FicWad

Harry Potter and the Witches' Secret
Chapter 15
10 Sept 1995 (Sidereal)

Hogwarts
Gryffindor fifth year boys' dormitory

Ron awoke alone in the room. He went to the bathroom and got ready for the day and then went to catch up to Hermione, Ginny, and Harry, who he was sure had gone to breakfast.


Great Hall

Ron sat at the Gryffindor table and filled his plate. Harry, Hermione, and Ginny had not shown up. "Ron, have you seen Katie and Harry? I want to chalk some plays today."

"No, Angelina, I haven't seen them."

"Well, keep a look out for them. Tell them to be in the common room at two this afternoon."

"Sure, Angelina."

Angelina stopped by the twins and told them the same thing.

The twins looked around the hall and the thought occurred to them that there were a lot of people not present. Given, it was a Sunday so this was not unusual; but it still piqued their interest.

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Potter Castle

Katie was, at the moment Ron awoke, discovering how much power she could have over Harry. She had made him eat her through four orgasms so far just by attempting to strangle herself with his cock. She decided it was worth some more effort along those lines as she slowly pushed herself down onto him. She was rewarded with a Parseltongue recitation of the first Goblin rebellion. She lost consciousness as Harry reached the name of the third member of the Goblin Privy Council.

Harry smiled and lifted himself from her gently. He ensured she was still breathing and her airway was clear. He rose and went to the shower beside the bath with its three glass walls and one illusioned wall. He turned on the water and stepped into the warm spray.

His eyes snapped open when Amanda took him in her mouth and suckled him hard. She stood and turned her back to him and leaned into the wall. Harry first looked down her long, smooth back and then ran his hands gently down it. Grasping her hips right at the flare, he stepped into her and pressed his length into her. Amanda bent farther over and pushed back against him. They slowly made love until Harry filled her with come after her second orgasm.

Amanda stood and kissed Harry gently. "Thank you, Harry, that was very nice."

"You're welcome, Amanda, and thank you. I love being inside you."

Amanda shivered and smiled brightly. "Harry, I know this is an odd segue, but maybe we should go to Gringotts today."

"Why, Amanda?"

"I think that if we can talk to them we can make them see reason and get your accounts freed from the freeze they're under. If we can, it would give Narcissa and Ann much more capital to work with and they could really start making strides in securing control of the natural resources of the wizarding world."

Nym entered the bathroom and dragged them both back to the master suite. As they dressed, Harry continued to talk to Amanda.

"How does that help us, Amanda? Vulturewart will simply steal what he wants."

"He can try, Harry. Once you have control we can establish wards around the warehouses and production facilities that will transport unauthorized persons or persons with the Dark Mark to your dungeons here. Then you can duel them and use the Praedia Bellica on them. We then install wards on their properties. The more he sends, the smaller his world gets. If he comes himself, we have the wards set to transport him to Emmeline's volcano."

"I like that one. Let's set that ward in every set anyway. Okay, what kind of things are we going to need to control?"

Narcissa chimed in through the bond as they finished dressing and headed for the dining room. "Raw materials for potion ingredients, any sources of gold and precious gems we can acquire, and then any company in the magical or Mundane world where we can find an ownership by his lackeys. The money these companies make for their owners goes to support Voldemort."

Harry, Nym, and Amanda entered the dining room. "Okay, Amanda, when do we go?"

"After breakfast, Harry. We'll do PT when we get back. I don't want you all sweaty when you're dealing with the Goblins."

"Harry I don't think we should kill Riddle with a ward. Let's see if we can set a ward trap for him with runestones. If we set one-way anti-Apparation, anti-Portkey, and magic suppressing wards on a cell, we should be able to hold him."

"Errrh...and we aren't killing him why, Ginny?"

"Oh, we'll kill him. First, though, we want to be sure we can beat him and then we want to strip his memory and his magic."

"Why, you bloodthirsty, greedy, fantastically sexy little witch, how did you manage Gryffindor? That's the most Slytherin thing yet. You're a snake among lions."

Luna smiled. "Two of them, actually."

Chuckles went round as Ginny and Harry blushed.

The bonded finished breakfast; it was a genial, relaxed meal, in great contrast to the tension of the previous days. Harry was helped in relaxing by a very naked, invisible Su climbing into his lap and sitting on him. Harry fed her pieces of fruit as she satisfied first herself and then him.

The mates giggled as the fruit disappeared and Harry made the Harry-coming face they had come to know and love. They gently shuddered as first Su and then Harry climaxed.

Once they finished breakfast and Harry finished Su, Harry transported Nym, Amanda, and himself to the steps of Gringotts.

Harry offered his right arm to Nym and his left to Amanda. The ladies very gracefully rested their hands on his arms and Harry led them into the bank. As he approached the doors he gathered his magic and released it against them and the doors swung open ponderously.

The amazed Goblins behind the door watched through squinted eyes as the wizard and two witches strode through the lobby of the bank. It was like watching the sun rise. Harry had removed all control on his magic and was letting it flow where it would. His aura was blinding. Being excited by their mate's display of power, Nym and Amanda's magic swelled to join his. Their auras were slightly less blinding than Harry's.

The Goblins at the counters were terrified. They had never seen a being with this much power in the lobby, and now there were three of them.

Harry walked straight up to the desk in the lobby and stood looking at the goblin behind it. "Griphook, isn't it?"

"Yes, may I help you?"

"It's me, Griphook-Harry Potter."

"Ah, Mr. Potter. Perhaps, Duke Potter, you could suppress your aura? Goblins are capable of seeing auras, and yours is quite bright."

"Oops. Sorry." Harry wrestled with his aura for a moment and finally managed to get it suppressed. Nym and Amanda smoothly suppressed theirs.

"Griphook, who would I talk to about my parents' will?"

"Your estate manager is Senior Manager Hache, Your Grace."

"Could you tell him I'd like to see him, please?"

"Certainly, Your Grace."

Griphook left the room. Harry looked around and noticed that they were the only wizards in the bank.

He was just about to comment when Griphook returned. "If you'll follow me, Your Grace?"

Harry nodded and Griphook led them down a series of hallways.

As they walked, Nym said in the bond, "It's fairly early on a Sunday morning, Harry. Many people are probably not even up yet, and those who are won't be doing business until this afternoon at the earliest."

The group arrived at an impressive door and Griphook opened it for them.

Harry entered and turned to the goblin. "Thank you, Griphook."

Griphook nodded to Harry and withdrew.

Harry seated Nym and Amanda in two of the chairs and then sat between them in the third.

A gravelly voice issued from the large goblin before him. "Duke Potter, I am Hache, the manager of the Potter account."

Harry had read some material on Goblins from the Potter library and responded in a way that he hoped was acceptable. "Hache, why were my parents' wills not executed?"

Hache smiled-finally, a wizard who got straight to business-and answered in kind. "You have not yet reached the age of majority."

Harry nodded. "You've never seen the will, then?"

"I have. I gave it to Director Bones myself."

"Let me rephrase: you have never read the will?"

"No, I have not. It, as most wills, was charmed to only be opened by you, the executor, or the Director of the MLE, Mr. Potter."

"So you didn't know that I was to be raised by Sirius, Lord Black?"

"I must admit, I've always wondered why Dumbledore placed you with those Muggles; but as he was known to be a witness to the will, I was forced to accept his account of who was supposed to raise you."

A knock came at the door. "Ah, that will be Griphook with another one of your bonded and the will, I assume?"

Harry, knowing that it was Amelia with the will, smiled and nodded at him.

"Come in, Griphook."

The door opened and Harry observed Hache as he rose to his feet. For an instant Hache's eyes opened a bit wider. That was his only reaction to finding out that Amelia was one of Harry's bonded.

Amelia approached Harry, who seated her in the chair he had been in. He took the will from her and handed it to Hache.

Hache opened the will and read it. "Fairly standard, Your Grace. No surprises. It is unfortunate that Dumbledore chose to disregard your parents' choice of guardian. Unfortunate for him, that is, as it means that he will no longer be able to determine any outcome of any of our dealings with you."

"Which of your mates will you want to have access to your vault, Your Grace?"

"You can tell who they are?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

"If you don't mind my asking, how?"

"We-that is, the Goblins-working for an estate are bound to that estate. Not to the individual, but to the estate."

"Ah. So what about the age of majority limitation you were talking about at first?"

"You are fully bonded, Your Grace, and the will being of one of the ancient lines' recognizes a full bonding as being a sign that you have reached maturity. That is enough for us to consider you as having reached your majority."

"Okay. I will want all of my fully bonded wives to have unlimited access, and if I ever establish a mate bond, we will discuss access for her and the access of my issue from her."

"Excellent, Your Grace. I will provide purses which access your vaults. Just put your hand in and think of the amount of currency and the denomination, and it will be provided. As long as you are a Potter or bond to a Potter, you won't end up in the cells under this bank. As always, you or your bonded may write drafts on the bank for large amounts at the majority of merchants in the magical world, and the purses will have a debit card in them if you need to use them in the Mundane world."

There was another knock at the door, and Hache said, "Come in."

The door opened, and this time Hache positively goggled to see Narcissa standing there. Ann and Daphne were with her and they entered the room, smirking at the Goblin.

Harry laughed. "I was wondering what it would take to unsettle you, Hache."

"Unfair, Your Grace. Who would have expected-ah, well, it will be a profitable relationship." Hache's eyes were glittering.

"I expect we should get to work, Your Grace" The goblin nodded to Narcissa.

"Narcissa, I'm going to the vault. Will you need anything from me?"

Narcissa looked at Hache in a speculative way. "No, Harry, I suspect we'll be fine."

Harry laughed and rose. "Hache, can you...."

Griphook entered the office.

Harry nodded, and offering Nym his arm, he followed Griphook from the office with Amelia and Amanda following a step behind them. As they made their way to the carts to go to the vault, Narcissa, Ann, and Daphne sat down with Hache to plan the takeover of the wizarding financial world.

Harry, Nym, and Amelia rode the cart down to vault number one. Harry got out, stunned.

"Griphook?"

"Just to make sure, Your Grace, please put your hand in the circle."

Harry stepped up to the door of the vault with the huge M over P crest on the door and placed his hand palm-first on the wall inside a circle to the left of the door. He immediately came under attack. He reinforced his Occlumency barriers and waited. When the presence penetrated his outer wall he attacked it and was just about to beat it into submission when it said, "Very nice, Your Grace. However, I am simply the wards of this vault. I am attempting to determine your identity. I have accomplished my goals. You are the heir." The presence withdrew and Harry returned to himself.

The huge doors opened, much to Harry's surprise. He stepped into the vault with Nym, followed by Amelia and Amanda.

Inside the vault were mountains of gold, silver and bronze, both coins and bars. There were also bars of other precious metals, platinum and titanium and an alchemical alloy the ancients had called mithril among them. Mountains of precious gems in both uncut and cut states were just beyond the mountains of coins and bars. Normal sized shelves filled with shrunken books followed the gems. Then there was a shelf full of what appeared to be eggs, but they were full of a shifting silvery material.

Amelia looked closely and said, "These are memories."

Stacks of weapons and armor lay in the vault past the shelves, some apparently important pieces mounted on the wall. Racks of staffs and wands completed the collection. Against the back wall of the cave a thoroughly disreputable looking staff leaned in the V where the walls came together. Harry took the staff and felt comforted. He wondered if he could take it with him, and it immediately shrank to wand size. Harry smiled and tucked it in his back pocket.

"Harry, we're going to Ollivander's when we leave here."

"Why, Nym?"

"Because I somehow find it offensive that you're walking around with what is probably Merlin's staff jammed in your back pocket. And what would Moody say?"

"You don't really think it was Merlin's, do you, Nym? And the staff doesn't mind."

"What do you mean, the staff doesn't mind?"

"It told me so."

Nym rolled her eyes. "Harry we are going to have a long talk about touching things that talk to you."

Harry laughed and kissed her; taking her arm, he led her back out of the vault. On the way out Harry stopped and turned to a stack of shrunken trunks. He pulled the top two down and looked at them. He smiled and put them in his pocket.

The huge door clanged shut behind them. Harry looked to the left at the vault with the large G on the door and placed his hand in the circle beside the door. He felt the ward probe him and he let it. The door opened and it was the same thing-money, precious metal, precious stones, books, weapons, and magical objects. They left that vault.

Harry looked at the vault with an R on the door and placed his hand on it. Surprisingly the wards passed him and it opened. The interior was basically the same.

The vault with the H passed Harry too. Its contents were basically the same as the others but also included an apothecary cabinet full of seeds in runestone-driven, stasis-protected drawers. Harry decided he would have to get Hannah, Anna, and Susan down here.

Harry looked at the last vault and sneered. Before Nym could react, he walked up to the door with the huge snake shaped into an S. He placed his hand in the circle and launched an all-out Legilimency attack on the vault.

He blasted through the first layer of the wards and then, drawing on all the bonded, he annihilated the remaining layers. He reached the last layer and, calling on the realm, he obliterated it. Inside the conquered wards he called up his own magic and cast the Praedia Bellica. The wards whimpered and died.

Harry returned to himself and raised his hand. He caused the doors of the now wardless vault to open and found it to be the same as the others except it was full of Dark objects.

"Geoffrey?" he said. The elf popped into the vault.

"Milord?"

"Empty the Dark objects from this vault to the most secure room at Potter Castle. We'll evaluate them and decide what to do with them later. The same with the Dark books."

"Yes, milord." Geoffrey snapped his fingers and the Potter elves began popping into the vault and removing the Dark objects and books.

Harry stepped out of the vault. "Griphook?"

The stunned goblin said, "Yes, Your Grace?"

"Empty the cash and valuables of this vault into my main vault."

Suddenly a cart screeched to a halt and an old, gnarled Goblin leapt out.

"What is going on here?"

Harry looked at the Goblin. "I defeated the last heir to this vault in single combat on 31 October 1981. I've defeated the wards on the vault and have cast the Praedia Bellica. I was successful."

"And you are?"

Amanda stepped forward. "You address Harry James Potter, Duke of Magic of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of Magic and Magical Champion of the Crown and Realm, Elder Billhook."

"Ambassador? You are bonded? Harry Potter?"

The elder stopped talking and started to shake. Harry was about to go to his aid when Billhook fell to the floor of the tunnel and howled with laughter. He stood after a few moments, holding his sides, and looked at Harry. "Come now, Your Grace, don't pout. I was overcome by the thought of what Albus will do now. You wizards are so entertaining."

Griphook smiled and snapped his fingers. An army of goblins appeared and began moving everything the elves had left in the vault to Harry's main vault.

Harry smiled at Billhook. "So you don't mind that I destroyed Slytherin's vault and subjugated his line?"

"Of course not, Your Grace. I must say, it's been a long time coming."

"Billhook, I would like to put a ward up on this vault that will transport anyone entering it to my dungeons. I will send my rune Mistress to do the ward, along with one of my other bonded."

"Of course, Your Grace. The vault is yours by right of conquest. You may do with it what you will. We await Her Grace Hestia's work."

Harry looked at Billhook speculatively. "Billhook, I have a construction project I want to undertake and I've been told that goblins are really good at construction. I was wondering if you might have someone you can recommend?"

"I shall come and review the project with my top project manager, Your Grace. If you could please give Griphook the Apparation point coordinates, I would be happy to meet with you at 4 p.m. today, if Your Grace is agreeable?"

"Thank you, Billhook."

Nym had turned to Griphook and gave him the coordinates.

Billhook smiled a truly frightening smile. "Oh, no, Your Grace, thank you. I haven't had so much fun in years."

Nym said, "Harry, if you're through playing with the Goblins. we need to go. Remember, we have to go by Ollivander's."

Billhook chuckled again. "I shall see you at four, Your Grace."

Harry smiled and nodded. He handed Nym, Amelia, and Amanda into the cart and Griphook drove them back to the surface.

"Harry, please warn us before you do that again."

"Yes, Nym." He could feel the bonded's pride in him. "I couldn't have done it without you all."

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Back in Hache's office the numbers on the ledgers had increased astronomically when Harry took possession of the vaults.

Nym looked at Hache. "Can I have a copy of the inventory list, please?"

"Of course, Your Grace."

He handed her a bound volume that was a copy of the self-updating inventory list.

They went back to planning the financial conquest with the updated list of stocks and ownership positions from the now combined Potter vaults. Down in the caverns the vault doors of the founder's vaults added a P on the top left of the crest on the doors, except for the Slytherin vault. Its now dead S stayed exactly as it had been.

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Harry, Nym, Amanda, and Amelia exited the bank after applying their glamors or changing their faces, and proceeded down the alley to Ollivander's.

They entered the shop and Ollivander appeared. Harry knew how he did it now and chuckled.

"Do not give up my secrets, Your Grace. I keep yours."

Harry looked at him for a moment with a look that told Ollivander what would happen if he didn't. Ollivander smiled at Harry.

"You are the first one who has ever had the power to actually be able to carry that out, Your Grace, but I would keep your secrets anyway."

"Thank you, Mr. Ollivander."

"Now, what can I do for you, Your Grace?"

Harry drew the staff out of his back pocket and thought about it for a second. It expanded to its normal size. "Nym says I need a way to carry this other than in my pocket."

Ollivander goggled. "Yes, it's always good to listen to one's Alpha, Your Grace."

"Also, she's worried about it talking to me."

"It actually speaks to you? I mean, I knew your family had access to the staffs and that several members over the years had been able to wield this one, but I don't believe it spoke to any of them."

"You mean it's okay? It's actually his staff, isn't it?"

"Oh, my, yes, Duchess Nymphadora, it's fine. And yes, he carried it. He received it from his master, who received it from his. Its true origins are lost in antiquity."

Nym frowned at the use of her full name. Ollivander trundled off into the back of the store and came back with two wand holsters.

"Just the thing, Your Grace. Horntail hide, anti-summoning charm, automatic fit charm, chameleon charm."

Harry strapped one holster to his right arm and one to his left. He put his wand in the one on his left arm and the staff into the one on his right arm. The holsters slowly blended into Harry's skin and disappeared. Harry flicked his wrist and the staff popped into his hand in its wand form.

"Could we have one hundred of these holsters, Mr. Ollivander?"

Ollivander smiled. "Of course, Your Grace." He walked into the back and Harry walked up to the counter.

"That will be two hundred Galleons, sixteen Sickles, and twenty-eight Knuts, Your Grace."

After paying they left the shop and Harry ducked into the alley beside the shop. The mates joined him and he popped them silently to the entry hall.

Harry kissed Nym and said, "I'm going to PT. Want to join me?"

"Sure, Harry."

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Hogwarts
Gryffindor Common Room
2 p.m.

"Ron, where is Harry?"

"I don't know, Angelina. I haven't seen him."

"So we're down a Seeker and a Chaser. Grrr. I'll kill them when we find them. Meanwhile I have studying to do for NEWTs, so let's get this over with."

They spent the next hour chalking plays. Ron made several suggestions, earning him some respect.

When they were done he enlisted Neville and Lavender and they went in search of Harry. Lavender looked at Ron. "Ron, you know Hermione, Ginny, and Parvati are missing too, don't you?"

Ron stopped and thought for a moment. "So Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Parvati, and Katie are all missing?" Something was tugging at his memory, but he couldn't quite remember what.

Lavender said, "That's not all. Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis from Slytherin, Hannah Abbot, Megan Jones, Sally Anne Perks, and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, Shelia Fawcett, Mandy Brocklehurst, Su Li, Padma Patil, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecomb, Luna Montgomery, and Loony Lovegood from Ravenclaw are missing, too."

Suddenly the chart sprang into Ron's mind. He blushed furiously "Well, we'll look around a little more and then we'll have to wait until tonight and see if they show up."

Lavender, on seeing his blush, was having none of it, and neither was Neville. "Ron Weasley, you know something!" Lavender shouted.

Ron panicked and dragged her into a nearby broom closet. Lavender was yelling the whole time, so Ron, in his panicked state kissed her to shut her up. It was electrifying for both of them. Outside the broom closet, Neville's face flamed as the noises from inside became more heated groans than heated shouts.

Ron finally had to come up for air and Lavender melted into his chest. "Lavender, you have to be quiet about this. It could get them in big trouble or killed."

"Whatever you say, Ronniekins. Just kiss me again."

Ron looked around desperately for a moment and then did the only thing he could. He leaned into Lavender and kissed her. It quickly gravitated into a very heavy snogging match. Ron soon had the nipple of one of her heavy breasts in his mouth, and Lavender exploded. Moments later Ron was buried in her to the root, having taken her virginity, and she was grunting her way to a climax.

Neville stood for a moment listening and then fled, his face flaming.

The twins found him some time later, sitting on the front steps.

"Neville, how goes the search?"

Neville's face flamed and he responded, "Not well. Ron and Lavender got-eerrr-ahhhh-distracted. I haven't found them. Lavender said there were a whole bunch of girls missing."

Fred looked at George. "Which girls are missing, according to the Queen of Gossip?" George asked.

"Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis from Slytherin, Hannah Abbot, Megan Jones, Sally Anne Perks, and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, Shelia Fawcett, Mandy Brocklehurst, Su Li, Padma Patil, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecomb, Luna Montgomery, and Loony-eerrr-Luna Lovegood from Ravenclaw."

Fred raised an eyebrow. "And what distracted perfect Prefect Ron and Lav?"

"A broom closet," Neville said, his face flaming anew.

The twins grinned at each other over Neville's head. "Please show us-"

"-this magic broom closet-"

"-Lord Longbottom," they said in their twinspeak way. Neville knew things were about to go completely pear-shaped for Ron if he was still in the broom closet.

In the broom closet, Lavender clenched on Ron and he coated her insides with come; a pale light flared and they found themselves feeling each other's feelings. They settled into a slow grinding motion in place of the furious, frantic pounding of moments ago. Lavender was enjoying being a woman immensely. It had been a little awkward and had hurt for a moment, but now-well, now it was wonderful.

Neville led the twins to the broom closet and Fred opened his black Muggle book bag, which he had charmed to be bottomless, and removed a wizarding camera. George stood beside the door and grasped the handle, slowly turning it to silently disengage the latch.

Neville couldn't hear anything from the closet, so he hoped that Ron and Lavender had left.

George, having disengaged the lock, looked at Fred, who nodded and jerked the door open.

All hell broke loose.

The camera flashed, a girl screamed, a roar was heard and a pale white streak tipped in red shot out of the closet and attacked Fred. Another girlish scream was heard, followed by louder roaring, and the door slammed closed, following the pale white, red-tipped blur.

Fred stood frozen in shock with blood just starting to run out of his nose and over his lip; the camera was gone. George stood with a stunned look on his face and the door handle in his hand. Neville stood caught between screaming in fright and laughing hysterically.

Professor Flitwick, who was on his way to the Ravenclaw common room to investigate the rumor of missing female students, changed direction, attracted by the noise. He rounded the corner just in time to happen upon this frozen tableau.

"Mr. Weasley. what is going on here?"

Neville's head slowly swiveled and a look of relief passed over his features. "Thank Merlin it's not Snape."

Flitwick grinned at this and knew it was going to be an entertaining next few minutes. He closed the distance to the trio and heard rustling and furious whispers from the broom closet. Oh, yes, entertaining indeed.

Fred turned his head and looked at the tiny professor. "Well, sir, Neville reported odd noises emanating from this broom closet."

"So we came to investigate."

"When we opened the door-"

Here George decided to throw his brother a bone. Ron was a git, but he was family.

"-something pulled Ron and Lavender Brown into the closet."

Professor Flitwick could barely suppress his laughter. So the two pranksters had caught their brother in the broom closet with the buxom Miss Brown, and in attempting to embarrass him had gotten mauled somehow. "I see. Well, stand back and I'll see to recovering your brother and Miss Brown."

The boys stood back and Fred clamped a hand over his nose. George clamped a hand firmly over Neville's mouth to silence the repetitions of, "Thank Merlin it's not Snape," that were still emanating from the nearly hysterical with relief Lord Longbottom.

Professor Flitwick opened the door and found Ron holding Lavender behind him, wand pointing into the dark recesses of the closet and an alert look on his face.

The professor thought it was a worthy effort and might have passed muster except for the wrongly buttoned blouse of Lavender and the completely unbuttoned robe of Mr. Weasley, which had what appeared to be a rather large, pink, lacey brassiere hanging half out of one pocket.

He decided to let the group off the hook as they had at least provided some entertainment and the young Mr. Weasley had apparently managed to land one on his brother. Also Ms, Brown seemed to be very unlikely to complain, judging by the way she was hanging on Mr. Weasley.

"All right there, then, Mr. Weasley?

"Come out now, and good work protecting Miss Brown. You students take Mr. Weasley to get that nose looked at and I'll investigate this closet."

He snickered as the students fled. When they had safely turned the corner, his snickers turned to guffaws.

The group pelted into the common room. Neville was still saying over and over, "Thank Merlin it wasn't Snape."

The twins were almost hysterical with relief and Lavender was still hanging on Ron.

Fred looked at Ron. "We need to have a conversation, o brother mine." He grabbed Ron by one arm and George grabbed the other. They dragged him up the stairs, with Neville following.

Lavender sat by the fire, bereft. Angelina and Alicia closed in on her like sharks, Romilda Vane trailing them.

Angelina sat and wrinkled her nose. Lavender smelt of sex. "Lavender, what happened?"

"Eerrr, well, I went with Ron and Neville to find Harry. We couldn't find him, and then I told Ron that I had heard a bunch of other girls were missing besides Hermione, Ginny, and Katie. He got all excited and told me not to yell; then he dragged me into a broom closet and when I tried to explain it to him he kissed me...." She trailed off and went all starry-eyed.

Angelina looked at Alicia over the top of her head. Both of them thought, Ron? EEEWWW!

"Lav, what other girls are missing?"

"I heard Daphne Greengrass and Tracey Davis from Slytherin, Hannah Abbot, Megan Jones, Sally Anne Perks, and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff, Shelia Fawcett, Mandy Brocklehurst, Su Li, Padma Patil, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecomb, Luna Montgomery, and Loony Lovegood from Ravenclaw, and of course Hermione, Parvati, and Ginny."

"Okay, so Ron has you in the broom closet and then what happened?"

"It was wonderful, Angelina. I've never felt so connected, and when he kissed me it was just-just-wow. But anyway, just when things were getting interesting-" A faint blush crept across her cheeks.

Angelina thought that to get a blush out of Lav Ron must have been shagging her; that explained the smell.

"One of the twins jerked the door open and the other took a picture and that nasty little Neville was standing there gawking!" Here her blush became a full-on full-body blush. Angelina looked at Alicia again.

At the same time they thought, She shagged Ron. EEEWWW!

"Ronnie defended my honor and punched the twin with the camera in the nose and took it from him, then he slammed the door shut. The next thing we knew, Professor Flitwick opened the door and sent us back here. I don't know why he was laughing, though."

"Could it be because you forgot how to button your blouse, Lav? Or maybe it was your bra hanging out of Ron's pocket, or maybe that you could cut glass with your nipples?" Romilda asked nastily.

Lavender glanced down at her chest and her blush renewed itself.

Angelina said, "Right, then." She got up and headed for the stairs to the boys' dorms. Alicia, Lavender, and Romilda followed her. She went straight up the stairs to the fifth year boys' dorm.

"HEY, THIS IS THE BOYS' DORM!"

"Shut up, Ron. Fred, what the hell is going on?"

"Ah, we were just attempting to discover that, Angelina. Please, you and the ladies come in. Make yourselves at home."

"Oy, this is not your room, Fred!"

"Shut up, Ron."

The room was stunned for a moment as Neville's authoritative side reared its head. Romilda moved over and sat on his bed, not too close but definitely closer than she had ever been before.

Finally George shook his head and said, "So we'd gotten up to the point where Lavender's list of girls had come out. Do we know anything else?"

"Professors McGonagall, Sinistra, Vector, and Babbling are not in the castle, and Madam Rosmerta is not at the Three Broomsticks. At least that's what Filch was mumbling about earlier."

Neville looked at Romilda. "What were you doing that you overheard Filch?"

"I was talking to Myrtle in her bathroom. She hears lots of things and she's lonely."

Romilda shrugged and Neville patted her leg. It thrilled both of them.

"What the hell? Has the love bug gotten loose around here? Ron and Lav shagging in broom closets, Neville and Romilda playing touchy-feelies, Angelina chasing Fred, and you, George-the next time I catch you looking at me in the shower, you'd better do something about it," Alicia muttered.

"Oy, who said we were shagging?"

They all just looked at Ron as Lavender blushed crimson to her roots along with him.

"Hrmm-hmm, back on point. What's happened to all these women and Harry?"

"Maybe they're all somewhere together, Fred?"

"Could be, Angelina, but what do we do?"

"Hold our tongues and see what happens."

Everyone looked at Alicia and nodded.

"Now, gentlemen, if you'll pardon us, we have things to do. Come on, Lav. You too, Romilda."

The girls trooped out behind Angelina, Lav giving Ron moon-eyes and Romilda looking speculatively at Neville.

Fred looked at George. "Gentlemen, I believe it's time to have a talk."

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Angelina led the ladies down the stairs and then back up into the girls' dorms. In the fifth year girls' dorm they sat on the beds and she looked at Lavender. "What were you thinking, Lavender? You know the consequences of losing your virginity before your maturity."

"Only if we didn't bond, Angelina."

Alicia whipped out her wand and cast a charm. Lavender glowed for a moment. "Thank Morgana for small favors. Did you use the spell, Lav?"

"I'm on the potion. Mum put me on it to get me regular. It was driving her insane for me to miss my periods. I told her it wasn't necessary, but she said better safe than swollen."

Angelina, Alicia, and Romilda just looked at her.

"What?"

Romilda finally said, "So you were a virgin?"

Lavender snapped, "Of course I'm not, stupid. I didn't want to stop my magic's growth."

Romilda nodded. "Sorry, Lav, it's just that you talk about 'it' an awful lot."

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Godric's Hollow
Apparation point
3:50 p.m.

Billhook, Hache, and Hookknife appeared at the Apparation point. A lovely deep maroon and gold gentleman's brougham with one huge Nightmare drawing it stood waiting.

Joel, the elf driving the carriage, held the door for them. "Gentlebeings, if you will? The Duke awaits you."

Billhook smiled and led the way into the carriage. As it was in the glory days, he thought to himself. In Gobbledygook he said to the Goblins accompanying him, "Hache, you will call for any assistance you need for your principal. Hookknife, anything you require for this project will be made available."

The goblins proceeded in silence; Hache and Hookknife were thinking how important this client must be for the head of Gringotts and their tribe to be handling these details himself.

The brougham made excellent time and they soon arrived at the castle. The structure took Hookknife's breath away. It also scared him a little. It would be hard to live up to this standard of construction.

They arrived at the castle, and after the carriage stopped they were amazed to find Harry himself opening the door for them.

Harry looked to the elf and the Nightmare first after the goblins had alit from the carriage.

"Joel, Melinda, thank you. Geoffrey will let you know when you're needed again." The elf nodded and the Nightmare nickered softly.

"Billhook, Hache, and-?"

"Hookknife, Your Grace."

"And Hookknife. Welcome to Potter Castle. If you'll follow me, we'll meet the Headmistress of the new school in the drawing room."

Harry led them in and the Goblins were amazed by the quality of workmanship and maintenance of the dastle. In the drawing room off the library Harry moved up to the group of mates standing beside the long table that was pushed up against the illusioned wall overlooking the Hollow.

"Chu, this is Hookknife. I believe he will be managing the project."

Chu turned to the Goblins and said in Gobbledygook, "May your blades be always sharp and your tunnels filled with gold, proud warriors."

The Goblins were stopped cold. Finally Billhook said, "May your sons and your sister wives' sons always be victorious, great lady." Chu blushed prettily.

"We require a building in which to school young magical creatures. We wish the academy to be divided into a primary school for six- to ten-year-olds consisting of grades one through five in the shape of a septagon, connected at one wall to a middle school in the shape of a square for eleven- to fourteen-year-olds, consisting of grades six through eight, connected at the opposite wall to a irregular septagon containing a high school for fourteen- to eighteen-year-olds, consisting of grades ten through twelve. We would expect a maximum population of two hundred students per grade, for a total of twenty-four hundred students.

"In a separate but connected building we would like to have a university for eighteen- to twenty-five-year-olds and from freshmen undergrads to Ph.D. candidates, using the same irregular septagon shape. We would expect a maximum population of two hundred students in each year in the university also for sixteen hundred students, giving the Royal Academy a population of four thousand."

Hookknife said, "Your Grace realizes that there are only forty to fifty students a year in Hogwarts, and not many more than that in Beauxbatons and Durmstrang?"

"Yes, we do, but that's only the human students able to afford it, not the sentient magical creatures and not the middle income and below human magical students."

The Goblins were gobsmacked. "Your Grace intends to open a school for all sentient magical creatures?"

"Yes. As part of his Grace's mandate as the Duke of Magic of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of Magic and Magical Champion of the Crown and Realm, he has been charged with equally educating and treating all sentient magical creatures. In order to do this we believe one of the first steps is an equal high-quality education. The easiest way to accomplish that is to educate the students together."

"Please, Your Grace-the magic of each species is different."

Harry sighed and released his aura. The castle responded, as did the runestones in the valley. In the fading light the gigantic Aegishjalmur was clearly visible. Billhook, Hache, and Hookknife began to shake.

"Magic is magic, Hookknife." Harry extended his arms and elf-popped them all to the center of the Aegishjalmur in the very middle of the valley.

"This will be your center point, Hookknife."

The goblin looked at Harry in awe and dropped a runestone from his pocket.

"I envision a triangular building for grades one through twelve, divided as Chu has asked. The children will be in four-person rooms. The rooms are to all be suitable for any race. Two rooms will share a bathroom. Transport runes will be used to move from floor to floor, but there will be staircases in the corners of the buildings as well. Administration and the library will be on the sixth floor. Indoor sports facilities will be on the fifth floor. The building will be wired for Muggle electrical and phone lines in mithril conduits and the conduits grounded to a rune-powered ward anchorstone in a vault at least three floors under the school. Kitchens, dining facilities, and elves' quarters will be in the first basement. Storage, stables, Muggle electrical services and data servers and connections in the second basement in a room shielded in mithril. An indoor swimming facility and quarters for mere people students in the third basement with the wardstone anchor under the bottom of the pool. The pool will be connected to the five hundred-acre lake outside by a warded tunnel.

"Outdoors, besides the lake there will be bridle paths which will double as running trails. Four Quidditch pitches, four football pitches-" Harry smiled- "one cricket ground, and a beach on the lake.

"Questions?"

Hookknife raised his hand like a child in school. While Harry had been talking, his aura had grown until it was a burning whiteness even to the mates. Billhook cringed at Hookknife's raised hand. He hoped the idiot wasn't about to be fried to a grease-spot. He would hate to have to apologize to the Duke for littering his realm with the idiot's corpse.

"Your Grace, what is a 'cricket ground'?"

Harry fell over and rolled around on the ground, laughing. Nym rolled her eyes, and all of the bonded heard Sarah. "Harry, really, it's not nice to make fun of Andrew when he can't hear you!"

Harry howled with laughter.

"My father will show you, Hookknife," Nym said while she kicked Harry gently in his ribs. This provoked more howling.

Billhook smiled again as Harry's aura faded. "I told you, Your Grace, very entertaining."

Harry recovered as Chu, Minerva, Aurora, Septima, Bathsheba, Ann, and Hermione fell into serious discussions with Hookknife.

Harry, with Nym on his arm, walked around the Hollow with Billhook and Hache, talking about life, the universe, and everything.

At 7:45 p.m. they made it back to the center where the main group was still talking. Geoffrey and the elves had laid a groaning table. Harry seated Nym and the mates were seated by the elves. The goblins seated themselves, and as the sun set they all tucked into a very fine dinner.

"Your Grace, we thank you for considering us for this project and will work with you very hard to realize this vision."

"Thank you, Billhook. I'm sure it would be much harder to accomplish without the skill and knowledge of your people."

The Slytherin and not a few of the other mates moaned with desire in the bond.

"Morgana, it's like being bonded to a political genius stuffed inside a sex machine. I've never desired someone so much."

At Tracey's comment in the bond, a flurry of mental schedule-checking went on.

"Very smooth, Harry. Her Majesty appreciates the labor you and my fellow Alpha have done this day."

Dinner concluded and the Goblins stood. "Your Grace, Hache will attend Her Grace Narcissa daily here at Potter Castle and Hookknife will attend Her Grace Chu."

Harry smiled and bowed deeply to Billhook. In Gobbledygook he said, "Sharp knives and full veins, clan chief."

The stunned Goblins disappeared from view and Harry spread his arms and moved the bonded to the sitting room of the castle. He made it no further as Tracey attacked him and it turned into a writhing pile of mates.

At midnight Minerva regretfully led the satiated Hogwarts professors back to Hogwarts. Shortly after 2 a.m. Geoffrey and the ladie's maid elves moved the bonded to their beds, Dobby taking Harry with Cho impaled on him and asleep on his chest and Winky taking Nym.

Minerva had never been so glad of the elf-popping ability, as she was able to get straight into her bed before Mandy's orgasm hit her, her mates continuing their activities after waking during the move.

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Hogwarts
Gryffindor Common Room
Just after curfew

"They aren't back, Fred."

"Obviously, George. I'm sitting here with you."

"Harry, Ginny, and all the rest of the missing Gryffindors' trunks are gone."

"I was there for that, too, George."

"Send him an owl in the morning, then?"

"Yes, it's the only thing to do."

"What about Ron?"

"I suspect he and Lavender will stay bonded unless he does something completely idiotic or she loses control of him."

"Mum will be pleased; the Browns are a good Light-side family."

"Yes, right up until she finds out about Ginny."

"She's going to throw a right wobbler."

"The master of understatement you are tonight."

"I'm worried, Fred. This could all go very pear-shaped very soon. The Slytherins are going to try something as soon as this seeps into their tiny little brains."

"Not to mention Harry took half the Quidditch power out of Gryffindor."

George snorted. "Angelina's already working on Demelza and Patricia-Neville, too. Ravenclaw is going to try Morag at Seeker. She's their reserve anyway."

Fred grunted and got up. They headed up to bed.