What a Witch Needs

Hi everyone. Sorry about the wait. Those of you, who read my live journal, know that my computer went out on me and I had to bring it in for repairs. I’m so happy to have it back with all the data intact.

I can’t express how much I appreciate all the reviews I’ve been receiving. Thank you all so very much. I’m amazed at the number of new readers as well who say they’ve read the whole thing in a day! I’m happy it’s held your interest and thank you.

Here we go again – enjoy!

This chapter was beta’d by gardengirlgarden and Narcissa Black. Thank you!


Foreboding


Lucius Malfoy was retiring for the night, climbing the stairs to his bedroom, when he heard the most intriguing sounds. The unmistakable gasps and moans of a woman in the throes of passion echoed through the upstairs hall. Immediately his thoughts fell to his wife, as she was the only woman in residence. But who would possibly be making her carry on like that?

He followed the sounds, realizing as he drew closer that the woman did not sound like his wife. His ears led him to Dudley’s room and he lifted his eyebrows in curiosity. How had Dudley Dursley obtained female companionship? Did that Tonks witch take a fancy to him? She was strange enough.

True, the boy was looking a bit more attractive since Narcissa made it her duty to improve his appearance. Yet, his surly attitude was not charming enough to capture a woman’s interest.

Lucius was about to walk away when he was stopped by the sound of a man’s voice, one that couldn’t possibly belong to Dursley. He backed up and pressed his ear to the door. Perhaps Lord Potter had sent his cousin some people to play with. Lucius quietly turned the knob, thinking he would just take a peek and satisfy his curiosity.

His eyes first sought the bed, but it was empty! Lucius opened the door a little more when he caught the sight of Dudley sitting on a chair, staring at a box. The boy was alone. Lucius’ curiosity got the best of him and he let the door swing fully open as he gazed at Muggles having sex in the box.

Dudley glanced at him. “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking?” he grumbled before turning his attention back to the sex scene.

Lucius walked further into the room. “What is this?” he asked, interested.

“People fucking,” Dudley replied without taking his eyes away from the action.

“Yes, I can see that,” Lucius drawled. This must be that television Narcissa had the Tonks witch get for him. Now Lucius could see why a teenage boy would want one of these. “Who are those Muggles? Do they know you’re watching them?”

An incredulous laugh left Dudley’s mouth and he replied, “Don’t you wizards know anything?”

“Don’t test my patience, boy,” Lucius snarled.

The smug look left Dudley’s face. “It’s just a movie,” he replied. “People get filmed doing stuff and then we all get to watch it. They know they are being filmed. It’s their job, all right?”

Lucius considered this for a moment. “Fascinating. Muggles have the strangest tastes. Why they would prefer to sit and watch others enjoy themselves instead of doing those things themselves is most peculiar.”

“Why not do both?” Dudley grinned.

Lucius looked at him. “Hm, indeed.” It seemed to Lucius that Dudley was lacking in female companionship and the poor boy had to resort to simply watching others have intercourse. That could be remedied, Lucius thought.

“Dursley, would you like me to acquire you a female?” Lucius asked.

Dudley looked at him, shocked. “What! What are you saying?”

“It’s obvious you have needs that aren’t being met here,” Lucius answered. “I can help you in that area. I do know a place…”

“A whore? You want me to go to a whore?” Dudley asked, flabbergasted.

“Whores are very convenient, however, if you would like someone a bit more untouched I could arrange that as well,” Lucius offered.

Dudley looked at Lucius as if he had lost his mind. This guy was going to get him a girl? What kind of guardian was he? His own parents would never suggest such a thing in a million years. If his mum ever got better and found out he’d been with a whore – Dudley couldn’t begin to imagine what she’d do! Yet…

“You’re going to ask Harry if you can take me to a whorehouse?” Dudley asked, still not quite believing he was having this conversation.

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll bring a girl here for you,” Lucius replied, coolly.

“Here? What about your wife? Is she going to let you bring a whore home?” Dudley asked.

Lucius smirked, “We would just have to be clever about it, now wouldn’t we?”

OOOOOOOOO

Harry could see it, even in the dark, the blood, everywhere, saturating the ground beneath his feet. Each step that he took, his boots would press into the muck of blood and mud and leaves. He could hear his heavy breaths as he trudged along, looking, looking… for what?

“Harry!” a voice called out.

He turned in the direction of the call, looking down at the squishy blood seeping over his boots. His robes were stiffening with drying blood and his hands, his hands were stained red and black. His heart pounded in his chest as he trudged along. Fire, fire and screaming, people crying, surrounding him on all sides, black thick smoke blinding him, until he found him.

“Harry?” the figure cried.

“Ron!” Harry heard himself say.

“Harry? Why, Harry? Why?” Ron wept, blooding seeping from a gash on this neck.

Harry reached him and grabbed his arms. “Ron! What happened?”

But when he moved Ron, Ron’s head fell from his body. It just fell and rolled, coming to a stop and sinking into the bloody muck, Ron’s eyes still looking at Harry, accusingly.

“RON!” Harry yelled, terrified.

“Bloody hell, Harry,” Ron said, sitting up in his bed. He got up and pushed on Harry’s shoulder to wake him. Every night this week Harry had been having nightmares and it always ended with him shouting Ron’s name.

“Wake up,” Ron pressed.

Harry sprang up to a sitting position, breathing hard and sweating. He looked at Ron with wide eyes. “Ron!”

“I’m not dead,” Ron said. “You were dreaming again.” He turned around and went back to his bed.

Harry rubbed his hands over his face. “Seemed so real.”

“Did my head fall off again?” Ron asked.

“Yeah,” Harry replied. “I keep having the same fucking dream.”

There was silence for a few moments and then Harry said, “Ron?”

“No, Harry,” Ron replied, as he did every night, “I’m not staying out of the battle. It was just a stupid dream.”

“Why do I keep having the same one, then?” Harry persisted. “You know, I actually have dreams that mean something sometimes. How about letting Fred take over the troop for you? I can find another position…”

“No!” Ron said, angrily. “I’d never live that down. Why should I get special treatment when everyone else is putting their lives on the line?”

Harry looked at him quietly in the dark. “I can order it, you know?” Harry muttered.

“But you won’t, because I’d never forgive you for it,” Ron said.

Harry lay back down with a groan. “You know me too well.”

“Yeah, I do,” Ron said. “Go to sleep.”

OOOOOOOOOOO

Spring had arrived in Marlston village, the streets slushy with snow melt. The days were mild, but the nights were still cool. Meri sat in her big chair by her fire, puffing on the pipe she so loved.

Change.

She could feel it all around her. It wasn’t just the change of the seasons, but something more, something vital. For weeks she had a feeling deep inside that something was going to happen and it wasn’t a happy feeling. It was dread, growing, expanding black dread. Dark times were coming, she knew it.

Tonight the feeling weighed heavier than usual. She looked into her fire and tried to focus, tried to sense what this terrible ‘thing’ could be.

Pounding on her door, startled her out of her meditation. “Come in,” she called, but no one entered.

She sighed and set her pipe down. Pushing herself up on her old legs, she made her way to her front door, surprised that she could not sense who her visitor was. Usually she could ‘see’ them coming in her mind before they had even knocked. Ah, perhaps she was just too tired.

She slowly opened the door, her eyes widening with shock.

“Good evening, Mother,” the man said, mockingly.

Meri put her hand over her heart and cried, “No!”

OOOOOOOOOO

It was during Advanced Transfiguration class that an owl flew in, urgently bringing a note to Professor McGonagall in the middle of her lesson. Owls were normally taught to wait until classes were over unless it was an emergency, so it was with a bit of uneasiness that Minerva McGonagall read the message.

Her hand trembled lightly as she looked up at the waiting students. “I’m afraid classes are cancelled for the remainder of the day.” Her eyes went to Harry and she added, “Potter, Dumbledore wishes to see you immediately. Everyone else, please return to your respective common rooms and wait for further news.”

“Excuse me, Professor,” Blaise Zabini said, “but why have classes been cancelled?”

“I’m going to find out more momentarily, Mr. Zabini,” she answered. “In the meanwhile, you must all wait for the heads of your houses to give you further instruction.”

The halls were abuzz with chatter about what the big emergency could be. It had to be serious if classes had been cancelled.

Hermione and Draco caught up to Harry. Draco said, “We’re going with you.”

“You think Voldemort’s struck somewhere?” Hermione asked with a worried frown.

“I don’t know,” Harry replied. “I would feel it if he were near. If they struck, it’s not at Hogwarts.”

Moody was approaching them from the end of the hall leading to Dumbledore’s office. “Harry!” he called out, limping up to the three of them.

”What’s going on?” Harry asked.

“The time is nigh, Potter,” Moody replied. “You’re going to need your Army!”

“What happened?” Draco asked.

Moody glanced at Hermione with his rolling eye and then back to Harry. “They’ve taken Marlston village.”

“What!” Hermione exclaimed. “No!”

Draco put his arm about her. “What do you mean, taken it?”

“Voldemort and his Death Eaters, they’ve attacked the village and are now occupying it!” Moody replied, noting the look of horror on Hermione’s face. “Don’t worry, missy, they’ve not entered your house. Don’t think they’ve found a way in yet.”

“But the people of the village?” Hermione cried. “Did he… did he…”

“Kill them?” Moody finished for her. “Some of them perhaps. But he’d be foolish to kill them all. He knows you care for them, so that gives him some leverage.”

“So this is it then,” Harry said, softly. “He’s chosen the battlefield – Marlston village.”

Hermione began to weep. “Oh, no, Harry! Those people… my people… oh, Gods!”

Harry wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. He kissed the top of her head and said, “I’m going to kill him, Hermione. It’s finally going to end, once and for all.”

He felt her arms wrap tighter around him and she wept on his shoulder. “No, no, I don’t want to lose you….”

“You won’t,” Harry replied. “You knew this was coming. You knew I had to face him one last time. Now the time is here.” He kissed her forehead and looked at her face. Placing one finger under chin, he lifted her eyes to look at his. “Once this is over, we can all live in peace. We’ll come back to school for our seventh year and for once we’ll have nothing to worry about except homework and keeping each other happy.”

Hermione took a deep breath and put her shoulders back bravely before clasping the hands of her two lovers. Draco and Harry reached for each other’s hands as well, and the three of them took strength in what they were – a triad.

“Together, we’ll do this,” Harry said, squeezing their hands.

“Together,” Hermione repeated, bravely.

“Together,” Draco vowed.

OOOOOOOOOO

When they reached Dumbledore’s office, most of the professors were already there.

“Harry,” Dumbledore said, urgently. “I’ve sent word out to all the Order members. We’re having an emergency meeting at Headquarters. We need some to stay behind here and make sure Army members are organized and ready to go to the meeting point. No dampened wands this time.”

Dumbledore turned to McGonagall. “Minerva, I’d like you, Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy to be in charge of gathering them together and seeing them off by this port key to the meeting spot.” He handed McGonagall a pillow.

“Harry, you go ahead to Headquarters with the others and take these maps of Marlston village,” Dumbledore said, handing Harry some scrolls. “You’ll need to decide on your strategy. Mr. Moody will fill you in on the current state of affairs. We’ll be sending your captains along shortly for instruction.”

“Sir, Draco and I need to be with Harry,” Hermione stated.

“I understand, Miss Granger,” Dumbledore reassured her. “You will be with him when the time comes. For now, we must all prepare. Your organizational skills will be most helpful here at the moment.”

“As for myself, I must send owls out to the non-student members of the Army so that they can meet us at the rallying point,” Dumbledore said. The old Headmaster took a deep breath. “Very well, let’s get to it.” He handed the bowl of floo powder to Harry and said, “Go on. We’ll meet you in one hour at the rallying point, Harry. Your Army will be ready. Make sure your strategy is ready as well.”

“Yes, sir,” Harry replied. He leaned over and kissed both Draco and Hermione. “See you soon.”

They both nodded at him worriedly before he left for Grimmauld Place.

OOOOOOO

Harry was the first to arrive at Headquarters, followed by Moody and Snape. Soon other Order members were emerging from the fireplace from all around the Wizarding world. Moody began ushering them into the large dining room.

“I’m going to find Lucius,” Harry said. He walked into the parlor and saw only Narcissa there, reading a book. She stood to greet him.

“Lord Potter!” she exclaimed. “I heard people arriving but I did not know it was you. I assumed it was those Phoenix people.”

“Yes, they are here too,” he nodded. “I’m looking for Lucius.”

“I haven’t seen him all morning,” Narcissa said, curiously. “Perhaps he’s up in that attic room he sometimes retreats to. I shall send an elf for him.”

She moved to call an elf but Harry said, “No, I can find it. I’ve been there before.” Harry thought that he might like to see Sirius’ portrait once more as well. Once more? Harry steadied his nerves. He couldn’t appear nervous, not in front of all these people who were depending on him. But the time was finally here. Soon he would win or die.

Harry took the stairs two at a time to the second story, letting his focus save him from thinking about what was to happen. He found Lucius sitting on a bench in the hall, reading the Daily Prophet. When he saw Harry approaching, he stood up and bowed, “My Lord, it is good to see you.” Lucius’ eyes darted nervously to the side.

“What is wrong, Lucius?” Harry asked, suspiciously.

“Wrong?” Lucius smiled. “Why…”

“Ahhhhh…. Ahhhhh… ooooooooo… YES! YES!” a female voice exclaimed in rapture.

Harry’s head snapped to the voice, which was coming from the little hall stairway that led to the attic. He looked back at Lucius’ guilty face and watched as the man tried to compose himself.

“My Lord…” Lucius began with a nervous glance at the banging sounds coming from the attic. His eyes opened wide as Harry turned and strode up the attic steps. “My Lord!” Lucius said, trying to halt Harry to explain.

Harry opened the door and stood gaping in shock. There was Dudley, lying naked on the bed with a buxom blonde girl bouncing on his cock. Dudley and the girl stopped and looked at Harry. The girl smiled shamelessly, but Dudley’s face grew angry. “Damn it, Harry! Get the fuck out of here. Can’t you see I’m busy?”

Harry stared in astonishment. Dudley was fucking someone? Harry backed out and slowly shut the door, leaning his forehead against it. He could sense Lucius standing behind him, trying to think of what to say.

“My Lord… I’m sorry… I thought it was something he needed. I will accept any punishment you deem necessary,” Lucius said.

Harry still hadn’t turned around and Lucius could see the Dark Lord’s shoulders shaking.
Was he that angry? Perhaps he should have asked permission before he had acquired the girl for Dursley?

“Please, my Lord, forgive me,” Lucius pleaded.

Harry brought a hand up to his face and turned around, a big grin accompanying his chuckles of mirth.

Lucius felt immediately relieved. Lord Potter wasn’t angry, he was laughing.

“I can’t believe you got my cousin laid,” Harry laughed.

Lucius finally was able to grin a bit. “Yes, well, he did seem lacking in that area.”

Harry moved passed him and down the stairs. “Come, Lucius. I want you with me. The battle will be fought tonight.”

“Tonight, my Lord?” Lucius asked, following Harry down to the dining room.

Harry stopped and looked at him. “You are prepared?”

“Always, my Lord.”

OOOOOOOOOOO

Owls, owls, and more owls came soaring down to Headquarters as the Order and Harry’s captains argued over the battle plans. Moody would grab the messages off their little legs while yelling opinions and objections at the ideas being expressed. It was a noisy confusion of anxiety and raised voices, yet Harry was the calm anchor amidst the frenzy, considering everything that was suggested and listening to the opinions of those he trusted.

Moody would grumble every time he opened the urgent Ministry letters. “Ha! Listen to this, Potter,” he shouted over the voices. “The Ministry’s saying that you have no right to go to war without their permission!” Moody would crumple up the notes and toss them into the fireplace, while other voices could be heard saying things like, “The Ministry can kiss my arse!” and “Fuck them.”

“I hardly care what the Ministry thinks,” Harry said each time a Ministry owl appeared. “People are dying out there, waiting for us to help them.” Nobody in the room disagreed.

It was nearly dark when the plans were set. Harry handed a Portkey to Charlie Weasley and said, “Remember, Apparate here, next to the river.” Harry pointed to a spot on the map. “Set the Portkey over here, behind the glade, where the others can safely arrive without being seen from the village. Whatever you do, don’t go near the standing stones. I know they’ll be guarding those, expecting us to show up from there. We’ll start sending the troops to you in about a half hour. Keep them quiet and organized until we’re all there, unless you’re attacked.”

Charlie nodded. “All right, Harry. See you soon.” He looked at his brothers: Ron, Fred, George and Bill; hope against hope that they would all return after the battle was over. Then he looked at his father, who gave him a brave nod. His mother had gone ahead to the rally point, hoping to be of some help in the organization of the troops waiting for the Portkey to the battlefield. Charlie stepped outside and left.

“Everyone else proceed to the rally point,” Harry ordered. “Captains, you’ll need to fill your troops in on what’s expected. I’ll be there shortly.” They all nodded and prepared to leave.

Harry motioned Lucius off to the side and said, “Obliviate the girl and get her back where she belongs. Make sure the protection wards are strong on this house. Narcissa and Dudley must not step outside. Then go to the meeting place.”

“Yes, my Lord,” Lucius said, hurrying off to do his Lord’s bidding.

Harry looked up the stairs, disappointed that he didn’t get to speak to Sirius’ portrait as he planned to. But there was no time for chit chat anymore, so much depended on him this night. Everything depended on him, ultimately. He hesitated a moment longer as another thought struck him. Grabbing a blank piece of parchment, he jotted down a quick note, leaving it on the dining room table. Then he stepped outside to the Portkey that would take him to his destiny.

In the shadows of the hall, Severus Snape emerged, walking slowly to the table where he saw Harry leave the note. He looked at it and read:

“If I, Harry James Potter, do not survive this night, I hereby bequeath all my property to my cousin, Dudley Dursley.”

Snape smirked at Harry’s gesture. ‘So Potter suspects he won’t return, does he?’ Snape thought. ‘How very correct he shall be.’ What a magnanimous thing for Potter to do, give his wealth to his Muggle relative. But Snape supposed that Granger and Malfoy had no need for more wealth and so Potter left it to the neediest person.

Snape waited until Harry had used the Portkey outside before he left the house. He smiled as he took the shiny key out of his pocket. The key to Marlston! In his other pocket, he could feel the memory globe, safe and waiting to be put to use. He moved his thumb over the head of the key while he felt the importance of the mission ahead of him. Tonight… finally… the Dark Lords would be gone forever more.

OOOOOOO

Lucius Malfoy saw Severus slink out of the shadows from the top of the stairs. The wizard definitely looked like he was up to something. Lucius carefully descended, keeping out of view, while Snape moved around the dining room. He followed behind the dark haired man and stopped abruptly when Snape turned around looking at the sky. Lucius pressed himself against the side of the house, watching as Snape curiously grinned as if he had something to be happy about.

It was then that Lucius noticed Snape holding something in his hand, caressing it like a lover. When the small head of a dragon was revealed for a moment, Lucius’ eyes opened wide with understanding. He pulled out his wand, ready to stop Snape, but at that moment Snape vanished.

OOOOOOOOOO

A/N Things will be getting a bit dark and violent as you can probably predict. Though I hope you’ll find it exciting as well. The following chapters will be very plot heavy as you can see how inappropriate it would be for the characters to stop and have sex during a battle. But, my dear smut lovers, we can all look forward to some good post war sex.

Some things for you to ponder:

-Meri: who is she? Someone guess correctly in a review awhile back. It may be obvious to you now. I created the name Meri because she’s changed her name from her canon name in order to hide who she really is. You’ll get a bit more on her history in a later chapter.

-Ron: did Harry’s dream mean something? It may not be as obvious as you think.

-Snape: how can Harry possibly fight two foes at once? Can it be done?

If anyone is interested in discussing this fiction, please visit my live journal page. I’d love to hear from you. http://www.livejournal.com/users/petalsofts4um

To Mr. Data: No, that wasn’t Crookshanks that Voldemort choked, just a random kitty. It was to emphasize how cold and unfeeling he is. But we already knew that, didn’t we? Oh, and there are already plans for a reveal about the future of the triad in the last chapter. I think you’ll like it.

Please leave me a review of this chapter. They really make my day.