Girls, Girls, Girls

***

The next few days were much the same. Harry tried hard to pay attention in his classes so that he could get his homework done as quickly as possible. Once that was out of the way, he spent the majority of his free time either with Hermione in research of new spells that would be helpful with what they suspected of the Second Task or in practicing the spells that had already made their list.

Both Ron and Hermione were interested in his technique for learning to cast silently. He started by being competent in casting it normally. This meant he had to have full control over the strength of the spell, the area of effect and the time limit, if any, that it would have. All of those little nuances that came only from practice, but which meant the difference between bumbling amateur and competent professional had to be worked out in advance.

Once he could cast the spell perfectly while speaking it, Harry would cast it again and again in succession, each time speaking softer and softer and putting more and more emphasis on ‘thinking’ the words in his head. Eventually, he could cast the spell without making a sound or even moving his lips.

Oddly enough, Ron was better at this than Hermione. Oh, she could still learn a new spell faster than either boy, but she had some sort of mental block when it came to silent casting. She could whisper the spell so softly that no one could hear her unless they were standing right next to her, but silent casting left her spells with very little raw power. Ron had only managed to cast two spells silently, but both were at his full strength.

This state of things left the two of them bickering quite a bit, Ron alternated between gloating over how powerful his casting was while grumbling about his lack of a large spell repertoire. Hermione grit her teeth through a lot of it, but she was very frustrated at her lack of success with silent casting, even if she knew many more spells than either of the boys.

Unless they started to get really nasty and hurtful, Harry left them to it and just practiced repeating spells over and over. This newfound diligence of his didn’t go unnoticed among the other Gryffindors and as they tended to do in times when he wasn’t being shunned, they attempted to emulate his lead. So it was that practicing the practical applications of their lessons in the Common Room became a very popular activity.

One wag had even conjured up a red and gold muggle rubber ball and proceeded to banish and summon it over and over again. The competitive nature of the Gryffindors took to the idea swiftly and many now tried to see who could keep their own balls floating back and forth across the Common Room the longest.

All in all it made for an almost festive atmosphere, many students’ grades improved a bit and Harry was given quite a few ideas by his generally clueless housemates.

The only real distraction for him was Katie Bell. He dreamed of her every night. Well, to be completely honest, he dreamed of her shaved girly bits every night and woke up every morning either covered in his own drying cum or just on the verge of orgasm and only needing a few quick tugs on his penis to send him over the edge. Every time he saw her he would spontaneously grow hard as a rock in his trousers and his face would blush bright red. She wasn’t much better.

He had snuck off to the Prefect’s Bath once again and had practiced the air freshening charm. He’d managed to stay underwater for almost half an hour before the temptation became too much and he wanked to his memory of her walking in on him last time.

He still couldn’t hold the charm and cum at the same time.

Of course, Katie knew that he was interested in her. Not that he really wanted to date her, because he didn’t. Not really. His interest was purely in what was under her skirt. Katie was a girl and a Gryffindor, so she tormented him over it every time she saw him. Flashes of long legs, quick notes passed with naughty things written to him about her knickers or lack there of, a few quick peeks and once, a whisper into his ear as she sauntered past about how she needed to go shave herself.

Harry had to excuse himself over that one as well. He’d used his silent casting to warm up his fingers and enjoyed a good fifteen minutes of teasing himself while picturing Katie rubbing a hair removal potion all along her slit. Good times.

Still, things were happening quickly in many different areas of his life; school work, research for the tournament, Ron and Hermione’s verbal spats and the unspoken emotional tug-of-war they were playing for Harry’s attention, and his growing obsession with Katie’s shaved snatch. Tension was ratcheting up all around and inside him and he knew that something had to give soon.

***

As it turned out the thing to give first was Katie Bell’s patience.

Harry was making his way towards the Great Hall for lunch all by himself when it happened. He was wandering down the Charms corridor on his way to meet Ron when a slim hand reached out from behind a tapestry, grabbed him by the back of his robes and dragged him into the dark. Harry was two seconds away from hexing his kidnapper into a steaming pile of goo when a brief shaft of light illuminated Katie’s face long enough for him to recognize her.

Instantly, Harry’s penis was painfully hard and his face began to blush bright red.

“K.Katie?”

Katie blushed, bit her lip, and then visibly steeled herself and straightened her shoulders.

“You’ve been staring at me a lot.”

Dumbly, Harry nodded.

“Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

Harry started to nod again, but then stopped and tilted his head slightly, a thoughtful look on his face.

“It’s kinda complicated.”

Katie frowned at him and he hastened to try and explain.

“I mean, I like you. A whole lot. I dream about you every night. I think about you all the time. But…” Harry shrugged at her and frowned slightly, “I don’t really think I’m ready for a girlfriend. With the way the newspapers are treating Hermione just because she’s my best friend and with the danger of the tournament I don’t think it’d be very fair to any girl to be known as my girlfriend. She’d be an instant target for all of the prats and vicious-minded wanna-bes out there.”

Katie opened her mouth, paused, closed it, and then opened it again.

Harry shrugged apologetically.

“I didn’t really think of it that way before, but you’re right. The Daily Prophet has been really mean to Hermione.”

“Yeah, what a great reward for being the only person in the whole school to stick by me when that stupid thrice-cursed Goblet spit out my name, huh?”

Katie blushed and looked away for a moment, embarrassed by the fact that she had believed that he had stuck his name in the Goblet until she realized just how deadly the Tasks were. Finally Katie took another deep breath and turned to face Harry again.

“So, you don’t really want a girlfriend because that would mean setting the girl up as a victim to Rita Skeeter, but you can’t help dreaming about me?”

Harry blushed bright red again and his hard penis throbbed in memory of those dreams.

“Yeah. I,…um…”

Katie grinned at him. It was a bit on the naughty side.

“So…In these dreams? What do I do? Are we walking around the lake? Flying brooms in a Quidditch match? Do we curl up in front of a big fire and whisper in each others’ ears?”

Those suggestions were so innocent and so far off base Harry couldn’t help but blurt out his next thought.

“No, you’re always naked and shaved and letting me bring you to orgasm with my fingers and tongue.”

They both froze at his words, staring at each other in wide-eyed shock for a second before they both blushed bright red.

Slowly, a smirk grew on Katie’s blushing face. Without a word, Katie reached down to pull her robes open to expose the Gryffindor jumper and tie she wore as well as the short pleated skirt that exposed a long expanse of her creamy pale legs. She shifted those legs so that she was standing with them spread far apart. Then, she reached out and put both of her hands on Harry’s shoulders and gently began to press him down to the floor.

“Well?” Her voice was husky and thick. “Get to it, Potter.”

Suddenly, Harry was convinced that this was a dream. He’d fallen asleep in Charms class and was having a naughty dream. He was going to be so embarrassed when he woke up with a mess in his trousers and everyone staring at him. Still, since he was dreaming, he might as well enjoy it.

He dropped to his knees before her and Katie’s fingers curled around the edges of her skirt and pulled it up to reveal a tiny scrap of scarlet lace pretending to be a set of knickers. Harry’s penis throbbed in appreciation of the sight.

Without even thinking about it, Harry silently cast the heating spell on his fingers and hands, warming them up. Just as they were starting to glow with the magic of his spell, he reached out with one fingertip and traced the line where her knickers met the flesh of her stomach. Her skin quivered slightly at his touch and he grinned.

Taking two fingers, one from each hand, he traced the line of her knickers along her thighs, slowly trailing inward and down until they met in the middle. He rubbed gently against the silk, feeling Katie’s naked slit beneath. Katie moaned and tilted her hips towards him, pressing against his hand.

His balls tingling with excitement and his throbbing shaft shouting encouragement, Harry grabbed hold of her knickers and slowly slid them down her lovely long legs. Without prompting, Katie shifted her weight and stepped out of them with first one foot and then the other. Harry stared hungrily at her shaved smooth snatch and almost absentmindedly he stuffed her knickers into his robe pocket.

Reaching out, Harry cupped her naked sex with his hand and silently willed the heat spell a little stronger. He could feel her press into his palm and grow very wet even as the most delicious and enticing scent began to waft from her. Curiously, he dipped his hot fingertips into her wet slit and began to fondle and explore her hidden folds.

Experimentally, he pulled back his hand and looked at his wet fingers. He brought them to his face and the scent of Katie’s arousal was strong in his nose. Without even thinking about it, he stuck a finger in his mouth and tasted her for the first time. She groaned and reached out to tangle her hands in his hair. A silent tug and he was being guided face first into her smooth wet sex.

He tentatively stuck out his tongue and licked along her wet slit. The response to this was instantaneous and wonderful. Katie moaned again and flipped her right leg up and over his shoulder in order to open herself up to him and then she pressed her wet snatch tightly against his mouth. For his part, he could feel his throbbing penis begin to dribble a steady stream of pre-cum, soaking his boxer shorts.

Her taste was sweet and musky and he knew that he’d never get enough of this even if he lived to be the Headmaster’s age. She smelled so good and tasted even better. Before he knew it, his tentative little licks had given way to him burying his nose in the top of her slit, his chin in the back of her slit and his tongue deep inside her hidden middle. He licked and sucked and rubbed at her as she moaned and pressed herself tight against him.

Although Harry wouldn’t realize it until much later, he had silently cast a mild heat spell and tickle spell with this lips and tongue, instead of his fingers or wand. Katie seemed to enjoy it a whole lot if the flood of sweet wetness pouring into his mouth and on his face while she shivered and trembled meant anything.

Time seemed to lose all meaning for Harry as he brought both Katie and himself from peak to peak over and over again. Every time she trembled and flooded his mouth with her orgasm, Harry’s penis would shoot into his trousers and he trembled right back at her starting another round of licking and sucking. It was finally Katie who stopped them, pushing Harry’s head away from her and lowering her leg shakily to the floor.

“We…we have…to stop…for…classes.” Katie panted at him between gasping for breath as she leaned hard against the wall and tried without much success to fix her skirt and shirt.

Harry looked up at her almost uncomprehending and panted as well. They were both sweaty and sticky and disheveled. He waved his hand at her, and then at himself twice and silently cast three mild cleaning charms. One was aimed at her wet snatch and the other two were aimed at his own messy trousers and his soaking wet face.

Katie didn’t notice that the spells were silent and wandless, neither did Harry.

Instead, she reached out with one hand, pulled him to his feet and leaned forward to kiss him deeply. With a bit of ironic humor, Harry realized that this was his first kiss. When they finally pulled apart, Katie smiled at him and gently brushed one hand along his cheek and adjusted his glasses for him.

“We will definitely have to do this again sometime soon, Harry.”

Harry just nodded at her dumbly with a big stupid grin on his face.

***

Breakfast in the Great Hall was a bit embarrassing for Harry as he found himself bracketed by Ron and Hermione and thus neither of them was able to block him from view of the three Gryffindor Chasers sitting slightly further down the other side of the table. Katie sat between Angelina and Alicia and all three of them would glance over at him before blushing and then pulling their heads together to whisper and giggle.

The memory of what he had done with and to Katie in that private little nook behind the tapestry in the Charms corridor was foremost in his mind and he was absolutely sure that Katie had shared all of the details of their escapade with her two best friends. While he was glad that she wasn’t angry over him not wanting to be her boyfriend, the reasons behind that were real. He was worried that if anyone overheard them talking or if the other two girls decided to spread the news that Katie could still come under fire from the newspapers. It was bad enough that Hermione was being shunned by a large portion of the school and that her name and reputation was being dragged through the mud by the Daily Prophet.

Not that it would stop him from doing it with her again. He distinctly remembered her promise that they would and he was looking forward to it. He just hoped that they could find someplace with a little more room. He’d like to stretch her naked body out and kiss her everywhere before he dove back into her smooth and sopping wet slit.

Just then, a bunch of mail owls flew into the Great Hall and pulled his mind out of his fantasies and his eyes away from the blonde that was still giggling at him with her friends. That was a good thing though as he had just enough warning to partially stand up and reach out with Seeker reflexes to catch the Weasley’s ancient owl, Errol. The poor thing was panting for breath and had practically passed out from exhaustion in Harry’s arms.

Ron rolled his eyes in exasperation even as he untied the thick envelop from the poor owl’s leg. Hermione on the other hand, stared at it in concern.

“Um, maybe we should take Errol down to Hagrid to look over. The poor thing looks about done in. I’m sure that Hagrid would be able to help it. Maybe he could suggest a tonic?”

Ron, being so used to seeing Errol near collapse, simply looked at her with a baffled expression on his face. Harry, on the other hand, tried to imagine seeing his beloved Hedwig like this and had to agree.

“You’re right, Hermione. I think Hagrid could help poor Errol out a bit, even if it’s just providing a quiet space for him to rest up.”

Ron, not able or willing to argue against a visit to Hagrid, no matter the reason, quickly stuffed his letter into his school bag and the three of them stood up and began to march out of the Great Hall. When they passed the three Chasers, he got a wink and a chorus of, “Bye Harry,” followed by a bunch of giggles. Hermione shot him an arch look, but didn’t comment. Harry was glad for that.

***

Lunch was a much less stressful affair as Katie and her friends weren’t there. Harry wasn’t sure if that bothered him or not. Still, he had enjoyed his lazy Saturday morning with Hagrid and the recently outted half-giant did indeed have a suggestion for a tonic that would help poor Errol. He warned that the owl’s biggest problem was old age, but that the tonic would help give him some extra energy for long flights and would help with any stiffness or pain the bird suffered from.

Of course, Hermione wanted to brew a batch of it up and dose Errol before Ron sent him back to the Burrow. So, after they were done eating, the three of them collected Hermione’s potions kit and a bunch of books for studying and headed down to the dungeons. Professor Snape had set aside a student lab for those who wanted to brew outside of class time and as long as one had a Prefect or a student taking the NEWT potions class to supervise, students were allowed to use it to brew.

When they got there, three of the nine brewing stations were available and Hermione walked up to the seventh year Ravenclaw who was acting as the lab monitor and showed him the tonic recipe and permission slip from Hagrid. The older student glanced over it briefly, asked a quick question or two and then sent Hermione over to him and Ron with a smile and a wave.

At Harry’s questioning look, Hermione grinned and shrugged, “Ravenclaws always respect students working on extra credit projects. And even though Professor Snape would never think to give extra credit for brewing outside of class, Hagrid will since we’re going to dose a sick owl.”

Ron and Harry grinned back broadly. Hagrid was truly the best.

Hermione directed their efforts, of course. She sent Ron off to collect any needed items that she didn’t have and then set Harry to preparing the ingredients while she herself did the actual brewing. Harry was busily slicing up some twisted root while Hermione was slowly stirring in some powered dragonfly. Ron had just finished tucking away several of Hermione’s bottles and jars when Harry had a thought.

“Hey Ron, what did old Errol bring you anyway?”

Ron looked over at him with a blank expression before blushing sheepishly.

“Don’t really know. We were all so worried about his health and rushing off to have Hagrid look him over that I just shoved the letter in my pocket and forgot about it.”

He and Hermione exchanged silent glances and tried not to snicker as Ron dug into his pocket and pulled out a lump of folded parchment. He opened it up and found three sheets of tiny parchment and a teeny little book. They all looked at it in confusion before Hermione’s face changed into an expression of understanding.

“I bet your mum or dad shrunk it to make it easier for Errol to carry. Tap it with your wand, Ron.”

Shrugging, Ron pulled out his wand and gave the packet a light tap. Instantly, the parchment and the book grew to their normal size. With a grunt of acknowledgement, Ron pushed the book aside and picked up the letters.

Harry noticed that the title of the book was Quick and Easy Spells and Potions to Aide in Good Grooming and Hygiene. He grinned. It looked like Mr. and Mrs. Weasley took Ron’s questions about a shaving spell seriously.

“My dad says that he is really interested in trying to shave the muggle way, but my mum put her foot down when she found out that it involved coating his face in whipped cream and then taking a straight razor to his own throat…”

Ron trailed off and looked up at Hermione with a mixture of confusion and horror. Harry snickered and Hermione merely rolled her eyes, but neither one of them tried to explain. Ron never understood whenever they tried to explain muggle things.

Shaking his head and muttering under his breath about crazy muggles, Ron started to read through the second page. That drew Harry up short and he absentmindedly slid the sliced root over to Hermione and began to count out 18 dried blueberries from the lab stores. Harry could easily admit to himself that he wasn’t an expert on getting mail. He didn’t have that many people he could write to and very few that would write him back. His very first bit of mail was his Hogwarts letter and he only really wrote to Sirius. Still, he couldn’t help but notice a distinct difference in the letters he received and the letter that Ron just got.

His notes to Sirius were normally short and only covered a single topic. Sirius’s replies were much the same; short and to the point. There were never any rambling descriptions of things, or humorous anecdotes, or packages. He figured that part of that was his own fault. His letters to Sirius didn’t really explain a lot about his life, so how could he expect his godfather to comment on things he knew nothing about? Also, Sirius most likely didn’t have a lot of writing supplies handy. He and Professor Lupin were on a severely limited budget where food and shelter would be the most important things to worry about.

Automatically handing over the correct number of blueberries to Hermione, Harry began to clean up the area he had used and returned the unused potion ingredients back to the spot in the student lab stores.

The more he thought of it, the more he realized that he and Sirius were like strangers to each other, albeit ones that had some vague connection and a sense of duty to the other. Ron, on the other hand, had a family. Not liking that realization, Harry vowed to himself to change that as soon as he could.

Smiling softly at his vague half-plans, Harry turned to face Hermione.

“Anything else I need to do?”

She double checked the recipe and looked around her at everything before shaking her head.

“Not just yet. I have to stir a few more times and then add the blueberries. After that we have to let the potion simmer for ten minutes.”

Harry nodded and reached out to the book Ron had been sent. The red-head looked up and grinned before nodding towards to book and shaking the letter he was holding.

“Mum says that she was given that book by my grandmum when she first started Hogwarts as a young girl. Some of the things in there won’t be useful to boys, but she promises that there’s still a lot of good stuff in there.”

Harry nodded and grinned back before opening the book and beginning to read.

***