Chapter 64 - New Bonds

At Hogwarts, the Board of Governors had finally ruled regarding Draco Malfoy. Against her recommendations and despite the admission of guilt, the Board had ruled that there was insufficient evidence to confirm the decision to expel him for his near-rape of the girls. The girls' parents sent letters to Harry, requesting a meeting at the next Hogsmeade weekend.

Harry didn't need Daphne or Sophie to tell him that the formal request required that he meet with them unless he had a good reason. After this long, he recognised the flowery language and read through to the message underneath that they were placing themselves beneath him socially in how they did it, just to get him to agree to a meeting.

He quickly wrote out a draft reply to each family, allowing the girls to check them for any errors, before sending off Miyuki to carry the letters. As the time of the meeting neared, he made sure to spend a little extra time checking his appearance.

"Damn, Daphne and Tracey were eager this morning." Harry said to himself as he looked in the mirror. Satisfied that he had taken care of the scratches and lovebites, Harry headed up from the Hufflepuff Dormitory to the Entrance Hall, where his Slytherin ladies were awaiting him.

"I have to hand it to you." He mentioned to the four of them in a quiet voice having checked for any listeners. "You look so refined that no one would think you'd been ravished less than an hour ago."

Daphne and Astoria just smiled at Harry while Tracey and Sophie appeared innocent, an expression he knew all too well was fake. He offered his arms to Daphne and Astoria, Sophie and Tracey taking stations behind him as befit their families' lower status, and the five walked down to the Three Broomsticks Inn where they had reserved a room for the meeting.

Since they were early, Harry allowed himself to be led around the village, showing their faces as part of both celebrating their relationship and also the longer term effort to redeem the reputation of the House of Ambition.

Only fifteen minutes to ten and Harry kissed each girl a reluctant goodbye, whispering that his clones would meet them in Madam Puddifoot's covered in suitable illusions. He made his way inside and asked Madam Rosmerta, the proprietor about his room and guests.

"Your room is ready, Mr Potter." Her eyes no longer sought for the non-existent scar when he visited. "Upstairs and first on the right. Ring the bell if you need anything and I'll be right up." She added a smile for the customer who had reserved her most expensive room.

"Thank you." He replied politely before walking up the stairs, every inch the confident young wizard. He checked the room over, finding that it was about as he expected, a warm fire in the corner and the mahogany table had been freshly buffed. These reflections served to occupy his mind before he dropped into a light meditation to wait until his guests arrived.

Harry came out as he heard a group of four adults walking up the stairs. He opened the door just a second after the knock came, showing them in.

Once the greetings were over, Lucien Marshall, father to the Slytherin girl Draco had fondled, spoke in deep voice that belied his thin build. "Mr Potter, on behalf of my family, I would like to thank you for your intervention. My daughter is very dear to my wife and I and she was emphatic that if you had not come along, that she would have been helpless to whatever the older boys wanted to do with her."

Harry bowed his head. While he would normally deny any debt existed, that would offend these people. "Mr Marshall, you and your wife are most welcome."

"Nevertheless, if there is anything within our power we can do to repay you..." Lucien trailed off. He was gratified that the Golden Boy, a Muggle-raised Hufflepuff if the rumours were to be believed, was giving his family respect.

"As it happens, there was something I had in mind. Your two daughters were saved by my intervention but that was mostly by happenstance. I would not like to see them have worse luck should it happen again."

"Do you really think it would?"

"No Malfoy takes defeat well and he would want to prove that he can still get what he wants, even if he weren't concerned about his standing within the House. He will have to do something to restore his reputation and I don't want your daughters at risk. If you would, please let me place them under my protection."

"You could ask for a reward, Mr Potter," Lucien Marshall pointed out. "Instead, you are asking for added responsibility."

"It is a responsibility I am happy to discharge, sir."

"You would really refuse a reward?" Clarence Ellis asked, disbelieving.

"I am sure I could ask for something you value as highly as your daughters but I wouldn't want that done to me in your place so I won't do it to you. Besides, I really do want to make sure the girls are safe." Harry's expression was open and earnest, somehow convincing the fathers that this young man would do what he said.

"Very well, Mr Potter. I will write to their Head of House today to inform him of the change."

"And so will we." Mr and Mrs Marshall said in unison.

Harry thanked them, the meeting at an end, and waited for them to leave first as his guests before he made a quick sweep before he followed after them.

Downstairs, Lavender and the other would-be models were waiting for him at a corner booth. His feisty Gryffindor showed a flash of her toned legs as he made his way over, grinning at him and the others when none of the other patrons noticed. When she stood up, she extended her legs and showed off the high heels he had cobbled for her before she allowed him to take her place and sandwiching him between the girls. Her hand idly reaching into his robes under the table as she leaned in.

"Such a naughty girl." Harry told her, the quickly erected sound barrier still assuring them of privacy.

"Indeed!" her roommate Parvati agreed. "I wanted that." Showing she meant what she said, she started to slip under the table.

"Here?" Harry asked.

"Just go with it, Harry." Fleur's eyes were already filled with lust as she watched the Indian girl bob her head on his lap. "You know we love to please you."

Harry could only groan. Parvati's increasingly skilled tongue had temporarily robbed him of the power of speech as she charged ahead like a Gryffindor. When he recovered his awareness, he cheekily told the girls to head upstairs. They agreed it was a wonderful idea and walked up one at a time, swinging their hips. Lavender was the last, swaying her ass in Harry's face and her heels clicking on the stairs. Harry just grinned and followed. After all, he still had the room booked for another hour.

Elsewhere in the village, other Jewels were going about town with Harry's clones under illusions to protect the secret. Despite Draco's defeat and the decrease in general tensions between the Houses, Harry was on alert for trouble. He couldn't afford to spill the secret of the clones and the illusions he was using if he were caught. However, that didn't mean he would permit the bigots to ruin his ladies' dates. The Jewels were far from oblivious to his tension, often taking the Harry clones with them behind bushes or down alleys to 'relax' him.

By the end of the day, most of his Jewels had managed to corner the real Harry somewhere in the village and its surrounds in order to get their daily injection, Sophie clenching him extra hard when Professor McGonagall walked by them barely ten feet away and unable to see her.

Harry saw what Sophie did not. McGonagall's nose twitched slightly and she paused for an instant before continuing on her way. He didn't have a chance to ask even if he wanted to.

When Harry's clone entered McGonagall's office the next morning, she politely enquired if he had enjoyed himself in Hogsmeade then got on with the morning's paperwork. As normal by now, that consisted merely of checking that her clone had done it right before allowing it to get sent out to its destinations.

On the Sunday, the real Harry went down to Hogsmeade with his Hufflegirls after being called in for an interesting meeting with Professor Slughorn.

"Just what is the meaning of this, Harry?" The old wizard's face showed only curiosity but his eyes showed a measure of anger as he showed the two letters from the parents placing him in charge of their protection.

"Exactly what it appears to be, sir. The two families believe that their daughters will be safer with them under my protection while they are at Hogwarts. The decision to allow the three attackers to stay has eroded their confidence in the girls' safety. Since I protected them before, they believe in my ability to do so again should the need arise."

"And will it, Mr Potter?"

"I fear it would. With all due respect, Professor, you cannot spend enough time watching over the two girls to keep them safe. You have too many other duties as well. That is why the school has Prefects, to help take up that mantle."

"I already have two Fifth Year Prefects." Slughorn replied, amused and letting Harry speak.

"Yes, one of whom was guilty of attacking the girls and the other has already welcomed my assistance." Harry was calm enough. He didn't particularly want to make an enemy if he could avoid it, and getting angry would not serve his interests.

"So the parents turned to a Hufflepuff. Very interesting."

"No, the parents turned to the one wizard in the castle who has rescued a witch from a basilisk and survived."

Slughorn's eyebrows rose of their own accord. "That really happened?"

"It did, Professor. As have other incidents that convinced them that I would make a good protector for their girls."

"Yes, Mr Potter, I quite understand." Slughorn's eyes lit up with a different emotion now. "Just how big was the basilisk, would you say? Was it in good condition when you left it?"

Harry rolled his eyes.

Towards the end of term, Harry got the news he was after. Minister Bones had exercised her influence over the Auror Office to force St Mungo's to release Frank and Alice Longbottom into the care of a private Healer, one selected by the Clan for his membership in the Potter Alliance and his confidence in the Clan's ability to do something for his new patients.

While the Healer examined his patient with every spell he had, Tsunade and Ino were doing the same with their own methods. At the end, the Healer pronounced that St Mungo's had done all they could. Now it was up to Ino. Tsunade gave her the go ahead, ready to do what she could to keep the patients' bodies stable while Ino worked on their minds. The magic-suppressing cuffs were applied, the Healer confirmed the result, and Ino dived into Frank's mind as he slept.

What she found there was a horrific mishmash of experiences and nightmares, illusions and reality. The strongest pull was to the day he and his family were attacked. The memory drew her in, showing her Frank tied up and bleeding, unable even to beg for the Death Eaters to stop torturing his wife and son in front of him. Over and over, the two older men asked what had happened to the Dark Lord but Frank didn't know. No one knew anything beyond the obvious fact that he wasn't around.

This only maddened them, of course. They wanted him to fix their problems for them and were torturing his family to get it but what they wanted was beyond his power to give, even if he wanted to.

The guilt and shame was almost overwhelming but Ino held on, knowing this memory was not her own. She pulled back out of it and moved onto other memories. The next strongest pull was from a scene later that day. Frank had cracked under the torture directed against his son. He hated himself for betraying his duty, his comrades, but he couldn't stand the anguished cries of Alice any longer, but still it went on. He wanted to give them anything to make it end but he had nothing to give them and eventually, they accepted that. The glee on their faces as they intoned "Crucio!" was disturbing and intense. They knew he wouldn't recover after this so they had bared their faces, the spells lighting them up in unholy light and the pain immense.

His mind fled from the pain, just as they knew it would, and then broke into pieces. Frank had been trapped in here, wherever 'here' was, ever since, unable to comprehend the passing years, unable to talk about his experiences.

Ino found his avatar twisted and bent and imprisoned by his own broken limbs, a fair representation of the man's mind, and she nodded. There was far too much damage that had partially scabbed over for her to use the gentler method to heal his mind. That just left the other one, the one that Harry had tried to describe to the Minister.

What Harry hadn't said, because he didn't know himself, was that this technique did far more than what he had told her. In order to rebuild Frank's mind, she would have to wipe it clean down to the base.

As soon as she did that, he stopped breathing. Ino had removed that ability along with everything else about him. She restored it from the backup she had made, ensuring that it and the rest of his autonomic functions were working properly, then started with childhood memories, the experiences that would shape who he became as a person, a man, and a wizard. The torture and the subsequent insanity had corrupted a number of the early memories and Ino had to create her own replacements, a task well suited to a genjutsu mistress which all the Clan ladies were.

As she went, she made sure to leave out any of the prejudice against Muggles. If she had to create false experiences for the man to be sane again, and she did, then she would be damned before she let another wizard walk around blind to the truth about this world.

She also tweaked some of his other attitudes in the process. The agreement with Amelia still stood. She preserved his Auror training, preserved his drive for justice, even as she expanded his awareness of the injustices in the so-called Wizarding World.

In the end, the man was still almost wholly Frank Longbottom, wizard, husband and father but with a few important differences. He would remember a nice, long talk with Ino herself where she explained to him the real balance of power, and the true state of the world, knowledge systematically denied him by the insular society he lived in.

Ino opened her eyes, muttering a quiet "Kai!" out of habit to ensure she was truly back in the real world, then went to work on Alice. Like Frank, she had also lost her will to resist during the torture, and like Frank, she was ashamed of herself. Having lived those memories, Ino could sympathise with her failure. That pain and feeling of helplessness was an effective combination. Again, though, Ino's own counter-interrogation training helped her pull out of it and get to work. Since Alice's mind was, if anything, even more broken by her experiences, Ino's task took longer.

A couple of hours after she had begun, it was over. She gave the anxious Healer a look. "It's done. Before we take off the suppressants, you and Tsunade had better give them a full check. I'm off to bed."

No mention was made that it wasn't even lunchtime. Ino needed to relax and a quick 'nap' with Naruto was just what the doctor ordered.

When both doctors of different traditions finished examining their patients, Tsunade removed the cuffs, tucking them away in her large cleavage, and allowed the Healer to wake the pair.

"Frank?"

"Alice?"

Their voices were rusty with disuse but that was the only signs of their long absence. Tsunade had taken care of their fluid levels while Ino was working on them, and the pair were understandably eager to get on with their reunion.

Tsunade was ruthless, however, in making sure that they answered every question, performed each task asked of them, without letting them slack off. There were people who needed to know the results of the treatment as soon as possible.

Ninety minutes later, she and her colleague gave them their privacy at last, satisfied that the procedures had worked well enough, and she called Amelia Bones at her office.

"It worked," she stated without preamble as soon as she was connected.

"..." Amelia was temporarily speechless but that didn't last for long. "You're sure? How much do they remember?"

"Almost all of their lives, really. They claim to remember their Auror training and haven't spotted any gaps, which shows that the treatment passed the initial testing. They're up and mobile, as well as being as lucid as the next man, who in this case was an accredited Healer overseeing it all."

"That's excellent! I will have to talk to them myself after work, I am afraid. I cannot get there any quicker, there is just too much to do each day even with clones!"

"There wouldn't be any point in getting here sooner than that. They are still adjusting and we have them under observation just in case. I would not let you see them for at least that long, for their sake."

Amelia was unhappy with being told no, but she could see the sense of it. Merlin knew she didn't want to set back their recovery. "Okay, I will see you tonight at the usual time."

She smiled at the Harry clone with her. "You heard all that?"

"Ninja hearing." He grinned. "It's great news!"

The pair took time out for a small celebration before Amelia reluctantly got back to work. With the help of his and her clones, the paperwork wasn't the monster it could have been and she was soon caught up. It was days like this that Amelia loved her new job.

At Hogwarts, it was time for Harry and Susan to take their next shift on patrol of the castle as Prefects. Susan loved these times when she was paired up with him. They got to have the castle to themselves for hours at a time, no distractions. Tonight, they had invited her co-Prefect (of sorts) Hermione along.

As they did their rounds, they talked, taking the shortest route from one amorous couple to the next with the aid of the Marauder's Map to track down the out of bounds teens. Barely forty minutes into their shift, they had rousted out the last of them and Hermione got a glint in her eyes before leading her lovers to an abandoned classroom where they made a different kind of noise. Susan knew she was supposed to stop these kinds of activities not take part, but she would never turn down the eager brunette or Harry when they were in this mood. Besides, often enough it was Susan dragging them off for some privacy on their nights off.

That night, Susan went to sleep sandwiched between Harry and Hermione, a peaceful smile on her face. Her smile was of a decidedly different nature hours later when she was woken up by Hermione.

"Good morning, you two!" Susan told the pair after she got her breath back, before pulling Hermione up and kissing her fiercely.

That same morning in the Granger home, after Matt and his clone left for the day, Hermione's clone was sitting downstairs wrapped in a blanket. She had a lovely cup of cocoa steaming in front of her and her mother Liz on the big lounge chair facing her, listening to the radio. She loved getting to spend this time with Liz, getting to know her better and deepening their relationship.

The peaceful mood was broken when Hermione cursed quietly.

"Hermione?" Liz's concerned voice broke through and drew her out of the rush of emotions.

"Oh, I got the memories from the real Hermione, Mum." The clone griped as her right hand moved of its own accord under the blanket and under her panties.

"You normally like that update, honey. Why is it a problem now?"

Hermione pulled her finger up and glared at it, disappointment written on her face. "It's a problem because Harry had just finished cumming inside me, I mean, her, after she rode him for an hour. She had to choose just then to do the transfer, rather than after. I just love how he tastes, and I don't have it."

Liz was shocked in a couple of ways, firstly by just how bluntly Hermione had talked about it as usually she brought it up more smoothly, but mostly by Hermione's confession.

'If only I had someone willing to help take care of my needs,' Liz thought as she got up, wanting to give her daughter some privacy if only to make Liz comfortable. She messed around in the kitchen to appear busy, returning only when the sounds from the living room stopped.

Hermione looked up, feeling much better, and gasped. "Mum, are those Foxy Lady panties?" 'God, she looks hot wearing Harry's clothes.'

"Mhm, I love the way they feel on me. For off the rack, they're really good. See, I'm wearing one of their bras too."

"You know, there's nothing like tailor-made when it comes to clothes." Hermione replied with a smile. "And Harry would be happy to give you the full treatment. Spa, massage, fitting, facial, manicure, pedicure. Come on, I'll give him a call and we can head over today."

"I don't know. Do you really think he would be willing to do that for me?"

"Of course! You know he's always happy to make time for you. Even if he wasn't, he'd do it for me and... I love the way he pampers me." Hermione admitted with a blush and a smile. She liked to think of herself as an independent young woman but the truth, which she was fully aware of, was that she already considered her relationship with Harry a permanent part of her life.

Liz gave it a brief consideration. She didn't really have anything to do that couldn't wait, and a day at the spa sounded great. "Ok, Hermione, go call him, but no pressuring him!"

"Mum!" Hermione pouted, then grinned as she dashed off to the phone, her own Foxy Lady panties showing as she ran.

Liz chuckled. However much Hermione changed, she was still the same eager little girl. An echo of conversation came out to her from the hall as Hermione spoke with whoever was on the other end of the line, then Hermione charged back into the living room.

"He's happy to do us both, Mum." Hermione said without preamble.

Liz's eyebrows rose at the double meaning but she smiled anyway. "Then why don't we get ready, honey."

Arriving soon after at the Kitsune Compound, thanks to more of the ninja techniques that had already improved their lives, the Granger girls were led through by Harry to the palatial area set aside for the spa.

Liz recognised a couple of the ladies already there and they obviously recognised her, calling out to her to come on over as they lounged by the indoor pool. "Thank you, Anko and Vicky. You know, looking around, I can't understand why I tried to talk Hermione out of this."

"Neither can I," Vicky replied, "you do seem to be intelligent for a human."

Anko rolled her eyes. "Behave, Vicky, or I'll tell Naruto to cancel your next massage."

Vicky raised her perfectly shaped nose in disdain. "Then Harry would do it for me. He, at least, appreciates me."

Hermione laughed, as did Anko and Liz. "Oh, I know he does. So do I, for that matter." The bushy-haired brunette added with an over-the-top leer. "What's not to like?"

"Exactly." Vicky drawled, before joining their laughter.

Liz smiled. It was great to see her once-friendless daughter able to relax like this. Harry tapped her shoulder, startling her all over again with just how quiet he was out of habit.

Hermione just grinned at the way her mother relaxed into his touch, accepting his guidance over to one of the massage tables, clones already helping her step out of her clothes and getting up onto the table. Her view was interrupted as her own escort arrived, giving each nearby clone of his a kiss and a smile that promised much.

Anko and Vicky weren't left out either. Other clones of Harry arrived, guiding the older ladies to their own tables. Sweet scents and peaceful music already filled the air as he treated the ladies to a time of pampering, repaying them partially in his own mind for all that they had done for him in his life.

Angelique had been wandering the Compound, only just finished with a lazy breakfast after a lie-in of the best kind with Harry, when she heard feminine screams from one end of the building she was in. Curious as she thought she recognised one of them, she made her way over. The door to the day spa area was ajar and she entered, a devious grin in place, and made to sneak up on Hermione. Sneaking up on Harry (or Anko) was impossible so that left her target for this as the young girl with the big heart.

Naturally, Harry's clones had tracked her but the played along when the French witch motioned to the one by her head to move back, leaning down and kissing Hermione on the neck. "Morning, cherie," she murmured to her lover.

"Morning, Angelique." Hermione groaned, already being borne up by Harry's magic hands.

The beautiful Veela then kissed each Harry in turn before heading over to the nearest table, her ass swaying with each step. "Oh, Harry, won't you do me too?"

Anko's eyes narrowed of their own volition before she groaned as Harry's hands found a kink she didn't know she had and worked on it mercilessly.

While the ladies enjoyed this opening to their time in the day spa, Harry's mind was slowing down from its normal fast pace, relaxing even as he helped these ladies to relax. That's why he didn't bother doing more than recording their conversations between the moans.

"Oh, isn't he divine?" Vicky purred as he worked her over.

Angelique and Hermione groaned their agreement. "You should feel what else he can do." Angelique added. "I know I could never go back to my life without him. It would be worth it just for ze mornings, and after breakfast, and.." Angelique's voice trailed off into a particularly potent moan as Harry's hands became quite wonderfully unprofessional, shutting her up nicely.

"Oh and sleeping with him. I never need a hot water bottle with him around." Hermione's voice was particularly proud of that. She'd heard from some of the older girls about cramps but never had a problem with Harry around to ease those pains.

"Oui, he is most considerate, non?" Angelique's English slipped a little as the pleasure made it harder to think in any language. "I wouldn't even mind if he didn't heal me after our lovemaking, 'owever. Walking is overrated when the alternative is 'Arry using my body so often."

Liz groaned. This was not what she needed to hear.

"What's wrong?" Anko asked.

"Oh, it's just that I am surrounded by women who don't have to wear their fingers out." Liz shut up after that, embarrassed at blurting out her problem in front of her daughter and the ladies like that.

"It's worse when you know that their lover is practically a god in bed," Vicky added.

"She's right. Harry Potter is what every Veela who has ever lived wants in a mate. Handsome, strong, magically powerful-"

"And a demon in the sack who keeps going and going." Anko finished for her.

"How on Earth do you know that?" Liz asked.

"I'm a ninja," Anko laughed. "Finding out details like that is a big part of the job. If Harry doesn't want us watching, he knows how to get us to stop but it seems some of his Jewels enjoy being watched and he doesn't mind. He had to get over any shyness years ago when we checked on his training in these matters."

"We?"

"Yeah, a few of us made sure he knew what he was doing a couple of years ago when we noticed that things were heating up. We didn't want him hurting any of the girls by mistake, and neither did he. We didn't have sex or anything like that, but we did thoroughly test his knowledge and talents. Damn if he didn't impress me, though."

Apolline Delacour had been visiting the Compound too, using the opportunity to unwind as well as catch up with her old friend Angelique and her daughter Fleur. She knew it was rude to eavesdrop. She also knew at least three of the people in there knew of her presence, so she had just stood silent as she listened to the music.

Angelique's comments about Harry's prowess had caught her attention, of course, and adding that he was just what every Veela wanted was a naughty thing to say. She knew the young man had impressive control, of course, but she was content with her Jacques.

"Oui, I remember fondly my time with Jacques Delacour. A virile and willing wizard, but even at 'is best, he was not a thousandth as good as our Harry. Ah, yes, Harry, right there." She moaned as his fingers worked her calves.

"I aim to please." Harry replied cheekily. "Madame Delacour, would you like a turn?" he called out.

Instantly Apolline's mind was filled with images and she pushed them away but not without a twinge of regret, much to her shame. "W-When you aren't too busy, perhaps?" She cursed her voice for betraying her like that. She was a diplomat and among the best. Women like her did not get tongue-tied around teenage boys, though calling Harry a boy would be a disservice.

"I'm always ready, Apolline." Harry replied, not realising how seriously Apolline took him flirting with her. In his mind, he knew nothing would happen and assumed she would know it too.

She surrendered to the inevitable and strode in, shedding all her clothes and smiling at the looks she got, taking a table that another one of Harry's clones pulled up and getting set for what she hoped would be a good massage. Needless to say, she had to raise her expectations a minute later when he smashed the previous ones.

The group of ladies continued to chat, Apolline questioning if Harry could really be that good.

"Believe it." Vicky answered. "Anko can tell you more if you need it but Harry is the best lover on this planet bar none. Not even Naruto with all his experience is as good as combination of talent and experience found in that raven-haired man." She grinned devilishly. "That's why she wishes she had sampled his delights."

Anko blushed in such an innocent way then cracked up laughing at their expressions. "You believed me? Wow, even knowing how worldly I am, I still convinced you. I'm that good!" Her words rang slightly off to Hermione though she couldn't explain why. She sighed to herself. Maybe it was just that she wanted them to be untrue. It would be so deliciously naughty.

The ladies gave themselves over to Harry's nimble fingers and strong hands, letting him melt them into puddles of feminine pleasure. As the air filled with their sounds, Harry reflected that Vicky had been right as she often was, telling him that he was allowed to find these beautiful ladies sexy. It was only betraying his Jewels that was forbidden, and he knew he would never hurt them like that.

'I just wish it wasn't so hard to resist at times like these. I know they would feel pleasure, and I can smell Liz's arousal from just this. Man, I don't think either of us could handle it if I gave her the enhanced ones my Jewels prefer.'

Despite Vicky's comments about admiring the Angels he still felt the odd twinge of guilt whenever Tsunade-mum would lean forward in a low-cut top or Anko-mum would walk past him, fresh from her bath and not bothering to cover up. They weren't the only ones to make him feel that way, either, though he would swear they did it deliberately, even if he didn't know it for a fact. Anko-mum even thanked him some mornings! The woman was impossible and yet completely wonderful.

So, too, in a different way were Liz and Apolline. They were both married to good, decent men and had given birth to wonderful daughters. Whatever his body was telling him, whatever Hermione's fantasies, or his, he couldn't make a pass at either of them, nor accept one from them. His inner critic pointed out his arrogance to think they would. 'Surely, they know I... argh!'

He took a moment to make sure his hands were where they should be then put them to continue rubbing her calves as he centred himself quickly. "Just good training." Harry told himself, and resumed his work with a smile.

Hours later, suitably pampered, bathed, scented and brushed, Hermione, Vicky, Ino and Kurenai gathered on a semicircular lounge while Harry and Liz were inside as he took her every measurement and made her try out a number of colours and fabrics. With her head clearing from the overload before, Vicky's words forced themselves into Liz's consciousness. She couldn't see how the 'tamed' Bijuu could know what she claimed to know. Knowing that subtlety was all but useless against the young-looking ninja, she resorted to honesty.

"Vicky, just how did you know that about Harry? You sounded utterly certain about him." Liz's tone was carefully devoid of any emotion that could give offence to the powerful being outside the changing room.

Vicky looked up lazily as her flowing red hair was brushed and perfumed by a smiling clone. "Oh, Anko and the others let Harry into their minds. It's an intimate experience and one requiring massive trust, something ninja don't do lightly or often. It's also something linked to me. Naruto and all of the Angels go via me in a way when they do it, so I knew each time they let Harry in to copy the symbols of their skills, a representation of copying the skills and accumulated experience of them into his mind. I also sensed their emotions towards the kit."

"That.. that explains a lot." Hermione replied with a wicked grin.

Ino grinned. "It's always fun when we get to blackmail Anko for a change."

Vicky's eyes flashed with mirth. "I remember your scent too, Ino. Almost as strong as Kurenai's was, as I recall.

The normally prim and proper mistress of illusions blushed faintly and Ino laughed, glad that she had a distraction from her own revelation. "A-ha! You're in trou-ble" The blonde ninja gloated in a sing-song voice.

"Oh, I have been a very naughty girl. Do I get my spanking now?" Kurenai asked in a teasing tone, making Liz stiffen and Harry drop his needle in surprise that his Kurenai-mum would be so openly playful with Liz there.

For her part, Hermione blushed picturing the scene, her nipples threatening to cut through her blouse. Thankful that her mother was in the changing room and unable to see it, she concentrated on unsexy thoughts. 'Padfoot and Moony having a Manly Chest Hair competition. Damn! Not bad enough. Snape the drag queen. Nope, he did that already with his billowing cloak act. Greasy bastard. Daphne and Tracey oiled up and wrestling with Susan and me. No! Un-sexy thoughts, damn it brain! Ron Weasley after a full food frenzy looking at me and wanting to k, k, UGH can't even think it.' She looked down and confirmed it. 'Yep, Ron Weasley's good for something after all.'

She was just in time to see Liz step out of the changing room looking literally stunning. Harry grinned behind her. "Perfect!" he pronounced, satisfied with his work. "Just the effect I was looking for. Elegant yet sexy."

Liz came out in a stylish purple and lilac off the shoulder evening dress that was very frank down to her waist before flowing down to her ankles. While it would, technically, be acceptable in almost any high society gathering, very few women could pull it off but it was clear that Harry had found one in Liz. She looked around her at the reactions then turned to Harry and hugged him tight, overcome with events and letting her joy out. "Thank you, Harry! I think you're right. This looks great without getting impractical."

"Thanks, Liz, but please, give them a try for a little bit. I want to know if they ride up, pinch or have any problems at all. This was only the first fitting, after all. Usually I do at least a few sessions to make sure I've got everything right."

Liz nodded absently, her mind already flashing forward to more massages and pampering. 'Yes, I suppose I will have to endure all of that. It's a tough job, but I'm just the right woman for it.' She figured she was well and truly out of her rut, and she was glad for it. She knew that her marriage with Matt had been strained by her frustration over his lack of energy in the bedroom, and it frustrated him too, so this break could really help them.

She hoped it would. She still loved the man she had married nearly twenty years before and he was her friend too.

Liz came out of her musings, hearing Vicky say something that she couldn't believe.

"-and once the kit finishes growing, I am going to join his harem. I will not settle for second best." The Kyuubi declared with an expression full of mischief on her face. None of the others were quite sure if she was being serious or this was just another prank from the co-founder of the Kitsune Clan of pranksters. That was part of the fun, really.

Ino asked casually, "Have you spoken to Naruto about it yet?"

Vicky didn't even shrug. "No, I was thinking of telling him afterwards."

Kurenai smirked. That would be a good prank and just her style. "Still, you know this was just for a holiday."

Somehow, Liz found herself getting roped into trying other clothes for most of the day. From the elegant and classy through to completely slutty outfits including dresses that seemed more like belts for all they covered, both the sexy and the practical, she tried them all and had a blast. She was asked by her shocked daughter after one number, "Mum, have you thought of trying out as a model? You would be an instant hit for the Foxy Lady label!"

Liz couldn't help herself, preening at that comment. In one day, she had enjoyed more, and more genuine, compliments on her looks than she had received in the last few months, and it did wonders for her self-confidence.

As for her daughter, well-

"Kurenai, could you please tell me this isn't some illusion of yours?" Hermione asked, feeling hotter under the collar as she saw her mother wearing a pale blue bikini that was little more than strings. It got worse when Harry gave her that smile, walking out in one of his own creations. Looking up at the silent older woman, she spotted traces of lust there as Kurenai watched Harry. Ino's eyes, Hermione noted, were also tracking her man, and she smirked in triumph.

"No, no special techniques used except for whatever Harry did with needle and thread," Kurenai said, her gaze examining the other woman critically before she remembered that she was certainly not competing for Harry's affections. She was a one-man lady and that was that.

Hermione sighed, burning the images into her memory, before grinning. "He really is the most surprising person I know."

"He takes after his father in that." Ino noted. "Both of them, from what I've heard from Sirius and Remus, adored surprising people."

Hermione filed that away but nodded. She would have to solve the nature versus nurture argument some other time. Harry Potter defied such a simple analysis much like he defied magical laws. She stood up and got closer, then dived with a smile at Harry, kissing him and whispering her thanks in his ear. Harry dragged her into the changing room, a clone already dashing off with some new creations made just for her.

"Now you can join your Mum, Hermione, and get another fitting." Harry murmured wickedly, his breath in her ear as his hands tugged and adjusted everything just so and teasing her so deliciously before giving her bum a firm pat, pushing her out to strut her stuff. She saw Liz's eyes roaming with approval of the tight pale blue top and silver microskirt that showed off her bum nicely, and Hermione consciously fought back her arousal, not wanting to scare off the older Granger lady. 'Small steps, Hermione. Let my patience be my weapon.'

Watching, Harry had a big smile, enjoying putting his Jewel in the spotlight so everyone could see how beautiful she really was inside and out. As his gaze took in Liz, so quickly she missed it, he noted she liked the new Hermione too. He also saw the reactions of Kurenai-mum, Ino-mum and Vicky to his own presence and couldn't deny he liked that as well.

Who wouldn't like being surrounded by beautiful, sexy and loving women?

Madame Amelia Bones, Minister for Magic, gave a pleased smile to Tsunade and to the Healer who had been working alongside her.

They were watching Frank and Alice Longbottom casting spell after spell from their Auror training, working steadily down the list in alphabetical order. Behind her, Harry's clone waited unseen by the Healer. It was easier to protect her if people didn't notice him.

Harry wasn't sure that he agreed with Amelia but he did agree that it was her job as Minister to make it. The whole experiment to restore Frank and Alice's health had been made secret not just from the general public or the Wizengamot but also from the Ministry and even their own family. Even now, their son Neville was at Hogwarts, unaware that his parents were no longer invalids.

This was one time that the mutual secrecy oaths were tripping him up. Every day since the procedure, he had felt the warning pain in his chest telling him that he couldn't mention this, not yet.

There was hope, however. Amelia had assured him that she would let Harry tell Neville directly as soon as they were done with the tests. If nothing else went wrong, that should be today. A week before, Alice had miscast a tricky defensive spell and they were all worried for a while, especially when Alice had fainted. It turned out to be a result of the misfire. The spell had started to use her power but the failed spell hadn't stopped draining her until she was literally unable to continue it.

When she woke, she asked for a drink of water then explained that was one she had always had trouble casting. Red-faced, Frank confirmed that. He simply hadn't thought about the fact until it came and smacked them in the face.

Apart from minor hiccups, that was the extent of the problems. The rest of the delay was waiting for their power to recharge from all the heavy work they had been putting it through. On that score, both Longbottoms seemed to have about the same capacity for spellcasting in a day as they did before the attack, and the rest of their time was spent catching up on events.

Harry recalled the day that the pair had been told about their son.

"He did what?!" Frank Longbottom roared before grabbing his wand and slamming it on the table before pacing.

"That's what I was told."

"He dangled my baby out a window?!" Alice was scarcely calmer than her husband.

"And from what I was told, the reaction when he was dropped was to celebrate him being a wizard. Nothing about this Uncle Algie even being told off for scaring your son or nearly killing him, let alone being put on trial." Harry confirmed grimly.

"I know they were concerned about his magic but that is madness!" Frank was incredulous.

"They should have loved him no matter what." Alice added, showing that Ino's work to cure her of prejudice had worked.

"I couldn't agree more." Tsunade had said, ruffling Harry's hair, which he tolerated.

The pair had calmed down but Harry wouldn't bet that Augusta Longbottom would enjoy being called to account for her abuse of her grandson. That was one reason the parents were working hard now, looking to get their lives restored in all ways and taking Neville back into their lives.

Finally, the tests were done for the day, both practical and written, and Amelia looked over the papers one last time.

"Frank, Alice," she called, and smiled at their eager looks. "You've passed. It looks like you hadn't managed to forget everything like you half-promised me you would, either. These are some of the highest scores we've had."

"Oh, I can't tell you how pleased I am about that!" Alice replied. "Does this mean we can finally get out of here and see Neville?"

"Yes and no. Yes, you can get out of here, though I still hope you'll agree to wait on that, but you can't see Neville yet. He's still at Hogwarts, you know. But," she continued, seeing the crestfallen looks, "the train will carry him back to London in only a few days. I will have a few of the new Aurors on hand so you can give your son a proper reunion. The reason I would like you to wait is to make sure I can get the paperwork through on your reinstatement before anyone would try to oppose it." She hated asking but she was uncomfortably certain that it was needed.

"What would you have us do then?"

"Study-" Amelia broke off seeing the distaste the pair had for her idea. "Oh, don't worry, this will be something better than old newspapers and history books. I want you to study the reports from the attacks on my Aurors. No one does that and gets away unpunished."

She saw that her words had worked. "Why don't we have lunch while one of my guards fetches the files?"

And so it went. While they didn't find any new leads in the data, the pair did bring a new intensity to the investigation even as it occupied their minds.

When the Hogwarts students packed up and got on the train, Harry took the somewhat unusual step of seeking out Neville, finding him chatting with Fay Dunbar, a fellow Gryffindor.

"May I come in?"

"Sure, Harry, what's up?"

"I have some news. You know how I've been trying to get permission for you to spend some time with us these holidays?"

"I remember, Harry. I just don't think Gran's going to go for it. She doesn't like people pushing her around after she's made a decision."

"I know that, and I know that she doesn't like me too well after we tried to convince her to change her mind. Still, I did manage to get permission from your family. You're going to have a great time, mate, and Fay, you're welcome to visit us, too, if your parents agree." Harry had spotted the way the girl liked Neville, even if the boy was still unsure. He was rewarded with a smile from her.

"You sure, Harry? This isn't another of your pranks, is it?" Neville asked sceptically.

"Neville, you really have permission, mate. We've got a big dinner planned and everything."

Though still doubtful, Neville shrugged and went along with it. If nothing else it would be a time away from his strict and severe grandmother and with friends. Harry caught the look from Fay and excused himself, letting the girl get more time with the boy she wanted.

Back with the Jewels, Harry briefly explained the situation. Sophie and Tracey loved it. "Very sneaky," Tracey called it, "you told him enough of the truth to get him to agree, while still preserving the surprise."

Hannah wasn't as happy, though. "Don't you think he could be upset with you, Harry?"

Harry shrugged. "Sure, it's possible, but he'll get over that quickly, I figure, and I'm willing to live with that unhappiness if it means he can live with his parents again."

While a few of the Jewels still had misgivings, they put them from their minds and talked of other things. Before they knew it, the train ride had flown by and it was time to get out of the train. Harry went first, leaving clones to help the ladies with their bags, and snagged Neville.

"Come on, Nev!" Harry told him enthusiastically as a quick spell lightened the boy's trunk.

Neville surrendered to the inevitable and followed along behind his eager friend. Harry was leading them off the train and down the platform towards the barrier to King's Cross proper. He stopped three quarters of the way there and Neville looked up, wondering why.

There, in front of his eyes, were his parents looking healthier than ever.

"Harry?!"

"Go on, Nev. Don't keep them waiting."

Neville didn't remember covering the distance between them, suddenly engulfed in a hug from his mother, his father's arms coming around both of them. He didn't know if he was saying anything, or why his cheeks were wet, but none of that mattered, nothing mattered at all, now that he had got his dearest wish of all.

By the time he became aware of his surroundings again, the trio were in the back of a comfortable Muggle car. He had his mother to his right, his father to his left, and all was right with his world. On the car ride, deliberately extended by Naruto behind the wheel, the family managed to talk about the things they needed most.

"We're proud of you," Frank had told him soon into the ride, "you have worked hard and grown into a fine young man."

"And I love you very much, Neville." Alice added. "We both do." Naturally, this set the scene for his parents to hug him again, something he didn't think he would ever get too much of.

When Neville entered Harry's home, he was amazed to see how many people were waiting for them. Not only were Harry and his ladies all there, as well as Harry's adopted family, but the Minister for Magic, Amelia Bones herself, was there.

"Welcome to the Kitsune Compound." Harry announced formally, though the smile on his face told Neville he was thoroughly enjoying surprising his friend. It was a good thing Neville was speechless from the repeated shocks, as he had no idea what he would have said.

Hours later, the party was winding down. He searched out Harry and asked to speak in private.

"You lied to me."

"No, I didn't, Neville."

"But you told me that you had permission for my visit and I didn't see Gran anywhere."

"I said that your family had given permission, mate, and they most certainly had. Quite insistent, your parents." he grinned at his friend. His grin fell a little. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you the whole truth but officially your parents are still invalids, at least until the morning. First thing in the morning, the last of the paperwork will clear and Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom are reinstated to the active duty roster, though on a little leave for personal reasons. Still, they did want to see you again and this was the best way to give all of you the chance to do that without the Death Eaters and their sort finding out. It'd be stupid to give you your parents back then risk their safety."

Neville had to agree with that, at least. "I still don't like the way you kept it from me, Harry."

"And I don't like keeping secrets from my friends but this one wasn't mine to share. Madam Bones used her position as Minister to get your parents treated because they were Aurors but she knew if word of it got out too soon, she could be blocked by a Wizengamot using the excuse of Dark Magic as a rallying cry to oppose it. They could easily have demanded your parents be killed because of that, and while the Minister could stop that, it would make it harder all around for you to be reunited and for them to get their jobs back."

"So that's why I was kept in the dark? So my parents could be drafted back into a fight that almost cost them their lives last time?" Neville was getting angry.

"No, or at least not just that. The Minister takes her duties to protect the public seriously and she's being blocked in all sorts of ways by a corrupt Wizengamot and others hostile to peace and justice. Getting your parents healthy means that more lives can be saved, something they volunteered to do. However, they could resign if they wanted. It's their choice, now.

"Really, it was mostly a legitimate excuse to override your grandmother on the treatment. We knew your parents would recover but she wouldn't listen, wouldn't accept it. I think she didn't want old wounds torn open again." Harry was sympathetic to that, more than he wanted to be given how it had hurt Neville, but the old witch was still wrong.

"Well, too bad!" Neville snapped.

"Calm down, mate, and take a deep breath. You've got them back, and no one will take them away from you." Harry promised, walking with his friend to the Longbottom suite where Neville would be staying while at the Compound. He opened the door and Neville looked ahead, seeing his parents smiling and waiting for him to join them.

Thank you for reading. Your support and reviews are appreciated. Thanks as always to my hard-working betas.