Chapter 8 - Honesty
As the annoying high chime of the alarm clock by Harry's bedside sounded, he found himself lamenting that it wasn't Ginny's mouth waking him up that day. 'Or Romilda,' he thought, 'Man that girl could suck a bludger through a straw.' Feeling an ache in his own 'bludgers', he quickly took a hand to his 'broomstick', and was disappointed afterwards that while he felt somewhat relieved, there was still that awkward ache in the pit of his stomach. It was like his Siren powers needed him to release in someone, but unfortunately, today was not that day. Today was the day of Sirius' trial.
He bolted out of bed, got ready as fast as he could and headed down to the Great Hall, hoping that his Hogwarts uniform would be good enough for something as illustrious as appearing in front of the Wizengamot. At least if Dumbledore thought they weren't appropriate, he was sure to assist with a spell or two to make them more formal, he thought.
Ron and Hermione arrived not long after he did, shortly followed by Dumbledore. The old headmaster stopped to give the three of them the password to his office and asked if they could please meet him there immediately after breakfast. Harry could tell that Hermione was nervous, in stark contrast to Ron's blasé 'whatever happens, happens' attitude. Still, in their rush, they didn't speak much and were out of the Great Hall so quickly that the owls delivering Harry's daily flurry of mail found themselves rather confused when their packages' intended recipient wasn't there.
As Harry spoke the password to the Gryphon statue outside Dumbledore's office he felt Hermione stiffen to the side of him.
"It'll be okay, Hermione," he said quietly reaching out to squeeze her hand, "You'll be wonderful, I'm sure of it. Deep breaths. I'll look after you."
She gave him a shaky smile and took a big, intake of breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly.
The inner door to Dumbledore's office opened automatically as they approached, and the three of them saw Dumbledore, Snape and a pretty young woman that Harry recognised, with a heart-shaped face and bubblegum pink hair, all dressed in Auror robes.
"Ah, you're here," Dumbledore said genially, "And right on time. We'll be taking the floo to the Ministry Atrium. I'd like to introduce you all to Auror Nymphadora Tonks, she'll be our escort today."
"We've met," Harry interjected, "She helped me after the second task."
"I did," Tonks replied with a blush, "I'm glad you remember."
"Excellent. She's here for your protection, I'm sure you know the ruckus around Harry has been rather profound of late, so please stick with her."
"Will do, sir," said Harry with an overenthusiastic salute that had Dumbledore chuckling and Snape scowling.
Harry was guided out of the fireplace grate at the other end by a very serious-looking Tonks and only then did the chaos all around him register. Hundreds of people were packed into the Ministry atrium, obstructing much of the view Harry had been looking forward to seeing of the grand room. The moment he appeared, shouting and pushing came towards him from all sides, but they were rebuffed by a phalanx of Aurors on either side of him. Hermione came through next and then Ron, followed by Snape and Dumbledore. Once it became known to the Aurors that they'd all arrived, Tonks shouted, forwards and the group moved as one. Thoroughly jostled, Hermione grabbed Harry's hand once more for support and then blushed as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her closely.
As they were guided slowly through the long atrium keeping their heads down from the many camera flashes, Harry could hear many voices shouting through the din.
"Get out of the way! Unless you want a night in Azkaban I suggest you move!"
"Harry! What do you think about your Godfather not getting a trial?'
"Harry, how does the Goddess expect those disadvantaged to pay for all the new uniforms?'
"When will you deliver a sermon at the Church of the Prophet?!"
"If I let you bang my wife will you ask the Goddess to bless my family?"
A lot of these questions were food for thought but he didn't reply. What on earth was the Church of the Prophet? And the cost of uniforms? He hadn't even thought. He'd have to do some damage control for that one, and fast. He needed to think about the economy, some kind of way for people to be able to pay for all of these changes themselves.
All thoughts were struck from his mind as the group was all bundled into a large elevator and went tumbling downwards at high speed. When they arrived at their destination, there were another much smaller group of Aurors to protect them, but it wasn't necessary with the long corridor being mostly empty. The Aurors led them into a large, packed, circular chamber with banked seating. A section was slightly raised and had tables affixed to them that were adorned with purple gleaming cloth. It was behind this that Dumbledore hastily took his seat.
"With me, you lot," said Tonks, who led them over to a small section to the left of the 'Leadership Area', as Harry thought it and he was pleased to see a familiar face stand up to greet them. Remus Lupin, looking ever the worse for wear, pulled the three of them each into a hug and they chatted for a few minutes about how they'd all been until there was a large bang of a gavel and the sound of Dumbledore calling for order broke the din.
"Order, everyone please, and take your seats," he called, with one more magically enhanced bang of his gavel. The ear-splitting whack certainly worked and the throng promptly sat quietly in their places.
"We are all here to preside over and correct a severe miscarriage of justice," announced Dumbledore loudly and clearly, "Lord Sirius Black received no trial all those years ago and since escaping from Azkaban he has been on the run. While he is not yet declared innocent, the 'Kiss on Sight' order has been rescinded. Aurors, bring in the accused."
A side entrance opened and in walked Sirius in shackles. He caught Harry's eyes and winked, and though he certainly looked like he'd been on the run for nearly two years, Harry was pleased to see a glimmer of happiness and hope in his kind eyes. The famous escaped prisoner of Azkaban stepped over to a wooden chair placed facing the Leadership Area in the centre of the room and sat.
"Lord Sirius Black's identity has been blood-authenticated prior to this trial and he has been supervised since," Dumbledore announced, banged his gavel, and spoke again, "Lord Sirius Black you stand before the Wizengamot today to be tried for several crimes. While this assembly apologises for your lack of timely trial and unlawful imprisonment, you will not receive recompense until you are declared innocent. The charges are thus: First-degree murder of thirteen muggles on the 31st of October, 1981, first-degree murder of Peter Pettigrew on the 31st of October, 1981, the betrayal on an unknown date of the location of Lady Lily, Lord James and Heir Harry Potter, now Prophet of Magic, knowing that the Dark Lord Voldemort would subsequently attempt to assassinate the entire family. This led to on the 31st of October, 1981, the murder of Lord James and Lady Potter and Heir Potter subsequently receiving the Killing Curse, which he miraculously survived. Finally, should your guilt on these charges be confirmed, you are charged with escaping Azkaban and living as a fugitive since the 13th of August last year. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty to all charges," said Sirius his aristocratic, gravelly voice.
"As you have not arrived with counsel, it is assumed that you believe yourself to be of sound mind to defend yourself, as to -"
"Come on Dumbledore, we all know he's innocent, the Prophet of Magic said so! Can we vote already?"
A grumble of agreement rang throughout the courtroom.
"No, please," said Sirius, 'There are too many answers the world needs to know, let me give my opening statement."
"Very well," said Dumbledore, "State your case.'
For the next hour, Sirius told his story, about the switch in secret keepers, him going after Pettigrew, his capture, his animagus form, his seeing the rat in the Prophet on Ron Weasley's shoulder and how he used his animagus form to escape Azkaban and the events of that night in the shrieking shack.
"I don't understand, you escape on the back of a hippogriff? The same one that escaped MacNair's axe?" asked Fudge, "How?"
"And how while being in the school Hospital Wing did Potter and Granger get the Hippogriff and get up to you in the tower?" called Amos Diggory.
Harry got to his feet and spoke proudly, "I will explain my side of the story now if it pleases the Wizengamot. It will close any holes."
Dumbledore assented and the court listened carefully as Harry told his side of the story, from first finding out about Black, to freeing Buckbeak, through the shack, Lupin's turning and Pettigrews escape, he then told of the time turner and fighting off the dementors and flying up to save Sirius.
After this had all concluded, Lucius Malfoy was the first to get to his feet. "While this adventure is all very admirable, are you admitting to freeing a Ministry-condemned creature? While the Goddess has named you inherently good now, this was before you became the Prophet."
"It was," Harry admitted, "But under good conscience, I couldn't let an innocent creature be killed."
"Innocent?" Lucius snapped, "It maimed my son."
"Your son doesn't even have a scar from the incident and I'm sure if we had a look at the records we would see no photographs of the injury nor the circumstances were properly examined. Rubeus Hagrid was not mentally stable enough to defend the creature but I can tell you what happened. After I successfully handled the creature, following Hagrid's instructions to be careful and heeding the subsequent warning not to offend the creature, Draco walked up to it and said 'You're not dangerous at all are you, you great ugly brute?' and then called Daddy when he received a flesh wound. What happened was akin to me walking up to the Horntail from the first task dressed like a nice juicy sheep, bleating 'eat me,' and then the dragon letting me off with a nibbled tail."
"You went against the Ministry," Lucius said through gritted teeth amidst a loud laugh from those in the courtroom."
"Do you believe Sirius is innocent?" Harry asked.
"I do," admitted Lucius.
"Well then like me, you believe the Ministry is sometimes wrong," pointed out Harry, "We are not infallible, Lord Malfoy and I wish I had parents who could defend me as you do, but I promise you, Draco blew the whole thing massively out of proportion and you acted as you should've from the information he gave you. Subsequently, so did I."
"I think we need another hearing for the creature, Dumbledore," called Augusta Longbottom, "With a pensieve memory submitted for certainty."
"I agree," called another wizard. Lucius tilted his head, his eyes closing slightly, appraisingly at Harry as he sat back down.
"What I want to know," called a tall, bespectacled wizard in emerald green robes, "Is why a witch has a time turner. I thought they were restricted."
Tentatively, Hermione stood.
"Erm, hi everyone, I'm Hermione Granger," Hermione said, her tone and the way she nervously tucked a lock of bushy brown hair behind her ear, showing all that she was feeling the pressure in her first time speaking publically. Harry took her by the hand and he saw her take a deep breath before she continued with renewed confidence, "I was given the time turner by Professor McGonagall after thorough instruction by an Unspeakable for the Department of Mysteries. I was taking all of the third-year electives which meant I would need to be in multiple classes at the same time so the time turner was to make it possible. I have the authorisation from here, for 'Time Turner 127A', which is signed and dated for its signing out and signing back into the Ministry after I dropped a class and the timetable was adjusted."
She held up a golden form with the Ministry seal and looked around her.
"Very good, Miss Granger," said Dumbledore, "We are grateful for your organisation. You all know bringing a document in here with that seal, if it were a fake would've immediately alerted the Auror. It is authentic."
"Can we vote now, Dumbledore?" said Fudge, "The Aurors need to be out looking for Pettigrew."
Finally, Dumbledore agreed and Sirius was swiftly declared innocent by unanimous vote. He was to receive a hefty compensation and his infraction regarding being an illegal animagus was stricken from the record as a further apology. Once the throng had settled and Sirius took the seat of the House of Black within the chamber, Dumbledore asked if there was any other business. Exaggerratingly placing a hand on the seal on his chest, Harry stood and a nervous hush erupted over the chamber.
"Everyone, I can feel her magic in my chest, she wishes me to make an announcement or several," he said, rubbing his torso and then dropping his arm to his side, continued, "She wants me to convey that she is pleased by the conduct today of our country and wishes to reward us all. Those not in school who wish to may have Friday afternoons from 1 pm off for the next year and should do so, though shops are encouraged to remain open to encourage the economy. Other emergency services like the auror department will remain in effect."
There was a loud cheer from several in the chamber before they were violently shushed by the others, so they could hear their Prophet as he continued:
"She also overheard a comment about those who are unfortunately worse off who
may struggle to pay for new uniforms for their children. She therefore wishes to create the Goddess Fund. A new Ministry vault in Gringotts. All income gained for those earning 20 percent above a household's average cost of living shall be taxed at a rate of one sickle per day's pay, or one percent, whichever is smaller. This should be more than enough and will pay for any further developments she wishes to introduce. Can it be done?"
"Absolutely, Prophet," said a very pretty, mid-thirties woman in the Leadership Area with long thick red hair in a pair of waist-length plaits. Even from where he was sitting her chest was very pronounced, she looked like an older version of -
"Lady Bones is correct," said Augusta Longbottom, "I create the motion."
"Seconded," said a blond man with a pointed goatee that Harry didn't recognise.
Dumbledore banged his gavel, "Anyone to speak in opposition?" he asked, "...no? Very well, votes?"
The vote for the Goddess Fund was unanimously passed. With a sideways look at Hermione, he could see she was beaming at him and she grabbed for his hand this time.
"Finally," Harry announced, "The Goddess wishes to profess her gratitude for our world taking on all of her suggestions and requests recently no matter how wild and unusual they may seem, as such she wishes for Silly Hat Day to be the last day of the month. Those who do so will notice they have a happier day than otherwise, though I guess they wouldn't know it unless they were somehow to wear and not wear the hat that same day. Anyway, thank you all."
There was a loud chuckle at the idea before the room burst into chatter. Dumbledore had to call for order a few times to even close the session. He asked for the defendant and the witnesses to be the last to leave the chamber. Many of the throng seemed to idle around for a chance to get to speak to Harry, but they were swiftly ushered away by Aurors towards the exits.
Finally, came the moment Harry had been waiting for, his reunion with a free Sirius. He promised he'd be up to the castle to visit soon and Harry offered for them to meet in Hogsmeade on Sunday. Shortly after, it became clear that the Aurors were getting testy waiting for them all to leave and Sirius, anticipating the chaos that would ensue the moment the group made it back into the atrium, gave Harry, Ron and Hermione a warm hug each and promised to write.
Once again, Harry took a blushing Hermione by the waist as they were jostled through the hall and back towards the Floo. A whoosh later and they were thankfully all back in Dumbledore's office.
"Well then," said Dumbledore moments later, sitting down with a sigh as Harry brushed soot from his hair, "That went precisely as I'd hoped. Back in time for lunch then I've got to get back to the Ministry."
The aged headmaster nodded at Snape, who promptly left, having had a sour look on his face, eager to escape the immediate area surrounding Harry.
"You all did very well today, you especially Harry, my boy, so I think you've earned the afternoon off from classes. An excellent opportunity for a bit of free study time, I should think."
'Brilliant sir," said Ron, "Can we go? I'm starving."
"Certainly, Mister Weasley, but save some food for me will you," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye.
After lunch and a draining bit of questioning from their housemates as to what happened, Ron declared he was going to the library and shot off from the Gryffindor table without another word.
"Nice of him to invite me as well," Hermione said sarcastically.
"Why don't you come and see my room?" Harry offered.
Hermione blushed. "Your…your room?"
"Yeah," Harry replied with his winningest smile, "Why not?"
"Why not…" Hermione said to herself quietly. She couldn't think of a reason. Sure, she'd been pissed off with him yesterday for accepting the date with Fleur, but things had been going well as of late. Maybe, just maybe, if she finally screwed up the courage to act first…he'd been showing her a lot of interest hadn't he?
Hermione nodded and after getting up together, they left the Great Hall side by side. They didn't talk much on the way up to the common room until they had only a few staircases to go.
"You did really well today," Harry said as they stepped onto the last flight of stairs before the corridor, "You beat the nerves and won."
"Only because you were there," Hermione replied, "You don't think I sounded silly? I know Dumbledore was trying to be kind when he said I was organised but it was like he patted me on the head and said 'good girl' in front of all those people. I felt patronised."
"Nah, you didn't sound silly. At first, you sounded like someone who hadn't spoken in public like that before, which is understandable. After that, you were no different than when you present a project in class. I'm not gonna pretend you were as spectacular an orator as the great Prophet of Magic, but still."
"Prat," Hermione grinned, batting him on the shoulder.
"So while we aren't in earshot of it, the password is 'Naga'," Harry said as the portrait came into view, "Come and visit whenever you like."
Hermione thanked him and upon approaching the Nemean Lion, spoke the password.
"Wow, Harry, this place is wonderful," Hermione said a minute later, and after darting around the room and striding back to him, "The bed, the view, the bathroom and that bookshelf!"
Harry snorted at her pointing wildly at the big mahogany bookshelf that took up a good portion of the left wall. Of course, that would be her most envied feature.
She turned to him and they stared at each other, suddenly both very aware that they were alone in Harry's very private bedroom. Harry awkwardly ran his fingers into his hair.
"Look Hermione, we need to talk," he said.
"We do," she said demurely.
"I just…I don't know where to begin," Harry started but was immediately stopped by a raised hand from Hermione.
Screwing up her courage, she clenched her hands in her pockets and said in one long breath, "I just, ever since that day at the lake, when I'm around you I just can't breathe and I've always wanted you Harry but I've always thought you weren't into me and now it seems that you are but you're gonna date Fleur and she's gorgeous and now…oh forget it."
She strode forward and pressed her soft lips to his and his heart exploded. As much as the other girl's kisses felt good, lust-driven, this was different. Ginny was on her way there but there was nothing compared to this, he thought as their kiss deepened and he ran his hands in Hermione's bushy hair. He wanted this, he needed this, but how could it feel…real if she didn't know…everything? He had to do something. He was terrified, but he was a Gryffindor and was going to be brave. He pulled away from the kiss.
He frowned at her pained expression as he broke away.
"Hermione, stop. We need to talk."
His best friend's eyes were filling up with tears when she said "Don't you want me?'
"I do!" he assured her, grasping her upper arms gently, "God I do. But I need to explain some things. Then you need to decide if you want me."
Her face took on a puzzled expression and she hesitantly nodded, meekly saying "Okay."
He led her to the edge of the bed, kicked off his shoes and sat down on it cross-legged. Hermione did the same. Harry took a big nervous breath, he hadn't been expecting to have this conversation today.
"You remember after the trial, I told everyone I'd met the Goddess of Magic? Well…I lied."
Hermione blinked, and then spluttered "What! Why?! Then what happened?! You mean there's no Goddess?! But how could you-? You changed, what happened?"
"Well," Harry said, trying to measure his words "When I saved Gabrielle I did meet a Goddess, but she was the Goddess of the merpeople, veela and sirens, Naga. She rewarded me for saving Gabrielle because it stopped a war being renewed between the merpeople and the veela. Tell me, why do you think when I told everyone something so crazy they all just believed me without question when I tell you the powers she gave me are related to Naga herself?"
Hermione gasped in instant recognition," She gave you Merlin's legendary Silver Tongue."
"And other powers as well. Physical strength, the ability to swim fast and breathe underwater and powers…of sex."
Hermione blushed "Sex? What? Why?"
"Yeah, sex-based powers. When I'm attracted to people if there is any spark at all, they are attracted to me, and there usually is with my new form, not to brag. What's more, when I touch them, any sexual attraction to me is increased every time."
Hermione suddenly went very still and clenched her knuckles.
"I should slap you! The party! You took advantage to get us all naked!"
"Did I? You had the power to pull away at any point, didn't you? You left didn't you?"
"Yeah, but only because I wasn't sure what would happen if we got together and I didn't want to have my first time with you to be a bloody four-way!" Hermione exclaimed, pointedly ignoring Harry's surprised eyebrows at her swearing.
Then, her eyebrows knitted together and she quietly asked, "Did…did you shag Lavender?"
Harry exhaled. What good would anything but honesty do him here? He looked her dead in the eyes and said "Yes."
"That's…that's no better than rape, Harry," she replied.
"No it's not," Harry answered defensively.
"Yes it is, you're making them have sex with you, just not physically forcing them."
"It's not the same thing at all," Harry said exasperated, "My powers like the Silver Tongue don't let me force someone to have sex with me. I can make them hornier and want me an awful lot, but you can still really think someone's hot and think about shagging them but not want to because of how you feel about them. Nothing's stopping them from going and taking care of themselves or shagging someone else. I know you think Cormac McLaggen's physically attractive, would you shag him?"
"Eww no!'
"Exactly, it's not like a compulsion or a lust potion because it doesn't remove inhibitions. If that was the case then theoretically I could have had you Ginny and Lavender at the same time. You and Ginny were in full control, and even while drunk you knew what you didn't want and walked away."
'Yeah, well, I bet you would've loved that wouldn't you?" Hermione snapped with a bewildered, hurt expression Harry hadn't seen before, "I know you shagged Ginny the other day, she didn't say anything but she came out of your room with a huge smile on her face and was walking all funny. And I bet you've been using your powers to have a girl a day since! Or more! Typical boy."
She glared at him, nostrils flared, clearly waiting to see what his reaction would be, her eyes full of tears.
"I'm not human anymore Hermione," Harry said softly.
"What do you mean?" she answered with an expression conveying she thought he was being utterly ridiculous, "Of course you are."
"No, I'm not. In return for the powers, I made a deal. She turned me into a new generation of the Siren, not water-living and shaped like a human. She offered me a better body, not needing glasses, all the sex powers and a way to defeat Voldemort. I could literally tell him when I see him next that he should think killing people is a bad idea and he'd believe it."
Hermione couldn't help it. Her mouth had dropped open before she shrewdly replied, "And what did she want in return?"
Harry exhaled. Here was the kicker, the true decider. "Seven children with seven women. Forty-nine in total."
"Forty-nine?" she said highly.
Harry winced but continued.
"That's why things got so far with Lavender and Ginny…and Romilda. She's made me insatiably horny all the time to make sure I meet the terms of the deal. It's driving me crazy. I mean it. It's not like just being horny, it's like…a hunger. And masturbating works about as well as drinking a glass of water when you need to eat."
"I…I really like you Harry…but…" Hermione said, lost for words for a moment, "Okay, I get why you did it, were with them, I mean, but you know what you brought this on yourself. God Harry, I'll admit that us getting closer this week has felt great but now I don't know what's real and what's Siren power. I've always fancied you and I've wanted to ask you out for ages but was too scared of you saying no and now I've finally had the courage and you go and spring this on me."
'I know. And I wanted you even before this all started. That's why today I was worried things would get out of hand and I didn't want to let things get that far without me telling you."
"But how can I even believe what you say anymore? God you could tell me I should believe this conversation never happened and I'd just think it was all in my head!" she said exasperatedly, running her hands into her hair.
"I wouldn't do that. I'm still me, just bigger and way hornier and…well you could trust me. I promise I will never do anything like that. You can trust me."
"But how do I know that if you cant control yourself? What if we were out looking for things to kill Voldemort in a few years and alone in a tent and things had never been that way between us. How can I know?"
"You…you can't," Harry said dejectedly, "But I promise you, Hermione, this is why I told you. I don't want to control what you believe. In fact…" He trailed off, an idea springing to his mind, could he override the Silver Tongue somehow? "Hermione you should make your own choice to believe what I say based on what you actually think, not because what I said is automatically the truth."
"Okay…" Hermione said, praying that what he was trying would work.
"Hermione, you should know, the sky is actually secretly purple with luminous green spots," Harry said.
Hermione was beaming, when she said "No it isn't. The sky is blue."
"Thank God," Harry replied, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I'm still so mad at you, for lying to me," Hermione warned after her own sigh, waving a finger at him.
"I understand."
"And I'm disgusted you shagged four girls in four days," she said, still seriously, but her expression softened.
"I get that."
"Oh my God," she said, throwing her head back in recognition, "You changed the uniforms to make them more comfy for you and sexier for all the girls. And swimming lessons?! And…you put every girl in Hogwarts in sexy lingerie! You should see what I'm wearing right now!"
"I'd love to," Harry grinned.
"Oh fuck you." Hermione snapped, batting him on the arm.
"I'm an 18-year-old Siren, what do you expect?!"
"Oh my God you made Draco call Snape 'Mummy!'" Hermione said, her hand on her cheek, "That's so mean."
"Funny though," Harry said with a grin. It was fun having her list all his accomplishments.
"It's still damn near the Imperius, and you changed Snape!"
"Into a better person."
"Who can't decide what to eat half the time!" Hermione glared.
"Yeah I should fix that," replied Harry, sheepishly. He had no idea how, though.
"Damn right, you will." Hermione chided, "If you want me to still be your friend you will fix those things and we'll discuss any more crazy changes you're going to make to this world before you make one of your 'big announcements' unless you are certain they are not stupid selfish spur of the moment ideas. Even then I want to discuss them."
"That's fair. What if I want you to be my girlfriend?" Harry said, meekly.
This took the wind out of her sails, as her expression became sad.
"Harry I…I don't know if I can share you with six other girls, I'm sorry. I thought… maybe today we might become I don't know exclusive or be on that path or something, but sharing my man with other girls…it's never what I saw for my life."
The bottom of Harry's stomach dropped out, he was truly gutted. He needed to try to fight for her, somehow, "What if…I was just with you? For now at least. Get to a stage where you know what it's like being with me and then figure out if it's worth it. You need a frame of reference to work from."
Harry praised himself inwardly. Hermione used 'frame of reference' all the time.
"But what about your…needs?" Hermione replied, "I don't know if I could keep up,"
"With my powers, the amount I would want to touch you, my needs could be your needs. My cock will even change to the best size for your pleasure and because of the way Siren conception works, I've known the best ways to make you orgasm since we first kissed. It's even easier in the moment."
"Okay, ignoring the magical morphing cock for a moment, you…you know?" she said, suddenly looking vulnerable.
"You're a sub who likes praise, Hermione, and that's okay. I'm more and more coming into the knowledge that I'm a 'pleasure dom'," he said, knowingly, but with a kind smile. He wasn't gonna judge her.
She swallowed nervously. "I…I am…okay but you'd still need to have forty-two children by other witches if we stayed together. And pushing out seven babies myself?!"
"By the time I'm seventy," Harry shrugged, "I can wait."
"That's just delaying the problem."
"Well I want what I want now, Hermione, and I want you!" Harry said, reaching forward and grabbing her by the hands.
Ugh, Goddamn stop touching me, I already want to…" she started, jerking her hands away. "It's exponential! I've never been hornier in my life!"
"Oh God don't tell me that," Harry moaned. Was she trying to give him a hard-on?
"Well I am and it's your fault," she lectured. "And you know what, you aren't getting any."
"Okay." Harry nodded.
"And I reject your deal, I'm not just gonna be a try-it-out girlfriend. We're either together or we're not and I don't know if I wanna be."
"That's fine."
"Ugh! Why are you being so reasonable about this?"
Hermione was truly exasperated now, her mind in bits, she didn't know what to think, her mind, her heart and her libido all pulling in different directions. It was too much.
"I'm trying to be," Harry said, kindly. "I realise the position I'm in here, Hermione. I want you to choose me. If I could you'd be my only, but because you can't you'd be the head of my women, their leader."
"I…" she started, unable to come to a decision. "I'll think about it okay? I don't know when I'll be ready to give you an answer. I…I need to go."
Harry let out a sad sigh. He should've known he would ruin everything.
"Okay."
"I'll see you later Harry," she said, picked up her bag and left.
"Bye," he said after her, but she was already gone.
Harry just lay on his bed for hours after that, staring into space. Eventually, he decided to go talk to her and try to make her understand that there was no pressure and that he didn't want to lose her friendship, but she wasn't at the library. She wasn't at the feast. She wasn't in the library after the feast either, or in the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron nor the others knew where she was, and Lavender even went up to the girls' dorms for him to look for her, but had no luck.
With the worst sort of feeling he'd ever had in his life up to this point, he decided to get into bed for an early night. He both praised and cursed his new life as a Siren. He'd never have had the courage to approach Hermione without them, but now, it was because of them that she was surely going to reject him. Thoughts whirling round and around, he couldn't sleep, he tossed and turned but couldn't keep the hurt look she'd had on her face out of his mind. He removed the pillow he'd frustratedly wrapped over his head and lit the torches next to his bed. Looking at his watch and seeing it was just after midnight, for the next ten minutes he tried to read his Defence textbook, but nothing was going in. He was thinking that maybe he should just give up when there was a sound, a creak, from the doorway. Then, above the crackling of the torch next to his bed, he was sure he could hear footsteps. He was.
"Hello?" he called out, his anxious voice echoing in the darkness.
There were only two people it could be and he had no idea what he would say to either of them.
Try as he might, he could think of no good reason why it would be Hermione, especially with the way they'd left things. Most likely it would be Ginny, looking for another night-time rendezvous and with his needs he would most likely agree, even though his heart wouldn't be in it, and he didn't want that. He didn't want to see her.
But it wasn't Ginny. Hermione's beautiful face faded into his vision as she stepped forward, but it she didn't have her usual appearance. Her bushy brown hair had been tamed into soft curls half of which was tied up behind her head apart from two small curls that framed her chocolatey eyes that were enhanced with eyeliner. On her body, she looked snug in a thick, fluffy, baby-pink dressing gown. He took a look at her pink glossy lips and blinked.
"Hermione?" he said, mind reeling, he needed to explain to her, to somehow make things better. He couldn't lose her, not as a friend, "What-"
"Quiet, Harry," she interrupted him, "You're going to help me make my decision."
"I am?"
Her hands untied the belt of the fluffy pink dressing gown before the soft garment seemed to float to the floor. Harry's mind went blank, but Hermione spoke again.
"We're going to find out what we would be missing."
