What a Witch Needs

Thanks to everyone sending reviews and e-mails – I really enjoy hearing from you! Sorry for the delay in updating, the holiday season with all its various activities have been keeping me busy. I’ll try to get another chapter out this week before things get real hectic.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

This chapter was beta’d by Narcissa Black – thank you!

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



Mine


Harry, Draco and Hermione had returned to the castle by floo network into Dumbledore’s office. Snape had returned before them in his anger, but they noticed he had not returned via the headmaster’s fire. Dumbledore emerged from his private study when the three stepped into his office and welcomed them back.

“Everything went well with your cousin, Harry?” he asked.

“I think there will be some adjusting to do in that house – from everyone,” he answered.

Dumbledore chuckled. “Yes, I suppose there will be. And much will be learned from one another, no doubt.”

“Goodnight, sir,” said Hermione, making her way to the door. She was exhausted and still had some transfiguration homework to finish before morning. Draco put his hand on her back and led her out.

“Goodnight, Miss Granger and Mister Malfoy,” Dumbledore called after them. “Harry, a moment, please.”

Harry stood at the door, his hand on the knob.

Dumbledore’s expression became sullen as he quietly asked, “Is it done?”

Harry didn’t look at Dumbledore as he gave a quick nod. ‘Yes,’ Harry thought, ‘the dirty deed has been done. I took the fall for you, old man. Everyone expects the bad guys to do the bad deeds – not you, white wizard, not you.’

Dumbledore didn’t need Harry to speak to know what he was thinking. It was all in his eyes as they shifted from the wall to his own face. Dumbledore looked down and said softly, “I’m sorry, Harry. You were the only one that could.”

Harry closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the doorframe. “I know,” he answered. “It’s not like he can hate me any more than he already does.”

“Thank you, Harry,” Dumbledore said.

With one more glance, Harry turned and left.

OOOOOOO

Lucius Malfoy walked into the dining room for breakfast, finding his wife already seated and drinking her morning coffee.

“Narcissa,” Lucius greeted. He sat down and a house elf immediately ran out and poured him a cup of his own morning beverage.

“Lucius,” his wife greeted with a stiff nod.

“Where is the muggle boy?” he asked. “Or can I hope that Lord Potter has found him a new home somewhere else?”

“Hmph,” Narcissa frowned. “He’s probably in his room, sulking. Do you know that he actually yelled at me last night? I could not believe how rudely he spoke.”

Lucius looked at her curiously for a moment and asked, “What did you do, Narcissa?”

“I silenced him, just until he learns proper respect,” she answered.

Lucius sighed and said, “As much as I would love to never hear or see him again, we do have to keep in mind who he is. He is Lord Potter’s cousin and we must extend certain… courtesies to him.”

Narcissa’s eyes widened as she said, “Surely Lord Potter doesn’t expect us to take abuse from that… that… boy. It is difficult to believe that they were raised in the same home!”

“Yes, well, none-the-less, I think you should take care not to anger our Lord by making his relative unhappy,” Lucius answered. “Do go, Narcissa, and undo the damage you did last night.”

Narcissa stood and glared at Lucius. “Undo the damage? Perhaps you should be the one to cater to that ill-mannered louse. You’re the one who is so concerned with his happiness.”


”Yes, but I am not the one who silenced the boy,” Lucius smiled.

Narcissa’s chest heaved as she left the room. Why did they have to be stuck with such a task as to be the guardians of a muggle boy? Oh, how her friends would cringe if they knew. Well, that is her former friends would. She climbed the stairs and headed to Dudley’s room in the east wing of the house. She knocked softly before she remembered that Dudley would not be able to answer her.

Opening the door, she saw Dudley sitting on his bed, arms crossed and an angry look on his face.

She lifted her chin, determined not to cow-tow to this defiant boy. “I hope you have learned a lesson regarding how you address me, Mr. Dursley. I will return your voice to you on the condition that you use it wisely in the future. There will be no yelling of any kind when speaking to those in this household. Is that clear?”

Dudley glared at her a few moments, realizing that she probably wouldn’t return his voice unless he agreed.

He nodded.

“Very well,” Narcissa replied, taking out her wand and restoring Dudley’s speech. “Now, what is this device you inquired about last night?”

“A television,” Dudley replied, happy that she brought up the subject he wanted to speak of.

“What does this… television... do?” Narcissa asked.

Dudley looked at her, shocked. “You don’t know what a television is?”

“Should I?” Narcissa intoned. “You will seldom find muggle devices in magical homes. Magic provides a faster and much more efficient means to accomplish what we need.”

“What do you do for entertainment?” Dudley asked, curious. How can anyone not have a T.V.? What else was there to do?

“Leisure is spent in many ways,” Narcissa answered. “One may read, play music, and visit with friends. Boys your age may also enjoy flying, playing various games and so forth.”

“Flying? You can fly?” Dudley asked. “How?”

“With broomsticks of course,” Narcissa answered.

Dudley snorted and rolled his eyes, imagining the typical image of a witch flying on her broomstick.

“So I assume this television is an entertainment device then?” she asked.

Dudley nodded, crossing his arms and sighing with boredom.

“We will see about getting this… television… if you make an effort to improve your manners,” she stated.

Dudley thought about it for a moment. So, all he’d have to do was say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and they’d get him a T.V.? He could handle that. “All right,” he said. “But keep that wand away from me. I don’t like all that fre… magic stuff.”

Narcissa lifted one eyebrow. “I shall not use my wand unless provoked. Now, why don’t you dress and come to breakfast, the day is wearing on.”

“I am dressed,” Dudley replied.

Narcissa’s gazed swept down his body. “You wore that yesterday and what’s more, you appear to have slept in it.”

“I don’t have anything else,” Dudley answered.

Narcissa looked surprised. “You didn’t bring anything with you?”

“Well, I didn’t have time to stop and pack. You see, I was trying to run for my life,” Dudley said, sarcastically.

“Don’t get cheeky, young man,” Narcissa warned, her hand creeping towards her pocket.

Dudley watched her hand and swallowed. “Sorry.”

Narcissa looked pleased with his apology. “Well, we’ll need to shop for a wardrobe.” Her mind filled with the image of being out and about once again, shopping.

“I’m not supposed to leave the house,” Dudley answered.

Her gaze shifted to Dudley as she was brought back from her daydream. “Yes, well, neither am I, but if Lord Potter agrees, we can go in disguise. There are numerous ways we can change our appearances.”

Dudley wondered just how ‘changed’ she wanted to make him. Shopping was probably the last thing he enjoyed doing, especially clothes shopping, but the prospect of going somewhere and doing something normal again appealed to him. Besides, these freaks were loaded. Perhaps they’d let him buy some other stuff while they were out.

“All right,” Dudley nodded.

“Very well, I’ll write to Lord Potter immediately,” she said. As she left the room, she felt as if something had changed for her. She had something to do, a mission of a sort. Finally, the tedium of being in hiding felt a little more bearable as she contemplated what needed to be done. Perhaps Dudley Dursley had provided just the distraction that she needed.

OOOOOOO

Late in the afternoon, Hermione had fallen asleep in front of the fire in the prefects’ common room. Her book lay open on the floor above her head as she lay on her stomach on the fur rug. She had stayed up late last night doing homework and now she was too tired to stay awake.

This is where Harry found her, as he remembered the places she seemed to favor lately. She used to frequent the library, but now it seemed she preferred more secluded places. He suspected it had something to do with all the changes in her life lately. It was not only her relationship with Harry and Draco that made people wonder at her, but her recently discovered Marlston heritage seemed to be the main topic of many discussions between others lately. Hermione, though she understood their curiosity, didn’t feel comfortable being gawked at or asked too many questions, so she retreated to more private locations.

Harry sat down quietly next to her body on the floor, thinking that he knew just how she felt. But he had gotten used to all the notoriety over the years. He had always been famous or, perhaps now, infamous. He had learned how to ignore all the curious stares and get on with his day as normally as possible.

His gaze lingered over her body, noting how sexy her thighs looked with her skirt hiked innocently up while she slept. The firelight flickered and cast a warm glow over her skin and he couldn’t resist running his hand over the silky smoothness of her leg. She stirred a little, but did not wake.

Harry’s heart sped up as he moved his hand higher, onto her bum, pulling her skirt up with his palm. He groaned at the tantalizing view that the curve of her arse presented and his fingers gently pulled her knickers up higher so the gentle slope was exposed further. She looked so… bite-able, he thought with a deep groan, that creamy skin, beckoning to him. He bent down and bit gently on the curve between her arse and upper thigh, his hair falling down to tickle her bare skin.

She woke with a start, gasping and lifting her head to look back over her shoulder at him. “Harry!”

He looked at her mischievously and said, “I just had to do it. Your arse… it looked so good. I just wanted to bite it.”

She giggled softly, “Your hair is tickling me. You know how sensitive I am.”

“I know,” he smiled. He bent and bit at the other side of her arse, marking the other cheek and making her laugh at the sensations. Harry purposely wagged his head so that his hair would tickle her more.

“Harry! Stop!” she laughed, lifting her bum in the air to try to throw him off.

Harry laughed and came up next to her, lying beside her. They kissed deeply for a few moments, sighing with pleasure. “You should shorten all your skirts,” Harry said. “Your arse is too cute to hide.”

“You’re mad,” she teased, giving him a series of small kisses.

“I could kiss you forever,” Harry whispered between kisses.

“Then do,” she answered, pressing herself closer to him.

Then he put his head on his arm and said, “Speaking of kisses, do you want to hear something funny?”

“What?” she asked.

“Ron kissed me,” he said, grinning.

“What!” Hermione exclaimed. “You’re joking, right?”

Harry shook his head. “He wanted to test if he was bi. So he just grabbed me and planted one.”

Hermione stared at Harry, her mouth open in shock. She wondered if Harry was pulling her leg or not. “What did you do?”

“Nothing,” Harry answered. “I was too stunned. He started coughing and spitting afterwards, like he was going to be sick. Guess he figured out that he didn’t fancy guys.”

Hermione shook her head. “That just doesn’t seem like him, Harry.”

“He misses us, Hermione,” Harry said. “He’s all confused about things right now.”

“Well, don’t tell Draco,” she said. “You know he’ll take it the wrong way.”

“Don’t tell Draco what?” a voice said from behind them. Draco had just opened the door to the common room and had heard only the last sentence spoken.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other, unsure what to say. “It’s nothing,” Harry finally said.

Draco walked more fully into the room and said, “If it’s nothing, then why can’t you tell me?” He was pulling off his tie and casting it over the back of the sofa with his robes as he waited for an answer.

“It’s just something that would most likely be misinterpreted by you,” Harry said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Then tell me,” Draco answered. “It’s no big deal, right? Or are we going to start keeping secrets from each other?”

“Just explain it, Harry,” Hermione said. “I’m sure he’ll understand.”

Harry gave her a disgruntled look. Wasn’t she the one that just told him not to tell Draco? Now she was shifting it all on him! “Fine!” Harry sighed. “It was nothing, Draco. Ron, well, he was confused about things and he… well… he…”

Draco’s stomach was already churning. “What did he do?”

“Well… he wanted know... you know, if he was bi…” Harry continued, carefully.

Draco’s posture stiffened and his fists clenched at his sides. “What did he do?” Draco said through clenched teeth.

Harry sat up and threw his hand in the air. “See!” Harry said. “That is why I can’t tell you anything. You’re already over-reacting before you’ve heard me out!”

“What did he do?” Draco demanded. “Touch your arse, your cock, what? Did he try to suck you off?”

“No! None of that!” Harry exclaimed. “Damn it! Sit down and I’ll tell you. But I won’t let you go storming off after him, because it wasn’t a big deal.”

“I’ll judge whether it was a big deal or not,” Draco said. “Just tell me.”

“A kiss,” Hermione said. “It was just one little kiss.”

“I didn’t even kiss him back,” Harry added, noting the color changing on Draco’s face to a very angry shade of red. “It was just a quick peck and was over before I realized what he did. He didn’t like it, he almost threw up.”

“How about you, Harry, did you like it?” Draco said, his voice filled with menace.

“What! No!” Harry defended. “I was completely taken by surprise! It was actually a bit funny to tell the truth. It was no big deal.”

“No big deal?” Draco asked. “Tell me, Harry, how would you feel if it were Hermione he kissed?”

“I… well…” Harry looked at Hermione. No, he didn’t like to think of Ron kissing her at all. “That’s different. He would have liked that. He didn’t enjoy kissing me one bit.”

“Well, what if Blaise grabbed me and kissed me,” Draco tried again. “How would you feel then?”

Anger shot through Harry at the thought of it. “I’d fucking kill him,” Harry said, angrily. “But that’s different too, Draco. Blaise and you have a history. He’s bi and he would enjoy it!”

“Does that really matter, Harry?” Draco sneered. “It only counts if the people involved enjoyed it? How about respecting the fact that the other person is in a relationship with someone else? Doesn’t that matter?”

“Draco… please calm down,” Hermione said. She sighed heavily and said, “You’re right, Ron should have considered that Harry was in a relationship with us and he shouldn’t have kissed him. But Ron is having a hard time lately and he’s trying to work out his feelings. He’s not thinking his actions through…”

“Stop making excuses for him, Hermione,” Draco snapped. “I don’t want to hear about the poor Weasel’s problems. It’s bad enough that I know he’s kissed and touched you before, but at least I wasn’t in the picture when that happened. He knows about Harry being involved with us, but it’s not stopping him from trying to interfere in our relationship.”

“He can’t interfere in our relationship,” Harry insisted. He stood up and walked over to Draco. “We’re solid, you know that. No one can interfere, unless we let them. That won’t happen.”

Hermione stood and walked over to them both, looking from one to the other. “It’s obvious that we need each other on many different levels,” she said. “There is no way that Ron, or anyone else can ever break the triad.”

Draco looked at her. “Your parents’ triad was broken.”

Hermione looked at him for a few moments. “We don’t really know the details of that, do we? But I do know that Harry can love. Tom Riddle couldn’t. Harry loves you, Draco, he loves us. Isn’t that what matters?”

Draco’s eyes shifted from Hermione’s to Harry’s. They looked deeply at one another for a moment and then something in Draco’s expression softened. “Yeah, it matters,” he whispered.

They all came together in that moment, arms flung around each other, stroking, grasping, and petting, lips finding other lips, necks, jaws, kissing desperate trails on heated skin. “I love you both so much,” Draco whispered as they took him down onto the fur rug, tugging at his clothing, buttons flying apart, zippers pulling down.

Hermione and Harry kissed his alabaster skin, teeth scrapping his sensitive flesh, tongues lashing over his body. “I love you, I love you,” they whispered against him, lips pressed on lips, lips pressed on necks, nipples, bellies. Lips tasting thighs, hips, cocks – all clothing was discarded and skin caressed skin. Long hair trailed over bodies, blonde, golden brown and black, moving in a sensuous dance across the tangle of limbs and torsos. Fingers dipped and delved, caressed, massaged, pleasured and pinched, moans, groans and heavy sighs, the sounds of skin slapping against skin, wet, hot suction.

They made love until they could give no more, laying on the fur rug in complete exhaustion. Draco wrapped his arms about his two lovers and whispered, “Mine.”

OOOOOO


Nymphadora Tonks stood in the foyer of Grimmauld Place looking every inch the muggle in her disguise. Narcissa came into the room and swept a distasteful gaze over her. “What are you doing here, Nymphadora?”

“Harry asked me to take you and his cousin shopping,” Tonks answered, cheerfully.

Narcissa had been waiting for a reply from Lord Potter since she had written him this morning and did not expect it to be in the form of the woman standing before her. “Well, thank you for your offer, but I can manage quite fine without you,” Narcissa replied.

“Sorry, Narcissa, but you never shopped in muggle stores before and I think you’ll need a bit of help in this matter. Besides, Harry won’t agree to you leaving with Dudley without some extra protection along,” Tonks answered.

“Muggle stores? Who said anything about shopping in muggle stores?” Narcissa said. “Dudley is now living in the magical world. He’ll dress accordingly.”

“It’s not safe for you two to wander around the magical world,” Tonks answered. “You’ll be safer in muggle crowds. Besides, I don’t think Dudley Dursely would be comfortable wearing robes when he’s not used to them. I’ve already exchanged some of Harry’s galleons for some muggle money, so if you hurry and get your disguises on, we can leave.” Narcissa stood looking at Tonks, trying to absorb this idea of shopping in the muggle world. Tonks sighed impatiently. “Harry won’t let you go otherwise. So it’s either this plan or you stay home.”

Narcissa looked irritated. “I suppose I have no choice,” she frowned. “Come along then, I have no idea how to dress like a muggle. You’ll have to help me alter my robes as you obviously seem to be familiar with muggle style.”

“Learning to disguise yourself in any situation is always a handy ability, Narcissa,” smiled Tonks as she followed the regal woman up the stairs.

OOOOO

Dudley sat between the two witches in the back of the black limousine as they were driven to a posh department store in downtown London. They looked halfway normal in their choice of clothing, but somehow the feathers sticking out of their hats seemed to be a bit much. Dudley sighed and shook his head. The other witch, Tonks, also seemed ridiculous in her lime green shoes. Why couldn’t they just wear something simple, like a plain dress? They thought they were dressed like muggles, but Dudley thought they looked like someone blind had picked out their outfits. It was going to be extremely embarrassing being seen with these two, he thought.

Dudley’s stomach growled as they passed some of his favorite places to eat. He had hardly eaten anything since his ordeal began, having been afraid of what the freaks put in their food. He was longing for something normal, something familiar. The golden arches of the McDonalds called out to him and his head turned as they drove by, the smell of French fries and hamburgers assailing his senses.

Narcissa had a pinched look on her face as they passed the muggles walking on the sidewalk. This was definitely not the outing she had in mind.

Narcissa and Tonks sat in the lounge area of the men’s department while they waited for Dudley to try on the various outfits he was being provided by the salesgirl. The salesgirl assumed that Narcissa was Dudley’s mother and brought the muggle boy out to show her each new ensemble. Dudley just glowered impatiently for the torture of clothes shopping to be over.

“No, no,” Narcissa would say, her pointed face looked disapproving. “That one is too common looking. What sort of fabric is that? I want to see your best things.”

Soon a staff of salespeople was gathered around Dudley as they tried to satisfy Narcissa’s exclusive taste. Dudley couldn’t believe the amount of clothing the woman was willing to buy. Why the hell did he have to look so good when all he was going to do was hide in a house all day? He was weary with the constant dressing and undressing and the comments from Narcissa of “turn around” or “don’t slouch”.

Two hours later, the clothing was being placed in packages as Tonks pulled out the muggle money and tried to figure out how to pay with it. Dudley watched her confused face and held out his hand, “Here, I’ll pay.” Tonks handed it over to him gratefully and waited with Narcissa as Dudley went to the desk to pay. He slipped some of the money into his front pants pocket while his back was to them.

The salesclerk at the desk seemed pleased to have such a big purchase. He eyed the two women behind Dudley curiously, wondering who they were so have so much wealth. “That your mum?” the clerk asked Dudley as he handed over some of the money.

Dudley glanced at the clerk’s face and said, “Believe me; you don’t want to know what she is.”

This made the clerk even more interested. “Is she famous?”

Dudley shook his head. “Where’s the loo?” he asked.

“That way,” the clerk pointed.

Dudley finished paying and went over to Narcissa and Tonks. “I’m going to the loo,” he announced.

Tonks nodded and said, “We’ll wait right here.”

Dudley turned and went off, looking about for the exits. He cast a glance back at the two witches, who seemed to be having a conversation, before he ducked behind a rack of suits and made his way towards the elevator. Finally, he was free! And best of all, he had money just waiting to be spent!

OOOOO

Ron was making his way back to Gryffindor from the library, his head filled with all the homework he had left to do. He never realized before just how much he had depended on Hermione to get him through, until she was no longer hanging around with him. It had been tough learning to apply himself to his studies and he was having a tough go of it.

He turned a corner and slowed down a bit as he saw Malfoy approaching from the opposite end of the hallway. His blood boiled every time he saw that git. Ron hated everything about him. Everything! Ron turned his face away, trying to pretend that Malfoy didn’t exist as he got closer. But suddenly he felt a jolt of pain as his back was slammed against the wall and an angry Malfoy growled in his face from a few inches away.

“Bloody hell!” Ron yelled. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

OOOOOO

A/N A few comments on the GOF movie: Was it just me, or did any of you sense a vibe between Harry and Hermione? It crossed my mind many times during the movie that the chemistry was more apparent between those two than between Hermione and Ron. A few examples: the desperate hug before the dragon fight, the first appearance of Hermione at the ball on the top of the stairs where Harry looks up at her (where was Ron?), and the intimate little talk on the bridge about Viktor Krum. Perhaps it’s because I’m involved in writing this story, but I felt the vibes from that movie between them. Does anyone agree?

Well, let me know what you thought of this chapter as well. Thanks!