Mad Snorkacks and Englishmen

Okay, I've only got two things to address today.

First, Coco!!!! Oh man, please tell me I didn't really emasculate you there! So sorry, bro! Seriously, that was not intentional, I hope I didn't make you feel too bad. For real, your posts didn't indicate to me one gender or the other for the longest time, and then maybe when you admitted you'd cried I maybe thought you were a girl, but then when you were saying what a big fan you were of the anal, I thought, maybe it's a guy (so stereotypical, I know, shame on me), and then you mentioned you were awkward with the older brother and the sex stuff, so I guess I thought it would only be weird if you were female. *Sigh*. Yeah, as the old adage says about assuming....ass, me. I's no more confused. I give you big ((((hug)))) You're a manly man. I'm kinda thrilled you are, actually. And who doesn't cry at Homeward Bound? :)



NutsAboutHarry, I was eager to respond to your criticism of my Ginny being OOC. Judging by some of the other comments I got, I wanted to clear up any misconceptions about how I was going to continue portraying this character. I'm not trying to bash or perform any character assassination, truly. I haven't gotten into Ginny's headspace yet because I felt it would take away from Harry and Luna's story so far. But I don't think she's acting so out of character, really. I honestly felt when writing that last scene, that if you had replaced Luna with Ron and the subject was about him calling her a slag, you would have gotten the same reaction right out of canon. Ginny is much like Harry in that she's very passionate about things. She's got a big heart and a great capacity to fight for the underdog. I tried to paint her as the friendly, lovable girl that people enjoy being around, but the thing about the circumstances is that if you cross the girl, her claws definitely come out. I point to the "Ron you're a fucking baby who hasn't even kissed anyone" scene out of HBP as Exhibit A.



In the scene that just played, I didn't really see Ginny being a bitch so much as more of a teenage girl feeling betrayed and threatened by someone she cared about. Two people she cared about, in fact. Her reaction was totally human, especially in light of what she'd just been through that evening already. Not knowing if her ex-boyfriend that she was still in love with was safe, having to endure questioning as to his whereabouts; the girl was a wreck. In that kind of mentality, it was not beyond her ability to get suddenly suspicious around Luna and fighting back at her attackers earlier in the night by attacking her friend in her distress. Once again, Luna took the anger that was meant for someone else. I don't think Ginny is bad, I just thought she was bad for Harry. She will not be like this through the whole story, it was just a bad moment for her. Hope that helps set things right about what I was trying to convey in the last chapter.





Anyway, speaking of character assassination, I really hated what JKR did to Remus in DH with the Harry confrontation. I thought THAT had been out of character, but I've decided to use the same principle and up the ante for this story, so go figure. Remus-Lovers, I am one of you, for reals.











Chapter 17: Master of Space and Time







Remus was feeling nervous. Not that this was an unusual state for the werewolf these days, but for right now, it was not particularly welcome. He had some major conniving up ahead and he was trying to flex his authoritative muscle in preparation. The prematurely aged Marauder was hard pressed not to find this entire dilemma ridiculous—what, he was now afraid of Harry Potter? It was ludicrous to entertain the thought, but he felt hemmed in by it anyway, as though the whims and beliefs of this intense young man were meant to dictate his fate all along. But then, he was hardly in a position to complain about whims.





It had been a preposterous move to marry Nymphadora, he saw now; monstrously, deplorably so. What had he been thinking to justify such action? He thought he’d been sparing his lover from some kind of outdated shame, saving face with her parents and ‘doing the right thing’. Yet, what had they accused him of when Tonks accidentally let the news spill a little early at their last dinner together? Irresponsible, Andromeda shouted. Exposing their daughter to carrying a wolf pup bastard was what she’d cried into her dinner napkin as her husband tried to console her with another glass of sherry. Had they really not seen this coming? Remus thought, not for the first time, that he should have persisted on her terminating the pregnancy. He really hadn’t felt he could talk her into it, however, and hadn’t wanted to upset her.





Tonks had declared that the child would be more likely to carry her Metamorphmagus abilities before being infected as a werewolf; cases of the lycanthropy affliction passing in the gene were rare. Yet, her mother had carried on regardless and the entire evening ended in a fit of histrionics amongst the trio as Remus simply sat there quietly in a desperate rage waiting for his moment to escape. Once he’d gotten his month-old bride home, the two of them had started their own heated row and it didn’t take long before he was roaring for her to head back to her mother’s to stay. They were in a war, he’d shouted, he had to be part of the effort to eradicate the insurrection, and she could hardly be expected to do much in her condition. There was no point for them to be together right now.





Nymphadora had not handled that well. She stormed off to their bedroom to start swishing clothes into her trunk violently with her wand, Remus creeping over to the doorway eventually to watch as he calmly attempted to reason with her. “You just want to run away and leave me to deal with this,” she had muttered sharply through gritted teeth. She was probably right, but he denied it anyway. He really hadn’t wanted to hurt the girl; she just couldn’t fully understand. This was a situation where make-up sex wouldn’t be able to repair the damage; hell, make-up sex is what got them into this mess to begin with, so he let her leave without saying he was sorry, let her Apparition crack in the living room as she departed without reaching out to touch her one last time.





Now, here he was, precariously perched on the top stoop of 12 Grimmauld Place as he and Luna flattened themselves to the door, getting ready to ingratiate his sorry self to a seventeen year-old sexual deviant. Remus had expected the young witch to be slightly disoriented upon Apparating in and had been prepared to grab her from falling back should she lose balance, but she was surprisingly adroit at the practice, landing perfectly in synch with him. Luna looked up at him with those unnaturally large eyes which now held a degree of whimsy as her half smile appeared to be congratulating him on a job well done. Still, she was trembling severely and the werewolf wondered if it was from fear or just anticipation to be reunited with her secret boyfriend. On instinct, he took off his cloak quickly and wrapped it around her, pulling the hood up over her head.





He extracted a key from his pocket and fit it into the lock, sliding back a few bolts then motioning to Luna to get behind him as he moved into the hallway on the other side of the door. Remus knew what to expect, as Moony had primed them all with the details of the enchantments he’d placed on the dwelling soon after Snape’s betrayal had been discovered. When Albus’ dusty spirit rose before them, he recited the words necessary to disperse the ghostly form into an explosion of motes swirling in the gloomy foyer. With the blonde girl still behind him, he moved but a few steps before there was a threatening voice coming from the shadows of the stairwell.





“Don’t move!”





The Order guard held up his hands in a show of surrender and identified himself to his former pupil. When Ron and Hermione made to rush down and welcome him, Harry had demanded more. Remus felt a little proud that the boy was such a sharp fighter and well understood that no one could be trusted any longer. He gave a full account of his personage, being sure to add details that only he and Harry would know. Once the boy was satisfied and put his wand down, then the crafty werewolf made his grand reveal.





“Harry, I brought someone to see you,” he stated smoothly before stepping aside.





When Luna pulled back the hood, there were several gasps while Lupin inside was all taut muscle, his body stiffened for the consequences of his bold play.





“Luna!” Harry had cried out first. He made to run towards her then halted his steps, suddenly unsure.





“Should I tell you some personal things to prove it’s me, too?” she asked in all earnestness. Lupin could still see the visible tremors under her skin like she was vibrating as she stood there. It was obvious that the girl wanted to run into Harry just as much, but she appeared to be waiting for his signal.





“I think it would be useless information since I can’t seem to believe you’re really standing right here anyway,” the stunned boy reasoned.





Luna seemed to give off her own light as she regarded Harry, her eyes only getting bigger with their effulgence. “It’s really me,” she insisted softly.





The tired man watched very carefully as the object of his manipulation held still for a few seconds more before something seemed to break the boy’s will and he allowed himself to move, only then leaping down on the landing to reach for her, his arms folding around the girl in a fierce embrace as he kissed her without inhibition. His hands were very eagerly sweeping across the girl’s bottom as he pulled her closer to him, oblivious to his audience for all the world could tell.





“Harry! What on earth are you doing?!” rang Hermione’s voice across the hallway. Ron did not appear to be terribly surprised by the act but was still suitably red-faced and uncomfortable. Something set open the curtain on Walburga’s blasted face and the painted old bat started to howl her acrimony at the group.





Remus stared for a few minutes as Harry groped the girl, muttering you’re alright, you’re alright into her hair over and over. He was just about to put a hand to the boy’s shoulder to stop the show lest it get too carried away when Harry pushed back Luna himself. His face contorted into his rage as he faced his teacher with incrimination.





“What do you think you’re playing at bringing her here? Are you mad? Do you have any idea how dangerous that was? The house is being watched as we speak!” Harry declaimed as his voice rose in umbrage.





“I know; we spotted them from another entry point. We Apparated onto the top step so as not to be seen. If they had any idea that you were in here, they’d have made their move already, trust me.”





“Well, what’s happened, why are you here? And for God’s sake, why would you bring Luna with you? Harry, tell me what’s going on this minute,” the bushy haired brunette demanded of her friend as her attention veered from Lupin to the prickly teen. Lupin attempted to smooth some feathers.





“Why don’t we head down to the kitchen and I’ll explain, we have much to discuss,” he charged. “And can someone shut that harpy up!”





Walburga Black’s portrait was still vocalizing her displeasure as they turned to head down the small stairwell to the lower room. Remus waited for Luna’s reaction to the vitriol, but she seemed solely fixated on Harry now, her eyes following his every movement as the boy slipped his arm around her shoulder to direct her in the descent. Hermione huffed as she pointed her wand to close the drapes across the wretched woman’s visage.







_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________







Once the Black matriarch was silenced, Hermione brought up the rear of the pack as they all made their way to the kitchen. She was deeply curious to see how Lupin would manage to explain Luna’s presence. It was beyond odd him bringing her here and the smartest witch of her generation was letting the gears of her brain sizzle as they whirred into double-time. Why would Harry grab her and then kiss her like that? The way he had put his hands all over her was quite disconcerting. He didn’t even kiss his girlfriend like that, well, certainly not in their presence, she mused.





Hermione didn’t like not knowing what was going on with her friend, but you would think she’d have gotten used to it by now. She could only hope that Lupin would elucidate the situation. It had been startling to see them both standing in the entrance hall, Luna in her cape and gingham dress like Little Red Riding Hood to Lupin’s Big Bad Wolf. Why they were both here she couldn’t begin to guess, but she would just have to be patient.





She went to put a kettle on, tea being about all they had left to offer in some measure while they waited for Kreacher to return. The house elf had been gone several days now in his search to bring back that thief, Mundungus. She would almost be happy to see that miserable thing again if it meant the pantry could be restocked and prepared meals served; although she had to wonder if the creature ever spit in her food. Hermione had certainly tried her darndest to convince the elf of her sincerity and altruistic nature, doing her best to console him during his wailing tale of his Master Regulus’ torturous cave expedition, but he refused to see past her blood status. Disgusting little bitch, it was, really.





The savvy witch watched Harry intently as he asked Lupin on the goings-on of the Ministry after the attack, all the while stroking the pale girl’s hair and seating her next to him as closely as possible; she was practically in his lap. Ron demanded to know how his family was holding up in the wake of the interrogations and let out an audible moan as Lupin assured him they were all fine. Luna gave Harry a strange look at that, one Hermione couldn’t read, but then, all of her looks were rather strange, weren’t they? But then it shifted back into that adoring gaze that was making Hermione’s skin crawl. What the bloody hell? Since when did Luna ever act like one of Harry’s throng of swooning, tittering mass of girls—and more than a few boys—that followed him around like sheep?





It had been amusing at first, watching the reactions every time she walked through the halls with her best friends. Even though they were all quite familiar with Harry getting attention everywhere he went, it had really ratcheted up in this last year. She knew it was partly due to the tide of change in the media’s reportage, calling him The Chosen One now that Voldemort’s return was confirmed and they’d retracted their lies from the previous year, that the girls were seeing him as some sort of acquisition to be won.





Hermione didn’t fool herself into thinking that that was all it had been, however. Harry had really grown into his looks by sixth year, gaining a hard edge to him that came off quite sexy. He was still thin, but built with a wiry strength that shone through his always ill-fitting clothes. Plus, he had that glorious bum that drew eyeballs to it like moths to a proverbial flame. When he was donned up in his form-fitting Quidditch gear, many of his fans weren’t just looking at his skills on a broom. The sharp girl was pretty sure that Harry wasn’t remotely aware of the ogling, so focused was he on whatever problem was floating in his own little world at the moment.





Yes, she was almost glad that her friend still had that self-absorbed way about him that prevented him from seeing just what lengths his admirers would go to in order to garner his attention, as if anyone visited upon by his green gaze would be somehow imbued with a holy light. She’d observed more than a few fights break out as they passed by those giggly groups in the hall; the minute Harry’s back was to them after not noticing the beaming made-up faces or the ones who tried to pretend they weren’t drawing attention to themselves with their big hair and big lips, the girls would be shoving each other in their disappointment.





Sometimes they would sigh loudly and openly as he passed; eyes glued to his backside or fingers extended as if hoping to brush through that wild sable hair of his. Hermione had felt like instigating a little pandemonium mid-semester, so she had shown Harry a charm to tighten his jeans to just the right fit. It had been hilarious to see the hysteria that ensued the following day and how her oblivious friend just kept marching around the hallways with his friends on their Saturday completely unaware of the commotion he was causing. One girl had fainted melodramatically in the Great Hall as the trio passed her heading to their seats for dinner. What a bunch of silly bints, she’d mused. Even Ron had caught on after a while and had looked to Hermione with some suspicion. Hermione just smirked, but then she wasn’t talking to Won-Won much those days.





Not that she had any designs on her friend, because she didn’t--I don’t, eww--her mind insisted. No, Harry was like her brother, really. Really. It had been his git of a best mate that had always managed to get Hermione’s pulse racing as he argued or teased his way into her affections. Stupid boys. Hermione had been thrilled for Ginny when the lovesick girl had finally taken heed of her advice and eased up around Harry, acting like her normal, gregarious self and even finding her own romances along the way. When Harry had made his play for her after that championship game, Hermione had felt a moment of vindication and she was flushed with her victory almost as much as the youngest Weasley witch that whole week after the school caught up with the news.





When she’d discovered on the train that he’d dumped her, the rational girl didn’t know how to feel about it. She felt sorry for Ginny, she really did, but she was more concerned with what had driven Harry to do it. She knew it wasn’t because his feelings had suddenly changed and Ginny’s grumblings about his nobility confirmed this, yet she couldn’t help feeling that perhaps her girlfriend was being immature about the whole thing and couldn’t really understand the big picture. Hermione worried about what dark thoughts were filling up in the grey matter in the skull of her moody friend. His propensity for self-blame and shouldering burden was legendary; his brooding could be quite impressive in its intensity, and she’d been concerned that he would indulge himself too much in his isolation.





Yet, when they’d arrived to the Dursley home to retrieve him, Hermione had been pleased to see that he looked well; happy even. Of course, that had all fallen to tatters only moments later, but then that whole series of events had become another kettle of fish entirely (she was not thinking of his erection, no, absolutely not). He’d retreated into himself somewhat after they’d arrived at the Burrow. Mrs. Weasley’s maddening machinations to keep them apart notwithstanding, she had been able to watch her friend from afar as he worked and his face filtered through a variety of expressions. He was mostly pensive, but alternately irritable and cheerful to a confusing degree.





Then Ron had started acting odd, too, and Hermione couldn’t identify the origins of this upset. Also, she was awfully busy catering to Ginny to keep her spirits up, who was pretending she was completely cool and unaffected by Harry’s presence, yet falling apart the minute he wasn’t looking. Did anyone ever wonder how Hermione was doing, the girl had to mutter to herself in exasperation. She seriously doubted they did as they always seemed to need something from her.





Then the kettle was whistling disrupting Hermione’s thoughts and as she poured she threw herself into the information Lupin had brought with him. He had pulled out a copy of the Daily Prophet and they all looked at the headline to see Harry’s face underneath. The boy had pushed it away, but Hermione snatched up the paper to read the article through. Harry being wanted as a suspect in Dumbledore’s murder? The idea was mad, but she could see how it legitimized Voldemort’s hunt.





Then the agitated man had directed their attention to another page featuring the malicious, defamatory pronouncement that Muggle-borns were “stealing magic” and would be brought in for questioning. Those appearing before the newly formed Muggle-Born Registration Commission would have to show proof of a wizard relative or else face punishment in Azkaban. Hermione was horrified, but not completely surprised in light of the silent takeover. Would there be public outcry, however?





"Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak," Remus had informed them.







"But how are they supposed to have ‘stolen’ magic? It’s mental, if you could steal magic there wouldn’t be any Squibs, would there?" Ron exclaimed, aghast at their nerve.







He had grabbed Hermione’s hand in a fit of intensity as he pledged to teaching her his entire family tree step by step if that was what it took to keep her safe. The girl had been moved, really; she wished she could have hugged him for the gesture. Instead, she pointed out bemusedly that traveling with the Number One fugitive in Britain wouldn’t do much for her case. Ron’s face had reddened at that, but he still held on to her hand. Then Harry had spoken in that dominant way of his.







“Okay, things aren’t looking too good out there, but we sort of suspected that. That doesn’t answer my question on why you’re here, why you would bring Luna with you.” Even though she was across the table from them, Hermione could see him slip his arm around her waist as he waited to hear his father’s old friend confess his plans. Her brows knitted closer together as she tried to discern the nature of this outward show of familiarity.







“Well, firstly, I was well aware of the dangers present in my decision to bring her, Harry, so I am solely accountable for that. She agreed as a favor to me, do you understand?”







Harry only hooded his eyelids at that, but acknowledged Remus darkly. “Oh, I completely understand. So why did you do it?”







Lupin’s gaze shiftily moved between the couple as he appeared to struggle with a reply. He settled his hands over each other on the table and looked down for a moment before pulling his eyes back up to search the boy’s face. Rather than give Harry an explanation, he broached another touchy topic with some determination.





“The Order was under the impression that Dumbledore had given you a mission before his passing, is this correct, Harry?”





This opening did nothing to gain her friend’s trust, however, and he only looked more skeptical with Lupin’s inquiry. Regardless, he nodded his head once, offering no further details on the matter. Lupin tried again.





“You don’t have to betray any secrets if it was Dumbledore’s wish to only involve you in this operation. Although, I gather Ron and Hermione are obviously a part of this judging by the fact that you’re all still together.” Hermione decided to speak up at this juncture.





“It’s true, Dumbledore saw fit to let Harry bring us into it, but we are sworn to secrecy. It wasn’t just a mandatory request, but highly critical at this point. We can’t risk letting information get into the wrong hands,” she spoke seriously as she looked over at Harry.





He was staring quite shrewdly at his mentor and the effect was a bit disturbing. No one wanted to be under that burning, harsh green glare if they could help it and she could see Lupin exert some effort not to squirm too much under such scrutiny. When she made to glance in Luna’s direction she could see the girl’s wide eyes still affixed to Harry’s face, her gaze periodically sweeping over his lips. She seemed rattled by the news and it looked to Hermione like she was trying to restrain her arms from throwing themselves around her best friend’s neck. Hermione was going to get to the bottom of this soon enough.





“That’s quite understandable. I’m not prying, believe me. However, I would think it’s apparent to you all that you’re going to need a bit of protection in whatever you’re undertaking. You won’t be able to stay holed up here forever, the Death Eaters will figure something out eventually. I think this is where I can provide some use to you, Harry.” He regarded the boy with a mixture of servitude and authority, which was not easy to pull off, Hermione imagined.





Harry made no change in his outward expression, but coolly dismissed the notion. She really couldn’t see how they could include Remus on their journey without accidentally divulging some of the Horcrux bits along the way, either. It would have been nice to have an adult around; however, she had to admit to herself. Going up against those thugs in the coffee shop had terrified her and she wasn’t eager to participate in another duel without some backup any time soon.





“There’s no way that would work, Remus. We have to go it alone. We’re working on a plan, so we won’t be here much longer. Once we’re gone, I’m afraid any contact with us will be lost. It’s just not a good idea.” He glanced over at Luna for a second before settling back on Lupin, his mind clearly made up. Remus did not appear to be done with his offer just yet.





“Now, Harry, think before you make such a rash decision. If the mission is this important, you three are going to need all the help you can get, even if it’s indirect. I can get you into places, help you with your combat training, and play courier if need be. None of you will want to be seen anywhere in public right now; it’s just not wise to try it. Let me be of assistance and we can get through this war before things get any worse.”





His reasoning did not lack some fine points, but Hermione knew Harry wouldn’t allow it. She wondered if she should try to support Lupin and convince Harry otherwise, but once again, her prudence won out over her fears. The teen could not be swayed anyway, judging by his expression. She felt pretty assured that Ron would side with Harry on the matter, as well.





“I’ve already told you my answer, Remus,” he said in a low voice. There was a definite threat inherent in the tone and Remus bristled at the sound.





“Harry, look at me. Don’t let your arrogance blind you to the common sense of this proposition. It’s not just your safety that’s at stake here. I know you wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to your friends if you suddenly found yourself outnumbered by Death Eaters or the new breed of Aurors muscling their way across Britain right now, would you?”





Hermione couldn’t believe he was pulling that card; what a low blow. Harry looked downright livid at the question and she wondered if Lupin was noting how badly he was failing on all counts in his argument. As she took in Lupin seated at the head of the table, she noticed his glance shift imperceptibly towards Luna for a moment before facing Harry with some craftiness. Hermione was completely intrigued at this point.





“Why don’t we sleep on it, Harry. Luna…has some important information for you, she says. I’m sure you two can follow up as needed, while I fill the others in on what else has been happening with Ron’s family. Here,” and the man calmly extended his hand toward Luna as he nodded toward the cloak.





The dreamy girl passed the thick hooded garment over Harry’s lap as she handed it to the professor and the teen stared straight at the girl’s chest while his face grew darker. The open desire there shocked Hermione. Lupin retrieved a bottle from the inside pocket of the coat and set it on the table.





“Look, we’re all adults now, with the exception of Miss Lovegood. I brought some good Firewhiskey. We can have a drink, talk some more, plot our next move. I can take Luna back in the morning and we can meet up somewhere later. You can tell me then, Harry, if you still feel sure about refusing my help.”





Harry just stared at the man for a moment before a mirthless bark escaped his lips. She couldn’t tell if he was amused or infuriated as there appeared to be two expressions plastered to his features, the mouth open in a mocking grin while his green irises flashed fire. He was definitely in a state of disbelief by Lupin’s suggestion. He spoke so low that Hermione almost missed what he said.





“I don’t fucking believe this.”





But before Remus could comment, Ron suddenly piped up, looking like he was eager to redirect the topic and his friend’s evident displeasure.





“Wait a tic, what about Tonks, Remus? Didn’t you just get married? How does she feel about you taking off with the lot of us? I can’t imagine she’s going to keep her job as an Auror with this new Ministry, seeing as she’s married to a werewolf and has known ties to the enemy. You telling me she’s alright with this?” he questioned.





Now that Ron had brought it up, Hermione had to agree that there was something definitely off about all of this. And what the bloody hell was all that wink wink, nudge nudge nonsense between him and Harry? She was going to have to start demanding her own answers in a minute, but felt that she should hold her tongue just yet. The man looked weary as he considered Ron’s forwardness.





“Tonks is…at her parent’s. She’s going to be staying with them a while.” At their expectant faces he added, “She’s pregnant, you see. We’re going to have a child.”





Hermione squealed her congratulations before realizing that her former teacher did not look in the least bit thrilled about the news. There were murmurs from the boys across the table, but Luna only appeared sad. Lupin gave a half-hearted smile at their blessings as if he could care less. Then he ceremoniously grabbed the bottle and asked for some glasses so they could make a toast, anyway. It was all very distracting.





“So you see, it would be ideal for me to play bodyguard at the moment,” Remus continued as he poured shots for them all in the small glasses Ron had eagerly drawn from the cupboard. “She’s in a safe place and I’m free to help you. Most of the Order has had to go deep underground for the time being.”





He took his glass and waved it to the others in recognition before downing the amber liquid in one gulp and slamming his glass upside down on the table. Harry watched him fiercely, still with that cunning look as he sized the man up, but then followed suit and knocked back the drink in one go as he then slammed the glass down in imitation. Ron looked between the two trying to figure out what kind of game was being played here, the testosterone starting to make Hermione gag, and with a shake of his head, he tipped his head back and made it a third round of daring, his eyes watering up as he choked a bit after the swallow. Did she mention how stupid boys were? She pushed her own glass forward to the center of the table, refusing the vile stuff.





“Ugh, no thank you. Although I’m happy for you, Remus,” she offered.





No sooner had she let go of the mini glass, however, a dainty hand pulled it away and they all watched as Luna knocked back her own dose of the fiery liquor. When she was done, she wiped the back of her hand across her mouth as she returned their stares, but instead of slamming the crystal on the table top as the rest had done, she slowly slid it’s open side onto Harry’s upside down glass. It was a strangely erotic gesture and Hermione was starting to get a fuzzy vibration in her lower belly. Once Harry let his gaze bore into Luna afterwards, however, something started to click into place for the brainy witch. The dark-haired wizard looked like he was ready to eat her.





Remus appeared a little jarred by the display but managed to recover as Harry swung his hungry gaze in the man’s direction.





“There’s nothing to talk about and no need to stay over. I’m telling you my answer is no and that’s final, so your ploy isn’t going to work. As for leaving your pregnant wife so you can go and have a bit of adventure, I never would have thought you capable, Remus, until this stunt you pulled tonight.”





Harry spoke calmly and quietly but he might as well have shouted right up into Lupin’s face as he would have garnered the same reaction. The air in the room was suddenly fraught with tension and Hermione felt as if her curly hair might snap straight any minute. The ragged lycanthrope was now devoid of any fake cheer as he glared at Harry in open hostility. When he spoke, it was dangerously raspy, and the girl worried that they had not checked to see the phase of the moon tonight.





“What is that supposed to mean…Harry.”





“Just what I said. You think it’s being a responsible father and husband to go traipsing off into the sunset while your baby waits to be born? Way to support the wife, there, Remus. You don’t think she and your child are the priority here? Are you even planning on going back to her?” Harry challenged.





Remus was growling now. “What do you know of it, boy? How dare you! You have no idea what I face ever day, so don’t play superior to me. It was a bad move to marry her, I admit. I should have been more careful and now my child is possibly going to pay the price for my stupidity. If he comes out a werewolf, I’ve doomed him to a poor excuse for an existence and you’re accusing me of wanting to play?! Where do you get off?!” He stood up sharply as his chair crashed sideways and Harry matched him, leaping to his feet and getting up close to Lupin’s face. Hermione was frantic and ran to stand between them.





“Wait! Stop it!” she cried, but the man was already leaning over her outstretched hands as Harry added more fuel to the fire.





“I get off saying so because someone needs to get it through your thick head! How could you just walk away? You fucked up and now they have to pay for it? What would Sirius say about that? Maybe, that you’re being a pathetic loser? What would my dad say? I can’t expect they’d be too proud of you, Remus,” Harry spit out.





“Tonks and the baby would do better without me and you know it! I thought you would be the first person to understand that, Harry! And now you’re going to play the hypocrite? For shame, boy, for shame. Why don’t you go ahead and explain to your mates here what you’ve been up to the past month,” he suddenly dared.





Hermione glanced at Harry at that, but Ron choked and tried to find a way to break up the fight.





“Look, we don’t need to get into that, alright. Why doesn’t everybody just cool out and take a breath. Let’s not saying anything we’ll regret later.” Everyone stood their ground at that, but then Luna slid up behind Harry and put her hands around his waist, whispering into his ear as he blinked rapidly. Remus seemed to seize on to the action.





“Oh, is that what you want, Harry? To keep pretending you’re all fine and dandy, you’ve got it all under control? Let’s not tell your friends just what gets you going, is that it?”





As bothered as Hermione was by Luna’s display and Remus’ antagonizing, Harry’s next words out and out shocked her.





“Fuck you, Remus. You think I don’t get what you’re doing here? You think I didn’t spot on to the fact that you’re basically pimping Luna out to get you way? Just what kind of a man are you, anyway?”





Lupin moved so fast Hermione didn’t even realize he had pushed her out of the way until her back slammed into the wall. She heard Luna scream like a lion as the enraged professor grabbed Harry by the neck and pulled him up close to his face, his lips bared back to show his teeth. The dazed witch’s brain was slowly cognizant to Ron’s shouting of “Stand down! Stand down!” as he pointed his wand at the two.





Harry grabbed Lupin’s wrist to pull him off of his throat and then pushed the man back forcefully as Luna dragged Harry backwards. Before she even thought about it, Hermione yelled out Protego! and snapped her wand to the space between the two men. She was shaking now, overcome with the drama of the moment. She couldn’t believe the normally mild-mannered man was being so violent, even though the thinking part of her brain was insisting that he had chased her as a werewolf, for God’s sake. Even still, she had never seen him so wild and vicious in his human form.





“I don’t look to you, Harry, as a role model. Don’t you dare question my moral fitness when your own depravity is lurking in the shadows. You think just because you can control your little girlfriend into performing whatever perverted thrill on your knob you can fill your head with that makes you a man somehow? You know nothing, child, just like thinking your first year Disarming spell is going to save you. I’ve had to deal with things you couldn’t dream of. You want to know what kind of man, I am? I’m the kind living with a beast inside him, so you’d be wise not to cross me.”





Hermione had whipped her head in surprise at Lupin’s crude remarks, but now she was trembling with fear as she waited for their argument to escalate into pure madness. This was not what she wanted to hear from the man whom she had always respected and looking back at Harry she could feel his sense of betrayal at the werewolf’s words. He was nowhere near backing down, however, and he smirked nastily to Lupin now.





“Oh, here we go. Just out with it, already, why don’t you. Going to harp on the Expelliarmus again, even? Merlin, you’re a real piece of work, aren’t you? You keep dancing and dancing around with your innuendos. Do you really think I care anymore if they know?” Just then, Harry turned to look straight at Hermione and she stared back in her confusion.





“Hermione,” he began calmly in his fury as his right hand clutched at Luna’s wrist still wrapped around his body. “I’ve been sleeping with Luna since the last few days of school. I brought her to my house so I could fuck her then when I got to the Burrow I snuck over to her place in the middle of the night and did it some more. I like to tie her up when we do it and she lets me. And sometimes when I need it, I get off by spanking her.”





He said all of this very brashly matter-of-fact, even as his body shook, daring her to lecture him on his transgressions. She could see Luna had buried her head into Harry’s back while Ron looked at Hermione with wide eyes as if her reception was tantamount in this fiasco. Harry continued, though, and she made sure to look her friend in the eyes.





“I guess Professor Lupin thought he could get me in a more agreeable mood to let him tag along if he brought her here for me. But since I’m not playing, he’s going to just keep digging at me with these catty remarks until I burst out crying, I suppose.” His sarcastic tone suggested that anything but that would be taking place this evening, yet Hermione could see a sadness glimmer in those bright green orbs.





So Harry was having sex with Luna. Duh, thought her inner monologue. The tying up and the spanking, however…well, okay, that was unexpected…and pretty weird. Hermione wasn’t sure how she was supposed to respond, as all eyes seemed to be on her at the moment. Why wasn’t Ron more shocked about this? Why did he just keep staring at her with those guppy lips? She was going to have to say something here as the minute dragged on.





“Uh, okay.” There was another pause then Ron sputtered like an outboard motor over on his side of the table.





“Wha-why-That-that’s it? That’s all you’ve got to say on the subject?” he said in his exasperated Ron way and it was kind of a nice turn around for the usually wound up witch.





“Well, what do you want me to say? I think there’s been enough shouting for one night. I’d like us all to get back to our more civil sides and try to resolve this before the damage is irreparable. Wouldn’t you agree, Remus?” She looked to the incensed man hoping to appeal to his sensible, adult persona. She had no use for his reckless dark side.





“I think it best I just leave, Hermione. Harry has said his peace; there’s nothing to resolve.” He grabbed his cloak and threw it over his shoulders, nodding his head towards the girl currently plastered to Harry’s back. “Come on, Luna, it’s time to leave.”





Neither Harry nor Luna moved an inch. “Luna’s not going anywhere with you,” he stated flatly.





Great, just great. Here goes another showdown, the girl sighed mentally as she gripped her wand tighter.





Remus glared. “I need to take her back to her father. She’s my responsibility, I gave my word.” His voice was cold, so cold.





“Well, I guess you’ll just have to explain to Mr. Lovegood that there was a change in plans. Or else you could tell him that yours backfired. It’s no difference to me. We’ll get Luna back to her home-” but then Lupin cut in.





“You three can’t go back there, that’s suicide.” He looked panicked now.





“I didn’t say that we’ll return with her, I said we’ll get her back home. Tell Mr. Lovegood that Harry Potter has it under control and she will be back very soon.” He was absolutely not standing aside in this and Hermione hoped Lupin could deal with this without blowing up again.





The man stared at the couple for a few more moments before storming out of the kitchen and running swiftly up the stairs, slamming the door hard as he left. Christ, that Walburga never got tired of her schtick, did she?





Once the teenagers had all exhaled loudly, Ron turned to Harry in a state.





“Mate, what is wrong with you? He’s a bloody werewolf; you’re lucky he didn’t change on the spot and tear you to bits!”





Harry only put his face up to his hands and breathed deeply again. Luna tightened her hold on him and then whimpered in her apology.





“Harry, I’m sorry I cause such a disturbance by coming here. I honestly thought we could help.”





“And just how are you going to get Luna home now that you promised? They’re all looking for you, how can you move her without taking her?” Ron was getting even more riled up now in the aftermath.





“Kreacher can take her back if he ever finds Fletcher,” Hermione determined. Surely that was what Harry had been thinking.





“Well, we don’t know how long that’s going to be, do we? We don’t have any food in the house as it is!” Leave it to Ron to think about his stomach.





Harry put his hands down and started to lead Luna out of the room. “Enough worrying; let’s go upstairs now.”





While Hermione and Ron followed the couple up the main stairway to the drawing room, she kept glancing at him as her eyes widened comically, her head nudging towards the other two as she tried to figure out the red-head’s take on things. He offered no insight but merely shrugged his shoulders. When they arrived on the landing in the drawing room, Harry kept heading up the next flight with Luna in tow. Hermione cleared her throat and the boy stopped to look back at her.





“Harry, don’t you want to talk this over? Where are you taking her?” She still wanted some answers, damn it.





“Hermione, I’ll talk to you in the morning. I’m taking Luna to my room. Good night.” Harry looked completely drained as he spoke. She wanted to insist that he come back down and give her the heart-to-heart she demanded, but she knew it was pointless. She’d just watched him in a near altercation with their former professor; Harry was not going to stand for her bossiness just now.





She sighed as she watched them head upstairs. Well, she still had Ron to discuss this with and he wasn’t going anywhere.





________________________________________________________________________________________________________________







Harry quietly made his way with Luna to Sirius’ old bedroom where he had been keeping himself in his extra time. The trio had all slept together in the drawing room in their sleeping bags the first few nights, but Harry kept getting drawn back to this room and the memories he imagined contained in the walls. When they’d done their fair share of research and plotting for the day and needed their own space for a while, Harry had used this room as a sanctuary where he could read the book Lupin gave him and work on his own bit of magic.





He had been collecting, in a fashion; finding useful artifacts around the house that he could work on for his Transfiguration projects. An old snitch he uncovered in the bottom of one of Sirius’ dresser drawers, a ruler, a cravat he had found in Regulus’ bedroom. In fact, Regulus’ things had been quite an illuminating treasure trove and he’d spent a bit of time cataloguing them all. Hidden under a loose board by the bed, Harry discovered that perhaps the young Death Eater’s tastes had run to the darker side like his own.





There had been a large dildo amongst the stash; black and rubbery with a very anatomically accurate presentation. He had found that lightly touching a discolored spot on the base had triggered it to start vibrating. His brain shifted into overtime as he imagined the possibilities with such a sculpture. The intrigued boy spelled several consequent Tergeos on the object, with a few other cleaning charms for good measure, until the soft plastic had been buffed into a dull palate, the gloss almost worn off. He wondered if he should alter the design a bit; the sex toy looked awfully big to handle.





There had been another delightful surprise waiting in the secret cache. In a swirl of chains, two silver clamps nestled. Harry recognized their use straight away as he remembered seeing many variations of them on the websites he had perused. They were in the shape of small silver beetles, the metal clothespin style affixed underneath and when he pressed the back of the scarab to the bottom pin in his grip, the head opened like a mouth. He promptly tested one out on his nipple and had gotten hard immediately. When he had pulled his t-shirt back over the metal grip jutting from his chest, he’d almost come on the spot from the sensation as it had only increased the pressure. He had pulled his cock free from his pants quickly then tossed off to images of Luna’s beautiful breasts being tortured with such a device. That hadn’t been all there was, either.





The last big find had been a leather riding crop. Harry had smacked it hard against his palm and smiled as he heard the crack upon flesh. How lucky for him that his godfather’s brother was a pervert, too. The entire idea had only pushed him to step up his invention as he worked on his own secret stash; creating new toys out of his appropriated items. In a way, it had staved off his loneliness as he pined for the dreamy girl back in the Devon hills, hoping fervently that she was still safe and sound.





When he had managed, through much trial and error, to transfigure the cravat into the leather collar from his Luna fantasies, he’d tried it on to see how snug he could make it. Creeping up to Sirius’ room in the middle of the night as Hermione and Ron sprawled over each other on the sleeping bags, Harry had fitted the collar around his throat before pulling out the nipple clamps and trying them both on as well. Then he had grabbed hold of his prick and masturbated again as his fingers delved into his arsehole, wanting to feel what it was that Luna felt when he did these things to her. He thought it had felt pretty awesome.





The exercise had only left him wanting her more, however. He felt like his body was on a perpetual hold; moving around the house with conviction but not really feeling committed to the act, like some sort of sexual zombie. His skin would start thrumming when he thought of her and any direct contact from Hermione or Ron would spark a frisson of tension throughout his center, mainlining his nipples to his cock, and the eroticism of every innocuous gesture left him more than a little antsy. It gave him opportunity to practice his mask of control, at least, as he would demand of himself not to blush when Ron innocently touched his fingers to the small of Harry’s back while speaking to him. Even if Harry’s arousal was poking through his t-shirt in the form of his hardened peaks, his face was composed giving away nothing.





Yes, he could use this time away from her to get stronger, learn to retain command of his impulses until he could be with her again. This was necessary, his mind had argued. He had to master himself to master his angel, he reminded. He could do this. By the time he had her in his embrace again, he would be completely ready for her.





Yet here she was now. Remus had broken up a good streak of willpower. God, he couldn’t even think about Lupin without getting enraged again. He had felt completely betrayed by the man and it might take a while for him to recover. He wasn’t going to dwell on that here in this room; however, he was going to concentrate only on the porcelain witch in front of him. He let out a sigh as he stood with his back against the wall arms folded across his chest as he regarded Luna seated upon his bed. She had gone straight into her amends when they walked into their haven, wanting to make things up to him for ruining everything, she declared. Harry didn’t really find her at fault in Remus’ misdirection, but he didn’t let on about that merely bade her to keep quiet until she was spoken to. Luna shut up immediately and waited for his instruction.





It didn’t matter that Harry had needed to see her; this had been a bad, dangerous move to have her here. He thought about what he had said to Ginny when he pushed her away. Then, it had been difficult, but he had honestly felt that he was doing the right thing in protecting her. The thought that Voldemort and his crew could possibly discover how much the girl meant to him and use that to torment the boy had been in the forefront of his mind regularly; intensifying as he had learned more about Tom’s cruelty and in his nightmares his imagination summoned up horrible visions of her twisted, broken body like some kind of sick love letter to him from Riddle. Now, his fear took on a whole new level.





What he felt for Luna was indescribable, really. His brain couldn’t even begin to comprehend what he would go through if anything happened to her. It. Just. Couldn’t. Happen. He couldn’t afford to have Luna be even a blip on the evil overlord’s perceptions. If Voldemort detected even the slimmest iota of his feelings for this blonde revelation, she was dead, end of story, goodbye. He had to make her understand that. Yet, he couldn’t walk away from her either. Every fibre in his being told him he should do it, but his mind refused. Luna was more than just an idea worth protecting, she was a source for him, a fountain from which he could drink that gave him his power the dark lord knew not. He needed her strength and he couldn’t deny it any more than he could deny the very air he was breathing. She was like his secret weapon, but a weapon that was going to have to follow strict adherences from her owner if they were going to both survive this.





“Take off your clothes,” he commanded, his eyes never leaving hers. Luna brought each knee up as her foot rested on the bed and she untied her laces, quickly toeing off the trainers when she was done. She wrestled her dress up over her head and dropped it to the floor; her knickers following soon after, but when she put her hands behind her to unhook the flesh-colored brassiere, Harry put his hand out to stop her.





“Wait, leave that on. Sit still, I’m going to try something.”





The docile girl sat back on her haunches as she kneeled on the bed, ready for Harry’s experimentation. He put his hand around the back of her neck and pulled back a little so he had a good angle to view the material around her chest as he contemplated it. His wand traced along the lace until Luna squirmed from the ticklish touch.





“Hold still, I said.” She looked away as she attempted to focus her attention on anything other than the distracting sensations.





When Harry spoke again, his hushed evocation hung in the air of the dusty room as he watched the mesh underneath the pointed wood start to change into black, then into stretchy leather, the lace over her smooth white mounds drawing away and folding into the wire underneath until her breasts were completely exposed while the bottom strap cupped them for display. The black against her translucent skin made for a very dramatic juxtaposition and he was very appreciative of the effect. He let her sit straight again and then instructed her to hook her arms behind her back as he fished something out of his secret drawer of goodies. He brought out the collar and clamps; when he turned to Luna her eyes got very big, which was always an exaggerated sight to behold.





“I want you to be a good girl while I fit these on, Luna. I made this collar for you, but I need to get it to the right snugness with the buckles in back, so tell me when it’s tight enough to be secure but not too close to mess with your breathing, alright?” The girl nodded in her complicity.





Harry scooped her long hair out of the way as he worked, his skin tingly as he saw the leather encapsulate her long neck, the thick silver hoop hanging in front in a beckon. He had been waiting to see this for a long, long time; however, he maintained his measured movements and curt direction without letting on his excitement at the vision she now presented. When he took hold of the clamps, Luna’s breath caught as he imagined she had realized just where they were going. He didn’t say anything to her as he pinched at one nipple, sucking on the other with his teeth, until both were as hard as he could make them. Before he clipped the pin to her first point, he gave her a sharp glance to get ready, he expected her total cooperation. Her chest moved up and down rapidly as she breathed heavier and her eyes tore away to stare up at the ceiling as she anticipated the pressure that would strain her nipples, and when Harry closed the grip in its bite, she gave a small whimper.





By the time he was done with the second one, her eyes were closed tight. The inspired teen had added a chain between the two clamps and it now hung down like a silver smile below her breasts. Harry touched his wand to the links and they shortened a bit under his spell so that the connection was closer together. He thought the entire ensemble looked incredible on her and was eager to try more, but he had a job to do. He turned her slightly to the side as his wand tapped against her hair and it quickly wrapped itself in a long braid. As much as he loved her long tresses, he wanted to keep it out of the way. Then he turned her back to face him and stared deep into those bulging, glowing orbs until her had her rapt and under his thrall.





“Luna, you need to listen to me very carefully.” He spoke very quietly, but firm and insistent. “You cannot come to me unless I specifically summon you.”





Luna started to speak, her low murmurs of apology music to his ears, but he grabbed the loop at her throat and pulled until her nose was right up to his. She stopped her pleading and let her heavy breathing take over, waiting again for his bidding.





“Luna,” he started again, “you cannot come to me unless I specifically summon you.”





The girl nodded back at him but stayed quiet this time. He moved back to grab hold of the chain connecting her breasts and tugged lightly backwards. She immediately moved into his pull as she tried to protect her breasts, letting out a cry at the pain, and the minute her bum was up off her legs in the motion, he smacked the side of her arse hard. He had been sure to put as many silencing and imperturbable commands on the door as he could manage to give her the freedom to be as loud as she needed to this time.





“I want you to repeat what I said,” he demanded.







She complied, her breathy recitation spurring him to smack her bottom again. He had her continue the lesson, saying the command over and over while he moved her hands to clasp behind her neck, raising her elbows up high in the air causing her tits to stretch. When he ran his open palm across the silver decorations of the clamps, she stopped mid-sentence and moaned deeply. His hand scampered down between her legs expecting to find her soaking wet and was proven correct. When the tips of his fingers started to enter her, she bore her body down to slide over the digits, but he pulled them away swiftly denying her the pleasure while scolding her to resume her chant.





He teased her body some more as she kept up her litany--I will not come to you unless you summon me--stroking her spine, tugging the chain again, sliding his hand between the inside crack of her bum and rubbing her sweet hole, smacking her engorged clitoris as her voice modulated with every startle. When she had kept up her lines for a good solid ten minutes, he got up on his knees in front of her and made little hushing noises as he took hold of her waist and drew her body close to him. He rubbed his cotton covered chest against the protruding clamps until she had whimpered enough for him. He kissed both sides of her mouth before resting his puckered lips to the center, chaste in its delivery like she was his child being put to bed. Once she had quieted down, he gave her that hypnotic gaze again until Luna could only see him.





“I need to make sure you’ve learned your lesson, luv. That means punishment. It won’t be like last time, but it’s going to hurt. I want you to be strong for me, so you’re just going to have to take it, sweetie. We need to remember what I just said so we’re going to use a cane that I made just for you.” He stopped a moment to make sure the girl was following everything he told her. She looked a little frightened, but there was a strong resolution in the set of her jaw and the determined glint in her irises.





“Now, you tell me how many strikes you think you can handle and I promise that I won’t overdo it. I need to make things very clear for you, Luna. Be a good girl for me. You cannot come to me until I summon you. So, what’s it going to be?” She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. “Ten? Fifteen? Can you handle twenty? You can do that for me, won’t you? I think twenty is good.”





Luna swallowed hard but nodded her head slowly. “Yes, Harry, I can do it. Will you…will you not go so fast this time?” She winced upon admitting her weakness in her request, but Harry took it as a good sign.





“Of course, angel. I’ll watch you, and you concentrate on whatever you need to in order to get through the pain, okay? I want you to count each strike for me, Luna.” She nodded again but then suddenly moved towards him to kiss him sweetly. He let her tongue slide inside his mouth, sucking on it with the strong taste of the Firewhiskey coming back to his senses.





He broke the kiss and turned her towards the headboard, pushing her to lay down on her front. She hesitated a moment, as it dawned on her that she’d be putting intense pressure on the scarab silver the minute she let her weight rest on the bed, but Harry made her go through with it with some encouragement and a firm hand. Once she was fully laying down, her arse shifting in the discomfort to her nipples, the determined teen stretched her legs and arms out towards the bed post at each corner. He couldn’t resist sliding two fingers into her quickly as her legs opened to him and she moaned deeply again, her desire making her cunt throb over his coated probes, but once again he pulled away after a mere few seconds to move on to her restraints.





This time when he intoned the Incarcero he added a twist that he’d learned from the sex manual, and instead of just harsh rope she was cuffed with leather binds that looked soft on the inside, the hemp attached through the metal hoops adorning them. He purposely let the ropes stay slack, however, and when a moment later he whispered a Mobilicorpus, Luna’s body rose and hovered over the bed, pulling her binds taut, like a balloon float in a parade. Quite a lovely balloon float, he might add. She had cried out at the motion when she first moved, but now she was silent as she waited for him again. Harry had never found patience so intoxicating and arousing before he’d gotten involved with this girl. The way she so peacefully abided his direction was a power trip like no other for the boy.





He pulled out the ruler from his drawer as she hung suspended, murmuring the transfiguration as he sat on the bed with his back to her and watching the flat wood slowly extend as it thinned into a white rod with gold and red bands. He set his wand down and turned, making the cane visible to Luna by sliding it underneath her in her sphere of sight. He stroked her back as he cooed to her, then leaned down and kissed her right at the top of the crevice of her buttocks. When he took up the cane again, he spoke firmly to her as he gave her another directive.





“When you count down I want to hear you repeat my words, baby, do you understand?” The girl started to shudder at that, but she nodded tenaciously. He could already see her arms start to shake a bit as she fisted the rope through her hands.





Harry felt a sizzle under his skin as he stood there, cane laying mildly on top of her bum, and he was drunk with the idea of what he and Luna were about to engage in. He idly thought that perhaps that shot of liquor was catching up to him, but inside he knew it was mostly the nerves singing, that powerful rush right before he was ready to fight, to step into danger. But he felt oh, so calm as he was about to begin.





He said her name once, and then lifted the cane up and whipped it straight across her unblemished arse, all trace of his previous mistake now healed. Luna gave a deep oh before her wavery voice hailed the first strike.



“One. I will not come to you unless you summon me, Harry.” She was so good. He could hardly wait to see how she would sound at number twenty.





He struck again, this time a little lower, and again the girl mewled into the blow then sounded out the number before reciting her lesson. Harry made sure to move at a consistent pace, leaving breaks in between for her to catch her breath and make her speech while her body absorbed the ordeal. When he got to number 6, she was starting to sound a little more breathy, her voice piquing to a squeak as her lower half started to squirm again. When he got to ten, he gave her a good pat on her reddened bottom and praised her for getting to the halfway mark. Luna stayed quiet while she prepared for the next batch.



Number eleven was much harder this time and she gave a surprised cry, but valiantly did her duty. The scarlet lines were so pretty on her lily backside and he started to fall into his own hypnotic spell as he watched her arse change under his design. His strokes moved around the whole area, never sticking to one spot, so she never knew where to expect the next sting.





When she counted fifteen, her voice was no longer that tinkle but thick with her tears. He made the last five the hardest blows, watching her pelvis hit the mattress in the impact and each time she yelled. Her crying was insistent now, but she continued her part through her sobs. When she at last reached her goal, ticking off the final number brokenly, she burst out into heavy tears and Harry was hanging over her neck, whispering his accolades as he stroked and licked the side of her face, the saltiness of her regret a reward on his tongue.





“I’m so sorry, Harry! I didn’t mean to upset you! Please for-forgive me. I’m sorry about Ginny!” Her distress caused her wracking shoulders to tighten her muscles into knots as she hung there holding on like she were fighting to stay afloat.





“Whoa, baby, whoa. Calm down, luv, it’s all over now. What’s this about Ginny?” He smoothed the hair on the back of her head as the other ran fingers up and down her arm. He had no idea how Ginny figured into all this.





“I couldn’t lie to her when she asked me, Harry! I didn’t know what to say, and now she hates me and never wants to see me again. I didn’t want to ruin things for you, but I couldn’t help myself!” and a fresh wave of sobbing mangled whatever else she was trying to say.





“What are you talking about, Lu? You need to calm down for me, okay? Slow down and breathe. That’s it, in and out, slow down.”





He coached her until her hysterical crying had settled down to sniffles and hiccoughs, her weeping finally easing up. He kept shushing her until she was back in control of her emotions again, his hands never leaving her skin as it brushed softly across her body for comfort. He grabbed a cloth he had waiting on the side of the bed and leaned over to wipe her face, making her blow her nose, as well. Then he had her begin her explanation again. When she told him how she’d been confronted, Harry’s stomach grew tense with his unease. He should have seen that coming; not a lot got past Ginny. After detailing the all out brawl the girl initiated, he’d just been furious. Yeah, Ginny was a hellcat for sure, and they would have some heated words the next time he saw her. But his anger swiftly turned to remorse. He was the one who deserved to get his arse kicked, not Luna. The red head had every right to be upset; she’d felt as betrayed as Harry had by Lupin.





He looked down at this sweet girl he had strung up like a victim. Once again, she had taken the hits for him. With Ginny, with Lupin, with his own fears; Luna soaked them all up in her soul. He sighed. When he had whipped her this time, it had felt different. Whereas the first time it had been like an exorcism, and then next that wild madness he’d let fly only to be replaced by that dead calm; now it was ritual, the clean give and take of his punishment and her receiving of it had been a pure act. It was strange how he could feel like her parent and her lover at the same time, but there it was. Perhaps he was meant to stay her teacher, but to learn about himself as he molded her. Her submission was her gift and he wanted to thank her for it however he could.





“Lu, baby, I don’t want you to think about that right now. We’ll deal with that later. Right now, I want you to concentrate on everything I’m going to make you feel in the next few hours, okay? You showed me that you could get through your pain, let’s see just how much pleasure you can handle, alright, luv?”





Luna tried to turn her head to him, but could only twist it far enough to her shoulder. “Can I kiss you, Harry?” she pleaded. The boy tilted his head down to take her lips to his once more and she threw her whole being into it even as she twisted around in her restraints. Harry pulled away but kept kissing down her skin, from her shoulder to her back, down her spine, and landing at her bum again. He licked at those stripes as he had done before, his adulation nowhere near complete as he prepared to overwhelm the girl’s senses. He changed the cane back to its inconspicuous ruler and then switched the item for another group of treats from his trove.





He moved down between her legs and let his tongue dabble into the wet gash waiting for him. He sucked her juices and swirled them around her skin, running them over her perineum and then his pointed tongue entering her puckered bud. When he hefted up the first dildo, he gauged just how much she could take. He’d stripped the black skin and it now held a brass finish gleaming brightly under the light. However, instead of shrinking the fake willie, he had enlarged it. He wanted to fill her completely. He warmed the object before slipping the tip inside her. She groaned in her anticipation, but Harry made sure to move it in small increments. Before he could get it all the way in, her groans had gotten louder, more surprised, and he put a hand on her arse to hold her steady as he pushed. He encouraged her in the final stretch.





“That’s my girl. Take it all up your sweet cunt. I made it so big for you, ‘cause I know you’re a greedy little slut, aren’t you?” He worried about the slur for just a second until he heard her moan her approval. That got him seriously turned on.





“Oh yeah, you hot little bitch. You liked to get fucked, don’t you, baby. I’m going to give you everything you need tonight, just you wait. Let’s get this one started.”





And with a tap of his wand, the dildo started to vibrate in and out of her cunt at a steady pace. Luna gasped before her body went taut, and then there was a chorus of “Oh, Gods!”





He pulled up the second object. It was a smaller dildo, but much more basic than the first. Just sleek and shiny and ready to fill a channel. He had transfigured it from an old small trophy sitting on Sirius’ nightstand. He conjured up a lubricating gel to run over the silver torpedo before lining it up to her winking ring of muscle. He let the tip simply move in its slight thrusts until Luna had allowed it to slide in. When it was in to the base, he tapped the bottom and it also pistoned to match the first one. He tapped the two dildos again until their motions were alternating, one going in as the other pulled out. Luna was starting to keen now, he hadn’t even positioned the third item and she had come already. The penetration continued, however, while he took the amped up snitch and let it hover in the air.





“I want to hear you count every orgasm, sex freak. You’re going to be having a lot of them; too, so make sure you’re paying attention.”





Luna exclaimed a ‘one’ before falling back into her keening wail. The dueling dildos still kept up their humming, but now he had added the winding vibrations of the snitch, doubled up in its new incarnation. He had created a second set of wings across the opposing arc of the ball so that they whirred at four points. When he tapped it with his wand again, the ball spun in its rotations as it moved to sit in front of her cunt, and with each mad gyration, the wings flapped against her swollen nub as fast as a hummingbird’s. The pale witch’s body now jerked and twitched spasmodically in her hold.





“Unnnggggg, oh gawwwwd, Harrrrrry, its, ahhhhhhh, twoooo, oh no, gods, stop!” But the boy only patted her bottom again and made a double tsk. He then slid off the end of the bed and made his way to the top, shedding his clothes quickly before climbing underneath the girl’s levitated body. Instead of lying down, however, he crawled up under her arms and turned to kneel in front of her so his back and feet were to the headboard; petting the top of her head when he was settled.





“Look at you, luv. You’re absolutely beaming in ecstasy. I’ll bet you’ll be dripping cum all over my bedspread before we’re through. Now be a good girl and open that mouth. You want it, don’t you? You want your Master’s cock?”





When he said the word, the thrill that rushed through his body was so intense his prick jolted upwards in the charge like it had just surged with an electric shock. Her eyes were shut in that worshipful mode again, a sight he would never tire of, he imagined. He went to stroke her cheek and she tilted her head into his palm.





“Yes, please, yes, Master. I-I-I-unh-thhrrree,” she forced out. Hearing her say the word was even more shocking and his whole body felt lit up with the power of it.





“That’s my baby, my Luna. I’m going deep, luv. Let me help you a bit.”





With that, he charmed the Bubble-head in a very small encasing under her nostrils so she could breathe. When she opened her mouth in surprise, he gripped his aching cock in his hand and positioned it into her gob. He moved all the way forward till her throat closed around him and she choked, but then pulled back quickly to let her recover, putting his hands to either side of her head to direct her motions. It was fantastic watching her pushing herself to take him all in only to get hit with wave after wave of her pleasure.





He could see the effects of her climaxes all over her body, but she would scream around his cock to make it completely clear. Harry would pull himself in and out slowly for a short time, letting her tongue work over his hot, wet skin and pulsing hardness, swirling around the tip and sucking lovingly; but then he would speed up his pace, picking up his wand off the bed to cast a quickening on the dildos, hearing them buzz louder in their effort and Luna’s moaning increase.





Her throat vibrating with the sound felt good on his ready knob and soon he was fucking her face harder, her breathing loud as the malleable sphere at the end of her nose sucked in and out with her gusts. This felt incredible and he almost wished her hands were free, wanting to feel her grab hold of his balls, wanting to have her suck on them, too. Just thinking about that brought his wad of sperm right to the edge and in another moment he was exploding deep into her mouth. He wondered what it would have looked like to pull out at the right second to see his cock ejaculate all over her face. Would she be able to handle that? He didn’t want to demean her, but it sounded so hot. He bet she would look gorgeous with his spunk dripping from her eyelashes. He’d talk her into it next time, he promised.





By the time he’d extracted his satisfied prick, Luna was deep in another place. Harry put his hand to her forehead and she felt feverish to him; her eyes were rolling back in her head, the moans unabated and constant but almost in a chant, her lips looking puffy from their exercise. Maybe this was too much, he thought.





“Luna, babe, talk to me,” he encouraged.





The girl’s voice was raspy when she spoke. “Eight,” came out in a dazed whisper. Yes, perhaps he needed to bring her back down.





He had wanted to do more, but she obviously needed a break. Harry could work on her endurance, he felt, but he’d have to take it slow. When he slid underneath her, she croaked for him, but he stroked her back and made his way to her thighs. What a sight greeted him. The lips down here were even puffier and he had predicted well how her nectar would run. As he took out the oversized toy, it was like taking a cork out of a dam and her cunt literally poured. The teen was simultaneously shocked and delighted to see such a deluge. It wasn’t even thick but drained like clear piss. But the cavernous hole left in the wake of her relentless release was awe-inspiring. He quickly turned off the snitch and then proceeded to remove the anal charmed shaft, but he wanted to explore that darkness inside her. She’d need to be comfortable, though, he decided.





Moving rapidly, Harry leaned over her back and slipped his hand underneath her to release the clamps. The girl yelped as sensation slowly enveloped her nipples again. He rubbed his palms against them and she jerked at the feeling. But then he was already moving to untie the ropes, leaving the leather cuffs on her wrists and ankles as she coasted back down to fall into the mattress. Luna groaned again as she hit the soft bedspread, while Harry was already back to her core, laying his body crosswise as he eagerly moved his fingers to fill up the space vacated by the huge dildo.





All four fingers entered smoothly into her highly aroused, dilated tunnel. He got his face up close and listened to the sound of her gushing liquid around his intrusions and it was in a mesmerized trance that he was able to watch his thumb fold in and keep pushing forward. He saw the bridge of his knuckles disappear, her body closing itself around his hand, and still he kept up the pressure in that insistent forward march to her center. When he saw his entire hand had slipped inside her and puffed up folds gripping his wrist, he stopped breathing. He felt like he was hallucinating; he had to keep blinking his eyes in confirmation that this was really happening in front of him.





He could only hear very heavy breathing up towards the head of the bed now, he hoped that she didn’t start hyperventilating, but at least the thought reminded him to breathe on his own again. He wasn’t even sure what he was feeling inside now, the heat was immeasurable and that velvety slickness was only urging him onwards. Where would he stop, he wondered in fascination. How much could she take of him? That snake that was his arm continued the slow slide until his wrist was gone and his forearm started to slip into the realm that was currently reducing him to a babbling loon inside his head.





I’m inside her, holy fuck, is this really happening, am I doing this, what is that, it’s her heart, oh my god, it’s her heart beating in my head, I’m so fucking deep I can grab it, hold her heart in my hand, is this her soul, am I wrapped in her soul, oh my god, Luna



And then her whole channel squeezed tight and the two teens both cried out together. Harry had a dim recognition that he was soaked now, in his sweat and in her juices. His whole body was trembling and he thought he might have heard his teeth chattering as he just as slowly made to exit this inner sanctum, this shrine. The sound of Luna’s heart beating still echoed in his head, throughout his whole being and he could hear his own thumping muscle in answer like running hooves on the ground. It felt incomparable to anything he’d ever experienced before, like he had been connected to this girl in a way that was resolutely intractable.





The shattered boy was finally coherent enough to realize that his fingers were now back in the light and Luna was shaking as bad as he was. He could hear her weeping again, but this time she sounded like she was laughing along the way. He was only able to crawl his body over hers as he made his way upwards, there was no strength left to pick himself up. When he got close enough, he took hold of the snot-laced towel strewn on the top pillow and used it to wipe off his arm. Harry was covered in her scent, he didn’t think it would ever fully be gone from his skin, and that made him smile.





It was hard to see by then, as he’d apparently started crying at some point and his glasses were steamy and wet. He took them off and dropped them to the floor, pulling the girl to him, turning her around to face him as their forms melded into each other. He kissed her tears from her cheeks and she did the same for him, their tremulous fingers stroking each other in a continuous swirl that refused to leave skin. When he held her face close enough to his, the blurriness faded a bit.





“You realize you’re completely and totally mine now, forever,” he declared softly. Luna gave him her biggest smile.





“Yes, Master,” came that breathy whisper he loved so much.





He hugged her tight and then kissed her deeply. This was what he needed, right here. Luna wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and they let their mouths express their devotion the best way they knew how. Soon, the lovers were drifting asleep, their lips still touching as they breathed in each other’s air.











More lines from DH in there between Ron and Lupin. This chapter was dedicated to Soft Obsidian for all her encouragement and enthusiasm.