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.

And thank you to all those who review, it really does encourage me to post the chapters sooner. :)
Enjoy- and Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you choose to enjoy around this time of year!

Chap. 22: Hot Summer Nights

On August 1st, while Harry and Hermione (sans Lilith, who Sirius had convinced to act as his 'wingman' to get him some action from the locals in whatever town he lived in) were at the Burrow, the O.W.L. results arrived. Things had been a bit tense with Mrs. Weasley for a little while, and Bill had left almost immediately after seeing Harry, with a scowl on his face (Harry could not blame him), but he and Hermione had spent most of the day in the back yard, or the orchard, playing Quidditch (even Hermione was briefly coaxed onto a broom again) two-a-side.

There was no 'funny business', as Mrs. Weasley might have called it, but there was a great deal of the same as Vernon Dursley would have, as usual.

Dinner was served, as it often was for his birthday, on tables in the back.

Mrs. Weasley had gone all-out, bringing out a massive spherical cake with fluttering golden wings after the five-course meal. Harry, full of positive feelings for everyone at the table (and many more besides), could not help but beam around.

To his left sat Hermione and Ron (hand in hand, he saw, beneath the table), and to his right Ginny, Tonks, Remus, and even Hagrid. Past Ron were the rest of the Weasleys, including the twins and Charlie.

The only ones Harry would have wanted to be present were understandably absent. His parents, of course, could not possibly be here physically, Neville was with Hannah, no doubt, and Arthur was working late, as usual these days, while Lilith was keeping Sirius from getting into more trouble than he should.

So even though there were a few people missing, Harry still felt quite... connected.

Even loved.

He crashed into full sleep moments after his head hit the pillow in Ron's room, a promise kept to Mrs. Weasley that- this time- there really wouldn't be any night-time activities of an illicit sort, happy and content both.

He was up before sunrise, however, before even Mrs. Weasley (who slept less than he did, it seemed), woken by a nightmare yet again. Nothing solid, concrete, like those Voldemort had been sending him all the last summer and school-year. Not anything really emotional, either, nor did he remember it exactly.

Just dark shadows, and an immense feeling of dread.

Perhaps it was the lingering storms and rain all over the country from the out-of-control Dementors, though Harry had seen quite a lot of sun over the time he'd been out of school, as if something about his life kept the dark creatures at bay.

Maybe it was Lilith.

Harry was gathering eggs in the hen-house when a sleepy-looking Mrs. Weasley, still in her house-coat and slippers, trudged in, basket in hand. "Oh, Harry! My goodness, you startled me! What- what are you doing up so early?"

He shrugged, continuing to put the eggs in the bag he'd brought out for that purpose, and mumbled, "Nightmare. Nothing specific, not like- like last year. Just one that kept me up."

"Oh, I- I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?"

Even a few weeks ago, Harry's response would have been, "No, I'm fine."

And on the surface, his reply today might have seemed similar, yet was profoundly different. He paused, thought about it, and shook his head, "No, I'm okay, I think. If I do want to, I'll know where to go, though."

Mrs. Weasley beamed at him as he started moving past, and pulled him into a long, gentle hug, "You're a good boy, Harry. I'm glad that- that woman didn't change you too much."

Harry smiled into Mrs. Weasley's hair- he was taller than she was now- and returned the hug, careful not to jostle the bag of eggs too much. "Nah, if anything, Lilith's made me more of who I always was."

The next hour was not exactly spent in silence, for Harry and the Weasley Matriarch chatted amiably about a broad variety of topics, from the Chudley Cannons' chances this year ("I love my son, but he's a fool if he really thinks they can win even a game, much less the cup!"), to his plans for N.E.W.T.-level studies, and what he expected the others would be doing.

An equally sleepy Hermione came down and started working on coffee without a word, then rested her head on the table while it brewed. Mrs. Weasley and Harry shared a look of amusement when she gave a little snore.

When the first of three owls landed on Hermione's head through the now-open top half of the kitchen door, she sat upright with a shriek, "Get off, you barmy- owl!"

But as Ron called down, clearly half-asleep or more, from the top of the house, "Whazrong," Hermione fell very, very quiet and still.

Three owls, one after the other, with three envelopes, were waiting to be relieved of their burdens.

And on the outside of one, the only one facing up on the table, "Wizarding Examinations Authority to Mr. Harry J. Potter."

He blinked, and Mrs. Weasley gently guided his unfeeling hand to flip the rasher of bacon and then took the spatula from him. "Go on, read it."

Harry could not feel his body move, all he could feel was the sudden pounding in his head and chest. This was it...

The classes that Hermione had been talking about for a year or more. The dreaded results of the equally dreaded (but not as bad as he'd feared) tests.

Tests that would make or break his chance to be an Auror.

Hermione was holding her letter in her hand when Harry slid into a chair across from her.

Wide-eyed and freshly showered, Ginny sat next to Harry, while a few minutes later, Ron came down still in his pyjamas to find Harry, like Hermione, idly spinning the envelope in his hands.

Suddenly, he looked a bit green, and all thought of breakfast fled from Ron Weasley's mind.

Harry knew the feeling.

A minute later, though, the trio shared a look. "On three?"

Hermione and Ron both nodded.

"Okay. One... two... three."

Each scanned their results in silence. Hermione, of course, finished first, but had probably read her entire list twice or even three times before Harry finished his the first.

"Congratulations," Mrs. Weasley exhaled, looking over Ron's shoulder, "We are definitely celebrating this- seven! That's more than Fred and George put together!"

"Well done, Potter," Ginny said, using her mother's distraction to press a kiss to Harry's cheek, smiling widely.

Harry couldn't believe it. Sure, his fears had been somewhat unfounded- the tests really hadn't been that hard, but- this was...

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS

Pass Grades Fail Grades

Outstanding (O) Poor (P)

Exceeds Expectations (E) Dreadful (D)

Acceptable (A) Troll (T)

Harry James Potter has achieved:

Astronomy: A

Care of Magical Creatures: E

Charms: O

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O*

Divination: P

Herbology: E

History of Magic: D

Potions: E

Transfiguration: E

"Here, swap," Ron said, offering his own parchment.

Harry scanned his friend's quickly. He had, indeed, gotten seven passes, and just one O in Defense. Not that he expected differently, Ron was always the least studious of the three.

"What's this?" Ron asked, pointing at the star next to Harry's Defense score.

"I don't know," Harry asked, looking in the envelope for another paper, but not finding anything.

"Look on the back, Ronald, it says he got extra credit," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "Er, Hermione... are you alright? How did you do?"

The older witch was quiet for a second, head hanging low over her parchment so her hair hid the results from casual view. "I... I did alright, I suppose..."

Ron actually laughed out loud, "Come off it- it's you! Twelve, I bet," and snatched the paper from her hands. "Yep... twelve."

Harry, too, looked them over when Ron passed Hermione's scores his way. Twelve- but twelve O's, all Outstandings. "Well done, Hermione," he said with a grin, "Knew you had it in you."

"I..."

"Yay, celebrations all 'round!" Ginny cried out, pumping her fist in the air.

"Couldn't have without the D.A.," Hermione said quietly, "I was really nervous about the Defense portion."

"But you did it," Harry reminded her quietly, "Now come on, cheer up- breakfast!"

He was happy, truly. But there was one niggling shadow in his mind.

An E in Potions. No more Auror career for him, or Ron for that matter.

Still... he could do something with his life. There were other meaningful things.

Right...?

No one seemed to notice as the rest of the day was spent, for Harry, a little further away from everyone, out of the hustle and bustle of the Weasley household. He talked a little less, laughed a little less.

He wasn't upset, truly, and his smile was genuine when it came.

He was just thinking.

What had his parents done?

His father, he now knew, was a Lord, or effectively one, a member of the- what had the Greengrasses called it...? The Sacred Twenty-Eight? The oldest wizarding families in Britain?

And wealthy, too, beyond even the staggering amount in his vault, for his family owned a not inconsiderable amount of property and businesses.

Or more properly, he, Harry, did.

At dinner, though, a little while before he- just him, this time, Hermione would only be staying one more night- would head back to Sirius' home, more owls arrived.

This time, with booklists, hastily prepared based on the O.W.L. results, by the look of it.

Plans were made for a shopping excursion.

Sirius, now a free man, would walk among them openly for the first time.

Remus and Tonks, too, would provide additional security.

Then more names were added. Neville, who asked if Hannah and Susan and Ernie could come. Neville's grandmother would bring an additional adult wand and chaperone. Ginny also invited Luna Lovegood, from 'over those hills there', and Mrs. Weasley was happy to have the loopy girl who had been Ginny's only female friend for years.

That night, once again, Harry didn't spend with a girl, though Lilith was close enough to think to him when he asked, "Your godfather's a true player, that's for sure. He's been with three girls tonight, and is working on a fourth. His technique's a little rusty, but it's working, at least with my help. We'll probably be back late, sorry."

That was alright, though, Harry honestly was glad for the quiet time, alone. He even started doing a Hermione-like thing, and making a list.

He was still working at it past midnight, though he was asleep shortly after.

Ginny looked up from her summer homework well after dark the next day when Hermione gave a quiet little groan and shifted in her seat. Normally, this would not be anything out of the ordinary, but the youngest Weasley was no longer quite as naive as she once was, and she could tell that something was up with her best friend. "Hermione... just go shag Ron already if you're antsy."

There was silence for a few seconds as the girl blushed, not looking up from her own homework on the other small desk she brought with her every time she visited these days, then the older girl replied quietly, "I would, but he's asleep. And... as much as I... well, I enjoy it, it's not him I'm... missing."

Ginny grinned, setting her quill down to turn to face the other girl. "Missing Harry, then? Can't say I blame you... I could use a good shag, too."

"That's not it," Hermione protested, shaking her head but still pointedly not looking at the younger witch, "it's... Ron's plenty 'good' as far as sh- sex goes. It's just... the other day when I was there, something... happened. Something... different. And... well, I can't stop thinking about it."

Ginny giggled, but fell quiet after Hermione shot her an annoyed look, "Sorry, sorry. So, something different. I already know you've blown him and Ron both, and you told me you've shagged both... so what was it? Did the old dog make a pass at you or something?"

"Old- Sirius? No," Hermione chuckled, "though he leers at 'Lilian' a lot. No... well, it was her in a way."

"Go on... clearly you want to get something off your chest, so out with it."

Hermione huffed, then sighed and set her own quill, which had been motionless for more than a minute now, down. "It's... well, have you ever... done anything sexual? With a- with another girl, I mean. I've seen you and Harry, of course."

Ginny was quiet for a few seconds, then her grin returned full-force, "You had sex with Lilith?"

Hermione nodded once, sheepishly.

"How was it? Did she make you cream? Did you eat her, or she eat you? Which did you like better? Did-"

"Stop! Stop!" Hermione interrupted with a laugh, holding up both hands and laughing, though she had turned beet-red, "Stop asking me questions so I can answer!"

At once, the younger girl fell quiet, though she leaned forward eagerly, before gesturing with her hand as if to say, "Go on, out with it."

Hermione sighed, turned to face Ginny too, then admitted, "Well, the night before Harry's birthday, she... she asked if I wanted to give Harry an early present. I said yes of course, so she... had me strip, and tied me to the bed. That was fine, though I'm not really into the whole bondage... thing. I could've gotten out if I had really wanted to. Then she... she played with me. With my body, I mean, for... oh, about half an hour before Harry even came in. And it made me so randy. She kept... touching me, and kissing me everywhere, and doing other things... but never anywhere too good. Just teases, getting me worked up. Did I mention I was blindfolded the whole time?

"Anyway, once Harry did come in, she teased me a bit more, then, er, s- sat on me. On my face."

"Oohh, that sounds fun," Ginny giggled softly, "How did she taste?"

"It..." Hermione flushed, looking away. Ginny seemed entirely too fascinated by this conversation, in her opinion, but it was too late to back out now, wasn't it? "She tastes... like bubblegum, I suppose. Like her hair color, it fits I think. A- Anyway, that- that wasn't the first time. A couple times before that, too, in the heat of the moment with Harry, or- or Ron."

Ginny grinned, but said nothing.

"So... she, uh, also, did it to me. Like, laid down over me after sitting on my f-face, and... that was the third time there, too. But this time it was... different. I mean, sure, I was really wound up and wanted to orgasm really badly, and some of it was wanting to give Harry a show, but... I liked it. More than I thought I would, or... more than just being in the thick of it, you know?"

"And... what? You're worried you're turning... what's the word the Muggles use... Lesbosian?"

"Close," Hermione said with a chuckle, "Lesbian. Lesbos is the island they were said to be from, though. But no, not precisely. I mean... I don't find girls attractive that way, but... I'm worried I like them... a bit too much, like that. Like... I enjoy how they taste, how they feel... how she can make me feel, but without attraction. Does that make sense?"

Ginny shrugged, looking away for the first time. "Well... can I tell you something else instead of answering?"

"Of course," Hermione replied, "you know you can ask me anything."

"And it won't make things weird?"

"No, of course not. You're my best female friend."

Ginny nodded slowly, but searched the older girl's face for several seconds before whispering, "I am attracted to girls, not just blokes. I've... I've never told anyone."

Hermione blinked. "S- so... wait, I've been changing in here. I sleep in my underwear!"

Ginny giggled, "And I've appreciated it, believe me! You're quite beautiful, you know."

"You're terrible," Hermione said with a laugh, scowling too, and used her wand to banish a pillow in Ginny's direction.

The girl caught it easily, however, and held it to her chest with both arms. "Look, Hermione, nothing has to be different between us, I wasn't making a pass at you or anything. You've just always said it's hard to make the correct judgment without all the information, right? Well, before I answer your first question, I thought you should know that. So yes, I've thought about being with another girl, but I've never actually done so, no."

This time, silence fell over the room for several minutes before Hermione whispered, "Was it... me you thought of?"

Ginny nodded, "Several times. Not just you, though. When I first started getting myself off, it was usually you, but then I started branching out. I've diddled myself a few times thinking of Lilith, too."

"And... and that doesn't make you... I don't know... ashamed?"

"Why should it? It's me. I'm not ashamed of who I am, Hermione. And if society thinks I should be, well, society can go fuck itself sideways."

The sudden vulgarity made Hermione blush again even while it sparked off a gale of laughter from both girls, which quickly dissolved into a fit of giggles that lasted for several minutes. Then the red-head asked, voice soft as they tried to recover their breath, "I meant it, though, it doesn't have to be weird. I just thought you should know. But I do understand if it makes you uncomfortable changing in here."

"N- No," Hermione murmured a quick response, reaching out a hand to take Ginny's into it, "It's... any damage there is already done, and it seems we have no secrets from each other, not anymore. Well, mostly. So... what do we do going forward?"

Ginny shrugged, "I won't say no if you decide you want to... play around and experiment a bit, but I'm not going to force you, of course. Obviously, you can keep being with Harry and my idiot brother, and I'll keep being with Harry and... once I tell him how I feel, maybe I can be with Lilith too. Other than that, I'm not too fussed."

"She is a good shag," Hermione admitted, sending both of them into another, longer round of giggles.

That night, long after Ginny had finally drifted off to sleep, Hermione lay awake in the cot that sat at the foot of the red-head's bed, thinking. So much had changed for her in the last four months. Or six, or twelve. Hermione Granger was no longer the naive girl who thought the adults in the room were the only ones capable of making thoughtful, intelligent decisions. Or that they had all the answers (or even most of them). She knew, now, and could say with frank truth that she was almost always the smartest one in the room as far as raw intelligence. Not always, but quite often. The most studious, almost certainly, and therefore the one with the broadest and deepest knowledge base from which to draw a thoughtful, rational conclusion from when faced with a problem. Of course she wasn't perfect, far from it. Harry almost always did better in the moment, or in high-stress situations. His instinct and quick thinking had saved them all time and again. Ron was a better long-term, strategic planner, which was displayed most obviously in his skill with chess. Hermione was the one who was able to bridge the gap between their own styles and approaches. Together, they were far stronger than apart. Which was why she had the problem in the first place.

She loved Harry, and wanted to be with him, even if it meant that practically any of-age or near-Harry's age woman was... available to him. Even her own mother. She loved Ron. A life with both of them together (and Lilith's continued presence and her conversation with Ginny just an hour or so ago brought even more exciting new possibilities to the forefront of Hermione's mind before she pushed them aside to focus on the problem itself)... that life was tantalizing beyond belief.

I'd die to have it. I'd kill to have it. That's why I couldn't just... say no. It isn't just lust. I know that Lilith is... changing me. Changing all of us, making us more accepting or whatever it is that's happening, but I can't... I can't object to it. I like being this way, I like being desired and wanted, and I like desiring others and wanting them, too.

Besides... it'd be a bit hypocritical of me to judge Harry for sleeping with my mother given what I've done with Daddy. It was a stupid, idiotic mistake... but I did it anyway. I knew it was wrong then, in the moment, and I still did it. So why should I- how could I- judge Harry for doing the same? Especially since I don't think he feels it was a mistake? Maybe he's upset that he hurt me... but did he, really?

Hermione sighed deeply, slowly, and turned over on the cot. Looking back at that moment just a couple of weeks earlier, she could not say if she was feeling pain, anger, hurt, or betrayal as she watched Harry pound her mother's bare bum with his hips, and slide in and out... It's a good thing she was already pregnant though, she thought with a faint smile. Or Harry could be my little brother or sister's daddy.

The moment she realized she was smiling, Hermione came to the conclusion that she was worrying over nothing. She had made the decision, at the time, to accept Harry's abundant need for sex no matter what for several reasons. Romantic love, friendly love, even familial love after a fashion, given how important he and Ron both were to her found family. Love of passion, of sex, of being desired and desiring in return. Even a bit of friendly love with Lilith, all of the other reasons aside. She didn't want to give them up. No... I can't give them up. I'd... wither and die. I know that sounds sappy and stupid, and I don't mean it literally, but without them... I wouldn't be me any more. I'd be some other version of Hermione, sad and melancholy and stupid. And then I probably would be killed by Death Eaters or something. So maybe it is literal after all.

All good reasons, as far as she was concerned.

But as the grandfather clock downstairs softly chimed three in the morning and Ginny's breath continued slowly, uninterrupted, Hermione had come to an even greater realization. She was not upset that Harry was having sex with her mother, or that Lilith was probably giving her father the time of his life. She wasn't hurt, or in pain, or even really annoyed. She was a bit confused in the moment, because the scene had taken her entirely by surprise, but now, looking back...

I was jealous. Not of Harry... of Mum. I just wanted him to myself. I was being selfish. And of Lilith too, maybe, because... well... the less I think about that, the better.

It's... better this way, though. I know it is. Harry says I feel like 'home'? Well, he does to me, too. So does Ron. I'm home with both of them, and I don't ever want to leave it. No matter what.

Almost three weeks later, on August 20th. There were just ten days left until the term started. Ginny's birthday had come and gone and, aside from a single eventful hour Harry had spent alone with her, it had been rather quiet, but the red-head preferred it that way. It was the day of the now long-planned Diagon Alley trip, where the lot of them and several of their friends would be purchasing their school supplies.

It was a dreary day, rain-choked and foggy, but Harry did not mind. It was normal for the whole country to be like this most of the year, and he sort of missed it, the summer had been so dry for him.

Once again, the Ministry would be providing cars (now that Mr. Weasley was back in its good graces) for the large group. Six in all, and in the rush to get out of the rain and back into the vehicles, Harry somehow ended up with Neville, Hannah, and Susan, with Tonks in the front seat as their chaperone. The Ministry cars took off just a few minutes later, and a glass barrier went up between the front and back seats, two of which, occupied by Neville and Hannah, faced backward.

"Er... hi, Harry," Hannah said awkwardly into the silence, not looking at him.

Harry couldn't blame her, nor for the red face. The last time they'd talked, he'd shagged her rotten, taken her virginity in the loo of the Hogwarts Express.

Neville snickered, and gave Harry a nod along with a smile, "Did you like the present?"

Harry nodded, smiling fondly at the memory of hours spent reading letters between Harry's parents and Neville's. "Yeah- one of the best I've ever gotten, right up there with the album."

Neville didn't need to ask, he'd looked through it a few times himself, and knew exactly why Harry was so fond of it. His own parents, too, were in there a few times.

"Sorry I didn't get you something," Harry said after a few minutes, while the Ministry cars began teleporting in a line and a long series of bangs, from just outside Ottery St. Catchpole to a nearly-empty street in London. "I was going to, but I got distracted. And I didn't know about the, uh... traditions."

"It's fine," Neville waved it off, putting his arm around Hannah with a grin, "You did get me something, remember?"

Susan, who hadn't said a word, turned scarlet to match her hair, and looked out the window while Hannah giggled, pinking again.

No one said anything for several minutes as the cars maneuvered through the heavy traffic of downtown London, no doubt heading for the Leaky Cauldron. Harry had no idea how long it would take to get there, but these cars were outfitted in much the same way as the Knight Bus, and were doing an admirable job of squeezing through spaces they shouldn't have come close to, and ignoring all traffic safety laws. Even buildings, on occasion, seemed to leap out of their way.

It probably wouldn't be long.

"Ask him," Hannah hissed, nudging Susan's leg with her toe.

Not quietly enough that everyone in the car didn't hear, but still a hiss.

Susan shook her head rapidly, plaits flying and almost striking Harry in the face, as she looked away.

Harry didn't mind, he had known the red-head was shy, very much so. Extremely attractive, with pale, creamy skin and a smattering of freckles just across her nose, less than Ginny, with darker red hair that fell in waves when undone to her mid-back, or two and sometimes three long plaits most of the time, with a cute little nose, slightly upturned, an average hip-to-waist ratio, and a chest that...

Harry swallowed. Don't think about it, don't think about it...

He estimated Susan Bones, niece of the current Director of Magical Law Enforcement, the head 'cop' of the wizarding world in the U.K., was about 5'4", and maybe a hundred and thirty pounds, tops.

Most of that seemed to be in her chest, to his teenaged eyes. She sported what both Hermione and Lilith had confirmed were very generous double-dees, maybe even real E-cups, and had to wear a special kind of bra to support them.

Of course, they had the attention of every straight male in the school, which was why he'd said what he had to Hannah on the train at the beginning of the summer.

Hannah huffed after her best friend didn't say anything for a few more minutes, and assuming a business-like tone, looked diagonally across the car at Harry. "Susan is being shy, Harry. But we've talked about this, so I'm going to do the work for her, I suppose. We've talked about what you did for Neville and me."

Harry, too, turned a little pink. It hadn't been awkward, for him at least, until that moment.

But Neville didn't seem to care, he only smiled benignly across at Harry, saying nothing.

"And you know, she's the last of her line. The Bones line is one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, and her Aunt refuses to have children. So obviously, since we'd all like the family to continue, she needs a-"

"A Concubine?"

The other three fell quiet, then Neville laughed out loud.

"No," Hannah giggled, even more amused as, bright red, Susan buried her face in her hands, either crying or laughing silently herself, "Not quite- she wants to be a Concubine. Specifically, to you."

Harry blinked.

Daphne was one thing.

But... another?

"I... wait. I mean, I get the idea, I guess, but... why- why me?"

Neville chuckled again, but it was Hannah that kept answering, "Because you're an amazing shag, that's why. I told her all- all- about it, and she chose you."

Harry looked across at Neville, who was still grinning, "And- why not...?"

"Neville?"

Harry nodded.

Hannah quieted quickly, looking at Susan briefly before answering with a soft, measured voice again, "She considered him. But Neville said no, said he didn't think he could handle both of us."

If his friend was offended at the frank discussion or his admission being made public, Neville didn't show it. Instead, he only nodded, pulling Hannah into his side a bit harder and pressing a kiss to the top of her cornsilk-blonde hair.

Harry swallowed, then looked over at the girl next to him. She was pointedly looking away, but he could see her watching him in the reflection in the rain-spattered window. "I... I already have one Concubine arranged. I have to start hers in seventh year. And... there are, um..."

"Other lovers," Neville said, not asking.

Harry nodded, "A- quite a few, actually."

"I don't care," Susan said quietly, "I really don't. It's not a competition."

Harry continued watching as the girl looked back at him, eventually turning to face him directly, still quite red-faced. Eventually, a slim, cool hand left her lap to seek out one of his and give it a tentative squeeze.

Harry found himself running his thumb over the webbing between her own thumb and fingers. "Er... when would- when would you want to..."

"This year," Susan said.

Harry gulped.

"To start," Hannah clarified, "She does not want to use potions to increase the chances, wants everything to be natural. If it doesn't take quickly, then it could be... well, whenever nature runs its course."

With a nod of relief, Harry said, "Good, that's probably best. Uh... my other C- Concubine (and how strange it was to say that!) asked... well, she wants me to be the father-figure to our children, to be in their lives as much as possible, even if legally they are only hers. I... I think I want that, too."

Susan was quiet, saying nothing. She looked up to Hannah, though, who shrugged, "Sounds fair to me. You like the bloke, he's not an arse."

Then Susan nodded, "Okay."

"Excellent," Hannah said with a grin, "That's settled. We'll get a contract drawn up by Neville's Gran or by Aunt Amelia, and we can go from there. Uh... this wouldn't interfere in your other Contract, would it?"

Harry thought, with the emphasis, that Hannah was referring to Lillith's, at first, but then realized she meant Daphne's. Not that she knew who the other was with. "Er, no, it shouldn't."

The street of Diagon Alley was packed, and the group had difficulty staying together in the rain-slicked streets, but managed it for the most part as they went first to Gringott's, then to one store after another, threading through other shoppers and even first-year students.

But most people did not have the same happy-go-lucky cheer that Harry was used to. People hustled from one store to the next, keeping a wary eye out for strangers, or aggression, or...

Only his own group seemed markedly more cheerful, and they drew a lot of attention as they went, laughing and talking animatedly in one group or another, from store to store.

Until they came upon Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, of course.

Mrs. Weasley was dumbfounded at just how successful her twin sons' shop was. The others, not so much.

They spent more than an hour in the store, though, having finished the rest of their shopping, while Harry got 'the grand tour', by first Fred, then George, and finally when another staff member needed help, a quite cute nineteen year old girl with a short bob-cut of auburn hair named Verity.

That, to Harry's pleasure, ended in the loo, with her on her knees, sucking him dry.

It hadn't even taken any Fog, she just wanted to, as far as Harry could tell.

He was about to offer to return the favor when she was called back out by another co-worker, Angelina Johnson.

Harry couldn't complain, though, because really... he had enough women around him that seemed all too eager to do the same.

When he entered the press of students and family once more, he had a hard time finding Ron, Ginny, and Hermione, but they returned a little later, his mate stuffing the Invisibility Cloak back into Harry's own bag and handing it off. "Things to tell you later," Ron said darkly, but refused to elaborate in the store.

"Things", it turned out, was that they had spotted Draco Malfoy having an argument with his mother in the street, and splitting off to go into Diagon Alley alone. They'd followed, all the way into Borgin and Burke's (Ginny had done the sneaking in there while Ron and Hermione 'made out' across the way in an shadowed alcove, and come back with confirmation of something Harry had suspected for a while.

Draco Malfoy now had a Dark Mark on his arm. He had also been given 'a task' by 'their master'. One that the aging Borgin could help with, by simply not selling something in his store, no matter who asked.

What, Ginny was not able to ascertain, but Draco and Borgin were none the wiser that they'd even been nearby.

He had returned, alone for the time being, to Sirius' house the next day to find it a lot quieter than it had been.

Remus and Tonks were now back to working for the Order full-time, since there were only two more days left of the summer holiday, which meant that the only 'adults' were Sirius and Lilith, and the only 'kids' Harry and Astoria.

Which was why he wasn't surprised to see an owl tapping at his bedroom door on August 30th when he woke up, idly thrusting sideways against Lilith's body, though she seemed genuinely asleep, or at least insensate.

He rolled over her gently after throwing the covers off, and she didn't move while he, still nude, went to the second-floor window and let the bird in.

Once the letter was dropped off, it sat on the sill while he checked it for traps and opened it with his wand. Before reading it, though, Harry shifted Lilith, still feigning deep sleep, so that she was laying on the bed with her legs hanging down off the edge, and pushed inside her smoothly.

She whimpered as if surprised in her sleep, and he started moving slowly while he read.

Mr. Potter,

We cordially invite you and those you deem necessary for your protection (we understand you have no reason to trust us) to the home of our current residence,4643 Bloomington Street, outside Nottingham. The Floo Address is "Sanctuary One."

A light dinner will be provided, as we request your presence for a fairly lengthy discussion about the upcoming school year covering a variety of topics.

If you are amenable, please send a reply with the attending owl, Theseus. Our planned meeting time will be at three in the afternoon this very day, the 30th of the month of Augustus. We expect our meeting to go no later than seven in the evening.

Thank you for your consideration and assistance with the matters we previously discussed.

Yours in good faith,

Millicent Bulstrode, Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Hestia Carrow, Flora Carrow, and Tracey Davis, also on behalf of Corvus Montague and Cassius Warrington.

The girls' names were each penned in their own hand, and if Harry had to guess, the one who'd done the actual writing was Hestia Carrow.

"What's it say?" Lilith said sleepily, even while bouncing into the mattress with his thrusts.

"Invite from the Slytherins to dinner tonight and this afternoon. They want to talk about things for the year ahead."

"You should go," she said quietly, starting to actively push back against him, "I'll follow if you want, but you can take care of yourself."

Harry grunted, not with approaching climax (he could last a little while, even with Lilith pulsing her insides like she'd started to do now) but with acknowledgement of the statement. "She did say those I deem necessary for my protection... I should take someone. They'll expect a 'plus one'.

"Astoria."

"Mm, true... still." He reached out a hand to slid between the Succubus and the bedspread to fondle the small, perky breasts a bit, and pushed the tip of his thumb into her little, pink anus, which made Lilith coo and smile.

"Show me your wings and tail," he said after a few seconds.

As they came into full existence, Harry shifted his hand to rest between the wings where they met at the top of her back, occasionally hooking a finger around one or the other for a better grip, and rubbed the short, rose-pink tail with his other hand.

Once he reached the bottom, though, with a saucy grin Harry started pushing the tip into her anus, even while he kept fucking into her other hole.

Lilith's violet eyes rolled upward, "Now you're getting inventive... good, Master... so good..."

Once there were a few inches of tail inside her, Harry started pumping it in and out as well, both alternating the timing with his own thrusts, and mirroring them.

A few minutes later, the rhythmic pulsing of Lilith's insides lost all semblance of regularity and became a wild spasming quiver, which pushed Harry, too, over the edge.

"That has given me a few ideas for tonight," Harry said as he dressed, "It'll probably be just you and me again."

"Looking forward to it, Master," Lilith murmured, standing before a mirror and playing with several forms, all teenagers, trying to find the perfect one.

Their cover, this year, for her to act more openly was not Lilian Vergot, but to be a transfer student from the Americas, out of one of the smaller, private schools in MACUSA. Too many people knew about Ilvermorny, or had friends and contacts there. Someone might check. But a dozen or so smaller schools dotted the large country, and any of those might be believable.

She had most of the paperwork, too, but still needed an appearance.

The name would be Lyra, something Harry wasn't sure about, but that the Succubus insisted on. Lyra Sendai, of some vaguely Japanese-American descent.

"Have fun," he said once dressed, pressing a kiss to her cheek and copping a quick feel of almost ridiculously large breasts- bigger even than Susan's by several inches.

Still nice, though, he concluded as he stepped from the bedroom.

Astoria was reading the newspaper and drinking tea while Sirius whipped up breakfast when Harry got down there. The girl sent Harry a wink and blew him a kiss, not because she was serious (he hoped), but because it always, always got a rise out of him.

Just like this time.

He turned pink, and looked away.

Truth told, a part of him could see why Dean Thomas preferred younger girls. There was something innocent about them, a purity... not like Lilith, who only looked young, and was anything but pure.

Astoria was certainly attractive, in an almost too-thin, boyish way. She looked a lot like her beautiful older sister, only with darker brown hair instead of platinum blonde, and a somewhat angular face, but he couldn't seriously think about having sex with her.

She was really young, and acted younger than she looked.

That she was so good at teasing him about it, though...

Sirius, for his part, was looking happier and healthier than Harry had ever seen him in his adult life, and, he suspected, more than he was when Harry was a baby, too. For one, he wasn't under constant threat. The charges being dropped had done wonders, but it was really going out into Diagon Alley and having people stop, stare, occasionally point, but mostly leave him the hell alone that had done the most good for the ex-prisoner.

That, and Lilith had finally gotten him 'back in the game' as it were, and he'd had a lady friend Harry still hadn't met over the last few nights.

That according to Astoria, who'd only seen the woman in passing.

At least it was the same one.

"Lilith," Harry thought as he picked up the parts of the paper Astoria was done with, "Have you been shagging Sirius...?"

"No. He's hinted, but he hasn't asked. Should I say yes, or no, if he does?"

"Er... no. I mean, I wouldn't care if you already had, but... I'd rather he didn't have that kind of access. You're for me, not my old-man godfather."

"I agree, Master. Astoria peeked in earlier, saw you dressing. Just so you know. Lucky she didn't come in a few minutes earlier, she hasn't seen my normal body yet."

Harry's eyes widened, and he chanced a glance at the younger girl, but she didn't seem to be giving him any more or less attention than normal. "Okay. I'll... think about how to see what she saw."

"I know what she saw- your big, fat, dick, half-erect after I cleaned it. You had your shirt half-buttoned and no pants or underwear on. She liked what she saw, but was a bit embarrassed- has that usual 'there's no way that fits there' kind of thinking, then pushed it from her mind for now. Don't be too hard on her."

Harry grinned. That actually gave him an idea...

But he'd wait until Sirius wasn't in ear-shot.

No need to add fuel to the fire. His godfather had been surprisingly prank-free since becoming a free man, but Harry didn't want to start it up. He could hold his own, he felt, but Sirius had years more experience.

"So what's on the agenda today, Pup? I thought maybe a lie-in, just a lazy day to cap the summer off, but that's just me."

In response, Harry unfolded and read the letter he'd gotten that morning to the other two, word-for-word, then handed it to Astoria to re-read, her eyes glistening with tears. Happy ones, he thought, but she clearly missed her sister.

"Hm. Well... who're you thinking of taking?"

"Just you two," he answered after a minute, "You for 'protection', and 'experience', and Astoria because... come on, she needs her sister."

The older wizard nodded, folding his arms briefly as he leaned against the counter, "They won't expect it- in fact, they'll expect her to stay here, as leverage. Keep 'em off balance, if she goes, but we also lose that bargaining chip if it comes to it."

"I'm not a 'bargaining chip'," Astoria protested, "and you're absolutely right, it's not what they'd expect, so we should totally do it. Please, Harry?"

"I already said I wanted you to go, Astoria," he laughed, "Relax. Lil-ian said she would rather stay here- wants me to 'do it on my own'- but she'll go if I want her to. I'm not sure how far away this is, though. Outside Nottingham, the letter said."

"Not far- a hundred miles or so," Sirius said with a thoughtful expression, "I could Apparate the three of us there, or back, if we needed to. Unless they have anti-Apparition spells up, which is always possible. If it's a Bulstrode home, they probably do. The family's really old, and kind of specializes in home protection."

"Okay, so... I'll send a letter to Ron and Hermione both, telling them that's the plan, and to check up on me here at say, ten. If I'm not here, they can panic?"

Sirius nodded, "Good thinking."

Astoria, though, rolled her eyes. "You don't know my sister, so it's fine, but trust me- she's not planning anything like you're thinking. Pansy, maybe. The Carrow sisters, maybe. But if there's one of that group I wouldn't trust, it's Corvus. He's a snake, a coward, but he knows how to plan and lie."

Harry nodded, "A year ahead of you, behind me. I don't know him, but..."

Astoria's face wrinkled with distaste, "He grabbed one of my friends, Carrie, by the boob when she was twelve, then tried to pin it on me. Bastard."

"Language, young lady," Sirius said solemnly, "We don't insult bastards that way. People don't choose their parentage."

Harry and Astoria both laughed, which was, of course, Sirius' intent.

A/N2: Review, folks! New chapters posted monthly (roughly around the 5th), but I will post early when I hit 15 reviews per chapter!

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