Chapter 8

Good Vibrations

"Hello, Hermione," said a voice as I headed up the tower stairs towards the Gryffindor Dormitories. My heart leapt as I turned and saw Samantha calling to me.

I waited as she scurried up the stairs. We shared a warm hug before finishing our ascent.

"Salve Iterum," I said as the fat lady swung open her portrait.

"Welcome home," she said to Samantha.

We went inside. The common room was empty. We went straight up to our room. Her trunk and other luggage was waiting for her on her bed.

"Thanks, Hermione," said Samantha, smiling as she started unpacking and organizing her things. "I was so thrilled when the owl arrived telling me that I was being reinstated. You're the best. My parents were really upset with me. I stalled telling them anything beyond the fact that I got caught breaking the rules about personal conduct between students. They assumed it was with a boy but were really pressing me for the name and facts. The pressure was horrible. The owl arrived just in time to save me from having to spill the most intimate details."

"Well," I said. "Everyone will be glad to see you. You should, by the way, tell Harry Potter thanks for his help. He was the real hero of the situation."

"Oh," gasped Samantha as she stopped filling her dresser with clothes. "I will definitely thank him.

"Great. Just do not make a big deal out of it or ask how he did it. It is a bit of a secret."

"Of course. Uh—just so you'll know, Daphne and I talked on the train—she is back, too, by the way. We are definitely going to refrain from doing anything—I mean anything that could get us in trouble at school from here on out. I am going to be so boring you will get sick of me."

"Brilliant," I chuckled. "I—uh—I am glad Daphne is back as well. I hope Draco and Pansy behave around her. Let me know if they cause trouble."

"I didn't know Harry was involved in getting me back," said Samantha as she pulled a small box out of her trunk. "I thought it was all you—so I—uh—brought something. A uh—uh–kind of thank you gift."

"Oh," I said as I took it and untied the string. "This is not necessary."

"No. I wanted to. Please don't take it the wrong way. I just want you to have one."

Her words piqued my curiosity as I opened the box. Inside was a pink vibrator much like hers. I blushed as I looked at it.

"It is strictly for your own personal enjoyment," she said. "It's like I said, I am going to be a good girl."

I giggled as I closed the box. I hurried over to my dresser and buried it deep in the back of a drawer.

A short while later, Samantha had finished unpacking. We went downstairs to the now full common room. The place became a beehive of excitement when she appeared from the stairwell.

A few nights later, Professor McGonagall told Harry to go down to the Quidditch Field at 9:00 pm. Ludo Bagman was going to tell them about the Third Challenge. He told us about it being a maze complete with obstacles, creatures, and puzzles. As our heads started pondering things, Harry asked me to step aside for a private word.

We moved over by the crackling fire. According to Harry, he was chatting with Viktor as they were preparing to head back to the castle. He said Viktor asked him if he could have a word with him.

Once they were alone, Viktor had pressed Harry on his relationship with me. He told him we were just friends. Viktor, he said, was quite taken with me. "What should I do?" my mind said, already panicking. "I like Viktor. But I don't think I want to be his girlfriend. Should I visit him in Bulgaria this summer? I have to rethink things. I cannot let Ron know about any of this. I am certain it will cause a fight. I do not want to have another fight with Ron. I like him too much."

As soon as we returned to where Ron was sitting on the big couch, he spoke right up and asked if we were talking about Viktor. He was obviously suspicious and seemingly a bit jealous. I found it annoying but also cute. My heart did a little flutter.

"Yes—uh—no—well, a little," said Harry before I could answer. I was quietly grateful. "But listen. This is loads more important. I probably should have just started with it and forgot about the tournament.

Ron and I looked at him in stunned silence. What could be more important than the tournament?

"While I was talking to Viktor, we heard a noise behind us coming from the edge of the forest. We both got our wands out. We thought something was going to attack us. All of a sudden, a person staggered out of the trees. He was babbling incoherently. He seemed to have been beaten up. His clothes were ragged. Who could it be? Then, I recognized him. It was Barty Crouch Sr.

"At first, he was talking to a tree like it was Percy. When he called him Weatherby, I almost laughed but I knew I shouldn't. He was worried about contacting Durmstrang and Beauxbaton about the number of students they would bring. His eyes were bulging and his face twisted. I think he was crazy like he had been hexed or tortured. Suddenly, he started begging for us to get Dumbledore. He said he had done something wrong, something bad," said Harry as he drew a breath.

Ron and I were listening intently. I had to agree. He should have skipped the tournament talk and his chat with Viktor. This was way more important.

"What did you do?" asked Ron, perched on the edge of the couch.

"I told him to let go of me so I could go. Then he flipped back to talking to the tree he thought was Percy. He wanted him to help him get ready for the concert with his wife, son, and the Fudges. Then, He started bragging about his son getting twelve O.W.L.s. I tried to leave when I realized he had released me. But, he grabbed me, again. He was saying it was all his fault. Bertha was dead. The Dark Lord was more powerful. He needed to talk to Dumbledore."

"Oh myyyy," was all I could manage.

Ron was uncustomarily silent.

"I sprinted up the hill to the castle. I made it to the stairway to Dumbledore's office. It would not let me in. Then, Snape confronted me. I told him I needed to see Dumbledore and that Barty Crouch Sr. had just turned up in the forest. But, Snape wouldn't help me. He called my story rubbish. He was taking pleasure in obstructing me. I don't know what would have happened, but the stairway opened and Dumbledore appeared. He asked if there was a problem. I managed to tell him about Mr. Crouch before Snape intervened. I expected questions from Dumbledore. However, a moment later, we were on our way. When we got back to the spot where I left Mr. Crouch with Viktor, no one was there."

"I never trusted Krum," snarled Ron.

"Ron," I said. I could not believe he would say this about his idol. But then I thought his feelings must have changed after the ball. A strange, warm feeling interrupted my concern.

"Dumbledore lit his wand," said Harry. "After a moment, we found a stunned Krum. He claimed Crouch had attacked him. Dumbledore summoned Hagrid. He appeared with Fang a few moments later. He was breathing hard. Professor Moody showed up a moment later. Dumbledore sent Hagrid to get Karkaroff. He then sent Moody into the forest to search for Mr. Crouch.

No sooner did Hagrid return with Karkaroff than a fight started. Karkaroff accused Dumbledore and the Ministry of running a crooked tournament. Dumbledore sent me back up here with Hagrid as an escort. I got an earful along the way about associating with the Durmstrangs and Beauxbatons from him. I suspect you'll be hearing from him, too," he said, looking at me.

It seems he is not happy with me getting close to Viktor. I don't know whether to be angry or thankful to have such a giant uncle watching over me so closely.

Harry, Ron, and I had several discussions about Crouch, and the attack on Krum. We had several theories, but none of them were plausible. I had to keep reminding Ron that you cannot disapparate on the Hogwarts grounds. I could not bring myself to believe Viktor had attacked Mr. Crouch. I was certain that there was some other explanation.

Very little time was devoted to what Harry had learned about the Third Challenge. It did not seem important at the time. Harry did tell us some about the challenge. He told us the challenge was a maze. The first to solve it and touch the object at the center would get full marks. However, the maze would also include obstacles and challenges. However, it was late and we were tired. We headed off to be with the agreement of meeting before breakfast to go down and investigate the site of the attack.

In the morning, we staggered, puffy-eyed and groggy, down toward the attack site. We stopped at the Owlery to send a note to Sirius. Ron and I kept asking questions. We were looking for anything that could be a clue.

While we were in the Owlery, we had another mostly fruitless discussion about what Mr. Crouch said and Harry's upset with Snape. Then, overheard Fred and George coming. They were talking about blackmail and gold. When they discovered us there, they became very evasive about their conversation when they realized we had heard them. It turned into one more thing on my mind as we left and went down to the attack site.

Despite our efforts, we could not uncover any clues. Once we were back in the school, we struggled through History of Magic. After the class, we found Professor Moody. We got into a conversation with him in his classroom. We discussed our suspicions with him. He told us his thoughts. At one point, he said I should consider becoming an auror. "Your mind works the right way," he said. I blushed. What a compliment. "Hermione Granger, auror," I thought.

By the end, he told us all to be careful. He said we should forget about Crouch. The Ministry is looking into it. Other than that, he said we should stay vigilant. Finally, he told Harry to concentrate on the challenge.

Later, an owl with a letter from Sirius arrived. It was full of warnings. Harry scoffed a bit at them considering all of the things Sirius and the other Marauders did while they were in school. I am ashamed to admit I agree with Harry for the most part. However, I told Harry he needed to be careful. I never considered that Sirius was telling us not to do as they did because he knew the dangers, and did not want us to suffer some of the things they all did. I was certain whoever attacked Mr. Crouch could have attacked him.

The day passed. In the back of my mind, the vibrator Samantha had given me was eating away. It was still safely hidden in my dresser. I was scared to try it. The incident with Carpathia was still present. I did not want to risk being found using it. I had no idea of what the punishment would be for being caught. I was certain that it would be severe, not to mention extremely embarrassing.

All of that aside, the weather was starting to get better. It was Saturday, 15 April, and a warm, sunny, spring day. I thought maybe, just maybe I could take it to the spot I had found along the furthest shore of the lake and give it a try. My little peach got all hot and wet just thinking about it.

After lunch, I quietly gathered a couple of books, a blanket, and the vibrator. I stuffed them in my beaded bag and stealthily slipped out of the castle. As I made my way up the lakeshore, my head was on a furious swivel looking for anyone who might also be walking.

I made my way to the little opening in a pile of large stones beside some trees. The only way someone could see me there was to fly over me on a broom. I felt that was highly unlikely and an acceptable risk. I opened my bag and pulled out the blanket. I spread it on the ground. Then, I pulled out the vibrator. I smiled and put it on the blanket. My little peach was burning hot.

The sun was still shining brightly as I started to undress. However, I saw a black line of clouds moving my way. They did not concern me. I was satisfied with the situation and determined to proceed.

For some reason, I carefully folded my clothes as I disrobed and stacked them on a convenient rock—it was probably just nerves. After a few moments, everything was there with my rolled-up socks and shoes sitting on top of the pile.

I got on the blanket and lay down using my bag as a pillow. I picked up the vibrator and twisted the end. It buzzed to life. This was it. My entire body was tingling with excitement. I remember gasping "OOOO" as I touched myself just above my navel. Then my eyes closed as my mind faintly registered a rumble of thunder.

I moved the vibrator up and started rubbing it over my breasts the way Samantha had done it. Only this time, I was naked and it was me doing it. I moaned painfully as I felt it popping over my rock-hard nipples. My breathing was getting rougher and labored.

I started to trace the vibrator down my body towards its ultimate target just as I felt the first raindrops hit me. Even though I knew they were cold, they stung like hot lava as they hit my breasts.

Then, just as I reached my goal, I saw a stroke of lightning through my eyelids and felt the thunder shake the ground as the storm hit. A different type of lightning flashed through me as the touch of the buzzing wand hit my anxious clitoris and rattled my overheated body.

My hand moved the vibrator back and forth, and all around my peach as stinging waves of wind-driven rain washed over, and over, and over, and over me. It was as if the very storm itself was making love to me.

I saw visions of Ron, Harry, and Viktor as I felt myself building to an orgasm. For some reason, I fixated on the scene at the lake. Only this time, instead of shrinking into a ball, I pulled off my bra and knickers. The boys came forward and started fondling me. Then the girls joined them.

I pressed the tip of the vibrator against my hole just as a resounding clap of thunder shook the Earth. My reflexes caused me to stab it inside myself. "AAAAH!" I screeched, both from the sting and the stimulation. I had never put anything inside me—not even my wand or a finger. Now, I was no longer a virgin. I had given myself up to the storm.

My hips rose off the ground as I started to move it in and out like I had seen Samantha do with her wand. Then I erupted in the greatest orgasm of my young life. I wanted to feel that way forever.

I collapsed, panting and gasping for air as the rain washed me clean. The storm passed and the sun reemerged on the new me.

Once I recovered and got to my feet, I realized that not only was I dripping wet but so were my clothes. I got out my wand and dried myself. Then, I started drying my clothes.

Most of a half-hour later, I was dressed and headed back to the castle. I am certain my hair was a little bushier than normal but I did not think anyone would notice. When I found Harry, Ginny, and Ron, Ginny started to ask where I had been. Ron cut her off saying, "She was in the library, she's always in the bloody library.

Instead of chastising Ron for his cheekiness, I smiled at him and said, "Yes. I was enjoying some light reading. It was particularly pleasurable."

He just gave me a blank stare and said "Whatever." I wondered what he would have said if he had been with me, instead of with the others.

Over the ensuing days, the three of us spent a lot of time practicing spells for the tournament. Ron and I suffered a lot of agony being his practice targets.

Harry had an episode in Divination Class. After that, he went straight to Dumbledore. They had a long meeting. When he returned, he told us a lot of amazing things about stuff he had seen in a pensieve. I had read about them but Ron was unfamiliar with them. I had to explain pensieves to him.

We learned about trials, Karkaroff, Ludo Bagman, and several other things, including how Dumbledore knew about Sirius and where he was hiding. Dumbledore told Harry to concentrate on the Third Challenge just as Sirius had. We decided to do it.

We practiced and became proficient at a great number of spells. We learned many things that we had never heard of previously. Ron ached from allowing Harry to use him as a test target for several of them. That was so kind and brave of him. It was quite likely we were miles ahead of our peers.

Still, one thing nagged at me. "How does Rita Skeeter discover and know everything she writes about?" I asked myself over and over. "What is the source of her information?"

Finally, Ron saw me lost in thought. He asked me what I was thinking about.

"Rita Skeeter," I muttered. "I can't figure out how she knows things. We know she was at Ludo Bagman's trial. She wrote about it. Mr. Crouch would have been furious about him getting off. I bet he talked about it at home. I bet Winky heard him."

"Yes," said Ron. "But he did not pass information on purpose. I don't think Mr. Bagman could have attacked Mr. Crouch. Fudge thinks Madame Maxime attacked him. She was just as mad at Crouch as Karkaroff. That is a very reasonable motive. And, the Beauxbaton carriage was very close to the site."

Finally, we called it a day. We had not practiced nearly enough. But we needed sleep. We would have to wait until morning to continue Harry's practice.