Harry Potter and the Magical Tours

The day of the Hogwarts Christmas Ball started almost as a sibling of that in the year before. One difference - today the organization was Fleur's responsibility, however Fleur looked more than grateful when Harry and Ron came along to ask for their share of work.

With the movings and settings done, Harry had a last check with Rahewa, then went upstairs to get dressed. Prefect bathrooms still were restricted to Prefects such as Ron, but meanwhile Harry knew something comparable, if not in style then in quality.

He met Ron again in the dormitory, if only for a moment because Ron would do in Beauxbatons what Harry was going to do just downstairs - waiting at the entrance to a tower. Passing Ron, Harry got a nose-full of a strong scent. He sniffed. "Well, well ... your own choice?"

Ron looked unruffled. "No - Janine's."

"Does it have a name?"

"Erm ... Petit rêve."

Small dream ... Harry grinned. "Wow - three jokes in one name!"

Ron looked suspicious. "You're teasing - there are only two."

Harry grinned broader. "Think again - or ask Janine."

"Will do. See you downstairs." Reaching the door, Ron stopped and giggled. "You're right - but don't you worry."

A moment later, Harry had finished dressing. He grabbed the small box which he'd prepared the day before and walked down to the entrance of Ravenclaw Tower. Coming closer, he saw a familiar figure standing there, waiting too, looking the other way.

Reaching the figure, Harry said, "Hello, Prof."

Lupin wheeled around. "Harry! I wouldn't mind a bit more noise from someone coming from behind."

Harry suppressed the first remark that popped up in his mind. It would have been too impolite, talking about the differences between human ears and some others, bigger and with more fur.

"Sorry," he said, "it wasn't on purpose. Recently, I never know whether I should call from the distance."

Lupin looked expressionless. "Probably not."

Harry became aware that - again without purpose - this remark hadn't scored much better than the suppressed one. However, the embarrassing moment could be ended easily. He beamed.

"To find you here, waiting like me - that's a super feeling, Prof."

"Thank you, Harry. I feel the same, although I still have to get used to it."

"Well - there are more islands than Ja-pan to get accustomed to new experiences."

It took Lupin a second to extrapolate from Ja-pan to Ja-maica, Almyra's origin, then he laughed. "Next summer we have to find someone to get that big mouth of yours under control."

Harry bowed. "At that time, the need might be negligible."

"I don't think so; this remark is the best proof." Lupin smiled. "Although I appreciate your opinion as much as your style of conversation."

---

Steps came down the staircase.

Someone had anticipated the scene, had shown the presence of mind to figure it out - with Cho coming down first, she and Harry would be out of the way a moment later.

Harry admired Cho's robe - red of course, Oriental as before, even stronger - depending on how Cho walked, a lot more leg was visible for a moment.

He kissed her, took her aside. "Please tell me that we're going to join a ball."

She beamed. "Why? Do you think this is a dream?"

"This too, yes. But what I really thought was - seeing you in this dress, if not to say under this dress, I tend to forget there are people around."

She whispered. "Please don't. Today I'm badly suited to remind you."

He swallowed. "We should change the subject. Here, this may help." He offered the small box.

Expectantly, Cho tore the wrapping apart and examined the content. "It looks mysterious, and impressive ... and I can't read Japanese."

What she held was a clip that could be fixed on a garment, holding three jet-black pieces of wood that were tied to the clip with small rings. The middle piece was longer than the others. Kanji characters covered all three of them, carved into the wood and filled with a white material. Harry had designed the piece and selected the colors, with Cho's dress in mind.

He said, "That's what I thought - me either, actually. Hold on a second." He took the ornament, fixed it on her robe, suppressing the temptation to touch a bit more than necessary, in particular since, for a moment, Cho's breath came heavier. Then he extracted a small parchment. "Here - the original."

Cho opened it and read.

She kissed him. "Thank you ... It's not exactly the help you promised, but I love it."

They wandered into the Great Hall. This year, there was no promenade as in the years before, first for space reasons and then because Fleur had "something better". So they had agreed on meeting just at the booked places - Harry and Cho, Ron and Janine, Marie-Christine and Gérard, Ginny and Wynton.

Hermione and Almyra, together with their partners, were found at the teachers' table. This was something new for Hermione, and according to the expression in her face, she appreciated it a lot while Almyra, who should be used to this environment, seemed still a bit uneasy.

Ron and Janine were already on their seats, waiting for them, as well as Marie-Christine and Gérard, who exchanged a polite smile with Harry.

A moment later, Ginny and Wynton arrived.

Harry did the honours. "... and this is Wynton Jeffries, Keeper in our Quidditch team, and a nightmare for Chasers."

Naturally, Wynton blushed.

Naturally, Gérard had a comment. "With the remarkable exception of Ginny - just for balance."

Ginny showed a cool smile. "Exactly. I gained quite some balance, recently."

Gérard took a moment, apparently to find a good reply. This done, he turned toward Harry, only what he saw in the eyes staring at him seemed reason to swallow his remark, and to let the bigger part of his drink follow.

Harry turned to Marie-Christine. "We're a bit old-fashioned here at Hogwarts - instead of pressing a silver ball, you have to walk to a bar."

Her answer came with a faint smile. "That's a good limitation, I could imagine."

Although Harry felt pretty sure the remark hadn't been addressed in his direction, he decided to play the target and smiled. "Probably so, but even if not, I've learned my lesson."

Marie-Christine looked startled, confirming his thought. Then she laughed, not quite as joyful as it might have been. "Bien sur, 'arry - it's amazing how well lessons go with you."

Cho grinned. "Definitely."

The moment of tension faded in some laughter, only poor Wynton didn't know what was so funny about the remark, while he found no reason to think differently. And Gérard's face told anybody interested that for him, another thought was spoiling the fun.

* * *

Fleur stepped to the middle of the dance floor, the magiphone in her hand. "Ladies and gentlemen," she began, "we'll open this year's Christmas Ball with the ceremony that suits most - a dance, what else. However, for the first dance, I'd like to see a kind of - " she smiled, "representative collection."

The smile changed to a grin. "The representatives are all here - except they don't know yet about their contribution."

Harry had a dim feeling she had meant him, too.

"I ask the couple to represent Hogwarts and Beauxbatons - Mr Albus Dumbledore and Madame Olympe Maxime. Please come to me."

The unlikely pair stood up and came to the parquet, waiting.

"The couple for Beauxbatons and Durmstrang - Monsieur Leonard Fleury and Madame Tinka Nikolova."

These two figures were unknown to Harry.

"For Durmstrang and Hogwarts - Monsieur Kristof Drilencu and Madame Sybill Trelawney."

Smiling at the memory of an O.W.L. exam, Harry watched them coming to the parquet.

Fleur beamed. "So far, we have linked the schools only with teachers. Now we have to find the link from the teachers to the students."

She looked around. "Mr Remus Lupin and Miss Almyra Benedict."

Harry applauded wildly, seeing the tension in Almyra's face, still the only student among all the teachers at the dance floor.

"And for good measure - Mr Viktor Krum and Miss Hermione Granger."

With some bafflement, Harry became aware that not all teachers held to a certain codex. But maybe this had to be treated as a question of older rights - in a way, Viktor had kept to another codex even after becoming teacher.

"Now coming to students only," called Fleur. "For Hogwarts and Beauxbatons, I ask Mr Ron Weasley and Mademoiselle Janine Baillard."

Janine beamed, which was just good because she had to do it for both of them.

"For Beauxbatons and Durmstrang - no, the other way around, I ask Monsieur Grigorij Dimitriu and Mademoiselle Danielle Rabault."

So Grigorij had found a replacement, thought Harry. Good for him. And both Ginny and Wynton were applauding enthusiastically.

"For Durmstrang and Hogwarts, or vice versa, I ask Mr Neville Longbottom and Mademoiselle Nadejda Karadiova."

Well, well - look there ... Against all odds, and with much relief, Harry noticed - the representatives were complete, and he himself still sitting. The music would start any second now.

Fleur looked around. "So much for the schools, the teachers, and the students. Now, what we still need in our collection are the races and cultures which are so strongly united with us. Although you see only humans around, even this problem can be solved easily."

She turned. "The first two races were a simple case ... To represent Goblins, I ask Mr Bill Weasley - to join myself, who stands for Veela." With a shining smile, she watched Bill reaching her and taking her arm.

"And that leaves two other races, and you might think it can't be, because I'm talking about Giants and elves. But as impossible as it seems - we have the perfect couple for that. After asking the elves for their representative, they unanimously designated the one who's more devoted to their creations than anyone else ..."

Harry heard Cho's low groan at his side.

"... although you'd never believe it, looking at her, because her name is Cho Chang. And it just so happens, her partner can rightfully claim to be a true Giant - you may ask him if you don't believe - Mr 'arry Potter!"

They met the others and were greeted with applause. Almyra's embarrassment quickly made room for a wide grin.

---

The music started, which was a mercy, and seconds later, all awkwardness fell off from Harry while he glided with Cho across the parquet, enjoying the space with these few couples turning round and round. With the next dance, it would be tighter than narrow.

And so it was. He and Cho couldn't find the slightest chance for any of the more advanced figures they'd learned only recently. Holding her tightly, Harry smiled.

"As skilled as the elves are - nobody can turn a cake into something as delicious as what I can feel here."

Cho looked pleased - mostly. "You have a tricky way to select your words, my charming Potter."

He laughed. "Lupin said the same, although with other words."

"Oh, did he? That's interesting."

Harry managed to keep his step. Had he said too much? Was his level of knowledge above Cho's own? Her face didn't reveal enough, especially now that she held it so close to him, hidden under the long black hair.

His next partner was Janine. With so many people around them, dancing could be hardly more than moving in place, which offered the opportunity for some conversation. Janine said, "It's funny how rarely we talk to each other, 'arry."

He laughed. "Yes. Since I wouldn't know any other reason, I'd say it's Ron's fault."

Janine smiled. "You're right - while he has no trouble talking with you."

Listening to unspoken words, if only imagined ones, Harry replied, "There are exceptions to the rule. I think then he talks with Fleur."

"Does he?"

"With some reluctance - and not very often."

"And with his sister?"

Not quite sure whether he'd registered a change of subject, Harry said, "Well - I'd be surprised if the topics are the same."

Janine laughed. "That's what I heard. So it must be you who she's talking with."

"Why me?"

"Because you're the one who took some lessons, to quote Marie-Christine." Janine looked into his eyes. "I too would like to hear about your time in Japan - once we find the time for a longer conversation, and provided you could agree to that topic."

Harry nodded. "With some reluctance."

Then he danced with Marie-Christine, trying to ban the thought of Gérard who, at the same time, danced with Cho. This, of course, required avoiding the topic of Gérard in conversation as well. Since Voldemort didn't strike him as a better choice, he concentrated on dancing, feeling the presence of her body, remembering a scene at the lake, and the picture of Marie-Christine in her swimsuit.

She seemed to sense it, or the same memory was crossing her mind. At any rate, Marie-Christine looked at him with a mix of challenge, sadness, and pleasure in her face.

---

The music stopped. Fleur was on the stage, took the magiphone. "Ladies and gentlemen - what's going to follow will be a surprise even for myself. All I can say is - 'arry Potter can tell you more."

He was up, received the magiphone from her, remembering another stage with a conférencier in Beauxbatons. Except today it wasn't about himself, no need to be nervous, so why didn't his hands stop trembling ...

Thinking about his own part, the nervousness faded in an instant. "What I have to tell you," he began, "is just a short explanation - in a minute, you can watch and listen ... Hogwarts is a place where many cultures meet, in times of trouble and in times of joy. Today, you'll see something from a culture that's new to most of us. It's the culture of the First Nations of America - and what you'll see is - surprise - a dance, as this culture is famous for their dances. Ladies and Gentleman, please give your attention to the Grass Dance.!"

He stepped to the front of the stage, threw his wand, and pointed. "GRAMENALERE!"

Where a second before parquet had stretched, a green-yellow rectangle of prairie grass appeared, short enough for the performance, also dry enough - it had taken him some training until Rahewa's nod had signaled approval.

From behind the stage, six figures appeared, crossing the distance to the grass rectangle and taking positions. The music started - high-pitched voices singing, drums, a tambourine, a pipe.

Standing across, the three pairs started to move - Rahewa Lightfoot and Damon Harker, Gabrielle and Fabien, Chloé and a boy about whom Harry knew just the name, Philippe, nothing else. They wore Cree clothes of soft, light-brown leather, the girls skirts and loose shirts, the boys trousers and - instead of a shirt - paintings, and leather rings with feathers around the upper arms.

The movements of the two French girls were a bit softer, a bit more glidingly, while Rahewa was setting sharper accents on her steps. The boys had a moment of embarrassment, however after a few seconds, they caught the rhythm as well, responded to a conversation performed with legs and bodies, across a distance of some feet.

Harry wondered if Gabrielle had used some Veela power during the training, didn't really want to know.

After five minutes, the performance was coming to its end when one dancer after the other stopped dancing, stepped out of the circle, and moved behind the stage.

There had been a small fight about the final, started by Gabrielle, ended by Harry with the words, "If it's a Veela dance, you're the one. This is a Cree dance, so Rahewa will be the last."

Rahewa did her last steps, fell down. The light went out.

When it came back moments later, Rahewa was gone, the grass also, the parquet back in place.

* * *

Harry had the three girls to his right, the three boys to his left. They stood, bowed, stood, bowed, until the roaring applause faded. Then Harry raised the magiphone again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I think you'll agree with me that our six dancers are entitled to join us for a while. From Hogwarts, you've seen Rahewa Lightfoot and Damon Harker, from Beauxbatons ..."

Fleur was still busy starting the music again, met him and his group a moment later, beaming. "Oh, 'arry - it was wonderful!"

"Don't look at me. First there was Gabrielle with her determination. Then there was Rahewa with her knowledge and the required items. And guess who's been in the middle? No, not me - Hermione, she's the one who gave me that book in which I read about the Grass Dance."

Following Fleur's glance, he introduced. "Fleur, meet Rahewa Lightfoot, grass dancer and the youngest female Seeker as long as this is recorded. Rahewa, you have seen Fleur Delacour, but you don't know how much I owe her."

Fleur smiled at the girl. "If there was anything left, after what I owed 'arry for his task in the lake, today he has balanced out - and you're the one who made it possible, Rahewa."

The dark eyes lighted up, didn't know where to look, and the face, so much self-possessed through the performance, turned dark red.

Fleur watched it with some astonishment.

Harry took Rahewa's shoulder. "That's her - she was doing it with me all the time ... You just have to get used to Fleur."

Behind the stage, he told Damon and Rahewa that he would wait here until they'd changed into normal dresses, to take them to their table. Damon looked a bit scared. "Erm - Harry, please - um, don't wait for me. I'll just dress and then ..."

"You won't try to escape, Damon, would you?"

Young Damon looked trapped.

"You can't do that. If you think you can't dance, then okay, you don't have to - although, just a minute ago you got a lot of applause for your dancing. But there's Rahewa, and she's your lady of the evening - you can't let her sit alone."

"Oh ..." Damon nodded. "I didn't look at it that way."

"That's why I told you ... Now get dressed like a wizard, Sitting Bull."

Of course, Rahewa had finished quicker than her cavalier, had obviously been ready to do without him, maybe in favour of some other, was nonetheless pleased when Damon, looking considerably relaxed with his regular clothes and with the promise of dancing as an optional thought, took her arm to follow Harry.

They reached the table, greeted by smiles and another applause. "Ron," said Harry, "do a little magic for two more seats - this particular combination, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, must not sit anywhere else."

Gérard grinned. "Ah, very good, 'arry - fresh supply, and a very promising one! Although still a bit - "

The sentence was abruptly stopped, never to finish, because Marie-Christine's right hand landed in Gérards face, producing a loud smack and a flaming red imprint in a face gone pale.

Next second, Gérard's hand came up and returned the favour.

The second smack almost drowned in another noise - that of Harry's seat flying backward. He was up, arm on the table, his legs moving upward, forward, passing his body over the table, aiming toward Gérard.

In the last instant, he decided to hit him on chest and shoulders, rather than in the face. A broken nose seemed no improvement of the situation.

Gérard, still on his seat, sailed backward, fell down, sill trying to register the force that had struck him.

Harry turned to Marie-Christine. "I'm sorry - "

She was up. "There's nothing that you should be sorry about ... Would you please escort me to the gate, 'arry?" She looked at Cho, earning a nod.

Harry took Marie-Christine's arm and started to walk. He could feel her burning rage and embarrassment. About to say something, he felt another rage, blind, growing ...

He wheeled around, not reaching for a wand, instead taking the kokyu suru, the attack stance - and stopped in spite of the picture of Gérard, upright again, a pale distorted face, strangely familiar, his wand coming up ...

Because this wasn't the complete picture.

A cat was flying, black, slim, landing on Gérard's back, one claw at his neck, the other claw with a glittering talon at his throat - only it wasn't a cat, or a black panther, it was Rahewa, and the glittery talon was a knife, denting Gérards flesh, creating a tiny spot of red.

And another detail. From the side came Ginny, stepping unlike any girl around, feet flat, legs slightly apart, one arm outstretched, the other up. She reached the uneven pair and looked at the young face in which murderous determination was visible. "It's okay, Rahewa ... Leave him to me."

Then Ginny stared at Gérard. "You're lucky to be alive - and I'm lucky for something else ... Go."

Rahewa landed on her feet, hardly causing a noise. Suddenly, the knife was gone. She stepped back.

Cho had left her seat and now reached Harry and Marie-Christine. She said, "I'll escort her, Harry."

He nodded and moved to the table.

Gérard heldd a tissue in his hand and pressed it against the spot at his throat. "You're a true hero, 'arry - need little girls to protect you."

"Yes, Gérard, that's one difference between us, or could you name a single girl that would do it for you?"

Gérard made a gesture as if spitting out.

Harry smiled. "Oh - I almost forgot: Marie-Christine had no time asking me, but I'm sure it was on her mind."

His right hand had only the way from his side to Gérard's face just in front of him, but it had the full drive from a body in hard training for months, and the full support of a mind close to red-glowing wrath.

It wasn't a smack. It was a sharp bang like a whip. Gérard barely avoided flying headlong again, stumbled to regain some balance, walked away without turning back.

---

Harry reached Rahewa. "I want to thank you - you've protected me. For this, I'd like to ask you for a dance." He bowed toward Damon, who was still gaping, unable to express his agreement, of which Harry felt sure.

Rahewa's voice was small. "I can't ... I feel sick."

"I know - that's the adrenaline, comes always after an attack ... But it's not unknown to you, is it?"

Rahewa shook her head, then nodded and followed him to the dance floor.

Dancing with girls smaller than himself was a feeling quite common to Harry, only at previous occasions it had been his role to show nervousness. After a moment, however, Rahewa caught the rhythm and started responding to the music.

"Say, Rahewa - do you have that knife always with you?"

The head in his view nodded.

"Well - can nobody say you won't know how to handle it ... and how far to go. So I think Ginny wasn't quite right - although he might indeed be lucky that you didn't want to go farther."

The face was pretty much hidden, even so, it seemed to lighten up from inwardly.

When the dance ended, Rahewa wanted to sit down. Harry guided her to the table and bowed, receiving another nod. Then he headed toward the Beauxbatons link - Cho hadn't returned yet to the table.

She wasn't downstairs, either.

Maybe Cho had accompanied Marie-Christine to Beauxbatons, only Harry didn't think so. While he couldn't say whether this was a guess, a result of haragei, or simple speculation, some feeling told him to look outside in the park.

He found them on a bench - the only people in the park so early after the ball had started. Cho's arm held Marie-Christine, who was crying miserably, bitterly, unable to stop.

Harry sat down at the other side and added his arm to Cho's support. After a moment, when the crying slowed a bit, he said, "Come in, Marie-Christine - freezing to death won't improve your mood."

She sobbed. "Don't be so sure about that."

Cho looked alarmed.

Harry said, "It's a Zen riddle ... Alive, you can love him which makes you miserable - dead, you can't love him any longer which makes you miserable too. Am I right?"

Marie-Christine had listened. "And how's it solved?"

"Zen riddles can't be solved. You can only laugh at them."

"Ha ha ..." She started crying again.

"Crying increases the impossible."

The scientest in Marie-Christine couldn't resist, had to giggle on that. Harry saw his chance. "Now come in ... He's gone."

"Did he say something else?"

"Yes."

"Won't you tell me?"

"No. Anyway, we parted with a handshake."

Marie-Christine looked up, disbelief in her face. "Really?"

"Yes - although only my hand was involved. I took the liberty to say it was in your name."

Cho looked satisfied, more so when Marie-Christine giggled first and then said, "That girl, 'arry - Rahewa, she did what I should have done long before."

"Oh, I don't know - you're not as good as her with a knife, and Gérard is dangerous."

"Dangerous? No, 'arry - whatever he is, certainly not that."

"Yes he is, Marie-Christine. He can't lose, and that's what makes him dangerous. He can't play sports for that reason. When confronted with a situation where he can't win, he panicks - we could see that today."

"Hmm ..." Marie-Christine straightened. "I have the bad feeling you're right, 'arry - I'll think about that. Anyway, now I'll go back to - "

"No." Cho's voice sounded very determined.

"Wha ... Why not?" Marie-Christine looked at her in astonishment.

"Because you feel like hell warmed over, and we owe you too much to let you alone in this state."

"But - I've got no place here, and nothing to - "

"Leave it to me." Cho stood up.

"And besides - I'm not going to be seen by anyone inside with this face, so - "

"Leave it to Harry. I'll be back in a minute." Cho marched off.

---

Marie-Christine watched her enter the building, then turned to Harry. "What's she doing? And what did she mean - leave it to you?"

"What she's doing - I might guess, but we'll hear it soon. And now look at me." He put her face into his hands, murmured something, felt the swollen eyes return to normal and saw the reddening disappear.

Marie-Christine's voice had changed considerably. "Oh - pity, for a moment I thought this spell would go with a kiss."

"Come to think of it - I never tried it that way ... But it's never too late." He took her face again, kissed her, then examined her. "You're right - it adds a smile."

"Where did you learn that, 'arry?"

"I think you know - in Japan."

"You're trying to tell me it was taught without a kiss? Never!"

"Well - the combination's my own invention, based on sound advice from a famous French scientist. Shigura taught me how to do magic without a wand, and Tamiko taught me how to cure bruises and swellings."

For an instant, Marie-Christine seemed to ponder a comment on the curing of swellings by Tamiko. To Harry's relief, she only grinned. "And the kissing?"

A voice from behind said, "That was me."

Surprisingly, Cho looked triumphant. "It's settled - let's go." She held something in her hand.

Harry looked closer, gasped. "I can't believe it! Where did you get that?"

Cho's eyes were shining. "From Fleur - she holds them for emergency cases, and this is an emergency, if any."

Marie-Christine tried to recognize the item, but without success. "What is it?"

"A surprise," replied Harry. "C'mon."

Of course, Marie-Christine had to find a mirror first, returned from there with an expression of awe. "That's remarkable, 'arry - you could start a beauty salon any time."

Cho grinned. "Absolutely. The only question left is, are all the girls around him customers or employees?"

* * *

When they arrived at the table, Ron had to perform a little more magic with seats - Gabrielle and Chloé had occupied the seats of Marie-Christine and Gérard. Harry looked at his dancers. "Where are your cavaliers?"

"Ooh ..." A dismissive gesture from Gabrielle. "We lost them, somehow."

Cho turned to Marie-Christine. "See what I mean?"

Damon, on the other side, didn't feel out of place - not with two more girls of the proper age. He was busy increasing his knowledge of French, and Gabrielle's and Chloé's knowledge of English. And somehow, he had managed to make Rahewa smile and laugh more often than Harry had ever seen. Maybe this had to do with his translations - Rahewa, coming from Canada, was perfectly bi-lingual.

Harry danced with Hermione, was interviewed about the exact details of what had happened at the table. Hermione, to her bitter regret, had only seen the final part with Harry's hand alone involved, and she said she was going to lure someone else into the spector room, for a recording of the first part.

Then he danced with Almyra, and again he had to describe the scene. Almyra had seen more - for example Rahewa's contribution, except not in full detail. "Was she trying to strangle him, Harry?"

"Not exactly, no - well, if you couldn't see it, I hope the teachers couldn't see it, either."

"Why - what did she do?"

"She showed him a knife - although he couldn't see it well, because it was on his throat."

Almyra gasped.

"At least," said Harry quickly, "she can handle it quite well - which is a relief, since I wouldn't know a teacher to improve that."

Almyra laughed. "You have some bodyguard, Harry."

"Yeah ... Gérard said something to that extent."

"Similar, huh? I saw your answer - and I liked it."

Then he danced with Fleur, who said, "I'll need another assistant, 'arry - but I'm not going to blame you."

"Thanks. What about Bill?"

"That would be super, but he's not close enough - even with linkports." Fleur smiled at Harry. "By the way - what kind of emergency was it exactly that Cho needed a guest room?"

He laughed. "You're just too single-minded, Fleur ... It's for Marie-Christine, it didn't feel appropriate to send her home alone."

Fleur's eyes were sparkling. "I'm not single-minded, 'arry - just open-minded, in contrast to some other people ... But then, maybe less people than I thought."

He shook his head. "Veela."

"I hope this was a compliment - if not, I'll give you Veela."

"Of course it was ... And Drilencu said Veela won't blackmail."

Then he danced with Gabrielle, who informed him that their formation was already booked for Beauxbatons, except maybe with the Sun Dance for a change. It struck him as a small surprise - after all, the ball in Beauxbatons had a similarly restrictive rule, only with third-years as the minimum age.

The dance with Ginny completed Harry's list of honneurs. Katie and Alicia would come next, but first he wanted another round with Cho, and then with Marie-Christine. Smelling Cho's breath, he smiled. "British champagne seems better than its reputation."

"Certainly not - Beauxbatons was clever enough to help out."

Fleur announced Ladie's choice, and it was Katie who grabbed him. "C'mon, Harry - this is my only chance to get that close to you." Then she did as promised. Maybe it was an attempt to make him feel sorry for a missed opportunity, although he wasn't exactly sorry when the dance ended.

After some more dances, with Alicia, with Marie-Christine who seemed feeling better, and not as sober as earlier that evening, Fleur arrived to escort two girls home to Beauxbatons. Damon and Rahewa took this as their signal for saying goodnight.

---

Suddenly, Harry was alone with Cho and Marie-Christine. Ron and Janine were nowhere seen, and Ginny and Wynton had joined the group of Katie and Alicia. Marie-Christine looked up, less joyful than half an hour before. "I think it's time for me ... I had enough drinks - that's what I'd need, following Gérard's habit - "

Cho stood up. "Then let's go."

They followed her up the staircase. To Harry's surprise, Cho didn't stop at the well-known guest suite. He asked, "What are you looking for?"

"Guess what? The way to that room ... Fleur said something - "

Harry stepped forward and seized Cho's hand. "Lemme see that card - oh my God, yes, that's it!"

Marie-Christine asked, "Something wrong?"

He shook his head, then took the card from Cho's hand. "Not at all. Follow me." He opened the door and stepped aside, beaming. "Ladies ..."

Marie-Christine and Cho stepped in and looked around, seemed impressed. Behind them, Harry said, "Good evening, Nicodemus, please meet Miss Théroux and Miss Chang."

"Good evening, Mr Potter. At your service, myladies."

Marie-Christine just continued looking impressed, but Cho seemed speechless, if only for a moment. Then she asked, "How come you're so familiar here, Harry?"

"That's the room where I was hiding when Lupin was rescued."

Sitting around the table, with drinks from the servant picture - no alcohol for any of them - he had to describe the time he'd spent in this suite.

Marie-Christine said, "All the time alone here - a scary thought." She looked uneasy right now.

Cho cleared her throat. "Marie-Christine ... Would you like some company?"

An expression of hope, and anxiousness. "What do you mean?"

Cho looked at the table while answering. "I don't like the idea of leaving you alone ... We owe you, and now you need company."

A choked giggle. "You mean ... If I ask one of you, no matter who, you'll stay with me?"

Cho still looked at the table. "Yes."

Harry was staring at her, at Marie-Christine, at Cho again. His mouth felt a bit dry.

Marie-Christine looked at Cho, at him, at the table. "I can't decide."

Harry had a feeling - in an instant, Cho would nominate him. The thought was disquieting enough to react quickly.

"Well, then ... there's enough room for three."

He earned two quick glances, though no protest. After he'd ordered pyjamas and other necessities from Nicodemus, Marie-Christine took her bundle and disappeared in the bathroom.

Cho was looking at him. "Why did you say that?"

"Because I knew next second you'd nominate me."

She nodded. "I'm glad you ... I can't think clearly."

He came to her and took her shoulders. It had been a mistake - he felt the heat emanate from her, felt her lean toward him, was at a loss to distinguish between common senses, empathy, haragei ...

Marie-Christine called - the bathroom was free.

Cho jumped up and disappeared through the door.

Sitting, waiting, Harry felt himself tremble, felt infected by Cho, ordered his mind to calm down, with limited success, maybe because his mind wasn't the proper address for the command.

Cho appeared in the door frame to offer a free bathroom. Seeing her in these pyjamas, delicate and first rate like the entire suite, wasn't a help either. Coming out of the bathroom, he found Cho at one side, Marie-Christine in the middle. It looked like a safety zone of questionable reliability.

He glided under the cover and switched off the light. Noticing that it had only been days since full moon, he was reminded of a test with a result still unknown to him. He was also reminded of another day with a moon shining through a window.

He should close the curtains. Only he couldn't. And nobody else did it, or asked for it to be done.

* * *

The safety zone wasn't safe at all. The double bed certainly offered room enough for three, while not without touching each other. One more example of the difference between right and true.

Harry tried to relax, but couldn't. All his senses, most of all his new ones, told him that no one in this room was sleepy, not to mention asleep. A sensual aura was growing by the second.

Suddenly, Cho's voice. "Gérard is an idiot."

Marie-Christine. "Why?"

"Because he's not satisfied with your body ... Stupid of him."

Harry thought the same, tried to ban the thought, and failed.

Marie-Christine. "Do you think so?"

Cho's voice, strangled. "Yes."

"And you, 'arry?"

He had trouble breathing regularly. "I'm trying to think something else - doesn't work."

Marie-Christine's arms reached to both sides. "Then show me."

A moment of breathless silence around her.

"I mean it ... It's something like ... and today I'm mad enough to make it come true, and with the right people. I can feel it ..."

Harry was still asking himself whether his ears were playing tricks when his eyes told him he'd heard right. Cho started to unbutton Marie-Christine's pyjamas.

"No - not yet. First you have to undress."

Cho seemed unwilling to stop, murmured, "Is it that important in which sequence?"

"Yes it is - I want to see you ... And I want to see how - 'arry, you must do it for Cho, and then she for you."

This was certainly the most astonishing command Harry had ever heard at Hogwarts, while he couldn't remember anything less objectionable. Following orders felt simpler than figuring out whether this scene was reality ... And he had taken lessons for this task.

He rolled to the other side, took Cho's arms, took Cho, not feeling resistance, only some kind of trembling weakness. Kneeling, he moved behind her, pulled her up until she was kneeling with her back to him, both of them facing Marie-Christine who watched, her expression confirming that Harry was doing exactly what she'd hoped for.

Unbuttoning Cho's pyjamas was a delicious task, carried out slowly and with all the time of the world, with all the diligence of a student who remembered the details well.

For a moment, Cho's hands tried to find him, to touch him. He pushed them off gently, folded her arms behind her head. She obeyed, slightly trembling, certainly not from any cold in the well-heated room, stiffening for an instant when his hands opened the pyjamas, when his palms took their time to pass over her skin, her swelling mounds which right now were lacking softness ...

A low moan from her.

He put her arms down, stripped the vest from her shoulders, took it down, caressing her again, hard breathing in his ears, its origin impossible to locate - Cho's, his own, Marie-Christine's ...

Inching closer, his hands reached the waistband of her pants, came around, moved inside, stroking, felt a soaking wetness. Cho's voice was a croaky whisper. "Undressing - that's what you're supposed to do, nothing else."

"I'm strictly following orders ... as well as I know how, and have learned."

"You learned for a different setup - don't forget - "

Marie-Christine words were an order, yet her voice a plea. "No, he's doing fine ... extremely fine."

Harry did, feeling Cho's thighs tremble, supporting her, until the garment was down to her knees. He pushed her gently forward, then qickly freed her legs.

Cho turned, came up, wanted to start with his own buttons, was stopped by Marie-Christine who found the arrangement face to faces much more enthralling.

Kneeling before Marie-Christine, feeling Cho's body in his back, her hand on him, Harry was riding a storm of emotions - his own arousal only part of it, other waves, sensed, hitting him like blows.

For a moment, he closed his eyes, opened them again, looking at Marie-Christine. She was watching, eyes wide open, breathing deeply, an expression of deepest concentration in her face.

Cho's hands were pushing his own pants downward, freeing him, torturing him similarly to what he'd done to her shortly before.

Marie-Christine struggled the cover from her body, from her legs, leaning back again, drinking in the sight of him. Seeing her like that, the unmistakable signs of her state, was an almost painful sensation, hardening him still more, if that was possible.

They took their places again, lying down to both sides of Marie-Christine. Cho immediatley resumed her previous task, although not as calmly as before.

---

Harry kept motionless for a minute, trying to calm down, to find his breath again. It was extremely difficult - with the picture before his eyes, Cho who had uncovered two beautiful breasts, was hiding them now and again under a long black mane, and Marie-Christine whose head was jerked back, whose mouth was sending small sighs and gasps.

Hardly feeling calmer, he began with his own contribution to the undressing, aware that Cho had left the second piece completely to him. But first, his hands were busy to gain some familiarity with this new body, this soft skin, these legs that were somewhat longer, softer, less muscular than what he was used to.

Feeling more secure, although not calmer, he freed enough so Marie-Christine could lie down again, taking more time now, progressing inch by slow inch in exposing these wonderful legs, probing, testing, teasing, feeling a tremble grow in her body.

Coming down to the ankles, he felt her attempt to kick the garment off her legs, stopped her quickly, putting her legs together, pulling her knees slightly upward, hearing Marie-Christine's groaning protest.

He wrapped the piece tighter, tying her ankles. His hands went up her legs again. Reaching her knees, he took them and, with a sharp twist, opened them wide, stroking further upward.

The answer was a strong gasp, another, and another. He felt the tension in her grow rapidly. With his one arm keeping her legs apart, he found her core, streaming wet, circled it once, pressed it hard.

A small cry, followed by a wailing sound. Marie-Christine arched up, her body an arc from shoulders to tied legs.

Not letting go, he held her, stroking, pressing, until eventually the arc broke, her body falling back.

Cho looked up, her voice disappointed. "That was cruel ... It was just so nicely going ..."

Harry felt like laughing. "It wasn't my mistake ..."

Marie-Christine'v voice came shaky, still breathlessly, but smiling. "He's right ... Don't blame him."

Whether she had heard or not, Cho's glance was reproachful. "Take your hands away ... You're spoiling all the fun." She moved down, freed Marie-Christine's ankles, knelt over her legs.

Marie-Christine's voice was comforting. "Give it a little break - or maybe change the ..."

"No way ... If it wasn't his mistake, it was yours. Now you have to live with the consequences." With these words, she put one knee between Marie-Christines legs and pushed them apart.

Marie-Christine's arms came up, trying to stop her.

Cho glared at Harry. "Do something useful ... Hold her!"

Following orders, especially when given from this person, and in this tone ... He took Marie-Christine's arms, put them over her head, held them with one arm, his other free to explore these large half-globes which all the time had been occupied by someone else.

Marie-Christine looked at him, half of a question in her face, maybe to ask if Cho was serious, or whether he really could be so fierce toward her, doing exactly what Cho had said.

Next moment, the question was gone, replaced by disbelief, washed off by a grimace of pain and ecstasy, eyes closed, mouth opening, closing, a ragged breath, quickening again.

Harry's palm wandered over a landscape of unfamiliar dimensions, feeling softness, hardness, astonishing sizes. Even if it wasn't the size of his preference, there was nothing wrong with it, not now, not any other time, and anyone thinking so was beyond stupidity.

He no longer felt any resistance in Marie-Christine's arms. There was no resistance at all left in her, only a deep movement to master the sensations storming from different directions, and locations.

Harry's mouth found its way to these splendid hills, moving upward, reaching the top, his lips closing around it, sucking, releasing, gentle teeth stroking along. His ears took in the pattern of sounds from Marie-Christine, tried to associate it with his own caressing and with Cho's doing, failed since Marie-Christine could no longer respond to singular stimulations.

Cho moved to Marie-Christine's side, closed her legs again. This time the response could be clearly attached, only it was impossible to decide - was it a sigh of relief or protest?

Cho took one of Marie-Christine's arms, put it down, away from the trembling body, knelt over it.

Her head came down, her mouth at Marie-Christine's ear, whispering something.

Another gasp from Marie-Christine. Her free hand moved, covered Cho's wet mound, raised a sharp bending of Cho's body, and a choked groaning.

Cho's head was again at Marie-Christine's ear, whispering something new.

The response was a sharp intake of breath. Then Marie-Christine's legs opened again, wider, still wider.

Cho's voice. "C'mon, Harry ... She's waiting for you."

It was no invitation - in contrast to these legs and this tuft of wet hair. It was a command, no matter how strangled the voice.

He obeyed - moving carefully, slowly, with the rest of the little control he had. Gliding, he felt the change from coolness to heat, from soft swelling to gentle gripping. At the same time, his other senses were flooded with the reaction from two sources, Marie-Christine as much as Cho.

It broke any planning, crumpled any thought he still might have held. His hands found hold on a trembling body, then his hips were thrusting. He felt diving, diving, the timespan short before he was bursting, the bursting deep down, quieting, although not stopping, not for some more strokes until he felt Marie-Christine reaching the clouds and the rain, unfamiliar only in the details but not in the sensation that reached him - a double sensation, almost simultaneously, if he could trust his senses.

---

For a time, he kept motionless. Hands were stroking his back, difficult to distinguish.

He looked up into a smiling face, bent forward, kissed it. "You're wonderful." Then, as carefully as on the way before, he climbed out, down, fell on his back at her side.

Marie-Christine had found some breath. "We have to rearrange a bit here." She moved to the outside, pushed Cho in the middle, a Cho who had stopped trembling, looking calmer, who smiled to one side, to the other, receiving kisses from both. This done, Marie-Christine said, "You're a Chinese devil, you know that?"

An expression of deep pleasure. "No - that's totally new to me."

"Then it's time to express this clearly enough so you won't forget ... And I'm the one to teach you what's cruel and what's not." Marie-Christine came up, rolled over Cho, her lips coming down to two smaller breasts. "As groggy as I am - the thought that I'm doing here what Gérard is dreaming of ... That feeling is unbelievable."

Cho tried to hold her. "Even so - just wait a bit ... In case you haven't noticed ..."

Marie-Christine's head came up. "Oh, I have noticed, quite definitely so ... But as I said - a bit of your own medicine will make the lesson stick."

Cho tried to protest, to push her off.

Marie-Christine looked at Harry. "Same right for everyone - 'arry, you know what to do."

He knew, and he did, feeling sympathy while no mercy, feeling a new thrill while alternately watching Cho's face and Marie-Christine whose face was mostly hidden, busy to deliver a medicine which, by the second, seemed to taste sweeter, considering how Cho's body was responding.

After a little while, with his hands treating this body as carefully as the previous one, his look kept at Cho's face. For the first time, he could watch every second of her journey, himself no longer as relaxed as minutes before, still calm enough and with the proper amount of engagement to relish this fascinating experience, his mind vibrating with her own, receiving waves that were sharpening, quickening, heating up until the last wave came rolling, washing away clear thoughts, fading slowly.

Marie-Christine's face showed a smile of triumph. "That was my part of the medicine, and I'd say the taste was mutually satisfying ... Now it's 'arry's turn."

Cho looked shocked. "Are you crazy?"

"That might be. Tonight it's not out of discussion."

"But that's too much, I can't again - "

"Ooh - you never know. At least I see someone who can again."

Marie-Christine moved a bit away from Cho, took her ankles. "Sometimes it's tying, and sometimes it's the opposite." Next moment, she moved them wide apart, looked at Harry. "C'mon ... We're waiting for you."

It wasn't exactly true, or only halfway. Still, it felt awfully right, and he felt in perfect condition for a slow, leisurely walk toward another peak.

At first, there was something like embarrassment. Strangely enough in this situation, although - when entering Marie-Christine under Cho's eyes, it had been an act of passion for the one and love for the other, while now, with both feelings coming together in the same target, there was an instant when Marie-Christine behind him felt like an outsider, watching, which was somehow nonsense because that was exactly what she did - a Zen riddle, to be solved only by gliding forward, inward, slowly, choking Cho's protest with his mouth, pausing, starting again, receiving first signs of response.

He felt Marie-Christine's hands on his buttocks, on his thighs. As sensational as it felt, these were dangerous ingredients in his pattern, and he told her so.

A soft murmur. "Well, then ..."

Next moment, he felt her fingers at both sides of his shaft, although it wasn't him to be addressed, as Cho's reaction clearly confirmed.

With this additional support, the journey went quicker than initially expected, which was only good because the side effects put him more off balance than planned. Contrary to what Cho had said, she reached the top in a softer way than before but successfully nevertheless.

---

When he laid at her side, Cho said, "I think I can't move tomorrow ... But it was a remarkable lesson" - she turned to Marie-Christine - "from a French devil. I'd never suspected that from you."

Marie-Christine smiled, not looking groggy any longer. "It's not my normal behaviour - but when you offered me company, I saw my chance to figure out how other people think of my body."

"Aha - and that's why you said you couldn't decide."

"I couldn't - honestly. Either choice would have seemed so ... I can't express it. Anyway, 'arry found the solution."

Cho turned to Harry. "So it's your fault."

"It didn't feel wrong - not at all, really."

"Oh, didn't it?" Cho had a strange smile in her face. "Maybe that's because you're the only one who hasn't been lectured - while you had no pains helping in them." She came up, was over him, was on the other side. "Move into the middle - that's where the lessons take place."

"What's on your mind??"

"That's a pretty stupid question. Move!"

He was pushed and quickly obeyed, feeling pretty safe - due to some famous little difference, it seemed technically impossible to receive a lesson as Cho was obviously planning.

"All right. Marie-Christine, hold his legs." Cho looked at Harry. "And don't dare to resist ... I know you're strong enough, you used it quite artfully a little while ago, but you'll be truly sorry if you try."

Marie-Christine took his legs, spreading them, knelt on top of one, holding the other. The feeling of her moisture on his calf sent a jolt through Harry's mind, surprisingly strong, after the recent events.

Cho grinned diabolically. "And now comes the Chinese version of this lesson ... You keep your hands quiet, and anything else too."

He grinned back. "Anything - that won't work, will it?"

"You'll stop grinning in a second - then you know what I mean."

She climbed on top of him, taking the Yin-Yang position, presenting a breathtaking view, as well as an overwhelming scent, very close to him - and yet beyond reach, while he himself laid exactly in the reach she had planned.

Within seconds, he lost any will, felt powerless, surrendering to the artful lesson of two women who had a remarkable way to keep him weak all over - except in the centre of their interest.

Cho moved to his side, still kneeling, looked at Marie-Christine. "I'm out of the game, and you're one behind ... You've started the game - well, now finish it."

The surprise in Marie-Christine's face made room for something else - a kind of ignorance for anything outside this room, this moment. She came forward, grabbed him and, ever so slowly, teasingly, painfully, mounted him.

Harry's body twisted, arching slightly upward.

Cho looked at him, menacing. "Don't you move!"

He couldn't even reply that it hadn't been on purpose, not while Marie-Christine was moving, cruelly slow.

Cho seemed to hesitate where to position herself. Then, she stayed where she was, where she could watch his face, Marie-Christine's face, alternating between both like he'd done earlier this night.

Marie-Christine moved up, slowly, slowly - came down with a rush.

Harry heard himself groan, and again, and again.

Marie-Christine paused. "You're right, 'arry - he can't lose. He never allowed me to do that ... And it feels so - I can't express it."

Oh yes, she could express it, when the pause was over, Marie-Christine no longer talking but moving, accelerating, sending him uphill and herself too, following him to the top still in this short moment afterwards when he felt nothing, totally numb inside her.

Cho was at his side, stroked his hair, looked at him with love in her eyes. "Now - was it that bad?"

He was too weak to laugh. "No."

"Good ... Because - you know, I just couldn't stand the thought of Tamiko as the only one to teach you this special kind of lessons."