FicWad

I'm not JKR therefore I don't own it nor am I making money off it.




Chapter 59: Answering the Call

He awoke on Tuesday morning after Gabrielle had visited his dreams once again but knew he was only wishing. He smiled to himself as they ate breakfast at his plans for Snape. The man had been warned and Harry was praying silently that the preview from Monday meant he would have an excuse to test out his newly thought of punishment today.

So it was they found themselves in the DADA classroom; Pansy had forgone the illusion and sat with his group in classes they shared. Snape entered looking nastier than normal and after throwing a glance at Malfoy who looked more smug than usual he turned on the class.

"Homework, my desk, now." He ordered. Many students jumped up and crowded to place their homework on his desk, except for Harry's group who placed them in a pile before he casually floated them toward the desk using magic. He turned, "I did not authorize you to use your wand Milord, 5 points from Gryffindor."

Oh yeah, he was asking for it, Harry just wished he knew why. As much fun as it would be to rip the professor apart he couldn't bring himself to do so knowing that the man might actually be making some sort of masochistic plea for help. However Snape then turned on the Ravenclaw section and singled Padma out. "You as well Miss Patil, there will be no more unauthorized magic in this classroom, is that understood?"

A chorus of "Yes Professor." Was heard around the room earning a nod and a sneer from the man. "Very well, today we will be having a practical demonstration once more to determine if your feeble minds have been able to properly absorb the information I have presented. We will be having a tournament of sorts and those who are found lacking will be asked to leave my class."

This was news, how dare he threaten to kick people out of a class that would be the only way to teach these people to defend themselves if it weren't for the DA. Harry's temper was beginning to tip towards dangerous as Snape continued to berate students in any house excepting Slytherin. Snape waved his wand and the chalkboard flipped over to reveal a tournament bracket with names listed.

There were 30 people in the Sixth Year Defense class so there were fifteen brackets to begin with. Snape ordered them to stand before Vanishing the desks and creating five dueling rings with proper protections around them on the floor. A very nervous looking group of students quickly found their assigned opponents and awaited further instructions.

"Anything you know which is not illegal or lethal is allowed, if you feel that your life is in danger you may yield though cowardice shall not be rewarded. If you die it is your own fault as we do not have time to train idiots either; now group A please take your places." When nobody moved he shouted at them. "NOW!" Quickly spurring the students into action.

Once the students were barely ready he fired sparks signaling the beginning of the duel. It took the first group nearly a minute for a winner to be declared. "Losers please move to the back of the class room, Winners take your places next to the standings!"

The first round continued with Harry defeating Crabbe in group C. The chalk board reflected the changes and placed the names of the winners from the three groups into the next bracket:

Abbott, Hannah
Bones, Susan
Brocklehurst, Mandy
Brown, Lavender
Davies, Tracey
Finnegan, Seamus
Granger, Hermione
Greengrass, Daphne
Malfoy, Draco
Patil, Padma
Patil, Parvati
Potter, Harry
Thomas, Dean
Weasley, Ronald
Zabini, Blaise

Before they could let it sink in Snape quickly had them set up for the next round and forcing Harry to fight twice in order to keep the groups even. Although the whole thing was grating on Harry's nerves he couldn't help but be proud that most of the winners from the first round had been from the Old Guard. Even more surprising had been Ron winning his match after all the trouble he had been having over the last several weeks; Harry assumed that Luna must have let him out of his oath resulting in the damage to his magic being repaired. The Chalkboard updated the standings once more as they looked on.

Bones, Susan
Granger, Hermione
Greengrass, Daphne
Patil, Padma
Patil, Parvati
Potter, Harry
Malfoy, Draco

The second round had not been entirely fair; Malfoy had been placed against Mandy who was not yet comfortable with the idea of dueling despite her impressive spell repertoire and reflexes. Blaise had been placed against Daphne and if Harry hadn't known better he would have thought Blaise bowed out rather than curse her. There was something going on between them but Harry couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Harry was looking forward to the third round and possibly getting a chance to magically pound on Draco with permission when Snape called a halt. "Lord Black you look entirely too confident."

Harry was completely caught off guard. "Excuse me Professor?"

"I said you look entirely too overconfident, the last time you got overconfident your wife died, before that you killed your godfather. What right do you have to stand there looking so smug."

Harry was getting extremely upset by this point, no matter what the reasons Snape was in an all out offensive and it was all Harry could do to keep from letting the lighting that was sparking at his fingertips free to do its job. "Respectfully Professor, stick it up your..."

"Harry!" Hermione chastised him.

"I should have known you would be just like your father, he was stubborn and overconfident as well and got your mother killed in the process..." Snape trailed off.

"Leave my mother out of this Snape!" The man met Harry's black eyes and Harry fell into his mind quickly reading his surface thoughts, all thoughts of this being a charade lost in that moment. He began reading the flashes as he passed them.

A greasy boy and and a beautiful redhead girl on a playground talking...

That same redhead; whom Harry recognized suddenly as being his mum sitting beside the greasy haired boy who could only be Snape in potions speaking in low tones in their first year...

The feelings from the next several memories hit him like toxic gas and made him want to hurl. Harry knew it wasn't love, this was lust, possessiveness, jealousy...but Snape had never known real love. As far as he was concerned he was in love with Lilly Evans...

The same memory from the Pensieve of Snape calling her a Mudblood...

Snape listening outside a keyhole as the prophecy was revealed to Dumbledore and running with glee to report what he had heard to Voldemort after being ejected by the innkeeper...

Harry pulled out of the man's head more than a bit sick to his stomach, less than ready to hear that voice again. "Did you enjoy your trip through my memories milord? I think it only fair that I return the favor...Legilimens!"

Harry let the man through into his mindscape the moment he felt him against the shields, Snape found himself in the jail cell again with Harry pacing outside the bars. "Why..." Harry tried to ask calmly.

Snape was still getting his bearings as he turned confused eyes on Harry, "Because I loved her..."

Harry knew better, "That isn't love! You betrayed my parents to Voldemort so you could take my mother for your sex slave? You could care less for my life or my fathers. It is your fault my parents are dead!"

Harry continued pacing all reason having left him after what had just been revealed to him. "Snivellus you have been weighed, measured, and found lacking. Enjoy your stay." Harry stepped out after releasing naked Dumbledore into the cell. He awoke a heartbeat later to watch Snape crumple to the ground.

"Harry no!" Hermione said pointing her wand at the form on the floor. The class erupted into chaos in the next heartbeat. "Harry what did you do?" She asked turning to him.

"I did nothing to him; he attacked me and couldn't handle my defenses. We should get him to the hospital wing." Harry said emotionlessly.

Several Slytherins quickly levitated the man and headed out the door; Harry turned for the door as well but was interrupted. "Potty!"

He turned disgusted eyes on the voice. "Not now Malfoy."

"You think you can get away with killing a Professor? You have some explaining to do Potter."

Harry growled and the lighting still wanted to leap from his hands but he controlled the urge, only just. "Malfoy, I have asked you repeatedly to use my title or at the very least refer to me as Lord or Milord. Must I remind you of the consequences?"

"Shove it Potter, we've had enough of you." Draco shouted. Harry looked around and found that even Crabbe and Goyle were backing away from the Ponce.

"Lord Malfoy, to answer your first question I killed Quirrell first year so yes, I can get away with killing a Professor." There were gasps all around the room before he continued. "Through inaction I saw Umbridge carried off into the Forbidden Forest by a heard of angry Centaurs and I was present when Lockhart wiped his own memory. I'm still here, so you can shove your empty threats, when the Professor deserves the punishment I am legally within rights to be a part of it as precedent shows." Harry took a deep breath still fighting the darkness that was waiting to claim him.

"Second, Lord Malfoy; You have nobody to back you up at the moment, so unless you wish to call me to duel?" As Harry said this he allowed the lightning to begin charging in his hands getting gasps from the few who could see it.

Malfoy was looking around the room suddenly realizing his predicament. "N...No..." He couldn't bring himself to say the words however.

Harry remembered the note in his pocket and sighed as he pulled it out. "You're mum sent you this note Draco, I am begging you to see reason and accept the deal Sirius left you in his will." Draco took the letter and looked at the seal on the back; he seemed to debate with himself for a few seconds before putting his wand to the parchment and setting it ablaze.

"Narcissa Black is no relation of mine and neither are you. The Black family is no longer associated with the Malfoys."

Harry nodded sadly but had expected no better. "As you wish Lord Malfoy, please leave before I make an example of you."

"This isn't over Potty!"

"Third!" Harry called as Malfoy went to exit the room; he stopped dead in his tracks at the sound of his voice. "You have insulted me and the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black for the last time. I will be bringing you before the Wizengamot."

Malfoy stormed out of the room and Harry went to follow out the door once more before Hermione and Padma placed restraining arms on him. "Harry where are you going?"

He took a deep breath before smiling down at Hermione. "I think it is safe to say that class is dismissed; and I had best make my way to the Headmasters Office to explain my actions."

"Just what were your actions?" Padma asked trying to suppress a grin; the man had been evil to her just like everyone else for the past five years.

"He attacked me using Legilimency; I am authorized by law to take whatever measures I felt necessary to protect myself."

"What did you see Harry?" Hermione asked knowing that Harry must have caught at least something to make him defenestrate Snape so harshly.

"Later Mione." Harry said before kissing her cheek and making his way to Dumbledore's office."

$$$$

"Harry I must insist you release Professor Snape from whatever hold you have over him!" Dumbledore pleaded.

The conversation had gone as Harry expected but Harry was still riding high on dark emotions and was only able to respond in two or three word sentences for most of the conversation. The old man made the mistake of probing Harry's shield and Harry snapped.

"No more!" The force of his words caused the old man to collapse into his chair as Harry seemed to grow larger in front of him. The whites of his eyes were still present but the black was taking hold of the center.

"Harry I..."

"You let a Murderer teach students? The man who killed my parents!"

The headmaster's eyes widened at the implications that Harry now knew that tidbit of information. "Harry I..."

"Why? What could he possibly have said that would make you trust him?"

"He loves Lily so much; he showed so much remorse..."

"That wasn't remorse that was anger at losing his prize! He wanted my mother for himself, he asked Voldemort to spare her, that's why when I hear her voice as the Dementors close in I can hear Voldemort tell her to move out of the way! You let a monster teach students and you wonder why the Slytherins are half evil and the other half is so misinformed as to think Grey is as Light as it gets!"

Dumbledore couldn't think of any way to salvage this conversation, "We need our Defense Professor back, who shall teach them?"

"Tonks." Harry replied having thought of this line of questioning on his way here.

"I'm sorry?"

"Tonks is a Hit Witch as well as an Auror First Class and she is already on loan to me and the school. I will allow you to sign her on as long as it is understood she still works for me."

"Conflict of interest Harry..."

"Lord Black." Harry stated.

Dumbledore sighed as he lost even more footing with his favorite student, they had just managed to bond and it was being tested to its limits at the moment. "Of course milord, but if she is in your employ then grading you is a conflict of interest..."

"She never signed a contract with me, I suggest you draw up the contract that states that I am paying her salary but she is not allowed to show me favoritism based on that fact just as if she were to give me private tuition. Is there anything else?"

The old man slumped defeated into his seat. "I must apologize again Harr...milord for the mistakes I have made in the past... and plead with you to reverse whatever you have done to Severus."

"When that man learns humility. When he can apologize to me for everything he has done, and when he realizes he never loved my mother and apologizes to her and my Father... or when I decide he is needed as more than a vegetable. I am completely within my rights here. You should be thanking me for allowing you to hire Tonks.

After almost a minute Dumbledore sighed in defeat. "Thank you Milord for allowing your bodyguard to step into this position and for allowing her to act as Hogwarts Security up til this point... you may go."

Harry nodded and walked out of the room, headed for the Room of Requirement, he really needed to blow off some steam.

$$$$

Charms went normally except for the fact that everyone kept staring at him the whole time, even Ron and Lavender were looking at him with a bit of respect. Malfoy had completely shut up but he appeared to be stewing in his own juices at being bested once again by Potty, this time without a single spell being fired. Harry kept an eye on him but made no attempt to evoke another showdown no matter how much it would please him to do so.

His session in the Room of Requirement never happened, apparently someone, most likely Draco had been inside during the period between DADA and Charms. So Harry had gone out to the grounds and begun blasting trees on the edge of the forbidden forest. Fang had come along at the sound of the noise and Harry made a hasty retreat before Hagrid came to investigate. Harry was feeling a bit ashamed of himself all of sudden and did not want to explain his Dark Side powers to anyone he respected.

Finally it was lunch time and Harry, Hermione and Pansy met Ginny just as they were entering the Great Hall. As had become custom Blaise met them at the door to escort Pansy to the Slytherin table. Once everyone was sat down Dumbledore stood and motioned for attention.

"As many of you know, including those of you in the last two periods in which I taught you Defense Against the Dark Arts; Professor Snape has taken ill and is unable to continue teaching for the time being." Those who did not know immediately began discussing the possibilities but Dumbledore raised his good hand again to get their attention.

"I have asked our Head of Security, Hit Wizard Nympha..." There was a growl from Snape's place at the end of the staff table where Harry suddenly realized Tonks sat. "That is to say, Hit Wizard Tonks, I am pleased to say she has agreed to take on the role of Defense Professor. So please join me in a round of applause to welcome her to her new position."

Everyone was so ecstatic that Snape was out of the picture that she received a standing ovation and quite a few cat calls. Harry enjoyed watching her hair as it began to cycle in her attempt to control her blush. However when she pinned him with a glare he was quite suddenly rather afraid. "Oh crap..." Hermione and Ginny turned to look at him but before they could ask Dumbledore spoke again.

"Now that it is out of the way, let us eat." The food appeared and Harry sat down trying to hide from the Metamorph's gaze.

"What's the matter Harry?" Ginny asked from his left side.

"I don't think Nym appreciates my offering her to Dumbledore as a replacement for Snape."

"But she seemed honored..." Hermione began before she glanced up at the Head Table and saw the glare. "Never mind."

"What did you do to Snape?" Ginny asked to change the subject, however when Harry caught most of the ears turn his direction at the Gryffindor table he shook his head. "Later." He whispered.

The girls watched on as Harry devoured the food on his plate with a passion, he looked across the hall and found Malfoy brooding over a very small helping of food at the Slytherin table and knew he had to hurry if he wanted to make it to the Room of Requirement first. He turned and kissed Hermione on the cheek before repeating the action with Ginny on his left. "I'll see you two later, I have to go."

Before the girls could say anything he was up and out of the Hall feeling a two pair of eyes trying to burn holes in the back of his head.

$$$$

After taking down several training dummies Harry was feeling much better however the Gong sounded letting him know that Healing would start in the Hospital Wing in a few minutes. He sighed as he made for the door rather unhappy that he hadn't worked through all the dark energy coursing through his system; but at least he had finally blown off some steam. If he was going to keep competing with Malfoy for the Room he would have to find a better place or an easier way to work through his emotions.

Healing went well as usual except for the longing looks he kept getting from Cho, on any other day he would have just shrugged it off but today was not a good day. Once they had finished Harry whispered to Hermione that he would see her later and waited until the room had cleared to fall into step with the girl.

"Uh...Hi Harry..." She began.

"I noticed you looking at me." He said.

"What? I mean, well maybe..." She began.

He stopped them in the middle of the hall and pushed her up against the wall, he noted for the first time the fact that he was now taller than her and enjoyed the fact that he was looking down into her eyes rather than feeling like he was an inch shorter than she was. "Look Cho, I am in love with Hermione and Ginny, I just lost my wife..." At this she gasped but he soldiered on. "Yes, we were bound by magic just before she died. That is beside the point however. If you want me it would be just for fun, you have to understand that. Otherwise you need to stop staring."

She was completely taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, what had happened to the shy hero? Harry was hoping that she would decide to leave him alone but with his hands on the wall on either side of her head it placed his face mere inches from his. Cho looked back and forth between his eyes for a few seconds before dipping down to his lips and diving in.

As surprised as Harry was he had to admit it felt really good to hold this kind of power over the girl he lusted after for two years. He slid an arm down the wall and behind her back pulling her closer even as he deepened the kiss. Her hands moved one to his face and the other behind his back even as one of her legs left the floor and wrapped halfway around his body. He pulled back as his erection stirred and looked into her eyes before glancing down the corridor in either direction.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked. She only took a few seconds before she nodded. He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him toward the stairs and quickly up to his suite. Once inside he noted that Hermione was not in the room and felt a twinge of guilt but the energy coursing through his veins as well as the hormones basically forced his hand. He opened the door into his room and pulled her with him before closing it behind.

"Harry?" She asked but he turned and kissed her once again.

"Cho, I know I want you even if I am not ready for a relationship with anyone else. If you want me then why should we fight it?"

"I never..." That caught him off guard.

"With Cedric?" She shook her head but luckily she didn't cry.

"We didn't get a chance..." She took a deep breath and blew it out to keep her emotions at bay.

"Then we just can't do that. I refuse to take something like that, it should be a gift to someone you love." He said quietly as his demeanor changed once again and he ran a hand down the side of her face. "I would still like play with you."

She couldn't help but laugh at that. "Play? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?"

He nodded, "If we aren't making love, then were just fooling around, or playing. I know studying for your NEWTs must be stressful and I have a bit too much energy at the moment. Why don't we just have fun and see what happens?" He was rather surprised at this smooth talking playboy he had turned into, but the throbbing member in his boxers was driving him on and the nubile little Asian girl before him was its target.

She debated with herself for only a moment before undoing her robes and letting them fall to the ground, taking that as a signal Harry did the same before kissing her again. It was almost a mad dash to see who could get whom naked faster as they took each other's clothing off. Once Harry got her naked he turned and tossed her down on the bed pausing long enough to drink in the sight of her.

Her skin was just the slightest bit tan yellow but her hair was like raven colored silk, including the well kempt curls between her legs. She was as he noticed before just an inch or two shorter than he was now and her breasts were just slightly larger than Ginny's though they seem to sit higher up on her chest and her nipples were almost the same color as the surrounding skin. He slowly lowered himself down beside her and began trailing his fingers over her breasts and stomach as he kissed her. He could feel just how nervous she was under his touch but he could also tell by the way she was kissing him back and arching up toward his fingers that she was not regretting her decision.

His hands continued to reach lower before running circles back up to her breasts; around one nipple and then the other making them stand up like little pebbles. He left her lips for a moment and trailed kissed down her jaw and neck before taking a breast in his hand and lowering his lips to suck her nipple into his mouth causing her to gasp at the warmth that suddenly surrounded her and she brought her hand up to the back of his head as she moaned his name.

He moved his mouth to her other Nipple and began trailing his fingers down toward her center once again but this time he let his fingers brush through the soft silk and felt her tense beneath him once more before her hands pulled his face back up to hers so she could kiss him. He took that as an acknowledgement and continued further south until he felt the moisture and heat at the edges of her slit.

He kissed her deeply as his fingers found their way into her slick folds and he began massaging her lips trailing ever further down to her wet hole where he dipped his fingers in slightly earning him a moan of appreciation. He brought his now wet fingers back up to her hood covered bud and began making small circles. She immediately arched up off the bed into his fingers trying to add pressure to the contact and he was happy to oblige. He began getting slightly rougher with her until she was panting beneath him and she came quietly as her whole body arched off the bed before collapsing back down in exhaustion. She wasn't going to get away that easily though.

He trailed his lips down her body even as he got to his knees and made his way slowly down to her waiting sex and without waiting for permission he attacked her clit with his mouth getting his first taste of her. She was more musky than any of his other girls but not in a bad way, it was easy to tell she took care of her hygiene as there were no stray hairs to get in the way and she tasted clean above all else. She was panting once again and the muscles in her legs had locked on either side of his head, he continued to torture her to another orgasm leaving her gasping for breath on the bed.

He pushed himself to his knees once more and slid up between her legs until he was eye level with her once more and his manhood was pressed ever so slightly against her eager entrance. "You're welcome." He whispered with a smile.

"Oh gods Harry..." She panted out, he had no doubt that right then he could have taken her virginity and she would have been happy for it but that nagging little voice in the back of his head still held him back. Even though there was another voice in his that was urging him on. Funny enough that voice belonged to Gabrielle and it was panting along with Cho.

He reached between them and ran his member along the length of her slit so that the head of his cock was resting against her clit; he then grabbed her legs and pulled them up to lock her knees behind his elbows raising her bum off of the mattress and neatly folding her in half. She didn't contest the position so he squeezed her thighs around his throbbing pole and began to thrust lightly against the wetness of her slit and against her clit. Unlike the last few times he had brought her off this time she did scream.

He continued to increase the pace of his thrusts concentrating on the warmth that surrounded the lower half of his member and the juices he could feel flowing out of her and down onto his testicles. The overall effect was rather amazing even if shagging her properly might have been better. She was writhing beneath him and exclaiming every time the head of his cock bounced over her clit. She came again and continued to scream his name as he kept the pace. Before long he felt his own orgasm building and tingling and pressed her thighs even tighter against him so that her wet folds now wrapped around three quarters of his girth. Finally with a cry he let loose his orgasm and came all over her stomach, breasts, and face. There was even some in her hair, and the look was definitely a turn on for him. Her skin was darker than any of the other women he had been with and the black hair with his white spunk was proof of his dirty deed.

He collapsed to the side and she used her remaining energy to cuddle into his shoulder paying no heed to the sticky mess between them. "Merlin Harry, why didn't we do this before?"

He chuckled, "Because I was a scared fourth year trying to ask an older girl out, because before I knew what love was I never would have done anything like this. Lots of reasons."

"Can we do this again?" She panted.

"Guess we will just have to see won't we? I have to tell the girls though." She tensed as she remembered that he had at least two other girlfriends who he claimed to be in love with.

"Do you...I mean do you think we could have a chance?"

He thought about it for a moment, "This was fun Cho, but I am not ready to get into another real relationship... your welcome to come play with the three of us though."

She sat up and looked down at her body and reached up to feel the cum in her hair. "Is it always this messy?" She asked.

He grinned at the sight before him, he just couldn't get over the look of his seed spread all over her, it was almost like marking his territory. "Only when its good, but Gin and Mione usually fight to see who gets to clean the other girl up."

Her eyes went wide at the thought before she got a slightly disgusted face. "I don't know about that Harry... Uh...Can I use your shower?"

He looked down and noted that he too was covered in it, "Why don't we both take a shower, then I can walk you to your next class?"

She was suddenly rather nervous but nodded as she got out of the bed on shaky legs and made her way to the bathroom, he watched her go enjoying the view of her bum and the sway of her hips before rolling out of bed and joining her for a shower. After a quick rinse and a drying charm for their hair he escorted a now clothed and extremely nervous looking Cho to Ancient Runes kissing her on the cheek before running down the stairs to Transfiguration to pick up Ginny and escort her back up to the Arithmancy Classroom.

He grabbed her and pulled her into a nook behind a suit of armor and surprised her with a deep kiss. She melted against him but when they separated she had a strange look on her face and was running her tongue over her lips. "Harry, were you dragged into the closet again?" She asked with a grin.

He hadn't brushed his teeth and blushed suddenly at the thought she could taste the fact on his breath. "Uh...not exactly."

He pushed him up against the wall with a smile, "So what exactly, or rather whom exactly did you do?"

He was rather nervous, this was the first time he had initiated anything without the girl's knowledge and he was struggling with a tiny bit of guilt. "Uh...Cho..."

She gasped, "Cho! You shagged Cho Chang?" He couldn't tell if the tone of her voice was annoyance or excitement.

"Not proper shagged...more played..." He was cut off as she jumped into him and began kissing him deeply again, her tongue was probing as much of his mouth as she could reach and her hand had gone between his legs to his already hard member. She pulled away and tasted her lips again before looking over her shoulder and adjusting them slightly so they were hidden behind the display but only if you weren't actively looking and she reached down and unzipped his pants.

"Gin?"

"Don't you Gin me, gods I am so hot right now..." She pulled him through the flap in his boxers and out of his trousers before hiking her robes and skirt and pushing her cotton knickers aside before impaling herself on him and kissing him once again.

He was extremely nervous as he lifted her by the hips and held her against him while she rode his cock, he had his back to the wall and his eyes peeled on the now large mass of student bodies passing only a few feet away in full view. She moaned quietly into his ear and his nerves combined with the smell of her sex and the feeling of being wrapped completely inside her was pushing him toward an orgasm faster than he had in quite awhile.

"Cum inside me Harry, please?" She begged him and he let go and matched her rhythm for a few seconds before exploding inside her, nearly collapsing at the overload of sensations, shagging was definitely one up on playing, even if the end results of marking Cho as his territory had been extremely pleasant. She came soon after him before she slid off of him and reached between them to taste her treat. She then waved her wand which slid neatly out of its holster into her hand and cleaned them both up. She collapsed panting against him. "Gods Harry...what took you so long?"

"I thought that was rather quick myself..." He commented lightly and she smacked his shoulder.

"I meant what took you so long to bag Cho? I've been looking forward to that forever!"

He smiled into her hair and hugged her close. "I needed to burn off some energy, she needed to relieve some stress, and what do you mean you've been looking forward to it?"

She blushed hard enough he could feel the heat from the top of her head. "Why Gin, I thought Hermione was your only girl-crush."

She shook her head. "It started partly with Mione because I thought she would end up with you for sure...then you started lusting after Cho Chang and she joined my fantasies... I guess I've liked girls longer than I like to admit."

He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. "There is nothing wrong with that Gin, it's just who you are. Now I think we better hurry if you're going to make it to class on time."

She sighed as she pulled away from him and they glanced back and forth down the corridor before dashing out of the nook and heading for the stairs. "This is definitely worth being tardy." She called as he ran beside her.

$$$$

Dinner was a rather uncomfortable affair for Harry, Gin had filled Mione in on the days happening and they were both sending him appraising glances, across the way Cho blushed every time she met his eye and down the table when he caught her looking Lavender looked extremely jealous. Ron kept looking in his direction as well and when Harry caught a look it appeared to be a war between shame and jealousy. Harry took that as a good sign since it was not anger any longer.

It had been too long since he had done it, and even though he saw her every day now, almost too much for his liking, when his look at the Slytherin table accidentally passed across Pansy he let just a bit of joy juice hit her. The girl's eyes widened before they closed and she smiled ever so slightly. He was quite suddenly nervous at what he had done. He didn't want to start anything with her and he had just given her another orgasm. All in all, extremely uncomfortable.

The one bright moment had been with Padma moved to the Gryffindor table across from him and simply started a conversation that had nothing to do with sex or marriage. It was refreshing to just hold a conversation with a girl who was not either involved emotionally with him or actively trying to get into his pants. They retired to his room afterward and Pansy acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened but he was extremely nervous at his actions. They did their homework and then worked on research for the Project as it was now being called by the members involved.

As the night closed Padma kissed him on his cheek again seemingly without thinking and he found it refreshing to be able to have a relationship that close without strings attached. Then he was dragged into his room by a pair of witches who wanted details, once they found out he had actually brought her back to his room and had her naked on the bed they were currently occupying they went completely out of control and Harry passed out somewhere around midnight much to the consternation of the girls who continued without him for another hour.

A/N:
I'm sticking to my story my way at this point, though I caught myself trying to rush through it again. Trying to get rid of whole days just doesn't work for me unless there is something major happening (like the aftermath of Beauxbatons) When I read what I have written trying to skip periods of time it feels extremely rushed and doesn't flow at all like me.

So I'm tweaking again, but though I could offer this one up for consumption. If you enjoyed it R/R please :)