Firebird's Song: Book II of the Firebird Trilogy Chapter 24: The Grass is Not Always Greener, a harry potter fanfic

A/N: Chap 23 review responses are in my forums as normal. Thank you for reading!

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Grass Is Not Always Greener

On a cold, overcast day in mid-January, Harry and Sybil Trelawney walked along the edge of the lake, ostensibly to practice cryomancy along the frozen edge of the water. In truth, they were talking about all the things Harry wanted to talk about with a woman who had come the closest to being his advisor since Charity Burbage died, but never had a chance.

"Typical Sabbat ruse," was Sybil's summation of Narcissa Black's proposal.

"So they're lying?"

"Oh no, they could do it. I believe the artefact is called the Wand of Freyja, a very powerful, very ancient wand purported to be used by the goddess of fertility herself. Of course, the Aesir and Vanir were really just witches and wizards, but the fact that the wand is that old means it is very, very powerful. It could restore her, or so I'm told."

Harry's shoulders slumped. "It seems really important to her."

Sybil snorted without humour. "Yes, I imagine so. She was an only child and made infertile even before puberty—for her to suddenly be given hope is a terribly cruel thing to do. But of course, that's why they did it. This is exactly something Dame Delia would think up. Damn the woman."

Harry shivered. Despite his heavy coat and warming charms, it was still very, very cold as the two trudged through snow along the icy bank of the lake. Unfortunately, it was the only place the two could speak without a dozen listening charms, and in truth they had sufficient excuse—Sybil and he were both licensed seers. "Hermione thinks I should do a reading on the girls."

"I agree," Sybil said. Her words erupted in plumes of vapour, just as Harry's did. "Your mother did everything she could to ensure you had the tools you need to succeed—don't be afraid to use them. I'll let you partner with Daphne in class tomorrow and we'll review palm reading."

"Thanks." They walked along in silence for a moment before Harry broached a new subject. "Sybil, something happened to me in early August. On the train, I had a vision of the Hit Witches killing us. But…but there was no pain, no headache, and it happened just seconds before they actually came in. It was like I experienced a one minute loop in time. I know it saved our lives—I was able to get a stunner off first. Have you ever experienced anything like that?"

Sybil did not look at him as they walked; instead she was studying a snow drift that spilled onto the ice. "Not personally, but I've heard of it. In fact, my great-great grandmother Cassandra Trelawney had episodes of what practitioners called Battle Precognition. There was a rather famous case in the early 1800s where she was challenged to a duel by a Dame. She fought the entire duel with her eyes closed, somehow knowing just seconds before exactly what the Dame would do, and handily won."

Harry blinked. "That … that actually sounds pretty cool. I wonder if I could do it."

"You'll have to hone the skill, Harry, if you can do it at all."

"Could you help me?"

"Not directly—I'm not that powerful of a seer, and I'm pants at duelling. But I can find Cassandra's notes and give them to you. I have to warn you—she wrote in Latin."

"Joy," Harry said.

Sybil laughed and then shivered. "Come on, let's get inside, it's cold."

~~Firebird~~

The next day Harry was first to Divination Class, though the rest of the class arrived shortly after—all girls. Justine smiled at him sadly and Harry fought hard to smile back. Though she was not actually punished, she suffered over the holiday just as surely as Harry and Hermione did, and in fact had suffered all year. Susan's friends in Hufflepuff said that the Muggleborn was being shunned for her father's actions, though none were openly abusive. After all, she sacrificed her own family to save witches she did not know at all.

Worse yet, he slept with her. It was nice, though of course he was now wracked with guilt at the memory for what it led to. He'd had visions of her before, and knew with a certainty that she would one day soon be his wife. And yet, he also had no doubt he was about to hurt her again. He smiled back weakly and went to talk to her, while Sybil called Daphne over. "Justine, I need you to switch partners today," he said softly.

Justine blinked. "Why?"

"I need to partner with Daphne," Harry said.

Justine looked at the stunning blonde Slytherin and then to Harry, with narrowed eyes. "Harry, what's going on?"

"You'll have to ask Luna," he said. He wanted to hold her hand and promise her everything was okay, but he couldn't, because it wasn't okay. He knew she was thinking she was getting kicked out of their group because of what happened over Christmas, but with so many observers watching he couldn't tell her what was really happening. He was hurting her, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Daphne walked up beside Harry, smirking. "Problem, Finch?" she said with a challenge in her flinty cold eyes and a stress on the name, as if it were a curse.

"No," Justine said with a sigh and slumped shoulders. She turned and walked across the room to where a curious Gregoria Goyle waited.

"So, Potter, finally ready to dump the Mudblood?"

She knew. Daphne knew exactly what Narcissa had told him. Harry said nothing as he took a seat. Sybil gave a lecture to refresh everyone on the essentials of chiromancy before she had the partnered students study each other's palms. Daphne took Harry's hand in hers and made a point of studying it. Like most students, she had absolutely no spark of the sight, and so went through the motions of examining the lines of his hand to determine meaning.

"Your lines of marriage look like a bloody graph, Potter," she muttered distractedly. "Your life line, though…" She blinked and looked at him, before chuckling. "Yeah, right! According to this you've already died."

Harry started to answer when he realized his brief death in the graveyard was something he wasn't supposed to remember. "Strange, huh?" he finally managed.

She continued her examination. "Well, your line of fate goes beyond your line of heart to the mounts of Jupiter. That indicates success due to love and affection." She smirked. "It's possible, I suppose. Now, your turn."

Harry took her right hand, fighting a sense of dread in his stomach. Her nails were perfectly manicured in a deep, crimson polish. Her palm and the ridges of her hand were smooth and soft, without a hint of callouses. With a stifled sight to centre himself, he looked down and began to intently study the lines of her palm.

At first he saw nothing but unblemished skin, but after a moment he felt the world seem to slide to one side, and suddenly the lines of her palm began to writhe like snakes until they started biting him, and a vision began. The first part of the vision was pleasant enough—a vision of her bucking on top of him, glorious in her nudity as they began bonding while Luna stood next to the bed nearby, watching with tears in her eyes. If Hermione made her feel self-conscious, Daphne must have made her feel depressed. The Slytherin girl was slim around the stomach and waist, but with beautifully flared hips and a large, bountiful bosom that moved in fascinating ways.

Strangely, though, they were not yet bonded. Even in the vision, Harry could see their magic and saw that Luna had not begun the necessary spell to allow the new bond to form. Suddenly, as fast as lightning, Daphne dismounted him, pulled a knife from her mass of blonde hair, and then stabbed Luna in the stomach. Harry tried to get up and stop her, but for some reason he could not move. Luna stared at him, her eyes bulging and her mouth parted in a shocked "O", while blood poured down her dress. She sank to the floor, grasping desperately at the violation of her flesh, before toppling dead to the floor.

Suddenly Hermione rushed into the room, eyes wide and wand ready. However, Daphne was so fast Hermione had no chance. The Slytherin girl threw the still bloody knife with terrifying skill

The blade ran through Hermione's eye all the way up to the hilt with sufficient force that Hermione's head jerked back, even while her feet and legs continued forward, causing her to fall back flat on her back. Her legs and arms twitched violently for several minutes, while Daphne walked happily back to Harry with Luna's blood splattered over her bare stomach.

"So, where were we, love?" she said, before she climbed back atop Harry to continue what she was doing before. She leaned down, her eyes hungry, as a new bond formed in the freshly rent absence in Harry's magic, drawing deeply on his magic like a sponge.

Harry broke the connection and spun away just in time to be noisily sick all over the floor. He virtually fell out of his seat to dig into his book bag for his potions kit, and downed a pain potion with a shaking hand. Meanwhile, Daphne sat sputtering in disgust. "What in Morgana's name was that about, Potter?"

With a shudder at the sound of her voice, he vanished his sickness while Sybil looked on in concern. Harry straightened and fought with all his power to maintain a straight face. "Sorry, Daphne," he said with a weak smile. "Sometimes the Fates are so strong they overwhelm me."

"So," she snapped, "what did you see?"

"I saw you getting what you want," Harry said honestly.

"I always do," Daphne said, smirking in a fashion reminiscent of Draco. It was the same expression she wore in the vision as she murdered his wives.

~~Firebird~~

Luna watched Astoria Greengrass closely as they settled into Muggle Studies class. Being their fourth year, they were neck-deep in the GCSEs required by the ICW. Like many purebloods, Astoria struggled in the class, but unlike most she was not in a position to ask for help. Slytherins never did ask for help in Muggle Studies, depending instead on the Clarity Potion to see them through with a minimum passing grade.

When class was finished, Luna packed her bag and watched how the other girls treated the Slytherin. Even the Slytherin girls ignored her, save for a whispered word: "slag" and a harsh giggle. Astoria pretended not to notice and continued putting her books away.

Deciding the time had come, Luna crossed the four desks between them and tapped the younger Greengrass on the shoulder; Astoria actually jumped away and raised her hands as if to block a blow, eyes wide and lips parted in surprise. A moment later the spark of fear was replaced by a practiced sneer. "Oh, the new Mrs Potter ... What do you want?"

One did not offer help to a Slytherin. Their own deeply ingrained code of conduct was as prideful as the Gryffindors in their own way. Instead, one had to play against their own inclinations. "I have heard that you are doing well in Witch's Health."

"Well, yes, not that it matters to you. You're already married."

Luna nodded and fought to keep her expression neutral. One could not show weakness to a Snake. "I am the top pureblood in Muggle Studies, and the third place overall. I wish to propose a trade. I assist you with your Muggle Studies, and you assist me with Witch's Health. If you agree, we'll have a trial study session today before dinner. One hour. If it does not meet your satisfaction, we cancel it."

Uncertainly crossed the other girl's face for a moment. "Why?"

"I did not expect to be a head wife at fourteen," Luna admitted truthfully. "I have had some difficulties with Harry's fellow bond-mate. She was forced to bond at the orders of the Sabbat, but I'm beginning to think the choice was a mistake. I need help learning my duties, and given that I am in a position to help you with this class, it is my hope you will help me with those aspects of Witch's Health I was previously excused from because of my proscribed status."

Astoria's small, oval face might as well have been carved from granite, for all the emotion she showed. Still, Luna could see her tiny core of water-leaning magic bubble with both nervousness, and if she wasn't mistaken, perhaps even hope. "Okay, fine," Astoria said. "Today at five in the library."

~~Firebird~~

As a cold night descended on the castle, Narcissa Black looked up, and smiled as her sister wife stepped through the Floo of her office. "Good evening, dear," Narcissa stood to kiss the elder wife's cheek.

Elezeta Malfoy neé Lestrange returned the gesture before motioning for Narcissa to sit. "I hear you've made quite the impression in the school so far."

Narcissa gave a thin smile. "It is not so hard, given whom I replaced."

"Dolores was always dim, but she served her duties well. We'll have her out of Azkaban very shortly, rest assured."

"I know. So, you came for news, then?"

"I've received a letter from dear little Pansy," Elezeta said.

"Of course," Narcissa said with a genteel smile. "The seed was planted, and Delia's idea was brilliant in its simplicity. The Lovegood girl would do anything to be restored, and I've dangled the bait before her. I heard that just this morning Potter partnered with Daphne in his Divination Class and, and I'm quoting, 'saw her get what she wanted' in his vision. Additionally, dear, confused Luna has made an effort to reach out to Astoria."

Elezeta snorted. "The little tramp is such a disappointment to Cassandra," the Malfoy dame said. "The sooner she can be sold to the Goblins the better. Daphne, on the other hand, is perfect. Just like you, love."

"I hope the plan works," Narcissa said. "I very much favoured Daphne over Pansy for Draco, but then dear Draco is already going to be the Malfoy Elder, better we not mix the lines too closely."

"So, things are proceeding as we hoped?"

Narcissa sipped her tea and smiled. "Just as we hoped."

~~Firebird~~

"Harry, what the hell?" Justine demanded the moment they entered the personal common room between his and Neville's suites. In a way, Harry was glad she was angry. He didn't think he could handle a girl crying. "I thought we had something. I thought we were…you know, going to bond. Is this about what happened over Christmas? I told you all I was sorry, I didn't know that we weren't supposed to do stuff like that, and you can't say you didn't enjoy it!"

Dinner was over, and Justine spent the entire meal glaring not just at him, but also at Luna and Hermione.

The door opened a split second later as Hermione walked in. "Oh, are we in for a foursome already, then?" Justine said dryly. "Is Luna here yet? Yes, we can all have wild sex with Harry, for what, three minutes each? Does Harry even last that long, Hermione?"

"Can we just go into the room?" Hermione asked with a tired sigh.

"Sure, why not, we can all take our clothes off and have an orgy," Justine said. "Are you ready, Harry? Hope you took a stamina potion!"

"Justine, please?" Hermione sounded frayed. Justine evidently was on a roll.

Seeing as the others weren't going on their own, Harry turned and walked into the room he, Luna and Hermione shared. It was the same size as the dorm he occupied in the Gryffindor tower, but now only held their one (albeit large) bed, their separate wardrobes, and two desks to compliment the desks in the common room.

He pulled a chair out from one desk and sat, not wanting to play into Justine's scathing sarcasm any more than necessary. It didn't work.

"Oh, so it's going to be on a chair," the tall Hufflepuff said. "Kinky."

"Justine, please stop!" Hermione yelled. "Please, for Morgana's sake, haven't I been punished enough? Do you know what it was like not being able to touch anybody for a week? It was worse than anything Umbridge did to me!"

At the mention of the hated Umbridge, Justine finally quieted. "Fine. Harry, why did you just blow me off and partner with Daphne Greengrass in Divination?"

Harry felt his own cheeks flaring. "We need to wait for Luna."

Fortunately, Luna came in just as he said that. She wore her serene smiley face that day. "Good evening, everyone," she said equitably. She walked over to Harry and kissed his cheek, and then walked over and kissed Hermione's cheek before finally settling in on the edge of the bed near Justine.

"Now can someone tell me what's going on?" Justine demanded.

"Narcissa Black told Harry that if I had Hermione stilled and her bond broken, and he bonded with a pureblood in her place, the covens would not only ease their scrutiny of him, but they would heal me so I could bear children again," Luna said simply.

Justine gaped. "You wouldn't!" she said.

"No, I wouldn't," Luna said. "But then, I don't have to. It's not necessary to remove and replace Hermione. While my role as first wife is set by tradition, all additional wives are not set by order of precedence unless there is a marriage contract in place ordering them so."

Justine caught on quickly. "So if you found a pureblood witch we could stand, you could negotiate a contract making her second wife and Hermione the tertiary spouse. Don't you think Professor Black is just pulling your leg, though?"

"We're going to confirm the cure before the bonding occurs," Luna said, a note of steel in her normally distracted voice. "Although Sybil says it's real. I've lived the last seven years of my life believing I could not bear children. If there's even the possibility…" She let the thought drop.

"So that's all this is, then?" Justine said. "Just so you can have children?"

Luna's eyes blazed angrily before she sank in a little, reverting to her older self. "Wouldn't you?"

Bowing her head, Justine said, "Yeah, I probably would. I just thought…I thought I would be next. I have no one left, after all. No family, nothing. Not anymore."

"You have us," Hermione said firmly. "That hasn't changed."

"Seems like it from where I'm standing."

"It's hasn't," Hermione said quickly. "Professor Black specifically mentioned Daphne Greengrass, and we looked them up we saw what she was hoping to achieve. The Greengrasses are part of the Black Coven. Professor Black herself is a member of the Malfoy Coven by marriage, but prior to that she and her sisters were all in the Black Coven. There are no living males to assume the mantle if the current elder dies. Draco can't have both the Malfoy and Black covens, and the elder has to be a direct descendant or the coven disbands. Harry is also a Black through his grandmother—in fact he's also a direct descendent of the Black Coven founder. Any male child the Greengrass girls have would be Alphard Black's direct descendent to maintain the coven."

"Harry can't form his own coven and take over the Black One," Justine said.

"No," Luna said, picking up where Hermione stopped. "But if his son is in line for the position of Elder, it would tie a formerly dark progressive coven to us, and Harry could conceivably act as Regent for the Black Elder in addition to his own role as Potter Elder. Assuming he had a son with a Greengrass witch at all. Professor Black is undoubtedly thinking of a boon to keep the Black Coven aligned with her wishes and secure a child for her old coven. But there's the equal possibility that the Black Coven could be swayed to our cause. Regardless, it's a sound political match. I'm not thrilled by the idea, but it is a sound match. If we just dismiss the idea of love entirely and look at it with just politics, it's the right decision."

"So that's why you paired off with Daphne in class," Justine said, still not happy. "What did you see, then? Everyone saw you had a strong reaction; you lost your cookies all over the floor."

"Did you really?" Luna asked, alarmed. "What did you see?"

Harry looked at each of the girls in the room before he settled on Luna. "I saw her stick a knife in your stomach, Luna, like it was nothing, and then she used the same knife to kill Hermione. And she wasn't much older in the vision than now, which means that is the way she is right now. She's a killer, and if I were to bond with her, it'd mean your deaths."

Luna slumped. "Bollocks," she muttered.

"So you didn't get anything from Astoria?" Hermione asked.

Luna covered her face and shook her head. "She's been so badly abused all I received were visions of the abuse."

"Why?" Harry said, suddenly feeling anger at the thought of any child being abused.

"She's magically very weak," Luna explained. "She's also not as pretty as Daphne, and so her family has essentially dismissed her as useless. From the visions I saw, she'd not be able to continue past her OWLs regardless of her grades because her magic couldn't handle NEWT level spells, which is a shame because she's a good student. It was very unpleasant, seeing those beatings. Her mother and sister are very cruel women. I'm fairly certain that is why Alphard's eldest wife is bedbound, and why he himself is ill. Cassandra Greengrass has assumed control as Dame of the Black Coven, but she needs Alphard to stay alive until her daughters can produce a male heir."

Harry stood abruptly and disappeared into his expanded wardrobe, returning moments later with his father's map. After activating it with his wand, he started scanning it. The other girls gathered around—they all knew of the map by now, of course, but it was always interesting to see it in action.

"She's in the library," Harry said.

"Alone," Luna noted. "I've never seen her with any friends."

Hermione watched her two bond-mates before she nodded. "You're thinking about bonding Astoria just to help her, aren't you Harry?"

Harry folded the map up and looked around. "Luna, I know you're first wife, but I really, really don't want this family run like the people who hurt you and killed your mum. We all know that Justine is a part of the group. I think…I would like a vote. If I can get a read on her and rule her out as an assassin, and if this buys us some freedom from the covens and a chance to get what we need, would you agree to her joining us?"

"How old is she?" Justine asked.

"She turned fifteen in December," Luna said. "She is exactly one year younger than Daphne—their parents forced the births to fall on the Solstice."

Justine looked closely at Hermione, then Harry. "Are you doing this just because you want another pretty girl to ogle?"

"I'm overwhelmed with the ones I have," Harry said sincerely. "I'm doing it because two girls who I think are smarter than me believe it's a good idea; and because the chance to let Luna have kids is worth taking. I'd do the same for any of you."

Author's Note: Very special thanks as always to Teufel1987, JR and Miles for beta reading. If there are any major faux-pas, they are entirely of my own doing.