Three For All
Chapter 6
By Kinsfire
The stories in this grouping have been abandoned by me, and will not be worked on again.
Three For All — Chapter VI
As was usual, since the relationship with Tonks was supposed to be secret, the entire school knew about it. "Is it true, Harry?" Seamus asked quietly in the common room that night.
"Yes it is," Harry said in a conversational voice. "Tonks and I are lovers."
Everyone winced. Hermione looked up, a cold look in her eyes. "Care to brag about your conquest with her, Mister Potter?"
"Depends," he responded cheekily. "Can I tell them about incident where I lost my virginity?"
"If you choose," she answered frostily, but he could see her eyes twinkling.
He proceeded to give them a very vague, but sexy nonetheless, replay of giving his virginity to Hermione while Tonks watched. By the end, Hermione was laughing quite hard. The Gryffindors had been presented enough of a problem with trying to imagine Hermione as a sexual being when it was made obvious that she was with Harry, but trying to wrap their brains around the fact that she was in a threesome with a rather attractive Auror was enough to make several of them blink as if their brains had shut down. While they watched, she walked over and sat on Harry's lap, and then kissed him rather thoroughly. They both laughed as they heard gasps when Harry's hands slid up her legs and under the skirt. As they heard the room empty suddenly, they broke apart, laughing. "Expect them back down here in a few minutes, when they see we aren't shagging on the couch. In the meantime, I need your help deciding on revenge. I'm trusting Snape when he says that he used the potion to prevent certain … other things from happening. I also need to talk to Dumbledore. I need some info about some things."
She whispered in his ear, "What say we give them their show, Harry? I'm extremely horny right now, and I can feel that torch you keep in your pocket."
"I've always carried a torch for you, Hermione," he murmured with a grin., pulling her closer to him.
"Well, then, let's put it where it belongs." In short order, their bodies were one, her on his lap as they had been the day they gave each other their virginities. They could hear muffled cries of "Holy shit! They're really doing it in the common room!" In unbelievably short order, Harry was spending in Hermione while she quivered her own orgasm against him. "Oh my God, Harry!" she breathed in his ear. "I thought that I might enjoy it, but knowing that Gryffindor was watching us? I've never come that fast in my life!"
"I never thought I'd get off on doing it in front of an audience either, but damn! that was impressive," he panted in her ear. "We should uncouple, I think, because there are some things I need to think about, and when I'm so tightly ensconced in heaven, I can't think at all." They quickly and quietly disengaged and made themselves presentable. Hermione murmured a quick charm over her stomach while Harry said in a slightly above conversational tone, "Colin? Those pictures had better only go to Hermione and myself. You won't like me angry." He looked to Hermione. "That's part of what I want to talk about, Hermione. I need to get Goyle's broom. I need to send a message to the Death Nibblers in this school."
"What are you thinking of doing, Harry?" she asked nervously. When he explained, the common room was filled with appreciative laughter.
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At breakfast the next morning, Harry approached the head table to speak with the headmaster. "Sir? I have an interesting idea, and I'd like to run it past you in your office. I'll need Professor Snape there as well, and Hermione."
"Indeed? Meet me there at nine AM then. Bring Miss Granger with you."
He sat with Hermione, who looked at him curiously. "We're meeting the headmaster and Professor Snape at nine AM to talk over that project we discussed last night." She nodded.
"Why?" she asked. "It's not like you like the man."
"Consider it an offer of an olive branch. Hell, the whole damned tree. I don't need to be distracted by things like the problems with our Potions master when I'm worried about defeating tall, dark, and ugly."
At nine AM, the two of them entered the headmaster’s office to find the two professors waiting for them. "Excellent," Harry said. "Everyone we currently need is right here. Professor Snape? What is involved with the Dark Mark on your arm? I know that he can contact you through it, and do other things as well. Any idea of the spells involved?"
"I have some idea. It is a variation on the Morsmorde spell that casts the mark over a house when the Death Eaters attack. Why do you ask?"
"I believe you when you say that you did what you did with the foetus for the reason you gave. I am not happy that it happened, but I have no doubts that you actually saved her life with that manoeuvre. I’d like to give you the chance to be free of old Snake-Lips. I want to study the possibility of removing the tattoo without killing you."
Snape looked at him in shock for a long moment. Finally, he opened his mouth and asked, "Why?"
"We aren’t friends, sir, and I doubt that we ever will be. But I have my worries about Voldemort, and I really don’t need to be distracted by you. If we can at least bury the hatchet and do our best not to annoy each other, then I can spend more time dealing directly with the Dark Arse."
Harry could see Snape fighting something, and smiled when the man actually snorted his laughter. "You seem to be doing well, being involved with my relative, not to mention Miss Granger. ‘Snake Lips?’ ‘Tall, dark, and ugly?’ "The Dark Arse?’ I find that I like the way you think, Mister Potter."
Harry kept the look of exultation from his face, but left the smile. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" he asked cheekily, widening to a grin. He suddenly went serious. "Now, to be honest, we’re not even sure if it’s even possible to remove it, but I’d at least like to explore the possibility."
"May I assume that is the reason Miss Granger is here?" Albus Dumbledore asked.
"Exactly. The best researcher I’ve heard of. She rightfully belongs in Ravenclaw, with her brains. Which says something about her psychotic bravery, if you think about it," he said with a grin as she playfully swatted at him. "We get her the information, she and I, and whichever professors you deem trustworthy to be involved with the project, pore over the data and see what we can come up with. How many others would like to leave, but can’t because of that damned mark?"
Snape and Dumbledore looked at Harry for a moment before smiling. "Agreed. We shall give this as great a priority as we can," Dumbledore said.
"I shall have to fight the desire to lessen your homework load while you work on this," Snape said with a very small laugh. He paused. "Actually, if I 'curse' you with a 'special project', I can exempt you from Potions homework for the duration." At their surprised looks, he smiled slightly. "Trust me when I say that I am only doing you a very slight favour. This will not be an easy project, from what I am aware of."
"I think it best we keep the group that knows as small as possible," the headmaster said. "Include one or two more people whom you think might be an asset to the research, but beyond that, let none others know."
"We have to tell Ron," Hermione said.
"No we don't," Harry said. "He's been talking about being treated as an adult, let's do so. Whether admitted or not, we're at war, and there's a phrase from World War Two that fits quite well — 'Loose lips sink ships.' If we explain that he simply does not have the skills needed for this, and for his own protection and ours we don't dare tell him, then we can see how he reacts. If he reacts with understanding, then I suggest he be offered membership in the Order. If he complains that he's being left out of the loop, then he's left out of the loop on sensitive matters." Harry frowned. "I don't like doing that to my very first friend my age, but this is war." He paused. "I'm willing to listen to his reasoning why he does have the necessary skills. Beyond that, though — he's not getting involved in this simply because he wants to be in on this."
"Let us assume that I have already given you the project, then. Begin your researches today, if possible."
"We'll be setting up our team today, most likely," Harry paused. "Are there any Slytherin that you would think we can trust?"
Snape sat back in his chair. "Think for a moment. Remember the dynamics within my house that are visible in the hallways. Who would you think are candidates?"
Harry closed his eyes and thought back to the Great Hall and the seating dynamics for the past five years. Opening his eyes, he said, "Daphne and Blaise. Malfoy's too stupid to keep his mouth shut about things, so he's fairly open about his connections. I don't think he's got the intelligence to keep a background crew that's loyal to him, but not obviously so."
"Well done, Mister Potter," Snape drawled. "Shall I ask for them, and then have them meet you someplace safe?"
"That would be a good idea. No one will question if the Head of Slytherin House asks to speak to two of his students. How about meeting in the Room of Requirement at five PM? That should give us some time to snog … I mean, figure out who we're getting involved with this," Harry said with a grin.
"Excellent," Dumbledore said. "I would request to be kept up to date on this project as time progresses. Perhaps tonight after dinner, and every week at the same time, unless you find something you feel can't wait?" He paused. "My door will be open to you at all times of the day and night, and I do mean all times. However, I would request that if you are telling Mr. Filch that you are coming to my office, that you actually do come to my office, and not use it as an excuse to sneak through the castle after curfew."
Hermione grinned cheekily. "Oh, we have other methods for that, sir. If we use that reasoning, then here is where we're coming to."
Dumbledore laughed. "Then by all means get started." Harry and Hermione left the room, but Harry quickly poked his head back through the door. Before Harry could utter a sound, Albus smiled again and said, "Weasley Wizarding Wheezes." Harry grinned and his head disappeared.
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As Harry's head disappeared, the two professors looked at each other. Snape broke the silence first. "I find it odd, Albus. For the first time in many a year, I have hope for the eventual destruction of Voldemort, and it is due to a child whom I have detested since first I saw him." He saw the twinkle in Albus's eyes and said, "It might make you feel better, Albus, to say 'I told you so.'" He shook his head. "He has no reason to want to do this for me, yet he does anyway."
"It has finally struck him, through the closest personal tragedy that one can experience," Albus said, "that this truly is a war. Did you not feel the conviction from him? He has realized this, and has begun to accept it, and realize that if leader he must be, then leader he will be."
"He wears it well, blast him," Severus replied with a very slight chuckle.
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Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand outdoors. "Okay," Harry said, "We have us, potentially Blaise and Daphne, and two professors. What other students would you trust to work on something like this and not talk?"
"First thought? Ginny," Hermione answered. "She's good at keeping secrets. And a good mind when she sets to it. Beyond that? I think a Ravenclaw would be good to add to our group, and … what's your opinion on Susan Bones?"
"Depends. In what way? Are we still talking on a research-slash-war footing? If so, then I can't really answer that — I don't really know, although she seems pretty good at her schoolwork."
"What other way might you be thinking, Harry?" Hermione asked archly.
He looked at her. "Harry, this is your foot," he finally said, grinning. "It is for walking on, not putting in your mouth."
Hermione laughed. "Yeah, I think she's kinda cute, too. I just wanted to pick on you a little bit."
He took her other hand and faced her. "I know, but I want to say this to you, and I'll say it to Tonks as well. Warning, I'm going to get poetic." He smiled and said, "Hermione, the love of one of you is a gift more precious than I deserve, but to have the love of both of you? There are no words to describe how perfect that is." He raised her left hand to his lips and kissed the ring on her finger. "I may think other girls are pretty, or wonder what this one or that one may look like in revealing clothes, but only two women drive my fantasies. I hold the hands of one of them right now, and the other is in St. Mungo's right now. I swear to you that you will never have a worry about my fidelity, beloved." Unexpectedly, a sparkle surrounded him and flowed outward. "Oh dear," he said, unconcerned. "I appear to have sworn a wizard's oath."
"Harry!" she squeaked in shock. "That's a very dangerous thing to do! What if …"
"… what if I become somebody 'not me' and decide to sleep with Susan, or Daphne, or Draco? Then I deserve what the ensuing curse brings. I've sworn myself to you, Hermione, and to our sexy little Nymph. These rings prove it. I don't want anyone else."
"But what if you find …" Hermione paused, and when she spoke again, her voice was quite small. "What if you find someone better?"
He snorted. "Why are you invoking gods, Hermione? It will take a goddess stepping down from wherever you originally came from to come close to having that happen."
"Wherever I … Harry, I'm no goddess."
He pulled her to him, and wrapped his arms around her. "Yes, you are, Hermione. One of two goddesses of love and beauty who have decided to grace my life." His lips gently brushed hers, and he tried to make her feel the love he felt for her.
A mocking voice came from nearby. "Potty and his Mudblood. Couldn't find anything human, so you went in for bestiality?" he sneered.
He felt Hermione grip his arm, but he merely grinned. "Well, it's certainly better than you, Malfoy. You either have to date your hand, or have your daddy tie them down for you. You really think Pansy puts out willingly for you? She thinks it'll help her with her Dark Arse studies. I mean, if she can screw someone like you, then sleeping with Voldemort is going to be easy for her."
Draco Malfoy turned a shade of red that Harry had never heard a name for. He hadn't thought there was a less attractive colour for a person than puce, but Draco was managing it. He suddenly went for his wand, but before Crabbe and Goyle could do anything, Harry's hand shot out and impacted with Draco's nose, sending him back. The two goons were torn between helping Draco and attacking Harry, so they simply stood, trying to decide, which gave Harry time to get Hermione behind him. Before a decision could be made, Professor Snape stalked to the group.
"Malfoy! Get up and get to the hospital wing! Fifty points from Slytherin for provoking a fight!"
"But sir," came the response through Malfoy's hand as he tried to stop the bleeding from his nose. "Potter started it without provocation!"
"Another fifty points for lying to a professor!" bellowed Snape. "I saw the altercation from the front of the school. While I cannot possibly think why he was acting that way, I could tell from his posture that he was attempting to avoid a fight. While he may have said something verbally offensive, that is no excuse for drawing your wand on a fellow student! No go, before you earn more lost points, and a detention!" Draco took off, followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Snape turned to Harry and said, "Ten points from Gryffindor for resorting to violent means to conclude your meeting." He turned and started to walk back to the school, and then turned his head to look at the two of them. "Twenty points for Gryffindor for having the presence of mind not to draw a wand when provoked."
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It was midnight, and Harry carefully slipped down the stairs from his dormitory room under his invisibility cloak, carrying his wand, his Firebolt, and the Marauders Map. He carefully worked his way toward the Slytherin common room, and then carefully to Goyle’s broom. He then began his revenge.
A new project starts.