Chapter Nine - Feeding an Acromantula

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to the proverbial Duchess of Magic, JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Warner Bros and some other high falutin' companies. No matter how much I whine about not owning anything related to the HP universe, other than a few fanfic plots, I do not profess to own - and would never dream of making any money off - JKR's wonderful world... Damn it!

Chapter Nine - Feeding an Acromantula

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—==(oIo)==—

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The next morning, Harry awoke on his left side to find himself with his right arm around the waist of Daphne and cuddled in behind her, spooning; while his left arm was up under her pillow with her head resting where his bicep would be. Other than a natural reaction in his groin, he didn't think he was in a 'taking liberties' position, so remained where he was for a while.

Unbeknownst to him, Daphne had awoken a little earlier and was also lying, just enjoying the feeling of Harry's arm around her. Her own right arm was over the top of his; and her hand was resting holding his where it was, more or less, across her upper tummy and cupping her body near her left hip.

She'd had one of the most restful night's sleep she'd had since they'd 'backstepped' into the past. And she knew it had to do with how 'her Harry' was cuddling her. She felt safe. He made her feel safe. She realised she truly did trust him.

Unknown to either of them, at that moment, their bond ever so slightly strengthened.

As Harry tried to gently pull away she gripped his right arm tighter with her own arm and hand. "Don't," she softly said. "Just cuddle me, for a while."

Surprised that she was awake, he gently asked with concern, "It's not making you feel uncomfortable?"

"No," she replied. "Actually, I've now realised it makes me feel safe. I'm... not having as many nightmares when I sleep in here with you. I know you're keeping me safe."

"Good," he said, happy for her. "I'm pleased to hear you say that. Thank you."

"Thank you?" she asked in return.

"For realising you can trust me," he said. He carefully leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the base of her neck under her ear.

The immediate reaction of her body to that gentle touch made her suck in a gasp of air. "Ooohhh!" she softly exclaimed. "That felt really nice!"

"I'm glad you liked it," he returned. "However, we've got classes and we need to get up."

"I know," she sighed, finally letting his arm go.

Pulling his other arm out from under her pillow, he rolled over to see Hermione smiling back at him. Before he could say anything to her, she held her finger vertical to her lips in the sign of 'be quiet'.

Then she leaned forward and gently planted a kiss on his lips; before she then silently sent him off to have a shower.

With a sigh of contentment, Harry climbed out of bed, over his blankets and over the foot of the bed; and made his way to his ensuite.

As soon as he left, Hermione slid over into his 'warm' spot and wrapped her arm around Daphne, similar to how Harry had his a little earlier. The blonde girl stiffened for a moment until she realised it was Hermione, and she was just looking to cuddle.

Once the other girl had settled down again, Hermione hesitated for a moment before she said, "You're falling in love with him."

Daphne stiffened slightly again for a few seconds before she, once more, relaxed and admitted, "Yes. You're not angry with me about it, are you?"

"Heavens, no!" Hermione softly exclaimed. "I'm happy for you!"

With a soft sigh, Daphne said, "It's just that..."

"You were worried it would make me angry? That, you thought I'd think you were stealing my man?"

"Yes," Daphne replied after a couple of moments.

"Silly girl," Hermione giggled. "I know Harry loves me. And, I know he won't love me any less because he finds himself also loving you. His love isn't finite. It's one of the things about him that makes me love him right back. But, you already knew that from last night with the Hat, right?

"Besides, I don't think our three guardian angels would have set us up for heartbreak, like that; do you?"

"No," Daphne chuckled, seeing the logic of it. She then shifted around until she was on her back looking back at her chocolate-brown haired bond-sister. "This is going to be alright, isn't it? We know this is going to work, because our angels specifically set it up for us."

"Exactly," Hermione smiled. "I'm glad to see you're now understanding that."

She then quickly changed the subject. "Now, we need to get up and go and get ready, ourselves. Otherwise, Harry's about to come out of the shower and we're going to get a show of him getting dressed. Naked man tushie!"

Daphne blushed and giggled. "You say that like it's a bad thing."

Hermione laughed back and said, "Of course it's not. But, we'll miss breakfast if we don't hurry." And, with that, she climbed out of bed.

Daphne followed her out a moment later. But, not before first looking wistfully at the door to Harry's ensuite - and wondering.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

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When Harry returned to his room and went to pull out his under uniform and robes, he noticed the red and gold had been replaced with the blue and bronze of Ravenclaw. Smiling, he quickly dressed and walked out into the apartment living room to await the girls.

As he waited for them he pulled out his new class schedule and began to note what classes were held where. He then collected the books he needed for that days classes; and wondered if the class material was going to be any different. When he stopped to think about it for a while he realised it wouldn't be. After all, all four Houses sat their OWLs, together.

When Daphne came out first, Harry looked up and said, "Wow, Daphne! Ravenclaw blue really suits you!"

She blushed a little and grinned back. "This is going to take some getting used to," she said, indicating her school robes.

When Hermione joined them they spent a bit of time admiring and acknowledging the difference the change in House colours made them look.

"Well, that's enough of that," smiled Daphne. "Let's go eat."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

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As they walked down the corridors and descended the stairs they earned a few looks from other students. At this time of the morning, it was only the other Ravenclaws and Gryffindors, as the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs did not venture up past the ground floor until after breakfast.

They were just making their way down the last few parts of the moving stairs when the three of them heard from behind, "Oi! Harry, mate! Wait up!" Ron Weasley had found them.

Harry drew his wand and spun about to see the red-headed nitwit hurrying down the stairs towards them. Aiming his wand at Ron he snarled, "Stay the Hell away from me, Weasley. I'm not in the mood for you."

However, the youngest Weasley male ignored the warning and only slowed down to a walk. "But, Harry," he said, as if surprised. "I thought Dumbledore would have told you it was just a prank. We meant no harm by it."

Not wanting the redhead any closer, Harry cast a stunner at the boy, who - with a look of surprise on his face, hesitated - before he dropped like a boneless heap on the stairs, unconscious, when the charm hit him in the middle of the chest. Daphne followed it up with the rope binding charm, Incarcerous, and a localised silencing charm; as Hermione cast a Wizard Notice-Me-Not ward around them based on the ones they used while on the run looking for horcruxes.

Stepping forward, Harry then enervated the boy and, kneeling over the prat so his face was a lot closer, growled out, "Listen up, Weasley. Our friendship irrevocably ended the moment we found out what you've been up to. We know about the love potions, we know about the loyalty potions, we know about the repulsion potions, and we know all about how you've been blocking other students from getting to know me, getting close to me. We know that it's all about you, your sister and your mother getting your hands on the Potter fortune. We know it all!

"If I thought I could get away with it, I'd kill you, your sister and your mother, right now. You only live, at the moment, because I would be the prime suspect if you suddenly disappeared. However, first chance I get where I think I can get away with it, you will disappear. It won't take much for me to kill you, hide your body under my invisibility cloak and levitate it out to the Forbidden Forest to feed it to the acromantulas.

"Hell, I might even use the exact same charms we've got you under right now. I'm sure Aragog's little family would prefer their prey alive rather than dead."

While Harry was quietly growling at the boy what he really wanted to do to him, Weasley was growing more and more horrified and terrified by each passing moment. When Harry mentioned how he might even deliver the boy to the acromantulas alive for their dining pleasure, he fainted.

As Harry stepped away with a smirk on his face, Hermione recast the Notice-Me-Not field and removed the ropes of the Incarcerous charm. Then together, feeling a lot happier with themselves, the three continued their trip to the Great Hall for breakfast.

"Don't forget to clear your wands, ladies," Harry reminded them.

As they walked, the three started casting quick and short term charms such as the light charm, its counter, the levitation charm, a couple of minor shield charms and the like. By the time they walked into the Great Hall, each had cast about a dozen spells through their wands.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

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Again, they sat opposite Luna at breakfast. Though gaining her friendship wasn't one of their 'missions' from their guardian angels, both Harry and Hermione knew just how much of a trusted friend she would become within the next couple of years, anyways. Establishing that friendship now was even better.

As he sat down Harry smiled at the younger 'Claw, while she was busily building things with her food, and said, "Good morning, Luna." His two bondmates followed suit.

Luna looked up a little suspiciously, at first, before her face brightened with a big smile and she replied, "Good morning, Harry, Hermione, Daphne."

Harry began building his own breakfast with toast topped with a poached egg and a couple of pieces of bacon on the side. Glancing across at what Luna was doing, he asked, "You enjoy art, don't you?"

Again, a look of suspicion flitted across Luna's face as she looked back at Harry, before it faded away into a smile. "Yes, I love art. At home, I paint. I like to make things, too."

"Mmm," said Harry as he dashed a bit of salt and pepper on his egg. "I've seen your radish earrings and butterbeer cork necklace. You do good work."

"Oh, that's not art," she replied. "Wrackspurts are allergic to radishes, so they don't want to come near my ears. That way I don't become infected with them."

"And there's something that's allergic to cork?" asked Harry, quite curious.

"Nargles," she replied.

"Still," he said, "You could have made a perfume essence of the radishes for the Wrackspurts; and sewn cork into the lining of your clothing. Instead, you made quite delicate jewellery out them. I daresay you have a hidden talent in making fine jewellery with ordinary precious stones and the like."

Again, Luna looked across at Harry. Only this time it was with genuine gratitude. She then put down what she was doing with her food and sat back. "You're a most unusual boy... no, man... Harry Potter."

Harry grinned back and said, "Thank you, Luna. It's nice of you to notice."

"Mmm," she said. "I can also see you've been touched by an angel. As have Hermione and Daphne."

Harry froze.

"Oh, and your bond with Daphne has strengthened a little since last night, too," she continued, as if she'd not seen the look of almost panic flit across his face. She then seemed to look a little spaced out looking at the space between Harry and Hermione and said, "The bond between you and Hermione hasn't changed, though. You need to work on that."

"It's not in danger of failing, is it?" asked Hermione, a little concerned.

"No," she replied. "It's just holding steady. But, the bond you have with Harry is now being almost matched by the bond Daphne has with Harry. That's how I know the bond she has with Harry has strengthened. The subtle difference that was there last night has almost gone."

She suddenly sat forward and reach over placing her hand on Daphne's where it rested on the table top. "I'm pleased for you," she said.

Harry grinned at Daphne and asked, "What changed?"

Daphne, who was clearly stunned by what Luna had said to her, blushed a little and quietly replied, "I... I've come to realise I'm falling in love with you."

After a moment, Harry leaned sideways to lightly kiss her on the cheek and whispered, "Thank you. I'm doing the same with you."

Luna smiled across at the pair of them. "And... it just strengthened a little more."

Hermione looked across in surprise at Luna and asked, "You really can see the bonds, can't you?"

Pulling her hand back from Daphne's, Luna looked just a little hurt by what Hermione asked and said, "Yes."

Realising she'd upset the girl, Hermione reached her own hand across to Luna and said, "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just an incredible, almost unbelievable, gift you have. It's taking me a little while to come to terms with the knowing of it."

The younger Ravenclaw thought about that for a while before she relaxed and smiled back. "Thank you."

Harry cleared his throat lightly and asked the girl, "So, Luna; what do you have on, class-wise, today?"

"Double Arithmancy, this morning," she said. "Care of Magical Creatures and History of Magic is after lunch; and Astronomy, tonight."

"A big day, then," Harry said. "We've got a double Transfiguration, this morning. Then a single Potions, this afternoon. And, I think our Astronomy lesson is immediately after yours, tonight."

As they ate their breakfasts, Daphne became more and more friendly towards Luna. And, she, back with them. Of course, Harry and Hermione had been friends with the younger girl through their original fifth and sixth years; so, were very happy to make sure that was a friendship that would be renewed.

More than halfway through breakfast, Ron Weasley came running in through the door. As he headed over to the Gryffindor table he spotted the three sitting with Luna at the Ravenclaw table. He, again, blanched a little before hurrying away from them, clearly in fear.

Luna, who had seen the exchange, said, "You've scared Ronald."

"Yes, Luna, we have," said Harry. "Even after the attempts by both him and his sister in dosing us with illegal potions, this morning he tried to lie to us and tell us it was just a prank; and implied that we should just forget about it.

"We impressed upon him that we believe it was most certainly not a prank, and that he and his sister should stay away from us, in future. We were quite forceful with that impression, and may have even made a significant threat or two. Not that we're admitting to doing such a heinous thing, mind."

Luna grinned back. "I'm glad," she said. "He's a horrid, horrid boy. And I'm glad to see you've come to realise that. But, I'm very disappointed with Ginny. We used to be friends."

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—==(oIo)==—

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After morning classes they, again, sat with Luna for lunch. Though it now appeared the rest of the 'Claws were leaving the younger girl alone due to Professor Flitwick finally stepping in, they still didn't choose to involve her in what they were doing outside of class. Harry wanted to make sure her time, from this point on, was not as lonely or hurtful for the girl.

Of course, having been friends before, they knew some of the girl's history, from what she'd told them in that timeline. That included how she had lost her mother when she was nine; when her mother died in her arms due to an explosion relating to a spell experiment.

It was at lunch that Luna revisited the topic of the bonds.

"I see you still haven't initiated the bond between Hermione and Daphne yet," she said.

Both girls immediately blushed and looked around to see if anyone had overheard the younger girl. Then Hermione leaned forward and quietly said, "We don't know if we want to or should."

Frowning back in confusion, Luna asked, "Why ever not?"

Blushing even more, Hermione replied in almost a whisper, "Because we don't know how we'd be able to finalise it."

Luna looked back and seemed to be thinking for a while. She finally said, "A suitably intimate event would do it. And you won't find out how in any book, either."

Seeing that his two bondmates were getting horribly embarrassed by the turn of conversation, Harry decided to take pity on them. He got the younger girl's attention and asked, "Luna, as you'd know, this is a very important matter for us. However, it's not something we should be discussing in a public place like the Great Hall, because it's also a private matter for us. Would you mind joining us in our apartment, after your last afternoon class, and discussing it with us there?

"I promise, if the talk goes on for too long, we'll use our house elf, Dobby, to provide us with an evening meal in the apartment. And, we'll also make sure you get back to your dorm so you can get a kip in before your Astronomy class, later tonight."

"Your apartment isn't infested with Blibbering Humdingers, is it?" she asked.

"We wouldn't know, Luna," he replied. "None of us have your ability to see them. I think your ability to see them might have something to do with your ability to see auras."

With a little moue of disappointment, Luna said, "I'll talk to Professor Sprout, at some time... or, maybe Neville Longbottom... and see if they have any dirigible plum bushes here. You might want to keep a potted dirigible plum bush in your apartment. They'll help you see and understand.

"Plus, Blibbering Humdingers don't like them. That's why we have them growing in the garden around our home."

"And they smell nice," Harry added with a smile. "Thank you, Luna. That would be very nice of you."

"And I'd love to join you in your apartment after class this afternoon," she said. "You're behind Professor Whittaker, aren't you?"

"Yes, we are," Harry replied, surprised she knew that.

"I like Professor Whittaker," she said. "He tells great stories."

"You've... talked to him before?" asked Daphne, a little confused.

"Oh, yes," Luna replied. "When the eagle that guards the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room used to get confused and wouldn't let me in, Professor Whittaker would let me in to the apartment there, so I had somewhere to sleep at night."

Knowing why the eagle got 'confused', as did Harry, Hermione asked, "Has the eagle gotten confused since Professor Flitwick had a chat with the whole House yesterday?" It took her taking full control of her Occlumency to allow her to ask that without getting angry. From the feelings he was getting from the two girls, Harry also knew that they knew what the 'confused eagle' actually meant.

"No, not yet," the younger girl replied.

"Well, if it does, you come and have a short chat with Professor Whittaker again," Hermione firmly said. "You say to him 'Double-H Dee', and he'll let you in. Then, you can come in and talk to us, and even stay for the night. Alright?"

With a big beaming smile, Luna replied, "Alright. That would be nice. Thank you."

"Plus, as we have a pair of house elves," said Harry. "One of them can get past the eagle and get your bath things and a change of clothes for you for the next morning."

"That would be nice, too," she smiled. "Would they also be able to find my things that the pixies steal from me and hide?"

"I'm sure they can," Harry replied, forcing his own anger down again. "Do you have anything missing now?"

"A few things," she said. "But, they've been missing for a while."

"Then, I'll talk to Dobby this evening," said Harry. "I know he, Winky or both would love to go on a treasure hunt to find your things for you. It would also be helpful if you wrote down a list of what you know the... pixies... have taken and hidden. Just to help them out, mind."

"Thank you," she said, getting a little teary. "I'll write it up during History of Magic class, this afternoon."

"History of Magic class?" asked Harry, looking mock-confused. "We have a class on that?"

"Yes, Harry," Hermione smirked. "You call it 'Afternoon Nap Time', even though we now have it Friday mornings."

"Oh, the one with the ghost!" exclaimed Harry, pretending to be surprised; before he frowned in apparent confusion. "If it's not 'Afternoon Nap Time', why does he read us bedtime stories, then?"

His words had the desired effect, as it made Luna giggle as she wiped her eyes with the sleeve cuff of her robes.

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—==(oIo)==—

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As the three left the Great Hall after lunch heading for the dungeons and Potions, Harry asked, "What say we stop by the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets on our way back to our apartment? I want to see if we can determine just what charms and wards Ol' Twinkles has put on the sinks."

"Ol' Twinkles?" Hermione asked, a little annoyed with Harry's disrespect while Daphne snickered.

"Well, I thought you'd be quite upset with other names I've come up for him," Harry shrugged.

"Like what?" she demanded.

"Let's see," he replied, raising his right hand and starting to tick them off using his fingers. "There's 'White Whiskered Wanker', "Manipulative Old Fool', 'Leader of the Laughable', 'The Greater Fuck-up', 'The Pizza Supreme Muck Flinger of the'..."

"Language, Harry James!" an annoyed Hermione snapped back, interrupting. "And, though we know he's made... and will otherwise make... mistakes, he's still the Headmaster and we should show respect."

"Hermione," he sighed. "You were there when he tried to hit both Daphne and me with a compulsion charm, and then more directly attacked me with Legilimency. That's highly illegal. One of the other names I have for him is 'The Chief Criminal of the Whatchamacallit'."

Stopping their small party in the corridor, Harry turned Hermione to face him. "Do you know why he uses that silly cantrip to make his eyes twinkle like that?"

With a frown of annoyance... whether it was at Harry's disrespect, or that there was something she didn't know... she shook her head.

"Making his eyes twinkle like that, draws your eyes to his," he explained. "Once he has you looking him in the eye, he can use passive, or wandless, Legilimency against you. Passive or not, without prior permission, it's still illegal. Using the eye twinkle means he's doing it deliberately.

"You need to understand that Dumbledore is not the nice man he has just about everyone thinking he is. He will not hesitate to break the law, or violate your rights, if he... and he alone... decides he should. Whenever he says, 'It's for the greater good', it means someone has just been, is in the process of being, or is about to be, well and truly shafted by him. Often, that person is me. It's led to me developing a near knee-jerk reaction of clenching my bum cheeks when he says it."

Hermione sighed and looked away. "I know," she said. "But, it's hard to think like that of a person who has so much authority. You're supposed to be able to trust them to do the right thing. That there is so much corruption in the wizarding world appalls me."

"Yeah, well," Harry sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Once Riddle is done and dealt with, that's what John said we'll be tackling next. That's why he doesn't want me to destroy Riddle before the events in the graveyard. I've... We've... got to let him get a body back so I can then kill him. That way, I'll become known as the Man-Who-Vanquished, supplanting the Boy-Who-Lived as my hyphenated appellation.

"We then use that respect... and near idolisation from the sheeple... to enter into the political arena, and come down hard on everyone we need to; to ensure we improve our society. That's one of the reasons why we have to let Dumbledore die. He'd just get in the way if he doesn't."

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

This was their first Potions class since Harry's 'ultimatum' to the Headmaster. And everyone was completely shocked at the radical change in behaviour of their 'esteemed' Potions Master. Gone, was the perpetual sneer; even if the scowl, though muted, was still there.

The lesson started with an overview of the potion they'd be making, it's uses, and what to watch for when it was being brewed. Only then were they permitted to collect the ingredients and set their cauldrons to bubbling away on the wizarding flame. And the instructions appeared on the board.

There were no accidents, no exploding cauldrons, and no denigrating remarks from the Professor. And, after the potions were bottled, realistic marks with similar points awarded.

When it was finished, some of the 'Claws and 'Puffs congregated just down the corridor in shock. They discussed what they'd just gone through. It was Susan Bones who summed up how they were feeling when she asked, "Did what I think just happened, actually happen?"

Ernie MacMillan, another 'Puff, put it in perspective when he said, "I think I learned more about potions in that one class than I've learned in the past three years!"

"I can't believe he actually awarded me points!" exclaimed Stephen Cornfoot. "He's never done that before!"

Smiling to themselves, the three listened in for only a short while before they headed directly to the second floor and Myrtle's bathroom.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Once at the door of the bathroom, the three looked around to make sure they weren't being watched. Harry then stood guard as lookout as Daphne and Hermione began the process of detecting for any charms or wards.

Once it was shown the door to the bathroom was clear of such, the two girls entered to make sure the bathroom was unoccupied. Hermione then stuck her head out and beckoned Harry in. Thankfully, Myrtle wasn't there at the time.

As soon as he stepped in he closed the door and put up a door sealing charm on it, just in case.

Turning around, he then saw both girls casting detection charms over the sinks. Where the sink was that contained the tap that spun glowed a dark green, for a moment, the two girls hesitated.

"That may have been detecting the spell that allows the entrance to open," Harry pointed out.

Daphne glanced at him for a moment before she gave him a small nod, and moved on.

Then there were a couple of other colours flashing up and fading away before both girls finished and stepped away.

"The verdict?" he asked.

"The Headmaster clearly doesn't think much of your skills, Harry," said Daphne. "There's a simple alert charm based on motion over the whole lot. Under that is a second one, that's far older. They were put up by different people.

"There's also a wizard-repelling charm based on the Confundus charm that's triggered when the recent alert charm is triggered. It looks like, as soon as you or Ron... but he doesn't know that... or Riddle, if he enters the school, opens the entrance, Dumbledore is immediately notified and the repelling charm activates making you want to just leave again.

Hermione then said, "It looks like he's waiting for you to open the entrance and, instead of going down, just leaving again. Does he even know about the door to the actual chamber, itself?"

Harry frowned in thought for a few moments before he replied, "No, I don't think so. I seem to remember just telling him where the entrance was, and that we went down into the Chamber to rescue Ginny. But, I think I also told him about the ceiling collapse in the passage, which is when I was separated from Ron and a recently self-Obliviated Flophart. I think I only told you and Ron about the inner door. And, of course, Ginny saw it coming back out."

Nodding, Daphne said, "This all looks like he's aware of just how valuable the carcass is likely to be, and wants to claim it for either himself or the school."

With a sigh, Harry leaned back against the recently sealed door. "As if I don't already have enough to worry about; Dumbledore wants to steal from me, too."

"Yes," replied Daphne. "However, if he'd succeeded, you'd have never known. As far as he would know, no one would have. A somewhat perfect crime."

Banging his head back on the door as he looked up towards the ceiling, he said, "Yet another crime against me from the Great Manipulator." Standing back up straight again, he looked at both girls and asked, "Can you get both of Dumbledore's charms off without alerting him?"

The two girls looked at each other for a moment before Daphne replied, "We can; but, it's going to take some work."

"We'll need to transfer the alert charm to something else without setting it off. Then we can simply strip away the Confundus charm," said Hermione. "I then recommend we put the exact same alert charm back, but have it keyed to one of us instead of Dumbledore.

"That way, if Dumbledore comes to check, he'll see the alert charm and think all is well. If it's Ron who comes down, we'll know straight away as soon as he sets it off; and Dumbledore won't. We can then confront him with his actions."

"And possibly force him to admit he's a parselmouth," mused Harry. "I like it. That just leaves actually getting it done. So, what do you need?"

"We'll need to research the arithmantic equations for both charms," replied Daphne. "That'll give us the key to removing them. Transferring the first one, however, is going to take a bit of research on ward breaking."

"Fair enough," said Harry. "And I'm not trying to push. But, I do have one suggestion."

"What's that?" asked Hermione.

"Can you put your own alert charm over the top of Dumbledore's?" Harry asked. "Would Dumbledore see it if you do?"

Hermione just grinned, turned and cast. A moment later there was a soft shimmer effect surrounding the grating at the back of the sinks before it faded away. "There. Done," she said. "I've cast it onto the grate because Dumbledore will not come all the way around the sinks to check for new enchantments. And, as the grate moves when the entrance opens, it'll activate the charm. We'll now know if Ron comes down and opens the entrance before we get a chance to harvest the carcass ourselves."

"Perfect," grinned Harry.

They stayed in the toilet for a little while longer as Daphne and Hermione wrote down the formulae for both spells that needed to be either moved or removed. And, once done, they made their way up to their apartment.

They'd been gone for almost the extra hour after their last class, so the other classes were expected to be released within the next few minutes. Indeed, that is exactly what happened as they climbed the last flight of stairs to the seventh floor.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

Homework had been pulled out and placed on the coffee table, rather than the study carrels. As they were all in the same classes it was easier, that way, to share materials. They had thought about transfiguring one of the carrel pairs into a large desk they could all sit around, but did not want to risk someone coming in who wasn't 'in the know'; especially the Headmaster. They would have no explanation for it, as it would be 'beyond' their current year ability; and they couldn't use the excuse they asked a seventh year 'Claw to do it, as they weren't friends with anyone in their new House yet.

They'd only just pulled out their books, parchment, ink and quills when there was a somewhat slow and heavy triple-knock on the door.

Harry rose to answer it, and found Luna standing there beaming back at him.

Pulling the door wider open and stepping out of the way, Harry said, "Come on in, Luna."

Luna looked up at the statue and said, "Thank you, Professor."

And the statue replied, "You are most welcome, young Miss Lovegood." And Luna entered.

Just as she walked in, Hermione called her over. "Come on in and have a seat, Luna. We were just about to start our homework, but it can wait." The young girl happily crossed the room before then plunking her bum on the couch next to Hermione.

Harry closed the door and followed her across, taking seat next to Daphne on the other couch.

"Alright," he sighed. "Now that we're no longer talking in the Great Hall... and, therefore, right out in public... I was hoping, for a start, you could explain a few things for me, Luna.

"But, first," he said, holding up a finger. He then looked to the side, a little and called, "Dobby!"

His own personal house elf popped in and said, "Oh, yes; Master Harry?"

Indicating Luna, Harry introduced them to each other. "Dobby; this is Miss Luna Lovegood. Luna; this is one of our house elves, Dobby."

"Hello, Miss Luna," said Dobby, looking at her. "Dobby is happy to meet more of Master Harry's friends."

Luna smiled back and said, "Hello, Dobby. I like your outfit."

Dobby beamed most proudly and said, "I is wearing Master Harry's house elf uniform. All the other house elveses are very jealous!"

"It looks very nice," she complemented him.

Dobby stood a little taller with pride and said, "Thank you, Miss Luna."

"While I enjoy listening to my house elf being praised for his dress," Harry chuckled. "I have a mission for you and Winky, Dobby."

"Yes, Sir," said Dobby.

"Miss Luna has had some of her personal effects go missing since she's been a student here for the past two plus years," Harry explained. "Your mission is to track down as much of it as you can and return it to her with the rest of her effects. This is a mission that I very much suspect is going to take you quite some time. So, it's something for you to do when you've got nothing better to do.

"And, I don't want to find out either of you have allowed yourselves to get too tired or too exhausted when you're doing this, either. If you can get the other house elves in the castle to help, that's also allowed. Do you understand your mission?"

"Yes, Sir!" Dobby almost barked back.

"Very good," said Harry. "You may carry on with what you were doing, Dobby. And, thank you, again."

And the little elf disappeared.

"I think you're turning Dobby into a soldier," Hermione giggled while Daphne snickered.

"I think he wants to be," he laughed.

With a sigh he looked over at the still smiling Luna and said, "If there's anyone I trust to find your things for you, Luna; it's Dobby. He's quite... tenacious... when he feels he needs to do something."

"I think you're right, Harry," she said, her smile slipping a little. "I don't know why I didn't think of asking the castle elves to help me find my things."

Harry smiled and said, "Sometimes, the most obvious thing to do is the last thing we think of."

"That's quite profound," she said, a little surprised.

"Yes, well," he replied, a little uncomfortable before changing the subject. "Now. We've been appreciative of how you've let us know about the state of our bonds, and that a latent bond between Hermione and Daphne is also there.

"As you probably know, a three-way soul bond like ours is pretty much completely unheard of. Because of that, we're worried we might do the wrong thing, or the right thing too late, and cause harm to either existing one, or the latent one. That you can see the bonds, and are able to gauge their 'health'... for wont of a better term... has gone a long way to alleviate our fears over them. So, for that, you have our thanks."

"That's what friends are for, Harry," she softly said. "We are friends, aren't we? I sense that we already are, and have been for quite some time. But, I also know that this is a new friendship. It is most confusing."

"Yes, Luna," said Hermione. "We are friends. We know you will be a good and trustworthy friend to us. We just can't tell you how or why we know that."

"It was the angels, wasn't it?" she asked.

Harry snorted and said to Daphne, "I told you she's very perceptive."

"That's quite a remarkable gift," Daphne said to the younger girl, a little awed. "But, sorry; we still can't tell you if you're correct or not."

Luna happily said, "That's alright. I understand."

"Thank you for your understanding," said Harry. "Now, we returned to our apartment here last night to discuss how you let us know about the latent bond between Daphne and Hermione. At first, we had some confusion over how such a bond could be finalised, or sealed, or whatever it is. After all, between two ladies, there's no... coitus."

Blushing a little he soldiered on past it. "So, I came up with the idea that it isn't the physical act of sexual intercourse that finalises the bond; it's the emotional act. Then, from there, we developed a hypothesis about the whole bond from when it is initiated to when it is finalised.

"Now, I believe... and I think I have both ladies at least somewhat agreeing with me...: he said, glancing at his bondmates, "that it's the emotional component we need to concentrate upon. As an example, this morning you said the bond between Daphne and I strengthened a little. However, there was no physical change to our relationship. But, there was an emotional one."

Turning to Daphne, Harry asked, "Would you mind sharing what happened, emotionally, love?"

Daphne sat thinking about it for a while, and everyone else just let her figure it out for herself. After all, it was quite a personal matter.

"I figured out two things," she eventually but softly said. "The first, is that I'm falling in love with Harry. The second, is that I realised I actually do trust him; at least, more than I thought I did."

The surge of happiness Harry heard on hearing that made him feel he could power a massive patronus from that one feeling and memory alone. He wanted to get up and hug her, so he did.

When he backed off again, Luna giggled and said, "It looks like your hypothesis is sound."

"Oh?" Harry asked.

"The strength of the bond between you surged a little when Daphne admitted that," she shyly replied. "It's settled down again now, but it's definitely stronger than it was a few minutes ago. It's pretty much on a par with the bond between Harry and Hermione, now."

Harry grinned and couldn't help but feel a little smug to have his belief confirmed.

"Thank you, Luna," he said with a wide grin. "I think this is going to make it a lot easier for us to work towards finalising the bond, sometime down the road."

The conversation then moved on to other topics and the four chatted freely until they realised they had to get down to the Great Hall for dinner. The talk also showed that, though she had this light and almost flighty side, Luna was also quite brilliant in her own right with serious matters.

Together, as friends, they headed down to the Great Hall for dinner.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After dinner, Luna returned to her own common room to get started on her own homework, while the three bondmates headed back to their apartment and their own homework. And, though he didn't say he was doing it to the two girls, he also did his best to make a start on a logical list of different levels of emotional responses to physical acts they could explore.

However, it wasn't as easy as he thought it might be. In reality, it was bloody hard. He didn't know if it was because he was a guy, and therefore supposedly incapable of putting his feelings into words, or if it had something to do with being raised by the Dursleys, or something else. He did, though, figure out that by writing it down, it reduced the emotional impact of the act. It was too clinical.

With a sigh of self-disgust and disappointment, he dropped his quill back into his ink pot and slid the parchment away.

"Something wrong?" asked Hermione, always in tune with his emotions.

"I've been trying to put down some ideas as to how we can progress our bonds and do so in a way we all remain comfortable," he grouched. "However, I've figured out it won't work."

"How so?" she asked.

"Because by making it an almost step-by-step guide, it strips the emotional impact of it away. And that's the last thing we want to happen."

"Good," she said.

"Sorry?" he asked, confused.

"Harry, Daphne and I figured that out as soon as you came up with the idea," she said sounding a little amused.

"Must be a girl thing," he muttered.

"No, it's a logical thing," she retorted. When she saw Harry didn't seem to get it, she sighed in her own slight frustration and said, "Look."

She then stood up and started disrobing. As they'd all already doffed their over-robes and she wasn't wearing a jumper, she pulled her tie off and started to untuck her white school blouse out of her grey skirt.

As soon as she had it untucked she came over to Harry, pushed him back in his seat, and plonked herself down on his lap. Out of his sight, she reached behind herself and undid her bra, loosening it under her blouse.

Harry had kept his hands well away, lest he get in trouble. He was a little fearful of doing anything wrong.

"Let's say the next step you list down for us to progress our bond is this," she said, reaching down and grabbing Harry's off hand. Using her other hand, she pulled the bottom of her blouse away from her body and shoved his hand up under both her blouse and bra, firmly placing his hand on her bare breast.

Harry was completely stunned at what she had done and froze, unable to engage his brain enough to figure out what to do.

Holding his hand to her breast, she said, "There. The next step was for you, while we're both awake and alert, to fondle my boobs."

Daphne was sitting across the table from them showing signs of embarrassment, shock, and amusement.

Once Hermione had forced his hand onto her breast, he hadn't moved it. He just held it, right where it was; too afraid to move.

"Now, how much emotion are you feeling?" she asked. "Other than, probably, a little lust; not much, right? I don't think this has done anything to progress our bond."

Finally pulling his hand down and away, Harry looked down at her lap and sighed. He quietly said, "No. I understand."

"Right," she said, reaching around and reconnecting her bra strap, before settling it back into place. "There was some emotion, but it wasn't even the right emotion. That won't happen if you try to plan it out. You have to let it develop naturally... organically. Emotion will drive the physical; which, in turn, will lift the emotional. Trying to map it out will actually work against us."

Moving back to her seat next to Daphne, she said, "Yes, Luna will be a great help for us to ensure the health and wellbeing of our bond. And to see how it develops. I, for one, am ever so grateful she's willing to help us with this. But, we can't force it. Since the evidence now shows that you were right about the bond being one driven by emotion; that means we can't just decide to finalise the bond by ducking into one of the bedrooms and shagging like horny rabbits to get it done."

Straightening himself up and sitting forward, with a smirk, he said, "Damn. And here I was thinking it would make it quicker for me to be able to get into your knickers."

Both Hermione and Daphne looked at him quite shocked for a moment before Hermione burst out laughing. "Liar!" she retorted. "You know very well that wasn't going to happen.

"You said it, yourself, earlier. With Luna acting as a monitor, we don't have to rush things. And, now that we know emotion is most important, we also know we can't rush things. You led both those ideas."

As she was talking, Daphne relaxed back into a comfortable state; recognising the truth of Hermione's words.

"Hey!" Harry protested. "I'll have you keep that to yourself, thank you very much. If word gets out that I slowed things down for us, my membership of the bro' club will be immediately revoked! They may even try to force me to join the girly-boy club, instead."

Hermione giggled and said, "Don't worry, Harry. We'll keep it between us and, possibly, Luna... and Neville... and Lavender... and Rita Skeeter..."

As she slowly continued, Harry began to look more and more horrified. "Ye Gads!" he moaned. "I'll even lose my local fangirl contingent. I'll be ruined!"

That caused both girls to laugh in response.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ

After they'd finished homework for the evening, Harry headed for bed. He didn't bother to invite the girls as he knew they now knew the invitation was always open.

Stripping off and dumping his worn clothes into the hamper for the house elves to clean, he turned to head for his bathroom for his last of the night ablutions.

Once he was finished he came out and found the two girls waiting for him, already in the room; but, not yet in bed.

"You didn't have to wait for me, you know," he smirked at them. "I think I'm starting to get pretty adept and getting into and out of bed over the foot of it."

While talking, he crossed the short space to the bed and climbed on in.

The girls hadn't moved. They actually both appeared nervous, but Harry didn't notice until he was finally in bed. Hermione was also doing that nibbling of the bottom lip thing, which indicated she was either thinking hard about something, or was worried about something.

"Ladies?" he asked; now concerned. "What ever is the matter?"

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Nothing."

As he was about to say he could see something was bothering them, Daphne waved her wand and turned out the lights.

With his eyes ill-adjusted to the limited light coming in through the close-curtained window, and not wearing his glasses, he only saw their indistinct shapes come up on 'their' sides of the bed. Mentally shrugging his shoulders, he laid back and waited for them to hop in.

There was a quick rustling of material and both girls climbed in, almost at the same time.

Once they were settled he softly said, "Goodnight, ladies." And closed his eyes.

"Harry?" Hermione softly asked.

"Mmm?" he muttered back.

"Can you cuddle into my back, tonight, while Daphne cuddles into yours?"

"Mmm," he muttered, rolling to his right as he felt the bed move from both sides.

He was about to slide closer to Hermione when he felt her shift back towards him first.

When they bumped up against each other he threw his left arm over her upper tummy area and felt bare skin. And Hermione felt a little tense under his arm and hand. He was distracted slightly by Daphne cuddling up from behind.

Confused a little as to what he was feeling, he moved his hand about. It took him a moment, but he suddenly realised she wasn't wearing her tank top.

He froze before he then quickly shifted his hand down to land on her hip and felt she wasn't wearing her shorts.

Then it also dawned on him that he wasn't feeling the material of Daphne's sleep robe on his back either. He could feel bare skin.

Moving his hand from Hermione's hip and across his own, he moved it to rest on Daphne's hip. Her bare hip.

"Errr... ladies?" he asked. "Is there something going on that you've forgotten to tell me?"

For a few moments there was no response, as the three laid there all a little tense.

Hermione then said, "We know that skin-on-skin contact is important for the bond. Until this morning, Daphne wasn't completely ready to trust you with us doing this. Now she is, so now we've decided to sleep in the all-together. For this night, at least."

"I hope you don't mind, Harry," said Daphne. "But I only just decided I wanted to do this, and I didn't want to do it if Hermione wasn't going to do it as well. We talked about it out in the living room after you left. I think I would have lost my nerve if I asked first or if I had to wait."

Harry sighed and said, "No, I guess I don't mind all that much. Just please don't hex me if I get wandering hands during the night... or, other things... you know?"

"I haven't yet," she replied with a hint of amusement in her voice. "And, I know."

"And, you know I won't," said Hermione.

"So, we've reached... at least for tonight... the skin-on-skin contact part of our relationship," he mused. "I hope you don't mind if I continue to wear a pair of boxers to bed, though. 'He' can't be trusted, yet."

Both girls giggled at that, and the three of them relaxed.

Harry returned his arm to wrap around Hermione's upper tummy while Daphne's left arm came over to do the same with Harry. Happy that he was being trusted this far, he dropped off to sleep. The girls weren't far behind.

_‗_

—==(oIo)==—

ˇ