FicWad

Harry Potter and the Witches' Secret
Chapter 18
10 Sept 1995 (Sidereal)

Ministry of Magic

The Minister's secretary took off her coat and sat behind her desk. She looked at the Minister's schedule and sighed; another day of arse-lickers simpering over her and then fawning over Fudge. She had to find another job. The next piece of shite pureblood ponce that tried to get a look down her cleavage and then impress her with his bloodline was going to get hexed stupid.

Well, might as well get the tea on. His Imperial Ministeriousness would be in soon.

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Hogwarts

Dumbledore woke and dressed. He left his bedroom and entered his office. On his desk the student roster lay open with two new notations. Emma Dobbs, Hufflepuff, and Victoria Frobisher, Gryffindor, were missing now as well. Damnit, this would only take up his time. He needed to find Potter, not waste time trying to find more of these useless little sluts. He wandered down to the Great Hall for breakfast.

There at the Staff Table, Minerva sat watching over the Hall. She was, to his eyes, surrounded by a warm golden glow, the same glow that he had seen in the mirror yesterday morning. Ah, well, he was sure that with a little of the old charm he could still work this out.

He approached the Staff Table and sat. "Minerva, good morning."

Minerva turned her eyes on Dumbledore. Somehow, through her long exposure to him and her new abilities in Legilimency that she had picked up from Chu, she divined his thoughts and laughed in his face.

"Professor Dumbledore, I advise you to give up all thoughts along those lines. I know that I hold the wards, and I know what that means. Also I have no interest in you; as a matter of fact, it's all I can do to tolerate your presence. Do not overstep yourself or you will be removed. You serve a useful purpose here; concentrate on your new titular duties as Headmaster and Potions Professor and you'll be fine."

"You forget your place, Professor. I am the Headmaster here." Dumbledore knew how to handle this challenge to his power. He would simply overpower her and show her her place.

Minerva smiled. She felt Harry watching in a raging fury from within the bond. The wards and Hogwarts herself were receiving massive doses of magic from him. "Professor, don't be an idiot. I can crush you like a bug-and if I don't, Hogwarts will."

Hogwarts had had enough of this wizard's bluster. She focused a tiny bit of her magic on him and pressed firmly on his magic. Then she blasted past his Occlumency barrier and told him in no uncertain terms exactly what his limits were and the penalty for exceeding them. He resisted and she gave him a minuscule flash of the penalty. Dumbledore reeled in pain.

"Albus, are you all right?" Madam Pomfrey said, regarding him with alarm.

"Yes, Poppy, fine. Just my age catching up with me."

Poppy Pomfrey looked skeptical. Albus had appeared to be terrified and then in great pain.

"Professor Dumbledore, you will take over Potions. Filius will have to take Defense until you can find a suitable replacement for Umbridge."

"I'm sure Severus will be returning to teach Potions, Minerva. I'll speak to Amanda today and I'm sure I'll be able to have him released."

"It's Professor McGonagall, Professor. Madam Bones has already informed you that the prisoners taken yesterday are to be interrogated today and then a decision will be made as to their disposition. I have adjusted the class schedules, so until you can hire new Professors of whom I approve, you will have to take Potions."

Dumbledore ground his teeth. "Professor McGonagall, as I said, I will contact Amelia and have Severus released today. In fact, I'll do it now."

He rose and left the Great Hall. Minerva sighed and stood. "Your attention, please!" She spoke in a normal volume, but Hogwarts made sure her voice was heard everywhere in the Castle. "Professor Aurora Sinistra will be taking over as Head of Slytherin House. Professor Dumbledore will be teaching Potions, and Professor Flitwick will be instructing Defense and Charms."

While she paused to let the cheering die down, including, oddly, cheering that had come from the Slytherin table, Dumbledore ground his teeth as he strode toward his office.

"Your cooperation in these trying times is appreciated," Minerva continued. "Any deviation from the rules of the school will be dealt with severely. You will all be refreshed on the rules and then tested on them in your History of Magic classes. Failing the test will result in your detention with Mr. Filch."

It was a silent student body that gazed back at Minerva. The Gryffindor table was silent also as they digested what had just happened.

The noise picked up as the discussions began and the students finished breakfast.

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Hogwarts
Headmaster's office

Dumbledore tossed a pinch of Floo powder in the fire. "MLE Director's office. Amelia? Are you there?"

"Professor Dumbledore, what can I do for you this fine morning?"

"May I come through, Amelia?"

"Why, Professor? Don't you have classes to see to? I mean, I can't imagine that you've found replacements for your Defense or Potions teachers yet."

"Ahhhh...that is what I wished to discuss with you, Amelia."

"It's Director or Minister, Professor. So you want to discuss? Start discussing. You have two minutes."

Dumbledore was chagrined. He had expected to be invited through. "Amelia, I can personally vouch for Severus. He has fully recanted and the man has changed. I really need him back here."

Amelia was flabbergasted. Dumbledore was a powerful Legilimens; he had to know Snape had been raping the pureblood women and Obliviating them. "So you'll vouch for this rapist Death Eater, will you? Does that mean you condoned his actions or just permitted them? Did you participate, Dumbledore? Never mind. I'll be there in two minutes."

She flipped a pinch of Floo powder in the fire to keep the connection open as Dumbledore snatched his head back. She pressed a button on her desk and said, "Send the duty squad to my office."

The door opened and Auror Shacklebolt entered with Aurors Jones and Tonks. Master Auror Moody stumped in behind them.

"We're Flooing to the Hogwarts Headmaster's office. Dumbledore will be arrested upon our arrival and then questioned under Veritaserum."

Shacklebolt started in surprise, but followed Amelia into the fire.

The Aurors stepped out one by one to find Dumbledore already bound by the Incarcerous Amelia had cast upon stepping out of the fireplace.

"Auror Moody, administer the Veritaserum."

Shacklebolt was really stunned now. Amelia had defeated Dumbledore in a duel. He must have let her; yes, obviously he had something in mind.

Moody shook his head and stepped up to Dumbledore and administered six drops of Veritaserum. He waited a moment and then gave three more. Then began a game of cat and mouse; Amelia was the cat.

"Name?"

"Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore."

"Are you aware of the rapes and Obliviations committed by Severus Snape on pureblood female students of Slytherin House?"

"No." Albus congratulated himself on this dissimulation. He was in fact aware of a rape, but it had been of a Mudblood male. He did have some suspicions, though.

He had no idea that Amelia had skimmed this thought off as soon as it had crossed his mind.

"Why do you want Severus Snape back at Hogwarts?"

"He is my spy in the Dark Lord's camp." Dumbledore managed to not say that Snape was also an integral player in his control of Potter. Severus abused Potter and Dumbledore comforted the boy.

Amelia thought there was something else, but she also knew what it was; having seen Harry's memories of Snape's memories, she probably knew more than Dumbledore did. She skimmed Dumbeldore's thoughts again and caught it.

"Is Snape a Legilimens?"

"Yes."

"So he knows Occlumency."

"Yes; to facilitate his spying efforts I taught him Occlumency."

"What level is he?"

"Past Mastery. Even I cannot penetrate his shields."

Dumbledore was smug about this. Severus had done very well under his tutelage. And then he had worked hard improving his skills. He also believed himself to be winning here. Amelia had let him go right on the cusp of admitting some things.

"Other than being your spy, why do you want Snape back here?"

Oops, he thought. Okay, give up the loyalty oath. "He has sworn a loyalty oath to me. I know I'll be able to control him."

Amelia was stunned. Loyalty oaths outside of a fealty bond were worthless. If Snape had a fealty bond to Dumbledore, then he could do nothing that went against Dumbledore's interests. That meant that all of those activities had at least complicit ignorance from Dumbledore.

"So Snape has a fealty bond to you?" she persisted.

"No; I didn't think it was necessary, and he does not have the requisite life debt to me."

Moody couldn't contain himself. "You idiot, his oath is worthless without a fealty bond. He doesn't have to have a life debt to you to have a fealty bond."

"I know, but he would not undertake the fealty bond without one."

"I wonder why?"

"Alastor, there's no need to be sarcastic."

"Feh! This idiot has been telling Snape his secrets for more than fifteen years and Snape has been running straight to his Death Eater scum buddies with them. No wonder we were losing the last war. You have a lot of good people's blood on your hands, Dumbledolt."

The Veritaserum wore off of Dumbledore.

"Albus, you idiot, I should kill you where you sit. You've sold us all out to Voldemort for what? A Death Eater? You idiot."

Dumbledore sat shocked. He could not believe Alastor would speak to him like this.

"Amelia, I will have Severus back."

"No, you won't. He's been questioned and has admitted to hundreds of rapes and murders. He will be tried, found guilty, and executed."

"Executed? Why?"

"Are you deaf, or have you gone completely senile? Didn't you hear me? He's a criminal-a completely unreconstructed Death Eater."

"But his value as a spy? It is for the greater good." Dumbledore looked in her eyes and tried, with his Legilimency, to implant a suggestion.

Amelia felt his probe and ignored it she steered him to a mental simacrula she had constructed and let him fill its empty head with his suggestion. "Whose greater good, Dumbledore? Not your female students who are the target of his rapes; not your male students who he terrorizes; not Muggles who he rapes and kills without mercy. Maybe Voldemort's good. Is that who the greater good is for, Dumbledore? You've outlived your usefulness. I can't arrest you now, as you apparently did not know about his activities, but believe me I will be trying. As soon as I can prove anything, you'll be arrested, tried, and executed. Until then, keep your nose in your school business. I'll be reporting this to the Wizengamot and seeking your removal as Supreme Mugwump and Chief Warlock. Good day."

She turned and strode to the fire. She threw in a handful of his Floo powder, announced, "MLE Director's office," and stepped into the fire. The Aurors followed. As Moody stepped through, he pointed his wand at Dumbledore and mumbled, "Finite Incantatem."

The ropes disappeared from Dumbledore, and he sat stunned. The bell rang and he knew he had no options left. He left his office on the way to Potions. He was still thinking, though; he had to get control of Potter, it all hinged on that. Once he had Potter he would be back in control of the situation. How to get Potter was the problem. He would have to talk to Alastor, calm him down. Perhaps he could "arrange" for Alastor to acquire Potter for him. A little judicious use of the Imperious-it had worked before.

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Potter Castle

The mates had awoken and lay in their warm beds feeling Harry and Emma slowly making love. Harry was exploring her entire body with lips, teeth, tongue, and hands. She was repaying the favor.

Harry withdrew from her as he came and Luna sheathed him, Emma howled in disappointment and then, after Harry had come in Luna, Emma pushed Luna onto her back and dove into her folds, licking and sucking and launching Luna into a massive orgasm. As Emma ate Luna, Harry put his cock against Emma's sopping entrance and pushed into her gently until just short of rupturing her hymen. Emma regained her senses when Harry stopped penetrating her and attempted to throw herself back onto him, but he held her hips frozen in space. He slowly but surely thrust into her, stopping short of her hymen every time. Luna launching into her second orgasm finally pushed Emma over the edge that Harry had driven her to, and she squealed and came.

When Emma fell incoherent onto the bed and Harry rolled onto his back, Victoria crawled up his body, and straddling him, she began to ride him. Harry raised his hands to her and fondled her gently. Victoria leaned down to kiss him and her hips hit the correct angle. She thrust back onto him and was only stopped from fully impaling herself by Susan's hands on her butt. She growled at Susan

"Please, Harry, I need you so bad. Please stop teasing and take me. I want to be fully yours."

"Victoria, not yet. I need to talk to your parents. We'll do it today."

She settled a little, and with Susan's help he brought her to orgasm without breaking her hymen.

Susan finished Harry with her mouth and shared it with Victoria.

Harry got up and went into the shower and found Sally waiting for him. They very thoroughly practised getting her pregnant and then soaped and rinsed each other.

Nym, meanwhile, had gone into the bedroom and cast a contraceptive charm on Victoria and Emma. If they were going to play like this, they need to be on the potion.

"I'll add it to their breakfast potions, Nym," Marie told her, and received a warm caress from Nym and Harry in the bond.

Harry returned to the room and went into the dressing room to dress for PT. He escorted the mates to the gym and began his routine.

In between exercises a different mate took Harry, the last being a double team of Hannah and Anna after the run. It was extremely erotic for them to be writhing together on the mats with a hot, sweaty Harry.

"Morgana! I love Dad, but I so wish my mother was unbonded. That is the sexiest thing I've ever seen," Daphne breathed as she watched Anna cradle Hannah's torso against her chest as Harry drove into Hannah remorselessly.

Tracey just raised an eyebrow and pushed Daphne onto the mats. "No sense wasting all that energy, Daphne." She slid into a sixty-nine with her best friend under her and ate her to a screaming orgasm. She raised her head and discovered they had not been alone.

The mates rose from the mats in pairs and groups and followed Harry into cool-down stretches and then into the cold-water pool.

After that they wandered to breakfast, and as they ate they watched the scene at Hogwarts unfold through Minerva. By the end of it Harry was seething.

He suppressed his anger and kissed his mates goodbye as they went to work.

"Amelia, please meet us at the Ossuary at noon. I would like to take possession of you and Susan today."

Amelia looked into Harry's and then Nym's eyes and smiled hugely. She knew that nothing that had happened today would matter in the least. She was going to be completely possessed.

As the early morning passed, Harry became more and more angry at Dumbledore. Finally his aura was constantly on, and Luna was hugely frustrated. She could hardly see because of Harry. She walked over to him while they were all in the library and Vanished his clothes. Then she Vanished hers. She pushed him down onto the cushioning charm she had cast on the floor and proceeded to make love to him.

The mates joined in. and from nine to eleven-thirty they took turns with him until they were too sensitive to continue. At eleven-thirty an exhausted but no longer angry Harry rose, and picking up Hermione, he headed for the master suite. He entered the bath and walked straight in. He pulled Hermione onto himself and thrust gently into her until she clenched around him. He filled her belly with come and they collapsed together for a few moments.

Upon recovering they dressed, and the mates came into the private sitting room of the master suite. Harry and Hermione entered and he spread his arms to encompass the others. Instantly they appeared in the entry hall of the Ossuary.

They talked lightly until Amelia appeared silently in the entry hall. Harry immediately said, "I, Harry James Potter, accept the terms of the contract of troth between the House of Bones and the House of Potter and extend it to all unbonded females of the house."

A light glowed around the house, and the Aegishjalmur lit up. The light found Susan and Harry and connected them. Then it reached out to Amelia and connected her to them. They ended up on their knees, and the House rang a deep gong note.

They were helped to their feet and were all smiles. "Wow, that was strange."

"Yes, I would agree, Susan. The Potter wards are immense, Harry, intelligent and hugely powerful."

"Well, since we're here at lunch time, let's eat with Amelia, Harry."

"Sure, Ginny."

"And then, Harry?"

"I want to visit Grimmauld Place and see what Sirius is up to."

Lunch went very well. A pleasant meal with beautiful company settled Harry right down.

After lunch Harry stood and he and the ladies all went to refresh themselves. Harry wandered to the master suite he had used last, and after using the facilities he stood grinning as he looked at the bed.

"Memories, Harry?"

"Yes, Parvati, very good ones."

"Oh yes, Lavenders' head will explode with jealousy," she purred.

Harry laughed. "Why, you mean thing, you."

They walked arm in arm back to the entry hall and Harry kissed Amelia goodbye. After she left he raised his arms and they all disappeared from the Ossuary.

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They appeared in the entry hall of Grimmauld Place and found Kreacher on his knees in apparent supplication in front of Sirius's mother's portrait. Harry grinned evilly and froze the elf and the painting with a wave of his hand.

Sirius came out of the study, the wards having told him someone had arrived, and looked at the bizarre tableau. "Harry, did you do that?"

"Yes, Sirius."

"How long will they stay like that?"

"I don't know. I can remove it."

"No, don't. It kind of grows on you. I'll get Tippy in to take care of the house."

"Sirius, you have more house-elves?"

"Twenty-seven, Hermione, why?"

"Why do you put up with Kreacher, then?"

"Who else would take him, Hermione? Freedom would be a death sentence for him. He was made they way he is by my mother, so I don't feel right about killing him."

Hermione blinked. Sirius chuckled at her "Not conforming with your image, daughter?"

Hermione blinked again. Sirius laughed. "Your lord was my godson and ward, Hermione; you're his bonded wife. That makes you a Black now."

Hermione's head started slowly spinning at the implications. Her mates chuckled at her.

"Sirius, stop hurting Hermione's head. I want you and Remus to come to the Castle tonight and talk to us about our plans. I'll send elves to pick you up."

"Sure, pup. I'll let Remus know."

"So what have you been up to?"

"Watching the Wizengamot and the Ministry, fighting with Dumbledore over you, that kind of thing."

"Why have you been fighting with Dumbledolt?"

Sirius barked his laugh and replied, "Just that-he is a dolt. He's become completely fixated on having control of you and is willing to do anything to get it. You must be careful."

"Is he even paying attention to Vulturewart?"

"Not that I can tell. He hasn't started any new operations and isn't even discussing the reports that have been turned in to him about the ongoing missions."

"Well, this is one of the things we're going to have to talk about. I'm not sure we can tolerate a madman running the Order. I think we might have to move to replace him."

Sirius blinked and then smiled. Nym and the other bonded Order members' knowledge of the Order had come to Harry. "With who, Harry? Most of the members are diehard Dumbledore supporters."

"I was thinking along the lines of a leadership council. I mean, the Order doesn't exactly require a charismatic leader as they're mostly an intelligence-gathering organization."

"Their only action units are you, Remus, Alastor, Hestia, Nym, Emmeline, and Dumbledolt. I believe six-sevenths of those are in my camp. So we'll have to engineer a little coup. I am sure the ladies will be willing to help."

Sirius thought about it and then nodded. "Yes, we could probably do it."

"Okay, well, we'll see you tonight, then. We have to get back to the Castle. I need to talk to the Goblins."

"Fine, Harry. Daughters, lovely to see you all."

Harry smiled at the storm of chatter in the bond and raised his arms. The bonded faded from view.

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Hogwarts Castle
Staff Lounge
Late afternoon

"Minerva, spill."

"Xiomara Hooch, what are you on about?"

"You, Septima, Aurora, and Bathsheba are running around here with those little freshly-shagged faces like teenagers. Don't think Poppy, Irma, Pomona, and I haven't noticed. And those glamors might fool that squib Umbitch and Albus the idiot, but they aren't fooling us. You put Dumbledore firmly in his place this morning. All four of you have bonded to seriously powerful wizards and we will find out whom."

"Can they be told under the oaths governing the secret?"

"Yes, Harry. Minerva, get reinforcing oaths from them; you all will need allies."

"If you're sure, Nym."

"All right, ladies, but we'll require your oaths."

As they rendered their oaths to not reveal anything they learned from Minerva, Aurora, Septima or Bathsheba, Aurora cast silencing and locking spells on the room, drawing on her mates and Harry. Nobody would be coming into the room-or eavesdropping.

Poppy, Irma, Pomona, and Xiomara perked up and leaned forward in their seats.

Minerva looked at them and said, "Harry Potter."

You could hear a pin drop for all of five seconds, and then Poppy said, "Minerva Elizabeth McGonagall! He's a fifteen-year-old boy! I mean, really, how could you?"

She looked at the innocent faces that Aurora, Septima, and Bathsheba had put on and her face turned an ugly shade of red. "You all have sexually abused a student. Well, I never in all my years...."

Poppy sat back down, looking like she was going to cry, just as Harry materialized behind her. He placed a Pensieve on the table, and before the stunned witches could even speak, he faded out again.

Minerva stood and placed a memory in the Pensieve, followed by Aurora, Septima, and Bathsheba. She waved them forward and Poppy, Pomona, Irma, and Xiomara stood and gathered around the Pensieve. They leaned in and were drawn into the others' memories: discovering they were in compulsion, the crushing blow that was the discovery that it was for Harry Potter, then the shuddering elation when Emmeline told them the plan. The gut-wrenching guilt, and finally the satisfied, satiated confidence that they felt when he loved them with all his giant heart and their bond mates reinforced and joined him in that love.

Pomona raised her head from the Pensieve with tears running down her face. She moved to Minerva and hugged her. "I'm so glad you found him. That is perhaps the strongest bond I have ever seen."

She leaned back and looked at the bonded. "Morgana, he loves you all so very much."

"Minerva, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I had no right to accuse you."

"Poppy, it's fine-and if you hadn't accused us, I would have been upset. It was no small thing for any of us."

Harry reappeared and took the Pensieve away.

"Minerva, how does he do that?"

"He's bonded to Hogwarts herself and he's immensely powerful, Xiomara."

"Minerva, did you hit your head? Or has Harry shagged you senseless? I saw all that, but that thing he does is not Apparation."

Minerva laughed. "Susan calls it some kind of 'Harryistic' method of magical travel. It appears to be a unique combination of elf-popping and Apparation. It goes straight through wards, is totally silent, and you can stop yourself short of appearing and remain invisible but still see and hear what's happening." She grinned slyly. "And no, I didn't hit my head, but yes, several times."

Xiomara blinked and grinned, then said, "I wonder if that's how Dumbledore stays invisible. Hey, would Harry teach me?"

Minerva's eyes widened for a moment and she thought about it; then she smiled widely.

Irma said, "Uh-oh, I haven't seen that look since she was a seventh year. What are you planning, Minerva?"

"Me, Irma? Why, nothing- but I bet he can't do it now."

"Why not, Minerva?"

"The wards have switched to me, Pomona."

"So you are the Headmistress, then?"

"Yes. Dumbledore will continue as the titular Headmaster and Potions Professor. I will execute the actual duties of Headmistress, and Filius will be the Deputy Head. An American witch named Marie Crouching Cougar will be taking the DADA position. And I'll ask him, Xiomara."

"Very nice, Headmistress."

"Yes, I'd be happy to teach, Minerva."

"What about the Slytherin, Marie?"

"I think Aurora and I can handle a few snakes, Harry."

"Thank you, Daphne-and Harry, if we have trouble I'm sure you and Hogwarts can keep it from getting out of hand."

"It would be nice to have another of my mates here, Harry."

"Yes, Hogwarts."

"Squuueeeeee! I heard her, I heard her!"

"Hermione Jane Potter, please don't do that."

"Yes, Nym."

Hermione's very embarrassed and distracted answer had all the mates chuckling. Hermione had immediately dived into a conversation with Hogwarts and was no longer paying attention to the bond.

Harry shook his head in wonder. He couldn't believe the fascination Hermione had with Hogwarts. She'd been in love with the Castle before she ever saw it. Harry had fallen in love with Hogwarts that first year, but with Hermione it had been love before sight.

In the staff room outside the bond, Pomona considered for a moment. "Where are Snape and Umbridge, Minerva?"

"They're being held at a secure facility pending trial and execution."

"That's a little quick, Minerva."

"Xiomara, under Veritaserum they both admitted to being Death Eaters, and Snape admitted raping and then Obliviating at least one Slytherin every year since at least 1980."

Gasp were heard all round.

"Minerva, Dumbledore had to know the wards, portraits, and elves would have told him if they'd seen anything."

"It's still under investigation, Pomona, but Dumbledore has not been cleared yet."

"Ladies, if you have no more questions, I believe we should be getting to dinner."

They rose and Aurora canceled the charms. They followed Minerva out and down to the Great Hall.

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Potter Castle

Harry turned back to the illusioned wall of the library. He was watching the Goblin builders as they proceeded with clearing the ground for the Royal Academy building. Narcissa was working with the Goblins assigned to the Potter account to consolidate the Fudge, Umbridge, Malfoy, and Snape accounts and holdings.

"Harry, you have to take charge of Clarissa and Cynthia Fudge, as well as Draco and Julius and Juliet Umbridge. Geoffrey has secured the properties and Emmeline and her comrades from the department are reviewing the Dark artifacts."

Harry had looked up at mention of the Umbridge children. His mind went skittering for a dark corner at the thought of what possible thing could have mated her.

"Harry! Harry, wake up."

"Urrgh...ahhhh...what do you mean, 'take charge', Cissy?"

"Harry, you successfully cast the Praedia Bellica on their Heads of House. They are now your chattel. You will need to have sex with the of-age females and see to their keeping. You'll need to see to the males and under-age females, their education and keeping. You are their Head of House."

"How does that mean I have to have sex with the females?"

"They're your spoils, Harry. If you don't...."

"Oh gods, not another magic will drive them crazy?"

"No, Harry, they'll die."

"Are you kidding? And this is a 'Light' spell?"

"Harry, the spell affirms the right of conquest and enforces it magically. It was designed in the darkness of history before there was a Ministry, when might truly made right. This is the world you're taking us back to. You will, we know, bring us back from it as soon as possible. Her Majesty supports your plan, knowing this will be required. You have to be a grownup about this, Harry. It must be done."

"Thank you, Sarah."

"Geoffrey?"

Pop!

"Milord?"

"Please prepare rooms for the Fudge women and the Umbridge children."

"It has been done, milord."

"Bring them here, please."

Geoffrey snapped his fingers and four elves appeared with two witches and a set of twin toddlers. Two elves popped away immediately, and two stayed with the toddlers. Geoffrey stood off to the side.

The witches dropped deep curtsies, and the toddlers looked around interestedly.

Harry bowed slightly and went to the toddlers first. Both of them seemed to be happy kids, maybe two years old. Harry smiled at them and their elf nannies.

"Chu, I believe we have your first two students."

"I need a school first, Harry, but you're right. They're cute, too. Amazing to think they came from that woman. I'll have to get Emmeline to review the memories and see who their father is. Meanwhile we'll test them and give them a schedule."

Harry placed a hand on each child's forehead, and a bright light surrounded them. He felt them in the bond-but not like a mate. It was strange.

"It's a parent bond, Harry, combined with a Head of House bond. You can feel their needs and emotions. It will fade as they age and become more able to care for themselves, but it will always be there a little, unless it's broken as mine was."

Harry caressed Narcissa consolingly in the bond and she beamed at him.

Harry approached the former Fudge women and they curtsied again.

"Ladies, please, I'm Harry. Pleased to meet you."

They rose and the older of the two said, "I'm Cynthia, milord, and this is my daughter Clarissa."

"Harry, please, Cynthia. I assume you know why you're here?"

"Yes, milord. I knew Cornelius had turned. It happened years ago."

Clarissa nodded. "I was so scared, milord. He was negotiating for the best price for me like I was a prize cow."

"You're very pretty, Clarissa, erudite and brave as well. Clearly the apple did not fall far from the mother tree. A pair of jewels beyond price. I'm sorry your father did this, and that I was forced to take this action."

"Ooooh, very smooth, Harry."

"Hush, Ginny, I'm trying to listen."

In the bond Ginny huffed at Marietta. It was an odd feeling.

"We thank our lord and compliment the Lady Narcissa. She has done well."

"Ha! It wasn't me, Cynthia. He came this way. Wait till you meet the Alpha wives."

"Forgive my rudeness, ladies. Perhaps we could move to the sitting room and be more comfortable."

The former Fudge women nodded. "Harry, I still need to do some work on these estates; the Fudge and Umbridge estates are a complete mess."

"Narcissa, I can help you with that. I tried to study what Cornelius was doing every day just in case...."

"Later, Cynthia. I want to get fresh eyes on it, and then you can tell me if I missed anything."

Harry offered his arms. Cynthia took his left and Clarissa his right. He led them into the hall. The elf nannies disappeared with their charges.

In the public study Harry seated the ladies on a loveseat and sat in a wingback chair facing them.

"Milord, we're prepared to be taken. In fact, we're looking forward to it."

Harry sat stunned for a moment. "Errrh...you'll forgive me, Cynthia, but I wasn't exactly prepared for that. I hadn't really realized the full implications of doing what I did. I was simply trying to get resources away from the dork lord."

"Milord, you have no idea how much we appreciate it, either. The way things were going, Lucius Malfoy and his cronies were going to have Clarissa and me soon. As you've already said, we're not unattractive, nor are we uneducated. We both know that without being truly on the side of the Light you couldn't have succeeded in casting the spell, so we know you have no ill intentions."

Clarissa picked up the conversation. "Milord, I would like the opportunity to at least mate with you. I've never been 'found', as they say. I'm twenty-three years old and have despaired of just marrying a wizard. If that's my lot, fine; but I won't pass up the opportunity to bond. And with you, well-I couldn't do better."

Cynthia joined back in. "Milord, my bond, such as it was, was broken long ago. I would also appreciate the opportunity to mate with you and hopefully at least form a mate bond."

"Only if you stop calling me milord."

"Beg pardon?"

"Cynthia, the other women I've bonded have at least been found. I'm not sure that I'm ready for pillow talk starting with 'Milord'."

Clarissa giggled.

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking; just getting to know each other, nothing earth shattering. Harry had to fade out twice to help Minerva but it was, all in all, a very relaxing afternoon for him.

Harry escorted them back to the library, where Clarissa and Cynthia met the bonded who were in the Castle. Clarissa had a little girl-talk with the mates her age and younger, which involved much blushing and giggling. Cynthia sat with her own peers as they pored over the accounts of the Fudge, Malfoy, and Umbridge estates. They had a little older girl-talk at the same time; the blushing was the same, but throaty chuckles replaced the giggles.

Harry faded into the toddlers' room and spent the time playing with Julius and Juliet under the watchful eye of their nannies, Rose and Tulip. He was desperately screening the graphic details his mates were reviewing with the Fudge women.

Dinner was another easygoing affair. The toddlers were with them through the main course, Nym fussing outrageously over them. Their nannies removed them for sleep when they began nodding into their peas.

After dinner the bonded and the Fudge women went back to the library. As they waited for the other mates to begin the Turn, they continued to talk, both within and outside of the bond.

Harry and Nym had popped to the twins' room and were watching them sleep while they cuddled in an overstuffed, oversized chair.

"Harry, I want a baby of our own."

"And this is news to who, Nym?"

She slapped him softly on the arm.

"I wasn't sure when we started this, Nym, but now I am. I want lots of babies, with you first and then with all the bonded. I mean, we have all this money and space; it seems a shame to waste it on just us. I think we should fill all the houses and spend the entire fortune."

Nym sat with tears in her eyes. "Me too, Harry."

"Narcissa, what are you laughing at?"

"Something I was going to tell you later. The Goblins and I have determined that it's probably impossible for you to spend all your money even if we all were to have children until we could no longer bear them and treated them all as pureblood princes and princesses and sent them all to Hogwarts.

"Your money is making interest so fast that we'll be comfortable almost no matter what. That's leaving alone the fact that your estates generally generate income on their own. Your holdings in the Muggle world are also strong, conservative, earning interest, and vast.

"You, my lord, have a higher GDP than all but the group of seven."

Hermione, sensing that Harry had become lost, said, "Gross domestic product, how much your estates produce in monetary value. The group of seven are the seven top producing countries in the world."

"Uhhh, yay?"

"Yes, Harry, yay."

The bond settled in contemplation.

It was, surprisingly, incredibly erotic to have Harry figuring out how many times he could get them each pregnant; it was also hilarious because he sucked at integer nine math, or whatever it was that he was trying to do.