FicWad

Harry Potter and the Dark Lady
Chapter 19

Chita Oblast
Tsarina’s Military HQ
26 Oct 96
19:00

Marshal Plotempkin stood in the former Siberian Military District HQ Bunker with the Command Council and General Ham, watching the newly installed technomancer screen displaying the movements of the Magical Corps. This was amazing; first the technology—errrh, magic—and then the level of coordination of the Magical Corps. Fourth—errrh, the Tsarina’s Guards Tank Army was slow and clumsy by comparison and he knew them to be a crack unit.

General Ham looked at Sergei. “It’s the way he communicates, Marshal. He’s directly in a significant portion of the Magical Corps brains. The Tsarina’s Tank Army will improve as he, ahhhh, personally contacts more of its female officers and NCOs.”

“You mean mates them, General? They have explained it to me. This is the first time I’ve seen the Corps, though—very impressive. What does your government feel about his request for M1A1s?”

General Ham scowled. SFC Jones had, without his permission, very effectively demonstrated the effectiveness of the US M1A1 Heavy by sharing his memory of the fight at Wadi El Batin and SFC Lyles had, without permission, shared his memory of the fight from 67 to 73 easting.

The Corps leadership had been impressed and immediately decided to forward a request to purchase 1500 M1A1s to re-equip the Tsarina’s Tank Army. Meanwhile the technomancers had gone to work on the T90s the Tank Army already owned.

General Ham was of several minds; first, he was an American general officer and equipping this force with the best equipment in the world meant the American army would, perhaps, be unable to overcome them if required. They already had BMP 3s for the infantry which, despite the recent reports, were an excellent IFV. Second, though, he understood Harry’s desire for the Magical Corps to have the best of the best. Lastly, he wasn’t real sure the technomancers weren’t going to improve the T90s to the point where they were better than the M1; assuredly more agile. “It’s politics now, Marshal.” Carter Ham gave the eloquent shrug common to all professional soldiers having to deal with political hacks.

“Ah well, we’ll keep working on the T90s then. Those technomancers can do amazing things.”

Carter nodded at Sergei and they turned back to watching the exercise proceed across Siberia.

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Chita Oblast
26 Oct 96
19:17

Harry stopped panting. His breath rose in clouds of steam before him. The Clan were in their Wargs for this phase of the exercise and they had been running for two hours. The Regiment was out front screening the Division and setting locator stones for the Veela and Goblin units to Apparate to. The Goblins were functioning as engineers. River crossing points for the Tank Army were being set using the transport runes on large slabs of rock. The drivers had been trained to drive right onto the slabs and then they would be transported, vehicle and all, to wherever the partner slab was laid.

Harry looked at the map through Nautica Thorn Potter’s eyes. Nautica was running the Corps operations center as she was due to deliver this week. The Corps was in good shape but the Tank Army was a little ragged.

“More mates will improve it, Harry. They’re reliant on the old order’s process as they aren’t in the Clan Brain down to platoon leader as we are.”

“Anastasia, is that another effort to have me taking more Russian officers?”

“I don’t have to attempt, Harry, we know the ones you’ll take. It’s just a matter of time.”

“What—no grumble, Harry?”

“Would it do any good, Aksinya?”

“No, but it’s becoming fun getting you to take them.”

Harry chuckled. The mates had slipped a Veela into the Dragon’s Den on the twenty-first and Harry had nearly broken Naima Belkhiati. Both of them had pulled out all the stops after the mates teased Harry mercilessly and then put Naima on the stage. She was still recovering but at least she was awake again now. Hermione, Hannah, Pansy, Cho, Daphne, Ginny, Su, and Susan were still walking around with silly grins too. Harry thought all of them might be pregnant except Ginny. They smelled a little like Nym.

Suddenly the map in the Corps HQ lit up right at the border north of Manzhouli. Harry looked at the map and Cho led the air troop in that direction on their now heavily modified Firebolts. No Quidditch rules had led the mates to run wild modifying them.

The Reconnaissance Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment 45th MRD (Motor Rifle Division) Tsarina’s Tank Army that was screening that flank picked up targets on GSR and swung a company that way.

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Manzhouli, China
26 Oct 96
19:40

Guroku raised his hand and brought the tribe to a halt. He could see movement to the north. This was not going to go well. They were already up and running around. And in this area the tiny ones would shoot at him as they had before.

He sat on a hillside and his tribe sat around him. They would wait.

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Chita Oblast
26 Oct 96
20:10

“Giants, Harry, 115 of all ages—well, all sizes and I think both sexes. They’re just over the border.”

“Thanks, Cho. I’ll come talk to them.”

“Harry, they’re in China. You can’t cross the border—it’s a sovereignty violation.”

“Uhh, I meant just me, Amanda, not the Corps.”

“No.”

“No, Nym?”

“Yes, Harry—no. Every time you go somewhere something stupid happens. I’ll go.”

“Oh, no you won’t.”

Amelia Fastida shook her head and faded away with the vampire mates. After all, Giants were just big food bags.

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Manzhouli, China
26 Oct 96
20:13

“Guroku of the Anak, what are you doing here?”

Guroku went from sitting to prostrating himself before Amelia Fastida.

“Guroku, I asked you a question.”

“Mistress, no kill! We no hurt. We not know you here. We no hurt.” Guroku was shaking in fear. Hundreds of vampires, the only real enemies giants had, had appeared from nowhere. The only thing that could have been worse was Dragons. The Mistress had said she would take care of the Dragons—she hadn’t said anything about vampires.

Amelia sighed and rolled her eyes. Giants weren’t stupid, just slow, and they tasted horrible but when you had a big coven to feed…she shrugged to herself. “It’s all right, Guroku. Now get up and tell me why you’re here.”

“Dragon Lady tells us to go here and wait, Mistress. We must do or we can’t stay.”

“Amelia, how is it he’s scared of you? Oh, never mind. I didn’t know vampires could kill them.”

“Not alone, usually, but the compulsion works on them and if you feed a coven off one it usually kills them, Frieda.”

“Amelia Fastida Potter! You ask before you run off trying to get yourself killed next time.”

“I love you too, Nym, but you and Harry were so busy arguing. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Grrrr.”

“Yes, Mistress—promises, promises.” Amelia had picked the image of Nym spanking her out of Nym’s thoughts.

“Ladies, if you please, we’re supposed to be working here. We can play later. Amelia, tell Guroku he can come live in that big hollow back of Chita if he’ll swear his tribe to Anastasia. We could use the manpower.”

Amelia explained to Guroku and he agreed to come and check out the hollow. Amelia left Vanessa Lane Potter, one of the youngest vampire mates, with him, and went back to her company with the rest. Vanessa had Guroku hoist her to his shoulder and she installed a Bubble-Head charm and guided Guroku and the last remaining Anak to the hollow Harry had thought of. The Giants needed a rainstorm. Luna smiled dreamily as Xi Shi’s plan was subverted by Harry’s kind nature and the Clan’s broad range of abilities. Frieda smiled with her. That path they had written down from her visions had been fraught with hazards and Luna had not known how to change it. Part of this exercise today would have the Potter murder working on coordinated attacks in preparation for fighting Giants. Hmmm, was that sti—

“Yes, Frieda, we might have to have the murder fight someday. Hey, later we can get the Giants to fight us.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Harry. They aren’t real—erm—quick on the uptake, maybe. They might not understand we’re sparring.”

“Harry, Frieda, let’s talk about this later. We’re kind of in the middle of something.

“Yes, Nym.”

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Chita Oblast
Tsarina’s Military HQ
27 Oct 96
16:00

“Any questions?

Harry shook his head. He was exhausted; the exercise had been very fast-paced and covered nearly four hundred square kilometers. He had been very glad to finally shift to his Dragon and lead the murder through a series of mock attacks on that sentinel mountain. He had to chuckle, though; they had completely demolished the two thousand meter peak. Who knew rock would burn like that?

The troopers were already back in quarters, and now that the AAR was over, he would be soon. They could go home as soon as the moon set at 07:18 at home. Really they could go any time and the werewolf mates could just stay in their Wargs. Why was that cure being so elusive? Hell, they’d come up with cures for everything even resembling the lycanthropy/vampire virus, but not the virus itself. The medi mates (hehehe—medi mates) were becoming convinced it was a sentient magical virus. Oh well; they would keep trying.

Well, better go see this Guroku and get him settled.

The Command Council and General Ham watched as Harry and the mates faded away. “Well, not much left to teach and then it’s practise, practise, practise.”

The rest nodded their heads at General Ham. The Magical Corps was a well functioning unit but as with all military units they would have to keep practising to maintain their edge. Military skills are very perishable.

“Harry, you have practise with the Harpies today. We’ll have to be quick with Guroku if you’re going to get some sleep before practise.”

Harry nodded at Nym as he walked toward Guroku. “Harry, when we get closer, take your restraints off the compulsion for a moment. If he knows you’re a vampire he’ll be easier to deal with—otherwise we’ll be here having a testosterone fest all day.”

“Okay, Amelia.”

“Harry still doesn’t get the slave thing, does he?”

“Just as much as they want him to, Andrew. Now hush and let them work. I want to get home and some of the mothers need to feed or pump.”

Andrew looked at Sarah.

“What, Andrew? Did you forget? They hurt if they get too full. Andrew, stop staring! What’s wrong with you?”

Andrew had remembered, and the image of the huge-breasted Sarah had come rushing back to him. Sarah finally saw it in his head through their improving bond and rolled her eyes. “I knew that’s why you married me.”

Andrew had the presence of mind to forcefully deny it, several times. Besides, the fact was that her freckles did go all over and her very aggressive personality was what attracted him. She, the gestalt, was what kept him.

Harry, meanwhile, had stopped and looked at the seated Guroku. Even seated he was fourteen feet tall. “Guroku, welcome to Siberia.”

Guroku had felt the compulsion; he knew he did not want to anger this little one. No matter that he appeared to be a young one; he was massively powerful and the leader of these hundreds of vampires. “Thank you, sire.”

Harry smiled. “I’d like you and yours to give your oaths to the Tsarina Anastasia.” Harry indicated Anastasia standing on his left. “My mate. You can live here and we will find useful work for you to do in return.”

Guroku thought a moment. “And the Chinese Lady?”

Harry nodded. “I would offer you a vassal bond. I will come to your aid.”

“She has Dragons.”

“Watch, Guroku.”

“Okay, here’s where it gets dangerous maybe. Everyone change to your Dragons—be ready to leave if they attack.”

Harry and the mates shifted to their dragons and Guroku was on his feet instantly, looking at Harry towering over him. Suddenly Guroku laughed. He kept laughing for long moments. His tribe laughed with him. Harry finally changing back got the laughter to die down. “She doesn’t have Dragons any more. Hong—” Harry indicated Hong— “will send word to the other fireballs and bring them here also.”

Guroku, still chuckling, swore the vassal oath to Anastasia and through her to Harry and the Realm. He then had his tribe swear.

Harry had a thought. “Guroku, Xi Shi, the Dragon Lady, will no doubt contact you eventually. We’ll wait until then to let her know you’ve joined us. If she contacts you, please let Anastasia know. We’ll show you where the palace is tomorrow.”

Guroku nodded and the mates faded away with Andrew.

They reappeared in the Ducal apartments and everyone yawned and prepared for bed. The mates let Harry drift to sleep as they fed children and talked quietly.

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Godric’s Hollow
The Potter’s Field
26 Oct 96
08:00

Sally Ann Cromwell looked out the open front doors of the just-finished pub, all darkly stained stout English oak, polished granite and brass—a very proper looking British pub. There was a little black humor in that name; Potter’s Field indeed—the thing had probably cost the Duke a million Galleons. Madam Rosmerta had worked with Sally to ensure she and the staff were ready, and while Rosmerta would be there as much as she could, her duties with the Regiment would keep her away a lot. Sally Ann had gotten the job of managing the pub for her. It consisted of two huge taprooms, one smaller taproom—for the officers, Rosmerta said—four wait staff, two barmen, an enormous kitchen, and one hundred rooms to let; it was situated between the Royal Academy and the sports ground. Sally Ann smiled; it was almost as good as owning it herself, really. Rosmerta was smashing, trusting her to run this.

The first trooper walked by the door and then turned. The door was open—hmmm. Well, it was afternoon where they came from. Maybe….

Sally Ann watched as Sgt Robert L Frost, 2nd Battalion, A Company, 1st Platoon, 1st Squad, the Guards Regiment of Magical Infantry, clomped into the pub in his combat boots. “Don’t be coming in here all over mud, and the Duke says to secure your weapons first.”

Robert smiled at the very pretty barmaid—erm, publican—standing there, hands on hips, in a Potter tartan knee-length skirt, very full old-gold bustier top, and sensible black flats. “We’ve already done that, lass. How about a pint and some breakfast, then? We’ve been on the move since yesterday this time.”

Sally Ann thought, Well there are no hours on magical pubs—besides, they’re the Regiment. “Fine then, but I’ll have no nonsense; and if you aren’t off duty I’ll call the Duke.”

Robert smiled at her like the sun rising and leaned out the door and whistled. “Pub’s open for the Regiment!”

Sally Ann watched in horror as the Regiment lined the two bars four deep. She shot off messenger spells furiously for a moment, getting the staff up, and then started pulling pints.

Soon enough she had four sergeants helping her and four more on the other bar. She was yelling out prices and the sergeants were busy collecting money and scribbling breakfast orders. The wait staff finally arrived in their Regimental tartan skirts and old-gold bustiers and business skidded to a stop. All young and decent looking, the Regiment took a deep breath and fell in love with Sally Ann, the Potter’s Field, the wait staff and all.

The sergeants were ironfisted in maintaining discipline. No matter that most of the Regiment had the day off. They didn’t want this screwed up.

Sally Ann was not surprised when the Regiment raised a rousing cheer for the Duke on finding out bound men and Regimental troops didn’t pay for breakfast, lunch, or dinner here on duty days, only for their drinks. Or rooms, if they let rooms. Soon enough there were four dart games going on in each tap room, one at each dart board, and several tables were playing Bastard Brag. Some private had gotten a vicious slap for touching a mate, and his name was now in his sergeant’s book for report, firmly establishing the look-but-don’t-touch policy. It would become law tomorrow when Private Emil Nelson, 3rd Bn Bco 2nd Plt 3rd Sqd, drew ten lashes while on the carpet for conduct unbecoming. The Duke laid those lashes on with a will and a twelve-foot bullwhip; nothing to play with, that. Better than single combat, though.

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Potter Castle
Ducal Apartment
Duke’s Suite
26 Oct 96
11:30

Harry woke up to a very warm pair of lips in a very strategic place. He raised his head and looked into Rose Turnbull’s eyes. “Good morning, Rose.”

“Gnd mrnng, Hrri.”

Harry chuckled and picked up a squealing Rose with a very tightly directed Levicorpus and spun her around. He settled her and proceeded to say the same type of good morning she was giving him.

“Harry, we have to practise—don’t make her goofy.”

“That takes all the fun out of it, Gwenog.”

“Sorry, love. Make her goofy later, after practise.”

Harry snuggled into where he was and stopped short of Parseltongue. Rose seemed to enjoy it anyway. Harry knew he did. Later Rose lay with a cheek resting on the object of her desires and Harry was occasionally nuzzling her as her tremors faded, keeping them going.

“Okay,you two up and at ’em— practise.”

“Gwenog, you’re a slave driver.”

Rose got a glare and she and Harry worked their way to their feet and headed for the shower. Rose was amazed to find herself pinned to the wall and then leaned into it as she and Harry both peaked rapidly. Rose gave a very satisfied little wriggle and turned and kissed Harry. “That was very nice, thank you, Harry.”

“Uh-huh, and thank you, Rose.”

“Come on, you two!”

“We just did, Gwenog. I’m not sure I can go again.”

“Grrrrr, Rose!”

“All right, slave driver. Harry’s a much better Master.”

Harry smiled. “Come on, Rose.”

Rose leaned on the wall and looked over her shoulder with tragically over-acted, half-lidded eyes. “When you’re ready, Master.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Come on, Mata Hari, before Gwenog tortures us to death at practise.” He stepped over and bent down, giving the very athletic rump in front of him a big smacking kiss and a moderately hard slap. Rose was a little shocked to find herself liking both.

Gwenog finally managed to get the team herded to the sports ground before the 1 p.m. practise.

The mates occupied the Ducal box and Gwendolyn waved, creating the privacy dome over pitch one and the Ducal box.

As Harry and the Harpies practised, the mates spent some mommy time with their children and each other. Nym was also considering some problems she had seen the vassals having. “Hestia, we’re going to have to give the vassals some kind of order of battle briefing, and they need a list of mates and wards.”

Daphne was shaking her head while holding Lily in her lap. “Why, Nym? We know, and if they need to know they can ask us. We all wear the tartan all the time anyway. No others dare. They’re either authorized by Harry or not; the mates wear the arms on their clasp or brooches, as do the children. As for order of battle, I think from an operational security standpoint we’re better off if they don’t know we have five tank divisions, four motorized rifle divisions, an artillery division, an airborne brigade, and almost a brigade of spetsnaz. Oh, I forgot the training divisions. And the supporting air forces, and about 100,000 Russians all told. We’ll draw the units down and combine them to full strength units and begin a training regimen. We have the technomancers working on a T90 and a BMP 2 and 3. The 3 seems a good deal but the troops hate it, especially those Chechnya veterans. They call it an aluminum coffin. Of course the death merchants that Narcissa was talking with were offering all kinds of improvements and upgrades.

“Then of course we have the magical division, now up to three regiments of about three thousand apiece, and the U.S. Mage Regiment, really a short division at seven thousand, mostly combat and combat service support troops. So right at sixteen thousand troops and growing as we take on more and more Squibs in the troop and worker roles. That’s working great, by the way, Hestia.”

Narcissa nodded. “Productivity is actually up. That one day of training a week after basic is great. It makes the wizard folks and Squibs into a more cohesive unit in their workplaces, too.”

“Death merchants, Daphne?”

“Defense contractors, Nym. SFC Jones has a rather low opinion of them.”

“So we aren’t going to tell them, Daphne?”

“As your G2 I would advise against it, Brigadier Potter.”

Nym smirked. “Oooooh, the G2 speaks. Here, give us Lily and take James. When is the G2 going to grace us with an heir?”

Daphne laughed, a bright peal of sound. “Have you been talking to my mother? When I get pregnant I get pregnant. Go bother Susan.”

“Oh no you didn’t, Daphne. It’s not bad enough with all the mothers running around poking at us?” Susan looked at Daphne exasperated.

The mates all laughed and Irma scampered for freedom, or maybe just grass. The cow actually seemed very happy and the older wards loved her.

Nym eyed the cow. “Susan, we need to unshrink Irma.”

Susan looked heartbroken as she policed Irma up and emptied a robe pocket of grass for her. “But Nym, she’s housebroken and everything.”

Nym caved, but when Susan had her first pair of twins she would run at it again, unsuccessfully.

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Royal Academy
Seventh Form Common
26 Oct 96
11:45

Fred closed on his bonded and sneaked in a kiss. He found himself lightly Stunned, bound, Disillusioned, and levitated, as Angelina sat apparently calmly finishing her lunch.

Mila Varny, Professor of Magical Engineering, Technomancer Department, and Chair of the Royal Academy Technomancer Engineering Department, snickered. She had been watching as Angelina and Alicia whispered together and the EE Mk 2 Mod 4 (Extendable Ear Mark 2 Modification 4 {concealing charm, directional control capability, remote release, range enhanced}) relayed their conversation. It seemed the Duchess Ginevra had relayed her and the Duke’s displeasure at the twins’ plan to drop out of school and go into business full-time. The Duchess had expressed her condolences over the enforced separation this would cause. The Weasley ladies had immediately planned a counterstrike and were now just waiting for Victim Number Two, one George Weasley, before they issued some very pointed instructions. Gryffindors were so much fun!

Angelina looked across the round table. “Shhhh, Constance, Julia—George will hear you growling; and no, you can’t beat them up. Alicia and I are in complete control. Warg Bitches! I swear, you’re all mental.” Angelina received two pink tongues as the Warg pair from her group went back to their lunches while watching for the other potential bond breaker.

George entered the common and arrowed straight for Alicia. His knees hit the Disillusioned, now fully awake Fred and as he looked down he too found himself lightly Stunned, bound, Disillusioned and levitated. Alicia and Angelina exchanged high-fives and finished their lunch. At 12:00 they rose and left, towing the hungry twins behind them after Finite-ing the Disillusionment charms, much to the amusement of the whole common.

Fred and George were rolling their eyes around, trying to determine where they were being taken as they were towed into a classroom. They were levitated against the wall and received two very disconcerting glares. Angelina opened the one-way conversation. “We’ve been made aware of your ill-considered plan to leave school.”

Alicia contributed, “You will not leave school.”

Angelina finished, “We’ll assist you in running your business. This is non-negotiable.”

They Finited all the charms on Fred and George and sat in the front row of desks, waiting. Fred looked at George and as always began the twinspeak conversation. “Errrh—we hadn’t realized you would object—”

George took over: “—to us making money.”

Alicia looked at Angelina and rolled her eyes. “We don’t, you—”

Angelina proved it didn’t take twins. “—dolts. We do, however—”

They were fully in twinspeak now. “—object to being left alone during the weeks as you—”

“—wont’ be able to live in the dorms unless—”

“—you’re students and—”

“—we intend to complete our educations.”

George looked at Fred and blinked. “So if we quit school we wouldn’t be able to stay here?”

Angelina sighed. “Didn’t we just say that?”

Fred finally wrapped his head around it. “Harry is behind this. There are lots of Uni day students.”

Alicia actually growled. “Who are adults and are not taking a full course load, Fred. You two had better get used to the idea. Apparently Harry has plans for you and you know he brooks no nonsense and will not be thwarted. Although you could continue with your little plan, come to think of it. I’m sure Angelina and I could be saved by a Harry bonding, and he does know how to treat a slave.”

Angelina looked surprised and then grinned. “Let’s go find Beatrice or one of the other mates. Alicia—we can set it up.” She put her hand on the slope of her right breast. “I wonder if he’d put the Warg’s head right here or if he has to do it on the forearm?”

Alicia and Angelina, totally carried away with this unexpected thought, strode purposefully from the room still discussing the benefits of being a slave of Harry’s.

“Fred, I think we need to go apologize and head this off. They’re way too into this idea.”
Fred simply nodded and strode after Alicia and Angelina.

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Royal Academy
Sixth Form Common
26 Oct 96
11:50

Jimmy Riley threw his books on the floor and collapsed into a chair. He looked around at his already eating group and spied Lavender Brown Weasley, robe completely unbuttoned and two buttons on her blouse undone. This was unprecedented. “Good day, Lav?” The Wargs chuckled.

“Great, Jimmy. Ron got accepted into the Auror candidate program!”

An owl circling the common dived on Jimmy and dropped a fat parchment envelope on his head. Jimmy cursed and looked at the envelope. It bore the MLE arms and his name. He and Ron had applied to the new Auror cadet program together as it now started with a selection course in seventh form. Jimmy opened the envelope with shaking hands and read through the letter.

Cadet Candidate Jimmy Riley

Report to blah blah blah.

He would reread it again in a moment after he was through dancing around in a mad little jig.

Ron beamed at him. “Got it then, mate?”

He read the letter thrust into his hands while chuckling. “Yep, got it.” Ron passed the letter around the table.

Kathleen Conrad and Margaret Black had led the whole group to apply and they had all been accepted. Lavender was overjoyed. Ron was seeing one of his dreams come true and he was being a complete angel—well, a completely horny angel, but still....

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Royal Academy
Fifth Form Common
26 Oct 96
12:35

“Remus, come on, it’s almost time for class!”

“All right, Sirius. Did you see this article in the Prophet?”

Sirius looked over and saw the op-ed piece written by an unidentified person railing against the injustice of leaving Dumbledore alive. He nodded. “Yes, it doesn’t serve. I mean, why the Queen doesn’t just publish a list with redacted names I don’t know.”

Remus pulled a pulp magazine out of his stack of papers. “Haven’t you seen this, Sirius?”

Sirius looked at the Tattler with distaste. The tabloid had been started by the reporters and editors that Rita and Luna had fired from Harry’s media hegemony. “Yes, I have. I don’t know why Harry tolerates this; he should just light all those alleged reporters on fire.”

Remus stared at his friend. “You know, I’m sometimes very glad you were taught to suppress your magic’s mate-seeking. You’d make a very bad Duke of Magic.”

“What? All they do is print lies and speculation.”

“Sirius, we do have freedom of the press in this country. Also there are remedies if they go too far.”

Sirius grinned. “Yes, very permanent remedies. Did you see the sports page and those pictures Bozo took before Frieda singed him?”

Remus laughed. The Prophet had run a series of articles with the events of that Sunday in chronological order, each including the pictures of the time period contained in the article ending with a rollup this morning. It had been hilarious. “Speaking of mate-seeking, how is that coming with Melinda and Vicki?”

Sirius rolled his eyes. “They want to be handfasted the same day Harry does the new mates.”

“So you finally proposed, then?”

Sirius smiled. “Yes. It was wonderful, Remus.”

Remus laughed. “Go to class, Sirius.”

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Royal Sports Ground
Ducal Box
26 Oct 96
16:00

Nym chuckled after the delicious little shudder that was Gwendolyn being very thoroughly introduced to her mate-bonded in the locker room shower. Harry was truly amazing, five or six a day and those performances in the Dragon’s Den. Actually maybe the bonded as a whole were amazing. Harry, after all, freely acknowledged that he drew on them lots for energy. Of course the Dragon’s Den cured any libido problems, for now at least.

Nym looked up at the shadow crossing the setting sun and snapped to alertness. There was a fireball up there, a big fireball.

Hong smiled. “It’s Dan, Nym, one of my betas. I’ll get her.”

Hong leapt into the air and flowed into her Dragon self at the same time. It was impressive.

Hong and Dan landed on the center pitch and Hong began instructing Dan in how to change to human. Luna was shielding her eyes. “Hong, teach Dan to suppress her aura too, please.”

Dan’s aura snapped off like a lightbulb. “Sorry, Luna.”

“Dan?”

“Yes, Luna?”

“How are we talking?”

Dan gave a mental shrug. “You’re a Dragon. It is the way of Dragons.”

The bond did one of those mental explosions as the mates went about figuring this new wrinkle out. Harry walked out of the tunnel and straight over to Dan. He laid a hand on her and she lowered her head to the ground in submission. Nym chuckled. Harry would be drawing on them soon. Especially if he kept up that scratching under the cheekscales thing—yep, there she went.

Hmmm, I wonder. Nym concentrated and flicked her wrist. Her mithril bound ivory staff Morgana appeared and she cast a shrinking charm. Two miniature Dragons about the size of border collies, one Hell Dragon and one Fireball, appeared on the pitch. Nym drew them and Hong to her and cast the obscuration dome as it was getting time for the JV games and people had already started arriving. The two surprised Dragons adjusted for a minute and then Dan reached over and clawed Harry. Soon enough the chase was on, but this time Harry was doing some chasing of his own. Several mates changed and Nym, who had been about to wave her hand and call for Rose and the babies, hesitated as the melee became generalized. Nym secured the box and changed too.

Agnes Jump, the first ward to make it to the box, stuck her head through the obscuration charm and snatched it back out. Parents were crazy! “Kevin, Thomas, help me catch everyone else. They’re at it again.”

Kevin Aaronson and Thomas Zygmunt threw up their hands. Sure, their mums were hot, but they were still their mums. Nobody wanted to see that kind of thing. Kevin looked at Agnes. “All right there, then, Agnes, or scarred for life?”

Agnes chuckled. “All right. They’re being Dragons, thank Morgana, not like Harry and Ginny snogging on the promenade.”

Thomas suddenly smiled. “Speaking of which, did you hear that the Weasley twins were going to drop out of school and open a full-time store?”

Erin Vrindten, another ward, walked up. “I heard they broke their bond over it and Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet are going to be enslaved tonight.”

Carrie Losh, just arriving, was scandalized. “Erin, boys!”

Erin looked at her brothers, then at Carrie. “Oh, like Da hasn’t told them already!”

Thomas smirked. “Yep, well most of it. Something stops him from telling everything. So what’s the deal with the Weasley twins, then?”

Patel Baupendra, a seventh year Gryffindor ward, walked up at that point. “They’re going to do exactly what their bonded tell them to if they want to live. I saw a pack of Warg Bitches following them and Demelza wasn’t even saying anything to them.”

Patricia Knipe, a sixth year Warg Bitch, nodded. “You don’t mess with bonds.”

“Sprach Zarathustra.” Agnes ducked the halfhearted swipe from Patricia. “Look, the folks are going to be tied up. Let’s leave a guard at both stair heads and hit the Promenade. The guards will be relieved every half hour until the parents are through playing.”

The ward siblings agreed and set it up. They only had to provide one relief before the dome went clear again for a few moments and the crowd was allowed to see the Clan sitting in the box smiling and laughing; then the dome silvered and Rose had the nanny elves bring in the children. The wards showed up and gave their mothers and father glares. They got laughs in return. The vassals filed in, wondering what all the humor was about.

Harry was sitting in a drowsy kind of joyously exhausted haze when John Paul II showed up with Bartholomew. “Harry, we have to thank you for those transport Arms.”

“What transport Arms?”

“Ward stone sets, Harry. They include a transport stone now. It makes a set of your Arms appear over it. We gave them each a set and they dropped them in their offices.”

“Thank you, Luna.”

“You’re welcome, Father, Patriarch. Just a social call, Holiness, Patriarch?”

“Why no, Harry. I browbeat Jozef into coming by so I could interrogate you further. Now that business is out of the way, Nym, where is Lily?”

Harry watched, open-mouthed, as he was completely ignored. Payton Flanagan, a former death Eater daughter now happy bonded, leaned over and shut his mouth with a finger and went back to playing with Minerva’s Cameron.

Everyone chuckled as Harry sat watching the Quidditch and grumbling.

After an hour or so Elizabeth, Phillip, and August Wettin came to the box. “Harry, what’s got you so boggled?”

Harry replied while rising, “My Confessor and his partner in crime, sir.”

“That’s an interesting way to refer to two of the ten top religious leaders of the world, Harry.”

“Feh, they came to see the babies, not me, ma’am. And who is this gentleman?”

August bowed from the shoulders. “August Wettin, August the IV to some in central Europe if we still had a coherent nobility and monarchy. I’m trying to remedy that. To that end I would like to know your intentions.”

“Harry, stop laughing. August, I’m sure he doesn’t mean to offend.”

“Hahaha! Errrh, no, I don’t actually, and I’m sorry, August—or is it Majesty? My intentions toward central Europe? I intend to clean the scum from the Realm, educate its sentient beings, and then force them to tolerate each other until eventually it becomes their nature. If central Europe falls into the Realm, the sentient beings of it will comply or die; there are no other choices.”

August blinked. “Well, that’s very succinct. I will inform the nobles. They can see you here to give their oaths, my liege?”

Something made Harry say, “At dawn every day.”

Bartholomew frowned at the return of this ritual with its pagan overtones and August beamed at the Duke’s understanding of his people.

Duchess Nymphadora sighed. “August, they’ll notify us first and we’ll set a date, perhaps the winter equinox. We’ll depend on your guidance.” She smiled to herself as she neatly put central Europe in her pocket. Elizabeth beamed at her.

August was fully aware of what had just happened. “As you will, my liege.”

Harry smiled. “Okay now, Quidditch!” He turned back to the game.

After an hour or so Harry sighted Imelda across the grounds holding up a long tube. He growled and Imelda appeared in the box. “Harry!”

“Imelda, what are you doing?”

“Taking pictures, Harry. Yes, I’ll turn them all in to Rita. I’m tired of the mates turning me into things. Especially things that involve that Chittock cow.”

It had taken Marcia, Jennifer, Melissa, Hermione, Minerva, and Emmeline two days to change her and Glenda back human from the pushmepullyou. It had been ghastly. Emma Granger had laughed the whole time.

Harry was bereft of thought for a moment; he didn’t like this. He wasn’t sure why, he just knew he didn’t.

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Potter’s Field
26 Oct 96
21:00

Sally Ann Cromwell sighed and leaned against the end of the bar. Even with Rosmerta and thirty- other duchesses and mates the place was a madhouse; absolutely packed to the gunnels with beings of all descriptions. Fortunately the Duke and Duchess Nymphadora had stopped by and Harry had nailed a set of rules for the Regiment and the Potter bound to the door. Pity about the beautiful door, but the Duke had been a little tetchy when Rosmerta watched her get patted on the rump. Poor Private Santos was still stuck to the wall outside and looking forward to ten lashes tomorrow. She would have to hire more help and talk to Rosmerta about expanding the place.

Harry looked around and growled; he really was not liking these people ogling his mates. Rosmerta swooped in and gave him a butterbeer and a long look down her cleavage. She followed this up with a saucy wink and a nice little hip roll on her way back to the bar.

SSG Woodman looked around the crowded tap room and wished the Duke and the mates would depart. He and the other NCOs obviously had a little work to do yet tonight. Two members of the Regiment to be flogged in public! This would not wash; a blot on the Regiment’s honor, that was.

Harry and the mates did eventually leave at 10 p.m.s, unsticking Santos on the way by, and Woodman and his peers immediately took action. The Regimental dispensary night shift suddenly found themselves dealing with the clumsiest regiment in history. How many troops can actually run into doors or fall down stairs, after all?

Sally Ann closed the doors and sat with her staff for a nightcap at 23:30. Magical pubs might not have hours, but until they got more staff they couldn’t keep up a twenty-four-hour operation “Okay, everyone, we’ll open at 07:00. I’ll put up a hiring notice.”

The weary staff nodded and headed for bed as the four house-elves assigned to the Potter’s Field finished cleaning and everyone turned in.

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Potter Castle
Ducal Apartment
Dragon’s Den
26 Oct 96
23:30

The music was low and slow tonight as the mates could feel Harry’s anger, and didn’t want that tribal beat contributing.

Sarah Elizabeth Read Potter, former sex potion user, growled at Harry, “I’m right here and very nude, Harry. Am I so disgusting you don’t even want to think of me?”

Harry looked at her with a horrified face and spent the next hour proving how very not disgusting she was. Sarah smiled smugly at her watching mates in between making that funny little scrunched-up, mad-looking face several times.

Alycia Mallett Potter, another former sex potion user, replaced Sarah when she couldn’t continue. Pansy watched, smiling. Tracey looked at her and pushed her out of her chair and onto a bean bag. Nym came in from putting the babies down and stepped over behind Tracey and rewarded her for her efforts in congratulating Pansy. Tracey sighed dreamily as Nym sank her Harry into her.

The mates watched and shook their heads. That was so strange, Nym doing that. Fun but strange. Hermione sat in the corner at a table and strained, her head turning red including her hair. “Hermione, what are you doing?”

“Trying to—erm, well, do like Nym does Ginny.” She blushed fiercely. “I mean, I know what part she uses but I can’t quite get there yet.”

Ginny leaned over and peeked in her lap. Hermione had a respectable Harry of her own. “Good enough for now.”

Hermione squeaked, groaned, and then gave a little scream as Ginny pushed her down into a bean bag, straddled her, and sank into her lap groaning.

Minerva shook her head. Suzanne Grofton Potter looked over at her. “What, Minerva?”

“From you of all people, Suzanne? I mean, we aren’t—erm—bisexual; well, with any other women anyway.”

“Ha, I’m not that bad. Feedback.”

Minerva’s brow wrinkled.

“Min, don’t frown, it will give you wrinkles. What I mean is Harry is sixteen, and a lot of the mates are in their peak years. They want him, he wants us all, we want him some more, he wants us more. A circle, you see? So while he gets rid of a lot of his, some of ours is still running around in the bond.”

Minerva looked at Suzanne and focused. She worked her way through the Animagus work they had done and focused on the changes as Harry and Nym did them. She released the magic as she stood and Suzanne’s mouth dropped open. Minerva made a very sexy if youthful looking boy. Before Suzanne could recover her wits Minerva had her on her back in a bean bag and was checking the transformation to see how well it really worked. It was a screaming success, literally right up till Minerva went with the thrashing Suzanne, then she lost the change. They snuggled together for a moment and then raised their heads to the pensive silence that had descended.

Harry had finished with Alycia and as they lay recovering they had watched Minerva change and take Suzanne. Harry was amazed to find he wasn’t jealous at all. In fact that was one of the sexiest things he had ever seen. He and Alycia lay watching both couples, Hermione and Ginny as well as Minerva and Suzanne. Alycia had taken advantage of Minerva’s effect on Harry and spooned into him; he reached around her hip and helped. They reached a little peak just as Minerva and Suzanne did. Harry removed his hand from its very nice playground and used Alycia’s muscular hip as the other side of a round of applause which was joined by the other mates. Nym had been exhausted by a concerted effort from Pansy and Tracey and joined in the ovation, albeit a little uncoordinatedly.

Minerva, Suzanne, Hermione, and Ginny all blushed to their roots as they received Harry’s congratulatory mental caress.