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!
Chap. 10: Ordinary Witches Love Sex (too)
Harry yawned sleepily as he devoured his eggs and toast with gusto. Hermione, this time, sat on his right, with Ron on his left, and a sleepy-looking Neville sat across from all three, idly stirring his hot cereal. The four of them, alone, seemed an island of calm among the Gryffindor fifth years, the rest of whom were frantically cramming in another few minutes of review, just like they had the previous day for Charms.
Hermione was the only one of the four still reviewing, and she was doing so at a much more casual pace, focusing more on consuming a good breakfast than her reading.
Harry looked around the Great Hall as he finished his breakfast, mostly to take stock of how much things had changed in the last two and a half weeks. Daphne Greengrass, at the Slytherin table, was once again eating alone aside from the more petite, dark-haired girl, both looking tense themselves as they poured over several books, no doubt on Transfiguration.
Draco Malfoy was staring blankly into his own bowl of hot cereal, not eating, and not studying, but Harry thought he looked quite sick. No doubt, he had reason to, if what Harry was starting to suspect about the other boy was true.
Pansy Parkinson, at the same table, was also surrounded by books and friends, but it seemed like, at least, the older two twin girls were helping her study, for each surrounded the fifth-year, pointing out this passage or that in the books each had open before them.
No one, yet, in either Ravenclaw, aside from Cho or Marietta, who were chatting quietly, or Hufflepuff had earned Harry's attention, though he had plans to that effect (and not for lack of trying in at least two Hufflepuff's cases). In Gryffindor, though...
But before Harry could contemplate the Chaser Trio, Gryffindor's Flying Foxes, or Hermione, or anyone else in his own House, Professor McGonagall stood up and cast the sonorous charm on herself to announce, "Attention, Students! The time has come to prepare for the Transfiguration Examination for the fifth years. The procedure for all years will be identical to that of yesterday. The fifth years will gather in the entrance hall while the staff and examiners arrange the Great Hall, and the seventh years will proceed to the same hall as yesterday. The remaining students will continue their regularly scheduled classes for end-of-year exams. Thank you."
As usual, there was a great scraping of benches and rustling of clothes and shoes as the students, en masse, hurried to obey amid a sea of suddenly much-increased tension. Ten minutes later, Harry found a corner desk and was quickly joined by Neville, Ron, and Hermione who took the three nearest him, to wait for the proctor- an older witch at least two decades younger, he thought, than Madame Marchbanks- to begin the written exam.
1: Describe the changes necessary to perform a non-ferrous metallic Transfiguration to A) a ferrous metal, B) a non-metal mineral.
Harry frowned, thinking, then started to write. This was not, he thought hopefully, something he knew as well as Charms, and he was no Hermione, but he wasn't terrible in Transfiguration, either, even if the theory was definitely harder for him than the practical...
"And time's up, students! Time is up! Please put down your quills and turn your examinations back over! Time's up!"
Harry yawned, flexing his right hand to work out the kinks. Thinking back, he could definitely have done worse. There was a moment when he had written five lines of an answer about switching spells- defining them, essentially- where he had started writing about a charm to switch candles off and on, before catching himself and putting in the right definition.
He was four questions short of finishing, but felt like he'd done alright, all the same.
"So," Ron asked the group as they started moving toward the entry hall, "What's for lunch?"
The Practical Transfiguration Exam saw Harry holding his wand before Professor Marchbanks herself. "Alright, Potter," she said, gesturing at the third and last of the animals on the tabletop, "Simply Vanish the iguana. Relax, take your time. Don't-"
Three students to Harry's right, several people squealed as a profusion of rabbits appeared in front of Hannah Abbot's examiner.
But Harry, using all the concentration he possessed, remained focused. Pointing the tip of his wand at the iguana, which flicked its long tongue out even as the protruding eye tracked the wood in his hand, he flicked it to the right while incanting, "Evanesco!" with the emphasis, as Hermione had taught him, on the "es" syllable.
At once, the entire lizard vanished.
Marchbanks nodded, "Well, well. Excellent form and pronunciation. Your final task, then, for bonus points... can you undo your earlier efforts?"
Harry frowned faintly, but nodded, "I think so, Professor."
"Very well. Begin with the button."
Still fighting to ignore the rabbits that were now scurrying throughout the entire Great Hall, even between his feet, Harry pointed, this time, at the small object that had once been a snail, resting in a little terrarium just a few inches across. "Vertiveros."
His pronunciation, this time, was not quite perfect, Harry knew, but the button did morph quickly back into the rainbow-shelled creature, which immediately resumed sliding across the rock it had been before, as if to flee from Harry.
"And the kiwi?"
Harry took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, taking aim once more. This spell, animate-to-animate, had no special wand movement, but as a result, the intent and pronunciation were paramount.. The latter was the one thing, like Ron, Harry struggled with the most in practice. Still, he knew the word, for it was the same basic spell, with a different word, as he'd used to turn the hedgehog into the bird in the first place. "Einafors."
To Harry's immense relief, the Kiwi did, indeed, revert back to a slightly off-colored Hedgehog, one a little darker brown than the one that had been there when he had stepped up to the table.
"Mm. Not quite perfect," the stern old witch said, leaning over the table with one hand on her glasses and peering down, "But otherwise well done. And the last...?"
Here, Harry stumbled. "Er... I don't know a spell to un-vanish a creature, Professor. Sorry."
Marchbanks looked up from the table to peer into Harry's eyes for a moment. Then, to his shock, she smiled, revealing several dark or missing teeth, "And well you shouldn't, boy. Conjuring many animals is illegal, you know. An iguana may not be technically illegal, but there's a reason we don't teach it until your sixth year. Alright, move along. Next!"
He blinked, nonplussed, then hurried to obey, glancing back as a scowling Blaise Zabini came up behind him.
That could have gone much worse, he thought, while hurrying back into the steady line of students leaving the Great Hall through the back way.
That evening was uneventful, aside from Neville pulling Harry aside on their collective way up to Gryffindor Tower after dinner to give Harry a most heartfelt thanks for both himself, and his 'mysterious friend', along with assurances that yes, he was feeling a lot more relaxed, now.
The whole thing left Harry quite happy to indulge in a bit of Lilith's oral attention before he went to bed, himself, after another semi-late night studying for Herbology.
A Herbology Exam which, afterward, Harry felt he had done reasonably well on, largely due to the cram session led by, not Hermione, but Neville, the night before.
True, he'd gotten a small bit of his finger taken off by a fanged geranium, but he'd had worse. Muchworse, in fact, and the examiner had mended the injury down to a tiny scar before he'd left the practical exam.
The evening, too, was enjoyable, but relatively quiet. Instead of having a late-night cram session, Harry had, with Umbridge removed from the school, alerted everyone in the D.A. to meet once more, in the Room of Requirement just after dinner for a long review session.
It went surprisingly smoothly, almost like the fifth or sixth meeting they'd had, once he'd really started to get into his stride as an instructor, with each and every member- even Cho and Marietta- attentive and giving the spells and the question-and-answer period he had agreed to this one meeting only their full focus.
It had ended well after curfew, but Neville had the bright idea of asking the Room to create exits just outside each House's common rooms, to at least minimize the risk of being discovered, with everyone, especially Harry, feeling both satisfied and prepared for the following day.
Though, watching Marietta scowl at Hermione a few times while scratching her forehead made him wonder what was going on.
For her part, his best female friend only fought to control a smirk whenever she noticed the older girl glaring at her.
Rather than enjoy Lilith himself- he was rather tired- Harry told Ron that he could enjoy her, as long as he didn't wake the others up.
He never did ask what they got up to, but the broad smile on his best friend's face the next day told Harry that, yes, he and Lilith had 'fornicated', as the paper had called it.
It was an expression that, briefly, made Hermione frown as she joined them before heading down to breakfast, but before they got out of the common room she appeared to have pushed those feelings aside and walked between them with her hands holding open Harry's own borrowed copy of The Dark Arts Outsmarted.
Once they had nearly finished their breakfasts, Harry was awake enough to risk her ire... a little. Best to be political, in his opinion. "So, Hermione... I noticed Marietta was glaring at you a bit last night. What did she do?"
He would never accuse Hermione of being the instigator. Even if she had been, that would just be asking for trouble- and doubtless, lower grades on his O.W.L.s.
Hermione sniffed, glancing over her shoulder to the Ravenclaw table, where, indeed, a frowning sixth-year girl suddenly looked down at her plate. "Oh, nothing too much. She just tried to blab to Umbridge about the D.A. She didn't, of course, because..."
Harry nodded, then whispered, "Lilith?"
Hermione nodded, "Yeah, and she told me about it the next morning. So I met Luna at the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room and she let me in to reverse the charm and talk to her about it. I didn't... give anything away, I think. Instead, I sort of... I might have led her to assume, incorrectly, that the paper for the D.A. didn't only cause the word 'sneak' to appear on her forehead in bright purple, and very painful, pimples, but also alerted me to who had done it. After we talked about it, I undid the charm. The pain is... echoing. It'll fade, I'm sure, as the pimples continue to heal. Probably by tomorrow they'll be gone completely."
Harry squinted over Hermione's shoulder, trying not to make it too obvious, but he could, indeed, make out heavier than normal makeup on the older girl's face. "Huh. And... what was she trying to tell Umbridge?"
Hermione shrugged, "About the D.A., of course. Her mum's apparently a Ministry employee, and she urged her to go to Umbridge with concerns. I guess Marietta thought we would get in trouble. This was all before... well, the paper."
Harry nodded, "Alright, I guess I can drop it, but... do you think we can trust her?"
"I'm not sure," Hermione conceded, "But as last night was probably our last meeting, unless we need to do it next year, too, I don't see the point of worrying about it. It's not like she's our friend, or anything."
"Er..."
Harry looked away, blushing slightly, to prod Ron in an attempt to get his attention away from breakfast.
It failed, of course. Or, maybe, Ron had been listening and was only pretending to stay out of it.
Wise of him, if so, Harry admitted to himself.
"You didn't," Hermione hissed, glaring across the table at Harry, then Ron. "Wait- both of you?"
Harry nodded glumly.
But Hermione did not explode. Instead, she took in a hiss of anger, then let it out in a long, slow exhale. "Fine. Fine! This is what I get for being patient, I guess. No more, not her. She's- you know she's a total slag, don't you?"
Harry nodded, answering for both him and Ron, "Yeah... and if you don't want us to, I won't. Ron has to decide for himself, if he's listening."
The red-head shrugged, not looking up from his plate, "If you don't want me to, I won't, Hermione. I didn't go looking for her, if that's what you think. Neither of us did, and we didn't know- or at least, I didn't- about her reputation until after."
Still seething, but doing so quietly, Hermione repeated, "Fine. I'll do my best to forget it. After all, I don't have proof of her reputation. But I mean it, not with her, not again, or not with me. I can't- Just- eww."
Harry didn't really see what Hermione was getting at, but the choice was easy, even if he felt it a bit unfair. He would always take Hermione first in that choice, no matter what.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts examination, Harry felt he had done particularly well in. For one thing, the questions on the written exam did not seem to have changed much since seeing the memory, earlier in the year, of Snape's examinations. He doubted, somehow, that anyone would really believe his answer of just how big a Basilisk could get, or would think to wonder exactly how he knew what the venom of the creature felt like as it killed you in such detail, but... Maybe they would.
The practical was, to him, almost a joke. The tasks they were given were not simple ones, not by any means, but Harry knew the subject, after the last five years and especially this one, exceedingly well.
Banishing a Boggart, for example, was almost child's play, though he was horrified to see not the Dementor, but a recreation of Molly Weasley's fears, as revealed by another Boggart earlier in the school year.
When he was finished, Professor Tofty leaned in quietly, glancing around the room, "And, Potter... I heard from my good friend Madame Marchbanks that you can produce a Corporeal Patronus...? For a few bonus points...?"
Harry smiled, leaning in conspiratorially, "I can... in fact, I can name almost twenty other students in the fifth, sixth, and even a few in the fourth year, that can produce one, too- and a few others that can at least produce mist."
Then, glancing about to see that yes, Marchbanks and Professor McGonogall were at least facing in his direction, Harry thought of Lilith, of Ron, of Hermione, of Cho, yes, but also of seeing Umbridge sacked, of the quiet joy on his parents' faces in the Mirror of Erised, and lifted his wand, aiming for the largest clear spot in the Great Hall. "Expecto Patronum."
The white stag erupted from his wand with great force, materializing in the empty spot accompanied by the clatter and gasping of several students, most of whom backed away. A few, though, had seen it before, and they, unbidden by any teacher or proctor, lifted their own wands in unison.
Within just a few seconds- no more than a few tries for anyone- the stag was joined by an otter, a beaver, a horse, a wolfhound, a terrier, and several other animals, including a few that burst through the partly-open door to the entrance hall a few seconds after the first wave.
"I'll... take your word for it, Mr. Potter," Professor Tofty said, wiping away a tear of joy, no doubt feeling the effects of so many strong, powerful patronuses in the same room. "Well done... you taught them, I take it?"
He nodded, "Yeah. I was taught by Remus Lupin."
"Lupin... werewolf?"
Before he answered the old man's question, Harry searched his eyes, hoping to divine his intent. What he found was not hostility or caution, only, as far as he could tell, a desire for more information. "Yes. He was friends with my parents- I think of him as an uncle."
"I know the man," Tofty said quietly, "And he's a good one. Most werewolves these days follow a fellow named Greyback. Beast of a man, even before he was turned, I tell you. But Lupin's a good chap. Examined him myself, years ago now, in Transfiguration and Charms. Smart, talented. A good influence on you, I hope, to counter your father's genetics."
Harry grinned, "Well, maybe not that good an influence. He was a Marauder, too."
"That he was," Tofty said with a smile of his own, "Off you go, then, Potter. And well done, again."
As the Stag vanished, followed by so many others, from the Great Hall, Harry's elation and joy did not fade.
For the first time, in fact, since finding out exactly the sort of bias the wizarding world had against werewolves and 'part humans' in general, he felt hope.
If that one old man didn't hold any bias, then... there was hope. There had to be.
Not just for defeating Voldemort, but for crushing everything he claimed to stand for.
That night, with Lilith curled into his arms, Harry Potter slept better than he could ever remember doing before.
The next morning, Friday, Ron and Harry had a particularly relaxing morning after breakfast, for they did not have classes or exams. Hermione, though, did, and had grown a bit snappy at anyone who dared interrupt her study time due to 'frivolity'.
Relaxation, though, was not what held Harry's interest that morning.
No, it was, in fact, a subject he'd been focused on a lot. Girls.
Shocking, really.
Not the least of which was an invisible Lilith underneath the table next to him, giving Ron a blow-job while Harry did his best to provide distraction and cover. Fortunately, Neville was on the other side of Ron, so the red-head at least had some cover, while Hermione was studying so intently for her Ancient Runes examination, which was scheduled for immediately after breakfast with no practical, that she seemed completely oblivious, despite the fact that Lilith's small feet must have been between Hermione's own.
The fact that Harry knew that the Succubus- being able to see her hazy, half-translucent form- was in her petite form most favored by him while she sucked on the older-looking boy's cock like a lollipop was not helping his own libido.
Neville, for his part, seemed equally absorbed in watching a pair of girls over at the nearby Hufflepuff table.
A pair that Harry had expected, if he'd thought about it.
Forcing down a grin- it wouldn't do to attract attention by actually smiling during this tense time, though Ron seemed to be getting away with it- Harry reached back and into his bag, pulling out a scrap of parchment and quill, along with a random book, under the guise of 'studying'.
Instead, though, he wrote a quick note before passing it behind Ron and tapping Neville's back to get his attention, the note in the same hand.
You out of the Potion, then?
Neville, quite distracted, took several prods to break his focus on the ladies of Hufflepuff, but once he did read the note, he blushed, then nodded. Harry withdrew the parchment, scribbled until the first note was illegible, then wrote below it, "Did you have fun with my friend?"
This time, Neville seemed to be waiting for more, because he looked back and down after the first poke. Again, he nodded, the blush still there.
Harry grinned, then scribbled out the second part, too, and flipped the scrap over for one final, longer message. "Wouldn't mind netting some time with one of them, myself. Need a wingman?"
Ron's breath, between them, had started to increase in pace, a sure sign he was getting close to release, but Hermione still seemed oblivious, as did everyone else around. Harry fought to ignore, for now, his own raging erection, wanting to save some energy (not that he ever lacked it, anymore, not since the 'rune upgrade') for later.
Again, Neville nodded, though instead of growing more red, his skin tone actually lost several shades, getting a bit pale.
Rather than communicate in written form again, Harry winked past Ron, giving a subtle gesture toward the door with his chin. "Well, I'm stuffed. You enjoy, Ron. Hermione, good luck, not that you'll need it. Neville, see you soon, I expect."
"Yeah, see you mate," Ron said distractedly.
Hermione only waved, not looking up from her book.
Neville, though, stammered out a quick 'bye', and hurried to snag a few more bites before following Harry from the Great Hall.
Harry, who had ducked into an alcove below the grand stairs in the entrance hall to avoid the already-gathering students of Ancient Runes (of which there were only thirteen, according to Hermione, not counting herself), grabbed Neville's sleeve and pulled him into the same space, then lead him down a little-used corridor beneath the stairs, directly on from the entrance, which would eventually take them down to the docks where the boats were kept.
Harry, though, had no need to go that far, he only needed a bit of privacy to explain his plan.
"Okay, Neville. My friend, the one you 'met' the other day? She's not human."
Neville frowned, but nodded, "I... kind of thought that. Disillusionment Charms always leave a blur, but... unless she was using your Cloak..."
Harry shook his head, "No, she... it's a power she has. She's human-like. Has all the right parts, if you know what I mean."
Turning pink again, Neville nodded, muttering, "Yeah, I get it."
"But," Harry said, voice low, as he pulled Neville into a long-unused classroom, "she can't become pregnant, or whatever, because she isn't human. With me?"
Again, Neville nodded, seeming somehow relieved, despite, as far as Harry knew, never having had sex with anyone.
"Right, so, one of her other abilities, besides being invisible, is... how can I explain this... she makes people, or she can make people, more... excited. The muggles use the term 'horny', but I'm not sure if that's right in the Wizarding World."
Neville immediately turned bright red, shaking his head, and hissed, "Is that what Seamus and Dean mean every time they say it?"
Turning, embarrassingly, a little pink himself, Harry nodded. But he ignored that, plowing on, "It's not mind control, or emotion control, or anything like that. It just makes people think about it a bit more- and a bit more favorably. If you want, she's willing to use that ability to get your crush- whoever it is- to, well, be with you. More, anyway, since I'm pretty sure at least one of them checks you out on a regular basis, like I mentioned before."
Neville nodded.
"Or," Harry continued, "if that kind of manipulation- and it is manipulation, even if not control- makes you uncomfortable, then she can also do it on someone else you'd like to be with, but not with, long-term."
Neville didn't say anything, merely stood there looking uncomfortable. But he did not leave, did not tell Harry never to talk about it again, or anything like that.
"In fact, I know a girl whowould love to have sex with you who'sa Gryffindor, if you're really desperate... but she's a school broom, if you get my meaning."
"That phrase I absolutely understand," Neville grumbled, "But if there's no one else... I have to ask, Harry. Why do you want to do this?"
Pretending to be affronted, Harry put a hand on his chest, taking a half step back, "Ah! Wounded! My dear Longbottom, the purest of altruism, of course!"
Neville did not laugh. Instead, he frowned. "No, really. What's in it for you?"
Harry schooled his features, but moved to sit on the nearest desk before turning to face Neville, who had stayed by the door, "Really, some of it's just so you can relax a bit and have fun. Look... Can I be honest with you, without worrying about you thinking I'm turning Dark or something?"
Neville snorted, "Harry, I've known you for five years. I've seen you do things, and heard of more. I don't think you could 'Go Dark'."
Harry shook his head, and, unable to force down the slightly wistful smile that slipped in, replied, "Yeah, well... what if I told you I summoned a demon?"
Neville blinked.
"Yeah," Harry continued, "A Succubus, specifically. Not really a 'demon' from what I can tell, but she's definitely not from this plane of existence. That's the... friend."
Neville's knees almost buckled, forcing Harry to jump to his feet and take two steps toward his friend, whose hand reached for the door to steady himself, looking paler than Harry had ever seen him. "A... A Succubus? You let a Succubus... with me?"
Harry nodded, "Is... that a problem? You liked it, right?"
Neville nodded, too, but frowned, looking quite upset, "That's not the point, Harry. I... I like my soul where it is, thanks!"
At that, Harry actually laughed, though he stifled it quickly when Neville visibly grew even more upset, "Look, I'm sorry," he said, quite sincerely, "But you misunderstand. She's not after your soul, or even mine. That's not part of the deal. The Contract- she says it with a capital-C- is for two things on my end, and two things on hers. You tell me if it's a bad deal."
"Go on," Neville eventually said, slowly walking over to sit on the teacher's desk, facing Harry.
"Right. On my end, I get her help against Voldemort- in literally every way she can provide, be it scouting, fighting (though I'd prefer to keep her out of a fight), or even recruiting. Of course, being a Succubus, I get sex- great sex- and as much of that as I want from her, whenever I want."
Neville pinked again, but said nothing, only gestured for Harry to continue with one hand, while staring at the floor between them with a look of concentration.
"She gets my semen- yes, really, that's apparently quite useful for her people and her dimension, or whatever- whenever we have sex, sometimes when I have sex with other people- and, she can also gather up semen from other people nearby, to take back home when she goes. I gather it's... I don't know, really, how it works, but I think it's like, the proteins or something that their dimension doesn't have or create, or whatever, and they need it both to reproduce and to build things. It's a bit fuzzy.
"But," Harry continued, "There is literally nothing in the Contract that mentions my soul, or anyone else's, at all. If I break the contract, I get taken, physically, to her world to get fucked to death by her people. She says it takes about five minutes. If she breaks it, there's consequences, too."
"Sounds too good to be true, Harry," Neville sighed, running a hand over his face.
"It does," Harry immediately agreed, face solemn, "But that's really all it is. Everything else is details. I'm required to have sex with her in some fashion daily, give or take, though we've arranged to go up to a few days if we 'bank' some. She needs it regularly to stay in this world, I think. But aside from that... it's free sex, so far as I can tell."
Neville shook his head, "I don't know, Harry. It... something about it rubs me the wrong way. I mean, I'm grateful you offered her, but... I don't want to accept. Not that I don't want... the other thing, but... not from her."
"Alright," Harry agreed, shrugging, "That's fine. I can probably arrange the Gryffindor girl I mentioned by this afternoon, if you want. Getting your Hufflepuff girl might take a little more work, but I'll still help with that. I do kind of need to know which one to focus on, though... because I intend to claim the other myself, at least temporarily."
Neville turned deep scarlet, almost resembling Vernon Dursley, and not with embarrassment. Or at least, not embarrassment alone. "The Succubus not enough for you?"
Harry's eyebrows rose. "Uh... not really, no. I mean, yeah, sure, but... be honest with me, Neville. If you, being fifteen, had the opportunity to have sex with several of the prettiest girls in Hogwarts... wouldn't you take it?"
Begrudgingly, and after more than a minute of trying to deny it, Neville grumbled out, "Yeah, I probably would."
"That," Harry explained, "is a side benefit of having my friend- her name's Lilith- around. You notice, lately, how everyone in the Common Room is either studying, snogging, or trying to find someone to snog?"
"Hard to miss," Neville said.
"Well, like I said, her influence. I think her just being around makes people a bit more randy. Haven't noticed anything myself, but... I did see you and Alicia Spinnet snogging the other day."
Neville turned bright red, looking away, "That... she... she offered to help. I didn't say... no, in time."
"Help with what?" Harry asked, grinning.
"Er... k... kissing..."
Harry laughed, "Well, did you like it? She a good kisser?"
Neville shrugged, mumbling something unintelligible, then nodded weakly.
Harry deliberated for a moment, then leaned in, "Want a secret?"
Confused- what could be a secret, still, with all that Harry had already revealed?- he looked up.
"Alicia's the one I think would be happy for a shag with you."
Harry didn't need to look down to see Neville's trousers start to tent.
"Alright, look," Harry chuckled, "Here's the deal. I'm going to go talk to your crush as soon as we're done, but I have to know- from your mouth, not my suspicions- which of the two you are looking at. Start the ball rolling, so to speak. Then, this afternoon, you and Alicia are going to find some private place- the Room of Requirement, if nothing else- and she'll make a man out of you. Deal?"
"Er... s- sounds great," Neville mumbled, still scarlet, "But again... what do you get out of it?"
Grinning, but perfectly serious, Harry said, "Well, the girl you don't want in Hufflepuff is going to get some attention from me- I'll happily shag either one- and this way, I don't annoy a good mate of mine by stealing the virginity of the girl he wants to take it from."
"Yeah... not buying that," Neville grumbled.
Harry shrugged, "It's true, though."
"Not the whole truth."
Again, Harry grinned, then decided to let this newer, shrewder, Neville have what he was asking for, "And, if you aren't opposed- say, neutral- I'd also like to shag the one you do want. At least once. In return, I will also continue facilitating your- fun- with other girls, should you choose, and leave the offer to have fun with my friend on occasion."
Neville didn't say anything for a long time, merely watched Harry as he scanned the ill-used room.
"So... you're asking to shag my hopefully-girlfriend, while she's my girlfriend, and in return you'll- what's the phrase Dean uses- 'hook me up' with girls to cheat on my girlfriend with?"
"Or shag her before she's your girlfriend, whichever," Harry nodded. "No pressure, though. I'll help you get the girl anyway, because we're friends. This is just... a bonus."
"Would you shag the hopeful-girlfriend anyway, if I said no?"
That question made Harry look toward his friend sharply, "No, I would not. If you say no, that girl is off-limits unless or until it becomes clear you aren't together and never will be. I'm trying to be nice, here, Neville, not steal your girl. I just want to shag her, 'cause I think both Susan and Hannah are hot."
"Well, you aren't wrong," was Neville's first response. After a few more seconds, though, he said, "I'll think about the- that part. Hannah, though. Hannah's the one. Had a crush on her since first year."
"Alright," Harry said, nodding, and hopping up from the desk to head for the door, "So you want the meet-up with Alicia, right?"
Neville nodded.
"Okay. I'll get it arranged. Er... you don't stink or anything, but make sure you're clean. Have some juice- not pumpkin juice- at lunch. Trust me."
Then he left Neville in the classroom.
A quick glance of the waiting students in the entry hall told him that the Great Hall was currently being rearranged, because Hermione was there, but neither Susan Bones nor Hannah Abbot were present.
He was pleasantly surprised to see Daphne there but, in the interests of protecting both their privacy, he ignored her for the moment and went to speak briefly to his friend.
She started after he tapped her on the shoulder, looking up with a scowl which only marginally relaxed after seeing it was him, "What, Harry?"
"You," he ordered quietly but firmly, "Are going to relax for at least half the day tomorrow. No questions. You can start studying after lunch. No debate, either."
She appeared about to protest, but after just a moment, her shoulders slumped, and she whispered, "Alright. You're- you're probably right. I am feeling a bit stressed."
"Right. Good luck, again, not that you'll need it. I'll see you later."
He turned to go, but her hand flew into his, making him stop and turn. She said nothing, only looked at him firmly for a moment, before letting go, leaving a piece of parchment in his hand.
He waited until he was half-way up the stairs before opening, only to find there were two, one with Ron's name and one with his, each with identical writing otherwise:
Tell me whom you shagged and how, in detail, tomorrow.
There was no indicator of motive, but it was definitely Hermione's writing.
He grinned, making his way quickly up to Gryffindor Tower, and through the common room, filled with fifth- and seventh-years who did not have electives exams at the moment, many of whom, yes, were mid-snog, and headed up to the dorm.
There, entering without knocking (after all, it was his dorm, too), Harry shut the door and locked it with three different charms, before turning to see Lilith, voluptuous and appearing about nineteen again, bouncing astride an equally-nude Ron, facing the door, and him, with a wide smile. "He's a good shag, Master, thanks for letting us have this morning."
Harry grinned at the pair, winking at Ron, before the ginger turned his attention back to pounding up into Lilith's cunt. He watched her large breasts bounce and whirl for a moment, before heading to his trunk and withdrawing the Marauder's Map, checking the location of a few people- the Hufflepuffs were in their common room, and temporarily unavailable- then deactivating it and folding the worn parchment back up before putting it away.
"Want to stay for a tag-team, Master?"
Harry looked over his shoulder at his pet, smiling, "I'd love to, but I have things to do, people to shag... you know how it is. Enjoy- Ron, I know you wanted to give me a show, but you might shut the curtains and silence them. Never know when someone else will come up, and you know Lilith doesn't mind a little prank by being invisible to some people and not others..."
Ron groaned at the distraction, but the two did follow his suggestion as he left, still smiling... and hornier than ever.
Apparently the Stamina Rune on Ron was really helpful.
Harry followed the Map's instructions, finding Alicia reading in one of the school Library's private study rooms, usually reserved for those at the N.E.W.T.-level, sixth year and above, and, thankfully, alone. It would make the conversation much easier if he didn't have to make sure Katie and Angelina weren't in on it.
He knocked on the door softly, then let himself in without waiting for her to reply, before shutting it again and turning to face her. Alicia was, of course, reading, but not what he'd expected- it appeared to be a muggle novel of some sort, though the cover was facing the table. "Hi, Alicia, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted a word, if you don't mind."
His former Quidditch team-member smiled, putting a bookmark in the novel and shutting it, "Sure, Harry. What's up? Quidditch?"
He shook his head, "Do you mind if I sit? I won't be long, but..."
"No, go ahead," she gestured to the entire room, and the five other chairs at the slightly longer table.
He chose to sit directly across from her, on the nearest narrow end to the door, and steepled his hands, trying to come across as serious, but unsure if it worked. "I have a proposal for you."
One of her eyebrows rose. "Your friend Ron need another shag? I told him he could just ask me."
Harry blinked, shaking his head automatically. That was really close, but... "Er... why do you think I set that up?"
She rolled her eyes, "Harry, the whole team- including his brothers, even though they're gone- think you set that up. It's obvious."
He was a bit reluctant to take the credit- or the blame- for something Lilith had done, but in the end, decided it wasn't worth explaining in full, so he shrugged, "A- Alright. Well... no, not him. You... I saw you snogging Neville. Neville Longbottom. The other day?"
She nodded, "Yeah, he's not too bad for a beginner."
Harry nodded, "He's- he's the one that..."
Alicia frowned, "I'm not a slag, Potter, that you can just ask to shag all your friends."
He spluttered, "N- No, I- that's not what I-"
"I mean, I will," she clarified, holding up a hand, "But I want something out of it, too."
He blinked. "Uh... what?"
"Money," the girl shrugged, "That's the usual thing. Sure, maybe it's prostitution, but that's not illegal in our world. Gets me what I want- a good time and some spending cash. My parents aren't wealthy, and any Quidditch team member can afford to be picky about who they spend time with. There's other things I'd take, though."
This whole conversation had gone so sideways, so off-the-rails, so quickly that Harry was having trouble keeping up. "Er... like- like what?"
"Gifts," she shrugged, "New clothes, a bit of jewelry- nothing too fancy- things girls like. Neville's a decent bloke, right?"
Harry nodded, able to answer that firmly, at least, "Yeah, really good bloke. Just... shy."
Alicia gave him a faint smile, "Good blokes are fine, shy blokes are fine. I can help him with that. It's... well, normally I'd charge extra- they tend to take a little longer just to get started- but we're friends, so I'll give you a discount, instead. Ten galleons for an evening, say two or three rounds, if he can go that long. Normally I'd charge fifteen."
He blinked again, still trying to catch up. "W- Wait," he waved a hand, shaking his head to clear it of errant thoughts, "You're- you, Alicia Spinnet, Gryffindor Chaser, are an actual prostitute? And you want me to pay you to shag my friend?"
Wondering what the hell was going on, Harry could think of nothing else to ask. It just didn't... it didn't make sense, with all he knew about Alicia, or girls in general. Especially not in school!
"Well," she conceded, "Not officially. I mean, I'm not registered in Knockturn Alley, or anything, but I've shagged a few times for money, yeah. I like sex. Your friend Ron was a freebie because he's cute, and I owed his brothers one."
"Er... just... just out of curiosity," he found himself asking, "What- what would you charge for me?"
"You?"
He nodded.
"Not a thing. You're cute, too, and a damned good flyer. I owe you, I figure, for so many wins in Quidditch."
He blinked.
"Why, you randy?"
Before he could even properly process the question, the honest reply came bubbling up, "Always."
"Sweet. Me, too."
Then she stood up, crawled underneath the table, and, while there, cast a few locking charms of her own at the door, past him. Then, apparently, she shucked her outer robe and opened her blouse half-way down while working her way on hands and knees toward him.
He was still trying to figure out what was going on, what her intentions were, when her mouth sank over his shaft, taking him all in one go.
Unbidden, Harry's hands fell to her head, holding her down while his hips twitched upward a bit. She swallowed, gagged, swallowed again, but didn't try to pull off for several seconds, her tongue laving back and forth across the underside of his cock near the base.
He even held her down for a moment after she tried to back off, though he let her go on the second tug. There was a loud squelching, slurping sound as he popped out of the older girl's mouth. She looked up from beneath the table at him, smiling, "Fuck, Potter, you've got a big dick. I didn't think I could take it all, much less hold it that long. Couldn't even breathe!"
He grinned sheepishly, "Yeah... I wasn't really coming here to shag, but... if you're up for it?"
"I said I was," she smiled back, then dove down again, once more hitting his base, before pulling back to the halfway mark and beginning to bob, one hand working his balls through his trousers, the other pumping the rest of his shaft.
She continued blowing him for more than a minute, then without warning, pulled off and came out from under the table. After another charm- a silencing one- at the door, she hopped up onto the table and laid back, spreading her legs, to reveal her knickers were already around one ankle, and her skirt free.
For a moment, he hesitated, then shrugged. Lilith had said he was disease-immune, effectively, due to one of the Runes she'd given him, and Alicia was very willing, so... He didn't climb up onto the table, but instead hitched his elbows behind the girl's knees and pulled her to the edge, then stepped between her to the edge himself. "You on the Potion?"
She nodded, "Duh, yeah. You can do it inside, Potter. Special deal for you, still free. If I do have a kid, he's mine and mine alone, and no one knows he's yours- including you."
Harry swallowed, then, lining himself up with one hand, pushed inside, the other moving up to cup one of Alicia's breasts.
She was definitely, he decided, looser than most of the girls he'd been with, only Marietta was even close, but it was still almost indescribable feeling her warm wetness clasp around him while he moved with varying speed and intensity.
With the warmup of her mouth earlier, it only took Harry about five minutes to orgasm, pumping himself deep inside the older girl while she moaned. But, with the Stamina Rune in full effect, he never even flagged, continuing to hammer on, glad of the silencing charm, because she was starting to moan with every thrust, and the table had developed a squeak.
Alicia didn't even seem aware he'd orgasmed, her own eyes were already rolling back in her head, and she panted with every thrust.
Slutty girl or not, she was clearly not used to someone with an erection as large as Harry's, and lacked a fair bit of stamina herself.
He leaned down over her, pulling on one nipple with his teeth briefly, then moved up to whisper into her ear, "If you pass out, I'll make it look like you fell asleep reading."
"F- Fuuuuuuck," she moaned, climaxing for at least the second time, then proceeded to do just that. The extra vibrations in her cunt forced another orgasm from Harry, though he continued to pound away relentlessly for a few more minutes, emptying himself for a third time in the girl's snatch.
Once he, still half-erect, pulled free, he thought, hard, "Lilith? Done with Ron for a bit? I need some clean-up."
The response was immediate, "I'll be right there, Master. He's asleep for now... said he wanted a quick nap."
Within thirty seconds, he could hear the sound of her whirring wings as the invisible creature appeared in the room. "What would you like, Master?"
With a gesture, proud of his handiwork, Harry pointed at the older girl, "I want to watch you clean her up, then I want to fuck you, too. She didn't satisfy me enough."
Lilith smiled widely, eyes glinting, "With pleasure, Master!"
The Succubus didn't take her time, immediately getting on her knees, wearing the older form Ron preferred, then leaned in to first smell, then take a long, deep lick up the human girl's slit before spreading it open with one hand.
The sight quickly made the half-erect dick Harry sported come to full mast, and he, only half-consciously, stepped back toward the Succubus, who, with a glance and a wink, lifted a hand to start wanking him off slowly, never slowing her oral cleaning of Alicia.
The teenaged girl clearly had another mind-shaking orgasm half-way through, and a fifth, before Lilith finally pronounced, "She's as clean as I can make her, Master."
But, contrary to his express wishes, Lilith did not pounce on his cock herself. Instead, she turned, opening her mouth, to let at least a tablespoon of his seed combined with Alicia's juices dribble from her mouth onto his erection, then dove onto it with her mouth, too, working the concoction back and forth.
Harry let her for a bit, enjoying the idea and the sight, before suddenly lifting the figure by the shoulders and setting her down on the table next to Alicia, before pushing into her naked hole. "You didn't listen," he murmured into her mouth, one hand at her hips, the other around her throat, though gently, "so you need to be punished. But I can't decide how to do it. You tell me what's a fair punishment, pet."
Harry didn't really know what had come over him, aside from the enjoyment of control he'd had when using Pansy- and apparently convincing her to break up with Draco- but the feeling was similar, and he did definitely enjoy it.
Lilith whimpered, clearly enjoying the game even as she started to writhe on his cock, "M- Master... not having you... is the worst... torture..."
At once, he pulled out, though it took him supreme effort. "Fine. You can lay there, not touching yourself, while I fuck her, instead."
With another whimper, Lilith lay back fully on the table next to Alicia, hands set carefully at her sides, legs spread as if to tempt him in, and watched while he slid sideways back to the unconscious girl and pushed back into her still-sopping channel. "You got her really wet, pet," he whispered, looking down at the forlorn-looking Succubus, "thanks for that. Your punishment still stands... though you can lick her again when I'm done."
Lilith did not protest, though she did seem to almost have a tear in her eye when she nodded.
Harry continued to stare sternly either at Lilith, or happily at the way Alicia's bare chest bounced with every thrust, until, for the sixth time, he spent himself inside the girl, who moaned even while unconscious, having another orgasm of her own.
Once he pulled away, Harry ordered, "Clean me, quickly, then clean her, quickly. You don't get to enjoy it."
Obediently, Lilith hastened to obey, not meeting Harry's eyes.
Once both of their genitalia were clean, Harry used his wand to re-dress the girl and levitate her back into her chair, though he kept the knickers for himself, and used one hand to spread the girl's legs- a particularly short person coming into the room, like a first-year, might see her open crotch, but no one else would.
Harry exhaled, once done, and turned toward Lilith, who stood silently in the corner with her eyes closed, a neutral expression on her face.
Suddenly, he felt terrible.
"I'm sorry," he muttered, "I... I didn't mean it to be mean, I just thought... you know, like a game."
Slowly, Lilith nodded, and opened her eyes, though she was looking away and did not face him.
He sighed, then moved over to the Succubus and pulled her into a hug, one which she did not respond to. "No, really," he said quietly, "I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm not even sure what I did."
She sniffled, then, finally, let her arms come around his waist. He was still somewhat surprised to feel real wetness against his shirt, though he wasn't shocked to hear the hitch in Lilith's voice when she eventually spoke, "Y- You denied me... you denied what I am. That's... that's saying you want me to go home, Master. Saying... saying my service isn't good enough."
He pulled away at once to look into her tear-filled eyes. She seemed not just upset, suddenly, but crushed.
"I... I'm so sorry," he murmured, pulling her back in, "I didn't mean it that way. I really, sincerely, thought it was just... a control game. You know, like... for sex. I'll never turn you down if you want it, too, you know."
She sniffled, "We'd never leave your bed, and you'd starve."
He grinned, "It would be worth it, Lilith."
She slapped his back lightly, "No it wouldn't Master. Even sex isn't that good. I like you alive. And... and I'm hungry."
"Eating several loads from Alicia, plus Ron earlier, didn't satisfy you?"
Lilith shook her head, "Others can't, Master. You can. I can feel good with them, I can even climax, but remember, aside from pleasure, all I get from others is material to take home. From you, I get sustenance, and pleasure, and material."
Still holding her close, he asked, "What, exactly, do you mean by 'sustenance'?"
She swallowed, he could feel it against his chest, then whispered, "I can show you... but can I do it later, after the year gets out? When it's more private? It's... personal. Kind of."
"Sure," he said, more out of guilt for earlier than anything else. "And... you know I won't do that again, right? If I ever- ever- ask you about punishment, it's for fun, not to hurt you. So that's not... that's not what I want."
"I know, Master. That's..." she hiccupped, "That's why I'm still here, and didn't just... leave. I know you didn't mean it. It still hurt."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"It's... you owe me, Master, two mind-shattering orgasms of my own before the year ends. I know you're busy, though, so on your time, otherwise. That's your apology."
"And it'll happen," Harry agreed at once.
"Good." Then she smiled, pulling away and clearly feeling much more cheerful, though her eyes still glistened, "Let me go with you to talk to your Hufflepuff friends. Don't worry, I won't Fog them unless you want me to. I just want to... get to know them. I won't be visible or talk. Then I think I'll go wake up Ronald again... I need some more fun, it's been stressful for me, too."
"Sounds like a plan," Harry said, leaned down to kiss her even while the Succubus faded completely from view, then left the room after glancing around to make sure things were more or less normal-looking.
Aside from the chairs that had been moved and Alicia's face being buried in her book, all was well. Even the smell had largely dissipated due to Lilith's work.
He was a bit shocked to learn it was already lunchtime, though... he'd been shagging Alicia longer than he thought!
Harry found Susan and Hannah a few minutes later, between the Library and Great Hall, on their way to the former, if he had to guess, since they were talking about studying as he approached. Falling into step beside them, on Susan's right, he cleared his throat quietly, "Ahem, um... excuse me, Hannah? Susan? I was..."
Both, at once, turned to look at him, though neither slowed their pace, while he blushed.
This was not as easy as he'd made it sound to Neville, or even himself. He was still rubbish at actually talking to girls!
"Erm... s- sorry," he muttered, shaking his head, "I just... wanted a word with you two, if you don't mind?"
"Sure, Harry," Hannah replied easily, shrugging, "We were just heading to the Library to get an early start on Potions review. I'd hate to disappoint Healer Tonks, since, you know, she actually teaches us things."
He grinned wryly, "I... yeah, I should probably do that, too, but... can I have just a few minutes in private, though? With both of you."
The girls both shared a look and a faint smile between them, both turning a bit pink, as well. It was, to his surprise, the quieter Susan Bones who answered, "Sure, Harry... did you have any place in particular?"
He shook his head, then cast a glance up and down the busy corridor. "Uh, not- not really, no. Any classroom would do, I s'pose, as long as it's empty."
Hannah sniffed, pointing to one at the end of the corridor, or technically in the next hall, "There's a lot of study groups going on, we should probably just start opening doors until we find one."
So they did, and a good thing, because it took no fewer than fifteen doors before they found one, surprisingly close to the Library that was unoccupied, though it had several open books on one of the large desks. "I guess this will work," Harry said, "if someone comes back, we can move, but I don't think it'll take long. I just... wanted to talk about something."
Hannah leaned next to the door as he paced into the room, while Susan stood in front of it. Neither, as far as he could tell, expected an attack of some sort- they were in the D.A., and should know him better than that- but he was happy to yield the 'tactical advantage' since he didn't want to appear threatening. Though he would hesitate to go up against the pair of them, having seen exactly what they could do in the D.A.
Hannah was a vicious fighter, holding nothing back. He'd asked her about it quietly during one session, and all she'd said was, "For my brother."
That was enough for him to surmise the worst.
And Susan, while socially a bit awkward, or at least quiet, was not the niece of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for nothing. If there was any Hufflepuff he'd want at his back in a wand-fight, it was her. Not because she was an amazing dueller- though she wasn't bad- but because she knew a lot about Defense, largely because of her aunt's work, he was sure.
But that wasn't why he'd asked to talk to them, so he put the idle thoughts from his mind. "So... I'm going to be fairly direct, if that's alright, in the interests of time. If I offend you in any way, I'm sorry. Is- is that alright?"
The girls shared another look, but this time it was Hannah who nodded, gesturing him on with a wave of her hand, "Go on, Harry. We're not going to bite your head off."
He grimaced, then swallowed. "Look, you two know Neville, right? Neville Longbottom, in our year?"
Both girls grinned, nodding, and Harry was a bit relieved to see Hannah go a little pink in the face. She nodded, "Y- Yeah... we know him."
"Well, he's a good bloke, yeah?"
"We know he is," Susan said softly.
He swallowed. This really wasn't easy, direct or not! "Erm... he... fancies one of you. Maybe both of you. And, well, he's a good friend of mine, so I thought..."
"You'd try and be all subtle, asking for him?"
"Er... sort of," he conceded, "but-"
Hannah actually laughed, interrupting him, "You're kind of rubbish at the whole wing-man thing, Potter. Look- you have to be more indirect, if you want to do it the 'classical' way. You know, ask one of our other friends, like Ernie, to ask Susan to ask me, or ask me to ask Susan, if we like him back, or something. That's how it's usually done, yeah? At least, if we were third-years. Which we aren't."
"Er... I know that," he said, thoroughly confused by the topic shift.
"And," Hannah continued as if he hadn't spoken at all, "since we're actually fifth-years, we- Susan and I, and I like to think most of the girls in our year- are getting closer to being women than girls, if you get my meaning."
"Er..."
Her hazel eyes rolled as she lurched somewhat gracelessly away from the wall to pace between him and Susan, "Look, I know you're a bit socially inept, so let me give you a few tips. One, it's okay for you to like a girl. You don't have to say it's Neville. If you like one of us, you can just come out and say it."
"Er, I- but Neville's-"
"Of course, I understand that can be hard for a boy- believe me, some girls find it hard, too-" she pushed on, glancing significantly in Susan's direction, "but really, honesty is the best policy, don't you think? Just come out and say it. You did say you were going to be direct, right?"
Harry drew in a breath to correct her again, but Hannah seemed to still be warming up. Fortunately, a hand from Susan on her arm got the blonde to stop mid-sentence and look to her, then follow her eyes to Harry. She blushed, looking away, "S- Sorry. I got on a bit of a tangent there, yeah? Er... sorry, go ahead."
Then she sat primly on the nearest desk and clasped her hands there, smiling politely up at him in an almost Dumbledore-esque way, eyes glinting.
"Er," he began again, swallowing, "No, really, it is Neville who fancies one of you. I, er... I think you're both very attractive young women, and I think you're both good people and decent friends, but I... it's Neville, really, that we're having this conversation for."
"It's okay to say you like boys, Harry," Hannah said softly, expression solemn as she switched tacts, "we won't judge- after all, we do, too."
He turned bright red, could feel the heat pulsing in his cheeks, "No, why does everyone always think that? No! I like girls just fine, thanks! I'm just trying to get Neville into bed with the girl he likes, alright?"
Both girls leaned back as if they'd been slapped.
Susan recovered first, though it was only to turn as deep a red as he must have been, nearly as dark a shade as her hair. Hannah, on the other hand, gaped like a (cute) fish for a few seconds, gulped herself, then looked down at the desk. When she spoke, it was so quiet Harry could barely hear it over his angry breathing. "Er... sorry. I don't think you're gay, Harry, I just... wondered."
"Don't blame her," Susan said, voice apologetic, "I... there's a group of girls in Hufflepuff who dream about boys and... other boys. It's weird, I know, but there was a rumor going for a bit last year about you and Weasley, so..."
Harry gagged briefly, unable to help himself. Did... "Did people really... think that? I mean, Ron's my best mate, but..."
Hannah shrugged faintly, "Er... not really, I don't think, but you have to admit your record with witches is... lacking."
He snorted internally, muttering quietly enough he hoped they couldn't hear, "Not so much, lately," then threw himself down onto the teacher's desk and crossed his arms, "So... yeah. Back on subject, if we could. Er, no, wait, let's get this cleared up right now. No, I'm not interested in blokes. And you can tell anyone who brings it up that I told you so, in person. Now we can get back on subject, please."
"N- Neville?" Susan asked, eyes lowered, and a bit pink still in the face.
Harry nodded firmly, "Yes, Neville. He fancies one or both of you. Yes, I know who if not both. My question is- would you be interested in him?"
Hannah nodded at once, Susan a bit slower and only once. She was the first to speak, though, "If... if he didn't want Hannah, I... might have a go. He's a bit timid for- for me, but... he's c-cute."
"Not as timid lately though," Hannah beat Harry to saying it, "I mean, have you seen him practicing in the D.A. lately? He's got some fire now, ever since Lestrange..."
Harry nodded, "Exactly. So... you both said yes. Next question- I have one more after. If..."
He ran his hand over his face, "I... Neville's feeling... pent up, lately. Stressed. I'm sure you can guess why."
"Most of the year are," Hannah pouted, then looked at Harry a bit quizzically, "In fact, I think only you, Hermione, and Weasley aren't that... bad. Well, more you and Weasley. What's going on, Potter?"
He swallowed, thought to his companion, If any time, now's it, but hold off... "We've... found a way to pass time and relax at the same time. A... hobby."
"Gobstones?" Hannah snorted, rolling her eyes.
"No, he's talking about sex," Susan whispered, her eyes watching him closely.
Hannah gaped.
Harry gulped.
"Er..."
"You were," Hannah laughed after a moment, "You totally were! Wow, Potter- didn't know you had it in you! Who've you been shagging? No, wait, don't tell us... we'll figure it out."
"Not Lavender or Parvati, if that's what you're implying," he grumbled, "but... yes. We have. And yes, all three of us, and no, not- not together."
One little half-truth in there with the rest won't hurt, right...?
They sat in silence for a moment, absorbing that information, before he worked up the nerve to really explain, "Here's my proposal. I can help you both out- arranging something. A time, a place, in the next week- probably even this weekend- for the one of you and Neville to, er, hook up. I think that's the muggle phrase these days. If you're interested."
Neither said anything, though Hannah's highly amused chortles cut off immediately, and both their gazes returned to stare pointedly at him.
"Uh... Neville, though, isn't- he doesn't want a quick thing. He wants a relationship, maybe moving a bit fast, uh, ph- physically, but... something that will last. He's apparently had this crush for a long time."
Hannah's eyes narrowed, "It's me, isn't it? The one he fancies?"
Harry swallowed, then nodded.
She watched him silently, then nodded herself. "Alright- if it's him. Only him. I'm not a slag, but I'm not saying the thought hasn't crossed my mind. And no promises it'll be sex, either! I just... I wouldn't mind spending some time with him in private, seeing where it goes."
"Sounds very fair," Harry agreed at once, knowing that, if nothing else, a bit of the Fog of Lust would encourage that sort of behavior.
Susan, though, frowned. "What's the cost, though? I mean, I know-"
She faltered when she noticed both Hannah and Harry were looking at her, "I- I mean, I know- Neville's- he's a good guy. I know you're friends. But what do you get out of this, P- Harry?"
He pretended nonchalance, though his body was already telling him to be anything but, and shrugged half-heartedly. "I don't expect anything. I... I want something, but I don't expect it. I expect to be laughed out of the room, actually, which... which is why I wanted to seal Neville's end, first."
Hannah looked back and forth between her best friend and Harry for several seconds, then gaped before anyone said anything, pointing between them quickly, first Harry, then Susan.
"You," he eventually said, moving his hand, palm up, in the red-head's direction, then letting it fall. "You're very cute- I wasn't lying when I said you were both very attractive- and, frankly, I'm randy all the time. That's what I want. Again, I don't expect anything."
Susan, though, did not immediately start laughing, or flee. Instead, she gulped, then, crimson-faced, looked up into his face for the first time since entering the room, "And- wh- what would I get... out of that deal, P- Harry?"
In all solemness, he answered quietly, "An amazing shag, if nothing else. I... wouldn't mind repeating it later, I think, if you want to."
"Bit full of yourself, yeah? You're what, Potter, fifteen? Sixteen, tops?"
Harry looked toward Hannah as she spoke, then back to Susan. "I'm fifteen still. But yes. Er... I can't offer proof, not without getting in trouble, but... there are some people I could name, that I won't, who would vouch for it. I'm not saying it for nothing."
Then he held up his hand, the scars from his last detention with Umbridge- surprisingly almost three weeks ago, now- still plainly visible as thin, white lines. I must not tell lies.
Hannah snorted, clearly the more sceptical, "You don't get to use that excuse for everything, Harry. Everyone lies, even me. Merlin, even Susan lies once in a while."
He shrugged, "Still. I can promise you'll enjoy it, if you say yes. But if you don't want to, that's fine. I... do have other options."
"A conquest on your bedpost then, Potter?"
That question from Hannah made Harry frown, but... "A- After a fashion, I suppose, but... look, I'm not a bad guy, here. I happen to think sex is great, and I want to have sex with Susan, or even y- er..."
"Me, too?" Hannah said, rolling her eyes, "Bit needy?"
He shrugged, forcing his back to straighten to his full height, "Yes. You're very pretty too, okay? I'm fifteen. Seems like I want to shag everything that moves, sometimes. But I'm not saying you aren't very pretty- both of you are. It just- makes me want it more. A lot more.
"A- Anyway, again, I'm not a bad guy. If she says no, then no harm done. I haven't told you names, so I wouldn't go about bragging yours, either, if you say yes or no. That goes for you and Neville, too, Hannah."
"So... what, then? You just shag and go on about your school year?"
"If that's what Susan wants," Harry agreed, "but as I've said, I'm willing to keep... keep doing it, so to speak. I'm... not ready for a social relationship, but I do enjoy a physical relationship. Again, if she-"
Then he turned his focus to the person he should have been talking to from the beginning, "If you don't want to, say no. That'll be the end of it. If you say yes, I'll also arrange a time and place- or you can, if it's secure and we won't be disturbed. It's entirely up to you, just as Hannah's is with Neville. Neither of us would ever force the issue, so to speak."
"I don't know," Hannah threw up her arms to shoulder-height, shaking her head, "I mean, I do like Neville, and I do want to go out with him, but that shouldn't mean you get to shag Susan. That's just-"
"No, sorry," Harry interrupted, shaking his head, "Sorry if I didn't make it clear- you dating Neville in any capacity and any relationship I may or may not have with Susan are entirely different, and not at all related. You go enjoy your time with Neville, when it happens. It won't affect me or Susan, unless she tells you about it later. I certainly won't."
Hannah sighed, shaking her head, "Sounds too good to be true, which means it probably is. But I do trust Neville, and I mostly trust you, if only because you've been honest, as far as I can tell. And- the D.A. too, I guess. But I... I'm in. How will you get a message to me with the time and place?"
Harry smiled, "You leave that to me. You'll know when you get it."
Then he turned to Susan as Hannah stood, "You don't have to decide now, either, Susan. I'm just... making my wants known. You don't have to feel any pressure to even answer me, ever. But my- er- I guess my bed, but not literally my bed- is open, unless I'm dead or something."
"Er, th- thanks, I think," the red-head mumbled, then held the door for Hannah as she reached it.
A moment later, both were gone.
Once the door had shut behind the retreating, madly-giggling girls, Lilith faded into view, both hands over her own mouth to stifle what was obviously laughter. She even had tears, once again, in her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," he muttered, starting to walk toward the door himself, "You try growing up in a cupboard, and learning social skills."
Lilith, though, showed no sympathy. After the way he'd inadvertently hurt her not an hour previously, he couldn't say he blamed her.
A/N2: Review, folks! New chapters posted monthly, but I will post early when I hit 10 reviews per chapter!
We made 7 reviews this time in just under a month. Which means I technically shouldn't post this for another four days... but I'm feeling generous, and there's a holiday weekend coming up (at least for us 'murcans, and the 'real Americans who know how to spell their country's name, say their country's name, and find their country on a map... of their country). I'm mostly serious. Maybe. :)
Still, just a few more reviews and Ch 11 will come out up to 2 weeks early, if my beta is done with it by then. Go Hrymeigh, all the props!
Glossary: