What a Witch Needs

Thanks again to all my reviewers. You are all fabulous and you make this all worthwhile for me to write! Hope you enjoy this next installment.

Beta’d by: Narcissa Black and gardengirlgarden: all my thanks!

WARNING: Last part contains femslash.

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownership of anything in the Harry Potter megaverse.

Accepting Fate


Hermione kept herself busy that afternoon checking on the living conditions of the Marlston house elves. Bugger led her near the kitchens where rows of dormitories were located. She was avoiding the new ‘pet,’ Kitty, purposely, not wanting to deal with her uncomfortable feelings.

Harry and Draco knew Hermione was avoiding the parlor, and them, for that matter. After discussing the situation, they decided that Hermione would have to initiate any ‘play’ with Kitty herself. They sat in the library reading the mail that had arrived that morning. Draco saw the familiar handwriting of Professor Snape and opened the small scroll. After reading it through, he ran a hand in his hair and said, “I don’t believe this!”

“What?” Harry inquired. “Did Snape change his mind about coming after Christmas?”

“No, he’s still coming,” Draco said. “And he’s bringing my father.”

Harry sat up straight and grabbed the letter, reading it for himself.

Then Harry tossed it on the desk and said, “What the hell is Snape playing at?”

Draco threw up a hand and then held his head as if he had a headache. “Harry, which fucking side do you think Snape’s on?”

“I wonder about that myself,” Harry said. “Dumbledore trusts him, but I never have. Do you think your father really wants to switch sides?”

Draco let out an incredulous laugh. “It would be great if I could completely trust him, but I can’t. I just don’t fucking know, Harry. What if they just want to get inside of Marlston? Can we take that chance?”

“Maybe we can,” Harry said thoughtfully. He turned his face towards the doorway and called out, “Bugger.” Bugger always seemed to be lurking somewhere nearby and they never had to say his name loudly in order for him to hear it.

Bugger appeared almost instantly, “Yes, Masters?”

“If we have two guests here that we don’t completely trust, can we have them prevented from using any magic while in Marlston?” Harry asked.

“Yes, Masters. If the mistress commands it of Those-Who-Dwell-Below, then your guests will be prevented from using magic,” Bugger answered. “If they are not trusted, they will also be watched carefully.”

Harry looked at Draco and said, “They would be powerless. An ideal time to find out their true allegiances, wouldn’t you say?”

Draco smirked and said, “Yes, ideal.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That night, Hermione found her sleep disturbed by the sound of the bedroom door opening. She opened her eyes and was startled to find a woman in white, standing at the foot of the bed and looking intently at her. Hermione sat up quickly and said, “Who are you?” She was frightened to see someone in her house that she did not recognize. Harry and Draco were fast asleep on either side of her and she was about to shake them awake until she heard a voice in her head.

“Come with me,” the woman said, without moving her mouth. “I must show you.”

When the woman’s mouth did not move, Hermione then concluded that it was an apparition of some sort, a solid looking one. “Show me what?” she found herself asking.

“Come,” the woman said and turned around. She walked out the open bedroom door and out of sight.

Hermione crawled off the bed and hurried to peek out the door. The woman was walking down the hallway towards the staircase. Indecision filled Hermione as she didn’t know if she should follow or not. But curiosity won out and she decided to follow at a safe distance.

Harry had awoken from the movement of the bed when Hermione crawled off and he had just got his glasses on when he noticed Hermione slipping out the door. He put on a robe and went to find her. When he went into the hallway, he could see Hermione turning to descend the stairs in the distance.

“Where is she going?” Harry muttered as he quickened his steps. When he got to the top of the grand staircase, Hermione was already at the bottom. He called out, “Hermione?”

She stopped walking and looked up him, saying quickly, “Hurry Harry, I’m following someone.” She walked off out of sight again and Harry quickly ran down the stairs to catch up.

When he caught up with her he asked, “Who are we following?”

Hermione pointed straight ahead, “That woman.”

“I don’t see anyone,” Harry said.

Hermione looked at him strangely for a moment and said, “I suppose only I can see her then.”

“It may be Those-That-Dwell-Below,” Hermione said as she led the way for Harry. “They can take any form they wish, remember?”

Further down a hallway, Harry could see a large panel in a wall slide open on its own. “Did she just open that door?” he asked Hermione.

“Yes,” Hermione replied as she watched the woman disappear through the panel doorway. Bugger had never shown them this before and she was curious as to where it might lead.

“Come on,” Hermione said and she laced her fingers through Harry’s and pulled him along to follow the mysterious woman. When they reached the open panel, Hermione no longer saw the woman in white. They paused and looked with wonder at the very long, wide corridor that seemed to stretch on forever. There were no furnishings here, only large portraits hanging on both sides of the walls for as far as the eye could see. They entered slowly, gazing from side to side at the portraits on the walls. The ones nearest them seemed very old. The figures inside were not moving, but seemed to gaze ahead with a far away stare. “What is this place?” Hermione whispered as they slowly walked ahead and looked at the faces in the portraits.

As they walked further on the portraits seemed to take on more and more life and now the faces looked back at them in curiosity as they passed. Finally one said, “Who are you?”

Harry and Hermione stopped and gazed up at a medieval looking man with a severe face. “I’m Hermione Gr… Marlston,” Hermione answered. With her words the corridor suddenly became filled with chatter as the portraits seemed to gossip with each other about this news.

“Marlston, eh?” the man in the portrait said. “Sebastian and Morgana’s girl?”

“Yes,” Hermione answered.

“Why haven’t you visited us before?” the man reprimanded. “Didn’t think your ancestors were important?

“My… ancestors?” Hermione said in amazement. “These are all my ancestors?” Her eyes swept along the walls on both sides. The portraits had now quieted themselves as they listened to the conversation.

“Yes, girl,” came a shrill woman’s voice in a portrait behind her. Hermione and Harry spun around and looked at her. “We are all here, starting with the first Marlston.” The portrait pointed down the corridor towards the door in which they had first entered. “They were Halvern and Hestia Marlston. They no longer move. They’re too old now you see. They died in the year 583.”

“583?” Hermione said in amazement. “My, that’s so long ago.” Her appreciation for the careful way that the portraits were maintained increased dramatically. “This is amazing. All of you are here, everyone since that time?”

“Yes,” the man in the portrait next to the woman answered.

“How did Halvern and Hestia become the first Marlstons?” Hermione wondered.

“Know you the story of Merlin, child?” said the portrait of the man who had first spoken to them.

They turned to face him again and Hermione said, “Yes.”

“Know you that Arthur fathered a child with his sister, Morgan le Fey?” he asked.

“Yes, Mordred he was called,” Hermione answered.

“Mordred was the first Dark Lord, the first to gather and hold the dark forces for his command. But what most people don’t know is that Mordred was not fathered by Arthur. He was fathered by Merlin. Merlin rejected him, however, and Mordred’s anger and hate grew until he imprisoned Merlin in a prison of ice. There he slowly drained Merlin of power and consumed it into his own being,” her ancestor explained.

“Mordred was my ancestor?” Hermione asked.

“No, child,” another portrait, a woman, now spoke. “Do you know what lies deep beneath Marlston?”

“No, only that there is a secret power of some sort,” Hermione answered. She glanced at Harry who stood listening and gazing at the walls in concentration.

“Yes, a power so strong that all the Dark Lords throughout the centuries have sought it, needed it,” the woman said. “What do you think is down there that would give such power?”

“Merlin’s prison,” Harry said as the answer seemed to suddenly come to him.

Hermione whipped her face towards Harry and said, “Merlin’s prison?”

“Very good, boy,” the woman sneered.

“Merlin is still down there?” Hermione gasped.

“Yes, frozen and preserved,” she answered. “And you are now his guardian.”

“What?” Hermione said with wide eyes.

“Mordred chose Halvern and Hestia to guard the prison of Merlin. They built their home on top and called it Marlston. Hence, they were the first Marlstons,” the woman said.

Harry had observed something about the portraits and now said, “Why are there so many men?”

“Not all of us are Marlstons,” said a portrait near the ceiling. The man looked stern and gazed intently at Harry. “You seem clever,” he said. “What else have you noticed about our portraits?”

Harry and Hermione looked again and concentrated tried to find something unusual or perhaps something in common.

Hermione slowly said, “They are all grouped in three’s, Harry. Each group has two men and one woman.”

“Very good,” a portrait woman said. “It is the triad. The Marlston heir takes a spouse and together they take a third lover.”

“The Dark Lord,” Harry whispered. He looked at Hermione, his heart beating erratically. This was meant to be. This was all meant to be! His relationship with Hermione and Draco, it was fated to happen.

“Yes,” the woman said. “An unbeatable force, the triad is. All the Dark Lords throughout the centuries have sought this place. All have needed the power of Marlston and the powerful blood of the Marlston lineage. The portraits on top of each husband and wife are the Dark Lords.”

Harry’s head whipped around, looking at all his predecessors. He wasn’t related to them as he knew that the power chose a new infant upon the death of a Dark Lord. Hermione wobbled and grabbed on to Harry’s arm as if she were going to faint. “Oh Gods, Harry,” Hermione moaned.

He wrapped her in his arms and said, “Are you all right?”

“Harry, what if… what if…,” she said, barely able to voice her words.

“Hermione, darling?” called a woman’s voice far down the corridor.

“Your mother calls,” a portrait told her.

Hermione began shaking as Harry held her. “Do you want to go see her?” he asked.

She began to cry and said, “Oh Harry, I don’t know. This is all too much. Oh Gods! Merlin’s below us!”

“Let’s just get out of here then,” Harry said, hating to see her so distressed.

Hermione took a deep breath and dried her eyes. “No, I want to see them Harry,” she said. “I have never seen a picture of them.”

“All right,” Harry said, understanding how it felt to want to know your parents. He wished that there had been talking portraits of his own. He slung an arm around her and guided her down the corridor. All the portraits were watching them with interest as they passed.

“Right here, Hermione,” said a man’s voice. They turned and gazed upon the last portraits in the corridor. The man had sandy blonde hair but held himself very aristocratically as he looked upon his daughter and her lover. Hermione thought him very handsome and her mother, who had her long brown hair styled in ringlets on her head, very beautiful. “I am Sebastian, your father,” he said.

“And I am Morgana, your mother,” the woman said.

Hermione’s knees gave out as she fell in a faint. Harry had his arm about her so he was able to embrace her and save her from hitting the floor. Harry picked her up in his arms and looked at her parents, saying, “This is a bit of a shock to her. Perhaps she can come and speak to you once she’s rested.” He turned to carry her out of the hall but paused a moment when his eyes flicked up above the portraits of Sebastian and Morgana. There sat Tom Riddle, perhaps in his late twenties, asleep in his portrait.

Sebastian followed his eyes and said, “He’s not dead yet. He won’t wake until he is.”

Harry looked at Hermione’s father and said, “I’m going to make that portrait awaken.” He turned and left with Hermione in his arms.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Draco felt cool air on his skin as he awoke in the morning. He saw that Harry and Hermione were no longer in bed and the balcony door was open. He slipped off the bed and pulled on a robe. As he stepped out onto the balcony he saw Harry and Hermione gazing serenely out across the valley. They made such a lovely picture, Harry holding Hermione from behind while her head lolled lazily back against his shoulder.

Draco padded up to them, hugging his robe tighter around himself to keep out the morning chill. He wrapped his arms about them both and leaned in for kisses. “What are you two doing out here?” he asked.

“Thinking,” Harry said.

“About?” Draco prompted.

“Many things,” Hermione replied, still gazing at the village in the valley below. Bugger had told them that they could see Marlston village from the manor but the villagers could not see them. It was all part of the enchantment of the house.

“Care to clue me in?” Draco asked, leaning his forearms on the balcony railing.

“Tomorrow’s Christmas,” said Hermione. “I want to go to the village today.”

“All right, love,” Draco said.

She turned and gave Draco a passionate kiss and then turned to Harry and gave him the same. “I’m off to the shower.” She left them on the balcony and entered the house.

“You two are acting a bit strange. What’s going on?” Draco asked Harry.

Harry looked at him and said, “We have a lot to tell you, but first I need to send some messages to the village.” Then he put a hand on Draco’s shoulder. “You’ve been right, Draco. It’s time to be the Dark Lord. It’s time to gather our allies.”

A slow grin started on Draco’s face as he said, “Whatever happened to you, I like it already.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The villagers piled into the inn, filling every chair and free space in the common room as the meeting was due to start. Meri stood in the center of the room, waiting for all to quiet.

When everyone was silent, they looked at the old woman expectantly. “The triad is complete again,” Meri announced. “The power of Marlston will rise and smite our enemies into dust.”

“The dark one, it is He,” a villager shouted out in excitement.

“Yes!” Meri exclaimed. “He is our Lord. He will kill the other, the deceiver. He will kill him and his followers.”

“All hail Lord Potter!” the villagers chanted. “He will smite the deceiver and his followers.”

“Yes, the triad is complete,” Meri said, a fervent gleam in her eyes.

Just then the door crashed open and a chill wind blew into the room causing the flames in the dragon hearth to waver dangerously close to bystanders. They looked towards the open doorway, shielding their eyes from the wind with their hands.

A black cloaked figure stepped through and into the room followed by two others. The villagers dropped to their knees and bowed their heads.

“Do I have your allegiance?” Harry asked in a strong voice.

“Yes, my Lord,” many voices chorused. “We are yours to command.”

They pulled the hoods down from their heads and Draco shut the door behind them making the room silent once more.

“I will have your blood as your oath to me,” Harry commanded.

Bugger came from behind them holding squares of cloth and a dagger. One by one they came up to him and bled onto a cloth with their name written on it. Then they knelt before Harry and swore to serve him and do as he commanded.

When all had done these things, Harry said, “Marlston will thrive again and all shall be rewarded for their faithful service.”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Christmas morning they had awoken to a winter wonderland which the house elves had created for their pleasure. It was snowing in the house, but the snow always melted before it hit the ground and it was never cold. The enormous tree in the parlor sparkled with fairies circling around it and sprinkling fairy dust all throughout. Presents that had arrived by owl that morning were lying underneath, waiting to be opened.

Draco looked at them all in surprise. He didn’t expect to get so many this year. He suspected that Harry and Hermione went to extra efforts to spoil him with gifts. He hugged them both saying, “I love you two so much.”

They had a great time opening their gifts and thanking each other with hugs and kisses. Then they went to the dining room for a delicious Christmas brunch. Draco had asked Bugger to move Kitty’s bed into the dining room so that she could join them. When Hermione saw Kitty sitting in the corner she looked at Draco with a grin. “You won’t give up, will you?” she asked.

“It’s Christmas, love,” Draco tried to say innocently. “Kitty should have a special day too, don’t you think?”

“Just how special do you want it to be?” Hermione asked suggestively.

Draco just about coughed out his juice at the tone of her voice. It was as if she were a completely different person from the one she was yesterday. He dabbed his mouth with his napkin and said, “As special as ‘you’ want it to be, love.”

Hermione gave him a mischievous smile and called out, “Kitty, come here please.”

Kitty crawled up to Hermione, purring with delight.

“Kitty, do you want to kiss me?” Hermione asked.

Kitty nodded in excitement. Harry and Draco groaned as Hermione bent her head and gave Kitty a long, open-mouthed kiss. When the kiss finished, Hermione looked flushed with passion and desire as she said, “That was… very nice.”

She turned her head and looked at Harry to see if he had a problem with it. Harry didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, he looked turned on by the kiss. Hermione looked at Kitty and slid off the chair and onto her knees, facing Kitty who was also on her knees. Hermione lifted her hands and placed them gently on Kitty’s hips, feeling her smooth skin. Kitty’s eyes darkened with passion as she waited for Hermione to make her move.

Hermione’s pulse sped up and as her hands traveled up Kitty’s sides and then moved lightly over Kitty’s furry bra top. When she flicked her thumbs over Kitty’s nipples, Kitty closed her eyes and moaned. Hermione felt her gut clench in excitement and her panties were growing wetter by the second.

Harry and Draco were so turned on they could barely breathe. They were already hard as they watched Hermione exploring Kitty’s breasts. Hermione’s hands now traveled up to the bra straps and she tugged them down, exposing Kitty’s pert breasts to their view. Hermione looked at Draco and Harry with a wicked smile before she lowered her face and took one of Kitty’s nipples into her mouth.

“Oh Gods!” groaned Draco. He fell to the floor and came up behind Hermione. Reaching his arms about her waist he untied her robe belt and pulled it off her shoulders, exposing Hermione’s nearly bare body. Now Hermione sat in only her panties facing Kitty and Draco put his arms about her from behind and began kissing the back of her neck as she licked and bit on Kitty’s nipples.

Harry pulled out his cock and began stroking himself as he watched. ‘It is so fucking hot’, he thought.

Then Draco pulled Hermione against his body and pushed up under her breasts so that they were sticking out towards Kitty. “Suck them, Kitty,” Draco rasped, his cock pressed hard against Hermione’s ass. Kitty leaned forward and began licking and kissing Hermione’s nipples. Hermione threw her head back against Draco’s shoulder, closing her eyes and moaning as Draco continued to suck on the side of her neck.

Hermione jumped a bit when she felt one of Kitty’s cool hands on her belly, caressing its way down towards her soaked panties. ‘Oh Gods,’ Hermione groaned, ‘I had no idea I’d want this so badly.’

“Touch her,” Harry rasped, still grasping his cock and pumping it with his hand.

Kitty’s hand lowered and the moment it began to stroke Hermione’s clit through her panties, Hermione shook and pushed back against Draco, who held her through a strong, pulsing orgasm.

“Fuck,” Draco moaned. “You really did want this, love.”

Hermione came so hard she was panting and shaking. Draco took over and pulled her panties down. He pulled her backwards so that she was sitting on his lap. Then he spread her legs wide with his arms, exposing her glistening pussy to Kitty’s view. “Fucking lick her,” Draco rasped out to Kitty.

Kitty bent her head and covered Hermione’s wet flesh with her sweet mouth, licking and sucking up the juices of the orgasm. Hermione groaned in delight and her legs jerked with pleasure as Kitty feasted on her and Draco massaged her breasts and pinched her nipples. Kitty inserted two fingers inside her tight passage and began pumping Hermione as she continued to suck and tongue her swelling clit.

“Cum again, love,” Draco whispered in her ear. “It’s so fucking hot.”

It didn’t take Hermione long to hit her peak again, as turned on as she was. She bucked and pushed back against Draco, trying to escape Kitty’s mouth as her orgasm washed through her and she screamed in triumph.

Then she heard Harry say, “Move away.” Kitty had backed off and now Harry was between her legs, licking her pussy and sucking all the juices he could get. His cock was straining for release after that little show and he soon moved up and shoved himself deep within her, pumping furiously. Draco had slipped out from underneath them and watched them fuck as he took his own robe off and spread his pre-cum over the tip of his cock with his thumb.

As soon as Harry had cum, Draco pushed at him and said, “Move off, my turn.” He grabbed a handful of Harry’s hair in his fist and pulled Harry to his mouth for a passionate kiss. Then he moved over a very sated Hermione and said, “Happy Christmas,” before he drove his hard member into her sopping wet canal and fucked her soundly. He kept fucking her, wanting her to climax again and when the feel of her contractions began and her voice moaned in ecstasy, he groaned loudly and spurted his cum deep within her.

As they lay on the floor in post coital delight, Hermione said, “Happy Christmas.”

“It sure the fuck is,” Harry said.

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A/N Please review this chapter and let me know your thoughts. There was a major reveal about Marlston in this chapter, but there is even more to come. So, if it confused you, I hope it will become clear to you as we go on. Bye for now!