Harry and Hermione were examining the endless rows of titles in Grimmauld's library. She had already retrieved more than two dozen books that she wanted to read in the remaining days of the summer, and hoped to talk Sirius into letting her take some to Hogwarts. It was a treasure trove of material, even if many of the books were decidedly dark.
They had returned from the Burrow several days ago, and both were pleased with the relative calm at Grimmauld. They were even more pleased that they could sleep together whenever the mood struck them. Hermione kept a separate room to keep up appearances, but most nights she slept snuggled up against Harry.
He had laughed with glee at the revelation that Ron and Tamsin might be dating. Their plan was working. It would give them some breathing room this year, as neither thought Ron was ready for the Pride. Especially when his little sister might be joining. Harry wasn't certain how to feel about that, given that the twins were there. Hermione had sent a letter to Angelina, begging for assistance.
Both turned at the sound of a cleared throat. Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway of the library with a genial smile.
"Good afternoon, Harry. Hermione. I hope I'm not interrupting your studies."
"Oh. No, sir, I'm just indulging myself," she answered for them.
"And this is a fine place to do it, so long as you stay away from the uppermost shelves. I'm glad to have found you together."
He pulled two envelopes from within his robes and handed them over.
"Since I needed to speak with Harry anyway, I took it upon myself to play delivery owl for your school letters."
Hermione opened hers first, and gasped at the prefect's badge that glittered within. Harry followed, and his eyebrows rose when he discovered a similar one.
"Yes!" she squealed, and hugged him.
The Headmaster smiled. "I can think of no two students who deserve them more. Congratulations."
"Thank you, sir," he said. He wasn't even certain what prefects did, other than maintain order, but he wouldn't complain about access to their luxurious bathroom.
"You are both quite welcome. We've arranged for a trip to Diagon Alley in a few days. The Weasleys will go with you, as well as a few members of the Order. Security must be tighter this year, I'm afraid."
"I can live with that. I don't want some Death Eater tossing a portkey at me."
"Nor do I. I would like to speak to you alone, Harry, if I may. It's time we had an important discussion."
Harry looked at Hermione. "If it's about Voldemort or my scar, I'm going to tell her anyway. I'd rather she stays."
"I thought you might say that. But you must understand, Miss Granger, how critical it is that you tell no one of what you learn."
"I understand, sir," she said seriously.
"Let us have a seat then."
Dumbledore conjured a squashy chair for himself. Harry and Hermione sat in a pair of the library's antique chairs. The Headmaster cast a series of privacy spells around the room, locking them in.
"Now, you've already told her about the prophecy, I assume?"
"Yes."
"Straight to the heart of the matter then. You asked me how you came to have a portion of Voldemort's soul in your scar, and I am ready to give you an answer. It has to do with why Voldemort is still around, despite the fact that you defeated him as a child."
Harry nodded and leaned forward intently.
"Tom Riddle has always feared death. I believe his quest to achieve immortality started in his school days. Unfortunately, he discovered a truly horrifying method for remaining tethered to this world. It involves a ritual where he splits his soul, and then places a portion of it in a prepared container. The container is called a horcrux. Do not repeat that word among others."
His stomach churned. "That's what I was, wasn't it?"
Dumbledore smiled sadly. "I'm afraid so. But my understanding of what that meant for you was mistaken, and I will be forever grateful for that. The past year has shown me just how fallible my judgment is, and I intend to hide nothing further from you. In fact, I may ask for your assistance in the coming year. We must discover everything we can about Tom's history, what his horcruxes might be, and where he hid them."
"How many does he have?"
"I don't know. That is part of what makes our task so difficult. But we will discover the answer, as they must all be destroyed before Tom can be defeated permanently."
"Merlin," Hermione whispered in horror.
"Quite. I have been busy performing an exhaustive search of the castle. Do you recall, Harry, that Voldemort referred to a ring in Narcissa Malfoy's memory?"
"Er, vaguely."
"It was an item he wished Barty Crouch to recover, and is likely a horcrux. We can assume it is in his possession now, and that he intends to use it somehow to regain a body. He also referred to Crouch being unable to return to Hogwarts for something, which leads me to believe that one is hidden in the castle."
"Have you checked the Chamber of Secrets? Or can you even get in there?"
"Indeed, I have," he said, his eyes twinkling. "I know a trick or two to get around parseltongue passwords. Alas, I have searched it thoroughly, and found nothing of interest. I have moved on to other locations, but Hogwarts is a very old and magical place, with lots of forgotten nooks."
"And you want us to help you?" Hermione asked.
"Perhaps. For now, I merely want you to understand the lay of the land, and what we will be doing this year. I am looking into Tom Riddle's past. A few Order members are aiding me, doing research on artifacts he might be interested in. We are looking for items of historical significance, or things of personal value to Tom."
"The diary," Harry said in sudden understanding. "No wonder that thing was so powerful."
"Exactly. And I think it very likely that his familiar has become one as well. That means, including the ring and whatever item may be in Hogwarts, that he has made at least four. Not including the accidental one he left in you."
"I'm willing to help with any research, sir," Hermione said, then blushed. "That is, if you think I would be useful."
"I will take every advantage of your services, Miss Granger, should I require aid. But there are some books that no student should open. There is likewise Order intelligence that you shall not have access to."
Harry sat back in his seat, reflecting on these new revelations. They had their work cut out for them. No wonder the bastard wouldn't just die. He himself had been helping anchor Voldemort to life until very recently.
"How long have you known I was a horcrux?"
Dumbledore looked at him apologetically. "I never knew for certain. I began suspecting after you delivered the diary to my office. Since then, I have been trying to find a way to remove it from you. But all my sources insisted that a horcrux could not be destroyed without also destroying its vessel. With the prophecy in play, I feared it would be impossible."
He tried not to feel betrayed by that answer, but it was difficult. He didn't think the Headmaster bore him any ill will, but he had expected his death to be necessary—had perhaps even planned for him to die somehow.
"Then how am I still here?"
"Because I am an old man who should know better than to rely solely on himself. It seems that Tom's soul was so unstable that when he attempted to kill you as a baby, a piece of it latched on to you. I had not realized a horcrux could be created accidentally, or that such a fact would even matter. Fortunately, we encountered someone who knew better."
Harry nodded, not happy that the information had been kept from him, but understanding the Headmaster's point of view. He would have been thoroughly freaked out had he known. But the man had been making constant mistakes where he was concerned, and that had to change.
"Thank you for being honest with me, sir. Finally."
Dumbledore had the grace to look abashed. "I am so very sorry for what you've been through, dear boy, and for my part in it. I will keep nothing further from you as it relates to you. And we shall do everything in our power to ensure that the prophecy is fulfilled in your favor."
"About that—I want to continue training. I don't fancy dueling Voldemort, but Hermione and I worked together last year, and Cedric helped us too. That's what kept us alive in the graveyard. Will the Defense Professor be competent this year?"
The old man winced. "As a barrister, yes. Dedalus Diggle, an old friend of mine, has consented to take the position for a year. But it has been many years since he has raised his wand in defense."
Harry groaned. "There has to be someone else who can help."
"I shall think on it. I would do it myself, but I will be far too busy this year."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Harry stared at Hermione in confusion as she dragged him inside his bedroom and slammed the door. He thought she might want a private conversation about horcruxes, but instead she pulled off her robes and slid her knickers down her legs, not bothering with her skirt.
"What are you doing? Dinner is in like ten minutes."
"Then let's be quick about it. I've been wanting to jump you since I saw your new badge. Prefects make me horny."
He laughed as she bent over his bed and flipped up her skirt, exposing her ass to him. He could see the moisture already glistening between her pink lips.
"You little whore," he said fondly, rubbing his fingers along her swollen cleft and slipping one inside. She wriggled her hips against it. He brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply, delighting in her scent.
She smiled at him over her shoulder. "You've turned me into a shameless slut. Now give it to me, Prefect Potter, before I start taking points."
He laughed again and pulled himself out of his trousers, stroking his cock to full arousal as he fingered her. She was wet and eager, and squeezed him with her walls at every caress. It never ceased to amaze him that his bookish best friend could be so carnal.
"You've had fantasies about being a prefect, haven't you?" he said. "Naughty ones."
"Maybe."
He slipped another finger inside her and leaned downed to whisper in her ear. "I'm going to fill your little pussy so full of cum, Prefect Granger, that it will be dripping out of you all night. You'll leave a little puddle on the dining room chair."
She shuddered at his words. "Oh, God."
"If you don't cum before me, I'll have to take points. Or maybe give you a more extreme punishment. A very long detention. There might be spanking involved, you dirty, dirty girl."
He smacked her hard on the ass, and the sound echoed sharply throughout the room. She gasped and drenched his fingers.
"Jesus, Harry, put it in!"
He kissed her on the cheek and shook his head in wonder. Thank Merlin he had been made a prefect. He planned to milk it for all it was worth. He slapped her other ass cheek, leaving a red hand print, and she couldn't contain another gasp.
"You know, I don't think you really deserve your badge, little girl. You haven't studied hard enough. Do you need a reminder to do better?"
"Yes!"
Harry slipped the head of his cock inside her, then slid himself slowly to the hilt. She groaned in satisfaction. He pulled out, amazed that she was already so sopping wet, and spanked her ass again. The noise she made thrilled him, so he did it again. He wrapped his hand around her thick mane of hair and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
"Time to earn your badge, Miss Granger."
He pulled back hard on her hair, forcing her to arch her back, and then drove into her mercilessly. She whimpered and tried to remain upright as he pounded her as hard as he could, slamming his hips into her ass until it shook with beautiful waves. When he smacked it again, she began making noises he'd never heard before.
"You like being pounded by a prefect?" he panted, and smacked her ass cheek so loudly it sounded like a gunshot.
"Yes!" she screamed.
It took only a few more thrusts for her to give a strangled cry and cum around his cock. He kept spanking and pounding into her as she moaned, not releasing her hair until she was a quivering mess. When he did, her hands went to her knees, and he grabbed both hips and grunted as he spent himself inside her, coating her with thick gooey ropes.
She collapsed against the bed when he was finished. He smiled at the state of her. Merlin, she had a filthy imagination.
"Well, you did cum first, Prefect Granger. I guess that means you get to keep your badge."
She turned and grinned wickedly, but before she could speak, a shout echoed through the outside hallway.
"Silencing charms! Use them! And dinner is ready."
Their eyes went wide at the sound of Tonks' voice, and soon neither could control their mortification or their laughter.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The trip to Diagon Alley was a tedious affair for everyone involved. They were just going to pick up supplies, but apparently that necessitated a guard consisting of Remus, Tonks, and the real Alastor Moody, whom they barely knew.
It was even more tedious for Harry because he had an interview with Rita Skeeter.
It was only a week until Sirius' trial, and the Prophet was dubbing it 'The Trial of the Century.' That was overkill, he thought, but Fudge had arranged for him to speak to Skeeter, not only to explain why he believed in his godfather's innocence, but to proclaim his faith in the Minister's leadership.
The interview took place in the Leaky Cauldron. Skeeter was as repugnant as he expected, taking up most of their time together with inane personal questions. There was little time left to shop. He was fitted for new robes at Madam Malkin's, but Mrs. Weasley picked up his other supplies.
Hermione was frustrated with the arrangement too, as she had set up a secret meeting between Ginny and Angelina Johnson. She cajoled Tonks into distracting Mrs. Weasley while they were in Flourish and Blott's, so they could seek out Angelina in a secluded section of the second floor.
Their meeting lasted only ten minutes, but that was long enough for Ginny to be shocked speechless. Mrs. Weasley asked her later if she was feeling alright. Hermione watched her smugly, enjoying the look on her face. It was payback for Ginny's surprise attack. Whatever she had been expecting, clearly Angelina's frank discussion of the Pride had blown her mind.
She wasn't certain what Ginny would do now, but she was positive the girl would visit the alcove to watch.
The only person who enjoyed the outing was Sirius. He had accompanied the group under Polyjuice potion. He claimed he would be doing some shopping for Grimmauld's pantry, but Harry suspected he would slink away to Knockturn to visit his favorite brothel.
The smile on his godfather's face afterwards proved him right.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Hermione strode into the library and stopped dead in her tracks. It was almost two in the morning. She had been up late, engrossed in a book on dark rituals that she knew Dumbledore wouldn't have wanted her to read. She had taken a brief break to use the bathroom, leaving her books and notes behind.
She returned to find Narcissa Malfoy looming over them.
"Excuse me," she said sharply.
Narcissa raised an eyebrow at her tone. "You are excused."
Hermione huffed. "What are you doing down here, Mrs. Malfoy?"
"My name is Lady Malfoy, girl, and I first came to this library when I was three. I have more right to be in this room than you or any other muggleborn. But I must say I am surprised at your choice of reading. Rather dark, isn't it?"
"What I read is none of your concern, and I'll thank you to keep it to yourself."
She shrugged. "I'm sure you're aware I have taken a vow. I won't be owling the Dark Lord about your sudden interest in creating inferi."
Hermione glared at the arrogant witch and gathered her books, deciding she'd rather read in her room. This was the first time she had spoken to Narcissa, or even seen her in the house, but she knew her by reputation. She was every bit as bigoted as her son, even if she had turned on Voldemort to protect him.
Narcissa watched as she organized her things. "Draco tells me you are quite the scholar. You must be excited to return to Hogwarts."
Hermione acknowledged her with a nod, though she knew there was no way Draco had described her as a 'scholar.' "I am. I—I'm sorry he won't be able to attend," she added awkwardly.
"How kind of you to lie so politely."
"He calls me a mudblood at every available opportunity, Lady Malfoy. That's hardly endearing."
"I imagine it isn't."
When she said nothing further, Hermione turned to leave. Before she reached the door, she decided it wouldn't hurt to offer a tiny peace offering. There was no point in making the woman even more unpleasant than she already was.
"I don't know you, ma'am, but I expect it's difficult adjusting to your new circumstances. I just wanted to say that I appreciate the fact that you're doing the right thing. And that Draco is as well."
"I will pass on your regards."
"I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to hear them. Is he alright?"
"Do you care?"
"I don't enjoy watching people suffer, milady, even people that hate me for no reason. That's a Death Eater trait."
Narcissa regarded her coolly for a moment, then looked away. "He is unhappy, but he will endure. He has no choice."
"Neither do I."
"I suppose you don't."
"I may be a worthless mudblood in your eyes, but I belong in this world," she said with conviction. "And I intend to help Harry put Voldemort six feet under."
Narcissa graced her with the smallest of smiles. "For that I would be grateful, Miss Granger. I wish you the best of luck."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Are you both ready?" Remus asked them.
"As I'll ever be," Harry said nervously. "This had better go how we expect."
His former Professor tried to smile reassuringly, but he too was on edge. "It'll be fine. He'll be back here making terrible jokes by the end of the day. Now, this is probably going to be a zoo. I'll go first. You both follow immediately afterwards. Moody and Tonks are waiting on us."
Getting affirmative nods from both, he turned and shouted 'Ministry of Magic' into the fireplace, then disappeared into the green flames.
Hermione went next. Harry followed her a few seconds later, and barely had time to step out of the floo before flashbulbs were going off in his face and people were shouting questions. Moody grabbed his arm, his wand already drawn, as Remus and Tonks cleared a path through the mass of people.
'The Trial of the Century' was at hand. Sirius had turned himself into the Ministry earlier that morning, and now sat in a holding cell under heavy guard. His defense had been prepared, and, from what they knew, the Ministry's prosecution of the charges wouldn't be zealous. Once they publicly verified Sirius' story under veritaserum and admitted that Pettigrew had survived that night in 1981, it was expected that Bones would move to dismiss all charges. Since there had never been a first trial, there wasn't even a conviction to overturn.
Fudge had been willing to acknowledge that it was indeed Pettigrew in the Ministry morgue, as long as nothing about Voldemort or Barty Crouch, Jr. was mentioned.
Reporters shouted questions at him, wanting more information than he had already provided to Skeeter. How close he was to the Minister? Had he been sheltering Sirius all along? What was his favorite quidditch club? Was Hermione his girlfriend? He ignored them all. He would have plenty to say afterwards if things went well.
A drop of sweat rolled down the inside of his arm as they were led to Courtroom Ten. The place was packed. Every Wizengamot seat was filled, and so was every seat available to the public. It was a relief that there were no dementors present.
Moody led them to their seats on a lower balcony. Tonks had Auror duties to perform elsewhere, but Remus took her place. Both men flanked their youthful charges and kept a careful eye on those around them.
Harry examined the faces of the assembled Wizengamot members. He knew some of their family names, but barely recognized any of them by sight. Except for one.
Lucius Malfoy sat next to Cassius Nott, affecting boredom with the entire affair. But Harry could see the tension around his eyes. Despite his immaculate dress robes, he looked as if he hadn't slept for days. He dearly hoped Voldemort was torturing him on a regular basis. Narcissa wasn't able to testify against him due to her marriage contract, or he would likely be awaiting his own trial. Or perhaps not. It wasn't clear how much actual devotion existed in their relationship, but it couldn't be much.
As if aware he was being watched, Lucius looked up and made eye contact with him. His mask fell away, and his eyes burned with hatred. Harry wasn't sure how much he knew. Did he suspect where Draco and Narcissa were? Or did he believe them to be hiding in the Azores?
Whatever he knew, his eyes blamed The-Boy-Who-Lived. Harry returned his gaze fearlessly, trying to pour every ounce of his contempt for the man into his eyes. Malfoy sneered but looked away.
The noise in the room quieted as a wizard he didn't recognize rose from the highest seat in the chamber. Dumbledore wouldn't be acting as Chief Warlock, as he was defending Sirius, but it was no matter. The position had no real authority except for setting agendas and maintaining order.
"It is time for the Wizengamot to hear the case of The Ministry of Magic vs. Sirius Black," the man intoned gravely. "The accused is charged with the murder of a wizard in the first degree, the murder of a dozen muggles, and providing voluntary support to a terrorist organization. Aurors, bring him in."
Harry held his breath, his heart racing, as Sirius was led in. He wasn't in manacles. He was dressed in robes of deep, shimmering red, so dark they almost looked black. His hair had been neatly trimmed. With his shoulders thrown back and his stance confident, he looked every bit the part of a proud, pureblood scion.
"Mr. Black, you are aware of the charges against you. How do you plead?"
"Not guilty," he said firmly.
The chamber filled with excited chatter, and Harry settled into his seat as the trial began.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"To walking these streets as a free man!"
"To dead rats!"
"To the Marauders!"
"To James and Lily!"
"To Harry and Hermione and hippogriffs!"
Harry smiled as the entire room shouted their toasts and downed shots of firewhiskey, water, or wine, depending on the person. He had never felt more relieved.
It was over. They had won. Sirius had walked out of the courtroom a free man, carrying an official Ministry apology. It was written in ornate language and had been prepared ahead of time. Sirius intended to have it framed. An official Ministry settlement over his unjust imprisonment would also be forthcoming if the new Lord Black had anything to say about it.
They had stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the atrium while half the cameras in Britain took pictures of their smiling faces. Harry gave a little speech about how happy he was to have his godfather back, and how happy his parents would be for them. He made sure to praise Minister Fudge for his courage in righting the wrongs committed by a past administration. Both had been forced to take pictures with the man.
Grimmauld Place now played host to a joyous celebration. The revelers had gathered in the huge drawing room, and Harry suspected the entire Order of the Phoenix was present. He didn't know most of them. Some were ancient, likely old friends of Dumbledore's. Others were younger and clearly hadn't fought in the first war.
These were the people who would be standing with him against Voldemort. At least from the shadows. After the performance of Amelia Bones today, he was hopeful that the Ministry would stand firm against the monster publicly.
Molly had finally acquiesced to letting her children inside Grimmauld, now that she believed the place to be habitable. The elder Weasleys mingled with the Order while Ron, Ginny, and the twins entertained themselves with Harry and Hermione. They hadn't managed to pilfer any of the booze yet, but the twins would correct that problem eventually.
Someone turned on a wireless, and people began dancing as the night wore on. Waltzing, for some reason, was the preferred dance, and at first it was mostly the older members who indulged themselves.
Harry found it amusing to watch Moody and McGonagall move around the dance floor, the old Auror trying not to crush her toes with his stump. McGonagall seemed to be the most popular dance partner of the night. She had taught at Hogwarts for decades, and her former students loved to see her hair come down. She had even consented to a couple shots of firewhiskey with Sirius.
Hermione pulled Harry onto the dance floor, and then passed him on to Ginny and Tonks. Dancing wasn't his forte, but he acquiesced good-naturedly until Tonks morphed into Draco Malfoy in his arms. That was enough dancing for the night, he decided.
He looked around the room and found Ron inhaling hors d'oeuvres, then made his way to the refreshments table.
"Hey, mate. Enjoying yourself?" he asked, clapping him on the back.
Ron grinned and took a sip of his drink. "Yeah, the twins started using a switching spell on the booze for me. I'm feeling good."
"Brilliant. It's too bad a certain Hufflepuff can't be here tonight, eh?"
"Dunno what you're talking about."
"Don't be embarrassed. I heard you've been playing quidditch with her. Are you guys together now?"
Ron shrugged nonchalantly, but his ears turned pink. "Maybe, I think. She wanted me to find her on the train to meet her friends."
"That's gotta be a good sign. Do you like her?"
"Yeah, she's alright. Bit skinny, but she's fun. She kissed me on the cheek last time I saw her."
"Oh, Merlin, should I be looking for wedding gifts?"
"Laugh it up, mate. I bet I get to first base with someone before you do."
It took every ounce of Harry's composure not to burst out laughing. "It's not a competition, Ron," he managed to say, his face aflame. "Don't mess it up with Tamsin. She's nice."
As soon as he could, he excused himself to pee. He needed a private place to laugh hysterically. Imagining the look on Hermione's face when he told her only made him laugh harder.
The party went well past midnight. Sirius danced with almost everyone in the room, and was enjoying his third or fourth waltz with Professor McGonagall. It warmed Harry's heart to see his godfather smiling from ear to ear. Given the look on the Professor's face, he suspected Sirius had just made a very inappropriate joke.
He dipped her as the song ended, and brazenly pecked her on the lips. A wagging finger was in his face a moment later, but he could tell McGonagall wasn't truly angry. She had a soft spot for all her Gryffindors, even if she rarely showed it.
Sirius approached him with a smug grin on his face. He swayed a little, having imbibed more than his fair share of firewhiskey.
"McGonagall is going to hex the hell out of you, free man or not," Harry said.
"Nah, she's a little pussycat. Do you think she'd let me chase her around the room if I turned into Padfoot?"
"I think you'd end up dead or in St. Mungo's."
"Ah, well, at least I'd go out chasing pussy."
Harry laughed, hoping McGonagall didn't have a feline's sense of hearing. Sirius was absolutely lewd when he was drunk, at least when he wasn't in mixed company.
"Congratulations, Padfoot," he said, giving him a bone-crushing hug.
"Thanks, kid. I owe it all to you. And Hermione. And Cedric. Hell, too many people to name, I guess."
"Breaking out of Azkaban might have helped a little too."
"Yeah, it probably did. You know what I'm gonna do tomorrow?"
"Visit your favorite establishment in Knockturn?"
"That too! But I'm also gonna walk Diagon Alley as yours truly. A free man! No more Polyjuice for me!"
"Now everyone will know where you like to spend your evenings."
Sirius smirked. "That's what glamours are for. Half the Wizengamot probably frequents Madam Clarissa's."
"I did not need to know that."
"Hey, you know what? I've got a shitload of Polyjuice left. If you're nice to your dear old godfather, he might give you some to take back to your secret club. There's all kinds of fun to be had with it."
Harry's eyebrows rose. "You don't need it?"
"I'll just buy some more if the Order needs it. Haven't you heard? I'm free, I'm single, and I'm rich!"
"You're drunk too."
"Hell yes, I am."
"Enjoy it, because I'm going to have Dobby lock up all the alcohol until you see a mind healer."
"Aww, you're no fun."
"I just got my godfather back. I want to see him happy, not hammered every night."
"You sound just like your mother."
"Good. That's why you should listen to me."
"Don't worry, Lily, Jr., I'll see a healer. I want to get in fighting shape again too. Maybe I'll even teach you to become an animagus. 'Course, you'd probably be a flobberworm."
"Better than a poodle. I'd never be safe from you."
Sirius laughed and tried to wrestle him to the ground.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Harry stumbled into his room, a little tipsy but not drunk. He was careful not to indulge himself in front of so many adults, even if he knew how to get away with it. After brushing his teeth, he undressed and fell into bed, ready for the end of a long day.
Hermione wouldn't be able to visit him tonight. There were too many people spending the night in the house, and Ginny was rooming with her. He had grown used to her sleeping in his room. It would take some time to adjust to an empty bed when they arrived at Hogwarts.
Just as he turned off the light and settled in, there was a soft knock on the door. It opened and closed, but he didn't see anyone enter. Before he could grow alarmed, his invisibility cloak fell to the floor, revealing Ginny Weasley in a dressing gown.
"Er, hi," she said.
"Hi."
"Hermione let me borrow your cloak. I hope that's okay."
"Yeah, it's fine. Did you, erm, need to talk to me?"
He felt like he was on dangerous ground here. There was one very obvious reason why she would visit him in secret, but he didn't want to make any assumptions. She had signed a Pride contract, but that didn't mean she would join. Or that she would approve of all that happened there.
It was easy to admit that he liked Ginny. She was certainly attractive. Feisty sometimes too, now that she wasn't so shy around him. But she was Ron's little sister, not to mention the twins', and she might still have a crush on him.
"Can I come over there?" she asked hesitantly.
"Oh, sure. Sorry."
He leaned up against the headboard, giving her space to sit down on his bed. He was wearing only his underwear, and Ginny's eyes raked over his chest as she sat down.
"I wanted to talk to you about the Lion's Pride thing, I guess. Hermione said you'd be willing."
She seemed uncharacteristically nervous—the Ginny who put her elbow in the butter dish rather than the Ginny who yelled at her brothers and soared across the quidditch pitch.
"What did you want to know?" he asked carefully. "You talked with Angelina and Hermione the other day, didn't you?"
"Yeah, they explained everything, but said I needed to see it for myself."
"It helps. Katie told me about it, and I was shocked silly. I couldn't believe something like that existed."
"Me either. I'm not sure if I want to join yet. Hermione said I could watch in secret and then decide."
He nodded. "There's a dark little alcove above the main room. You can see everything below. There's a bed there too when you want real privacy."
"So, erm, do you enjoy it?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
He almost laughed. Merlin, what an awkward question. She was basically asking him if he liked to regularly fuck his friends.
"Yeah, I do. I was terrified at first. But it helped me. I've made more friends. I was kind of feeling lost when I learned about it."
"You do seem happier."
"I am. The Pride helped me get better at dealing with other people."
She snorted. "I imagine so."
"Not like that. Well, yes like that. But I'm more comfortable just being myself now too."
There was an awkward silence as she fiddled with her robe. "Do you think I'd like it there?"
He frowned, again unsure why she was asking him rather than Hermione or Angelina. Surely they had already discussed this.
"I don't know, honestly. It's a bizarre place. When you just describe it to someone, it sounds difficult to believe, and maybe a little gross. But when you experience it, it's amazing."
"Hermione said the same thing," Ginny said, and then smirked. "I can't believe she's such a—well."
Harry laughed. "Scarlet woman? I think she prefers the term 'slut.' And she is one. So am I. And everyone else there."
"She told me a story about the Yule Ball, but I'm not sure I believe it. She sounded almost proud of herself."
"You can believe every word."
"Wow."
There was another silence, and he didn't know what else to say.
"We, er, don't really know each other that well, do we?" he finally said.
"I guess not," she said, sounding a bit disappointed.
"I don't mean it like that. You're my friend and you always have been. I mean we just don't get a chance to hang out much, and so I don't know everything about you. What I do know, I really like."
Her blush was visible even in the dim light. "Thank you."
"We'd get to know each other better in the Pride. It's like taking off a mask while you're there, but I don't know if you'd enjoy it. It—well, to be blunt, there's a lot of sex, but you don't have to do anything you don't want to."
"I don't know if I want to have sex with a bunch of different people."
"Then you shouldn't."
"I don't want you to think I'm a scared little virgin either. I've got some experience."
"Then you've got more than I had a year ago."
"You were a virgin before you joined?"
"Yeah, but Katie took care of that issue very quickly."
"I've fooled around with a few people," she said, seeming to grow more comfortable, "and everybody does it by themselves, I guess."
"Yeah, they do."
She didn't say anything more, but her eyes darted toward him, and he realized she was waiting on him to make a move. That's why she was really there. He said a little prayer to whoever was listening that Fred and George wouldn't castrate him.
"Did you want to stay and have a little fun with me?" he asked.
"If you want to."
"I'd love to. We can do as much or as little as you want. Just some fun between friends, okay?"
"You won't tell anyone? Hermione wasn't sure if the contract covered what happens outside the club."
"My lips are sealed, Ginny, as long as you can prevent any of your brothers from killing me if they find out. Speaking of, is that going to be awkward? With the twins, I mean."
"Probably. I haven't told them yet. But it wouldn't be compared to Ron. That would be a bloody nightmare."
"Yes, it would."
She grinned deviously. "The twins are pretty laid back. Plus, I've already seen them wanking together."
"What?!"
"It was two summers ago. Mum sent me out to fetch them from the pitch. I thought they were putting their brooms in the shed, but when I got closer, I could tell they were touching each other."
"Oh, Merlin. Did they see you?"
"No, I hid behind a tree and watched them wank each other off. I've been saving it as blackmail."
"Oh, my God. I want to see their faces when you tell them."
"I'll try." She leaned in to whisper, as if she were about to deliver a scandalous secret. "They're kind of big, aren't they? Bigger than others I've seen."
"How many others have you seen?"
"Two. One was average, I guess, and the other was small. Really small."
"Yeah, they're pretty big," he said, feeling awkward talking about her brothers' cocks.
Her eyes glinted. "Are you that big?"
"Want to come over here and find out?"
"Hell, yes."
He pulled down the covers and made room for her. She scooted next to him, and then realized she was still wearing her gown.
"Want me to take it off?" he asked.
"I'll do it. I want to see your face."
He wasn't sure what she meant at first. She stood from the bed and untied the front of her dressing gown, then shrugged it to the floor. She was totally nude underneath, and he blinked in surprise.
"I came prepared, just in case," she said, blushing but standing boldly before him.
"You're gorgeous, Ginny."
"Thank you."
He drank in her body with his eyes. She had her father's frame more so than her mother's. She was small and lean with surprisingly large breasts for her size. Her skin was pale, and adorned with freckles only in those places that saw the sun. There was a thin strip of fiery hair between her legs, and he couldn't wait to touch it.
She joined him in the bed again, and her shyness seemed to disappear. She captured his lips in a kiss before he could say another word. It grew lusty right away. Desire poured off her, and he gently massaged one of her breasts. A little pink nipple pressed against his hand, and she pulled away.
"You can touch me anywhere you want," she breathed, and returned to kissing him passionately.
Harry took her at her word and explored her body with his hands. Her skin was incredibly soft, but her body was as firm as Katie's. When he reached her belly, she opened a leg for him, giving him access to all of her.
He teased her orange pubic hair and brushed his finger gently across her clit. She panted into his mouth as he lowered his hand further. Soaking wet lips invited his fingers inside without hesitation.
Two slipped past her folds, and he exulted in the hot, slick flesh that gripped him. She moaned as he rubbed the softest part of her body with his fingertips.
"That feels so good."
She hadn't touched him yet, but he didn't want to pressure her. He was more than happy just watching her respond to his touch.
Harry slipped his fingers further inside her and rubbed her clit firmly with his thumb. She squirmed and opened her legs wider. Her kiss became even more aggressive, and he reached deeper and stroked a little spot on her walls. She stiffened, which only encouraged him to rub harder. She suddenly gasped and stopped their kiss, her eyes shut and her mouth hanging open.
"Keep doing that."
He massaged her firmly, delighted at the look of intense concentration on her face. It took only a dozen more strokes of his fingertips for her to come undone.
"Oh," she whimpered, and then grimaced.
Her walls clenched hard around his fingers and then spasmed. She couldn't stop herself from bucking her hips into his thumb. Harry kept stroking her, and suddenly her pussy flooded with liquid. It shot out of her in an arc, soaking his forearm and dribbling onto the sheets. She groaned and trembled as more of her release spilled into the palm of his hand and coated it with her sticky, warm juices. Her whole belly seemed to be contracting in ecstasy.
She breathed hard as she recovered. Then she looked down, and her eyes widened in horror at the mess on his arm and the soaked sheets.
"Oh, shit. Oh, shit. I—I'm sorry. It just—"
He followed her gaze and looked at his drenched hand. "Shhh, it's no big deal."
"I didn't mean to do that! It's only happened once before, and I thought—"
"Ginny," he said, resisting the urge to laugh. "It's fine. I've seen it before in the Pride. Sometimes when one of the girls loses control, she gushes like that."
"Really?"
"I promise. It's no big deal."
He hadn't actually seen anyone expel liquid while having an orgasm—and certainly not so much of it—but he knew it could happen. There was certainly no point in her freaking out over something he found hot anyway.
"This is so embarrassing," she muttered, her face burning as she looked at his hand and arm.
"Don't be like that. I loved seeing you cum so hard. Come here."
Harry pulled her into another kiss, and she slowly relaxed into it. He squeezed her breasts gently and brushed his fingertips along her nipples until she was panting again.
He pulled away and smiled at her reassuringly, then brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them clean as she watched. "It was hot. I promise. I want to make you do it again."
"I guess you got me so worked up I lost control."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
Her mortification finally retreated, and she lay down against his chest. It didn't take long for her fingers to wander along his chest and toward his erection. She squeezed it firmly through his boxers.
"Can I see it?"
"You can do anything you want to it."
He slid his boxers down his legs for her. He was already hard from what they had just done. His cock flopped out and landed against his belly.
Ginny stared at it in fascination. She rubbed a finger along its length and explored his balls with her fingertips.
"Merlin, you're big."
He chuckled. "Maybe, but wait till you see Dean."
"He's bigger?"
"Enormous."
She squeezed him and gave his girth a few experimental strokes, then leaned down and kissed the tip.
"I've done this before, but still—tell me if I'm not doing it right."
"It's pretty hard to do it wrong."
"Hermione said I wasn't supposed to suck really hard. I think I might have been doing it wrong."
He smiled. "Just pretend you're making out with it. Kiss it and lick it and gently suction on the tip. You can use your hand, and put as much as you want in your mouth."
"Okay."
She followed his instructions eagerly and to the letter. She pulled his crown into her mouth and swirled her tongue around it, as if she were giving it a French kiss. He closed his eyes to enjoy the sensation. Merlin, Ginny Weasley was sucking his cock. What a wonderful world they lived in.
She took in a few inches of him and bobbed her head rather forcefully, causing her to gag.
"Easy," he said, and put a hand on her head to guide her movements. "Grip it with your lips and go slower."
"Sorry."
"You're doing fantastic."
Her movements grew more sensual, and she took a surprising amount of him into her throat. She grabbed the base of his cock and stroked him, trying to tease out his release.
"That's it. Perfect."
Ginny returned to teasing his swollen head with her tongue, kissing it and licking along his shaft and suckling gently on the tip. He looked down and saw that she was watching his face closely. She smiled and stroked him harder. They maintained eye contact as she suckled on his head as if it were her favorite lollipop. Her dark eyes were as lusty as Hermione's.
He felt his orgasm approaching and warned her.
"Do it in my mouth," she said, and surrounded his head with her warm lips.
She stroked him fiercely several more times. He panted and erupted into the back of her throat, pulsing again and again as she coaxed it out of him. Despite her inexperience, she was able to swallow everything. When he was finished, she looked up at him with a devilish grin and exposed her sticky, coated tongue.
He smiled. "That was brilliant."
She kissed his tip one more time, drawing out a little bead of cum before licking it away. "Thank you."
"You know, even if you don't want to join the Pride, there's nothing stopping us from doing this together whenever you want."
"Really?"
"Really. Don't feel pressured. If you don't like what you see there, I'll just go down on you somewhere in secret. As long as you understand it's just some fun between friends."
She smirked. "I like the sound of that."