AN: I'd like to offer a huge apology to those of you who have followed this story for not updating in so long. My partner and I are in the midst of negotiations to expand our business and there have been some health issues with the family. But enough of excuses. I solemnly swear that, while I am up to no good, I will be more diligent in my posting of updates. On to the (hopefully) good stuff!
Summoning and Projecting
The next morning, Hermione, Ginny, Ron and Harry made their way to the Great Hall, while Neville made his way to Ravenclaw Tower. He had taken upon himself the task of escorting Luna to and from the Ravenclaw Common Room so she wouldn't have to walk alone through the castle, especially at night after dinner. Harry had stressed the importance of looking out for each other, and Luna, being the only non-Gryffindor of the sextet, was his main concern. Neville had quickly volunteered to accompany the peculiar girl.
Ginny and Luna had also agreed to take the same classes whenever possible so they would be together during the day. As uncomfortable as it made Harry to leave Ginny's safety in the hands of someone else, he knew that Luna was not only a deceptively capable witch, but also that Ginny trusted her implicitly. The two of them had already proven that they formed a formidable team.
The Great Hall buzzed with the excitement of the start of a new term when the four Gryffindors walked in, and sat at their House table. They were busily filling their plates with food when Neville and Luna approached the table.
"I'll have breakfast at the Ravenclaw table, if you don't mind," the blond Gryffindor boy said to all. "Luna is telling me about all these fascinating species of magical plants I've never heard of. Did you know that the root of Yggdrasil has over a hundred uses, and that it can give you the strength of ten men?"
"Didn't know that, mate, but it sounds interesting," Harry replied with a smile. "By all means, go with Luna."
"I think they'll be together soon," Ginny said cheerfully after the pair walked away. "I'm so happy for Luna... and Neville, of course."
"I can't believe it," Ron said dejectedly. "Neville Longbottom, of all people, is going to have a girlfriend before I do."
"Maybe if you showed some Gryffindor courage, you would have a girlfriend already," Hermione said frustrated before looking down at her food.
"I have courage," Ron said in a subdued tone.
Hermione lifted her head just as Professor McGonagall arrived to give them their class schedules.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley," she said. "Professor Slughorn is more than happy to accept students with an 'E' on their Potions OWL. I took the liberty of signing you up for his class given your interest in becoming Aurors.
"Thanks, Professor," Harry said. "That was very kind of you."
Ron was clearly not as thrilled by the news, but thanked the stern Transfiguration teacher anyway.
"I have something else for you, Mr. Potter. I want you to accept this badge, and become the 325th Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," Professor McGonagall said as she handed Harry a shiny captain's badge.
Harry was flooded with mixed feeling about the honor. He stilled loved the sport, but he had so many responsibilities at the moment, that he was inclined to reject the tempting offer.
"Don't let Tom stop you from being yourself or doing the things you like," Ginny interjected soberly. "It took me two years to learn that lesson."
Harry remembered how Ginny had virtually disappeared for two years after her ordeal in the Chamber of Secrets, and how last year she had resurfaced as a confident and vibrant young woman that seemed to attract most of the people around her. The redhead girl squeezed his knee under the table, and nodded with a soft smile.
"I'll accept, Professor," Harry said to McGonagall. "It's a great honor."
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. Even though this will be a rebuilding year for the team, I do expect to keep the Cup in my office," the aging professor said severely. "You can retrieve your broom from my office when you have a chance," she added before leaving.
After the Professor moved on, Harry was enthusiastically congratulated by all, especially Ron, who was brimming with excitement. "I have several plays I've designed for the team to use," he gushed. "I can also help you set up the try-outs and the training schedule."
"Thanks, Ron," the freshly minted captain replied as he silently cast a Muffliato charm around the four of them. "I could really use your help. Just remember that Quidditch will have to take a back seat to our magical and fight training schedule. For the next couple of weeks we'll have very little time for anything else."
Ron looked at Harry as if he had grown another head. "But it could be years before you have to face Voldemort. The first Quidditch match is in only two months!"
"He may have to face him tomorrow, for all we know," Ginny intervened forcefully. "I love Quidditch as much as you do, Ron, but we have to be ready in case Harry needs us."
After the lanky redhead boy grudgingly nodded his agreement, they started reviewing their class schedules.
"I knew it," Harry said with a sarcastic smile. "We have double DADA after lunch."
Ron groaned and cursed his luck loudly.
"We have to take it sooner or later, so it might as well be sooner," Hermione said philosophically. "What about you Ginny?"
"I don't have DADA till tomorrow, and I rather have a peaceful first day than start off with a double dose of Snape," she replied relieved.
At that moment Ernie McMillan and Susan Bones approached the table. Harry quickly removed the Muffliato charm.
"Good morning, Harry," Ernie said ceremoniously as he bowed his head lightly to acknowledge the rest. "We were wondering if you are going to continue the DA. We would really like to continue our training."
Seeing the two Hufflepuffs at the table, other members of the DA started approaching. The Patil sisters came over first, followed by Dean Thomas, the Creevey brothers, Michael Corner, who was eyeing Ginny hopefully, and the rest. Harry soon found himself surrounded.
"Listen, the lot of you," he said standing up. "For the first few months of term it will be impossible for me to restart the DA." There was grumbling and talking on all sides. "I'm busy with a special project and until I'm satisfied that it's finished completely, I cannot continue the DA. I'll let you know as soon as possible when we can start again."
"What special project?" several voices asked simultaneously.
"Sorry, but for now I cannot give you that information. I just beg you to be patient."
The crowd dissolved slowly into several smaller groups whispering among themselves. Most started heading to the classrooms.
The morning Potions class was a pleasant surprise. Professor Slughorn actually encouraged and rewarded the students, instead of insulting them without offering any guidance. Harry found that the knowledge he had gained from Nicolas Flamel for doing various medicinal potions, easily translated into making potions of any kind. Slughorn gave them as class assignment the task of making a Draught of Living Death. Harry was sure he would win the phial of Felix Felicis that the Professor had promised as reward for the best draught, but in the end it had been a tie between Hermione and himself. The tie breaker was an obscure question about the inventor of Amortentia that was quickly answered by Hermione.
After lunch, the four Sixth Year Gryffindors made their way to the Defense classroom. Inside, Malfoy and Goyle met Harry and his friends with venomous looks. Harry gave him a mockingly toothy smile that was quickly imitated by Ron and Neville. The four friends sat in two desks, Harry sharing his with Neville. A couple of minutes later, Professor Snape walked briskly into the classroom, and turned to face the students with his ever present disdainful sneer.
"I see we have four members of the so called Ministry Six present in the classroom," Snape said walking slowly down the aisle. He stopped right next to Harry, and looked down on him. "Let me assure you that you will need more than dumb luck to get through this class, and that no one will come to rescue you."
There was laughter from the Slytherins which Snape allowed without objection.
"Open your books, and read pages 18 through 21 on how to perform an Obex barrier shield," Snape ordered. "You have thirty minutes before you are tested on it."
Without any further indication, the professor turned around and walked to his desk. After a quick and disdainful look at the class, he sat down and started reading from an old book.
Harry knew that Obex would act as a barrier to stop and deviate an object, but it wouldn't stop a curse or a hex. He took a peek when Snape wasn't looking, and noticed that the vital piece of information wasn't listed until page 23 of the textbook. He was sure that it wasn't a simple oversight from the teacher. He wrote the critical missing fact on a piece of parchment, and discreetly passed it to Neville, who in turn passed it on to Ron and Hermione.
"Potter, Longbottom, Malfoy and Goyle," Snape said after the thirty minutes were over. "Come forward."
The students obeyed as Snape directed them to the duelling stage. Draco stood facing Harry, and Gregory Goyle faced Neville separated by twenty paces.
"Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Goyle will attack first," Snape continued. "Let's see if you've learned anything," he added curling his upper lip at the two Gryffindors.
Harry and Neville had barely started the protocol-required bow, when Malfoy and Goyle cast simultaneous Diffindo curses at them.
"Protego!"
The twin shields erected by the two Gryffindors easily stopped the curses.
"They cheated!" Goyle said with a childish whine.
Snape looked like he wanted to curse Goyle right then and there. "Potter and Longbottom," the professor hissed, "that's not the spell I told you to study."
"But it is the appropriate defense for that curse, Professor," Harry said calmly. "The Obex shield is only effective against objects, not against curses."
Snape looked visibly frustrated, and he struggled to keep an even tone as he spoke. "Potter is correct," he spat to the class.
The professor transfigured four quills on his desk into feather pillows, and used a banishing charm to place one in front of each student.
"I believe that if we are following the standard rules, it's our turn," Harry said to the sour faced professor, who nodded as if he was fighting an Imperius curse.
Harry pointed his wand at the pillow. "Confiero momentum," he bellowed as he whipped his arm towards Malfoy.
The pillow shot towards Draco like a bullet. The Slytherin boy squealed like a frightened girl and had no time to cast a shield. The pillow hit him on the face, exploding in a shower of feathers that knocked him to the floor. Neville used the much less powerful banishing charm, but he scored a direct hit on the distracted Goyle.
The two Gryffindors high-fived each other to the applause of most of the class. At that point, the surprised teacher closed his mouth and walked towards Harry.
"Potter what was that?" Snape asked angrily.
"That was a projectile charm, Professor..."
"I know what it was, Potter," Snape hissed looking at him in the eyes. "You could have injured Mr. Malfoy. How did you know it?" he demanded.
Harry noticed a concealed wand movement on the right hand of the teacher, and he immediately felt an attempt to breach his Occlumency shields. He put up his defenses, and brought forward a memory from the previous day. It was the memory where he had demanded a formal hearing before accepting punishment.
Snape apparently got the message, because he looked like he had swallowed acid. "Sit down, you insufferable brat," he screamed. "Everyone read up to page forty, and when you finish write a one foot essay on the uses of the Obex charm."
The professor sullenly sat on his desk, and remained there without saying a word till the end of class. It was going to be a long year for the new DADA teacher.
OoOoO
That evening, after Harry returned to the Gryffindor Common Room from a meeting with Dumbledore in which he was shown a memory of the headmaster's first meeting with Tom Riddle, he found Hermione, Ginny and Ron arguing with each other.
"What's the matter," he asked puzzled.
Hermione approached him worriedly. "Neville went to escort Luna to her Common Room almost two hours ago, and he hasn't returned yet. It's only ten minutes to curfew, something must have happened to him."
"Maybe Luna and him are just working things out," Ginny said hopefully, but she obviously was also starting to get worried.
Harry thought for a moment and made a quick decision. "I would hate to interrupt them, but we better make sure they are alright."
"That's what I've been saying all along," Ron said frustrated.
"But we cannot go out now, Hermione protested. "We would be violating curfew."
"Who cares about curfew when our friends could be in danger," Ron said raising his voice. "It must be some sort of revenge plan by those damn Slytherins!"
"We'll have to go check on them, Hermione," Harry said apologetically. He knew his bushy haired friend believed she had to set a good example for everyone, but this was more important. "You and Ron are prefects, so Ginny and I will have no problem as long as we're with you. Tomorrow you will all learn how to send messages using the Patronus charm to avoid this situation in the future."
Just as they were getting ready to go out to look for their two friends, Neville walked into Common Room whistling happily. His noticeably swollen lips, and a very visible love bite on his neck, told the story. He was startled and froze in place when he suddenly came face to face with the four Gryffindors"
"Where have you been?" Hermione demanded.
"Err... I... Err," Neville helplessly spluttered.
"You were snogging Luna," Ron said with disbelief and a subtle hint of jealousy.
Ginny pulled Neville forward. "So, is it official now?" she asked narrowing her eyebrows. After he cautiously nodded, she pulled him down for a kiss on the cheek. "Congratulations, Neville," she said brightly. "Treat her right, or you'll regret it."
"Bat-Bogey hex?" the blond boy asked resignedly.
"If Luna allows me, yes," she chuckled, "but I have a good feeling about the two of you."
After a round of congratulatory hugs and slaps on the back, Hermione turned to face Harry.
"Can you tell us what Dumbledore wanted?"
"He showed me his first memory of Tom Riddle. He figures, quite correctly, that it's important for me to know my enemy. He also wants me to befriend Professor Slughorn because he might have important information about Riddle. I'll tell you all about it in tomorrow," Harry said yawning.
After a quick goodnight kiss to Ginny, under the watchful eye of Ron, the teens headed to their respective dormitories.
OoOoO
For the next couple of weeks, the sextet of friends met at the Room of Requirement for training whenever the classes for the day were over. The room provided all the training equipment they needed, including clothes, punching bags, gloves, weapons and the protective gear for sparring and refining their boxing, karate, judo and weapons techniques. They diligently did their katas, and sparred with their respective kumites. The training routine flowed with ease for all of them at that point, and Harry hardly had to give any instructions to anyone. After all, they all knew what they were doing.
On weekdays the students dedicated an hour and a half to Muggle fight training, alternating fighting styles each day, and another hour and a half to magical fight training. There were speed casting exercises, precision casting exercises and magical dueling exercises. On weekends the schedule was increased to five hours or more. The improvement in everyone was dramatic. Harry observed his friends carefully and drew some conclusions that he was sure were evident to everyone.
Among the girls Ginny was the most magically powerful and accurate. Her hand-eye coordination was unmatched by anyone in the group, including Harry. She not only had the eye of a marksman, but she was also agile and fiercely determined. Ginny used her physical abilities to her advantage while dueling, but most importantly, she had the critical ability to remain composed and analytical while fighting. Harry knew that being cool under fire, was the most important key to survival in a battle, and he was happy to recognize that ability in Ginny.
Hermione, wasn't as powerful or accurate, but she had finesse. The brunette could comfortably use the entire repertoire of techniques and curses they had learned. In a tight spot she could easily resort to obscure curses or techniques to surprise her opponent, and her ability to use spells in innovative ways was unmatched. Her only weakness was that she tended to overthink her moves while fighting. Sometimes she went for fancy curses instead of going for a deciding blow.
Luna was the most adaptable and unpredictable, which combined with a surprisingly high level of magical power, made her a very difficult and uncomfortable opponent. Ginny and Hermione were very brave women, but Luna was simply fearless. She fought with a disconcerting lack of concern for injury, or the slightest hint of fear. Harry also had the feeling that she wouldn't hesitate to kill in battle, or feel remorse about it later.
Ron was powerful, but he lacked the cool head of his sister in a fight. When he was able to keep his emotions under control, Ron had an uncanny ability to anticipate his opponent's moves and to force them to move as he wanted until he could deliver a deciding blow. Unfortunately he tended to fight with raw emotion, relying more on power and strength than strategy. Harry would have to work on that with him.
Neville showed an amazing level of improvement. His confidence had grown by leaps and bounds, and now he participated in the group's discussions as an equal. In the beginning he had seen himself as a burden to the rest and was hesitant to give his opinion, but little by little, Harry, and especially Luna, had convinced him otherwise. For a so called Squib, his magical power was more than adequate, but he was too brave for his own good. He tended to take bold risks while dueling, which was very worrisome to Harry. They would have to work in finding a balance between being brave, and being reckless.
For Harry it had been an eventful first two weeks. A lot was happening in his life, much of it positive, but there was one thing he wished he had more time for; his girlfriend. Their days were so filled with activity, and so exhausting, that they hardly had any "alone" time. Other than a few hurried late night kisses and hugs in the Common Room when no one was looking, their affections were reduced to kisses on the cheek and to simply being close together. For Harry, who had grown up without any affection in the Dursley household, the contact with Ginny still hadn't lost any of its magic. His skin still tingled when she brushed his leg during meals, or when she took his hand when they sat down shoulder to shoulder in the Common Room.
Watching her hadn't lost any of its enchantment either. He loved to observe the details of her face when she was distracted. Harry was sure that he would never grow tired of admiring the delicate perfection of her lovely nose and lips, or the deep chocolate pools of her eyes with their alluring amber and golden specks. She wore her hair mostly in a ponytail during the day, and Harry still found the nape of her neck enticing. It was a mystery to him why he found her neck so sensual, but he longed to kiss it thoroughly... if only they could have some privacy.
The constant training might deny them time alone, but it had some benefits. He looked forward to mixed sexes judo sparring, and although Ginny hated to lose just as much as he did, they both clearly enjoyed being submitted to holds that put their limbs in delightfully intimate contact. There was something primal about being so close to one another, sweating and breathing heavily, that excited them both. There was fire in her eyes in those moments, and she would longingly watch his eyes and lips as she panted. Thankfully the judogi was loose fitting, and his boxer briefs were not. In the correct position they hid the effect that she had on him.
On Saturday the fourteenth, after they had finished their magical training, the sextet sat in a circle. It had become part of their routine to have to a short discussion about ways to improve their training before to administering the Agnitio for the day.
"Harry, I think you're neglecting ritual magic," Hermione said. "Summoning the Enochian Planetary Angels could be useful. So far we haven't made any attempt to call them forth."
"The angels will come for us," Luna said with certainty. "Each of us is a favorite of one of the ancient planets, and on top of that, the Sun looks kindly on two of us," she added looking at Harry and Ginny. "I told you it wasn't a coincidence that there were six of us."
Harry still wasn't convinced that ritual magic was critical to defeat Voldemort. He was certain that in the end it would come down to the two of them fighting it out, mano a mano, that it would come down to judicial combat.
"Summoning angels, spirits and ghost is dangerous." he said cautiously. "There is always a chance that an evil spirit can try to break through the protections. We have to be sure we can create a powerful magic circle before any summoning attempt is made."
"We could start by summoning the school ghosts," Hermione said sensibly. "They could be an important source of information, and whatever they may be, we know they are not evil. I'm certain that I can draw a precise magic circle using the angelic alphabet."
"I think I can reinforce the circle with magic fire," Ginny said pensively. "No... I'm sure I can create magic fire."
The other five teens looked at the redhead girl disbelievingly. They all knew the incantation and the movements to make magic fire, but knowing how to do it, and actually doing it, was another thing altogether. Very few wizards or witches in history had ever been able to cast a truly effective magic fire.
"That's very advanced magic, Ginny. Are you sure your magical energy is mature enough to handle it?" Harry asked.
Ginny stood up and walked to the center of the circle of friends. She started doing a series of complex overhead movements with her wand at the same time that she chanted an incantation.
"Ignis mystica, amicus protego, hostilis delenda. Ignis mystica, orbis mystico arceo!"
A wall of flames sprang up all around them, and Harry watched in horror as Ginny happily walked into it, laughing as she played with the flames. Her ponytail came undone, and her silky hair started behaving like a flame. He was startled when he heard someone else laughing. He turned to look at Luna playing and spinning in the fire.
"It tickles," the Ravenclaw girl said giggling as she spun with open arms in the fire.
Ginny extended her arms to Harry. "Come, Love. It will only harm our enemies," she said huskily. "Luna is right, the angel of the Sun looks kindly on us."
Harry was surprised by the endearment, and he walked without hesitation into the fire to embrace her. Just as he felt the overwhelming need to deepen the kiss, Ron pushed his way between them.
"That's amazing, sister. I knew you were powerful, but this is ridiculous," he said as he embraced her.
Hermione came next, and she gave Harry a sympathetic smile. "Your hair, Harry, it moves the same way as Ginny's."
Harry could feel his hair moving in every direction with a life of its own. Only then he noticed that the fire had no effect on the hair of his friends. A magic fire would, as a rule, only obey whoever cast it, and it would normally take up to an hour of countermeasures for another person to stop it, but Harry felt an intimate connection to the energy of the fire. He pulled out his wand, and with a simple "Finite", he stopped it.
"That was an impressive demonstration, Love," Harry said relishing the ability to use the endearment. He was rewarded with a beaming smile by Ginny. "I think that Hermione, Luna and you should get everything you need to start your own Coven. The three of us," he added pointing at the other two boys, "can join you when needed."
"I'll make a Lamen for each of us," Luna said, "one for each of six ancient planets."
"I'll make the Sigil of Ameth, inscribed with the names of the gods and angels," Hermione added.
"And I'll make the black scrying-stone," Ginny finished. "I'll need to get some obsidian rock to craft it."
"We should also try to see if we are capable of ethereal projection," Luna said dreamily. "I think I can do it."
"Try it tonight," Ginny said to her seriously. "Try to project your ethereal self into my bedroom to see if it works."
Neville chuckled. "I think we can rest assured that that the three of you will be successful in summoning the angels and projecting your ethereal selves. There are no more capable, talented or beautiful witches in the whole wide world, than the three of you."
After Luna crushed his lips, Ginny and Hermione kissed each of the Neville's cheeks, leaving the blond boy with a silly smile plastered on his face.
"If you three witches have finished assaulting Neville," Harry said amused, "let's move to today's Agnitio."
They sat in a circle again, and Harry pulled out the last phial from the case. It was the Sex Magic phial. Harry was a little embarrassed about it, so he had left it for last. He didn't know what they would face in the future, but he was sure they should know anything that could possibly be useful.
One by one the teens administered the Agnitio. After all of them had finished, they sat in silence for a moment. It was Ron who spoke first.
"That was disgusting, Harry," he complained to his friend. "I could have lived perfectly happy without ever knowing all the uses of menstrual blood."
"Oh, grow up, Ron!" Hermione interjected with annoyance. "It wasn't all disgusting. Some of it might be very useful, especially the restorative potions and rituals."
"You would do some of that stuff?" Ron asked disbelievingly.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Not with just anyone... but if the life of any of you depended on it... yes, I would do it."
Harry could only admire Hermione's commitment, but looking around the room he realized that all six were inflexibly committed to one another.
"We should start collecting ingredients," Luna said calmly turning to Hermione and Ginny. "In a year, a virgin might be hard to come by." She then turned and looked appraisingly at Neville. "Maybe even sooner," she added evenly.
Neville choked and had a coughing fit. Harry and Ron slapped his back vigorously until he came out of it.
Meanwhile, Hermione was meditatively pinching her lower lip between her thumb and index finger. Her eyes darted to meet Ginny's. "Luna is right, you know. We should start collecting samples of hair, nail clippings, exfoliated skin and blood, fresh and otherwise," she added with a quick glance at Ron. "We should gather enough for any contingency we might encounter down the road."
"How are we going to preserve the blood?" Luna asked.
"We'll need jars charmed with a conservation spell. They can be bought at the Apothecary," Hermione replied.
"I'll get them for you tomorrow," Harry interjected.
Ginny was looking down at the floor mat, deep in thought, biting the tip of her index finger. "We'll need a chart of the phases of the Moon."
"I'll make one for each of us," Hermione answered. "I'll mark the best collection dates on the chart."
For a moment the girl's conversation didn't make sense to Harry, but then the knowledge came to him. For certain potions and rites, only blood collected during the full Moon would do. The Muggle part of him had difficulty accepting these distinctions, but it had to do with the Principle of Correspondence of Hermes Trismegistus. As above, so below.
All the energy of universe was connected and influenced one another. Heaven and Earth, Macrocosm and Microcosm, they were all intricately linked. Harry realized that maybe he shouldn't have dismissed Sexual Magic so easily, because according to the Principle of Polarity and Sexuality, only through sexuality could oneness with the life giving energy of the universe be achieved. It was that energy that made magic possible.
He was distracted from these considerations when Hermione cleared her throat and looked at the three boys with the beginnings of a blush.
"I presume it's too late to ask any of you to collect your first ejaculate in a phial. Right?"
Her question was met by stone silence.
Harry lowered his head in shame, but lifted it when he heard Ginny's wonderful laugh. She had a wide smile and was wagging her index finger accusingly at boys.
"You naughty, naughty boys," she said shaking her head and tut-tutting them. "Now you see why you shouldn't wank yourselves. First ejaculate is like the Holy Grail of magical ingredients according to Madame Monvoisin."
"No point crying over spilled milk," Harry said seriously, before breaking down laughing when he realized the double meaning of the phrase in that context.
Five of the teenagers laughed maniacally for the next minute. Ginny was still rolling on the floor holding her sides, when the sudden silence brought her out of her merriment.
Ron was standing up visibly angry. "I don't see what's the rush to collect samples," he spat with nostrils flaring. "You," he said pointing his angry index finger at Ginny, "are going to remain a virgin for the next ten years. And you," he added turning his finger at Harry, "better not try anything."
Before Ginny or Harry could react, Ron had turned to Hermione.
"And may I ask who are you planning to lose your virginity with? Is Vicky coming for a visit?" he asked with dripping sarcasm.
Harry bolted to his feet and faced Ron with a set jaw. "You have no right to talk to Hermione like that. You better think very carefully what you are going to say next," he said menacingly. Neville got up and stood next to Harry with narrowed eyes.
Ron was stunned into silence. With the other students his threats were usually enough to bring compliance, but that wasn't going to work with Harry, or even Neville anymore.
Hermione gave Harry and Neville a grateful look before turning to Ron. "For your information, I turned Victor down, but at least he had the courage and the decency to ask. Neither Luna, Ginny or me are planning anything. We are just being realistic and prudent. Who I decide to sleep with, is none of your business."
The brunette bolted out of the room sobbing.
Ginny stood up and walked up to face her much taller brother. "You're a moron," she spat before turning to run after Hermione.
Luna stood up and also walked up to face Ron. After giving him a disdainful look, she extended her hand towards Neville and the pair walked quietly out of the room.
"Ron," Harry said curtly to his bewildered friend. "If you don't fix this quickly with Hermione, you're going to lose her forever. Be a man for once in your life, and talk to her," he finished harshly before walking out.
Ron remained alone in the Room of Requirement, pondering what Harry had just said to him. He couldn't deny that his mouth and his temper were on the verge of losing Hermione for him forever.
That was a devastating prospect.
He would have to grow a pair of bollocks, and face the ultimate terror; Hermione Granger laughing at him when he confessed his love for her.
OoOoO
That night Harry was having a particularly pleasant dream. Ginny was taking a bath in a pond that was surrounded by a vast green plain. The blue sky was dotted with puffy white clouds. Ginny finished her bath and she started to come out of the water. Her white tee-shirt clung so tightly to her body, that it looked painted on. She winked at Harry, and grabbed the lower edge of the tee-shirt with crossed arms. Very slowly she started pulling it up, revealing the deep curve of her waist and a delightful belly button.
That's when the dream started to get weird.
"I think he is dreaming of you," a familiar voice said with a giggle.
In his dream, Ginny stopped and her face became puzzled. "Why?" she asked looking up at the sky.
"There is a... lump... in his crotch," a voice that he knew was Luna's said giggling.
"Really?" the Ginny in the dream said with curiosity. "How b...? Luna, stop looking at my boyfriend's crotch!"
"But you said to take a look at him," Luna's voice protested.
"I just wanted to know if he was sleeping alright, not for you to look at his bits!" the dream Ginny said scandalized.
"I'm not looking at his bits, Ginny. He has boxers on. He does have a very nice body, though."
"Luna, go back to Neville this very moment, or I'll go to your room and throttle you!"
In the dream, Ginny closed her eyes hard in concentration. Harry's senses were inundated by the sweet floral smell of her. He could almost feel her presence, but then it was gone.
"Why can't I project like you do?" she whined looking up at the sky. "It seems so easy for you."
"We all have different talents, Ginny; different abilities."
Luna started giggling again.
"You better not be ogling at my boyfriend," Ginny said jokingly.
"No, I'm looking at my Neville. He has a lump in his shorts too," Luna said with amusement. "Merlin!" she said more seriously, "Are all boys this..."
Harry was awaken by Neville's screams, who was so startled, he fell off his four poster bed with a loud thump. Harry reached for his glasses and jumped to his feet.
"Damn you, Longbottom," Dean Thomas said sleepily. "I thought you were over the night terrors."
Seamus Finnegan was cursing loudly with a thick Irish accent that thankfully nobody understood.
"Don't worry," Harry said to his other roommates. "I'll get him back to bed."
Harry helped a befuddled looking Neville up, and guided him back to his bed. He cast a privacy charm around them.
"I think something happened to Luna," Neville said alarmed. "I just saw her ghost. She was about to touch my... We have to go to Ravenclaw Tower, Harry," he said getting up in a frenzy. "Something must have happened to her."
"Calm down," Harry said as soothingly as he could. "I think the girls were trying out their ethereal projections. Luna seems to be very good at it."
Neville still didn't look too convinced and appeared ready to bolt out of there to look for his girlfriend.
"Why don't you send her a Patronus instead," Harry suggested.
Neville reached for his wand, and after whispering to his mongoose Patronus, it dashed out of the room. A couple of minutes later a silver hare hopped into the room, and whispered to the ear of a blushing Neville. The hare kissed his cheek before dissolving into thin air.
"I take it she's alright?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Neville said with a smile and a blush.
"What's so funny, if I may ask?"
Neville looked at Harry considering if he should answer. "She said I had better have been dreaming of her."