Harry and the Six Virgins

Chapter XI

Tuesday, April 26, 1881

The trio stuck to the hotel until Tuesday morning, which pleased Eloise to no end. Harry was proving himself an imaginative and caring lover, and much more entertaining than she had anticipated. She never would have guessed Harry as musical, and he played guitar fairly well, although his singing wasn't the greatest. Lounging on the huge bed while Harry pampered her, made love with her, and played for her made her feel nearly royal.

Harry was a bit disappointed that witches' formal fashions in 1881 were much less revealing than 1913. He was struck again at how different, yet how insatiable, each witch was. Eloise was the most passive, yet thankful, of the four witches, and she was still able to inspire Harry to greater heights of compassionate passion than the other three had, even if the pure lust that Ginny and Daphne had inspired was missing. For the first time, Harry realized that Casey had likely affected them all, at least in the sense of lowering their inhibitions.

Finally, late Tuesday morning, with the assistance of Harry and a house elf, Eloise squeezed back into the elaborate Muggle dress (corset, collapsible high bustle, elaborate hairstyling) of the upper class of the period. As they made their way to the Broken Broomstick, Harry noticed there were more people in Muggle dress than he had seen before, although none were in quite the high-style of fashion Eloise was.

They spent the rest of the day touring around the city. Eloise was enraptured; Harry thought the Vienna of 1881 attractive, but not nearly as much so as the Paris of 1913 had been. They returned to the hotel in the early evening for a light dinner, and then came the process of exchanging Eloise's day costume for an elaborate Muggle evening gown. Even with the help of a house elf, and some from Harry, it was an exhaustive, fairly time-consuming process compared to the standards of the 1990s.

Harry's evening dress was much easier. He did question the medals on his dinner jacket. "Viennese society isn't as martial as the contemporary society in Berlin," Casey told Harry, "but few real gentlemen appear here without decorations, either military or civilian. If any Muggle asks, these are Canadian medals for arctic exploration. Viennese Pure-blood wizards will see that these proclaim you a special red agent of the Cartel, the equivalent of a hit-wizard, who has been awarded several medals for valor -- consider them . . . prenatal awards for your fights against Voldemort at the ends of your First, Second, and Fourth years."

Harry shrugged, and hoped he didn't run into any real Canadian Muggles.

Both Eloise and Harry enjoyed the ball, Eloise even more-so than Harry. It was a middle-rank affair by Viennese standards. She danced nearly every dance between their arrival soon after 9:00 until the last waltz at 12:45 am. Most were with Harry, but Harry gladly relinquished her to other partners, including twice with Casey.

When they were back in their rooms at 1:15 (Casey had arranged a portkey for them from the cloakroom at the grand townhouse where the ball was held to the entrance of the hotel), Harry made certain to massage Eloise's legs and feet before they fell asleep.

Wednesday, April 27, 1881

Eloise slept until nearly noon. She spent the afternoon resting, preparing for that night, when they would go to another Muggle ball. Harry was already gone well before she woke up. Harry spent the late morning and afternoon practicing dueling at a wizarding dueling hall, showing himself very proficient at magical dueling, although still only average at the sabre and other swords.

These two days established the general pattern for the rest of their time in Vienna. Four nights a week, they went to various balls and dances, ranging from the public waltz halls to two dances at the Palace, where Harry and Eloise were presented to Crown Prince Rudolf. Eloise even managed to have one dance with the twenty-two year old prince. (When she arrived back to 1996, she was most distressed to find out the handsome prince had committed suicide, along with his teen mistress, in 1889.) Eloise was even photographed and etchings of her were printed in several of the fashionable newspapers for her beauty and dress at the great May 1 promenade in the Prater.

Two nights a week, they went to hear a Muggle concert or opera, although that pleased Casey and Harry more than it did the now waltz-loving Eloise. One glorious night, they even attended one of the famous midnight opera balls after the opera, where the Strauss orchestra played. On Sunday nights, Casey took them to hear wizarding folk concerts in the Parsifalplatz, with musicians and poets from all over central and eastern Europe.

Some of the nicer afternoons, when they weren't scheduled to go to an early evening ball or concert, the trio would make it to the Prater, the famed Vienna park, or even to the even more famous Vienna woods. Usually, however, the late afternoons were the time when Harry and Eloise found some time together.

Harry, having gained experience and power, found magical dueling exciting. He worried a bit about how that might translate into in his sixteen year old self, but Casey reassured him that he would find the power already within himself, along with the ability to control that power. It was not enough to convince Harry that he could defeat Voldemort, however, at least not without grave risk to himself. It did make Harry wonder if he might be able to have a career on the dueling circuit, if his hopes of being a professional seeker or an auror fell through.

Harry had lost nearly all traces of the depression and anger that had been threatening his psyche since the murder of Cedric Diggory. After the abuse at the Dursleys and the continual pressure of events at Hogwarts, Harry had lost all his childhood and adolescent senses of wonder and exuberance. He had become partially depressed, and partially a cynical survivor, who was continuing on with his mission because his mission -- fighting Voldemort -- was all he had left. And Harry had never been too confident that he could complete his mission and stop -- kill -- Voldemort, let alone survive the encounter.

Casey was reassuring on those points as well. Even if Harry was not granted more powers, he would still have four more months to hone his current abilities, and those abilities should enable Harry to destroy Voldemort.

But now Harry had gained something more to live for. He was tasting adulthood; he was experiencing lovemaking and great affection, if not love. For the first time, Harry really wondered what kind of life he might be able to lead if Voldemort was destroyed.

He knew he would not want to go through life as a mere celebrity, like Gilderoy Lockheart, even if Harry had largely earned his own fame. Nor, as he neared the end of his two months in Vienna, could he still envision becoming an auror, doing all the mundane work that the job often entailed, especially in peaceful times under unimaginative Ministry officials. He couldn't imagine living life as a Malfoy, supervising his investments and doing nothing to better society. He might be able to have a few seasons of professional Quidditch, but he knew Seekers and Beaters had short careers.

Susan had suggested teaching as a possible career for him; Daphne politics. Eloise wasn't particularly interested in the subject. Ginny had merely said he could do practically anything he put his mind to, which was flattering, but hardly helpful. Harry decided to just enjoy what he was doing, and worry about such questions later.

The Vienna of 1881 was an easy place for people to bury their problems.

Thursday, May 26, 1881

Harry's worries returned to him that morning and afternoon. He had been very successful with his dueling, but for some reason the congratulations he received recently triggered his concerns rather than soothing them. Harry therefore sat and worried about Voldemort and his future. Harry sat in the suite's sitting room, waiting for Eloise to finish dressing for dinner and the opera, wondering if thinking about the subject in Imperial Vienna was wise. Worrying about the future, any future, seemed antithetical. Even in magical Vienna, now that six of 'the Seven' had been dealt with, the future seemed too settled for anyone to worry about. In both the magical and Muggle circles Harry was circulating in, the only concerns seemed to be having a good time and either gaining status or keeping status.

Harry didn't like having most of the status he had back in his real life, and should he destroy Voldemort, he would like it even less. Harry now knew all six girls fairly well, although he would of course get to know Hermione and Luna even better. Daphne seemed to be the only one really interested in his status as such. Ginny had felt a spark for him even before she learned his name, although his fame no doubt had increased her crush for years.

Hermione probably still knew more about Harry status and place in history than anyone. As far as he could tell, she had never let it affect her relations to him, however. Susan and Eloise both seemed interested more in his financial status than his political/social status, if only because they would prefer not living lives of poverty. Luna seemed to care so little for either that Harry wondered if his fame and money might actually hurt any relationship they might have.

"You're looking pensive, Harry," Casey said, coming into the room.

"My time away is more than half over," Harry answered. "In what, three weeks or so? I'll be with Hermione or Luna, and then the other. I'm having fun and all, but then I'll have to live, we'll have to live, with what we've done and experienced. Even if I . . . kill Voldemort and survive, how do I . . . well. . . ."

Casey grinned ruefully. "You modern, sensitive men. Things were a lot simpler, well, nearly always, back in my days!"

Harry smiled back. "Simpler for the men, you mean!"

Casey had to nod. "You're right, of course. So far, at least, I don't think you've caused any damage. And I doubt you would hurt these six girls. You selected very well."

Harry shrugged.

Eloise swept into the room, her opera gown redesigned by the house elves to that it appeared different than the last time she wore it. "Shall we go dine?" she asked. "I know you both like being there for the overture!" She preferred watching the fashionable arrivals, who were often late.

"Not angry about missing the dance at the Baron's anymore?" Harry asked.

"Not really," Eloise answered. "I mean, once we go back, I'll probably never get to waltz like this again, but my feet are a little tired."

"And then there's the Royal Ball tomorrow evening," Casey teased. "You don't want to be tired if the Crown Prince decides to honor you with a dance this time!"

"True," Eloise responded seriously. A picture formed in Harry's head, of a future where Eloise would keep him waiting as she prepared for an opening, wondering what VIP she might be impressing that night with her beauty.

Harry kicked himself for being unfair.

"I wonder who we'll see tonight!" Eloise enthused as they approached the stairs.

Sunday, June 12, 1881

Harry and Casey sat outside of the more stylish café in the Parsifalplatz, both drinking hot chocolate. "When do we leave?" Harry asked.

"Bored?" Casey asked.

Harry frowned. "That's not the right word, but I can't find the right one in any of these languages."

"Is it Eloise?"

"Partially, maybe even mostly. I mean, Daphne liked to go to concerts and dances, but we managed to talk. All Eloise likes to talk about is the last dance, the next dance, and fashion." He shrugged. "I mean, I like dancing, but we haven't even . . . been more than affectionate in over a week, because she's so tired in the afternoons."

"Well, she's looking forward to the open ball on Thursday, so you may tell her today that we'll be leaving late Saturday morning."

"Thank you," Harry said. "It's getting difficult not to seem bored."

"Not angry?"

Harry looked at Casey with a puzzled expression. "Why would I be angry?"

Casey smiled. "No good reason at all, my boy." 'No,' Casey thought, 'Harry wouldn't get angry for something like that. And his greatest concern is not BEING bored, but allowing Eloise to SEE he's bored.'

"Harry," Casey said thoughtfully, "why don't you take this week off. Spend the mornings walking around the Platz, spend all the afternoons with Eloise. Have a nice, relaxing time."

"All right," Harry said a little doubtfully.

"Stop in at the desk and order Eloise some hot chocolate and go wake her up." Casey stood and patted Harry's shoulder. "I'll see you both at dinner. We'll make this an enjoyable last week in Vienna."

And it was.