A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.
-oOo-
Chapter 6
-oOo-
September 15, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Ginny watched Harry and Lavender walk down towards the Quidditch pitch. They were walking with Ron, Parvati, Hermione, Dean and Seamus. She had her hand in Harry's, her fingers intertwined with his and giggling at something Harry said. His Firebolt was slung over his shoulder, and she had a Cleansweep Eleven Ginny had never seen before. Ginny's eyes narrowed. The slag was not going to steal her slot on the team, and she was not going to end up with Harry.
Behind them the annoying giggles of Romilda, Megan and Erica came to her. "You think that will work?" Romilda queried.
She knew her roommate had a crush on Harry for almost as long as Ginny had herself. The thing was, Romilda only wanted him because he was a star Quidditch player, The Boy-Who-Lived and a boy who always won against all odds.
As she thought about it, her anger subsided a little. Ginny wanted him for some of those reasons as well, but she was starting to understand what Hermione had been telling her. After a long sigh, Demelza said from besides her, "You still really like him, don't you?"
Ginny snorted. "Is it that obvious?"
Her friend looked towards Harry and Lavender and then back at her. "Not as obvious as Romilda and her slags," Demelza whispered.
Ginny laughed. "Merlin, I love you, Elza."
The dirty blonde smirked. "I know. I am loveable."
Ginny really laughed and pushed her roommate, who laughed too, and hip checked her. Next to Luna, Demelza was her best friend. "You ready for today? I talked you up to Harry over the summer."
"I know. You've already told me like three times a day since we got back. If I didn't know any better, I would say you want me to fail," she teased.
"Oh, blow off," Ginny retorted.
Demelza laughed. "I told you a few years ago, if you just acted this way around him, he would have noticed you."
Ginny sighed. She had been way too nervous around the Boy-Who-Lived to do anything but be clumsy, shy and idiotic around Harry. Hermione had told her the same towards the end of her third year. Until the last few months, she hadn't been able to get over her hero worship of the green-eyed god... she silently berated herself again. Hermione was right. She still didn't see Harry as just Harry. He was too much of a Hero to do that.
"I know. It just hurts. I thought that one date was perfect," she said a little dreamily.
Demelza gave her an understanding smile. "I am sure it was. Harry seems like a nice guy."
Ginny sighed again. "He is. I just wish I didn't seem like a wide-eyed schoolgirl when we went to Brighton. Elza, I saw things I never have before. Did you know Muggle women pretty much wear their bras and knickers when they go to the beach or swimming? Even the one-piece suits showed more than I ever have outside our dorm," Ginny told her.
Demelza was a pureblood, like her. The girl's eyes widened a little. "I don't mind going in my skin if it was some friends or a boyfriend, but just prancing around the beach like that?"
Ginny snorted. "Yeah. I asked mum if I could get one and she thought I was trying to find something for my bridal night."
Demelza laughed, her face brightening a little, like Ginny's. "I'm not sure I'm ready for a guy to see me like that yet."
"After seeing Harry in only his night shorts this summer I'd let him see me all he wants," Ginny said, her eyes unfocusing a little.
"You slag," Demelza said scandalized. "We can arrange that in the locker rooms."
"Elza!" Ginny scolded, her neck and cheeks feeling warm. "You are such a slag."
"If the right boy came along," the girls said with more bravado than her face showed.
Ginny laughed at her friend's reaction. Soon they were entering the girl's locker room and changing into their gear. Ginny's mood rose some when she realized Lavender wasn't on the field. Looking around, half the house was on the field though. Out of the eighty or so in Gryffindor, thirty or more were on the pitch. Ginny and Demelza lined up next to Katie Bell. Katie nodded at them. "Finally, some good players," Katie said to them.
"I am going for Chaser this year," Ginny told her.
"I figured. No one is beating our Captain to the snitch. You any good, Robbins?"
"Ginny says so," the brunette replied.
"Good. I like an all-girls squad," Katie said with a smile.
"Right! Everyone quiet down," Harry yelled over the milling crowd. "I want to get this done by lunch, so if anyone came down just to gawk, or don't have a broom, up into the stands."
Romilda and her clutch all started to giggle at something again and took off towards the stands. "Now... Katie, why are you over there? Get over here. You are co-captain," Harry said to the girl next to them.
"Don't let me down," Katie said with a smile and a wink as she stepped up to Harry's side.
"Right. You five. Do five laps around. I am going to see how you fly first." Four more were told to leave the field in just a few minutes. By the time he started to evaluate the Chasers, there were only seven of then left trying out. Harry and Katie weren't putting up with any goofing off. By the time she was flying with Demelza and Katie, practicing some drills as Harry evaluated the Beaters, she felt really good for her chances.
They all landed and thirteen of them were left as the tower struck half-past-eleven. "Thanks for trying out. Katie and I will be talking, and I will post a roster of people and alternates by Tuesday. Wednesday at quarter past four will be our first practice. Anyone on the team, we will have two practices every week. Wednesday after last class and Sundays after lunch. I do expect you all to run and workout every Tuesday and Thursday morning with me. Six AM in the practice fields."
A few groaned. Ginny didn't care. Harry had started to do that four times a week at the Burrow, and Ron and her had joined him. "It's not that bad," Ginny told Demelza.
"I have a hard enough time waking at seven to get to breakfast," she whinged.
A few talked to Harry before Lavender came and joined him. She watched as the girl walked up to Harry, kissed him and then took off to fly around the pitch with him.
"Let it go, Gin," Demelza said softly. "Ben is looking at you," she said, nodding her head to Benjamin Greives.
The boy was cute, and he was a half-blood that qualified. She still couldn't stop looking at the raven-haired boy that was laughing as Lavender hit his arm while they casually made a circuit twenty feet in the air. She wanted Harry, but she couldn't try what she was thinking. Marietta Edgecombe had been caught trying to potion Michael Corner last week and she was lucky to only get an in-house suspension for the week.
This law was ruining everything!
-oOo-
September 20, 1996
Hogsmeade, Scotland
Harry and Lavender were walking away from the main streets of the village. It was a rare warm day in the highlands of Scotland and getting away from the town sounded like a good idea. The more he spent time with Lavender, the more he liked her.
As they walked past the style marking the edge of the town and the wards around it, they angled towards the path that led to the Shrieking Shack. "You know, the shack really isn't haunted," Harry told her.
She looked at him. "Another of your adventures you haven't told me about yet?"
He smirked, before his face dropped. "Well, there was a creature that howled and shrieked in at one time, but that is a story about my father. Mine is well after that," he told her.
"Alright, you got me. What story do you have?"
"You going to tell me about that bet you lost that time Diggory caught the snitch?"
"Maybe," she said coyly.
"Maybe?"
Lavender gave him a mischievous look. Harry was starting to learn that look meant he was going to get a good snog, and after touching her again last weekend, he might get her hands on him again. Harry was happy that he had been able to kiss her chest before she had undone his zipper. It was so much better having Lavender relieve the bulge in his pants than what he did to himself at times. He almost lost it again when she licked her fingers when they were covered in his cum.
"Maybe," she said back.
"So," he said, a little thrill of excitement going through him. "It was a werewolf that used to go to the house every night of the full moon," Harry told her.
She missed a step and he stopped, his arm shooting out around her waist to keep her up. "A werewolf? Harry, we can't go there if there is a werewolf there."
"Last I checked, it's not a full moon tonight, and there used to be a werewolf that used it. When Professor Lupin was here as a student, he was friends with my father and Sirius Black. They both became Animagus so they could spend the full moons with Professor Lupin," Harry told her. "That was how it became known as the Shrieking Shack."
She looked at him, her eyes still a little wide. "If I didn't know you better, I would say you just gave me a tall one."
Harry laughed. "I wouldn't believe it myself if I didn't know it was real."
She took his hand that was on her waist and pulled it tighter, so he was holding her against him. "Are you sure there isn't a werewolf there anymore? I liked Professor Lupin. I never knew he was one."
"He doesn't like to tell people."
They started to walk that way again. A few younger years in blue and green trim cloaks were walking back. "I get the feeling that isn't all that happened."
Harry sighed. "No. It was the night I found out my godfather was innocent. It was also the night Professor Lupin forgot to take his wolfsbane potion and he was going to leave anyways, even if Snape hadn't let the secret out. He didn't want to hurt anyone."
She nodded. "Tell me about it?"
And he did. They walked to the house and found a rock in the woods just a short distance off the path. Ron had told him the twins had shown him this area. It was off the path, not easily seen, and if you touched the rune array they had left, it put up a nice distraction and silencing charm. He took up the seat that had been carved into it and Lavender sat on his lap as he told her the story.
"Merlin, Harry. You were all only thirteen!" Lavender exclaimed.
"Well, Ron and Hermione were fourteen at the time," he said a little sheepishly.
She just blinked at him. "Tell me that is the craziest thing you have done! There are rumors of other stuff," she mentioned.
Harry nodded, his expression serious. "Lav, that was probably the tamest end of year I have had."
She put her forearms on his shoulders, wrapping her arms around his neck and moving a little closer to him. Her eyes searched his for a moment. He liked her eyes. They were almost hazel. After a moment, she asked, "You don't want me telling Parvati, do you?"
He regarded her for a moment. "I am trying to open up to you about what you are really going to get with me. I seem to attract trouble. The battle at the Ministry was worse than what the Daily Prophet has said, and I have other... skeletons that don't always make me a good person."
Her eyes were still scanning his. "I don't believe that."
"I have killed people."
His heart stopped for a moment as she kept regarding him. She didn't look scared or as though she wanted to run. "Where they Death Eaters?"
"Yes. Most of them."
After a moment, she nodded. "Quirrell?"
"He was possessed by Voldemort. He was the first one I killed. I also killed three people at the Ministry. I'm not a good person, Lav," he said.
She nodded. "I don't believe that," she told him. "If you can tell me it wasn't because of self-defense then I might agree with you."
Harry took in a deep breath and let it out. "I cut down Bellatrix Lestrange when her back was turned to me after she killed Sirius."
Lavender's face became thoughtful. "Is that the worst you have done?"
He let out a nervous, mirthless laugh. "Isn't that bad enough?"
She moved a little closer and put her forehead on his. "From everything I know, she was no better than an animal. I may not understand why you would do it that way, but I think I can understand you wanted vengeance. Would you do it again?"
"No," he said without hesitation. "I won't just cut down someone like that again."
"Good. Do you still want to be an Auror?"
"I don't know what I want to do. I wanted to be an Auror because I needed to kill Voldemort. Now that he is gone, I don't know what I want to do," he told her truthfully.
Lavender nodded her forehead against his. "To tell you the truth, neither do I."
"You don't think me a murder? You would still want to be with me?"
She smiled. "Harry, we all knew you had to do what you needed too. If you killed someone because they were sending deadly spells at you, I would like to think I would do the same. I would do anything to protect my friends and my mother," she told him.
The tension in his body lessened. "I'm still not a good person."
"Oh, posh," Lavender said, leaning down and planting her lips on his. Harry returned the kiss. When she pulled back. "You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Harry Potter."
He laughed. "That was easy?"
She smirked. "I imagine it wasn't. Thank you for opening up to me. Am I the first person you have talked to about this?"
He let out a big breath. "Yes."
She leaned down and kissed him again. It wasn't long for their tongues to start to dance, and then her hands fisted his hair and they desperately snogged. His hands roamed under her jumper and shirt. The moan she gave for him to run his hands over her bra had him straining against her leg. He tried to cup her tit, but she was too big for his hand to fully hold her. "I like when you kiss my neck," she told him. He was all too happy to comply as he rubbed her nipple and she managed to get his earlobe in her mouth, sending a pleasant shiver down his spine.
He pulled back after a few, the signs that a hickey might form on her neck soon clearly visible. "Lav?" he breathed a little heavily, especially as her hand had managed to get between her his trousers and her skirt. She was stroking him. He had a hard time not to groan with need. "Yes, Harry?"
He made sure his eyes met hers. "You know I like you for more than just your body?"
He couldn't keep his groan in as she squeezed his cock. "I know. But I do like your body," she said, a seductive smile on her face. She ran her hand up his shaft.
"Merlin, you are beautiful," he complimented her, moving in for another kiss. His hand left her breasts to wander towards the hem of the long skirt she was wearing. He snaked his other hand around her side and up her shirt, sliding his hand under her bra. Lavender dove her tongue into his mouth, her hands rubbing his chest.
She gave a sigh and her breath washed over his neck as he put his hand on her thigh. She parted her legs enough for him to get his hand between them. Taking that as a good sign, he wanted to return the favor she had done for him last weekend.
He had had to have Dean swear to say nothing as he asked how to do this. Dean had given him a book that Seamus and him had been using. Harry ran his hand up to her crotch. She was wearing leggings, so it wasn't really possible for him to get his hands into her knickers without shedding some clothes. Harry was adventurous, but he didn't want her exposed if someone got around the wards. Maybe later they could find somewhere better than a broom closet to explore this more...
She did start to squirm and make the most enticing squeaks as his thumb started to stroke up and down her panties, his thumbs making a crease in her leggings and knickers as he pressed into her folds. She moaned into his mouth, "Take them off," she begged. He managed to slide his hands up and over the top of her under garments and into her knickers. She was wet and slick when his fingers rubbed the length of her slit. Lavender quivered and groaned. He pressed hard against her slit.
Soon he found the spot at the top of her slit, and he played with it as best he could with the tight space in her knickers. Harry really wanted to just get them off her. She was fisting his hair and sucking hard on his neck, her moans sending shivers down his body. She spread her legs a little more to let him bury his hand between her legs, his fingers sliding part way into her as his thumb made small circle at the hardened nib he had found. She bucked her hips into his fingers. After a few more minutes, she was panting hard, and her legs started to shake before she buried her face in his shoulder and cried out. Her whole body shook as he pressed harder and went faster. He moved so that one of his fingers could slide further into her. For a good minute or two she just moaned and screamed into his shoulder until he stopped. His fingers were soaked from touching her.
Her body was quivering as he pulled his hand away. "You alright," he asked, unsure to be worried or smug.
"Holy shit, Harry," she muttered. "I've never given myself an orgasm like that."
As he looked at his shiny hand, he asked, "Do you taste sweet?"
She looked up at him, her chest still heaving. "Can you be any hotter?"
He chuckled, kissed her, then licked his fingers, like she had done after giving him a hand job the other night. He could get used to her taste.
"Merlin," she whispered, putting her head back on his chest and curling up against him.
Definitely smug, he thought as he smiled into her hair.
-oOo-
September 25, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
It had been nearly a month since they had been back that the first bad reaction came from the stresses that those under the law finally broke. It was a relatively quiet morning. There had been a few rumors, and some not rumors, of the use of certain potions or charms. Everyone had heard what happened to Edgecombe. No one knew her target, but it was obvious she had gotten in trouble for a love potion.
It made most on edge, but no one suspected that it would be tried again, or in the way it had been.
They were eating breakfast when there was a commotion across the hall. "You complete pig!" a girl cried out. The smack of a hand across someone's face could be heard as the hall quieted down. Turning in his seat, Harry saw a blonde girl march over, grab a younger girl by her arm, and drag her up. "Daphne, what are you doing!" the younger girl screamed as she was dragged from the table.
Daphne, the older and taller blonde, looked absolutely livid. A blond boy shot up, the red mark of a slap clearly across his face. "Don't walk away from me, Greengrass," Malfoy snapped, his wand coming out.
On instinct, Harry drew his wand, as did others that had been in the D.A. last year.
"Mr. Malfoy! Wand away," a stern voice came from the head table.
"Just leave us alone," Daphne yelled over everyone.
"Daphne, let go," her sister yelled, trying to loosen the grip Daphne had on her arm.
"If you think I will let you marry that arse, you are mistaken," Daphne snapped at her sister. Two other girls took off after Daphne and her sister.
Draco's face contorted into rage. His wand went up and Harry had to blink twice when he saw it sail out of his hand and then he was hit with two stunners before ropes wrapped around him. The hall was quiet for a moment. Daphne had spun and had put up a shield between them and Draco.
"That is enough, Ms. Chang and Mr. Smith," the Head Mistress said. "Ms. Greengrass, you may go to my office if you need. I will join you in a couple."
Daphne just nodded and then frog marched her sister out of the hall. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey was floating Draco away, his head of house, Professor Sinistra, walking with them.
"Well, that was dramatic," Parvati giggled from across them.
Hermione, Dean and Ron didn't say a word. Lavender frowned. "I wouldn't wish that ponce on anyone."
Harry snorted. "Definitely not my type."
Lavender and a few others chuckled. "If I didn't know better, I would be worried," Lavender teased. She turned back around and kissed his cheek.
"Well, you know," he said back cheekily.
Hermione shook her head. "I am surprised that is the first," she commented.
"I am to, actually," Parvati said. "There have been a few other instances, but not like that."
Lavender nodded. "I heard Mary Doyle and Brenda Galston from Hufflepuff talking yesterday. Brenda was saying Marcus Fenwick from Ravenclaw tried to force her sister, Trudy, into signing a betrothal."
"It's only going to get worse as Christmas approaches," Ron agreed.
"Isn't Trudy only fourteen right now?" Parvati asked.
"Fifteen. She turns sixteen in January," Lavender said.
"Who is Trudy and Brenda Galston," Parvati asked.
Lavender turned to look up and down the table. Harry reached for his goblet of orange juice. "Over there. Four down from Neville and Hannah," Lavender said. "The two sisters both have sandy coloured hair."
Parvati nodded.
"Dean, didn't you find something about forcing people?" Hermione asked, taking out a notebook. Harry just about had his goblet to his mouth when he looked at her and Dean. Harry had been so busy with classes, Quidditch and Lavender, he had not spent much time with Hermione in the last month or so. That was something he was going to have to remedy.
"I think there was a study done on the runes in the seal that only the Ministry could force a marriage, and only if they were compatible and had not found a mate by a the time of selection, otherwise the 'free will' clause would be violated," he told her. Seamus gave his friend an equally mystified look, as though he didn't know Dean.
Harry figured he would ask her later, finally taking a drink of his orange juice.
Almost immediately he realized something was off. It tasted really bitter with a sickly-sweet aftertaste. He made a face. "Uhck. I think this has gone bad," he said.
As he put his cup down, he slowly closed and opened his eyes, feeling like he was looking through a tunnel. He blinked again and when he leaned back a little it felt like he was floating on water.
"Harry, you alright?" his girlfriend... no... his friend... no...
"Yeah..." he said a little slowly. He was starting to have visions. Lavender... his girlfriend?... He looked at her. In his mind's eye he saw her shirt off like last night... no... why would he have her shirt off?
As he looked at her, her curly brown locks became curly locks of a raven hair girl... then they started to morph into a mix of raven hair and straight fiery hair. He blinked again. The more rounded face of the girl he was looking at tried to elongate itself. Her eyes turned into a tricolour of brown, blue and hazel. His vision twisted, as though he was trying to see three people in one. The visage of the girl he liked had turned into something unholy.
He put his hand to his head and groaned as a massive headache started.
"Harry?" It was... it was... Hermione?
"What is going on? HARRY!" Lavender screamed as he felt like he was floating for a moment before a pain lanced through the back of his head...
-oOo-
Later that day...
Hogwarts, Scotland
Lavender sat at the side of the bed. She was holding Harry's hand in both of hers. Hermione was on the other side.
Lavender sniffed. She didn't want to cry anymore.
"He'll be alright, Lavender," Hermione tried to bolster her.
Lavender snorted. "Harry tried to warn me he was a magnet for trouble."
Hermione snorted back in amusement. "That sounds about right. Madam Pomfrey said he should be fine by tomorrow."
As Lavender thought about what happened, her face contorted. "Someone tried to poison him with love potion, Hermione. Two people. When I get my wand on them..."
"I get it. I have felt that way for years every time he comes in here," Hermione replied.
Lavender nodded. She looked at Harry and then Hermione. The same fear and caring showed in Hermione's face. Lavender knew she was stealing him from Hermione, but what choice did she have? What choice did either her or Harry have? She found she was really falling for him. According to the laws, Harry couldn't marry Hermione. Not unless he took on a second wife that couldn't claim any of his lines. Lavender did not want to share him.
Looking at Harry, she had never felt this concerned for someone, aside from her mum, before. She had also not gone as far or as fast as she had with Harry. She didn't regret it... no. She was really enjoying that physical side of their relationship, but it was still fast.
"Hermione, does Harry really like me?" Lavender asked.
There was a sad smile of resignation on the other girl's face. "Yes."
When Hermione didn't elaborate, she had to ask, "Are you sure? I know I'm stealing him from you, but I really like him, and I don't want to be assigned to someone from the Ministry."
Her dormmate looked a little sadder. "You aren't stealing him from me, Lav. He was never mine. I also think you two are really good for each other. He smiles more lately than I have ever seen him. I've never seen him really seek out anyone else's touch before. You both like to do similar things and he is as scared as you. He likes you, Lav. I can see it."
Lavender gave an uncertain smile. "I just wish we had more time. I feel like there is so much he hasn't told me."
"Have you told him everything about you?"
She bit her lip before saying, "Mostly. He doesn't need to know about my first two boyfriends or some other stuff."
Hermione nodded. "You would tell him if he asks, though?"
Lavender looked to Harry. After a moment, she said, "If he asks."
"Then ask him. I think Harry would tell you. Trust and family are very important to Harry, especially since he really hasn't had any," Hermione told her.
Lavender looked up. "I know he is living with the Weasley's now, but he hasn't told me what happened to his family. Did the Death Eaters get them last year?"
Hermione gave a mirthless chuckle. "I wish," the girl said darkly. Lavender's brow scrunched up in concern. Hermione sighed. "He will probably be upset with me later, but you should know, Lav, Harry didn't grow up in a nice house. His relatives hate and neglected him. He won't ever say it, but I think he was abused as well. For him to open up to you and look at you like he does, well, it's nice to see."
Lavender's eyes filled with tears again. "Is that why he won't ever talk about his relatives? Or some of the scars he has?"
Hermione nodded. "Harry is a very private person. His life has not been easy. If you ask him to open up to you, I think he will." The tolls of the bell striking six came to them. "I think he needs someone he can really open up too. You want to come down with me to dinner or stay here?"
Lavender looked at Harry. She was hungry, but didn't trust anyone else except Hermione, Ron, Parvati or Neville to keep an eye on him. "I'll stay here," she told Hermione.
The bushy hair girl nodded. "I'll make sure you get some dinner up here." Hermione leaned over Harry and kissed his forehead. As Lavender watched, it looked more like a sister kissing him than a potential rival.
She left and Lavender was left alone. A few minutes later, the curtains across from them opened. A bleary-eyed Daphne Greengrass stepped out. They regarded each other for a moment. "Is your sister alright?"
Daphne looked on the edge of tears. An internal struggle went across her face before she shook her head. "No. Nothing has been alright since father died this summer," the blonde said.
Lavender nodded. It had come out that the Greengrasses had been 'approached' by Death Eaters shortly before the battle at the Ministry. It was rumored her father was under the imperious curse. He died at the Ministry, but was not marked, so there was probably good evidence the man had been imperious.
"I'm sorry. I know we aren't friends, but I can be a good listener," Lavender offered.
Daphne sniffed, her usually haughty expression crumpling. "They raped her. Draco, Gregory, Theodore and Vincent. They raped her. They took advantage of her weakened state. Then they tried to obliviate her."
Lavender let go of Harry's hand and moved to Daphne. The girl broke down in her arms. "Draco was trying to... force me into a marriage contract... say they would do this. I didn't know... they had. He had been offering... a betrothal to her. He wanted to… hold it over me. Astoria said no originally... then suddenly changed her mind," Daphne got out through great racking sobs. "Astoria thought she was pregnant... turns out she is."
Parvati had come by earlier, saying that Aurors had shown up, but no one knew what was going on. Daphne just cried against her. Lavender held the girl she had never really spoken to before. She wasn't sure she would be in any better state.
It was a little while before Daphne was reduced to just sniffling.
"Can I do anything for you," Lavender asked, her heart going to the Greengrass girls. They may not have been the kindest people, but no one should have to go through that.
Daphne shook her head. "No. Mother should be back soon. We are thinking we may move to France."
Lavender nodded. "If you need anything I can do for you, I don't care you are a Slytherin."
Daphne wrapped her arms around her, hugging Lavender before pulling away. Lavender summoned a handkerchief and helped Daphne clean herself up. After a few, she helped the blonde to her feet.
"Thank you," Daphne said.
"I'll keep an eye on her if you need to step out for now," Lavender offered.
Daphne gave her a wan smile. "What happened to Potter? How did he wind up in here this time?"
Lavender gave a nervous expulsion of breath. "Love Potion poisoning."
Daphne's left eyebrow rose. Lavender quickly said. "Not me. I don't need love potion."
Daphne chuckled. "I suppose not. You are rather attractive."
Lavender smirked. "Believe it or not, I don't think he likes me for just my body."
"Really?" Daphne asked, looking to her Harry. "Maybe if things were different, I would have made a play for him."
Lavender bristled. "You better not."
Daphne gave her a level look. "I said may. And I would definitely not require love potions. Good luck, Brown. And thank you."
Lavender relaxed. No, Daphne Greengrass would not need love potions. Not with a body like hers. "You're welcome. I mean it, I'll keep an eye on her."
Daphne nodded. "Give me an hour or two so I can freshen up and pack our things."
Lavender nodded.
When the girl walked out, she went back to Harry. A few minutes later, Parvati came in with a plate and a goblet. "I checked it. There is nothing in it," Parvati said, putting them down on the table.
"Thanks, Parv," she said, gladly accepting the hug when her best mate wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Who did it," Parvati asked.
"I don't know. McGonagall won't say if they have figured it out or not," Lavender told her.
"I've heard Vane and Weasley are after him," her friend told her.
"I've heard that too. They aren't the only ones. I won't lose him if he wants me, Parv," she said rather fiercely.
Parvati snorted. "Harry likes you, Lav. It's not just lust in his eyes, though I see that too," Parvati commented with a sly smirk. Lavender gave a soft chuckle. "By the way, what did you do to him last night to have him look so happy when you got back?"
Lavender smirked. "I think Harry is very much a breast man," she said.
Parvati laughed. "So, he's learning you are a big perv?"
Lavender bit her lip. "For a boy that hasn't dated before, he's pretty good at what he does."
"Is he as large as Seamus says he is?"
"Large enough," she said, not wanting to let Parvati know Harry was pretty endowed. He was definitely larger than Dean and Michael Corner.
"Slag," Parvati said affectionately.
Lavender laughed. "Only for Harry."
After a moment, they sobered. "How is Harry and how are you?"
Lavender let out a sigh. "Madam Pomfrey had to call Slughorn to make an antidote. Nothing she tried up here worked. He was foaming at the mouth and convulsing," she told her friend.
Parvati hugged her again. "I'm sorry, Lav. If we find them, I'll make sure they don't do something like this again."
"They will be lucky to move again," Lavender added with a certain venom in her voice.
Lavender hugged Parvati before taking up Harry's hand again.
"You should eat. Hermione said you wouldn't leave his side," Parvati told her.
"I won't leave him until he is better. Did the Aurors arrest anyone?"
Parvati's face lit up with the juiciness of whatever happened. "Four Aurors escorted Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott and Vincent Crabbe out. They are still looking for Gregory Goyle. I wish I knew what they did," she said, excitedly.
Lavender motioned for her friend to quiet down. "Parvati, it's not for anything good. I think someone was raped, but you can't tell anyone. Best mate honour," she said seriously.
The joy in Parvati went to horror, then anger and then rage. "They did what?!"
"Keep your voice down. I am not going to say anything else, but it's serious," Lavender said in a harsh whisper.
"If any of them dare to touch me or Padma, I will castrate them," Parvati replied.
Lavender nodded her agreement. "I'll hold them down for you."
They fell into hushed conversation as she ate the beef and potatoes that Parvati had brought her. About eight, Parvati left. Hermione showed shortly after, handing her a cloth she had never seen before. When she unfurled it, she realized it was a cloak that felt like water in her hands and covered in fine rune work on the inside.
"This is Harry's invisibility cloak. I'm sure he won't mind you using it if you want to stay and avoid the matron," the girl said.
"You really are a good friend," she told Hermione.
"Harry is like a brother," she replied, and was gone soon after.
The only other thing of note happened about nine. A group came into the infirmary: Headmistress McGonagall, Professor Sinistra, Daphne, a woman that looked much like her daughter and three Aurors.
She silently looked on as the group talked and Daphne went into her sister's curtains. Not long after, Daphne walked out Astoria. The younger girl looked broken. Her eyes were sunken from crying and she just looked spent. Daphne nodded to Lavender before most of the group left.
Professor McGonagall watched the doors close with Madam Pomfrey at her side. "How could this happen, Poppy? This is a school. How could this happen? What have we come to that four underaged wizards assault someone almost three years younger and then do what they were going to do?"
The woman's voice was harsh, and emotion filled.
"I don't know, Minerva. Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe are not underage. I can only blame their parents. I know we were concerned about allowing them all back, but it was you, Filius and Hagrid that said they deserve another chance," Madam Pomfrey said.
There was a long silence. "Albus always thought everyone deserved another chance." The Headmistress sighed. "I have already sent a letter to the Board of Governors to allow me to enforce new rules to prevent anything like this again."
"I hope we can avoid it."
"As do I. How is Potter?" asked McGonagall.
"He'll recover. Ms. Brown has been attending him since this morning."
There were some clacks of boots on the flagstone and the women came around the screen at Harry's bed. "How is he doing?"
Lavender held his hand a little tighter. "He's just sleeping. He stopped moaning before lunch."
"Good," Madam Pomfrey said, moving to the bed. She ran her wand over him. "The antidote is working nicely, but he still has a little damage to his liver and kidneys. That should be right as rain by morning."
McGonagall seemed to relax a little. "That is good to hear. You should get to bed, Ms. Brown."
"I am not leaving Harry," she told her Headmistress.
Madam Pomfrey nodded. "You can sleep in the bed next to him. And I mean the bed next to him."
After a moment, she nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
"Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get into any more trouble," McGonagall said with a shake of her head.
"I don't think Harry likes to get into trouble," Lavender replied.
Both women shook their head. "Perhaps not, but it finds him. Poppy, let me know if there is any change in him. I need to notify Arthur and Molly Weasley about this."
"I already sent them an owl earlier today," Madam Pomfrey said.
McGonagall nodded. "Very well. I still need to finish my report for the Governors and then hopefully get some rest. Night, Ms. Brown."
"Good night, Headmistress."
When the woman left, Madam Pomfrey gave her a look. "I want you to lay down no later than eleven. In that bed. No funny business," the woman told her. The Matron waved her wand and a set of bed clothes appeared on the bed she was to sleep in.
Lavender nodded. She was too worried about Harry to do anything inappropriate. Besides, it wasn't any fun if he wasn't awake to reciprocate...
-oOo-
That same day...
Hogwarts, Scotland
Ron had helped Katie run the practice. She was good, but not as good as Harry at getting people to listen. Her squad listened to her without pause in the air, but on the ground, his sister was proving to be as head strong as their mother if she disagreed with something.
By the end of the practice, Ginny and Katie were at logger heads, even if Katie was the assistant-Captain. Harry would have squashed the disagreement, but he was in the hospital wing.
As he came down, Ron stopped his sister before she stormed off into the locker room. He knew it was dangerous, but something was off with Ginny, and he needed to know. "Gin, what's wrong?"
Ginny stopped and glared at him. "Besides the fact Harry is in the hospital again and we are out here? I don't know, Ron, what's wrong?" she snapped.
Ron shrugged. "Harry's always in the hospital. You've never reacted this way before."
Ginny huffed and Demelza came up behind him. "Gin, you should tell him."
Ron suddenly was very suspicious. "Tell me what?"
If Ginny's looks could kill, Demelza would have stopped breathing.
"If you don't tell him, I will. I know what you are thinking," the brunette threatened his sister.
Ginny huffed after a moment. "I bought some potion from Fred and George. The real stuff, not what they sell in the store..."
Ron's eyes narrowed. "Tell me you didn't spike Harry's juice this morning!"
"No. I wanted to, but I won't do that," Ginny told him. "I won't be like mum."
Ron blinked. "What do you mean you won't be like mum?"
Tears were starting to well in Ginny's eyes. "Ron, dad really loves mum, but..."
Ron got it but closed his eyes. "She used something to get him to notice her when they were at Hogwarts, didn't she?"
Demelza came in and wrapped an arm around Ginny. Ginny screwed up her face before putting her head on her friend's shoulder. "One time. Mum said she did it one time for their first date. Aunt Mildred too. She said that was common back then. She did it once or twice with Uncle James."
"Merlin," Ron said, running his hand over his mouth. Susan had worked her way down from the stands. "Ginny, what did you do with the love potion?"
"I had it locked in my trunk. It wasn't there when I went to check it after Harry went to the hospital wing," she told him.
"Go get changed. We have to go talk with Babbling or Pomfrey," he told her.
"I didn't use it, I swear."
Ron let out a small huff. "I'll believe you this time."
"Ginny had already added one of her hairs, so it should have been keyed to her. Whoever took it must not have known and added their own," Demelza said.
Susan was standing a little distance away. He nodded for her to come over. "Hey, Susie. We have some family stuff to handle. Can I catch you at dinner?"
Susan's beautiful brown eyes looked concerned. "Sure, Ron. If you need anything, let me know."
"Thanks, Susie," he said, pecking her on the lips.
"Come on, Ginny. Let's go get changed," Demelza said.
As they walked away, Susan asked, "Is she alright."
He let out a huff. "I love my sister, but she's been so obsessed over Harry her whole life."
Susan looked at Ginny and Demelza walking through the door to the girl's locker room. "She isn't the one who poisoned Harry, is she?"
"No, but I am pretty sure she bought the potion that caused it," Ron told her.
She didn't seem to care he smelled as she hugged him. Ron enjoyed the hug. The comfort was stronger than his teen hormones right now, though the feel of her body was not lost on him. Susan told him, "Come find me when you are done. I'll either be in the library or you can ask someone to get me from my common room."
They shared a small kiss again. "Sure, Susie."