Chapter 17
"So, what are we looking for?" Suzette asked.
"I'm not looking for anything specific," Harry said, looking around the massive room full of things left behind by a millennia's worth of students. "I thought we could just look around for anything interesting."
"Are you sure it's alright?" Hermione asked, her curiosity warring with her conscience. " I mean, isn't it like stealing."
"This stuff has been here for centuries, Hermione," Harry said. "No one's going to come looking for any of it."
"Think of all the books we could find," Suzette added while taking Hermione's hand and giving it a squeeze.
Hermione bit her lip with a conflicted look on her face for a long moment before she sighed.
"I suppose you're right," she conceded.
Grinning, Harry took her by the hand and led her into the maze that was the Room of Lost Things. As far as the eye could see, there were piles of discarded things, some thirty feet high. Most of it was junk, broken furniture, discarded school supplies, empty bottles, and old clothes, along with much, much more.
Among the junk, there were valuable items, such as rare boom, antique brooms, expensive jewelry, and useful magical artifacts. Looking through a pile of old brooms, most of which were in terrible condition, Harry found a pristine Nimbus Cloud, the very first broom made by the company almost three hundred years ago. Carefully pulling it out of the pile, he gently set it on the floor.
"Up!" he commanded.
The broom obediently jumped up and slapped into his hand. Harry grinned widely. A working Nimbus Cloud in this condition would be worth a small fortune to the right collector, but he was much more interested in the history behind it and how this one broom changed the face of Quidditch.
"Hey, girl," Harry said. "Come grab a broom. Searching this place will be faster and easier if we fly."
"Harry, you know I don't like flying," Hermione complained while Suzette picked out a working Comet Seven.
"We'll be moving slowly and staying close to the ground," Harry told her reassuringly before smirking. "If you're that worried, you could always ride with me."
"If I fly with you, we'll never get anything done," Hermione huffed as a smile twitched at the corners of her lips. "You spend the whole time feeling me up."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Harry said.
Suzette giggled as Hermione picked out a much more recent Comet 120.
"Good choice," Harry smiled.
"I guess listening to you and Ron go on about Quidditch for the last three and a half years was good for something," Hermione admitted.
Mounting their brooms, the three of them flew up about ten feet off the ground and slowly cruised between the piles of junk. They didn't make it far before Hermione spotted a stack of books. She didn't find anything interesting, so they took off again.
Flying around, they never more than fifty feet before one of them saw something they wanted to take a closer look at. Throughout their search, they found a few interesting things. Hermione and Suzette found a number of books, while Harry was happy with a few interesting enchanted objects he found. Hermione was especially excited to find a book that wasn't even in the Hogwarts Library.
"It's been thought to be lost for centuries!" Hermione exclaimed. "Just think of all the other lost books we might be able to find in here!"
Harry smiled at her enthusiasm before they continued searching. Even though they spent hours in the room, they covered only a small portion of it. Looking at the immense size of the room, Harry thought it would take months to look through it all.
"Wait," Hermione frowned as they started to leave. "Won't I just forget about the books tomorrow?"
"Dumbledore taught me a spell to link them to you," Harry said. "The books will stay where you put them but, unfortunately, you still won't remember what you read the day before."
"Then what's the point of reading them?" she asked, scowling at the books in her arms.
"You could write a summary for what you 'ave read and then read that in the morning," Suzette suggested with a shrug.
"I'm sorry, Hermione, but there isn't much we can do until I find a way out of this damn loop," Harry sighed. "none of those books you found have anything to do with time, do they?"
"No," Hermione said with an apologetic look. "I looked, but I didn't see any."
Harry took off his glasses and rubbed the heels of his palms into his tired eyes.
"We still might find some," Suzette said, kissing him on the cheek. "Didn't you say Professor Dumbledore knew a spell to detect Time Magic?"
"I think so," Harry replied, frowning thoughtfully. "I'll ask him about it."
Smiling prettily, Suzette linked her arm with his and kissed his cheek again. Harry couldn't help but smile as he looked over at the stunning blonde.
"So, what are we doing for the ball tonight?" she asked.
"I say we forget the ball and stay here all night, just the three of us," Harry said with a crooked grin.
"That sounds magnifique," Suzette smiled.
Together, they turned to look at Hermione. Huffing, she looked down at her books longingly before shaking her head.
"I guess there's no harm in skipping a ball no one will remember tomorrow," she said.
Smiling, Suzette practically skipped over to Hermione and kissed her on the lips passionately. Hermione squeaked in surprise and froze for a moment, then leaned into Suzette and kissed her back.
"Ladies," Harry said after a few seconds, smiling. "Unless you want to do this in here, we should probably leave and change the room."
Breathless and flushed, they each grabbed one of his hands and dragged him out into the hall.
After a week of searching, at least to Harry, They'd made a large amount of progress. Some of the things they found were just incredible. They'd found a first edition copy of Hogwarts, A History, which Hermione cradled as if it were a baby, a Pensieve, mountains of jewelry, including a chest full of precious gems, and all sorts of valuable artifacts.
Since Harry was the only one who could remember where they searched and what they found, and there was too much to take with them, Hermione had designed a map of the room that marked the location of anything valuable or interesting. She'd tried to make it similar to the Marauder's Map, but even with Suzette's help, it was taking time.
When they came across a chest full of gems, Hermione took out her map, unfolded it, and tapped it with her wand. Above the rather accurate drawing of the pile of junk it was buried in, a small, floating flag appeared labeled 'chest of gems,' appeared.
"That really is brilliant, 'Ermione," Suzette smiled.
"It's nothing special," she said modestly. "It's just a Topography Charm and a few labels."
"It's better than anything 'Arry or I came up with," Suzette told her. "You're making it hard for me to decide which is better. That wonderful mind of yours, or your beautiful derriere."
"Suzette!" Hermione exclaimed as the French girl groped her bum.
"It is a tough call," Harry grinned, making a show of looking at Hermione's rear.
The brunette flushed and shook her head at them. While she watched the memories of their time together every morning through the eyes of Harry and Suzette, it always took time for them to feel real to her. That often left Hermione blushing when they teased her.
"Did you ask Dumbledore about using that charm to link us together like we do with objects?" Hermione asked, blatantly changing the subject.
"Yeah," Harry sighed while running a hand through his hair. "He told me not to unless I had no other option. It'll work, but for one, it essentially means we're married."
"That doesn't sound too bad," Suzette grinned, kissing him on the lips. "I think I could put up with you."
Harry smiled and gave her a kiss of his own.
"It would also mean that if one of us died, so would the other," Harry said. "We'd literally be linking our souls."
"Oh," Hermione frowned. "I guess I'll just have to keep leaving myself notes."
"Sorry," Harry said, squeezing her hand.
"'Ow is your dueling with Professor Flitwick going?" Suzette asked as they went back to searching the room.
"Really good," Harry smiled. "He says I could probably take on most Aurors now. He's even started taking me out by the forest to teach me more powerful spells."
"Really!?" Hermione asked excitedly. "That's great, Harry. I always knew you were good, but to get that far so soon is really impressive."
"It's been nearly four years, Hermione," Harry said, smiling sadly.
"And in that time, most people would just be finishing Auror training, now being able to take on their instructors," she told him. "I'm really proud of you."
Harry smiled and wrapped his arms around her when she hugged him.
"What about Ancient Runes?" she asked.
"I just started the sixth year material," he said. "I haven't put as much time into that as I have dueling."
"That means you'll be able to take the class with me next year, and you can drop that useless Divinations class," Hermione said excitedly.
"Yeah, now all I have to do is figure out what's causing a time loop that shouldn't be possible and then end it," Harry sighed.
He immediately wished he hadn't said anything when Suzette and Hermione frowned at him.
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's alright," Suzette said, caressing his cheek. "We know you must be frustrated."
"We're just worried about you," Hermione added.
"I'm fine," he said, then continued at their disbelieving looks. "No, really. I mean, sure, it gets frustrating, but I've got you two to keep me sane. I'll be alright."
Looking to change the subject, Harry took out his wand and cast the Detection Charm for temporal magic that Dumbledore had taught him. He'd cast it countless times as they searched the Room of Lost Things, but so far, the only things that glowed blue at all were him and Hermione. Even then, it was incredibly dull.
Hermione gasped, her eyes going wide and a hand covering her mouth as she pointed over his shoulder. Harry and Suzette turned to see waves of blue light pulsating outwards in a huge dome.
"Merde," Suzette murmured.
"We found it," Harry whispered.
Hands trembling with excitement and trepidation, Harry gripped his wand tightly and walked towards the source. Walking around a pile of chairs and a mound of old trunks, he came upon a marble bust with a tarnished silver tiara on its head. Hanging around the neck of the bust was the unmistakable hourglass pendant of a Time Turner.
Cautiously stepping closer, Harry stopped when he felt a familiar magic that sent chills down his spine. It was the same magic he felt from the Diary in his second year, only much more malevolent.
"That's Ravenclaws Diadem," Hermione whispered in awe.
Eyes riveted to the tiara, she made to step past him.
"No!" Harry yelled, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"But, Harry, Think of all the knowledge it could hold," Hermione said, trying to pulled away from him.
Harry started to pull her back, and she dug her nails sharply into the skin of his arm. Hissing in pain and struggling to hold back the surprisingly strong girl, he looked over at Suzette for help. She, too, was staring at the tiara but, fortunately, wasn't moving towards it.
"Suzette, help!" Harry shouted.
Shaking her head, Suzette looked at him in confusion, then glanced back at the tiara while backing over to him.
"Let me go!" Hermione yelled, clawing at his arm and struggling against him.
"Suzette!" Harry screamed. "Help me! It's Voldemort!"
Tearing her eyes from the tiara and looking frightened, Suzette grabbed Hermione from the other side and helped him drag her away. When they got about twenty feet away and were out of sight of the tiara, Hemione relaxed and blinked confusedly.
"What – what happened?" Hermione asked.
"There is a very strong compulsion on that thing," Suzette said as Harry finally let go of Hermione.
"That was horrible," Hermione shivered. "It felt like I had to have the Diadem no matter what."
"We should go get Dumbledore," Harry said.
Nodding, Hermione pulled out her map to mark the spot, then paused.
"Why is there blood on my hands?" she asked worriedly.
"'Arry, your arm," Suzette said, pointing.
Hermione gasped when she saw the deep, crescent shaped cuts she'd dug into his skin with her nails. Harry's forearm was covered in lines of blood that flowed from the cuts. Rushing over to him, Hermione healed him while tears fell from her eyes.
"It wasn't your fault," Harry said, brushing away a tear with his thumb.
"I should've been stronger," Hermione murmured.
"Hey," Harry said softly, caressing her cheek. "It wasn't your fault any more than what happened to Ginny was hers."
"Suzette was fine," she said miserably as she let go of his arm.
Sighing, Harry pulled into a comforting hug.
"I struggled too," Suzette told her. "It was only my Occlumency that kept me acting the same way you did."
Kissing Hermione on the forehead, Harry and Suzette wrapped their arms around a still visibly upset Hermione and led her from the room.
Half an hour later, after explaining what they'd found to Dumbledore, they made the trip back to the Room of Lost Things with the headmaster in tow. As they grew closer, Hermione stopped and wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
"I think it might be best if I stay back this time," she said.
"I'll stay with her," Suzette offered.
Harry shook his head, "No. Hermione, you need to face this. You know what to expect this time, and I'll be right next to you the whole time."
Biting her lip, Hermione considered his words for a long moment before nodding.
"How close are we?" Dumbledore asked.
"It's just around the corner," Suzette told him, pointing past the pile of chairs.
Nodding, he cautiously walked forward. Harry glanced back at Hermione, who was clinging to Suzette's hand, and then the three of them followed.
"Interesting," Dumbledore said. "You were right. This is just like the Diary."
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"All in good time," the professor replied, giving a meaningful yet subtle glance at the girls. "For now, we should focus on how it is causing time to repeat, and more importantly, how to make it stop."
"Professor?" Hermione asked. "Didn't you tell harry a Time Turner couldn't do this?"
"Indeed I did," Dumbledore said. "However, if you look closely, you'll see that the hourglass is cracked."
Harry squinted to look closer and noticed that the bottom of the hourglass was cracked, and a few grains of sand had fallen onto the table the bust rested on.
"I believe that, along with Voldemort's influence, is what is causing this," he continued.
"But what is it trying to do?" Hermione asked. "Why repeat time at all?"
"It is attempting to resurrect Lord Voldemort, just as the Diary did," Dumbledore explained. "The…essence Tom placed in the Diadem is not as sophisticated as what he placed in the Diary. While the Diary took its power through Ms. Weasley, the Diadem doesn't have the means for someone to pour so much of themselves into it. Instead of using a person, the Diadem is attempting to absorb magic for the room."
"Shit," Harry cursed. "We have to stop it!"
"Not to worry," Dumbledore smiled. "It would take centuries for the Diadem to absorb enough magic to resurrect Lord Voldemort. Which is why it is using the Time Turner. Were it not for your connection to Tom, it may have succeeded. The world would have spent centuries reliving the same day, none the wiser that they were doing so, all while Lord Voldemort slowly grew in power."
"But what about Voldemort?" Harry asked, unconsciously rubbing his tingling scar. "The one at Riddle manor, I mean. Do you think he remembers everything like I do?"
"It's a possibility," Professor Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. "However, I think not. The body Voldemort is currently inhabiting is extremely weak. It is taking all of his power to simply remain as he is. That body you saw is simply a vessel to contain his spirit. He is not truly alive, nor is he truly dead. At the moment, I don't believe he is strong enough to realize what is happening. Still, it may be best to try and find out."
"Can't we just destroy the tiara?" Harry asked.
"It's a Diadem," Hermione corrected.
"Yeah, that," Harry said.
"It is possible," Dumbledore admitted. "However, it could also throw the entire castle back in time hundreds of years."
"Oh," Harry said, swallowing thickly. "So, what do we do?"
"For now, nothing," Dumbledore replied, turning to face Harry. "I know you are anxious to get back to your normal life. However, we must be cautious. I'll need to do some research before we can proceed. The Diadem will fight to protect itself, and a single mistake could have disastrous consequences."
"Can I help?" Hermione asked.
"Your assistance would be most welcome, Ms. Granger," the headmaster smiled. "I must admit, Time Magic is not something I'm overly familiar with."
"Have a headache potion ready," Harry said. "I've been studying it for four years, and it still doesn't make sense."
"I'll 'elp too," Suzette offered.
"Thank you, Ms. Beaumont," Dumbledore said.
Reaching into his pocket, Dumbledore pulled out a silver pocket watch and looked at it over the top of his half-moon glasses.
"Unfortunately, I'm needed to prepare for the ball," he said. "We'll have to start researching tomorrow morning. Harry, if you could be in my office at eight, there's a few things we should go over. Ms. Granger, Ms. Beaumont, if you two could come at nine, we can get started. I must ask that you don't tell anyone else about this for now. Lord Voldemort is a dangerous enemy and one we do not want anyone else running into unprepared."
Harry and the girls nodded their ascent. Dumbledore looked back over his shoulder at the Diadem one last time.
Harry, Hermione, and Suzette missed the ball again that night. They spent the night in the Room of Requirement, enjoying each other's company and taking comfort in one another.
The next morning, Harry made his way to Dumbledore's office, his thoughts racing. There was a sense of relief that he finally knew what was causing him to be trapped in time, but he couldn't help but feel worried. Who knew how long it would take to figure out how to destroy the Diadem safely? How much longer would he be stuck like this?
Then his thoughts turned to the girls he enjoyed spending time with. Would they remember him? Would he remember them? What if, by stopping the Diadem, Harry forgot everything he'd done and learned over the last four years? All that knowledge, all those memories, everything he'd learned about his classmates, gone in the blink of an eye.
Harry thought of Suzette, who'd become one of his closest friends, someone he'd come to depend on, and what his life would be like without her. He thought of Hermione and their relationship going back to that of just close friends. Then, his mind turned to the other girls he'd come to care for. Katie, Susan, Daphne, Fleur, those kinky little Carrow twins, Professor Sinistra, and more.
Then, Harry's thoughts turned to all of the things he'd yet to do. He still hadn't given Parvati and Padma the dates they deserved. He hadn't tried to get Susan to realize how much Megan Jones fancied her. He hadn't found a good date for Ron. Even after four years, there was still so much he'd planned to do that he never got around to doing.
And then there was Voldemort to deal with. Harry knew that Moody was being impersonated by Crouch Junior, where Voldemort and Pettigrew were hiding, and what their plan for him was. If he forgot about all that, would he walk into their trap and end up dead after Voldemort was resurrected.
Before he realized it, his feet had guided him to Dumbledore's office on the second floor.
"Acid Pops," Harry said to the Gargoyle.
When the statue slid to the side with a grinding sound, he slipped past it onto the moving staircase. At the top, he knocked twice before he was told to enter.
"Ah, good morning Harry," Professor Dumbledore greeted him. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this lovely morning?"
Harry sighed, "Check the top right-hand drawer of your desk and read the journal you find in there."
As Dumbledore did as he was asked with a curious look on his face, Harry took out his wand. With a twirl, he wordlessly transfigured the straight-backed, wooden chair across the desk into a comfortable wingback. Taking a seat, Fawkes flew over and landed on the arm with a soft croon. Smiling, Harry stroked his feathers while Dumbledore read through his journal.
It was a good fifteen minutes before he finally set it down.
"I see," Dumbledore said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them on his robes. "I had hoped to put this off longer, but it seems I have, once again, failed to protect you. My journal tells me that you've learned Occlumency?"
"Yeah," Harry said, tilting his head curiously. "Suzette taught me Legilimency and Occlumency."
"Good," Dumbledore nodded. "With your permission, I'd like to test how far along you've come."
Harry shrugged, then nodded. Picking his wand up off the desk, Professor Dumbledore looked him in the eye and pointed it in his general direction. He felt the professor enter his mind and did his best to push him out. After several moments of not being able to find a way into his mind, there was a sudden spike of pain as he forced his way in. Harry tried to force him out, but Dumbledore was relentless in his search.
When he realized the headmaster was looking for his memory of their conversation in the Hospital Wing at the end of first year, he started shifting him to other, less important memories. That worked for a while, but eventually, Dumbledore forced his way back to the memory he wanted. As Harry watched it start to play out, he tried something he had very little practice with. He started altering the memory as they watched it.
Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore pulled out of his mind, leaving Harry with a throbbing headache.
"Impressive," Dumbledore said, then pulled a vial full of a red potion out of his desk and set it in front of him. "Drink this. It's a Headache Potion."
Harry downed it with a grimace and instantly felt the pain subside.
"Ms. Beaumont has taught you well," the headmaster continued. "What I'm about to tell you must be kept secret. The fate of the world may very well depend on it. You may tell Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley if you wish, but no one else can know. I need your word on this."
"What about Suzette?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair thoughtfully.
"You may tell her as well," he said after a moment. "Now, tell me, have you ever heard of the term Horcrux?"
Harry spent an hour learning about how Voldemort had split his soul and placed parts of it in containers. Dumbledore was certain both the Diary and the Diadem were Horcruxes. Unfortunately, the headmaster had no idea how many Voldemort had made, though he believed it to be less than a dozen. As if that wasn't enough, the headmaster then dropped the prophecy on him as well. It was a lot to take in, and Harry struggled to control his chaotic thoughts.
"So, until all of these Horcruxes are destroyed, Voldemort can't be killed?" Harry asked.
"Oh, no, he can most certainly be killed," Dumbledore said. You demonstrated that yourself when you destroyed his body in Godric's Hollow all those years ago. It's more accurate to say that he cannot pass on until they are destroyed. It may seem like a small distinction, but it is an important one."
"So, what do we do now?" Harry asked, feeling overwhelmed.
"We focus on solving the problem at hand," Dumbledore replied. "I find difficult problems are made easier by looking at them one piece at a time. For now, we focus on destroying the one in the Room of Lost Things without altering time any more than it already had been."
Pulling out a piece of parchment, Dumbledore wrote a quick note before holding it up. Fawkes launched himself up from the arm of the chair, clutched it in his claws, and then vanished in a burst of flame.
"I believe your friends will be here shortly. Was there anything else you wished to talk about?" he asked.
"How did the Horcrux get the Time Turner?" Harry asked.
"An excellent question, and unfortunately, one I don't have an answer for," the headmaster replied. "It's possible that a House Elf discovered it, and the Diadem compelled them to place it on the bust. Perhaps they simply did it on their own, or perhaps the Diadem had enough magic to summon it to itself after sitting in such a magically powerful room for decades. We may never know."
Harry nodded and sat back in his chair with a thoughtful frown. As worried as he was, it was almost a relief to finally know the truth.
"You should've told me sooner," Harry said, surprising himself by speaking aloud.
"I wanted to give you a chance at a normal childhood before placing such a burden on your shoulders," Dumbledore said.
"I don't think I ever had a normal childhood," Harry sighed. "Is there anything else you haven't told me?"
Dumbledore paused, but before he could answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," Dumbledore called.
Hermione and Suzette entered the office and took seats on either side of Harry. Before anyone could say anything, there was a burst of flame as Fawkes returned, startling the girls. Flapping his wings, the Phoenix set a large stack of books on the desk before swooping around and landing on the back of Harry's chair. Looking at the magnificent red and gold bird, Hermione and Suzette reached out to stroke his feathers.
"These are the most comprehensive books on time travel that I can get my hands on," Dumbledore said. "We'll need to find a way to neutralize the Time Turner before we can destroy the Diadem."
Reaching into his desk, the headmaster took out three leather bound journals and handed one to each of them.
"I want you to keep notes of anything useful you find in these journals. I've already linked them to myself," Dumbledore said. "We have from now until two to research before I must leave to prepare for the ball."
Picking up three of the books, he handed them out and then picked up one for himself. Only the occasional scratch of a quill broke the silence in the room. Harry had trouble focusing on the words on the page as his mind kept drifting to other worries.
Seeing his distraction, Suzette reached over and squeezed his hand. Smiling, he squeezed back. The thought of losing the beautiful girl who'd become such a big part of his life filled him with determination. He was going to find a way to stop the Diadem and keep his memories, no matter what it took.
Chapter 18
Harry felt a sense of relief so powerful at knowing what was keeping him trapped in time and finally having at least a chance to escape that he was almost giddy when he woke up the next morning. It also filled him with an odd sense of urgency to try and do some of the things he'd always wanted but hadn't gotten around to.
Even after more than four years of reliving the same day over and over again, there were some things that he'd thought were too unlikely or difficult to pull off that he'd simply put the ideas aside. Now, with a possible end nearing, he wanted to at least try.
For the first time in a long time, Harry had a smile on his face as he entered the Great Hall. Looking around at the familiar faces, it really hit him how much better he now knew classmates that had been little more than acquaintances when this all started. Even some that he'd considered friends had surprised him.
There was Angelina Johnson, a fiercely competitive girl that was a bit of a size queen with an oral fixation. Susan Bones was shy and quiet to most but shockingly submissive. Daphne Greengrass, who was cold and unapproachable even to her housemates, dreamed of a man who would treat her like a queen in public and a whore in private. At only twenty-four, Professor Sinistra, the youngest professor at Hogwarts, was almost desperate for sex and affection. Even Hermione had shocked him with how wanton she could be at times, and she'd been his best friend for years.
And then, of course, there was Suzette. Her natural Legilimency and understanding had been a beacon for him in one of the darkest times of his life. Just when he'd never felt more alone and trapped, she came along and became a friend who could understand him like no one else ever had. The fact that Suzette and Hermione got along fantastically and cared about each other as much as they cared for him had been like a dream come true.
Part of him still occasionally wondered if this was just some magically induced dream that was only happening inside his head. Only the fact that everything looked and felt absolutely real dissuaded him from truly believing that.
Sitting down across from Hermione at the Gryffindor table, Harry absently held a conversation with her, one he'd had thousands of times, while his mind wandered. When Dumbledore made his customary speech about the Yule ball, he looked from his bushy haired friend and another brunette only a few seats away. It had been a while since he'd gone to the Ball with Katie, and he had to admit, she was one of his favorites.
Harry remembered Hermione admitting to having a crush on Katie a while back but had never been able to think of a plausible way for the three of them to go together. Now, though, he couldn't think of a reason not to at least try.
"Hey, Hermione," Harry said when Dumbledore finished his announcement and sat. "I need to talk to you for a minute in private."
"Okay," she said, looking at him curiously and leaning forward to whisper. "Is it about the Tournament?"
"No," Harry smiled.
With all of the studying he'd done over the last four years, he knew of a dozen different ways to get through the task. It almost felt like cheating that he had so much more time than the other Champions, but it wasn't like he had any control over his situation. Besides, they were three years older than him, and it would be a complete waste of an opportunity not to try and improve his magic with all the time he had. Not to mention the fact that he now knew Voldemort was behind his name ending up in the cup and most of what his plans were.
After finishing their breakfast, Harry led Hermione out of the Great Hall and into the nearest empty classroom.
"Take a seat," Harry said, pulling another chair over to hers. "There's something I need to show you."
As Hermione looked at him curiously, he gently pushed his memories into her mind. She gasped, her eyes widening as memories of the four years flashed in front of her eyes.
"Oh, Harry," she said, jumping up and hugging him tightly.
"I know it's a bit overwhelming. Just breathe and wait a minute for your mind to catch up," Harry said.
"Did we really, um…?" Hermione asked, trailing off nervously.
Harry smiled at the familiar question. It was something she asked nearly every time he did this with her. Hugging her tighter, he pulled Hermione into his lap and kissed her softly.
"Frequently," he whispered.
She blushed, but a bright smile lit up her face, and she leaned he head on his shoulder.
"As much as I'd love to stay like this, I have to go talk to Dumbledore," Harry said. "I want you to do something for me, though."
"Anything," Hermione said, sitting up to look at him intently.
Harry grinned, "Ask Katie to the Ball."
Hermione's eyebrows rose sharply, and her mouth worked silently up and down.
"Look, this time travel stuff might not last much longer, and we both know you want the three of us to go together," Harry said.
"And how does me asking her to the Ball get the three of us to go together?" Hermione asked.
"I'll take care of that," Harry told her with a crooked grin. "I don't know if it'll work, but it's worth a shot."
"Alright," Hermione sighed. "You'll tell me what happens with Professor Dumbledore, won't you?"
"Of course," he said, giving her a peck on the lips.
Hermione squeaked cutely in surprise when Harry suddenly stood up and set her on her feet. Pulling her body flush with his, he gave her a good snog before pulling back, leaving her flushed and breathless.
"I'll see you in a little bit," Harry said.
Leaving the classroom, Hermione headed back to the Great Hall while he made his way up to the second floor. Giving the Gargoyle the password, he rode the stairs up to the headmaster's office.
"Come in," Dumbledore called out before Harry could even knock on the door.
Shaking his head, he pushed open the door and walked into the office. Fawkes chirped in greeting and glided over to land on his shoulder.
"Good morning, Harry," Dumbledore said. "I trust you're here about yesterday's discoveries."
"Yeah," Harry said. "I know you wanted me here at eight, but I don't wake up until after nine, and I can't exactly set an alarm."
"That's understandable," Professor Dumbledore nodded.
"So, do you know how we should deal with this?" Harry asked.
"I need to take a closer look at the Horcrux and the Time-Turner before I can give you a definitive answer," Dumbledore said. "It may take me some time to fully understand what we're up against."
Harry sighed but nodded.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.
"Give me a couple of days to learn a little more before I bring you with me," the headmaster replied. "This is very dangerous magic. A single mistake could have grave consequences."
"Alright," Harry said.
"In the meantime, I'd like you to read this," Dumbledore said.
Reaching into his desk, he pulled out a book. The black leather cover was cracked in places, and the pages yellowed and warped with age. Harry took it and immediately felt a chill run down his spine. It felt like the dark magic from the book was seeping out and creeping over his hands.
"What is this?" Harry asked, revolted.
"That is what I believe to be the last surviving copy of a book called Secrets of the Darkest Arts by Herpo the Foul," Dumbledore replied. "It is a book I have worked tirelessly to destroy, and the one I believe Voldemort learned the Horcrux ritual from. This book contains some of the darkest, foulest magics ever created."
"Why do you want me to read this?" Harry asked, setting the book on the desk and wiping his hands on his robes.
"In order for you to help me with Voldemort's Horcruxes, you need to understand everything about them," Dumbledore said, stroking his beard. "Normally, I would not allow such a dangerous book to leave this office. However, since you are the only one able to remember what happens, I feel it's safe enough for you to take with you."
Nodding, Harry grimaced and slipped the book into his pocket.
"I'd also like you to look into studying Runes and Curse Breaking," he continued. "Even a basic understanding could be useful in our research."
"I've already been learning Runes," Harry said. "I was hoping to take that instead of Divinations when this was all over."
"Excellent," Dumbledore smiled. "That will make things easier. Now, if you'll excuse me, it seems I have some work to do before the Ball."
Nodding, Harry stood and headed for the door.
"Stay safe, professor," Harry said just before leaving.
Instead of going to find Hermione like he'd planned, Harry ended up going to his dorm to read through the book Dumbledore had given him. He found it horrifically disgusting, and it made him sick to his stomach more than once. After reading about Horcruxes and forcing himself to understand all of the details, he finally put it down.
Feeling dirty from just touching the book, let alone reading it, Harry stuffed it in his trunk next to a pair of Dudley's old socks and took a long, hot shower. By the time he was done, he felt quite a bit better and realized just how hungry he was.
"Where have you been?" Hermione asked exasperatedly when she spotted him coming down to the common room.
"Sorry," Harry said. "I got distracted after my talk with Dumbledore."
"Did you learn anything new?" Hermione asked.
"Nothing really important," Harry lied. "How did things go with Katie?"
It wasn't that he didn't want to tell Hermione about the book or what he'd learned. It was just that he didn't want to think about it anymore tonight. If he told her, there was no way he could stop her from reading it herself, despite the fact she wouldn't remember any of it.
"She said yes," Hermione replied, biting her lips as her cheeks went a light pink. "I still don't see how you're going to talk her into the three of us going together."
"You let me worry about that," Harry said, throwing an arm over her shoulders with a crooked grin. "Come on, let's go get something to eat. I'm starving."
Hermione sighed and shook her head at him as he led her out of the common room.
Hermione kept looking at Harry expectantly throughout lunch and into the afternoon, but it wasn't until nearly three that he finally made his move. Hermione and Katie were sitting on the couch next to the fire, talking about Muggle fiction, of all things, while Harry sat in a chair, flipping through an advanced spell book.
"Hey, Katie, Hermione, can I ask you two a favor?" he asked at a pause in their conversation.
"Sure, what do you need?" Katie asked.
"Since I'm a Champion, I have to do the opening dance with someone. I know you two are going together, but I was hoping one of you would have dinner and then do the first dance with me," Harry said.
Katie and Hermione shared a brief look before Katie turned back to him.
"I don't mind, but I'm sure we can find you a date if you need one," she said.
"I'm not really interested in finding a date," Harry said. "The only girls I wanted to go with are taken, so I'd rather just do the first dance and relax for the rest of the night."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Harry," Katie said sympathetically. "Sure, one of us could do the opening dance with you."
Turning to the side, she looked at Hermione questioningly.
"You can do it," Hermione smiled. "I'd rather not have the attention, and you know how bad the rumors would be."
"You don't mind, do you?'" Katie asked.
"Of course not," Hermione said.
Smiling brightly, Katie leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek before springing to her feet excitedly.
"I'm going to go start getting ready," she said happily. "Are you going to come up and let me and Alicia help you with your hair."
"Yeah, I'll be up in a couple of minutes," Hermione smiled.
Harry smiled as Katie turned and bounced up the stairs, her ponytail swaying back and forth.
"I don't know if I like this," Hermione said quietly.
Harry turned and looked at her in surprise.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"It just feels sort of – wrong," Hermione said. "It feels like we're manipulating her. Can't you just show her your memories like you did with me and tell her the truth?"
"I – didn't even think about that," Harry admitted, surprised with himself.
Why hadn't he thought about that before, he wondered.
"Should I go get her?" Hermione asked.
Nodding, Harry sat back in his chair thoughtfully as Hermione dashed up the stairs to the girl's dorm. He wondered if he really was manipulating girls to go on dates with him. But wasn't that what dating was normally like anyways, boys doing what they thought a girl would like to get them to go out with them? Suzette had never said anything against it and even encouraged him sometimes.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted when Hermione and Katie came bounding back down the stairs, and he resolved to talk to Hermione and Suzette about it more the next time the three of them were together.
"Hermione said you wanted to tell me something," Katie said, taking a seat on the couch across from him.
"Yeah," Harry said, licking his lips. "Do you know what Legilimency is?"
"No," Katie said, shaking her head with a curious look.
"It's basically magical mind reading," Harry said. "Think of it as a way for a person to connect their mind to another's. I want to use that to show you something. I promise not to look at anything you don't want me to."
"Okay," Katie said slowly, glancing over at Hermione, who smiled encouragingly.
Harry sighed, knowing his description was horrible and Katie didn't really understand. When she looked at him again, he gently entered her mind and fed her some of his memories. He didn't show her everything like he did with Hermione, but he showed her his memories of being stuck in a loop and all their dates to the Ball.
"Whoa!" Katie gasped, her eyes wide.
"Just give it a minute for your memories to settle," Harry said. "I know it's a lot to take in."
"That's an understatement," Katie said, rubbing her eyes. "So, we're all live in some kind of time loop, and you're the only one who remembers anything?"
"Yeah," Harry said.
Katie stared at him incredulously.
"How have you not gone insane?" she asked.
"I'm not entirely sure I haven't." Harry joked.
Katie snorted and shook her head.
"And we've gone to the Ball before?" she asked.
"Quite a few times," Harry smiled.
"And now you want to go with me and Hermione?" Katie pressed.
"I was hoping to," Harry said. "It was actually Hermione's idea."
"I saw that," Katie said, smiling as Hermione blushed. "Alright, so we'll do the first dance, and then Hermione joins us?"
"You're okay with this?" Hermione asked, surprised.
"Yeah, why not?" Katie asked. "I like both of you, and it's not like anyone will remember it. Well, besides Harry, and it's not like we haven't had sex before. Why not give it a try and see how things go?"
Harry smiled while Hermione goggled at her.
"You're the best, Katie," Harry grinned.
"I know," she smiled.
Harry, Hermione, and Katie ended up having a great time at the Ball. They certainly got some looks for their classmates but were mostly able to ignore them. Ron, predictably, tried to make a scene until Alicia and Angelina chased him out of the Great Hall with a few mild Hexes.
As the night grew late, it was actually Katie that dragged them up to the seventh floor. Harry smiled as she pulled them into a comfortable looking room clad in Gryffindor colors and surprised Hermione with a passionate kiss. As the two of them staggered over to the bed, giggling when they nearly tripped, taking off their dresses and shoes on the way, Harry shrugged off his cloak.
He began to wonder just how much of Fred and George's spiked punch they'd had when Hermione fell onto the bed while pulling Katie on top of her, her cheeks bright pink as she took Katie's pink nipple between her lips. Katie moaned, her back arching and pulling her black panties taught around her full, muscular bum.
Harry slowly stripped out of his clothes as he watched the two roll around on the mattress, the last of their clothes being tossed carelessly tossed to the floor. Smiling, Katie kissed her way down Hermione's body until her face was buried between her legs. Hermione arched her back and moaned, her hands landing on the top of Katie's head.
"You taste so good, Hermione," Katie whispered.
Glancing over her shoulder, she looked back at Harry and wiggled her bum with a grin. He smiled, realizing how much he'd missed her playful side. Walking up behind her, he dropped his boxers and climbed onto the bed. Katie moaned as his hands ghosted over her smooth, round curves. Leaning over her back, he kissed her shoulder and sucked at the side of her neck.
"Merlin, that feels big," Katie panted, wiggling her bum against his rigid erection. "Just put it in. I'm so fucking wet right now."
Snorting in laughter, Harry kissed her cheek as her lips descended on Hermione's folds. Straightening up, he rubbed his head between her glistening lips teasingly a couple of times before lining himself up with her entrance. Slowly, he pushed forward, sinking into her sweltering embrace.
"Oh God," Katie gasped.
Harry groaned as he bottomed out and paused, savoring the feeling of her tight depths. Leaning forward again, he ran a hand over her ribs and cupped one of her breasts as he began thrusting. Kaie moaned into Hermione's mound, her tongue delving deep into her folds.
"Katie," Hermione moaned, bucking her hips.
Spurred on, Katie attacked her clit enthusiastically, making Hermione moan even louder. Harry smiled at his best friend as she writhed wantonly while thrusting into Katie. Reaching up, Katie grasped one of Hermione's breasts and pinched her nipple lightly. Hermione arched her back, her hands tugging gently at Katie's elegant bun.
Katie's moans grew rapidly until she suddenly screamed out, her folds fluttering wildly around his thrusting shaft. Harry grunted as he was brought to a surprising climax, burying himself in her depths as he exploded.
"Bloody hell," Harry grunted.
After a moment to catch her breath, Katie crawled forward. Kissing Hermione passionately, she rolled them both over and grinned.
"Now, it's your turn," she said.
"I might need a minute," Harry panted.
"Maybe we should give him a show?" Katie suggested to Hermione.
Smiling, Hermione leaned down and pressed her lips to Katie's. The two made a show of kissing and groping each other as Harry watched. Smiling and shaking his head at his luck, Harry shuffled over beyond Hermione, his erection rapidly swelling.
It was over three hours later that the three of them collapsed onto the bed, Katie curling up to Harry's left side and Hermione on his right.
"Harry?" Katie asked.
"Hmm?" he hummed.
"Will you show me the memories of our time together when this is all over?" she asked.
"If you want me to," Harry said.
Katie smiled briefly and kissed his cheek.
"I just don't want to forget about this," she said, her smile fading into a frown. "I wish I didn't have to forget about this tomorrow. This has been the best night of my life. Even if we don't end up dating or anything after this, I still want to remember it."
Harry frowned thoughtfully and kissed the top of her head. A moment later, he sat up, climbed off the bed, and walked over to his clothes.
"What are you doing, Harry?" Hermione asked.
"If I use Legilimency to show Katie, she'll only be seeing things from my perspective," he said, pulling his wand from the pocket of his discarded pants. "But, we found a Pensieve in the Room of Lost Things when we searched it."
Looking around, he grabbed a knick knack from the fireplace mantle and transfigured it into a small glass vial.
"What's a Pensieve?" Katie asked.
"It's a device that lets you watch memories," he said, sitting down on the edge of the mattress. "If you want, I can make a copy of your memory of tonight and show it to you when this is finally over. There's a spell Dumbledore taught me that connects objects to my soul so they stay with me when everything resets."
"Really?" Katie asked excitedly, sitting up.
"Yeah," Harry smiled. "I suppose we don't even need the Pensieve. We could just give it back to you, and you'll remember everything the way you remember it now."
"What do I need to do?" Katie asked.
"Close your eyes and just focus on what you want to remember," Harry said.
Giving her a moment to focus, he touched the tip of his wand to her temple and muttered the incantation. Pulling away slowly, a long silver thread stuck to the tip. Dropping the silver memory into the vial, he corked it and set it on the nightstand, knowing it would be in his dorm when he woke up.
"Can you do the same for me?" Hermione asked. "I know you'll show me everything, but I'd like to see some of it from my own point of view."
Smiling, Harry transfigured another vial and did the same for her.
"Thank you," Katie said, kissing him passionately.
"You're welcome," Harry said.
Wrapping his arms around the girls, they snuggled up to him, and all three quickly fell asleep.
Chapter 19
Harry sighed as he sat down between Hermione and Suzette in the Transfigurations courtyard. Professor Flitwick had just finished enchanting it to have a warmer climate, giving them a warm, comfortable place to sit outside. For the girls, this was a nice break from the constant chill of the Scottish Winter. For Harry, it was just another day.
"Are you going to tell us what's bothering you?" Suzette asked.
Hermione looked at her oddly.
"Can't you just read his mind?" she asked.
"Yes, but it's still polite to ask," Suzette replied.
Harry smiled briefly before leaning back against the tree.
"Hermione brought up something a couple of days ago that's got me thinking," he said.
"What did I say?" Hermione asked curiously.
"When we were getting ready for our date with Katie, you told me how it felt like you were manipulating her," Harry said.
"And now you're worried that's what you've been doing with everyone," Suzette said, smiling and shaking her head. "'Arry, you're not doing anything wrong. Everyone manipulates the people around them."
"I know," Harry sighed. "She did make a good point, though. I never even thought about telling them the truth."
"Then why don't you keep doing that?" Suzette asked. "There's no need to brood over this."
"He likes to brood," Hermione said, smiling and nudging his shoulder.
"'E does 'ave a cute frown," Suzette smirked.
Harry snorted softly, wrapped an arm around each girl's shoulder, and kissed the tops of their heads.
"What are you planning?" Hermione asked, looking at the lopsided grin on his face suspiciously.
Suzette grinned next to him and giggled.
"Oh, 'Arry is being very ambitious," she said. "You really think you can go with all of them?"
Harry shrugged, "It's worth a try."
The next day – for Harry, at least – he stood at the top of the Astronomy Tower. Toes hanging over the edge of the parapet, he looked down at the front lawn and took a deep breath.
"Please work," he whispered to himself.
Grabbing the stone parapet, Harry psyched himself up and threw himself forward. He felt a moment of weightlessness before gravity took hold, and he fell, arms flailing to keep himself still. The wind grew quickly until it was a roar in his ears, and the ground grew larger at an alarming rate.
Squinting against the wind, Harry pushed outwards with his magic. He started to slow for just a moment before picking up speed again.
"Shit," Harry cursed.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed his magic harder. Below him, the Beauxbatons students looked up and pointed, some screaming in fright. Just as it looked like he was going to hit the ground, his spell took hold, and he shot forward. Fleur, Suzette, and a few of her friends ducked as he flew overhead.
Harry gave a whoop of excitement.
He'd done it! He'd learned to fly without a broom!
His concentration wavered in his excitement, and his body dipped suddenly.
"Whoa!" Harry yelled.
He tried but failed to regain control. Fortunately, he was only a few feet from the snow covered lawn when he lost his hold on the spell and tumbled to the ground. Rolling to a stop in a snow bank near the Black Lake, Harry took a moment to calm his racing heart, a cheek stinging grin on his face.
"YEAH!" he laughed excitedly.
"Yeh alrigh' Harry?" Hagrid asked, stomping through the snow towards him.
"Brilliant," Harry said, looking down at his shaking hands.
Every part of his body was filled with adrenaline. It was the most alive he'd felt in a very long time.
"What were yeh thinkin'?" Hagrid asked, towering above him.
"I wanted to learn how to fly without a broom," Harry grinned. "It worked, Hagrid. I flew!"
"Yeh nearly got yerself killed," Hagrid told him.
"Fawkes was watching me," Harry said.
With a thrill and a flash of fire, the red and gold Phoenix appeared and glided down gracefully to perch on Hagrid's shoulder.
"It was still dangerous," Hagrid sighed, offering him a frying pan sized hand. "Come on."
Harry took his hand and was lifted clear into the air before landing back on his feet.
"We did it, Fawkes!" Harry exclaimed.
Fawkes tilted his head back and crooned happily. Even Hagrid could keep his frown at the joyful magic pouring off the majestic bird. Unfortunately, even that couldn't stop Harry from shivering when the cold of the snow began to seep through his robes.
"Go warm up, Harry," Hagrid said. "An' warn me the next time you decide to do somethin' like this."
"Sorry, Hagrid," Harry said with an irrepressible smile.
Chirping farewell, Fawkes jumped from Hagrid's shoulder to Harry's and rode him all the way up to the castle. Ignoring the stares he got as he walked into the Great Hall, he paused on his way past the Ravenclaw table next to the Beauxbatons witches.
"Sorry about the scare," Harry said.
"'Ow did you do zhat?" Fleur asked, her brow furrowed as she stared at him intently.
Next to her, Suzette eyed him curiously.
"I made a spell to fly without a broom," Harry shrugged. "It took months, but I finally got it to work."
"Could I look at it?" Fleur asked.
"Sure. How about tomorrow?" Harry asked.
In his mind, he filed that away as another way to get some time with Fleur, but for today, he had something else in mind.
"Oui," Fleur nodded. "I will see you zhen."
Smiling, Harry continued on his way to the Gryffindor table. A number of boys eyed him jealously for a moment before several jumped out of their seats and made their way over to Fleur to ask her to the Ball.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked.
"I accidentally scared them this morning," Harry said.
Hermione looked at him curiously.
"Does that have anything to do with why you jumped off the Astronomy Tower this morning?" Katie asked.
Hermione's eyes went wide before she glared at him angrily.
"I needed room to fly," Harry said defensively.
"Explain," Hermione growled.
A few hours later, Harry waited near the kitchens, watching the time closely. At ten minutes past twelve, he turned the corner and bumped into Susan as she was coming out of the Hufflepuff dorm. Behind her, Hannah Abbot, Leanne Martin, Megan Jones, and Sophie Roper all came to a stop.
"Sorry," Susan said, blushing prettily.
"It's alright," Harry smiled. "It was my fault. Actually, I'm glad I ran into you. Do any of you have a date for the Ball yet?"
"Not yet," Megan said.
Harry smiled, "I think I can help you with that. Follow me."
The girls shared a curious look and followed Harry up the stairs.
"Where are we going?" Sophie asked.
"The seventh floor," Harry said.
Hidden in an alcove just off the main staircase, he stopped at a portrait of a door. Knocking seven times, the door creaked open, revealing a dark alcove beyond. Following Harry through the painting, the girls gaped when they realized they were standing in the seventh floor corridor.
"Wow," Susan said. "I had no idea that was there."
"There's one on every floor except for the dungeons," Harry told her with a grin. "But that's nothing. Wait 'til you see this."
Pacing in front of the blank wall across from the tapestry of Barnabus the Barmy, he summoned the room of requirement and showed them inside.
"What is this place?" Hannah asked.
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement," Harry said, waving his arm grandly.
"This is great, Harry, and I appreciate you showing this to us. But what does this have to do with finding us dates for the Ball?" Leanne asked.
"I'm getting there," Harry said. "I need to show you something first."
Walking over to a cabinet, he opened the door and levitated out a stone basin.
"Is that a Pensieve?" Susan asked.
"Yeah," Harry replied , running a hand through his hair. "This is going to sound crazy, but hear me out…"
Harry spent well over an hour telling the girls the truth about being trapped in time and showed them memories of his dates with them. Susan blushed heavily when he showed her the memory of their date, where he teased her under the table.
"Have you slept with all of us?" Megan asked, blushing as the memory versions of her and Harry disappeared inside the Quidditch locker room.
"I haven't slept with Hannah," Harry said.
"Why not?" Hannah asked, then blushed when she realized how hurt she sounded.
"You didn't want to sleep with someone after the first date," Harry shrugged.
"So, Han's the only one of us that isn't easy," Megan smirked.
"I wouldn't say that," Harry grinned.
"I can't believe no one ever asks us to the Ball," Leanne sighed.
"Then why don't you all go with me?" Harry asked.
"All of us?" Sophie asked incredulously.
Harry grinned, "Why not?"
The girls turned at stared at each other for a long moment.
"It's better than going by ourselves," Susan said.
"I'm in," Megan shrugged, glancing at Susan wistfully out of the corner of her eye.
"What exactly are you expecting out of this, Harry?" Leanne asked.
"Just a good time at the Ball," he said, holding his hands up innocently.
"Sure," Sophie said, rolling her eyes. "Susan's right, though. It's better than going alone."
"I don't think that's the only reason she wants to go," Hannah grinned.
Susan blushed while her housemates giggled at her.
"So, are we all agreed?" Megan asked.
One by one, all of them nodded.
"Brilliant," Harry grinned.
Hours later, Harry met all five of his dates in the Entrance Hall. While they'd been getting ready, it was decided that Megan would do the opening dance with him before they joined the others. Cedric watched him curiously as he hugged and kissed them on the cheek before they entered the Great Hall with the rest of the students.
"Wait, are they all really your dates?" he asked. "I thought Katherine was joking."
"Nope," Harry grinned.
Chuckling, Cedric puffed out his chest, "Well, I guess we do have the best girls in the school."
"You do realize your date is a Ravenclaw, don't you?" Megan asked.
"Hi, Cho," Harry said, waving over Cedric's shoulder.
Cedric spun around with a panicked look on his face. While Harry and Megan laughed, his shoulders relaxed. Turning back around, he punched Harry's shoulder playfully.
"How did you end up with five dates, anyways?" Cedric asked.
"I asked," Harry shrugged.
Snorting, Cedric shook his head, "You know, most of us were nervous just asking one girl."
"Champions! Over here!" McGonagall called.
Once everyone had arrived and gotten in place, Harry walked in with Megan on his arm. Escorting her over to the Champions table, they enjoyed a short dinner before it was time for the first dance. After the first song was done, Sophie joined him for the second, followed by the other girls until Susan was the only one he hadn't danced with.
Taking the busty redhead in his arms, Harry spun her around with a large smile on his face. Squealing in laughter, Susan smiled widely, her cheeks flushed beautifully.
"Having fun?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Susan smiled.
"I think some of your housemates are jealous," he told her. "Ernie hasn't stopped glaring at me since the dance started."
Susan glanced over to the side where a few of the boys from Hufflepuff were sulking at a table, glaring at Harry.
"Well, that's their own fault," Susan said.
Smiling, Harry gave her another spin before pulling her close. When their dance was over, he danced one more song with each of the girls before taking a break and getting a drink.
Sitting at one of the tables, he had one of his arms around Susan and the other around Sophie.
"Ernie asked me to dance while you were gone," Hannah said.
"You can dance with him if you want," Harry offered.
Hannah smiled and shook her head.
"If he wanted to dance with me, he should've asked me to be his date," she said.
Giggling, Sophie got up and offered her seat to Hannah. Smiling, she took the seat and cuddled up to Harry's side.
"Do you want to sit next to Harry for a bit?" Susan asked Leanne.
"That's okay," Leanne smiled. "You look comfortable."
"I knew Hufflepuffs were good at sharing, but this is a bit much,"
Harry turned around and smiled at Katie as she sat next to Leanne.
"Hey, Katie," Harry said. "I see you ditched McLaggen."
"I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to go with him," Katie sighed. "He's such an arrogant git."
"Is that why you kneed him?" Leanne asked with a giggle.
"No, that was because he kept trying to grab my chest," Katie huffed.
"Don't you hate that?" Harry asked.
Shaking his head and trying to keep a serious look on his face, he dropped his hand down onto Susan's breast. Blushing, she leaned into Harry and hid her face behind her hair.
"Harry!" Katie exclaimed laughingly. "What's gotten into you?"
Shrugging, he gave Susan's breast a squeeze and let go.
"Here he comes," Leanne whispered urgently.
Everyone looked over to see McLaggen walk back into the hall, his eyes scanning around.
"Bugger," Katie muttered.
Taking out his wand, Harry cast a discrete hex in McLaggen's direction just as he spotted Katie. Taking a step forward with a smarmy grin on his face, he made it two steps before he stopped. His smile fell, and his face paled drastically. Turning around, he sprinted out of the Great Hall, shoving people out of the way.
"What did you do?" Katie asked as Harry put away his wand.
"Bowel-Loosening Hex," he smirked. "That should keep him busy for the rest of the night."
The girls laughed loudly. Katie stayed for a few minutes longer before deciding to call it a night. Harry danced with his dates a bit more until they surprised him.
"Hey, Harry. Can we go back to the Room of Requirement?" Sophie asked when he returned to the table.
"Sure, if you want to," Harry said.
When the others nodded in agreement, they left the hall, and he escorted them up to the seventh floor. Hannah summoned the room. A cozy little room clad in Hufflepuff colors with a crackling fireplace. There was no furniture, just a bunch of cushions on the floor around a low table laden with Butterbeer bottles.
"Let's play spin the bottle," Megan grinned.
Picking up a bottle of Butterbeer, she pulled the cork free and chugged it down quickly. As everyone sat down around the table, she burped loudly and set the bottle down flat on its side. Harry used his wand to open and levitate a Butterbeer to each of the girls while Megan gave the empty one a spin. After a moment, it landed on Sophie.
"Truth or dare?" Megan asked.
"Dare," Sophie grinned.
"I dare you to kiss Harry," Megan said.
Blushing, Sophie crawled over to Harry and kissed him softly on the lips to a chorus of giggles. As she sat back down with a smile, she spun the bottle, which landed on Susan.
"Truth or dare?" Sophie asked.
"Truth," Susan replied.
"What boy do you fancy the most?" Sophie asked with a smile that made Harry think she already knew the answer.
Ducking her head, Susan blushed heavily.
"Harry," she murmured.
Smiling, Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kidded her temple. Taking a sip of his Butterbeer, he wished they had something stronger to drink. A grin stretched his lips when a bottle of Firewhiskey appeared on the table. Grabbing the bottle, he took a swig and blew out a breath of flames before passing it around.
"Truth or dare?" Susan asked Leanne.
"Dare," Leanne said.
"I dare you to flash Harry," Susan grinned.
"Susan!" Leanne exclaimed.
"Oh, go on. It's not like he hasn't seen them already," Megan said.
"If you don't want to, you can take a swig instead," Harry said, holding up the bottle of Firewhiskey.
Biting her lips cutely, Leanne took the bottle and swallowed a mouthful while the girls teased her. Setting the bottle down, she slipped the straps of her dress down her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she flipped down the front of her dress. Harry smiled at her small but perky breasts, topped with small, reddish brown nipples before she covered them up quickly.
The girls cheered and laughed loudly for a moment while Leanne blushed. Grabbing the bottle, she spun it quickly. When it settled, it landed on Harry.
"Truth or dare?" she asked.
"Dare," Harry said.
"I dare you to, um…," she hummed thoughtfully.
Megan leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"I dare you to take off your shirt," Leanne smiled.
Shrugging, Harry loosened his bowtie and took off his shirt to loud catcalls from the girls. Sitting back down, he spun the bottle. Megan grinned when it landed on her.
"Truth or dare?" he asked.
"Dare," Megan said.
"I dare you to kiss Susan," Harry said.
Megan's eyes widened as she glanced over at Susan nervously.
"Or you can take a swig," Harry said, offering her an out.
Taking a deep breath, Megan crawled over to Susan and paused. Slowly she leaned closer, both of their faces bright red. Eventually, their lips met tentatively. Surprisingly, neither of them pulled back, and they continued to kiss for several seconds. Pulling back, they looked at each other and laughed nervously. Moving back to her seat, Megan spun the bottle, and it landed on Susan.
"Dare," Susan said before Megna could ask.
Glancing at Harry, Megan smirked, "I dare you to take off your dress and sit in Harry's lap."
Susan blushed from the roots of her hair all the way down to her chest. While the girls laughed and cheered, Harry held up the bottle of Firewhiskey in silent offering. Shaking her head, Susan stood up. Using her wand to unzip her dress, she let it fall down to her waist and then shimmied it down over her wide hips. After it pooled around her feet, she sat down in Harry's lap and buried her face in the crook of his neck.
Grinning, Harry caressed her side and ran his hand up to cup her massive breast. Gasping quietly, Susan moaned and tightened her grip around him.
"Slut," Hannah said playfully.
As the girls giggled, Susan spun the bottle and smirked when it landed on Hannah.
"Dare," Hannah said, missing the look her best friend was giving her.
"I dare you to take off your dress," Susan said.
Hannah's jaw dropped, and she blushed profusely. Harry pushed the bottle of Firewhiskey over to her, and she looked at it temptingly for a moment before biting her lip and standing up. Closing her eyes, she took off her dress while her dormmates cheered. Harry watched and smiled as her dress dropped below her breasts, revealing them to him for the first time.
While not as busty as Susan, Hannah was still well endowed. Her breasts were capped with large, light pink areolas and small nipples. They bounced and swayed as Hannah shimmied out of her dress and let it fall to the floor. Blushing heavily, she took a seat and crossed her arms over her chest.
"No covering up," Megan smiled.
Sighing, Hannah moved her arms and reached for the bottle.
The game continued with each girl getting back at the next by daring them to take off their clothes. Sophie was thin with an almost flat chest but had very thick, prominent nipples. Megan had an athletic build with a modest sized bust and dark nipples. Her breasts were extremely perky, and the tips bounced with every movement she made. Harry found himself throbbing excitingly each time they did. When she noticed, Megan smirked at him with a blush.
Suddenly, a four poster bed appeared at the back of the room. Blinking in surprise, the girls looked at each other and laughed.
"Someone's excited," Leanne joked.
"So, no matter what we do today, it'll be like it never happened tomorrow, right?" Hannah asked.
"Right," Harry said. "I could save your memories and give them back to you when this is over if you want. But other than that, you won't remember anything."
Smirking, Megan picked up the bottle and pointed the tip at Hannah.
"I dare you to take Harry over to the bed and have sex with him," she said.
Biting her lip, Hannah stood up and walked over to Harry. Not meeting his eye, she told his hand and pulled him over to the bed while the other cheered. As the curtains closed around them, Harry climbed on the bed next to her and smiled gently.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.
Hannah nodded nervously. Laying down next to her, Harry rested his hand on her stomach and kissed her. Slowly his hand caressed its way up to her breast, his thumb grazing over her nipple. Moaning into his mouth, she ran her hand over his bare chest.
Removing his hand from her breast, Harry reached down, opened his pants, and pushed them down his legs. Hannah pulled back and blushed as she stared down at the prominent bulge in the front of his boxers. While she watched, he took them off, leaving him naked. When he rolled over, his erection landed on her thigh.
Biting her lips, Hannah reached down and wrapped her hand around his shaft. Smiling, Harry caressed her breasts while she spent a few minutes exploring his length. Eventually, he climbed between her legs and pulled over her panties. Hannah was shockingly wet, so he crawled up and rested his tip at her entrance.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
Hannah nodded, her eyes locked on his shaft as he pushed forward. A gasp left her lips as he entered her slowly. She was amazingly tight, but that also meant he had to go slow to start. Sawing his hips back and forth, Harry slowly eased his way into her until his entire length was buried in her depths. Smiling down at her, he kissed her heatedly and flexed his hips, causing her to moan when his pelvis rubbed her clit.
Harry started out rocking his hips gently, gradually pulling back farther and thrusting in faster. Hannah's folds clutched tightly at his length as she gasped, moaned, and arched her back under him.
"Oh, Merlin," Hannah gasped. "I didn't think it would feel this good."
Grinning, Harry bent down and kissed her. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, he rolled to the side, taking her with him. Hannah gasped as she sat up on his hips, her depths fluttering around him. With a grin, Harry reached up and groped her breasts as she moved her hips experimentally.
Gradually, she grew more comfortable and confident. Soon, Hannah was bouncing vigorously on his lap, her breasts bouncing alluringly while her thick bum clapped against his thighs. Grabbing her hips, Harry thrust up into her. Nails digging into his chest, Hannah moaned loudly, her body trembling as she reached her peak.
Harry was still rock hard as she collapsed onto his chest, panting.
"I'm sorry," Hannah panted. "I need a break."
"That's fine," Harry said, caressing her back.
Looking up at him, she bit her lip.
"Can we do this again when I can remember it?" Hannah asked.
"I can save this memory for you if you want," Harry offered.
Okay," Hannah smiled.
Kissing her forehead, Harry sat up and grabbed his wand. Conjuring a vial, he took her memory and dropped it into it.
Once Hannah had caught her breath, they pulled open the curtains to loud applause and cheering from the other girls. She smiled but blushed heavily as she walked over and sat down next to Susan.
"I can't believe you rode him like that," Sophie said.
"How did you know that?" Hannah asked.
"We can see through the curtains from this side," Megan smirked.
Eyes wide, Hannah looked at the bed and blushed heavily before covering her face. Harry glanced over and saw that the curtains were completely transparent from the outside. As he let out a snort of laughter, Megan walked up to him with a grin.
"My turn," she said.
Taking his hand, she led him over to the bed.
The next morning, Harry walked down the Great Hall with a smile on his face. Glancing over at the Hufflepuff table, he caught Susan's eye and winked. Blushing, she turned away while Hannah whispered to her. He couldn't wait to give the girls back their memories. Looking around and wondering who he should take to the Ball next, his eyes landed on Fleur. Again, she had a line of boys waiting to ask her to the Ball.
As he thought of ways to get her to go to the Ball with him again, Harry turned back to his plate. Oddly, there was a note there that hadn't been there before. Picking it up, he unfolded it.
I require your assistance. Meet me in the seventh floor corridor.
Albus Dumbledore
Finally, Harry thought.
The end was finally in sight.