Chapter Twenty-Two
Harry watched the breakfast post being delivered, wincing slightly as he did so. Hermione noticed the discomfort and looked at him with a concerned expression, "Are you alright Harry?" she asked.
He smiled at her, "I'm more than fine Hermione," he told her his voice a bit of a purr, "Just some after effects from a potion." he said, and his voice loud enough that it just carried to Parvati. The beautiful Indian girl turned towards him, her eyes dancing and holding the knowledge of why he was wincing. He would have to have words with her later about after effects, as pleasurable as they may be. They could also be embarrassing and slightly painful since he was sat down. Spontaneous erections and sudden bouts of pleasure were not the easiest things to deal with. Luckily, he had no class that day, and it was the night of Halloween. For a change, he doubted there would be some form of trouble for him, or that is what he hoped at least. He had killed Voldemort and the Inner Circle was on the run, he doubted that would last forever, but for now peace reigned.
"Anything I can help you with," Hermione went on to ask.
He smiled sexily at her, she could certainly help him but probably best not to be doing that at the breakfast table, "Not right at this moment," he demurred, he was feeling exceptionally mellow and at the same time very horny that day. Parvati had indeed made him climax last night, but it had taken more than the potion and he seriously appreciated her going that extra mile for him. She had talented hands, he would give her that, and with the way, she kissed… He winced again at that thought as it had just managed to make him even more turned on.
He struggled for control for a moment, and then distraction came in the form of a large parcel being landed into his breakfast. He eyed the four large and bright green owls balefully, and then smirked since they had already had their punishment in the form of Fred and George's colour scheme. There was just no way in hell that he was letting them design the colour scheme for the new, yet, unnamed company.
Ignoring the indignantly hooting owls, he used his breakfast knife to cut the bindings of the parcel under the watchful eyes of Hermione. Ron had given up glaring at him and was sat several places down from where he normally sat. Harry was not too sure how to take Ron's continued anger at him. On one hand, he could be angry himself, but not that morning he was too mellow. On the other hand, he could be upset, but after Parvati's gifts, and boy did she give great gifts, he did not feel the slightest bit upset. So he settled for ignoring him, it reminded him of the Goblin of Fire fiasco in a way. That was another situation where Ron had taken him as guilty despite Harry's protestations of innocence. Of course, if Ron knew that he had snogged his sister willingly not that long ago he would have a right to be angry perhaps. Given the way Harry thought these days, it was quite likely he would do a damn site more than kiss the girl if she started to chase him again. His only saving grace there was that she would hold off until she was 'legal' her words, so that gave him time. Time for what he had no idea; he saw no easy way of dealing with the Weasley brothers, except Fred and George who had already given their warning. Oddly enough, the twins seemed to be the more down to earth of the bunch of them.
Putting aside his thoughts and the knife he had used, Harry opened the box and stood up to look inside. His face split into a smile, "Damn they work fast," he commented in an aside to Hermione.
"What is it?" she asked him, standing and moving closer to have a look in the box, "Good grief, they do work fast."
"Take one," Harry said, "Oh, actually, not yet; I've just had an idea," he told her.
Hermione looked at him with a smile, "Your ideas of late tend to rock the world in some fashion."
"Not this time," he told her with a smirk, "Well, it will help me to rock your world in the future I hope," he added in a conspiratorial whisper with an edge of sexiness to it.
Hermione blushed prettily at him, but her eyes spoke volumes on what she thought of the idea. "What are you going to do?"
"If I'm right, the Operating System stuff is in amongst those papers at the bottom. I'm going to change it and add a spell." He told her without really explaining himself.
"What's the spell going to do? Or is it a spell form of that trick of yours, that could be distracting," she mused with a twinkle in her eye, "Ring, ring, oh my god!" she pantomimed with a laugh.
Harry let out a bark of extremely amused laughter, then said, "Nothing like that, but it's an interesting thought," he told her, "I'll tell you - when I've worked it all- actually, I have something for you," he said suddenly patting down his pockets. Then he handed her a scroll of parchment, "I doubt you need it though, but it helps me."
Hermione half frowned in puzzlement and took the roll of parchment. She unrolled it onto the table, and it ended up being about 6 inches by 4 inches, about the size of a normal photograph. On it where numbers and a box at the top, "What is it?" she asked him.
"Something I was toying with a while ago, then I had trouble in Arithmancy, the formulae and all that are fine, for obvious reasons I can do that, but mental calculations are beyond my ken. So I made that gizmo, it's really very simple, but think of the possibilities…" he trailed off looking at her intently.
She looked at the parchment for a very long moment, and then suddenly her eyes shot wide open, "No way," she breathed, then with a slightly shaking hand she reached out and tapped the one on the paper.
A corresponding one appeared in fine script in the box at the top. She then went on to type 2,3,4,5,6,7,8, then hit the small plus sign and typed the number backwards making, 87654321. She looked at Harry with a question in her expression.
He smiled encouragingly at her, but before she hit the equals sign she said, "If this works, I will be forced to kiss you in public you do realise."
"I have no problem with that Hermione," Harry told her with a smirk.
She hit the button, her mouth opening in shock as the script flowed and changed into, 99999999. Then she smiled radiantly and threw her arms around him hugging him and laying kisses on his face. Then finally, she kissed his lips and backed off with a blush. It was very chaste, but it was the first public sign that something was happening between them, in other words- it was a big thing. "Damn you're clever."
"I'm really not," Harry, told her, "I did it because my mental arithmetic stinks, but think about what it means-" he trailed off meaningfully.
Hermione pouted thoughtfully, ignoring the curious stares being directed at them. In some cases, it was curious, some it was pleased and in one case, in particular it was a jealous as all hell glare.
Ron was frowning thoughtfully, a slightly worried expression on his face. He had meant what he had told Lavender though, he honestly did not think of Hermione like that, well- not that much. It was a strange sight to see Hermione and Harry so- close though. He looked over to his girlfriend who was sat across from him a large frown appearing on his face when he saw the expression on her face. He was not that good with women, he did not know how to read them well, but a blind man could have seen the jealous and slightly longing look Lavender was shooting Hermione and Harry at that moment. Perhaps Bill was right after all, there was something going on with Harry and Lavender, something more on Lavenders half than Harrys'. This needed thinking about for sure, but he did not want to loose her either. He was sure he loved her in fact; loosing her may very well break his heart in half.
"Oh My God!" Hermione suddenly exclaimed, "You're talking about computers?"
Harry beamed at her, "You're so sexy when you're being smart did anyone ever tell you that?"
"No," Hermione said with a chuff of amusement.
"Well, I just did," Harry, said seriously, not liking that she did not take a compliment, or the reasons that were possibly behind that. "I bloody mean it as well, so remember that."
Hermione blushed again, looking demure, then she looked at the parchment again, "How do I get to the spells?" she asked.
"Picking apart your gift?" Harry asked with a sardonic lilt to his tone, he cut off any reply by handing her another roll of parchment; this one had a few sheets to it, "Another Calculator and all the Arithmancy and Rune work involved broken down for you. I figure you can work out the basics for this one," he told her with a smirk, "It took me bloody ages to get it working in the first place, but I expect you'll crack the idea easily enough. I do know one very important thing though."
"Hmm?" Hermione said in a distracted tone as she was sitting down and reading his scrawled notes.
"Thanks to that- download you made me do, I know about Quantum, and more importantly Qubits."
Hermione paled and looked at him with a very serious expression on her face, "You can't be serious."
"No - I'm Harry. Seriously though, why not, what else but magic could study something without showing it was?"
"Harry- I mean- Seriously, if you're right-" she trailed off, shaking her head and sending her hair flying around her.
Harry smiled, "Maybe I am, and maybe I'm not. Either way, it should be something to have a look at non?"
"Oui," she said with a smirk, "I'll get on that, after the weekend."
"Why after the weekend, in particular?" Harry asked her looking at her a little surprised.
"Well, I know you're busy tonight," Hermione said with a smile, "But tomorrow- You're mine, all day long, or else."
Harry grinned at her, "Apart from one short trip to the twins," he said tapping the box, "You're on."
Hermione beamed, so he knew he had just said the right thing to her.
-#-
Harry looked at himself in the full-length mirror he had conjured. He was standing in the Headmasters office in Black Castle. Beside him, Sal was clapping at him with a wide smile; beside him was Rowena Ravenclaw who was eyeing him with appreciation. "Very interesting, is that what was it you called them- Muggle thing?" Rowena asked.
Harry smiled over his shoulder at her, "It is, you don't think I look like a prat do you?"
"I think probably not," Rowena said with a throaty laugh that was as sexy as she looked, as in very. "I think your - urm- date, for the evening will appreciate the effort you've gone into."
"I hope they do," Harry said pulling at the collar of his shirt.
Sal laughed, "They," he asked with a big smile, "You're as bad as Myrthyn was," he noted.
"I'm told it's a dragon thing," Harry told him, "The males build Harems."
"Are you, building a Harem that is?" Rowena asked.
Sal cut her a look, "Be still wench you're in a portrait after all," he said, his eyes smiling at his wife.
She shrugged, "He's very nice to look at," she noted, "I was curious to know who he has chosen actually."
"Not so much chosen as they have chosen," Harry admitted with a grin, he could not get over the fact that people wanted him like that. "Cissy and Bell a certain, Hermione too, Parvati wants in as well. I'm not too sure right now who else is interested."
"Impressive, you are a Lord correct?" Sal asked, they had discussed his situation not too long ago, but he wanted to check his facts.
"Yes, and I have a Barony from the Blacks, I've also got a Order of Merlin which means I'm a sodding Knight as well, but then so is Albus so at least I won't suffer alone."
"Well, there are three different ways by the old laws, if they've not been rescinded, that you can legally take more than one wife." Rowena told Harry, beating her husband to the punch by a nanosecond. Sal glared at her reproachfully but she smiled at him and melted his ire completely.
Harry turned to face them, "From what Cissy was telling me they still have some form of ceremony for that. So I would guess the laws are still in place."
Sal shrugged, "Doesn't really matter anyway," he told Harry, then got a curious look from his wife and Harry both so he went on. "Even if the laws are rescinded, you may take one lawful wife and as many 'Mistresses' as you damn well please. It was accepted practice back in our day," he glanced at his wife, "Of course not something I partook in you understand," he added quickly.
Harry snorted a laugh, "Well, I think that probably still happens, not sure about the legalities involved in that though."
"Strictly speaking- its fine, adultery is the act of sex on part of the woman, and it has to be penetrated sexual intercourse." Rowena told him, "Horrible and antiquated, but true, at least in our world. I know for a fact that is still true from a fascinating conversation I overheard between McGonagall and Dumbledore."
Harry shivered, "I hesitate to ask what brought that conversation on," he said then smirked, "either way, I don't give a fu- flying frilly about that. I will do as I please and the world can go spit, we will all come live on the island or something if push comes to shove. We're independent here after all, a law unto ourselves."
"Oh yes," Sal said with a eureka face, "I'd forgotten that, The Isle of Black is self regulated, not a part of the British isles, or whatever it's called these days, I doubt that has changed since no one knows it exists really."
"There you go then, all bases covered," Harry said with a ticking motion of his hand. "Do I need the mask do you think?"
"Oh yes," Rowena said quickly, "Leave that on, makes you look mysterious."
Sal looked at his wife again, with some amusement, "I think she's smitten," he noted wryly to the accompaniment of being whacked on the shoulder.
"And they say we're the violent sex," Harry noted with a smirk, knowing damn well she could not hit him.
She glared for a moment playfully, and then said, "I may not be able to hit you myself, but I suspect I could ask someone to punish you on my behalf."
Harry winked at her, "I might like it."
"Must you flirt with my wife," Sal asked with wry amusement colouring his tone.
"No, but it's an awful lot of fun to do so," Harry replied with a grin, then let out a sigh, "Damn, tonight is the first time in a while I've been to a formal dance thing." he said, a dark cloud coming over him for a moment before he snapped out of it, "Anyway, should be fun, Daphne and Tracey in particular are amazing fun to be around."
"Those are not names you mentioned as being a part of your Harem," Rowena noted.
"Nope, they aren't, are they," Harry said with a grin, "Right," he glanced at his watch, "I'd better get a move on then," he squared his shoulders. Striking a mocking pose at the mirror, then he deflated and shook his head, "I must be insane," he noted wryly.
-#-
Harry appeared in Sal's Quarters and stopped breathing. Tracey was there, just as arranged with Daphne in tow and they were standing beside each other facing him as he arrived. "I- am the luckiest man in Hogwarts." Harry said with a smile, "That I should have two such beautiful companions for the evening."
Tracey smiled at him, "You're actually getting smoother do you know that?" she asked and did a twirl, "What do you think?"
She was dressed as the Muggle idea of a witch, or possibly a witch in a porno. She was head to toe in black, very high heels on her feet and black stockings. Harry knew they were stockings because the garter belt holding them up was just visible on occasion, as she turned through the high split on her floor length dress. The dress itself was plain, but on Tracey and filled out with her curves it was anything but plain. Her hair was in a do around her head, a little wild and it had obviously taken magic to make it stand like that. Her make up was dark and a little gothic, but oddly enough, it suited her. Her bright blue eyes positively shone in her face and her cheeks were sculpted by her make up.
"Wow, is what I think Tracey, you're beautiful and sexy as all hell." Harry told her, she smiled sultrily at him and held out her hand to Daphne.
"What do you think of Daphne?" she asked teasingly a laugh in her tone and a smile on her face.
What did he think, apart from phwoar, it would be difficult to vocalise.
Continuing the saucy, slash, porno theme, Daphne was dressed as a nurse. Where Tracey was in black, she was in white. Again with very high heels on her feet, long legs encased in white nylon and as she did a twirl her short dress kicked up to show hold ups. Her curves were emphasised by the uniform, pristine white, with a bright blue belt. She had a small nurse cap on her shining blond locks and her make up was bright and sexy. Fire engine lips, her eyes brought up a bit with some dark eyeliner and her hair was in a wave down her back. Harry had never really realised how long her hair was up until that point.
"I think," Harry said after clearing his throat, "That not a single bloke will be looking at their own dates tonight. Daphne, you are stunningly sexy and astoundingly beautiful, you two will be the apple of every eye tonight and I am Proud that I will be your escort."
Daphne blinked, and then smiled at him. Tracey nudged her side, "I told you," she said to her partner, "He's something else isn't he?"
Daphne was still smiling when she said, "I think it is us, who are proud tonight Pot- Harry, you look amazing, what is that costume?"
"I do not think him is, what you think him is," Tracey noted wryly.
Daphne shot her friend a curious look, followed closely by Harry though his look was one of total shock. She caught the look and smirked, "I did say my family is closely tied to the Muggle world."
"Yeah, but I figured you meant via business or something, to know this movie though we're talking a bit more involvement than I thought a pure blood would have," Harry noted then he smiled, "I'm pleasantly surprised I have to admit."
She smiled at him and the two shared a moment of heat, then Daphne cut in with, "I still don't know the costume though."
"Well, wait until you see the Muggle Born's reactions," Tracey said, "Then I will tell you, I promise."
Daphne nodded, "Alright then, shall we be off?"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. You know I'm glad I'm armed, I feel that I may have to fight off suitors away from you two tonight." Harry noted with got him some wide smiles.
-#-
A well-known band other than the Weird Sisters was playing up a storm on the stage and teenagers were bopping around in their finery. There was a nice mix of Muggle and Wizarding costumes around the place, a lot of Merlin's, some of the founders and even a couple of slightly lesser known wizarding figures.
Unsurprisingly the Pure Blood tended towards the Wizarding with the Muggle-Born's going for Muggle, and a mix of both from the Half Bloods. There was some crossover thought, which was a sign that times may indeed have a chance to change.
There was an air of a real party building. With Harry's defeat of Voldemort the wizarding world was breathing out a much needed breath of fresh air. The younger generation was looking to kick back and party like crazy and the older were turning a blind eye. This was no more apparent than at Hogwarts, where some of the costume choices were risqué to say the least. Even the normally stern Professor McGonagall was not taking too much of a close look. However, there had been a case on one person going too far. They had come dressed as a Death Eater, showing remarkable bad taste and lack of intellect. They had been stunned stupid within moments of walking in the front door and then put on so much detention their children would be staying after school.
There was a break in the music and then suddenly the doors to the great hall slammed open, scaring the heck out of most present especially those closest to it. Three figures appeared back lit in the doorway and the entire hall became still for a blink of time.
"Well, Well, what a wonderful party," Harry said, his voice a well to do accent. "Shall we my dears," he added to his companions.
Male and female jaws dropped alike as the three walked in as if they owned the place. The click of high heel and the jangle of Harry's sword seemingly very loud in the sudden quiet of the hall.
"Well, I'm no expert, but shouldn't there be music and dancing?" Harry asked, still with the same accent and some serious irony.
The band got the clue and began to play again, it had just been coincidence but Harry's entrance could not have come at a better time. People went back to dancing with several shooting glances their way and smiling. Either with lecherous intent or at Harry's costume choice.
The trio walked towards the tables with the drinks on when, with an airy wave of Harry hand, the Hall's doors slammed shut once more. The fog remained though adding an otherworldly feel to the dance floor.
"I'm going to dance with my girlfriend," Tracey said suddenly, "Feel free to mingle, just make sure you remember who you came with," she said then kissed him grabbed Daphne and swept off to the dance floor.
Harry watched her go with a smile on his face, he really liked that girl, and he really- really did. With Tracey, everything just 'was' there was not any complications to her. She was a scheming and conniving little bugger, but frankly, he also liked that about her, because odd as it sounded, it was done to your face, not to your back. He grabbed himself some punch from the large ever-full bowl and sipped on it, looking around as he did so. Hermione was dancing with Neville, which was surprising but good to see. For one thing, Neville could actually dance and she seemed to be having fun. Neville himself was dressed as a very authentic Auror and looked like he was walking on air, which did Harry's heart some good to see.
Shockingly enough Hermione was dressed as Alice as in Wonderland. To leave it at that would be doing her an injustice though, For one thing the powder blue dress was only to mid thigh and puffed out at the bottom, curved to her form and floaty. Her hair was coloured to a darker tone, and her face was made up with eyeliner and fire engine red lipstick. She had black clumpy high heels on with a buckle, and her legs were adorned with knee-high stockings with a black bow on them. Quite honestly Harry had never seen Hermione so overtly sexy looking in his entire life and vowed to get a dance with her that evening, possibly asking her to hang on to that damn costume. He had seen her legs before; he had put her in a short skirt because he knew she had nice pins. Somehow, the nylon just shaped her legs in ways that were making a lot of the men drool.
In fact, as Harry looked around he noticed an odd sort of a theme in the place. He was actually surprised that the professors had not said anything in fact. Many of the female costumes where what could only be described as naughty with a hint of dangerously sexy.
Ginny for one was dressed in a way that Harry was sure Ron was having palpitations about. She was in her uniform, school that is, but it had been changed in ways that should be illegal and there was a lot of leg on display and enough cleavage that Harry was significantly re-evaluating her place in his life. She flashed him a sort of half-coy, half-sexy smile that made his own lips curl into a sexy smile, then got on with dancing with a red faced Colin. It was utterly hilarious to see the young Gryffindor trying to find somewhere to put his hands that would not either get him slapped by Ginny, or beaten up by Ron.
Ron and Lavender were nowhere to be seen, which was possibly because Ron had caught sight of Ginny and had to be calmed down before he made a scene. Which doubtless Lavender was managing in her usual fashion, Harry honestly had no problem with that. It was still a situation that could blow up at any given moment, but at least Ron was happy for the moment.
His eyes fell next to Cho. She had been avoiding him of late, to the point that he had given up trying to get to talk to her. If he were completely honest he wasn't that worried about not seeing her anymore, while she did have a very nice athletically toned body he wasn't missing the odd way she had sex. So far she had reverted to shooting him little looks, some a little lost looking. Those were the ones that worried him a little, he hoped she hadn't done something she now regretted. Which is why he had tried to talk to her, but had now stopped trying. She would come to him when she was ready, or she wouldn't, there was nothing much he could do about it either way. She looked damn fine though, dressed in a sexy little pirate costume that showed off her legs to marvellous effect and knee high boots that had her partner, some guy from Ravenclaw he'd never talked to, drooling on her. She didn't look to amused by his attention either.
He was tapped on the shoulder, distracting him from his perusal of the Hogwarts talent and he turned and stopped dead.
"Hello Harry," Luna said, her tone light and dreamy but her eyes were focused and bright.
Harry blinked and pulled his eyes up to hers. "Damn Luna, you look a-mazing."
She smiled brightly at him and did a little turn. "Do you like it, it's my Hobbergobble costume."
"Really," Harry said drawing out the word, "In Muggle-Land we call that a fairy costume, or perhaps an Angel one." he looked her up and down for a moment.
Her costume had feathery wings, not too large at the back, so perhaps it was an angel costume. However, other than the fact she looked heavenly she wasn't a good angel for sure. It was white, layered light material, like chiffon, with a cut out down the front to almost her navel, flashing cleavage Harry hadn't realised she had and high on the leg. Her feet had some high looking heels on that matched the costume and her legs seemed to be amazingly long for her relatively short height.
"Do you like it?" she asked, "I wore it for you, I did think about wearing something else, perhaps a bit daring but I decided on this instead."
"That's not daring?" Harry just had to ask her, a slight smile on his face, she was showing a fair bit of skin. If she didn't think this was daring he really wanted to know what she did think was daring.
"Oh no, I've got the wings - See?" she asked turning and showing him the wings he had already seen, "But I must research this Muggle Angel you mentioned, I never realised that Muggle's might have names for things I've been looking for."
She turned back to find that Harry's eyes had been firmly locked on her backside, a slight smile flitted on her mouth. "I do wish it were Christmas already, then I could steal you away and take advantage of that look in your eyes." she positively purred at him, which did things for his libido he didn't even want to think about when wearing such a tight pair of trousers.
"You know, there is a lot we can do that you don't have to be legal for," he replied his own voice honeyed.
Luna brightened up considerably, "You know there is something I've always wanted to try," she said leaning in to whisper.
"Oh?" Harry enquired, his voice matched to hers.
"I've always wanted to -" she leaned in and whispered so quietly no one could've heard her.
Harry's eyes widened in shock and he looked at her very seriously, "You've never done that?" he asked carefully keeping his voice neutral.
"A little one, never a proper one," she told him.
"I will definitely do that for you, now if you like," Harry said, angry in a way that no one could see the Luna eh saw all the time.
"What? Here?" she asked a small smile on her face.
Harry nodded to her very seriously, "I would consider it my pleasure in fact."
"Won't your urm dates be angry?" Luna asked him also seriously.
Harry smiled at her, "Not in the least I promise you."
She beamed at him, "Alright then," she said and leaned forward and closed her eyes.
Harry leaned into her holding her close with one hand behind her back, then gently pressed his lips to hers, moving them in sensual ways before pushing his tongue to her lips. She opened her lips a little and their tongues touched. Luna actually moaned and melted against him and held on tight as he kissed her with a French kiss for the first time in her life. Eventually he pulled back, not wanting to make too much of a scene and Luna looked at him with shining eyes, "I very much liked that."
"So did I," Harry assured her with a smile. "I'm more than a little surprised that no one has done that to you before, you're a gorgeous girl Luna,"
She beamed at him again, "Only you think that Harry, but I'm very glad you do." She looked around with a smirk, noticing the various looks she was getting, some jealous, some amused even a couple of slightly sad ones. "If you start a harem, I want in." she told him, laying a kiss on his cheek and skipping away.
Harry laughed to himself, and picked his punch back up. The night was already interesting and he had only just got there, god alone knew what it would get like as the evening wore on.
As he sipped on his beverage he resumed his perusal, noting some surprises. Pansy looked good, surprisingly so dancing with some guy Harry had no idea of, her costume a ball gown type affair that he assumed was after some wizarding figure of history or something. He honestly didn't recognise it though, either way it suited her somehow and she looked happy which was nice with all that had happened recently.
He spotted Dean Thomas and laughed, he was dressed as a Skate Boy, full baggy clothing and he even had his board with him. He looked good actually, and very relaxed chatting to Capelle. She was dressed as an authentic looking Rowena Ravenclaw and unsurprisingly Severus was dressed as Sal, no big shock there considering the portraits in the new staff tower. Or was that the very old but unused staff tower, either way they were a matched pair for obvious reasons. Harry didn't go over though, in truth the beautiful professor still worried him. She was ruthless in getting what she wanted, however benign those aims may be the way she went about them confused the hell out of Harry. Also he had this worrying favour to do for her and that was going to be a headache and a half he was sure.
He was getting friendly with Severus as well and he was a little worried that Capelle's flirtations and outright offerings wouldn't go down too well with the professor. Especially considering what had happened with Harry's mother and between Snape and his Father.
Just then Professor Dumbledore joined the three and Harry smiled. An obvious choice, but he didn't know of anyone that had a hope of carrying it off like Dumbledore did. He was in full Merlin regalia and looked the part form the tip of his pointy hat to the beard and lush robes. The aura of power around him was impressive to say the least and other than Harry himself no one had a hope of matching that sort of magical presence other than Merlin himself.
Dumbledore caught him looking and smiled, indicating that Harry should join them. With a slight, and hidden, sigh Harry walked across the dance floor and joined Dumbledore, Dean, Snape and worryingly Capelle.
He smiled as he walked up to the group, "Heya Mate, like the costume," Harry said tongue in cheek to Dean, "Something else from your misspent youth?" he asked.
Dean laughed, "Yep" he replied, "I had to ask mum to send me these and got Parv to enlarge them for me." he explained more fully, then put his board down, I'm going to try my luck with Katie Bell, if you'll excuse me," he added and wheeled, or rather glided, away.
Harry smirked, watching his friends progress with half and eye as he turned to the 'adults'. "So are you all enjoying yourselves professors?" he asked semi-formally.
"Indeed I am Harry, such- elaborate costume choices," Dumbledore noted wryly.
Harry snorted a laugh, "Yeah, or something along those lines for sure."
"And you, who might you be?" Capelle asked, eyeing his costume choice.
Harry smiled, "Not something that's all that well known out of Muggle circles, but I suppose you could say I'm a sort of Pirate," he told the beautiful woman.
Snape smirked, "And the blade?"
"Real, but not live," Harry said with a matching smirk, "Sal, good choice for a costume."
"I thought so, he seemed amused by my questions, and Rowena was being a little secretive with my lovely partner for the evening," Snape replied, glancing at the women in question.
Capelle smiled slightly, "We've just come from the common room you understand and she wanted to have a quick word, she knew your costume apparently."
"Yes, well I got changed - elsewhere," Harry said, "She was present to see it as it were."
Capelle smirked, "She wanted me to act as she would this evening."
Harry took a half step back, "Did she indeed, such a wag that woman." he said with a hint of nervousness showing and a glance at Severus.
Capelle laughed at his discomfort, and took her date by the arm, "Severus- Dance with me won't you?" she asked, though asked may be too strong a word since she didn't give him a chance to reply and just dragged him away.
Harry looked at the smirking Dumbledore, "She's bloody dangerous," he noted.
Dumbledore smirked in reply, "She is a woman of strong convictions and she walks her own path in life."
"In other words- She's dangerous," Harry said wryly.
"Not too you Harry or she wouldn't be here." Dumbledore said flatly, causing Harry to look more than a little surprised.
The he smiled slightly and the two powerful wizards turned back to the dance floor. Harry found his eyes being dragged once more to Ginny and was having a lot of trouble classifying exactly how he viewed her now. The thought that the way he thought of her before had upset her so did worry him some what. But then it was of no surprise to him now either, he would probably be the same. He had to admit she was on the dangerously sexy side of hot especially dressed like that. It gave him a secret if somewhat guilty thrill to know that with a single word he would be between those shapely thighs in a blink if he so wished it. He wondered what she looked like when she orgasmed, he had noticed of late that women looked so remarkably erotic at the moment of the climax and had often found himself wondering what different girls would look like as they came. He knew some of course and they had borne out his assertion somewhat. Tracey was such a sultry woman who tended to look a little surprised as she reached her climax, Hermione burned, Fleur was quite literally a goddess and Bell… Well he didn't want to think on that too closely at the moment as she was one of the few that made him hard to just think about.
"There are some… interesting themes," Dumbledore noted with wry amusement tinging his tone.
Harry smirked, as he watched a she devil walk past wiggling their arse at him as they did so. "Indeed," he noted in much the same tone of voice.
"I strongly suspect that you have a lot to do with that." Dumbledore said with a faint smile.
Harry looked at him for a moment a slightly worried look on his face, he knew Dumbledore knew he was a dragon and as such built a harem, he didn't know however just how much the headmaster knew about his… assignations. He hoped to god he knew nothing in point of fact, Dumbledore was for the most part his 'grandfather' in a way that was hard to explain. He was like family and at the same time he was one of the few people that Harry truly respected. They had their differences of opinion for sure but over 100 years of experience separated them and different personalities that helped the dynamic in their relationship.
Just then Blaise walked up to them, wearing an old looking Calvary uniform a slight smile on his face, he gave a short bow, "Potter," he said by way of greeting.
"Blaise," Harry returned with a slight smile. The enigmatic Slytherin wasn't being rude he knew, but Harry didn't play the last name game unless he really didn't like someone. He actually quite liked Blaise and he had been somewhat instrumental in getting his aunt here to help dean, a 'mud blood' who should be beneath Blaise's attention all things being equal in the pure blood world. Harry respected him for that he really did.
"I see you carry a blade Potter," Blaise said with a slight hint of a challenge in his tone.
Harry pursed his lips slightly, "Indeed," he said slipping into his character a bit he added, "One would think that almost obvious."
Blaise's lips quivered in a smile, before he too slipped into character, "Can you use it?" he asked, "or is it just for show."
Dumbledore looked between the two of them, they were being stiffly formal yet at the same time there was a certain teasing going on that was damn right friendly. It did his heart good to see the house divides starting to fall, he had high hopes that in the rest of the year and the next Harry would make them fall once and for all.
"I'm passing fair," Harry replied, surprising Dumbledore a little until he reminded himself that Harry had his knowledge, and Severus's in his head. Not to mention several others, Dumbledore himself was fair with a blade given when he was brought up and Severus had learned to fight with a blade for survival during his days spying.
"Care to prove your claim?" Blaise asked and looked around, "Seeing that everyone in a mile radius is… jealous, perhaps it would be an idea to remind them you are more than you appear," he said the last in a voice only Harry could hear. Harry looked around himself and noticed that a few people didn't look happy with him and who he had escorted, nor the fact their dates were virtually ignoring them for him.
He wasn't sure why that was, perhaps that was more of Fleur's Hairy Gnomes showing up. Harry flashed a dashing smile at Blaise, "A test, of skill steel against steel?" he asked in an slightly over the top jocular fashion.
Blaise's lips twitched again and nodded.
Dumbledore apparently had caught the gist of what was going on and decided to have some fun himself, "I think that is a marvellous idea Mr Zabini, I take it you are capable with a blade."
"Such are my families teachings," Blaise commented with a slightly ironic tone telling Harry he was probably more than fair with a blade.
"An Exhibition match then?" Dumbledore asked, then raised his hands, the band stilled their instruments and Harry was sensing a set up here. Because it was like they had expected that signal, "Then I suggest we do this properly," Albus went on to say. His wand made no appearance and almost in character he displayed a stunning ability with magic as he gently pressed the students to the sidelines and conjured several obstacles laying out essentially a battle field in which Blaise and he could play.
Harry pursed his lips and turned to Dumbledore with a raised brow, "This is a set up isn't it?"
Albus smiled at him mysteriously and raised his voice, "A challenge has been set, and our entertainment has arrived," he said confirming Harry's suspicions.
He had a feeling that he had just been volunteered and he had to admit he would've gone spare the year before, now he was up for a laugh. Smiling at Blaise he sketched a bow and the now lightly laughing Blaise, "Nicely done Mr Zabini," Harry complimented him.
Blaise shrugged, "When my aunt asks a favour of me I can hardly say no, now could I Milord?"
Harry would love to know where he had learned that little secret from, and smirked knowingly at Blaise, "Your Aunt," he said in a much lower tone, "is worryingly fixated on me of late,"
Blaise's smile changed slightly, it warmed oddly enough, "It is her way, by all accounts, she is my mothers sister after all," he said and then turned and walked off towards the 'battle ground'
"Harry has graciously volunteered to fight Blaise Zabini, England's junior fencing champion for this little exhibition duel" Dumbledore said, making Harry's step falter slightly and glare at Dumbledore who just winked at him.
"I'm a dead man," Harry commented to himself and walked cockily into the battle field his blade tapping against his leg as he walked. The crowd seemed amused that he was essentially staying in character.
Then suddenly he turned around looking at the 'battleground' proper before shooting the headmaster a shocked look, it was a dead ringer for the setup in the film from where he had god his costume and the now famous duelling scene in said movie. How the elderly professor continued to surprise him even when he knew most of what the old fox did amused and amazed him constantly.
Suddenly Pansy walked out of the crowd and towards Harry a slight smile on her face, "Once you took my favour in a serious duel, I ask you to do so again- in the spirit of friendship between our house's on a much more… light occasion."
Harry looked at her in surprise and smiled widely and charmingly at her, "Who am I to refuse the favour of a lady so divine," he said sketching a low bow to the hooting of the audience.
There was no physical favour offered at first this time, Pansy stepped in close and kissed him chastely but with a great deal of promise on the lips, then she reached up her skirt and pulled a garter down her leg and passed it to Harry with a wink and to a more raucous ripple of amusement from the crowd. Harry smiled sexily at her and put the garter on so that it was just above his elbow.
Hermione smiled then got a mischievous smile on her face and walked out of the crowd, Harry smiled at her invitingly and then frowned almost comically as she abruptly changed direction and walked over to Blaise, "Oh fair knight, I urge you to take my token in the same spirit as the gracious lady gave hers," Hermione said.
Blaise, to his credit was obviously shocked, but smiled graciously and nodded. Hermione then kissed him on the cheek and took the bow off of her knee high stocking and passed it to the somewhat reeling young man.
She then backed away, grateful that Blaise had taken the 'favour' in the spirit in which it was meant.
Dumbledore in the meantime was grinning his elderly head of. It interested him greatly that little show, and politically he hoped it was a sign of times to come. A Muggleborn gave favour to a pure blood, a pure to a half-blood, intermixing the two houses that had always been at loggerheads before this day. Yes, he liked it he liked it a lot and hoped to see more of it to come.
The 'favours' given it was time to start the exhibition match and the two combatants squared off from each other.
Blaise smiled slightly, "Shall we?" he asked.
Harry smiled in reply, "We shall."