nice person, and I think she will be willing to help. Are you going to have separate practices for males and females?"
"Yes, they have to train for different goals. I feel like everything is finally coming together. Voldemort had better watch out, because the Boy-Who-Lived is making his stand."
AN: Thank you guys so much for sticking with this, and waiting for the next chapter to be released. I know that it has been a really long time, but I'm working hard to get another one out soon. Please Review!