What a Witch Needs

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay in updating – I’m at a really sticky point in the story and I was having problems adjusting the plot the way I want. I actually had this chapter written a week ago but then I wasn’t proud of it and had to take time to revamp it and make it better.

Now that the three main characters are back at Hogwarts, I have a slew of other students to consider and decide what direction I want to take their loyalties to Harry, what conflicts that could create, etc… Not to mention what’s happening with Dumbledore, the Order and Snape.

So, you’ll notice many heavy themes introduced in this chapter as the three ‘changed by Marlston’ teens start to interact with others at school. I apologize for the darkness, but I couldn’t make this plot work without going to some uncomfortable places. I will make an effort to lighten things up once in a while with some more humorous/sexy chapters put in when things get too heavy.

Thank you all for your wonderful, encouraging reviews! This story has been a real learning experience for me and you have all made it worthwhile for me. So thanks!

Thank you to my wonderful betas: gardengirlgarden and Narcissa Black.

Disclaimer: I can claim no ownership of the characters and places in this fiction.

Regrets

Harry had spent most of the night in Draco’s bed before slipping out in the early hours of the morning and returning to Gryffindor and his own room. There were only two more days until classes started, and he suspected that some of the students would be returning today, although most would be returning tomorrow. He was concerned about Hermione, alone in her room, and he was also concerned about his next plan of action. Decisions had to be made and loyalties secured in the coming months. He lay on his bed and pondered the role of the D.A. in his future plans. Could they be considered a sort of army he could use? Would they allow his Slytherin supporters to join or should he keep them separate? How could he guarantee that those who wished to stay in D.A. would be willing to fight or even be loyal? These thoughts swirled around in Harry’s head, making him feel more and more overwhelmed.

When it was time for breakfast, he left the tower and made his way to the Great Hall. He hoped that Hermione would be there already, and he sighed with disappointment as he looked upon the almost empty Gryffindor table. His eyes sought out Draco at the Slytherin table next, and Draco was already watching him, waving him over to join them. Harry gave a slight nod and went over to the crowded Slytherin area. His supporters were gathered on both sides of Draco, laughing and joking easily until Harry came into view. Then they all grew quiet and those next to Draco got up and found another place to sit.

“My Lord,” many nodded in greeting as he came and sat down. They seemed unsure of how to act around Harry, and if he weren’t so worried about Hermione he would have found it comical.

“Please, go on with your conversations,” Harry said, as he rested one hand on Draco’s thigh under the table and gave it a squeeze in greeting. He felt Draco place a hand on his and squeeze in return. Neither of them felt comfortable yet with giving a full on snog in front of everyone at the table.

Everyone seemed to relax at Harry’s words, and conversations started up again. They realized that Harry was here to eat and not to hold a meeting of any sort, but they still kept one ear cocked for anything he might say.

Draco turned to Harry and said quietly, “Did you get a chance to speak with Hermione?”

Harry shook his head. “I was hoping she’d come to breakfast. I’m a bit concerned. There are no girls around to send up and check on her. Maybe I’ll send Hedwig after breakfast.”

“What about McGonagall?” Draco suggested. “She is the head of your house.”

Harry nodded, “That’s true. She might just be the one to ask.” Then Harry caught sight of Colin and Dennis Creevey coming through the door and he said, “I need to speak to those two. I’ll be right back.” Harry rose from the Slytherin table and made his way over to the lonely Gryffindor table where Colin and Dennis had just sat down.

Colin looked up, startled to see Harry coming to them. “Hi Harry, back from your holidays already?”

Harry sat down with them saying, “Yeah, got back yesterday. How about you two?”

“Last night,” Colin said. “Mum was anxious to ship us off, said we were driving her mad.”

Harry gave him a small grin and said, “I didn’t think you were such a hell raiser, Colin. Guess I had you pegged all wrong.”

“Did you have a good Christmas?” Colin asked, trying to make small talk. He was surprised that Harry had approached him at all after that awkward conversation they had last time.

“Yeah, actually, it was a good one,” Harry answered. “Say, Colin, I wanted to speak with you about the conversation we had last time.”

Colin glanced at Dennis and then back to Harry. “Yeah?”

“I apologize for being so short with you back then. I had a lot going on, you know,” Harry said. “I was wondering if you still wanted to join me.”

Colin’s face turned from confusion to amazement with a hint of joy, “Yes! I do. I mean, we do.” Dennis nodded beside Colin in agreement.

Harry shifted his body, laying his forearms on the table and looking at them seriously. “If you agree to be my supporters I will expect honesty and loyalty at all times,” Harry said.

“Of course!” Colin said.

“Do you truly realize what it means to be in the service of a Dark Lord?” Harry asked in all seriousness. He didn’t want anyone around him thinking that it was some sort of game and he wasn’t sure what Colin and Dennis had in their minds about all this.

Colin nodded, “We do everything you ask, no matter what it is. And we follow all your rules.”

Harry almost wanted to smile at how simple Colin made it all sound. But Colin did seem to sum it up quite well. “And if you don’t?” Harry asked, keeping his face serious.

Colin and Dennis glanced at each other again, “Then we get punished,” Dennis said. “We know this, Harry. We’ve done some research on Dark Wizards.”

Harry nodded and said, “There may come a day when I’ll ask for your oath in blood. Will you willingly give it?”

“Yes,” they both said together.

“Good,” Harry answered, looking around them to make sure no one else was in hearing range. “Now listen carefully because I’ve got things already that I need for you to do.”

Colin and Dennis leaned their heads further over the table in rapt attention. “You’re going to notice the way my Slytherin supporters treat me and I don’t want you two to treat me like that. You are going undercover for me. Being Gryffindors, you are the only ones who can do this for me. Other Gryffindors will not speak freely around Slytherins, but they will around you two.”

“You want us to be spies?” Colin asked.

“I suppose it sounds that way,” Harry said. “Mostly I want you two to be my eyes and ears around Gryffindors and anyone else really. You see, I don’t think some of the others in our house are being completely honest when they say they support me. I want to know what they are saying when I’m not in the room. You don’t need to interview them; I don’t want them to know what you’re doing. Just listen and make note of who’s talking and what they’re saying. I need to know whom I can trust and whom I can count on.”

Colin nodded and said, “We can do that, Harry. And they’ll never suspect we’re your supporters. Shall we meet with you in secret to tell you anything we find out?”

“Yes,” Harry nodded. “It will have to be in secret. You can’t let anyone else know what you are doing. When I know whom I can trust, then you’ll be able to come out into the open about your loyalties and I’ll reward a job well done.”

The Creevey brothers smiled and nodded. “You can count on us,” said Dennis.

“Good,” Harry said. “Remember, no bowing or calling me Lord Potter. You have to act like you always have for now.”

“We will,” Colin said.

Harry got up with a nod and went back to the Slytherins and Draco’s questioning stare.

OOOOOO

Professor McGonagall caught up to Harry and Draco as they left the Great Hall. She called out, “Potter, a word with you, please.”

Harry turned and looked at her, nodding. “I have something to say to you as well, Professor.”

“Oh? Well, you first then. What it is?” she asked.

“I’m concerned about Hermione. She hasn’t left her room since yesterday afternoon. Could you check on her for us?” Harry asked.

“Yes, I’ve noticed her absence as well. I’ll do that immediately,” McGonagall said. “And you need to see Dumbledore this morning, Potter. I’m worried about him. I don’t know what you three said to him but he’s acting quite strangely and hasn’t left his quarters. He’s requesting that you visit him, however.”

“All right,” Harry agreed. “I’ll go. I hope you can convince Hermione to come out of her room. Can you tell her that we miss her?”

“Yes, I will,” McGonagall nodded. She turned and strode off to Gryffindor as Harry turned to Draco.

“Do you want me to come with you?” Draco asked.

Harry shook his head. “No, it’s all right. I’ll take care of this myself. If you have time, could you make a list of all my supporters here at Hogwarts thus far? If we can get Hermione out of her room, I want to see you two tonight. We have some things to discuss before all the students get back.”

“No problem,” Draco said. “Good luck with the old man.”

“I’ll see you later,” Harry said.

OOOOO

Harry stood outside the door to Dumbledore’s office and hadn’t even knocked yet when he heard, “Come in, Harry.”

He opened the door and looked inside. Dumbledore sat at his desk, his hair unkempt and his expression tired. He stood up when Harry came further into the room and said, “Follow me. There is something I wish to show you.”

Harry followed Dumbledore through the door to his private chambers and study. Papers were strewn all about and books lay open on every surface. Dumbledore walked to a chair and lifted some papers off the seat, indicating that Harry should sit. Harry still hadn’t spoken yet and only stared at the old man who suddenly seemed very fragile in his eyes.

Dumbledore stood at a table as Harry watched and waited. He picked up a heavy volume with shaking hands and turned to look at Harry.

“Professor?” Harry prompted.

“Many long years ago,” Dumbledore began, “this book came into my possession under very strange circumstances. It’s very old, Harry, and it’s more of a journal really. It’s all hand written and was added to by many different people.” Dumbledore moved towards Harry and handed him the book before retreating to a chair across from him.

Harry set it on his lap and opened the cover, turning the yellowed pages carefully. Dumbledore was right; it was very, very old. Harry knew that the slightest mistreatment could cause the pages to crumble in his fingers. The first pages were not readable to Harry, as they seemed to be in a very old form of French. As Harry turned more and more pages, the words took on the form of old English gradually becoming words that Harry could make out in some way. “What is this?” Harry questioned.

“It tells of Merlin, Harry. Of a Merlin whom most people would never recognize if they believed any of the old tales that are popular myth,” Dumbledore said. “The Merlin in that book, Harry, is an immortal.” Dumbledore watched Harry’s face carefully and did not miss the quick glance Harry took at him. This confirmed in Dumbledore’s mind that Harry knew of this already. “Harry… I need to know what you know,” Dumbledore stated. “I realize that there are secrets at Marlston that you feel the need to protect, but you have already entrusted me with some information. What else can you tell me?”

Immediately Harry’s guard was up. “Why?” Harry asked. “Why do you need to know more? I told you enough.”

Dumbledore looked down at the ground for a moment and then said, “Ever since that book came into my possession, it’s been my life’s work, even perhaps an obsession, to find the truth of it,” Dumbledore explained. “You said that Merlin is preserved in ice beneath Marlston. If this isn’t proof of his immortality, then I don’t know what is.”

“Well, you have your answer then,” Harry said. “I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Why did Mordred put him in this prison? Is that what caused Mordred to be the first Dark Lord? Is Merlin the source of the power?” Dumbledore asked straight out.

Harry was beginning to deeply regret that they had told Dumbledore about Merlin. Dumbledore was like a bloodhound who wouldn’t give up the trail once he had a sniff of it. And this particular trail could lead to Harry’s demise and well as Hermione’s and the fate of the triad could depend on the outcome. Harry felt anger trying to work its way to the surface as an inner voice kept shouting at him, “Stop him. He’s a threat! Kill him!”

Harry felt sick to his stomach at these thoughts. Where the hell did they come from? Kill Dumbledore? That was insane!

Harry slammed the book shut and snapped, “I can’t tell you any more! And what does any of it matter anyway? Are you hoping to release him? Are you thinking he will kill Voldemort if you do and, well, incidentally, ME?”

Dumbledore looked at Harry with surprise. It had come to this. Dumbledore knew this day would come eventually, but he never anticipated it this soon. His influence with Harry had weakened considerably, it seemed. He had hoped that Harry would have been gone from Hogwarts when the day came that Harry took up the true mantle of a Dark Lord. Harry was no longer someone he could mold and shape, and he knew he’d have to be careful in his interactions with him from now on.

Harry saw the surprised look on Dumbledore’s face and his own feeling of power grew. Dumbledore was no longer the greatest wizard he’d ever known. He was a tired old man sitting across from him paralyzed by indecision. But that thought left Harry quickly, as he knew that Dumbledore had many tricks up his sleeve and he shouldn’t discount any of them. Harry wasn’t cocky enough to think that he didn’t need Dumbledore at all. They were supposed to be on the same side, weren’t they?

Harry took a deep breath to calm his anger and stood up, handing the old book back to Dumbledore. “I’m sorry,” Harry said stiffly. “I have a lot on my mind at the moment. Recounting old myths is a waste of time when we should be focusing on the present. I need to check on Hermione.”

“Of course,” Dumbledore said as Harry turned to leave. “I didn’t mean to take up your time like this. But Harry, do not assume things about my intentions. If you read this book, I’m sure you’d agree that it would be an extremely risky venture if one were to release Merlin, and not just for you or Voldemort, but for the world at large.”

“Why do you even believe what’s in that book?” Harry asked in irritation. “Not everything that has been written is the truth and there are numerous tales of Merlin.”

“Perhaps you didn’t see the inside cover,” Dumbledore said, flipping it open and holding it at an angle towards Harry.

Harry glanced at the list of names inside the book that made up the various authors who had added to it over the centuries. His eyes opened wide as he noticed they were all Marlstons. “Where did you get this book?” Harry demanded.

“It was given to me by someone I cannot name,” Dumbledore said.

“That book should be at Marlston. How could you get a book from Marlston? Did someone take it for you, a dark wizard that was doing a bit of spying for you?”

Dumbledore shook his head, “No, Harry, I had no spies at Marlston, and you should know that stealing from Marlston would be a very difficult task to accomplish. I’m sorry I cannot tell you more. I have promises to keep in that regard.”

“Then you already knew about Merlin at Marlston?” Harry asked.

“No, the book only tells of Merlin’s life. It has some very surprising information I think you’d find interesting.”

“I’m sure it does, Professor,” Harry responded. “Have you shared it with anyone?”

Dumbledore looked at Harry carefully. Was that a veiled threat? “No, never,” Dumbledore said. “But I’d like to share it with you if you wish to hear it.”

“Some other time, perhaps,” Harry said. “I’ve got to go.”

Harry nodded and walked out of the headmaster’s private study and strode quickly across the office. He needed to get some air, and quickly. He walked on and on until he came out the front doors of the castle. “Accio broom,” he said, holding his hand out for his broom and soon feeling its smooth wood in his grip.

OOOOO

Hermione rolled over at the sound of someone knocking on her dorm room door. “Miss Granger, are you in there?” McGonagall’s voice said.

“Come in, Professor,” Hermione said, unenthusiastically.

McGonagall opened the door and frowned when she saw Hermione lying in bed, the draperies in the room all shut, not allowing much light in. “Are you ill?” McGonagall asked.

“I don’t think so,” Hermione mumbled. “Just tired.”

“Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy are very concerned about you,” she explained. “They said you’ve been up here since yesterday, missing your meals.” McGonagall strode to a window and pulled open the curtain, flooding the room in light.

Hermione groaned and covered her eyes with a hand.

“I think I’ll send for Madam Pomfrey,” McGonagall decided.

“No, Professor,” Hermione said, sitting up and squinting at the old woman. “Really, I’m fine. I just had an exhausting holiday. I was about to get up and shower.”

McGonagall looked at her a few more moments and said, “All right, Miss Granger or are you going by Miss Marlston now?”

“Either is fine,” Hermione said, giving her a weak smile.

“If you’re not down for lunch today, I’m sending Madam Pomfrey. Understood?”

“Yes, Professor,” Hermione nodded. When the door shut, Hermione flopped back down and sighed. Then she was startled by a tapping on the window and she sat up again to take a look. Harry was outside on his broom, hovering at her window. She saw him twist a finger and her window opened. Next thing she knew, Harry was standing in her room with his broomstick in his hand.

“Hello,” she said. “I suppose you’re a bit miffed at me for staying in my room.”

Harry walked over to her bed and then crawled across it until he was over Hermione’s body on his hands and knees. “Miffed at you? More like worried for you,” he said. “What’s going on? Are you ill?”

Hermione shook her head. “No, just a bad case of the blahs, I guess,” she answered. “I just can’t seem to rouse myself. It’s like I have no energy.”

“Is it because I told Dumbledore about Merlin?”

Hermione shrugged, “I don’t know. But whenever I think about him knowing, I get so… so…”

“Angry?” Harry finished for her. She nodded and looked as though she felt ashamed that she was angry at Dumbledore. “I’m sorry I told him, Hermione,” Harry said, taking her chin in his fingers and turning her pouting face to look at him. “I regret it now. It seems that he wants even more information now and it’s making me angry as well.”

“What!?” Hermione stiffened. “He’s asking you more questions?”

Harry nodded and said, “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything more. He’s not getting anymore information from me or anyone else. You have nothing to worry about. What can he do? There is no way he can ever enter Marlston.”

Hermione sighed and relaxed against the headboard. “I know, but it still bothers me. And what bothers me even more is that I don’t think I have the same amount of trust in Dumbledore as I used to, and I feel guilty for thinking that way.”

“I think I’m feeling the same way,” Harry said. “You know what this means?”

“What?”

“We have to pull together, you, Draco and me,” Harry said. “We have each other and that’s the most important thing. We can trust only in ourselves because our fates are intertwined in ways that no one else can understand. We can’t worry about Dumbledore’s feelings or anyone else’s. What we have together, the triad, comes first.”

Hermione nodded. “You’re right, Harry. We can never go back to that blind trust of others that we used to have. Everything has changed now.”

Harry hooked a finger in the neck of her nightgown and said, “Since you're planning on staying in bed all day, I might as well join you.” Harry swung his hand out towards the fireplace and a warm fire sprung up inside it. He lowered his body down on top of hers and descended on her mouth, kissing her dizzy.

Hermione licked his kiss off her lips and said, “I was planning to shower first.”

“Great idea,” Harry smiled. He stood and then scooped her up. She squealed as he slung her torso over his shoulder.

“Harry!” she laughed. “Put me down!”

“No,” he said as he made his way towards a door. He flung it open only to find that it was a closet. “Where the fuck is the bathroom?”

“Put me down and I’ll show you,” Hermione said, trying to push up off his back so the blood wouldn’t rush to her head.

He spanked her ass with one hard swat and said, “Hush up. Don’t make the Dark Lord angry.”

Hermione laughed some more and swatted hard at Harry’s behind below her head. “Let me down!”

“That’s it! You’re in trouble now,” Harry teased as he finally found the bathroom door.

Hermione yelped when she felt herself pulled up by her feet, upside down in the air. Her nightgown fell over her face, exposing her naked body to Harry, who was standing directly in front of her. She sputtered and pulled her nightgown off her face, looking straight at his knees.

“Mmmmm, yes,” Harry said in a husky tone. “This is nice.”

She could feel Harry’s hand caressing her hip and trailing down to her breast, tweaking and gently twisting one nipple in his fingers as his lips began nibbling at her hip bone. His hot tongue drew across her belly and dipped into her navel.

“Harry!” she gasped. “Turn me back around! This is going to make me pass out!”

“All right,” Harry said, and turned her right side up. But he did not let her feet touch the ground, and she hovered before him. Quick as a wink, her nightgown flew off her body, and she gasped at how easily he accomplished that. Her breasts were now at mouth level for Harry, and he smiled in satisfaction. He took off his glasses and laid them on a nearby sink before he wrapped his arms about her waist and took an excited nipple into his mouth.

Hermione moaned and wrapped her legs about his waist, grabbing onto the back of his head and pulling him closer.

“You like this?” Harry mumbled against her breast. “You like giving me control over your body?”

“Oh, yes Harry,” she moaned. She threw her head back and ground her clit onto the fabric of his pants. She could hear the water turn on behind her, and Harry walked into the shower with her wrapped around him. He was still fully dressed, however.

“Harry!” she laughed. “I love you, you know that?”

“Yeah,” he said, without taking her nipple out of his mouth. He pushed her back against the cold tiles of the shower wall and muttered a spell to keep her there as he shifted his weight and brought a hand down to her core. Slipping two fingers deep inside her while he kissed and licked her soft neck. “I love you, too,” he said. “And I’m going to shag you senseless for the next two hours.”

OOOO

That afternoon Draco sat in the prefect’s common room, his quill and parchment stretched out before him, making the list that Harry had requested. He had separated it into two columns, those that were solid supporters and those that needed to make a firm decision either way.

As he concentrated, the door clicked open and Pansy Parkinson stepped carefully inside. She stood there with her hand on the doorknob as if she was unsure of whether to enter or not. Draco had glanced up at her for a moment and then looked back down at his parchment. He had forgotten that Pansy and Millicent would be returning after the holiday break and he stiffened at the pleading look Pansy was giving him from across the room.

“You’re not supposed to be in here,” he said coldly. “You’re no longer a prefect. Get out.”

“I need to speak with you,” she said with mock confidence. When Draco didn’t answer her and kept on working on his parchment as if she wasn’t there, she added, “Please.” She walked a little further into the room but stopped completely when Draco slammed his quill down on the desk and stood abruptly.

He walked around the desk and strode angrily towards her. Pansy bravely stood her ground, looking at him in defiance and with excitement at the same time. He was so handsome, strong and confident; it made her knees quiver when he reached her. Her breathing became heavy as Draco now stood directly in front of her, his body almost touching hers. Her eyes looked at his chest and then trailed up to his face. She was hoping to see lust in his eyes because that was exactly what she was feeling at this moment, but she only saw hatred.

This feeling was confirmed when she felt one of his hands thread into her hair on the back of her head and pull hard, bringing tears to her eyes. He shook her head for angry emphasis and sneered, “You stupid whore! You have some nerve coming to me after what you did.”

Draco pulled Pansy’s head towards the wall and slammed her cheek against it, holding her there as she cried, “Please, Draco, I need to speak to you…”

“Shut the fuck up!” he growled, his mouth close to her ear and his hand and body pressing her painfully in to the wall. “You fucking little Death Eater whore, you’re on the wrong side, you know that? When Harry wins the war, do you know what’s going to happen to you? Huh? Do you?” Draco snapped, pressing against her head further while she cried and mumbled incoherently, snot running down her nose and over her lips.

“You’ll be a filthy whore in the dirtiest section of Diagon Alley. You’ll wear a metal collar around your neck connected to a chain on a post. Anyone who walks by can throw a knut in a tin cup next to your bare feet and have their way with you, in the street, in plain view of everyone who wants to enjoy the show,” Draco hissed in her ear. “Perhaps we’ll assign you a caretaker, who’ll empty your cup and throw you some bread. Perhaps someone like Filch would like to be the new pimp for the Death Eater whores after the war’s over. I’m sure he’ll be a fair master.”

Draco suddenly released her and turned away to go back to his desk, “Get out! And never come near me again.”

Pansy slid down the wall to her knees, crying and wiping at her face with her hands. She wouldn’t move as she rocked on her knees, weeping her misery.

Draco’s tense hand grabbed a crystal bowl on the desk and he swung around towards the pitiful sight. “I said get out!” he yelled as he flung the bowl over her head and it smashed to pieces on the wall above her. She screamed and put her arms above her head to protect herself.

Just then the door to the common room opened and Harry walked in with Hermione by his side. They had heard the loud crash as they were heading towards the room and now stood inside looking at Pansy on the floor and then at Draco who was standing by the desk in an angry posture.

“What’s going on in here?” Hermione demanded.

OOOO

A/N I know, Draco wasn’t very lovable in this chapter. Sorry about that. He is, after all, still a Malfoy and he’s reacting with anger in the manner that was modeled to him by his own father. He has some lines back in the early part of the story where he tells Hermione that his father was ‘harsh’ with his mother. Draco’s ‘learned’ behaviors are part of his personal conflict in this story and something I’m going to work with in future chapters.

Well, as always, let me know your thoughts on this chapter and thank you in advance for taking the time to do so. Until next time…