Harry and Hermione Start their Sixth Year

Chapter VI

Friday, August 2, 1996

Harry sat up in the large bed and studied a sleeping, nude Hermione Granger. He had known her for nearly five full years now. When they had met, they had both been children, with no sign of adolescence, unlike a few of their classmates. Two of the shorter students in the their year, and both thin -- although Hermione might have outweighed him by a few pounds.

Harry had finally surpassed her in both height and weight by the end of their third year, but not by much. He had grown slowly in the Fourth year and the summer before his Fifth. Finally, a little less slowly, over his Fifth year he had grown a fair amount. Currently at a little under 5 foot 9 and at moderately-muscled 10 stone 10 (150 pounds) -- Harry was starting to worry about being able to do the dives needed to be a good seeker -- Harry still hardly loomed over anyone, but he was now large enough to want to cover Hermione completely, both to protect her and to just be in as much contact as possible.

He watched her sleep. Harry's moderately-large hand could span the width of her backside, and his two long hands nearly went around her waist. He had been a bit snoop, and he felt that while 31a-18-30 was far too thin for her health, he had to admit it did look very arousing.

Her half lemon-sized breasts looked very kissable. He had never allowed himself to think such thoughts about any girl before now. Until the summer before his Fourth year, he had no real interest in girls. Since then, he liked looking -- and unlike Ron, he had always been well-aware that Hermione not only a girl, but a fairly cute one -- but he had not allowed his thoughts stray toward the physical aspects of a relationship.

To be honest, he had been obsessed by Cho's backside, or at least the lines of her form, including her backside, as she flew. Even then, he never allowed himself to think about what might be under her robes. He had never obsessed about her skin, let alone any particular portion of it. Harry knew he was obsessing about every square centimeter of Hermione, and every strand of her hair

He wondered idly if the color of Cho's nipples matched the color of her lips, like Hermione's matched her light pink lips. Harry shook his head; it wouldn't do to speculate about Cho's nipples -- or Ginny's or Luna's for that matter.

Hermione stretched slightly in her sleep, and the changes in the shape of her breasts were more than enough to drive all thoughts of all other breasts on earth out of his head. Something in the air stirred, and a slight breeze went past them. The large pink nipple puckered erect from the chill.

Harry covered Hermione with the sheet, and gently hugged her close. What they had done the night before had been amazing. Wizards had stronger strictures against pre-marital sex than Muggles currently did -- there were a number of magical reasons for it. Any other consensual sexual practice was pretty much ignored, for which Harry was very grateful.

"Harry?" Hermione mumbled, her lips against his left nipple.

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Call me that again."

"Call you what?"

"What you called me last night."

"Sweety?"

"No."

"Ducks?"

"No!"

"Snuggle-bunny?"

"Ass."

Harry kissed her. "Angel."

Hermione put her arms around Harry. "That's it, my love." She kissed him back.

A little before 7:30, Hermione, Remus, Ginny, Luna, and Colin stood and watched Harry and Dean sprinting across the mowed field, Tonks trailing far behind. The pair passed the group and Dean shouted "Once more around?"

"Twice!" Harry shouted back.

"Damn, I feel old," Remus said.

"I just feel inadequate," Ginny replied.

Colin leaned over and whispered in Hermione's ear, "I think they just look yummy, don't you?" Hermione snorted to stop herself from giggling.

"Are the two of you really planning on practicing the Occlumency meditations?" Luna asked Hermione from the other side.

"Oh, yes," Hermione answered. "Would you like to join us?"

"Yes, please," Luna replied. She paused, and said, "I wonder if Remus or Tonks could put the Imperius curse on us, as well."

"Why would you want them to?" Colin demanded.

"Who to do what?" Remus asked walking over.

"I was wondering if you or Tonks could put the Imperius curse on us," Luna told him. "If we ever get in to a fight again, what would prevent a Death Eater from casting it on us and hurting Harry? After all, can anyone other than the Dark Lord hope to fight Harry fairly? And could Harry easily hex any of us?"

A panting Tonks overheard. "We can do it, but only as a group. No experimenting!"

Dean and Harry ran up. "Good workout, Harry!" Dean said.

"Ready for fifteen or twenty minutes in the gym?" Harry challenged.

"No," Dean answered with a smile. "Running and football are my sports."

Ginny held out her hand. "Come on, Harry. You hit the bag and I'll do some of those step aerobics Tonks tried to show me last summer." She turned to Hermione and Luna. "How about you two? Or the rest of you?"

In the end, only Henrietta, just down from bed, joined Ginny while Harry pounded the heavy bag. After quick showers, the trio joined the others for breakfast. From 9:00 to 10:30, Hermione forced everyone to study. Ron refused to study, but he did join them, working on Quidditch diagrams. From 10:30 to 11:00, Hermione and Harry helped Colin, Luna, Ginny, and Henrietta do practical work, under Remus' bemused direction. The group broke up at 11:00, Colin and Ginny joining Dean in sketching (which is what Dean had already been doing) until 12:30. Remus and Tonks, and Ron and Henrietta, disappeared into privacy. Harry and Hermione took Luna to their room to practice Occlumency.

After lunch, the group flew for an hour. Then the group agreed to Luna's proposal, and practiced resistance to the Imperius curse.

Harry, who could resist Voldemort's Imperius, could totally ignore Tonks'. Luna also had a natural resistance, if not quite as strong as Harry's had been at first.

After an hour, all the other students were making at least a little progress, but not much. When they were taking a break, Harry asked Remus, "Would it be bad if I had a try at casting it?"

"Why?" Remus asked bluntly.

"I can easily see reasons why I might have to cast two of the three Unforgiveables," Harry retorted softly.

Remus looked troubled, but went over to talk with Tonks.

While the rest of the group went back to pursue their own pastimes, Tonks took Harry to the woodshed. There he received over half an hour lecture on the Imperius as well as death curses in general. Then he spent well over half an hour practicing the Imperius and death curses on insects. Harry would spend an hour a day thereafter practicing very nasty curses indeed.

From 4:00 - 6:00, Hermione had them studying again, even Ron. Just before they ended, Hermione proposed they follow the same schedule for the rest of their time together, partially based on that day. Ron took Hermione's written copy and read it aloud.

6:30- 7:25 running
7:30- 7:50 exercise
8:15- 9:00 breakfast
9:00-11:00 study
11:00-12:30 Occlumency, individual pursuits
12:30- 1:15 lunch
1:30- 2:30 flying
2:30- 3:30 defence work
3:30- 5:00 individual pursuits
5:00- 6:30 study
7:00- 8:15 dinner

"Alright," Ron said. "It sounds . . . reasonable.

"Three of us do have O.W.L.s this year," Colin reminded him.

"Nothing planned after dinner?" Tonks teased.

"I thought we'd just follow your lead," Hermione remarked drily, which sent Luna into one of her laughing fits, and after nearly a minute, Luna fell onto the floor while the others looked on, all puzzled except for Ginny.

Ginny hauled Luna off the floor. "Pay no attention to the hysterical lunatic," Ginny said, which made Luna laugh all the harder. "When she's nervous or tired, she gets like this." Ginny tossed her on the largest sofa, next to Hermione. "There's only one cure!"

"NO!" Luna managed to yell between peels of laughter.

"What's that?" Harry asked, looking across Hermione.

"Tickle her!" Ginny said, attacking her girl friend. "Everything is ticklish!"

Hermione shrugged and pulled off Luna's trainers while Harry stripped off her socks, and then she and Harry each grabbed a foot and started to tickle. Henrietta and Colin jumped in as well.

When the tickle-fest was finished, Remus took the boys down to the magical cellar to teach them how to play magical darts. This was not only a fun game, but they could also use it as a weapon.

After dinner, no one made a pretense of wanting to sit in the living area. Harry paused at the threshold of their room to kiss Hermione. "What was that for?" she asked.

"Other than because you're pretty and have been so wonderfully close to me day?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Harry wasn't the greatest flirt, although at least he was sincere. "Yes, besides that."

"I was just thinking about how difficult it will be to go to Hogwarts this year, where I won't be able to touch you so often, where we won't be together every night."

"I know," Hermione agreed. "Still, you have the Map back, don't you?"

"Dumbledore gave it to Remus, who gave it back to me," Harry agreed.

"We should be able to find some place where we can at least get together for some serious. . . ." She seemed at a loss for words.

"Snuggle time?" Harry suggested.

Hermione pulled Harry into the room and shut the door. She hugged Harry tightly. "A good term for it. Snuggle time."

"Shall I call you 'Snuggles'?" Harry teased.

"Only in private, my Harry-bear," Hermione teased back.

"Deal," Harry said. He shuddered at the thought of anyone hearing him called 'Harry-bear.'

The next ten days went according to Hermione's schedule. All made strides in their physical fitness and magical abilities. Hermione would never be a class flyer, but she was becoming comfortable in the air. Luna was becoming adept in ignoring the Imperius curse. Harry was becoming very adept at using the killing curses and the Imperius on insects, along with a number of other nasty curses.

Somehow, no one, not even Harry, took much comfort in his growing abilities.

Now that Hermione and Ron were no longer interested in each other, they fought a lot less. On the whole, the group of teens got along very well. By the middle of their second week, however, Ginny was speculating that Henrietta and Ron would not last as a couple much past their return to Hogwarts.

Ron had shrugged his shoulders when she mentioned the idea to him in private. He was in no hurry to find a life's partner. "Do you think you'll be with Luna for the next hundred years," he retorted. "You like boys, Ginny. I don't know if Luna does or not, but you do."

"We will certainly be together as close friends for as long as we live, no matter what," Ginny stated with conviction. "And since most boys treat girls like you do, I wouldn't be so sure I won't stick with girls, if I were you. You're starting to just use Henrietta."

Ron snorted and walked away.

On the afternoon of August 11, Dumbledore showed up for lunch. Harry pressed him for news, but Dumbledore would not be drawn, other than to assure them all that everyone who mattered to them was safe. "You all need time away from any problems," was all he would he say.

"But we can't come back totally ignorant!" Harry protested. He was backed up strongly and loudly by Remus, Hermione, Ginny; firmly if more quietly by Tonks, Luna, and Ron. Even after half an hour of badgering, the most Dumbledore would consent to was considering to brief them when they got back to Hogwarts.

Harry was fuming as they went outside. Everyone's shields were up to stopping Tonks and Remus' attacks, and Dumbledore also congratulated them on their physical conditioning. Dumbledore gently chided Harry at letting his anger bleeding through during an Occlumency test, although he did say Harry had otherwise done fairly well. He also congratulated Luna and Hermione on their progress, and all of them on their work against the Imperius curse, although only Harry could ignore Dumbledore, and only Luna could fully resist it, even if it took her some time to fully throw it off.

"Is there anything else you've been working on?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't think it would be a good idea for me to demonstrate my knowledge of the Imperius or killing curses," Harry almost growled.

Dumbledore grilled Tonks and Remus severely about that, but then turned to Harry. "Actually, let's see how you handle the Imperius, Harry."

Everyone was shocked, to say the least. "But . . . who?" Harry asked.

"Why against me, of course," Dumbledore said. Harry's jaw set.

"Harry" Hermione warned softly.

Harry whispered in her ear. "You're right, of course. But this might be the only way I get any information."

Hermione nodded.

Dumbledore walked a few feet away and smiled. Harry walked a bit further away from the group, and nodded his neck stiffly. "Ready, sir?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Harry. Don't make me do anything too foolish."

"Yeah, right," Harry mumbled.

"What's the Headmaster playing at?" Ron asked Hermione. She shrugged.

"IMPERIO!"

"He's been baiting Harry since he arrived," Luna commented. "There must be some purpose. Unless he's just . . . uncomfortable dealing with us under these conditions."

"The angrier Harry is, assuming he can control it, the more powerful the curse," Tonks told them.

Seconds ticked by. After nearly a minute, Henrietta asked, "What's happening?"

"Harry can't control Dumbledore, but Dumbledore doesn't seem to be able to throw it off."

"Whoa," Dean said, impressed.

After nearly two minutes, Dumbledore threw off the curse. "My goodness, Harry! Most impressive!"

"Thank you, sir," Harry said in a neutral voice that certainly worried Hermione, Luna, and Remus. "Any chance that it's earned us some information?"

"Very well, Harry," Dumbledore acknowledged. "Let's go in and sit down."

"The good news is that there have been no more attacks against wizarding families, no matter how broadly defined. However, there have been a number of dementor attacks on individual Muggles, and three Muggles have been killed and mutilated for their blood and body parts." Dumbledore looked at Henrietta, who had gasped in shock. The other students already knew too much to be as shocked as she was. "There are many dark rituals which require . . . fresh supplies."

He turned his attention back to Harry. "Your disappearance has driven Voldemort into great anger. There have been three attacks on Azkaban, but the arrested Death Eaters remain there for the moment. Actually, none seem very interested in leaving at the moment, which seems strange, on the face of it."

Dumbledore looked at Remus. "The anti-werewolf legislation will stay in place; in fact, it has to some degree been strengthened. I know we all hoped you would be able to act as Harry's guardian, but I regret to say you may not. Therefore, I believe I must continue. . . ."

"No, sir," Harry said firmly.

"I beg your pardon, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, surprised.

"The Weasleys or Tonks," Harry stated.

"It might be better, politically speaking, if you weren't tied too closely to Harry," Hermione jumped in.

"If Dad can't, because of Fudge, Bill would probably volunteer," Ginny offered.

A skilled Legilimens, Dumbledore could sense the strong thoughts directed against him. Disappointment in him from Ron and Dean; confusion from Henrietta. Despair and hurt from Remus; the need to care for Remus and Harry from Tonks. 'I want to trust you, but I can't. You betrayed me at least as early as my second year; as my magical guardian, you could have allowed me to go to Hogsmeade, and you never told me why I couldn't,' from Harry, although there were other, darker accusations under those thoughts as well. 'I trust you to lead, but not to care for Harry,' were the feelings coming at him from Colin, Ginny, Hermione, and most strongly from Luna.

Dumbledore looked at Tonks. "I'll do it, gladly," she said. "Bill can be my backup."

Dumbledore acquiesced. "Any thing else?

"What will happen to the Inquisitorial Squads?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, those are disbanded, of course," Dumbledore said easily.

"That's is NOT what I meant," Hermione nearly huffed. "What will be done to punish their abuse of power?"

"Nothing."

"NOTHING!" all the students roared, even Henrietta. "They beat some of us up for fun!" she wailed.

"If the evil is not punished, it will only grow," Luna said in a voice that, for her, was harsh. "They must receive some punishment, if only to prevent retaliation."

"Any retaliation will be harshly dealt with. . . ."

"Why?" Ron demanded. "If Crabbe can half-suffocate Neville for fun, if Bulstrode can nearly dislocate Hermione's shoulder, and NOTHING happens to them. . . ." Ron couldn't find the words to go on.

Luna, however, could, "If they are not punished, then you are no better than Minister Fudge. You are acknowledging the only things that matters are power and perhaps ancestry."

"And if the only thing that matters at Hogwarts is power," Harry said in a very quiet, and very dangerous, voice, "then we must have no qualms in using it. Malfoy and the others have already shown they don't have any, so we can't either."

"Might does not make right," Dumbledore stated firmly. "They may yet see the error of their path. . . ."

"They haven't in five years, why should they now?" Harry demanded.

"It's time to stop being so forgiving," Luna told the Headmaster. "If they repent, if they want to at least stop serving the Dark Lord, that's one thing. Without such a sign, they merely believe they can not be stopped, that you are too soft to stop them."

"If ancestry and money don't matter," Dean said quietly, "they must be punished. If they aren't punished, that means that you agree that they are better than the rest of us. That they can sin without penalty."

"ARE we equal?" Colin asked. "No, wait. Wrong question. Are the rest of my friends here equal? We already know I'm not. The Slytherins treated me like I wasn't human before. How are they going to treat me now?" He burst into tears and fled the room.

Dean stood. "I've been called names my entire life. I'm tired of being treated as second class, Professor. The time to stop it is now. If you won't make a stand, the rest of us will. I am not violent by nature, but it's time that people like me make that stand. Against people like the Minister, and if necessary even against people like you, the methods of Gandhi and King are valid. Against people like Malfoy and his Slytherin followers, let alone against the Dark Lord, survival only comes through self-defense, even preventative violence. Either you're for equality, and will act on that belief, or you won't. That's up to you. This year, the first person who calls me 'Mudblood' or 'niggar' or calls Colin an animal wakes up in the Infirmary, if they wake up at all." Dean left the room.

Harry stood. "And if Dean or anyone else is expelled for it, I for one will go with him. Then you can coddle Malfoy and his gang of cut-throats in peace, hoping for their conversion, up to the moment they kill you." He walked out, Hermione following.

As Ron and Ginny stood to leave as well, Luna said, "And never think Harry will ever be alone."

"Because he never will be," Ron agreed.

"And don't think this will only be coming from Gryffindor," Luna said, now also standing. "There will be others as well."

"We haven't forgotten Cedric," Henrietta said, still a little confused but making her decision as well. "When did you?" The students all left.

"You can't save everyone, Albus," Remus said. "You can't save Malfoy and his friends unless they want to be. And they won't consider it until they are shown that their side does not have all the power. If logic and caring and good will were all that mattered, people like Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange wouldn't exist, let alone those like Voldemort." He also left.

"No offense, Professor, but you've been sounding more and more like Fudge this summer." Tonks stood. "You've been doing what's easy, not what's right. You've been putting politics ahead of what needs to be done. I'm sure you can see your own way out?"

Dumbledore decided he had to sit down and rethink his priorities.