An Invitation
Hermione says "get your cute tushie over my knees Curie! I want to give you your spankings!" Curie lets out a happy squeal and all but teleports onto Hermione's lap, wiggling her delectable tushie for Hermione to spank. "We're sticking with 'Mercury' for the safe word, right?" Hermione asks of Curie, getting an affirmative nod. Hermione then gives Curie a reassuring pat on the small of her back, grins, then asks Curie in a playful voice "do you know what time it is?"
Curie grins and makes a show of thinking about it, giggles, and asks "is it Tushie Time?"
Hermione grins and answers with a cheer "It's Tushie Time! Time for naughty girls and boys to get their tushies spanked nice and hard. Ready?" Curie just giggles and wiggles her bared tush for Hermione to spank. "OK, pick a number between one and six."
This throws Curie off, not knowing what to expect or what's going on inside of Hermione's head. However, she goes along with it and says "I choose four."
Hermione grins and says "OK, I will sing the Spank Spank Spank song four times then, and each time I repeat the song I'm going to spank you harder."
Curie gasps and says "somebody is sure a quick study on playing naughty games, I like it. Play Safe."
Hermione gives Curie a small shake, signaling that she wants her attention. "Why did you say 'Play Safe' like that? Does that have a special meaning?"
Curie explains "when I say 'Play Safe', I'm acknowledging that I am entering into a Session with my partner, in this case you. It doesn't matter which partner starts it, whichever makes more sense for the situation. But doing it is important; it's one last assurance that both partners are on the same page and it marks the transition from normalcy to that of a Dominant and Submissive entering into a Session. In our case that would be you as the Dominant who will be spanking me and me as the Submissive who will be getting her rear end spanked nice and hard." Seeing Hermione look a little down and upset, she says "you're learning, right?" Hermione nods her head yes. "There you go. Lesson learned. I would have stepped in and stopped you and Harry if you both went too far."
"Thanks Curie" Hermione replies, feeling better that she didn't bollocks things up on the first day. "I'm ready now. Play Safe."
"Play Safe and have fun spanking my poor rear end."
"Oh, I will" Hermione promises, and after checking to make sure that the spells she cast earlier are still holding strong, she begins to sing the Spank Spank Spank song four times, spanking Curie harder and harder each time she sings her silly song. Curie naturally takes her spanking like a pro... a pro spanking model that is. Her ass turns a nice red, and she of course gasps and squeals and shakes as her ass is assaulted by Hermione's firm and talented hand. By the time she finishes the last note on her last repeat, and gives Curie her final loud swat, Curie's delectable derriere matches Harry's tushie, both sporting a nice Gryffindor Red. As she helps Curie up, she gives her a kiss once she is able to stand. Once they break from the kiss, Hermione asks "how was it?"
Curie says "for a novice you did an Outstanding job, full marks!" She moves to rub her ass, but stops and sheepishly asks "are we done, or do you want me to stand with my ass presented and my hands on my head for a bit first?"
Hermione says "I'd like that, but we didn't agree to it beforehand, so it wouldn't be fair to make you do it now. We're done."
Curie smiles and leans in for another hug, kiss, and cuddle, before turning around and shows her bright red ass to Hermione, then places her hands on her head. Harry sees what Curie is doing, and copies her, placing his hands on his own head while turning so his mistress can enjoy looking at his bright red ass. Hermione sighs happily as she watches her two friends for the next ten minutes before Curie removes her hands from her head, with Harry following suit thereafter. She moves over to get her wand, and says "Hermione, Harry, I'm going to teach you a spell, the Preserve Spell, otherwise known as the Preservation Charm. It's a simple spell, all you need to do it point it at the object you're wanting to preserve and say 'Servare' for preserving the target 'As Is' for 24 hours. It's useful for keeping food and drink fresh and at the right temperature... or keeping one's tushie nice and red with all the spanking marks intact... like so." She points her wand at her own rear end and says "Servare". "Now you try it on Harry" Curie instructs Hermione.
"Servare!" Hermione intones, casting the spell on Harry correctly.
"Good job Hermione!" Curie says, before canceling out her spell and says "now Harry, I want you to cast it on me."
Harry once again wandlessly summons his wand from where he left it earlier and intones "Servare!", casting the Preservation Charm upon Curie's ass correctly as well.
"Good job Harry!" Curie says, causing Harry to blush from the praise.
The spells cast, Hermione starts to head over to Curie for her turn to be spanked, but lets out a startled yelp as an old fashioned telegram appears out of thin air in front of her. Hermione, once she gets over her shock, reaches her hand out to grasp the mysterious telegram, only for Harry to let cry of "STOP!" as he leaps forward to bodily restrain Hermione. His seeker reflexes pay off, and he is able to grapple hug Hermione, stopping her from touching the still floating telegram. "What the hell Harry? Why did you stop me?"
"Mistress, think. I know you love to read mistress, but have you checked to make sure the still floating letter is safe? Punish me if you want mistress, but I'm not sorry for keeping you safe."
"Harry is right Hermione. It's a good habit to check anything you are not absolutely sure is safe for any hidden charms, jinxes, potions, and the like. Even then, I'd still check, just to be sure." Curie begins to scan the floating telegram, Hermione following suit while Harry watches over the two naked women. "Aside from a Levitation Charm and a Durability Charm, I'm not detecting anything else." Hermione agrees with Curie's assessment.
"Is it safe to read then?" Hermione asks.
"I believe so" Curie replies.
Hermione gingerly approaches the telegram after apologizing to Harry for snapping at him and hugging him in reassurance. Taking the telegram in her hands, Hermione quickly reads it and says "this can't be right. This makes no sense."
"What does it say?" both Curie and Harry ask at the same time.
Hermione says "the telegram says: February 1st, 1926. Please come to my house in Arkham, MA. Sincerely, Professor Tillinghast."
"You think the Weasley Twins are pranking us?" Harry asks.
"Homenum Revelio!" Hermione casts, then detects Harry, Curie, a couple of female first and second year girls heading to the toilets one car down, and the snack cart lady two cars down headed their way. "It's not them. Aside from a couple of girls headed to the toilets and the snack lady, there's nobody out and about, and I seriously doubt Fred and George are skilled enough to prank us from another car while we're moving."
"Well, if this was real, would you want to go to this professors house to see what she wants?" Curie asks. "I know I'd be interested in finding out what she wanted."
"I would be interested as well" Harry admits.
Hermione throws up her hands in exasperation and says "it's a PRANK. It's not real."
"But if it was real?" Harry asks.
"Fine! IF it was real, and I'm not saying it is, then yes, I'd want to go see what this Processor Tillinghast wanted."
Upon all three members saying yes, the telegram glows brightly, causing all three of them to quickly grasp their wands. It's a VERY good thing they did, for a moment later the telegram explodes. When the metaphysical smoke clears, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Sophie Cortina Curie are no longer in the last passenger car on the Hogwarts Express. They're no longer in the United Kingdom. For that matter, they're no longer present at all in the present...
The three time displaced young adults land in a heap of entwined limbs outside of a rather large old but lovingly well maintained mansion. After groaning, separating, and standing up, they look around in confusion. Further adding to the confusion is that all three previously naked young adults are now fully dressed. Curie is sporting a lab coat over a dark green dress and blouse combo that ends just above her knees. Hermione is wearing a powder blue dress that also ends just above her knees with matching gloves and hat. Harry is wearing light brown pants, a dark red shirt, and a dark brown coat, similar to a trench coat. Harry's collar can still be seen by both Curie and Hermione, but otherwise appears to be a masculine amulet with the Potter Coat of Arms done in gold and red. Hermione's collar appears similar to Harry's, appearing like normal to Curie and Harry, but to everyone else appearing to be a beautiful white gold necklace with the Potter Coat of Arms appearing to wrap around a beautiful yet tasteful ruby with gold filigree. Hermione and Curie both recognize the clothing as clothing popular in America and parts of England during the late 1920's.
Approaching the front door, the trio clearly see what Harry and Hermione recognize as a very old vintage car that appears to be brand new. Further adding to the confusion Curie spots a mailbox that simply says Tillinghast on it. Finally, a clearly shaken trio cast the "Tempus" charm, and all three get the same result: 22:30, February 1st, 1929, before shifting the time to show 10:30 pm instead of 22:30.
Hermione is close to having a mental breakdown, and Curie isn't much further behind her. Harry rushes to comfort the two confused women, hugging them against himself and letting them draw some measure of comfort from him, and for him to in turn draw comfort from them. After a few minutes of cuddling, the trio seem to settle down. Harry says "well, we're here. Might as well see what Professor Tillinghast wants with us."
The trio approach Tillinghast Manor, and see that all the lights bar one appear to be either turned off or are too dim to be easily seen from outside. They approach the front door, and ring the doorbell, but get no response. Trying the door, they find that the front door is locked tight.
A simple "Alohomora" allows the trio to enter the dark mansion. The trio begin to call out for the professor, but get no response. They go from room to room calling out for the professor, and still get no response. It's not until the trio enter a back hallway past the studio containing the grand piano that they spot a broken vase laying on the ground between two stairwells heading up to the second floor. As they approach the vase to determine if the broken vase is recent or not, they hear a loud feminine bloodcurdling scream from somewhere upstairs, before they hear what sounds like something heavy falling upon the floor above them and off to the side. The trio run up the stairs with lit wands at the ready... well Curie and Hermione run up the stairs but Harry appears to all but fly up the stairs, rushing ahead of his two friends. Rushing to the left hand side of the second floor, Harry yanks open the door, startling a large man holding a wicked knife and dressed in maroon colored robes.
"Die heretic scum!" the deranged man yells out, brandishing his knife menacingly as he approaches Harry, intent on violence.
"Reducto!" Harry yells out, overpowering the spell and reducing the man to a bloody mist. The girls start to run faster as they hear Harry's cast, and then run as fast as they can after they hear two more screams of "Reducto!" All goes quiet before for a brief moment before they hear Harry say "bloody hell! Mistress! Curie! You both need to get in here!"
Panting for breath, the two women join Harry in what appears to be the professor's office, and gasp as they see the elderly woman lying down on the floor with a nasty gash in her torso and laying in the middle of some strange occultic symbol drawn in what appears to be her own blood. "Oh no!" both women exclaim at seeing the dead body.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get to her in time" Harry says, then points to the three places he turned his attackers into a literal bloody mist. "Three robed guys just tried to kill me. First a large man, in the room before the office, and then an older man over there and I think a woman or a small and skinny man there." As he explains, he points to the three spots in question.
"You did good Harry" Hermione says. She begins to look around the office for any clues about the dead professor and why anyone would want to kill her like they did. Hermione is able to find a journal, and after quickly reading it learns that the professor's name is Wilhelmina Tillinghast, and that she is a professor of Astronomy at Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts . Curie further examines Wilhelmina's body, learning that her time of death was NOT what they expected. According to her scans, the professor died almost 24 hours ago. She further learns that the wound in her abdomen was done with what appears to be a very large claw of some sort. Harry finds a large broken glass lab bottle, and after repairing the broken bottle, he sees that on the lid and on the bottom of the jar the words "Property of Miskatonic University Science Lab." Searching the bloody mists that were the three attackers, Harry finds roughly $20 worth of coins between them. "We should go" Harry says after finishing his search.
"Go where Harry?" Hermione asks.
"Somewhere that is not here mistress, before the police or the Aurors from the MACUSA arrive" Harry says.
"Harry has the right idea Hermione. We should go" Curie says, gently taking the still somewhat shaken Hermione by the arm and leading her away from the deceased professor's office. The trio soon leave Tillinghast Manor, heading into the town of Arkham. It's a good thing that the trio left when they did, because not 15 minutes later the magical police from the MACUSA arrive at the scene, and not long after that the mundane police arrive after the magical police have departed.
Thankfully for the trio, it's only a short twenty minute walk or so from the manor to the Easttown section of Arkham. Wandering around that section of town, the trio spot the Arkham Police Station, and wisely give it a wide berth. Roughly five blocks down the road, the trio spots a couple of police cruisers rushing down the street. Heading the opposite direction, the trio eventually wander towards a well lit and well cared for building with the sign out front, proclaiming it Velma's Diner.
Entering Velma's Diner, the trio are surprised to see that even near midnight, the Diner is still quite busy. The trio spot a couple of cops enjoying a meal while reading a newspaper, well into their meal and cups of coffee. They pay the trio no mind whatsoever. There are a few workers who appear to be either getting off of work and enjoying a meal before going home or workers enjoying a meal before heading off to work the graveyard shift. There are also a group of eight or ten college students enjoying a meal and going over some sort of project or assignment before either heading off towards home or back to the dorms. Sighing in relief that they weren't recognized, the trio sit down in a booth near the back of the diner. On the way to their seat, a voice calls out "take a seat anywhere dearies, I'll be with you in a moment." They are unaware that as they sit they have vanished from the diner and have reappeared back in the last passenger car on the Hogwarts Express.
All three of them jump in shock when the an older lady with a very familiar voice enters their compartment and says "sorry for the delay. What'll it be dearies? Chocolate Frogs? Cauldron Cakes? Sugar Quills? Oh, I like your outfits. Its nice to see such well dressed youngsters these days, reminds me of the Roaring 20's back home in Massachusetts. It's such a shame that Hogwarts won't let you wear such nice outfits."
The trio look around in shock? Was this a dream? A strange, shared dream? Sadly for their sanity, spotting each other dressed in their Arkham outfits they each say "alcohol please, and lots of it."
The Snack Lady loudly tuts and says "there's no way that I would serve something like that on the Hogwarts Express. The closest I come to alcohol is Butterbeer." As she says this, she pulls out a bottle of Firewhisky and with her wand causes a sigh to appear for a moment that says "Ten Galleons".
The trio order quite a few Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, Sugar Quills, and some more filling food like grilled chicken sandwiches with chips and of course Butterbeer to wash it all down with. Harry hands the Snack Lady 20 Galleons for the food and drink, grabbing the bottle of Firewhisky along with their order. "The rest is for you. Thank you for providing us with our meal."
"Enjoy dearies, and don't forget to change into your uniforms before we arrive at Hogsmeade Station."
"We won't" the trio reply to her. The snack lady gives them a knowing smile and shuts the door behind her. Hermione reapplies the locking charm to the door of their cabin, before the trio dig into to their meal and try to drink the previous events in Arkham away.
Thankfully for the trio, no more earth or sanity shattering events take place on the remaining trip to Hogsmeade Station. True to their word, Harry and Hermione strip out of their Arkham outfits and put on their Hogwarts uniforms. Curie gives a wolf whistle as the two teens strip, causing them both to blush and smile. As they look to Curie, she impishly grins and says "what I'm wearing is fine. Perks of being a professor." She then sticks her tongue out playfully, causing Harry and Hermione to laugh, which then causes Curie to laugh as well. The trio shrink their luggage, pocket them, and start to head out of their cabin to board the Thestral drawn carriages. Harry was always able to see the skeletal winged horses, and now Hermione is as well. Just before the two teens and the young professor exit the cabin, she says "uniform check!" Seeing the confused looks of the two teens, she says "I'm going to check to make sure you're both following the rules... wearing your collars, no underwear, and wearing the correct toys in the correct way. Of course Hermione you can check Harry whenever you want."
"Toys?" the two teens ask in unison.
"The fun kind... butt plugs, vibrators, cock rings for Harry and breast bondage rings for you Hermione. You know, those kind of toys." Both teens blush bright red as Curie describes the toys the teens can wear, and both Harry and Hermione start laughing as they both see a small line of drool come out of Hermione's mouth as her eyes go lidded in pleasure at imagining herself, Curie, and Harry wearing those toys.
Once again grumbling about disloyal boytoys and sexy big breasted smart arse witches, Hermione lifts up her skirt, showing that she's not wearing any panties of any kind before then lifting up her shirt, showing she's not wearing a bra. Harry drops his trousers, showing that he's not wearing any kind of underwear as well. Satisfied, Curie motions for the trio to exit the cabin and board one of the carriages.
The carriage that they pick is already partially occupied, the occupants instantly recognizable to both Harry and Hermione. Inside of the carriage is the strange man they met earlier for a brief time, as well as one Susan Bones and one Padma Patil. Once the trio enters, they are able to notice a couple of rather surprising things: Susan Bones is wearing a slave collar much like Harry is; and Padma Patil is wearing an Apprentice's Collar much like Hermione is. The other male, Janus, is currently voraciously reading Hermione's favorite book: Hogwarts, A History.
"Welcome Apprentice Granger, Harry" Padma says, then turns to Curie and says "I am sorry, I don't recognize you. May I have your name?"
I am Professor Curie, your new Potions Professor" Curie answers her with a smile.
"Thank you professor" Padma says with a polite nod. "I am Runes Apprentice Padma Patil of Ravenclaw House" she says, indicating the Ravenclaw patch on her robes and the Blue and Bronze coloring of her robes. The blond wearing the slave collar is Heiress Susan Bones of the Ancient and Noble House of Bones and is sorted into Hufflepuff House." As she says this, Padma points to to the Hufflepuff patch on her robes and the Yellow and Black robes that Susan is wearing.
"It's nice to meet you Padma, Susan. I look forward to seeing you both in my class.
"Thank you professor" both Padma and Susan says in unison.
Seeing that Padma's conversation with Curie is finished, Hermione can no longer contain her curiosity and asks "how did your Apprenticeship come about Padma? Susan, why are you wearing a slave collar?" She then blushes bright red and says "oh! I'm sorry if that's too personal girls. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
Both Padma and Susan turn to Janus, as if to ask if they're allowed to say. Without pausing in his reading, he answers their unspoken question "I don't mind if you inform them, so long as you tell them the truth."
Susan answers first "well, I going to the bathroom when I quite literally ran into Padma reading her copy of Runes Quarterly. When I collided with her, we both fell over and her magazine fell from her hands. After apologizing and helping her up, we saw that her magazine was opened up to an article about a student who became the youngest Runes Master in the last 500 years. We read the article, and it said that he was transferring to Hogwarts as a student, believe it or not! So we started asking around, and as we were doing so ran into Master. As he was helping us up from running into him, he saw the article he was reading and complained about the big deal it made about him." Here Susan quite literally scoffs, saying "like inventing a runic shield that blocks more spells than anything on the market currently is no big deal. I begged him to make a runic shield for my auntie, I worry about her since she leads the Auror Department after all. It took some convincing, but in the end I secured the runic shield for Auntie and her most trusted aurors."
Padma shrugs and says "I want to be a Runes Mistress. Learning under a Runes Master or Mistress was always something I had planned to do. Quite literally running into one was unexpected, but not unwelcome. I simply asked if he was willing to take me on as an Apprentice, and to my shock he agreed... and here we are. No really, here we are, as in we've arrived at Hogwarts and it's time to go inside for the Welcoming Feast."
The six step out of the carriage and start making their way up the Castle's walkway. They nearly reach the front doors and are stopped by the Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall. She starts to greet her new colleague before spotting the students with her, and her eyes go wide with shock. "Mr Potter, Ms Granger, Ms Bones, Ms Patil, you have some explaining to do. As for you Mr Black, since you are a transfer student, would you prefer to wait with the other first years until it is time for your sorting or wait in a antechamber until it's time for your sorting after the first year intake is finished?"
Janus says "I would prefer to wait by myself until it is time for my sorting if I must be sorted at all."
McGonagall nods her head and says "it's tradition for all Hogwarts students to be sorted, even transfer ones like yourself." Janus nods in acceptance. Seeing this, she turns to the students and raises an eyebrow before saying "well, what have you four got to say for yourselves?"
To everyone's shock that knows her, Susan is the first one to speak up "quite frankly professor, this falls under the category of House Business and quite frankly is none of your or the school's business the obvious."
"Well I never!" said the now scandalized McGonagall. She then turns to Padma and says "and you Ms Patil?"
"Apprenticeship to a known Master in Runes" she says, indicating Janus who once again is all but ignoring the group and continuing to read where he left off earlier.
Before McGonagall can turn to them to ask, Harry shrugs his shoulders and says "House Business". Hermione says "I'm apprenticed to Professor Curie."
To say that Professor McGonagall is displeased would be a mild understatement. However she realizes that she doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, and says "very well. Mr Black, Professor Curie, do you wish your Apprentices housed with you or in their student dormitories?"
"I would like my apprentice and slave housed with me but with the option to stay with their friends in their student houses as per the Hogwarts Charter for apprentices and student slaves" Janus says as he continues to read.
I would prefer my apprentice and her slave to be able to stay with their friends in their current housing, but with the option to have them stay with me when I wish it. Also, my apprentice will need housing for herself and her slave" Curie replies.
McGonagall nods, saying "very well. Come find me after the Sorting Feast, and I will lead you to your new housings. With that, she dismisses the students, motioning for Curie to follow her. The four current students file in and find seats at their House Table and sit with their friends. Janus remains until he's called, and Curie follows McGonagall to the Head Table, and finds an empty seat.
Soon enough the first years are led inside the Great Hall, and one by one, are sorted as their names are called. Of the 43 first years, 12 are sorted into Gryffindor, 20 are sorted into Hufflepuff, 8 are sorted into Ravenclaw, and only 3 are sorted into Slytherin.
As the final first year student is sorted, Professor Dumbledore stands up and says "this year we have an incoming transfer student from America, coming to us from both the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Miskatonic University with a degree in Runic Languages. Please welcome him as he is sorted."
The students applaud, much as they do for each new professor. Janus, getting the signal, enters and approaches to be sorted. He gives McGonagall a look that clearly says "you can't be serious right now" as he is told to sit down on the Sorting Stool as the Sorting Hat is placed on his head.
For one fleeting moment, the Sorting Hat touched the mind of an Outer God; and the Sorting Hat, along with Hogwarts itself, trembled as the unfathomable and unknowable mind of the Outer God focused its mind completely on the thing that dared to probe its mind. The fleeting moment passed, and the Sorting Hat continued to do its job, blissfully unaware at just how close it came complete and utter annihilation. As it has for almost every student, the Hat makes comments as it sorts. "You are daring, but do not value bravery and see chivalry as sheer stupidity. Gryffindor is definitely not for you. You highly value loyalty and are certainly not afraid of hard work, but your loyalty is seldom given and quite hard to earn. You are very intelligent and possess a keen wit, but you don't value knowledge for knowledge's sake. You are extremely cunning, but have no ambition. Ah, I see you were a Thunderbird at Ilvermorny, which is closest to Slytherin here. Do you wish to be sorted Slytherin or a different house."
"Different" Janus mentally responds to the hat's inquiry.
"Different House you say?" the Hat says out loud. "Thunderbird you were, better be Hufflepuff!" Janus removes the Hat from his head, handing it back to the deputy headmistress. He heads over to the Hufflepuff table as the students applaud and sits down by the very happy Susan Bones who is currently being grilled over Susan's collar by her best friend Hannah Abbott.
Professor Dumbledore stands once again and says "now that all of the students have been sorted, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome to Hogwarts our newest potions professor, Professor Curie. She is taking over for Professor Slughorn, who as many of you are aware retired last year." Curie stands and waves to the students who wildly applaud her. Dumbledore lets the applause go on for a moment or two, before signaling for silence. Joining her is a man many of you already know, our very own Rebeus Hagrid, who is taking over from Professor Kettleburn as your Care of Magical Creatures professor." Hagrid stands and waves as the students absolutely go wild and applaud the gentle giant. Aside from a very, very small minority, Hagrid is universally loved by the student body and quite respected by the staff. The gentle giant is stunned at the positive attention he is shown by the students, and with a bashful wave sits back down. Once the students have calmed themselves down, Dumbledore says "finally, we have one of our own returning to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Lupin." He stands and waves as he is also applauded, smiling at the looks of the eager students and that he is once again back at Hogwarts. Once Lupin is seated again, Dumbledore signals for the feast to begin.
Everyone partakes of the feast, and once everyone has had their fill, Dumbledore stands back up to finish his announcements. "As many of you know, the Forbidden Forest is just that, Forbidden. The use of magic in the hallways, while not forbidden, is carefully monitored. I will remind everyone that you all have signed as part of your enrollment here that you are aware of the rules. First and Second years, please follow your Heads of House back to your student houses. For those of you who are new or have forgotten over the summer, for Gryffindor House that is Professor Burbage. For Hufflepuff House, please follow Professor Sprout. For Ravenclaw House, please follow Professor Flitwick. For Slytherin House, please follow Professor Sinistra." The four professors stand as their names are called, and lead the first and second year students out of the Great Hall and towards their respective Houses.
Once the last first and second year student has left, Dumbledore continues his announcements. "As many of you are no doubt aware, for those who are of age, Hogwarts has for centuries has had the tradition of using The Book to enforce discipline, reward academic excellence, and encourage bonds to be formed. Bonds that more often than not lead to lifelong bonds of friendship and more marriages than I can count. I know those who are muggle-born or muggle raised would see what we do as slavery of a sort, but I assure you that it is not. After all, is it slavery if each and every one of you present has been made aware of this and consented to it? I think not. However, tradition dictates that before we continue, those of you who are third year or those who are transferring in are given one last chance to opt out of our longstanding tradition. Any takers?" As expected, there are none. "I will remind you that in accordance to the rules, all third years and those who were entered into the Book from the Spring Semester as either punishment or as volunteers are up for auction this very night. I will further remind you that when you are up for auction, you will be auctioned off in the nude. With that said, are there any who choose to opt out? This is your last chance as a student of Hogwarts to not take part of tradition." Dumbledore pauses, waiting one minute for any of the third year or transfer students to indicate they are essentially spitting on tradition. As he waits, McGonagall approaches and whispers in his ear about the six she encountered before the feast. Dumbledore nods and once again focuses on the students, saying "very well. While I have been informed that certain third year students have made previous magically enforced contracts prior to this one, they won't be part of tonight's auction. Do not give them a hard time or think to bully them however, they are taking part of tradition. In fact, they are taking part of an even older tradition than this one. Any bullying of them will be dealt with most severely, of that I assure you all."
Giving the students a few moments to take everything in, Dumbledore pulls out The Book and places it on the podium. "When I call out your name, approach, strip, and then stand in this circle here" he says, flicking his wand and causing a large circle to appear on the floor, lit up in a bluish white light. "The remaining students will have two minutes to decide whether or not they wish to bid. To bid, tap your wand on the parchment in front of each of you and say how many of your earned Credits you wish to bid. Should your bid be successful, you will then take possession of your prize for this semester and this semester only." As Dumbledore says this, parchment appears in front of each and every student with their name on it and how many Credits they've earned as students to date. "A reminder, you are allowed to approach the student in the circle, but you are not allowed to touch or cast while they are in the circle. A second reminder: half of the Credits used to purchase you will be credited to your account as it were. A further reminder: there is a minimum bid required to purchase someone, which is one fifth of their current Credit balance. As always, Credit balances are private and only the person in question is able to find out their Credit balance. I will give you all a minute or so to look at your balances before we begin."
The students all look at their balances. It would surprise nobody that Hermione has one of the highest Credit balances of any of the assembled students, and the highest of the third year students with an even 6,000 Credits. Harry Potter follows closely behind with a Credit balance of 5,555. Surprisingly Neville Longbottom has the third highest of the Gryffindor students and fifth highest of the third years at an even 4,000... his extra work in the greenhouses has really paid off. Daphne Greengrass comes in third overall with 4,500 credits due to her potions brewing and tutoring, and fourth goes to Megan Jones with 4,200 points due to her assistance in the Hospital Wing as a nurse's assistant. All of the other third year students average around the 1,000 Credit mark.
Seeing that most of the students have had time to check and plan, Dumbledore says "I will randomly draw a name from Hufflepuff House, then Ravenclaw, then Slytherin, then Gryffindor before repeating until all of those who are to be auctioned off have been done so." Dumbledore points his wand at the book, and says "draw Hufflepuff", and a name appears in Hufflepuff Yellow...
A/N: Suggestions on matchups for the third years to the other students and/or suggestions of those who are up for auction as a punishment or who volunteered for whatever reason are more than welcome. While Harry, Hermione, Padma, and Susan won't be auctioned, they can still bid on others.