The Reckoning

"Ron?" Harry, Hermione, and Ginny's voices chorused in varying levels of disbelief and anger.

Talk about a mood killer.

A wave of revulsion swept over Katie as she realized that… creep had been watching them this entire time. "Oh my god." She muttered, putting a hand to her temples. With a start, she realized how exposed she was… she should put on some clothes.

Ron hadn't looked up yet, hadn't even acknowledged anyone else in the room. He looked very much like he wanted to crawl into some hole and die.

"You… you utter… PRICK!" Hermione recovered first and sent a swift kick to Ron's side.

Ron groaned and muttered "Bloody- Ow!"

"You arse!" The brunette spat again, which was accompanied by another kick. Ginny looked positively ill, while Harry's face was stony and pale.

Katie cast a glance at the new arrivals, Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones. She knew Luna was a good friend of Harry's, but Susan hadn't been, not until recently at least. None of them even seemed particularly surprised to find them having sex. Luna even offered a friendly wave when she noticed Katie evaluating her.

Wait a minute.

Holy shit. He was fucking all of them.

Really, she was impressed.

It looked as if Hermione was going to go on, but Harry held a hand up "Hermione, wait."

Ron peered up at Harry, a look of confusion on his face, only to disappear at Harry's icy glare. Katie was quite impressed at how Harry could pull off such an aura of intimidation completely naked. It was ridiculously attractive, or it would have been if not for their situation.

"How many times have you spied on us, Ron?" Harry asked him.

"Er… just, twice. Well, sorta three."

"I see." Harry replied curtly "Why?"

Ron's mouth opened and closed uselessly, and his face seemed to cycle between pale white and flushed red. "I… er… uh…"

Harry waited through Ron's incoherent muttering, until he managed to get out "It… it was hot."

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Seriously?"

Ron nodded.

"I don't even know what to say Ron. We haven't been speaking recently, but this… this is beyond the pale."

"You don't even know the half of it, Harry." Susan interrupted.

"What do you mean?"

"He told Lavender about us."

"Of course he did." Ginny spat, her expression finally turning into one of rage. "He never could keep his mouth shut about anything, you know. Before my first year, he wouldn't shut up about the adventures you guys went on."

"I didn't mean to!" Ron protested "It just, came out before I could stop it. I- I'm sorry!"

"A pattern with you, it seems." Katie added.

"But if Lavender knows…" Harry reasoned.

"Then the entire school does." Susan finished for him "And if the entire school knows…"

"Then Dumbledore does too. Shite!" Harry cursed.

"Wait, why does it matter if Dumbledore knows that we're all having sex?" Katie asked. Well, she got why it would be bad, but not especially bad, worse than the entire school knowing.

Several significant looks were shared between Harry, Ginny, Hermione, Susan, and Luna. Which meant she and Demelza, who were out of the loop.

Harry sighed "I guess it's time. You both deserve to know." He looked down at Ron "Honestly, we have more important things to deal with than whatever the hell is wrong with you." He told him "Stupefy."

Katie stared at him uncomprehendingly. God, this was going to get weird. She just knew it.

"Er, sure, but…" Demelza piped in "Can we put on some clothes first?"

-----

With Ron stunned and the quidditch players clothed, Harry began to explain. He told them about the prophecy, he told them about the horcruxes, he told them how he was a horcrux, and how at first, he thought that he would have to die. Then Hermione told them about the ritual she discovered, how Dumbledore disapproved of what they were doing, but that they'd gone ahead anyway.

And when they were done… Katie laughed. It was absolutely ridiculous. She'd have sworn that they were pulling a prank on her, except… it was Harry. Of course something like this would happen to him. "I swear Harry." She managed "You are the luckiest unluckiest bloke alive."

"Tell me about it." Harry said with a roll of his eyes "I get told that I'm doomed to die, but then find out there's not only a chance to save me, but to er…" He looked around at the six girls in the room.

"Shag all the hottest witches you know?" Ginny supplied cheekily.

"I wasn't going to put it that way, but you took the words right out of my mouth." Harry agreed.

"Your mind, more like." Ginny smirked.

"Wow, so you guys really do have some sort of psychic connection, then." Demelza breathed "I read a book that was sort of like that."

"Really?" Hermione inquired "I haven't found any references to this sort of thing beyond the book I found the ritual in."

Demelza blushed, and Ginny sniggered. "Er, well it wasn't that sort of book."

"Meaning?"

"It was erotica, okay!" Demelza burst out.

Hermione blushed, but nevertheless looked intrigued.

Harry took the opportunity to steer the conversation back on track. "Look, I don't want either of you to feel obligated to do this. You'd be giving up a lot, and I wouldn't blame you in the slightest if you don't want to. Just, take your time and-"

"Fuck it, I'm in." Demelza interjected.

Harry's jaw dropped, as he seemed temporarily at a loss for words.

"Harry… you're everything I ever wanted and more. Honestly, I was beginning to worry that I was in too deep, that at some point Ginny would get tired of sharing you. I mean, isn't that crazy? I was basically hoping I'd get to be your side chick for as long as you'd have me." Demelza shrugged her shoulders in a self-depreciating manner "And well, I get to help save your life and take down You-know-who. Seems as good a justification as any. So, yeah. I'm in."

"Er, wow, Dem, thank you." Harry beamed. "You honestly have no idea what it means to me, that you'd be willing to do this. I know all of this is crazy, but I'll do my best to make sure you're happy."

Demelza seemed to glow at Harry's words. "And er…" Harry's eyes flickered over to Katie briefly as he continued "I'm not expecting monogamy from you. That's entirely your choice. I owe you that much, considering what you'd be doing for me."

"Never." Demelza breathed, which provoked a warm, loving smile from him in return. Despite the lack of pressure and judgement coming from Harry, Katie began to feel the pressure on her as several pairs of eyes turned to her expectantly.

"Oh come on!" She complained "You can't expect me to make a decision like that after only shagging him once!"

"So what, you want him to convince you?" Ginny waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

"Harry can be quite convincing." Luna added.

"Katie, take all the time you need. The last thing I'd want is for you to regret your decision." Harry assured her.

Katie nodded, she couldn't lie, she was tempted, but at the same time… it was a big leap. "Are you really okay with me fucking other guys?"

"Katie." Harry said seriously "If it makes you happy, it's the very least I could do. I won't lie, I'm not sure if I could handle it if Ginny or Hermione wanted to get with another bloke… call me a hypocrite. But our relationship doesn't have to be like that. I really don't think I'd be jealous."

Katie blushed, she was a little embarrassed to admit that that was a big point in his favor. She really enjoyed casual sex. She liked seducing blokes, the rush of power it gave her. She liked discovering all the little quirks that made them unique. She loved making shy blokes come out of their shell, she loved making the arrogant ones break and beg for her. She loved carrying around that secret knowledge of them, knowing what they looked like naked, knowing how they looked at their most vulnerable.

She suspected that made her different from most women, even from the other girls in this room. The emotional aspect of sex just wasn't a requirement for her. It hadn't even been something she'd experienced until Harry.

"Besides we've got plenty of problems to deal with right now." Harry added. "So we can shelf that for a bit."

"Like Dumbledore." Susan agreed.

"And what to do with my dear Brother." Ginny added, her voice laced with vindictive sarcasm.

"I really should have thought of that." Hermione frowned "We could have had him sign a contract swearing him to silence."

"Don't blame yourself Hermione." Susan consoled "This was bound to get out at some point. It's basically impossible for secrets to stay secret."

"Especially if you're shagging six bloody witches three times a day." Katie snarked.

"That's… a bit of an exaggeration." Harry protested lamely, over Ginny's giggles.

"Yeah, he normally doesn't manage all six of us in one day, but he can go for far more than three times." Luna added.

"Oh yeah, his stamina has been improving for sure. I wonder if the ritual has something to do with it." Ginny commented.

Hermione's eyes lit up "Well, yes. I've been looking into that possibility. I do think that the ritual has boosted both of your magical cores- though that change wouldn't happen overnight. It's also possible that with the level of sexual activity Harry's been having, Harry's magic is… helping him adapt."

"Well, that's lucky for us." Katie put in "I'd imagine we'd wear him down pretty quickly if he were a normal bloke."

Harry was blushing again, and he shook his head slightly as he said "I am normal."

There was a beat of silence, before Ginny snickered, and soon nearly everyone in the room was laughing or chuckling at the absurdity of Harry's statement.

Even Luna had joined in on the fun, as she said matter-of-factly "Don't worry Harry. You're just as normal as I am."

"Errr, thanks."

Laughter once again rang out through the circle of friends. When it died down, however, there was still a lingering tension in the room.

"So what are we going to do about Ron?" Ginny asked. Harry cast his gaze back to the unconscious body of his best… former best mate. His expression darkened.

He never thought that Ron could stoop that low… that he was that… that…

"He's always been immature, Harry." Hermione told him in response to his thoughts.

"I can vouch for that." Ginny said darkly.

"He's not going to learn." Katie added "Not until he's forced to."

"Enervate."

Harry's spell woke Ron, and after a few moments of confusion, the redhead tried to pick himself up. In a flash, Harry had his wand to Ron's throat. "Harry, I-" Ron tried to apologize, but Harry wasn't having it.

"Don't move, don't even talk, unless I tell you to." He demanded harshly.

Ron nodded meekly.

"I… I don't have words to describe how I feel right now, Ron. I really don't." Harry's thoughts weren't as organized as he hoped, but the words were coming out anyway "I was alright with you being a prat to me. That's happened before… whatever. But I can't tolerate you hurting the people I love. I won't put up with you spying on my girlfriends, violating their privacy."

Harry was building up steam at this point, but his voice remained level, directed solely at Ron. "If I ever catch you spying on any of them… no, if I ever catch you perving on anyone again… I will make sure you regret it. Got it, Weasley?"

Ron opened his mouth to speak, but no words came, so instead he merely nodded. "Good. Now leave."

Katie rather thought he was letting Ron off lightly. She supposed Harry wasn't the vindictive type. She glanced at Ginny and Hermione, wondering if they were going to plan their own form of vengeance. One look at their expressions confirmed that yes, they were.

They most definitely were.

-----

"We're so close, Al. So close. If you could just…"

"I know, Gellert. I can't just take it, not now, when he needs it most. When his task is done, I will. It would be for the best then."

"Still have a soft spot for the boy, I see."

"Yes… I feel I've raised him, in a way. I watched him grow up into a fine young man, guided him, helped him on his way."

"Just stay strong. You know what you have to do."

"Thank you. I… I honestly don't know what I'd do without you here. I have gone through my fair share of trying times, but lately… things have been more difficult than ever."

"And I love you too." Gellert's teasing smile grew as he faded away.

Dumbledore sighed. At the moment, his old lover turned enemy turned confident was the only person he felt he could speak freely with. There were many, many old friends he'd longed to see again, that he could use the stone to speak to.

But something stopped him, and he wasn't sure what it was. Something niggled at him, deep in his chest, but he passed over it. It wouldn't do to dwell on such internal struggles when so much was at stake.

At first he'd only used the stone once, to talk to Arriana one last time. To apologize, to say goodbye. She'd forgiven him instantly but had asked him to never use the stone again. He promised her he wouldn't.

That promise had held until the day he'd told Harry of his fate. The temptation of the stone, to find a balm to ease his guilt, had been too great. So he summoned Lily Potter, hoping that she could assure him he was doing the right thing.

She… hadn't. He had heard stories of her legendary temper and colorful language, but he had always considered them exaggerations … she was always so polite and reserved in his presence, though he supposed most of his students would be on their best behavior around him. That day, though, Dumbledore was certain that she would have destroyed his office just as her son had not a year before, if she had only been corporeal.

Instead, she unloaded a verbal lashing unlike anything he had ever received before. "Advice, you want my advice?" She had demanded. "Fire Snape! He's an ex-death eater who's only 'redeeming' feature is his creepy obsession with me. He abused my son for six years and you've done nothing but enable him. And that's nothing- nothing- compared to the damage you'd done to him before he even came to this school!"

"Lily-" Albus had tried to interrupt, but Lily Potter would not be silenced. "How could you? How could you send him to live with the Dursleys? I had to watch" She choked on tears "Watch them abuse Harry. Starve him. Shove him in that cupboard they called his room. Make him believe he didn't even deserve to be loved. HOW COULD YOU LET THEM DO THAT?"

"I had to keep him safe, it was your blood your sacrifice…"

Lily laughed, a painful sarcastic laugh "My sacrifice! I've had to bear that cross all this time, that my sacrifice was what led my son to those people. But it wasn't, not really. It was you Albus Dumbledore. You utter prick!" She swung a fist at one of his precious instruments, intending to destroy it much as her son had a year before. Mercifully, she was incorporeal, but that didn't stop her from continuing her tirade "You're trying to get my son killed! I'll never forgive you for this! Never!"

He'd banished her, and had sat in silence in his office for well over an hour afterwards. It seemed as if after succumbing to the stone once, it had become that much more difficult to resist its allure. He'd heard the news, that Gellert Grindelwald had died in prison just weeks before. It had been weighing on his mind ever since. He found his hand reaching for the stone once more, and with a twist of his wrist saw his old friend and former lover before him.

He'd just been intending to make peace with him, to find some closure. Death had softened Gellert's soft edges, and Albus felt that he'd found what he wanted. He would leave the stone be as he'd promised Ariana.

Things had only seemed to spiral out of control from there, and soon Albus found the temptation of the stone too strong. He just wanted an understanding ear, and Gellert provided that and more. It was like old times, almost, once more Gellert was the only one who understood what Albus had to do.

The latest news was the most frustrating of all, the portraits had informed him (as they were wont to do) of the latest gossip in the castle. Normally idle school gossip wasn't meaningful, but in this case…

He needed to speak to Harry. At Once.