11. Combat training and shooting stars
Harry Potter lay half awake in his bed. His girlfriend since a few days - and friend since more than five years - Hermione Granger lay curled up in a ball at his side. She had her back turned towards him. His head was full of thoughts. He had been dreaming, but the details were evading him. It had been something about preparing for a big event. That made sense: It was New Year's Eve tomorrow and they were going to have a party at Grimmauld Place. But Harry had the feeling that the preparations he had been dreaming about were of a different nature. Could it be the preparations of Lord Voldemort he had been dreaming of? He had not given much thought to his old enemy the last few days. Was it because of his exercises of Occlumency or simply because he had been occupied by his new relation with Hermione?
Harry tried to sense the activity of Lord Voldemort. - Yes, he could still feel the hubbub of plans and evilness if he tried, but it somehow didn't float to the top of his mind as before. Now that he thought about it, Harry understood that earlier, much of his energy actually had been dissipated into thoughts of Voldemort and the feelings he caught up from him.
A slight movement in the bed beside him told him that Hermione was awakening. She backed up against Harry. He responded by turning in her direction and sneaking his right arm around her, pressing her against himself. He was awarded by a contended sigh. He turned further, pressing his mouth between her shoulder blades, feeling her skin against his lips.
Hermione gave a yawn and straightened herself with her arms above her head reaching out for her full length, like a dog rising from a sleep. The movement brought Harry's mouth in tempting proximity to her right breast. He didn't hesitate. His mouth sucked in her nipple, his free hand caressing her body before ending up cupping her other breast.
"Oh Harry, that feels good!" Hermione's hands found their way into Harry's hair, holding him to her. "Harry; why are boys so interested in girl's breasts?"
"You don't seem to mind."
"No, not when you are the one that is interested, but generally, why?"
"A simple answer would be because they don't have any themselves. But I think it's more than that. I feel something deep in my chest when I see or feel your breasts. Maybe they represent motherhood - Comfort, Compassion, and Contentment. That's some of he things I experience from you - and that I need."
"So when I admire your muscular chest and arms, I actually feel Strength, Safety and Security, and - admiring your dick actually means Family, Unity, Coitus and Kids."
"Well …"
"We should write a beginners book on Psychology together." Hermione giggled. "But there will be no Coitus this morning. There is a Chinese in the way." Hermione sat up in the bed, prepared to get out.
"Chinese …?" Harry was thinking as he moved out of bed.
"Tam Pon, silly. And it's time for breakfast." Hermione left the room, followed by Harry's loving eyes. Living with Hermione would never be dull.
---
Harry was waiting for Hermione in the common room some ten minutes later. He had time to think further. So Voldemort was preparing. For once, Harry was not very afraid. This time he and the entire order would be prepared. He felt confident that providing that their own preparations could continue to be undetected, the Death Eaters would be the ones taken by surprise.
When Hermione came down the stairs, she was greeted by a kiss and a hug. "You look lovely - and you are good at words."
"So you detected my little pun," she answered with twinkling eyes.
"You made a slight pause that warned me."
They made their way through empty corridors with their huge windows. "It looks like a beautiful morning after all that wind and snow of yesterday. Maybe we can go for a walk after lunch?"
"Yes," Harry answered. "Tonks said they had to go back after lunch. I wonder what combat training will be like; I mean REAL combat training."
"There was nothing wrong with the training we had with DA."
"Well it worked, sort of. But now we will use these new wands. Did you bring your?"
Harry had nearly forgotten and had fastened his holster as the last item. Hermione nodded, she hadn't forgotten either. They found they were among the first for breakfast, this morning, and continued discussing what spells they remembered from last year and what a new wand could possibly add to those.
"I see Tonks and Remus sitting at the teacher's table," Hermione cut in. "I didn't see them enter." When Harry turned, he was greeted with a wave from Tonks and something between a wave and a more formal greeting from Remus. He obviously just thought he should behave like a teacher. He received friendly greetings by some of the elder students. Professor Lupin had been a popular DADA teacher.
Some minutes later Tonks came down to Harry and Hermione asking if they were prepared for their first combat exercise. They rose immediately from their table and followed her downstairs to a section of the building they had never visited before. I.e. they hadn't found a door that opened for them, and even Harry's map didn't show any details. A big iron door barred a short corridor. There was a small opening where Tonks placed her hand, palm downward. With a loud 'clonk', the door began slowly to swing open on its great hinges, allowing them to continue.
"In the future, we will meet in front of this door. Professor Dumbledore told me there should always be an experienced auror present during exercises. I, or Remus, will tell you the things you may practise on your own." Tonks gave some background information as she started the illumination of the exercise gallery with a few spells. "Some other students will be allowed later on, and we will use some powerful spells then as well." She then turned to face Harry and Hermione. The large gallery they had entered had absorbed their main attention.
"We will look over the gallery in an instant. However, I must emphasize that this training is to be a secret. You should always bear in mind that the less any future opponent knows about your abilities and your training, the better. And specifically, everything about combat wands and the spells that control them are classified secrets and will not be taught to the other students. Not very many wizards or witches know they exist, and their true benefits in combat are known only by very few. I don't think any Death Eaters know these things you will learn today and in the following weeks. They are generally very conservative, as you know."
Harry and Hermione nodded their understanding. Tonks started walking down the gallery. There were no windows in the walls but something like windows down the centre line of the gallery.
"This is the main feature of this gallery. These large glass panes act as see-through mirrors. They are angled so that each pane reflects a part of the power of a spell into the partitions along the walls. As you see, the partitions are built with coarse stonewalls that absorb much of the power. In this way, we can practise to cast very powerful spells at our sparring partners. We can see them through the mirrors but they remain unharmed. We can even practise the 'Avada Kedavra' but then we use e.g. a pig as object."
Hermione reached out for Harry's hand when Tonks named the killing curse and the pig. "Don't you feel anything?" Harry asked.
"Well, we will practise with 'Jelly Legs' today. Actually, it is a quite effective spell in combat," Tonks added when she saw the reaction when she mentioned this child room spell. "You will feel a tickle in your legs, but nothing more. Likewise, 'Stupefy' will feel like a mild slap in your face. That is as it should be. You should know you have been hit for training to be effective."
"Have you felt the Avada Kedavra?" Hermione asked.
"No, to be safe, we use pigs as I said. They usually give a grunt, nothing more. - This is where the sparring partner will stand." Tonks explained. "As you maybe noticed, the central pane actually is formed as a lens, so the distance doesn't feel as far as it is; you can look at Remus who now stands were we started from. He doesn't seem to be more than a few yards away, does he?"
They rejoined their old DADA teacher.
"Now, first of all, I intend to call you Harry and Hermione, and you call me Remus, and we regard each other as colleagues. We may have to be more formal when other students are around. Harry, you may also regard me as best friend of your father and godfather; also I feel a tremendous loss. You are very like James; to me it will be an honour to teach his son some of the things he might have taught you, had he been allowed to live. If you need, you can regard me as your second godfather."
Both Harry and Hermione noticed that Tonks gave Remus' arm a squeeze. Obviously this had been something he had wanted to say for some time. Tonks however continued business like.
"Please take out your new wands. They function as any ordinary wand, although they may add to your magical powers differently from your normal one. Its main advantage though is its size - you can conceal it in your other hand. That is, in combat you use two wands."
"In order to utilize its full potential, you have to learn a new type of spells. Spells, which allow you to outdo your opponent in combat." Remus added.
"Why do you need a special permit if it works as a normal wand without those new spells?" Hermione asked.
"It is due to its size. In ordinary wizardry, you should always be able to see the wand of the one throwing a spell. It's mainly being polite. With this wand you can do things that is very difficult to foresee, that's why the use of these wands is restricted. - Watch me."
Tonks directed her wand towards the opposite wall. Then a number of letters appeared in rapid succession on the wall. T-O-N-K-S. She didn't utter a single word and her wand was steadily pointing at the wall. Only her left hand made some small movements. She turned to Harry and Hermione who was staring at the wall, realising this was something they hadn't seen before. Tonks opened her left hand, revealing a short golden wand.
"This is my combat wand. Now I used it to cast harmless spells creating letters on the wall. In another situation, I could have cast a series of deadly spells at a rate impossible with an ordinary wand. You understand the advantage?"
"Like a machine gun," Harry noted.
"What is a machine gun?" Tonks replied.
"Sort of muggle device." Harry cast a meaningful eye on Hermione.
Tonks didn't comment. Remus then took out a small book and began to show pages in the book, holding it in front of himself.
"This is what we might call the instruction book for these wands. It describes how to use them in the manner we teach. Read and learn. The first pages show the position of all combat spells we'll use together with the letter codes we use for training. Then there are pages showing useful combat sequences, like different stances in sword fencing. The last pages show the spells that configure the wand, and most importantly, how you activate and deactivate it. Read, do your exercises, but NEVER activate it unless accompanied by either of us, and DON'T try to configure the wand on your own - Promise?"
"Promise - and thanks Remus for the words earlier." Harry held out his hand.
"Promise." Hermione also shook hand with him.
"Hermione, I heard of the hex you put on that sneak Marietta who gave you away last year. Protect this book as best as you can." Tonks said. She continued:
"Now we will try two spells; 'Jelly Legs' and 'Stupefy'. Remus and I will configure your wands with those two, together with the 'Amplifying Shield Charm' that we will use later."
Tonks and Remus did some spells to Harry's and Hermione's wands. "You will undoubtedly read about these spells on your own - right? - Now you two will duel. I will instruct you, Hermione and Remus will instruct you, Harry. You will find it is difficult to keep an accurate aim if you are hit by these two spells, even if they are significantly attenuated. So you will know who is winning. You fire when this bell strikes and you use the spell I or Remus whisper to you. You will find this is kind of fun."
Remus and Tonks took their respective adept to stand in their proper places, and instructed either of them how to cast the spells; their ordinary wand in their outstretched right hand, and how to move the combat wand remaining concealed in their left hand.
Tonks started the bell. At its first strike Tonks whispered 'Jelly Legs' to Hermione and Remus whispered 'Stupefy'. Harry was hit before his spell left his wand, so his spell went wide and hit the ceiling. The same thing happened at each beat of the bell, Hermione had learnt at her first try and was very fast. Soon, Harry's temper allowed him to ignore the tickling in his legs or the slap in his face, and he begun to hit back at her. That made her aim less accurate and at the same time his speed improved so the fight turned more even.
"Time for a break." Tonks declared. "What do you think?"
"I knew Hermione would learn fast, but I think I got even in the end."
"Harry, you are powerful, and I have to tell you that your hits really registered."
"Ok, we might add another mirror to deflect more of his power. You have to tell if its starts to be really painful." Remus turned to move another mirror in position.
"Now, we will add a third spell to our arsenal. In school, you are taught the ordinary shield charm. As you know, it deflects a spell at random angles. Therefore it is dangerous in a fight because the reflected spells may hit someone on your own side. In combat situations, the 'Amplifying Shield Charm' is better. It not only reflects the spell to its origin, it also adds some of your own power to the spell. In combat, it is a very useful spell, but in ordinary life, it's far too dangerous. That's why it is not taught at school."
"Now, we add these two new components: Remus and I might also whisper 'Shield' to you, you also will be ready to move after casting your own spell. That is, you aim, cast your spell and move away before you are hit."
In this situation, Harry's reflexes from Quidditch proved valuable. Hermione was hit now and then, but Harry evaded most of her spells. She was saved by the time that had been moving fast. It was close to lunch.
Harry and Hermione both expressed their enthusiasm for this new experience and asked for when the next training would be.
"Tomorrow, we meet in London and the day after tomorrow we will probably be rather tired, so let's plan for the day after that. You can do a lot of reading and mental preparation, if you have time to spare." Remus bade farewell and they left the training gallery with Tonks closing the big iron door after them.
---
After lunch, Harry and Hermione decided to take the walk they had planned in the morning. First, they had to change into outdoor robes. When they went out through the big doors of Hogwarts, they were greeted by a blinding white snowscape beneath a blue sky. A fresh cold air, making their breath show white through their mouths, replaced the biting wind of the day before. Hand in hand they walked briskly out through the big gates onto the country road.
"Why don't we take the road away from Hogsmeade for a change," Hermione asked.
"Yes, why not. Actually, I can't remember going in that direction before."
"I have. After a mile or so, the road will pass close to a farmhouse, probably belonging to the man with the sleigh. After that, it will go slightly uphill for a while and then down into the valley further on. I never went that far, though."
"Let's go and fetch a glimpse of that valley," Harry suggested.
After walking a few minutes in silence, Hermione let go of Harry's hand and let her arm go round Harry's waist. He responded by putting his arm around her shoulders. That had obviously been her intention; because she let out I tiny sigh and snuggled closer. After adjusting their steps, they managed to walk efficiently, in spite of their limited individual freedom of motion.
"Harry, I thought for a long time that falling in love with one's friend was a silly thing to do. I don't really know why. Maybe it sounded unimaginative. On the other hand, love itself scared me. I have read novels, and seen TV-dramas during summertime, where people fall in love without really knowing each other, like some sort of illness they just can't avoid."
"I know the sort," Harry interjected. "Of TV-films, I mean."
"Yes - and then what happens? All sorts of misfortunes. One of them, usually the girl, tries to put up a brave face while their world collapses; he drinks or loses his money on horses, they cheat on one another, or their time goes to their work, they have kids they don't give enough time, etc, etc. - And why. Because they fall in love with someone they don't know and this they find too late; they start on things they haven't planned, or behave generally foolish."
"Uhm."
"What I mean is; I'm really having the great fortune, that when I finally realise I love somebody, it is my best friend, whom I know since several years, who I can depend on and who I am comfortable with."
"Yes, you're right I think, but important is also that you must live up to promises you give. You must not just walk out on somebody just to pursue your own happiness."
After a few minutes walk, Hermione took up the thread again.
"You know, I would be happy to live a life for some years after Hogwarts studying and researching. That apartment you mentioned would be great. - Of course we also should have time to meet friends and so. But what would you like, Harry?"
"That would be fine with me as well."
"Listen, I know you would like to train to be an auror. That will include a lot of study, not only practical training, like this morning, or physical training, but also real book study. I know you can handle that. But your social life Harry; would you be content to live with a bookworm like me?"
"Mione, I … "
"Listen, Harry. You know you could have a quite different life. You are famous and rich. You could be the centre of parties; you could have all the girls you could handle. Why live with me?"
"Mione, you know me, that wouldn't be my style. Actually, I have given that option some thought. It might be fun for some time, but I know that in the end I would like to be steady with someone. Living that life; I would never know who is sincere or who wants 'The Harry Potter'. I know you Hermione, and if you say you love me, I know it's me and not my name you love."
"Yes, Harry, that's the way it is. - And you are the Harry I knew you were."
After a few moments, Harry continued: "This may sound silly, but I think I'm growing up. You know, we boys make a lot of jokes about girls, their boobs, what you can do to them in bed and that they tend to be edgy from time to time. The real reason behind those jokes is that we feel slightly embarrassed. Knowing what I know now, I don't think I will laugh in the same way."
"Don't worry. There will be other jokes," Hermione answered dryly. "You can see if you go to a book store. Books with sex stories can fill shelves."
"I didn't mean it that way. I mean I've got a different view. I can't laugh at something that might relate to us."
"Yes Harry, I've meant to tell you. We've done some sex things together and I think we will try out some more and I've enjoyed every bit so far, but I would hate meeting any boy with a grin on his face and having to suspect you have been bragging about what you have done to me. I will never tell even Ginny any details, you know, and she's my closest girl friend. Those things are too personal I think."
"Don't worry!"
They exchanged a reassuring hug while continuing along the road. They were now passing the farmhouse Hermione had mentioned. The road curved slightly right continuing uphill. They were both silent in their own thoughts. Harry was the first to talk again.
"I'm thinking on the first time we met - on the train. That little girl has changed into a rather tall slender young woman with my arm around her. Who could have thought that?"
"Some years have passed - and we have changed, growing up together. Some of our differences have been reduced. Some we have learnt to live with."
"Yes, I know e.g. that your interest for books, actually is a genuine craving for knowledge, not just to be able to show off. And when you nag me and Ron about our homework, it's because you are the planning type, and it usually pays off."
"And when you have tempted me to break every possible rule, it has never been to get ourselves benefits before others. - Why are you thinking about that?"
"Well, what are the odds that you are going to live together with the first girl you meet, going to a new school? It's rather improbable, isn't it?"
"That logic is wrong, Harry! The answer is that there has always been something between us two, some deeper understanding. That's why you remember me. The fact is that there must have been a great number of girls on the platform and on that train but you don't remember them. I remember sitting in another compartment with Neville and his toad, but I'm not sure I remember who the others were."
"You remember Ron, don't you?"
"Yes Harry. Before you ask; Ron IS special, I do love him, but there is something in him I can't stand, and I know you also feel it. He's great in many respects so I can put up with him mostly, but I could never have him too close."
"I know, Hermione. He's always been the little brother at home. That's gotten him an inferiority complex. He needs someone that admires him."
"Yes Harry, you are right, but let's remember that he's a really good friend and a good listener if you go to him with your problems. He's been a good support to me at times, and I won't let him down."
"You have talked to him about your problems? - About me?"
"Yes."
"I was rather egotistic last year, was I?"
"A bit, to say the least."
"Oh - Sorry, Mione. My only defence is that I had a hellish time myself. Forgive me!"
"I already have - You've noticed that, haven't you?"
Hermione stopped and looked at Harry. He took her in his arms and held her tightly for a minute. "Things can't be made undone. Let's hope we gain some wisdom at least."
---
Looking up, they found they had passed the top of the small hill and were looking down into the valley beyond. The view was breath-taking. The air was clear and the sun was blazing down at the white snowfields. Because of the slope, the road made a bend further along and came back below them on its way down into the valley. A man with a sleigh and horse caught Hermione's attention.
"Look. That must be our farmer from our shopping trip. He seems to have some problems with his horse."
"Yeah. It seems the horse is lying down, deep in the snow. Let's see if we can help."
After some minutes of running along the road, they reached the farmer. He had made no progress since their first sight of him. The horse partly lay on its side deep in the snow at the side of the road. The sleigh was heavily laden with bales of straw. One of the shafts of the sleigh was broken. The horse was now and then struggling to get up, but was hindered by still being fastened through the harness to the heavy sleigh.
"My wife could fix this in no time, but I must confess I myself am a squib," the farmer said. "I won't leave the horse in the snow either."
"Let's see what we can do. Harry you pull back the sleigh when I have opened the harness."
Hermione was quick in taking command. She took out her wand and opened the fastenings of the harness. She then bent down near the head of the animal, spoke some words and touched it with her wand. The big horse then relaxed and lay down with closed eyes in the snow.
Harry threw a levitation spell on the sleigh, reducing its weight. He then motioned the farmer to help pushing the sleigh some yards down the road.
"Now for the tricky bit," Hermione began. "Harry, do you know if we can put a levitation spell on the horse?"
"I did on Major Shout yesterday."
"I will try to get a grip on the halter; then you reduce the weight, and we will see if we can get the horse up on its legs." Hermione took a wary step out into the deep snow. She sank down to her waist, forcing her robes up under her arms.
"Why, its cold. These are not clothes for this kind of work," she complained.
"Oh, you are so kind helping me. Sorry you are inconvenienced." The farmer said miserably.
"Oh, she can stand some wet clothes. No problem," Harry said for comfort.
Harry reached out his left hand to Hermione, wand at ready in his right hand. She directed her attention to the horse; then took a firm hold of the halter with her free hand and spoke kindly.
"Hup. Come here nicely. Steady." Harry pulled on Hermione's arm while trying to levitate the horse with his wand.
What made the greatest contribution to the result is uncertain; Harry's strength of arm, his levitation charm, Hermione's words to the beast or the horse's own effort. In a minute, the horse stood on the road on shaking legs, the broken shaft hanging on one side. Hermione kept her grip on the halter, talking to the horse.
"Harry, please remove some of the snow from beneath my robes. I must keep my attention on the horse."
Harry knelt on the ground and did what she asked him. He shook her clothes, releasing large amounts of snow.
"Higher up, around my waist," she said.
Harry tried to comply by putting his head under her robe and reaching up around her. He succeeded in releasing another amount of snow, to the loud joy of the farmer. Now, when he saw an end to his plight, his spirits had improved, and he guffawed heartily at Harry's endeavours beneath Hermione's robes.
Hermione started to examine the horse for injuries and found obvious signs of pain in the near hind leg. She cast a spell to relieve the ailment. In the meantime, Harry had been able to repair the shaft with a 'reparo' spell. All was now ready for the remaining route home. The horse, however refused to let the farmer fasten the shafts to the harness again. Not until Hermione took a grip on the halter, did the horse let him continue with the fastenings.
Thus, the equipage started its return to the farmer's house with Hermione walking with the horse, and Harry and the farmer sitting on the loaded sleigh. When they got to the farm, the horse was immediately uncoupled from the sleigh, which was left outside, and the horse was led into its stable where the farmer took off its harness. The horse was repeatedly pushing Hermione on her ear with its muzzle, like thanking for the help.
Harry and Hermione were invited inside to meet the farmer's wife. She welcomed them warmly and asked them to sit down to enjoy a cup of tea. After removing their outdoor robes, Hermione was allowed the use of a small room to rearrange her clothes, mainly to dry them with a quick flick of her wand.
The farmer introduced himself as Alistair McFarlane; his wife was named Diana. During tea, Mrs McFarlane got a thorough account of the accident and how the rescue had been accomplished. She had many questions as to which spells had been used and their effects.
"Excuse me," Hermione said after a while, "You, your name and your voice reminds me of one of our teachers at Hogwarts. Are you the sister of professor McGonagall?"
"That's quite right. Minerva is my older sister. We went to Hogwarts together; she was two years ahead of me. She left for further education before returning as a teacher. I had met Alistair on a number of Hogsmeade weekends, and remained here after school learning to be a farmer's wife. - I understand you are Harry Potter. Our eldest son went to Hogwarts the same years as your father and mother, I believe. He belonged to Hufflepuff and I don't think he got to know your parents. And you of course are Hermione Granger. You see, I follow what is in the magazines."
Hermione was interested in how the work in a farm where you had access to magic differed from ordinary muggle farming. The farmer explained that since he himself was a squib, he had to do most of his work the ordinary way. He confessed that he got some help from his wife, but that she had other things to do. Both Harry and Hermione got the impression that Mrs McFarlane had other duties than those of a farmer's wife, but what they were they was not told.
A door opened and a young man entered. He introduced himself as Jock, their younger son. He worked as a farm foreman on an estate in the south of Scotland but was visiting because he was engaged to Myra Strachan, the daughter in the neighbouring farm.
"I can't understand they can be away from each other for so long periods," his mother said directed to Harry and Hermione.
"Mother, we have told you, we'll marry when there will be a job for Myra as well."
"I've told you. The McGregor family is old-fashioned; they don't want their employees to be married. You should find a new job."
Dinner time was fast approaching. Jock volunteered to drive Harry and Hermione back to Hogwarts. He said they had another horse and sleigh available in the stable. The injured horse would spend the holidays indoors, he promised.
"Mother always nags me about that job, especially when others are around," Jock confided when they were on their way. "What she doesn't know is that Myra knows how to apparate," he added with a grin.
They were delivered directly to the big doors of the castle by sleigh with jingle bells. Unfortunately, there was no one to admire their arrival.
---
During dinner, Harry and Hermione decided they would prefer a quiet evening in their dormitory. They visited the kitchen to acquire some provisions on their way. A quick argument resulted in first going to Harry's room to pick up his night things and to check if Hermione had left anything behind. They then continued to her room.
"I need a shower rather badly," Hermione said. "The brisk walk with the horse and the moisture from all the snow made me steaming. I'll leave everything to laundry."
She soon vanished to the girl's bathroom. He shortly followed her. She was busy rubbing herself with soap in the farthest cabin. Harry removed his glasses and started the same procedure in the cabin nearby. Time went fast and to his chagrin, by the time he was finished and took on his glasses, Hermione sat before the mirror, neatly wrapped up in a bath towel, combing her hair. Harry nonchalantly wrapped his towel around his waist, made a quick attempt at taming his own hair and left the room.
Harry sat down on a low bench by the window, thinking. He felt suddenly shy. Hermione had hinted when preparing for their after lunch walk that her period was over. They had both blushed a bit, having the same thought about what that implied. But now, you can't just approach your girlfriend and bluntly say that you want her? He thought that some finesse was called for. What was she doing? Arranging her clothes in her wardrobe? He watched her absentmindedly. What had she said this afternoon about doing other things? No, they hadn't really been together openly naked, exploring each other. 'I've seen her naked for short periods doing things or in bed kissing and shagging, but I've never had opportunity to just admire her.' Harry thought. What was she doing; she rearranged those T-shirts a minute ago. 'Is she as nervous as I am?'
"Mione. What are you doing? Come here."
She came with dragging feet up to him. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her towards him. He leaned forward, resting his head on her belly and held her close, winding his arms around her.
"Been a good day, this far?"
"Yes." She put her hands in his hair and pressed his head to her. He felt her relax. After a short while, Harry in a caressing motion moved his arms, reached up and undid the bath towel. It came loose and assembled around her waist, hindered by his arms and head. He leaned backwards, looking up at her eyes. Her eyes were closed and she had her head slightly cast back. He had a close-up of her breasts.
His breath caught in his throat for a moment. She was truly beautiful. Her breasts were astonishingly large seen in Harry's perspective. They were topped by a brownish nipple with a rising slightly paler area around. Harry reached up his hand caressing them. He marvelled at their softness and resilience. He tried pushing them upwards, feeling their weight. He noticed the nipples being more erect and moving his thumb across observed them getting harder. He searched with his mouth and took a nipple in his mouth and teased her with his tongue. He buried his face between her breasts. The surrounding softness was overwhelming. His experiments forced a quicker breath and a comment from Hermione.
"You have gentle hands, Harry. It feels good when you tease my nipples. - - - There are small muscles making them erect; like goose bumps. Happens when getting aroused."
Harry answered her scientific analysis by pressing his mouth and nose against her belly again; letting the rest of the bath towel fall. He leaned back, taking in the new marvellous scene. His mouth let out a sigh rather than a word.
His hands traced from her well defined waist to her hips and around to caress her behind. He leaned back to let his eyes take in her thighs where they joined with a space between to reveal the lips of her sex. Harry let the fingers of his right hand feel the softness of her mound and play with her silky brown curls. She shifted her weight on her legs.
"You're beautiful," Harry whispered. He leaned forward letting his nose touch her belly. He took in the warm fragrance of her aroused sex. He blew playfully into her curls which caused Hermione to let out a gasp in anticipation of what would come. Harry leaned back again and let his index finger explore her cleft from the beginning, onto the hood above her clitoris and into the wet valley behind. His finger found the deepening of her valley down to her opening. Harry let his finger play between her folds, feeling the slick softness. The tip of his finger entered her slightly. This made it difficult for Hermione to stand still and after a while she was forced into action.
She stepped back, regaining her self-control, took Harry's hand and pulled him onto his feet, changing positions. She made him stand up like she had been doing. She let her fingers trail up from his firm abdomen, over his chest to his upper arms.
"Now it's my turn to have a look - I like what I see."
"I'm really not very muscular," he replied. "Being a seeker, you have to combine width of reach with flexibility. Too much muscle will slow down your flying."
Talking about Quidditch made Harry more comfortable for an instant. His gaze found hers for a brief moment before she loosened his bath towel. Her gaze and hands slowly found their way down past his navel into his hairy crotch. A gentle hand carefully lifted his sac, feeling its contents. Harry twitched involuntarily.
"Did it hurt?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"No. I just feel very vulnerably there." Curiously enough, Harry felt more proud than awkward with his half-inflated penis within inches of Hermione's face. She wrapped her fingers around and gave a light squeeze. She tentatively drew his skin back, making the head stand out clearly. He grew harder and longer.
"You like when I handle you like this?"
"Yesssss."
"The skin has a silky touch to it," she stated matter-of-factly, also taking him into her mouth. "Uhm, no taste actually." She made Harry tremble when she let her tongue play along the head. "How long is it? You have measured of course."
"Six to seven inches," Harry managed to answer.
"The mean value is five to six, I think. - I would like to do an experiment." Hermione rose from her seat, and dragged Harry along to her bed. She made him lie down on his back while she sat down on her knees, straddling his legs. She didn't let go of his penis, which she held in a firm grip. She then eased herself forward sitting on his legs, until his penis, held straight up touched her belly.
"Now look. You reach this far up." She indicated a spot at the same height up her belly as the tip of his penis.
Before Harry had time to think, she then raised herself up on her knees, repositioned herself with his tip at her entrance and then slowly sat down on him. Harry let out a gasp. Hermione raised herself and sat down again a few times until she had taken all of him inside of her. She then allowed a few seconds to regain her breath.
"Look, this is amazing. You reach this far up inside my body!" She indicated the height with her hands, going from the previous spot on her belly.
Interesting as this medical evidence might be, Harry marvelled more at the general sight of Hermione engulfing him. He reached his hands up her thighs towards her hips, aching to move against her. Straining his muscles, he managed a few thrusts up into her, but soon she raised herself on the bed, leaving him glistening wet, hard and frustrated.
"Please, Harry. I have another idea I want to test." She directed him up from the bed, lying down on her back herself. She raised her knees, spreading her legs.
"Please Harry. Come here!" She beckoned to him to a position between her legs, reached out for him, guiding him to her entrance. Harry with a moan slowly eased himself into her. She locked her legs around his, wrapped her arms around him and relaxed. Harry searched for her mouth, kissing her deeply, combing through her hair with his fingers. She teased him with small movements of her hips.
When Harry tried a bigger movement, slowly withdrawing and re-entering, she tightened her grip on him, and whispered: "Harry, let's try to make this last. I've read this; how else?" She giggled briefly. "It's a Japanese art. You move just to maintain the feeling at nearly top level. With exercise, you can continue for many hours. Let's aim for a quarter of an hour."
Harry complied by relaxing. He marvelled at the feeling of his throbbing member being completely engulfed within Hermione's body. He nibbled at her ear and was rewarded with a squeeze. A minute or two passed with slow lazy movements before Hermione made a comment.
"This is so good, Harry. I love this. It's like our minds and bodies are connected as close as possible. I would like this to continue for ever. - I feel complete, at ease mentally. Like we have reached our basic state - you and I together. The world outside our embrace is so small."
Minutes passed. Time had stopped. Hermione opened her eyes and looked around her room filled with a warm twilight. She shifted her legs, wrapping them around Harry's waist and pulling him further up. She looked up in his face in search of a reaction.
What caught her attention however was a sudden flickering light in her room. It came from something moving outside the windows. Lights and shadows moved, but no sound was heard.
"Did you see that Harry? - The light."
Hermione slowly got out of her bed after Harry, rather reluctantly, had pulled out of her. She went to the nearest window bay, kneeling on the bench and leaning close to the window pane for better view.
"I can't see anything. The sky is clear and the stars are bright."
"Could it be something on the ground?" Harry asked anxiously, reaching out for his wand.
"No, the light shone on the floor, so it must have been higher than the windows."
The view of Hermione kneeling in the window bay made Harry loose interest in possible attacks from outside. He stole silently up to her, grabbed her hips and let his right hand move forward around and between her legs, guiding his still rigid penis into her. She let out a gasp of mingled surprise and satisfaction, meeting his first thrusts.
"Harry, you lecher, help me look for a clue to this mystery instead."
Harry bent down over her, moving his hands to cup her breasts as if pretending this was the only possible way to get a view out of the window. He began to thrust into her rather forcefully.
"I can't see anything," he said.
At that very instant, a bright light appeared in the sky, moving fast across the firmament to die with a flicker close to the horizon.
"A shooting star!" Harry and Hermione exclaimed with one mouth.
"It went the same way as the first one!" Hermione added.
"The biggest one I ever saw! They usually are just a tiny streak of light. This one was like a torch!" Harry said. "And two that close together!"
"Good things come by threes. Harry, bring some cushions and the comforter. We will sit in the window looking for the next one!"
Hermione smiled when she saw him coming back with the bedclothes, his still erect and unsatisfied penis swaying in front of him.
"Poor Harry, you have a hard evening."
She giggled when she detected her unintentional pun, put the cushion up in the window bay and had Harry sit up on it. She then sat down in his lap, facing him with her legs around him. With some combined struggle, he was again safely lodged deep in her. She cast the comforter around their shoulders and they settled down.
"Mmm, this is marvellous." Hermione wrapped her arms around him, kissing his neck. Harry put his hands below her thighs, lifting and lowering her now and then. Tension began to spark between them in the form of small uncontrolled twitches, grunts and moans. He shifted his hands to her lower back pulling her against him. She stretched out her arms at the same time using her legs to add to his movements. They seemed to have lost their interest in celestial phenomena, increasing their pace, when they were reminded by a blinding light. This third one was following the same path as the preceding ones, but brighter still.
"A third one, like I said," commented Hermione with a shaky breath. "Harry, make three wishes!"
"Ok, it's easy. You make some as well."
"I have. What did you wish?"
"To marry you, to have healthy kids and a long and happy life."
"Oh Harry, I was more short-sighted. I wished for a happy outcome tomorrow, V-Voldemort's death and successful last years at Hogwarts."
"In a way my wishes were the same; they can not come true with Voldemort still in business."
Hermione leaned close to Harry, taking his face in her hands and kissing him. A smile crossed her face. She grabbed his hair and shook him playfully.
"Harry, let's go back to bed and finish this off!"
They took up position in her bed in no time. Now every idea of taking it slow was abandoned. They both settled by unspoken agreement in a forceful rhythm. Harry raised himself on his arms to allow a free movement while Hermione put her hands behind her knees spreading her legs. Harry's pelvic bone was forcefully beating her pussy giving strong stimulation of her clitoris. Within a minute both were screaming for release. When it came, it lasted for what they both thought was an eternity; wave after wave flowing through their bodies. They ended up in each other's arms, totally spent.
After a long long time, Hermione staggered out of bed with her hand between her legs.
"You completely filled me up. I will have to rinse this goo away."
Harry followed a faster cleaning ritual, so when Hermione came back, he had two cups of cocoa and some muffins ready.
"Harry, we have a good life together!"
"Yes," he replied somewhat distantly.
"What are you thinking of?"
"Where do prophesies come from? - And where did those shooting stars come from? They were no ordinary meteorites."
"So you mean those wishes we did …?"
"I don't know about the wishes, but those stars were omens. Something big is about to happen. I wonder who else could see them. We saw them. Could Professor Dumbledore see them? Did Voldemort see them?"
"What are you driving at?" Hermione asked with uneasiness growing.
"If others saw them, they can't just mean that something is going to happen to Harry Potter & Hermione Granger. It has to be something else, something bigger. Maybe Voldemort is big enough to warrant same fireworks in the sky."
---
"Hermione, let's go to bed."
"Harry, I just felt so happy and satisfied."
"Sorry, Mione. Let's forget about all the rest. Right now, it's just you and me, right?"
Harry let his hand follow the curve of her waist down her hips and back up around her, drawing her close. She relaxed in his arms.
"I love you."
"I love you too."