FicWad

AN: entire first scene was dropped from this chapter, fixed 1/14/13

"So Hermione dear, what did you learn in, oh what's the name I can never remember, Transmogrification?"



"No, Mum, it's Tranfiguration, and it's the magic of switch one thing to another, from one material to another like wood into glass, or from something inanimate into an animal, or the other way around."



"Oh yes," my Father suddenly interjected from behind his morning paper, "started with matches to needles wasn't it? And your Professor, the one who visited to explain things the first time, McGonagall, turned her desk into a pig didn't you say?"



I gushed, I loved McGonagall, exactly the kind of person I'd want to take after if I ever decided to teach, "Oh yes, she's brilliant, of course we didn't even start Transfiguring mammals until third year, and I'm only myself up to large rodents, but she's done some amazing work. She even Transfigured an entire giant chess set to be alive and thinking once, and it took the best chess player in Hogwarts to defeat it."



"I always like her," my Mother added, you know I've even had tea with her a few times when I, erm... Owled her about what books I should buy to provide the most support to a Muggle born Witch.



I liked that my Mum and I shared our love of books, truth be told I probably wouldn't be the bookworm I am today if I hadn't heard my Mum say "I'll go check a book" several times per day for my entire childhood. The house was filled with books, most belonging to my parents, but of course I had free license to use them. Most were read many times, but my Mum could never bare to throw out a book.



I was also silently amused at the way she tripped over anything Magical. She honestly tried very hard, but she was a bit bewildered still by Magic. She was quietly religious, no church every sunday, more a Christmas Easter follower, but I think her faith was important to her, and I think she felt Magic would drive that out.



It wasn't much of an issue as my Father was a consummate scientist, though of course Medicine was his focus. He was able to take my being a Witch in stride immediately after McGonagall proved magic was real to him by turning his favorite chair into a table and back and his reasoning remained staunchly, "I'm sure Magic has a perfectly reasonable scientific explanation, we just haven't figured it out yet."



Silently I agreed, but on the surface I objected, Magic seemed to spit in the face of even the most basic tenants of science, which led to a series of long enjoyable debates with my Father. My Mum on the other hand didn't like to participate. She had a very strong 'things are the way they are so why worry about it' mentality, that combined well with my Father's logic and practicality, but did not lead the kind of stimulating conversation I shared with my Father.



"Large rodents," Father said putting the paper down, "is that advanced?"



"Well, Transfiguration is divided into tiers of difficulty, it stars at one end with dead materials like metal and wood and glass, then moves up to more complicated shapes and decorations like a pin cushion into a teacup, then invertebrates, then small vertebrate mammals and amphibians and reptiles, then marine life, then large vertebrates, then finally Human Transfiguration."



"So you're right at the top then, just Humans to go?"



"That's right."



"Does that mean you could turn into a cat like McGonagall can?" my Mother asked.



"No, that's completely different though related. Human to animal Transfiguration turnes a Human into an Animal, one wouldn't remember being Human, and animal characteristics would take hold, the act of turning into an animal and keeping your Human brain is called being an Animagus or Animagical Magic. Once learned a Witch or Wizard no longer needs a wand to perform the transformation and can do so at will with no trouble at all, no pain, or discomfort aided in the fact that a Witch or Wizard can only be an Animagus of one animal, which is said to be the animal that most closely resembles the Animagus, in both looks and character. This is different than a Patronus which is also thought to be a visual extension of the character of the caster, but is affected by the memories used to conjure the Patronus, so for example, while Harry might have characteristics indicative of a Stag I'm sure the memories he's using are tied to his Father in some way, as his Father was an Animagus who turned into a stag, and Harry sees a connection to him through his Patronus, so he wouldn't necessarily become a stag as an Animagus."



My Mum smiled at me and sighed, confused I looked to my Father and saw a similar wistful smile, "what?"



"It just occurs to me," my Mum replied slowly, "that while you've changed a great deal, you've really not changed all that much. I've seen this same scene a hundred times when you were younger, chatting about your school studied. The only thing that's changed is the details, and that makes me very happy."



I laid my hand on my Mum's, "I love you Mum."



"I love you two dear, now you mentioned Harry's patronus, what was yours again?"



"An otter."



"Ha," my father barked, "of course."



"What of course?" My Mum looked curious.



"One of the few animals as at home on land as on the sea, very fitting don't you think?" he winked at me.



I blushed a bit, "yes well, you know I want to stay relevant in both worlds, there's a lot that can be done."



"We know dear," my Mum added, "I have no doubt you'll go on to great things after school.



I did not add the big 'if' I was thinking about. If I made it past the end of school.



"The other boy you never stop talking about, Ron right?" my Dad added cheekily with a calculating smile, "what's his patronus?"



"A jack russel terrier."



My Father harumphed, "so what, he's loyal and tends to drool?"



"Well, truthfully..." I thought back to how often he would start to drool a bit when presented with his favorite foods and managed not to laugh.



My last comment got a laugh from my Father and my Mum swatted him and told him to stop teasing, "seriously though Hermione," she asked, "how are the two boys in your life?"



My Dad grumbled at her turn of phrase but I ignored it, "Ron and I are in fight at the moment actually, see... I um... invited him to a Christmas part just before term ended."



My Dad was about to say something but my Mum interjected, "Oh Honey, at least they're the same age, it's not like Ron's three years older and inviting her to stay in another country for a week," my Mum finished with a stern look at me. As far as I was concerned this was ancient history, and despite the fact that I'd never actually intended to visit Victor that summer my parents had acted for a while as if I'd been asking permission.



"A few weeks before the party Ron started going out with this real trollop Lavender Brown."



"Hermione, language!"



"Sorry Mum, but really, she's awful, I've lived in the same dorm with her for the last five and a half years, all she cares about it boys and makeup and music and parties."



"Oh, reminds me of my first roommate at university," my Mum added, "And Harry? How's he doing?" Mum asked.



My face utterly betrayed me, and god had I wanted it not too, I had even practiced in a mirror knowing that eventually they'd ask after Harry, as one of the few people I actually wrote home about. They knew we were best friends, there were entire letters dedicated to Harry did this and Harry did that and how I had to help him yet again.



My Mum must have recognized the look immediately, but my Father was back to his newspaper, she got a shrewd look at then visibly let it go, no doubt to corner me later when my Father wasn't in earshot. I mumbled through my response, each word narrowing my Mum's eyes even further, "yes well, Harry is as well as can be with a madman after him. He's got a girlfriend now as well!" I added quickly.



"Oh, who?" My mum asked a little reserved, obviously wondering if I was about to say 'me', "A French girl named Gabrielle. You remember the Tri-Wizard tournament yes? Remember the contestant from Beauxbatons, the girl, Fleur Delacour?"



My Mum nodded and my Dad dropped his paper, "The Veela?" he asked.



My Mum shot a glare at him, "oh of course you remember that dear."



"Now now, she's a lovely young lady, hard to forget, have I told you I love you today?"



"She's was seventeen honey."



"Honeybee..." my Dad simpered, he only used Honeybee when he was in trouble, "you remember Hermione explaining, it's magical, it's not my fault."



Mum rolled her eyes and looked a bit put out so I forced past, "Fleur and Harry became friends during the tournament and more so when she got engaged to Ron's older brother Bill. Gabrielle is her little sister and she and Harry are together now."



"That sounds lovely dear," Mum added, a little confusion creeping in, probably wondering about her suspicions about my blush. Perhaps she would believe I was simply crushing on Harry, yes hopefully she wouldn't see past that when she inevitably confronted me later.



It turned out later was immediately after Dad left for work. As the general practitioner at their practice my Dad had to work more regular hours. As the on site surgeon Mum only had to be at work when she had to perform surgery. This was never the less usually every day, but allowed her to leave a bit later than Dad from time to time, though rarely early, as even if she finished she would keep her husband company until it was time go home. They had after all been able to trust me on my own since I was thirteen.



Almost as if on cue, after the sound of Dad driving to work faded away down the street, Mum confronted me, "alright Hermione, what's going on between you and Harry?"



I choked on the tea I was sipping after breakfast and nearly spilled it down my front, "what do you mean?"



"Hermione, I saw your face when I asked about Harry, goodness knows you're lucky your father didn't see, you turned red as a tomato."



I groaned and buried my face in my hands, and spoke through them, the lie I had thinking about attempting was far to flimsy to work, how did she just know? Honestly, mothers...



"We've," I started and had to clear my throat, "we've gotten... a lot closer recently."



"And what does closer mean?"



I squirmed, it was like being told I failed a class, even if it was Phys Ed, I hated feeling like this, the world out of my control, "we've um... expressed our friendship... physically."



I've never understood how my Mum could sound like she was yelling while not actually yelling, "Hermione you look me in the eye right now and tell me what you've been doing with Harry."



I looked up reflexively and swallowed thickly, "we've had sex Mum."



She looked away, embarrassed now, and it took her several false starts before she was able to say, "Hermione, I know we've never really talked much about this, I gave you that book when you turned twelve for just that very reason, I'm not very comfortable talking about these things, but if you need or want to talk about... sex... you can of course always come to me. I wouldn't ask your father though, you're still three years old to him."



"Thanks Mu-"



She talked over me, "I am however, a little concerned with the fact that from what you've said it sounds like Harry is cheating on Gabrielle with you."



"Oh no! It's not like that at all, Gabrielle knows and is completely fine with it!"



This got a horrified look from my Mum, "you mean, Harry really is dating Gabrielle while you and he- you mean that wasn't just a lie? It's not like those... I mean I saw a report on the news once about a bunch of married couples living together, but that was in London! I mean..."



"No, no, no of course not, it's far more complicated, I really should just explain, you see Harry and Gabrielle aren't exactly dating, they've been affected by a magical bond Gabrielle was able to create due to being part Veela. They're bound to each other, they share emotions and sensations. Apparently it's part of the nature of the bond that Harry wouldn't be bound by fidelity, and in fact Gabrielle encourages Harry not to be. I think..." I stopped, unsure if I wanted to admit this next bit, my Mum was quite straight laced, and this was the first time we'd ever even discussed sex outside of the one conversation the day after my twelfth birthday to hand me a book called "Becoming a Woman". In the end I decided that it was all or nothing, Mum seemed genuine in pushing past her discomfort, "well, I think Gabrielle likes boys and girls though I'm not sure if it's just Harry projecting through her, though on the other hand Harry hasn't started becoming attracted to boys at all, but Gabrielle is well... sweet on me I think, and because of the nature of the bond, she's well... in some respect she's had sex with me vicariously through her bond with Harry."



Mum actually blushed now, "have you... been doing things with Gabrielle as well?" she asked timidly.



I blushed again and her jaw dropped, I spoke quickly to allay her obviously wandering imagination, "we've kissed, once, and Harry wasn't there."



"But... it sounds like she wants to... and do you? Do you like girls to? I'm sorry, this all just sounds so sordid."



"Well, I suppose it is kind of."



"Are you at least being safe?"



"Oh Mum, there's no one I'm safer with than Harry. He's perfectly respectful, and yes while it would have been terribly romantic to wait until my wedding night as you and Dad no doubt wish, but lets be realistic, how many first relationships last, and I'm curious, and who better than with someone I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt only has my best interests at heart, and who loves me, and who I love. We are deeply good friends Mum, this is just an extension of that, and well... you and Dad have always encouraged me to experiment, and I can't think of a safer way to do so than Harry."



"We encouraged you to experiment for school, we never meant this."



"I know Mum, but I'm curious about everything, I can't help it. And yes, this is a bit sordid, but Harry won't kiss and tell, he's not like that. You don't need to worry about my reputation."



"Don't say that, things like this have a way of getting out, and didn't you say Harry is something of a celebrity in the Magical World?"



"Yes, he is, but he's also the most protected person the Magical World besides Voldemort I suppose, and he takes his privacy seriously. Also," I allowed myself a sly smile, "we've rarely been separated for the last five years so it's not like anyone thinks it odd that we spend so much time together. I'm sure there are already rumors abound, there was even an article written in the Prophet about me and Harry during the Tri-Wizard tournament. Of course nothing was happening then, and I was with Victor at the time and Harry was sweet on Cho, but rumors about me and Harry are old hat at Hogwarts."



"Hmmm, so you and Gabrielle have kissed have you, are you planning on experimenting with her as well? Or both of them?"



I blushed fiercely again, "Honestly, yes. I hope you don't think less of me-"



"Of course not Hermione, you know I only want what's best for you, and yes a part of me just wants to see you get married and have lots of babies, you me and you Father always wanted more children, it just wasn't meant to be, and I fully expect some grandchildren someday, after you've become queen of the world of course," she smiled and patted my hand, "just be discreet, and don't let Harry or Gabrielle talk you into anything you're not comfortable with,"



"They would never-"



"I know you trust them, just remember if someone tries to pressure you into anything, they're not worth worrying about, it just means they're selfish. I'm... I'm really not sure what else to say here, I'm not truthfully comfortable about talking with this, but I can deal with it because you're my daughter, but forgive me if I don't really want details. I just want to know you're safe and happy."



I hugged my Mum tightly, "I am Mum, I'm the happiest I've been in ages, and Harry is honestly the happiest I've ever seen him, though I can't be sure if that's me or Gabrielle-"



She actually snorted, "I imagine it's both of you, honestly, two girls, what that boy's ego must be like now."



I pulled away and shook my head, "no Mum don't you see, that's part of what makes Harry so special, he's the same as ever, and spends most of his time worrying about whether all this is alright or not. He's so put upon by everyone, and still even when life throws something so inexplicably wonderful, a girl literally being dropped in his lap, and he worries about the ethical implications almost to the point of annoyance, I honestly don't know how Gabrielle puts up with him, other than the fact that they'll feel each other's emotions for life."



"Well, that actually makes me feel better, you've never had a bad thing to say about Harry to me, and he sound like an honorable young man. If he makes you happy he makes you happy, and well... if Gabrielle helps with some of that then you are who you are, just don't expect me to go bragging to my garden party gals about my daughter's new lesbian relationship."



"Mum, I am not a lesbian, if anything I'm mildly bisexual."



Mum stood up quickly, "Ok, I think that's where I'm going to end this unless you have anything else to say?"



"No, you really think I shouldn't tell dad?" I asked though I already knew the answer.



"Oh, heavens no! He'd have a heart attack."



.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:..:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:.



After Mum had left for work I tried to come up with some experiments to perform using the allowed spells: Lumos, Nox, Point Me, Spark, and Ember, but failed. It was far too limiting a spell list, and they were all so basic, that I couldn't conceive of a way to learn anything more about them than I already knew.

So I practiced casting all of them silently and mulled over what I did know about them.

Arithmatically all spells are combinations of runes in an equation. The more complicated the spell the more sets of equations. All five allowed spells were single equation spells, and were represented with a single rune. Lumos was the actual name of the rune for light, so when spoken with the right intent, the end of a wand lit up. Nox is "dark", Point Me is "where", Spark is just that, though has no incantation, it's more a surge of magical energy shooting through the wand than directed magic and is both a sigh of a compatable want and an easy way to practice "flowing" ones magic through a wand more effectively; ember was the rune for heat, and made the tip of a wand white hot, used for starting fires from kindling.

The problem was, every single spell that only used one rune was already a well known spell, and took little to no skill to perform. The real discoveries in spell work was in the combinations of runes in new and interesting ways. Anything like that would end up on the Ministry's Trace, and was therefore unusable while at home.

So of course, the method of discovery for all those single rune spells was knowing the rune language, the proto-language of magic which used to be the only spoken language of the world, which eventually mutated into latin by way of the Muggles and then was largely forgotten, though some Muggles studied latin for it's historical significance.

I imagined the real breakthrough was learning that when magic was cast through a focus like a wand all those simple runes were suddenly spells. The words themselves were largely unnecessary evidenced by silent magic, which was not simply saying the word in your head, but remembering and learning to mimc the unique feel of a spell being cast and being able to call up that memory and visualize the spell happening to cast it.

Saying the word in your head could work of course, but it was essentially accomplishing the same thing as saying the incantation out loud Arithmantically, it didn't matter that you were using the word with out saying it, you were still using the word, and in the case of dueling an opponent who utilizes Legillimancy, all the advantage of casting silently was lost.

Alright, time for a logic exercise, of the five spells on my list, which is different, what stands out. Often times it was easier to find a difference between things than figure out the similarities, and many times figuring out the reason why something was different was the key to a breakthrough, and all at once it hit me. Point Me was the only spell on the list that required more than simple intent and a word or feeling. Point Me required the caster to also think of what they were looking for, but not in a way that affected the casting of the spell. For all Transfiguration each different switch was a combination of two spells, each one essentially constructed from the Arithmantic description of the base thing and the thing you want to turn the subject into on either side of the rune for change, Muta. For example: Arithmantically a desk is Coditio, and a pig is Porcus, so the spell for transforming a desk into a pig as McGonagall so excitingly demonstrated was Comutaporcus when all three Arithmantic calculations were multiplied by one another.

So the real question was, how was the magic being utilizing my concentration on what I was trying to find. I started small, I used Point Me to find various pieces of furniture, a spare set of keys I didn't know where they were starting out, and food inside the cooler while the door was shut.

It worked with out fail, but why? It was the simplest of spells, the magical equivalent of shout "Where!' and then being told where something, anything was as long as it wasn't magically concealed. What was driving the spells' ability to access an unknown location for something I was thinking about, and why didn't it require a different version of the spell for different objects?

I imagined that one could modify the spell to find non-specific objects. I had to concentrate on "spare keys" to find them, but if the spell was modified to find any spare keys, I could probably find all of them, of course it would need some range so I didn't have my wand spinning to find every spare key in the world all at once, which would of course require another Arithmantic expression being added into the equation for the spell making this very complex to calculate for something not terribly useful. One could after all focus on "spare key for this house" in any house and it would find the appropriate key, not any spare key in range.

But why? Why didn't that make the spell more complicated? Other spells requiring a specific focus like that, for example, the Patronus Charm, were immensely complicated Arithmantically, which is what made it so difficult to cast the spell, the challenge of finding the right memory not-withstanding.

What power was being accessed?

What knew where the object being searched for was?

The spell was essentially a question, what was answering?

Was magic itself capable of knowing things and answering questions?

That's it! The definitive difference: Lumos, Nox, Ember, and Spark were all commands, but Point Me was a question, and magic provided an answer. Somehow Point Me was using more magic than the others with out being more complicated on a structural level. If I was to think of Magic as a resource, however seemingly unlimited a resource it is, Point Me must be doing something more complicated than the other four. Accessing something, some knowledge.

But what exactly?

Thinking about this made my head hurt so I took a break to work on my Potions homework.



.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:..:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:._.:~:.



Hours later I found myself lingering in the shower, fixing the damage done to my hair from all the Potions fumes. It's no wonder Professor Snape's hair and skin always looked so terribly, bending over cauldrons all day, the man would have to take ten showers a day to fix spending all day in a dungeons with dozens of boiling potions.

Despite my general lack of interest in make-up and "looking pretty" I still took care of myself. Shampoo and good old Muggle moisturizer rid myself of the harm from the Potions I had brewed to better perfect my homework. Normally I didn't allow myself free time until the evening, but I had finished my work early and decided to treat myself. The water was the perfect level of scalding hot, and as it beat down on my back I relished the silky smoothness of my just moisturized skin.

My hands wandered inevitably and searched out my breasts almost immediately. I made little slow circles on the skin of my not tight aching nipples, teasing them to their hardest and occasionally squeezing both breasts tightly enjoying my solitude to its fullest emitting moans and groans with out a care, pretending Harry was there to wash me, his hands washing my breasts far more than was necessary, enjoying all the pleasure filled sounds I was making. He had told me many times that one of his favorite things was the noises Gabrielle and I made when he touched us, and I understood completely. It sent shivers down my spine when I made Harry moan and groan. The sounds were electric, and I remembered vividly the almost whining sound he makes when I take him in my mouth.

I didn't need any spit as I was in the shower, but I sucked my fingers anyways, pretending it was Harry's fingers, teasing him, and showing him what I'd be doing with my tongue later. I'd stare deep into his eyes and send a mental message of, "just wait until you feel this on your cock", and he'd give me that look, like he wanted to devour me whole, even though I was going to be the one doing the devouring.

I my other hand and rubbed it all over my body in random waves, closing my eyes and picturing Harry doing the same. Sometimes he just seemed not to be able to decide what to touch, so he'd just let his hands wander, feeling everything, my bum, my thigh, up my side, along my back and across my chest. He liked to run his hands up my neck and into my hair, pressing my head to his in a bruising passionate kiss.

Thoroughly switched on I delved and found my g-spot and rubbed it frantically, I was in the shower so I could be loud and I wouldn't make a mess. Rubbing my g-spot as I did made me obscenely wet, and while Harry was a fan of it I was still a little shy about it, and Harry frankly looked a little silly with it all over his face and running down his neck to his chest.

He once uttered an inspired bit of filth that both embarrassed and made me hot, "I want to be bathed in your juices, I love making you come all over me." I wondered at that, and imagined Harry coming all over me. Would that be something he'd enjoy, would I? It would have to go on the list.

I could feel my climax build and I released the fingers I had been sucking to rub and stroke my clit, the combination leading to a raucous orgasm that had me slumped against the wall of the shower, my arousal running down my legs.

With a quick once over under the water, washing away all evidence of my fun time, I exited and dried while trying to decide what to do with myself for the rest of the day. It was still hours before my parents came home, and my homework was done early, so I was at a loss. I could start on my Charms work, but that was going to be easy and I had weeks before term started.

What to do today...

Bookstore? No, I still had several books I'd yet to read.

I could look a bit more into the book Gabrielle sent me, but I rather thought I should do that right before bed. I didn't want to go straight from having one off in the shower to having one off in my room with a naughty book. Twice in one day would already be excessive for me, but the one in the shower was a wash and I liked to masturbate right before I went to bed to make me more sleepy.

What to do, what to do?

I decided to head into the square and do a bit of window shopping. I had still not purchased Christmas gifts for a few people and now would be a good time to possibly take care of that. I realized that I had mostly bought people books, and thought I'd branch out a bit this year.

It's never good to remain predictable after all.

Though I was already seventeen I was still technically engaged at school even if it was a break. If I had turned of age sometime during the last school year, or even at summer I'd have been legally allowed to use magic. As it was, for some reason turning seventeen during the school year made the Reasonable Restriction for Underage Magic act still apply. I didn't fully understand why, and it was something I intended to find out, and I wondered once again why Hogwarts didn't have a law class.

As it was, I couldn't use my usual glamour charm on my chest, so I got many lecherous glances and leers, even bundled up against the cold. I bought a coffee and the boy working there never even made eye contact. I mean really, they're just breasts. Yes they're a bit big, but to drive so many people to distraction seemed a bit ridiculous. Of course I no one made any obscene comments, or anything aggressive, Twyford was much too polite a town to have any of that. It was a suburb of London so it wasn't exactly a small town, with numerous people commuting to London for their jobs, but it was still far more safe than London. I wasn't scared at all, just a bit put off. It's not like I didn't want attention from boys, but the way they often stared made me feel quite objectified, and usually put me in a foul mood.

I even earned glared from girls sometimes as well, insecure bints; If you really think a big pair of tits is going to lead your boyfriend astray it's probably not a very good relationship in the first place.

Sipping my coffee, enjoying the warmth in my mittened hands far more than the bitter drink (really tea was far superior) I passed by a small private owned dress boutique. I had made it a goal to buy everyone Muggle gifts this year, and make sure they were things they'd appreciate. Stopping in front of the boutique I decided that Ginny should definitely get a Muggle dress, and her Mum definitely shouldn't see it.

Browsing for a bit I finally settled on a little red number almost the exact shade of her hair, and I imagined her with elbow length gloves of the same color and shiny black heels. She'd look like a nineteen twenties starlet, especially if she found her way to some jewelry with rubies in them. I knew her dress size and I figured that while this wouldn't show a great deal of cleavage it would be very tight on her.

I pictured Harry and her standing side by side. If Harry wore all black they'd match quite well, all that pale skin and black, with pale skin and red. I'd always thought they'd make a good looking couple, their colours seemed to just sit well together.

I walked up to the counter and laid the dress down. A kindly woman, Matlin Heatburk, who I knew made many of the dresses herself looked at the tag and said with a smile, "two things dearie, first," she turned the tag towards me and pointed out a red sticker, "any dresses marked are part of our buy one get one free Christmas sale, so feel free to pick out any other dress in the store with a red sticker on it and it's free of charge. Second, I don't mean to judge but this looks a little small for you, I rather think you'd mind spilling out of your dress," she finished in a polite whisper.

"Oh, it's not for me, it's a gift for a friend, I was actually going to ask if you gift wrap?"

"Of course we do, and of course I should have realized. Now, I should think the second dress should be for you, it's always good to treat yourself for Christmas as well as loved ones."

"Oh I don't know, I have a hard time finding dresses that flatter me, and I didn't want to spend all day here. My friend Ginny is rather slender and makes most things look amazing, so it's easy to shop for her. I'm mostly buying for boys though, and I wanted to finish before dark."

"Oh, wont take any time at all dearie, that's what I'm here for, I'd say it's almost magical the way I can pick out the right dress for a girl. Now tell me, do you have the main six?"

"I'm sorry? The main six what?"

"The main six dresses you need for any occasion of course, the evening gown for formal parties and opera, the somber dress for official functions and funerals, the night out on the town dress, the little black dress, the london club dress, and of course the dress you don't actually intend to go outside in," she finished with a knowing smile. "Tell me which ones you have and what colour they are, and I'll have the perfect dress for you in a trice."

I smiled at her enthusiasm, she was a Muggle version of Madam Malkin really, "I have a gown, it's blue but I should really bring it in and have you take out the chest a bit, last time I wore it I was two years ago. I have the night out dress, it's red, and I also have the little black dress. That's it I'm afraid, everything else is pants, a few skirts, jumpers, t-shirts, and my school uniform."

"Well," Matlin started with a smirk, "tell me, is there a young man in your life, ah! you're even blushing, good on him and good on you, of course you have a young lad in your life pretty young woman like yourself, tell you what, Christmas is a happy occasion so let's skip the somber dress, and I don't sell clubbing wear so let's find you the dress you don't plan on wearing out."

I blushed furiously, but nodded anyway, sharing a small secretive smile. Matlin started to walk away with a quick 'I'll be right back' when I gently touched her shoulder and whispered, "I want to rock his world."

She patted me on the cheek and smiled warmly, "of course you do dearie, lucky man you've got, I know just the dress."

I wandered off to look at gloves and found an inexpensive silk pair that I could easily put a permanent colour changing charm on to match them to Ginny's gift.

Matlin came back with a white box and handed it to me, "go try this on in the dressing room and tell me it's not perfect."

With a quick thanks I made my way to the back of the store and entered the spacious mirrored changing room. There were mirrors everywhere and I'd be able to see every side of my body all at once. The naughty part of me really wanted to have sex with Harry in a room like this, I wanted to see what we looked like together.

After double checking that the door was locked I stripped off my clothes and couldn't help but take a moment to examine my naked body. I sighed and stroked my hips I thought were a bit to big, and put my hands over the slight paunch of my belly. I was far from perfect, but I was definitely sexy. Womanly even. My breasts hung enormous but didn't seem too outrageous for my slightly to thick frame. I'd probably look ridiculous with a thin stick body and huge tits.

I lamented my hair and how much product it required to look anything but a huge bushy triangle. I usually just pulled it back into a tail to get it out of the way, but sometimes like the yule ball or a Christmas party I'd spend the hour or more it took to manage.

I bent over a bit and reached back to spread my bum apart and my sex with it. I imagined standing in front of Harry giving him this naughty view. I never realized before Harry how much I enjoyed being naughty. I rather thought it had to do with my penchant for following the rules, that it was freeing to break some imaginary ones to give my lover a thrill. It thrilled me too to be dirty with Harry. I felt safe knowing he wouldn't judge me, or think I was weird. I felt like I could share anything with Harry, and even though I felt that way before I couldn't suppress the giggle at the things we share now including my privates.

It really was odd the way the world worked sometimes.

Lovely and odd.

I opened the box and pulled the dress out holding it to my front. I immediately knew what Matlin meant by a dress you wouldn't actually wear out. This was practically lingerie. The dress was a deep dark brown, that looked like swirling chocolate, and somehow married the brown of my hair to the brown of my eyes while accentuating both. It was also both very low cut and very short and strapless. I estimated that it would hardly fall past my bum, and would only cover my nipples by virtue of the built in support stitched onto the inside.

I pulled the dress up from my feet and slid it home over my chest. My breasts filled the front like the dress was made for me, and it clung impossibly to my hips and sides. I tried to pull the dress down a bit but I almost let my breast fall out. It was dangerously short, walking would come close to exposing me as the tightness ended just past my hips letting the bottom edge of the dress flit about as it pleased, and the tightness of the dress did not lend itself to knickers of any kind.

I adjusted a bit and then struck a pose. I pulled the top down just a smidgen and I was right, the edge of my nipple was just beyond the bounds of the dress. I was gloriously revealed and yet not, and I saw if I arched forward a bit I could even make out the impression of the mound of my sex pressed against the taught-ness of the dress.

I was bloody sexy in this dress.

I took the dress off very gently and folded it neatly back into the box. I dressed and walked back up to the counter and bought them and the gloves with a quick shy, "it's perfect, thank you."

"Merry Christmas, and send my regards to the lucky boy."

I waved still a little embarrassed and left the boutique one dress richer, and one present more accounted for. I already had my gifts for Harry sorted out as well as my Mum and Dad, and Ron was getting another homework planner. I still didn't buy the "I accidentally dropped it in the fire" excuse, and I was still a bit cross.

This left Fred and George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, my dorm mates (it usually ended up being chocolate for and from everyone), Luna, and Neville. I decided to see what Lavender, Parvati, Terri, and Samantha thought of Muggle chocolate. For Parvati who I had always gotten along and liked nuts I got a variety pack in a box shaped like Father Christmas. Terri and Samantha who I wasn't very close with each got an assortment of truffles, and for Lavender I got a small chocolate orange.

I got Mrs. Weasley a book on Muggle gardening, mostly design and arrangement, and for Mr. Weasley a plastic model plane that needed to be glued together and painted.

Fred and George were more tricky, especially as they already seemed to posses a fondness for Muggle stuff, especially magic tricks. I'd buy them some of those but I imagined with all the gold they were making they probably raided Muggle magic shops and toy stores fairly regularly and getting them something they didn't already have would be an exercise in futility. I decided to break my attempt at not buying books when I saw One Thousand and One Practical Jokes and Pranks at the small bookstore I could't help but at least browse in.

Neville was fairly easy to shop for, I bought him a bunch of seeds from a florist, an assortment of rare and unusually coloured flowers thinking perhaps he would like to decorate around his oft mentioned green house at his home.

Luna was a struggle, and I finally settled on another book about Alien Conspiracies, Big Foot, The Lockness Monster, and other unexplained Muggle mysteries. If I was lucky she would see it for what it was and not start believing in those things, but I was rarely lucky when it came to Luna.

The flower shop had been my last stop and upon exiting I found the sun starting to set so I made my way home. Both my parents were going to be late, so dinner was all on my own. Since I can't cook at all I decided on take out on the way back. My arms were well laden with packages, but the take out Chinese fit well in the large plastic bag with Mr. Weasley's model airplane.

As I ate I watched the telly a bit, but very little interested me. Serials were of no interest as I was gone most of the year and couldn't keep up with any of them. I rarely found sit-coms funny and the rest was rubbish so I settled on the evening news while munching on my beef and broccoli over rice.

After dinner found me bundled up in bed, wrapped in blankets to keep out the cold and reading Gabrielle's book. I had the book resting on my lap while I sat up against the headboard. One hand turning pages, the other toying with my sex, running my fingers up and down gently, giving myself a slow burn. There was a rather interesting eight person spell. One person lay on their back in the middle, while seven other feasted on them. The picture was one Witch being attended by seven men. One was kissing her lips passionately, two at her breasts, one at her sex, one (I blushed furiously) tonguing her anus, and the last two holding her hands and kissing and sucking on her fingers and palms. The spell was some sort of protective magic. The subject in the middle received some kind of magical protection from the gift of magic from the seven other lovers. The number seven was of course significant, and no other amount of people generated the same effect, even with a similar arrangement. I immediately thought of Harry and wondered if we could find four more girls to participate. There was already me and Gabrielle, and I don't think it wold be hard to convince Ginny to participate.

Then I realized that I was contemplating arranging a gang-bang for Harry and put it from my mind.

I also stopped abusing myself, for I had begun to really frig myself at the thought, and ooh, the picture in the book. I don't think I'd ever actually be comfortable taking on seven guys at once, that really was excessive, but it was fun to think about.

Done with teasing I closed the book and tossed it to the edge of the bed and lay down on my side. I reached down and pawed at my pussy with both hands, I was no longer in the mood for slow and steady, I just wanted to come hard and quick and be done with it.

Parent still at work (held there for an emergency filling) I paid no mind to the gooshy sounds I was making, playing the skin of my sex too and fro, even slapping it lightly a few times, earning quick lightening like jolts of pleasure. I let my left hand drift below my pussy to lightly ring my anus. It was definitely sensitive, but I think the delicious dirty thrill was more potent than the actual physical sensations. I was still on the fence about trying anal sex with Harry, the one time I had tried to actually insert a finger had really hurt, but if I was very relaxed, and Harry was very slow and gentle it might work.

I just wanted to know if I liked it or not. If I didn't I'd never have to try it again, but I couldn't stand not knowing. I wondered if Harry had shagged Gabrielle in the arse.

I let the thought of Harry pounding into the diminutive little Veela's arse carry me through my climax. She's all submissive, so I bet Harry would hold her by the wrists face down on the bed and just plow into her. Owning her arse with his cock, and then the feel of it throbbing and pouring his come into so naughty a place would make her scream and come, and I'd come from watching them at the side of the bed touching myself to their love play.

With a deeply satisfied moan I relaxed my hands and led myself down from the peak, soothing my passions and settling in for bed when I realized I had been quite stupid before.

I grabbed the book and flipped back open to the index. The bell curve of the number of spells based on number of participants was not perfect. Two people had a total of twenty two spells and was at the bottom of the left end of the curve, but twelve people at the right bottom of the curve only had twelve total spells. Eleven people in fact, had twenty two spells, which meant there should be a section for rituals including only one person, and there should be twelve total spells for that.

Realizing this was an important revelation, but not yet knowing why I closed the book again vowing to investigate this further later on, when I wasn't so tired. I fell asleep counting the days until I would see Harry again.