FicWad

Chapter 3

RATING: NC-17
WARNINGS: Nudity, bad language, innuendo
SPOILERS: This is is a Sixth Year story so spoilers for the previous five years may be contained herein.
General Notes: This is a slightly AU sixth year in that Harry isn't taking Defense with Severus teaching. He decided he'd learn more on his own and is (or had been) reading several books on combat magic and practicing nightly in the Room of requirement with the five friends who went with him to the Dept. of Mysteries.
Also I've decided to keep referring to Neville as "he" even though he's still in Tracy's body because he's still himself inside and the others react to him that way for the most part. Also I have again found missing words in several sentences so I have added them in now. If you find any typos or other problems please contact me or leave word in a review.


Hermione and Ron left after that and Tracy started talking to Neville. They were both surprised at how much they had in common. She told him about her father’s company that supplied ingredients to potion brewers and schools all over Europe. Neville told her about his greenhouse and how he had been selling some of his plants since the end of fourth year. Both were shocked to learn that it was her father's company that he'd been selling to on a small scale. He had never connected her with Davis Potion and Herbology Supplies before.

They were so engrossed in their conversation that neither took notice of the voices floating out from the bathroom door. A female voice first, “It’s called a shower Potter. I would hope you’d recognize one.”

Then a male voice, “I do. I’m just not used to being knocked out and waking up in one with a naked woman.”

Female voice sniggering, “What? Have you warded your bed against that little redhead you saved second year?”

“Hey! She’s like a sister to me,” the male voice protests. “Fred, George, and Ron made me an honorary brother and...”

She cuts him off, “Yes I know that’s how you feel about her but I also know that’s not how she feels about you.”

“Well I know she used to have a crush but I’m sure she’s over that by now,” he said

The female voice makes a loud sound of frustration, “Good goddess Potter! How can any man be that dense about women without being a total moron? Unless Granger does all your homework as well as Weasley’s?”

“No,” he said. “She just checks mine over to correct it. I do my own work.” He pauses, “Ron isn’t stupid you know.”

“Oh I know Potter,” she said. “Just too lazy to do his own work. Behind every great wizard there’s a great witch and all that but it seems he’s taking it a bit far.”

“Anyway how does that explain us being here?” he asked.

“I didn’t knock you out you know,” she replied. “You fainted when I said I had to pee.” She smirked, “You don’t have to worry anymore that’s all done. Now I just need you to hold still while I try to charm this washcloth so we can both get clean. I’m normally a right handed caster so it’s a bit tricky. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure it wipes up your drool as well.”

The male voice sputters and starts stammering an apology then is interrupted by the other, “No worries Potter. I’d be shocked and hurt if you didn’t look. Especially considering you are only chest high on me when standing.”

As the two were showering Tracy and Neville were still talking and becoming friends. Tracy said, “Goddess, you are the son my father wishes he had. I’m good at the business stuff but I'm a daughter and I have a brown thumb. Professor Sprout gave me extra tutoring for the last few years as a favor to my dad but I still kill more things than I grow. I’m not even taking NEWT Herbology. First in my family not to do so as I’m often reminded.”

Neville snorts, “I wish he’d tell my Gran that. All I hear from her is that I’ll never be as good as my dad and how I should be trying harder in potions so I can be an Auror like my father and grandfather.”

Tracy giggles, “Maybe we can swap?” Then she sobers a bit, “Doesn’t she care that your greenhouse sells to what is, in all modesty, the biggest supply company of its type in Britain? I mean we have high standards for what we buy to protect our reputation.”

Neville shakes his head, “No, she eased up this summer after hearing how I helped Harry last June. She even finally bought me my own wand. It’s a bit weird that but I guess it reminds her of stuff my dad used to do. She’s, well, pretty fixated on that.”

She looked thoughtful, “You know I think I’ll owl my father when we get out of here. He will want to know that I know you and can suggest things to start doing as your NEWT project if you like. Maybe we can even get you a list of what he’ll be wanting next spring so you can get a jump on things when you get home for the winter holiday.”

“Why?” Neville asked. “I mean I’m enjoying talking to you a lot more than I thought I would, and I want to thank you for helping me out in class, but I’d like to know why. No offense, but unsolicited help from someone I don’t really know makes me nervous.”

She smiled, “I can understand and appreciate that.” She considered briefly, “I think this could be a win-win situation for us. It will benefit me if I can show him that I don’t need to personally be able to grow everything we sell to do right by the family business and maybe if you show your grandmother you have high level business contacts and an independent income from your greenhouse she will appreciate you for you.” She shrugged, “Or, worst case scenario you’ll be making your own money and not have to depend on her goodwill for important things like wands.”

He grinned and impulsively hugged her, “Thanks! That would be great!”

She smiled, “It feels really weird to be hugged by someone who looks just like me but thanks.”

“Do you think we’ll be stuck like this long?” Neville asked.

“I don’t think so,” She replied. “As Daphne sort of said I’ve been doing an elective course with Madame Pomfrey since Third Year so I can make an educated guess. I think it will last as long as the flu then disappear. “She smiled, “You’ll be back to your studly male body in a few more days.”

“I don’t think it’s very studly,” he replied.

“You haven’t been looking in the mirror much then,” she said. “Last year you lost the last of the baby fat and put on some muscle. This year you were looking tanned as well as toned and I bet you would have had a girlfriend by the first Hogsmeade weekend if not sooner.”

“Really?” he said smiling. “Thank you.”

Harry and Daphne came back into the room then and Madame Pomfrey announced dinner was brought by the elves and for them to come into her quarters to eat it. “You aren’t bedridden so no need to eat in bed and I’d enjoy the company.”

The nurse and her patients ate at a small round table in the quarters attached to her office. Dobby insisted on serving “the great Harry Potter” and agreed to serve the others too when Harry asked.

“Didn’t he used to be Malfoy’s elf?” Daphne asked.

Harry nodded, “Long story but he’s been mine since the end of second year. He is part of the reason Hermione agreed to end SPEW and decide rather to try and reform the laws governing them to prevent mistreatment. Dobby’s enthusiasm has come in very handy over the years and he also tests the food he serves for potions and etc.” He looked over at the nurse, “No offense meant Madame Pomfrey. I’m not expecting trouble here.”

She nodded, “None taken Mr. Potter. I’ve seen the sorts of pranks students pull with food and anything that makes you less likely to visit here is fine by me.” She looks at the two students each struggling to eat with one hand, “Do you need any help?”

Harry flushed in embarrassment, “I can feed myself.”

Tracy chuckled, “And here we’ve been told that you needed everything spoonfed to you because you too were much of an arrogant brat to do anything for yourself.”

Harry chuckled, “I can guess who said that.” He turned to Daphne, “I, at least, have my right hand free. Do you need any help?”

Daphne replied, “I could use help cutting this meat but I think I need help from someone with two hands for that.”

Harry just smiled, “My turn to be impressive then.” He passed his hand over her plate while whispering in Latin and all the food on her plate was cut neatly into bite sized pieces.

The nurse smiled, “I taught him that third year. He was regrowing the bones in his arm again and really wanted to be able to eat his steak without help.”

“It wasn’t very silent but if you learned that in third year then I am impressed, ”Daphne said.

Neville smirked, “That wasn’t the most impressive thing he learned in third year though.”

“You mean the rumors about him casting a Patronus are true?” both girls asked.

“Yep!” Neville replied. “Maybe if you ask nicely he’ll show you.”

Daphne smirked, “Show me or I’ll sell the fangirls my memories of you in the shower along with the information that you don’t ward your room.”

Harry looked shocked but Tracy started laughing, “For her, that is asking nicely.”

Harry put down his fork, drew his wand, and cast, “Expecto Patronum!” Then calmly continued to eat his dinner while everyone but Neville was gaping at the silvery stag bounding around the room.

“Goddess, but your powerful Potter,” Daphne said. “Why haven’t you splattered Draco across a wall yet? I doubt I’d be able to resist if I were you.”

“Well I’d end up in Azkaban for one and while I did learn how Sirius Black escaped I can’t do the same,” Harry said. He smirked at her expression, “Can I eat in peace now? I’m a growing boy I need my protein.”

“You’re just making me more curious about you Potter,” Daphne said. “You’re a captive audience now and I have ways of making you talk.”

Harry started laughing just as Ron and Hermione entered. "Hey, where are you guys?"

"We'll be out in a minute Hermione we're still eating," Harry would have left his plate to go say hello but as he started to stand Daphne pulled down on their shared hand so he sat back and finished his dinner rather than just watch her eat.

"We don't want to interrupt you," Hermione called out. "We'll just leave your trunk at the foot of your bed and your assignments on top OK?"

They also heard Ron grumble, "What do you mean we?" Then there was a thump followed by, "Bloody thing's almost as heavy as yours." Followed by another thump then a door closing.

Daphne snickered but before she said anything Neville spoke up, "That was nice of our friends to do that wasn't it Harry? I hope the ladies have someone they can count on as much."

Daphne sighed, "Point taken Longbottom. The only other student I could be sure to do that for me is here at the table with us."

"You could call him Neville you know," Harry said.

"I could," Daphne replied. "But then I wouldn't be deserving of that title you Gryffindors gave me, Ice Queen."

"I've never called you that," Harry said. "And in that vein, I thank you for not wearing the "Potter stinks" badge."

She nodded, "You're welcome Potter. Mostly though it was because the taunt was so juvenile. It sounded like something an eight year old would say or possibly an even younger child."

Harry smiled, "True, but thanks anyway. If you'd like I can ask Dobby to get your trunks and stuff?"

Tracy looks surprised, "Your elf can get into our rooms?"

"Well yeah," Harry replied confused.

Neville said, "Harry, she's worried about what else he could do. I know you wouldn't do anything wrong but they don't really know you at all."

At first Harry was still confused then the light dawned and he realized what Neville meant, "Oh, don't worry, I have found a way to sneak a personal elf passed your wards or anything. He's technically a Hogwarts elf so he has access but also restrictions on what he can do."

Daphne shakes her head, "That makes it worse not better Potter. If that's true then instead of being able to sneak a personal elf into our dorm you are able to convince a castle elf to be more loyal to you than his master."

"Or it means that the headmaster, who all castle elves owe loyalty to, has given at least one of them permission to act like your personal elf but retain all their usual access to things where students aren't allowed," Tracy added. "I'm not sure which would be more worrying."

"Hey! I freed Dobby from Malfoy at the end of second year," Harry said. "If I was going to use him for bad things wouldn't I have done it already?"

"How do we know you haven't?" Daphne asked.

"You're both worse than Moody," Harry said. "And I mean the real Moody not the fake."

Neville snickered as the two girls stared at him, "You mean you were the one who rescued Moody?" Daphne asked. "I thought that just attributed to you because you're well, you."

Neville laughed at that but Harry scowled, "I'm not telling that story. Hopefully we'll be going our separate ways tomorrow and I'd rather you didn't have any more information to sell."

"Fine," Daphne said. "I'm done eating. Let's get back to our specially enlarged, two person, hospital bed so you can tell me you don't trust me while you send your elf to collect my unmentionables from my bedroom before we sleep together."

Harry nodded, feeling he had lost the argument but unsure how.