Hogwarts UnderExposed - A New Girl In Town

Hogwarts UnderExposed - A New Girl in Town

"How did it go?"

"Need you ask? They loved me, of course."

"What's the next move?"

"She's going to visit me over the holidays. You and I, my love, are one heartrending 'accident' away from being rich beyond our dreams."

Chapter Ten
Anything For a Friend

"Harry, believe me; the girls and Tyler are fine," Hermione maintained. "There isn't any need for you to hang about in front of their bedroom door on tenterhooks. Leave them be and come along with me to get Ben." Hermione shook her head, slightly frustrated. "I still can't believe that you shifted Ben off on Ron and Sam today. Sam takes care of him enough while we teach classes. I would have thought that you'd have used the opportunity to bond with your son."

"I was torn," Harry admitted guiltily. "I wanted to spend the day with Ben, but ..." His words drifted off as his eyes once again returned to the bedroom door. "Hopefully, Ben and I will have a lifetime to spend together; Emily and I just have a few mere weeks remaining."

Harry trembled slightly. "She appears so vibrant and healthy; it's so difficult to believe that she's actually dying."

"I know," said Hermione, embracing Harry tightly. "I keep hoping that it's all just been a bad dream and that in due course we'll wake up." She sighed. "Let's go get Ben."

Harry nodded, reluctantly ending the embrace and heading for the door, Hermione following.

"Aren't you going to slip on some clothes?" Harry questioned.

Hermione shrugged. "It's hardly worth the effort. Ron and Sam's quarters are just down the corridor and even if we run into any of the other staff, they'll hardly be shocked at seeing me nude."

Harry smiled his agreement and they hurried down the hall. In less than a minute, he was rapping on the door to the Weasleys' quarters.

Hermione was just commenting that she hoped Ron and Sam hadn't already turned in for the night when the door flung open and the freckled faced grin of their best friend greeted them. Ron's smile was quickly replaced with a look of astonishment.

Although seeing Hermione naked was certainly no longer a novel experience for Ron, he still gawked disbelieving at his attractive friend before hurriedly ushering her and Harry inside.

After exchanging pleasantries, Hermione rushed off to join Samantha and the boys, leaving Harry standing with a thunderstruck Ron.

"I can't believe that you permit her to walk about the halls like that," Ron said reproachfully. "What if the Headmaster or one of the other professors had seen her?"

"Then they would have seen her," Harry replied matter-of-factly. "There isn't one of the staff that hasn't seen Hermione in the buff on more than one occasions. They've all accepted her lifestyle."

"But what if a student had seen her?" Ron asked, still obviously troubled.

"That might have been slightly awkward," Harry admitted, "but apart from friends of Emily and Caitlin, students are rarely permitted in this area of the castle. Besides, it's after curfew; all of the students have returned to their house's common room."

Harry studied Ron's frustrated expression and then glanced in the direction of Sam, Hermione and the boys. "This isn't really about Hermione, is it?" Harry asked. "Have you and Sam had another quarrel concerning nudity?"

"Look at her," Ron exclaimed distastefully. "The woman is eight months pregnant and she's still parading around in the buff. You'd think she'd have some reverence for others. I'm only asking her to cover herself until the baby is born and her body gets back in shape, at least."

"I think she looks beautiful," Harry said adamantly. "Ron, naturism is about comfort and acceptance of the human body; it isn't an extension of Playwizard magazine. The nudist resorts would be hard pressed for members if they only accepted people with perfect, model-like bodies."

"But I don't want people seeing my wife unclothed, particularly not when she is pregnant," Ron maintained. "It's just... well indecent. And furthermore, I can't believe that she thinks it is proper for Timmy to see her like that. My mother would have died rather than let any of us boys see her naked."

"Molly and Sam are distinctive individuals," Harry asserted. "They share many admirable qualities, but they are totally different in most ways. I loved your mum, but she was unquestionably a matriarch. With Molly there was only one way and that was her way."

"I guess Mum was rather bossy at times," Ron admitted reluctantly. "Remember how she yelled at poor dad when he left that apprentice healer try Muggle stitches on him?"

"Or how about when Sirius wanted to fill us all in on The Order of the Phoenix?" Harry asked. "Talk about throwing a fit."

"Yeah; I guess Mum could be a little obstinate," Ron admitted.

"Ron, you're my best mate, but at times you tend to emulate your mum," Harry said warily.

"Are you saying that I'm arrogant and unreasonable?" Ron protested hotly.

"Not arrogant," Harry said, "but you do have difficulty accommodating differing points of view. I think that's part of the reason why you and Hermione were always at each other's throats when we were younger."

"Hermione and I argued about inconsequential things," Ron insisted. "Naturism isn't trivial. Sam's my wife and I don't like other people seeing her naked. I don't understand how you can be so tolerant of Hermione."

"First, I think it's because you and I have very different concepts of marriage," Harry explained. "Please don't become offended, Ron, but at times you act more like you're Sam's owner rather than her husband."

"No I don't," Ron protested. "It's just that I think a wife should do as her husband desires."

"Love, honor and obey," Harry said solicitously. "Isn't that a rather outdated stance on marriage? You married Sam because you were attracted to her individualistic qualities. Why now do you want to change her into a female clone of yourself?"

"I'm not trying to change her," Ron insisted vehemently. "I just want her to conduct herself in a more acceptable and proper way."

"Don't you mean what you consider an acceptable and proper way," Harry corrected. "Isn't that requiring her to espouse your values?"

"In a way," Ron conceded, "but you have to admit that naturism is a rather unorthodox lifestyle. Normal people just don't parade about starkers."

"I beg your pardon," Harry said, clearing his throat. "My entire family consists of naturists and I think we are all quite normal."

"You know want I mean," Ron protested, slightly ashamed. "The majority of people think nudism is strange."

"And vanilla is the best selling flavor of ice cream," Harry said, out of the blue. "Yet dairies continue to offer a wide variety of flavors."

"It's hardly the same thing," Ron insisted.

"No it's not," Harry agreed. "A person is seldom ridiculed because they like peanut butter ice cream. Yet if you're a naturist, you're automatically considered some sort of weirdo. The world preaches individual rights and freedom, but it's all a façade. Individuality is limited to what is accepted by the majority."

Ron shook his head. "I appreciate what you're trying to say, but it all boils down to my wife walking about naked. Even if the world was willing to condone it, I'm not sure I'd ever be able to accept it."

Ron glanced at Sam, Hermione and the boys and then turned back to Harry. "Hermione is gorgeous," he declared. "Doesn't it bother you to know that men almost certainly masturbate thinking about her naked?"

"I can hardly prevent people from fanaticizing," Harry stated. "But that's all it is, a flight of the imagination. Hermione is with me in reality."

"Is that what troubles you about Sam being seen nude by others?" Harry questioned. "Do you think that someone will be attracted to her and try to lure her away from you? Ron, it isn't going to happen. Sam loves you and only you. Trust her and her love for you."

"They're talking about me," Sam whispered to Hermione. "Ron, without a doubt, is complaining about my lack of decorum again."

"What makes you so positive?" Hermione questioned.

"He was having another one of his anti-naturism outbursts just before you arrived," Sam explained. "His latest dread is that Ben and Timmy will both turn out to be gay if we continue to allow them to hang around each other in the nude. He thinks it's just a matter of time before they start touching and playing with each others' privates."

"Ron has a tendency to be paranoid," Hermione said, shaking her head.

"That's an understatement." Sam acknowledged. "I pointed out to him that Emily and Caitlin have been nude around each other for years and it hasn't affected them."

"I'm not so sure that you should use Caitlin and Emily as a case in point," Hermione said, undecidedly.

"Why not?" Sam questioned. "They're both one hundred percent heterosexual and in relationships with boys."

"They're both in relationships now and seem to prefer boys," Hermione agreed, "but both Emily and Caitlin have bisexual leanings."

"They do?" Sam responded, shocked. "What makes you believe that?"

"I have a very close rapport with the girls, especially Caitlin," Hermione replied. "They talk to me essentially about everything." Hermione paused briefly. "The girls have done some experimentation with each other."

"Lots of girls hug and kiss each other," Sam said dismissively. "Women aren't as hung up on their sexuality as men. We're not afraid to physically show feelings for members of our own sex."

"That's true," Hermione granted, "but Emily and Caitlin have gone quite a bit further than mere hugging and kissing."

"Do you mean that they've ...?"

"They've done just about everything that two young girls could do to each other," Hermione said.

"I would have never guessed it," Sam said aghast "Moreover, I can't believe that they actually told you." .

"The girls aren't ashamed of what they've done," Hermione said. "Actually, what bothered them most was hiding their behavior from Harry and me."

"But it was just experimentation, right? " Sam questioned. "Now that they both have boy friends, it's of course ended?"

"To a degree," Hermione said. "Emily and Caitlin's love for each other is beyond measure. Not in a way that they want to be a joined couple, but rather in a way that they care deeply for each other and want to make each other happy and feel good. Neither girl has experienced sex with their male partner yet, so I think they occasionally might still sort of fulfill each other's needs."

"Do you think that being naturists contributed to their actions?" Sam inquired concernedly.

"Not at all," Hermione quickly replied. "Being a naturist only made it unnecessary for them to remove their clothes. I'm not sure what brings out gay tendencies in people."

"I always thought it was a person's genes," Sam suggested. "Our genes determine how we look and whether we are magical or not; it only makes sense that they would determine our sexual preferences, too."

"That may be true in a preponderance of cases," Hermione agreed, "but I think that sometimes it is just a matter of personal choice. I don't believe any gene caused the attraction between Emily and Caitlin. Neither one of them, as a rule, is attracted to other girls." Hermione laughed. "Emily, for example, has had this disconcerting, over-enthusiastic fascination for the male penis since she was six years old."

"The girls and I have discussed it at length," Hermione continued. "Emily and Kim are best friends and Caitlin has become very close to Claudia, but nether girl would ever consider perusing a sexual relationship with their best friend. But with each other, it just seemed natural and proper."

"How do you and Harry feel about all this?" Sam questioned.

"We both love Caitlin and Emily," Hermione explained. "They might be adopted, but we couldn't love them more if I had given birth to them. It would be rather awkward if the girls decided to shape a lasting relationship, but Harry and I would support them."

"I wish Ron could be more like you and Harry," Sam muttered moodily. "You are both so accepting of people's differences."

Hermione studied Sam's sad appearance. "This disagreement, concerning naturism, between you and Ron isn't causing a rift in your marriage, is it?"

"Just a bump," Sam replied, forcing a laugh. "I love him too much to even consider divorcing him over something as petty as naturism. I just get so frustrated that I'm always the one caving. Can't he see how much Timmy and I enjoy the lifestyle. He is so stubborn. He always feels he is correct and that everything should be done his way."

* * * * * *

Emily stood staring blankly at the door to the lodgings that Jamie and Alex shared. She had to talk to someone, but had been unsure as to just who that someone should be. Normally she discussed everything of consequence with Caitlin, but Caitlin was just as much a novice on the subject of sexual intercourse as she.

Emily was sure that when Caitlin at last decided to have sex with Evan, her sister would sit down and discuss her plans in intimate detail with Hermione. Emily knew she also had this option; the problem was that she had always been closer to Harry than to Hermione. Caitlin and Emily equally loved both their adopted parents, but Caitlin was indisputably Mummy's angel and Emily was Daddy's little girl.

Being Daddy's favorite had its advantages and disadvantages. In this case all disadvantages; Emily wasn't quite sure how receptive Harry would be to the idea of giving his little girl instructions on the fine art of oral pleasuring, so she decided that she would opt for talking to Jamie.

There was a time when she spoke to Jamie about everything and anything, but that seemed like ages ago, back when Jamie was just her older sister. Now Jamie was one of her professors, plus there was the issue of that terrible episode the previous summer. Although Jamie seemed to have recovered completely, both physically and mentally from the brutal torture at the hands of Slytherin's goons, Emily still found the idea of discussing sex with someone who had been savagely gang raped rather awkward.

After pacing the hallway for several unsure minutes, Emily had lastly determined to bin the idea when suddenly Alex came bounding around the corner.

"Hi, Little Sis," he called out to her cheerfully. "Are you coming or going?"

"I... I was going to visit with Jamie," Emily stuttered, "but I'll come back later. I don't want to intrude on your private time together."

"Don't be ridiculous," Alex protested. "Jamie and I were just talking about you the other night. It's been so long since we've seen you, that we thought perhaps you had disowned us."

"Jamie sees me all the time," Emily disputed.

"Seeing you in a classroom situation and actually sitting down and talking with you are quite dissimilar," Alex insisted. "Besides, I haven't seen you in ages." Alex opened the door and ushered Emily inside.

"Guess who I found loitering outside our door," he called out to the empty room.

Jamie stuck her head out of the bedroom and then swiftly hurried to greet her sister. Emily was suddenly engulfed in the arms of a very beautiful and very naked young woman. The fact that Jamie was nude didn't surprise Emily; after all they had both grown up as naturists. What did shock Emily was that when she glanced back in the direction of Alex, she saw that he too was removing his garments.

"When did you become a naturist?" Emily asked with a staggered expression on her face.

Alex laughed. "If you can't beat them, join them," he said genially. "I'm not quite ready to show my private bits in public just yet, but living with Jamie has taught me to be more relaxed with nudity. I honestly can't wait to get out of my clothes after a long day at the university. Speaking of which, it's strange for you to be the only one in the room fully clothed."

Emily looked down at herself and then smiled, shaking her head. "I must be losing my touch," she said with a laugh. "Normally I'm starkers before the door even clicks shut."

Alex watched indifferently as Emily undid her buttons, but when finally she stood completely naked before him, his expression altered.

"Wow! You're not a little girl anymore, are you?" he said, without thinking.

Out of character, Emily blushed. She wasn't sure if her reaction was caused by Alex's comment or the fact that he had suddenly developed a noticeable stiffy.

"I'm sorry," Alex said genuinely, trying desperately and unsuccessfully to conceal his full erection.

"You should be," Jamie admonished. "That's my little sister you're gawking at." Jamie sounded irritated, but a smile gave away her true feelings. "He's right though, you're definitely no longer a little girl."

"Imagine what she'll look like in a few more years." The words had escaped from Alex's mouth before he could stop them.

"I'm sorry Emily; just for the moment I... I forgot," Alex pleaded.

"It's no problem," Emily said, shrugging her shoulders. "I don't want anyone brooding about me. I just wish I could forget."

"How are you feeling?" Jamie asked concernedly.

"That's the strangest part," Emily replied. "I feel great. If it weren't for Madam Pomfrey constantly poking and prodding me, I won't even know I was sick."

"Has she been able to pin point the date anymore precisely?" Jamie asked uncomfortably.

"No! I wish she could," Emily said with an unnatural laugh. "I certainly don't want to spend months preparing for my finals if I'll never even have to sit for them. I mean, what's the point of dying if you can't at least get out of exams?"

Emily was dying, but somehow she was able to joke about that. Neither Alex nor Jamie replied for some time; words simply eluded them. Finally after an awkward silence Jamie spoke.

"Alex and I were making wedding plans the other night and we'd like you to be my maid of honor," Jamie said meekly. >BR>
"But you guys aren't getting married until after Alex finishes University," Emily asserted. "I doubt that I'll be up to walking down any aisles by then, unless you fancy an inferi as your maid of honor."

Jamie cringed at the thought of her sister ever being a walking dead. "That's not exactly what I had in mind," Jamie said. "I want you in my wedding, so Alex and I have decided to move the date up to this May."

"Still kind of cutting it close, aren't you," Emily laughed weakly and then she hugged Jamie. "I'd love to be your maid of honor. I'll do my best to hold off dying until after the ceremony. Who else is in the wedding?"

"We're keeping it very small," Alex said. "Just family, a few close friends, not big at all. We're asking Hermione to be matron of honor and Caitlin and Amanda to be bride's maids."

"When are we going to pick out the dresses?" Emily asked excitedly. "Please, promise me that you won't make me wear something ugly and frilly with fifteen sets of stupid petty coats."

Jamie grinned. "I think you'll love what we are planning," she said breathlessly. "Alex and I have decided to have a naturist wedding."

"You mean we'll all be completely nude?" Emily questioned elatedly. "No stupid ugly dresses? That will certainly save a lot of money. But what about Amanda, is she going to be nude, too? And how about the guests?"

"Clothing will be optional for the guests," Jamie stated. "Most of our friends aren't naturists and it wouldn't be right for us to expect them to attend a wedding and reception naked. As for Amanda, I'll give her the option of being clothed if it will make her feel more at ease."

"What about the guys?" Emily asked. "Who will be escorting us?"

"That's a touch of a problem," Alex replied. "I don't have any living male relatives and I spent so much of my time at Hogwarts hanging about with Jamie and Amanda that I didn't make any really close male friends."

"We're planning to ask Harry to both give me away and also act as Hermione's partner in the ceremony," Jamie informed Emily. "Instead of having an unfamiliar person as a partner, would you like to ask Tyler to escort you?"

"That would be wonderful," Emily replied, teary eyed.

"We're going to offer Caitlin the option of asking Evan and I'm sure Amanda will be thrilled to have Roger as a partner," Jamie added. "Of course, the guys can wear clothes if they like."

"I'm not certain about Evan, but I'm sure Tyler will opt to be unclothed along side me," Emily said enthusiastically.

"He's the one, isn't he?" Jamie asked, smiling.

"There's no doubt in my mind that we would be life partners," Emily confirmed. "The hitch is that my life line has already just about reached its end. Actually, that's what I originally came to talk to you about."

"About you dying?" Jamie questioned, gently.

"Not so much me dying, but Tyler and I joining," Emily explained. "Did Mum tell you about the alarm triggering implant?"

Jamie nodded her head with edginess. "Madam Pomfrey must really be fond of you," she said. "If word got back to the Ministry about what she did, she'd lose her certification to practice medicine."

"That's shows how injudicious the Ministry is," Emily spouted strongly. "That would concern them, but meanwhile they continue to ignore the re-embodiment of Salazar Slytherin. Anyway, can you give me some direction so that Tyler and my first time together will be perfect?"

Jamie laughed. "First time and perfect don't usually coalesce," she said. "You and Tyler are acclimatized to seeing each other nude, so you won't have that uneasiness to contend with, but girls always have the drawback of their hymen. It's not excruciatingly painful when initially broken, but painful enough to detract from what should be a pleasant experience. I was fortunate not to have an intact hymen."

"Wait a second," Jamie said, coming to an exciting realization. "Alex can break your hymen for you now and then you won't have that obstacle to contend with."

Emily's eyes widen in shock as she just stared flabbergasted at her sister. Was Jamie suggesting what she thought she was?

Jamie took one look at her sister's thunderstruck expression and immediately worked out what erroneous conclusion Emily had mistakenly jumped to.

"Not like that, you prat," Jamie said, punching her sister good-naturedly on the shoulder. "You may be my sister and I might love you intensely, but there are some things even sisters don't share. In our case, Alex is one of them."

"But then how?" Emily questioned.

"The University requires Alex to take some general courses along with his law curriculum," Jamie explained. "The school refers to it as receiving a well rounded education. Alex considers it mostly a waste of time. Anyway, one of the courses he has this semester is Magical First Aid. Mostly it just consists of learning simple healing and bone repair charms, but he also learned how to magically and painlessly remove a girl's hymen. Would you like him to perform the procedure on you?"

Before Emily could respond, Alex flushed and tried desperately to get Jamie's attention without Emily noticing.

"What's the matter?" Jamie asked upon seeing Alex's nervous reluctance.

"Jamie, It's not just a matter of waving a wand and uttering an incantation," Alex advised her in panic. "The caster must first do a practical exam of the patient to insure that the hymen is without a doubt intact. Trying to remove a nonexistent hymen can cause irreversible damage." Alex looked extremely nervous. "I can't prod your sister with my fingers. It would be akin to cheating on you."

"No it wouldn't," Jamie laughed. "It's not like you're some pervert groping her for sexual pleasure; it's a medical procedure. Besides, I'm right here, watching. Emily, do you have a problem with Alex touching you down there?"

"Of course not," Emily answered quickly. "Alex, it's not a sacred shrine, it's just another body part. I have complete trust in you." Then she shyly added. "But I don't think it will be necessary."

"Why not?" Jamie asked suspiciously.

Emily looked guiltily at the floor. "Caitlin and I have done a little experimenting with each other," she answered sheepishly. "Neither of us any longer has an intact hymen."

"Oh!" Jamie said. She was caught off guard by this unexpected pronouncement, but was not totally surprised. She, however, did not press for any further explanation. Alex meanwhile was both relieved and shocked.

"What I was actually hoping was that maybe you could give me some pointers on how to please a guy ... you know orally." Emily blushed copiously.

Although seemingly impossible, Alex's face reddened even more than Emily's. "You know, I have some studying that I really must do," he said anxiously. "Why don't I just leave you ladies to discuss the wedding and suchlike?" Without waiting for a retort, Alex quickly exited the room.

"He didn't need to leave," Emily said, genuinely.

"Yes, he did," Jamie replied. "Alex is quite excellent at sex, but incredibly bashful when it comes to discussing it in mixed company; especially when he's already sporting a woody."

"He shouldn't be embarrassed," Emily declared. "He has a beautiful penis, especially when it's hard. If I had my way, guys would have everlasting erections."

Jamie just smiled, as she shook her head in disbelief. "I have never met anyone as obsessed with the male genitalia as you." She seized two large bananas from the counter. "Some girls find this act gross and demeaning, but I have a feeling that you are going to be quite keen on it." Jamie laughed. "I'd even be willing to bet that you swallow right off the bat."

* * * * * *

Supposedly every hour is composed of sixty equal minutes and every day of exactly twenty-four hours. Why then is it that time seems to move at different rates of speed for different individuals? For example, the month of December seemed to creep by for most of the students at Hogwarts as they impatiently awaited the winter break and the festive Yule Ball. For Harry and Hermione, on the other hand, the month literally flew by. Not only did they have their usual daily lessons to conduct, but also the Headmaster had once again solicited their aid in arranging the many particulars of the Yule Ball. As if this wasn't enough, four evenings a week were spent helping Caitlin administer treatments to Claudia and on the off evenings they helped prep Luna for her up coming debate with the Minister of Magic.

"Luna, you have to keep focused," Hermione beseeched. "You're every bit as bright as Percy Weasley." She hesitated. "No, you're more clever. You simply have the dreadful habit of drifting off subject and that's ghastly during a debate."

"But they said this wasn't going to be a real debate," Luna replied dreamily.

"What do you mean, not real?" Harry questioned concernedly. "You told Hermione and me that you would be debating political issues with Percy."

"Originally that was the plan," Luna granted, "but the Minister's representatives thought that would be too stiff and impersonal. Now we're just going to sit in front of a fireplace and chat about anything that comes to mind."

"Anything, that comes to mind?" Hermione shouted, aghast. "There won't be any set parameters? That's dreadful."

"No it's not," Luna replied, distractedly.

"Yes it is," Harry snapped impatiently. "Luna, don't you see what they're playing at? Percy will undoubtedly try to draw you off the subject of his administration's inane policies and instead get you discussing something farcical like... Crumple-Horned Snorkacks, for instance."

"Do you really think so?" Luna questioned, anticipation evident in her voice. "Maybe I can persuade him into having the ministry help fund my next expedition."

"If the subject is broached, it won't be in a positive way," Hermione stressed, sighing deeply. "Most people aren't like you, Luna; they're narrow, close-minded. I think the actual purpose of this so-called debate is to discredit you; make you out to be some sort of wacko whose opinions should be totally disregarded."

Luna's eyes moistened at these words. "I guess I'll always be Loony Lovegood to the magical world."

"The hell with the magical world," Harry said, moving to comfort the obviously distraught girl. "It's their loss for never getting to know and appreciated the true Luna."

Without hesitation, Harry swept Luna into his arms and hugged her tightly. "We know and love the real Luna. Don't you ever dare change even an iota." As he broke the embrace, Harry kissed Luna; not on the cheek, but on the lips. It was a brief, chaste kiss, but it was unquestionably given with true affection.

"Can you girls plow along without me for a few minutes?" Harry asked turning toward a somewhat stunned Hermione. "Severus asked me to stop by his office this evening. He said that it wouldn't take too long."

Hermione nodded, but Luna just stared abstractedly at Harry. Neither girl spoke until Harry kissed Hermione good-bye and then closed the door behind him.

Luna turned toward Hermione, a mystical expression on her face. "Harry kissed me; your husband kissed me," Luna said languorously.

"I know," Hermione replied. She wasn't upset, but still was rather taken aback by the event.

"He kissed me on the lips. No one has ever kissed me on the lips before," Luna stated, a faraway expression on her face.

"No one?! Not ever?!" Hermione rejoined, skeptically. "Surely a boyfriend or acquaintance must have kissed you."

"I've never had a boyfriend," Luna replied glumly. "Actually, I've only ever been on one date. That was when I was a sixth year student at Hogwarts and that wasn't really a date; we only attended a party together as friends, just friends."

"Are you referring to Slughorn's Christmas party?" Hermione questioned, aghast. "You're a beautiful young woman, Luna. Surely men must be attracted to you."

"If they are, the lure quickly ends when they learn that I'm Loony Lovegood the daughter of Xenophilius Lovegood. I'm afraid that Daddy and I have rather dubious reputations."

"And none of these dense blokes are willing to invest the time to get to know the true Luna?" Hermione asked, disgusted.

"Only if I guarantee them a shag or a predate blowjob," Luna responded sarcastically. "I don't think I'd have a problem giving a blowjob, but don't you think it should come as a result of the date, not in order to acquire it."

Hermione nodded mechanically.

Luna forced a slight smile. "I've accepted that I'll never be married, but I'm somewhat disappointed that I'll never have the opportunity to bear a child. I'm the last of the Lovegoods, you know."

"You're young," Hermione said, encouragingly. "Maybe the right guy will still come along. You shouldn't be so cynical."

"I'm neither pessimistic nor optimistic," Luna replied. "Based on my track record, I'm simply being realistic."

"If you in fact want to become pregnant now, you could always use artificial means with donated sperm," Hermione suggested. "It's become quite common in the Muggle world."

"I've looked into it," Luna said, dejectedly. "It's just that I'd rather not have the father of my child just be a nameless, faceless sperm donor. My child may never know his or her father, but I'd like it to be someone that I know and respect."

Hermione paused and then halfheartedly asked, "It sounds like you thought about this rather a lot. Did you have someone special in mind as the donor?"

"There were three possibilities at one point in time," Luna answered sadly, "but they're all happily married now."

"Neville, Ron and Harry," Hermione replied, knowing without a doubt that she was correct.

Luna now had tears in her eyes. "They all treated me like a true friend, a person, not an eccentric oddity. I always knew that Harry would end up with you, but I had hoped that maybe Ronald or Neville would someday consider me as more than a friend, but that never happened."

"Just because they're married doesn't mean that they still don't care for you or consider you a good friend," Hermione insisted. "I'd have no problem with Harry donating sperm to impregnate you and I'm sure he'd be happy to do it."

Luna laughed. "Actually, I think you'd have a very serious problem with it," Luna said. "I don't want to get pregnant artificially. I want to actually experience the act of creating my child. I want to feel the life giving sperm being shot into my body. Even if it's all a sham, I want to feel loved."

Hermione just stared speechlessly at Luna; words momentarily evading her. She loved Luna and at this moment she felt desperately sad that she was unable to help her good friend.

"We better get back to practicing if you're going to beat the pants off Minister Weasley," Hermione finally suggested.

"I'd like to win," Luna said in her normal wistful fashion, "but if it's all the same, I'd rather the Minister keep his pants on."

* * * * *

"A Knut for your thoughts?" Harry said, as he lazily held Hermione in his arms. They had just finished making love and now Hermione was snuggled beside Harry until one of them drifted off to sleep.

"I was just thinking about Luna," Hermione answered desolately.

"Worried about her up coming so-called debate with Precious Percy?"

"That and other things," Hermione replied. "Did you know that Luna was thinking about having a baby?"

"She is!" Harry replied, staggered. "I didn't even know she was seriously dating anyone."

"That's the problem; she isn't," Hermione countered.

"If I recall correctly it usually takes two people to conceive a baby," Harry said, jokingly. "Or is Luna considering developing a new species by mating with a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"

"Don't Harry," Hermione said, sitting bolt upright, a bothered expression on her face. "This isn't a joking matter. Luna is very unhappy. As her friend, you should want to help her; not make jokes at her expense."

"I'm sorry," Harry said, "but aren't you blowing the whole situation slightly out of proportion? Luna is a young, attractive woman; she doesn't need to be in a hurry to get pregnant. I'm sure that in due course she'll find a guy that she wants to settle down with and start a family."

"I'm not so sure of that," Hermione replied. "Most guys seem to consider Luna rather eccentric and have a tendency to shy away from her. She hasn't had a date since her sixth year at Hogwarts."

"I don't recall Luna dating anyone at Hogwarts," Harry said, thinking back to their school years. Then suddenly it dawned on him.

"Slughorn's Christmas party!" he shouted. "You can't be serious. No one has dated Luna since I asked her to go with me to that silly party? That's impossible! Luna is a beautiful person, both inside and out."

"I agree," Hermione concurred, "but unfortunately it seems that no one is willing to take the time to get to know how wonderful a person she truly is. That platonic kiss you gave her earlier this evening was the first time that she had ever been kissed on the lips."

Harry just shook his head, finding the whole situation unbelievable.

"Harry, do you remember the painting on Luna's bedroom ceiling?"

Luna had decorated her bedroom ceiling with five beautifully painted faces: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville. They were not moving as the portraits at Hogwarts moved, but there was certain magic about them all the same: Harry thought they breathed. What appeared to be fine golden chains wove around the pictures, linking them together, but after examining them for a minute or so, Harry realized that the chains were actually one word, repeated a thousand times in golden ink; friends... friends... friends...

Harry felt a great rush of affection for Luna.

"What can we do to help her?" Harry asked, genuinely. "I'm not very good at playing matchmaker. Besides, we haven't many close friends that aren't already emotionally involved."

"I'm not the matchmaker type either," Hermione admitted. "I've been struggling with what we can do to help her and could only come up with one proposal. Luna desperately wants a baby so that the Lovegood name doesn't die. Harry, please, I want you to give her that baby."

Harry was momentarily bowled over by this pronouncement. When he regained his equanimity he asked, "Do you mean that you want me to donate sperm so that Luna can be artificially inseminated?"

"No," Hermione proclaimed emphatically. "Luna doesn't want to be artificially inseminated."

"But then how...? You can't possibly want me to actually have sex with Luna?"

"Not sex, Harry," Hermione asserted. "Luna is extraordinary and deserves more than a prerequisite wham bang. I want you to make love to her like you do to me. I want her to experience multiple orgasms; I want the conception of her child to be an evening she will remember warmly for her entire life."

"You're asking me to cheat on you with one of our best friends?" Harry asked, dumbfounded.

"It's not cheating, Harry. You're not sneaking off and screwing my best friend behind my back. I'm giving my blessing. I'm actually imploring you to do it. Luna has become like a sister to me; I've learned to love her little quirks. I can't bear to see her so miserable and depressed. If there were anyway I could do it myself without your help, I would, but obviously I don't have the proper equipment."

"What about afterwards? How will this affect our marriage and our relationship with Luna?"

"Friendship and love can conquer all adversities," Hermione asserted. "We'll be fine."

"You haven't said anything about any of this to Luna yet, have you?" Harry asked, concernedly.

"No, I wanted to talk to you first."

"I think this is something we should sleep on and not rush into," Harry recommended. "The holidays are ahead of us, Caitlin's trip to visit her father, the Yule Ball and then the debate. Can we at least wait until after the debate to make a final decision?"

"That's fine." Hermione agreed. "But you are seriously considering my request?"

"I'm seriously considering your request," Harry replied reluctantly.

"Good," Hermione said, sounding pleased. "I'll start researching Luna's cycle. As much as I want you to do this, I'd rather it not involve countless sessions."

Harry blanched; he hadn't even considered the possibility that it might take multiple times to impregnate Luna.

* * * * * *

Hermione and Harry had hoped to spend a quiet Christmas with the girls before Caitlin's departure on Boxing Day, but those plans were promptly changed when Ron, in a panic, pounded on their door early Christmas morning announcing that Sam's water had broken. Later that afternoon Noelle Louise Weasley made her debut weighing seven pounds, three ounces and to everyone's surprise, not sporting a hint of freckles or red hair; she was most definitely her mother in miniature. For that reason, Boxing Day found the Potter's quarters crowded, with everyone scurrying about in panic mode issuing last minute instructions to Caitlin, who alone seemed unruffled.

"Yes, Dad, I have my wand," Caitlin said patting the invisible sheath attached to her upper thigh. "I don't understand why you're so concerned with me taking it along. I'm going on vacation in Walt Disney World with my Dad, not out to fight some evil dark wizard. Besides, I'm not allowed to use magic outside of school anyway, so I don't see the need for carrying my wand."

"A witch never goes anywhere without her wand," Hermione insisted. "I only take mine off to shower."

"She's serious," Harry chuckled. "She even wears her wand when we have sex."

"You must always be prepared," Hermione said, blushing slightly. She looked toward Harry. "Remember what Moody always told us, Constant Vigilance."

"Your Mum's right," Harry agreed. "And there are exceptions to the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. Clause seven of the Decree states that magic may be used before Muggles in exceptional circumstances, and especially if the exceptional circumstances include situations that threaten the life of the wizard or witch himself, or witches, wizards, or Muggles present at the time of the ---"

"I doubt I'll find myself in a life threatening situation at Disney World," Caitlin joked, "but I promise to always wear my wand."

Harry smiled and then looked at his watch. "Your Portkey will activate in ten minutes. You better start saying your good-byes."

"Have a good time, Sis," Emily said, embracing Caitlin in a tight hug and kissing her cheek. "I wish I could be going with you. You're going to have a fabulous time."

"I wish you could go, too," Caitlin said, "but it's important that I go on my own so that I can truly get to know my birth Dad."

Emily nodded her agreement.

"You promise that you'll be back in time for the Yule Ball?" Claudia asked concernedly. "I can't go through with it without your support."

"I'll be back in time," Caitlin promised. "You're my best friend; I'd never let you down." She hugged Claudia closely.

"I'm going to miss you," Evan said, looking unhappily at Caitlin. Timidly he approached her and gave her a light peck on the cheek.

Caitlin pulled Evan into her arms. "I'm going to miss you loads more than that," she said kissing him long and deep. Evan was stunned and looked nervously in the direction of Harry and Hermione who both simply smiled.

Hermione hugged her daughter. "You take care of yourself and don't give your Dad any problems."

"I won't," Caitlin promised.

"Do you have your trunk?" Hermione inquired.

Caitlin nodded, indicating a trunk shaped charm attached to her ankle bracelet.

"Just rub it lightly when you want it to expand to full size," Hermione reminded her. "I have it charmed so that you won't need to use magic. Leave it open until you're ready to leave. It will shrink for the return trip when you close the lid."

"Thanks Mum," Caitlin said, embracing Hermione. "I love you."

Hermione had tears in her eyes. She had been dreading this day since the moment she had agreed to let Caitlin visit her birth dad.

Harry checked his watch again nervously. "You have two minutes left, Honey," he said. "Time to get that Portkey." Harry reached for a teaspoon lying on the counter.

"Keep this in a safe place," he warned, handing the spoon to Emily. "It is your ticket home."

"I'll be careful with it," Caitlin promised and then without preamble, she flung her arms around Harry's neck. "I love you Dad. No matter what happens on this trip I'll always think of you as my number one Dad."

Harry held Caitlin in his arms, her feet dangling in midair.

"Harry, you better put her down unless you want to go to Orlando, too," Hermione cautioned.

Reluctantly Harry let Caitlin slip from his arms and then stepped away from her.

"Fifteen seconds; have a good time sweetheart."

Caitlin stood, nervously waiting for the Portkey to activate.

Evan tapped Emily on the shoulder. "Why is it necessary to Portkey nude?"

"Oh my god!" Emily screamed, lunging for the couch and Caitlin's dress.

"Caitlin, catch!" she yelled.

Just as the garment reached her outstretched fingers, Caitlin disappeared.

Hermione shook her head, a panicky expression on her face. "I can't believe we did that," she said aghast. "We just Portkeyed our daughter to the Orlando airport totally starkers."

Evan looked at Claudia. "I take it that it's not necessary to Portkey nude?" Evan said understatedly.

"I guess not," Claudia answered. "I've never done it myself and I just assumed ..."

Harry just stood there shaking his head. Finally he said, "Have we gotten that habituated to nudity that we take it so for granted. I hope at least the dress arrives with her."

"It's not here," Claudia said questioningly. "Doesn't that mean it went with her?"

"It left the castle with her," Harry explained, "but we have no idea of how good a grip she got on it. Portkey travel can be very turbulent. If she loses her hold on it, the dress could end up somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Either way, she will initially be naked when she arrives in Orlando."

"Goodness!" declared Claudia. "Caitlin will be so embarrassed."

"No she won't be," replied Evan. "Caitlin prefers being nude."

"This isn't a case of what she prefers," Hermione retorted. "It's a matter of her safety. It's dangerous enough for her to be alone at the airport until she meets her father. I don't want to even think about what could happen to her naked in a crowded airport terminal."

"I doubt the Portkey will transport her to a crowded area," Harry said, trying to reassure Hermione. "It will probably terminate in a secluded area, maybe a bathroom."

"Well if it were me," Emily proclaimed, "I'd rather be deposited nude in the center of a hectic crowd of travelers than on the lap of an old biddy about to take a dump."


End of Chapter Ten


My thanks go out to my betas for this chapter: Gordon, Don, Mae Silverpaws, Jewels, WWD and Sravya.

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