Anything for Harry: Chapter 15
Ptolemy deposited them atop Ayers Rock, a large mesa, in the rough center of the Australian continent. There was absolutely no sign of humanity. No plane flew overhead and the only sound was that of the local animals. When everyone had released the Phoenix's blue tail he hovered and then landed upon Nick's shoulder.
Hermione's right hand was intertwined with Harry's left as they stood expectantly looking at Penny for instructions.
Penny referred to her book for a moment then nodded, "Ok, we're in the right time, 8,762B.C. about ten minutes before the pulse. Now, this is similar to a wedding in format but entirely different in consequences. First you must form a two way mental link, just cast Legillimens simultaneously and do not block at all. It will be disorienting for a moment but once you are able, speak together, it MUST be together."
After both of them nodded in understanding she continued. "Now, the words, which worked for us, are this, I give myself unto thee, mind, magic, body, and soul, from this moment forth and for all time."
She ended abruptly and Hermione asked, "Is there more?"
"No, that will form the bond. Because of the current bond with Riddle there may be pain and a barrier to the initial bond. You MUST fight it together for only by combining your willpower and magic can you be certain of success."
Nicholas stepped forward and took Harry's right hand and Hermione's left. He then placed them together so they were holding both hands. "Continuity, the circle that never breaks, him unto her and her unto him, unbroken and enduring for all time."
Hermione wasn't sure if that was a prayer or a statement but it certainly seemed to fit the situation.
Nicholas released their hands and stepped back, Penny put her hand on Ptolemy's tail where it hung across Nicholas's back and said, "We will return in sixty minutes." Before Harry or Hermione could say anything they vanished in a ball of flame.
"Well…" Harry began.
Hermione turned to him and kissed him, slowly and passionately. He stepped closer and they hugged tightly while their kiss deepened. This was their final moments as individuals and she tried to pour her soul into him through the kiss.
"Anything for you Harry." She whispered when they parted.
He nodded, "And I for you Mine," and hugged her until there seemed no space between them.
Several minutes later they parted and smiled with a brief nod to one another they pulled their wands out and with their noses nearly touching and their left arms still holding each other close cast, "Legillimens!"
They were a jumble of thoughts and emotions for a moment before the world stopped spinning inside their heads. They again kissed and thought the words Penny had given them. I give myself unto thee, mind, magic, body, and soul from this moment forth and for all time!
Hermione felt a surge of magic as her core flared to match Harry's in intensity. For a moment she would have sworn that their bodies vanished into the magic. When their core's met it was as though a sun had been created atop the mesa.
In the midst of the bright-pure light there was a vague shadow that left Harry's scar but no sound could be heard over the roaring of their magic.
In that instant, magic itself stepped into their lives and reformed Harry's body, gone was the scrawny short body that the Dursleys had forced into being. In its place was the tall, well-nourished boy with perfect vision that should have been.
His mate was altered to better match him, she grew three inches taller, her hips and bust also expanded to maintain her perfect proportions.
Their lives flashed before them up until this moment, it was a vast jumble as Harry was overwhelmed with the memories of Hermione's life and she was in turn flooded with his, long suppressed, memories of life with the Dursleys.
When they became aware of their surroundings once again they were still standing, Harry had been the same height as Hermione prior, but he now stood three inches taller than her, he was bent down to maintain their kiss. They blinked and slowly broke apart, the air was still filled with a pulsing blue fog that was thick about them one moment and then it rapidly expanded into a thinning cloud that reached the horizon and began to drift down into the land below the mesa.
Magic is so cool! He thought
Yes it is. She replied.
Their eyes met again, Can you hear me? Hermione thought.
Yes.
She kissed him hard and he fell over with her atop him, their clothes vanished and they made love.
}-{
They just managed to re-appear their clothes before Penny and Nick returned. Both were exhausted magically and physically. They were sitting, Hermione cuddled into his lap and twisted so they could kiss, on the earth. There was no longer need to rush, their kisses were languid and filled with more emotion than they thought possible.
Ptolemy's magical fireball seemed muted, and the three of them just stood waiting for Harry and Hermione to break their kiss and acknowledge their presence.
Ultimately, it may have been an hour later, Hermione pulled away and they turned to the new arrivals. There was no need for words, the couple stood slowly and held their hands out to Ptolemy's tail.
Penny and Nick seemed to be surprised at Harry's new appearance, but to Hermione it simply didn't matter, she had always felt at home with him and it didn't matter to her if he was dirt poor or the ruler of the universe. He was hers and she was his and that was all that mattered.
Ptolemy let out a burst of Phoenix song. He flew from Nick's shoulder to hover between them all. The joy in Ptolemy's song made the four of them smile an instant before they vanished into the future.
}-{
They arrived in the gazebo atop the hill. Nick gave Penny a quick kiss and then vanished again with Ptolemy. Penny finally spoke, "I know it worked, what was the effect of Riddle's bond?"
Hermione shrugged, "I didn't notice anything."
Harry took a minute to answer, "I did feel something but it was fleeting. The bond with Hermione simply overwhelmed my senses completely."
Penny smiled and seemed satisfied, "That bodes well for your future endeavors, especially your pending confrontation with him. You both look exhausted, let me assist you to your beds."
"I think we can manage it." Harry said, standing straighter, his arm around his wife's thin waist.
"Very well, unless you have questions I think I should return to my room and leave the two of you to your own devices. Take your time to recover and grow accustom to the bond." She stepped towards the path down and then paused and spoke over her shoulder, "If you feel up to it we can begin your instructions tomorrow or the next."
Harry said, "We'll let you know but that should be fine."
"Are you feeling disoriented?" He asked.
No, exhausted and very disturbed by your memories. God Harry, I want to go and put them through every moment of suffering they caused you!
I'm just relieved to be free of them and Dumbledore's control.
I can understand that and I will restrain myself from going to Privet Drive, but I hope you understand what love really is now?
He shrugged, I understand what we have. I want this war to be over so we can live in peace and raise our children.
Hermione had melded her body to his while they stood, trying with her body and mind to show him how much she agreed with him. Though they had shared one another's memories their minds had not become one. She, and he, could think their private thoughts but when either wished those thoughts were heard by the other. What was the range on such communication? Obviously Penny was unable to send thoughts to Nick in France or there would have been no need to send a Patronus to summon him. Her musings were interrupted by her mate.
Let's go to bed. Luna and your parents are probably still worried about you.
She didn't answer, just turned and pulled him towards the path back down the hill. What about your new look?
I think the truth would be wisest. We don't know what happened to change me. I just hope it's permanent.
She laughed out loud, "Silly boy. It doesn't matter to me, though your larger cock felt great¸ but tell me how it feels to not need glasses and suddenly be taller. Do you feel like you're going to trip over your own feet?"
Harry stopped dead in his tracks and blushed, "This is going to take some getting used to." Then aloud he answered her question, "It's a bit weird not having glasses on my head, I can't remember not wearing them, but now that you mention it, no. It's strange but other than having a lot more energy than before, I feel completely natural."
She added that observation to her list of puzzles and turned with him onto the porch of the Horse house. She opened the door and walked inside in front of Harry.
Luna was just inside the door, sitting on the couch, her legs crossed Indian-style and eyes closed.
Hermione shushed Harry and they closed the door quietly.
"Your parents walked back to the main house with Kate a few minutes ago." Luna's eyelids fluttered and she looked up at them. Her eyes went wide when she focused on Harry's face hovering over Hermione's shoulder. "Merlin! What happened?" She leapt to her feet.
Hermione pulled Harry to the couch and they sat, their friend resumed her seat a moment later. "Penny summoned Nick, they took us back into the past and we finished the bond."
Harry tapped his, now faded, famous scar. "No more Tom Riddle."
"But…" Luna said, gesturing at him.
Hermione took Luna's flailing hand. "We don't know why but when we bonded he changed, I think into what he would have grown into had he lived a normal childhood."
Luna blinked rapidly a moment then nodded, "He wasn't the only one to change. Haven't you noticed you're taller too? There was probably too much magical energy."
"What do you mean I'm taller?" Hermione asked and pulled Luna to her feet. Sure enough, compared to Luna she was decidedly taller than she had been. "Oh." She said and released her sister's hand.
Luna just grinned up at her and then looked at Harry's scar suddenly, "What happened with the Horcrux?"
Harry shook his head, "I hardly felt anything. Penny said we may need to fight it but all I can tell you is that it's gone."
"Well that's great news. All of them are eliminated, now we just need to puzzle out how to confront him and his followers-" She squeezed Hermione's hand, "have a baby, catch back up with our present and save the world."
Hermione patted Luna's hand. "One day at a time, though I like the idea of making Harry the Master of the Deathly Hollows we still need to evaluate our choices."
"Hey, why not make one of you the Master of Death?" Harry asked.
Hermione shrugged, "You're the Chosen One, but honestly whatever works out. Oh, Luna we did learn that Draco is dead. Which means the ownership of the wand is unknown. We suspect the next person to wield it will become the owner."
A frown crossed Luna's pretty face and then she giggled. "Can you imagine? Luna, Master of Death…" She giggled again and they all laughed.
}-{
Over in the main house Dan sat down with his older brother, "Why didn't you tell us that you could do magic? Especially when Hermione went off to Hogwarts?"
"You did know, at one point, that I could do magic. Do you remember back when I turned eleven? We got pestered by owls for several days?"
"Vaguely, I was what? Five?"
Chuck nodded, "About that yes. Anyway I talked it over with mom and dad and decided I didn't want to go to a boarding school and spend so much time away from them and you."
"So you told Hogwarts no?"
Chuck nodded, "Got a visit from the Deputy Headmistress." Dan nodded so Chuck continued, "Anyway I explained it to her and she left without comment. A week after that we got a second invitation, from a school just up the road that also offered magical classes. Since that didn't move me away, I went there. By the time you turned eleven I knew you weren't magical so I didn't bring it up."
"Then you went off to Eaton?"
"Yes, magical college. Which is where I met Mary, so we both knew we were magical. I was happy to hear that Hermione was magical. It was shortly after that though that I was contacted by Nicholas Flamel and recruited into his movement and we couldn't tell you about that until yesterday when he told us we could."
"What are we going to do now?"
Chuck patted his shoulder, "We, little brother, are going to end a war and keep as many on our side alive as we can. We could certainly use another pair we can trust, you up for some combat training?"
"If it helps my kids or yours then Emma and I are in." Dan answered without hesitation.
Chuck smiled, "I think it will help them all brother."
}-{
Harry snuggled down into the couch. Hermione laid down on his chest and sighed in contentment.
Luna patted Hermione's back and stood. "I'm going to make some tea."
Harry waved at her but his eyes were closed. I can really feel you now. It's like we're almost one person.
I can't wait to have sex again. With this connection it's going to be incredible. Hermione thought back to him.
If it's that intense you're going to have to help me.
Hermione started laughing, her face still buried in his chest.
"What? It's embarrassing." Harry whispered.
Hermione lifted her head and kissed him softly. Harry, I know everything about you now. From when you first jerked off, to your fantasies. If you think about it, you know my secrets too.
Harry turned red and covered his eyes. Please forgive me.
There is nothing to forgive. I know you love me. It doesn't matter that you fantasized about others or that you saw Katie Bell nude in the Quidditch locker room. We can re-enact that scene and end it the way you did in your fantasy. I'll even illusion myself to look like Katie for you.
Harry squeezed her gently. "No."
Hermione laughed. "So, I'll keep my own appearance, but honestly Harry I have no problems fulfilling your fantasies. Now, or at any time in the future. So long as we also work on mine." She ended with a wicked smile that made him shiver.
Luna returned with a pot of tea and three cups. She poured them while Harry and Hermione sat up again. "It must be weird having someone inside your head all the time."
Hermione shrugged. "It's a bit weird thinking about boobs all the time, but I'll get used to it I guess."
Harry sputtered, nearly spilling his tea.
Luna laughed. "Were we really torturing him so much in the pool?"
"Oh gods yes." Hermione said and sipped her tea.
"I don't know if I can take this abuse." Harry said.
"Luna is my sister now Harry. She's going to be abusing you for a while." Hermione said.
"And if you need to see boobs, I'm sure Hermione will accommodate you." Luna said.
Hermione laughed, "I'll even Engorgio them for you, though I think they got bigger when I got taller."
Harry's eyes grew wide and his pants tented out.
"I guess that's it for tea." Luna said. "Go, I'll keep it warm for you."
Hermione squealed and ran up the stairs with Harry in hot pursuit.
Luna straightened the tea service and sighed.
}-{
The next afternoon they all gathered in the main house for lunch. Penny was the only one there that didn't react to Harry or Hermione's appearance. Neville stood staring at his friends. "What happened?"
Hermione shrugged, "The damage he was forced to endure while growing up has been removed. We're not certain just how that happened, or why I grew as well."
"Well at least you're both healthy." Neville smiled and patted Harry's shoulder.
Hermione caught Kate looking at Harry with a curious look but then she looked at Neville and bit her lip.
Harry curled his arm around Hermione's waist and she melted against him again, her own arm went around his back and she sighed in contentment. At this moment her life was as perfect as it could currently get, Voldemort needed killing and she wanted an official wedding, but those things could wait for now.
Mary called out, "Table everyone, time to eat!"
There was the usual rush as everyone hurried to eat the food they had smelled for the last thirty minutes. Harry and Hermione slipped into the last pair of chairs between Emma and Luna, Hermione was beside her mother while Harry fell into the seat beside Luna.
Interestingly Kate had taken the chair on Neville's left, leaving her brother to take her usual chair. The siblings exchanged a short glance that Hermione caught and then Jess smiled at his sister and sat without comment. Neville appeared oblivious to the change initially. He was speaking with Penny about some plant's properties.
Then Chuck stood and everyone grew silent. "Today we have much to celebrate and yet the future always holds the unknown. We must strive today for that which we wish tomorrow to hold." There was a round of soft amen followed by everyone reaching for the platter of food nearest them.
It was then that Neville realized who was sitting to his left and he struggled not to drop the platter he had just taken from Luna.
}-{
After lunch Hermione retrieved her violin and sat on the front porch. No one said a word but they all gathered, waiting. Even Penny came from her room, to sit and pause from writing continually in her black book.
Hermione closed her eyes and pulled Harry's mind into hers. After a moment of disorientation she began to play. Birds ceased their chirping and squirrels paused mid-chatter. Everyone was frozen as the world listened to the magic pouring forth from the Stradivarius.
Again the tune had no name but filled everyone with joy. Hermione showed Harry, through her music, how much she loved him. For thirty minutes, nothing else mattered to those at the Granger farm. The music soared, pulling them all along with it.
The last note faded away. Hermione sat, still cradling her instrument, poised for another note, but this song was complete. Her eyes fluttered open. Harry was still a solid, though silent, presence in her mind.
Luna was curled in James' lap, both were crying. In fact everyone was crying. Kate was leaning against a shocked Neville, while Jess was laying back in a rocking chair, hands over his eyes. Dan and Emma clutched each other's hands tightly.
Hermione finally looked at Penny who had tears on her cheeks but was smiling broadly.
"Never have I heard a more beautiful love song." Penny said softly. "You are truly blessed to have found your soul-mate."
"It's not fair Jae," Kate croaked.
Hermione blinked, "What?"
"Hermione, dear." Emma said. "We're jealous that we can't have what you've found in one another."
Dan stood and squeezed Hermione's shoulder. "I'm so proud to call you my daughter." He let go of Hermione and squeezed Harry's shoulder as well. "And you, my son." Gently he took the Stradivarius from his daughter and returned it to the case.
Hermione immediately hugged Harry, and when her instrument was safely packed, her father. "I'm sorry if it was too intense for everyone, but I can't really control it once I begin."
Harry couldn't believe what he had felt during her playing. He had long believed in Hermione. For years she had been the only rock in his crazy life. Now he knew that she felt the same about him and their bond felt broader and far stronger. Where there had initially been a small pipe connecting them, it now felt like a raging river.
Hermione stared into Harry's eyes and they kissed.
Later that afternoon Harry and Hermione were shown the pool in one of the barns. It was heated and they began a grueling exercise routine that would get them into shape but not put too much stress on his newly healed body or her pregnant one.
When they were done with their assigned laps and just relaxing in the water she turned to him. "Love, I'm still disturbed by the fact that all of this was kept secret from me. I mean Luna's own grandparents, and my aunt and uncle, never hinted that they were going to help us."
"Yeah." Harry said, standing up and squeezing the water from his hair. "I guess I'm used to it, I mean it's the same thing that's happened to me my whole life."
"Harry." She said and took his hands. "Promise me we will never, ever, treat our family like that."
"Of course." He said and kissed her gently. "Now come on, I'm hungry."
}-{
The rest of the group spent most of the next week in a boot-camp where Chuck and James drove them all relentlessly and then hit them with an enervate and made them do it again.
The only lesson that Harry and Hermione shared with them was Mary's Occlumency instructions. She got Luna past her personal block and the brilliant blond mastered the final stages in a mere week. Harry found it amazing how two instructors could be so different. There was literally no comparison between Snape's and Mary's techniques.
Mary spent days on contemplation and focus, before forming defenses and strengthening them before gently testing their development. Every step was encouraged and verified prior to the next tier.
Though Hermione's impromptu recital had caused James and Luna to seek comfort in one another, they did not seem to build upon that.
Kate however, spent all of her spare time with Neville. So far as Harry and Hermione could tell they had not formed a relationship, but Kate was always asking him for details about his schooling or Ancient and Noble Houses, or Herbology.
Far too soon the holidays ended, signaling it was time for Dan and Emma to return to their practice. "Now you two watch out for one another." Emma told Hermione.
"Of course mum."
"We'll be back when called." Dan said.
"I'll call you as soon as she goes into labor." Mary said.
"And remember to join the local gun club and practice with both rifles and pistols." Chuck said.
"Yes, we'll be doing that several nights a week." Dan told his older brother.
"Here, put this back for me." Hermione said, handing her mother the Stradivarius.
The group stood on the porch and waved as the car disappeared under the bridge.
This left Harry, Hermione, and Luna alone in Horse House.
"Should I move to Horse House?" Neville asked Mary and Chuck. "That will get us guests out of your house."
"No." Kate said with sudden tears dripping down her cheeks. She didn't wait to see the end of the discussion, instead bolting back into the house.
"I think it's best if you stay right where you have been." Chuck said, his cheeks gone suddenly pale.
"Besides, Hermione adopted me as her sister." Luna said brightly. "We're a family too." She added and hugged Hermione's growing waist gently.
"I think I better go talk to Kate then, if that's ok with you?" Neville said.
Mary patted his shoulder, "Go ahead."
}-{
"Kate?" Neville called and knocked on her door.
"Why do you even want to talk to me?" she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
He took a deep breath, Why were girls so confusing? "I'm not moving to Horse House. I'm sorry it got you upset. I didn't mean to imply I wanted to be further away from you."
The door flew open, her eyes and nose were red, both dripping a bit.
Neville stepped closer and pulled her into a gentle hug, snot and all. Her arms gripped him so hard he thought he heard his ribs creak in protest. He carried her into her room and sat on the edge of her bed, she kept her face buried in his shirt while her body shook.
While one arm held her tightly he ran the fingers of his other hand through her wild hair. He didn't know what to say so nothing escaped his lips.
"Sorry about your shirt." She muttered once she'd calmed down, turning her face away from him and pulling a wad of tissues from the box she'd left on her bed.
"It's ok." He said and used his wand to scourgify it. He really wasn't sure what he should do or say, but the Gryffindor in him said he had to forge ahead. "I know I'm a bit younger than you, well in the normal time line at least, but would you mind being my girlfriend?"
She didn't actually say yes, it was more of a yelp, and then her mouth was on his and he decided it was close enough.
}-{
The next morning when they assembled for their combat training there was a shift in partners. "Luna, would you mind partnering with Jess from now on?" Chuck asked.
"No, that's fine." Luna said and moved to stand beside the muscular boy.
"So that means?" Kate said to her father.
"Yes, you're now Neville's partner." He said.
"Thank you daddy!" Kate said and gave him a quick hug before moving to Neville's side and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
The Gryffindor managed to just keep a straight face while looking at his girlfriends father.
Luna looked up at Jess, who was looking down at her calmly. "You're not getting a kiss." She said.
"Didn't expect one." He said softly, without a hint of hurt in his tone.
"We're going to spend the next two days preparing for a field exercise. Part of that will be to evade detection and reach specific places, not all of which are on the farm. This is intended to take several days, in which you will have to rely entirely upon your partner and whatever you take along with you." James said. "To make this a bit more realistic, several of my friends will be acting as the bad-guys. None of you know them, and they've not met you. Your objective includes keeping it that way until we have a debriefing on Monday. Yes, they are all magical and we'll have realistic buildings for you to work with."
Kate was biting her lower lip, stealing glances at her boyfriend.
"I expect you all to treat this as a life-or-death situation. No horsing around, no goofing off. If we learn of anything that distracts you from the mission you will not like the punishment." Chuck said, staring into his daughter's eyes.
"Yes sir." Kate said and was quickly echoed by Neville, Luna, and Jess.
}-{
The four of them stood together, they were disillusioned and wearing full winter garb, including snowshoes. Each had about a hundred pounds of gear, mostly shrunken down and lightened to actually give them only about twenty pounds to carry. Not everything could be shrunk, as three of them were under age and couldn't unshrink them outside of the farm without drawing attention to themselves.
"The initial trip is via a blind portkey." Chuck said. "You will be transported fifteen kilometers from here, and only then can you open your orders." He held out a wooden X that was about four inches across, the ends of each leg were labeled 1, 2, 3, 4. He oriented it so Kate took the 1 and Neville had the 2 in front of him.
Once Jess and Luna touched the other numbers it flashed and they vanished.
Ten seconds into their trip the X split into two V's and Neville lost site of Luna and Jess, but grabbed onto Kate with his free hand. A moment later the world solidified around them and they crashed into the ground.
"Nev?" He heard and groaned in pain.
"Lay still for a moment." Kate said. "I don't think anything is broken." She said and proceeded to gently squeeze down his right leg and up the left.
He opened his eyes to see snow falling on them. "What happened?"
"The portkey split, not sure if it was intentional or not. My brother and Luna are not near us. I think you can sit up."
She took his hand and helped him into a sitting position. The heavy pack he'd been carrying was sitting in the snow beside him.
"So does your combat healing include broken butts?" He joked with a grin.
"Not without magic hun." She said and gave him a quick kiss before she stood. "Think you can stand?"
"Yeah, give me a hand." With her help he stood and leaned on her a moment until he was sure his legs would hold him. "So do we assume this is intentional?"
"We have to." She said and pulled their orders from an inner pocket of her coat. "Let's see what we're supposed to do."
Yes, the portkey was supposed to split you into pairs. Your mission is to first navigate to the old windmill on Oakhollow road. Inside you will find additional supplies and your next objective.
James
"So Luna and Jess should be ok, wherever they are." Neville said with a nod.
Kate folded the paper and said. "Let's move under those trees and pull out the map. I think I remember that windmill."
Three hours later they approached the windmill and Kate pulled him behind a large tree. "Now If I know my big brother, there is someone guarding the windmill. We'll need to go around them or knock them out to get inside."
He suddenly looked concerned. "I was just going to walk right up to it." He gave her arm a squeeze, "Thanks."
"Let's try the binoculars. Remember stay in the shade so the lenses do not reflect the light." She said after a brief smile.
They knelt behind the tree and she slipped her pack off to pull out the binoculars while he looked around. The snow had stopped falling, this area had quite a lot of rocks, probably from the old walls, sticking up from the fresh layer of white.
"There are two other ruins. One might just be some walls, but the other looks like it might have a roof." He said while she got positioned to look around.
"Watch my back while I do this." She said and rested her hand against the trunk of the tree to stabilize the binoculars.
"Sure." They didn't have any real weapons, just a utility knife and their wands. Back in his normal time, about 16 months in the future, he was almost of age. Now he wasn't sure what would happen if he had to cast a spell outside of the protections of the Granger farm. Regardless he wouldn't let Kate come to harm so he drew his wand and held it against his leg to prevent anyone watching him from getting a good look at it.
"Gotcha," Kate whispered. "Idiot is smoking, though they're disillusioned, the smoke is giving them away."
"Make sure they're moving like a person and not just an illusion of smoke to mislead us."
"Good idea." She said and grew quiet as she observed what she'd found.
Neville was wondering just how they were going to subdue anyone without possibly hurting them. If they could sneak up on them he could tackle them and then tie them up, that would be safer than bashing them in the head. "We need to circle the ruins and see if there is someone else around."
"Yeah." Kate said and put down the binoculars. "I think that's a real person out there."
"Ok, let's circle to the south." He said and began worming his way through the ruins in that direction. They were leaving a trench in the snow, but there was no way to avoid it and stay low. If they were walking they could almost step from stone to stone, but then anyone watching from the windmill would see them.
Twenty minutes later they stopped behind a low wall to look again. Kate eventually shook her head. "No, I don't see anyone else here. You look."
He took the binoculars and slowly panned from his left to the right. When he was done he handed them to her and shook his head.
"On to the next quarter." She said and pushed him gently.
"There's a shadow where there shouldn't be." Neville said a few minutes later.
"Where?" she whispered lifting the binoculars.
"On the wall of the windmill. It looks like someone is crouching invisible, but their shadow is still hitting she wall."
"Oh." She said and inspected the wall with the binoculars. "No, that's a whole in the wall. I can see inside."
"So could the guard out front have been told to stay there? If we sneak in this way they can't see us at all."
"Hmm." She said and bit her lip in thought, then handed him the binoculars. "See if you can find anyone else hanging out under disillusionment or invisible."
Several minutes later he admitted he couldn't see a sign of anyone, and the shadow he'd first found was indeed a hole. A tense quarter-hour later, where they tried to avoid stepping on any fresh snow, they entered the cool interior. Sitting on a folding table was a bone-white wand and another note.
Neville picked up the note and opened it where she could read it.
The wand is a generic one, either of you can use it for basic spells, though they won't be very powerful, they will be undetected. Your next objective is to return to the farm and rescue me. I'll be tied up in the cellar of the old wheel-write's shop on the Castle grounds. You can stun the guards, or sneak past them. Get me back to the house and your mission is complete.
James.
"Let's get out of here and find somewhere to camp for the night." Neville said.
"What about the supplies they mentioned? Just the wand?" When he shrugged she pocked the wand. "Pity we can't stay here, it would be much nicer."
They retraced their path and then headed south again, the sun was getting low and the snowstorm was starting again. They made almost two kilometers from the windmill before they located a dense copse of trees. Once under the canopy they found there wasn't any snow and quickly setup their small, muggle, tent.
Since they had to sneak around it was too dangerous to light a fire, then Neville remembered the generic wand and discovered heating charms worked just fine to provide them a warm meal.
"Rules for tonight." Kate said while looking at her suddenly blushing boyfriend. "We're going to have to cuddle just to stay warm. So long as your hands stay above my waist it's ok."
"Um." Neville started, then paused to rub his face. "Yeah, though I've got to warn you there will be… um reactions that I can't control."
"Yeah, I'll try to ignore the boner in my back." She said and then laughed at his reaction. When he suddenly shifted to anger she immediately took his hands. "Sorry."
It took him a minute, but his eyes calmed a bit.
"I didn't mean to imply you could touch me, but I wouldn't reciprocate. I'm not going to just tease you. If it gets too bad then we'll take care of it." Kate said, looked into his eyes, with only a mild blush on her cheeks.
She woke in the middle of the night when he started dry-humping her ass-crack and squeezing one of her tits. They were both still wearing their flannel night clothes and she wondered if he was going to give them both rug burn.
Her free arm went back to touch his hair and he froze, but she gyrated her ass, stroking his shaft, just as he had been. "Go ahead." She finally whispered to get him moving again.
His arm that wasn't her pillow, moved to her waist and pulled her tighter against himself while he resumed his humping.
Kate slowly worked her ass up and down, trying to help him.
It was only a few minutes later when he pushed against her very hard and grunted in her ear. Then she felt a pulse along his shaft and an impact on her lower back. She waited for him to relax and start catching his breath before finding the generic wand and scourgifying them clean and then followed that with a healing spell just in case either of them needed it.
"I'm fine with this Nev." She said and pulled his hand to her mouth to gently kiss it before lying down and snuggling into his warmth.
Morning found the whole area around the copse of trees covered in a blanket of fresh snow. "Great, everyone will see where we've been." She complained.
They were sitting at the entrance of the tent while eating breakfast bars. "Could we fix the snow behind us somehow?" he asked and sipped the cup of coffee they'd warmed a minute ago.
"I don't know any spells that would help. Do you?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Oh, well. We're a good three hours walk anyway." Kate said and crawled further into the tent to finish packing their gear.
}-{
The castle loomed stark against the crisp noon sky. There had been no more snow, though the sky was overcast enough. Since they were dressed as Muggles the easiest path was along the sides of the roads, Kate made sure he knew that cars could kill him if he was in their way. Other than a few other walking couples the time passed pleasantly.
"Hey you kids!" An old man barked from the side of the trail.
Katie whipped the generic wand in his direction and fired a silent stunner. He collapsed just as Neville got to him and dragged him into the shrubs he'd emerged from.
"I don't know if this is one of the people we're supposed to be avoiding or just some muggle." He said when Katie arrived at his side.
"Drag him in a bit deeper, he'll sleep off the stunner in a few hours. We should be long gone."
"But he'll remember us." Neville said.
She shrugged, "Obliviation is not my thing. You?"
He shook his head, "And certainly not with a generic wand."
"Yeah. So let's be off." She said with a smile. "The building we're after is to the south, I think we should circle like we did the windmill."
Thirty minutes later they were climbing the rocky slope, under both disillusionment and silence spells. Kate had the wand, and the plan was for Neville to explore with her following to react to anything that happened, like the old man from the lower trail before.
Neville reached the top of the slope, and spent a moment catching his breath. Though he was silenced he tried to breathe without making a sound. And as Chuck had reminded them, a silencing spell will not prevent a stick you step on from making noise.
He hadn't seen anyone so continued around the side of the building, which he hoped was the one they were looking for. He turned to see where Kate was, and then realized one of the problems with this tactic. The disillusion worked quite well to hide them from one another as well.
The Longbottom Heir shrugged, he had to trust in his girlfriend to be there when needed. The central courtyard came into view, he could see a pair of men sitting in folding chairs. One had a pipe in his mouth and there were several bottles of beer lying on the ground near them. A cooler likely held more served as a footrest.
They were a good thirty meters away, so Neville ignored them, trusting in his spellwork. There was no door, in fact the front was fairly open. A stone stairwell was visible in the darker corner. He crawled to the top and looked down into the opening, a man was walking around, wand in hand.
A red stunner shot from Neville's left and the man collapsed on the stairs.
Neville jumped to the landing and around the corner. If there was a second guard then they would be rushing to see what happened. Instead he found James Granger, tied to a chair. Otherwise the room appeared bare.
"Is he ok?" Kate asked, from the volume of her voice she was on the landing still, probably watching to see if anyone was coming this way. He shouldn't be able to hear her as she was silenced.
Then he noticed he was visible and realized she must have canceled the spells.
"Not sure, he seems to be sleeping." He felt for a pulse and found a strong, steady one. "Looks like they knocked him out. Disillusion us when I get him on my back." He said and used his utility knife to cut the ropes holding James to the chair.
She hit James with a lightening charm, which helped Neville get him on his shoulders in a 'fireman' carry. Just as he managed to grab James' right arm he suddenly vanished as Kate hit him with a disillusionment spell.
"I've just renewed yours and mine, silencing us again now." Kate said as Neville headed for the stairs.
The walk out of the cellar was surprisingly easy, the stairs were wide enough to fit them without too much trouble. He had to ignore much of his surroundings, concentrating on breathing slowly and regularly while making sure he did not trip over the rough terrain.
Since they had climbed up the hill, he didn't feel confident he could do that while carrying someone, instead he headed around the castle, away from the men 'guarding' the gate. He slipped between a gap in the wall and down into the dry moat. The ground was very soft and he sank in up to the tops of his boots, but he was able to keep going.
Half a mile later they crossed the boundary into the Granger farm and James woke up.
"Good job. You can put me down."
Now that they were under the wards Kate used her own wand to cancel the disillusionment and silence spells. "I was worried about you. We couldn't wake you up." She said and hugged her older brother.
}-{
Hermione quickly discovered she needed to eat more food to fuel her quickly developing child. She was also very tired after only mild exercise as her magic was working constantly. So she spent a lot of her time working on her Occlumency and reading everything she could get her hands on, though Harry commented there was nothing new there.
Harry spent an hour on most days at the shooting range, practicing accuracy with both spells and guns.
It was the middle of the second month when Harry and Hermione met their child. His mind had developed enough to contact theirs through the bond. He didn't know words but they surrounded him with love and felt his warm response.
}-{
Penny returned with Nick at the beginning of their third month. Hermione was, according to Mary, eight months along.
"No." Harry said for the third time to Nicholas Flamel. "Not until after we're through with Riddle."
"But?"
"My husband has said no, and I agree." Hermione added looking pointedly at Penny.
"Very well." Nick finally said with a frown. "But I don't see the point of waiting."
}-{
James Sirius Potter arrived in the middle of the night on February 8th. Through Occlumency, Hermione was able to block most of the pain and concentrate on the actual birth.
Penny was surprised but pleased with her precise following of directions.
When it was all over and James was suckling at Hermione's breast she told Penny, "I can't imagine going through that with pain as well. It was a lot of work."
Penny brushed her fingers across Hermione's brow. "Pain is the incentive to push them out, I had my first twelve without any painkillers. It usually took two hours to get him out of me. But since then they average nearly six in contrast."
The new mother bit her lip in thought. "I'm not sure I'm willing to try that, even if it would shorten the labor."
"No." Penny said with a smile. "I wouldn't recommend it." She turned to the two others in the room, Luna and Harry. "Both of you have seen my memories of how to change and burp babies, its usually about a two hour cycle. You're her help for now. She'll want to sleep and eat a lot, and the baby too. Harry, no vaginal sex for a month."
"Um." Harry said, looking at his soul-mate.
"She means the other options are still available love." Hermione said to him.
"Oh." He said while Luna laughed.
"Dan and Emma should be here late tonight, though they can only stay for the weekend." Penny said and left them alone for now.
}-{
(End of 5th year. Just prior to the battle at the Department of Mysteries.)
Penny walked into the Ministry of Magic and then bypassed the security guards to go straight into the Department of Mysteries where she spent the afternoon checking on her projects. She had formed the department and was the ultimate head of it, though she had long ago delegated the actual running of it to others. Here, in these halls, everyone knew who she was. She left instructions for the Death room to be unsealed and sent everyone home promptly at 5pm.
She spent an hour walking around, conversing with the brains of former Unspeakables telepathically, and ended up in the Death chamber. She calmly walked through the veil of death and sat down to wait for Sirius to fall through. Time passed differently here in this dimension, to her it was an hour or so, outside nearly five had passed.
Sirius Black collapsed into her arms. She sat down with him and placed his head in her lap. His cheek was pressed tightly against her swollen belly. She countered the stunning spell and he jerked awake.
"Relax Lord Black. You are safe." Penny said softly.
Sirius looked around, it was continually changing colors and dimensions. "Where are we?"
"You were stunned by your cousin and fell through the Veil of Death. My presence keeps the dead away from us. You can see some of them lurking in the distance." Penny said. "I was waiting for you. We can go back into the real world now."
Sirius jumped to his feet and ran to the Veil. It was like hitting a brick wall. He staggered back with a bloody nose.
Penny giggled and stood. "Here, let me heal that." She touched his nose and the bleeding stopped. "Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am Perenelle Flamel. Death cannot hold me for I am the creator of Life." She caressed her swollen belly. "I cannot allow you to leave my sight until we go back in time. You are needed in France two years ago and will catch up to Harry and Hermione about a year after that."
"What? No, I need to go help him now." Sirius beat on the veil but it continued to flutter in a breeze that he couldn't feel.
Penny put her hand on his shoulder, her hair moving to the same breeze as the veil. "No. Lord Black, your family was founded by one of my children and I enact the Blood Magic that binds you to me."
Sirius found himself unable to move.
"I'm sorry, but it must be this way. I have come back in time to rescue you and no one may know of it in this current time. There will be a reunion with your godson and his bond-mate. That time is not now." Penny said.
She took his hand and pulled him towards the veil. She brushed the fluttering sheet out of the way and pulled him through with her.
The Death Chamber was empty and silent. A pile of broken glass was the only sign that anything had happened in this room.
Ptolemy appeared and in another flash of fire the three of them vanished to France two years prior.
}-{
Narcissa Black, walked into Gringotts, keeping her stump covered by her cloak. "The Great Mother summoned me." She told the Goblin sitting at the special services desk.
"Proceed." He said, and the door behind him opened.
She strode through it, head held high. The cart ride was more like a trip on a train, as it sped straight through the upper levels for nearly twenty minutes before it came to the end of the track. There on a small platform was the Great Mother, gravid with child.
Their friendly phoenix waited on a perch that extended from the rough stone of the cavern.
The Great Mother looked sad and Narcissa immediately knew what had happened. "I tried to influence him." She said, tears coming to her eyes unbidden. She had thought she was ready for this.
"Yes daughter." Penny said and helped the one-armed woman from the cart. "Let's get you restored and then we'll see what else we can do."
"Thank you." Narcissa said as the phoenix took them away to France.
They arrived on back of a large yacht, anchored in a placid harbor. Several built in seating areas were positioned to allow guests to sleep in the night air.
"Lie down daughter, I will return momentarily to heal your arm."
"Thank you." Narcissa said and nearly fell into the closest cushion. Only then did she realize that the one in the far corner was occupied by a man who had been reading a book.
She tried to lean up on her left arm, but since it was currently missing, she just grunted in frustration and rolled to her other side and then fell from the seat onto the polished teak deck of the boat.
By then the man had stood and was half-way to her. "Cissy, are you ok?"
"No." she said and dissolved into tears as Sirius sat on the deck with her, pulling her into his arms while she sobbed.
"You can help me heal her Sirius." Penny said as she stood beside them a few minutes later.
"What happened?" he asked.
"She had to remove the cattle-brand before killing her former husband, and I informed her that her son did not survive our attempt at re-training."
"Cissy, you're safe now, that was a very brave thing you did." He told her and helped her turn to face Penny.
"Now this is a fairly harsh process daughter."
"Yes, Great Mother." Narcissa said, sitting up straighter. "I've never been good with pain."
"I have an idea that should help you with that. Sirius, help her remove her cloak and expose what's left of her arm." Penny said.
"Now you will need to drink these two potions, the first will regrow the bone, while the second will add the soft tissue. It will take about two hours and I'm afraid it will be similar to the Cruciatus curse. To maintain your sanity, I'd like to link your mind to Sirius for the duration. That will allow you to retreat into him for most of it."
"I have no objection." Sirius said. "I'd gladly endure her pain if I could."
"Narcissa?"
"Yes, Great Mother, as you wish. Thank you." Narcissa said, unable to look Sirius in the eye, though he still held her.
"Sirius, move to her other side, so you are against the rail, yes. Now Narcissa drink these and lie down."
Narcissa gulped the two potions, grimacing at the taste of them and then handing the vials back to the immortal woman. She then lay down beside Sirius, his bicep became her pillow and her remaining hand gripped his tightly.
Penny made a quick pushing motion, as though pressing Narcissa's head against Sirius. Their eyes rolled back in their skulls and she covered them with an afghan. Singing an ancient Samarian song to herself she carried the empty potion vials inside.
}-{
"Cissy?" She heard someone call in the distance. She wasn't sure where she was, everything was dark, she couldn't even tell what she was standing on.
Then an awful buzzing noise started, it hurt and she screamed in pain.
"Cissy! Come here NOW!" She heard and moved towards the voice. The pain was intense, focused on her left arm and she started running, stumbling blindly ahead, her eyes blurred further by her tears.
Then a pair of strong arms engulfed her and she gladly collapsed into them murmuring "Merlin, Merlin."
"Got you." The voice came again, this time she felt it reverberating in his hairy chest.
She pulled herself up, finding his stubbled cheeks with her hands and pressed her lips to his, nibbling on his lower lip when he seemed to freeze. Her mouth was insistent, her fingers curled into his hair, she rubbed her breasts against his chest, hard nipples snagging on the thick fur covering chest.
Then she felt his erection poking her and blessed the fact they were both nude in this weird nowhere place.
The buzzing came and her left arm twitched causing her to pull his hair, a pulse went up it and into her spine. She cried out and pressed herself tighter against him. "Merlin it hurts!" She whined in his ear.
"Cissy stop." He said, trying to pull his head back from her.
"It hurts, make it stop!" She wailed again and pressed her tongue into his open mouth.
That finally got her what she wanted, his hands grabbed her ass cheeks and lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around him, spreading herself for him and untangled her right hand from his long hair.
She bent backwards, reaching under herself with her free hand and positioned his third leg at her entrance and dropped down onto it.
He grunted, she gyrated her hips and then slid down farther onto him.
"Yes." She said, letting her weight fall completely onto his anchor now deeply buried in her long neglected cunt.
His hands lifted her, then let her fall again, causing them both to grunt.
"Down." She said, moving her legs so she was almost standing, except his third leg kept her long toes inches from the surface he was on.
He lay on his back, letting her squat over him. His hands moved to her breasts, cupping their mass and pinching her painfully erect nipples.
She leaned forward, her nails scratching his chest as she used it for balance and began sawing herself back and forth atop him. Each move making them both want it more than the last. She lifted herself nearly off of him, then dropped her weight onto his pelvis, the tip of his cock jammed against her cervix and she began grinding her hips back and forth, rubbing her clit into his pubic bone. They came in a blinding grunt of pleasure and pain.
She collapsed panting onto him, held up by his firm grip on her breasts. Her long blond hair hung like a curtain, but she pressed her cheek against his anyway. "Thank… You…" She got out between breaths and slowly got control of her racing heart.
"Cissy." He said. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, Sirius, I am now." She whispered and flicked her head to get her hair out of the way, then pressed her lips to his cheek. "If you'd like to roll us over, I'd appreciate a repeat."
"I don't remember you being so rough." He said and put his right hand firmly on her back to hold her against him while he turned them over.
She tenderly kissed his earlobe, then trailed kisses down to his collarbone. "Sorry, I needed the distraction from the pain of my arm. I was so scared and you know I've never been very brave."
"You're mine now and I'll always take care of you." Sirius said and gently started sliding in and out of her slick cunt.
"Thank you my Lord Black. This daughter needs nothing more than what she has right now. I'll give you strong children to continue our noble line."
"Yes, Cissy. Yes you will." He said and melded his mouth to hers as he drove into her welcoming cunt.
}-{
(Present, just after the attack on Diagon Alley.)
Voldemort stared into the dead eyes of his most faithful Death-Eater. He cast a quick necromantic spell into Bellatrix's head and relived the last two hours of her life. Small bits of it were missing, but the entirety of the disaster was plane. Bellatrix had been slain by Potter's Mudblood bitch and had lost his Horcrux.
How could a little girl, especially a mudblood, overcome his greatest duelist? She hadn't done any brilliant spellwork, though he recalled Severus's notes on the girl; brilliant, excels in all subjects. Severus had even enacted the name of his beloved Lily Evans in comparison, yet another damned Potter mudblood.
He re-lived the battle again, each and every move Hermione (he shuddered at the name.) made had further incensed Bellatrix.
The entire purpose of the raid was to collect the chalice from the greedy goblins. Yes, the sheep were terrified of him and the Dementors, none of Bella's escort had come back, a full twenty men; gone. Those in the second wave, who had rampaged in the alley itself had all returned, Peter was the only one to actually see Potter and his Mudblood bitch, and that was when he'd been captured!
Within the last day he'd lost several of his Inner Circle, Malfoy by his own wife, and now both Nott and Bellatrix in a simple raid. These losses would take years to overcome. Few of the new recruits seemed to have enough drive or intelligence.
Perhaps he needed to visit the Greengrasses? Their neutral faction would give him what he needed, if only he could find enough leverage to gain their support. He'd thought about kidnapping the youngest daughter, but he was looking for new leaders to replace those he'd lost. A blackmailed follower was not one to be trusted.
Though the elder daughter was held in high respect among Slytherin, she held herself aloof from petty bickering. She was precisely the kind of person he needed to replace Bella and her parents would be ideal to replace Malfoy, and unlike him, actually held a seat in the Wizengamot.
He opened his eyes and dropped the head onto the floor. A quick cleaning charm removed the gore from his hand and then he vanished the head. He had a whole new group of followers to recruit.
Lord Voldemort sat back in his throne and settled into a deep meditative state. His other problem was that his Horcruxes were being destroyed at an alarming rate. He reached out to find the remaining ones. They were a part of him, distant echoes, but still connected. Nagini was safe here in Riddle Manor. He couldn't feel the one in Harry Potter at all, though he had felt it just recently. There was Hufflepuff's chalice, stolen by Potters bitch, it pulsed and was gone.
NO. He only had a single Horcrux remaining! Voldemort stood. Rage flooding through his veins he bellowed, "Gather everyone, we take the Ministry tonight."