Harry And Kiki Enter The Silver Flame by SamStone

by CopyOthers

This story came to mind in the form of two questions: What would it have been like for Harry to have learned of magic before Hogwarts a different magic? What would it have been like for Harry if he had been in a different house? This story explores an alternate view of Harry’s life and one of three choices. #Erotica #Harem #Necromancy #Evil Dark Cunning Ambitious Harry #DROPPED

57. Year End Finals And Feasts (1)

It is amazing how quick things seem to fly when one's back is turned. - Penny told Dora on the way Finals suddenly approach and then everyone rushes about.

---

Percy woke to a sudden rancid smell that seemed to inundate his nose. The next thing he realized was that his mouth was full of a foul liquid. He rolled over and proceeded to lose the contents of his stomach over the floor. He could feel a sting over his face and realized the same burning liquid that had been in his mouth had covered his face. His nose burned almost as bad as the time William had told him to leave that alone. That had turned out to be a skunk and not a cat. The animal had not taken kindly to his attempts to properly handle it and had sprayed his face and he just missed getting some in his mouth unlike this time.

Coughing on his hands and knees, Percival tried to remember what had happened to him. He remembered he had tried to corner his Penelope before something had bowled him over. He could recall that it was a girl and that she had been shockingly undressed under her school clothes. He could not recall anything about her, but he didn't doubt that Penny had let the girl get away with things since she still could not be bent to his will.

"What did you do to me this time, you stubborn little cunt," Percival had snarled when he looked down and noticed his robes as well as his pants were stained and stunk. "So you struck back in a way I can't do a damn thing to counter. Hmm silly slut should know better..."

Somewhere along the way, Percy had pretty much lost his mind. He had gotten drunk on his power and believed he had the right to a number of things. That he likely had some head trauma wasn't really helping his case or that his ex was the last thing he had saw. One should remember that magic is not exactly the most error proof of methods to do things. Filius Flitwick had stressed those terror tales since first year just for that reason. A sneeze could cause great misfortune and one was repeatedly drilled almost to the point of being smacked with a live fish that one did not Apparate when injured or drunk.

Percy had gained a very inflated opinion of his self worth. This would be why he would try to spell his clothes clean and his face free of what the angrier parts of his mind realized was piss. He started to cast the charms when his injury addled and rage confounded mind picked up on the pain it was in. his incantation was cut off when his repeatedly kicked balls sent the realization of their state to his mind.

"Aqua...," Percy had started with to rinse his face before the pain hit and his spell went very wrong and bad for him. "Argh!"

The sudden steam heated water caused a chemical reaction causing his face to be covered in sensitive skin. His freckles suddenly became very sensitive and they all burned as if burning needles jabbed into his face. His wand had gotten into a path in his pain. His mouth got a blast and he lost a good part of his ability to taste things as well as his teeth and flesh becoming very sensitive to any variety of change in temperature. The pain didn't stop his jerking of the superheated steam down his body from his neck past his battered testis before veering down his right leg.

All he really knew was pain. His day had gone to shit. The only way it could have been worse was if Penny had managed to make him drown in a pool if piss with bits of shit floating about it. He was lucky that she hadn't transfigured him into a toilet. He only had three witches piss on him and not all those other things. Penny was vindictive enough to make sure he somehow was aware of things. Transfiguring the bowl from his mouth and his ass being attached to a pipe would have been her style.

As it was, Penny had felt his humiliation from this stunt was enough. His failure to show for a few classes had been the topping on the cake. If she knew whom Sir was or had contacted him through Dora with her telling all that Percival had done, the proud pureblood would have likely been fed to Lady Silver or more believably to that three-headed dog that Shadow and Kiki had encountered. Personally it was a bit of luck that had been going with Percival and Harry's command not to draw attention of some of the predatory companions would have turned him to little more than meat to be devoured.

The unknowingly somewhat lucky jackass managed to make it to his feet and started to look himself over. He looked like a mess and he could only hope to have enough time to get to class. His loud curse echoed in the nook he was inside, and he knew he was in trouble. He had seen what time it was and he was late and already missed part of his first class let alone breakfast or having time to get to the dorms and changed.

"Well now what do we have here, but one of Minerva's Lions skipping class and one of her prefects at that," a sinisterly cruel and vindictive voice suddenly sent a shiver over his body as his plans seemed to crumble in front of him. "Whatever should I do with such a thing? Why I could see a lot of trouble for you if this gets out, so do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"What do I need to do to make it worth your while not to say or do anything?" Percival suddenly asked with a sense of dread. "I am sure that there is something that I can do..."

"Why yes there is," the voice said sending shudders of despair through him. "It shouldn't take too long, but there is a favor you can do for me that will make me look over this little incident."

"Alright," Percival agreed with the professor even while realizing he had gotten off rather easily so it seemed right now. "I will do your favor. So what is it?"

The answering chuckle did not fill him with confidence and he had a sudden sinking feeling of dread increase. Perhaps the detention and lecture from McGonagall would have been worth it. On second thought, she would likely not be willing to overlook things right now, especially with how his day was going. It couldn't be so bad and it was not as if the professor was going to torture him or some of the things he had been dreaming about doing to that bitch since waking up.

A little while later, Percy was steaming and not just steamed. His attempts to get to the dorms and change had failed. He would have not been in this situation if he had learned some cleaning charms, but the ones he needed were not taught in class because they were ones normally taught by mothers or mother in laws to their daughters. As it was, he had missed lunch doing an errand as a favor so he didn't get in trouble for missing class, but he didn't have anything to bribe or any chance to influence Professor McGonagall. Percival may have become a bit power mad, but any Gryffindor would tell you that their head of house was not a woman to cross. He had done a good job in fooling her by being a rule following ass kisser, but his current state of mind and appearance made him far less persuasive than he had ever been.

He saw four Ravenclaws and bit back a snarl seeing them. One he recognized had been around Penny recently while the other three were first years. Professor McGonagall was very fond of the boy even if he was a Ravenclaw. He had also heard some rumors about the kid as well as Professor Flitwick waxing almost poetically about his wand form. The one girl was Asian in appearance and he recalled she was Su Li, but it was more the fact that his enquiries into his planned careers listed that House Li was to be respected even more than the Malfoy, Black, Longbottom, or the other powerful British Houses.

"What happened to you?" Hermione blurted out seeing the disheveled prefect before backing off at the stench rolling off him still. "You look far worse than anything your brothers or Peeves would do."

Harry watched as the prefect clenched his hands in irritation before he sent a subtle glare at Dora. He wondered why a Gryffindor Prefect would have a dislike for a particular Ravenclaw, but as he thought it over some things started to make sense to him. While Penny didn't reveal her identity, she had done little to hide her mentoring of Dora; therefore, Percival Weasley had something against Penelope Clearwater and was willing to share his anger with those associated with her. His actions were somewhat limited as Penny had not officially unveiled herself to him, but it was likely that Percival's current state was the result of Penny. His current seething was almost positive confirmation of that fact. That the future drone of an ass kisser was curbed by their presence did go a slight way to alleviate the sudden urge to deal with him even though he was trying to keep a somewhat low profile at school.

"I do not recall exactly what happened," Percival said while trying to remember that this young girl was rumored to be a Ravenclaw that McGonagall doted on along with her friends. "If I had then I would have ensured that proper discipline was applied. I do know that this was probably some miscreant flaunting the rules in such a way as to avoid their due punishment. Now if you do not mind, I have some matters to attend before class."

Percival made his way from the group. He had felt a sudden urge to curse the four of them, but his sense of self-preservation had been clear on the outcome of that action. While the House of Li was not entrenched in influence in either the Wizengamot or the Ministry, his investigations had shown them to likely have favors they could call in to blacklist and thus block any rise in position for his desired employment. He would not end up in the second most dead end department of the ministry. The only department he viewed as more of a career suicide or moratorium than Misuse of Muggle Artifacts was the Centaur Liaisons. That was considered both an office where the disgraced yet still too connected to dismiss were sent. There were rumors of unnatural acts that happened in that department.

Now while he had learned he loved to be in control of someone, he had little doubt that the rumors of the females being sent there being too disgusting in their behavior to even contemplate using them like a rag. Why some of them were glad to be taken by those beasts among other lesser creatures; therefore, he wished nothing to do with them and he suspected that from what he could tell of the old man in charge that the boys were likewise on the receiving end of fornicating with animals or worse. It was just unnatural having such relations, and while some viewed the non-pureblood as their natural inferiors, they were at least a step up from animals.

Still some of them viewed the muggle spawn as little more than trained animals that imitated being people; however, Percival did not know nor would he ever accept that the muggleborns saw their government when they had all the details in a similar light. Those with a more elaborate understanding of the official governments would see that the Wizengamot and Ministry of Magic were imitations of the muggle governments; although, there were plenty of overconcentration of power in the magical system. Still for all his faults, Percival had not slipped into the mindset of the non-magical as animals which was an odd social manner to divorce the lot of them as having any rights supposed or imagined. One did treat their animals differently than they would a person and the view of a number of sentient beings as beasts was another indication of the bigotry and self-assured superiority inherent in the controllers of the system.

Sure Percival had enjoyed dominating and violating those two inferiors, he had savored the look of despair on their faces as he used the girl in front of her lover before raping them every way he could, but it was further proof that the system was letting too much of their way of life erode. His father was a laughing stock and muggle lover; therefore, since his career was stagnant and their family suffered for it that it was obvious that his beliefs and actions were to blame. Oh, he would never align with the Death Eaters as they had acted almost as bad as muggles, but he didn't disagree with some of their beliefs. The order of their society must be maintained. The half bloods and other lesser ones should be grateful that a pureblood deemed them useful and chose to utilize them. It was simply the fact that the Magical world was still a very class and similarly divided and hierarchical system. Since they did live longer and had a much smaller population, it seemed obvious that change was slower and more resisted with magic easily allowing luxuries in the past to allow them to become decadent and detached from the rest of the world.

As he stalked away with these realizations, he once more lucked out that none of the group to his back had deemed it important enough to violate his meager mind. Otherwise, he would have disappeared, and their profile be damned; they would do it! Still the four of them did break out into a discussion as soon as he was out of earshot. They had all noticed some things off in the conversation as short as it was from the forced politeness to the rage boiling under the surface. If he had let his violent passions influence him enough to have drawn his wand, the four had little doubt he would have hit the ground hard and likely in some pieces.

"Well that was interesting," Harry said as he watched the pissed off and on brat walk away. "It seems that we will have a problem with him in the future. Still he has just enough sense not to start something with us at this time."

"Perhaps," Su said as she looked at the boy with irritation. "Still I think his common sense will be easily overcome by his issues. I doubt that he would have been as restrained if it had only been one of us; although, some of us are more protected than others. I think of the four of us that Dora is likely the more in danger. You did see the way he was looking at her, right?"

"No, I had not," Hermione miserably said with her head suddenly down and feeling disappointed. "I was a bit more distracted by the stains and stench. What did he do have a horde of cats use him like a litter box?"

"Probably not far from the truth," Harry said as he thought things over and reexamined the subtle clues. "Still I don't think it smelled exactly like cats, but more like..."

"Harry, more like what?" Dora suddenly asked when he had trailed off. "Cats are probably the more prevalent sources in the castle; although, someone could have dragged him to the owls, but that would have left white stains."

"You forgot what has a larger number of presences besides the pets and familiars," Harry said with a groan as he realized what had happened to the boy, which only left him to figure out why it had happened. "People, therefore, someone was so irritated by what that Prefect did that they would do something that likely mortified and embarrassed them as it would be a greater humiliation to Percival than being caught doing so. Considering his state and the way the stains still permeated his clothing along with the lingering stench in spite of the other indicators on his clothes, it is suffice it to say that he was likely heavily pissed on sometime around breakfast and that the time allowed the stains to set and the piss to smell worse."

"It did look like he had tried to clean himself, but something went wrong," Hermione said as she recalled that particular shade of skin. "I believe he tried to rinse off his clothes and face, but botched the spell and found a face and front having at least a momentary blast of intense steam. There was something else about his walk though..."

"He was limping," Su added with a slightly cute pondering look on her face. "Whoever did this also likely kicked him in his balls at least once. That also is likely why his spell went awry. He also had a small smidge of blood still on the back of his head fairly hidden by his hair. He was most likely numb when he woke up and the pain hit mid cast. Now I find myself wondering why he would receive such humiliating vengeance. Still I suppose it does not matter unless he becomes more of a concern, right Master?"

"I have to agree that while I would like to know what that self-righteous and conceited buffoon did to incite such a response that it is not our main concern at this time," Harry said with a slow drawn out drawl. "Besides, he is on his way to Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall and that is likely why he was more contained since she is such a by the book woman. We should be on our way as well."

The three ladies agreed and they made their way to their own classes with Dora going to one of her electives. Harry felt a momentary concern that Dora was away from them considering Percival's intense enmity directed at her, but it was not something that they could not handle later. Harry did not bring up the fact that since it was Penelope who was grooming Dora to be a Prefect in two years; therefore, she was the one who was Ms. Blue while as Percival directed his ire to Dora that there was a tension between the two Prefects. The only sticking point he had was that for the amount of urine to have lingered so long that there had to have been more than just Penny there pissing on the likely unconscious jerk.

'So what did Percival do to set off Ms. Clearwater?' Harry wondered as he settled down into class while wishing he had more eyes in the school. 'I suppose I will find out eventually. Considering the twins want us to visit near the end of the summer, I do not doubt that I will find out by that time. Who knows? Ms. Blue or Penny might have the humorous hiding to make her decision while I am there. If it turns out that from what Dora roundabout revealed that he was her most pathetic excuse for a boyfriend whom she dumped before any of our encounters, it might be amusing to see his reaction even if it would not be as entertaining as watching either Vernon or Dudley suffer an aneurism by me being involved with a woman that they had practically creamed their pants upon daydreaming about. Perhaps, it will be a bit of nonlethal revenge at least until I no longer have to deal with those three.'

Harry proceeded to do his best in class while a combination of his libido and the inherited prankster tendencies tried to distract him with other things. It would be deliciously cruel to have Penny make her confession and kneel at his feet before worshipping him while declaring her to be his willing slave all the while the spurned for his inadequacies Percival raged while in a body bind. He had to admit the nonfatal retributions would slack his needs since there were circumstances keeping him from settling things. It was doing wonders for his previously stymied and lacking nurtured creativity.

As they had their short discussion before heading to class, Percival had made it through the day with snickering from his classmates and trying to sound menacing that he would find the culprits and see them brought to heel. Professor McGonagall had been enraged with his appearance and thus Percival had lost a number of points and the stained robes and clothes had lasted until he had made it back to the dorms after a vicious tongue lashing once the rest of the class was dismissed. He had tried not to lash out while in her class, but Penny's presence had agitated him to a rather near disastrous level. If it had not been for the glare his head of house had directed at him and his knowledge that truly disappointing her at this point might lead to the loss of his badge and thus his path to power, he would have nipped out or tried to subtly curse the hated ex.

"What were you thinking, Mr. Weasley, showing up to my class like that!" McGonagall had roared at him while her body shook with repressed rage and disappointment even as her voice lashed at him with as much reproach as if he had been under Filches care in the old days. "That is not the behavior that any Perfect let alone one from Gryffindor should be involved in. If you were the victim of a prank or other situation, you should have directly informed a professor and made yourself presentable before attending class! Instead, you seemed to have missed your morning classes and still arrived at my class where your appearance reflected negatively as one of my lions! There should have been plenty of time to prevent being an embarrassment to Gryffindor. Be grateful that your performance to date has been so good otherwise I would at the very least have revoked most of your privileges if not removed you from your position. I am greatly disappointed with you, Percival. You had best be on your best behavior and resume being an example to the school of how a Gryffindor will be or I shall do far more than just remove points and give you to Filch for a weekend detention."

"Yes, Professor," Percival had dutifully responded having winced and trembled under her rebuke. "I will not disappoint you nor embarrass Gryffindor."

The rest of the tirade had picked up and detailed in very certain terms that he was not replaceable nor would his already discussed career options be possible if he continued to disappoint. His school time would be miserable if he were restricted to the school and spending most of his nights in detention, but his career would be prematurely killed if she did not provide a recommendation. Oh, he could likely get one from one of the other professors, but without the backing of his head of house when he had been a prefect would have likely ended him almost as bad off as his father was.

Walking out of class and most likely having to forgo dinner to become presentable, Percy felt he had took McGonagall's tirade in stride and he managed to nod at the right times and wince when she verbally tore stripes of flesh off with how disappointed she was. He had spent the time from he had first stepped foot into the school with his goal in mind. He would not become a going nowhere ministry worker like his father who had to struggle to feed his family. They were purebloods from historically important families and yet they struggled to eat in a house magic barely held together. He would never permit himself to be as foolish as his father.

As soon as he had been dismissed and out of staff sight, he had stormed back to the dorms so as to prevent any other teacher from docking him points and adding more detentions for his appearance. He had firmed his resolve as he suffered more whispers and humiliation as he passed. He needed a shower and some other things to get his old self back. He was grateful that Oliver was busy with Quidditch or his roommate would have seen the true lengths of his humiliation.

His sensitive skin and the smell lingered even after a shower. It had been rather excruciatingly painful to try to wash the heat burned in piss from his tender skin. Upon entering his dorm room, Percy had gone over things while plotting his vengeance even as he ignored that his situation was a response to his own actions. He was too stubborn like Molly Weasley nee Prewitt to admit he had been wrong as he found such notions completely inconceivable.

He had managed to acquire enough galleons and favors to trade for a while in the Slytherin Sanctum. He hoped that it would be enough. A few hours of debauchery would help him get his head focused. He had little doubt that if he stayed on a hair trigger that he would eventually snap and fall to his ruin. While he was not as interested in the power plays of first years, Percival was aware that Harry Potter was the power in his year at the very least. He had practically neutered Gryffindor and Slytherin as having functional rallying leaders while Ravenclaw developed at the least one core faction. If he had been aware of the believed to be future Head of House Potter's ensnarement of two Hufflepuffs and one being the niece of the Head of the DMLE there would have been a sense of dread in his contemplations. As it was, Percival's plans to get back at Penelope by targeting Dora were held at bay by the closeness of Harry Potter and Su Li. While her year mates seemed ignorant of her families' clout, Percival did plan on a high enough position that international concerns would be a part of his future.

'Considering how cursed today seems,' Percy thought as he made his way through to enter one of the best-kept secrets in the school, 'I can only hope that I have enough credit to clear my head.'

"Ah, Percival," the mask donned beauty said with a purr that immediately redirected his blood and concentration to his eager shaft. "I suppose it is no surprise that you showed up tonight. Considering the rumors about what a miserable day you have had has already reached into the most isolated ears by now. I am almost tempted to charge you for your mortifying social debacle."

Percy felt his apprehension fill as he realized that even if he had the means to pay that his failure to maintain his integrity of appearance had truly gotten him into trouble. He merely hoped to get his service over so he could reclaim his control. He would need a few hours venting to feel his old self again.

"Do make yourself useful," she said as she parted her legs and beckoned him closer. "Exactly how accommodating I will be of your rate of payment will be decided by your performance. I do advise not to disappoint or your earlier humiliation will be just a part of your potential repayment. Do not think that others would not wish to indirectly vent against what they deem the son of a blood traitor. Those here had not thought of such a vengeful and mortifying act. Now do not disappoint or you will wish whoever you had annoyed was the one punishing you..."

Percival made the best of his repayment. It merely gave him more hate to drive him forward. He also had once more had the importance of having power drilled into his head. He didn't doubt that this Madam would have taken her investment in not just gold but from his flesh as well. So in addition to likely being one of the more important purebloods piece of ass if he failed his obligations, Percival now had the worry of being used as a urinal by not just the men, but possibly some of the women in power.

'I really should have not antagonized her,' Percival thought as he felt his head pressed to her sex and then the unexpected happened. 'Merlin's flaming penis sodomizing me would be better!'

Percival wanted to sob out as he found his mouth being flooded not just with her climax but also with her other release as well. He was unlucky that she was fascinated in how affective this would be in reinforcing his place. She was still disappointed with his rather pathetic skills with his tongue and had decided to punish him a little bit. Biologically neither male nor females were really designed for convergent operations of their reproductive and urinary system. She had managed to acquire the information on how to facilitate both. The boy probably would have enjoyed being on the giving and nor receiving end, but she was quite annoyed enough with his public humiliation and how it would affect her uses for him to not take the opportunity to further humiliate him.

"Your performance was pathetic as always," She told him while she held his struggling head trying to gag as she continued to use his mouth even after she had orgasmed. "Consider this an opportunity to understand things better. Now clean yourself off before you enjoy my hospitality. I don't want to deal with cleaning any more than necessary and the clients and clientele loosing their dinner from your odor would do so."

"Yes, Madam," Percival said while trying not to lose his mostly empty stomach from what she had forced down his throat. "May I have something to wash the taste off and settle my stomach as well?"

"I suppose," she said while gesturing one of her attendants to do so. "You vomiting anywhere would be a bother. I would suggest that you better your disappointing skills or I might have worse things done to you."

"Yes, Madam, I will do so," Percival said before letting the servant wipe his face clean before holding a container of soothing and sweet flavored liquor to his lips. "Now may I have some food to sustain me?"

"Yes, it will be provided in whichever room you select to entertain yourself in," she told him while her smirk seemed to savor his embarrassment over not just the repeated humiliation but that it was in front of people. "Now leave my sight. I have more pleasant matters to attend to."

As he left the audience chamber, his backwards glance caught her having her eager sex washed clean before some of her attendants gave a better performance than he had. She also had two pleasuring her bared breasts as well. He didn't doubt that she would have one of the girls or guys in her service otherwise pleasure her or another supplicant to wash away his depressingly poor attempt. He would be exceptionally demeaning to who he was with later since she had humiliated him far more than Penny had done.

---

The leaving feast was in full readiness. The students were at their tables and were ready to hear the year-end speech before settling into their food. Harry glanced around the hall and noticed a continued absence. Ever since that night that he had felt the niggling feel of something wrong, Quirrell had been missing. There had been no statement by the professors just an assurance that everything was well. It seemed that there had been a family emergency or something, but Harry was certain there was more to it than what they said. He didn't doubt that someone that acted that incompetent was as he portrayed himself. It was likely then that he was the one that was after the stone he had already returned to the Flamel's. Harry didn't doubt that the spectacular entrance that Nicolas and Perenelle had planned would be anything but inspiring.

"Where is Quirrell?" Hermione suddenly asked as her eyes darted over the professor's table. "Should he not be back from that emergency just yet?"

"I don't think it was an emergency," Harry answered as he felt the sudden awareness from night and his mind saw a sudden arrival at the gates making their way to the castle. "To be honest, I suspect that Quirrell tried to get the stone, but that he got trapped. I believe he got enchanted by the mirror even though the stone is long gone. It does seem odd that they got a ministry Auror to administer the tests without doing much investigation."

"You suspect that there was a plan and that someone is upset you didn't follow it," Su said from where she had saddled up to his other side while Penny and Dora were chatting over things a bit down the table. "It is possible that the whole corridor being forbidden was supposed to be both a test for you and a trap for him. If Dumbledore is as suspicious as the Flamel's and my family believe, then there is little chance that he was not planning something. Although it seems some things are obvious now that I look at it."

"Yeah, it is obvious but I suspect confirmation will occur on the train," Harry said as he looked over and saw that Dumbledore was preparing his speech now that the food had appeared before them. "I don't think he will be very pleased in a few minutes. It seems we have some company incoming and that he might be very irritated with the supposed protections the stone was supposed to have. I don't even want to know how Kiki got through that without triggering anything, I really don't want to know, but I suspect that even Night and Shadow could have got around them they were so... pathetic."

"How so?" Hermione asked as she turned to look Harry over as the Hall was decorated in Slytherin colors. "You never confided in what they had found there..."

Hermione was cut off as the doors to the Great Hall slammed open and a very familiar man entered looking quite irritated with a trailing of Ministry Aurors following him like awe struck puppies even if they were alert to danger around them. It seemed that Nicolas Flamel had decided to stage a confrontation even though Harry had delivered the stone to him in Gringott's a few weeks before hand. Given he had an eye view memory of the pathetic gauntlet that even muggle raised squibs could have likely managed to get through with only the devil's snare requiring spellwork.

'At least I am saved from telling Hermione that the gauntlet was almost so easy that Ronald could have made it through,' Harry thought as he looked at the subtle signs that Dumbledore tried to conceal about how he was reacting to his mentor entering his domain without asking. 'I wonder how the students will react to their headmaster being publically chided by his wiser and more experienced mentor? It looks like the whole hall is going to be hanging on the words of this drama...'

Dumbledore was still in shock having been cut off in his speech to the students. He had stood up to make his announcement and was caught mid-word by the sudden arrival. He had closed his mouth for a moment and as he was formulating what to say was cut off before he had his lips half parted.

"Well Albus," Nicolas said as he looked at his disappointing failure of a student, "I suppose you know why I am here. I have to admit that I am quite disappointed in you, dear boy. One would think that you would have outgrown borrowing others things without permission, but it seems that you have not. Now if you don't mind, let's see what these protections are that you removed my property from Gringott's was when all you were supposed to do was check that the goblins moved it to a more secure vault..."

"The wards at Hogwarts are the best in the world," Albus managed to say as he ignored all the accusations of his mentor as he blustered on. "We also have the foremost experts in their fields and as such it was far more secure here than Gringott's. You did see the article in the Prophet did you not?"

"Yes, I did," Nicolas nodded as he acknowledged the point before looking over the students. "You do realize that the trespasser would have been sealed away until the goblins released them if the vault had still been occupied. Now what is this about announcing that something of value was on the third floor down a forbidden corridor? Do you no longer understand that if you state that something is forbidden that it will only motivate youngsters to figure out what it is that is hidden in a forbidden place? Well dear students, I take it that some of you went looking?"

Under his gaze he noticed that a number of students slightly nodded that they had investigated things. It was obvious that students would sneak into that corridor just as they nipped at least into the edges of the forest. He was really getting disappointed with Albus this time.

"See what I mean," Nicolas said while shaking his head in disappointed disbelief in how stupid Albus had been. "Well now let's hear if you at least made some effort to safeguard your students. You boy, yes the Gryffindor boy that looks like he was planning a prank. You look the sort to at least be curious enough to take a peak. So what kind of protections were there to keep you out at the onset?"

"A door with a simple locking spell," George said shuddering under the look of the man. "A simple Alohamora seemed to remove it though. It did seem that if someone wanted to keep students out that a locking charm easily circumvented with a first year spell seems silly..."

"You have got to be kidding me, Albus," Nicolas said with disbelief. "What next, a magical guardian that is easily lulled to sleep?"

"How did you know about the Cerberus?" Fred asked next to George. "Right after the door was a decent sized three headed dog that was as easy to calm as singing."

"Ok, that is it!" Nicolas shouted as he looked at Albus with a glare of utter contempt. "I am going to see if the rest of these safeguards are as pathetic. If they are, I will be disappointed in you, Albus. Now Aurors I expect you to try to keep up!"

With his piece said, Nicolas spun about and made his way towards the gauntlet with the Aurors following in pursuit with Albus rushing to catch up. The Great Hall was suddenly filled with gossiping students who were trying to figure out what was going on. The speculation was quite amusing and with the level of chatter there was little chance that anyone could hear what those in the other houses were speculating. The looks on the professors' faces were priceless as they tried to calm the students down.

"I give them five minutes at most to get past things," Harry told his friends as he took a slow and languid sip of his blood-spiked juice. "I expect that Nicolas will yell quite loudly about how pathetic the defenses are so you will just have to wait a few minutes to hear about them. One would think that people with masteries in their fields would be able to better at creative applications of their interests, but I suppose that is not the case even though it does seem like there should have been impressive things. I guess it just goes to show you that people are people and thus just as lazy as any other where they only put as much effort as necessary to accomplish their intent."

"You are keeping an eye on them as they are going through what sounds like mediocre protections," Su stated as she notice the slight discoloration to his eyes. "I take it that you will be helping me with that over the summer?"

"Yes, it is quite useful having eyes elsewhere," Harry said with a slight smirk as he savored the tang of the blood and the sweetness of the tropical fruit mix. "I suppose it is best that it is not a common skill or I can see how the students here would misuse it. I take it you have something to add, Hermione?"

"I had thought this was supposed to be the most prestigious and thus excellent in teaching staff school in Europe," Hermione began as she watched the professors failing to completely reign in the students. "I suppose I will have to get used to being disappointed, but I can hope that they will be excellent tutors over the summer. Just because someone is skilled does not mean they are creative so I don't know how disappointed I will be with what Master Flamel says. It is depressing how lazy and ignorant that wizards seem even if I know that people everywhere can be the same. One does not need to know how technology works to use it, but I had hoped for more. I guess that disappointment is a part of life. I should never underestimate human or even just sentient stupidity especially in groups."

"A person may be smart, but people are only as smart as the least intelligent in their group," Su said as she recalled the long-term analysis her family made in dealing with people and that even they could fall into that trap. "It is why people believe that misery shared is lessened as the ignorance is increased and thus the bliss found in ignorance is what they gain. It is why mobs tend to be ruled by strong emotion as they lack the intelligence to respond rationally and only strike out in anger, fear, or believed self-preservation. It does explain why people act like sheep when in groups, as they will listen to the loudest voice they hear. It is a shame that mobs can't easily be directed to pursuits that are more useful. Personally, people could be happy if they were intelligent enough in groups to know when they are content. Most laws, social mores, religious doctrines, and the like are because people are in quantity nothing more than stupid, greedy, selfish, lazy creatures that could have more enjoyable lives if they knew the difference between needs and wants."

"How interesting, it does seem similar to what I have seen in people," Harry said as he watched Hermione trying to mentally dismiss Su's argument for its offensiveness. "Dudley is quite the example of the dreg of humanity. He eats more than he needs to do, he breaks things if he does not get his way, he tries to inflate his ego by picking on those weaker than himself, and he seems to think that he is entitled to things without consequences. I can understand savoring food that is enticing to the palate, but he does not even taste his food swallowing more than necessary. He also does seem the sort that will never know or understand love and will likely only think of his own needs. I highly suspect that if he ever does have sex of any sort that he will so disappoint that they will castrate him before shoving his pathetic excuse for a baby's sized appendage into his repeatedly burned from grease and spice excrement tainted orifice. I don't think it will take much longer and it will be quite the show..."

Harry was quite right about that as in less than ten minutes since he had left, Nicolas Flamel literally stormed into the great hall with Dumbledore panting after and the vaunted Aurors wheezing at the door with a few a bit further back muttering about academy hell all over again. A few moments after they got there, a second group of Aurors arrived and with them was someone that was most irritated. Amelia Bones was not in a good mood and everyone there could see it. There were several reasons for that, one of which was that the five hundred plus year old wizard had outpaced her Aurors. Being here and knowing that it was possible that her Susan had been in danger was not helping things.

As it was even as she was twitching in annoyance and trying to rip the slacking Auror a new head, her head turned as she could literally feel the rage emanating from the ancient alchemist. Dumbledore may have more raw power, but Nicolas Flamel had had the time to master his control even with his decadent lifestyle upon no longer worrying about being forced to scavenge to survive. The old man knew tricks that Dumbledore had not even imagined. Old age and treachery could definitely beat youth and enthusiasm most times.

"What were you thinking Albus?" Nicolas's question was roared across the Great Hall his magic amplifying his voice as if he had cast a high-powered megaphone charm on it. "The defenses that the children got through were barely below the rest of that travesty of magic. You started with a simply locked and not spelled shut door and a Cerberus sitting on a trap door. A first year could probably get through that, considering what they should know, and that is taking just the muggle raised into account! The magically raised students would have heard enough legends and tales to know about how to calm a Cerberus, and even the muggles know from that tale from the Greeks!"

None of the students or the staff responded as they were still in shock from what they had just heard. It had definitely not been what they were expecting. They had been curious about what was past the dog as most of the students decided it was not worth it after getting past the door without a locking charm. They were young and like most magicals also seemed to lack much in the way of instincts of self-preservation. Those raised in the magical world were dumb enough that they were foolish enough to tickle sleeping dragons before and after the Hogwarts' motto had been penned.

"Really now Nicolas, you are overreacting," Albus said trying to console his mentor as well as keep his image to the school at the least. "I will admit that the door could have been under a better charm, but it was mostly to keep the unwary out and still allow food to arrive for the young Cerberus. You have to admit that seeing a snarling three-headed dog would be enough to make most cower, thus be prevented from venturing further and even most wizards would have a few moments of surprise so as a safeguard and warning it made sense to do so."

"Albus, I find my patience rather strained by the lack of concern you show," Nicolas said as he slowly spoke as if to a child. "You should have ensured that the door was charmed so that the students would not be able to pass at all. A simple age line would suffice and I find myself disappointed with the oversight you have committed in regards to your charges. I will say that the simplicity of the challenges you thought would deter anyone is rather short sighted. Most of the OWL students and definitely the NEWT level ones would have easily gotten through the rudimentary protections you provided."

"Perhaps you could elaborate on this," Madame Bones said from where she had been instilling some fear back into the force about their dismal performance. "If you would be so kind, Master Flamel? The Aurors should know what security was on something of such importance once it was no longer under your authority. We had no interest when it was at Gringott's or one of your properties, but when it entered a place where everyone was in danger to get to it is a different matter entirely..."

"I suppose I could go on in what I saw, but your Aurors have grown rather lazy as they should never have lagged that far behind," Nicolas said to Amelia as he no longer was acknowledging Albus or the words he tried to form. "After the dog there was an unlocked and unbarred trap door with devil's snare on the bottom. It was further proof to me that these obstacles were at best to slow someone to respond and not keep them out as any wand could easily drive it away. Still the next few trials barely deserved the name..."

"Please do not tell me that it was anywhere near as disappointing as the nuisances that you have mentioned so far," Amelia said with her hand slowly massaging her suddenly throbbing temple. "I really feel like I have walked into a bad story. To think that Susan was here all this time with this happening and no one thought to tell anyone about this. The paperwork from this is going to be eating my time for a while. I suppose after this I can see about you giving a full deposition or at least leaving some pensive memories while I try to see about actually seeing my niece."

While those that knew her saw this as a slight moment of disparity from her normal professionalism, the second group of Aurors those that had come along with her understood why their boss was acting this way. There was the matter of the Philosopher's Stone being here risking her remaining family in danger while the supposed greatest wizard of their time did nothing but place mediocre safeguards to prevent anyone from taking it. They understood that their boss was in shock and that if she were thinking straight right now that there would be some serious damage to Dumbledore regardless of his supposed power.

"While I can understand your desire to spend time with your remaining family, I wish to do so as well so once this drama is over I will leave my detailed memories of the disappointing protections; however, I think that the youngsters will learn something if I mention them," Nicolas said with a nod to Amelia and her own issues. "Now where was I...? Ah yes, past the devil's snare was a spelled door which only the correct one should open. The key was hidden among others and they were enchanted with wings so that they could fly; however, it was easily summoned and if necessary there were brooms there to catch it even if they were charmed to attack once the broom was mounted. Such a disappointment that was for me as one would think that it would be charmed to be resistant to that simple spell. The next was a masterful piece of transfiguration most likely from Minerva there and was a giant animated chess set. They could have been a bit more spell resistant, but the brooms from the previous rooms were easily summoned and even these desk jockeys were able to quickly catch up."

Dumbledore was studiously ignoring his mentor since he was not paying him any attention and it was quite reminiscent of his time with the man. Amelia's elite Aurors were getting nervous with the way their boss was twitching and the clenching of her left fist was making most of their instincts scream at them to run very far and fast away from the eminent doom approaching. As she had a hand in their reviews among other things, they managed to not embarrass themselves and managed to slowly shuffle out of immediate spell reach.

"Dumbledore, we will have words about this," Amelia hissed out while her glare easily put Snape's infamous one to shame. "I do not doubt that the board will be severely irritated by your actions. Regardless we will speak of this further. Now if you would continue, Master Flamel?"

"Of course, Madam Bones," Nicolas said with a slightly charming smile directed at her. "Passed the tastefully done chess set was another disappointment, an incapacitated mountain troll. Considering that mountain trolls are hard to spell for normal methods, it did show that this was not some student that got this far. Your Aurors were panting to keep up when we reached the next room where we were cut off with some mediocre fire before and behind us. There were a set of potions there and to be even more depressing there was a riddle that explained which bottle was which even though it was not needed. The flames were easily dismissed and we came across what was perhaps the only interesting protection."

"Oh! What would that be, Master Flamel?" Amelia asks for a moment sounding quite as if she was one of the female students with their enthusiastic interest as the pure absurdity of the situation had almost drove her a bit crazy. "None of the things seem so far to be more than momentarily exciting for someone on an adventure. It might make for a good children's story, but I must find it a bit of a letdown, Master Flamel."

"Really, Madam Bones," Nicolas said with a bit of amusement to the slightly playful director. "Call me Nicolas, my dear..."

"Only if you call me Amelia, Nicolas," Amelia said with a bit of a blush. "So what was it that was so interesting, Nicolas?"

"Something I had hoped to be lost for some time, Amelia," Nicolas said with the same smile that often caused Perenelle to jump him. "It was an artifact that was once part of a set of such items that had hopefully been lost for all time as they were quiet dangerous to the unwary. I am rather disappointed that it was ever near any children as it is quite insidious in its nature. The other such items were equally as twisted in their nature preying on ones primordial instincts."

"So would you please tell us what it is, Nicolas?" Amelia asked while practically bouncing on her feet as her thighs rubbed together and she was grateful she had a bra on today. "There are not a lot of things that would be so dangerous. Sure, there are the cursed items one finds that the bored and vindictive like to use for muggle bating or revenge, but there are not many things that I would think someone like you would call insidious. Probably the worst thing I saw was a doll that was enchanted to methodically suffocate children, or maybe it was the knife that caused mothers to chop their children up before they disemboweled themselves for the lot of them to be eaten by vermin and rats."

"Those were quick and horrible things," Nicolas said with a look that dispelled the shudders of disgust that most had in hearing what the Auror and now Head of the DMLE had dealt with in the past. "No this was as horrible as some of the medieval flesh rotting curses where it caused a near unstoppable slow decay of the body with extremely agonizing suffering. How many cursed mirrors have you heard of that are legendary?"

"Well there are a few," Amelia said as she thought over which would be the worst of the lot. "Considering you were calling it insidious then would I be wrong in guessing the Mirror of Erised was here?"

"Bravo Amelia, my dear," Nicolas said with a panty plastering smile that put Lockhart's award winning smile to shame. "It is nice to see that the academy still has such clever graduates. I can only hope that Hogwarts here can still claim such quick thinkers. I know there is not much a chance of that considering that unmitigated disaster that Albus made of things, and that does not even include the sudden abysmal performance of the students on some of their NEWT and OWL results. Really my dear, does it strike you as too strange that a lost and dangerous artifact shows up here?"

"No, it doesn't as it is likely that someone would use the resources here to try to discover things about it," Amelia said while shifting so that her soaked panties rubbed her swollen lips in excitement as she moved closer to him. "Would it be terribly too familiar if you didn't call me Amelia when you call me dear as it just makes me feel like I am in trouble? Now while I wouldn't mind being called that in the right situations, I don't think this is one."

"Ah, I see," Nicolas spoke while leaning and whispering into her ear causing Amelia to shudder and drip faster with her glad that she has her more absorbent panties on. "Then if I call you my dear Amy, you call me Nicky daring. I think we should see about a private meeting some time considering how aroused you are right now. I bet if I flipped your skirt up, then I bet your panties are so soaked that they are transparent. Considering that you were a Hufflepuff, you probably wouldn't mind if Perenelle and I had our wicked way with your horny, voluptuous, and needy body, my dear Amy."

"If you didn't have to give a statement and I didn't have to do other things it might be fun, Nicky darling," Amelia purred into his ear while her hair hid her face while she practically saturated him in her scent. "Unfortunately we do have those things to do, but maybe at a later time we can have some intense personal discussions."

"True enough, my dear Amy," Nicolas said while he shifted such that Amelia was hidden from the view of those around him and his hand determined her state causing her to almost forge herself. "I was talking about the Mirror of Erised and how dangerous it is. It is so insidious as it shows you what your most fervent desire is and most see something so... enticing that they cannot bare to think to look away. Once you look in, it shows deeper and more entrapping things until nothing is more important than gazing into its surface. It is not just an image but also a vision that hurts to even consider looking away even as it unveils deeper and greater aspects of one's desires. Considering how easily it can ensnare and how mediocre the protections were, there was risk of a student being lost gazing into the depths. Why it even looked as if the mirror had not been there for this whole time and actually could have ensnared some poor wandering student."

"Headmaster Dumbledore, I am very disappointed with this situation," Amelia said while focusing on the passion that Nicolas had incited and directing it into a glare of fury at the long-standing figure. "I do hope that Susan has nothing else to add about the lackluster way things seem to be around here. Nicolas, if you would go with my Aurors here, you can get your statement out of the way. I hope it is no inconvenience taking the time to do so."

"Of course not, Amelia," Nicolas said before leaning in close and whispering to her, "and if it was my dear Amy, then you could make up for it at a later date. I am sure that we could discuss things privately and come to a mutually beneficial compensation."

"That would be most... pleasant, Nicky darling," Amelia whispered back before looking over at the students in the hall. "We could have a quick word before you leave?"

"How wonderful, Amelia," Nicolas said while letting his robe conceal that his hand went up her skirt, slipped under her panties and his fingers caressed her. "Now sweet Amy, I had best get things done so there is time for some words before you dine with your niece. I apologize for it being a short word, but we can always have a more lengthy discussion later."

"Thank you for your confidence, Nicolas," Amelia said after muffling her sigh in his robes before he had licked his fingers clean without being observed by anyone but her. "We will be thorough in this investigation and I am more than willing to inform you of our findings. Headmaster, you have not heard the last of this. You had best expect a bit more scrutiny about this incident since it put the future of our society at risk."

"Really Amelia, I am sure that you are just overreacting," Dumbledore said as he tried to placate her. "The students were never really in any danger and I did warn them not to go there for their own safety. I must admit that I am disappointed that so many students ignored my announcement. It is bad enough that the Weasley twins keep trying to sneak into the forest if they are out of your sight for even a moment. While I find their antics normally amusing, I had thought that Charles or William would have ensured they didn't seem likely to get into situations beyond their experience."

"Just stop trying to sooth my ire, Headmaster Dumbledore," Amelia said growing annoyed that he had cut into her fun. "Also, I do not recall giving you leave to talk to me so familiarly. I am not some wayward student that you need to chastise. I think today has been a good example that you as well as most of us seem to get settled into things. I believe that we have become too complacent since the last Dark Lord was vanquished. Do you not agree Nicolas?'

"It is sad to say that I must agree with you about that, Amelia," Nicolas said while directing a glare at Albus that almost made him loose control of his bladder. "I do think we should discuss this later after you have talked with your niece. I have some books that might help considering the falling standards around here. Still I suppose we shouldn't keep your Aurors waiting any longer."

"I suppose," Amelia said before looking at the two different batches of Aurors. "Aurors, you will be taking statements and writing things down about this. Those of you that were unable to keep up with Nicolas here will take the statements of the staff. Do not think I am being kind, as you will be turned over for remedial academy drills and if you don't improve I will see if I can get Mad-Eye out of retirement to whip your quill scribbling and desk dwelling selves back into shape!"

"Yes, Madam Bones!" replied the now terrified Aurors as well as her more disciplined ones as neither wanted to deal with the boss when she was in that mood although the latter added, "Right away, boss!"

"Good to hear," Madam Bones said as she looked over the now rapidly moving group much to her satisfaction. "Headmaster Dumbledore, do not think that this is over. This will not be so easily washed away!"

"No one is implying that nothing will be affected by today," Albus said as he tried to spin things in his favor without setting off Amelia's finely honed social and political savvy. "I merely wish to do things in a way that does not incite hysteria. Surely you would prefer calm methodic analysis instead of the frothing frantic fervor that certain sensationalists would instigate to further their own agendas."

"Fine, Headmaster," Amelia said while acting as if her body was not demanding she grab Nicky and have him relentlessly ravish her too long neglected body. "I would not wish to incite a panic that would be detrimental to the investigation. Now if you do not mind, I would like to attend some opportunistic business while the interview is occurring."

Albus got the hint that she wanted a word with Susan and he didn't have the capital to waste to inconvenience her at this time. He may have built up a number of favors over the years, but he could waste them foolishly if he was not careful. His face did not show the real turmoil he felt at that moment.

"It would not be wise to not take advantage of the opportunity to attend to your business," Albus said while looking at the students. "The staff of course will be happy to help in your investigations."

"I would expect nothing less," Amelia said while ignoring the childish disdain Severus Snape's face showed. "This is supposed to be the preeminent school in all of Britain if not the world after all..."

"Now that all that excitement is over," Dumbledore said while trying to gloss over the verbal ass chewing he had just gotten from his mentor and the obvious disappointment and disillusionment of the Aurors in his infallibility as well as Amelia's recent barb, "I would advise you finish eating your fill before trotting off to bed. Regardless of the excitement, the express will arrive on time and it would be best that you are well rested from this incident and the stress of your exams."

In the impending silence, the students began to resume eating their food. Even the youngest male Weasley had managed to not keep shoveling food into his mouth throughout the entire debacle. Madam Bones ignored their actions and made her way towards her old house's table. Not much had changed in the decor or the camaraderie among the Badgers of Hufflepuff. It was one of the few things to see remain the same after all this time. Her eyes gave most at the table at least a once over specifically the older years before she caught Pomona's gaze through the periphery of her left eye.

Her old head of house slightly inclined her head that she was receptive to Amelia's request. Hufflepuff was a united house and the alumnus tended to maintain very close ties. If it hadn't been for her workaholic necessity, Amelia likely would have been better in touch with the Hufflepuff lines and her issues would have not had a chance to get as bad as it had. Having a few friends to unwind with would have prevented her from being so needy to act like a schoolgirl before the Nicolas Flamel. Still there was something to say for experience compared to just youthful enthusiasm and vigor.

"Susan, I believe you should head off to that side meeting room now," Amelia said as she walked behind her niece. "Say goodbye to your friends as I would like a private discussion with you since this opportunity dropped in our laps. Don't eat too much here since I will see that there is a bit more... appropriate food there, so I want you to only eat enough for a snack. It may be a few minutes so you should be able to wrap your conversations up. I expect that you will be short on time afterwards so try to get any last minute plans out of the way."

"Yes, Aunt Amelia," Susan said while looking somewhat forlorn that Hannah couldn't come with her and told her tablemates, "I guess I will see you all later in the Set."

"You will," Amelia told Susan and her housemates. "I do not plan on co-opting all of your time, but it would be nice to catch up especially if it will require me to make preparations before you come home. With the exams, I suspect that you might have some last minute change in plans that you forgot to write to me about. It will likely be a few minutes so try to get most of your summer plans really hashed out while I finish my work here."

"Thanks aunty," Susan said while giving Hannah a relieved and longing glance that her aunt picked up on. "So I will see you in a little while then."

Amelia nodded her head in ascent and turned away before she walked out the great hall. As much as she wanted to grab Susan and hug her to her chest, there was some propriety to consider. It was best that Susan was not likely to be seated in her aunt's lap or several of her changes would be revealed. Her often being soaking wet as well as the addition that she had accepted to best prepare her for the sexual exploration she had so far only watched bring Hermione to sobbing thanks.

As her aunt headed out, Susan resumed her discussion even though she didn't take too much to eat. She knew her aunty would ensure a memorable meal even if it were likely she would miss out on one of her favorite desserts. She had gotten used to the variety of Hannah, Hermione, or Harry flavored sucking. Still it was not the best idea to go to a dinner discussion with her aunt the Auror reeking of sex or still dripping in juices. It was not that her aunt would really mind, but more that she wanted to break things to her somewhat nicely.

Susan stretched a bit and said good-bye to her friends even as she took a look around the hall. If she were really lucky, she would get back before Hannah fell asleep and there was no chance she could sneak out and wake in Harry's bed with him and Hermione warming her up. Some of what she saw disappointed her even as the hungry look and promise in Harry and Hermione's eyes made her want to duck into a closet and get some relief. She was even tempted to use that spell change on her wand to be calm for the discussion with her aunt.

The only ones looking dead tired, even after they had perked up from the shocking entertainment that they had seen, were the OWL and NEWT year students. Most of the NEWT students who were supposed to graduate now looked exhausted with some sporting bags under their eyes that the excitement had caused to be revealed under some of their charms. There was a reason that they were called the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests after all, and it was that unlike the usual school lessons the tests were influenced by ones magical stamina. The purebloods tended to do well and the halfbloods as well because they practiced enough to build their magical if not physical stamina. It was a shame that the purebloods of the present day were more willing to summon something than to get up and get it and thus they tended to resort to magic first while letting their bodies go soft unless they were interested in dueling or even professional Quidditch.

It was that laziness that was a part of Amelia's perpetual foul mood as her Aurors were being an embarrassment to the department and her for their lackluster performance. The same lack of physical stamina led many a witch to find her own satisfaction or out of necessity lovers to be more than frustrated. This unsuspecting factor was why so many pureblood women had trysts with muggles lately as even with their becoming more sedentary they were more often more active than wizards and thus the witch didn't have to deal with the disappointment. Amelia did hope that Susan would find someone that would satisfy her and she knew that Susan would need more than just her near joined together friend and based on the gaze lover.

She had so much to do and if she was lucky could do more than talk and payback that nice bit of foreplay with Nicky. Since it was likely that Perenelle would have no problem, Amelia might try to arrange some in person interviews at their home where they would be more at ease than elsewhere. She may be infinitely less corrupt than the rest of the ministry, but this would not be an unethical combination of business and pleasure. If she hurried, she might have more time than just foreplay or doubling up due to the time constraint.