Training and Confrontations

Chapter XXIX Monday, October 28, 1996

"Oy, you lot look like shite," Justin said.

Dean, Seamus, Neville, and Ron sat down at the empty Gryffindor table. It was still well before 7:00 am.

"We feel worse than we look," Ron muttered.

"Another bad night?" Ernie Macmillan asked. Most of the castle had heard how bad Harry's nightmares had been the night after the battle. In part, they were caused by the agony that Voldemort was in. The Dark Lord's thoughts had not bled through, but his pain had. The rest had been caused by Harry's own subconscious. Between the two, all of Gryffindor had been awoken, and Harry had only had a few hours sleep, the others only slightly more.

By Sunday evening, everyone was worried about Harry, since he had disappeared without a word that morning. At that point, no one except himself, Dumbledore, and Snape knew that Harry had been busy removing Snape's Dark Mark, although it its removal had left quite a nasty scar in the same shape in its place. Dumbledore was still considering how to use the information to the Order's advantage. Snape had been so shocked that it had been totally removed, that Dumbledore had been able to make the Potion Master to swear to leave Harry be.

No one was certain how long that promise would last.

"Just about the worst ever," Seamus answered, "and that's saying something."

"At least Harry didn't wake up last night, despite the screaming," Ron said. "We were all miserable yesterday, and he was the worst."

"How did you keep. . . . " Justin started to ask.

"Uh-oh," Ernie said. The group looked at the entrance.

"There's something you don't see every day," Neville said as Professor McGonagall stormed in, barefoot, her hair in curlers, and wearing lime-green pyjamas and an orange dressing gown.

"What exactly went on last night!" she demanded. "Why are there six girls sleeping in your room?"

"Six?" Dean said blearily, "I thought there was five."

Ron tried to think. "Hermione, Ginny, Lavender, Parvati, and Bonnie. Yes, that's five."

"You despicable! . . . disgusting! . . . an eleven year old!?"

"Don't forget Colin," Seamus said, ignoring the sputtering professor. "The way he was dressed, he looked even more . . . feminine than usual."

"True."

"You slept with. . . ."

"Of course not!" Neville said, offended. "We most certainly did NOT sleep with our girl friends! Harry did."

"WHAT!"

"The nightmares were horrible last night, almost as loud as they used to be, and he had been sleeping so badly even before the battle, we didn't want to wake him up," Ron explained. "The screaming brought just about everyone to our room, but that didn't last long. Little Bonnie just leapt onto Harry and hugged him while we were debating if we should try to wake Harry up, since his scar was normal. That quieted him down a little. The other girls we mentioned gathered around, and they took turns all night, two at a time. The others went to bed."

"He slept better, but not well," Seamus went on. "There was a lot of incidental magic, and we had to stay up reversing it."

"Is that why Miss More is copper-toned this morning?"

"She was copper with blue stripes and green hair, before we corrected most of it. Hermione said the copper skin tones would fade off by noon," Dean offered.

When McGonagall found her self speechless, Neville added, "Harry can't take the Dreamless Sleep Potion again until Saturday or Sunday night, he took far too much earlier in the month, and the other potions don't work. Face it, the only thing that might work is the physical affection. One or two girls cuddling with him each night, before his nightmares start."

"Yeah, two girls. I hope Colin's gone before Harry wakes up," Seamus said. "He was wrapped around Harry so tightly I couldn't get him off."

"Physical affection, note I said 'affection', nothing more, seems to be what Harry needs," Dumbledore said, surprising everyone, since no one had seen him approaching. "I suggest he sleep on that over-sized sofa in the common room for a while. It should be easy to transfigure into something comfortable. Some of his friends may take turns nestling with him, while others keep an eye out for any incidental magic."

McGonagall was still speechless, so Dumbledore turned to Ron. "Did I hear you correctly? His scar did not seem affected in any way, Mister Weasley?"

"No, sir," Ron answered. "It wasn't even warm. Hermione and Ginny each checked it several times."

"That's good, at least. Very well. Carry on."

At that moment, Natalie Macdonald came rushing in. She stopped short, panting and obviously wondering whom she should report to.

Dumbledore solved her dilemma. "Yes, Miss Macdonald?"

"Excuse me, sir. Harry is awake . . . well, you see, sir, Harry woke up and, well. . . ."

"And found he was cuddled with Mister Creevy?"

"Yes, sir. The thing is. . . ."

"I shall come along and de-hex and uncurse Mister Creevy." Dumbledore paused. "Exactly what did Mister Potter do to Mister Creevy?"

"Well, that's part of the problem. Colin . . . Colin isn't really Colin anymore. He's, well, he's more like a Colleen, I mean, he's a she, and she, err, he won't let Hermione change her back to him. Harry isn't quite sure how he did it, and can't change Colin back, either."

"I see. Well, I'm certain I can sort Miss Creevy out, one way or another. Come along, Miss Macdonald. Professor McGonagall, perhaps you would care to assist?"

Still speechless, Professor McGonagall followed the Headmaster from the hall.

Draco Malfoy chose that moment to pass by. "My, my. It's a good thing Potter is so noble and trustworthy. Just about any other red-blooded Sixth year male would take at least slight advantage." He hurried away before anyone respond.

The three Sixth year male Gryffindors affected looked at each other, and sat huddled at the end of their table, along with Ron.

"You know, I hate to say it. . . ." Seamus started.

"Then don't," Ron retorted.

"Harry does seem to be getting some very . . . roving hands," Dean admitted.

"He was asleep!" Neville protested.

"He was," Dean acknowledged. "Still, I was awake most of the night, and he had his hands up the front of all our girl friends and a smirk on his face. If he hadn't been asleep, I would have hexed him." Seeing the looks on Ron and Neville's faces, he said, "Alright, I would have tried to hex him. I got a good show out it. Shall I tell you how the girls' boobs and nipples differ?"

"Please!" Seamus said. Neville and Ron punched him on either shoulder. "OW! I meant, please don't."

"All the girls looked pretty happy about it, too," Dean said, "and they weren't asleep. Thank goodness Bonnie was sleeping off her color changes by then."

"So. . . ." Neville started, but couldn't continue.

"So, we need to get permission for Luna to sleep in the Gryffindor common room, along with Hermione," Dean said. "I don't want to think what might happen under a duvet on the big sofa if Parvati was there."

It was clear the other two boys did not either.

"But how do we tell the girls?" Neville asked plaintively. "I mean our girls. Ginny hits and hexes, and Lavender and Parvati scream and scratch."

Each of the other teens looked offended, but none dared deny what Neville had said. Each was a little afraid of the girls' offensive capacity.

"Boys are so stupid." The four teens jumped and looked guilty. Katie Bell looked at them with a pitying smile. "Who has the strongest claims on Harry right now in the dating department?"

"Hermione and Luna," Dean answered.

"Right. So don't say anything to Ginny, Parvati, or Lavender if you value your manhoods. Make the suggestion directly to Hermione and Luna, and if they're interested, have them come see me, and then the three of us will take it to McGonagall."

"Thank you, Katie," Dean said with real gratitude. The other two boys echoed her.

"You're welcome." She turned and faced Ron. "Tell that git of a brother of yours to write soon, if he wants to see me over the Christmas break."

"I will," Ron answered, although he couldn't remember if she had dated Fred or George. He decided to write to both of them and let them figure it out.

"I still don't see why we have to allow an outsider in here," Natalie grumbled that night. Parvati and Lavender growled their agreements.

"Because Harry likes Luna, because Luna was driven out of her room by those bitches in her year," Hermione reminded the nine assembled girls, "and because your boyfriends are jealous of the idea that any of you join Harry."

"Padma said the other boys made the suggestion to Luna," Parvati said. "You have to admit, some of us let Harry get a little too friendly last night."

The other two girls involved blushed slightly, and couldn't deny it. Hermione just smiled.

"At least it's only one outsider," Lavender said. In addition, one Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh year Gryffindor girl would sleep in a nearby easy chair, in part as a chaperone and in part to undo any incidental magic. Despite vigorous protests, Dumbledore had changed Colin back into a male and he was not allowed a turn chaperoning.

"It's difficult to be angry with Luna or the boys," Hermione pointed out. "Let alone Harry or McGonagall or Dumbledore."

"Still, I do feel we ought to be angry at someone," Lavender stated.

"How about Malfoy?" Ginny suggested. "Joyce said he's the one that planted the idea in the boys' excuse for brains."

"Sounds reasonable," Lavender agreed.

"But what should we do about him?" Parvati asked.

After a brief silence, all of the girls turned and looked at Hermione.

"What?" she demanded.

"Well, you are supposed to be the cleverest witch of at least your year, if not the current and last generation or two," Natalie pointed out.

"There must be something we can do to get the ferret," Ginny agreed.

"It sounds more like a Weasley plot than a scholarly exercise," Hermione said primly.

"I don't know if Rita Skeeter or Umbridge would agree with that," Ginny retorted.

Hermione sighed. "Those were hardly elaborate plots," Hermione pointed out. "I'm willing to get Malfoy, but I don't know how a group of us could do it. It would take. . . ."

"Fred and George?" Ginny supplied.

Hermione shook her head. "It would probably take someone with a fair amount of training in arcane magic."

"You mean you don't?" Parvati demanded.

"Not the way we'd have to use it," Hermione admitted.

"Who is like that around here, who could actually help us?" Ginny asked. Seeing the looks on Lavender and Parvati's faces, Ginny explained, "Professor Lupin could certainly do it, but he wouldn't help prank a student."

"Maybe Harry could do it," Parvati said to Hermione. "He seems to be ahead of everyone but you in every class this year. Between the two of you, you should be able to come up with something."

"But would he?" Lavender challenged.

"He would, if Hermione asked him to," Parvati said.

"Parvati!"

"Oh, Hermione. You know perfectly well that even though Harry may or may not be in love with you, he loves you very much in every other way. You just have to make it clear that we just want his help in the planning. We'll do the execution. I'm sure he'll feel helping us more directly than that would violate the truce he has with Malfoy."

"You're probably right," Hermione answered, glad that her two roomies had not discovered their secret.

At that moment, a rather embarrassed Harry came down, dressed in his dressing gown and slippers.

"Ah, there's the sleepy head," Ginny cooed, making Harry blush. "Already to be tucked in? Where's the other hot water bottle?"

"Call me that outside of here, Ginny, and I'll show you some tricks Harry taught me," Luna teased back, coming down the girls' stairs.

"Sorry," Ginny said, "I meant to tease Harry, not you."

Luna smiled. "Fair enough. Who's chaperoning tonight?"

"I am," Katie called from across the common room. "So, you two snuggle up with Harry, and I'll turn off the lights. The rest of you, shoo!"

The younger girls kissed Harry goodnight, and wished Hermione and Luna pleasant dreams.

Tuesday, October 29, 1996

"Now, let me get this straight," Harry said the next morning. "You girls want to prank Malfoy?"

"Yes," they all said.

"Because you don't get to sleep with me?"

"Well . . . not exactly. . . ." Parvati hedged, while Lavender blushed.

"Yes," Ginny said. "Harry, it's time you face some home truths."

"Ginny!" Hermione hissed.

"Quiet. First of all, we all really like, even love, our boy friends. We are not trying to seduce you, or have serious relationships with you. But Harry, you are one hot wizard."

"Dead sexy," Lavender agreed.

"And you have, well . . . you have this aura now. . . ." Parvati said.

"Aura?" Harry said doubtfully.

"I doubted it when they mentioned it to me a few weeks ago, too," Katie said, "but you do. Maybe it's some kind of side-affect from your power increase. You do know you're likely the most powerful wizard since Merlin, right?"

"So I've been told," Harry agreed. "So, what does this aura thing do?"

"It turns girls on," Lavender said frankly. Hermione blushed, but nodded.

"Huh?"

"It sexually stimulates us," Katie said. "Being this close to you for a few minutes is as good as fifteen minutes of foreplay with George."

Parvati smirked, "I'd say five minutes with Dean."

"Ten with Neville," Ginny added.

"Seamus doesn't even know what foreplay is," Lavender pouted.

"So. . . ."

"So, you turn us on, and it's probably been true since the very late summer," Hermione said. "I've done some research, and the results are interesting. . . ."

"Oh, God," Harry said, dropping his head to his hands.

"Girls who don't know you and who aren't closer to you than five feet for long stretches of time merely report that you seem unusually attractive."

"How thorough was your research?" Ginny asked.

"Bulstrode said, and I quote, 'he's pretty good looking for a skinny half-blood'."

"Okay," Ginny acknowledged. "Is it universal for age?"

"Oh, you all know perfectly well that the younger Gryffindors all have major crushes on Harry."

"That probably explains Colin, too," Lavender said with a smirk.

"If I ever catch him with his hand down my boxers again, I really will castrate him," Harry growled.

"Dumbledore could probably put it back again," Hermione pointed out.

"Maybe. Anyway, what would you want to do to. . . ." Suddenly Harry stopped and smiled. "Have you found out Draco's schedule yet?"

"We have," Ginny said. "Tracy and Daphne don't like him."

"Does he do anything special on any particular night? Preferably with some of the Slytherin boys?"

"Actually, he and most of the Slytherin boys play wizarding poker Wednesday nights," Ginny answered.

"Perfect. All Hermione has to do to start this is to. . . ."

That evening, Harry and Hermione found themselves alone in a classroom. "How's the project going?" Harry asked.

"Pretty well," Hermione said nervously. "I really shouldn't leave the others too long. . . ."

"You know what I want to ask," Harry said sternly.

Hermione sighed. "Luna and I noticed it when the three of us got back together at the cottage. Ginny and Tonks both noticed it in the last weeks at the villa. I'm sure it had nothing to do with either Luna or me falling in love with you, or each other."

"It might not have been noticeable," Harry pointed out.

Hermione shrugged and then said, "So what? Harry, what will it take for us to convince you that you deserve to be loved?"

Harry gave Hermione a twisted smile. "Erase the ten years I spent with the Dursleys, I guess."

Hermione kissed Harry's cheek. "I do have to get back, but I'll send Luna along to cheer you up."

Thursday, Halloween, 1996

The Halloween feast was in full swing. Lavender leaned over and whispered to Hermione for the fifth time, "When will it start?"

Hermione replied, "Take a good look."

Lavender glanced over her shoulder, and noticed that Malfoy was looking rather nervous. Then she noticed why.

About a third of the Slytherin boys were giving Draco very intense, even smoldering, looks. As Lavender peeked, she saw two actually blow Draco kisses. "What the devil did you do?" she hissed at Hermione.

"We did," Hermione reminded Lavender. "We made a special Compulsion Potion, remember? And keyed it to Malfoy. Katie, Ginny, and their crew planted it in the Slytherins' food before the poker game."

"But what does it compel them to do? I forgot to ask."

"This one only affects males. The person it's keyed to will draw them to him if they had any contact with him over the previous twenty-four hours. Since they were playing cards, his sweat would have spread to at least some of the other Slytherins from those cards. Sooner or later, one of the boys will break, and then they'll all jump Malfoy. Since I just used that hair Ginny got for me, they either have to touch his skin or hair, and then they'll slowly come out of. . . . H'mmm, figures that Goyle would break first."

Turning, Lavender saw that Goyle had turned and grabbed Draco in a bear hug, and was French kissing the shocked and struggling smaller teen very deeply. Fourteen other male Slytherins, some literally climbing over the table, were rushing to show their affection to Malfoy as well.

After a moment's shock, where the only sounds were Draco's muffled shouting for help and the animal grunts of the horny Slytherins, the great hall, especially the Slytherins and the staff table, erupted into shouts, and even some screams.

Over the shouts, Ron's voice was heard for a few seconds, "Don't let'em kiss you, Malfoy! Protect your virtue!"

The feast devolved into chaos. Katie organized the prefects of the other three Houses to move those students out of the hall, while the staff tried to deal with the Slytherin boys.

"That was a lot better than a troll," Ron commented.

"Or a petrified cat, a slashed portrait, a Tri-wizard tournament, or High Inquisitors," Harry agreed.

"I wonder which Slytherin had it in for Malfoy," Neville asked with glee.

"Hard to tell," Harry answered, keeping himself between Dumbledore and the Gryffindor girls the whole way out of the hall. Just in case.

Friday, November 1, 1996

"Good morning," Dumbledore stated at 7:45 the next morning. "Last night, Mister Malfoy and a number of the other Slytherin boys were pranked. Someone, or more likely a group of someones, used a very complicated and dangerous potion, an arcane type of compulsion potion, on them. Fortunately, while the Slytherins were extraordinarily embarrassed, no one was injured." Dumbledore glared at the assembled students, with special attention to the unaffected upper year Slytherins as well as the Gryffindors. "I take it no one wishes to confess?"

Silence.

"I thought not. Since there can be no penalties directed at the guilty parties, a more general punishment must be exacted. To make up for the mostly lost Hogsmeade weekend, we were going to have another this weekend." A collective groan spread through the students. "The Sunday portion of the visit is canceled. The affected students will be allowed to leave at Nine. The rest of the eligible students may leave at Ten. Everyone will be required to return by Four."

Now the students cheered.

That afternoon, an owl flitted into a small cabin high in the Welsh mountains. A shaking hand took the letter off and read it. Voldemort looked at the news, and called in a weak voice, "Wormtail!"

"Master?"

Voldemort tore off the code name on the letter. "Give this note to Julian. Tell him to think of anything, short term or long term, but he should do something."

"Yes, Master." Wormtail started his return to Grimmauld Place. Voldemort laid back, shivering.

A little before 10:00 pm, nineteen people gathered in front of a small room in the outer precincts of the castle (the twelve participants, two observers representing the O.W.L. testers, four observers from the Department of Mysteries, and Moody). Moody took his place guarding the outside of the room, while the other eighteen went in.

"Does anyone have a recommendation on seating?" Dumbledore asked. "Miss Lovegood?" he went on, forestalling Trelawney.

Luna moved to a seat. "To my right, Professor Marchbanks, Professor Dumbledore, Ron, Harry, Neville, Ginny, Hermione, Professor Lupin, Dora Tonks, Professor Trelawney, ending with Sir Nicholas on my left, materialized as well as he can be. The observers may be against the opposite wall."

"Very well," Dumbledore said, "let us begin."