Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Spiral Tangents

9501B - Further Sexcapades

by wordhammer

Holly's bi. Natalia's bi. Hermione just needs encouragement.

Category: Harry Potter - Rating: NC-17 - Genres: Erotica,Humor - Characters: Hermione,Tonks - Warnings: [X] - Published: 2010-10-17 - Updated: 2010-10-18 - 9644 words

?Blocked
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts are owned by someone who isn't me. I will never seek or accept money for the circulation of this work. Especially this work.

Spiral Tangent: 'Further Sapphic Sexcapades' - Holly, Hermione and Natalia try to sort out their new relationship dynamic, but mostly it's just an excuse for them to end up naked. Also some other fun.

(Aside from Holly's recovery and some internal development for Hermione, this is erotica. I haven't posted a less relevant Tangent besides the Scorecard.)

Placement: Mostly amidst Tangent 9501, prior to Chapter 45 'Auld Lang Syne'

6th November; 26th December, 1994 - 2nd January, 1995

What you need to know: Holly's bi. Natalia's bi. Hermione just needs encouragement.

Sections:

They Huff and They Puff

Hermione's Coda

NAT

Triskele

Advice from the Author-lizard

*

They Huff and They Puff
[6th November]

It is a Sunday morning, a week after the announcement that the Tri-School Wizardry Tournament would include seven competitors. Holly is walking along the corridor back from the kitchens when she espies Cedric Diggory standing at the end of the hallway before her. Holly approaches him with a polite calm.

"Morning, Ced. Looking for me?"

"Yeah. My friends and I would like a word with you."

"Friends?" Holly looks over her shoulder and suddenly realises that there are twenty older students, all Hufflepuffs, currently standing with their wands pointed in her direction. She catches sight of Cedric pulling his own wand and simply turns to face him, nodding in acceptance. He whispers, "Stupefy."

Holly awakes to find herself strapped to a large square plank, slightly tilted back from perpendicular to the floor, facing a shadowed gallery filled with people. Unusual for her experience, she's still fully clothed. Directly in front of her, she sees Cedric returning his wand to his sleeve (no doubt he had just used it to Ennervate her). His is the only face she can see well enough to recognise.

Cedric smiles apologetically. "Hello again. I said we wanted a word, and that word is 'why'."

Holly clears her throat and replies, "Why what?"

A voice from the gallery bellows out, "Why are you ruining this for us? Our House is never recognised in favour of the more showy sorts. For once, we get to shine, but you're stealing our moment. Why?"

Holly nods a little and begins to conjure up a believable story, but she finds that an influence is interfering with her creativity. Taking an extra moment, she notices out of the corner of her eye some runework along the base of the board to which she is strapped. She decides not to fight the runes' influence too much.

"I guess the truth is only fair. I'm not doing this to ruin things for you. I knew Harry was going to be a competitor, but my involvement is due to someone else trying to get me hurt or killed. Professor McGonagall came up with the solution of doubling the team sizes for all schools to bring the competition back into balance."

Another shadow calls out, "She's your godmother!"

"Yah, and if she could've gotten me out of this deathtrap race, she would have. Besides, by having the rules switched, the School teams will have an advantage against Harry making everyone look bad. If anything, this has saved your chance for glory."

"She's just a Slytherin liar!"

"Um, actually I learned to lie long before this year. That doesn't change the truth of the situation- Cedric is positioned to lead Hogwarts to glory. Believe me; I don't expect to do well in this tournament; Cedric will have his hands full."

A new, female voice snarls, "Full... of you, I suppose. Team members will no doubt be working together verrry closely."

Holly smiles indulgently.

"Not that I'd mind such a man-handling, but I won't seduce another person's partner no matter how interesting the challenge. Cedric's steady girl has been proven to be wholly boy-fond."

"A-are you saying... what are you saying?"

"Cedric; Cho; Cedric and Cho; so many options! But I really do have better things to do with my time, and more acrobatic people with which to do them..."

Cedric smirks and gives a coy protest.

"Hey now, you don't think a Seeker requires some... flexibility?"

A giggle passes through her captors. Holly rises to the bait.

"Cedric, I imagine you'll soon discover that two Seekers aren't a good match, as they're always competing to finish first!"

Holly's delivery gets a number of chuckles.

"I'm not fond of Beaters on the whole but a Chaser is usually a good time, even if you usually have different goals in mind! But show me a good Keeper? Well, there's much to be said about strong hands... and having an eye for taking care of multiple holes... Don't look at me like that; I'm just kidding!"

Much laughter ensues.

"You'd do well in here with us. How'd you end up with the snakes?"

"Didn't you hear? I'm trying to take over the world."

More laughter.

"Actually, I joined the House at the Sorting Hat's request to defend the orphan and muggle-born firsties he wanted to Sort there. For the first two months of term the veterans concentrated all their abusive energies on me, giving the firsties a chance to acclimate and learn a few defensive spells. Now, I'm stuck there. They're not all manipulative back-stabbers. I'm just taking my time weeding the wheat from the chaff."

"Oh, it's not the fact that they're deceitful that makes them arses to us."

Holly gazes into the darkness, trying to pinpoint each different speaker. "Really? They always seem very condescending to the yellow and brown..."

"That's just cover. Everyone here knows the real reason why Snakes and Badgers don't get along- they're all cold fish."

"Come again?"

"Well, not in their hands, that's for sure!"

Holly laughs along with her captors and begins nodding emphatically.

"Now I get it. You'll be happy to know that I am of a different character entirely. I'd never leave such a worthy task only half-completed."

Cedric hops a little on his feet and adds a teasing thought. "Care to prove that challenge?"

"Well gee, Ced. You already have me tied up- I just assumed this was foreplay."

Holly hears a number of clacking sounds, as if rocks are being beaten together. Cedric nods to the gallery and pulls out his wand. With an agile series of twists, Holly is released from the plank, falling into Cedric's grasp, her arms catching around his shoulders. He blushes while setting her feet back to the floor. Once she's stabilised, he steps back out of her embrace.

"Holly, I am, really, in a relationship..."

"I understand, Cedric. I'm not trying to get in Cho's chowder. I hope you two can make it work, if that's what you want." Holly rubs her wrists. She notices a few of the Puffs waving a pleasant goodbye as they filter out of the darkened room.

Cedric answers, "I think so. We have a few things to sort out, but she seems willing to discuss them when we disagree. That's important."

"Sure, but a girl will always be kinder at the start. We change once we think the hooks are properly embedded."

Only a few are left as Holly finishes her brief 'no harm done' conversation with Cedric. She makes a mild protest.

"Oi! After all that spicy language I'm kinda frisky! Are you lot all talk or...?"

Cedric taps Holly's shoulder and points behind her. Holly turns around to face the 6th year Prefect, a slim girl with short, curly brunette locks and a deep tan.

"Hi. I'm Erin Moore."

"Hi Erin. What can I do for you?"

"Uhhhmmm, do you wanna compare scars?"

Holly does not turn her gaze from assessing Erin's body as she responds, "Cedric, it was nice seeing you. Erin... it will be my great pleasure to defeat you in this contest. Would you like to show me what you have, or should I... hunt for them?"

Erin catches her breath in her throat.

Cedric turns to leave, but first takes hold of the side of the 'board of truth', flipping it forward to reveal a long couch, attached to the back for when the board is just lying on the floor. Holly smiles wider as she hears Cedric close the door behind him. Erin expresses some nervousness.

"I-I've... never... "

"C'mere..."

Erin steps forward after a little encouragement. Once within arm’s reach, Holly draws Erin's face down to her own, giving her a kind kiss on the lips. Erin breaks the kiss after a moment.

"I-I don't... know if I..."

"Erin, relax. Have a sit down with me. Tell me who you are. We've gone as far as I'm willing to go until you've told me what you believe. It's only then that I can figure out whether someone is worth getting to know, and I don't have sex without having a reason to express my appreciation for the person."

"So... what happens if you don't like me?"

"I'll leave. If you insist on being sexual with me it will be painful for you. Either instead of, during, or in payback for- depending on circumstances."

"I don't appreciate being threatened."

"Erin, that wasn't a threat. That's simply what has happened to others so far. Honestly, I can't see me hating you but if you turn out to be shallow and dumb you probably won't even realise that I've left before anything can happen. So; who is Erin Moore?"

~o~

Turns out Erin Moore is a very sports-oriented muggle-born who has been frustrated by the limited choices in exercise available. Holly teaches her the Spider Climbing charm. After spending twenty minutes chasing each other across the walls, they drop down and share a large bottle of Erin's muggle sport-water.

Holly teases Erin when they return to sitting on the couch. "There's nothing quite like trying inverted stomach-crunches to humble a person, eh?"

Erin shakes her head and asks, "Why do you seem so nice? The papers all say you're evil."

"And yet, here you are spending time alone with me."

"Oh, well Cedric said you were a little crazy but alright and that you have your heart in the right place."

"He did? How utterly decent of him. I can't imagine where he got that idea, though."

"He said it had to do with how you play Quidditch, and how you saved his life. He said that he saw your face when you charged that Dementor and it looked like you felt you were personally responsible for the attack. He said it was a desperate look of sacrifice. He says he can still see that look in you sometimes. Like you take damage so that others won't have to."

"Cedric's... a very wise man. It's probably best for Cho that you and I are here together."

"Why's that?"

"If either of us preferred boys, she'd have a hell of a fight on her hands."

"Yes she would! But... "

"Yes?"

"I think I'm happier right here, for now."

"Really? Why?"

"I... I think I understand a little bit more what Cedric sees. I don't want to be a part of your problems. They scare me. But if I can make your life at least a little better, I'd feel I was doing a good thing."

"Is that a Hufflepuff motto?"

"Yes. Loving another means helping them shoulder their burdens. Sometimes making love with them actually helps shoulder the burden. I'd like to help."

"And help yourself."

"If... you don't mind."

"Mind? At the moment, I don't think I can help myself."

Erin giggles at the wordplay. Holly reaches forward to take the girl's tan face in her hands and draws her into a deep snog. Erin moans into the kiss and reciprocates happily for several minutes. Their kissing stops only when Holly gasps from Erin's hand grazing her puckered nipple.

Erin's face falls and she begins to stutter.

"I-I-I'm s-so s-sorry I..."

Holly cuts her off with a renewed kiss that ends in a wide smile.

"Don't stop touching me, Erin. I don't think I could forgive you if we stopped here."

Erin reaches her hand again and lightly grazes her fingertips along the upper curve of Holly's breast. Both girls breathe heavily as their attention is focused on Erin's skimming fingers. Erin refuses to blink as she watches her own hand caress Holly's cotton-covered breast for a full minute. Holly's moan snaps her out of her excited reverie.

"MMMmmm! Erin, I want you to touch me more. Touch me like you want to be touched, okay?"

Erin's grip strengthens and Holly moans louder. Erin's caresses become more insistent. She clasps her fingers around Holly's nipple through the fabric and kneads the flesh beneath. In response, Holly moves her own hand up along the girl's side, slipping beneath her loose jersey to stroke the warm skin beneath. Erin yelps quietly in surprise and then shuts her eyes in pleasure when Holly immediately moves her hand up to caress Erin's hard nipple, her small breasts exposed beneath the shirt by a quick Vanish of her undergarment.

The girls resume kissing as they fondle each other's chests, though Erin looks at Holly in surprise when she hears her breath shorten in what she assumes is the precursor to a moment of ecstasy. Erin forgets the kiss and squeezes Holly's breasts more emphatically, rolling the cloth-covered nipples tightly in her fingers in the joy of giving another pleasure. Holly grabs both of Erin's hands and presses them against her breasts as she leans back out of the kiss. She moans loudly with a guttural growl accompanying her seething breath.

Erin massages and manipulates both sensitive globes, her own excitement rising with Holly's pleasure. Holly, in absent-minded consideration, moves her knee between the thin girl's strong legs and begins to rub her nethers through her exercise pants. Erin shifts her weight to kneel on the couch, her thighs gripping Holly's knee as it grinds up into her core. Holly cries out briefly in orgasm, prompting a look of shock from Erin that is replaced by a squint of almost painful pleasure. Erin's enjoyment of Holly's vocal expression of joy induces her own orgasmic convulsions, her thighs quaking around Holly's knee.

Holly recovers from her moment to see the thin girl rising into her own peak and slaps her hands around the girl's hips to move her pelvis to grind along Holly's thigh. Erin arches back into the motion, her first-ever interactive orgasm quickly being overshadowed by a much more powerful rise in stimulation. Erin slips her hands beneath her jersey to grip her own breasts, pinching her large nipples quite tightly while Holly continues to draw the girl's nethers back and forth along her muscular leg. Sweat begins to flick off of Erin's soaked curls and she thrashes her head back and forth to twist out the shudders of pleasure racing through her nervous system.

~o~

Erin finds herself laid out on the couch with Holly dabbing a wet cloth on her forehead.

"What happened?"

"You passed out. You have to remember to breathe, Erin."

"Ugh! Such a rookie mistake!" Erin stretches her body out on the couch and wraps her arms above her head.

Holly smiles at the thin girl's beaming grin of contentment. She caresses the girl's face and leans down to kiss her on the lips. After a brief but tender snog, the witch pulls back to give Erin a kind, sad look. "So. Was that enough? Do you feel experienced enough that you don't feel left out anymore?"

"Well I certainly think I've answered a few of my most pressing questions. Why? Did you... want to leave?"

"I want to stay only so long as I am welcome. You and I have similar tastes in this, but you were right before. You don't want to be a part of the insanity around me. Ask me to stay and you could be inviting a world of horror into your life."

Erin stares at Holly in thought for a while. Her frown and rising tears show the decision she has reached.

"I... guess you should go then. But Holly..."

Erin sits up quickly to hug the stocky witch who returns the embrace after a moment's pause.

"I will always cherish this gift you have given me. Always."

Holly squeezes the air from Erin in a tight hug and then releases her to stand up. She looks away towards the door before responding.

"Erin, I hope you find love, happiness and success. Just watch out for trouble. I'll keep an eye on your arse when I can."

"Thank you, Holly."

"Are you joking? It's an excellent arse! Keep up with the exercises, preferably when I am out studying and you wear as little as possible, yah?"

"Pervert."

"Find me again when the insanity goes away and I'll show you just how much."

Erin crunches her face in an anxious way. Just as Holly is opening the door to leave the gallery, she calls out, "Holly!"

"What?"

"I... just remembered another question I wanted to answer for myself. Do you need to be somewhere?"

Holly closes the door, turns back slowly and looks at Erin's anxious expression. "Depends on the question."

"What do... how do girls... taste?"

A feral light burns from behind Holly's glasses. "There are two types of people, Erin. Those that are theoretical and those that are physical. I believe you are the latter."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, I can't help you by describing it. You're just going to have to take my clothes off and taste me for yourself. C'mere."

*

Hermione's Coda
[27th December]

It's only been a day since Sirius discovered the leftover Allure that was trying to break down Holly's ego. Despite this knowledge and Natalia's valiant attempts to physically reassure Holly of her essential attractiveness, Holly's mental state remains quite guarded. Natalia reluctantly returns to her Auror duties after a late breakfast (and a brief conversation with Moony), leaving Holly and Hermione some time together in the Madhouse, accelerated.

To help open her up to trust her friends again, Hermione suggests that they share memories once more. Agreeing to the logic of the idea, Holly and Hermione set to Rapport together while lying down in their bedclothes. They spend hours rummaging through each other's recollections.

The girls re-awaken, with Holly a bit morose and Hermione intensely thought-minded. After a few moments each of mental re-adjustment, they lay back on the bed, separated by a foot of open space.

Holly snaps out of her introspection and turns to Hermione. "So- do you prefer sharing memories this way, or through the Pensieve?"

"I'd prefer... whichever suits the purpose. It's not the same. In the Pensieve, I see what you think happened, with some embellishments and interpolations from the magic used. In your mind, I get to feel your emotions and hear your thinking, but there's always less detail, and so much more background noise- pain, anxiety, lust, anger, irritation. Sharing memories like this isn't about learning so much as... understanding. Bonding. Thank you, for this. I know it's been hard for you to trust me until recently. I can even understand why, now. But I... I don't think I'd want to do this regularly. U-unless you think I need--"

Holly reaches over to touch Hermione's shoulder.

"You don't have to visit my brain, anymore. I think you've got the essentials."

"Holly... you didn't deserve any of it. None of it. Whether you are Lily, Harry, Holly or the Spiral, nothing you have done earned you so much trouble in your life."

Holly raises her head to brace it with her hand. "Really. Lily performed an arguably unholy rite to stave off death and used her own son to carry her soul forward, in order to seek revenge against her murderer and all those that contributed to ruining her life. This is noble?"

"They started it! Besides, that is a very negative interpretation of events- Lily didn't expect to survive. She was trying to end the cycle of death and fear. And even if the route she took broke the laws of God and Man, it still doesn't mean you deserve to suffer."

"I don't know if I can believe you. What you're saying, I mean- you saying it actually gives it more weight."

"Thank you. Now, I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"Is it possible for you to make love with me without putting my life at risk?"

Holly rolls her eyes and flops back onto the bed. "I suppose we'll never know if we don't try."

"That's right." Hermione climbs over Holly, reaching down to draw her into a kiss.

Holly accepts the kiss until Hermione licks her lips with her tongue, wanting more. She leans back into the mattress, startled. "I... I was just teasing--"

"I wasn't. I am done fighting this. I am... mildly... bisexual. I have been attracted to four women in my life. You are the one I find most attractive, and the one I care for most. These loving kisses mean much to me, but you also make my heart flutter. I... sing inside when I feel the force of your passion; when you kiss me the other way."

"You really want this? For yourself, I mean- you're not just doing this for me or something."

"Yes, Holly. I want you." Hermione stares down, almost angry with the strength of her conviction.

Holly seems to pause in thought, then she leans up and begins snogging Hermione. A few teasing nibbles from the bushy-haired witch and Holly jumps up to fling Hermione down onto the bed and snog her deeply, wrapping her arms around her head. As they kiss, Holly twists and rubs her body against Hermione's, intertwining their legs in the process of her enjoyable friction-making.

Holly breaks their snog with a giggle bursting up from her center. She smiles with tears in her eyes, and then re-engages Hermione in the type of fervent kiss they last shared before Holly was aware of her origins. Joy empowers her ardour for a time, and then suddenly she stops, dropping Hermione back to the bed while holding herself far enough above Hermione for her to see Holly's stern expression.

"Wait. It'll bug me the whole time if you don't fess up. Who are the four?"

"Uh! You're unbelievable! (Sigh) You, Padma, Natalia and Princess Diana."

"HAH! I knew it! You were so jealous of how calm I was that day, and not just because I made you blush. Admit it!"

"I just did! Fine... yes, you were right. 'Diana looks smashing in that dress' should be considered as reliable a statement as 'water is wet'. Why else would I let you fondle me to ecstasy in a nearby alleyway?"

"Because I was willing and able."

"You were always willing. You never would say no to me."

Holly relaxes, laying partly next to Hermione but keeping her body close with all her limbs. "I wanted as much love as I could get. You were my only source for it, at the time. You were my everything. How could I deny you?"

Hermione begins to scowl in concern."Holly, this is where you're wrong. You've always made me feel like I'm someone better than I am. I never deserved your worship."

"Depends on the viewpoint. You've seen the life I led, up until I met you. Put yourself in my unfortunate skirts. Wouldn't you covet that precious trickle of affection from your best and only trusted friend? Try to make affection flow like the raging river that you hope runs beneath the restraints of her civility? Wouldn't that affection mean as much as the praise of saints, since it's the only joy you can remember feeling, ever, in your life?"

Hermione finds herself trapped in Holly's stare. After a moment, she lets tears fall from her eyes and cups Holly's face with both hands, in sorrow and affection.

"I suppose I would, at that." Hermione draws Holly into a kiss. A long, apology kiss. As the kiss progresses, Holly relaxes more, letting go of her grip around Hermione's body. When they finish their snog, both witches lay back on the bed, staring up at the canopy.

Holly breaks the silence. "So. Am I forgiven?"

"For what?"

"Turning you gay." Holly turns towards Hermione and smiles.

Hermione turns and stares at Holly's face for a moment, then runs her gaze up and down her friend's body, in a way that makes Holly pant.

"I make my own choices. You just woke me to some feelings that I might never have acknowledged, in a different life. Like the one that's making my mouth water right now."

"Really?"

"Yes! In case I haven't mentioned it, nowadays you are actually quite... delicious."

~o~

Later, Hermione emerges from the bedroom to find Holly sitting in the reading chair, only she isn't reading. She's staring at a lit candle on the Octogonagall table.

Hermione walks up to her friend, and then kneels in front of her chair.

Holly turns from the candle and gives Hermione a prim smile. She leans forward and kisses Hermione's lips, but is startled when she feels her friend's hands slipping into her robes, and then pulling back to caress her breasts. Holly tilts her head back and moans, but her expression darkens. Holly smiles grimly, turning to look at Hermione. "C'mere."

Hermione smiles back with a certain glee and moves immediately to engage Holly in a kiss, but her lips are stopped by Holly's hand. Holly looks into Hermione's eyes with sympathy.

"I love you. Now stop trying to be me. Natalia has sex a lot because she's Natalia. I have sex a lot because it keeps my nightmares to a minimum and because I'm involved with Natalia. You don't need to be our bed partner."

Her speech done, Holly slips her hand down from Hermione's lips and draws the girl into a warm hug. "I love you. You don't have to prove anything."

Hermione whispers into Holly's ear, "And what makes you think I wouldn't enjoy being your bed partner? I enjoyed it just fine last winter, and now I have a new lover to teach me more about my body."

Holly leans back to stare at her friend in a challenge. "To what end?"

"Well for starters, I believe my endurance is increasing. I'll never have a body like yours, but I have every intention of running away from scary monsters, and the longer I can run, the safer I'll be. "

"Good point. We should add exercises for our RE-class."

"Agreed. I also believe that I shall one day meet the man that is worth adding to my life, and I want to be able to please him so that he can please me."

"What would such a man look like?"

"His appearance isn't the issue. He should be smart, funny, loving, attentive and supportive."

"A genius house-husband. You're fixating on Woody Allen."

"I MEANT someone passingly attractive and somewhere within our age range- I just don't have any particular bias for height, colouring, or magical background."

"Ah. This generation's Denzel, Antonio and Sirius all qualify. No hunk will be denied an opportunity to worship at your feet?"

"In a nutshell. I have no designs on your adoptive father, of course."

"For once, Moony wins. I think that's only the fifth time since they left school. Well, since your quest is doomed from the start, we shall keep your body occupied for the interim."

"The interim?"

"Until you find Mr. Perfect or we give you another heart attack."

"Ehmm... that's not a goal, is it?"

"Hell, no. I want you around for a century."

"Good. Sometimes I'm not sure if Natalia knows that."

"Sometimes she forgets- that's what safe words are for. I have another sex-related question; since you usually prefer to keep a clear mind to facilitate your studies, why would you want us to muddy it up by stimulating your hormones?"

"I am almost sixteen and therefore stimulated already. Also, thanks to you, I have had a few epiphanies while in the throes of rapture. It can be liberating to find oneself unshackled by the constraints of logic."

"Explains Luna."

"Nothing has yet explained Luna, nor your acceptance of her crimes against us. Why did you forgive her?"

"She's mental."

"I told you that, some time ago."

"No, I mean she's really mental. She actually takes medication and could use some counseling."

"You've accepted an implicit insanity plea?"

Holly smiles. "In a nutshell."

With a sudden yank, Holly draws a long strand of thread away from Hermione's waistline. As the last of the strand snaps into the air, her clothing falls in sections to the floor. "I see you're ready. Now, how about you take off my clothes?"

Hermione curls her smile into a devilish grin. A triple-sweep of her wand accompanied by a whispered Latinate phrase and Holly's clothes tear away from her body to follow the arc; like tissue paper caught on a fish hook.

"You've been practising."

"No- I just invented that one."

"Seriously?"

Hermione parts her lips just a bit and then licks them, seductively. Holly jumps out of the chair, scooping her lover up in her arms (eliciting a delightful 'yelp') and walking over to drop her onto the Octogonagall table. The animate furniture absorbs the shock and returns Hermione's giggling, naked body to a working height. Holly looks down on her friend from her position at her side.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I know. I love you, too, Holly."

Holly clasps her hands together and bounces up in a very girlish manner. "Oooh! I don't which part to play with first!"

"I suggest the lips, personally."

Holly flips an imaginary coin in the air, catches it and proceeds to inspect a freckle on her forearm. "Ah! TAILS!"

Hermione gasps as Holly moves to grab hold of her knee with one hand, the other tracing a path along her inner thigh that is followed by some very quick but wet kisses...

~o~

At some point, they moved back to the bedroom. The two girls now lay naked atop the bedcovers to cool off, though they each have a leg wrapped with the other's. Both girls slowly move to caress their lower legs together.

"I don't see us doing this much after the holiday. I don't want to interfere with your and Natalia's happiness."

"God, you're still locked into this? Natalia won't be jealous unless you shut her out. I'll never choose between you, aside from which one looks to need my loving first. No doubt that'll commonly be you."

"Why?"

Holly smiles. "Natalia and I will continue on happily, once we've knocked you unconscious."

Hermione scoffs but nods in agreement, turning to engage Holly in a slow snog. They continue to kiss and embrace for a few minutes until Hermione slumps back into the mattress from fatigue. She moves some stray hairs out of Holly's face, smiling sadly. "Still, such complete devotion is a hard act to follow. You've ruined me for both women and men, you know."

Holly smirks. "Hardly. You'd prefer someone to say no, to make it a negotiation. You get turned on by the argument."

Holly disentangles herself and rises from the bed, then walks around the perimeter and heads through the concealed door to the loo.

Hermione leans up on an elbow, calling to her friend in the next room as she hears her attending to an overfull bladder.

"Perhaps so. But where am I going to find anyone worth the arguing?"

Holly's voice echoes from the open doorway. "Padma is actually open to re-examining Sapphic love, just not with me."

"Why not you?"

"She expects to be killed by collateral damage from my being a demi-god, if we have sex or even start to like each other too much, I suppose."

Hermione hears Holly flush and then wash herself for a few minutes. The witch returns with a sly look in her eyes, padding back to the bed with purpose.

"Hmm... the jinx on those mortals, like Odysseus, who are touched by the gods. Maybe we shouldn't--"

Holly kneels onto the bed and shoves Hermione's shoulder back to the mattress. She then leans down to take Hermione's right nipple in her lips, rolling and teasing the sensitive flesh between her lips and with her tongue. Hermione's resulting sigh and moan give Holly a satisfying shiver.

"...(Hahh!)... bother with talking right now..."

Hermione takes one look at Holly and shuffles her position lying on the bed to wrap her mouth around her friend's right breast. Hermione kisses, tickles and laves the soft skin hanging down into her mouth, teasing the nipple into a hard point that Hermione then scrapes her teeth against before looking back up into Holly's eyes.

"Did that tell you anything?"

Holly smiles. "No, but this did." Her hand slips down between Hermione's thighs to her right and swirls around the wet and swollen vulva that has responded to Hermione's excitement. She brings two fingers, moist with Hermione's lubrication, up to her lips and sucks on them, gazing with lust down at Hermione the whole time.

Hermione stretches her face up to re-engage Holly's breast in her mouth and reaches her own hand over to where Holly's snatch is spread open by having her legs splayed out in a frog-crouch. Hermione's fingers slip between the open-spread lips and easily find the soft nub of Holly's clit. She rubs some of the girl's prevalent lubrication around the swollen bud. Holly moans and grinds her own fingertips between the damp folds of Hermione's sex. Both girls groan from their respective stimulations, vibrations from their voices sending further shivers into the skin where they are suckling each other...

~o~

Hermione frowns. Her mood has shifted- Holly can feel it without either saying a word.

"You're upset about something."

"I just realised- you lied earlier, when you said you didn't bring me here to seduce me."

"No, I just answered a different question than you asked."

"Hollllee--!"

"Alright! Yes, I lied. I wanted you so awfully that I was willing to break your mind and all sorts of rules in order to get you back in my bed! Happy?! Feeling wanted and desirable now?!"

"I would be, except that you did it almost to prove a point- that no one can defeat you. I'm in your bed to prove that no one could take me away from you. Congratulations. I am your naked trophy. With the competition ended, I can be placed on a shelf and admired occasionally as you go about your life. You'll take me down and give me a good rub every once in a while to make sure I'm still shiny under the layers of neglect."

Holly's look is one of mixed guilt, confusion and defiance. Hermione reaches out and caresses her face, offering a smile.

"Please... forget this. Don't mind me- it's just a harsh way of looking at it. I'm not as offended as you might think. I have no doubt of your love for me, and I know I've been an untrustworthy companion. It hurts a little, knowing that I mean less to you now because Natalia has filled your heart in the ways I never could. You really are best suited to each other. Somehow, I feel grateful to be included in your intimacy. You truly have... "

"Have...?"

"...bent my morals out of all recognisable shape!"

"I'm sorry. I am. I... needed this, and I can't even really say why. Your explanation makes as much sense as any. After all this, I'd understand if you didn't want to--"

"Holly, I don't know how I will feel. I can't quite figure how I feel, now. So, no promises. We shall finish this voyage of debauchery in the West Country together, and I shall chart my further course when the time comes. Until then, my only limitations are physical. I shall do... whatever I can do, and evaluate it later."

Holly gives an evil grin and flips over to rub her hip against Hermione's. "Welcome to the cult of Astarte. Our motto is simple: 'as much as we can, as often as we can.'"

"Is this a real cult? Was that really the motto of Astarte's followers?"

Holly glares at Hermione, and then gives her a sarcastic look. "Right. I dug up lost writings of a dead cult on one of my whirlwind vacations in my excessive free time; because ancient Phoenician is an easy leap from modern Greek. I have no idea! We're just playing! Bloody well relax a bit!"

Hermione glares back at Holly. "It's you that needs to relax- I was trying to tease you into an argument."

"Oh. Is this how we're going to flirt, now? I think it needs some work."

*

NAT
[29th December]

Hermione walks into the kitchen of the Nautilus while reading a book. She idly notices Natalia sitting at the breakfast table reading through a stack of newspapers from both worlds.

"Natalia, is Holly around?"

"She's out with Padfoot, practicing with the cycle. Where's Moony?"

"He said he needed to return to Belgium on business. Frankly, I think he's overwhelmed by the lingering scent of our... um... excitement."

"Ah."

Natalia reads for another minute, and then notices that Hermione hasn't moved in the interim.

"You need something, Kittyhawk?"

"Yes."

Hermione puts down her book on the counter and turns to face Natalia as she looks up from her paper. Hermione stares into her eyes for a few seconds. Natalia stares back, noting the look of...

Both witches explode into movement, Natalia ripping off Hermione's house coat while Hermione takes hold of Natalia's Quidditch jersey to pull it up off her body. A brief tangle of limbs is deftly minimised, and Natalia is soon moving to sit up on the kitchen table, while Hermione strips out of her knickers. Hermione fairly jumps onto Natalia, pressing her down onto the table before climbing up her body to engage in a deep kiss.

Natalia wraps her arms loosely around Hermione's naked body, caressing her shoulders, down her spine and taking a grip on the girl's rounded arse.

Hermione's kissing is accompanied by a single hand holding Natalia's face up to hers while the other keeps her suspended above the other witch's body. With her positioning, Hermione is able to twist her body across the sensitive points of Natalia's, a squirming that becomes more pronounced when Natalia takes hold of her arsecheeks.

They both moan before breaking the kiss.

"You... are... the embodiment of sexuality."

"Thank you, sweetie. I love how you kiss and you have a great arse to go with those fantastic legs."

"But I've been horrible to you. I want to make up for it by--"

"Hey! You wanna do me a decent? Stop talking unless you have to scream."

Natalia flips Hermione off her body and begins kissing the girl from the neck downward. Her hands shift Hermione's limbs out of her way to stroke and caress numerous sensitive locations on a typical girl's body, checking for positive and negative reactions. Within minutes Hermione is gasping deeply (and Natalia's kisses have only made it down just past her navel!).

"You... you are... masterful..."

(Kiss, lick) "That's no scream, but thank you for the compliment."

Hermione raises her head in a daze to respond but is cut off when Natalia skips down to lick the prone girl's privates from perineum to clit in a wet, wide, probing stroke of the tongue. Hermione's hands grasp at Natalia's hair for a moment, but release their grip when she arches her back in reaction to Natalia's skill.

"I-- AAAIIIIGGHHHEEEEEE! OH GOD! GOD IN HEAVEN! OH FUCK!"

Natalia slips off the table to get a better angle for her licking. Her tongue returns to the base of Hermione's sex, allowing an even slower stroke to progress, agilely slipping between every crevice as she passes. Her tongue-tip flips forward into Hermione's vagina just as the rough center of her oral muscle scrapes across Hermione's clitoris. Hermione's abdomen clenches noticeably in her excitement, and her moans rise into a faint cry that eventually exceeds human hearing.

Holly walks in, somewhat exhausted and distracted. She doesn't notice the commotion on the kitchen's island, as she is preoccupied in unstringing her boots and hanging her leather jacket by the door.

"Hey, Talia. I've decided to wear knickers from now on. Riding that thing makes me so wet I'm afraid I'll slip off the seat if I don't have something to absorb--"

"UhhhhFUCK! YES! GOD! DON'T STOP! AUGH! AUGH!"

"I see lunch is served." Holly smiles. She kicks off the boots finally and quietly walks over to where her lovers are focused on each other. She steps forward to stand at Hermione's side, then tilts at the waist to lean down and take one of Hermione's nipples into her mouth, propping herself above the countertop. Hermione's eyes pop open wide and she starts to struggle away from her lovers only to find herself held in place by four much stronger hands. Her cries of enjoyment come faster but less coherent as she rides the wave of a second and third orgasm.

"MmmMMMOOOAAAghh! Unh! Unh! Unh! Unh! UUHHHHHHHNNNN! FUCKYEH! FUCKYEH! OHH! OHH! OOOOAAAAHHHHHH! (Gasp!) (Gasp!) (Gasp!) (Gasp!) P-p-p-p-pllleaaaseee..."

Holly shifts position to free a hand, moving it immediately to stroke and massage Hermione's unsuckled breast, the other hand still holding the girl down at the shoulder. Her laving of Hermione's teat takes on a worshipful attentiveness, and Hermione's breath comes out ragged from her heaving chest.

"...ssssttoooooppp..."

Natalia continues penetrating and stimulating the witch's sopping sex, gripping the girl's legs at the hips and pulling them wide apart for ease of access. She scrapes her teeth across Hermione's clit and receives a satisfying outcry for her effort.

"...AAAIIIEE... (Gasp!) (Gasp!) ...p-p-p-p-plllleeaaasssee..."

Holly pulls Hermione's breast up by the nipple, allowing it snap back down with a guttural whine for response. She turns towards Hermione's face looking for the signs of rapture from her lover, but instead she notices Hermione crying, eyes tinged with a stomach-churning fear that has her slowly shaking her head, while at the same time gasping in ecstasy.

"Oh, shit. Natalia! SCURVY!"

"Wha? Okay." Natalia snaps back from between Hermione's thighs and stands away from the table, her hands splayed low by her sides to prevent any accidental touching. She sidles over next to Holly, staring at the girl on the countertop with trepidation. She wipes her mouth off on her bare arm.

Hermione mewls in a mixture of tremulous sensitization and a mild weeping, her legs immediately clamping together. She then curls into a foetal position on her side, with her back to her friends. They can barely hear her mumbling "T-t-too much. It's too much."

Natalia looks down with a guilty expression, turning her head away to nuzzle into Holly's neck. She says to the room, "I'm... I'm SO sorry, Hermione. I guess I've kinda gotten used to Hols and she... I'm sorry!"

Holly hugs Natalia's head for a moment, kisses her temple, and then disengages to step up to the table. She carefully leans down to whisper in Hermione's ear without touching her.

"Hermione, my love. I've been through this. It feels horrible, being so completely spun up and sensitive. Believe me when I say, the best thing for you is to grab hold of something warm and grip it tightly until you feel okay again. Do you want me to hold you?"

"N-n-no. It sh-should be Nat. Give me Nat. I need her."

Natalia turns, smiles tearfully, and then climbs onto the table to face Hermione, wrapping the tremulous girl into a tight embrace. It is quickly reflected by Hermione in an almost desperate way. She wraps her thighs around Natalia's leg and begins clenching repeatedly to work out her anxious overstimulation.

Holly pulls out her ashwood wand and conjures up a down comforter that she lays across them.

"Right answer, Hermione. I love you both, and I'm not unhappy with this. Natalia- don't start up anything again. I already killed her once that way."

"Got it, boss."

Holly stands next to her lovers, idly stroking Hermione's hair for a minute. She then lets out a heavy sigh.

"I'll leave you be. Maybe put up socks on the doorknobs, yah?"

"Say Hols, where is Padfoot?"

"He seduced our waitress. Either he'll be back later or I'll bust him out of stir after supper. I'm going to borrow your toy, alright?"

"Really? That bike must be something."

"Right now, Hagrid seems like he might be adequate for my needs. You two and that engine make me love-crazy."

Hermione squeaks out from within Natalia's embrace, "M-mission accomplished."

All three witches smile.

Holly exits the room through the swinging door, headed down the hallway towards the den.

Hermione and Natalia embrace tightly on the table, occasionally shifting their grip when muscles get fatigued. Hermione adjusts to unwrap her legs and move them to slide against Nat's. She finally begins to breathe normally. Several quiet minutes pass.

Hermione whispers from within Nat's arms, " Has... has she really taken something that large...?"

"Hah! No. She was totally exaggerating- Gordon's actually a little smaller than Harry. I don't see any good reason to oversize a todger; if anything there is a sweet spot and rods too much longer should be classified a mutation. Thicker can be fun, but the potential pain isn't necessarily worth it. Even using our tongues, there's only so much length Hols or I need before it gets unwieldy."

A few more minutes pass in quiet breathing for the two witches. Natalia whispers into Hermione's hair, "So... you're calling me Nat?"

"It's written on your canvas rucksack. Isn't that short for Natalia?"

The older witch giggles for a moment. "Figures your mind would overwork it. Those are my initials."

"For?"

Natalia grumbles a moment. "Ehh... urr... (huff). Okay, I'll tell you, but don't spread it around, alright? My full name is... (sigh)... Nymphadora Aphrodite Tonks."

"That's right- from the Marauder vow. So you actually are the goddess of love!"

"Hols says I'm a disciple of Astarte, the Phoenician goddess of 'sex-is-what-makes-it-worth-waking-up-in-the-morning.' We're a rare but scrappy fellowship."

A giggle floats up from within Natalia's embrace. A moment later, she raises her head from the table slightly.

"Hermione, did you just lick my nipple?"

Hermione responds in a sing-song fashion, "There certainly isn't anyone else down here."

"Oh, it's on."

"Your turn. You just sit back and let me test my skills for a bit. (Slurp!)"

"OOohh! Yeah, you just... follow your instincts there... Hime..."

Hermione stops her explorations and climbs up from beneath the coverlet.

"What was that you just called me? 'Hee-may'?"

"Hime."

"I don't like people to shorten my name."

"I wasn't. It's Japanese for 'princess'. I don't mind 'Nat', but it's not exactly complimentary."

"Oh. Well I suppose that's fair."

"Speaking of fair..."

"Yes?"

"Lick me, princess."

Hermione smiles and ducks back beneath the comforter. Natalia gasps almost immediately and begins to hum in delight.

*

Triskele
[December 31st]

The bedroom of the Madhouse is quiet, aside from the sputtering of a few low-burning candles. That quiet is interrupted, first by the mild hum of a blue wave of magic sweeping over the room, and then by a 'pop'.

Natalia rolls over, away from Holly and Hermione's sleeping forms to see a calm little elf waiting patiently at the end of the bed.

"What's up, Winky?"

"I's has a message for Mistress."

Natalia rolls back and shoves Holly in the shoulder, waking her naked paramour. Holly squints and grumps as she rises to sitting. "What? Why am I awake? What day is it? What?"

Winky curtseys briefly before answering. "Mistress, Winky has a message from Moore of the Deputies."

"Is there a problem?"

Hermione sleepily rises from the other edge of the bed amidst the fuss. "What happened?"

Winky ignores the other girl in the bed and simply recounts the message. "Moore says, 'You utter bitch; I'm allergic to chocolate. You owe me a date. P.S.: four incidents intercepted with no crimes worth reporting. Pomfrey is a bit busy, though.'"

"Thank you, Winky. That's brilliant!"

Hermione gives Holly a questioning look. "And Moore is...?"

"Sixth year Hufflepuff prefect; Muggleborn; likes to run marathons."

"Oh."

Natalia adds, "And that's 'Erin Moore', as in..."

Holly sighs and then recites, "As in, 'Erin, if you keep licking my breasts so nicely, I'll make you cum so hard your immaculately-conceived babies will come out quivering'. You like that quote too much."

Hermione bursts into laughter so suddenly that she falls off her side of the bed.

Natalia smiles. "I'm not the only one!"

"Yeah, that's when I recruited her for the Deputies. She was going to leave us with just our brief tryst but called me back to thank me. "

Hermione rises from the floor, still giggling. "Th-thank you?"

"For giving her the opportunity to enjoy sex before finishing the NEWTs, seeing as the rest of Hufflepuff is straight and 'annoyingly busy'. When I asked her why 'Talia never inducted her into the joys of sex, she seemed quite annoyed."

"Annoyed or no, she was five years behind me and untouched. I do have some rules."

"Right. Half eighteen plus five means she was a year shy... then."

"Exactly... wait; 'then'?"

"She's seventeen, now. That date request is for both of us. I don't believe we'll be going into Hogsmeade."

"THREESOME?!"

"Belated Happy Christmas, Natalia."

Natalia starts jumping on the bed. "I'm... Gonna... Have a... Daisy... Chain!"

"That's also good news for you, Hermione."

"How's that?"

"You've been given a reprieve on becoming the middle of our sandwich."

"Oh. That's... what?"

"You don't have to be a part of an extended girl-threesome, since it hasn't worked out for you."

"Oh. But I still can, right? The option is still open?"

Natalia stops bouncing on the bed with a stunned expression. She slowly turns a deranged half-smile towards Hermione and Holly.

Holly smiles. "Rested up, are we?"

Hermione turns to give Holly a mild and prim expression. "Just because I'm in Gryffindor doesn't mean I lack ambitions."

"Winky, that will be all. Thank you."

~o~

As promised, Holly and Natalia continue together once Hermione passes out from exhaustion. They relax into a cuddle after several more alternating orgasms.

Natalia holds Holly to her chest, twirling a lock of her fringe between her fingers.

"How's your heart, lover?"

"Healed, I think."

"That's good."

"Hmm. I think I've had enough soft body caresses for a bit."

"Yeah?"

"Yup. Why don't you switch to Gordon and we can start christening all the furniture in the new house?"

Natalia smiles wide. "That could take a few hours!"

"I know. We'll have to wait for the boys to wake up before we can use their beds."

"Is this another dodge? You're not doubting your want for girly company of a sudden, are you?"

"'Talia, it's this simple: I need you to pound my cunny with yer hot cock. You might say I'm having that urge."

Natalia changes shape, but instead of her Gordon Knot persona, she appears as a blond, tanned man of similar age with a strong diamond-shaped face and greyish-blue eyes.

"Ah. Mr. Pitt, I presume?"

The blond man grins attractively and then responds with a deep voice tinged with an American accent. "Yeah. I got a good look while we were watching that Ludlow movie."

"Sort of where I'm drawing my inspiration."

"I must be readin' your mind."

Brad-Tonks' friendly smile is answered with Holly's own. She wraps her legs around the well-defined muscles of his waist, grinding her pelvis in a curve until his hard manhood pokes at the entry to her pleasure. Holly impales herself slowly onto the heated pole, releasing an emphatic moan of enjoyment.

"MMMmmmmust be."

The lovers stare lustfully into each other's eyes. A moment later, the sound of Holly's gasp of pleasure is cut off when both people disappear with a loud 'pop'.

Hermione's head rises briefly from the bed at the sound.

"Finally. I thought they'd never leave. Hope they don't splinch. That could get ... gruesome."

Hermione stretches her body out beneath the covers, letting out a loud groan of pain.

"(Sigh.) Never again, girl- you simply do NOT have the endurance... or the elasticity. Must... sleep... then read... then... sleep... then eat... then read... and... heal... (groan)..."

Dobby appears with a 'pop',

"Ehmm, is Miss Grangey wanting the time squeezer to spin again?"

"Yes, please."

"Then you should get up, silly witch. I can't start it for you."

Dobby pinches her arse, then disappears with a 'pop'.

"Ow! Stop doing that!"

*

Advice from the Author-lizard
[early 2nd January]

Hermione is sitting at the desk in the library of the Madhouse. She carefully places a large corner-slab of agate onto a piece of parchment. With a tap from her wand, the runes on the stone glow briefly, and voice begins to emanate from the rock. The voice sounds very much like that of Lily Evans Potter, at least as she sounded from her Origami 'howler' found in the Evans strongbox. What is being said, however, comes from the writing on the parchment, applied by a six-ounce inkblot in the shape of a lizard.

"This is much better. I feel like a proper person when I'm heard as well as everyone else."

Hermione looks towards the inkblot as she responds. "I apologise, Newt. Honestly, it had slipped my mind that you've been here the whole holiday. Have you had any fun?"

"Are you joking? With as much sex as you all have been having, I'm ready to publish another anthology. I would have enjoyed capturing your encounter with Moony as well."

"Yes, well, I think you should stay away from wine glasses until you have a better sense of your tolerance. That said, there was no encounter to speak of. I only tried to seduce him to illustrate how his coupling with Nat was only barely appropriate for the difference in their ages. It seemed the kindest point to use as a lever to end their relationship."

"Wasn't that really Natalia's responsibility?"

"I owed her, for everything she has taught me, and for how much she's forgiven me for being a wench to them both."

"I doubt Natalia would see it as a debt."

"All the more reason to reciprocate, in my mind."

"How are you feeling?"

Hermione stops for a moment, sitting back in the desk chair to think.

"I didn't mean to--"

"No, no. That's really what I wanted to talk to you about. Newt, what am I to Holly?"

"About five inches taller."

"Newwwt!"

"(Giggle!) Sorry- it was too easy! I would guess that the answer is a question; what do you want to be, to Holly?"

"Her equal. I want a voice, too. I've been studying like mad this whole time, whenever I wasn't trying to keep pace with those two, and yet I don't know what I'm studying for. I love knowledge, and gaining it is nearly as fulfilling as food, for me. That said, using that knowledge for a purpose can be..."

"Orgasmic?"

Hermione blushes. "Yeah..."

"I'd say that you're studying to understand the conflict that Holly is aiming to fight. You're also studying to gain the practical skills with magic that will make you most effective in solving problems in winning that conflict. What do you want to do?"

"I want to make this fight mean something more than just 'us vs. them'."

"Maybe you should be in charge of Harry's actions, then. Holly doesn't seem to be having too much trouble being trouble, but neither of them is much good at inspiring people to act, especially people they've never met. So far, Harry's just... Harry. Humble and important, yet meaningless."

"Of the three of us, I have the least to do with Harry's actions."

"Maybe so, but Mum and Natalia respect your opinion. If you tell them what a public hero should be, they'll do their best to follow your instructions."

"Do you really think I have that much influence?"

"I think you'll be surprised how much influence you can have, but influence isn't a rainy day treat. It's a muscle- it only gets stronger when used regularly."

"I've never heard you talk like this before."

"People change. Now, I'm building up my muscles!"

*

Fun with media references
:

'That Ludlow movie' is Legends of the Fall, released that very winter. You can just imagine the popcorn they threw at the screen when Julia Ormond says, doe-like, "I'll be waiting, Tristan. I'll wait for you, forever."

Thankfully, they kept watching long enough to find out that she didn't wait like she said she would.

Hols: "Ah. Weak-willed AND inconstant."

Hime: "Yes, but she was from Massachusetts. What would you expect?"

Nat: "Hang on; the lads were from Montana. They're all Americans."

Hime: "Yes, but their hearts were Canadian."

Hols: "Yup! Meat and liquor for everybody!"

Some waspy bloke sitting behind them: "Will you be quiet?"

The girls trade a look between them, and then turn to face the man.

Girls: "Umm... no."

*
Author's post-script
: For those annoyed at Holly's less-than-monogamous attitudes as displayed in this Tangent, I offer this option: if it bugs you, consider Erin to be a fantasy. Whether she and Holly ever became sexual is up to reader preference. It was simply already written when I was collecting these smut pieces together, and I honestly can see it working either way. And yes- real lesbians do have one-night stands and casual relationships.

Especially if they're involved with polyamorous nymphomaniacs.
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