Author's Note: First of all, thanks for all the reviews! I ended up getting over 50 reviews in just the first 24 hours since posting the last chapter, which has to be some sort of record for me. While not totally necessary it's still nice to receive some sort of acknowledgment for my hard work. This story has exceeded my expectations as far as how it has gone and been received.

Chapter 25

Harry awoke to find himself in quite possibly the best position he had ever been in in waking up: he was surrounded by girls.

Following their slumber party/sleepover at least some of the girls had stayed behind to actually sleep.

Luna had evidently decided that it was okay for her to snuggle into his body because she was right up against him.

Evidently Daphne was thinking the same thing because she was spooning him on his other side.

Their lack of care for personal space did not bother him in the slightest. In fact it felt very, very good to be waking up like this, almost totally natural in fact.

He noted however that Hermione and Padma were also currently sleeping nearby, opting for a bit more propriety by using smaller singular beds for each of them.

He would have been perfectly content to lie there for awhile and just enjoy it when the smell of bacon and waffles wafted over to him.

It looked like someone had found his other weakness. Let's see, food or girls?

Girls was the obvious no-brainer answer...unless you were really really hungry and the girl in question wasn't very tasty.

Yet after a few minutes his taste buds continued to torture him until he finally gave in under the assumption that at least there was bound to be a girl making the food.

Hopefully. Truth be told while he could see another couple of beds also laid out, he'd fallen asleep before most so he couldn't be sure. If it was the Weasley Twins for example, he was definitely going back to bed.

Getting up he followed his nose over to where Susan and Hannah were currently making breakfast.

"Good morning Harry," Hannah said sweetly, "would you care for some food?"

He glanced down at the large plate of food she'd already made and tried to only take a bit of it, but then Hannah announced, "oh no that entire plate is for you."

"I don't really need all that much," Harry pointed out.

"I'm trying to fatten you up," Hannah announced with a smile.

"Or you're just trying to play win the boy's heart through his stomach," Susan pointed out.

"In which case...it's working," He commented before putting a piece of bacon into his mouth.

Hannah seemed to have a pleased look on her face as she announced, "well this is what would happen every morning if I was your wife."

Not so subtle intentions, but he let it slide. Girls were allowed their fantasies he figured...just as long as he was allowed his.

"If I was your wife I'd make you be the one to make me breakfast," Susan joked.

He continued to eat, realizing that it was indeed really good before Susan decided to say, "Harry could I talk to you alone for a minute."

"Alone huh?" He joked with a grin, "if you wanted some alone time with me, you wouldn't need to ask."

Susan winked at him for that.

Nevertheless he followed Susan out of the Room so they were just outside of it.

Yet if he figured that she did not actually want to "talk" with him, that idea was quickly dashed.

"Can I ask you what you think of Hannah?" Susan just came out and said.

Trick question, he guessed.

"I've fallen into this trap before," Harry replied, "when a girl asks what you think of another girl, no matter what answer you give either they end up upset or unable to believe you."

Susan sighed and remarked, "evidently you know your girls."

"Through trial and more error than I care to admit," He added.

She seemed to take that in before confessing, "Hannah really likes you. I mean I really like you too, but me I think I'll be okay if you decide to date someone else. Hannah on the other hand she's pretty dead set on you. Enough so I'm rather worried for her. You obviously already have a lot of interest from plenty of girls and well...I don't want to see her get hurt."

So that was what she was worried about. He really couldn't blame her either. No doubt it was a concern for many a girl in such a situation.

It had indeed been in the back of his mind pretty much ever since this whole thing started. Eventually he would have to make a choice...and the more time passed the harder it would probably get.

"You want me to be totally honest?" Harry admitted, "I have no idea."

Susan took that in before giving a slight smile as she remarked, "so I guess you aren't perfect after all?"

"Oh I'm definitely not perfect," Harry answered, "just ask Malfoy or the many other people who don't like me."

"I prefer to get to know you than what a person says about you," Susan pointed out, "let's just say there are still plenty of Hufflepuffs still not too happy with you about the whole Tournament thing and saying some rather unfavorable things. If I listened to them well..."

"I get your point," He interjected. Despite his recent popularity with many in the female population of the school, the attack a couple of nights ago had certainly reminded him that there were still plenty who didn't care much for him, the stupid Tournament still being one of them.

"Well what do you think I should do?" He asked her.

Susan seemed surprised but asked, "why ask me?"

"Since I'm desperate," He replied, only half jokingly.

She seemed to mull this over before admitting, "I'm afraid I'd be too biased for that. If I didn't choose myself I'd choose Hannah and I can't say for certain whether either of us would be exactly what you'd want."

"I'm not sure I'd be exactly what you or Hannah would want either," Harry pointed out.

"Good point," She agreed, "but fortunately I believe I can still solve both problems. Aunty always said if you need a problem solved and you can't do it yourself, find someone who can."

That certainly got his attention.

"Just who did you have in mind?" He questioned, now rather interested.

"I'm afraid I'd have to ask them first," Susan replied.

He supposed that was true...even if he did want to know.

"In the meantime," Susan continued, "I'd rather like to try and find out the old fashioned way."

To his surprise Susan then pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to him.

"What's this?" He asked.

"The way to solve Fleur's underwater problem," Susan reminded him of the challenge he had sent out a few days ago, "you just earned yourself a date with me and Hannah next weekend."

At that she leaned forward and kissed him briefly before walking back into the Room without another word.

He opened the paper up to look at it and when he did, he laughed at the irony.

It was a cooking recipe. He had one guess as to who had thought this book might contain a possible solution.

"Never underestimate a Hufflepuff," Harry said.

Susan seemed rather pleased by that response.

"No indeed," She agreed, "Hannah will be pleased when you tell her."

"She doesn't know?" He asked in surprise.

"I wanted to have this conversation with you first," Susan explained her reasoning.

He supposed he could understand that.

"I'm still going to have to have Fleur test it out first," Harry was forced to admit.

"I know, but when it works," Susan answered, showing confidence, "I look forward to seeing her face."

At that, Susan decided to lean in and quickly kiss him which he eagerly returned.

Afterwards Susan confessed, "I really did want some alone time with you."

He laughed at that before deciding to lean in and kiss her again.

When they finally did "finish up" and head back into the room, it was find Luna now awake.

Luna when she saw him said loudly and happily, "I just slept with Harry!"

"Quiet Luna," Daphne said a bit grumpily and half asleep next to her, "unless of course you really did sleep, meaning not just sleep, with Harry, in which case you need to be louder."

He only shook his head at that in amusement.

"There's waffles and bacon," Hannah singsonged.

That got Daphne up as she and Luna beelined for the breakfast food.

As they ate they tried to be quiet so that Padma and Hermione could still sleep.

Padma usually got up early he knew but she'd probably stayed up late last night.

Nevertheless, Daphne commented as she took a bit of perfect bacon, "I think I'm falling in love with you Hannah. Will you marry me?"

Hannah blushed but then replied, "sorry, you're just not my type."

Her blonde Slytherin love interest that was fortunately not Malfoy was however undeterred.

"What type do I need to be so I can be it," Daphne asked.

"Well you need male reproductive parts for one so we can have babies," Hannah pointed out and as she glanced over in his direction, "I also like black hair."

"I suppose I could handle the first one," Daphne replied, "but dying my hair black would be a deal breaker for me."

Susan laughed but then questioned, "really? That would be your dealbreaker?"

She, Hannah, and Daphne needed to hang out more he decided.

"Blondes get more attention," Daphne informed her with a shrug, "or do you mean me not having a problem with..."

"You know that's what I meant," Susan stated.

It however only got Daphne more riled up.

"Well in that case I should probably point out that boys rather seem to like theirs so I figure it couldn't be all bad to have one," Daphne remarked.

"Except I'd never sleep with you if you did have one," Harry insisted.

That ought to stop her from such crazy thoughts.

"I knew there was a good reason against it there somewhere," Daphne agreed with a grin, "although that would imply you do want to sleep with me."

Shaking his head again, he turned back to watching Hannah cook.

"Would you like some help Hannah?" He offered.

She seemed surprised but answered, "sure."

Having cooked for the Dursleys like a billion and one times due in part to both Dudley and his Uncle Vernon's ridiculous appetites, making meals every day for breakfast, second breakfast, luncheon, afternoon tea, afternoon snack, supper, dinner, dessert, and for their late night snack, he would consider himself to have plenty of cooking experience.

He couldn't actually say for certain that what he made was actually good tasting (and definitely not healthy for that matter) due mainly for the fact that he wasn't sure just how either Dudley or Uncle Vernon actually managed to taste their food as fast as they were eating it but his Aunt at least was a lot more picky in the quality of the food.

"Nothing but the best for my Diddydums," She would say usually while holding a gallon of ice cream or some other treat.

It was a wonder that none of his relatives hadn't had a heart attack yet...or that Dudley hadn't yet become immobile.

In comparison to his immensely obese cousin, Hannah looked positively anorexic he noted. She really wasn't all that fat he noted but of course kids can still be cruel in making a big deal out of nothing. However after the Dursleys it really didn't bother him at all if she weighed a few extra pounds. Even if it didn't her cooking more than made up for it.

Hannah however seemed impressed by his cooking skills as he helped her.

As soon as he got done with a fresh batch of waffles which the currently awake eagerly girls took, Daphne commented, "you're good Harry, but I'm sorry to say Hannah is still better."

"I think Hannah just wants to be friends Daph," He pointed out.

Hannah laughed before suggesting, "Harry is right, I do want to be your friend."

"Works for me," Daphne answered, "so which should we talk about? Boys, clothes, or food?"

Her apparent new friend only smiled and pointed out, "all 3 of course."

Shaking his head at the girls' ridiculousness, he turned back to his cooking.

This was turning out to be an odd morning...but at the same time felt just so natural he would swear he did this every morning, waking up surrounded by girls, helping make them all breakfast.

They should have sleepovers more often he concluded.

By the time Padma and Hermione woke up he was momentarily worried the food was already gone.

Fortunately Susan had figured out Daphne and Luna well enough to be smart enough to hide some so they wouldn't eat it all.

Gratefully Padma and Hermione began to eat.

"So what's on the agenda for the day?" Hermione questioned, deciding to get their usual brief morning meeting out of the way to decide what they would be doing.

"I want to go pogo stick jumping," Luna suggested.

"Knitting," Daphne gave her idea.

"I really hope you're joking," Padma questioned.

"Frankly I hope so too," Daphne replied.

"I've got some joke items we could test out," Hermione volunteered.

He was tempted to groan at that. Some of Hermione's "inventions" were really cool...and others...not so much.

"All right just as long as it isn't those candies that make you sick," Padma told her.

"Yeah, those candies don't make my tummy feel very good," Luna agreed now rubbing her belly.

"No, it's spy gear," Hermione informed them, "I helped the Twins create them but didn't see a big enough market for them, but after last night's meeting I was thinking maybe they might come in handy."

"That does sound like fun," Padma agreed.

"Is this how you always figure out what fun thing you are going to do for the day?" Susan decided to interrupt.

"Pretty much," Daphne admitted with a shrug, "you are both free to join us if you'd like."

Both Susan and Hannah glanced at each other and after a second in which they had a quick but silent conversation said at the same time, "sure."

Hermione got out her little box full of tricks as she handed them various objects to try out.

He, Daphne, and Susan got Extendable Ears, things that you could attach to your ears that would allow you to greatly improve your hearing and potentially listen in on people's conversations.

Probably best not to give this to either Lavender or Parvati he thought in case they didn't have enough to gossip about.

At any rate, they also had the side effect of making your ears appear to be majorly drooping.

He decided that it might not be a good idea to call either Daphne or Susan Dumbo...even if they hadn't likely seen that movie.

Luna, Padma, and Hannah however were testing out the Notice-Me-Knot a small knotted rope that allowed the holder to go more unnoticed. You could still see them, you just had to actually focus on them more. It even had it's own built in silencing charm so if you put two in your shoes or even used them as shoelaces nobody could actually hear your footsteps.

He even tried it with the Extendable Ears on and he still couldn't hear Padma's footsteps even though she was walking right next to him.

Deciding however to go try out the invention he was testing out in the school at large, he walked out, putting a cap over his head in an attempt to hide the ears.

The fact that it was actually Hermione's and likely a gift from her parents and read, "Don't Forget to Floss!" he ignored.

Well maybe Hermione could make some super strong floss that could be used as a bungee cord or something...just as long as he wasn't the one trying that one out.

Making his way down a few hallways he managed to overhear a bit of a conversation about how awful Professor Snape was, then another conversation about how awful Professor Snape was...evidently Snape was quite popular among the student body he observed.

Snape should really start making signed pictures of himself, he thought. They might even actually sell if he sold a dartboard that came with each one.

At any rate, they were conversations that he at least didn't feel bad at all about listening in on.

"Hello Harry," Gabrielle greeted him loudly from right next to him.

He grabbed at his ear in pain at the loud sound.

"Trying to eavesdrop on someone with something?" She questioned.

"Maybe," He was forced to admit, "how did you manage to sneak up on me without me hearing anyway?"

"I use a silencing charm on my shoes," Gabrielle told him.

"Hermione was having me test this out hoping to help us with defending against bullies," Harry explained.

"I see," Gabrielle observed, "well you don't need to worry about that, we'll just have to beat them up again."

"I'd guess Hermione would like to avoid it altogether," He pointed out.

"Well just so you know you did well, you and Padma might not have even needed our help," Gabrielle congratulated him, "of course you might want to work on your form and if you had known the right spells you could have countered the single spell method some duelists try to use."

"What's wrong with my form?" He questioned.

"For an amateur duelist nothing, but if you'd like I could teach you some more advanced stuff and help you practice," Gabrielle offered, "I promise I won't at least permanently harm you. Perhaps just a few broken ribs, maybe a missing toe. Nothing major at least."

"I suppose I don't need all 10 of my toes," He joked, "well I suppose if you're offering, I'll accept."

Actually that did sound like a good idea. Despite her being even younger than him, frankly Gabrielle was the best duelist around his age he knew of. Evidently she even competed in world class tournaments according to Fleur who also had competed in duel competitions herself. She wasn't a Triwizard Champion simply for being pretty.

Just as he headed out the hallway with her however to find somewhere to practice, they ran into Fleur.

She stopped them when she saw Gabrielle's face.

"Who are you planning to go fight?" Fleur demanded of her, "I know that look of yours too well."

"What makes you think I was planning to go fight anyone?" Gabrielle argued, trying to look innocent, "I was just going to go play a game with Harry."

"Would this game involve dueling of any kind?" Fleur pressed.

Gabrielle sighed, annoyed that her sister had figured her out but insisted, "I was just going to help teach Harry how to duel."

"You weren't planning to turn him into anything or mess with him so badly he ends up in the hospital wing for a month," Fleur interrogated her.

"That was just one time!" Gabrielle complained, "besides he lived didn't he?"

"He has another extra set of arms!" Fleur pointed out.

"Yeah, but on the bright side, he's making a decent living as a juggler now," Gabrielle argued.

"Are you two joking?" He couldn't resist asking.

Gabrielle smiled at him and said, "actually it was just one extra arm. Fleur exaggerated."

Fleur however took pity on him as she said, "yes Harry we're joking. Gabrielle has a bit of wicked sense of humor when it comes to her dueling exploits which I unfortunately occasionally encourage."

"You've actually done some pretty bad stuff yourself that you don't even need to exaggerate about, need I point out?" Gabrielle countered.

"I had no idea you were a bad girl Fleur," He teased.

"Do you want me to be bad?" She teased right back.

Gabrielle however rolled her eyes at their flirting as she stated, "just tell Harry you want to marry him and have his babies already."

Fleur however, either because she was used to her sister or because she was just plain unflappable and awesome told him, "all right I want to marry you and have your children."

He shrugged, smiling at her and said, "works for me. Do I get a kiss out of it?"

"That can be part of the deal," She agreed as she leaned in and kissed him.

Then kissed. Then kissed. Then kissed some more. By the time they were done kissing, Gabrielle was growing impatient, clearly wanting to have already started dueling practice.

"Oh I'm sorry," Fleur replied with a smile at her sister, "I forgot to let you have a turn."

"You should just be satisfied I'm okay with you two," Gabrielle argued, now rolling her eyes.

Fleur smiled at her as she answered, "I very much am Gabby. I love you."

"Yeah, yeah I love you too," Gabrielle answered, "now can we please go duel?"

He laughed at her obvious impatience and love of dueling.

They proceeded on down the hallway until they found an empty classroom where they decided to practice.

Gabrielle was wanting to duel him right then and there, but Fleur managed to convince her to make it more low key and have him practice some spells first.

Nevertheless it was a lot of work, with him realizing just how much he had to do.

The two sisters however turned out to be excellent teachers, Gabrielle overeager and Fleur much more toned down which served to balance them out quite well.

"I think I'm getting the hang of this," He confessed as after he had managed to master a particular spell.

"We'll see after we do this 7 days a week, 3 hours a day," Gabrielle said, "then you can become a master duelist and become dueling champion of the world."

"Isn't that a bit much to expect or even want?" Fleur pointed out.

"I was going to give him major holidays off," Gabrielle replied.

"You don't need to do that much Harry," Fleur told him, "just be yourself."

"That's just lame Fleur," Gabrielle said, "why shouldn't Harry be able to kick everybody's butt? I can already tell he's at least got serious potential."

"Gabrielle," Fleur then stated, "please leave us alone for a minute."

Gabrielle wasn't too happy about it, but she left nonetheless.

"Harry," Fleur then began, "you really don't need to listen to Gabby."

Unfortunately he kind of did.

"I agree that was a bit much," Harry told her, "but I still think I need to improve."

"Improve but not at the risk of losing what makes you so special," Fleur warned, "Gabrielle loves dueling, but that's her thing. I'm not so sure it's yours."

He found it rather curious that she would say something like that.

"What is my thing then?" He questioned her.

"Simply being able to just enjoy life and have fun," She answered, "which is exactly what you want, but from what I can tell you haven't had the opportunity to have a lot of it in your difficult life."

He had to agree about that. It seemed he was always needing to do things that he really shouldn't have to do at his age...or any age for that matter.

"So what I'm getting at," Fleur told him, "is that I think you should practice dueling and try to improve, but try not to take it too seriously. Try to have some fun with it, maybe have some of the girls join you and invent ways to make it enjoyable."

"That's actually a really good idea," He admitted, a few ideas already springing to mind.

Fleur smiled and said, "I can understand why you wouldn't want anyone simply fighting all your battles for you, but you should know that you definitely have support whenever you need it including from me. If anything I'd say what makes you the most special is your ability to make people love and care about you."

That was certainly an...interesting thought. It was one he'd have to reflect on later.

"Thanks Fleur," He told her, going and giving her a hug, "I really don't know what I would do without you."

Surprisingly, she answered, "I don't know what I would do without you."

"What have I done for you?" He asked, a bit confused. Sure he'd tried to help her with her underwater problem, but really the solution had actually been found by Susan and Hannah.

"More than you know," Fleur would only say.

At that, they opened up the classroom door to let Gabrielle back in to continue training.

TOOMANYTOOMANY

Several hours later found him sweaty, tired, and sore.

Gabrielle and Fleur had put him through a serious workout.

All he really wanted to do was go take a nap in a warm bath.

Yet before he could get back to his dorm, he was suddenly accosted yet again by a few girls, namely Daphne, Padma, and Hermione.

Daphne seemed to be taking a closer look at his appearance as she asked him, "why are you so sweaty Harry? Is there something that you were up to you weren't going to tell us about?"

"No," Harry informed them, "Fleur and Gabrielle were just teaching me how to duel that's all."

The girls seemed surprised but pleased.

"Oh well that's nice," Hermione commented, "that might be a good thing for all of us to do."

"Agreed," Padma answered, "it would likely be more fun with all of us participating."

"I can make anything fun," Luna claimed.

He started walking down the hallway again while the girls followed him.

"Where are you going now Harry?" Padma asked.

"To take a bath, I'd imagine none of you likes me stinky or dirty," He answered.

"Stinky no, dirty yes," Daphne replied, "mind if I join you?"

"Just go take your bath Harry," Padma stated, realizing that Daphne was only joking.

Of course you could never be 100% sure with Daphne.

Reluctantly he decided to just take his bath.

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