The Coven

Disclaimer: Please don’t sue. Just playing with the characters.

A.N. Just wanted to thank Snapeaholic for her work as my beta. The chapters seem so much better after she works her magic.





The Coven



Chapter 5: The Pitch



“Okay ladies, before we begin, I would like you all to sign a little confidentiality contract that I made.”



A collective groan echoed around the Room of Requirement.



“I’m sorry, ladies, but it’s really necessary. What I want to discuss with you tonight needs to be kept absolutely secret. For my plan, I mean THIS plan, to work, we cannot let anything slip to ANYONE - not family, friends, teachers, ANYONE. If you sign this document, you will be bound not to discuss this evening with anyone, including each other, unless you accept my proposal,” Hermione said, looking at each girl. “If you don’t want to continue and listen to what I have to say or if you don’t want to sign, please leave now. This is your choice, and there will be no hurt feelings on my part and no repercussions. I will completely understand, but the decision is up to you. Sign and listen to what I have to say or leave now. Ladies, what will it be?”



“Hermione, you have got a lot of nerve.” A vert out out Padma Patil stood and glared at Hermione. “You call us here tonight without any explanation or warning, and you want us to sign some document swearing us to secrecy. We could have had prior commitments! What does this thing do anyway? And what gives you the right to command us here like you’re the bloody Queen of Sheba?”



Hermione sighed. “Padma, please sit down. I understand your trepidation over signing this document. To be honest, there is a rather nasty hex as a consequence of breaking it, but this really needs to be taken seriously. As for the way you were requested here tonight, for that I am really sorry. I never meant to summon you here like a queen, but I have an idea, and I think it’s a good one. You all know me. When I get an idea in my head, I plow on ahead, and I forget courtesies. Please forgive me, Padma, everyone. I didn’t mean to impose.” Hermione paused for a moment. “So who would like to sign first?”




‘Oh, please don’t let them all leave.’ Hermione begged to herself, as she mustered her Gryffindor courage to face everyone again.



“I will sign it, Hermione.” Ginny smiled.



“I will too,” said Luna as Ginny passed her the clipboard. “ ver very curious to see what your idea is. Does it have anything to do with training Crumple-Horned Snorkacks to fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? They respond to female voices, you know.”



“No Luna, it is not that.” Hermione turned to Susan and Hannah. “Would either of you like to sign?”



“You really can’t give us a clue as to what this is about unless we sign?” asked Hannah.



“I really can’t. This has to be kept secret, or it won’t work.”



“Okay, I’ll sign,” said Susan taking the clipboard from Luna.



“I hope you get on with this. I am dying of curiosity,” said Hannah grumbled as she signed next.



Parvati looked at Lavender and then at Hermione. “Hermione, you know we trust you, right?”



“And I trust you”, Hermione replied.



“Just don’t say that we’ve never done anything for you,” she said as both girls added their signatures.



“Fantastic. With that out of the way, let me explain why I asked you all here tonight,” Hermione began. “A few nights ago, I was trying to come up with a plan to help the fight against V-Vol-Voldemort.”



The girls in the room gasped, with the exception of Luna who just kept her owl-like expression focused on Hermione.



“I found a book in the library that gave me an idea of how we can help. I would like to start a coven here at Hogwarts and would like each of you to join. With our unified powers, we will be a greater asset in the war, and if we are together as one, then we have a better chance to protect our loved ones, of protecting our family and friends, and of protecting this school that we have come to love,” Hermione said fervently. “It has to be better than sitting around and waiting for the war to come to us. I don’t know about you, but I for one am done with feeling useless. We need to be proactive. We need to become a part of this, both for ourselves and for those we care about. I think starting a coven will aid us with our goals.”



“But covens aren’t that rare, Hermione. Why all the secrecy? Why the contract?” asked Hannah.



“The reason for all the secrecy is that I have discovered a spell called “Magicus Exemplum”. If our coven performs the correct ritual and invokes the spell, we may collectively have enough power to protect the whole school.”



“How does it work? What do we do?” asked Parvati.



“I don’t want to get into too much detail with you yet bec the there is a requirement for the spell that I want to address first. It is a blood requirement for the spell,” Hermione paused. “The spell requires virgin blood.”



“Do you mean from our veins?” asked Lavender.



“No, the blood is from our hymens tearing during intercourse as part of the ceremony.”



Five of the girls were stunned speechless. Ginny sat back and waited for the explosion. ‘Three, two, one...’



“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Parvati bellowed. “You want us to give up our virginity for your little ritual? Have you completely gone around the bend, Hermione?”



“Back off Parvati,” Ginny warned. “A lot of other witches and wizards are making bigger sacrifices than this in the war, and some of them are even giving up their lives. More are going to die. Muggles are also going to be killed when they get caught in the crossfire. If this one thing helps the cause, I am willing to make the sacrifice.”



“Now don’t get me wrong,” Ginny continued. “I certainly wasn’t saving myself for a invocation ritual. I had always dreamed I would give myself to the thatthat I loved. I have been waiting all my life for him, but if this will help save that man, my family and friends, then I will do it.” Ginny began to blush, realizing that she may have said too much.



Hermione looked thoughtfully at Ginny. ‘Save that man? Is there a man in Ginny’s life? Who is he? I have to remember to ask her later.’



“Um Hermione, I don’t qualify for the spell”, Lavender looked sheepishly at Parvati and then at Hermione.



‘Oh God,’ Hermione thought. ‘Ron’.



Ron and Lavender began dating during their sixth year after the Christmas holidays. Lavender had returned from the break wearing a Chudney Cannon’s jumper, and Ron was totally gob-smacked. He had discovered that Lavender’s second cousin was a reserve beater for the team, and Lavender knew almost as much about the Cannons as Ron did himself. It was instant love for Ron, and they were inseparable from that point on.



At first Hermione had been hurt. She had always believed she and Ron would eventually be a couple - perhaps after graduation when she could focus on her personal life and not so much on her studies. Ron had always seemed interested in Hermione, stammered if she so much as kissed his cheek. Oh sure, they had fierce rows, but not over anything of importance. Hermione always believed their arguing was a bizarre form of foreplay. It took great passion to argue as they did. Didn’t it?



It took a few months for her to accept her best friend’s new relationship without pain, but the stings of watching the young couple kiss lessened over time. She was happy for Ron now.



Ginny and Hermione exchanged a wide-eyed look. ‘Ron is having sex.’ Hermione’s mind raced. ‘Ron is having sex with Lavender. Ron is having sex with Lavender and not with ME! He’s having sex and I’m not! But, but, but... Get a grip girl. Breathe, breathe.’



After collecting herself, Hermione turned to Lavender. “I am sorry that you won’t be able to participate Lavender. I was certain you would be a great member of the coven.” She paused for a moment. “Are you happy Lavender?”



“Oh yes Hermione, I am,” Lavender smiled back shyly.



“Well, that is all that matters then.”



“Girls, since I can’t participate, I think I am going back to the common room for the evening.” Lavender arose slowly, and Parvati got up also.



“P-P-Parvati,” Hermione stuttered, “are you leaving, too?”



“Yes. I just don’t feel comfortable being here without Lav and Padma. You can understand that, can’t you?”



Hermione sighed. “Of course. I don’t think I could be here without Ginny.”



“That is so sweet, Hermie,” Ginny grin




“Please don’t call me Hermie, Ginger Ale.”



“Oh God! Don’t call me Ginger Ale!” The other girls chuckled at the exchange.



“Really Lavender, Parvati, thank you for coming here tonight even if it didn’t work out. I truly appreciate it.”



As the girls exited the room, Hermione shouted after them, “Remember, don’t break the contract!” She shook her head as she turned back to the other girls, “Oh I hope they don’t forget.”



“What kind of hex is it?” Susan inquired.



“It’s a really nasty one. Painful boils all over the face and body. Lasts for a week. Oh God, I hope they don’t start talking to each other about it tonight. I’ll remind them tomorrow. Ginny, coulu tau talk to them, too, if they are still awake when we finish?”



“Sure, Hermione.”



“All right, since the four of you are still here, I am going to assume that you all, er, qualify for the spell?”



“Does oral sex count?” inquired Luna.



“What? Well, no, not in this instance. I mean, er, it is an intimate act, but the spell only requires maiden blood.” Hermione blushed bright red. “I did actually check my resources concerning oral sex while I was researching the spell. I like to be thorough,” she grinned.



“Do you mind if I change the room a little bit?” Hermione inquired. The girls nodded or muttered their assent. “Close your eyes.”



When they opened their eyes, the room seemed smaller. There was a roaring fire in the hearth. The chairs were changed to plush, chenille cushions. The room had a warm, intimate feel to it.



“I was starting to feel like I was giving a report in class. If all of us are in this together, if we all become sisters of this coven, we will certainly need to be to to be comfortable with each other.”



The girls looked at each other. They all liked each other and knew one another, some better than others, but there had always been a great deal of respect. That respect seemed to grow at that very moment as somethseemseemed to be happening between them. A connection was growing, and things just seemed right, felt right.



Hermione knew that these were the members of the coven.









A.N.

review responses

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Zephyr - How anyone wouldn’t write a wicked Snape is beyond me. Thanks.

robin - Good questions. You may be surprise by some of the males involved. (I like wolves too.)

mele - Shush, it is a secret. You will have to wait and see. Thanks.

Lucifera - Lucius is yummy, isn’t he. The answer will be in the next 2 chapters.

ancientgirl - Thanks for your interest.

rubberduck - Thanks muchly. I kind of see Hermione as being able to recognize her quirks and weaknesses and using them.

sinj - I am sorry that I didn’t get the slang down right. I will admit that I am hopelessly American. Perhaps I can look to you for slang. Thanks for reading.

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