It was about two hours later, after they were done with most of their homework, that Harry stretched and yawned. "I think I'm ready for bed. You may join me when you're ready."
This seemed to be Pansy's cue. "May I join you as well?"
Harry seemed confused and looked at Hermione. She nodded. "If you want to," he said non-commitently.
Pansy didn't need more encouragement. She followed Harry to the bedroom, starting to feel a bit apprehensive. What if Harry found her unsatisfactory? Would he even accept her for mating? Allowing her in bed didn't mean he wanted anything to do with her.
Still, she waited in bed for him to return from the bathroom, trying to quench her turbulent thoughts.
Harry didn't seem surprised to see her in bed, evidently waiting for him. She felt some relief that he didn't reject her or ignore her. He just lay at her side in the wide bed and turned to look at her. "Do you really want to take part in what's going on in this bed?" he asked.
Pansy gulped nervously. "Yes, if you'll accept me."
"Why do you want it?"
She knew that only complete honesty would work in her favor. Besides, she didn't feel like being anything but honest with Harry. She only took a deep breath before answering. "You may have heard that I had a betrothal contract with Malfoy since being a toddler."
Harry frowned at that but didn't comment.
"You may not know it, but most such contracts force the girl to be subservient, to do practically all that her betrothed asks her for. That's usually not a problem when very young, as they usually live far enough to assure no more than minimal interaction between the children. It changes when they reach Hogwarts. The first time I saw you, I thought you were cute and I felt that I'd like to get to know you, yet it was impossible. Draco forced me to act as nastily as he did and to became your enemy. What I felt didn't count at all. Later, when I started getting feminine curves, he used to offer my services to older boys as incentive or reward for acting the way he wanted."
"You were raped?"
"I didn't think of it as rape, at the time, although it was never something I looked forward to, despite having enjoyed it once or twice, when the boys thought I should have some fun as well."
"That's awful!"
She could see that Harry was really appalled by those deeds. "It is, but for me, as for many other pureblood girls, it was a way of life. I had to do and act the way my betrothed demanded, as the magic in the contract forced it."
She paused to make her thoughts clearer.
"I still don't see why you want to be in bed with me after all you had experienced. I would have expected you to stay away from men, at least until you wanted to have a child." Harry sounded quite confused.
This made Pansy smile. Harry noticed that her face had also changed since first year, becoming very nice to look at, especially when she smiled.
"You already know I couldn't choose that way, even when my betrothal was canceled. Nott took Malfoy's place as the self-proclaimed leader. I was raped even more and I was still unable to show my real feelings. I could only admire the way you acted with your wives, wishing I was one of them. I don't know if you could ever love me, after all that happened since first year, but I'm sure that even as an occasional shag, I'll enjoy being with you much more than any of the ones I was forced to be with." She moved her body enticingly. "Care to proceed?"
This was clearly not the Pansy he had known since first year. The young woman who wanted him so much was sincere, and her body seemed to radiate some lust. Harry responded as expected, caressing her body, sucking her nipples and tenderly making love to her. He was so preoccupied with Pansy that he didn't even notice when the other girls joined in. When he finally moved inside her, she was more than ready for him, reaching her climax quite soon and dragging him to his own.
Harry rested his head on Pansy's breasts while letting his breathing calm down. He was still wondering how this girl, who'd been so obnoxious and hostile, turned into the loving young woman in his bed. "That was wonderful, Harry. I felt really loved for a while. I wish we could do this on a regular basis," Pansy whispered in his ear.
"The position of Lady Slytherin is still open. You could give it to Pansy," Hermione suggested a moment later, her hands caressing his body.
Harry turned around, noticing the smiles on the faces of all his wives. "Are you sure?" he asked, looking at Ginny specifically.
They all nodded and Hermione answered for them all. "We're sure, Harry. We've all noticed the longing looks Pansy was directing at you. We've talked with her and understood how she once felt and how relieved she now is. Besides, we all know it's impossible not to love you, once a girl gets to know you." Her encouraging smile made further confirmation of her words.
He turned back to Pansy. "Do you want to marry me and become my seventh wife, knowing that Hermione is my main wife?"
There was no hesitation in Pansy's reply. "Yes, Harry. I would have been willing even to be your mistress, if you wanted me to, and being one of your wives, even if the lowest ranked, is more than I could ever hope for. I'm more than willing to be your wife."
"Well, in that case, I'll wed you..."
Although he tried to phrase his words differently, it didn't change much. A bright flash appeared, illuminating the room briefly, and Harry felt another ring materializing on his finger. He wasn't really surprised, yet Pansy looked overwhelmed.
"What was that?" she asked.
"That was your wedding, Lady Slytherin," Ginny told her, seeming amused. She grabbed Pansy's hand and showed her the wedding band that was firmly placed on her finger.
"I'm married?" Pansy asked with disbelief.
"You sure are!" Fleur told her. "The moment you both agreed to be married, Harry's magic did the rest, as it did with each and every one of us."
Pansy was still looking at her ring, barely believing her eyes. "Would you like to spend your wedding night with your new husband alone?" Hermione asked her.
It took Pansy a moment to comprehend. She then sighed. "As much as I'd like that, it wouldn't be fair to you. Harry has already given me my share for tonight. I shouldn't stop you from getting your shares as well." She glanced at Harry, her new husband – as she had to remind herself, and noticed his erection getting stiffer. "He still has enough stamina, so it seems."
Harry made sure not to neglect any of his wives, giving each her due share of his attention. He still had enough left for Pansy, finally cuddling with her and Hermione before falling asleep, completely spent.
They were all surprised the next morning, when an old goblin knocked on their door even before they were ready for breakfast.
"What brought this unexpected visit?" Harry asked the goblin.
"Lord Hogwarts, it is my pleasant duty to inform you about your new position and coach you in taking control of it. My name is Quicksword and I was assigned the role of Hogwarts account guardian, inherited through several generations from my ancestor, who'd been given this role by the founders."
Harry wasn't sure what to say. He led Quicksword in and let him sit on a couch, before asking his wives to join him.
"Does the headmaster know about you?" he asked.
"Of course. Every headmaster had to have some access to the Hogwarts account, and every one of them knew that their post was temporary, pending the heirs' approval, if they were all found. I'm sure Mr. Dumbledore is already aware of your position, although he may not yet know of my visit."
"What do you mean by 'heir'? I'm only heir to Ravenclaw, on my mother's side, and Gryffindor, from my father."
"Your wife, Lady Bones, is the acknowledged heir of Hufflepuff, making you Lord Hufflepuff by default. Then there's Slytherin, of course. You've beaten the last known heir when you were still a toddler, making you his legal heir. This didn't yet give you the heir position for Hogwarts, as only married people are allowed that position, being, hopefully, more responsible. As you wed Lady Slytherin last night, you are now in position to take control of Hogwarts."
Harry still had difficulties grasping it all. "I'm still a bit confused. Do you mind if we first get breakfast? I believe we may better understand on fuller bellies."
The goblin waved them away. "Go eat. You're all still growing and need to keep well fed."
"Won't you join us?"
The goblin shook his head. "My presence is better kept secret at the moment. Besides, most of what's served here is not appetizing for my kind. I'll just ask your house elf for something to drink."
"I don't have house elves!" Harry said, sounding quite alarmed.
"Oh, you have quite a few, I believe, but I was referring to Dobby."
"He's a free House Elf. He's not mine," Harry protested.
Quicksword shook its head in amusement. "Dobby humors you, letting you believe he is free, as you like him to feel, but he's bonded to you much stronger than by any bonding ceremony. He's bound by love, making him yours, whether you know it or not."
Harry looked a bit stunned. "Go and have some food. You'll understand it better after you eat," the goblin insisted.
Harry was silent on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast, and during the meal. Hermione knew that he was trying to understand the implication of what Quicksword had told him and she made sure that nobody disturbed him. It was only on their way back that Harry finally talked. "So, I own some house-elves, he said."
"Didn't you know?" Daphne asked. "I thought that everybody knew, including you. I thought you just didn't want to flaunt it, so you kept them away."
Harry looked surprised. "Who else knew?"
All the girls, excluding Hermione lifted their hands. Harry looked extremely surprised, and so did Hermione.
"Why had none of you told me?"
"I think I can safely assume that we were all sure you knew," Fleur answered. "After my Dad introduced you to your position, it was natural for me to assume that you learned of this as well. Not asking the house elves for any services seemed to be your way, maybe due to your muggle background."
Harry sighed. Would he ever learn all that those growing in the magical society were taking for granted? "What about Dobby? Who knew about this bond?"
This time, only Pansy lifted her hand. "I've seen Dobby a few times since you set him free from Malfoy. He seemed too happy. A free house elf loses its magic in a matter of weeks, yet Dobby seemed to have gained some more power and looked healthier as well. I had a chance to ask him about that. 'I'm happy to serve the Great Harry Potter,' he said, unwilling to say anything further. It was clear to me that he bonded to you in some way."
Harry frowned. "Did he cheat me?"
Pansy shook her head. "He couldn't. He only felt your love and care for him and returned it ten fold. That was enough to create the bond. I already know you have more love in you than any person I've ever met."
"Well, I still don't like having a slave."
Susan explained it this time. "He's not a slave, unless you make him one. He's a free spirit who has chosen you to love, cherish and obey, while you have chosen to release him from his abusive master. He feels as free as a house elf can be. Bonding to you didn't enslave him, as it was a bond of love. It only made Dobby stronger and more devoted to you. As for the other house elves that you own, they've been free to do as they liked since that fateful Halloween. The only thing forcing them was their devotion to their master and to their jobs. You actually have to reconfirm the bond as soon as you reach seventeen if you want to keep them healthy and content."