Chapter 12: The Torment Continues
Thursday December 1st, 1994.
As Harry stepped into the Gryffindor Common Room to head down to breakfast, he noticed Dean and Seamus grinning at him, he paused, and turned to address them.
"What's up guys?" he asked.
"We heard through the grapevine there was some ruckus yesterday involving Draco and some of his cronies." Seamus said.
Harry rolled his eyes as Hermione came out of their private quarters behind him.
"When am I not getting into a scuffle with Draco?"
"True." One of the other boys said.
"Ron come down yet? I don't see him." Harry said, he hadn't seen much of Ron the past few days, and if he were honest, he was starting to miss him, even though Ron had been a major prat over the past month.
'Has it really been only a month? Merlin, so much has happened already. I can't believe it's been two weeks since Hermione and I were cursed.' He thought.
"You think Ron would miss his chance to be first to the breakfast table?" one of the girls asked with a snicker. Harry snorted.
"Point." He then turned and headed for the door, not trying to let it show just how rundown he was feeling. He was honestly struggling to walk, but he had to keep up appearances, Hermione was still bleeding, though she said she would probably be done by the end of the day at most, round about lunch at least.
As Hermione took his hand and started leading him to the portrait hole with a smile, a giggle made them pause and turn back.
"What's so funny?" Hermione asked.
"Erm…you've still got some…uh…" Parvati pointed at her hair then giggled again. Hermione blinked, then looked down at her hair, blushing as she saw the few droplets of drying white clumped in her brown hair. How had she missed that?
-=-=-=-
During Transfiguration, Harry was finding it difficult to concentrate, he had gotten so tired, so drained, that he was starting to struggle to keep his eyes open, and the near constant arousal that he was still suffering from didn't help either. Score one for concealment and disillusion charms. He'd actually started to wonder if it was even medically safe or healthy to be hard for this amount of time. He wasn't sure. And if he was honest, he was reaching the point of not caring either.
Not to mention the fact that his 'fasting' had another consequence: he had become hyper aware of every female near him, his sense of smell seemed to have heightened, and his eyes, whenever he looked at Hermione or any of the other girls around him, seemed to be drawn magnetically to places that probably weren't propitiate, fortunately, he was able to avert his gaze, but he still couldn't help but notice. Much to his silent horror, this hyper awareness also seemed to apply to the staff. Which was why he was making a considerable effort not to look at McGonagall.
He was so distracted that he failed to get the transfiguration spell right, and as a consequence, the wooden block he'd been trying to turn into a pigeon, ended up being something else entirely.
What he ended up with, he wasn't exactly sure.
It was a white rabbit, kinda cute. He started to pet it, before it suddenly stiffened, and looked up, it's ears going up and twitching. Then it squeaked, before it jumped from his table to Neville's, and bit down on the neck of the winged pig that he'd somehow managed to transfigure.
'Did that rabbit just squeak "Ni!" before it jumped?' his tired mind tried to think, as he tried to process the chaos rapidly unfolding, as Neville yelped as warm blood sprayed all over him from the now headless pigeon-pig thing that was flopping around his desk. The rabbit squeaked "Ni!" again, before it jumped a second time, this time landing on Draco's table, and promptly bit the head off of what ever he'd managed to transfigure, though what it was, Harry couldn't tell, with all the chaos going on.
In all the ensuing chaos, no-one noticed that he and Hermione weren't really paying attention to the killer rabbit, no, Harry had stopped following the now homicidal bunny, and instead, focused his attention of the searing brown eyes of his girlfriend who was giving him a particular look, and had slipped a hand into his lap, and one of his into hers.
Had either of them been 'sober', he assumed one of them would have objected, but he was well accustomed to that particular look on Hermione's face, and honestly, he was too wound up to care about where they were.
-=-=-=-
DADA classroom, after lunch.
As Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindors entered the DA classroom, which had been converted into a small dueling arena. Followed in by the Slytherins, they saw Moody sitting behind his desk, looking down at his lesson plan, but his large magical eye roamed over all of them as they entered, though she wasn't sure she liked the way it seemed to focus on her and Harry a little longer than anyone else. She shivered slightly. She could have sworn she saw Moody's mouth twitch in an almost-smirk, before it vanished as his eye tracked to the seat beside her, where Harry was sitting.
Her gaze tracked to her right, as she gave Harry a curious look. His eyes were heavy, slightly slouched, resting his head in one hand. Her eyes narrowed…was he…? No, surely not, he'd been feeding, she was sure of it. She tried to focus her thoughts but her mind quickly became clouded with other thoughts about him, and her heart rate started to rise, as she felt her face flush and she tried to discretely rub her legs together, shuffling a little uncomfortably.
'You never checked with any of the others though, did you.' Her inner voice scolded.
No, she hadn't, she'd just assumed. She only knew about what Ginny had tried through the gossip circle, she hadn't actually spoken to the girl in question, she never seemed to be able to get the chance.
Why hadn't she checked with the others to see if Harry really had been feeding? Simple answer, she realized with a scowl at her own stupidity: She hadn't checked because she hadn't wanted to hear how good her boyfriend was at eating out other girls.
'Face it Granger, you were jealous. You were jealous that Harry was eating out these other girls, when we know for sure he didn't really want to. And he could tell we didn't like the idea.' Her inner voice said, she huffed, tried to clear her head for the lesson to come, but she couldn't take her eyes off him, couldn't get the thought of getting down on her knees and either sucking him off right there in the classroom, or getting down on her hands and knees and begging him to fuck her, timing be damned.
'God…I want him…' she thought, her eyes tracking over to several of the girls in the class, even flicking over to Daphne very briefly. 'He's mine. You can't have him.'
"Well class, we'll be learning the shield charm today. I figured you'd better learn it now, as it might have saved a few of you getting into particular scrapes…" Moody said, as he looked over the class, focusing his magical eye on first Hermione then Harry, Draco snickered, as did several other Slytherins.
"10 points from Slytherin!" Moody snapped.
The snickering stopped, Draco and his lackeys going slack-jawed.
Hermione grumbled, she already knew the shield charm, as she'd previously mentioned, Harry had just moved in front of her to take the hit, while she'd still been holding him.
Which did raise an interesting point in her mind. How would the curse affect a single individual? It was designed to be used on people who were either Bonding or intended to, so if she hadn't also been hit, if it had just been Harry, how would it have affected him?
'Probably not very different as to now.' She thought, then something else occurred to her. 'If the curse is only designed to work for those Bonding, will it even work with anyone else? Might have to test that theory.'
As the lesson progressed, Moody had everyone pair off, and cleared a space for them. Harry was facing Draco, Hermione was facing Daphne, who gave her brunette friend an apologetic look. Ron was facing Goyle, Neville was facing Crabbe, Parvati was facing Pansy, and so on.
Draco smirked as Harry glared at him.
"Surprised to see you still in school this morning at breakfast Ferret, I thought for sure Dumbledore would have kicked your flee-bitten arse out after yesterday." Harry growled, as he watched Draco conjure a shield.
Malfoy snorted. "The Headmaster won't expel me. My father is on the Board of Governors remember?"
Harry readied himself for the stunner he was about to throw at Malfoy, trying to concentrate on all his strength, and not let it show just how weak and tired he actually was. Those stamina potions really hadn't helped.
"Protego." He muttered, as he did his best to stay on his feet and not sag as he felt what little strength he had leave him and go into his shield. Almost immediately, he knew his shield wouldn't stop anything Draco threw at him, and he doubted he had the strength to muster a counter attack.
"Wasn't he removed from the Board after our Second Year?" Harry asked, smirking at Draco's scowl.
"Expelliarmus!" Draco snarled, sending a disarming charm towards Harry.
Harry winced and stumbled as he felt his shield flare and strain under the hit, while normally, he would have barely flinched.
"Stupefy!" Harry retorted. His spell left his wand as his vision started to blur. He remembered last time he'd gone this long without feeding, he could barely move, so he wasn't sure how he was still standing, he knew he shouldn't be, not if he'd gone as long without feeding this time as he and Hermione had the first time.
'Maybe it's different now, maybe because Hermione's keeping her strength up, part of that is affecting me…' he thought. Unfortunately, with his momentary lapse in concentration, he'd taken his eyes off Draco.
Which was exactly when Draco struck.
"Stupefy!" Draco snarled, his stunner slammed into Harry's shield and finally buckled it, causing it to become visible as white cracks appeared around it, spreading out from the point of impact, before it shattered with a flash.
Harry's vision blurred as he felt the room start to spin, and a slight pain started to make itself known in his skull, as he felt his center of balance destabilize, and the last thing he heard was Hermione crying his name, along with several other Gryffindors, and a cackling Draco.
-=-
The door to the Hospital Wing opened and Harry's prone form was levitated in by Moody, followed by Hermione, Ron, and Daphne, who was getting suspicious looks from Ron, but was ignoring them.
The fact that Daphne had been the one to hit Draco in the back with a stunner and drop him after Harry had collapsed, had apparently gone over the Redhead's skull, like most things did that didn't involve Quidditch, Chess or food.
But not over the heads of the other Slytherins, who had glared at her as she'd tried but failed to slip out of the classroom with Moody, Hermione and Ron unnoticed.
"What happened now?" Pomfrey huffed as she came out of her office, and saw Harry being lowered onto 'his' bed.
"Potter let his guard down." Moody growled. Hermione huffed.
"Actually no, he cast a shield charm which Draco was able to break through. I think he collapsed, because he hasn't been doing what he promised me he'd do." She said, scowling as she looked at his prone form.
Pomfrey sighed, shaking her head. "I was afraid of this. I warned him those potions wouldn't work."
Hermione's gaze snapped to her, "What potions?"
"He came to me the other night, asking for stamina potions. I told him they would not work, but he was insistent."
"WHAT?!" Hermione yelled.
Moody grunted, "Well, I've got a lesson to finish teaching, come on you lot. Back to class. And Miss Greengrass, that'll be 10 more points from Slytherin for shooting a classmate in the back."
Daphne winced. Yeah...she was gonna pay for that later tonight, and maybe tomorrow as well.
"Actually, I may need Miss Greengrass here, for a short while, if Miss Granger is unable to help rouse Mister Potter." Pomfrey said, Daphne blushing at what she was implying.
Moody grunted, his magical eye trailing over both girls, before he smirked and nodded.
"Alright, fine, I need to go wake up Draco, I didn't bring him in because I didn't think you'd want to deal with him and them."
Moody then turned and guided a protesting Ron out of the room. When they were gone, Pomfrey turned to Hermione and Daphne.
"I assume your cycle has ended, Miss Granger?"
"I...I think so, but even if it hasn't, I'll just have to go ahead and do it. If Harry complains, it'll serve him right for breaking his promise to me."
"I can...help too, Hermione. I do owe him, for yesterday."
Hermione smiled at her friend, hugging her. "Harry told me about that last night. I should have gone up against Draco, I'd have made that little shit suffer."
Daphne nodded, returning the hug.
"Want me to go first? Just in case? I did promise him a reward for saving me, we'll just have to wake him up first. Can't eat me if he's unconscious."
Hermione thought for a moment, then nodded, "Sure. Want me to turn around and give you priva—" she started to ask, but Daphne cut her off with a smirk and a wink.
"No, you can watch, if you want, besides, I may need help...balancing." Daphne said, her face glowing, as she smiled with embarrassment.
"Alright then. I'll give you three some privacy. Any problems, just call me. Rennervate!" she then stepped back and closed the privacy curtain, as the two girls looked at one another uncertainly, as Harry stirred and moaned on the bed.
"Wha…happen…" he asked weakly, as he oped his eyes and looked up, his vision hazy with exhaustion and saw a brown and blonde head looking down at him. The face with bushy brown hair was scowling.
"Harry James Potter! I am very upset with you right now!" Hermione scolded, leaning forward so he could clearly see the displeasure on her face.
Harry blinked in confusion as his brain caught up with his surroundings, and he saw the privacy curtain, and Daphne and Hermione standing on either side of his bed, glaring down at him, and he realized he was in the Hospital Wing. And that his girlfriend was mad at him. And he figured there would be only one reason for that.
'I was in DA, testing a shield charm, but I barely had the strength to hold it, then Draco hit me with a stunner that broke my shield and…Oh bugger. Pomfrey must have told her about the potions. No wonder she's pissed.' He thought.
"You stupid, insufferable prat! What were you thinking?! I'm so mad with you right now, that if I didn't have to feed you, I'd be putting on on a diet tonight! AND make you sleep back in your old bed in the Boys' dorm!" Hermione seethed.
"Oooh! She's really mad at you Potter!" Daphne giggled, thoroughly enjoying the show she was getting.
"You promised me Harry! You promised that you would accept help from the other girls! And yet, I just found out you'd been taking stamina potions for at least two days, while you were getting weaker, knowing they weren't working!"
"Because I…I knew it was hurting you." Harry bit out, as he tried to sit up, but Daphne reached forward and put a hand on his shoulder, holding him down. "I knew you didn't like the arrangement. The idea of me being with other girls, I—"
"It doesn't matter how I felt! I did it for you! Because I couldn't feed you! I made arrangements so others could! So we would avoid exactly this kind of scenario!" she huffed and started to pace up and down the length of the bed, huffing as she tried to get control of her emotions.
"If something was bothering you, why didn't you tell me?"
In the back of his mind, Harry was aware of a feeling, almost like a physical sensation, that he couldn't quite place. But somehow, he knew it wasn't coming from him, it was coming from Hermione. He was sensing her disappointment in him, that he hadn't confided in her the true extent of his issues. That he hadn't come to her to talk about what ever issues had stopped him from feeding, more made him decide to stop.
He closed his eyes and sighed, thinking, trying to come up with a plausible explanation both girls would believe. And one that sounded logical and believable to himself also.
"I…well, first, I felt like a parasite." He said, not quite sure even he believed what he was saying, or that what he said made sense.
Hermione stopped pacing and turned to look at him, before sharing a look with Daphne, then looked back at him.
"A parasite? In what way?" she asked.
He opened his eyes and looked at her, hoping she'd understand what he was getting at.
"I was feeding from them, Parvati, Luna, Susan and Daphne offered but I said I wanted to get to know them better first."
Hermione looked at Daphne for confirmation, who nodded.
"And, I just didn't feel right. I felt like I was taking from them, but they weren't getting anything in return." He said, mentally wincing at how ridiculous that sounded, even if it was what he'd believed at the time.
The two girls snorted and rolled their eyes.
"'Not getting anything in return.' Are you serious?" Daphne asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. She couldn't believe those words had just come out of his mouth.
A slight smirk appeared on Harry's face, and just as he was about to respond, Hermione put a finger to his lips and glared down at him, making him look at her.
"Don't. Don't you dare say it. I'm not in the mood." She growled, her bright brown eyes that were full of anger, and unshed tears of fear, fixed on his, and he stopped, as it hit him; just how upset she really was.
"You could have gotten far worse Harry. What if you'd collapsed in a corridor alone with no-one to help you? Or if it had been a while before someone found you? Or if the Slytherins, other than Daphne or Susan, had found you? You were lucky you were in a class with a teacher we trust!"
"And back to what I said, if you honestly think the girls you ate out didn't get anything out of it, then you're either denser than a Weasley, or somehow deaf and blind, because believe me Potter, if what I've heard is any indication, they definitely got something out of the deal."
Then she smirked down at him, the started to shirk off her robes.
"Case in point. That's why I'm here."
He looked up at her as she pulled her blouse out of her skirt, then loosened the fastenings, and let it drop, and he caught a glimpse of her white silk knickers before he looked up at her smirking face. She winked, then hooked her thumbs into her knickers and quickly pushed them down and kicked them off, then stood straight, her hands on her hips.
"I did promise you a reward for helping me out of that mess yesterday, didn't I? And while I do appreciate you focusing on my face when I'm talking to you while being half naked, that's not where I want your attention right now." She said, as she raised a foot and placed it on the bed, then looked at Hermione.
"You sure you don't wanna join in Hermione? See how we compare? Like I said, I may need your help to balance, unless I do this sixty-nine. The temptation to sample the Potter family legacy might be too strong." She winked at her friend then licked her lips, pointedly looking at Harry's crotch, where a telltale bulge was evident.
"I…uh…" Hermione blinked, her face burning as her wide eyes trailed over her friend. Her anger at Harry for his lack of diligence forgotten as Daphne perched half on the bed, inviting both of them to check her out. And she couldn't help herself. Her curiosity got the better of her.
She looked.
She noted, rather curiously, that Daphne was as smooth as she was, her lips were already darkening, and had a light sheen on them, indicating she was already getting worked up. A feeling Hermione understood all too well, thanks to her experience the day before, as she felt her own body respond, mentally sighing and giving up any pretense of trying to stop it.
'I'm not in to girls. I'm not in to girls. I'm not in to girls.' Hermione chanted in her head, as she found herself licking her lips at the vision of divine beauty between Daphne's legs, and wondered what it would be like to have that hovering over her own face, or for her and Harry to lay between those legs as the two of them licked her together, or how it would feel to press her own fanny against it, while they both perched above Harry's face as he lay here on the bed, so he could lick them both while they gazed passionately into each other's eyes as they connected in a way only two girls could.
Or perhaps, they could try that, while sat on Harry's hips, their smooth slits pressed together in a wonderful, decadent, erotic carnal kiss, with Harry's gorgeous, delicious steel-hard dick trapped lovingly between the two smooth vulvae, as either Susan or Luna, or both, leaned in to lick, kiss and suck as much of it as they could reach, as well as the two throbbing clits, and wet, swollen lulvae that lovingly embraced and caressed it…
"Hermione!" Daphne's voice cut through the foggy haze of pure lust clouding her mind, and Hermione's world came back into focus, and she froze, as she became acutely aware of the fact that she was groping her right breast with one hand, under her blouse, while her other hand rubbed in circles over her own slit, her legs slightly spread, in plain view of Daphne and Harry.
'Oh. My. God…what was I—?!' her mind tried to assess the situation, and she tried to pull her hands away from their compromising positions, but she couldn't.
Daphne and Harry were staring at her, Harry had a look of hunger in his tired eyes, as well as no small amount of lust. Daphne was wide-eyed, blushing furiously.
"Merlin's Balls Granger! If I'd known you were that into girls, I might have said something to Susan months ago." She said, somewhat awkwardly as she tried not to ogle Hermione's assets.
"Wait, you're a lesbian?" Hermione squeaked, wondering if she'd misjudged her friend. Daphne shook her head.
"No, completely straight. Though I think Susan might swing both ways, not sure. She just seemed to hint to me once that she and Hannah Abbot had a little something on the side going once. Not sure if that's true or not, and if it is, Longbottom is a pretty lucky bastard."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. Daphne grinned down at him and smirked, reaching down she gave her own slit a little stroke.
"What do you think I mean? Isn't it every boy's dream to have a girlfriend who is willing to dive between another girl's legs?" before he could answer, she turned back to Hermione.
"Judging by what you were just doing though, I think you might need to reassess your own sexual preferences, just a bit. Though from one straight girl to another, you do look good."
"Er…thanks…so…so do you." Hermione stammered, her face flushing as she let her skirt drop down, then she fiddled with the fastener for a moment, before she muttered, "Fuck it."
An instant later, her own skirt and knickers were on the floor, letting the other two get a proper look at her.
Daphne smirked and looked down at Harry.
"What do you say Potter? Do we look good enough to eat? Hhhmmm?"
"It…" Harry tried to focus, but honestly didn't know where to look, his girlfriend and one of her best female friends were standing on either side of his hospital bed, both naked from the waist down, barring their shoes and socks they were still wearing, or at least, Hermione was still wearing her shoes. He wasn't sure when Daphne had removed hers.
"It won't work!" he ground out, as Daphne swung her other leg over until she had both feet on either side of his head, and he had a rather spectacular view of her darkening lips and rosebud as she crouched over him, facing his feet.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, as she moved up and took hold of Daphne, supporting her, as the other girl started to lower herself down, though if Hermione was right, her friend couldn't decide how to position her hips, though the wide eyed grin on her face, and the wicked gleam in her eye, told Hermione she had a plan in mind.
"That's the other reason I stopped. I didn't get any benefit from Parvati or Luna." Harry said, as he stared hungrily up at the warm female flesh hovering just an inch above him, his lungs already filling with her warm, slightly earthy and delicious aroma, his shaft throbbing painfully in response.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, as she took hold of Daphne to steady her, her friend grinned at her in thanks, then reached down to spread herself open as she felt Harry's warm breath, and rolled her hips, as if she couldn't decide where she wanted his tongue first. Then she grimaced, and Hermione saw her legs start to shake with the effort of being folded for so long. She knew Daphne supporting her weight on her ankles probably wasn't the most comfortable of positions, even if she was on a thick pillow.
"I fed from both of them, but didn't get anything, not like I usually do with you."
"Did you do it right?" Daphne asked, shivering slightly as she felt his warm breath as he spoke.
"Pretty sure I can't get pussy eating wrong." He deadpanned.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Trust me Harry, there are ways to do it wrong. The fact you have Parseltongue just means you can cheat."
"Well then." Daphne said with a grin. "Might just have to—" she lowered herself down "Try again!" She said with a wicked grin as harry grunted as the full weight of her body came down on his face.
"Not so hard! You'll hurt him! Or smother him." Hermione protested.
"Don't worry, I won't." The blonde replied as Hermione moved back to the foot of the bed, then crawled onto it. "Besides, I want to know what getting rimmed by a Parselmouth feels like. Don't tell me you're not curious."
Hermione snorted, "What makes you think I don't already know?"
Her friend raised a brow as she started to rock her hips, moving them, trying to find the right, most comfortable position. "Wow Granger, never figured you'd be so…kinky."
Hermione snorted, "Says the Slytherin who is crouched over my boyfriend's face, half naked, giving him an intimate close-up view of her fanny and arse."
"And trying to decide which one I want that magic Parselmouth tongue of his licking first." Daphne grinned salaciously.
Daphne narrowed her eyes then smiled, as she bit her lip, She then wiggled her hips, and her eyes opened wide and her mouth fell open, forming a perfect "O" as her cheeks flushed, as she finally settled.
"Oh yeah...that's it Potter...thats....iiiit! MMMMmmmm!" Daphne swooned.
Hermione smirked, "Good, isn't he."
"Uh huh..." her blonde friend panted, as she started to rock her hips a little, as Harry's hands came up to take hold of her hips.
Hermione asked as she licked the bulge in Harry's trousers, before taking the zipper between her teeth, then pulled.
"Is his Parseltongue always…mmm…this good?"
Hermione pulled the zip down, and his trousers came undone, allowing her to quickly free his shaft. Leaning forward, she took hold of his shaft and started stroking it, drawing the cowl of skin tightly back, his glans already swollen red and shining with moisture. She licked her lips, and leaned forward, before stopping to run her graze over Daphne.
Her friend was panting, supporting herself on her hands and tip-toes as she rocked her hips back and forth over Harry's face. Daphne's eyes widened and darkened with lust as she licked her lips at the sight of his revealed dick, a breathy moan escaping her lips, her crystal blue eyes darkening with lust and clear hunger.
Hermione looked down between Daphne's legs, and got a clear view of her friend's swollen labia as Harry licked and kissed them, her clitoris clearly visible. Despite herself, Hermione felt a small stab of jealously at the sight, through she tried to clamp it down. She'd asked others to do this, and Daphne, Susan and Luna had all volunteered to do this, but only Luna had got the chance.
Hermione knew she shouldn't be jealous of something she'd arranged for. Though she figured it was different now she was actually seeing it happen.
As she leaned over and started to plant gentle kisses on Harry's glans, she watched Daphne's face, saw the look of hunger and lust in her eyes, heard her moans of approval, and Hermione realized something, that made her pause, then she smirked.
"Yes, it is. But he's not using it now. If he were using it right now, you'd be completely incoherent."
"Wh-wha-What?" Daphne gasped, as she rolled her hips back, and she felt that skilled tongue drag over the winking ring of muscle between her cheeks.
"Oh sweet Morgana yes!" Daphne gasped, arching her back and spreading her legs a little, giving Hermione a better view, though the Brunette tried to focus on her friends face as she replied, trying her best to ignore the burning lust running through her at that moment. Lust that demanded she either suck or mount the penis she was holding, or berry her face between those porcelain legs and lick while Harry worked her over from the other side.
"He's not using Parseltongue right now. If he were, you'd be screaming and you wouldn't be able to talk, and you probably wouldn't be able to hold that position either, now, if you don't mind, this dick won't suck itself. And Harry dear? I know you're probably enjoying yourself back there, but you really need to be licking a couple of inches forwards, you won't get what you need otherwise."
And with that, Hermione got to work.
-=-
Outside the Hospital Wing, Pomfrey did her best to ignore the moans and cries and praises coming from inside her domain. But it was difficult, especially when she heard Daphne Greengrass's impassioned cries and pleas of "Yes! Right there! Deeper! Faster! HARDER! Oh god yeah! Lick my arse you gorgeous stud! Oh god YES Harry! Suck my clit! Put that magic tongue in my fanny! Oh Yes! Yes! YES! YeeeoooooOOHH!"
Pomfrey cringed.
'I don't get paid enough for this.' She thought, as she started to wonder how easy it would be to convince Dumbledore to give her a pay rise. She was definitely going to need a drink when they left…and maybe sterilize the room. Definitely burn that particular mattress, pillow and set of bed sheets.
"Mmm…That willy looks delicious Hermione…mind if I have a taste?" Daphne's voice came through the door as a husky moan, and Pomfrey cringed again.
"Definitely don't get paid enough for this." Poppy groaned.
-=-
Back on the bed, Daphne was now more or less laying on Harry, his face coated in her juices as he licked his lips, the sweet taste of treacle tart filling his mouth as he swallowed, panting for breathe as he felt Daphne start to lick and kiss his shaft, he briefly wondered what Hermione was doing, if she'd pull Daphne off him and take her place on his face. He took a moment to admire Daphne's toned and shapely arse, and her rosebud, which he had to admit, looked rather nice covered in his saliva. He just thanked Merlin that she'd somehow taken the time to clean herself properly at some point, though he had no idea when she'd done that. And just below it, flamed dark pink with arousal, swollen and open like a flower, covered in a mix of his saliva and her nectar, was her vulva.
'Hmm…Daphne is one kinky girl. Never thought she'd go for that right away.' He thought.
"Did that work Harry?" Hermione asked as she sat up, trying to get a good look at his face, but not really seeing anything other than Daphne's rump. She sat up and little more and craned her neck. Looking up from where she was hungrily working, Daphne saw what her friend was doing, then lifted her leg and, with a little maneuvering, climbed off him while still keeping him between her lips as she sucked on his tip while her hands started gently playing with his balls.
Harry panted with pleasure as he tried to process Hermione's words through the rather distracting sensations Daphne was giving him, he looked up at her, his expression still tired, his eyes still lidded, and he shook his head as best he could. He'd definitely swallowed enough of her juices that he should be back on his feet already, but he wasn't. Why?
The book said he could feed from anyone, or anything, as long as it was female, even animals were apparently an option, though only in emergency cases. Somehow, he doubted he'd ever be in a situation where he'd have to find a unicorn mare in the Forbidden Forest, a centauress, or even a doe somewhere, and stick his head under their tails. Or at least, he hoped he'd never be in a situation where he'd have to resort to that, especially if it wouldn't work, as apparently, feeding from Daphne just now, hadn't.
Just like it hadn't with Parvati or Luna.
So was the book wrong? He looked down at her and shook his head weakly.
"But…but it has to have worked! Daphne came, and you swallowed everything, didn't you?"
He nodded.
Hermione thought for a moment, then sighed as she got off the bed and walked to the head of it.
"Well then, guess I'll just have to make sure, won't I?" she said, as she swung a leg over him, and quickly assumed the position her friend had just a moment ago. Harry lightly smirked to himself as he decided to show Daphne what Parseltongue could do to a girl from the get-go. He hadn't used it on her, preferring to draw out her first time and make it last, but with Hermione…
-=-
The almost ear-splitting shriek that came through the closed door almost had Madam Pomfrey bursting through with her wand drawn, ready for a fight. Almost.
What followed was a guttural moan that was clearly not Greengrass.
"Oh, so that's what it's like from the get-go huh?" came Daphne's muffled voice. "Well, why didn't you use that on me?"
"Simple, it was your first time and I wanted to draw it out." Came Potter's voice, sounding a little stronger.
'Looks like he's back to normal. Time to wrap this up.' She thought, then opened the door, and headed in.
The privacy curtain was still drawn, thankfully, but she could tell there was movement.
"Mister Potter, are you lucid?" she asked.
"Uh, lucid enough I think." Came the reply.
"Well, if you three are done here, I suggest you make yourselves presentable and try to get back to class, if you have time."
"Uh, sure…uh…ugh…in a minute." He groaned, and Pomfrey cringed again as she tried not to think what was going on on that bed.
"Well, hurry it up. And I would like to take the opportunity to remind you to stick to your prescribed medication from now on. Do NOT make a habit of being brought in here half dead because you decided to try something different and it failed. I did warn you. And please try not to make a habit of being in here for this sort of thing. I'm running a Hospital Ward, not a Merlin-damned brothel!" she huffed.
-=-=-
Five minutes later, they were all outside the Hospital Wing after being shooed out by the Matron, who looked like she badly wanted a drink.
"You think we should have told her that Daphne's attempt failed?" Harry asked. Hermione shook her head.
"I want to double check that book first, make sure we didn't miss something."
Daphne meanwhile, was grinning, her cheeks glowed, and the serene smile on her face and in her eyes practically screamed "I just got laid!"
Hermione giggled. "That's a good look for you Daph."
"What?" she asked.
"That 'I've just been fucked' look."
Daphne grinned, as she leaned in to kiss Harry. Deeply. When she pulled back, she grinned at them both.
"I know you didn't really use that Parseltongue trick on me right until the end, if you used it at all, but damn Granger, don't ever let this one go."
"Don't plan to, and I couldn't anyway." Hermione said, as they made their way through the corridors. "Are you going to be okay going down the the Slytherin dorms tonight? I mean, everyone did see you stun Draco."
Daphne slowed, losing some of the bounce in her step, though her legs were still a little jittery, and the taste of salt in her mouth was still lingering. When Harry had finally cum, Hermione hadn't been sucking him, instead, she'd tried to catch it. She'd ended up with a bit of a facial, so Daphne had cheekily 'helped out', though she hadn't liked the taste all that much.
Bitter and salty, and for some reason, she felt ill getting some on her tongue, and she hadn't tried to swallow. In fact, she imagined the face she'd pulled had been rather unattractive as she'd spat it out.
And although she had tried helping with the blowjob, simply having his shaft in her mouth had nearly made her gag for some reason, though she couldn't understand why. In all fairness, he took good care of it, there was no unpleasant taste or smell, pretty decent size, not too large, definitely not on the small side, and it looked rather suckable in her humble opinion.
Her body just didn't seem to like the idea for some reason.
She mentally shrugged, she was sure it was nothing. She pursed her lips as she thought over Hermione's concerns.
"I'm sure I'll be fine, Draco doesn't have as many loyal friends in Slytherin as he likes to think." And with that, the three of them headed back to the DA classroom, surprisingly, they hadn't missed the last of the lesson.
-=-=-
Dinner, that evening.
At the Head Table in the Great Hall, Minerva noticed her friend seemed rather distracted as she ate.
"Are you alright Poppy?"
"Just a rough day. I'll be alright."
"We'll talk about it at the end-of-week meeting, after Dumbledore, Severus and Hagrid leave." Minerva said, as she covertly passed a folded note around to the rest of her colleagues, asking them to stay behind after the meeting was adjourned by Albus.
She'd heard about the incident yesterday when Aurora had caught up with her on their way to breakfast, spitting and hissing like a furious cat over what Draco and his cronies had tried to do to poor Daphne Greengrass.
As far as Minerva was concerned, Malfoy was on probation now, if he stepped out of line like that again, she'd call in the DMLE, Dumbledore's regulations be damned. Though in her mind, she should have contacted Amelia after that day a week before the task.
She looked up at the Slytherin table and scowled at the boy in question, he was in deep conversation with his lackeys. She still didn't know where that damn book of sex magic had gone, the second one, The Magic of Making Love she'd let Hermione and Harry keep, so they could research a cure, and she made Miss Granger promise that would be all they would do, though she did give them permission to try a few spells, as long as they took the appropriate measures.
She looked again at Poppy, noted how worn out her friend looked, and wondered if she needed a break.
-=-=-=-
Friday December 2nd, 1994.
Great Hall, breakfast.
Harry sat at the table, eating some toast, a nicely toasted French baguette, with ham and smoked cheese in it. At the other side of the table, there was Neville, who had Hannah sitting next to him, the two of them giving each other occasional glances, ones Harry recognized. He smiled to himself.
'Good for them. Hopefully their Bonding is going more conventionally than ours is.'
He'd noticed, this morning when he'd woken up, that he was able to sense Hermione's presence in his mind more clearly now, he still couldn't sense her thoughts, but he could definitely sense her feelings, it was like a warmth in the back of his mind, that thankfully was a welcome change for the cold chill of Voldemort's link that he felt, which thankfully, had been quiet lately. Part of him hoped what ever he'd become had whithered away and died, and that snake had got hungry and eaten Wormtail.
Ron and the others had asked him after dinner the night before what had happened in DA, Harry had just shrugged and said that Draco had got in a lucky hit, but the looks he got from Parvati and Padma told him they didn't buy it, so once everyone had gone back to doing their own thing and left him alone, the twins cornered him and made him talk. Needless to say, they were rather smug about telling him "We told you so" before Padma had given her sister a hug and left for her own dorm.
Once he and Hermione were back in their private quarters, getting ready for bed, Hermione had extracted a magical vow from him, saying that he would never endanger his own health in such a way again, that if he was presented with an opportunity to feed, he'd take it, no matter who or what owned the pussy in question.
He then pointed out that it was moot point, since, apparently, feeding from anyone but her, or someone else under the curse, did nothing.
Hermione had huffed, and picked up the red book, as well as the pages she'd copied from the book McGonagall had taken, and the two of them had combed through both, but ultimately failed to find a satisfactory answer.
Now, as he ate his breakfast, he covertly slid a hand down into Hermione's lap, giving her a light smile as she looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she talked to Lavender, and did her best to ignore his hand sliding up under her skirt, stroking her bare thighs, which she readily parted for him.
Well…she had said once that he could do this whenever he wanted. And right now, he wanted to see how well his girlfriend could keep a straight face and hold a conversation while getting fingers.
A flutter of wings caught his attention, and he looked up, just as his fingers entered her, and the morning post arrived. A barn owl dropped a copy of the paper on his plate, while a second did the same for Hermione, and he reluctantly withdrew his hand, paid the owl, and unrolled the aper and started to read.
And promptly fought to keep his breakfast down as his own face, and Hermione's, stared back at him. But it wasn't the picture that almost made him throw up, it was the Headline, Sub-headline, and full page article, which apparently extended across the first three pages.
PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF DEPRAVITY!
Boy-Who-Lived: Philandering playboy: A cheat at sports events and love?
Hermione Granger: Loving girlfriend or Cheating Temptress?
By Rita Skeeter
Hello dear Readers! This reporter has uncovered unfortunate, horrible, tragic news! It seems that the youngest Triwizard Champion in history has recently fallen victim to a foul curse!
That's right dear readers, Harry James Potter, aged 14, the famed Boy-Who-Lived, defeater of You-Know-Who, has become the victim of a terrible, debilitating curse approximately one week before the First Task! The exact nature of this curse can only be speculated on at this time, but the curse itself seems to be Greek in origin, unlike most spells, jinxes and curses, which are Latin-based, according to the Witness who observed the incident.
A witness, who wishes to remain anonymous, has come forward and has stated they saw Harry Potter, Fourth-Year Gryffindor, being hit with the curse while defending fellow student Hermione Granger, who this reporter recently speculated in her last article of being a love interest for Mister Potter. Miss Granger, a Muggle-Born, it seems, got into a heated argument with a fellow student, and words were exchanged.
Tempers exploded, and so did wands! And it seems Mister Potter caught the curse that was aimed at Miss Granger. A valiant effort to be sure. However one must consider that Miss Granger is known for being very intelligent, some even say she is the smartest witch of her generation, so then, why did she not cast a shield charm, as she surely knew one?
Perhaps she wanted Mister Potter to be cursed? Perhaps, as the witness claims, she may have actually fired the curse herself! Although Mister Potter was standing so close to her, she was also hit by it, so she is now affected also.
Who was the other student Miss Granger was arguing with? It has been brought to this reporter's attention that most of Hogwarts' student body believes that Mister Potter cheated his way into the Tournament, so perhaps this curse is an attempt at sabotage?
After this, neither of them was seen until the following morning, where it was observed that both of them looked extremely tired. Indications that neither of them got much sleep the night before perhaps? Which leads this reporter to wonder what they could possibly have been getting up to in the Hogwarts Hospital wing.
One must wonder what the standard of Professionalism has fallen to if two students are allowed to engage in illicit activities in the Hospital Wing.
IS Miss Granger Harry Potter's girlfriend? Or a Sex-starved Teenage Temptress? Another witness claims to have spotted the pair in an alcove in one of the corridors on the 2nd floor, shortly after mid-day lunch, where Miss Granger was performing a rather graphic and indecent sexual act on Mister Potter, with a lot of apparent enthusiasm.
Is this a result of the curse they are both being affected by? If so it is a strange one, we here at the Prophet have been unable to find any information on what type of curse could do this.
If Miss Granger is Mister Potter's girlfriend, then this reporter would like to remind her that such actions are best left in the privacy of broom cupboards or other such places, not random alcoves were literally anyone can see. And, that the Bonding is typically not started until both intended parties reaches the age of 15, which Mister Potter will not do for another 8 months. Mister Potter should be aware of this, and have put a stop to it.
Or perhaps, as another witness claims, she is in fact a Teenage Temptress, hoping to curry favor with the youngest Triwizard Champion in history, by using her feminine wiles and apparently, very talented sexual arts. One must wonder how someone so young could display such skill with the carnal arts? Perhaps the curse used on Harry Potter, and by extension, herself, is a sex-based curse, and what was observed merely her being forced to feed from him like a Succubus? Which would naturally lead to the question of what Mister Potter must be led to do? Or maybe it is her way of getting Harry Potter to forgive her? Who taught her what she knows? Her domestic upbringing perhaps?
Or maybe she has practiced with various other male students around the school? Or even female? Will International Quidditch Star, and Durmstrang Triwizard Champion Viktor Krum be next on her seduction list after he approached her to ask her to accompany him to Hogsmeade? And what of the Yule Ball? This theory seems to carry some weight behind it, as the two were observed together in the Library recently, by a fellow student, although what they were doing, the student refused to say.
And what of Miss Delacour, the Beauxbatons Champion? Does she fit in this anywhere? Rumor has it Mister Potter was seen speaking jovially with her several days ago, though the details of their conversation are not known, this reporter does wander if she was the one to instruct Mister Potter how to properly perform? Perhaps she arranged a demonstration so he could show her what he learned?
Is she a potential rival for Miss Granger? She's certainly pretty enough, and as a Veela, this sort of thing would come naturally to her, so she could easily be a potential rival for Mister Potter's ahem 'attentions'. Or is Miss Delacour also schooling Miss Granger in the arts of seduction and pleasure? No doubt she's had enough experience to educate them both. All we can do is speculate.
Another Witness claimed to have seen Mister Potter servicing Miss Granger in a similar fashion as recently as yesterday, in the Seventh Floor Corridor leading to Gryffindor Tower, after the evening meal. Again, this witness wishes to remain anonymous, but had this to say:
"Yeah, I saw 'em. Granger was leaning up against a wall, looking back over 'er shoulder, moaning and saying Potter's name with this really big grin on her face, her skirt up round her waist and her knickers hanging off one ankle, while Potter knelt behind her, his hands on her hips and his face pressed into her arse cheeks. And I'm pretty sure he wasn't lickin' her fanny! At least not anymore! I mean, everyone has their kink I suppose, but that? Really Potter? You don't know who else has been in there!"
Quite a sordid tale it would seem!
There was also apparently an incident during a class yesterday, which saw Mister Potter, Miss Granger and fellow students Miss Daphne Greengrass, Fourth Year Slytherin, and Ronald Weasley, Fourth Year Gryffindor, heading into the Hospital Wing, with Mister Potter being levitated by a Professor while unconscious. And only the Professor and young Mister Weasley left the room.
A few moments later, sordid moaning and passionate screams were heard from within while School Matron Poppy Pomfrey stood outside.
What message does this send when the school Matron allows illicit sexual activity in the Hospital Wing with such lax in professionalism?
This reporter has spoken to several of Miss Granger's year-mates, in an attempt to build a profile of her, who also wish to remain anonymous, who have reported that, in class, she often quotes passages from books almost verbatim, earning herself a bit of a reputation as a "Stuck-up Know-it-all", "Hogwarts: A History" seems to be one of her favorites. Well dear readers, it seems that quoting pages verbatim is not the only oral talent she seems to possess.
This reporter will let you; the loyal readers decide for yourselves.
Harry Potter, the Youngest Triwizard Champion: A profile: Page 4.
Hermione Granger, loving, impassioned girlfriend or sex-hungry seducer? Theories and Profile: Page 6.
Viktor Krum, International Quidditch Star and Triwizard Champion. Miss Granger's next target? Page 8.
Fleur Delacour, Beauxbatons Champion: Miss Granger's rival or Oral Arts instructor? A profile, Page 10.
Hermione's hands were white, and shaking. In fact, her entire body was shaking as all the blood drained from her head, and her face turned as white as her hands, and she started to hyperventilate, as she stared, in horror at the article penned by Skeeter, the picture of herself and Harry hugging from her previous "HARRY POTTER'S HEARTACHE" article on the front page. Thankfully, that was the only picture to go along with the article.
"How..." she whimpered, barely above a whisper as cold sweat broke out over her body, and she noticed just how quiet the Great Hall was. She didn't even try to stop the tears as they fell, but she somehow managed to keep the sob in, and her breakfast down.
She didn't dare look at Harry, or at any of the other students, Hogwarts and otherwise, who were in the hall, reading their own copies of the Prophet. Feeling her breakfast start to fight its way back up her throat, she threw down the paper, got up from the table, and ran for the door. Her footsteps echoing eerily loudly in the silent hall as she felt hundreds of eyes following her, and as she threw open the doors and kept running, her sobs finally broke, the first wail being heard by the rest of them just before the door closed.
Harry was PISSED.
He gripped his own copy of the paper, wishing he could incinerate it with his eyes. He was going to MURDER that BITCH!
He also had a pretty good idea who her 'Anonymous Witnesses' were, or at least one of them. As for seeing them when Hermione pulled him into that alcove and dropped to one knee before he could even stop her, well, he had been pretty sure the corridor had been empty, unless a ghost had seen them. 'Gonna need to start using privacy and concealment charms...' he thought.
His mind went to the description of the scene between him and Hermione where he had fed from her and rimmed her, outside the Room of Requirement, and he reread it, his jaw clenching. Someone had definitely seen that and told Skeeter. But who? How? He was certain the corridor had been deserted. Unfortunately, he had no idea who it could have been, the list of suspects was too long, he'd have to get the information out of Skeeter, right before he skinned her ALIVE!
He threw down the paper in disgust. Then looked around at the other Gryffindors. Most of them were giving him looks of sympathy and silent support, as they knew about the curse already. Ginny was giving him a look that was unreadable, but when their eyes met, she looked away. Neville, Fred and George, Parvati and Hannah were giving him looks of sympathy, and silent nods of support, though Neville was gesturing towards the doors, mouthing "Follow".
Harry looked around the room and saw everyone else was looking in his direction, even the Beauxbatons at the Ravenclaw Table, and Durmstrang students at the Slytherin Table had read the papers, and were alternating between pointing at him and the doors and exchanging hushed words or giggles, or talking quietly amongst themselves. The only two visiting students who weren't, were Fleur and Krum, the latter of whom was giving him a sympathetic and apologetic look. He remembered Viktor promising him he wouldn't pursue Hermione anymore, so the incident the paper mentioned must have been the Saturday after the First Task, when Krum found out about him and Hermione dating, but who had seen them? Who would want to make up such lies to Rita?
As for the Hogsmeade Weekend, well, they'd both spent that in the Hospital Wing. Rumor had it, there was another coming up just before Christmas, so they should be able to make that one.
Fleur meanwhile, was curiously reading her own copy of the paper as several of her classmates snickered around her, her eyes widening at one point, and Harry had to wonder if their copies were translated editions, as he wasn't sure how well Fleur could read English. He saw the color drain from her face, before it flared red with a look that Harry could only describe as blood lust, evidently, shed just read the part about her, when her copy of the paper seemed to spontaneously ignite in her hands, and…had her face become more angular all of a sudden? He also heard her snarl something in French, but he couldn't quite understand it, well, at all in fact.
'I hope that was wishing death and disease on Rita and her ancestors.' He thought.
She then looked up and saw him watching. Their eyes met, and she was giving him a strange look, not accusatory, more sympathetic, but also confused, it was clear that she wanted to know more, and when their eyes met, she raised a questioning eyebrow. He mouthed the word "Later" and she gave a slight nod, then tilted her head towards the doors. Go to her.
Harry stood and immediately started marching towards the main doors, he then paused and looked back at the Head Table, ignoring the snickering from the Durmstrang and Slytherin students. At the Head Table, he could see Professor McGonagall, staring at the main doors, red-faced, her expression murderous. Many of the other staff were also sporting horrified or furious expressions, except for Snape, Dumbledore and Moody. Dumbledore looked impassive, Hagrid looked highly embarrassed, his face red, and he wouldn't meet Harry's eyes for long, and when he did, they were full of sympathy. Snape just wore his usual default scowl, though it seemed to be more mocking now, and when he met Harry's eyes, he sneered.
He saw Madam Pomfrey, who looked ready to kill. Likely at her own professionalism being challenged. She seemed to mutter something, before tearing her copy of the Prophet in half, then quickly reach into her robes to pull out several Potion Vials which she gave to McGonagall, who took them, nodded and stood, making her way round the Staff Table towards him at a brusque pace. His gaze moved to the side table which held the Tournament Committee.
Crouch Snr, Ludo Bagman, Madam Maxime and Igor Karkaroff, were all looking at him with various expressions, from sympathy to disgust. Maxine wore an expression that looked particularly irate.
Harry then turned back, stopping when he saw the smug smirks on the faces of Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson. He glared at the two Slytherins, vowing revenge for the harm they had just brought upon his best friend.
He locked eyes with Draco, then drew a finger across his throat, then pointed at him. His message clear to all.
You're dead, Ferret.
Though he did catch the eye of Daphne, who looked horrified, though she was trying to hide it. His gaze swung round to the Hufflepuff table and landed on first Cedric, who was giving him a sympathetic look, and Susan, whose face was as red as her hair. She looked furious. When their eyes met, she mouthed 'GO', he nodded then turned as he heard McGonagall come up behind him, and marched to the doors and threw them open without looking back.
He had a fairly good idea where she was.
As the two of them left the Great Hall, harry finally let the snarl of fury he'd been keeping in out.
"I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill her. I'm going to kill her." He chanted over and over again as he walked. McGonagall easily keeping pace wit him.
"For once Mister Potter, I agree with you. The damage she has just done is...extensive." Minerva growled as she silently fumed. If she ever got her hands on that wretch...
"Professor, I think it is safe to say, given that I suspect I know who at least two of her 'informants' are, that if Hermione and I attend Potions class this afternoon, someone is likely to end up dead." He growled.
Minerva sighed as she kept walking. She hated to admit it, but he was right.
"Very well, you and Miss Granger may forgo classes today, I will inform your Professors."
They soon reached the Fat Lady, who swung open as soon as she saw them.
Mufasa's portrait was also open, as they could hear her sobbing the moment they entered the Common Room.
Harry steeled himself, then stepped into their private quarters, McGonagall right behind him.
Hermione was curled up on one of the sofas, hugging a pillow and crying as Crookshanks rubbed himself against her, purring loudly, doing his best to try and calm her down.
Harry moved to the sofa and sat next to her, enveloping her in his arms as she turned and embraced him, burying her face in his chest, still shaking.
"Why?" she whimpered, "Why would she do that?"
"Because she doesn't care, Hermione. She thinks she's untouchable. I think, when the next Hogsmeade weekend comes before Christmas, if there is one, I'll go pay their headquarters a visit." He said gently, trying to keep the anger out of his voice for her sake.
"What good will that do? They won't listen to you."
"All I'll ask them for is Rita's where-abouts." He replied. She held him a little tighter.
"Then what? You don't have anything on her that you can hold over her head to keep her quiet." Hermione mumbled.
"I'll find a way to deal with her."
"How can we face the school now? Everyone now knows everything! And you know Draco is gonna crow and rub it in our faces in Potions!" she sniffled.
"If he does, he'll suffer an 'accident', or he would if we were going." Harry replied. She pulled back and looked at him.
"You can't be serious about skipping Potions! Snape will fail us!"
Harry snorted, "Like the greasy git wasn't going to do that anyway. No, I know he'll fully support Draco trying to provoke us, and might even try to rub it in himself. And you know if we retaliate against anything Draco says or does during class, that worthless bastard will jump us." Harry growled, forgetting, or ignoring, McGonagall, who bit her tongue to stop herself reprimanding him on reflex. Honestly, she agreed with him.
"You have History first period yes? Then Charms, then Potions in the afternoon, correct?" she asked. They both nodded, looking at her.
"Very well, I will speak to Professors Flitwick and Snape, I'm sure Filius will understand your absence, I'm sure he'll have one of your house-mates deliver the lesson material to you. As for Severus…I will see what I can do. No promises however."
McGonagall then reached into her pocket and pulled out the potion vials, handing them over. "Calming Droughts. Poppy figured you could use it Miss Granger."
"What I want to know is how she got her information. Some of that article was just speculation, but some of it was accurate. Very accurate. Whether she realized it or not, she was actually right, for once." Harry snorted. McGonagall nodded, and Hermione just gave a light shrug.
"What I want to know is why she didn't say anything about Cedric." Hermione added.
"Well, his dad works for the ministry."
Hermione scoffed, "Like that would stop her. Nothing is sacred with her. I can't imagine Fleur took that insinuation all that well."
"She didn't. I'm honestly not sure who looked like they were contemplating homicide more: Fleur, Pomfrey, Maxime, you Professor, or me."
"Yes, Poppy was most displeased at that snub to her professionalism. I believe her words to me were "That two knut whore wouldn't know professional conduct if it face-fucked her." As it happens, I quite agree, though neither of you heard me say that."
Harry bit his lip as he tried to keep a straight face, and not show just how caught off-guard he was hearing one of his favorite professors use the words face-fucked so casually.
Which, unfortunately, lead to his traitorous mind conjuring a rather horrible image of Rita on her knees getting so thoroughly treated by a far more competent member of the Prophet's staff.
'Nope! Nope! Nope! No! Nein!' he mentally yelled, he winced, and Hermione and McGonagall looked at him, and somehow, he felt that warm presence in his mind brush his, just as he tried to get rid of that awful mental image, and he saw Hermione's eyes widen in shock, amazement, and disgust.
"Oh Merlin! That's just awful Harry!" she yelped, covering his face with her hands.
McGonagall raised an eyebrow. "Miss Granger?"
"I think Harry just established a brief full connection with me, and it was a mental image based on what you just said." She moaned into her hands. "Of all the thoughts to show me Harry, why that one?!"
"Sorry, couldn't help it, it just popped in there. I don't have the mental discipline you do."
"Evidently."
McGonagall looked at both of them carefully, mentally calculating just how far along the Bonding had gotten if they had started sharing thoughts.
"He sent you a thought? How long have you two been able to sense each other's feelings?"
"Yes, he did, and I think, a day or so? I first noticed this feeling in the back of my mind, I wasn't sure what it was at first, but it felt…I don't know, safe, like it wasn't an intrusion." Hermione said, looking at Harry, who nodded.
"Uh, yeah, I first noticed it maybe yesterday too."
"That is quite extraordinary, usually it takes several months for the Bonding to reach that level. Why don't you give it a try Hermione?" Minerva said.
Hermione looked at her, then at Harry, nodded and closed her eyes, trying to think of something. Deciding to get him back for the image of Skeeter, she focused her mind on picturing Snape taking a shower, and, fighting down what she'd managed to eat at breakfast, she pushed that mental abomination of thought towards that presence she felt in her mind, then opened her eyes to gage his reaction.
Harry tilted his head in confusion as he felt a wave of revulsion and disgust from that presence in his mind that he know was sure was Hermione's link with him, but no thoughts came.
"Don't think that worked, I think I can guess what you were thinking, something pretty nasty, but I didn't see anything. Mine might have been a fluke."
Hermione pursed her lips and nodded. "Probably for the best. I imagined Snape taking a shower. Ew!"