A/N: All previous warnings still, and will continue, to apply. Not for children or the faint of heart, or anyone sexually conservative. You've been warned.
Thanks as always to my amazing Beta, Hrymeigh, for going back and editing everything I've already posted before digging into new content.

Enjoy, pervs.

Chap. 8: Scandalous Scenarios

Perhaps predictably, Saturday for Harry and Ron, like their open period after Defense the previous evening, was spent in mad review, late into the night like it had been on Friday. He and Ron, though, had an appointment.

There was just one problem.

"If you want to go 'relax' for an hour, that's fine," a frenzied-looking Hermione said, glaring at both of them from the corner table in the common room she'd claimed for herself, which was actually bowing under the weight of her collected notes and books from the last five years, "But you will be back by ten o'clock to finish reviewing Potions with me, or I'll- I'll cut you off until after we get our results. Both of you."

Both boys shared a look, swallowing in apprehension. It wasn't an idle threat, Hermione did not make those. True, both could (in theory) get 'action' elsewhere, but... this was Hermione.

"Alright, we'll be back by ten thirty," Harry said, speaking over the objection Hermione started to make, "because it's nearly nine now, we're already late. Um... d'you want...?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Hermione flushed, "I'm..." She swallowed, glanced around, face turning a bit pink, then whispered, "I'm a bit... a bit sore, actually. I'm fine. Go- enjoy yourselves. But you are not done studying tonight."

"We are not done studying tonight," Ron agreed with a smile, resuming chivvying Harry out the portrait hole.

Not that he had to push hard.

"So where are we going," Ron asked as soon as they left the small stream of fifth- and seventh-years going to and from the library even past curfew (even Snape, they all knew, wouldn't have stopped students as long as Madame Pince was willing to stay open for them- usually eleven at night, they had found, for end-of-year exam studies), moving to prowling through lesser-used hallways of the ancient castle.

"Same classroom," Harry said quietly, reaching into his pocket and unfolding the Marauder's Map. A few seconds later, he pointed, "Look, there's Cho and Marietta. They're close, but not there yet."

If Harry had left the map open a little longer, he might have noticed, as they walked, another name following he and Ron.

But he had folded up his father's heirloom quickly and stowed it back away, so he saw nothing.

Most certainly not the disillusioned person thirty or so feet back.

When the pair arrived at the disused classroom on the left-hand side of the third-floor corridor, the closest room on the right to where they had encountered Fluffy the Cerberus in their first year, and slipped inside without knocking.

The girls were not yet present, so Ron started working on changing the room into a similar setup as last time, only without the intervening curtain and with the temporary beds he was able to transfigure less than ten feet apart instead of in opposite corners of the room while Harry checked the Map once again.

"They're almost here, looks like they got held up by Gibberd, the seventh-year Hufflepuff Prefect."

"Is that that bloke's name?" Ron asked distractedly, aiming his wand at the ceiling's several dozen floating candles, lighting ten or so one by one.

"I think he's the blonde one, big guy. Heavy."

"Yeah, that's the one," Ron agreed, turning then to the curtains, which, with a single wave of his wand, he was able to close completely across the length of the room. "Alright... I think we're ready. Are the girls-"

The door opened, and Harry smiled when he saw Cho Chang's delicate, Asian features peek into the room. She sighed with relief, withdrew for a moment, then returned, Marietta following behind. "Sorry we're late," Cho breathed, glancing between the two younger boys, "We got held up."

"Don't worry about it," Harry said easily, waving her concern off, "We haven't been here more than a couple minutes ourselves."

Marietta startled, looking around the transfigured room, "You two did all of this in just a couple minutes?"

"Actually," Harry said, pointing at Ron, "I've been keeping an eye out for you two. Ron did it all himself."

"Color me impressed," Marietta grinned, sizing up Ron a bit like a piece of meat. He, though, only stood tall, grinning confidently himself. "Anyway- how do you two want to do this? Same pairs as last time?"

"Oh, I don't know," Harry smirked, hoping he came off as confidently as he was trying to, "I thought maybe we'd trade, but... let's be blunt, here. I fully intend on shagging you both tonight, unless you have some strong objection. You, Ron?"

"Yeah, I think that sounds great," Ron agreed, clearly eying both the tall, curvy English girl and the slight, petite Asian with hunger.

"Er," said Cho, glancing back and forth, suddenly seeming a little worried once more. "I don't know..."

Marietta, though, leaned down to whisper something in her friend's ear which made Cho's porcelain skin flush violet, and she slapped her friend's arm, though even Harry could tell there was little heat in it.

The brunette stood tall again, "Alright, she's in. So... we're still all clear this is just casual sex, right? No strings or anything?"

Harry and Ron both nodded, followed quickly by a slightly more hesitant Cho.

"Good. So who's first?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could have a word with Cho, first, so would you mind if you two started without us out for a minute while we talk?"

"Sure. Let's go, Weasley," Marietta said, before walking over to Ron and starting to undress quickly.

Harry watched out of the corner of his eye while he walked to Cho and leaned in a little, speaking quietly, "Look, if you aren't comfortable with Ron, too, that's fine. You don't have to say yes, no matter what Marietta says or said to you. You don't have to say yes to me, either."

"I know you shagged her- after," Cho whispered back, "And it's not like I think he's unattractive, it's just... I don't want..."

"To feel like a slag?"

She nodded quietly, trying not to look at her best friend as she pulled down Ron's trousers and started licking his mostly-full erection to complete mast.

"Well, I can't control the way you feel," Harry said, "but a good friend of mine recently reminded me of a few things, if you want to hear them. It might help you feel better."

Cho nodded, "What are they?"

"First, as long as you have fun, and there's no hard feelings afterward, it's not that big of a deal unless you care for religious reasons, in which case, I don't see why we'd have done what we did earlier."

"R- Right," Cho answered distractedly, failing further still to watch her friend as she started to suckle on Ron's cock-head.

"Second, think of it as doing Ron a favor. He thinks you're gorgeous, like I do. Most blokes in Hogwarts think that, and you could have your pick, mostly. But at the same time, I've heard he's actually pretty big. You might like it yourself."

"Not as big as you," Cho murmured quietly, glancing down at Harry's own bulging crotch, "He's a little longer, but..."

Harry shrugged, "I don't judge. That's not my point, though. He's... I'm going to be honest, alright? Ron's... eager. He likes sex. So do I. I think you do, too. I'm not saying you have to say yes, but I think a part of you does want to shag Ron, just to try it out, see how it's different. Like... an experiment."

"An experiment?" Cho repeated the words, more to herself than him.

"Sure," Harry seized on the idea, grinning slightly, "To see how he measures up, say, compared to me. Or... Cedric?"

Cho nodded, "Cedric... you're better than he was. Even that first... he was clumsy. I miss him, but... I should move on. Right?"

Harry shrugged, "I can't answer that, Cho. I know you cared about him a lot. I also suspect you genuinely regretted me not having the courage to ask you to the Yule Ball earlier."

"I did. I still do, in some ways. Our one date... it was a disaster. I'm sorry, I ruined it by being over-emotional."

"No, Cho, you can't be th- no, I worded that wrong," Harry corrected, "I don't think you should be thinking like that. It happened, it's in the past. I don't regret it, not anymore, because I literally would not be the person I am, right now, without everything- good or bad- that has happened to me, or the choices I made because of them. The same goes for you, too. It was also, as Hermione pointed out to me on the day it happened, on me for being insensitive about- well, everything. And that, I have to apologize for."

"You... well, okay, I will accept your apology, then. And yes, I'll shag Ron, too. It's an experiment, right?"

"Sure," Harry smiled, "I want to try something new, though... have you ever shagged standing up?

"Er..."

It turned out, as Harry leaned in and pressed both his body and his lips to the slight Asian girl's, that she had not. Even with Lilith and the many positions she'd been educating him in, the only person Harry had 'done the horizontal tango with vertically' was Hermione. He had quite enjoyed it then, and the smaller form of Cho, one leg curled around his thigh, the other pressed up against his chest while he hammered up into her dripping core over and over was, if anything, better. "I don't get," he growled into her neck between nibbles, "how sex gets better every single time."

"I don't care," Cho mumbled, "Oh, Merlin, Ha- Harry!"

Harry only grinned, one arm slipping around Cho's neck and the other still cupping her pert arse while he lifted even more, stepping away from the wall. She squealed, throwing her arms around his neck. He, though, was barely straining, and kept pushing in, out, while he walked carefully over to the nearest bed and slowly lowered her down, never once withdrawing his cock from her.

"How- how did you do that?" she gasped after realizing he hadn't dropped her, but had continued shagging her relentlessly while walking several paces.

"Magic," he grunted with what he hoped was a cocky smirk, then suddenly pulled out.

Cho whined instinctively, and Harry watched with a wide smile as her hips twitched upward, seeking to be filled once more while he pulled away. "Nope," he murmured, then leaned down and started licking at her small breasts for a few seconds each. "I'm taking my time with you tonight."

Only, Ron's voice from across the room reminded him, "We have to be back at ten-thirty, remember?"

Harry frowned, debating for a moment whether it was worth it.

Cho and Marietta?

Or Hermione?

He frowned again, then shook his head. It was really no contest. "Fine," he muttered, aiming with one hand, the other supporting him as he leaned over the smaller girl, "I guess you'll get your wish- one fast orgasm, coming up."

The moment he bottomed out, he started flexing his dick inside her, repeating it on every in-stroke so he swelled inside Cho's narrow channel. She was already the tightest he'd been in aside from Lilith, being even smaller than Daphne, and she groaned ecstatically with every pulse, until, with a cry, Harry felt his lower abdomen get sprayed with liquid while Cho started to convulse slightly.

But he wasn't done.

Cho, though, seemed to need a chance to rest. Instead, Harry cast his gaze to Ron and Marietta.

The ginger was pounding into the older girl doggy-style, both hands on her waist, while she, in turn, was watching Harry and Cho. "Merlin, Potter, what did you do to her?" Marietta gasped.

"Shagged her, that's all," he grinned, then looked up toward Ron, who was grinning wildly. "You mind if I share her now, mate?"

"Nah, go ahead," Ron said, indicating the same with his chin. "You don't mind helping out Harry, too, right, Marietta?"

The brunette licked her lips, eyeing Harry's throbbing erection, then shook her head.

So he walked over to the edge of the bed, the pair of them still fucking madly while they moved over to the edge as well.

Marietta moaned in apparent relish as she took him into her mouth, letting Ron's vigorous pounding do most of the work, while Harry leaned forward a little to grab and massage her breasts while they swung.

Harry looked up at his best mate, who was watching his dick disappear half-way down the girl's throat with every thrust. "Fuckin' hot," Ron mouthed.

Harry grinned, nodding, then glanced down toward the shaking arse, "Same. You like tasting Cho's cunt on me, Marietta?"

"Mmhf-hhmmf!"

Then Harry started to move, too, gently at first, deeper and deeper. Only when Marietta started gagging- respectably deep, but nowhere near what Hermione could take- did Harry ease off and slowly withdraw.

With just his head inside the older girl's mouth at the end, she glared up at him through watery eyes. He grinned cheekily and pushed back in, harder and all at once. Her eyes bulged and she choked again, but he quickly withdrew completely. "Sorry," he lied, "Force of habit. I know someone who can take it all, so..."

Predictably, Marietta took that as a personal challenge, again diving back onto his member while Ron continued to plough her from behind.

By the time he was just getting close- the second Stamina Rune must have done a lot for his ability to hold off- Ron grunted, "Inside?"

"S- No," Marietta gasped, yanking herself off of Harry, "I'm not on the Potion, remember?"

Ron shook his head, "Harry, swap me?"

Knowing what his friend intended, Harry eagerly pulled out of the girl's mouth again and clambered up onto the bed while Ron did the opposite on the other side.

Ron pushed into Marietta's waiting, even eager, mouth at once, but Harry took a moment to contemplate the gaping hole Ron had left him, dripping with juice much as he'd left Cho. Did he really want to fill the spot?

Of course I do, he told himself, aiming with his left hand while the right reached around Marietta's leg to caress her clit, then pushing back into her.

Of all the girls he'd been with, Marietta was definitely the easiest to pump into and out of, being both the largest physically and the most mature. He also strongly suspected, since Lilith had all-but stated it, that the girl was a bit of a slag.

Not that Harry, apparently with some sort of rune-based protection against diseases, really cared.

He had some standards still, but Marietta, while not classically beautiful in any way, was fit enough for his teenaged self.

Watching her gag on Ron's cock like she'd been doing on him while he filled her was, of course, exciting as well.

Ron, though, only pumped into her throat and mouth a few times before, pulling out until just his head was left on her tongue, he started wanking with his hand while he pumped several dollops of cream into her.

Only, Harry was not quite done. Close, yes, but...

"Merlin," Marietta panted after swallowing down Ron's load and licking him a few times to clean up the drippage, "Aren't you done yet, Potter? I mean... you don't need to stop, but..."

Harry responded by copying Ron and slapping Marietta's right arse cheek once, making her yelp. "S- Sorry! Geez!"

He only continued pumping away, wondering why she hadn't responded like Hermione or Lilith did to that sort of thing, though the girl didn't outright complain. Ron, though, continued to massage his member, which was quickly re-hardening enough for Marietta to start enjoying it again.

Only, as soon as she'd gotten him back to full mast, Ron smiled and turned away, walking stark naked over to the bed where Cho lay, partially dressed with her robes both hitched up and pulled down to rest around her waist, where Harry had left them.

"You want to watch him fuck your friend?" Harry whispered to Marietta.

"Don't care either way," Marietta sighed, lowering her chest and head to the bed and leaving her lower regions up for Harry to continue thrusting into, "I don't get off... on that."

"What do you get off on?" Harry asked, genuinely puzzled by the answer.

"Cock," she murmured, "That's all. I like guys. Not into kinky stuff."

"Cock," Harry replied quietly, watching Ron more than Marietta as his friend started tracing his fingertips across the now semi-conscious Cho's breasts and stomach, "You like getting fucked, is that it? Bit of a slag, are you?"

"What's it to you, Potter?" she looked back and up at him idly without shifting more than her head, sighing in quiet pleasure while he pumped away, "Sex is good. Better sex is better. Experience makes better sex."

"Not arguing with that," he answered, "just curious. Not like I've got room to complain."

She snorted, "A fifth-year? How many girls have you been with? I'm guessing two: me and Cho. That bit about a girl taking it all? Don't get me wrong, you're pretty big, Potter- bigger than I remember, even- but that'd choke someone."

In response, Harry started flexing himself whenever he bottomed out inside Marietta, like he'd done to Cho.

She, too, started to gasp, though after several seconds of that, she only smiled and closed her eyes, starting to worm and shake her hips in time with his own motion, "Nice trick, but I have some of my own. I already said you were big- maybe the biggest I've had- but I bet I've been with more guys in the last three years than you will have girls in the next five."

Harry's left eyebrow lowered. "Somehow, I doubt that. But like I said, I'm not judging. I don't care if you sleep around. It's not like we're in a relationship. Casual sex, like you said."

"Right," she murmured, "Now, if you don't mind, I'm getting pretty close. Fuck me, Potter."

Only too eager, Harry started hammering home once more, bottoming out two or more times every second while Marietta's hands fisted into the transfigured blankets to keep her from sliding off the edge of the bed.

Meanwhile, Ron had succeeded in not just waking Cho, but convincing her to allow him to slip two fingers into the girls' tight depths while she writhed under his fingers. Harry watched his friend's technique, hoping for a pointer or two, until, under Ron's manipulations, Cho's slender waist and hips lifted completely from the bed as she shuddered into a quiet orgasm.

Only then did he come up closer to her head and point at his hard-on.

Cho hesitated, glancing at Marietta and Harry, before appearing to make up her mind.

Perhaps it was just the heat of the moment, but she seemed to steel herself before giving Ron a tentative lick, then taking the first two or so inches into her mouth.

It was, Harry remembered, all she'd been able to take of him, too.

Ron still groaned, allowing his eyes to close, while she worked him for several seconds with her lips and tongue.

Then he pulled away, and apparently unconsciously, Cho's mouth followed him for three inches before she caught herself. Then, blushing as he knee-walked between her legs, she opened them shyly.

Ron, like with Marietta, showed no hesitation, immediately pushing down and in.

Cho winced as he bottomed out, but slipped both legs and arms around him while his mate began rutting at her furiously.

"Bit of- an animal, y- your friend," Marietta grunted through his own thrusts.

Harry nodded, "Maybe," but didn't slow. In fact, watching Ron shag the object of his oldest crush made Harry even more excited, and quickly pulled his own orgasm closer.

"Do you want me inside?" he whispered, leaning down over her to grope at her breasts again.

Marietta contemplated for a moment, then said, "Not this time, Potter. Maybe next. I do like the taste, though."

Harry nodded, leaning back up, then slowly pulled out with a soft squelch, then watched Marietta's twat quiver and shake for a few seconds before he slipped not just one, but three fingers into her, curling them toward the back of her clit, where Lilith had described the best, strongest, most sensitive nerve cluster on a woman's body was.

Marietta gasped, the upper half of her body becoming stock still while he finger-fucked her. In just ten seconds, she shrieked, then fell bonelessly to the bed, his hand caught inside her still.

She was still dazed when Harry rolled her over and, like Ron had with Lilith the previous evening, grabbed her D-cups and started thrusting between them.

Her own breasts were not nearly as firm as the Succubus', despite being smaller, but the sensation and sheer eroticism of the moment had Harry grunting within just a few more seconds.

Across the room, Ron asked Cho something. She replied, but Harry didn't care.

Instead, he only relished the sight and feeling as his own dick emptied itself between Marietta Edgecombe's breasts and onto her chin, a single small dollop lodging itself higher, at the edge of the girl's curly, reddish-brown hair.

"Good night, Potter," Marietta said after several seconds, "Fine, I'll admit it, you're the best shag I've had. You happy? Just don't stop doing that."

"I can't make promises," he grinned, rising from his position astride the sixth-year, "but I'll see what I can do." Then he stepped over to Ron and Cho, placing one hand to lightly knead one of her breasts while Ron, panting and sweating, continued hammering her waist down into the bed with every stroke.

Then he, too, finished, pulling himself out with a mighty heave and finishing the job with his hand, spraying all over the outside of Cho's hair-covered groin.

"S- Sorry about the mess," he said with a lopsided smile.

Cho only grinned weakly, panting herself, "It's... fine. F- Fine..."

"Sorry, we really do need to get back," a disappointed Harry said, reluctantly pulling his hand from Cho's tit, "hopefully we can meet up for one more before term ends, yeah? Or more?"

"Sure," Marietta, more recovered than Cho despite the double-teaming and constant effort on her part, said as she stepped up, half-dressed and holding the rest of her robes, to the others, "And next year, too. As long as you don't get locked up, eh, Potter?"

The joke, weak as it was, did not go over well with the two boys, who made a quick exit.

Harry had expected to see Lilith in his bed when he led Ron, half-crawling, up to the dorm at nearly two in the morning after Hermione, herself bleary-eyed, had finally permitted them to rest. What he had not expected was for her to be... accompanied.

But the image of the faceless female kissing his companion faded the moment the door opened, and, stark naked and shameless, the half-visible Succubus winked at him, then beckoned with one finger while simultaneously opening her legs.

Ron did not seem to see her, though he shot the bed a quick glance as it shifted beneath her weight, muttered a quiet, "Night, Lilith, night, Harry," and slid into bed in his boxers before pulling the curtains closed.

Were he not so mentally tired, Harry might have wondered how the very sight of the petite form she had resumed could have stirred his shaft to full wakefulness at a glance, but all he really knew was that the illusory, feminine form and Lilith snogging, naked, on his bed as he entered was extremely arousing. The invitation, if anything, added to it.

"'M really tired," he muttered, stripping down to his boxers and slipping, without guidance, inside her before even climbing onto the bed. Instead, he fell over her, kissing the heart-shaped face gently as he started to thrust slowly, his weight born on the elbows on either side of the creature's head.

"Mm, so you are," Lilith whispered into his mouth, "But you want me anyway, Master. Do you want me to do the work tonight?"

He gave a half-hearted shrug, but still pulled out of her dripping channel before standing and shooting her a nod, glad that it was so late and the other occupants of the dorm all had their curtains closed, since his member was sticking, glistening with not just Lilith's fluids, several inches out of his boxers.

He climbed up behind her, using a gesture for her to remain still, stretched out his legs with her between them, then whispered, "Roll over, my pet."

With a saucy smile, she did just that, before using her long, sinuous tongue to clean his scrotum, the inside of his thighs, and then work its way up his shaft. "You taste," she said between licks, "like... the Asian, and... her friend... and me... and you. It's de... licious."

"Glad you like it," Harry replied quietly, setting a hand on her head to push her lips toward his tip. She opened her mouth eagerly, though she did not sink fully down, and instead began giving him what he had started to understand was a more typical blow-job, sucking on the tip and moving the shaft with one or both hands, though she eagerly sucked and lapped at whatever juices remained from the earlier sessions with Cho and Marietta.

She hummed when a dollop of his own cream was pulled from where it had stopped at the base of his penis, then sank her mouth down to deep-throat him just once before popping off when he groaned, then asked a question, "So... the illusion. Purposeful timing?"

She shrugged guilelessly, grinning up at him with violet eyes shining, "Not really, I was just waiting impatiently for you to feed me, Master. Thought I'd help set the mood."

"And the choice of bodies?"

"A year down, in your House, Master."

"Red hair... either Ginny, or... what was her name?"

Lilith shrugged again, not giving another hint.

"Still, the freckles... Ginny. Ron's sister. Right?"

She smiled around his cock, deep-throating him once more, briefly, as a reward.

"Mm... you setting her up, too?"

Again, she grinned, going all the way down.

"I won't say no," Harry whispered, "she's really fit, but I don't... want to screw things up with Ron's family. Or Ron. And she's a... well, I'm worried about her motivations. With me, I mean."

Lilith nodded, pulled off of him though she continued to stroke, "I won't expect you to, Master. She's being... saved. Cultivated. For later, but not too much longer. As for her motivations... who cares? She's sexy, and you can use her. More than that, once she's yours, it won't matter anyway, she'll do anything to keep you, including let you own her in every way that matters."

Harry thought about that for a few seconds, decided he was too tired to figure out if he even wanted that, and turned his mind to an easier question. "And... your taste leans to women, too?"

"I'm a Succubus, Master. I lean all ways. If humans have done it, so have we, and I like it. If they consider it debauched- besides the maturity thing we've already discussed- I probably do, too, and like it even more."

"Good to know," Harry said, already imagining Hermione blowing him just like Lilith was, but with the Succubus between the girl's legs, making Hermione pant, while herself being filled by Ron.

He needs to have her soon, I think, Harry thought.

The combined images and Lilith's amazing skills brought him to the brink.

This time, though, he resisted the urge to force her down, nor did he tell her he was getting close.

She seemed to know anyway, though, and, with a triumphant smirk, opened her mouth wide so he could see himself fill it with what looked like an entirely unrealistic amount of semen considering he'd already ejaculated twice that evening.

But, as usual, watching her swallow it down made him seriously reconsider catching up on sleep... even if it was now three in the morning.

Fortunately, Sunday was a day that Hermione considered important for an entirely different reason: rest.

"A bit of light study is all I want either of you to do today," Hermione informed 'her boys' at breakfast, herself with deep shadows under her eyes, "and that means no... fraternizing, either. I can't believe we've all been so reckless lately. We're just asking for trouble, as if we don't have enough."

"C'mon, Hermione," Ron immediately cajoled quietly, "Fraternizing, as you put it, isn't a bad thing."

"Of course it's not," Hermione said with a hiss and a low blush, leaning in across the table to whisper more directly to both of them, "but with Umbridge about and all the Decrees? What about the no hand-holding? The Inquisitorial Squad, for all that they've backed off a bit lately? It's risky. This- the exams- are their last chance this year. You know Malfoy and Umbridge will be looking for an excuse to get rid of any of us, or all of us."

"Maybe," Harry conceded, shooting a quick glance across the hall to the Slytherin table. He spotted Pansy Parkinson first, eating quietly- which meant not gossiping madly, for once- with Millicent Bulstrode and... Harry thought they must be the 'Bridget and Rachel' Daphne had mentioned before, but he couldn't name them further, or tell which witch was which.

Daphne herself, sitting with the fair-skinned, pretty girl with long, wavy black hair he thought must have been her best friend nearby, seemed a little sullen, but mostly just tired. Clearly, she, too, had been overstressed by studying.

Draco Malfoy, however, was not at the table as far as Harry could see.

Harry blinked, then thought, as hard as he could, "Lilith, you there?"

"Not so loud, Master. I'm here, but a little busy."

"Malfoy... you seen him?"

"Getting things set up for the big reveal, Master. I wouldn't worry about his whereabouts."

Harry shrugged, putting it from his mind. If Lilith wasn't worried, then why should he be?

"Er, Hermione, can I borrow a scrap of parchment?"

She blinked, looking up from her toast, then reached into her ever-present bag to pull some out and a quill. "No studying," she reminded him sternly, "We all need to rest."

"I know," Harry said with a roll of his eyes and a grin, "I'm just sending a quick note."

But he did not get a chance to even begin before the doors to the Great Hall were thrown open with a crash by no fewer than six red-robed Aurors, one of which was Tonks, marching in a double column of three, then a single stern-faced woman wearing a monocle and bone-white robes that Harry recognized at once, "She was at my hearing this summer- that's Susan Bones' aunt, the director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

The great hall immediately erupted into whispers, with nearly every student of any age explaining more or less the same things to their neighbors that Harry had to Ron and Hermione. Within five minutes of the gruff witch whispering to Professor McGonagall up at the half-filled staff table, she and Hagrid, apparently at McGonagall's request, were following Madame Bones and the Aurors out of the Hall once more.

Or at least, the others were following McGonagall, who was leading the way, looking as serious and suddenly worried as she had ever been in Harry's presence.

No sooner had the doors slammed shut than tiny Professor Flitwick, from the Staff Table, aimed his wand at the oaken slabs, locking them quite securely with several spells. He then aimed his wand at his throat, and with a suddenly booming though still high-pitched voice, announced, "Attention, Students! Attention, please! It seems that the esteemed Madame Bones of the D.M.L.E. and several Aurors have been alerted to a crime or series of crimes taking place in the Castle this year. They are here to arrest the perpetrators, and will be given the Castle's full cooperation. Furthermore, I would entreat you not to indulge in fruitless speculation. Doubtless, when the Aurors' investigation is complete, we will be able to make a formal announcement. In other words, you will know shortly after we do. Please, return to your meals, and then your preparations for end-of-year exams."

Of course, no matter how popular Flitwick was as a teacher- and even the most bigoted Slytherin tended to like his classes due mostly to the part-Goblin's seemingly infinite good cheer- no force on Earth, Harry had learned early on, could stop the Hogwarts Rumor Mill.

Thus, students were discussing nothing but the pending arrest of everyone from Harry himself, to Colin Creevey (under suspicion of taking nude photographs of several people), to Snape (for being a git), to Umbridge (for being worse than Snape and far less flattering things), or even Voldemort himself being in the Castle.

It was only around lunchtime, as the rumors got progressively worse, that Harry realized the dreams he had been having for months were not occurring any more.

"The dreams," he said quietly as he, Ron, Hermione, and he suspected an invisible Lilith, whose hand occasionally brushed against his, walked slowly around the Lake, just as many other students were doing in a (probably vain) attempt to calm their nerves.

"What about them?" Hermione asked, eyes narrowing, "You haven't still been having them?"

Harry shook his head, "No, that's... that's it, though. I haven't been practicing my Occlumency at all, but they haven't... I haven't had one. Not since... I mean, I've even had less regular nightmares."

The others were silent for several minutes, the only sound being the quiet lapping of the lake on the rocky shore, the light, cool spring breeze in the budding forest, and the crunch of their feet against the still-frosty gravel or grasses around the lake. "Is it... could it be Lilith, somehow?" Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged, "I don't really know how, but maybe?"

"It is," the Succubus said, phasing in just enough to be seen, but looking, as she had whenever she had to appear in public so far, as a non-descript Gryffindor student, "At least, I think so."

Harry, who alone had known she was there, was highly amused by his friend's startlement, with Ron even going so far as to pull his wand, though he stowed it rapidly with a blush when he realized the person showing up from nowhere and taking Harry's hand in a comfortable grip could only be her.

"Care to explain?" Hermione said, visibly forcing her own scowl down. She did not like to be startled.

Lilith shrugged, "There's not much to it, really. The connection that Master and your Dark Lord seem to share is still there, I'm just a stronger, more local connection. Now that the Contract is active, anyway. I'm sure Master could still have the dreams you've discussed, if he wanted, but why listen to what the enemy wants you to see? It's not going to be true, anyway."

Harry, alone, stopped walking. "Wait... he- Voldemort- wants me to dream of endless corridors? But why?"

She shrugged again, tugging him on to catch up with Ron and Hermione, who had stopped two and three paces ahead, "I wouldn't know, Master. I clearly recognize the place, just like you do, but I can't place it any more than you because the only images I have are from your and his memories. I just get snippets. Obviously, he wants something, there."

"We know this already," Ron grumbled lightly, glancing around to make sure there were no eavesdroppers around, "They're guarding the place my Dad was attacked at Christmas. The- the weapon."

"I'm not sure it is a weapon, exactly," Hermione interjected, "but clearly something he- Voldemort- wants desperately. Or at least, wants Harry to get. A trap, maybe."

"It's almost certainly a trap," Lilith said, "But that doesn't mean, if we have the opportunity, we shouldn't trip it. We just need to make sure we aren't the ones being trapped."

"In other words," Hermione said, though Harry finished, "We need allies."

"Exactly. Your study group up to the task, Master?"

Harry snorted, "Against Voldemort? No. No one is, not even all of us together. I've dueled him, remember? It's... unreal, how fast he is. He'd kill us all in a direct fight, even probably all at once."

"So more allies, then," Ron concluded, "Like... the Order?"

"An idea," Hermione acknowledged, "But how to convince them?"

Harry, though, grinned at the worried look on her and Ron's faces, "Bait. That's how. If I go... what do you think they'll do?"

"Rescue you, of course," Hermione said with a grimace, "But it puts you in awful danger, Harry. I don't like it."

He only shrugged, "Then we tell them I'm going, time it so they get there immediately after I do. He'll want to gloat. He always does. Then, when he's just getting started, you, the D.A., and the Order spring the trap on him."

"Still don't like it, Mate," Ron shook his head, "But I have to admit it might work. How to get that message across, though? The twins might be up for it..."

The four continued to discuss the rough outline of their plan for another twenty minutes as the rounded the lake, then, with Lilith casually fading from view before entering the castle proper once more, headed up to the Gryffindor Tower for what Hermione called 'light review', but which turned out to be a three-hour cram session before dinner.

A dinner that was interrupted by, apparently, a nation-wide free issue of the Evening Prophet.

The headlines, if nothing else, explained exactly why.

HOGWARTS HIGH INQUISITOR UNDER ARREST!

SENIOR UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTER OF MAGIC SCANDAL!

Hermione, Ron, and Harry coughed simultaneously, each jockeying for more space at the table to open their own copy of the Prophet.

Ron's longer arms ended up pushing a second-year further down the table, while Hermione's commanding presence alone kept the nearby Parvati and Lavender from horning in on her 'reading space', while Harry just left his own edition rolled up and leaned in toward Ron, reading over his arm.

By Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent

(Warning for Younger Readers: This article may contain sensitive or disturbing material not suitable for all eyes. Or anyone, really. We warned you. - Daily Prophet Editorial Department)

Tipped off by an anonymous source within the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a force of seven Aurors including the esteemed head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement led a raid into our nation's most-beloved institution of learning this morning, during the period when the majority of students were eating their morning repast.

Many of our readers will remember that the school's former Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had been relieved of his post and evaded arrest under suspicion of fomenting rebellion and conspiracy to commit sedition. As such, the Aurors sought to meet with the next highest authority in the school.

That would not be, in case it wasn't made clear by the headline, dear readers, the acting Headmistress, Hogwarts' High Inquisitor and Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Dolores Jane Umbridge.

Instead, Madame Bones (D.M.L.E. head) and the Auror Squad reportedly entered the castle through the main gates and door, entered the Great Hall where several staff and the majority of the students were in the midst of their breakfast. There, they were joined by the stern-faced Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall (Transfiguration Professor) and the Half-Giant Professor of Care of Magical Creatures this publication has reported on before, Rubeus Hagrid.

The following group then made their way through the school, according to the official report, directly to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, where, under Educational Decree #22, the Acting Headmistress had been conducting the business of both her classes and the day-to-day running of the school.

What they found there made the original tip's information, according to one of the attending Aurors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, look like a charge of jaywalking next to robbing Gringott's Bank.

"It literally made me sick to see," the Auror said, "All over my new shoes and just-cleaned robes. And my partner's, poor chap." This reporter can attest to that, as stains and residue were still present when the Auror gave his statement to the Daily Prophet. He went on, however.

"Anyway, we was just there on suspicion of larceny, that's all, a report that the Senior Undersecretary had stolen something of value from the Ministry, or taken it without permission, or sommat like that. Madame Bones wasn't too clear on the details, but she wanted us to come personally, all six of us by name. Not normal procedure, that, but when the boss says jump... Anyway, we get there, and things are by-the-book, you know? We check in with the Deputy Headmistress, an' we all remember Professor McGonagall, you know? Then she leads us straight to the DADA classroom, same one most all of us learnt in, and the door's locked. So we get in position, and break in, and... that's when I was sick."

At this point in his tale to me, dear readers, the poor Auror was sick again, this time on my robes. After I cleaned myself and my desk off, the Auror, who had taken a shot of good brandy to steady his nerves, continued on.

"There was Umbridge, all right. Her and... and what's-his-name, the Potions Professor. They... they wasn't exactly... fornicating, but it weren't no sight I'd ever want to see again, not with 'er great rolls and stench on top, all wrigglin' and shite like that-"

Again, the Auror had to take a moment, and another shot of my brandy. Thankfully, this one he kept down.

"An'- Snip, I think his name was, or sommat like tha', he's got his mouth on... well, you get the idea. A compromisin' position, that's sure. Mind, it's not illegal, precisely, what they was doin'... 'leastways, not to each other. But that poor cat... Donno how it'd ever be right again. Professor McGonogall asked us to put the poor thing down, you know, for... for mercy."

Here, dear readers, I must beg your indulgence, despite the disclaimer I'm told will be tacked on to the top of this article. Rest assured, I won't be adding anything... graphic. But I will say this: The same Auror had a picture, one which he showed me.

I've seen a lot in my years writing for the Prophet and other publications, loyal readers, but I almost lost my own lunch seeing that poor, mutilated feline corpse. It wasn't flensed, or flayed, or even shaved. But no animal should have to suffer as that poor thing must have done.

I have been informed, through official channels, the following about the case, most of the statements from no less reliable a source than Madame Bones of the D.M.L.E. herself:

"Of course not, Skeeter, you know we can't and won't comment about ongoing investigations or cases."

"Yes, there was a cat involved, and yes, it was put down for its own peace. Obliviations and drastic healing would not have worked on that poor animal."

"Yes, we made two arrests at the school. No, I won't give you their names."

"No, we have no evidence of a student being involved at this time."

"Yes, there is still an active crime scene and investigation at the school."

"No, the investigation should in no way interfere with end-of-year examinations, O.W.L.s, or N.E.W.T.s, aside from the Deputy Headmistress relocating the Defense Classroom for the last week of classes and testing for those years not taking place in standardized testing."

Many of my readers will, no doubt, recognize that, for once, the D.M.L.E. was surprisingly forthcoming with information, even aside from my anonymous source. Getting even one statement from the notoriously tight-lipped Head of the Department is a feat, as my long-time readers will surely remember. Getting four out of a total of six official statements is astounding, and no doubt a testament to just how shocking this news is.

But I do not want to dwell on the crimes committed against a cat by two of Hogwarts' teachers.

Instead, I want to get at the heart of the matter.

Why has our Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, allowed such depraved individuals that would do such a thing to an innocent animal to walk free?

Why, indeed, would our Minister allow such individuals not only to walk free, but to teach our beloved, too-impressionable children?

Why, furthermore, was such a depraved soul as Madame Umbridge allowed to work at the Ministry for Magic at all?

And why, dear readers, was Dolores Jane Umbridge, apparently the instigator of this entire scandal, allowed to work so closely, and for so long, with the Minister himself?

If this is the quality of your Senior Undersecretary, Minister Fudge, I must ask you on behalf of all the Magical World:

What scandals are you hiding?

Harry looked up to see Hermione and Ron both staring at him, dumbstruck.

"Hole-eeey... sheeeeet..." Ron whispered.

"I... what..." Harry heard himself say, as if from a vast distance.

"Lilith," Hermione whispered softly, barely audible over the rustling of paper, and the occasional sob- or sound of vomit hitting the flagstone floor- from the other students. "It had to be."

Harry blinked. Without conscious thought, he stood up, mixing in with the slowly-gathering crowd of students who were leaving the Great Hall.

Wordlessly, his best friends joined him, falling in step on either side, both looking as ashen-faced as he felt.

Once they reached the common room, raucous cheering- not directed at them- greeted them. Apparently, even the early eaters had gotten their Prophets as well.

Harry led the others, unnoticed and even unintentionally, up to the boys' dorm, and opened the door.

There, sitting on his bed wearing an entirely self-satisfied expression and physically appearing as if she were a nondescript, brown-haired fifth year student wearing Gryffindor colors, was Lilith.

"I... you..." Harry began, then halted. What could he say?

Could he really justify yelling at the Succubus for ruining two lives?

Not to mention that poor cat!

Who knew how many lives Umbridge had ruined, including Remus', and the good attempt she'd started to make on Harry's own?

Don't forget the Dementors in Little Whinging, the soft, cruel part of his mind reminded the rest of him.

Harry frowned, nodded, then swallowed. "Is... was that the plan?"

Lilith's smug smile widened into one of quiet joy, "It was, Master. I honestly hadn't intended to involve Snape quite so... firmly, but he became rather agitated when I wouldn't let him... do what he wanted. So he escalated himself."

"And... do I want to know exactly what happened?" Hermione asked, sinking down to sit opposite Lilith on Ron's bed, where he quickly joined her.

The Succubus shrugged, "I can give you the gruesome details if you want."

"Er, no," Harry answered for them, then started pacing, his mind racing like his Firebolt. "Er... so... I guess Umbridge is out. What's to stop her- or the Minister, anyway- from sending someone worse?"

"Nothing, I suppose," Lilith shrugged again, leaning back onto her elbows, stretching the robes at her chest a little, "but that article the reporter- well, I- wrote. I don't think your Minister will have a long term remaining in office after that. Not if politics in this world is still how our classes describe them."

"They probably are," Hermione conceded, "they don't seem to have fundamentally changed in quite a while. But... why the cat?"

Lilith frowned, "An innocent bystander that got caught up, unfortunately."

"A- A bystander?" Hermione gasped.

The demoness nodded, "Yes. He had been... Umbridge's. She loved that poor thing, it was all she really loved from what I could see, aside from power, but... once Snape saw what she was doing to it, he... took over. Sort of. And then she... took him over."

"When you say..." Ron gulped, turning green.

Lilith smirked, this time, "As I told Master the other day, I'd been keeping both of them- using one of my abilities- in a state of extreme hyper-arousal, but without any sort of release, for several days. Longer, in her case, nearly two weeks. I was also feeding them illusory images to direct their thinking along certain pathways."

"Brainwashing?"

Lilith frowned at Hermione's word for it, but nodded slowly, "I suppose that's one way to describe it, but I don't think it fits all that well."

"You use- what, some sort of lust-creating effect, like a love potion or something, feed them images to make things worse, to direct that lust at a specific target, and you don't think brainwashing is the proper term?"

Lilith shook her head, sitting back up, "No, I don't. I'm not washing people's brains. It was specific, targeted psychological reconditioning, and temporary, at best. If I'd had a year, then it might have been brainwashing."

"I- I don't see the difference," Hermione scowled.

Harry watched as the two continued to argue for several minutes, before he huffed, "It's too late now, Hermione, and as much as I might not agree with the methods Lilith used, we did kind of want this to happen. Right?"

"Of course we did," Ron answered for her, "It's just... I mean, you guys all know I'm no fan of Snape or Umbridge, but this... they're going to be vilified, even if they win their trials."

Lilith gave a sad little smile, then said, "Look, Hermione, I'm going to explain something I already tried to make clear to Master. I'm not human. I don't think like you do- though we don't think too differently from what I can see- and I don't have the same social or ethical or moral hang-ups about a lot of things, and not just sexual matters, either. Let me give you a hypothetical, alright? Something to help you wrap your brain around the situation."

"Fine," Hermione groused, lunging up from Ron's bed to start pacing alongside Harry.

He, wisely, moved to join Lilith on the edge of his own bed, more to stay out of the reach of Hermione's furious stride than anything else.

"A person is holding a wand at you, and they are saying 'Avada Ke-' at you. You have a gun, or a wand of your own, and know a spell that can kill them first. What do you do?"

"I..." Hermione hesitated, frowning, "I'd like to think I would end them first."

"And if it was one of your friends being threatened?"

Hermione swallowed, but this time her response was immediate and firm, "I would definitely do my best to kill the other person first."

Lilith nodded, "An existential threat poses a clear and present danger. It removes gray areas, makes things, I'm told, pretty damned clear. If it's them or you, you pick you, of course. Most people do."

Hermione nodded.

"This whole situation with Umbridge," Lilith continued explaining, locking eyes with the other girl, who had stopped pacing near Neville's bed by the window, "is an existential crisis for you three, and less so for the rest of your world, if what Master has said about your Dark Lord is even half-true. He will kill you if you give him the chance."

"I know that," Hermione frowned, resuming the pacing, "But as much as I loathe that cow of a woman, Umbridge is not V- Voldemort, and as Harry's godfather reminded us at the start of the school year, the world isn't split between good people and Death Eaters."

"No, it's not," Lilith replied after a moment, "But you don't know what I saw in her mind, Hermione. That woman wasn't just sick, she was- is- demented. She enjoys torture. She likes power, above all, and will do anything- anything- to get more of it. And she was running this school- a school- like a concentration camp. You're familiar enough with your world's history to know a thing or two about those, yes? What do you think would happen when your Dark Lord comes back into the light, makes himself known, even partially?"

Harry shook his head, answering for her, "She'd flock to him. All the Death Eaters joined him for one of three things. Fear, a chance at wealth by serving, or a chance at power by serving. All the strongest ones did it for the last reason."

Lilith nodded, "That's human psychology. To be honest, it's something we- my people- have in common with yours in many ways. The biggest way we differ, there, is that we don't really ever die of old age, and we're very hard to kill, so fear is less of an issue."

"Well, alright," Hermione conceded, "But what about Snape? I know he's a horrid teacher, but..."

"But," Ron said, "We- at least, Harry and I- don't trust him. I know Dumbledore does, but we still don't know why, and I, for one..."

"Snape... was someone you could probably trust," Lilith said quietly, "at least to keep you alive. He remembers standing between you and a werewolf a couple years ago. That's the sort of person he really is, deep down. But he was also hindering you, personally, Master. He had to go, and I don't regret that he has."

Harry watched her face as she spoke, but the Succubus gave nothing away in her expression except resolve and satisfaction.

"Fine," he said, looking away, "It's done, anyway. The Wizengamot can figure out what to do with them now. They might even get a fair trial, sort of."

Ron and Hermione snorted together, "Doubtful," the ginger muttered. "A- Anyway, it's... I hate to say this, given everything, but I'm knackered, and we have O.W.L.s tomorrow."

"Right," Hermione muttered, shaking her head, "And we need to sleep, you're absolutely right, Ron. G- Good night, Ron, Harry. Lilith."

"Good night, Hermione," Ron said with a soft smile, a moment before Harry.

Lilith only waved as the brunette headed out the door.

"Good night, Harry, Lilith," Ron gave each a nod, then, as he changed for bed, finished, "Don't forget the silencing charms. The others should be up soon."

"I think I'm actually turning in, too," Harry said through a yawn, forcing himself to ignore Lilith's pout.

But as she crawled into the sheets next to him, Harry had to wonder what it was Lilith had shown Snape to direct his frenzy.

"You should probably try and do something nice for Hermione in the next few days," he murmured into Lilith's once again pink hair as he started to slip into unconsciousness.

"I suppose, Master," she said, "Now, sleep. I can feel how tired..."

He did not hear the rest.

A/N2: Review, folks! New chapters posted monthly, but I will post early when I hit 10 reviews per chapter!

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