Ten minutes later Steel-lotus and Star were looking around the main room.
"I gotta meet your decorator." Star breezed. "The way they blended the wood with function. And in a tree…"
"I don't know if the tree, if it is a tree, is alive." Harry rubbed the wall. "I have only had it for two weeks. It was a gift from a friend."
Star mimicked him. "Oh… it is… but…" he turned to look at the lad, "She is not finished growing. If you feed her properly, she will continue to grow like a real tree."
"Then this weekend, I will need you to show me how to do that." Harry stroked the wall fondly. "And I think that The Goblin King has forced my hand. I will need to up my game."
"Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Remember that Axe I gifted him?" Harry stepped off the wall, "It seems that he has sent me a gift of even Greater Value." He grinned evilly. "I just need to find something to respond with. I think I need to talk to Barchoke about this."
Steel-lotus looked about. "Where did our Bags go?"
: Dobby took them. : Tish wagged her tail. : He is very excited to Care for Us!:
"He took your things to what is to be your room." Hermione sighed. "If you want to change rooms with another… ask, and if it is agreed, Dobby will exchange your things for you."
"This is the Common Room or Main Room. The Fire pit heats the whole place," Harry waved his hand at the couch pit, "This last week, we slept in here, for the comfort of the Pile. Dobby handles most of the cooking, and enjoys it whenever he can, but with the dinning hall just down the way…"
"You said something about Hot Baths?" Steel-lotus asked.
"First," Harry glared at the pair of them. "At the moment, it is Males and Females. But if you want to… enjoy each other, Mark the Door, and silence the bath. Invites for partners are your choice. In fact I think Kyra is hoping for you to wash her back." he locked eyes with Star. "I will hear nothing… but I expect to see smiles tonight… or tomorrow."
Turning to Hermione. "Sleeping as a human tonight. So I will be using the bed." He headed up the stairs.
"What was that about?" Steel-lotus asked.
"Harry just said that he was going to be human tonight as opposed to Cat or Griffin. As I said earlier, we are not lovers… but he makes a good pillow. Crookshanks will decide between us… unless I need a dose of Harry." She looked at the 'wolf'. "Are you wanting to join the cuddle? Only his nightmares will interrupt our night… and his screaming will echo through the Halls anyhow."
: I think He will be my … Dhorisha'ke'a'char.:
"You are choosing Him?" Star hissed.
: Did you not 'taste' his Power?: Tish scowled at the human. The word taste was more than just a description of flavour. :He is a World Shaker. I choose to walk in his shadow rather than have it fall on me.: Her Ears rose as her tail wagged. : Besides, his story needs to be Told.:
Hermione frowned. "More on that Later. Star, Lotus. The first two doors on the left are the Baths. You have a view of the night sky, but I don't think it's our night sky. Your rooms are the first two open doors past that. The closed doors are already spoken for. If you want a different room, tell Dobby. The two rooms at the end of the stairs are Harry's and mine." She headed for the stairs. "I need to write to my Parents before I go to bed…"
Tish sighed, before she sprinted up the stairs. Finding Harry's door she scratched at the foot panel.
"Yes?" Harry was leaning on the door jam in a dressing robe.
: I have decided that you are my Dhorisha'ke'a'char.: The Wolf like female shouldered past his knee, to jump on the bed. : I need to talk to you about your history. Only the Archive will know everything. The Idea is for you to not be Forgotten. From the time I met you… your story will be remembered. :
"And if I want to be forgotten?" Harry asked as he watched the creature make herself comfortable on his bed.
:Then I wait for a year after your death before I deliver your story to the Archive." Tish looked smug. Harry knew that look from Sirius over the summer.
"I am going to hate this." He entered the closet hall that led to the bathroom. When he exited, he was wearing a pair of maroon silk boxers. "First, I get the centre of the bed. Second, Humans get priority placement, and third… you can not object to anyone who joins us." Tish grumbled as she stood up and stepped to the side. "Oh… one more thing. Everyone takes a bath once a week. Dobby is very good at washing fur. I enjoyed my bath last month. And I do consider ten minutes or more in the rain as a bath."
:Tell me about your childhood.:
For the next hour, he did just that. He felt her reading his mind, as he told his story. It took maybe fifteen minutes to get to 'receiving his Letter'. By then he had figured out how to just pour the story to her Mind Gift. While the two of them were still, breathing heavily, she was seeing his story, as he relived First Year, and Finding his way in the new World opening up before him. Then there was Second Year and the return of the Heir… she almost wet herself when she 'saw' the Basilisk… and the bed under her. Then there was Third Year… and the Memory Demons… a new fear bloomed in her mind. Then there was the Fourth Year and everything… She flew with Him as he tried to out fly the Dragon. She joined him under the Water as he swam in the Lake, and She followed him into the Maze of Horrors. And she had a good laugh that his greatest fear of the Year was asking a girl to the Yule Ball.
The Door opened just as he got to the place where Moony kidnapped him. Crookshanks shot through, as Hermione carried Hedwig into the Room.
Hermione smiled as she slinked up in a satin two piece, "So… I am not the only female in your bed tonight,"
"No…" Harry reached out to scratch the ears of the Orange Tom, "I got two pussies and a Bitch sleeping in my bed with me. It would be three pussies, but I need a night as a human, or I will start marking the walls." He held up the covers to allow Hermione to cuddle up. He raised the covers at Tish, but she shook her head.
Crookshanks looked Tish in the Eye, before he curled up on Harry's chest beside where Hermione was laying her head.
:Why did you not tell me that you had a Ratha!:
£ Damn bitch can't keep her yapper Shut! £ Crookshanks glared at the Kree.
"We don't care, really." Harry scratched behind the cat's ears. "I count a half giant as my first friend. Granted I don't tell him my secrets because he can't keep a secret to save his life."
"That doesn't mean that you are getting off easy Mister. We will be talking about it later." Hermione booped his nose.
Bark.
Harry waved his hand and the lights dropped off.
Sometime in the night, Dobby joined them.
SPRB
A loud noise and shaking rocked the Tree-tent.
Everyone jumped out of bed and dressed in a run, Harry wearing only his Yoga pants and the now empty pouch-pack.
Hermione was in her full togs, her wand in hand as she was in full Mao form… her feet from the ankles down were like those of Mynx.
Lotus and Star were wearing kilts and vests of silk. She was holding a short staff with a rune carved skull on the top. He was carrying a coiled whip.
Kyra was wearing a halter top and snake from the waist down.
Soran was wearing running shorts, and a pair of bladed gauntlets.
As they exited, they saw a cracked wall outside the Dorm room. In the middle of the impact zone of the damaged wall, one of the High Elves, hung in a bloody mess.
Not far from the impact zone, the Black Ape like Creature stood on all fours as the two females were 'yelling' at him.
Harry recognized the scene before him. "Poor guy." He adjusted his stance, "Only he has Two Hermiones."
"What was that?" A hiss from behind his shoulder alerted him to the fact he spoke aloud.
"Whenever I do something that you don't approve of, you read me the riot act, and it looks somewhat like that. Hedwig just barks and swats me… no, you put me in my place." He refused to look at her.
The Females turned away to their dorm, as the Male noticed that they had an audience. He strolled over doing the big bad impression.
Steel-lotus snorted, and turned away, Star and Kyra following. Hermione gave it a count of three, before she too turned back to the room.
Soran walked over to the damaged wall, inspecting the new artwork.
The male towered over Harry. "You got a problem?" His voice was deep and Gravelly. His Sneer showed his tusks.
"Other than your breath… not yet. My female has not caught me being a bad boy." Harry moved his hands behind his back. "And I currently only have one. You have two. You must be a strong male."
"What you mean?" He grunted.
"I am strong for a Human. I only have one female to keep in my place." He grinned, exposing his lower teeth. "You need two. I do hope that we can be Allies… if not friends. I like Strong Friends."
:Wow… You Stoke his Ego as you forge a bond of Friendship. The Story of your Life will be Epic… and your Death will echo through the World!: Tish wagged her tail as she sat beside Harry.
"You bring Lunch." The Male noticed the Kree.
"Try and you will join the Elf." Harry lost his smile. "She is Pack."
"She puny!"
"Compared to you and me… yes. But the ant hill is puny Compared to the Mountain." Harry shifted to a more aggressive stance, his hands still behind his back. "The raindrop compared to the river is also puny… but the River starts at the fall of rain."
The brute swung about to sit on a couch beside him. "Trog." He pounded his chest with the flat of his hand.
"Harry." Harry slapped his own chest. "A good meeting, Trog."
"You make fun of Trog?"
Harry smiled, "Not yet, Trog. I need to know you for at least a week before I get a feel of your humour as you get a feel for mine."
An eyebrow raised. "Why would Trog get know puny Harr?" The Brutes way of speech reminded Harry of the House Elf speech pattern.
"Well, I can be an alibi for when dung gets flung. If your ladies don't see it, you can claim that you were with me when something happened… as I can with you."
"You lie for Trog?"
Harry laughed. "Would I need to if Trog and Harr spend lots of time together?"
Trog looked at the lad, before he turned his head to look towards quarters. "Trog ask…"
"Do all males at home have to ask females for permission to spend time with fellow warriors… as long as they don't kill anyone or try to fight?"
"No… but you not Grunn." Trog sneered.
"No, I am not. As you are not Human. But that means that we are bonding in Brotherhood of Warriors." Something dawned on Harry. "But it would mean that our Females will also Bond… The Sisterhood of Keeping us in line."
Trog blinked. "Scary thing." He leered. "We Face Fear!" He reached his fist towards Harry and Harry fist-bumped him.
"Fear has Nightmares of Us."
Trog laughed deeply.
"What are you doing?" Hermione had returned.
£ Adding to my Pryde. (Sable Slammer) Is a great Warrior.£
Hermione glared at him. "Get dressed. We're heading down for breakfast and to pick our classes."
Harry was quick to obey, as was, funny enough, Trog was quick to follow his example.
Harry returned, having added a vest and his boots, only to find Hermione staring down the larger female Grunn.
"What gives you the Right to Order our Male about?" The Sneer on the Grunn's face was intimidating… or it would have been to anyone else.
"Let me introduce my Female." Harry grinned. "Lady Hermione Granger. Among her titles: Dragon Wrangler, Griffin Keeper, Wolf Caller, Book Hunter, and Queen of My Pryde. Now that I am Battle Brothers with Trog… that means that she is at least she is your equal. Sister of my Keeper."
"And Who are you?" She didn't look away from Hermione.
"Harry Potter. Storm Rider, Dragon Flyer, Serpent Slayer and Coming Storm." Harry squared up behind her. "And the only one who has a chance of Putting Trog down."
That snapped her head to look at Harry. "You think you can beat Trog?"
"I don't know. And I won't have to know unless there is a threat to my Queen."
Her Head rose up. "And if she is a threat to the Grunn?"
"Does the Grunn think she is a threat?" Harry asked.
"She controls one such as you."
Hermione looked between Harry and the Female. She bowed her head. "I thank you for the compliment. You no doubt know what trouble Strong Males are. It's why I had to come here. He is getting to the point where I am struggling to maintain control. As he has yet to breed me, I need to learn other forms of Control."
"Cut back on his feed." The Matron curled her lip.
"Won't work. He is the better cook. In fact it is one of his chores." Hermione turned to glare at the lad. "Only because of the fact that we weren't provided cooking facilities, are we going out hungry."
"Oi!" Kyra shouted from the doorway. "Are we eating or watching the Female Equivalent of a pissing contest?"
"If Trog obeys you…"
"He only honours me because his Brother in Arms bows before me." Hermione stepped towards the Lamia. "Harry won't roll belly up, but he will break off if it won't open his back to a foe of his … or yours. Of course if he sees you in trouble, now with his bond to Trog… he will hex first, and accept the reprimand for interfering when you are safe."
Harry looked at Trog with a raised eyebrow.
Trog nodded .
"Damn… you make friends with the Ogre Mages, impress a pack of Wolfen, and collect Vale Folk like a walking Heartstone. What can't you do?" Soran asked from behind Harry's shoulder.
"Go unnoticed." Harry clapped the Drake on the shoulder. "Come, we are here to do more than just look pretty."
The males laughed with him as they followed him out into the hallway to the Dining Hall.
"I notice that Harry is an Alpha…" Steel-lotus leaned on Hermione. "So how are you going to control him."
"I have been training him for the last five years. I got him when he was weaned from his mother figure, who he hated, and with a gentle hand, guided him until I had a ring in his nose. He can break away from me… but it's going to hurt him more than me."
"Ring in his Nose?" The Grunn Matron asked.
"Something one does to the dumber beasts of burden." Hermione shook her head. "It is the basis of the comment about leading someone by the nose."
"Would be a better way to control them then the collar." The smaller female hobbled up, her pack in her off hand.
"But how to get it on him?"
"Make it a focus or booster." Hermione exited the Dorm. "You can see about crafting this weekend. While mine is in his mind…"
:My Grandmother had a ring put on her Dhorisha'ke'a'char's Sack. Degenerate chased more tail than a pack of Pups. He died as he lived… in the bed of another.:
"And the woman who he was…" Steel-lotus started to ask.
: He was doing the Husband. Wife drove a sword through their backs and burned the bed.:
"Good." The Matron nodded as she took the lead. "Should have seen to her needs first."
Hermione choked on her tongue but kept her lips sealed.
TBC