Hourglass

Ron cast a wary glance across to his companions. Practically the entire order was there, even Tonks, who had no sooner recovered from her wounds before insisting on being back in action. All of Harry's girls were there was well, except for Katie and Demelza. There was still no sign of Voldemort's new 'stronghold'. Daphne had told him that this was where she had grown up, but couldn't for the life of her remember what it was called or where it was. Hermione had used the basin they recovered from the Department of Mysteries to trace her bond to Harry to this location, but couldn't go any further. It was clear that it was under the fidelius charm, probably unplottable as well, along with many other wards that Bill had identified.

He placed a reassuring hand on Daphne's arm. She'd confided in him that it was likely that her little sister was in there somewhere, if she was alive at all. "Anything from Harry?" He asked. Ginny shook her head "Not yet, Luna says the Demelza's still under."

Ron sighed, they just had to wait it out. "Ready, Bill?"

"As I'll ever be." Bill said. He and Hermione had developed a rather ingenious mechanism to collapse the wards. The bond represented a magical connection the crossed over the wards, presenting a weak point, but they needed Harry awake so that they could apply pressure from both outside and from within. He and Hermione would use the bond to create a weak point in the wards, which Bill would exploit to collapse the whole apparatus. Until then, they could only wait.

Ginny and Hermione both gasped, and would have fallen to their knees if Fleur and Susan (respectively) hadn't steadied them. Ron had personally witnessed what losing Harry had done to them. He'd seen the life come back to Ginny, Hermione, and Luna as they reaffirmed the bond. but Fleur had been perhaps the most changed, she'd become completely impassive, not letting slip even the briefest emotion. Well, except when it came to Ginny. Ron wasn't sure how to feel about the way that the older woman cradled his little sister. The same protective instincts that had him wanting to clobber Dean had been activated, and it was enough to put his head through a loop.

"Is it done?" Bill asked.

"It's done." Ginny managed "He's up. We need to-"

"Wait!" Cried Hermione, and everyone froze.

"Merlin, that was terrifying." She breathed after a moment.

Bill, with his wand held aloft asked. "What was it?"

"Snape."

-----

When Harry awoke, his vision was a blur. Which made sense, as he doubted Voldemort had bothered to give him glasses. Regardless, it drove home how helpless he was at the moment. He had no idea where he was or what he was supposed to do, he couldn't even see.

A door slid open. Merlin, he really was screwed. "Potter." Snape's cold voice pierced through him.

"Snape." Harry said "Here to finish me off?"

"I wish." He sneered "Here." He placed in Harry's hand glasses and a wand.

With is vision now clear, he looked up at Snape. "So you really are on our side."

"Indeed." He replied dryly "I managed to retain the Dark Lord's trust by helping him lure Dumbledore into his hands. He'd long since become… a liability."

"What happened to him?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, and we don't have time to chat. Listen." Snapes voice grew intense even as it remained quiet. "The Dark Lord knows that you've destroyed most of his Horcruxes. He will not be taking any chances with his life. If you are going to kill him it has to be now, before he slips even deeper into hiding."

"He's here?" Harry surmised.

"For the time being." Snape confirmed "I assume you have a plan?"

"Well, not exactly my plan. But there is one." Harry shrugged. Snape turned and left. "What are you going to do?"

"Stall." He said.

"He's just going to kill you." Harry protested. He didn't like the man. Hell, he may hate him, but that didn't mean he wanted him dead.

"Do I look like someone who has a love for life?" Snape retorted, his tone biting "Kill that bastard. That's all I want. Die as well if you must, I don't care. Just make sure he dies."

Harry tried to wrap his mind around Snape's motivations. He'd been a death eater, hated Harry's guts his entire life. "Why?"

"He killed Lily." And then he was gone.

Harry finally took the opportunity to take stock of his surroundings. He'd bene placed on a stone slab, deactivated runes carved around where his body would have been. Perhaps Snape had lifted them, or perhaps they'd been destroyed when he'd broken free of the potion. Nothing else in the room was remarkable- a nondescript dungeon. He looked down, and to his surprise Voldemort hadn't even bothered doing anything with his clothes, he was in the exact same semi-formal clothes he'd worn to the ministry.

Finally, Harry cast his mind out to his bond-mates. Ginny, Hermione, and Luna were out in the forest- waiting to break through the wards. Demelza were at the estate with Katie, recovering from the intense experience in the shared dream but determined to join her comrades.

Hermione had been filling him in on the plan, such as it was. He and Hermione needed to open a flaw the wards together, exerting pressure from within the wards and from without. While the specifics of the plan made perfect sense to Hermione, Harry found that he just had to trust her on it.

Alright, what exactly do I need to do, Hermione? Hermione instinctively understood that this wasn't something she could just tell him, and he felt her consciousness filling his body as she began to guide his magic. Then they were flowing together in synch across the bond, and Harry understood. They both poured more into the effort, until something snapped, the wards cracked the backlash reverberated across the property like a gong. There was no way they'd be undetected, even if Voldemort or his Death Eaters might not fully understand what had just happened.

Get here now.

-----

When Harry apparated to them, he was mobbed in quick succession- first by Ginny and Hermione who managed to simultaneously wrap him in crushing hugs. They were followed by Luna, who latched onto him in a vicegrip. Then it was Katie, who had just apparated in, and then Demelza, who was still shaky from her encounter with him. This all happened in just a few seconds, they all knew how little time they had.

Fleur and Susan held back, each for their own reasons. It didn't feel right to Susan to drag this out when they were all waiting on them… even if they had a plan to handle the time crunch. "Harry. I'm sure they're filling you in right now, but we need to go."

It was a new moon, that was why they chose tonight. She was going to bond with him. But it wasn't going to just be her. There was nothing that said that they couldn't do multiple rituals in one night. It had just felt right to do it one at a time- give each of them a special night. They hadn't realized just how much of a time crunch they were under- just how close everything was to falling apart. They'd almost lost him, there wasn't time for sentimentality. Susan intended on finishing this tonight.

Katie and Fleur had arrived to the same conclusion. Katie had some hint of regret that it had come to this, but Fleur had been coldly practical. Susan wished she could get a better read on the older woman, but she'd shut down after Harry had disappeared. Sometimes Ginny could get a spark of something out of her, but otherwise she was singularly focused on the war effort. But that was all of them, to some extent. Susan was one to talk.

Of course, conducting three rituals in one night would be a challenge under even normal circumstances. It was basically impossible while also assaulting the Greengrass estate. That was where one other nifty trinket Hermione had nicked from the Department of Mysteries came in. She saw the pieces come together for Harry as his eyes dropped to her neck, where the time turner hung, tucked underneath her cloak. His eyes then lifted to hers, then to Katie, and Fleur. "Are you sure?" He received nods in reply.

He and Susan disappeared with twin cracks, and the had a moment to breath as they walked from the edge of the property to… their home. "Susan, are you okay? Are you sure about this?"

"I've had a lot more time to come to terms with it than you have." She deflected, but Harry took her arm and spun her to him.

"Hey." He said, meeting her eyes again, and her breath hitched.

She'd been holding it in, the stress, anxiety, grief. All of it had taken a backseat to the mission, and it was breaking through now that he was here. For most of the others, that dam had come down suddenly, perhaps during their dream encounters with him. But for Susan, it was only now becoming real.

"Hey." He repeated, hugging her to him. "I'm sorry. I wish we could do this differently. You… deserve better. But… thank you."

"I'm not crying because of how we're doing this, dummy." Susan huffed "I'm crying because you're here." With that she gave in and squeezed him to her. "I missed you."

"Its funny." He said "Even though I didn't remember you. I missed you too."

Susan shook her head bashfully. Come on, he had six other girls to think about, and he actually got to see, there was no way he actually missed her. "Really." He repeated "I didn't realize it. That potion did a number on me, but… I was lonely. And I missed you, all of you."

Crack!

Katie apparated in behind them, followed by Fleur. "Such a charmer." Katie teased "Are you making sure tonight's still romantic for her?"

Harry rolled his eyes "I haven't seen any of you in like… a month? I'm allowed to be happy to see you."

Katie walked up and ruffled his hair. "Don't worry. It's cute." Fleur followed behind, almost warily.

"…are you okay, Fleur?" She froze, like a cornered animal. The answer to that question for the past few weeks had always been one of Harry's favorites- 'fine'. But now Susan could see the same cracks showing in her that she'd felt in herself, except Fleur seemed to be much more determined to fight it.

"I'm just glad that you're back. Harry." She said, putting on a smile. Fake. Susan determined in an instant. She was concerned for her, but figured that it would all come out tonight. It had to. Harry looked ready to press it now, but a silent consult, Susan suspected with Ginny, convinced him to wait.

Instead, the four of them made their way inside and to the sitting room that they had converted for extracurricular activities. Sitting on a table was another Time-turner. Susan raised her eyebrows in confusion, trying to work out how to manage… causality? The timelines? "Err…" Harry said "Hermione says that we need to leave this" He gestured to the device she was wearing "Time-turner behind after we're done." After a moment's thought it made sense to Susan. Though even if it hadn't, she figured trusting Hermione was the best policy in this case.

"Three turns should work for us." Susan said as Katie grabbed the other time-turner.

"You can come in at two." Fleur offered "I'll be at one."

"Yeah, yeah." Katie said, holding the chain out for Fleur to drape over her neck "Saving the best for last. I see how it is." Then she rotated the device, and they were gone.

"Guess that's our cue." Harry shrugged, stepping close to Susan so the chain encircled them both. Susan was momentarily distracted by his proximity, he looked just like when she'd last seen him- his features, his eyes, his lips it was all him. Then the world literally blurred around them.

When their surroundings crystalized, Susan could see that Harry was grimacing. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just kind of weird not having the bond gone again." He ran a hand through his hair. "Time travel." He shrugged.

Satisfied that everything was on track, Susan wasted no more time. "So wha- mmph!" She wasn't exactly turned on, but she figured that would come soon enough, so she just focused on kissing him as aggressively and thoroughly as possible. She enjoyed putting Harry on the backfoot, and pressed her advantage by groping his crotch.

Harry, though, quickly had enough. With a growl, he turned the tables on her, pushing her back against the wall. "Fuck!" He cursed, and something in her trembled at the aggression in his voice and the way he so easily manhandled her. There was a wild look in his eyes as he placed a hand around her throat and applied just a slight amount of pressure. It was remarkable, the balance in him between aggression and control. He'd manhandled her and put a hand to her throat, but had restrained himself right at the edge.

It was the single most arousing thing she'd ever experienced. It sent her from zero to sixty in a few seconds flat, from forcing it to gagging for it. She gasped, suddenly aware of her every heaving breath and his ability to restrict it on a whim.

Harry noticed it to, as his lips curled into a smirk. His other hand dipped under her robes and skirt to cup her sex through her knickers, forcing a moan from her. "You like this." He crooned, feeling the dampness that was already accumulating. When she didn't answer at first, the hand around her neck clenched, briefly and almost imperceptibly "Don't you?"

"Yes! Yes!" Susan gasped breathlessly "I like it. I really like it!"

"Good girl." He purred, and Susan suddenly got what Demelza found so enjoyable about their dynamic. Only Demelza got off on the mental aspect of it, while Susan seemed to need the physical component. She liked it rough. She liked the idea of passions rising so high that they just had to be expressed forcefully. It had come through while she'd been under the influence of the potion, but she hadn't put the pieces together until now.

Harry began to massage her through her panties, drawing more gasps and moans. "What am I going to do with you?" He asked.

"Fuck me!" Susan growled, challenging. Now that she understood, she recognized the urge to fight back, to bite and scratch and push- to make him overpower her. Harry, however, had plenty of experience being a dom. He tugged her panties down, assaulting her sex with his fingers while he briefly squeezed her throat again. "Fuck!" Susan gasped. "Wait! If you make me cum here, it won't count." They were outside the circle, so it wouldn't work for the ritual.

Susan realized she'd made a critical error here, she'd admitted weakness, and Harry was ready to pounce. "Oh? Are you that close already?" She'd seen him do much the same for Demelza, but it was an entirely different experience being on the receiving end. His fingers rubbed her clit just so, forcing a whimper from her.

"Yes!" She admitted "I-I- Oh!"

"Do you really think I'm going to have trouble making you cum again, and again, and again?" Oh god, was he really going to do it, make her cum just with his hands? Susan's hands clutched at his shoulders, her nails digging into his shirt, while she spread her thighs, opening herself to him.

His fingers kept working at her sex, until all she could do was moan "Uhn. Uhn. Uhn." until her head fell back and her eyes drifted shut, until she was right at the edge. And then he stopped.

She opened her eyes to see Harry's taunting smile. That fucking bastard! She fucking needed to cum! If he thought that she was like Demelza, and would meekly accept his every whim, he was dead wrong. Instead, she launched herself at him, forcing him back. Her mouth latched onto his neck, sucking and biting at his skin while she clawed blindly at him through the fabric of his shirt. Her legs wrapped around his waist, facilitating her singular goal- grinding against his erection until she came. She almost succeeded, too, but she became far too focused on that goal to the exclusion of everything else. While she was grinding gloriously against his hardness, Harry successfully regrouped and forced her to the floor.

Now, they were within the runic circle, but Harry wasn't feeling too generous. "What a naughty little slut." He growled, tugging her robes off, followed by her skirt and panties. "Are you that desperate for my cock, that you couldn't wait?"

Susan didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer, but Harry wasn't perturbed. Without skipping a beat, he gripped her hair and pulled her hair back, and with the other hand smacked her bare ass. Susan squeaked at the stinging strike, arousal unfurling in her core, but she didn't speak. Harry repeatedly struck her ass, but he was clearly holding back. If anything, his restraint just turned her on more, and soon she was dripping down her thighs. "Okay! Okay!" He gave in "I fucking need it, please! Just fuck me!"

"There you go." He cooed, his touch instantly becoming tender- stroking her thighs and then dipping his fingers into her folds.

Susan moaned loud and low "Fuck!"

"Oh, I intend to." Harry teased "But first, lets get these clothes off of you." He guided her onto her back and ripped open her blouse in one sharp motion, sending buttons clattering to the floor. Susan vigorously cooperated with him in his effort to remove her blouse and bra, and then turned her attention to his clothes. He was dressed in the same formal attire he'd been wearing during his fateful visit to the ministry, and that simply wouldn't do. While they snogged, she steadily grabbed, tugged, and tore at the button-down shirt until it was ruined and hanging on his frame.

Harry rose up and pulled his shirt off, giving Susan the opportunity to go on the attack. Leaving hickeys down his neck and crudely groping his crotch. "Come on." She grunted "Don't you want to teach me a lesson. Mmmph!"

"A lesson?" Harry echoed, using his weight to pin her to the floor "What would that be?" Her burning eyes met his, making it absolutely clear what she had in mind. He huffed "Fine." He unclasped his belt "If you want me to fuck you so bad…" He tugged open his slacks "I'll fuck you so hard…" He was so worked up- his fragmented speech came out in guttural growls.

Not that she was in any better a state. "C'mon, fuck me. Fuck me!" She grunted. He nails raked across his skin, before joining his to pull down his pants and boxers. They'd both been taken over, swept up in the moment as effectively as if they'd taken Hermione's aphrodisiac potion. But it was just them, the two of them going completely wild.

Neither was willing to bother completely peeling of his pants. When his cock sprang free, Susan gripped it in her hand and pulled him to her. Harry didn't need to be asked, and Susan didn't need any more foreplay. "Fuck!" They cursed in unison as he sheathed himself in her. Neither had anticipated the force he entered her with, or the ease in which he slid down to the hilt.

He quickly set a fierce pace as Susan egged him on. "Harder! Fucking harder! Fucking wreck me!" She shouted. Her hands grabbed at his back, before climbing down to his ass, fingernails digging painfully into his skin as she pulled him into her. "Yes! FUCK! FUUUCK!"

They both came quickly, high on passion and endorphins and adrenaline. She'd completely forgotten about the ritual until the lights blared around them and then she felt it.

Neither could tell how long the lay there, adjusting to the new bond. Susan had been told what to expect. She'd observed his interactions with the others and they had all been generous with their advice and experiences. Nothing, though, could prepare her for the reality of it. The connection was so real and raw, touching a part of herself so deep within her. It was intimate, it was powerful, and it was amazing.

Harry at least, had plenty of experience with bonding, and was able to regulate it so that it wasn't too overwhelming. She could feel him… all of him if she focused. She could feel the soreness in his knees, and where her nails had dug a little too harshly into his skin. She could feel the warm glow in his chest, of love and affection and gratitude. And she could his pleasure and desire, the aching hunger in his cock, and the primal impulse to hold her down and fuck her senseless.

It was that last thing that resonated most with her. She'd gone into the night- this entire thing- with a sense of duty. She was trying to save him and the wizarding world, but at the moment it was the furthest thing from her mind. Right now, she just wanted him. And he just wanted her. She could feel that now, their connection banishing her lingering insecurities. He wanted her, loved her, just her. Just Susan.

She smacked his ass, taking satisfaction in how it jolted him. "What are you waiting for?" She said "We've got an hour 'till Katie shows up. I want my money's worth."

Harry grinned; he was never one to turn down a challenge, and he sure as hell wasn't about to leave her wanting.