FicWad

All belongs to She-Who-Must-Be-Named JKR, thanks to DrT for the inspiring disclaimer.


Chapter 46: Memories



Friday went by in a blur and before he knew it Harry was standing on the Quidditch pitch watching a very irate Ron argue with Cormac McLaggen before finally getting pissed off enough to allow a keeper trial even though he was the captain. Apparently being so focused on his rage was a good thing for Ron and a bad thing for his challenger who missed two goals while Ron stopped everything that came his way. Harry was rather proud of his friend even if they weren't actually speaking at the moment. McLaggen was named to reserve keeper, which mollified him somewhat, but after that Ron was nearly unbearable as he barked out orders and expected everyone to jump at his command. In the stands Harry could almost see the heat coming off of Hermione as she held her temper in check.

To console Ron somewhat Harry suggested they hold Seeker trials as well, in the end only a few people were brave enough to go up against the Greatest Seeker in a Generation. Ginny had to volunteer before anyone else would step forward to race him to the Snitch. Funny enough she was also the one to be named to reserve even though she had already made the team as the number two Chaser along with Katie Bell and Dean Thomas. Surprising everyone the Creevey brothers ended up being the best of the bunch in the position of Beater and just like that they had formed the team. Everyone else headed back to the castle while the team met for a brief meeting in the locker room. Ron, Dean and the Creevey brothers headed back after a quick pep talk and discussion about when to hold the next practice, Harry went to follow when he heard a cough from behind him.

"Going somewhere Harry?" Ginny asked.

He turned to find Katie and Gin removing their Quidditch gear, he had secretly watched Katie for years in the changing room, it was one of the little known perks of being on the team that you got to see members of the opposite sex in various states of undress though the younger players normally headed to the separate showers before completely disrobing. So it was a bit of a surprise when Ginny got down to her sports bra and knickers and continued to undress, even more surprising was that Katie was doing the same thing.

"Uhhhh..." He said intelligently.

Katie smiled at him as she pulled off her bra quickly freeing her breasts and causing Harry to become instantly erect. "Honestly Harry, their just boobs. I would think you would be used to them by now."

"Haminah muh?" Was his reply.

Ginny grinned and walked over to him after removing her knickers. "You are wearing entirely too many clothes for the shower, want to help me out here Katie?"

The girl nodded and sauntered over to the still semi-comatose young man. Rolling her eyes she leaned in and kissed him quickly on the lips. "Harry, I talked to Gin about this earlier. I am going to be so busy with my studies and Quidditch that I doubt I am going to have time for a real relationship."

"Sound familiar?" The redhead asked rhetorically.

He nodded but was still unable to say anything as he stared at her breasts, back into her eyes, then back at her breasts. She giggled causing all sorts of fun things to happen to her chest. "I wouldn't say I have been crushing on you for years, but definitely lusting for a couple now Harry. Before last year you were kinda scrawny to be honest, but you have always been Harry and that more than made up for it." She kissed him again and began to undo his shirt buttons as Gin started in on his trousers. "I've snuck glances into the boys showers along with Angelina and Alicia, though they were more interested in Wood or the Twins...its only fair that you get to return the favor now isn't it?"

He nodded dumbly as his shirt was removed and his trousers and boxers pulled down to expose his erection. Ginny pushed him down on a bench before she began working on his shoes. Katie continued as she stared at his member in awe. "If you don't mind Harry, I'd like to hook up every now and then, no strings attached. I just need to blow off some steam and I guess I get to live out my fantasy of you at the same time?"

Katie blushed very prettily causing Harry to smile as he was rapidly regaining his confidence. "I have to admit this was all rather sudden...But I think we can work something out Miss Bell." He held out a hand to her but she shook her head.

"Were all sweaty from tryouts, how's about a shower?" She asked as she dropped her knickers to the floor stunning him once more.

They pulled him into the previously unknown territory of the female showers and turned on all four of the showerheads in the circular room. The air was scented with what he identified as sandalwood. There were wooden benches along the walls with steam vents above them for relaxing after a workout and he wondered why they didn't have something similar in the male showers. "The girls take their time and pamper themselves Harry, I'm sure you boys would rather not hang out naked with each other any longer than required?" Ginny asked.

"How did you know what I was thinking?" He asked with a smile as they pushed him under the nearest stream of hot water.

"Intuition? Or maybe it's because you looked so surprised that it smells nice in here. Besides, I have seen you boys showering and she has the right of it. I honestly don't know why men can't stand to be naked around one another. It's just natural to me to be comfortable with other women. And you definitely don't have anything to be ashamed of." Katie said as she leaned in and wrapped her hand around his still hard member.

Ginny came up behind him and began washing his hair as Katie released him and began to wash his feet and work her way up as Gin worked her way down. "When I was younger I was very self conscious but once I started to grow in the right places I didn't really care any longer because I knew I was not hideous even if I'm not beautiful.

"You are amazingly beautiful Gin. Never put yourself down like that." Harry told her getting a genuine smile for his trouble.

They met on their knees in front of him and smiled at one another before Katie took him into her mouth getting him to groan and thread his fingers into her hair. "Moving awfully fast aren't we?" He asked but made no move to stop her.

She shrugged and continued to clean his tool Ginny sat down on a nearby bench under a steam vent and began to massage her clit as she enjoyed the show. She pulled off of him for a moment but it was too long as he pulled her to her feet and into an embrace. He caught her lips and began to assert control once more, as he deepened the kiss he felt her starting to melt into his arms and steered her to the bench opposite of Ginny where he sat her down on a conveniently placed towel.

Once she was seated he trailed his lips and tongue down her torso slowly, he began nibbling lightly on a nipple when she pushed him away softly. "Harry, we aren't in a relationship and I think that's plenty of foreplay, now stop trying to make love to me and shag me rotten already!" She pulled him back into a kiss as his brain switched gears. Finally he asserted control once more as he pulled her over onto her stomach with her legs dangling from the edge before crouching behind her and quickly driving himself inside her waiting snatch.

"Oh Sweet Merlin!" She groaned, as he took no time at all to begin pounding in to her. It was not long before she was quivering beneath him calling out his name. Ginny came loudly behind him just before he pushed Katie over the edge. She held up a hand begging him to stop for a moment.

"I was wrong..." She breathed. "Not enough foreplay...gods your huge!"

"You get used to it." Ginny said breathily as she walked unsteadily up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waste.

He turned slightly to speak to her. "Seems like you are always on the edge of orgasm Gin, I don't think you get used to it I think you are just insatiable.

She nodded happily as she peeked around his bicep down at the girl on the bench still impaled on Harry's stiff Rod. "That being said..." Katie tried again still catching her breath. "You are a little large to just jump into it like this..."

"Katie I'm sorry, I just thought that you."

"Stop it, you did exactly what I asked, I just underestimated you is all." She said with a smile as she turned toward them.

He laughed, "That's what every man wants to hear, I thought you were smaller..."

She pulled forward and he pulled away and out of her, she moaned slightly but sat up and reached a hand out to Ginny to pull her around and down to sit on the bench beside her. "I'm gonna be sore now for a couple of days between the broom and the broom handle, but you seem to have a bit of an issue here." Katie said as she grasped his cock.

"Yes, we are definitely going to have to find a solution to this problem." Ginny said as if the whole thing were choreographed.

Katie pulled him toward them so that his cock was between their faces and before he knew what was happening he was receiving a double blowjob. It was a wonderful sensation, and Katie definitely had a few tricks to teach the redhead but they kept getting him close and backing off at just the wrong time.

"Ladies please? This is wonderful, but starting to get painful." He pleaded with fake puppy dog eyes.

Katie leaned over and whispered in the other girl's ear eliciting a smile and a nod before reaching up and wrapping her hand around him once more and began pumping in perfect rhythm. What Ginny lacked in skill she made up for by knowing him so well.

"Oh gods Gin...a little faster?" She obliged and soon he was on the cusp once more. "I'm...."

Katie leaned her cheek against Ginny's as the redhead directed his cock toward their faces. They both closed their eyes and as he looked down he watched as rope after rope of his cum spewed forth onto the girls faces, the sight was both new and reminded him of the first time he came all over Ginny making his orgasm that much more pleasurable, finally he spent his last with a grunt and collapsed to his knees. The girls opened their eyes slowly, he assumed to make sure they wouldn't get any of his spunk in them. Before Ginny began licking his cum from the other girls face causing Katie to gasp in surprise.

"Trust me Katie, Harry is different than most guys in more ways than one." Ginny said as she dragged her fingertip along the girl's cheek and popped it between her lips.

The other girls eyes lit up, "What the hell?" She asked in surprise before she began to lap at Ginny's face as well, before long it turned into a kiss that ended with Katie between Ginny's legs giving her another quick orgasm. She then sat up and looked over to the prone form of her new shag-buddy who was watching in rapt attention laying in the middle of the floor with rivulets of warm water flowing around him toward the drain in the center of the room.

"You are so yummy Harry Potter, I don't know why I waited."

He smiled up at her finally regaining a bit of strength and propping his head up on his elbow. "Maybe the fact that you are a year ahead and until this year I was basically scared senseless by girls?"

She smiled back at him. "Something like that. You okay Ginny?"

Ginny was lying flat on her back on the bench and raised a thumb up into the air without looking at them. "Okee-dokee..."

Katie stood and helped pull Harry to his feet. "This was fun, lets do it again some time?" She leaned in and kissed him allowing him to catch the taste of his cum mixed with Ginny's, one of his favorite flavors.

"Uh...if you say so? I did..um..enjoy myself?" Harry said rather confused as to how to treat the situation.

"You're not going to fall for me because of this are you? I just don't have time for that this year."

He shook his head. "Honestly? I have more than enough on my plate than to worry about without taking care of another relationship. But these two keep pushing me to fall for as many girls as I can. They have a point, it was really my idea anyway, but one woman is hard enough to keep up with!"

She kissed him again, a little deeper this time. "You're Harry Potter. The Lord Potter-Black, richest wizard in possibly the whole world, youngest and greatest Seeker Hogwarts has seen in a century. You are also the Boy-Who-Lived and the Chosen One. You are a wonderful guy who just happens to be an amazing lover with an equally amazing package to back it up." Harry was blushing at this point. "You can have any woman you choose you know that right? And your girls seem to like sharing so you should just go with it. Sex doesn't equal love."

He shook his head, "No, but love makes it better."

She thought about it for a moment. "I suppose, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy an amazing shag like I just did. So are we okay?"

He grinned, "More than...I just have no clue how to handle this situation. I've fallen in love with almost every girl I have been with so far. I guess I don't know how to separate making love from shagging yet."

"That was a wonderful start then." She winked as she walked toward the door. "So since we are the only two females on the team this year, maybe we can do this every practice?"

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Ginny called from her bench as the girl walked out of the room.

Harry turned toward her. "What happened to being strong, pretending we weren't together, backing off so the other girls can have a real chance?"

She growled at him as she sat up. "Bugger it, you ruined me two nights ago and you were right anyway, I love you, you love me, and any girl who can't understand that doesn't belong with you!"

He smiled down at her. "Easy there Tiger, I agree but maybe we can still keep it cool during the courtship phase anyway. Maybe the first week I can be with just my designated girlfriend and after that I explain to her how it is and let her make the choice."

Ginny began walking around the room rinsing off as she turned each tap off before making her way back to him. "And what if they don't want to shag you after only a week of dating?"

He pulled her to him when she was close enough and kissed her. "Two weeks was your idea not mine, I am not just looking to shag anybody..." She made to interrupt but he put a finger over her lips. "But I will if they offer and hope they will include you. This is fun, and its much easier to enjoy myself now knowing I don't have to worry about anything but giving her pleasure in the moment. No feelings to worry about attached to the physical intimacy."

She nodded and looked up into his eyes, "And what if emotional intimacy forms during the physical?"

He shrugged as he pulled her back to the locker room to get dressed. "Then I guess Hermione gets her wish and I add to my arsenal. But honestly we could drop the whole charade now. I am happy with what I have, I don't need anyone else."

"Then I guess you are just lucky that we insist on watching you shag, bugger and otherwise pleasure every female in sight then aren't you." She asked with a grin.

"Sometimes I wonder..." He said quietly.

*************************SFTP************************

As night fell Harry found he standing in front of the gargoyle statue that guarded the Headmaster's office. Rather than give the password right away he took a moment to put all of his thoughts in order and calm his emotions. He was not afraid of the old man reading his thoughts so much as afraid that being in his presence for an extended period of time would lead to the destruction of his office once again. Once he was sure of his mental state he gave the password "Licorice Wands" and hopped onto the rotating staircase as the statue began to spin. When he reached the top he stood patiently waiting for the man to call him inside rather than knock.

"Come in Harry." Came the expected invitation.

Harry pushed open the door and entered the room, he was glad to see that he had not done any permanent damage at the end of the last term though he found some pleasure from the noticeably sparse table which has once held any number of silver whirring and puffing instruments. Harry walked over to Fawkes' perch and scratched the bird on top of his head.

"Hello again Fawkes, it is nice to see you again."

Fawkes leaned into the attention closing his eyes for a moment. Good evening young one, have you learned to speak yet?

"I have, I still don't understand exactly how I do it but I enjoy myself none the less."

You will learn in time to speak silently, but it is nice after many of your centuries to meet another of your kind who can speak. Would you mind terribly scratching a bit lower? There is a spot on my neck I cannot quite reach.

Harry lowered his fingers just a bit and felt the bird sigh as he found the spot in question, the then began stroking his feathers slowly all the way down to his tail. "Am I to assume that you are not speaking to yourself but rather to my old friend there?" Dumbledore asked from behind his desk.

Harry jumped as he realized he had just given away another of his abilities. "Uh, yes Headmaster you may assume as much."

"Curious...at times I feel as if I can understand what he is trying to emote, but never have I heard him speak clearly. Does he have anything he wishes you to relate?"

Harry turned back to the bird in question. "Fawkes?"

He paused in thought for a moment before dipping his head. Harry nodded and turned back to the Headmaster. "He says he would like you to know how much he has appreciated his time with you even if you have been making more and worse mistakes lately. Also he wishes me to tell you that when the time comes he will accompany you on your final journey to the next adventure before returning to this one."

Dumbledore looked stunned and more than a little sad at the admonishment and the offer. "Yes...well thank you my old friend. I do not know how to respond to that."

"Why is he talking as though your death were imminent?" Harry asked suddenly very concerned for the man. They had their differences but deep down he still cared very much for the man who had been like a grandfather to him.

The old man took a deep breath before answering, "To a phoenix the lifespan of a human is just a blink of an eye Harry, I have no doubt that were I to even live another hundred years he would still see my death as very close. Let us not dwell on the idea; please know that when the time comes I am ready. As my friend Nicholas used to say, 'To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.' Now if you are ready we can begin your lesson for the evening."

Dumbledore stood and walked over to a cabinet in the corner which he opened exposing what Harry recognized as a Pensieve and many small vials of silvery liquid that could only be memories.

"Tonight Harry we are going to explore the history of Tom Riddle, I take it you recognize this device?"

He nodded, "A Pensieve, like the one Snape used to store the memories he was too afraid I would see when he was training me last year."

"The very same one actually. And from the tales that Professor Snape tells I assume you know how to operate it as well?" Harry nodded. "Then let us proceed."

*************************SFTP************************

"That's it?" Harry asked as they exited the Pensieve Memory.

"I think the history of his family is fascinating and useful, from your tone I assume you think otherwise?"

Harry shook his head before speaking. "That depends, is this all you are going to show me tonight? Were you planning on spending all year showing me memories and wasting time that should better be used to train in advanced magic?"

Dumbledore looked a bit taken aback before nodding. "I suppose from a certain point of view, that is exactly what I had planned, though I would have put it much more delicately. Knowledge is power Harry and the more you know about your opponent the easier it is to spot weaknesses."

Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying. "And why do you feel the need to stretch out these memories over many sessions? How many do you have to show me and is there a point that we can skip to and refer to them only if I don't understand something?"

Dumbledore looked very put out that his well laid plans were being interrupted and reinterpreted, for the first time Harry could remember he actually looked quite confused. Harry grinned.

"There are a few to go through which I believe you will need to see at some point. I cannot stress how important it is that you learn as much as I know about Tom Riddle the man as well as Voldemort the Dark Lord in the next few months. We may be running out of time..." The old man trailed off and Harry noticed him clenching and unclenching his crippled hand but chose not to comment.

"Sir, with all due respect..."

The old man smiled. "That phrase is rarely followed by something one wishes to hear, but please do continue."

"If time is limited for some reason, then we should get to the point. I am through waiting around and playing the proper student while Riddle wreaks havoc. If I am destined to stop him then I want to do it sooner rather than later, so I can get on with my life!"

Dumbledore sighed and pulled another vial from the shelf. "Very well, tonight is going to be a rather long night."

"Good thing it is a Saturday and I am not subject to curfew isn't it then?" The old man nodded and before long they plunged into the next in a long line of memories.

*************************SFTP************************

They exited the last memory at nearly three in the morning and made their way over to sit down, Dumbledore behind his desk and Harry across from him. "Lemon drop?" The old man asked wearily.

Harry shook his head. "No but I could do with some tea, would you like some?" He nodded and Harry called for Dobby to bring them tea service. Once they were a bit refreshed they started in on an hour-long discussion about what Harry had just seen.

"So you manipulated things this year to get Professor Slughorn to Hogwarts once more so that you could get the real memory?"

Dumbledore took another sip of his tea before replying. "I have tried over the years I have been collecting these, to get him to give up the real memory but he insists that this is his only recollection. In short, he will not give me that memory, that is your homework."

"You expect me to do in six to nine months what you have not been able to do in twenty years?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Perhaps you have noticed that Horace has taken a liking to you. I know how much you hate to use your fame or influence but in this case it is critical that you retrieve that memory. Without it we have no chance at discovering how many Horcruxes Voldemort may have created."

"Slytherin's ring, possibly the locket that Merope Gaunt sold which more than likely belonged to Slytherin as well, Hufflepuff's Cup and the Diary I destroyed my second year?" Harry asked as he ticked them off on his fingers. "That is four already, aren't their consequences to splitting your soul like that?"

"There is little information on the creation of Horcruxes and even less on the effects the creation of them would have on a person. However I believe that as one's soul is diminished, ones morality and sanity would go along with it."

"That sums up Voldemort in a nutshell. Immoral and Insane..." He yawned suddenly though he tried to hide it.

"And I think that is enough for this evening Harry. We shall not meet again until you have retrieved that memory as idle speculation will get us nowhere without facts to direct our thoughts."

Harry shook his head but controlled his temper. "I am going to be facing the most evil dark wizard possibly ever, you promised that along with these memories you would train me in advanced magic. I am expecting you to hold up your end of the bargain."

Dumbledore sighed. "Very well then, I shall contact you again with the time of our first practical session. In the meantime I must stress how important that memory is."

Harry stood and nodded. "Goodnight Headmaster."

"Good Morning Harry. Do try to get some sleep."

Harry was still pondering everything he had learned as a sleepy Bernard unlocked his door for him and he entered his suite. Once inside he headed straight for his room where he found Mione and Gin curled up together in his bed. He smiled softly as he undressed and climbed in behind the brunette and got comfortable, wrapping himself around her.

"Harry?" She asked groggily.

"Go back to sleep love, we can talk later."

"What time is it?" She asked, still half asleep.

"It's about five in the morning now, let's go to sleep and I promise I will tell you everything later alright?"

She nodded and cuddled her backside into him even as she pulled the redhead closer. The three drifted off to sleep with smiles on all of their faces; Harry awoke an hour later as someone nude and warm climbed into the bed behind him. He did not even need to open his eyes, as he could smell sunshine.

"Morning Luna." He whispered.

"Good morning, I'm sorry to wake you. I take it you had a productive morning?"

He nodded, "Do you mind if we sleep through breakfast? I'm running on fumes here."

"Fumes?"

"Never mind..." He was already drifting back to sleep with a warm body on either side of him.

"Alright then, good morning." She whispered softly.

"Mmmm..."

*************************SFTP************************

When Harry woke up to an empty bed at nearly noon on Sunday he was a bit groggy and a bit grumpy. He rolled out of bed and headed quickly into the shower, which he slowly turned down until it was ice cold. A much more alert and happy Harry emerged from his bedroom dressed and ready for the talk he knew was coming. Luna, Gin and Hermione were studying at the desks in the middle of the Common Room and he walked up behind Hermione and kissed her on top of her head.

"Good morning my beauties." He said cheerfully as he repeated the gesture with Ginny and then Luna.

"Good Afternoon Harry, you know you missed breakfast?" Ginny asked.

"I planned on it, I didn't get back from my private session with Dumbledore until nearly five this morning. I'm sorry I didn't think about what time you must have gone to bed."

Luna spoke without looking up from her homework. "Oh that wasn't a problem, Dobby was kind enough to bring us breakfast earlier since we missed the morning meal time."

He nodded as he sat down at the empty desk beside the blond. "I wonder if he could..." Before he could finish the thought Dobby popped in with eggs, toast, bacon and a smoothie just like he got at home. Harry descended on the meal and quickly cleaned his plate before sitting rather satisfied. "Ug...now I need a nap!"

"Honestly Harry!" Hermione chastised him. "You could have paused for breath at the very least. You were channeling Ron there."

He smiled. "Sorry, all I have had since dinner yesterday was tea."

She nodded and finished writing the line she was working on before closing her book and turning toward him. "So?"

He simply looked back at her. "So what?"

Ginny closed her book as well and turned to him. "So, what had you in Dumbledore's office until five in the morning?"

"Memories."

"Memories?" Ginny asked.

He nodded, "Memories. That is the private tutoring he wanted to give me all year."

"Memories of?" Hermione asked looking a bit annoyed with him for dragging out his answers.

He sat up and related everything he had seen the night and early morning before, inserting bits of the discussion that took place afterward as appropriate. Ginny looked slightly confused, Luna appeared to be ignoring the entire conversation as she worked on her Divination homework but he had no doubt she had absorbed every word. Hermione had on her thinking face and was chewing her bottom lip cutely making him want to kiss it.

"I need to research these things, I will need a pass for the restricted section I suppose...do you think the Headmaster would be willing to grant me the access?"

He shook his head. "There is almost no information on Horcruxes Mione. The little bit that can be found, can be found in the Headmasters office, I am sure he would be reluctant to share something so dark with any student, even me." She looked put out about not having free access to information. "But I might be able to convince him." She nodded reluctantly.

"There is one thing that bugs me though, there was a symbol engraved on the ring that I could swear I recognized in that memory, but you can barely see it now that the stone is cracked. It is like it's sitting at the edge of my memory waiting for me to make the connection. And it wasn't a snake or anything remotely Slytherin as far as I could tell."

"Perhaps it was the Gaunt insignia? That at least I should be able to research for you, can you draw it for me?"

He did so and as he looked up from his finished drawing he noticed the look on Ginny's face. Knowing exactly what the situation called for he stood and pulled her out of her chair and onto his lap as he sat them on the couch. "Penny for 'em?" He asked gently.

"Tom...that wasn't just a bewitched diary, that was actually him." She began to break down and he pulled her closer placing kisses on the top of her head.

"It's alright Gin, you can talk to us about it."

She sighed and tried to put on a brave face though he could see the tears threatening to fall. "He was my friend Harry, he might have been a manipulative bastard and just beginning to be truly evil. But he listened to me, he talked to me...he showed me...things..."

"Things?" He asked gently but he really did not like the way she said the word.

She took a deep breath before continuing. "He showed me memories of himself masturbating...and then he asked me to do so as well while I watched..." She seemed to be watching his face for a reaction.

His reaction was instant anger, but she mistook it as revulsion and tried to climb out of his lap, the tears did begin to flow now. "Gin wait!"

She shook her head but he still had a hold of her hand and wouldn't let her walk away. "Gin, you were eleven. The Tom in that diary was most likely seventeen; it is not your fault that he used you like that. And it is not wrong to be curious either...I just hate that he took something like that away from you. I hate him, not you." She collapsed back on to his lap and began sobbing into his shoulder.

"I don't know what all he made me do while he possessed me Harry, what if he made me touch myself. What if he had made me sleep with a bunch of older boys?"

"But he didn't did he, you saved yourself for me even when that bastard was possessing you. You held him off for at least nine months before he got close to taking you over completely. You did nothing wrong Gin, and no matter what he did I don't think any less of you." He whispered into her hair. By now Luna and Mione had joined them on the couch. He looked up to see Hermione's understanding cinnamon eyes looking back at him.

"You knew?" He asked her. It was not an accusation, just a statement.

She nodded at the same time as Ginny. "Hermione knows everything about me, she has been the only person I could really talk to for five years now. I'm sorry. I..."

He shushed her and kissed her quickly before speaking. "No more apologies, it is all his fault not yours."

She shook her head. "But Harry...I enjoyed it!" She began sobbing again.

He hugged her close once more and thought over that revelation. Finally getting his thoughts straight he began speaking. "Mione, when you were eleven or twelve, did you uh..play with yourself?"

She blushed but nodded, "And we know Luna has been playing with herself since she was eight. Mione, if you found a book that would have let you watch an older boy masturbating would you have enjoyed yourself?" She blushed even deeper but nodded again. "See Gin, it was normal. You didn't know who he was, you were being paid attention by a handsome older boy and maybe you are all crazy, but all the females in this room were experimenting with themselves at that age."

She pulled back and looked into his eyes seeing the sincerity of his words. "Did you?" She asked quietly.

"Did I...oh? Oh! Um no... Honestly that was part of my problem with you two and Occlumency training. I would have liked to though I can tell you, and I watched plenty of nudie movies when Dudley didn't know I could see through a crack in his door. It's the same thing though."

She wiped her cheeks and smiled at her girlfriend and her boyfriend. "Thank you...it's been bothering me forever...I just didn't know how to tell you Harry. That I had been basically intimate with your arch enemy."

"No problem Gin, I don't think there is anything you could do or have done in the past that would change the way I feel about you alright? So no more secrets unless they are good ones like birthday surprises."

She nodded and turned to her girlfriend. "Speaking of birthdays, have you given any thought to yours? It's only ten days away now."

Hermione shook her head. "I have gotten used to having no celebration over the years, Harry was always certain to wish me a happy birthday but it just has not been the same when I can't be with my parents."

"I am usually bollox with gifts, or at least I was in the past. Plus the whole, she is a girl, she is a friend, is she a girlfriend, but what about Ron...thing going on and knowing he would probably forget I didn't feel right giving you presents. Guess I will just have to do something spectacular this year won't I?"

"You really don't have to go to any trouble. Just a birthday greeting from you has always made my day Harry." He nodded but secretly began planning a surprise she would never forget.

"Alright then...if you girls are ready why don't we head down to lunch?"

"But you just ate!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Yeah, but I'm a growing boy, and besides I don't want to throw off my schedule too much. I'll be starving by Dinner otherwise."

Hermione began poking and prodding him, lifting his arm and turning his face this way and that. "What?" He exclaimed.

"Are you sure you aren't Ron?"

The mood was much lighter as they filed out of his rooms and headed down to the Great Hall for lunch.

*************************SFTP************************

Luna stopped Harry and motioned for the other girls to go ahead without them into lunch.

"Lu?" Harry asked.
She smiled up at him and kissed him quickly. "This has been amazing Harry, but classes are picking up and now that you have those two back I get in the way."

"Wait, are you breaking up with me? It's barely been a week! And you...I mean we..."

"It was everything I dreamed of Harry and we will do it again."

"Eventually?" He said with a sad smile.

She nodded. "Exactly. I do love you Harry."

"Luna I.." She placed a finger against his lips and kissed him one more time. As she pulled away he smiled down at her. "Eventually?"

This time she didn't answer as she walked away toward the Gryffindor table. Rather than sitting down with the girls as usual she made her way further down until she stopped behind Lavender and whispered in the girls ear. As Luna walked away to the Ravenclaw table Lavender looked up and met Harry's eyes and grinned almost predatorily.

"Oh bugger..." He said to himself as he cautiously made his way to sit down beside Hermione.

"Did you two know about this?" He asked quietly.

Ginny nodded across the table. "We discussed it this morning, even tried to talk her out of it, but you know how Luna can be."

"I'm so sorry Harry, but you know you didn't do anything wrong right?" Hermione asked.

He sighed. "I think I do, but it still feels strange to be so close to someone without the emotional attachment..." He looked over his shoulder at the Ravenclaw table where Luna smiled at him as if she knew he was going to look at her. She then began buttering some toast and did not look back up.

"Are you certain you didn't form some emotional intimacy?" Ginny asked with a smile.

Harry couldn't help but grin as two sets of memories came back to him, Katie in the showers and Luna trying to stay lucid for him. He shook his head. "I don't know, but I guess I have to get used to this sort of thing if you two insist on keeping up this game."

Hermione squeezed his knee rather hard getting a half-laugh half-wince from him. "This is not a game Harry, this is your life we are protecting!"

He was about to reply when Lavender sat down on his other side. "Hello Harry."

"Uh, hey Lav..."

"So I guess I am your new play toy then?" She asked with a small smile.

He groaned inwardly. "I don't like to think of it like that...and you are not required to date me by any means so if you would rather..."

"Oh no! I would rather I assure you, I just wasn't sure if you really wanted to do this. I mean you already have Ginny, Hermione, Katie, Luna, Susan, Hannah, that little Veela..."

He quickly shushed her and looked around to see who had heard, luckily nobody seemed to have noticed. She lowered her voice and continued. "And that Hit Wizard if I am not mistaken."

"Where on earth do you get your information?" Hermione asked quietly from his other side.

"I have my sources...In any case can I take Cho's deal?" She asked the other girl.

"Wait, Cho's deal?" Harry asked quietly. He was still hyper aware of discussing these things in Gossip Central.

Ginny sighed as she lowered her eyes and leaned closer to the small group. "Cho asked how she could form a real relationship with you with us hanging all over you...we said we would back off completely to let her try..."

"No." Harry said quietly.

Hermione turned to him and tried to grasp his hand in hers beneath the table. "Harry please? We agreed to this and we are going to stick to it..."

He pulled his hand away from her softly. "No!" He said emphatically, getting curious looks from those around them.

Ginny wrapped her foot around his ankle and waited for him to meet her eye. "Remember what you said after Quidditch?"

He sighed and looked down at the table before looking up at Lavender who was trying to look uninterested. "Lav, I am in love with three women at the moment. But I will allow them to back off for a week or two so we can try a real relationship. But you realize I am not going to be leaving them for you?"

Lavender looked across the table at the redhead and licked her lips then appraised Hermione on his other side. "I do want to try this for real Harry...and in case nobody has figured it out I am curious about girls so I don't think that will be a problem."

He sighed. "Fine, a week by ourselves unless you invite them in.... Luna gave up her spot so I guess you can have her extra time...but I really have no idea how to go about this. I haven't actually dated anyone yet, everyone I am with just sort of fell into my lap."

Ginny grinned from the other side of the table. "Actually you fell in my lap if I recall."

He blushed deeply before taking a deep breath. "This is going to drive me bonkers before it's all said and done you know."

"One more thing Harry?" Lavender asked.

"What's that?"

"Will you teach me Occlumency?"

Harry got a deer in the headlights look before taking a few steadying breaths. "If you really want to learn, then I guess that's fine."

"Tonight?" She asked a bit pleadingly.

He shook his head and turned toward Hermione. "Mione, as an adult student am I allowed to leave school grounds on the weekends?"

The sudden change in topic caught her off guard for a moment before she understood what he was asking. "Actually Harry, you are allowed to leave school grounds at any time, though you have to maintain your grades and there is no guarantee that the gates will be unlocked when you get back."

He turned back to Lavender. "I am still sort of getting over Luna, and I really have something I need to do..." He was cut off as Ginny began chuckling on the other side of the table. He growled at her playfully until she stopped. "...In France. How about we pick this up tomorrow?"

Lavender looked quite put out, she knew that he knew what learning Occlumency probably meant and yet he was putting her off. But she decided she could wait one more day since she had thought she had another week anyway. "Fine, tomorrow then." She stood and kissed him on the cheek before making her way back down the table where the giggles let him know she was telling Parvati all about it.

"So you are heading to France today then?" Hermione asked with a small smile.

He nodded. "I am afraid she is withering away without me there, you should have seen the letter she sent."

"Give her our love?" Ginny asked quietly.

"Of course. You realize there is one other benefit to having Lav wait until tomorrow?"

Both girls suddenly got the realization at the same time. He grinned at them, "I'm sure Gabby will send her love right back to you."

*************************SFTP************************

Harry appeared silently just outside the wards at Beauxbatons Academy and walked through the gate, which sat wide open. He felt the wards as they announced his arrival to the Headmistress and made the long walk up to the front doors of the school. He still did not feel right simply walking into the school and so once again he stopped and knocked on the double doors where a house elf, possibly the same as the last time, answered.

"I can helps you sir?"

He found it interesting that even in France the elf was speaking to him in English and wondered if that was part of their magic, he dismissed the thought to ponder another time. "Harry Potter-Black to see Ms. Delacour." The elf nodded and closed the door.

Approximately five minutes later the door opened once more and he found himself lying on the ground with a halo of golden silk over his head and perfect soft lips pressed against his. He lost himself for a moment just enjoying being with her again before the tears started to fall and he had to pull her away to actually look at her.

"Why are you crying Master?" She asked him. He reached up and wiped the tears from her perfect cheeks.

"I might ask you the same thing Pet." Just saying the word once again popped some bubble in his chest, which had been holding back his sobs of joy. Finally he pulled her to him as he cried. She simply clung to him for a few minutes until his cries ceased.

"Is everything alright Harry? Ginevra and Mine are still with you Non?"

He allowed her to help him stand up, as he really did not want to be caught lying on the ground outside the door with his underage lover. He pulled her away and toward the woods where they had gone a lifetime ago. "They are, I just did not realize how much I had missed you Pet. I love you so much." The tears fell once more but they were happy tears and he was not ashamed.

"I love you as well Harry." She wrapped her arms around him as he sat on the log and pulled her into his lap.

He sighed in contentment. "How has school been?"

"We had a bit of a fright when Durmstrang eez attacked, not knowing if we are next. But eet has settled down once more and I do well in my classes."

He hugged her tighter for a moment. "That is good, you know that intelligence is one of my weaknesses." He kissed her quickly before pulling back and smiling at her. His arms felt tingly where he touched her and his hands ached to touch her more intimately but he wanted to draw the moment out as long as possible.

She however, was having none of that as she felt his erection stirring. "My Master is in need of my services." She grinned at him as she slid off his lap to kneel between his legs and quickly had him out of his trousers. Once again he thought it had to be Veela magic.

"Gabrielle you don't have to...mmmwaaah..." He tried to stop her but as soon as his member hit the back of her throat and she began bobbing her head he lost all semblance of coherent thought. It was an eternity and almost no time at all before he was spewing forth into her mouth as she swallowed hungrily. She then hiked her skirt exposing once again her lack of underclothes and plunged him inside her before she began to move.

Tears were running down her face again but the light of her smile outdid them as she rocked herself toward orgasm with her eyes never leaving his. Surprising himself he felt another orgasm building along with hers. Soon they came at exactly the same moment and Harry fell off the log onto the ground with her still on top of him where she simply laid her head on his shoulder and sighed.

"So you must tell me what is happening with ze Plan my Master." She said quietly.

He related everything that had happened in the whirlwind of the past few weeks since she left him. And he broke down and cried, tears of sadness and sobs of anguish as he described losing Susan to her. He thought he had dealt with the pain but apparently he was still good at subconsciously burying his feelings using Occlumency. She never let his member leave her body, milking him with her muscles to keep him hard even as she soothed away his pain with her kisses and her promises that Susan would indeed come back to him if it was meant to be, and that despite the charm, her Veela magic told her that the love Susan had felt for him was real.

His sobbing subsided and his tears dried up as the sun fell behind the horizon, "We should get you back inside."

"Will you come to dinner? I am sure ze Headmistress, she will not mind."

He agreed and followed her inside making notes mentally of the layout of the school. She led him on a quick tour as dinner was starting; just inside the doors was the entrance hall with dual staircases headed up to a second floor balcony and a large stained glass window. Off to each side was a wing of the manor, to his left was the ballroom and dining area and to the right she explained was a study area and the Library.

Up the stairs she pointed that the west wing contained the Staff quarters and offices and the east wing was where the classrooms were, up one more level found them at the dorms. "Ze East Wing is ze Boys dormitory and ze West Wing is ze girls with a unisex common room between." She explained.

He looked back and forth a bit confused but she explained further. "Boys and Girls who are underage cannot enter ze common room of ze opposite sex, and zose who are of age cannot enter ze dorm rooms if zeir are underage children present. Eet eez a modified age-line, much like was used to protect ze Goblet of Fire."

He looked down at her and smiled. "So the older boys and girls are allowed to go to each other's dorm rooms?"

"Of course Master, zey are of age! Why would zey be restricted?"

He shook his head, "You were right, the British really are stodgy aren't they?"

She smiled and led him back down the stairs and into the ballroom where dinner was currently being served. They had many round tables instead of the familiar house tables he was used to; all in all it was nice, but a bit disconcerting. As they sat down the group of girls sitting at the table began giggling and speaking rapid French quietly. Harry had taken the time to memorize French but could barely understand it when spoken; he was a wiz when translating the written word though. However he had picked up enough along the way to catch the meaning.

"You should watch what you say, vous ne savez pas ce que certains francais on comprend." He knew he had gotten it wrong when they began giggling but they did not continue their not-so-private discussions any longer.

Gabrielle cuddled in close to him as she ate. "You do not know who speaks French. That was very good Harry, you have been practicing, Non?"

"Non, I have memorized French to English translations but actually speaking it or understanding it when spoken still escapes me." He said with a small smile.

She grinned back at him. "It is very good then. I have been practicing my English as well, if I concentrate I can nearly lose the accent, do you see?"

"I do see, that is very good Pet." He caught her eye gave her a small jolt of joy-juice. She didn't even blink but her grin got larger and more beautiful, which he was unaware was possible.

He was interrupted from his musings by a tap on his shoulder, he turned and looked up...way up into the face of Madame Maxime. "Good evening Lord Potter-Black. What brings you to our fine establishment today? Have you reconsidered attending?"

He smiled, "I am afraid not Madame, I am drawn by this beauty as a moth to flame. I hope you do not mind my visit?"

"No Milord, you are always welcome here after what you did for Mademoiselle's Delacour at the Tournament. I still wonder what Alboos was thinking..."

Harry shook his head and made a disapproving sound, "As do I, as do I."

"Well, enjoy your meal Milord and do not be a stranger. And I hope you do not get burned by this one little moth." She turned away as he grinned back at her.

He sighed as he noted the time, "I'm sorry Pet but I have to be getting back unless I want them to lock the gates on me. But I promise to try and visit soon."

She stood and walked him back to the doors and outside, they continued on down the path toward the gate. "Not too soon my Harry, you are to give this Lavender a chance. Unless of course you just wish to sex her. That is fine too."

He groaned. "I don't know yet what will happen with her, but I promise I will visit in between the next set. I missed you more than I thought."

"I love you my Harry, my Master." She said and kissed him softly.

"I love you as well my Pet, until next time..." He knew just how cheesy he sounded but he couldn't help it, the French foods as well as being in her presence always made him feel poetic. He stepped out of the wards and disappeared silently with a single tear falling down his cheek.


A/N:

"Vous ne savez pas ce que certains francais on comprend" = Almost literally "You never know who understands French." And I am certain that it is a very poor translation, but as I mentioned, he knows the written language, but speaking and understanding the spoken language is simply not something he could memorize form a book. Much like me, I am the same way with Spanish thanks to all the billboards in San Diego that are in Spanish on one side of the road and English either on the opposite side or a few miles later.

I am getting ahead again in my writing but I hit a snag writing Lavender, it took me forever to get past my block so please don't kill me when you start reading her. Not that I think I messed up her character, just that I rushed into the relationship and the whole thing was screwy.... Anyway I guess that is your preview of the next chapter or so.

Until later, Read/Review and keep your author happy. I told you that reviews make me to write and I am now about 4 chapters ahead of this one. YAY!