Chapter 4: More Conversations
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, Ron would've been clubbed down by the troll. That's a thought for a fic…. Nah, I'm too lazy. Someone else could make it, though. I'd like to read it.
Maybe I should put it in bold for the lazy people who skip to the story. This will not be a Harry/Harem fic. It will Stay purely hhr. It only took the first forty reviews to persuade me not to. Fine…you guys spoil all the fun…Eh, at least I get to keep my story in my C2 (check it out by the way). You guys should really check out my Bio, too. It said that the story will stay HHr the day after I posted Chapter 3.
People have been wondering if Dumbledore would be evil or not in this fic. I hadn't even thought about him, and when I did, I just tried to avoid him altogether. He is only a little manipulative in this chapter, and I don't think we'll see him much after this.
But, please read first.
Harry Potter had never known what love – or any type of affection, for that matter – was until he entered Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had been mostly isolated from both worlds, muggle and magic, but especially magic, so he didn't know much about the customs of the Wizarding world.
Imagine his surprise when he realized what a Harem was.
"Oh God."
"I know, Harry. It's very overwhelming, isn't it? I've been up all night thinking about it."
"Oh God."
"Harry, are you listening to me?"
"Oh God."
Hermione groaned; she really shouldn't have told him anything. Before they went to their Transfiguration class, Hermione told Harry about her conversation with Daphne and Hannah. Apparently, she had made a mistake. Sometimes, she hated being nice and considerate, but she knew that if anyone deserved this privilege, it would be the Boy-Who-Lived.
Her groan seemed to have woken Harry from his trance. "Hermione, that was not a 'yippee' moment! I'm bloody scared!"
"Why are you scared," Hermione asked, confused. She had realized that this might be one of his reactions, but she thought it would be leaning towards excitement.
"It's… er… Hermione, what if I'm not…up to their expectations?"
She gave him a confused look before her eyes widened. "Is this really a conversation that you should have with your girlfriend, Harry?" She asked incredulously (and a little bit nervously).
"We could continue talking about a Harem," Harry said sarcastically, and immediately regretted it when said girlfriend looked down in shame. "I'm sorry, Hermione…you must hate me now…"
"I could never hate you, Harry," Hermione assured him, "it's just that a girl gets a little irked when she has to let her boyfriend decide on having all the beautiful girls in the school."
Harry scratched his chin, which Hermione realized is growing cute stubble. "Then why don't you choose?"
"I can't choose!" Hermione yelled, as if she had just been insulted. "You'll hate my answer!"
"Your answer usually turns out to be the right one," Harry said with a shrug.
"Just like the Firebolt?" Hermione asked with eyes that were slowly turning shiny and wet with unshed tears.
Harry put an arm over her shoulders and hugged her close to him. "I'm sorry about that. I know it's a little bit too late…but I'm sorry."
"Harry, I'm the one that should be sorry. But we can talk about it later," Hermione said when she realized Harry was about to retort. "You need to make a decision, Harry."
Harry immediately answered, "While it was fun to think about, and it would be any man's dream, I'm gonna have to turn that offer down."
Even Hermione was shocked. Did Harry just give up what she thought he gave up? "Harry…what did you just say?"
"I said no."
"You do understand that this isn't a prank, right? Fred, George, or Malfoy has nothing to do with this."
"I realize that," Harry explained. "But something's telling me not to."
"What do you mean?" Hermione inquired.
"It's…I don't know…some voice in my head…"
"Is it your conscience? Or is it…you know…"
"Voldemort?" Hermione nodded. "No…it's not him…I would recognize his voice…But you're dating the Boy-Who-Lived and you're still saying 'You-Know-Who'?"
Hermione blushed in embarrassment. She's been doing that a lot lately. "Sorry. It's just so hard to say it."
"Aren't you a Muggle-born, Hermione?" Harry asked with a smile.
"You know I'm a Muggle-born, Harry," Hermione replied with a glare.
"You first heard of Voldemort when you were eleven. You didn't know him until you got your letter and you started calling him 'You-Know-Who'."
Realization dawned on Hermione on what Harry was trying to say. "Oh. But they never said his name in the books. And all the things that he's done so far when he's supposed to be dead—"
"Then you'll fear him even more," Harry retorted, still smiling. "Let's think about it on our way to McGonagall," Harry held out his hand and she took it unconsciously, in deep thought once again. They continued down the hallway, unaware of the blue narrowed eyes that were watching for a few seconds.
"Professor McGonagall?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter?" The Professor peered over her glasses at Harry, and a few steps behind, her favorite student, Hermione. She would never admit it to herself, but she thought of Harry to be one of her favorite students.
"Professor," Harry mumbled nervously, "could you please help me with something I need to do for the second task?"
The professor narrowed her eyes slightly, and for a moment, he thought he saw the slivered iris of a cat. "What do you mean, Mr. Potter?"
"I'm not asking for any hints or anything…I just wanted to ask you if you could transfigure a small tank for me."
After Hermione explained what they had figured out so far, Professor McGonagall was a little surprised and proud at the same time. She would not know the second task until after the Yule Ball so she was surprised that it consisted of Mermaids. She silently hoped that I would not require fighting them, (or worse, grindylows) for an egg or something as ridiculous. She was proud that Harry and Hermione had figured it out by themselves. She nodded to them with a small smile that they had never seen before.
"If you can find a place where I can transfigure a tank, then I will transfigure one for you," she promised him. They thanked her profusely and left the class to celebrate their free period.
While they were walking down the hallway, they ran into Hannah. "Hey, Hermione. Hi, Harry," She said as they slowed their pace to talk with her.
"Hi, Hannah," Hermione said, a little nervously. Harry reached out his hand to take hers and squeezed it gently. Hermione smiled a little at his silent encouragement. "Hannah, listen…"
Hannah interrupted. "Have you seen Ginny? I've been looking for her everywhere!" While she was saying this, she shook her head imperceptibly. Hermione, and a few seconds later, Harry, understood.
"I haven't seen her, either," Hermione said, playing along. In actuality, though, she hadn't seen Ginny since the night she and Harry told Ron that they had gotten together. Ginny had been avoiding her so much, that Hermione wondered if she would ever see her again. Ron, too, for that matter.
"Why don't we look for her with you?" Harry suggested with a small grin.
Hannah nodded and walked ahead, the pair following closely behind. When they reached one of the many deserted corridors of the castle, she stopped and turned to them. "The walls have ears. And the portraits. These are sleeping, though." She pointed towards the snoozing portraits. "I'm guessing Hermione told you already," Hannah said to Harry.
Harry nodded, a blush emerging. "Yeah… she…she told me…"
"You're nervous," Hannah said, more to herself. "Are you nervous?" She asked out loud to him. "I mean, if you are, I would understand. Our original plan was to talk to you after graduation…or until hormones fully kick in and you start flirting with girls."
Harry smiled nervously at her. "I'm…a little nervous..."
"He's very nervous," Hermione said with a grin. "He said 'no' earlier, but I think that was for my benefit." Her grin faded. "Can I at least have him to myself for three more years?"
"I didn't agree!" Harry complained, his awkwardness forgotten.
"But you didn't mean it when you disagreed," Hermione retorted.
"Do you want me to say it again?" Harry asked her with raised eyebrows.
Hermione stared straight back, and after a few seconds of a staring match, she softened. "Harry, I just want to make you happy…"
"So do I," Harry said with a small smile. "So unless you admit to yourself that you wouldn't mind me kissing another girl, I'm not accepting."
"Okay." Hermione took a deep breath to say the most difficult thing she ever said in her life (even more difficult than that long word from that Disney Movie she watched one time). "I am—"
"No, Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "With Veritaserum."
Hermione almost fainted in shock. "Come again, Harry?"
"You have to use Veritaserum. Otherwise, it could be a lie."
"I-I can't use that!" Hermione stuttered.
"Then I can't say yes," Harry said with a sigh.
Hannah looked back and forth with a small frown. "You're scared, too," she said to Harry, continuing from her earlier statement.
Harry turned to her with a curious expression, so she explained further. "Hermione is the only one you ever trusted in your life completely. You only give little trust to Ron, Ginny, the Weasleys, and your roommates. But with Hermione, you completely let your guard down, because she's the only one that makes you feel safe. She's the only one that can have your heart. You… you…" Hannah whispered out words that Harry couldn't hear.
"What?" Harry asked her, wondering what she was going to say next.
Hannah shook her head and turned to Hermione, who also didn't hear. "I really wish that I was in your place right now."
Hermione smiled at her. "Don't worry; one of these days, I'll screw up."
Harry turned to Hermione. "Firstly, you'll never screw up and I'll always want you," then he turned to Hannah, missing Hermione's glowing smile. "And could you tell me why I have a Harem in the first place?" Harry had an idea why, but he didn't want to voice his reason. He wanted to hear it, first. It would be much easier to turn them down completely.
Hannah blushed under his gaze, but said, "Well, it was originally because you're famous. You're the most famous wizard in the world. And the accomplishments that you made so far means that you are real unlike some people." It was obvious to Harry and Hermione who she was referring to. May the lilac-loving pansy rest forever in St. Mungo's, he figured.
"Second, you're cute. You have untamable hair, gorgeous green eyes, adorably silly glasses, and you're a complete gentleman." By the time she was finished, Harry had his head down in embarrassment while Hannah was blushing crimson.
While Hannah continued talking about why the harem was founded, another meeting was taking place.
"Albus, I need a word."
"Yes, Minerva?" the Headmaster said warily.
"What is the second task?"
"I am not allowed to tell you, for the information might leak to Mr. Potter."
"What about Mr. Diggory?"
"There is a likely chance that he already knows."
"Have you told him?"
"No, I have not."
"Do you know what the task is?"
"Yes, I have figured out what the task is."
"And why have you not told Mr. Potter?"
"Because it would give him an unfair advantage over his fellow competitors."
"Albus, did you happen to notice that the competitors are three years older than Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, Minerva, I may be old, but I do have glasses."
"And you do not see the unfair advantage on Harry?"
"Isn't Alastor helping him?"
"Isn't Igor helping Mr. Krum?"
"Yes, but—"
"Isn't Madam Maxine helping Ms. Delacour?"
"Yes, she is."
"So they have equal sources of information. Let us forget for the moment that Alastor is only a professor, while the other mentors are both Headmasters. Where do you fit in this equation, Headmaster?"
"I am not involved at all."
"And you still choose not to help someone who is three years younger than his competitors, and who has been wrongly placed in the tournament that was cancelled previously because of the death rate?"
"Well…if you want to say it in that form…"
"Harry already knows the task. He has just figured it out."
"Then why are you asking me all of these questions?"
"Because I wanted answers, Albus. You are helping Harry with anything that he needs help with. Harry is only a child. He has been maturing lately, likely from spending more time around Ms. Granger and less time around Mr. Weasley, but he is still a mere child."
"I cannot. He already has Alastor as his trainer."
"And he is not doing a good job, if Harry is just now finding out. Train Mr. Potter or I will. He needs to be prepared for the second and third tasks. If something happens to Mr. Potter that is permanent, you will have my resignation the next minute."
"…Very well…Minerva."
"Sighing too much can cause hearing problems, Albus."
"That is why I have lemon drops, Minerva. It is more effective than gum."
"I have something to buy you for Christmas, then."
"I would appreciate the thought. Anything else?"
"You did not answer my question earlier."
"..."
"Did you just sigh again?"
"If you would like, I will inform Alastor that I will be tutoring young Harry…unless you want to."
"How long have I known you, Albus?"
"Since I was a teacher at Hogwarts, Minerva."
"And you don't think I know when you are trying to avoid something?"
"I…well…"
"I will help Harry in his tasks and anything else he may need help with, but I will need to be updated on what you know about the task…starting now."
"…Very well."
While the Headmaster explained to the assistant everything he knew of the second task (while withstanding McGonagall's orders to stop sighing), yet another conversation was taking place.
"So you don't have anything?"
"No, Ron. It's only been a week. What makes you think I would've thought of a plan by now?"
"I thought you wanted Harry!"
"And I thought you wanted Hermione! Either you help me think of something, or we go to plan B and you go down to Hogsmeade and buy a lot of butterbeer for when she gets dumped. I'll just have to get Harry to take me after he dumps her. I'm in no rush. You, on the other hand, are desperate. Now think of something!"
"Well… … … …what about a love potion?"
"It's a fourth-year spell. I wouldn't learn it in time and you suck at making potions."
"If we beg enough, do you think mum could bring us some?"
"…No…I don't think so. It takes time to brew it. She told me so before I went to Hogwarts when she used it on dad."
"What about Snape? He hates Harry and Hermione. I'm sure he has some."
"Firstly, If Snape had a love potion, he wouldn't be a grumpy git all the time. Secondly, I don't know about you, but I do not want him to have permanent blackmail over me for the rest of my life. Love potion is illegal, and you know he's gonna hold this over our heads. The sick bastard might turn me into his sex slave."
"Oi, I don't want to hear it!"
"Keep your bloody voice down! Myrtle could hear you."
"Oh, forgot about her. So, what else can you think of?"
"Well, I could always try seduction."
"Worth a shot, but I don't think it's gonna work."
"You haven't seen how good I work."
"And I don't want to know."
"What was that?"
"Hermione will hex you. That's why I said it's not gonna work."
"Hermione is the smartest witch, she's not the best."
"You're right; she's the second-best. Harry's the best dueler around. And once Hermione tells him what you're doing, there'll be real bats chasing you, and not bogies."
"They're not that heartless."
"They both stopped talking to me and Hermione's not doing my homework anymore."
"That is pretty heartless, just because you don't like their…relationship.
"It gets easier to say."
"I bet."
"Any other ideas?"
"Not that I can think of."
"He he he…"
"What was that?"
"Myrtle's back. Let's go, Gin."
Believe it or not, another conversation has taken place.
"Did everything go as planned, Sister Daphne?"
"Yes, Sister Spinett. Both Patil twins have joined and this Loony blonde is under consideration. We have a rather hyper second-year who somehow figured out about us and wants to join. We told her that she has to wait 'til she develops, but she isn't taking no for an answer. I'm not sure, but I think her name is Miranda. Sister Susan is dealing with her now. We have attempted to get Lavender to join us, but she has a bad habit of gossiping."
"We could use a tongue-tying curse on her."
"With all due respect, Sister, the tongue-tying curse is a complicated one to perform."
"I will owl one of our graduated sisters to come in and place the curse on her. I believe Sister Nympho Dora might do the job nicely. Any more news?"
"Well, there is the matter of Harry Potter's date for the Yule Ball."
"Are you declining the offer? I'm next in line, you know."
"I never had the offer."
"What do you mean, and please do speak up."
"Harry already has a date to the Ball."
"There was no one else authorized to go the Ball with him unless he asked! Who is it?"
"Hermione Granger."
"Please speak up so I can address this problem."
"Harry asked Hermione Granger to the Ball, Sister."
"…"
"Alicia?"
"H-he did?"
"Yes, he did. I confirmed it. There is also one other problem."
"Just give me a second… … … … …okay."
"Harry Potter knows about us."
At that moment, the conversation could not continue, as there was only one person conscious, and Daphne really didn't feel like having a monologue.
Now, back to the original conversation…
"So, I'm offered a harem because of all that?"
Hannah nodded. "Basically. I could name a few more, but we don't have much time."
Hermione nodded, looking very pale. "Yes… we should go…Harry, time to go."
"OK," Harry said dully. At the beginning of the conversation, Harry was more than ready to reject the Harem. Now…after all the reasons and explanations that she had given him, the only reason that kept him from doing the Happy Harry Potter Party dance was Hermione. He knew that whatever they said, he wouldn't accept them unless Hermione did (which he fiercely doubted).
"Could you at least think about our offer?" Hannah asked, but the question was directed towards Hermione this time. Hermione now started to look uncomfortable. She was raised around morals and fairy tales. She was raised with the idea of a man and a woman being together. She had never thought much about anything else. She had once read about a harem at her local library back home, but that book was in the fiction section, so she didn't pay much attention to it.
"I will," she grudgingly promised. Then she remembered something and went into the books that were in her arm.
"What are you getting?" Harry asked his girlfriend.
Hermione said nothing, but handed him a sheet of muggle paper, which immediately caught Harry's attention. Harry skimmed through the paper.
Questions for (Master) Harry James Potter:
1) What are your measurements for your robes?
2) Shirts?
3) Pants?
4) Underwear? Boxers, Briefs, or Questionable?
6) How often do you shave, and which would you prefer: clean, stubble, trim, bush, or all?
8) What type of hair gel do you use (If any)?
12) Please give us a summary of your home-life.
13) Do you have any questions about the Wizarding World?
17) Have you figured out the second task, and if so, can we help you?
19) We would like to think that these last two questions are the most important – Would you describe yourself more as a mandrake (mean, short in many ways, and can be handled, but not easily) or a hippogriph (good-mannered, sometimes known as wild, can sometimes be demanding/dominating, can be ridden all day, and …well, you should know the muggle term, like a horse)? There is no in-between.
20) Have you always fantasized about a bunch of girls making your life easier?
Please answer these questions, and they will be your command.
HHH
Harry was floored by these questions. He was sweating harder than Hermione before she takes End-of-Year exams. He found that to be quite a feat.
Hermione was looking over Harry's shoulder at the list, because she did not want to read it until Harry did. Some of these questions, Hermione couldn't help but be curious.
"There is another question that should be on that paper," Hermione commented with humor edging in her voice.
"If you're thinking about the obvious question, there are potions and spells for that," Hannah explained, only embarrassing Harry further. What she said next almost made Harry wish he would be in class, but his status as a male kept him rooted to the spot. "Although it wouldn't hurt to know a number…"
"Yes, he was talking about that earlier," Hermione said. Once again, curiosity overrides all, and she was very curious of Harry's doubts.
"I…umm…"
"All we need is a number," Hannah probed.
"And if you don't know, I'm sure Hannah would like to assist in measuring." When Hannah gave an affirmative nod, Harry couldn't take it. He whispered something in Hermione's ear. It was quite comical when her eyes widened slowly. Hermione could not understand what Harry meant by not up to their standards. She had to ask him, just to make sure. "Centimeters?" She asked cautiously.
Harry shook his head, a confused look on his face. "It was inches…not that I measured or anything," he said quickly, "just a guess."
"Hannah, I think you have to inspect him," Hermione said, stuck in a daze.
"Not that I'm complaining, but aren't you the girlfriend? What did he say?"
Hermione walked over and whispered in her ear. Hannah suddenly felt woozy. And very excited. "I think I'm going to have to confirm that," Hannah said, as if in a trance.
"Hannah, I was only kidding!" Hannah's suggestion shocked Hermione out of her daze.
"Could you say it again and mean it?" She asked with a puppy-dog pout, that if Harry had seen, he would've killed himself before Hermione could. Instead, he was looking down, ashamed.
Hermione looked at him to catch his reaction. When she saw him, she slapped him on the shoulder lightly. "Harry, you have nothing to be ashamed about!"
"I…don't?" Harry asked dumbly, looking up to her face.
"In fact, you have something to brag about," Hannah said. "I can't wait to tell the rest this discovery!"
"Wait a minute…so I'm not small?"
"Harry, how could you ever think that? At your age, average is four through six."
"Really?"
"I must go now. Daphne wanted to talk to me about something?"
"Just don't miss class," Hermione told her as she grabbed Harry by the hand.
"Believe it or not, it's an actual meeting. We have to update Sister Spinett on everything that's happened so far. She's probably already started. Besides, I have a free period."
"How many Gryffindor girls are in this harem, Hannah?" She asked with a heavy sigh.
Hannah didn't answer immediately. Hermione knew she wouldn't like this number. She was right. "About seven or eight are still in Hogwarts. There have been more recruits lately. I think Daphne's doing it."
"Who are the Gryffindors?"
"I'm not supposed to tell you."
"Why not?"
"We weren't supposed to even tell you, especially Harry! We were only supposed to tell you right before or after Graduation. Daphne only told you because she got mad about the rumors that you two are dating and she was going to ask you to the Ball!" She had turned to Harry. "If they find out that you know, I they are probably going to obliviate you."
"What?" they both asked, alarmed.
"Although I'm sure they won't do that now. Since it has been confirmed that you two are dating, we don't have to. We figured that we had to wait until Harry becomes a randy, hormone-powered teenager. A girlfriend is a start. I wish we thought of that earlier. The only reason we had bided our time was because when Harry finally started dating a girl, she would most likely be a member of our Harem."
"So, what if I'm not a sex-starved teenager?" Harry asked curiously.
"We wait," Hannah said simply. "All I'm saying is that you have until Seventh Year to decide. Then we really must be getting on with our lives; you know, dating and such. And we won't disband until we get an answer from you after Graduation. Any other rejection would be void. However, if you need practice for Hermione when it becomes the 'right time', or if Hermione is extremely tired from your manliness and you could go another round, feel free to reach me…and the other girls, I guess. We have a motto. 'All serve one, one for all, all for life.' They are members for life until Harry dismisses them, then they become honorary graduates.
"Harry, you should at least consider it. I don't see you getting awards for what you do every year, constantly saving lives. You get slander from the Daily Prophet. I wouldn't exactly think of that as an Order of Merlin. You don't think you deserve more? Any guy would be jumping at this opportunity. You're different. You wouldn't abuse any of us. You wouldn't make us do anything we wouldn't want to do (although I can assure you, we would want to do it). You wouldn't think of us as your slaves. You'd think of us as girlfriends, each and every one of us, although Hermione would always remain the leader.
"Once again, we will not take no for an answer until three-and-a-half years from now. Opinions and views can change by then. I'll be seeing you guys around, and tell absolutely no one about us unless they can be completely trusted." And with that, she walked out of the deserted corridor and into the hallway.
They were staring at the spot she had just vacated for over a minute, digesting the information that had just been force onto them. Of course, Hermione spoke first.
"Harry?"
"Y-yeah?"
"I think you should really consider it."
"W-why?"
"Because you're doing it anyway, even though you want me to be happy. Harry, I want you to be one hundred percent happy."
"But I'm already happy, Hermione. I've got you."
"Oh, Harry. I…I think I love you."
"Well…I think I love you too."
Since it was obvious that they had a slow, deep kiss turned into heated snogging session next, we will skip to another conversation.
"Hello, Professor."
"Ten points to Slytherin, Draco."
"Why, sir?"
"For greeting a teacher properly. Ten points to Slytherin for your curiosity."
"Thank you, Professor."
"Ten points to Slytherin for thanking a professor, Draco."
"Professor Snape?"
"Yes?"
"Are you going to keep awarding points to me?"
"No… but ten points to Slytherin for trying. It never hurts to ask."
A/N: I've been really busy lately. I've had to do this in one sitting, so forgive my spelling errors. Please point out any mistakes if there are any.
Don't worry, the Harem won't stay major. I'm just winging it until the Ball, and I have no Idea how many chapters are left. I'd say around two or three, but there might be more.
I think I'm going to make a Harem fic later, with Hermione as the leader, of course. It would possibly be a sequel to this story. I haven't decided yet. I'm already working on three stories.
Fifty points if you can tell me who 'Miranda' is?
Recap: Check out my Profile Rant, vote on the poll, and please review.
Chapter Five - Change in Plans
Disclaimer: If I owned Harry Potter, You would find this story at your local Barnes & Noble for forty dollars. Costs extra for paperback (if you're into books with covers) and hardback… You'd have to give me a harem first. (Eh, I don't know why I've been so attached to the idea of Harems lately.)
When I said that the sequel is Harry/Harem, I meant that it will become Harry/Harem in the first chapter of the sequel. This story is going to be Harry/Hermione until the end. Just clearing it up. Again, I'm still wondering if I should do it at all. I'm considering waiting until all of my stories are done.
Oh yeah, and sorry for the missing fluff when our couple confessed their love to each other. I used up all of my fluff reserves in the other stories. You might see some during the Yule Ball itself, but no promises.
And now, on with the story.
Dear Mum and Dad,
I know that I have not updated you recently on what's happened with the Tournament and all, and for that I apologize. I have just been so busy helping Harry with the task, dealing with my personal life, and just plain unnatural things, that I didn't have much free time. I'll update you on the task first.
The last time I updated you was during Harry's first victory during the First Task. The Second Task may be harder this time. Yesterday, we figured out the egg and we were not pleased by the riddle's implications. This is the riddle.
"Come seek us where our voices sound,
We cannot sing above the ground,
And while you're searching, ponder this:
We've taken what you'll sorely miss,
An hour long you'll have to look,And to recover what we took,
But past an hour- the prospect's black,
Too late, it's gone, it won't come back."
Apparently they are going to take something of value from Harry and he must rescue it. He will have to go underwater for about an hour to save it or he will never be able to recover it again. We are still wondering how Harry could breathe underwater for a full hour, but when we asked Neville (he helped us figure out the clue), he suggested that we use Gillyweed. It's a plant that you swallow, allowing you to breathe under water. It's our best choice right now. What puzzled us was how the Headmaster – or anyone else, for that matter – could find out what the most important item to Harry is. We then realized that the Yule Ball was before the Second Task. Harry had pointed out that the song/poem said absolutely nothing about an item. He believes that the champion's date would surely become a hostage for the second task. Personally, I don't want to believe that he is right. The first task was nothing but a worthless and rusty silver egg. I don't want to believe that they could just skip to a person. But I think that it is possible. Suffice to say, I'm a little scared of what might happen, but Harry has assured me that Dumbledore will not let anything dangerous happen.
Which brings me to the topic of my personal life. I suggest that at this moment that Dad please stop reading this letter. This section is for Mum only. If you do choose to read this, Dad, I would hope that you keep reading to the end and not stomp off in mid-sentence. As you know, I have two friends that are males. As you also know, I like one of them. Well, two weeks ago, A Yule Ball was announced, traditional for the Tri-Wizard Tournament. On the same day the Ball was announced, he asked me to go to the ball with him. Of course I said yes. If Dad is still reading, then I hope you realize that I will never talk to you again if you give him so much as a scrape. I told you both in the past years that he is a really sweet guy and he's the only person who has ever stood up for me. I really like him, and he told me that he really liked me too. Harry has never lied to me before, and has never spoken out about any feelings before, so I believe him.
Unfortunately, my other best friend – although I don't think I can even call him a friend anymore, if he ever was – Ron, did not like the fact that Harry and I are together. He seemed mad. He hadn't talked to me since Harry and I told him, which was a few hours after Harry asked me to the ball. I initially thought it was because he would feel left out because Harry and I would spend more time around each other. Harry told me something that I thought was preposterous, but still made me nervous and more than a little worried. He said that Ron fancied me. I said that it couldn't be, seeing as we had always argued in the past and the only reason he even talks to me is because I am one of Harry's best friends. I chalked it up to hormones, and I'm positive about it. He doesn't go anywhere near us anymore. He sits on the other side of the classroom from us. Harry says when he goes to his dorm to go to bed, Ron's either already sleeping or not there yet. I have caught him a few times glaring at Harry and me. We believe that his sister, Ginny, is on his side. I told you, Mum, that Ginny has a large crush on Harry. Actually, she has a crush on the Boy Who Lived. I hadn't seen her in a while, and when I do see her, she makes an excuse and leave before I can catch her. We believe that they're planning to split us up. I don't know how they're going to do that, and I doubt it would happen now that we are on alert, but I think they're planning something.
I have more news for you, but I want to see what your reactions would be to this bit of news. I will tell you when I get back this summer. There's something else I have to tell you – I won't be returning this Christmas, because the Yule Ball is on Christmas Day. I'm terribly sorry, but I really want to go to the ball with Harry. I promise I'll be with you next Christmas.
Mum, I have a personal favor to ask of you. I know that you bought me a Ball dress, but I want to wear something more special. This is, after all, my first dance, and I think I need something that doesn't flare out waist down. Harry is slowly learning how to dance, so I don't think it would be wise to dance with something that is large and droops to the floor. I would like to have something a little loose like a formal dress and able to see my feet. It would be awkward and discomforting any other way. Could you please send me the money with Hedwig? (that beautiful white owl that handed you the letter. It's Harry's owl.) Harry offered to pay for my dress, but I didn't want him to, so we agreed that if you send muggle money, Harry would keep it and hand me the galleons. I don't know the pound-to-galleon ratio, but I suspect Harry knows. Knowing him, if I gave him twenty pounds, he would give me a hundred galleons. (Did I mention that Harry inherited a fortune and almost never uses it? That answers one of your questions, Dad.)
I found out that you could come to the second and third tasks, so if you don't have any appointments, I would love for you to come. At the moment, Harry only has me and Neville to support him. I told you that the whole school decided to cheer for Harry again after first task, but most of them are still a bit wary. There is also the possibility of me being at the bottom of a lake. But I'm pretty sure you figured that out by now.
Hope to see you soon and I love you,
Hermione
P.S.—Yes, mum, I may have told Harry what I said earlier. He told me something very similar, also.
The Grangers were having mixed emotions.
"Dan?"
"Yeah?"
"You're not going to kill him."
"He's getting a dentist appointment soon."
"You are not going to do anything to his teeth."
"She didn't say I could," he said with a grim smile.
Emma looked at the letter again. "She did."
"Where?"
Emma showed him the parchment. "Apparently, if you give him so much as a scrape – including a tooth scrape, Dan – she will never talk to you again."
Dan contemplated these options. On the one hand, the boy would be dead from excessive laughing gas and choking on a drill while swishing too much toothpaste. On the other, his daughter wouldn't talk to her. Just another reason to hate this Potter kid that he had known for over three years.
"Stop trying to think of reasons of why you hate Harry," Emma chastised her husband. She knew him all too well.
"Hermione said I can't do anything to him…she said nothing about you…"
"That's because I encouraged her to get Harry. I'm glad he made the first move, or she never would've gotten him."
"You're okay with this?"
"I practically forced her to do it," Emma replied with a pleased smile. "Almost every single one of her letters are about Harry. She doesn't even talk about her classes anymore. She hadn't recommended a book for me to read this whole year."
"But—"
"She loves him, Dan. So we love him."
"Okay, now you're going a bit too far. How do you know that? She's too young to be in love!"
"I hope you noticed that our little girl is more mature than she is. I think she would know the definition of love verbatim. I think she would know it when she sees it."
"But she never said it."
"Firstly, a mother knows. And secondly, she did tell us. It's in the letter."
"I would know if it said it in the letter," Dan said, and scanned the paper again, looking for another reason to buy that new drill he saw at that convention.
Emma shook her head at her husband. Harry was rich, sweet, and – from Hermione's description – quite handsome, and he still wasn't good enough for Dan's specifications. She wondered what it would take for him to accept it – sparkling teeth? An acceptance into Oxford? Masters in Dentistry?
She shook her head once again before she walked to her room for some paper and two hundred pounds for her daughter's new dress. She had known that Hermione's dress was skirting out because she didn't want anyone to dance close to her, who ever that person may be. Not to mention the fact that Hermione first asked her, while they were shopping for a dress during the summer, if she could have a dress with straps. Now she seemed to be pulling out all the stops. Emma knew that she had nothing to worry about, as she knew that Harry was a complete gentleman. She was more worried about Hermione, although not much.
As she found her pen, she chuckled when she realized that Dan would probably never find out the hidden message in Hermione's letter.
Hope to see you soon and I love you,
Hermione
P.S.—Yes, mum, I may have told Harry what I said earlier. He told me something very similar, also.
Alastor Moody was in quite a predicament.
Well, actually, he was in a trunk.
However, Barty Crouch Jr., an exceptional Mad-Eye imitator, was in an actual predicament. He had to make sure that Harry Potter was trained enough to go through the second tasks. His sources (in the form of Cedric Diggory) informed him that Potter had, amazingly, figured out the clue, the riddle, and the task. But he didn't know if Potter had thought of a way to breathe underwater. Not to mention that he had to train the boy for the third – and most challenging, he figured – task.
But how, exactly, was he going to do that if he wasn't allowed to speak to Harry about the damn tasks. He was going to kill Minerva when the Dark Lord rises again – if he rises again.
Alicia didn't know what to do.
How was she going to tell their leader this bit of news? Katie would be pissed, she knew. Angelina would be mad, too. Harry Potter is slipping away from them, and they still had no idea. She had thought about dismissing Daphne (or at least spanking her) but couldn't, because she had recruited a lot of Gryffindors in the past week and she was very useful at the moment. Not to mention that Daphne had quite the temper and was a decent dueler. Well, better that herself.
"You called me, Alicia?"
Alicia flinched at the concerned voice behind her and turned around to see the founder of what they hoped to be Harry Potter's heart. "Hello, Katie. I just wanted you to know something. It's urgent."
Katie knew that she was nervous. It really must've been something bad. "What," she asked her. "Did someone find out about us?"
Alicia nodded.
"Well, who is it, and why aren't they obliviated?"
"Because we can't."
"What do you mean, 'we can't'?"
"We're not allowed to obliviate him."
"We can't obli— wait, 'him'? You mean he's a teacher?"
"I…no, he's not."
"Oh, sweet Merlin…"
"You're handling it better than I did."
"Erm… Halo."
"Um… Hello, Mr. Krum."
"Call me Viktor."
"Oh. Hello Viktor. Oh, sorry, you're sitting in my boyfriend's chair."
He didn't move. Hermione realized at that moment that she had a problem.
"Could you please get up? He should be coming any minute."
"I just vanted to ask you eef you vanted to go to ze baal weeth me. (A/N: Sorry if that sounded too similar to Fleur's speaking.)
Hermione pretended to look confusedly at him. "I did tell you that I have a boyfriend, right?"
"Ves." Viktor seemed unperturbed. That disturbed Hermione a little bit more.
"Then doesn't it mean that he is usually the one to take me to the Ball?"
"Did he aask you? You shood nevu assoom."
"Yes, he did. Now could you please get out of his chair?"
"Vould he be jalos?"
"If you mean 'jealous', then no. Harry trusts me, and frankly, he already knows that you have this bad and disturbing habit of staring at me."
"I… voo see…"
"In the muggle world, that's known as stalking, and you could face serious charges if I told a professor."
Viktor narrowed his eyes at the girl before him. Was that a threat? Did he say something wrong? Did she translate something in his speech? It had to be something to make her feel dislike towards him. He had never felt that before, except girls on the opposite Quidditch team. Even then, he could swear that their brooms gave off a humming sound when he was close enough to hear (which was fairly close). But did he really have to spell it out to her?
"I…like…you."
"Okay…" there was a time to be nice and to let people down easy, "…and I can barely tolerate you at this moment, and I will not ask you again to get out of that seat." There was also a time where want to ram your favorite quill in their f#kin eyes.
Hermione laughed on the inside. She even watched her language in her mind. She could've sworn she heard a bleep in her head.
Once again, Krum did not move. "Vy don't you jost geeve me a chonce?"
"Because, not only do I have a loyal and loving boyfriend – which I've said repeatedly, by the way – but you are getting on my last nerve. Haven't you even heard the rumors of talking to me while I'm reading?"
"I…I hav not. Vat is your name?" He would have to learn the name of the girl who rejected him to report to the headmaster. After all, he's a Death Eater. He could enter an agreement with her.
"I don't think you need to know," Hermione replied primly as she gathered her books. "The only reason I'm still here is because Harry hasn't shown up yet, but I'm sure he'll understand. Good day, and I appreciate that you would stop harassing me." She stood up, her (favorite) quill in hand, and was about to leave, until Viktor grabbed her arm as she passed by him.
Several things followed at precisely the same time.
Harry, who was watching the entire scene with a frown on his face, snapped at this moment. He already had his wand out, but he forgot it was in his hand. After all, he was only feet away from Viktor's back, under an invisibility cloak. He balled his fist and aimed it straight at Krum's ear, letting it land with a resounding 'SMACK'. Dudley had taught him a few tricks on how to fight, such as how to hurt as much as possible without knocking them unconscious, to drag out the pain until you couldn't feel any pain for a few hours. He was actually thinking about cutting off the arm that had actually believed it was worthy enough to touch Hermione, but as he saw blood fly a little from Krum's nose and mouth, he figured that he should do that after his muggle side tired out.
Hermione was about to attack Viktor with her quill until he let go of her quickly, sending her a few feet away into a bookcase. She distantly noticed that the bookcase was softer than usual as she watched in fascination as her truly loving and loyal boyfriend, whose cloak slowly slipped off, pummeled the crap out of her assaulter. God, she loved that man.
Katie, after being briefed in by Daphne, was walking to Hermione's customary table (Bookworm's Bench, as most people liked to call it) when she saw Hermione arguing with Viktor Krum. It didn't take long to figure out the conversation, and she was less than amused by it. When she saw Hermione get up after speaking of how much loyalty she had for Harry, she realized that almost a quarter of the whole school merged into one group had some very serious competition, and they were certainly on the loosing side. But, as she saw Viktor grab Hermione by the arm, she immediately pulled out her wand. As she was aiming, she didn't know why Viktor suddenly started jerking his head, and after about three times of swift head moving, he let go of Hermione, who was softly tugging on her arm. At that moment, Katie realized what Harry really needed. He didn't need a Harem. Well, not yet, anyways. He didn't need girls bothering him on a daily basis (once again, not yet). And he certainly didn't need stalkers. For him or his girlfriend.
He needed bodyguards.
How come she hadn't thought of it before? It was obvious, really! Every year, Harry was threatened to death, and every year, it just got worse and worse. He never had anyone to protect him except Hermione. In fact, he seems to be protecting everyone. The Headmaster had not done a good job. Well, that had to change. She had to make sure of that. The Harem would be back in a few years or whenever Harry wanted it back. After all, why would anyone want to please a dead man walking? She would make sure that the harem would protect him with their lives. If they didn't, then they didn't deserve Harry at all.
Setting her resolve, she first aimed a cushioning spell at the bookcase that Hermione was about to hit. She turned her attention back to Viktor and softly gasped as she saw the cloak fall off the invisible madman. She was staring, motionless at the man that was honestly pummeling the crap out of Hermione's assaulter with a look of cold fury and no regret that sent shivers and tingles down her spine. Merlin, she loved that man. Shaking her head, she wondered what she was going to do now. Harry seemed to be winning this fight, as Viktor hadn't even found out who was hitting him. Before she could watch any more, a buzzing sound disturbed her viewing of the show. Too enamoured in the fight before her to look away, she absently swatted her hand towards the source that was next to her. As her hand smacked the bookcase, she made a mental note to scourgify her hands later.
When Harry was finally tired, he looked towards Hermione, who was still staring at him in shock.
"You…okay…love?"
Hermione appeared to not hear, as she was looking at the bruises on Viktor. She was sure that both eyes were blackening. She did not know that Harry had that much strength. She knew that he had plenty of magical strength, but enough physical strength to take out a professional Quidditch player!
"Hermione?" Harry asked warily. Was she in shock? Krum was going to miss both of his arms in a second.
Hermione looked back at Harry and gave a soft smile "I'm okay, love."
Before he could even blush at this term of endearment, not even realizing that he said it himself, the devil himself showed in a stuffy and angry woman's costume in the name of 'Madame Pince'. "Just what is going on—?"
Her question is interrupted by her answer of Viktor falling out of his chair with a groan.
"What is the meaning of this?" She shrilled at Harry, who was walking over to Hermione. Before she had the chance to yell at someone she never thought she would yell at, someone relieved her of the burden…
…By pointing a wand at her temple and whispering, "Obliviate!"
Hermione shrieked when she heard the incantation, and seeing the librarian's eyes become unfocused and dreamy made her almost want to sob. "Why did you do that?" She whispered to Katie with a forceful voice, not realizing that there was no more reason to talk softly in the library if someone was just assaulted, another was beaten up, and the librarian was temporarily indisposed.
Katie paid no mind while she confunded Pince. "Confundo! You will go back to your desk," she commanded, "and you have heard nothing. There was no noise around this area. Do you understand?"
"Yes." And with that, Madame Pince walked out of the area. Katie smiled at her work before she turned back to the two dumbstruck students and the now unconscious foreign student. Wearing an amused grin, she walked towards them and keeled over the unconscious body. After a few seconds of observing the roughed up face, she spoke.
"And now you know why we made a harem."
That seemed to break a little of the tension. Hermione decided to speak.
"Harry, when did you get here?"
Harry, who was now rubbing the arm that Viktor grabbed, spoke softly into her ear, but loud enough for Katie to hear. "Around the time he asked you to the ball. "Are you okay?"
"Didn't you ask me that?"
"Could you say it again? It calms my nerves."
"I think I should be asking you that question, then."
While they were conversing for a few more seconds, Katie walked around the perimeter, checking around for anything suspicious. There was a portrait, but it was empty at the moment, and she was sure that whoever it was wasn't there before the incident began, either. She breathed a sigh of relief. Harry and Hermione turned their attention to her.
"Don't let me interrupt your moment," she said, apologizing to them.
"Could you please explain to me why you just did that?" Hermione asked, now more calmly.
"I obliviated her and confunded her," she explained to her. When she realized that it wasn't explanation enough, she continued. "There was no other way. Even if Krum got kicked out, so are you. You know how she is. I'll be damned if you're going to get assaulted and kicked out of the library on my watch."
"Wait a minute – what do you mean by that?" Hermione asked her.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. We've…well, I've dropped the Harem temporarily. Think of it as a small hiatus. Instead, we figured that you could use some bodyguards."
"Wait. Are you telling me that the entire harem is going to turn into an organization to keep Harry safe?"
"Basically, yes. Temporarily, at least."
This is something I would definitely like," Hermione said, after giving it some thought. After all, with the Tournament and what just happened now, she was easily convinced.
Harry, who had enough on his plate, just stared at the unconscious form of Viktor. Those marks on his battered face just didn't look permanent enough. The only thing that was stopping Harry from doing any worse is the fact that the previous beating was only in self-defense. If this guy, or anyone else for that matter, touch his Hermione again without her permission, he would make sure that they would have a hard time breathing from then on, if they breathed at all.
Looking around he figured that they should leave the library in case someone else shows up.
Hermione, as if reading his mind, asked Katie if they could walk and talk. As they walked out of the library, Harry asked the girls if Viktor would tell on them.
"I don't think he would," Katie said with a small grin. "After all, he's an eighteen-year-old professional Quidditch player. If word gets out that he's…" she searched for a word, "…well, gotten the shit beaten out of him by a fourteen-year-old – no matter who he is – because he was warned multiple times, he would be the laughing stock of the Wizarding World."
"Do you think I should've just challenged him to a Wizard's duel?" Harry asked.
"Harry, you're not advanced enough in spells to duel him!" She cautioned.
Harry just shrugged. "I might get in a few Reducto's."
"Harry, you should be taking these unnecessary risks for me."
"She's right," Katie agreed, "that's what we're here for."
"Come again?" Harry asked the girl, confusion showing.
After being briefed in on what Katie was doing and planning, Harry agreed immediately, keeping in mind of what almost happened to Hermione.
Later that day, Hermione received a reply from her mum, with two hundred pounds in an envelope. She blushed when she read that her mother had indeed figured out the hidden message, and her dad was still trying to find it. She smiled when her mother wrote that she was behind her one hundred percent, and after threatening he to not let Harry go, she promised that they weren't mad at her for coming home this Christmas, as she had a really god excuse. As she traded the galleons with Harry, she received five hundred galleons. She looked at him with a disbelieving look, before he smirked at her and said, "Keep it; so I won't have to worry about a month anniversary present."
She just kissed him and mentally reminded herself that tomorrow was indeed their one month anniversary. Thank goodness it was a Hogsmeade weekend.
As she walked around the bustling streets of Hogsmeade, arm-in-arm with her boyfriend, the first thing Hermione realized was the stares that they were both receiving.
She could easily spot the different crowds of stares. She could see the harem-turned-temporary bodyguards staring at her and Harry, making sure no known enemies were anywhere near them. She could see the girls – who weren't in the harem – glaring at the girl who seemed to have stolen their date. She could even spot out a few boys glaring at Harry for what he explained to Hermione as 'taking the smartest and most beautiful girl from them', which only confused Hermione. The only reason she wasn't going to say that the boys were glaring at her for the same reason as the girls (which, honestly, freaked he out) was that they were all Ravenclaws, a house that prized knowledge (and knowledgeable girls, of course). It was official; Everyone knew that Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are officially together. They would've found out anyway in a week, they both figured.
After she had found the perfect dress (which she refused to show to Harry), she decided to buy something for her faithful date (which he had reminded her; this was their first official date). She figured that she should buy him a broom cleaning/polishing kit. After thinking it over, she bought him a wand cleaning kit instead, figuring that since he probably won't use his broom for the rest of the year, but he would definitely be exercising his wand over the year. If she played her cards right, next year too.
After Harry thanked her for his present with a toe-curling kiss, they took a carriage back to the Castle, accompanying two members of the The Bodyguard, Parvati and Susan. After a little bit of small talk, and a promise from Hermione that Harry will save both of them a dance, They left towards the castle.
When Harry reached his dorm, he looked in his rucksack for a certain parchment. After activating it, he looked around the map and saw that Rita was in the library. Before Harry could leave the room he assumed was empty, a voice stopped him.
"Harry!" An excited voice yelled.
"Myrtle?"
Next chapter is the Yule Ball itself, thus becoming the end of the story. Sometimes I forget the title and I want to go further, hence the possible sequel. I hope I feel the same way when I finish my other stories.
Just in case you guessed wrong, July 31 will be the long-awaited fanfic. I hope I don't disappoint you. Just to tell you now, I'm still half-way through with Chapter Seven. I have planned 19 chapters, averaging somewhere around 200,000 words (now you know why I keep talking about it – I've been working on it since early March), but it might change.
Does anyone support the bodyguard idea? You can't tell me that Harry and Hermione don't need one. Could anyone recommend something Ron and Ginny could do besides a potion? I've seen mainly that in other fics (that and Imperious curses/Cunfundus charms) and I can't think of anything else. Maybe an intervention…
When an Animagus dies in its form, does it turn back into a human.
Anyway, please review, and the poll is gonna close next week, and while one of the choices is in the lead (not saying which one) another is close behind. I need a clear lead to decide. Please vote! (and review, but not in that order).