A/N: Well, My beta hasn't gotten back to me with this chapter, but I'll post it anyway, and update it when he does... despite the generally negative reaction to the last chapter.
I guess I'm just not good at putting my thoughts across.
I never said Dumbledore was 'Good'. Just that he's not 'Evil', ie act for his own gain. We've enough of that kind of story already.
He will be brought to account, have no fear... we just, as Captain Jack Sparrow would say, have to 'wait for the oppertune moment.'
Now, lets move on from the old navie fool.
We start to form the Harem here. It's going to be slow, but mostly done by the end of summer. Things that last take time to build, after all.
The next morning all four teens awoke in time to see the elder Grangers off. None of them shared the discomfort they had felt the night before, of feeling alone. Emma noted though that Harry's face was more strained than it had been the night before, signs of a troubled sleep.
She also noted that the clothes he was wearing were the same as the previous day... and the day before, come to that. While she knew that male teenagers were not as fussy about clothing as girls, the state of Harry's clothing raised some serious questions in her mind... questions she shared with Nathan on the drive to their practice.
Harry tried to ignore it, but he couldn't help but notice the three witches figures... and the amount of exposed skin. All three were wearing summer clothing. He was pretty sure his jaw had dropped when they came down.
Hermione was wearing a T-shirt that he suspected was a year old given how it looked tight around her arms and over her chest. He tried, he really tried, but he was finding almost impossible not to look at her breasts constrained by the pale blue material... and apparently nothing else. She'd caught him early on, but had just smiled, blushed a little and winked at him, even as two points formed on those perfect mounds.
Looking elsewhere didn't help, as the shorts she had on were very short, barely mid-thigh. With only a pair of sandals on the result was that almost the whole length of her legs were bare, and they were very shapely indeed. He had vague memories of those silky smooth legs sliding against his own rougher ones...
The others were just as bad. Daphne had a knee length skirt that was most certainly not the thickness of Hogwarts uniforms, with a light summery top whose deep neckline revealed an enticingly generous amount of cleavage. Her straw blond hair caught the light, giving her a halo effect.
Susan wasn't as blatant as the other two, but her light yellow summer dress hugged her frame very well. Her generous bust filled the top of the sleeveless dress, and the thin shoulder straps were unaccompanied by bra straps. Her red hair shone in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. And while the neckline was not as low as Daphne's, it was not tight to her, so when she lent forwards Harry got an eyeful. He'd quickly moved to place the counter between them and himself, hoping that none of them guessed his reasons.
What Harry didn't know was that the three of them had conferred and conspired together while getting dressed earlier...
...Earlier that morning...
"So Hermione... you've finally got him."
Hermione's face flushed at Susan's words, even as a broad smile spread across her face. "I suppose I did..." She said softly, still sat on her bed. When she felt a hand on her shoulder however, her eyes followed the arm up to Daphne's face.
"I appreciate what you said yesterday morning." She said softly. "That you won't let him exclude us. That we'd still be friends." There was a glimmer of a tear in her eye.
Hermione understood what Daphne was saying. It had not been spoken aloud, but all three had been concerned and worried that when they each started dating a boy they would drift apart, until they barely recognised each other.
Susan nodded, her expression turning despondent. "In a way, I envy you Hermione. You've got the best of all the boys in school. I... I fear that I'll spend the rest of my life searching for someone just as good as him... when the only one even half as nice is Neville..." She sighed expressively as Daphne nodded in agreement.
"The boys in Slytherin... well, I would say being with most of them is no better than being bred by a farm animal, except that would be an insult to the farm animals."
Hermione looked between the two of them, her heart torn. She understood the pain they were feeling. When Harry had been with Cho Chang after Christmas, it had felt like a dagger piercing her heart. She mentally assessed all the other boys in their year and the years above and below, and quickly reached the same conclusion as Susan; Neville was the only one even approaching Harry.
A stray thought entered her mind, and she batted it away. But it came back, demanding attention. Slowly she examined it, turning the idea over in her mind. On the surface it was preposterous, immoral, and just Not Done. But... there was an appeal to it...
Standing up, she moved to the door and quickly looked out. The whine of the shower pump going pinpointed Harry's location. Quickly shutting the door, she turned to face the other two but then hesitated, biting her lower lip as she looked between the two of them.
"What is it Hermione?" Daphne asked softly, concerned at her actions.
Taking a deep breath, Hermione put forward her idea softly, quietly.
"What if... we... share Harry?"
Both girls' eyes widened as they looked at her. "Wh... what are you suggesting?" Susan stuttered.
Hermione began speaking softly. "It took all three of us to lift that curse on him. And the other night, it took all of us to comfort him, to get him to let go. He's never done that before. I've always felt that he's been holding things back, even from me. Maybe... just maybe, with all three of us, he can unload everything, if necessary different bits to each of us.
"And besides, the task he faces is so massive, I'm not sure that I alone can help him overcome it. He's... we're, going to need allies we can trust implicitly. Right now, that list is very short. And the more of us in our 'inner circle' as it were, the more eyes and mind and hands we have.
"I know that I can sometimes be..." She trailed off, clearly thinking.
"Domineering? Pushy? Mother-hen like?" Daphne suggested, her lips quirking into a smile as an eyebrow rose. Susan chortled behind her hand, eyes dancing.
Hermione scowled, but continued. "Okay, yes. But both of you and Harry helped me learn to curb those tendencies, but..." She seemed to fold in on herself. "I was beginning to worry that Harry only saw me as some sort of big sister or mother figure."
All the laughter in Daphne's and Susan's expressions faded.
"Harry has missed so much..." a tear escaped from Hermione's eye to run down her cheek. "...And has suffered so much, that I'd do anything to help him. Anything." She looked up. "Even share him with another woman... or two." Her serious expression was ruined when she blushed. "I have to admit the idea does appeal... And Harry appears to already be subconsciously thinking along these lines, making it easier to suggest..."
Daphne's eyebrow rose. "His dream yesterday?" Hermione nodded in reply.
Susan's brow was furrowed in thought. "It would certainly make things easier for me..." She muttered, before looking up into Hermione's enquiring eyes. "I stand by what I said; there isn't a boy in Hogwarts even half as good as Harry, and..." She blushed. "I... I love him too."
"And we're three for three." Daphne murmured, her cheeks pink.
A smile slowly spreading across her face, Hermione held out her hand, her fingers curled slightly. Smiles forming on their faces, the others copied her action, and quickly their hands were linked together, hooked together by their overlapping fingers. Hermione had seen this three-way shake on her father's favourite TV show, one that she too had grown to love for its noble heroes, beautiful yet smart women, and its optimistic, hopeful outlook. She showed it to the others, and they had adopted it as their own 'secret' handshake.
"One for all..." Hermione began.
"...And all for one." Susan finished giggling.
Daphne grinned. Although she didn't recognise the obvious quote, she understood the sentiment. Then her grin turn mischievous.
"Now, as we're here all alone with him, should we dress to impress?"
The other two's smiles widened as they caught her meaning.
As they sat around the table eating their breakfast, Hermione's face was crinkled into a frown. "What are you thinking so seriously about Hermione?" Susan asked.
Hermione looked up sharply, then sighed. "I was thinking about what Harry said about his relatives breakfast yesterday. They have the same things, and amount, every day?"
Harry nodded. "Pretty much. There was an attempt at a diet last summer, but both Dudley and Vernon raided the fridge often."
Hermione's frown, if anything, got deeper. "The amount they must go through in just a week... how can they afford it?"
Harry opened his mouth to tell her about his uncles job... but then closed it, his brow furrowed. "They... can't. Not on Uncle Vernon's salary. Not with everything else..."
"What do you mean? What does your uncle do?"
"He's a plant manager with Grunnings, making drill bits. Don't know what kind though. But it's not just the food expense to consider. Uncle Vernon gets a new car every six months, and the pair of them lavish gifts on Dudley like he's the second coming or something. Twenty-eight for his eleventh alone. He made a fuss when he counted only twenty-six, when he got twenty-seven the previous year."
Hermione looked thunderstruck. "Harry... there is no way that a Factory Manager could afford all of that, not without another source of income."
"But where from?" Susan asked.
Daphne however was frowning. "Something's doesn't smell right about this..."
The others all agreed with her, but at that moment they had no clues to where to look for answers. Harry had learned his lesson: you need all the information before you could form a proper conclusion.
Tidying away the bowls, they moved into the dinning room as a group, bringing with them their Charms books and parchment. Settling down, they set to work on Flitwicks essay. Both magic-raised girls marvelled once more at the fountain pens Hermione had loaned them. No need to constantly re-ink a quill! No jar of ink lying around, in danger of being knocked over or drying up. Hermione had explained that she'd considered using ball points that first summer, but she'd decided against the more modern and reliable pens due to the difference in the final appearance; she had feared that the professors would not have accepted her work if it hadn't been ink. That confession had prompted a small laugh from the other three before they set to work.
Knocking on the front door a couple of hours later caused all four teens to look up. Shrugging, Hermione stood up slowly before making her way out into the hall. She was still feeling a little tender from her curse wound, not to mention her inner muscles were still sore from the... exertions, needed to cure Harry. Opening the door part way, she looked out to see a tall, red-haired young man wearing a business suit. "Bill?"
The eldest Weasley child smiled lightly. "Hello Hermione. Good to see that you remember me." His eyes flickered over her for an instant, widening slightly, before returning to her face.
Hermione however did not smile back. "Is this about Ron and Ginny?"
Bill frowned. "Huh? What happened?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"
Bill shrugged. "I've been busy. Gringott's has me working a lot." He sighed. "That's why I'm here actually. It's about Harry."
Hermione's eyes narrowed, then she opened the door fully, allowing the young man entry.
Once she had closed the door, Hermione led him through to the dinning room. Bill froze when he saw Harry, Susan & Daphne sat at the table, schoolbooks scattered before them. All three were looking at him guardedly. It was clear on his face that he had not expected to see any of them.
Hermione walked round to stand beside Harry. "So Bill... what business do you have with Harry?" She said her tone clearly defensive. That and her hand resting on Harry's shoulder snapped Bill back to the present.
"Well... It's about Sirius' will."
There was a sharp intake of breath around the room, and three sets of concerned eyes snapped to Harry, who had stiffened at Bill's words. Hermione's hand slid across his shoulders to grasp the other side before she pulled him into her gently, while Susan reached out and laid a hand over his on the table. Bill remained silent.
After several long deep breaths, Harry looked up again. "Well?" The pain and loss were still clear in his eyes.
Bill hesitated. "May I sit? This is a bit of a long story." After a consenting nod, he sat and rested his arms on the table, mentally ordering his information. He glanced at the other two girls.
"I trust them Bill. Now... talk." Harry cut in before he could say anything. Bill nodded then began.
"Harry... just after Christmas last year Sirius contacted Gringotts, about putting together his will. Now understand, Gringotts takes banking and wills very seriously. The wizards ceded those responsibilities after the last war, as a means to prevent another one. That's why Gringotts is considered 'Goblin' land. The Ministries laws don't apply there.
"Well, Sirius arranged to spend a day there, setting out his will and making arrangements. It seemed that he had his doubts that the primary beneficiaries – you two, Harry, Hermione – would be contacted. He explained that it was not Gringotts that he doubted... rather it was your legal, magical guardian. Tell me, have you received anything from Gringotts at all since his death? Or you Hermione?" At both shakes of the head, he sighed once more. "Looks like he was right."
Harry's eyes narrowed to green slits, a frown creasing his brow. Who could possibly be his and Hermione's magical guardian? Yet would have cause to deny both him and Hermione anything Sirius left them... One name quickly stepped forward. "Dumbledore?" He asked quietly.
Bill nodded.
A growl from Hermione shattered the silence that had fallen. "That's it. Next time I see him, I'm strangling him with his own beard. Then I'll..."
"Easy Hermione..." Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and hugged her, cutting her off mid rant. After a few moments to allow her to get herself back under control, Harry refocused his attention on Bill. "I take it you're here to enact Sirius' plans?"
Bill nodded, still slightly awed at the venom in Hermione's words. "Yes. He figured that contacting you direct would be almost impossible. But he reckoned that reaching Miss Granger would be easy. He authorised her to be able to accept anything left to you on your behalf, to hold in trust until you can accept them yourself."
Harry sighed. "Dumbledore's not going to allow that."
"He won't have a chance." Bill's enigmatic smile perked their interest. "The Will reading is set for Friday the 19th, but Sirius arranged for a first stage reading, for the primary beneficiaries, on the preceding Friday. You two, Remus and Tonks are the only one's who will be required to attend, all the others will only know of the official reading. You may invite those you trust completely, but the fewer who know, the better."
Daphne was looking at Bill with narrowed eyes now. "I have to ask; why are you here telling us this? I mean you in particular. Surely you have a conflict of interest here... you are in Dumbledore's order, after all."
Bill squirmed in his seat slightly, but not as much as the four of them had expected. "You told them both Harry?" At his nod, Bill sighed. "In answer to your question... yes, I am a part of the Order, but my oaths and loyalties to Gringotts supersede any to Dumbledore. This is Gringotts business, thus the Order has no bearing here." He hesitated, then pushed on, almost rushing his words. "I'm not blind Harry. I've seen what's been going on, though I don't claim to even know half of it. It was clear that Dumbledore had you isolated last summer, even though most of us disagreed..."
"Clearly not enough..." Harry muttered. "None of you spoke up in my support. Only Sirius..." He choked on the name.
Bill hung his head. "I know. Fleur's been giving me grief about that."
Harry's eyes widened, before a small smile formed on his face. "You and Fleur huh?"
Bill half grinned. "Yeah." His voice lacked some conviction though.
The girls all smiled lightly, remembering how the Beauxbatons champion had been like during the previous year. Or more exactly, how the majority of the boys had drooled and been totally sappy around her. Hermione accepted that the part-veela might not be able to control her allure, but it still stung.
"I know what you're thinking," Bill said looking at the three of them. "But I'm not a drooling idiot around her. She's not interested in that kind of person." He looked uncomfortable for a moment, as if he were considering adding something, but stayed silent.
Nodding to accept the answer for what it was, Hermione looked closely at him. "Is there anything else?"
Bill shook his head. "No. Just remember; 11am, Gringotts, Friday the 12th. Ask for Goldbag; he's in charge of all inheritance proceedings." With that he stood, but paused looking at Harry once more. "Harry... I'm sorry about Sirius... about everything. For what it's worth, I'm with you."
Harry nodded, too choked up to speak. Bill nodded back then left the room. It was only after they heard the front door close that they felt free to speak.
"You okay Harry?" Hermione asked, sinking down into the chair next to him, eyes fixed on his face.
Harry breathed deeply before answering. "Not really." He said quietly. "It's just... he's really gone." He looked up at her, then at Susan and Daphne. "I mean... I didn't know him very well... barely had a chance..." A little anger entered his tone, and the three of them knew where it was directed.
After a few minutes Harry's breathing eased and the tension left his frame. He looked between the three of them, a small smile of his face. The three smiled in reply, before they all returned to their work.
All through lunch it was clear that Harry was thinking deeply about something. Emma, picking up on this and that he clearly was not in the mood to be disturbed, turned to her daughter to explain. Hermione told her about Bill's visit, and what it entailed.
"Well, at least it's not this Friday." Emma commented before looking again at Harry. Her eyes were narrowed ever so slightly.
"What is it mum?"
Emma sighed before looking at her daughter. "It's Harry... or rather, his clothes. Doesn't he have anything decent to wear?"
Hermione slumped her shoulders. "No. Only his school clothes actually fit. From what little he's said, everything he has from before Hogwarts are cast offs and the rejections of his cousin." Seeing the troubled look in her mother's eyes, Hermione became concerned. "Mum?"
Glancing back at Harry, Emma guided her daughter into the study. Once there she sat down, gesturing for her daughter to do the same. Worry creased Hermione's face as she did.
"Honey... your father and I am concerned about Harry." She paused for a moment, steeling herself. "We think he's been abused by his relatives."
Hermione nodded slowly, surprising her mother. "Yeah... I've figured that out myself."
"How bad, do you think?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "I think, mainly, emotional and psychological. Some physical, but not since he started at Hogwarts. But he's definitely been treated horribly by his aunt and uncle."
Emma nodded, impressed with her daughter. "That's what we were thinking too, from the little we've seen of him."
Hermione looked up at her. "So what are we going to do?"
"For the moment, ease him in and make him comfortable with us. All of us." Emma started. "But later on... we have to tell the police. It'll be hard; most abused children don't report it till their much older, if ever. But those... people, should pay for what they did." Hermione was amazed at the passion in her mother's voice, the level of anger.
"Mum... we talked a little this morning and yesterday. There's something very wrong in that house." Hermione relayed the revelations about Harry's relatives eating habits. To say Emma Granger was stunned was an understatement.
"They can somehow afford that much food, yet won't spend a penny to put clothes on his back..."
Hermione growled low in her throat. "To hear Harry tell it, his Uncle would not even throw him his cousins cast offs if he could."
"Another form of abuse..." Emma muttered quietly. Visibly shaking herself, she looked Hermione in the eye. "You planned anything for tomorrow after lunch?"
Hermione frowned, a little thrown off by the sudden change in subject. "No, why?"
Emma smiled lightly. "Because I think it's time for Harry to get some new clothes of his own. We can make it a group thing with your other two friends, so that he won't think it's purely for him."
Beaming Hermione hugged her mum. "That's a brilliant idea! I know I need a few new things myself..."
"I can tell." Emma's gaze drifted down to Hermione's T-shirt, prompting a blush from her.
"Yes, well... not just me. The others are going to need some things too."
"Sure..." She looked at her daughter intently. "Just what are you three up to?" She'd noticed the apparel of all three young women.
Hermione looked back, the conflict clear in her eyes. She was bursting to tell her mother about her and Harry's new relationship... But how to explain what she had agreed with Susan and Daphne this morning? It was supposed to be man and wife, not man and wives.
"Well... Harry's now my... boyfriend." She said softly.
Emma snorted. "Thought he was already."
Hermione's blush intensified. "Not helping!" After a moment to compose herself, she continued in a prim and firm manner.
"Myself and Harry have decided to take our platonic friendship up to a romantic level." She held that pose for a couple of seconds, nose slightly upturned, before they both broke out into laughter.
Emma smiled warmly at her daughter. "He makes you happy?"
Hermione's smile just widened. "Oh yes..."
"Too much information there dear." Emma giggled at the look on her face before calming. "And what about Susan and Daphne?" In the back of her mind she was thinking about what Hermione had told her about their, 'unorthodox', cure for Harry.
Hermione's face stilled, the laughter dying away. "We're all going to... be close friends."
Emma frowned lightly, softened by a small smile. "How close."
Hermione's face was almost beet red. "Very."
Emma nodded, working out what she really meant. "And is Harry okay with this?"
"Well... I haven't actually suggested this to him yet... but I can't see him disagreeing to badly."
Emma smiled more widely. No, neither could she.
After Mrs Granger had returned to work, the four teens sat outside once more. Picking up from where they left off, they launched in the story of Fourth Year, starting with the Quidditch World Cup. Both Susan and Daphne had been there themselves, and shared their own experiences of the event. Neither had been camping though: they had been there just for the event. Both found Couch's dismissal of Winky to be suspect.
Harry shared the first dream-vision he'd had that summer, including all the details he'd learned since. Susan had gasped at the end, when Frank Bryce was killed simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The run up to the Tri-Wizard was skimmed over, as not much happened in that period. But that was more than made up for with the events of Halloween. He related to them the events that took place in the antechamber where the champions had been assembled, quoting Dumbledore, Couch and the supposed Moody.
At this point Daphne and Susan apologised to Harry; Susan for not being more vocal regarding her suspicions regarding his unwilling entry, a view which a few others in her house, including both Cedric and her close friend Hannah, shared. At the time, Susan was unconvinced that Harry would cheat his way in.
Daphne was sorry that she'd worn one of those 'Potter Stinks!' badges; it had been a concession on her part to avoid a gang rape by Malfoy and his buddies. Harry had wrapped an arm around her and hugged her close, saying that it was not her fault to be forced into such a horrid position. He trailed off however when Daphne's other arm snaked across his chest to rest on his other shoulder, and she tucked her head into the crook of his neck, muttering that she liked this position. Harry had looked in shock and worry towards Hermione, but she had only grinned back, her eyes dancing. At the questioning look in his eyes, she mouthed 'later'.
Harry didn't dwell on the tasks themselves, only providing the bits that the others hadn't witnessed. Tears were in the eyes of all of them when he told them about how the ghost like forms of his parents had emerged from Voldemort's wand, though Harry frowned a bit as a detail he hadn't noticed before came to mind.
His father, Cedric and the old Muggle Frank Bryce were all fairly detailed, almost perfectly formed, if ghost like. His mother however, had been indistinct, more insubstantial. Did that mean anything? Harry didn't know.
Then came the year just gone, the hardest yet. Harry spoke of the loneliness, the isolation, of the weeks before. Hermione begged forgiveness for her unquestioning submission to the Headmasters ruling. Harry waved her apology off, holding her close. Then there was the Dememtor attack, and the trial, where he got his first introduction to Delores Umbridge. Both Susan and Daphne had scowled at the mention of her.
Thanks to her membership in the DA, Susan already knew some of the details regarding the group, and she remembered clearly that first 'Defence' lesson. However, she did not know all the back story, and so she too learned about how Harry had been tortured by Umbridge. The look on her face clued the others into the fact that there would another letter heading to her aunt as soon as her owl returned, made a certainty when she saw the scars on the back of his hand.
Harry didn't mention his failed relationship with Cho, and Hermione didn't bring it up either. Both Susan and Daphne noted the omission, but didn't call on it; they knew it was a sore point for them. They all knew that that was in the past; what concerned them was the future.
The dream-vision of Arthur's attack at Christmas brought in the dream-visions Harry had been suffering, and led to the 'remedial potions' with Snape. Daphne told them how Draco had been really using that as a source of amusement, but looking back she wondered if he had known the real reason. Harry had just grunted, before he told them all in a quiet voice what Snape had done.
It was Daphne's turn to hit the roof.
"That BARSTARD!" She snarled, eyes narrowed to furious blue slits. "A full out attack like that just destroys whatever is in the way! All he did was make you even more open to assault!"
"I did wonder..." Harry muttered.
Hermione then confirmed that she'd looked through the entire library, and not one book had contained even a mention of Occlumency.
"Wonder if Dumbledore had them removed before term started..." Susan mused. The looks the others gave her indicated that they were thinking along the same troubling lines.
Harry fell silent a few minutes later. Hermione paused when she noted his silence, concern written all over her face. Feeling their eyes on him, Harry looked up to three concerned, supportive gazes.
"I'm sorry... but... I can't talk about..."
Hermione laid a hand over his. "It's okay Harry, we understand." Both Susan and Daphne seconded her, then all three wrapped him up in another group hug. They stayed like that until Hermione's parents returned.
Hermione was just climbing into bed when there was a tap on her door. "Yes?"
"It's me." Harry's voice came through the door. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Hermione blushed for a moment before hurriedly pulling her dressing gown on over her T-shirt. "Sure. Come in."
Harry stepped through, leaving the door ajar behind him. His eyes ran over his best friend, sat on the corner of her bed looking at him. He was struck at how pretty she was.
"What is it Harry?" She asked softly, drawing him out of his contemplation.
Steeling himself, Harry sat down on the bed besides her, hands clasped together between his knees. Taking a moment longer, he lifted his gaze to meet her eyes.
"Hermione... earlier you didn't chase Daphne away when she hugged me." The confusion in his voice was clear. "Why?"
Hermione was silent for a few moments, organising her thoughts.
"Harry... You have such a task ahead of you, you are going to need help. No, you are." She continued when he made to interrupt. "You can not do this all by yourself, no matter how much you wish to. You will need people watching your back.
"As well as all that, you also deserve so much. I... would do anything to make you happy." A faint blush tinged her cheeks, and Harry felt his own heat up.
"Harry... we talked a little this morning. The three of – me, Susan and Daphne – we are good friends, but we all feared the same thing." When Harry looked at her in confusion, Hermione lowered her eyes as she answered.
"That we'd drift apart, or worse, because of boys." When she looked up again Harry had a nonplussed expression on his face, so she tried to explain.
"We each feared that as we each got boyfriends, we'd stop seeing each other and just... loose touch. Or we'd have a falling out over the same boy." Harry's eyes lit up in understanding, but then a frown creased his forehead.
"Okay, I get that... but what about me?"
Hermione smiled at that question, asked honestly and plainly, not petulantly as he could have. "Their opinion of most of the other boys in Hogwarts close enough to date are... less that complimentarily. You've set a very high mark Harry... without even trying. Neville's the only one who gets close. And you saw how he and Hannah were."
A grin formed on Harry's face as he thought back to the train ride. There had definitely been sparks between his dorm-mate and the quiet but pretty blond Hufflepuff. Neville had come along in leaps and bounds since first year.
Hermione hesitated, trying to think of a way to explain what she and the other two had decided. Harry looked at her warmly, encouraging her to speak.
"Remember what I said just now Harry, about willing to do anything to make you happy?" At his nod, she pushed on. "Well... I also want both Susan and Daphne to be happy, so... I agreed to... share you, with them. If you're willing to, that is."
Harry's jaw dropped. "Sh...Share? How do you mean?"
"Remember what you said yesterday, about wanting the closeness between the four of us to remain?"
"Yeah... but..."
"I know, you were only thinking about close friendship then Harry, one of trust and understanding. But... what about a romantic relationship? Your dream the other night could become reality. Or at least." She amended, blushing as she recalled all the details of that dream. "As real as we can make it. All three of us have fallen for you Harry."
Harry's eyes were now wide and round. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? He knew that for many boys, what Hermione was talking about was wet dream material. But was it really fair for him to accept?
The words of his godfather from the dream came. "You've got three stunning, intelligent women who love you deeply. After all the shit you've had to put up with, you can be selfish for once in your life."
He looked at her closely. "Are you really okay with this?"
Hermione thought for a moment, her head tipped slightly to one side as she nibbled on her bottom lip. "Honestly... if it would be with almost anyone else I would not be happy. With Susan and Daphne however..." She half smiled. "Yes, I'm okay with this."
Harry smiled tentatively. "Then we'll see how it goes, okay?"
Hermione smiled widely before leaning in and kissing him softly.
After a few moments Harry looked at her with a playful look. "Anyone else besides Susan and Daphne you'd be comfortable with?" He asked playfully.
Hermione flushed red before swatting him on the arm gently, grinning all the while. "Prat." Then her face took on a thoughtful look.
"Ah! There is someone else!"
Her face nearly tomato red, Hermione answered him. "Well... I did get to know Fleur well while we were at Grimmauld..."
"Best not let Bill know about what we're talking about."
Hermione blushed. "Sweet dreams Harry." She said softly, before kissing him gently. A broad smile formed on his face.
"Now I know I will." He told her as he got up and headed back to his room.