FicWad

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.

Typeset conventions: "~words~" is Parseltongue; "{words}" is another language understood by Newt (French, Portuguese, Latin, etc.); "Words" is magic.

Spiral Tangent: 9504 - Family Business

Placement: Covers events not detailed in the Journal between 13th February and 29th April, 1995. Best read after Chapter 48 - 'Ill Omens'

What you need to know: Holly Evans was born Harry Potter and now can become him, much like an Animagus form. More info will be provided in each section as needed.

Sections:
Lost Family, Found Lover (13th Feb)
Family Addendum-dum (10th Mar)
French Twists (1st April)
Madhouse Logic (7th April)
A Small Amount of Magic (29th April)
~
A Date in the Forest [the really squicky one] (1st April)

~[]~

Lost Family, Found Lover

Further background: Hermione's parents discovered her involvement with Holly and Harry through some very negative articles in the Daily Prophet. When they confronted Hermione with their concerns, Hermione had Holly demonstrate her ability to change into Harry as a way to explain the complexity of the issues they were handling. In response, Hermione was asked to leave the Grangers and never return. [Ch46]

13th February, 1995

From her position behind a suit of armour, Padma saw Hermione emerge from Professor McGonagall's office. The smart but discomfited witch took a moment to dry her eyes with the cuff of her work robe, and then walked down the hallway. Padma checked her copy of the Map, and seeing no one nearby, she Disillusioned herself and crept after her friend.

Padma followed the morose Gryffindor as she shambled through the hallways, up staircases and through unused study rooms. No particular destination seemed to be in Hermione's mind, as she crossed her own path twice before heading down a 5th-floor corridor near the Ravenclaw tower. Padma kept a careful eye, stopping occasionally to reappear and check the Map before resuming her vigilant pursuit, until they arrived at a dead end.

Hermione stared at the blank wall in front of her and mumbled, "How apropos."

Padma silently cancelled her stealth-spells and asked, "What do you mean, Hermione?"

Hermione turned to face her, startled to find herself not alone. "Where did you come from?"

"I followed you from Professor McGonagall's office. We had an appointment to finish the research notes on the Fidelius charm."

"Oh. Is it that late already?"

"First curfew is in twenty minutes."

"Then we should get to our dorms."

"Hermione, I think you need to talk, and I'd like to listen. Perhaps we should adjourn--"

"I don't want to go to the Chamber. Right now, I don't want to think about Holly, or magic, or... or..." She broke down crying, then. Padma made a scowl of distaste, and then moved to take Hermione by the shoulders, guiding them back down the hall they came from.

Hermione's crying subsided to a sniffle. "Padma, where are we going?"

"The Room. It will afford us guaranteed privacy. I do not think even Holly can disturb the occupants, if their desire is for solitude."

"Oh."

~o~

Hermione and Padma sat together on a couch in front of a warm fire in a fairly mundane Edwardian-furnished parlour room. Having just finished explaining the cause of her being disowned, Hermione had reverted to a soft sniffling. Padma shook her head, taking a few extra moments to consider Hermione's situation.

Finally, she said, "I do not know what I would do in your position. Where will you go for the summer, if you are not to return to your former home?"

"I... I think Holly is expecting me to stay with her at her house."

"Holly owns a house?"

"Yes, of course she does. It's... well, I can't say where it is, but she has a place."

"I sense that our work on the Fidelius charm has already been put to use."

"I believe so, as well."

Padma placed a reassuring hand on Hermione's knee. "Then your safety from others is assured. Is your concern for what you will be expected to do to earn your room and board?"

"Padma! No, Holly isn't like that." Hermione caught Padma's look of doubt and added, "...with me. Everything we've done together has been voluntary. Almost."

Padma frowned. "Every time you add a clause to your declarations, I worry for your situation."

Hermione shook her head, explaining, "I'm not afraid of what Holly may ask of me. Aside from on battlegrounds, she is very respectful. It's not her expectations or her goals that worries me. Padma, what happens if she dies?"

"How do you mean?"

"What will happen to the Spiral, and those that bear it?"

"I do not know, but that seems like a worthy path of exploration to consider."

Both witches relaxed into their own thoughts for a moment. Padma then offered some personal insight. "If that is all that troubles you that we can actually solve, then all you have to do now is grieve. I have lost family before. It is not pleasant, and can only really be resolved within you. Company can be comforting, though. Particularly if they are as witty and attractive as I."

Hermione giggled through some more tears and then leaned forward to give Padma a crushing hug.

"Thank you."

"(Oof!) For what?"

Hermione released her friend and leaned back to give her a meaningful look. "For standing with me. Being... my friend."

Padma smiled. "It pleases me to do so. I have also taken on a mission from Holly to aid you."

Hermione's expression turned doubtful. "She... she told you to be my friend?"

"No, Hermione. Holly asked me whether I could support you in any way that you needed, as she didn't think she would be able to do it well or often enough."

"When did she ask you this?"

"Upon your return from Yule."

"But why did you agree?"

"Holly said... that you often grow quite stimulated from the process of innovation."

Hermione blushed and turned her head away. Padma reached to turn it back towards her own, keeping a soft touch along Hermione's cheek as she added, "I said that I would support you in any way that you wanted, if I could be a part of that process. You have an extraordinary mind."

Padma stared into Hermione's eyes. She saw the bushy-haired girl's expression shift from melancholy to a kind of yearning. Feeling a strange sense of opportunity, she leaned forward and kissed Hermione on the lips. Hermione sniffled but kissed back. Soon, Padma felt the girl's arms slipping around her waist, drawing them together and prompting a rise in the intensity of their kissing. Padma gasped in nervous delight when Hermione shifted her thigh to rub between Padma's legs. They broke the kiss and both witches leaned back to assess their friend's reaction.

Hermione chose to clear up any confusion. She leaned forward again and whispered in her ear, "Make love to me."

Padma gulped and smiled nervously. "I will, if you show me how best to do that."

~o~

Hermione and Padma agreed to take their time removing each other's clothing. Every undone button was sealed with a kiss. To avoid any fumbles, they also agreed for Hermione to act first and Padma to follow through. Hermione started with Padma's blouse, and the Desi returned by removing Hermione's shoes and stockings. Padma felt flushed when Hermione wrapped her arms around to her back and unclasped the light blue bra from around her dusky-skinned torso. Hermione's follow-up kiss to her right nipple held up the disrobing for a minute.

Padma had leaned back to enjoy the witch's kiss on her brown areola, but Hermione detached herself sooner than she had hoped. Answering Hermione's top-down work on her, she continued bottom-up by sliding her hands along her friend's pale thighs, until she could grasp the band of her knickers beneath her skirt. Hermione cooed as she lifted up her hips from the couch to allow the undergarment to be pulled off and down her legs. Padma only left soft kisses on Hermione's knees before looking up expectantly for the next round.

Hermione scrunched up her eyebrows in concentration, and then leaned forward to wrap her hands around Padma's waist. Padma mistook the movement and intercepted Hermione's lean forward with a kiss. They paused in their play to continue the kiss. Soon, both witches were caressing or grasping a part of the other girl’s body. Their kisses continued, interrupted every dozen seconds to allow them to gasp out their enjoyment.

Fairly soon, both witches had liberated the areas they wanted to touch and each had their nethers being fondled by the other while using their offhand to balance their position in this impromptu Twister match. They continued their tongue-suckling kisses as well. Hermione began to shudder first, followed quickly by Padma reaching a peak, in part due to the feeling of giving her friend an orgasm.

They gasped quietly into each other's mouths as they came down from their climaxes. Hermione and Padma then leaned back and stared into each other’s eyes, still breathing heavily. At once, they both intoned the same frustration.

"I wish you were a boy."

They fell forward into each other from laughing, ending up tumbling off of the couch and onto the Persian rug in front of the fire. They lay next to each other, Padma closer to the fire, as their amusement abated.

Hermione was the first to stop laughing enough to speak. "Well, this was different. Very enjoyable, Padma. Don't get me wrong. It was just... different."

"How is it different with Holly?"

Hermione's face shined with a strange glow as she delved into her memories. Her breath came shallow; she licked her lips several times until she snapped her attention back to the woman next to her.

"Holly's... intense. Sometimes more than a normal person can stand. When she kisses you, it's like she needs to communicate all of her longing in that kiss, and when she caresses you, it's like she's worshipping the skin beneath her fingers. She strips you down like the clothes were part of your wrapping, and then her tongue... tastes you... and all linear thought gets lost in the maelstrom of feelings and emotions..."

Padma reached over and caressed Hermione's face, drawing her back out of her reverie.

"Such a fire will burn mere mortals."

Hermione nodded in reluctant agreement, the light fading from her cheeks. "At some point, I may need to walk away. Will you help me?"

"Yes. Even if it threatens my life, I will help you in this. We should not suffer for her crusade."

Hermione's ire rose quickly. "It's our crusade, and we WILL suffer if it is unsuccessful." Hermione searched in Padma's eyes, a grave concern clouding her thoughts. "Padma, what do you really think of Holly?"

"Promise me that this is solely between us."

"I promise."

"I think she is insane. She sees great events, catastrophes and tragedies where there are only hints and shadows, and because she is as powerful as any witch I have ever studied, it becomes her reality. She also yearns for love so badly that she will take it from every source she deems trustworthy, however inappropriate or even immoral the relationship may be. Someday, that may be her true downfall; that she loved and trusted the wrong people."

"I see where you're going with this. I just don't want to be one of those wrong people. Either of us."

"I think you should look to serve your own needs before serving hers."

"Is that what you do?"

"Yes." Padma smiled in a tease. "You could learn a lot from me. I'm even willing to share my toys."

Hermione goggled. "Padma!"

"Yes?"

Hermione whispered, "Is this... are you still... is Dean one of your 'toys'?"

Padma blushed slightly, and then looked straight into her eyes. "If you could choose it, what would you want my answer to be?"

Hermione leaned back in thought. "Padma, that is possibly the most potent question I have ever been asked. My whole brain just went quiet."

"As Holly would say, 'you are welcome.'"

Hermione stared back for a full minute before drawing Padma into a hug. They cuddled in front of the fire there the rest of the night.

Before falling asleep, Padma noted to herself that Hermione never answered her question.

~[]~

Family Addendum-dum

Further background: Following her battle with the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, Holly's biology mutated such that she was releasing avian/serpentine eggs for a while (until Hermione cured her of that). Subsequent experiments on the eggs created a lizard-shaped ink imp that they named Newt. Newt absorbed a great amount of knowledge and personality from Holly's Quick-Quotes Quill that had been inadvertently used in the brewing process due to a prank by the Weasley twins. Newt has expressed a desire for a larger family.

10th March, 1995

At some point, I must have told Hermione that I wanted a family. She doesn't forget much. However, since that conversation I've been adopted by Sirius and made Natalia my... (sister? lover? girlfriend? vassal?) well, she's mine, anyway. Also, Dobby and Winky have become fixtures in my world, Newt has kept me company in the worst times (apart from Azkaban) and Hermione herself has become entwined with my life, to the point of taking the Mark just as Natalia did. Minerva is my godmother and Violet is best described as a voluntary part-time concubine.

So I have a family. A good portion of them are human. Some of the relationships might even qualify as 'normal'. And yet, Hermione feels a need to improve the lives of everyone, usually in the way that she sees as being better even if they don't see it that way. I've shot down a number of her ideas like that.

That's the mode she was in as she stood in front of me, speaking in presentation-voice. "Thank you for coming down to see us, Holly. We wanted you to meet your newest progeny!"

Hermione and Padma stood back, looking like proud sail-racers with a winning sloop. Sitting on a table between them was a purplish-grey scaled dragon the size of a large cat. I couldn't discern what type it could be mistaken for. The bottom-heavy belly was reminiscent of a Ukrainian, but its long snout ended in an under bite with a pair of dull teeth poking out, more like a Peruvian Viper-tooth that had lost its trademark top fang. Bat-like wings evoked the Welsh green, but the tendency to scratch behind its jaw with a back claw was so very Swedish short-snout.. or canine. It looked up at me with glowing amber eyes and huffed out a puff of smoke.

I had been feeling alright about myself, despite my recent poisoning and the clusterfuck of bedding Neville only to have him lose his mind (along with his lunch) over the truth about Harry. Mostly my feeling better was Natalia's doing, but she had returned to work. Now I was looking down at this demented little creature and I started feeling like a creature, myself.

Again.

For this, Hermione received a poison stare and a bit of snark.

"Y'know, I almost was alright with being a multi-gendered human, but now you've just reminded me that my reproductive system's more rotten than the sewers of Florence. Thanks, Hermione. This really makes my day."

The little critter hissed out a query; "~Mommy?~"

That made me jump back. "Holy fuck, it talks?!"

The two mental witches shared a look and turned to look back at me.

Padma asked, "What do you mean, Holly?"

"It spoke! Must have been Parseltongue if neither of you noticed."

Hermione bit her lower lip and stepped toward me with a calming hand extended. "Well, we tried to replicate the factors that made Newt as smart as she is, but it's been an age since the Quick-quotes Quill was broken. Also, Ronald's probably not as gifted as Dean..."

"Why did you try to recreate the experiment AT ALL?!"

Hermione started one thought, then mis-recognised the cause of my agitation. "We had an opportunity to... look, Holly, as much as this may seem distasteful--"

"It's not about 'distasteful'- I couldn't care less about that. I promised Minerva we were done, and now you've broken my word for me. What were you thinking?"

Hermione got in my face. "Now see here! You've set us up down here to learn everything we can as fast as we can. This is the way we learn things that our enemies aren't expecting- we stretch the boundaries of what is considered possible. You and I learned volumes about potions, transfiguration and alchemy in the process of brewing Newt. To teach the same sort of lessons to Padma, I had to go further than just sharing our notes."

Hermione's face was flushed and her eyes reflected a fire about learning that I hadn't seen in a while. I suppressed a sudden urge to strip her down and join her in passion, though it took a minute's concentration to do so. I then blinked a few times and rejoined the original discussion. "W-why did you have to go further, exactly?"

"Padma wasn't raised muggle."

"Huh?"

She shook her head, gesturing back towards the entrance to the Chamber. "Let's sit down."

We collected on the couches in the outer entry, followed attentively by the new critter. The dragonet hopped up next to me on the loveseat, nuzzling beneath my right breast with his spade-like head.

"~What are you doing?~"

"~Warm. Mommy. Want?~"

"~Yes, I am Mommy. Fine. Cuddle in, ya goof.~"

"~Yagoof! Name?~"

"~Sure.~"

Padma leaned forward to ask, "What did it say?"

"It wants to cuddle. I'm calling it ~yagoof~."

Hermione mused, "That sounds like Prestwick."

"What?"

She clarified, "Well, it actually sounds like 'psssstwkk' to us, but that's close to Prestwick. Like the airport."

A pain was growing just beneath my temples, but I soldiered on. "Alright. Back to the argument. Why did you do this?"

Padma offered, "It was a demonstration of the scientific method. I had never encountered it before."

"Huh? Why not?"

"Well, I have never had a cause to."

Hermione took up the explaining. "In working with Padma, and even looking back to my experiments with Professor Lupin, I realised that magically-raised witches and wizards don't typically understand how to learn properly from being wrong. They just use trial and error, rather than proposing a theory and setting up conditions that would prove the cause of failure or success. It may explain why their development in the last century or two has been so haphazard."

Padma added, "Yes. It is common for an innovator to try a few things that seem to lead to their intent and if their magic is strong, they will find the solution within three tries. After that, the idea is tossed aside as untenable. 'The third time is the charm', as they say."

"That's ridiculous. How'd they ever invent anything?"

"I think what Padma means is that magic guides the researchers to the right conclusions, possibly changing their perceptions to draw them to a solution to their idea. Have you noticed how uncomfortable most magicals are with repetition? Aside from wand movements and potion-making gestures, they mostly don't see the point. It took me a long time to realise that, and then I had to explain to Padma how to evaluate failure properly. She thought I was playing a joke on her."

"This is true. We--"

I cut off Padma. She looked too amused by this. "Whatever. Are you done?"

Hermione grew thoughtful. "Well, I don't think we've delved as far into alchemy as you and I did before. We got a little excited, having your blood at hand to aid in the process. Another few experiments should demonstrate the value of repeating a trial to confirm results and--"

"~Hungry! Hungry, hungry, hungry...~"

"~So eat something,~" I answered, tossing the reptile lightly to the floor. I then had to concentrate to switch back to English. "Y'know what? I don't care. Just keep him under control and leave me out of it."

Hermione looked worried. "Holly..."

I stood up to leave, offering a conciliatory thought. "I can't argue that your work hasn't saved my arse in so many ways, so have at it. I'll add some Parsel commands to your Warbler. Maybe you can teach him some tricks."

She stood up to face me, grasping my arms in her hands. "Holly, what's wrong? You seemed to be in much better spirits once Natalia arrived, but now you're treating everything as a personal affront. Are you two having a fight?"

I looked down to avoid her eyes. No need to scare her with how nervous I was getting. "No, Hermione. 'Talia and I are peachy. I'm just... concerned about the future."

"I know. I thought this might cheer you up."

Prestwick was curling his neck up my leg, batting his serpentine lashes at me. I looked down and held out my arms. The dragonet leapt up, using his wings to struggle up to hover in front of me, and then dropped into my arms, snuggling into my chest with a content snuffle.

My heart melted (dammit). I hugged up the lizard and gave Hermione a faux-grumpy sigh.

Hermione smiled and wrapped us in a hug as well. From within our embrace, I could hear Prestwick mumbling.

"~Mmmm! Mommies.~"

Then he bit my left breast.

"OW!"

"~Food?~"

Hermione looked appropriately mortified. "Oh, Holly! I'm so sorry!"

I tossed him from my arms but the critter just reverted to hovering, giving me a strange look. I rubbed my sore and bleeding skin through the torn cotton of my pullover, keeping the hand over my breast protectively. "He calls us both 'Mommy', so he's your problem. I'm going to Pomfrey for a Tetanus booster."

"Really, Holly. I had no idea he--"

"Forget it. Just get the goof some food."

"~Yagoof! Food for Yagoof!~"

~[]~

French Twists

1st April, 1995

Holly Evans sat at a table in the Great Hall, reading. Her table. It was the one she made out of a pillar when no one else wanted her to sit with them. The room was otherwise empty now, what with most of the school traveling on the Express back to London for Easter break. Holly remained only because she had an appointment with a Centaur that evening. But she still used her table.

It was past the lunch hour and all the food had been removed, yet Holly lingered there to read, as had become her habit. Reading anywhere else could become disruptive. In fact, Madame Pince the school's librarian had put a restriction on Holly's library visits- they were to be scheduled ahead of time, and include at least two prefects or a Professor for the entirety of her stay. Madame Pince was not concerned for Holly's health, nor that of the other students and visitors who might start some form of argument with the controversial witch. No, Madame Pince was protecting her books.

Holly could understand that. So she read in the Great Hall.

Most people learned to stay away from her table unless they wanted to interact with her in some way. Today, that was a pair of witches with the last name Delacour. They just didn't know that they were looking for Holly.

In the background, Holly could hear the rapid-fire French being spoken between the two sisters. Though her translation of it was slow she could understand the gist of the argument, and sat up straighter as the speakers entered the Hall. They appeared to be staring each other down in the process of their argument.

"{I am certain that my love is this way! Fleur, stop dragging your feet! You must speak with him and prepare him for our journey into bliss!"}"

"{Gaby, this is no time to be playing about. We are visitors in a backward and filthy land. Return to the carriage at once.}"

"{You think I am just being a foolish little girl, but I am in earnest! I kissed him and he kissed me back! The first bond has been made. It only remains to complete the ritual and we can know true and beautiful love the likes of which the world shall envy.}"

"{You are acting more stupid than normal, Babble-baby. What makes you think I would assist you in this foolish quest at all?}"

"{You came along.}"

"{Only to sort out young Mr. Potter's mistake. There's no way that poor, oblivious boy could possibly know what he was getting into by saving your life and allowing you to reward him with a kiss. He doesn't even speak FRENCH!}"

"{Our love will cross the language barrier. I told you- he is my soul, my bonded love, and I know this because there he sits!}"

Holly looked up from her book to see the somewhat aghast witches staring at her, the younger one pointing directly at Holly's heart with an insistent and proudly-aimed arm.

Fleur's comment broke the tense moment. "{Oh, fuck me gently with a chainsaw.}"

Holly dropped her head in laughter, quickly responding, "Nice imagery, 'Heather'."

Gabrielle gaped in shock, her arm unable to move away from pointing towards the center of Holly's chest.

Fleur had been madly blushing but now stepped forward with an indignant look. "Tell me, Evans. How is it zat you have jinxed my sister into believing you are 'Arry. I know her senses have brought us to you. Do you hold his soul in some sort of un'oly binding?"

Holly calmed her laughter, shaking her head at the two witches. "I have... no idea what you're talking about, but if it has to do with Harry, we should--"

"C'est vraiment 'Arry Potter!"

Holly replied nervously, "Ah, no."

"Vous êtes... vous êtes... vous êtes TOUS DEUX--" Gabrielle's shouted discovery was quickly muffled by her sister's arm wrapping around her head.

With teeth clenched, Fleur spat into the young girl's ear, "{SHUT UP! Shut it! We are dead women if you do not shut UP!}"

Holly's look turned stern and she rose from the table with a predator's mien.

"Come with me if you want to live."

Fleur looked up to see Holly stalking towards them. She let loose a held breath when Holly slid past them to walk towards the back of the Great Hall, leading them to the receiving room where months earlier the contest's champions were finally determined. Fleur shuffled along quickly, not allowing her struggling sibling out of her grip for fear of what she might say next.

When they finally were sealed behind barriers of wood and magic, Holly sat them down by the empty hearth. Once settled in an armchair, she looked first to Gabrielle.

"{Okay, since my French is poor, we'll have Fleur explain this to me in English. You just sit there and be pretty or something.}"

Gabrielle grumped into a crossed-arms grumpy grump on the couch beside her sister.

Fleur gave her little sister one more threatening look and then turned to Holly with a placid expression. "What do you know about ze Veela?"

Holly's voice softened appreciably, and she began to stare at the girls before her with hunger. "You're very attractive. You burn from inside. Your voices shame the birds. Men yearn and women fall dejected in the face of your Allure."

"Zat is true... zough a bit poetic."

Holly squeezed her eyes shut. "Tell short and whiny to stop broadcasting or I'll fulfill her every nightmare about sex."

"Oh! {Gaby, stop trying to influence her. She does not wilt. It instead drives her to homicidal mania.}"

"{See! It is as I said- she is Harry. My love shall temper her heart and we shall live as one with passion and glory.}"

Fleur growled at Gabrielle, "{What part of 'shut up you fucking stupid cunt' slipped out your fecal-stuffed ears before you opened your fetid mouth? Speak not!}"

Holly finally caught up with Gabrielle's declaration. "Hang on. She thinks I'm Harry, she wants to bond with him and/or me and my gender has nothing to do with it?"

Fleur replied, "Of course not. We are Veela. Love is between ze souls. Ze body is merely ze instrument of pleasure."

Holly sat back for a moment, and then turned to the magically Muted girl. With a second thought, she got out of her chair and knelt in front of Gaby, leaning forward until their faces were only inches apart. She whispered, "{I hope I say this right. Little one, you are special, now. You know an important secret. I want you to vow to me that you will never talk about Harry and me being the same person with anyone but me and your sister.}"

Gaby looked into Holly's pleading expression and she nearly swooned from the seeming vindication of her feelings of affection. She looked up to silently plead with her sister, just using her teary pout. Fleur rolled her eyes and canceled the Muting charm on her sister.

Gaby turned to grab hold of Holly's hands resting on her knee, and spoke to her from the depths of her feelings. "{Yes! Yes, my heart! I vow to speak of your true identity to no one but we three in this room. I swear it!}"

Holly smirked. "So mote it be."

The wand surreptitiously perched on Gabrielle's lap flashed blue, linking a pair of tendrils that reached from Gabrielle's heart into both Holly's and Fleur's. Fleur stood up indignantly.

"{What?! How dare you force a vow upon my sister!}"

Holly stood up to face Fleur, though she still had to look up as the Frenchwoman exceeded her height by seven inches.

"I do what is necessary. On occasion I do funny things, but never when it comes to a vow."

Gabrielle bounced up to stand on the couch cushions, holding her arms out towards Holly. "{Take me in your arms, my love! We are but a simple ceremony away from rapture.}"

Holly turned towards the girl with irritation. "{Look Brie, we have some things to sort out--}"

"{I am not called 'Brie'- my family calls me 'Gaby!'}"

Holly reverted to English again. "Yes, but to me you will always be this pretentious, odiferous yet nearly tasteless, squishy morsel of French mold that would give me incontinence if I didn't throw up because of you."

Gaby fell back onto the couch in shock. Fleur reeled back as well, stunned silent.

Holly added, "Yeah- I figured you knew English, you lying slut. What sort of backstabbing trollop are you to try and hitch onto the legendary Harry Potter just because you were a captive and he took pity on you? If Harry were a separate person, he would be horrified to be seen with you for the two seconds it would take for the Ministry to declare him a pedophile and a child-molester. 'True love' hasn't won a legal argument since the Trojan War. Trace back your steps- you might find where your brain slipped out. I don't know you well enough to say if you should look for any missing ethics."

Gabrielle's tears flowed freely and the little girl jumped off the couch, standing there long enough to punch Holly's thigh before she ran for the door, wailing "Mamaaaaaaan". Unfortunately, the magical seals wouldn't budge for the girl, and she fell to Holly's Stupefy a moment later.

Fleur recovered from her shock, tilted her head and looked at Holly with a strained expression.

Holly glared back. "What? I had to reject her. You didn't want her finishing the bond did you?"

Fleur stepped up close to her, staring down into Holly's eyes. "I will return to discuss this with you, after I have seen to Gabrielle's safety."

"Discuss what?"

The beauteous witch brought one hand to Holly's cheek; she leaned down and kissed her with verve, moving past a simple buss to full-on passion. Holly enjoined the kiss and also slid her hands along Fleur's waist, caressing her hips.

Fleur broke the kiss but continued to breathe heavily as she spoke. "You are Harry, but have deceived ze world about it. You taunt me, publicly. You humiliate my sister, but only in private. Tell me, is zere anyzing else about you zat will bring me so close to ecstasy?"

Holly offered, "I want to fix the world, and I don't want to be praised for it. Besides which, I have a date tonight with a Centaur."

Fleur's knees buckled and she clutched Holly's shoulders. Holly tightened her grip around Fleur's slim waist.

Fleur expelled a desperate whisper into Holly's ear. "M-meet me near our carriage after midnight tonight. I will bring you someplace private."

Holly looked into the French witch's eyes with a suspicious glare. "And then what?"

"I... will give myself to you."

"No."

"Non?"

"No. If you and I meet to clear the air and come to an understanding, it'll be a meeting of equa--."

Fleur cut Holly off with another deep kiss. She broke the kiss and stumbled away from Holly, heading for the door. Holly watched her departure, drinking in the motion of every soft curve and supple muscle beneath the thin fabric of her robes. Even the movement of her wand, lifting her limp sister to float behind her was made with grace. Once the door shut, Holly shook her head to clear it of any lingering influence. Internally she recognised that the only thing making her muddle-brained was her own attraction for the departed blonde.

"Ohhhh, I'm going to Hell. Might as well earn it."

~o~

[The Forest Date fits here. Don't bother.]

~o~

Holly had spent the evening after seeing Firenze (and having
a thorough head-to-toe scrubbing shower) just sitting and thinking. Even with that free idleness, she still appeared ten minutes late at the base of the steps into the massive Beauxbatons carriage. She had spent the last hour dressing and redressing until she decided on a non-committal muggle outfit of denims and layered henleys, mostly out of frustration for wasting time caring about it.

Fleur slipped out the door before Holly could knock, glaring at her for her tardiness. Fleur was swathed in a heavy fur cloak and carried what appeared to be a sky-blue beach umbrella under her arm. Soon, they were trudging through the undergrowth of the Forbidden Forest. Fleur lead them by the Lumos-lit tip of her wand. Walking amidst the tangled roots of the forest was difficult, though Holly's goggles made it easier for her to find sure footing.

When they found a convenient copse, Fleur moved to plant the shaft into the ground. Holly stopped her. "We're on a game trail. Let's move another twenty yards off, alright?"

Once situated, Fleur planted her umbrella. With a wand wave her pavilion tent snapped into place, light blue fabric traced with gold cord providing a rather ostentatious hideaway.

Holly shook her head and silently added a Beast-repelling charm to the tent peg nearest her.

The witches entered through the flaps, walking past a bubbling fountain and into a lounge filled with wicker furniture covered in embroidered cushions. Fleur turned to face Holly, gesturing to a chaise for her to use. Holly sat down. Fleur removed her heavy cloak to reveal a tightly-tailored red silk dress that ended mid-thigh, held together by a multitude of buttons. Her legs were bare and she gracefully curled up one leg and then the other in the process of removing her leather calf-boots. Now barefoot, she moved to a side table where she collected a tray of crystal goblets filled with water. She set it between them before settling into the chair opposite Holly. She frowned when she realised that Holly had entirely missed her presentation. The short witch had her gaze locked on some distant point between the tent poles and the fountain in the previous room.

Fleur spoke clearly. "You and I, we shall talk of what comes between us. I have a misunderstanding of you. Can you clarify, please?"

Holly was still staring off towards the pavilion entrance. After a moment, she shook her head and looked at Fleur once more. "Nice frock. What's your problem now?"

"Holly, you seem distracted. Is zis a poor time?"

"No. Yes. I met with that Centaur earlier, and he mentioned some things that have me worried."

"Is zis about us?"

"No."

"Zen you will set it aside, for now. I want your full attention."

"Pushy broad. Actually, I have a complaint."

"Yes?"

"Next time, don't get me all hot and revved up and then leave. I was so horny when I met with Firenze that..."

Fleur looked at Holly, waiting for her to finish the thought.

"Never mind. What did you want to know?"

"Are you a Dark Lady, or are you merely a witch zat has been wronged?"

"Your question is too vague. I'm both. I'm neither."

"What is your purpose, zen?"

"Purpose for what?"

"Why are you evading my questions?"

"Fleur, maybe this is a translation issue. I came here to clear up confusion and miscommunication. What exactly is it about me that confuses you?"

"You act like a monstre. You are rude, difficult and vulgar. Yet you are also very confident, very competent, and are loved by a few ozzers wiz equally strong character. Zis, but you are also Harry Potter, who is humble, quiet, and earnest. Thus, you CAN at least ACT civilized."

"Yes."

"Yet you deliberately encourage being called evil!"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"It seemed inevitable. I tried being heroic but it kept turning out poorly in the interpretation. I'm hoping I can leverage it; use it to walk anywhere I want and be left alone. For instance; do you find me attractive?"

"Quoi?"

"I'll just assume you said 'yes' for the sake of the discussion. You won't approach me overtly because my reputation could ruin you. Yet you'll see me now, in a private place when no one could possibly help you if I were to suddenly turn savage, as people suspect I would. Why?"

"I know zat you would not do zis."

"Of course not, but why do you know that?"

"During Yule, you attacked me only because I was provoking you, and waited until we were alone. I did not notice zis until later. I have watched your actions more closely since zen- you preserve life, and seek to save ze innocents."

"Exactly right."

"Eh? But zen why do you act like a deviant monstre?"

"If I am publicly evil, but you see me do good, you'll believe the good. If I were presented as good, but commited evil, you might believe the evil. Personal experience trumps reputation. You know everyone lies, and you know that goes triple in public forums. Who I am is not what is seen but what I choose to do. At the Yule Ball, I chose to heal you, even after you forced me into a confrontation. I even fixed your dress."

Fleur stood up to point an accusing finger at Holly. "You ripped it off of me, first! You were going to... to take me."

Holly rose slowly out of her chair and stepped to the side so that the low table wasn't between them. She looked up to stare Fleur in the face. Her expression changed from irritation to a grudging guilt

"I was an inch away from ravishing you, tweaked out on excess Allure as I was, but I just couldn't be what I hate- that's what brought me to my senses. Anyway, during the Second Task I chose to save your lives and the life of Glenda the squid, not to mention Margaux and Gabrielle. Maybe it was for the challenge, maybe for the hope of what I might receive as a reward from the grateful, maybe because I was under scrutiny and knew it would confuse my enemies further but the action stands on its own. I acted, everyone lived."

Fleur shook her head. "What are you? Good or evil?"

Holly threw up her arms and began to pace. "I'm human, Fleur. My purpose is not simple to explain, and... my choices aren't always made for the sake of my grander goals. Sometimes, I choose to be selfish. I am working outside the rules, on instinct. My instinct says that you are a powerful woman with a desire to help others and an ego that rivals my own. Assuming you are as strong as you act, that means two things- I want you as an ally, and I desire you as a lover. I don't always get what I want. Or what I desire."

Fleur had her arms crossed, and leaned back to stand with a haughty derision. "Or what you deserve?"

"I have no way to tell what anyone really deserves. I don't trust others who say that they can tell- all the lenses are foggy with history and culture. What do you want?"

"From you? Nozzing."

"Defensive much? I meant for yourself. What do you want to do with your life?"

Fleur relaxed her stance. "I wish to bring benefit to ozzers. I want to be seen as more zan a Veela, more zan a prize or a companion."

"Wow. Almost noble."

"Almost?"

"True altruism is anonymous. I will do great things, and look evil, horrid and corrupt doing so. You want to appear good. I'd argue that you're not willing to do something ugly for the sake of the good you wish to do."

"You are always rude to me."

"Yup."

"English cunt."

"Just admit I make you hot, would you?"

Holly's defiant expression was interrupted by the French witch snapping forward to wrap her arms around Holly's head, giving her a forceful, passionate kiss. It took only a pause for Holly to overcome her surprise and return Fleur's enthusiasm.

Fleur broke off the kiss suddenly and pushed Holly away. She took a step back and turned away to look towards the ground, whispering, "Like no other. Stay away from me."

Holly touched her lips, as if checking for where the nice sensations went. She quickly grew angry. "Look, Fleur; I didn't come here for sex. I've had enough trouble with relationships, lately. I just wanted to settle our differences. I wouldn't even bother but I felt that I owed you the explanation. You made your feelings clear at Yule, and I finally stopped acting like a predator by the Second Task, thanks to some timely advice. After I leave this tent, I fully expect us to return to a poisonous rivalry, if only to entertain the masses."

"What did you want of me at the World Cup?"

"Sex. You've made me drool ever since I first heard you ranting."

"You did not stop because you saw me?"

"No. I love your grace and beauty but it was your attitude that caught my attention."

Fleur whipped around to face Holly, surprise and hope written in her entire appearance. "Y-you..."

Holly shook her head and walked out of the room.

"Stop! You have earned my consideration, and I do not treat a debt lightly. I must balance ze scales."

Holly paused near the fountain in the entrance. She turned to look up into Fleur's face as she caught up with her.

"I owed you the explanation. You don't owe me anything. For your own safety, don't treat me well. Let's just have fun taunting each other until you can leave Britain and never return."

"Why do you reject me now? Have I become less attractive in your eyes?"

"No, but my feelings for others in my life have changed; been clarified."

"Do they ask for your monogamy?"

"No, in fact some of them discourage it."

"Then why do you hold back?"

"I'm bad for people. Bad things happen to people I like too much." Holly looked down.

Fleur stood for a moment, then gently tipped Holly's face up so she would see the truth in her eyes.

"I accept the risk. Are you brave enough to risk as well?"

Holly answered by sliding her hands up the sides of Fleur's dress, caressing up her neck and drawing her back into a kiss. Once their snog was in process, Holly slid her hands down to Fleur's collar, unbuttoning her first clasp and swirling a fingertip across the exposed skin. She unhooked another button, expanding the spread of skin tickled by her fingernails.

Fleur broke their kiss and smiled. "Most would have torn the robes from me. I admire your restraint."

Holly released another button. "What restraint? Now that we're going to do this, I want it to last as long as possible. I have a great appreciation for the value of time, well-spent."

"You are meaning more than you are saying."

"Always."

"I do not understand."

"Yup. Which should keep your attention held. I think you enjoy a mystery." Holly's fingers slid further beneath the fabric, and another button was undone.

"O-oui."

"When you dream of me, how does it go? Do you submit to me, or do you take me with passion?"

Fleur shuddered, both from the touch and in admitting to Holly's assumption about her fantasies. "Both. Of late, my dream-Jodi knows which is wanted more, and handles me roughly. I have had to suppress ze urge to spank myself, lest my cries be detected by my schoolmates."

Holly leaned in to kiss and lick the soft, perfect skin exposed by her attentive hands. She released another two buttons, drawing the lapels of Fleur's dress to spread wide until they were caught on her protruding nipples. Holly's active lips and tongue inched their way over to the right breast, nudging the fabric past the catch and wrapping the exposed flesh with a warm kiss in greeting. Fleur's breath became ragged. She moaned attractively.

"Your hands are rough. Your lips soft and smooth."

"And you love it."

"Yesssss."

Holly mumbled from where she was sucking on Fleur's breast, "I'll go first. You can attack me later."

(Gasp!) "O-oui."

Holly guided them slowly to sit at the edge of the fountain. She kneeled on the stone edge next to where Fleur sat, using the leverage to push her back until Fleur had to hold her arms straight behind her to prevent falling back into the splashing water. With Fleur's chest presented so prominently, she resumed the unbuttoning while shifting her kisses to Fleur's other breast.

Fleur moaned when Holly reached the buttons at her waist. Holly took the opportunity to slide her hands back up along Fleur's torso, pushing back the open dress off her shoulders until it gathered at Fleur's wrists at the concrete fountain edge. Fleur added another moan and twisted her body in enjoyment. Holly sucked most of Fleur's right breast into her mouth, eliciting a delightful squeal from the owner. She allowed the flesh to slide out of her mouth, releasing all but the nipple she caught in her teeth. Fleur's gyrations continued.

Holly released her bite and leaned up to watch Fleur's reaction. The witch gasped, her eyes still shut. Holly smiled evilly and reached her hand over to the splashing water. With a subtle gesture and a smidgen of magic, the path of the fountain's burbling water was redirected to land atop Fleur's bare chest. Her skin trembled, muscles convulsed, nipples drew taut and Fleur let out a shuddering gasp of erotic shock.

The witch then yelped and scrambled to stand up from the edge of the fountain, giving Holly a murderous glare. "WHAT WAS THAT?"

"Fucking beautiful- that's what it was. Don't tell me you aren't twice as turned on now."

Fleur smouldered at Holly's mad grin. "Non. Five times as much. I can see this will take some time."

Holly stepped forward, grabbing Fleur at the waist with one hand and drawing her left breast into her mouth with the other. Fleur wrapped her arms around Holly's head.

"M-much time..."

~o~

Much time was spent well.

Fleur and Holly lay naked across Fleur's fur cloak, their sweat-covered bodies still intertwined at the leg and both girls doing a slow, twisting caress of each other's arms held above them. They settled back, ending a languorous kiss.

"Never have I been loved so thoroughly. Thank you, Holly."

"I think your accent got stuck in the covers somewhere."

Fleur grinned. "I use it to keep 'ze distahnce'. What sort of scholar would I be, if I could not speak well in foreign lands?"

"American."

Fleur laughed. Holly delighted in the sound until it faded. She rose up to rest her head on her hand, lazily using a finger to draw lines across Fleur's pink-white skin.

"So, you wish to be known as a scholar?"

"I wish... I do not know what I wish, now. Maman would have me follow my heart, but that does not lead to greatness, only... satisfaction."

"You want to live your life unsatisfied?"

Fleur turned her head to smile at Holly. "I want to be satisfied periodically, until I am asleep. But I shall awake with a renewed desire to achieve."

"That's the how, not the what. You're covering for your confusion and indecisiveness."

Fleur scowled. "Always you taunt me! You are infuriating."

"Only when you try to act cute and noble. I know better."

Fleur replied with petulance, "Also, I still am not convinced that you are the superior witch."

Holly groaned. "Look, I'm tired of hurting people I like, so I'd just prefer to leave that mystery unsolved, yah?"

"Non. We can settle this."

"Hang on. I heard that a Veela that loses a battle over her body, heart and magic was enslaved to the winner. Do you really want to give me that much power over you?"

"That is just a fairytale. Do you really think we would use such a method to find our mate? Such a process would encourage men to be warlike and result in the subjugation of our race. It does make for an entertaining deflection for unwanted suitors, though."

"Brilliant, but I'll have to burst my father's bubble."

"Oh do not! Why ruin his dreams and our protections? Let this truth stay between us, as with yours."

"Oh, alright. You said you had a plan to settle the Alpha-witch question?"

"I go to take Accreditations in May. You will take them as well, and we shall see who is the greater witch."

"This is the continent's version of OWLs?"

"Your system has two exams. We need only the one per subject. There is a campground nearby the testing place. You and I, we will share my pavilion at night."

"Oh, THAT'S why we're going to France, eh? To settle a disagreement! Nothing to do with having more of the best sex you've ever imagined."

"Of course not. You have not reached the limits of my imagination. Thus, your task is incomplete! So, you agree to come?"

"I don't normally have to choose, when you're around. Seriously, Fleur, you know I can't just show up in France."

"The testing is in Luxembourg. You do not wish to go?"

"No, it's just--"

"Then tell me solutions, not problems."

Holly flopped back to stare at the roof of the tent. After a minute of rumination, she smiled.

"I can't go. Would you be willing to take Jodi, instead?"

"You would appear as the ice cream girl, once more?"

"Sure. I'll have to get some help in creating a background for her, but aside from a few naysayers, I thought I made a very attractive and non-threatening black girl."

Fleur squealed in delight and wrapped Holly in a hug.

"I like this even more. I am certain that this will be an excellent voyage. I do not see your condition as even a handicap. It should not affect the results of our competition, so long as you do nothing life-threatening."

Holly leaned back to look at Fleur, confused.

The blond gave her a knowing look. "Your baby. It will not be much at risk, so long as you are careful during the testing."

Holly's mouth fell open. "M-my what?"

Fleur leaned back to rest on her elbows, looking at Holly with a doubtful concern. "Surely you knew- your nipples darken, your breasts prepare to swell with milk." She smiled with a remembered delight. "I even may have tasted a bit as I suckled upon you."

Still stunned, Holly grew pale. "I'm..."

"Have you not also been ill with the churn of hormones?"

"I've been sick, but I was poisoned and then spent several nights in the forest, so I assumed it was a flu. I thought this last bit was Brie trying to 'bond' with me."

Fleur retrieved her wand from a side table and danced it around Holly's abdomen for a moment. A faint pink glow rose from between her hips.

"Une fille. She should be born by the new year, I believe. Had you not considered that you might be fecund?"

Holly's face scrunched and tears fell freely from her eyes.

Fleur sat up to look down at her friend, placing comforting hands on her shoulder and belly. "Oh, Holly! Is this... did you not... have you been assaulted?"

"No, and that's the bloody shame of it. I earned this fumble entirely of my own arrogance. Fleur, as my friend, I wish for you to swear never to tell anyone about this."

"Of course, but the verite will not be simple to hide for long. Per'aps you may compete in le Troixieme, but I would exercise great care. I say this with no mind to aid my school's chances of victory."

"Fleur... merci."

Fleur wrapped Holly in a hug.

"I can't believe I screwed that up. I..." Holly snaps her head back. "...oh fuck."

"What is it, Holly?"

"You remember I said I met a Centaur earlier, who said something disturbing?"

"Yes."

"He said 'your child yet unborn will grow in your love, but her fate is tied with the world entire. You must forgive those who kill her.' I can't believe it. I can't... how do I raise a child, knowing she's doomed from the start?"

"Holly, I would like to advise you of an ancient French saying that is as true today as when it was first spoke, possibly by Charlemagne."

"Yes?"

"Fuck Fate. All that you know is that you are pregnant, and a centaur has been stalking you. If there were no meeting, how would you proceed?"

"I... don't know."

"If you could, would you bear the child?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'm very fond of the father, and I crave a family. Also... "

"Also?"

Holly's expression drew thoughtful. "I could use an heir. It might make any inevitable sacrifices a little more... productive."

"Then you no longer have a quandary. May I ask a favour?"

Holly broke her line of thought to give Fleur a bright smile. "Sure, since you're being so helpful."

"May I... taste you once more? Now that I know I was not mistaken, I would like to enjoy it."

"Have at it. I doubt I'll need any to be saved for a bit."

Fleur leaned over and used a curling tongue tip to guide her lips onto Holly's right nipple. Fleur crooked her neck, sucking upon Holly's breast in different ways.

Holly gasped out, "Oh God!" and wrapped her arms around Fleur's head. She sniffed deeply of her flaxen hair as she clenched her thighs together in rising excitement. A moment later she felt Fleur's slender hand prying between those strong thighs, an offer to help her ecstasy along. Holly exerted enough self-control to open up her legs for Fleur's probing fingertips, and was rewarded with two inserted deeply whilst the thumb twiddled her clit. Holly threw back her arms and arched into the motion, the first new climax rushing through her, a roar through her ears making further sensations difficult to differentiate.

As if at a distance, she heard Fleur say, "I hate it when time is wasted apart. We shall play 'catch up', non?"

~o~

When Holly woke up, all other worries and concerns took a back seat to one overarching conclusion. "If that's what it feels like to feed a baby, I may never stop nursing."

Fleur turned towards her, the slim perfection of her body glowing in the candlelight.

"I would be pleased to host you in a visit to my home in the summer. I wish to accumulate a lifetime's worth of memories with you, before you rush off to meet your fate. Would you stay with us as Jodi?"

"Sure- it's just a couple transfigurations and a tangling jinx. Though, for my sake, I think I should make up a version that will un-knot as needed."

"You invent spells already?"

"Mostly Hermione does, but I sometimes take credit as the idea girl."

Fleur gulped. "You... love her, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, but my heart actually belongs to a third witch."

"This third witch. She is not jealous? I would not wish to be targeted by yet another spurned lover, particularly one you would consider an equal."

"No worries on that. My love is... her name is Natalia. The only jealousy she would express would be that she wasn't here to join us."

"I have never had more than one lover in my bed. I do not know how I would feel about that."

"You should work on that imagination, then. As for our field trip in May, I will go with you alone and we'll sleep together each night. Though, that could get quite exhausting, yah? I hope the hard tests come first."

"They are all difficult. You test until you fail- that determines your skill. How far your knowledge and ability can take you determines your score. A test may take one hour or ten. There is no point to 'cramming', so we shall end each day seeking only rest and... refreshment." Fleur became distracted, watching Holly clamber up and seemingly sniff out a treat from the air like a cat in a kitchen.

Holly's tracking brought her to prowl above Fleur on all fours, and then to dip her head towards her lover's pelvis. Holly repositioned her arms to slowly push Fleur's legs apart, finally resting her chest down on Fleur's taut belly while curving her face into position.

"I shall drink deeply of you as well."

Fleur caressed between Holly's nearby legs and then turned her head to kiss her thigh. She added an admonishment. "That is vulgar."

"And you love it." Holly eschewed further banter and gave Fleur's nether lips a wet and artful snog. She wrapped her arms around Fleur's thighs, using her hands from beneath the girl's arse to spread her sexual nexus wider.

Fleur gasped an answer; "Ouiieeee!"

~[]~

Madhouse Logic

It was the 7th of April, and Hermione Granger was worried.

For the last few days, though effectively three weeks, Hermione and Padma had been in a near-frenzy, reading through the rare tomes Lily Potter had squirreled away in the Madhouse. They first started with some of the accredited works on magical theory, but Holly suggested that they delve into the harder-to-get works and go back to fill in their theoretical understanding afterwards. Hermione had been rather bold in asking to read some of Lily's journals, but Holly acceded without any sort of protest or argument. That should have been the sign that told her something was terribly wrong.

Instead, she had been frolicking in mountains of rare knowledge with a fellow bibliophile.

Hermione finally realized that something was terribly wrong soon after Holly stopped the Time Turning Gyroscope to let Natalia join them. Normal patterns would suggest that Holly's mood improve almost immediately (usually within two hours of the women finding some privacy). Yet, uncharacteristically, Holly's temperament had worsened. Natalia had been quite active in trying to cure Holly of her angst, much to the other witches' relief. A sullen Holly tended to sour their enthusiasm for discovery.

These were the thoughts holding her attention as she slowly stirred a simmering cauldron, sitting at the counter/workbench in the potions lab/kitchen section of the Madhouse.

Natalia entered the room wearing only a kimono and the musky scent of loveplay. She sidled up next to Hermione where she was sitting, and then licked her ear to shock her out of her reverie.

Hermione rubbed her ear while glaring at the older witch. "Gyahh! Nat! Why'd you do that?"

"Tuppence for your burnt noodles, princess."

"I'm worried about Holly."

"Join the oversexed club. I've done every silly, stupid, brash or deranged thing I could conceive, but she just doesn't seem into it any--"

"'Conceive'... oh, MY GOD!"

Natalia fell off her feet with shock from Hermione's exclamation. From the floor, she complained, "Where's the fire?"

"She's pregnant!"

Tonks stood up and brushed off her arse beneath the kimono. "Naw. You're just... I mean... well..."

"She's moody, frequently ill, picky about what she eats, is either locked in a doldrum or maniacally researching something, and sex isn't making her happy; she's pregnant!"

A disheveled, housecoat-clad Holly sighed from the doorway. "Brava, love. You pegged it. But you only have half the problem."

Both Natalia and Hermione squealed and rushed over to give Holly warm hugs and kisses on the cheeks. She accepted them for a moment before pushing them both out to an arm's length.

"Stop it, would you? This isn't joyful."

Hermione nearly giggled in surprise. "Why not? I mean, I assume that you'll be keeping it."

Holly turned a condescending stare at her bushy-haired friend. "Hermione, what's today?"

"Friday, the 7th of April, more or less."

"When is the Solstice?"

"June 24th. Oh! Oh, dear."

Natalia looked quickly between the two witches. "What? What does that mean?"

Hermione turned to answer. "She has to appear as Holly AND Harry, or the Goblet will consider her pact broken. There's no way she can do that while five months gravid. This is going to require some thought."

Holly led them back to sit on stools at the worktable. "Yeah, which is what I've been doing. I have three possible solutions."

Before Holly can continue, Hermione ventures a guess. "Let's see; give up the deception, abort the child or break the Goblet of Fire."

"Not exactly. I can't turn into Harry right now. I tried earlier and it felt like my lower viscera were stuck in a taffy-puller."

Natalia winced. "So what's your three?"

"Same as her last two. My other option is to kick you out, spin this bunker faster, and have the baby before the Solstice. That's the plan that makes sense to me."

Hermione pouted. "Why would you have to kick us out?"

"What do you think would happen at school if we three were absent for two and half months?"

Padma (wearing sky-blue satin bed clothes) joined the trio, shuffling into the room while rubbing an eye with the heel of her hand. "The grading curve would return to normal."

Tonks barked out a laugh. "Hah! It'd be a service to the school, then!"

Holly smiled in acknowledgement. "Yes, but I was speaking more to the safety of our RE-class students and various other projects that would fall apart. Also, I can justify the absence because of poisoning or other intrigues. Unless we all 'suddenly' contract something, which would reignite suspicions about your sleeping habits Misses Patil and Granger, it's really my show."

Tonks poked Holly's side. "And why do I have to go?"

Holly scowled back while rubbing her side. "Someone needs to be Harry. Besides, don't you have a job?"

"I finished my last assignment really well. Amelia owes me right now. I have enough time- I could play both of you!"

"No, I don't want to press our luck. Harry only shows up for RE practicals and to tease Draco. You'd have to be me full-time, and I'd wonder who you were seducing as me the whole time I'm gone."

Natalia leaned in to whisper in Holly's ear, "Be vewwy, vewwy quiet; ah'm hunting pwofessows!"

Holly smirked first, and then growled at her lover for trying to lighten the mood.

Padma goggled at their antics, wandering over to the icebox for some juice and to distance herself from the disturbing concept of 'which professors could Harry seduce?'.

Hermione drew their attention back to the general conversation. "Holly, I know I assumed you would keep the baby, but have you considered everything that having a baby will require of you?"

"No, Hermione. I've just been depressed because the Cannons keep losing. Of course, I've thought about it!"

"And?"

"This is probably the stupidest thing I could choose to do, right now. Every ounce of logic and common sense is telling me to abort the child and return to our regularly scheduled horror show."

Each witch immediately protested, led off by Hermione's "Don't!". Padma followed with "You must not," and Tonks trumped them with, "I'd arrest you meself."

Holly turned to face the Auror. "What?"

"It's illegal to kill a magical person unless they truly threaten your life; age is irrelevant. It's also immoral, unethical, and disturbed. Why are you even considering it, Hols?"

"Apparently, because I'm more practical than the three of you put together."

Before the arguing could rise, Natalia raised her hands and yelled "Time OUT! I need a minute with the mother-to-be."

Holly allowed herself to be dragged to the side by Natalia.

Once they were isolated by a privacy charm, Holly whispered an explanation. "Talia, I can't throw over everything else on my plate just because my prophylactic charm failed."

"I wasn't going to argue that. Can I ask you something?"

"What?"

"It's Neville's, right?"

Holly nodded sullenly. "Yeah..."

Natalia grew anxious as she asked, "Are you going to marry him?"

"No."

"Even if--"

"No, Natalia. I'm not even going to tell him about it until he's seventeen. If this works, I'll raise her myself, with assistance from the elves and all the women in my life who will be absolutely convinced I'm going to stuff it up. This girl will have more mothers than she knows what to do with. Harry can stand in as Daddy until the proper one is ready. Which he most certainly isn't, at the moment."

Nat sighed in relief. "Alright. I have a concern."

"Yeah?"

"What do you suppose old Albus of the whitewash will do when he finds out?"

Holly goggled and looked to Natalia. "Have I recently mentioned that I love you, desperately?"

Nat leaned forward with a grin. "Is that what you were screaming last night?"

Holly smiled and kissed Natalia on the neck. "Like I'd remember one climax-induced rant from another. Anyway, back to less-attractive thoughts..."

~o~

A minute later, the two witches turned back to their friends who were similarly engrossed in a debate. Before either of them could act, Holly and Natalia had their wands out. Natalia held Hermione at bay while Holly struck Padma with a Stupefy.

Hermione shrieked, "What are you doing?!"

"Tonks reminded me of the dangers of prophecy when mixed with chess. We're going to pull a prank on the Headmaster, because I don't want him tossing me aside during this solstice confrontation and declaring a new 'chosen one' in my daughter. So, we lie to everyone whom the old man can sift. That means the three of us are in on this, and no one else. Padma has to be Obliviated, and then we'll stage an accident with the Turner Gyro, so I can keep using it."

Tonks used her wand to levitate Padma back into the library.

Hermione reached over and grasped Holly's shoulder. "Holly, I understand your concern, but what happens when the Headmaster finds out?"

"I only care about deceiving him until the summer. After that..."

Hermione gasped. "You're not coming back. This is your last year."

"Yup. Dead or alive, I'm done being a student."

~[]~

A Small Amount of Magic

29th April, 1995

Hermione Granger sat at a desk in the Room of Requirement, surrounded by books. The Room was operating in 'Restricted Section' mode, a clear benefit being that the books were generally not trapped or cursed, unlike the real ones under Madame Pince's care. Hermione had discovered a few differences stemming from that truth- sometimes the traps are part of the knowledge, and you can't read the contents without knowing how to handle the books' protections.

Hermione wrote a few more notes from the current volume she had been comparing, but then sat back in thought. She idly tapped her quill against her lip, until she was interrupted by an inky lizard's scribing. Newt's Lily-voice issued from the face of an agate book-end, placed on top of the parchment where the imp was writing in her miniscule script. "Is something wrong, Hermione?"

"What do you think of Holly becoming a mother? I mean, becoming a full-time mother."

The lizard scratched and the stone echoed, "I think that Holly having a baby may save us all. You and Natalia were worried about her going dark, but I can't see that happening if Holly has an infant to care for. She will love it, completely. The real risk is if her enemies were to kill the baby- the consequences would be bloody."

"I can imagine."

"You don't have to. Did Holly tell you what Firenze predicted?"

Hermione turned to look at the imp, confused.

"Firenze told her that her daughter would be born and live happy but be killed by her enemies. The fate of the world would then depend on her not taking revenge on them for it."

"Holly knows her baby will die?!"

"Only if you believe Firenze. I don't know what predictions are meaningful and which ones are just a tease. In the end, the scholarly works mostly recommend the same thing; act on your conscience, not the blatherings of the Symphony. I think it only gives out predictions to raise the stakes; to enhance the drama."

"Really?"

"For example; if Oedipus' father Laius had left well enough alone, he would have had a nice family. Instead he tried to kill his infant son, only to have him come back, kill him in a disagreement and then marry his widow, who happened to be the boy's mother. Laius and Oedipus were listening to a Delphi oracle, who was no doubt having a whale of a time pulling together the twisted fates of these otherwise decent people."

Hermione scoffed. "Decent? Before Laius married Jocasta, he raped the son of his host in exile, King Pelops."

"Still, if Laius had ignored the oracle, he could have enjoyed his depraved bisexual rule of Thebes without too much strife. Instead, Jocasta births her own grandchildren and everybody dies in shame."

"So the moral is to ignore Fate and treat each other well. You are a wise woman, Newt. It's unfortunate that your talents aren't shared with your brother."

"Prestwick is the embodiment of his father, as he relates to Holly. He is loyal but simple-minded and always hungry. By contrast, Dean started off with a good rapport with Holly, and his intelligence and talent are obvious. His mistake was in not dealing with Holly as an equal. I never made that mistake- I love my Mum."

"Still, I think the difference between you is significant, as it was with the Couatl. Why would you all come out so differently?"

"Well, another factor has to do with Holly's blood and the essence of magical beings. I was made before you restored her humanity, when Harry was still 'asleep'. Prestwick was made using her current blood."

"As was the Couatl!"

"Yes, but the father of the Couatl was another highly magical creature. Ronald is just a boy-wizard."

"You're about two years old! How'd you get so smart?"

"I'm a writer; we think about things a lot. Also, Neville has been transcribing stuff into me when we visit the library."

"Neville knows who you are?"

"He knows I'm Holly's ink imp. He doesn't know I'm her daughter. I like him. He treats me like a friend, too."

"You are a good friend, and a good daughter."

"Thank you! You make a pretty good godmum, yourself!"

"What? I was referring to Holly. Am I... I'm... I'm supposed to be your godmother?"

"That's what Holly said. Don't you want the job?"

"I'd love to... but we can't make the vow, can we?"

"I have a small amount of magic. It's worth a try."

Hermione smiled and then turned around in the chair, looking through a nearby bookcase. She found a small volume of recent publishing called 'Vows and Bonds in Family Ceremonies' and flipped through until she found the right page. Hermione drew her wand up in front of her, while placing her off-hand on the parchment where Newt had been writing.

"By my magic, I offer to care for you, Newt Evans, in the role of your godmother. I will guide you, listen to you, and comfort you, as I would act as mother to my own children. In lieu of your parents' consent, do you accept my vow?"

"Can you put the base of your wand on the parchment?"

Hermione complied, noting that the glowing teal magic at the tip glowed brighter upon the contact. Newt stretched to curl her tail around Hermione's little finger, while still writing on the parchment with her claws.

"By my magic, I accept your vow and promise to act as your godchild, Hermione Granger. I wish to be guided by your wisdom and cared for by your love. So mote it be!"

"So mote it... be."

Hermione was briefly distracted by the glow flowing down her wand, over her hand and sliding across to enwrap Newt in a blue-ish nimbus. As the magic took hold, Newt glowed brighter and brighter, with her body swelling as if trying to contain the energy. Suddenly, she let out an odd squeak and burst into droplets of ink, all over the desk.

"Newt! Oh my God! Are you alright?"

Within seconds, the disparate drops drew together to reform into their usual lizard-like shape.

(Squeak, squeak) "Umm, 'Ow!'"

Hermione reached forward, gently touching Newt's head to affirm that the creature had reformed successfully. After a moment, Hermione caught something out of the corner of her eye- a lingering remnant of ink at the edge of the parchment. The drop began to lurch towards Newt, making sporadic leaps of no more than an inch. Newt turned to follow Hermione's focus, and roses up tall on her 'legs', tilting her head to the side while watching the errant blob move towards her.

"Newt? Are you sure you're alright?"

Her tail continued to scribe as she stared in fascination at the droplet's progress. "Hermione, I'm fine. I don't feel like any part of me is missing."

The ink blob finally landed in front of Newt and wobbled slightly in place, as if the paper were vibrating. After a minute of being observed, it ceased moving.

Hermione gasped. "Newt, do you think that might be... a baby?"

The little blob quivered again, and then six smaller blobs extended out from the center, forming into four legs, a head and a tail.

"Oh my God! Newt! You're a mother!"

"Hermione..."

"Yes?"

"We're mothers. This is our daughter... or son, I suppose. We shouldn't start off by laying expectations on the little tyke, after all."

Hermione burst into tears, happily shaking her head in astonishment. One of the teardrops landed on the desk, and the blob crawled its way over to the liquid, absorbing it completely and almost doubling in size.

Newt walked over to her offspring, watching as it absorbed another tear, dropped nearby from Hermione's finger. Further scribbles echo from the Sounding stone. "Well, littlest one. We'll need to plan for your education and entertainment. You should meet the family, so you know what you're getting into. But firstly, I think you'll need a name."

The mini-lizard lurched back onto the parchment in front of Newt, tripping over threads of the rough-made paper but quickly arighting itself. After a minute, it wandered beneath Newt and twisted into a ball the size of an elderberry. Newt leaned her head down to nuzzle her child, only to find that it was absorbed into her body when the two fluids connected.

"Newt!"

"It's alright. The little dear is just tired. He's still in here. Definitely a 'him'. Can't say why, but the feeling is male. Can you get me some juice? I'm feeling weak as well."

Hermione nodded and stood up from the desk. She stopped a moment and looked around her, taking in her surroundings and the events of the last hour. She smiles.

"I love my life!"

"Let's name him Pog."

"What?"

"Short for 'piece of goo'."

Hermione smirked. "Shouldn't that be 'piece of Granger'?"

"No, that would be his last name. Pog Granger."

"I love his life, and your life, too!"

(Squeak!)

~[]~

A Date in the Forest (the really squicky one)



Really.



It's about Holly meeting Firenze in the forest.



Or didn't you wonder where the seed that created the Couatl came from?



[Continuing from Firenze's meeting with Holly]

"Firenze, I'm beginning to greatly dislike Divination."

"The stars do not care."

"Yeah, so they can't be offended if I wish them a big old 'fuck ya!', can they?"

Firenze barked out a laugh, cantering backward and to the side again.

Holly took two steps to rest her hand at the join of his human and horse torsos. "Say, what's with you?"

Firenze blushed as he stepped back again, only Holly kept walking forward to keep her hand at his 'hip'.

"I... I don't know what you mean."

"This whole time you've been unable to stand still and you keep advancing and falling back. What's your deal?"

"I am... banished from the herd for my dedication in getting this message to you."

"You've been trying for almost two years to find me, ever since the Chamber."

"And for so long have I been... alone."

Holly looked up at him with surprise. "You're ahhh... frisky, is that it?"

"Do not humiliate me so, Holly Evans. We are a proud people."

Holly began to stroke Firenze along his flank. He had to twist to see her face, but something kept him from turning his body out of the reach of her soothing hand.

"Right. Here's the thing. I could help. I mean, you've had to sacrifice for my sake and I feel it only appropriate that I do well by you if I can aid you in any way."

"It would be completely inappropriate!"

"Yup. My specialty! Engorgio." With the spell taking effect, Holly's hands swelled and elongated to twice their normal surface area, nearly the size of dinner plates. The witch continued to slide her now larger hand down Firenze's flank, until she was standing near his hind hip.

"What are you doing?"

"Amongst my people, this is an ancient and well-regarded ritual known across the globe by many names. Locally, it's referred to as a hand-job..."

With her off-hand, Holly conjured up a pail and a jar of lotion while continuing to stroke Firenze's hindquarters in a calming manner.

"You mustn't-- "

"This is my choice, Firenze. For sure no centaurs will be born from our activities. I really just want to help you out. You saved my life and then you sacrificed your relationship with your family just to deliver a message."

"No one has ever--"

"Stand your forehooves on this wall so I don't get trampled, yah?"

Firenze found himself taking several steps forward to climb up the tumbled wall's stones. "Holly Evans, in the history of centaurs..."

"Oh, honestly! It's obvious you're in need and certainly you haven't taken to drilling a local mare!"

Firenze brayed over his shoulder towards Holly in irritation, but stayed in his current stance. "Of course not! Would you bed an ape?"

"Depends on my prospects and what he's offering. If we were stuck alone on a deserted island, I'd at least consider a date. Of course, I can self-stimulate, so it's not like I'd get that desperate. Can you reach your..." Holly smiled, taking a look at her friend's growing erection. She laid in some extra sexy sultriness in her voice. "...throbbing muscle to take care of it yourself?"

Firenze's phallus extended beyond its fur-covered sheath, stirred as he was by Holly's provocative language.

"No... not easily. Usually this is dealt with by others in the herd."

"Cruel by design. I wonder if this is because you have a low birth rate- so no seed gets wasted if possible. That said, you seem to have given up your previous herd to... join... with mine." Holly gathered a dollop of lotion in her left hand (the one not soothing Firenze's flank), and then subtly shifted position.

"We have had problems with our foals dying early....AAGH! Ye GODS!" Holly gripped Firenze from the under-side, using her enlarged and greased up hands to quickly bring the centaur to full engorgement. Her motion was long and drawn out, not unlike sharpening the Blade in scimitar form.

Firenze gripped onto the bent ironwork poking out from the ruin of wall where he was propped, attempting to maintain a stiff and unyielding stance in the face of Holly's careful and deliberate stimulation. Her efforts caused an unexpectedly poetic exhortation to erupt from the centaur.

"Zeus... commands! Hera implores! (Aghk!) By Hermes' fleet feet and... (gurkh) Hephaestus' fire! Kronos and Gaia! (Aigh!) Prometheus' gift! SCYLLA AND CHARIBDIS!"

Wet, white, sticky fluid erupted from the tip of Firenze's now reddened prick-tip in a forceful GUUSSSSSSSHHHHHHH. Holly was initially caught unprepared for the quantity and force of liquid which deflected off the stone wall to splash over her. Her face and shoulders were saturated before she could blindly grab the pail to collect the last of the flowing stream of Centaur semen. Holly continued milking Firenze's twitching erection until his groans and deep-lung gasps began to abate, along with the subsiding of his prodigious flow.

Firenze stumbled backwards from the wall before collapsing onto his side, knocking Holly to the ground by the unexpected movement. As Holly gathered herself up, she noticed with some irritation that moldy dead leaves and other forest detritus had become stuck to her where she was suffused with Firenze's spunk. Firenze looked up at Holly from the ground with a pained but sympathetic expression.

"Holly Evans, you..."

"Yeah, save it. We'll just not discuss this ever again for both our sakes, alright?"

"Thank you. Just... thank you."

"Your thanks are accepted, my friend." Holly gave Firenze a wry smile and then turned to trudge back towards the castle, carrying her pail in her long, spindly hands.

~o~

Holly entered into the room in the Chamber of Secrets they had set aside for potions work. She plunked the pail onto a worktable, startling Hermione out of her concentration. Hermione looked up at her with shock and concern.

"Holly! Whatever has happened to you?"

Holly gestured to the pail.

"This... is from Firenze. With love. You wanted to push the envelope, right? See what that brews up. I'm feeling a bit reckless. Also... sticky."

"B-but Holly, how did you--?"

Holly quickly shot up a leaf-covered arm to silence her friend's questioning.

"Nah-ah! I will simply say this. The truth is never as fun as the fantasy."

~