Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Harry Potter and the Witches' Secret
Chapter 28
The Witches of the world have a Secret, of course poor Harry is stuck in the middle. Post Goblet of Fire.
?Blocked
Harry Potter and the Witches' Secret
Chapter 28
16 Sept 1995 (Sidereal)
14-16 Sept 1995 (Off Sidereal)
St Mungo's
Long-Term Care Ward
Security Suite
Albus awoke and smiled. He hadn't felt this good in years. He didn't have to worry about the school; from what he could gather, Riddle had gone dormant. Snape was arrested and he didn't have to worry about him any longer. He must write an apology to Amelia today. What had come over him? Poor witch was just trying to do a good job. He would also have to write to Harry and beg his forgiveness.
That started him thinking; there were many many people he needed to apologize to and try to make amends to. Some of his decisions had led good people to their deaths.
Well, better get started.
He rose and went to the attached bath; after his daily toilette he would begin writing letters.
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Little Hangleton
Riddle Manor
The bag of barely functioning tissue that was once Tom Riddle and then Voldemort rolled over and settled again. Its breathing was easier today.
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Little Hangleton
Red Fox Pub
Midden
Peter the rat scurried across the midden and into the hole he had found. This was very nice, plenty of food and a place away from predators. Yes, very nice. This silver paw was useful too. Now he didn't have to chew through everything-he could use this paw almost as effectively as his teeth.
Peter curled up and closed his eyes.
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Potter Castle
Harry awoke and moved his head slightly. Taking Nym's nipple into his mouth, he slowly licked her and gently chewed on her hardening nipple. Nym stirred and rolled into Harry.
The mates rose and smiled at the Alphas as they wrestled each other into submission. Amelia Fastida and Bellatrix brought them to the bath again, with Allison trailing along behind.
Lindsey, Linzi, Lorna, and Lesley strode into the ensuite and stripped. They slipped into the tub and gently took over washing and floating Harry. Soon they had all met their obligation. It left them smiling widely.
The bonded climbed into PT clothes and hit the gym. After a great workout, Lyndsey, Lynsey, and Mairead trundled off with Harry.
Breakfast was in full swing by the time they returned.
"Harry, we have four new prisoners to interrogate today."
"Okay, Hestia."
"Harry, we all need to go at least put in appearances at our jobs, too."
"Okay, Amelia. I need to talk to Hookknife with Gillian anyway, and we don't have anything pressing that I know of, so let's all just write down where we're going, somewhere everyone can look at, and we can meet back here for lunch."
Everyone nodded and breakfast continued.
After breakfast Harry stood and went to the entry hall. He kissed the bonded goodbye as they wrote their destinations and time of return on the blackboard Harry stuck to the wall, and left on their errands or to go to work.
Harry, Bellatrix, Amelia Fastida, Allison, Beatrice, and Eugenie led the remaining mates back to a training hall where they interrogated the latest snatched Death Eaters and one wizard from an intent stone. Harry judged them all guilty of capital crimes supporting the Dark, but none were pedophiles. So it was that Christopher Yondel, Gilbert Waffling, Jonathan Oakby, and Davy Gudgeon found themselves detained at the pleasure of the Duke of Magic. Davy Gudgeon was not a Death Eater, he was just an evil git, the kind that tortured animals.
Harry moved everyone who wanted to go to the building site, and the ensuing argument between Hookknife and Gillian reached epic proportions before it was decided that her plan was in fact the better one, with a few modifications, and that the site would only require minimal modification.
The site was relooked and the survey lines relayed and Harry cleaned up the edges that needed it. The bonded, meanwhile, restarted their block production line and everyone was happy again.
The bonded who had left for work, as well as the McNeil women who had Apparated back to the island to work, appeared at the pit and Geoffrey laid lunch for everyone there.
The argument started again over lunch with the males. Gillian and, surprisingly, Hookknife took them through it all again, and in the end they had to agree also.
"Harry, what time do you want to do the Turning tonight?"
"It's Saturday, Minerva, so after the shops close, how about after dinner? That way all the vassals who want to come can."
"Okay, love."
"Minerva, you broke Harry."
"Hehehe!"
Nym leaned over and shut Harry's open mouth with her curled fingers and leaned in for a kiss.
"What happened to Harry?"
Sarah tried, she really did.
"Minerva, Grandmother."
"Eugenie, you don't have to tell everyone."
Eugenie rolled her eyes at her mother and went back to her orange segments.
Harry laughed. "It's okay, Sarah. I don't mind everyone knowing I love all my bonded."
Eugenie beamed at him.
"Okay, lover boy, what have you planned for the rest of the day?"
"I was going to try to finish here, Nym, with the ladies' help, that is. Slasher wants to start laying block. I need to get a wardstone, though, and I had something in mind."
"Harry, I don't think they've ever discovered a diamond that big."
The bonded could see a huge diamond, about twelve pounds, in Harry's mind.
"I know, Narcissa, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are some things I want to try, but I need a Kimberlite pipe to try it."
"Harry, there's a Kimberlite pipe in my mother's country. It was never exploited, and I know where it is."
"Great, Anastasia, can we go after lunch?"
"Uh, sure, Harry."
They finished and Harry stood and looked around. He looked in Anastasia's eyes and entered her mind. He found the location and suddenly the bonded and he were there.
Janet, Krystal, and Krista immediately moved out with a couple of mates apiece to form strong points at twelve, four, and eight o'clock. Hestia and Emmeline took up position with Allison, Bellatrix, and Amelia Fastida at twelve, two, four, eight, and ten o'clock in an inner circle facing outward. The mates arranged themselves facing outward in a circle between the inner and outer circles and slowly began expanding it, moving from cover to cover.
Harry, Nym, and Anastasia moved to the rock outcropping and Harry put his hand on it. As his mates watched, Harry called on the Realm and it answered. Harry could see into the pipe and there, deep down, a rock responded to him.
The bonded all listened to the creaking and grinding and then they were all suddenly back in Godric's Hollow.
"FREEZE!"
They responded to Alastor's command and froze. Geoffrey popped in with brooms and Alastor, Andrew, and Phillip, with Dan on his broom, took off and circled the bonded. Alastor produced a camera and took a picture. The group landed and Dan whooped and capered about.
The bonded collected near Harry.
"Harry, are you sure? That's a horribly ugly rock."
"Don't be like that, Parvati. She's not cut or polished, but she likes us."
"Harry, what did we talk about? Just because things talk to you doesn't mean you should take them home."
"Yes, Nym, but this is the ward anchor. She asked to be."
Nym shook her head and Elizabeth chuckled. All the mates were standing around looking at the oblong reddish stone about the size of Harry's head.
Alastor came over with the picture he had taken and then developed. It showed a circle of concentric circles of the mates.
"Who planned this?"
"Errrh, I kind of snitched the tactics out of Janet's thoughts as soon as we landed, Alastor, and the mates just flowed into it as she and I thought it."
Dan had stopped capering about. "Great formation, good support, three obvious strong points with overlapping fields of fire, troopers in good order between the strong points, everyone facing out. Hermione, why are you, Parvati, Susan, and Daphne looking up?"
"Air guard, Dad-brooms, remember?"
"Those are great. Why didn't you tell me about that? We have to get one of those. Can your mum fly one? Emma?"
Dan turned and went searching for Emma in the crowd.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys!"
"Hrrmmh, hmmm-well, as the Colonel was saying, excellent work. Why is there this salient in the line, though?"
Alastor indicated a shallow salient between two of the strong points.
"There was a knoll there. Daphne was moving a fire team around it for recce and then we would have put her in an over watch on it, but we accomplished the mission and I evacuated everyone before we got that far."
Alastor nodded. "I think we can start including some field exercises in the training, Harry. The Regiment seems to be capable of taking on tactical problems."
A groan went up from the mates. Their schedules were already horribly full.
"Lets keep them short, Alastor, or maybe we can integrate them with the physical classes in the afternoons."
"Your Grace."
Hookknife had walked over to the stone and he and Slasher were examining it critically.
"Well?"
"Harry, did you intend the school to be sentient?"
"Errrh, no, but it's not like I would mind."
Oddly enough, Harry felt a caress from Rowena and another from Potter Castle; the stone actually glowed a little.
"If you use this as the wardstone, it will be. This is a sentient stone."
"We don't have to cut her or anything, do we?"
Hookknife blinked. "Well, you'll have to inscribe your rune sets, Harry-errh, 'she'?"
"Well, yes, definitely a she."
Hookknife nodded slowly. "I'll send Billhook a message. He'll probably want the chief warder to take a look at the stone."
Harry was cradling the stone in one arm, and through him all the bonded could feel her and she could feel them.
Harry nodded and the group walked back to the site.
Harry kissed the mates who had errands and work again, and after they departed he and the others went back to work. Beatrice and Eugenie kept the stone company under the Queen's watchful eye. Through the afternoon she occasionally held the stone also. Harry was definitely correct; very obviously, the stone was a female.
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Hogwarts
Angelina was exhausted. NEWT prep and Quidditch were killing her. No, it had nothing to do with all the time she and Fred were spending investigating broom closets. Not at all.
Romilda was in a funk. Neville was spectacular, kind, insightful, and coming into his own as a leader. Who knew he would turn out this way? She had seen several girls eyeing him up and the great dolt had smiled at them. What did that mean, really? Why was he smiling at them? He was probably going to take after Harry and she'd find herself in a harem.
"No I'm not, hush. I haven't even figured out why you like me yet."
"See? You're just like him-dolts, both of you."
"Romilda, I have everything I want, you and my parents. I'm not going anywhere. And if some other girl wants in, she needs to talk to you."
Romilda leaned into her dolt and relaxed. It was nice leaning into his warm body, and he was perfectly squishy.
Neville smiled and rested his chin on her head. He still couldn't believe he'd gotten this lucky.
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Beauxbatons
Gabrielle Delacour turned restlessly in the bed in the Infirmary under the watchful gaze of Madame Maxine.
Gabrielle had spontaneously changed to her Veela form yesterday and beaten three girls badly. She had, in turn, been subdued, but she had not yet regained consciousness; she had reverted to her human form, though. Lorelei Delacour was on the way; hopefully she could help the poor child.
Olympe Maxine contemplated what the students had told her. Apparently the three girls had been discussing (ragging on) Harry Potter and the rumors that he was turning British women into sex slaves, and Gabrielle had exploded in a rage and attacked them. She was at the right age, no matter that she looked like a nine-year-old, and her Veela had presented. Poor child; if she could not learn to control it, she would have to leave the school.
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Ministry of Magic
Department of Mysteries
Lester Hamlish sat contemplating Emmeline Vance-errh, Potter's-report. Finally he raised his eyes and looked at James Hansen, his friend of fifty years and his second in command. "Well?"
"Well what, Lester?"
"Grrr, what are we going to do about this boy?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to stand on the sidelines and take potshots at whoever he misses."
"James!"
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Lester, you have to stop hanging round Kathleen. You're turning into an old woman."
Lester blinked. "That was uncalled for. We can't just let the boy go."
"Did you not read Emmeline's report, or do you think she's lying? We can't do anything about the 'boy', as you call him. He's doing things we and the Americans have never heard of and apparently he hasn't been tested yet. Whatever Dumbledore needed this power for, he succeeded probably beyond his own wildest dreams.
"The 'boy' has yet to hit his first maturity and he's a magical superpower. We don't have the resources to stop him, and if he's killed I suspect his bonded will go on a rampage that will make the Huns seem like nice, peaceful folks.
"He casts through our strongest restrictors for practice' Hestia had to improve them or he would have melted them to slag."
"What about these intent-based snatch stones?"
"You been to the break room today?"
Lester blinked at the apparent non sequitur. "Errrh, yes, but let's finish here first, then we can go for tea."
"Merlin, did you fall and hit your head? Emmeline, Tonks, Amelia, and Hestia have been back to work. They have undoubtedly emplaced one or more of these stones here in the Ministry."
Lester opened his mouth to dispute this and then the lightbulb came on. "So how many did we lose?"
"None. Makes me wonder if they work really. I mean, I took Kathleen down there on purpose and she just breezed right in there. The Ministry has lost several, though."
"James! That's your own wife you're talking about."
"Yeah, that's why I took her. I know for sure she's evil."
Lester stared at James.
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Potter Castle
Amelia Fastida looked at Harry critically. The last of the McNeil women were following him with their eyes somewhat desperately.
"He's so thick, Bellatrix. Grab the McNeil women that have not been taken yet and transport them to the roof garden. Allison, help me with Harry. Your Majesty, please watch the girls."
"Of course, Amelia."
Harry, his slaves, and twelve McNeil witches, Malise, Manhattan, Morag, Nairne, Rona, Rosalind, Rossa, Senga, Seonaid, Sheena, Tam, and Zena, disappeared. They did not reappear until dinner.
Lauren spent the rest of the afternoon pushing Rose toward Remus until Rose finally snapped.
"Lauren, stop it. We're together. We bonded last night."
"Well, why didn't you say, then?"
"Because we were having fun torturing you, dear," Shelia calmly told her, Susan nodding vigorously.
Lauren pouted until Rose said, "I can't wait for the eighth."
Lauren smiled. "Neither can I."
"But Harry's not a wolf, Lauren."
Lauren blushed a little as she shuddered. Harry was apparently very busy with the McNeils. "But he's a full Metamorphmagus. The other night he mated Minerva as a cat while she was in her cat Animagus form," she whispered.
The Betas sat back, amazed. Susan recovered first. "So you think he could be able to assume a wolf form and take you that way on the eighth?"
"Yes."
"And us, Lauren? You know in packs the new Alpha takes all the females when he takes over."
Lauren looked like she was going to cry. "I release you to find a new Alpha or contest for the Alpha position. I won't be going back to the pack. I love him and he loves me."
"Why, you selfish bitch..."
"Shelia!" Susan scowled at her. "Lauren, what Shelia is trying to say is that that's unnecessary. We're prepared. Rose will need to go back to the pack with Remus, but Shelia and I would like to stay with you and Harry."
Lauren tackled Shelia and Susan and a good cry was had by all. Rose was dragged into the pile.
Hermione watched as Alice taught Emma to ride a broom and decided to try it again herself. Alice was not a better teacher than Xiomara, but with the personalized instruction and brooms that didn't feel like they were going to fall from the sky any moment like the Hogwarts school brooms, Hermione did much better. Through the afternoon she gained confidence, as did her mother. Dan lay on his back on the ground, staring up at them like a boy watching clouds. It was the sweetest thing Emma had ever seen, and it drove her to overcome her fears. She desperately wanted to take her husband flying.
Toward the end of the afternoon she did, under Hermione, Alice, and Frank's watchful eyes, but it didn't matter. Emma and Dan were in a world of their own. The mates watched and smiled.
Nym and Hestia returned to the site to find a beaming Slasher and their mates finishing up the vast pile of quarried rock.
"I wish I could hire you all, Your Grace. Clan Potter works faster than Goblins, even. And the quality-couldn't ask for better."
"Thank you, Slasher, glad we could help."
"We'll have the Royal Academy up by Christmas, ma'am."
Nym smiled and nodded. She looked around, and as her mates finished up, she strode to Elizabeth.
"Nym, dear, how was the rest of your day?"
"Fine, Elizabeth." Nym picked up the stone and cradled it. The stone glowed.
"Well, we're finished here, and I believe I need to find Harry."
Elizabeth smiled. "Of course, Nym. We'll find our own way back and see you at dinner."
Nym faded away and reappeared in the roof garden. For a moment it looked like a combat zone, bodies everywhere, then she had to smile. Harry was floating in the pool with a Bubble-Head charm. Nym stripped and walked into the pool; she installed her own Bubble-Head charm and wrapped Harry with her body. She put the stone between them and they sank to the bottom of the pool. Nym cast a warming charm on them and just lay there on the sandy bottom, communing with Harry in the bond.
The mates appeared in the roof garden one by one and moved the McNeil women to their wing.
At 5:30 Nym woke Harry up and they moved to the master suite; after a quick rinse in the shower and after Nym placed the stone in the bed, they dressed and moved to the dining room. The Hogwarts mates and vassals arrived and as dinner progressed, the remainder of their guests and the Queen's staff arrived.
After dinner Nym, taking her time, sent the mates with the Time-Turners to specific locations they had calculated. She used her control and wound and then simultaneously released the connected Time-Turners using her mates' hands.
This Turn was exceptionally smooth. Classes were full and the mates settled back into their one new and one previously bonded morning and evening routine. Of course, Harry supplemented this in S and T and Mind Arts. Usually at least twice more during the day he would find a mate feeling out of sorts and in his usual way do whatever she wanted. With the mates all feeling what he was doing to each of them and knowing Harry would find them if they were peevish, this kept them well satisfied.
The bond settled very comfortably.
Oddly, one of them was always carrying the stone around with her, and it stayed in the bed with them.
Chapter 28
16 Sept 1995 (Sidereal)
14-16 Sept 1995 (Off Sidereal)
St Mungo's
Long-Term Care Ward
Security Suite
Albus awoke and smiled. He hadn't felt this good in years. He didn't have to worry about the school; from what he could gather, Riddle had gone dormant. Snape was arrested and he didn't have to worry about him any longer. He must write an apology to Amelia today. What had come over him? Poor witch was just trying to do a good job. He would also have to write to Harry and beg his forgiveness.
That started him thinking; there were many many people he needed to apologize to and try to make amends to. Some of his decisions had led good people to their deaths.
Well, better get started.
He rose and went to the attached bath; after his daily toilette he would begin writing letters.
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Little Hangleton
Riddle Manor
The bag of barely functioning tissue that was once Tom Riddle and then Voldemort rolled over and settled again. Its breathing was easier today.
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Little Hangleton
Red Fox Pub
Midden
Peter the rat scurried across the midden and into the hole he had found. This was very nice, plenty of food and a place away from predators. Yes, very nice. This silver paw was useful too. Now he didn't have to chew through everything-he could use this paw almost as effectively as his teeth.
Peter curled up and closed his eyes.
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Potter Castle
Harry awoke and moved his head slightly. Taking Nym's nipple into his mouth, he slowly licked her and gently chewed on her hardening nipple. Nym stirred and rolled into Harry.
The mates rose and smiled at the Alphas as they wrestled each other into submission. Amelia Fastida and Bellatrix brought them to the bath again, with Allison trailing along behind.
Lindsey, Linzi, Lorna, and Lesley strode into the ensuite and stripped. They slipped into the tub and gently took over washing and floating Harry. Soon they had all met their obligation. It left them smiling widely.
The bonded climbed into PT clothes and hit the gym. After a great workout, Lyndsey, Lynsey, and Mairead trundled off with Harry.
Breakfast was in full swing by the time they returned.
"Harry, we have four new prisoners to interrogate today."
"Okay, Hestia."
"Harry, we all need to go at least put in appearances at our jobs, too."
"Okay, Amelia. I need to talk to Hookknife with Gillian anyway, and we don't have anything pressing that I know of, so let's all just write down where we're going, somewhere everyone can look at, and we can meet back here for lunch."
Everyone nodded and breakfast continued.
After breakfast Harry stood and went to the entry hall. He kissed the bonded goodbye as they wrote their destinations and time of return on the blackboard Harry stuck to the wall, and left on their errands or to go to work.
Harry, Bellatrix, Amelia Fastida, Allison, Beatrice, and Eugenie led the remaining mates back to a training hall where they interrogated the latest snatched Death Eaters and one wizard from an intent stone. Harry judged them all guilty of capital crimes supporting the Dark, but none were pedophiles. So it was that Christopher Yondel, Gilbert Waffling, Jonathan Oakby, and Davy Gudgeon found themselves detained at the pleasure of the Duke of Magic. Davy Gudgeon was not a Death Eater, he was just an evil git, the kind that tortured animals.
Harry moved everyone who wanted to go to the building site, and the ensuing argument between Hookknife and Gillian reached epic proportions before it was decided that her plan was in fact the better one, with a few modifications, and that the site would only require minimal modification.
The site was relooked and the survey lines relayed and Harry cleaned up the edges that needed it. The bonded, meanwhile, restarted their block production line and everyone was happy again.
The bonded who had left for work, as well as the McNeil women who had Apparated back to the island to work, appeared at the pit and Geoffrey laid lunch for everyone there.
The argument started again over lunch with the males. Gillian and, surprisingly, Hookknife took them through it all again, and in the end they had to agree also.
"Harry, what time do you want to do the Turning tonight?"
"It's Saturday, Minerva, so after the shops close, how about after dinner? That way all the vassals who want to come can."
"Okay, love."
"Minerva, you broke Harry."
"Hehehe!"
Nym leaned over and shut Harry's open mouth with her curled fingers and leaned in for a kiss.
"What happened to Harry?"
Sarah tried, she really did.
"Minerva, Grandmother."
"Eugenie, you don't have to tell everyone."
Eugenie rolled her eyes at her mother and went back to her orange segments.
Harry laughed. "It's okay, Sarah. I don't mind everyone knowing I love all my bonded."
Eugenie beamed at him.
"Okay, lover boy, what have you planned for the rest of the day?"
"I was going to try to finish here, Nym, with the ladies' help, that is. Slasher wants to start laying block. I need to get a wardstone, though, and I had something in mind."
"Harry, I don't think they've ever discovered a diamond that big."
The bonded could see a huge diamond, about twelve pounds, in Harry's mind.
"I know, Narcissa, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. There are some things I want to try, but I need a Kimberlite pipe to try it."
"Harry, there's a Kimberlite pipe in my mother's country. It was never exploited, and I know where it is."
"Great, Anastasia, can we go after lunch?"
"Uh, sure, Harry."
They finished and Harry stood and looked around. He looked in Anastasia's eyes and entered her mind. He found the location and suddenly the bonded and he were there.
Janet, Krystal, and Krista immediately moved out with a couple of mates apiece to form strong points at twelve, four, and eight o'clock. Hestia and Emmeline took up position with Allison, Bellatrix, and Amelia Fastida at twelve, two, four, eight, and ten o'clock in an inner circle facing outward. The mates arranged themselves facing outward in a circle between the inner and outer circles and slowly began expanding it, moving from cover to cover.
Harry, Nym, and Anastasia moved to the rock outcropping and Harry put his hand on it. As his mates watched, Harry called on the Realm and it answered. Harry could see into the pipe and there, deep down, a rock responded to him.
The bonded all listened to the creaking and grinding and then they were all suddenly back in Godric's Hollow.
"FREEZE!"
They responded to Alastor's command and froze. Geoffrey popped in with brooms and Alastor, Andrew, and Phillip, with Dan on his broom, took off and circled the bonded. Alastor produced a camera and took a picture. The group landed and Dan whooped and capered about.
The bonded collected near Harry.
"Harry, are you sure? That's a horribly ugly rock."
"Don't be like that, Parvati. She's not cut or polished, but she likes us."
"Harry, what did we talk about? Just because things talk to you doesn't mean you should take them home."
"Yes, Nym, but this is the ward anchor. She asked to be."
Nym shook her head and Elizabeth chuckled. All the mates were standing around looking at the oblong reddish stone about the size of Harry's head.
Alastor came over with the picture he had taken and then developed. It showed a circle of concentric circles of the mates.
"Who planned this?"
"Errrh, I kind of snitched the tactics out of Janet's thoughts as soon as we landed, Alastor, and the mates just flowed into it as she and I thought it."
Dan had stopped capering about. "Great formation, good support, three obvious strong points with overlapping fields of fire, troopers in good order between the strong points, everyone facing out. Hermione, why are you, Parvati, Susan, and Daphne looking up?"
"Air guard, Dad-brooms, remember?"
"Those are great. Why didn't you tell me about that? We have to get one of those. Can your mum fly one? Emma?"
Dan turned and went searching for Emma in the crowd.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Boys!"
"Hrrmmh, hmmm-well, as the Colonel was saying, excellent work. Why is there this salient in the line, though?"
Alastor indicated a shallow salient between two of the strong points.
"There was a knoll there. Daphne was moving a fire team around it for recce and then we would have put her in an over watch on it, but we accomplished the mission and I evacuated everyone before we got that far."
Alastor nodded. "I think we can start including some field exercises in the training, Harry. The Regiment seems to be capable of taking on tactical problems."
A groan went up from the mates. Their schedules were already horribly full.
"Lets keep them short, Alastor, or maybe we can integrate them with the physical classes in the afternoons."
"Your Grace."
Hookknife had walked over to the stone and he and Slasher were examining it critically.
"Well?"
"Harry, did you intend the school to be sentient?"
"Errrh, no, but it's not like I would mind."
Oddly enough, Harry felt a caress from Rowena and another from Potter Castle; the stone actually glowed a little.
"If you use this as the wardstone, it will be. This is a sentient stone."
"We don't have to cut her or anything, do we?"
Hookknife blinked. "Well, you'll have to inscribe your rune sets, Harry-errh, 'she'?"
"Well, yes, definitely a she."
Hookknife nodded slowly. "I'll send Billhook a message. He'll probably want the chief warder to take a look at the stone."
Harry was cradling the stone in one arm, and through him all the bonded could feel her and she could feel them.
Harry nodded and the group walked back to the site.
Harry kissed the mates who had errands and work again, and after they departed he and the others went back to work. Beatrice and Eugenie kept the stone company under the Queen's watchful eye. Through the afternoon she occasionally held the stone also. Harry was definitely correct; very obviously, the stone was a female.
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Hogwarts
Angelina was exhausted. NEWT prep and Quidditch were killing her. No, it had nothing to do with all the time she and Fred were spending investigating broom closets. Not at all.
Romilda was in a funk. Neville was spectacular, kind, insightful, and coming into his own as a leader. Who knew he would turn out this way? She had seen several girls eyeing him up and the great dolt had smiled at them. What did that mean, really? Why was he smiling at them? He was probably going to take after Harry and she'd find herself in a harem.
"No I'm not, hush. I haven't even figured out why you like me yet."
"See? You're just like him-dolts, both of you."
"Romilda, I have everything I want, you and my parents. I'm not going anywhere. And if some other girl wants in, she needs to talk to you."
Romilda leaned into her dolt and relaxed. It was nice leaning into his warm body, and he was perfectly squishy.
Neville smiled and rested his chin on her head. He still couldn't believe he'd gotten this lucky.
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Beauxbatons
Gabrielle Delacour turned restlessly in the bed in the Infirmary under the watchful gaze of Madame Maxine.
Gabrielle had spontaneously changed to her Veela form yesterday and beaten three girls badly. She had, in turn, been subdued, but she had not yet regained consciousness; she had reverted to her human form, though. Lorelei Delacour was on the way; hopefully she could help the poor child.
Olympe Maxine contemplated what the students had told her. Apparently the three girls had been discussing (ragging on) Harry Potter and the rumors that he was turning British women into sex slaves, and Gabrielle had exploded in a rage and attacked them. She was at the right age, no matter that she looked like a nine-year-old, and her Veela had presented. Poor child; if she could not learn to control it, she would have to leave the school.
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Ministry of Magic
Department of Mysteries
Lester Hamlish sat contemplating Emmeline Vance-errh, Potter's-report. Finally he raised his eyes and looked at James Hansen, his friend of fifty years and his second in command. "Well?"
"Well what, Lester?"
"Grrr, what are we going to do about this boy?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm going to stand on the sidelines and take potshots at whoever he misses."
"James!"
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Lester, you have to stop hanging round Kathleen. You're turning into an old woman."
Lester blinked. "That was uncalled for. We can't just let the boy go."
"Did you not read Emmeline's report, or do you think she's lying? We can't do anything about the 'boy', as you call him. He's doing things we and the Americans have never heard of and apparently he hasn't been tested yet. Whatever Dumbledore needed this power for, he succeeded probably beyond his own wildest dreams.
"The 'boy' has yet to hit his first maturity and he's a magical superpower. We don't have the resources to stop him, and if he's killed I suspect his bonded will go on a rampage that will make the Huns seem like nice, peaceful folks.
"He casts through our strongest restrictors for practice' Hestia had to improve them or he would have melted them to slag."
"What about these intent-based snatch stones?"
"You been to the break room today?"
Lester blinked at the apparent non sequitur. "Errrh, yes, but let's finish here first, then we can go for tea."
"Merlin, did you fall and hit your head? Emmeline, Tonks, Amelia, and Hestia have been back to work. They have undoubtedly emplaced one or more of these stones here in the Ministry."
Lester opened his mouth to dispute this and then the lightbulb came on. "So how many did we lose?"
"None. Makes me wonder if they work really. I mean, I took Kathleen down there on purpose and she just breezed right in there. The Ministry has lost several, though."
"James! That's your own wife you're talking about."
"Yeah, that's why I took her. I know for sure she's evil."
Lester stared at James.
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Potter Castle
Amelia Fastida looked at Harry critically. The last of the McNeil women were following him with their eyes somewhat desperately.
"He's so thick, Bellatrix. Grab the McNeil women that have not been taken yet and transport them to the roof garden. Allison, help me with Harry. Your Majesty, please watch the girls."
"Of course, Amelia."
Harry, his slaves, and twelve McNeil witches, Malise, Manhattan, Morag, Nairne, Rona, Rosalind, Rossa, Senga, Seonaid, Sheena, Tam, and Zena, disappeared. They did not reappear until dinner.
Lauren spent the rest of the afternoon pushing Rose toward Remus until Rose finally snapped.
"Lauren, stop it. We're together. We bonded last night."
"Well, why didn't you say, then?"
"Because we were having fun torturing you, dear," Shelia calmly told her, Susan nodding vigorously.
Lauren pouted until Rose said, "I can't wait for the eighth."
Lauren smiled. "Neither can I."
"But Harry's not a wolf, Lauren."
Lauren blushed a little as she shuddered. Harry was apparently very busy with the McNeils. "But he's a full Metamorphmagus. The other night he mated Minerva as a cat while she was in her cat Animagus form," she whispered.
The Betas sat back, amazed. Susan recovered first. "So you think he could be able to assume a wolf form and take you that way on the eighth?"
"Yes."
"And us, Lauren? You know in packs the new Alpha takes all the females when he takes over."
Lauren looked like she was going to cry. "I release you to find a new Alpha or contest for the Alpha position. I won't be going back to the pack. I love him and he loves me."
"Why, you selfish bitch..."
"Shelia!" Susan scowled at her. "Lauren, what Shelia is trying to say is that that's unnecessary. We're prepared. Rose will need to go back to the pack with Remus, but Shelia and I would like to stay with you and Harry."
Lauren tackled Shelia and Susan and a good cry was had by all. Rose was dragged into the pile.
Hermione watched as Alice taught Emma to ride a broom and decided to try it again herself. Alice was not a better teacher than Xiomara, but with the personalized instruction and brooms that didn't feel like they were going to fall from the sky any moment like the Hogwarts school brooms, Hermione did much better. Through the afternoon she gained confidence, as did her mother. Dan lay on his back on the ground, staring up at them like a boy watching clouds. It was the sweetest thing Emma had ever seen, and it drove her to overcome her fears. She desperately wanted to take her husband flying.
Toward the end of the afternoon she did, under Hermione, Alice, and Frank's watchful eyes, but it didn't matter. Emma and Dan were in a world of their own. The mates watched and smiled.
Nym and Hestia returned to the site to find a beaming Slasher and their mates finishing up the vast pile of quarried rock.
"I wish I could hire you all, Your Grace. Clan Potter works faster than Goblins, even. And the quality-couldn't ask for better."
"Thank you, Slasher, glad we could help."
"We'll have the Royal Academy up by Christmas, ma'am."
Nym smiled and nodded. She looked around, and as her mates finished up, she strode to Elizabeth.
"Nym, dear, how was the rest of your day?"
"Fine, Elizabeth." Nym picked up the stone and cradled it. The stone glowed.
"Well, we're finished here, and I believe I need to find Harry."
Elizabeth smiled. "Of course, Nym. We'll find our own way back and see you at dinner."
Nym faded away and reappeared in the roof garden. For a moment it looked like a combat zone, bodies everywhere, then she had to smile. Harry was floating in the pool with a Bubble-Head charm. Nym stripped and walked into the pool; she installed her own Bubble-Head charm and wrapped Harry with her body. She put the stone between them and they sank to the bottom of the pool. Nym cast a warming charm on them and just lay there on the sandy bottom, communing with Harry in the bond.
The mates appeared in the roof garden one by one and moved the McNeil women to their wing.
At 5:30 Nym woke Harry up and they moved to the master suite; after a quick rinse in the shower and after Nym placed the stone in the bed, they dressed and moved to the dining room. The Hogwarts mates and vassals arrived and as dinner progressed, the remainder of their guests and the Queen's staff arrived.
After dinner Nym, taking her time, sent the mates with the Time-Turners to specific locations they had calculated. She used her control and wound and then simultaneously released the connected Time-Turners using her mates' hands.
This Turn was exceptionally smooth. Classes were full and the mates settled back into their one new and one previously bonded morning and evening routine. Of course, Harry supplemented this in S and T and Mind Arts. Usually at least twice more during the day he would find a mate feeling out of sorts and in his usual way do whatever she wanted. With the mates all feeling what he was doing to each of them and knowing Harry would find them if they were peevish, this kept them well satisfied.
The bond settled very comfortably.
Oddly, one of them was always carrying the stone around with her, and it stayed in the bed with them.
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