Harry was kept in the hospital for a couple more days, just to be certain the repairs on his hand were properly healing. He had a few visitors, aside from the normal crowd, who came by to wish him well. He strangely noticed that when he spoke with anyone now, he could seemingly read their minds. He knew some occlumency and had read about but never practiced any legilemency, though he was sure that was what he was doing. It embarrassed him somewhat, being able to perceive peoples' private thought. It felt like he was invading their privacy, but he wasn't sure how to turn it off. Furthermore, he wasn't really able to force the thoughts from his mind anymore. He remembered every detail of everything he had seen since awakening in the hospital. Come to think of it he was able to remember pretty much anything he thought of now almost like his mind was a pensieve. Persephone had warned him that things would probably be different, he supposed.
When he was released from the hospital and made his way into the corridors heading back for Gryffindor tower to pack up his things, he noticed another strange thing. His perception was better than it had ever been. He could see a spider on its web in a dark corner nearly 100 meters away, and when he really focused on watching the spider it seemed to slow down. Harry felt that he could almost predict it's next movement. He became so caught up watching the creature that he stopped walking. Hermione was the first of his friends to notice and turned around to see what was wrong but all she managed to do was let out a small "eep!"
The noise caused the others to turn back as well. Neville startled and dropped the bookbag he had been carrying, Daphne stared in quiet contemplation, and Tracy exclaimed "Merlin's balls, look at his fuckin' eyes!"
Her vulgar exclamation brought both Hermione and Daphne back to reality, earning her a slap on the arm from each of the girls. They were no less surprised though; as Harry stood there staring into space, his eyes were glowing brightly in his killing-curse-green color. It was downright creepy, but at the same time looking into them caused each of them in turn to feel a warmth as if they were being embraced beside the fireplace. The power that exuded from him in general was something to be amazed by.
Harry was brought out of his trance-like state by a wave of thoughts crashing into him all at once. First were a wave of feelings. Awe, pride, attraction, sexual desire, guilt, and a touch of fear. He could then distinguish the feelings coming from his 4 companions individually and was glad that the desire wasn't coming from Neville but was surprised to find that it was present in all three of the females. Daphne's was strong and pure, as one would expect from his girlfriend. Hermione's was strong but accompanied by a touch of guilt. "He has Daphne." He could hear the thought being repeated in her mind as he skimmed over her. Most surprising was Tracy, Neville's girlfriend. Her feeling of desire was much less than either Daphne or Hermione's, and accompanied but a stronger guilty sensation. Her thoughts were based on the guilt she felt at being attracted to another guy while having a boyfriend.
He found himself in yet another trance as he examined the feelings he was getting from the group. He quickly delved through their feelings, into their surface thoughts, to their recent memories, and was unable to stop himself as he read through their entire lives' memories.
"Oh, Arry! I was on my way to see you and bid you farewell, we are 'eaded back to France tonight and…" Fleur rounded the corner and found the reason she was here, but she trailed off as her gaze met the glowing green orbs.
Harry was again flooded by memories and feelings before the clapped his hands over his eyes and shook his head.
"Fuck. How long was I out just now?" He asked dazedly.
"Out? What's wrong, you just paused and your eyes glowed for a second before you covered your face." She replied.
"Bloody hell. Just a second? Fuck. We have got to talk. All of us."
Hermione found herself too worried now to correct his use of the sentence enhancers. "What's wrong Harry?"
"I'll explain in a minute. Let's go to the room now."
The group then made their way to the room of requirement, Harry being careful to avoid eye contact with the few people they passed along their route. Harry asked the room to provide them a comfortable place to talk before entering into a lavish common room with plenty of furniture for them plus several others to sit. Harry then explained to them about the spider then the sudden wave of thoughts and finally the complete absorption of all of their memories.
"Bloody fuckin' hell!" Tracy exclaimed. "That's so badass, how could you do that with 5 people all at once in just a few seconds?"
Hermione, though, had thought more into it and realized the thoughts she was having when she looked at him and the power rolling off of him. Her cheeks immediately turned red before she realized the implications fully of him seeing their whole lives. All of her showers, looking in the mirror judging herself against other women but especially Daphne, the 'fun times' she had in the aforementioned showers. "Oh merlin." Her face turned an even darker shade of red.
Daphne and Fleur had obviously realized the same as she shared a similar expression. Upon seeing the pair blushing madly, Tracy put two and two together and realized it may not be so badass after all, joining them in the land of embarrassment. Neville was the last to catch on, being that the male brain is wired different than that of a female. He blushed as well but not nearly as much as the females.
"Excuse us while we go throw ourselves off the astronomy tower." The four females chorused as they stood together and started for the door.
"I'm sorry, guys. Really, I am. I don't know what came over me, you looked into my eyes and then it was like I was stuck. I couldn't stop it as it got deeper and deeper into your personal spaces. This doesn't change anything I still love each of you same as before. If anything, this should mean we're all closer now, after all I kinda know your whole lives."
"Yea our whole lives- including the times we've went to the bathroom, when we showered, when we snogged, everything!" Tracy said with a facepalm.
"Well, yea, but… look, I promise I didn't mean to dig those things up, I'm not some sort of pervert. I especially didn't need to see yours, Neville." He finished with a chuckle, earning grins from the rest of the group as well.
"Honestly, I don't mind. You would have seen me like that one way or another eventually anyways. And you obviously know now that I've thought of you the same way before too." Daphne said with a shrug.
"Me either I guess." Hermione said timidly earning shocked looks from all present. "Not that you would have seen me that way, of course, since you have a girlfriend I mean." Her face was now redder than ever.
"I guess you guys are right." Tracy chimed in. "I told you that day in Hogsmeade that I thought you were hot and if not for Neville here I'd have to give Daphne some competition. Or maybe some company." She finished with a big grin that caused everyone else to turn red again.
"When I first met you I called you a leetle boy, but you quickly proved that you were definitely not a boy. You are 100 percent man." Fleur purred the last bit out with a seductive wink and grinned towards Daphne "I may 'ave to join 'Ermione and Tracey in the competition now that 'Arry knows me so… Intimately"
"Who says it has to be a competition? Maybe I'm into group stuff for all you know." Daphne said back with her own wink causing both males to blush.
"Merlin." Harry rubbed his temples. "I can't unsee anything but it's not like I'll constantly think of it or anything. I just hope you're not too weirded out by this; I don't want anything to change between us. And just maybe I should avoid making eye-contact with anyone until I sort this out."
Later that night Harry, Hermione, and Neville were sitting in the Gryffindor common room relaxing. They had finished packing their things and were ready to leave in the morning, so they were just wasting time. Most all the other Gryffindors were gone, some upstairs still packing, others were off to say goodbye to their friends from other houses.
"Knight to D-6. Checkmate." Harry said with a grin as his knight piece moved itself into position beside Neville's king.
"Bloody 'ell you've gone and got me killed!" the king exclaimed as Harry's knight smashed him to pieces.
A quick wave of Neville's wand had the pieces all returned to their places on the board unscathed. "Oi dickhead, try not to let 'im murder me this time 'right?" The black king said as he shook his fist at Neville.
"Think I'm gonna turn in for the night anyways. Early day tomorrow." Neville said as he stood and made to leave the common room.
"Night, mate." Harry said as he sat back into the couch.
"Goodnight, Neville." Hermione added without looking up from her book.
With Neville's departure that left Harry and Hermione alone in the common room, save for a couple on the opposite side of the room who were too interested in seeing what each other's tonsils tasted like to pay them any mind.
Harry decided now was as good a time as ever to get this awkward conversation out of the way; he had been dreading it since the talk in the room earlier. With a wave of his hand the pair and their surroundings were enveloped by a purple shimmer before it disappeared.
The sudden privacy ward startled Hermione and she looked up from her book to see Harry looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face. He instantly felt her curiosity as well as worry before looking down at the floor before he could invade her mind again. "What's wrong, Harry?"
"I wanted to have a talk with you, privately. About earlier." He said timidly.
"Look, Harry, it's fine. I'm not mad at you I told you I didn't mind that you saw it."
"It's not that, Mione. I know you know that I could see and feel everything, including your feelings and desires."
Her cheeks tinted red again and she twitched a little. "Of course." She said softly. "But don't worry about those. I'd never try to come between you and Daphne. You know I'm not that kind of witch. I'm happy for the both of you."
"Of course not, I trust you completely. I know you'd never do anything to hurt either of us intentionally. I just wanted to clear the air. I do care a lot about you, and though I have Daphne now that doesn't mean that my feelings have just magically disappeared. I'll be completely honest. I've had a crush on you for as long as I can remember." (Not strictly true since he could now remember basically every moment since his birth but you get the point)
"After third year was when I realized my feelings for you had changed but I was scared to mention it because I never dreamed you could reciprocate those feelings. I see now that I was wrong, but now I'm with Daphne instead and I do really care for her too and I've really buggered things up now just like I always do. What am I supposed to do here, having feelings for two different witches who both return those feelings? Why's it gotta be so complicated, why couldn't I just have you both? Oh bloody hell that's selfish of me. Merlin I'm an arse."
"Breathe, Harry." Hermione said rather playfully before her expression turned downtrodden. "Yea, I definitely had feelings for you by the quidditch cup, and you saving my life there only cemented it further. But I was too afraid to mention it as well. Who would ever think that someone like you could like a buck-toothed muggleborn nobody like me? I considered myself lucky that you would even be my friend, I never even dared to dream you'd like me back."
"Hey you're not a buck-toothed muggleborn nobody. You're by far the smartest and one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen." He shot back with his own small blush.
"Thank you, Harry. It's too bad the timing was off, I guess."
"I won't say that it's too bad. I care for Daphne too and wouldn't give her up for anything any sooner than I would you. I know it makes me a selfish ass but I don't care cause it's just a stupid wish anyways, but I wish I could be with both of you."
"It doesn't make you selfish, Harry, if anything it shows that you care more. How many teenage guys would think twice about the feelings of two women and consider trying to make them both happy rather than using them for his own gain? Don't worry about it, I understand that it's not always fair. I won't let my feelings for you interfere with our friendship or your relationship with her. I'm going to go on up to bed now, goodnight Harry." With that she stood up and kissed him on the cheek before running up the stairs before he could get over his surprise and form a reply.
When Harry had mentioned being with the both of them the first time, Hermione thought it was a sweet gesture to preserve her feelings and nothing more. When he mentioned it a second time, however, it set her wheels in motion. She didn't say anything to Harry because she didn't want to get his hopes up if she was wrong, and she wasn't even remotely sure how to broach the subject with Daphne if she made it that far. "Bloody Hell." She muttered to herself as she collapsed into bed.
When Harry arrived home at Grimmauld Place that afternoon, he was surprised to see the old house bustling with activity. Kreacher and Dobby were moving about at a frantic pace doing whatever it was they had been assigned. A wonderful smell emanated from the kitchen, and upon inspection he found Mrs. Weasley to be the cause. She was preparing a feast that looked like it could feed dozens of people. "Hi Harry Dear, so glad to see you again." She called out as she noticed him enter the room.
"Glad to see you too, Mrs. Weasley. How have you and Arthur been?"
"Good, good. Not much to do while the kids are away, though this summer seems like it's shaping up to be a busy one."
"What're you cooking so much for, anyways?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" She said with a wink before shooing him out of the kitchen.
In short order he had found Remus who was working on dispatching a boggart from the formal dining hall. He and Sirius never used that particular room; it was much too large for the pair of them plus Hermione and/or Remus. Harry further wondered what the occasion was, surely, they weren't throwing an end of term party this large. He supposed it could possibly be a celebration for his victory in the Triwizard tournament, though he doubted it since he didn't particularly care for the entire tournament.
He left Remus alone to his work and proceeded upstairs to his room to unpack. He got all his things settled in and decided to head back downstairs to see if he could ascertain the meaning of the apparent party.
Upon his arrival back to the sitting room, he was surprised to see Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape looking as though they had freshly stepped through the floo. Moody had made himself at home on one of the sofas beside a tall looking dark-skinned man that Harry had never met. Tonks was chatting away with Sirius, both sporting happy expressions. Upon seeing Harry, she abandoned the conversation with Sirius and quickly made her way to him, tripping and almost knocking Snape into Moody's lap earning a scowl from the pair.
She didn't hesitate when she reached him as she planted a kiss directly onto his lips. It quickly became obvious that it was hard to avoid eye contact when kissing someone as Tonks broke the kiss and the pair opened their eyes. Tonks was flooded with the warm sensation as Harry was likewise flooded by 18 years' worth of memories suddenly. It took only a second before they both blinked several times and Tonks noticed Harry's face turn red.
"Umm we need to have a chat. Privately." Harry quickly whispered before in one move he was off the couch leading the Pink Haired Auror out of the room only to hear a cat call undoubtedly coming from his godfather.
Once Harry made it to his bedroom and shut the door, Tonks was sporting a blush herself. "I didn't know a simple kiss would have that kind of reaction." She said with a smile. "Not that I'm opposed, of course."
Harry blushed again. His now photographic memory allowed him to perfectly recall the several passionate episodes he had shared with the metamorphmagus the previous summer, not to mention that she was thinking of those events herself recently when her memories assaulted his mind. "I-I-Uh, I- that's not why I brought you back here." He stammered out earning a look of confusion.
"Look," he said as he regained control of his faculties. "Something happened during the last task of the tournament and it gave me some sort of new power and I don't know how to control it and when I look into someone's eyes I see everything and I did the same to Hermione Daphne Tracey and Neville and I seen everything and now I did it to you and I've seen everything and I'm sorry." He blew out in one breath. So much for regaining control.
"Wait, a power? And seeing things through eye contact? Kinda like legilemency then?" Tonks clarified.
"Erm yeah, kinda. It's not exactly legilemency because I do far more than just skim your thoughts. I've seen every memory you have."
"Wow that's kinda badass not gonna lie." Tonks said with a smile before the realization set in. "Whoa… you mean every memory, as in like EVERY memory?"
"Yeah, like the times you piddled yourself in the shower, to the time you err… you know what with Charlie Weasley in the prefects' bathroom, to the time you threw a hissy fit at your mum because she wanted you to play with Barbie Dolls instead of GI Joes." Harry said flatly.
"Holy fucking fuck, Merlin's saggy balls and Morgana's perky tits. Jesus Christ and Jesus H Fuck and Allah and Buddha and shite!" Tonks exclaimed as she realized just how much the green eyed boy across from her now knew. "You realize we're basically married now right?"
"So I'm also married to Daphne, Hermione, Tracey, and Neville?" he replied with one eyebrow raised skeptically.
"Well, not Neville cause that's just wrong. But if you saw the same thing on the others as you did with me then probably. I mean how could any of us ever go on to be with another man knowing that you've seen literally every detail of our lives?"
"I don't think it's that big of a deal though, and besides how could you expect me to marry 4 witches, assuming this doesn't happen again before I learn to control it. Also, Tracey and Neville are already dating so I couldn't be with her. Which further reminds me that Daphne and I are dating so I cant be with anyone."
"You and Greengrass? Fuck, I wish I woulda known that before I threw myself on you like that." Tonks said mostly to herself. "But it's a bit late for that regret now that you've seen what you have. I'm a halfblood too just like you so some of the laws in the wizarding world seem a bit out there to me, but my mum is a Black and Merlin knows she was taught the old ways growing up. Technically speaking, as the Lord of one of one Noble and Ancient house and the Heir Apparent of another, you would be permitted or rather encouraged to have at least 2 wives. Some archaic law about restoring the families or something of the sort. This is not to mention that the Potter line absorbed the Peverell Family a couple centuries back, and the fact that you defeated the last remaining Slytherin in single combat, and there are actually several family lines that have been absorbed by the Black family over the years. All of these absorbed lines are dormant but can be reactivated at any time, such as if you had multiple sons and wanted to give each one a different name and therefore a different lordship, or if you wanted to separate them and take a wife and start a new family under each title. Honestly you'd be better off asking mum or Sirius to explain this to you they'd know more. I'm just saying that legally, you're not as limited as you thought you might be."
Harry was surprised in more than one way. First of all, he had never heard Tonks be that serious for that long. Secondly, he had just learned that he was expected to marry at least 2 witches and could possibly marry an unknown number more than that if he so desired. The laws of the wizarding world really were fucked up, he thought; though after a bit of consideration he figured that they hadn't had the technological advancements and 'renaissance' like the muggle world did in the 1800s and he guessed that polygamy was still a thing then. He then realized that he was digressing from the original conversation. "I get the legal justification, I guess, but that still doesn't justify why I would want to marry multiple different witches or why they would ever agree to that themselves."
"Well, as for why you'd want to, first, what teenage boy wouldn't want to shag a different gorgeous witch every night?" She stopped to waggle her brows at him." And secondly, like I said it's kinda expected of you in order to ensure the survival of what the Wizengamot considers the "important" bloodlines. And as for why the women would be okay with it, Hermione may be harder to convince as a muggleborn, but Greengrass and Davis were most certainly taught the old customs the same as me and they'd know that it was a possibility they'd have to share. Also, as far as Davis and Neville go, I don't want you to feel guilty about it or anything, but they won't make it now. I guess it's something ingrained in our magic but for a wizard to know us so intimately… it forms a bond even deeper and more intimate than sex. I don't think I could ever be serious with another now after this sort of bond, and the others might not know it yet, but they'll realize it soon enough."
Harry's world was spinning at this point. He was taking in so much information all at once that it made him dizzy. Odd considering that in the span of a couple seconds he had absorbed a combined nearly 80 years of memories from his friends without so much as a hiccup. But he knew what she was saying to him was true. He could in fact remember the conversations that Daphne, Tracey, and Neville had had with their parents (or grandparent in Neville's case) wherein they were told basically what Tonks had just relayed to him. He actually thought he may pass out. "So… err… I…"
Tonks couldn't help but grin at the young man in front of her. Of course he'd react this way, what nearly 15 year old boy wouldn't? "Harry it's fine love. This isn't some soul bond shite where we'll magically receive a letter from Gringotts informing us that we're all legally married now. There's a possibility that I'm wrong and the others won't change anything. A small possibility I must admit, but a possibility all the same. We'll just have to cross that bridge when and if we come to it. Anyways, no sense in wasting the bit of privacy we've been afforded." She finished with a smile as she knelt down and began to undo his trousers.
The pair had just finished their 'conversation' and slipped back in with the crowd mostly unnoticed though Harry could have sworn he seen Sirius wink at him, when the fireplace turned green once again and a red-headed man stepped through, followed by another. And another, and another, and another, and finally a female redhead. Arthur, Bill, and Charlie exchanged greetings with the gathered adults while Fred, George, and Ginny made their way over to him.
"Blimey, quite the crowd gathered up innit?" George (with his newly increased perception it was actually very simple to tell the pair apart) said, gesturing to the crowd.
"Any idea what the occasion is?" Fred added in.
"Dad only told us about it once we got unpacked at the Burrow." George finished.
"Nah, only found out about an hour ago when I got here myself."
"Must be something big if they got Bill and Charlie to come back home for it." Ginny added in.
"I suspect we'll know soon enough, right."
Over the next several minutes more and more people came in through the floo, most of which Harry didn't recognize. Among the ones he did recognize were Algernon Croaker(though he had his mask up and his notice-me-not charm active so no one else likely noticed him), Madam Pomfrey, Cedric Diggory and his dad, Neville and his Gran, and Amelia and Susan Bones. Just as with the Weasleys, the adults mingled in while the kids joined Harry's growing group. He wasn't overly close with Susan; he had flirted with her for a bit but kind of tapered off after he started seeing Daphne. He expected there to be a bit of awkwardness when she approached but she was amiable and still had a flirty undertone to her words at times.
The last of the visitors to arrive were Tracey Davis and her dad Steven, Followed shortly by Daphne, Cyrus, Alyssa, and Astoria Greengrass. Harry was happy to see them both and immediately welcomed them both with hugs. He was able to notice a slight twitch from Susan but disregarded it. "Wow, almost everyone is here. If only we had-" he was cut off as the fireplaced whooshed again.
"Well speak of the devil." He said with a grin as Hermione stepped out followed by Professor Dumbledore. She smiled big and nearly ran to meet him, enveloping him in a tight hug.
"Thank you all for coming, a special welcome to the head of the DMLE: Madame Amelia Bones. For the ones of you who are returning, I'm sure you'll have noticed a few new faces, Lords Greengrass and Davis among them. I'm sure they will all prove to be most valuable during the coming tribulations." Dumbledore began before going around the table to allow brief introductions. When everyone had finished, he stood once again and looked over the table containing nearly 60 witches and wizards. "I'm also sure you have all noticed the younger of our associates. Messrs. Potter, Longbottom, Weasley, Weasley, and Diggory along with Misses Greengrass, Davis, Granger, Bones, and Weasley. I have, in the past, had an aversion to allowing students to take part in these extracurricular activities; but with Mr. Potter's penchant for being involved despite our best efforts I thought it best to extend the invitation to the ones near him. They will, for the most part, not be included as full members. It is my desire that they be kept in the know concerning any movements, especially those that may concern Hogwarts. I wish for them to undergo extra training as well as keeping an eye open for any information that may come from other students."
Harry couldn't help but notice that several sets of eyes had moved to watch him, and he felt like squirming in his seat but felt that he did an admirable job of keeping his composure.
"Now then" Dumbledore began again. "Today's meeting should be brief; a call to action, if you will. I wish to inform everyone that Voldemort" He paused as several of the people in attendance flinched. "Returned to power recently at the conclusion of the Triwizard tournament. I have long thought him less than dead but with no body and no proof; but he has now returned to a body through a dark ritual. As of now we don't know his plans or where he may be hiding, but I think it safe to assume he will spend some time underground building back his forces before he begins to move. Especially with our minister's stance that he did not in fact return, he will have ample time before being noticed."
At the conclusion of his speech, Dumbledore had asked if anyone else had anything to add before making a few assignments to check in with one contact or another and reminding everyone to be ever vigilant before they broke for dinner.
As the crowd parted to go their separate ways, Harry found Daphne and convinced her to go on a walk with him. The pair ended up on the roof, taking a seat and looking up at the stars while Daphne rested her head on his shoulder. Harry was nervous as fuck, for lack of better words, about the conversation he was about to start. "So… err… I kinda kissed Tonks earlier." He blurted out quickly before turning away and bracing as if he expected to be struck. After no pain was forthcoming, he relaxed and looked at the girl on his side. Her eyebrow was quirked up but she made no remark, as if waiting for him to continue, so he did.
"When she showed up at the house earlier she ran up and kissed me right away. I never mentioned that we sort of had a fling last summer after the Quidditch cup cause I didn't think it was anything serious and I figured it was over since we hadn't even mentioned it since school started back but I guess she didn't get the memo that we are together now and then when she kissed me we made eye contact and that whole memory thing happened and-"
Daphne cut him off there. "Breathe, love. I'm not mad at you. Just explain everything."
And so he did. He told her of the conversation that he and Tonks had shared, and his feelings on the matter. He was terrified that she would want to leave him after learning what he'd done with the metamorphmagus just a couple of hours ago.
Daphne let out a sigh. "Look, part of me was hopeful that I'd have you all to myself and there would be some fairytale romance and happily ever after and all that hippogriff shite, but the pragmatic part of me has known from the beginning that you'd likely end up with at least one other. Though honestly I must admit that I had that spot pegged for Hermione. But I digress. It's just tradition in our world, Harry. Don't be ashamed of it, and don't feel bad for having feelings for others. I mean Merlin, how could you not feel something when you share such an intimate connection with all of us. I hate it for Tracey and Neville, really I do, but I don't see them lasting until term starts back."
Harry was surprised that she had said that. He didn't tell her of Tonks saying nearly the same thing.
"I talked to her earlier today before we came here actually and she mentioned that she couldn't stop thinking of you and she felt bad about it since she was with Neville. I just told her that she couldn't help what had happened any more than the rest of us and that we'd work it out somehow." She finished with a shrug.
"Do you think Neville is gonna be mad at me for that?" Harry asked her nervously.
"It's hard to say honestly. He experienced the mind reading thing too, he should understand how it would affect a female differently. There may be a bit of resentment for a while, but I wouldn't expect anything major. We're all young and there's plenty of witches for him to choose from. It's not like you did any of this intentionally so really, I think he'll be fine. Rumor has it he had a thing for that Abbot girl from Hufflepuff before me and Tracey inserted ourselves into your lives anyways so maybe they'll hit it off when it goes tits up with Tracey."