Hermione's heart hammered in her chest as Celeste stepped into the room and closed the door behind her with a soft click. The woman moved with that same predatory grace she'd displayed earlier, and Hermione found herself backing up until her legs hit the edge of the bed.
"Relax," Celeste said, raising her hands in a gesture of peace. "I'm not here to hurt you."
"Then what are you here for?" Hermione's voice came out sharper than she'd intended, but she was still reeling from everything that had happened today.
Celeste settled into the chair at Hermione's desk, crossing her legs elegantly. She'd put her clothes back on, thankfully, but there was still something unsettling about her presence. Something that made Hermione feel exposed, as if those knowing eyes could see right through her.
"To talk," Celeste said simply. "About Master Harry. About the ritual. About you."
"Me?" Hermione's voice cracked slightly. "What about me?"
"Oh, come now, Miss Granger. You're far too intelligent to play dumb." Celeste's lips curved into a knowing smile. "I saw the way you watched today. The way the magic responded to you. The way you responded to the magic."
Heat flooded Hermione's cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't you?" Celeste leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Tell me, when the magic flowed through you during the ritual, what did you feel?"
Hermione opened her mouth to deny it, to brush off the question, but something in Celeste's expression stopped her. There was no judgment there, no mockery. Just genuine curiosity and something that might have been understanding.
"I..." Hermione swallowed hard. "It was intense."
"Intense how?"
"Like nothing I've ever experienced before. The magic was so raw, so powerful. It felt like it was alive." Hermione's voice grew quieter. "Like it was connecting us all somehow."
"It was," Celeste confirmed. "That's the nature of this particular ritual. It creates bonds between the participants. Magical bonds that go deeper than mere friendship."
Hermione felt her stomach drop. This was new information that Celeste had not revealed previously. "What kind of bonds?"
"The kind that reveal truth," Celeste said softly. "The kind that strip away pretense and force you to confront what you really feel."
"I don't understand."
Celeste stood and moved to the window, gazing out at the darkening sky. "The magic doesn't lie, Miss Granger. It can't. When it flows through multiple people simultaneously, it creates a shared experience that's more honest than any conversation could ever be."
"So?"
"So I felt what you felt today." Celeste turned back to face her, and Hermione's breath caught at the intensity in her eyes. "The longing. The desire. The love you've been trying so desperately to hide."
"No." Hermione shook her head vehemently. "No, that's not... I don't..."
"You do." Celeste's voice was gentle but implacable. "You love him, Hermione Granger. You're in love with Harry Potter, and you have been for quite some time."
The words hit Hermione like a physical blow. She'd spent so long denying it, even to herself, that hearing it spoken aloud felt like having her deepest secret dragged into the light.
"It doesn't matter," she whispered after what felt like hours, sinking down onto the bed with her shoulders slumped, as if the weight of the entire world had settled on them. "Even if that were true, it doesn't matter."
"Why not?"
"Because he's my best friend. Because we're in the middle of a war. Because he has bigger things to worry about than my stupid feelings." Hermione's voice broke slightly. "Because he doesn't feel the same way about me."
"Are you sure about that?"
Hermione looked up sharply. "What?"
Celeste moved closer, her expression thoughtful. "The magic flows both ways, Miss Granger. I didn't just feel your emotions during the ritual. I felt his too."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that my Master is not as oblivious to your feelings as you think he is. And his feelings for you are not as platonic as either of you pretend."
Hermione's heart stuttered. "That's not possible."
"Isn't it? Think about it. Really think about it. How many times has he risked everything to save you? How many times has he chosen you over everyone else? How many times has he looked at you like you're the most important thing in the world?"
"He does that because we're friends. Because he cares about me."
"Yes, he does care about you. More than you realize." Celeste sat down on the bed beside Hermione, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from the other woman's body. "But there's something else there too. Something deeper."
Hermione wanted to argue, wanted to deny it, but the memory of how Harry had looked at her earlier was still fresh in her mind. The way his voice had softened when he'd thanked her. The way he'd said her motivations mattered to him.
"Even if that were true," Hermione said quietly, "it doesn't change anything. There are still six more women who need to participate in the ritual. Six more women who will be with him in ways I never could."
"Why couldn't you?"
The question was so simple, so direct, that it caught Hermione off guard. "What?"
"Why couldn't you be one of those women?"
Hermione stared at her in shock. "Are you suggesting...?"
"I'm suggesting that you stop hiding behind excuses and consider what you really want." Celeste's voice was calm and matter-of-fact. "The ritual requires seven women total, including myself. That leaves six spots open. Why shouldn't one of them be yours?"
"Because it would ruin everything," Hermione said desperately. "Our friendship, our partnership, everything we've built together."
"Would it? Or would it finally give you both the chance to acknowledge what's already there?"
Hermione shook her head. "You don't understand. Harry and I... we've been through so much together. Our friendship is the one constant in both our lives. I can't risk destroying that."
"What if I told you that not taking the risk might destroy it anyway?"
"What do you mean?"
Celeste's expression grew serious. "The Horcrux isn't just poisoning Master's soul, Miss Granger. It's affecting his ability to form genuine connections with people. The longer it stays inside him, the more isolated he becomes. The more he pushes people away."
Hermione felt a chill run down her spine. "He hasn't pushed me away."
"But people have left him, haven't they? And he hasn't pushed you away? When was the last time he really opened up to you? When was the last time he let you see him vulnerable, really vulnerable?"
Hermione opened her mouth to answer but she abruptly closed it again. When she really thought about it, Harry had been more distant lately. More closed off. She'd attributed it to the stress of the war, the pressure of his destiny, but what if there was more to it?
"The ritual doesn't just weaken the Horcrux," Celeste continued. "It strengthens the bonds between Harry and the participants. It reminds him what it feels like to connect with someone on a deep, meaningful level. What it feels like to be truly intimate with another person."
"Intimate," Hermione repeated, her cheeks burning.
"Yes. And before you start sputtering about propriety, I'm not just talking about physical intimacy. I'm talking about emotional intimacy. Spiritual intimacy. The kind of connection that goes beyond mere friendship."
Hermione was quiet for a long moment, processing what Celeste had said. The idea of being with Harry in that way was terrifying and thrilling in equal measure.
"I wouldn't know how," she admitted finally.
"How to what?"
"How to be... intimate. With anyone, let alone Harry. I've never..." Hermione trailed off, her face flaming.
"You've never been with a man before," Celeste finished gently.
Hermione nodded, unable to meet her eyes.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of, Miss Granger. Many women your age haven't had that experience yet. And in some ways, it might actually be an advantage."
"How could inexperience possibly be an advantage?"
"Because you wouldn't have any bad habits to unlearn. No previous partners to compare Harry to. You could approach the experience with an open mind and an open heart."
"But what if I'm terrible at it? What if I disappoint him?"
Celeste laughed softly. "Trust me, Miss Granger, that's not something you need to worry about. The ritual magic ensures that all participants experience pleasure. It's part of how it works."
Hermione felt her pulse quicken. "The magic makes it feel good?"
"Among other things, yes. It amplifies sensation, heightens awareness, and creates a feedback loop between the participants. What one person feels, the others feel to some degree. It's impossible not to find satisfaction in that kind of connection."
The idea was both fascinating and terrifying. Hermione had always been curious about sex, of course, but the thought of experiencing it with Harry, with magic involved, was overwhelming.
"I can see the wheels turning in that brilliant mind of yours," Celeste observed. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking this is mental," Hermione said honestly. "The whole situation is completely mad. A year ago, the most scandalous thing in my life was staying up past curfew to study, not counting the countless times I broke the rules for Harry. Now I'm sitting here discussing the possibility of participating in a sex ritual with my best friend."
"Life has a way of throwing us curveballs," Celeste agreed. "The question is, what do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know," Hermione admitted. "Part of me wants to run away from all of this. Go back to the way things were before. But I can't, can I? The ritual happened. Harry needs help destroying the Horcrux. And I..."
"And you?"
"And I can't stop thinking about what it felt like. The magic, the connection, the way Harry looked..." Hermione buried her face in her hands. "Oh Mom, I'm such a mess."
"You're human," Celeste said simply. "You have feelings, desires, needs, and wants. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Isn't there? Harry's fighting for his life, for everyone's lives, and I'm sitting here obsessing over my feelings for him."
"Your feelings aren't separate from the fight, Miss Granger. They're part of it. The Horcrux feeds on negative emotions - anger, fear, despair, and hatred. But positive emotions, especially love, weaken it. Your feelings for Master aren't a distraction from helping him. They could be the key to saving him."
Hermione looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"
"Love is the most powerful magic there is. His mother's love saved Master when he was a baby. His love for his friends has saved him countless times since. And our love and the love of the other five women for him could be exactly what he needs to overcome the darkness inside him."
"But the ritual requires physical intimacy. It's not enough to just love him from afar."
"No, it's not," Celeste agreed. "The magic requires vulnerability, trust, and physical connection. But those things don't have to be merely clinical or detached. They can be expressions of love."
Hermione felt something shift inside her chest. For the first time since this conversation began, the idea of participating in the ritual didn't seem quite so terrifying.
"What if he doesn't want me?" she whispered.
"What if he does?"
"What if it changes everything between us?"
"What if it changes everything for the better?"
Celeste reached out and took Hermione's hand, her touch warm and surprisingly comforting, and Hermione's breath hitched at the proximity between them. She could feel the primal magic oozing off Celeste in waves, and it felt as if it was caressing her skin.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Miss Granger. If you choose to do this, it will change your relationship with my Master. There's no going back once you cross that line. But sometimes change is exactly what we need."
Hermione stared down at their joined hands. "You really think he has feelings for me?"
"I know he does. The question is whether you're brave enough to find out what those feelings might lead to."
"I've never thought of myself as particularly brave when it comes to matters of the heart."
"Haven't you? You've followed him into danger more times than you can count. You've risked your life for him repeatedly. You've stood by him when everyone else turned away. If that's not brave, I don't know what is."
"That's different. That was about doing the right thing, about helping a friend."
"Was it? Or was it about love?"
The question silenced her completely, and Hermione found herself really considering it for the first time. How many of her choices over the years had been motivated not just by friendship or duty, but by love? How many times had she put Harry's needs before her own because she couldn't bear to see him hurt?
"I don't know how to tell him," she said finally. She had realized now that running away from her feelings, forcefully burying them under the surface of logic and rationality, and playing dumb to what was going on was no longer on the cards.
"You don't have to tell him everything at once. Start small. Let him know you're open to participating in the ritual. See how he responds. Take it from there," Celeste said supportively.
"What if he says no?"
"I know for a fact that he won't but even if he does, you'll have your answer, and you can decide what to do with that information. But what if he says yes?"
Hermione's heart raced at the possibility. "I'm scared."
"Of course you are. Fear is natural when you're about to do something that matters. But don't let fear make the decision for you."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Hermione processing everything Celeste had said. The woman was right about one thing - this decision would change everything. But maybe everything needed to change. Maybe they'd all been hiding behind the comfortable familiarity of their friendship for too long.
"There's something else," Celeste said quietly.
"What?"
"If you do decide to participate in the ritual, you should know that it's not just about Master's needs. It's about yours too."
"Mine?"
"The magic affects all participants, Miss Granger. It will awaken things in you that you might not even know were there. Desires, needs, aspects of your sexuality that you've never explored."
Hermione felt her cheeks burn again. "I... I don't really know anything about that side of myself."
"Most people your age don't. But the ritual provides a safe space to discover those things. With people you trust, in an environment designed for pleasure and connection."
"It sounds almost too good to be true."
"It's not without risks," Celeste warned. "The bonds formed during the ritual are real and lasting. The emotions stirred up can be intense and confusing. And there's always the possibility that what you discover about yourself might change how you see the world."
"Change how?"
"You might find that you want things you never thought you wanted. That you're capable of feelings and sensations you never imagined. That the person you thought you were was only a fraction of who you could be."
The idea was both exhilarating and terrifying. Hermione had always prided herself on knowing who she was, on having a clear sense of her identity and values. The thought of that certainty being shaken was unsettling.
"I need time to think," she said finally.
"Of course. This isn't a decision to be made lightly." Celeste stood and moved toward the door. "But don't take too long. My Master needs all the help he can get, and the sooner we can complete the ritual sequence, the better."
She paused with her hand on the doorknob. "Miss Granger?"
"Yes?"
"For what it's worth, I think you'd be perfect for this. My Master needs people who want him, who cares about him, and who show him what he's fighting for. He needs people who can love him through the darkness and help him find his way back to the light."
"And you think I'm one of these people?"
"I think you've always been. The question is whether you're ready to truly step into that role."
With that, Celeste slipped out of the room, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts and a decision that could change everything.
Hermione lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling as her mind raced. Everything Celeste had said made a strange kind of sense, but it went against everything she'd told herself about her relationship with Harry.
Could she really do it? Could she really offer herself as one of the ritual participants? The thought made her stomach flutter with a mixture of nerves and anticipation.
And what about Harry? Did he really have feelings for her beyond friendship? The possibility seemed too good to be true, but Celeste had seemed so certain.
Hermione closed her eyes and tried to imagine what it would be like. Being with Harry in that way. Touching him, kissing him, sharing that level of intimacy. The images that filled her mind made her pulse quicken and her skin flush with heat.
Harry. His messy black hair, his green eyes that held a quiet strength, his lips that curved into that lopsided grin she adored. The idea of being close to him, of touching him in ways she'd only just dared to imagine, sent a shiver through her.
She shifted under the covers, her soft cotton shirt and jeans clinging to her skin. Her body felt restless, and Hermione bit her lip, her fingers twitching at her sides. The images of Harry were too vivid, too consuming. His hands on her, his breath warm against her neck, his voice whispering her name. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push the thoughts away, but they clung to her, stubborn and intoxicating.
Her hand moved before she could overthink it, slipping beneath the waistband of her jeans. Her fingers brushed against the soft skin of her stomach, and she let out a shaky breath. The sensation was electric, a spark shooting through her that made her toes curl. She hesitated for a moment, her mind flickering with a mix of guilt and desire. But the pull was too strong. She wanted this. She needed it.
Her fingers slid lower, finding the warmth between her thighs. She gasped softly, the sound swallowed by the quiet of the room. Her touch was tentative at first, exploring with a gentleness that made her skin tingle. She pictured Harry's hands instead of her own, strong and calloused from years of gripping a broomstick. The thought made her breath hitch, and she pressed harder, her fingers circling slowly.
"Oh, Harry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. The sound of his name on her lips sent a thrill through her, and she arched her back slightly, her free hand gripping the sheets. Her movements grew bolder, more probing. She imagined him leaning over her, his eyes locked on hers, filled with the same heat she felt coursing through her body. Her fingers moved faster, finding a rhythm that matched the pounding of her heart.
The room felt warmer now, the air thick with her quickening breaths. She let out a soft moan, her voice trembling as she pictured Harry's lips brushing against her collarbone, his hands exploring her with a tenderness that made her ache. Her fingers slipped deeper, and she gasped, her hips shifting instinctively. The sensation was overwhelming, and she could feel a wave of pleasure building inside her with every stroke.
"Harry," she murmured again, louder this time. Her voice echoed in the quiet room, and she bit her lip, half-embarrassed, half-thrilled. The thought of him hearing her, of him knowing how much she wanted him, sent a fresh surge of heat through her. She imagined his hands guiding her, his voice low and rough, urging her on. Her fingers moved with purpose now, chasing the feeling that coiled tighter in her core.
Her other hand slid up her chest, pushing her shirt aside. She brushed her fingers over her breast, the sensitive touch sending a jolt through her. She pictured Harry's mouth there, warm and teasing, and a whimper escaped her lips. The sound was louder than she intended, and she froze for a moment, her heart pounding. But the house was silent, and she was alone with her thoughts, her desires, and her ministrations.
She resumed her movements, her fingers working faster between her thighs. The pleasure was intense now, building with every touch. She imagined Harry's body pressed against hers, his weight pressing against her, and his breath hot against her ear.
"Hermione," she heard him say in her mind, his voice thick with want. The thought pushed her closer to the edge, and she moaned again, her voice raw and unrestrained.
Her hips bucked slightly, her body chasing the release that felt so close. She gripped the sheets tighter, her nails digging into the fabric. The images in her mind were vivid—Harry's hands, his lips, and his eyes filled with love and desire. Her fingers moved with urgency, the rhythm steady and unrelenting. She could feel it building, her orgasm a wave ready to crash.
"Oh, God, Harry," she gasped, her voice breaking. The pleasure surged, sharp and overwhelming, and she arched off the bed, her body trembling. Her toes curled, and her eyes bulged, but her fingers didn't stop, drawing out every shudder, every pulse of ecstasy that coursed through her until there was nothing left.
She moaned his name again, softer this time, as the waves began to ebb, leaving her breathless and flushed in the aftermath of the most intense climax of her life.
Hermione lay there for a moment, her chest heaving and her body tingling with the aftershocks. Her hand rested against her thigh, her fingers still warm and slick with her juices.
She felt a mix of satisfaction and longing, her heart aching for the real thing—for Harry, not just the fantasy.
Slowly, with shaking hands, she adjusted her shirt and jeans. She stared at the ceiling, her mind still buzzing with thoughts of him. The guilt she'd expected didn't come. Instead, there was a clarity, a certainty that settled in her chest. She wanted him. Not just in her imagination, but in her life, in her arms, and in everything.
She thought of Celeste's words, the way the woman had urged her to be honest with herself, to stop running from what she felt. Now, lying here in the aftermath of her own desire, she couldn't deny it anymore.
Harry was more than a friend, more than a partner in battle. He was the person she loved, the one she wanted to share everything with.
Maybe Celeste was right. Maybe it was time to stop hiding behind fear and take a chance on something that could be beautiful. Something that could save the person she loved most in the world.
She knew things wouldn't be easy, and the consequences would be lasting. But as Hermione lay there, she found herself leaning toward a choice that six months ago would have seemed impossible.
Sometimes, she realized, the most important decisions were also the scariest ones.
And sometimes, just sometimes, it was worth the risk.
To read more, visit the link on my profile. The username is KyleVirex everywhere, so that would help out too, I guess. Thanks!