A Friend in Need: Chapter 35

I'm finally feeling better. I was horribly sick for about a week and a half. I'll be working hard to get one more chapter of this done before the end of the month, and early February, I'm looking to post updates for Thrown Back, Hero They Needed, and a few others that have been neglected. Thanks for your patience everyone. Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 35

“Achoo!”

“I told you she would get sick,” Hermione said, glaring at Harry.

Iffy sniffled and groaned as she lay in Harry’s hand, bundled in a shrunken quilt. Her nose was noticeably red, and her eyes drooped. Harry sighed, scooting closer to the fire to keep her warm.

“Sorry,” he muttered.

Iffy smiled weakly.

“Achoo!”

“Would it help if we gave her a Pepper-up Potion?” Tonks asked thoughtfully.

“No,” Hermione said adamantly. “You can’t give potions designed for witches and wizards to a Fairy. It’s dangerous.”

“Why don’t we take her to see Hagrid?” Harry asked. “He’ll know what to do.”

“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” Hermione said. “Let’s go. Do you want to stop and get something to eat first?”

Iffy groaned, wrapped her arms tightly around herself, and shook her head. Stroking her head sympathetically, Harry carefully tucked her in the breast pocket of his shirt and donned his cloak. Tonks took his hand as they left Gryffindor Tower with Hermione and made their way downstairs. Leaving through the front door, they walked down to Hagrid’s hut and knocked on the door. The door opened a moment later, and Hagrid greeted them with a beaming smile under his bushy beard.

“Hello,” he said brightly. “What brings you lot down here this early?”

“Do you have a minute, Hagrid?” Hermione asked. “We could use your help.”

“O’course,” he said, swinging the door open wide and stepping aside. “Come on in, I just put on some tea.”

Harry, Hermione, and Tonks walked inside and took seats around the small round table while Hagrid bustled about the kitchen making tea. Fang, who was sleeping on the bed, woke up at the sound of visitors, stretched, yawned, and clambered sleepily down to the floor. Tonks smiled and reached over to scratch his head, but he ignored her and sniffed the air curiously. He sniffed between the three of them, eventually following his nose right to Harry’s breast pocket.

“Careful,” Harry said, leaning back.

Sniffling, Iffy poked her head out of the top of his pocket and gazed blearily at the giant Mastiff. Fang woofed softly but excitedly.

“Hello there,” Hagrid said, setting three mismatched mugs of tea on the table. “Who’s this?”

“That’s Iffy,” Hermione answered. “We found her at Harry’s house. We think she was hiding in some of the books we borrowed from the Room of Requirement.”

“Borrowed?” Tonks asked skeptically

Hermione ignored her.

“She’s what we wanted to talk to you about. Harry thought it would be a good idea for her to fly across Britain with Hedwig, and now she’s sick. Can you do anything to help her?”

“Looks like a common case of Fairy Flu,” Hagrid said. “Probably got it just bein’ in the castle. I got just the thing.”

Turning back to the cupboards, he searched through several glass jars before pulling out two. One was filled with patches of dark green moss, and the other contained pencil-thick, black roots. Snapping a few roots and exposing the bright white core, he stuck them in another mug, added a wad of moss, and then poured steaming hot water from the kettle over the top.

“Hyophila moss and Snakeroot tea,” Hagrid said, taking out another mug. “Should have her fixed up in no time. One of yeh mind shrinking this fer me?”

Hermione drew her wand and shrunk the mug.

“Thank, Hermione,” he smiled.

Very carefully, his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration, Hagrid took the tiny mug between his thumb and forefinger. It shattered immediately.

“Whoops.”

“Let me, Hagrid,” Hermione said.

Standing up and joining him at the counter, she repaired the mug, picked it up, and scooped out some tea.

“Thanks, Hermione,” Hagrid smiled. “Me dad always said I was too strong for me own good.”

Laughing, he sat on the bed, and the frame creaked in protest. Harry lifted Iffy out of his pocket and set her on the table as Hermione handed her the mug of tea. She took it in her hands, eyed it curiously, and took a tentative sip. Immediately, her eyes brightened; she perked up, took a deep gulp, and let out a satisfied sigh.

“Ha, told yeh it would work,” Hagrid smiled. “She’ll be right as rain in no time.”

“Brilliant, Hagrid,” Harry grinned.

They spent an hour catching up with Hagrid, and by the time they left, Iffy looked and acted like she felt much better. Despite that, he advised them to wait a few days before sending her home. Iffy insisted on tagging along with Harry and Hermione as they went about their classes. Surprisingly, none of the professors made a fuss about her presence, short of warning not to let her become a distraction. Fortunately, Iffy was well-behaved and merely watched from the comfort and warmth of one of their pockets. It was also fortunate that it was still chilly in the castle, forcing her to stay clothed.

The only class they didn’t take her to was Defense because neither Harry nor Hermione trusted Snape and the Slytherins not to try and hurt her.

When it came time to send her back to Fort Potter, Iffy refused any form of transportation that wasn’t Hedwig, much to Hermione’s consternation. After much arguing, she finally gave in, made her a new, warmer jacket, and sent the owl and Fairy winging their way back home.

Life in the castle returned to normal for the next couple of weeks until Harry, Tonks, and Hermione were abruptly woken in the middle of the night.

“All Aurors report to the Ministry immediately!”

Startled by the thundering voice, all three of them sat bolt upright in bed.

“What’s that?” Hermione asked sleepily.

“All Aurors report to the Ministry immediately!”

“Shit!”

Tonks jumped out of bed, naked, and ran to her robes that she had tossed carelessly across the room earlier in the night.

“Nymphadora Tonks.”

Tonks dropped her robes and ran back the way she’d come. Stopping in front of the nightstand, she picked up her locket and opened it.

“Amelia Bones,” she said.

Harry and Hermione climbed out of bed and looked over her shoulder as Amelia’s pale, worried face swam into view in the tiny, oval mirror.

“Disregard that order,” she said. “I need you to stay at Hogwarts. Double the patrols and keep Potter safe. Wake the professors if you have to.”

“What’s going on?” Tonks asked.

“The Dementors joined Voldemort. The guards are dead, and the prison is empty.”

Tonks’ hair went limp and turned jet black as she stumbled back and sat heavily on the bed.

“I have to go; the Dementors are wreaking havoc,” Amelia said. “You and your team stay put and keep that school safe.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Tonks nodded.

Amelia’s face disappeared, and she closed the locket with a heavy sigh.

“I can’t believe it,” Hermione whispered.

Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders and caressed her arm soothingly.

“I need to go,” Tonks said, standing up and throwing on whatever clothes she grabbed first. “You two stay put until breakfast.”

“You don’t think they’ll come here, do you?” Hermione asked.

“No, but I’d rather be safe than sorry,” Tonks replied, donning her robes. “Keep your lockets on you. I’ll call if anything happens.”

They nodded in agreement, and she leaned down to kiss each of them before darting from the room. Hermione clung to Harry as he pulled her back into bed and covered them with the blankets. Neither of them spoke, but sleep never came.

When they made their way down to the Great Hall hours later, they could feel the tension in the air even before the morning paper arrived. Tonks and her Aurors constantly patrolled the halls, and the teachers looked tired and worried. When the paper arrived, frightened gasps and murmurs filled the hall. A dark cloud of uncertainty settled over the castle.

Harry immediately used his charmed Galleon to call a meeting of the DA. Realistically, he knew they couldn’t do anything about the situation, but training would keep their minds occupied, and improving their dueling was never a bad idea. He had just tucked the Galleon back in his pocket when Tonks dropped tiredly onto the bench next to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“You alright?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Tonks said, pausing to yawn widely before continuing. “Just tired. I talked to Bones. She said they managed to drive the Dementors away from populated areas, but they have no idea how to make them return to Azkaban, and no one’s seen any sign of the prisoners. When the Aurors arrived for the shift change, they found the cells empty, and the guards Kissed.”

“What are they going to do with new prisoners?” Hermione asked.

Tonks shrugged and sighed.

“I don’t know. Probably keep them at the Ministry for now. If they can’t get the Dementors back, they’ll have to hire regular guards to patrol the prison.”

“They never should have used Dementors as guards in the first place,” Hermione said with a shiver. “It’s inhumane.”

“You’re probably right, but I’m too tired to think about it,” Tonks said, closing her eyes.

“Why don’t you go back to bed for a bit?” Harry suggested. “We’ll be in class anyway, and I called for a DA meeting after dinner.”

“That sounds like a good idea,” she yawned. “Wake me up for lunch.”

Kissing him on the cheek, she grabbed the buttered toast off his plate and left the Great Hall sluggishly as she munched on it.

~

Harry watched with a sense of pride as the DA worked hard on mastering the Patronus Charm. Ginny, Luna, Neville, and Ron could reliably cast a corporeal Patronus at will. He wasn’t fully satisfied since they had never faced a real Dementor, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. All of the other students could conjure mist, and most of them were close to fully forming. Daphne seemed the closest to mastering the Charm, but she appeared distracted, and her concentration slipped. It seemed to be a bird of some sort, and given the long neck, he thought it might be a swan. Quietly, he made his way over to her.

“Everything alright?” he asked softly.

Daphne lowered her wand and sighed.

“I need to talk to you after the meeting,” she whispered.

“Okay,” Harry said. “Come to our room after the meeting?”

Daphne nodded and returned to practicing her Charm as if nothing had happened. Giving her shoulder a supportive squeeze, he continued walking around the room, helping people where he could.

They ended the meeting an hour later, so the students had plenty of time to return to their Common Rooms. The Aurors and teachers were still patrolling the halls at night, and they weren’t offering any leniency to anyone caught out after curfew. Harry, Hermione, and Tonks escorted Daphne to their room in Gryffindor Tower. The few students milling about gave them curious looks as they disappeared inside.

“What’s wrong?” Harry asked.

“Do you remember when you asked me if my father could force my sister or me into a contract, and I told you he could, but it wouldn’t be magically binding?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“Well, I did some research to make sure he couldn’t find a way to fuck me over,” Daphne said. “And I was mostly right. The Ministry won’t accept a magically binding contract without a willing signature from everyone involved. Gringotts, on the other hand, will.”

“How can they do that?” Hermione asked.

“The laws that govern Gringotts are a lot older than the laws of the Ministry,” Daphne explained, “and no one wants to renegotiate the treaty we’ve had in place for hundreds of years. Normally, it isn’t a problem. The Goblins are known for screwing witches and wizards over with fine print, and their services cost an arm and a leg, so most people avoid them. Only desperate people go to them for a contract. That’s not something I had to worry about while my father was in prison, but now that he’s out…”

“You think he’s going to try something?” Harry asked.

“My father isn’t known for taking defeat or betrayal well,” she admitted. “And he will see us running away as a betrayal.”

“But there’s something we can do to help, right?” Tonks asked.

Daphne took a steadying breath, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a roll of parchment and a quill. She placed it on the study desk next to the wall and used the quill and an ink well from the desk to keep it unfurled.

“My father can’t enter me into a contract if I’m already bound by one,” she said. “This magically binding contract will make me and my sister your mistresses. My mother has already signed it. In exchange for signing this and agreeing to leave Astoria alone and release her from the contract as soon as my father is dead or back in prison, I’ll be yours to use however you want.”

“Daphne, you don’t have to-”

“Potter, just sign the contract and tell me what to do,” Daphne barked before her shoulders slumped, and she gazed at him pleadingly. “Please.”

Harry stared at her for a long moment and then turned to Tonks and Hermione. Neither of them offered him an objection. With a sigh, he walked over to the desk, picked up the quill, and signed with a flourish.

“Thank you,” Daphne said, exhaling heavily in relief.

He opened his arms, and she rushed forward, clinging to him tightly and burying her face in his shoulder. His hand caressed her back gently as she trembled. It took several moments for her to get her emotions under control, and when she did, she leaned back and gazed up at him. Their lips met before Harry even realized they were drifting closer together. Daphne threaded her fingers through his hair and desperately mashed her lips against his. Her nails dug sharply into his scalp, and his lips ached, but his only response was to pull her closer. Relief only came when she ran out of air and pulled back to catch her breath.

“I’m all yours, Potter,” she whispered, panting lightly. “Take me.”

Harry held her smoldering gaze, lifted her off the floor, and carried her over to the bed. Laying her down on the mattress and crawling over top of her, their lips crashed together again. Their hands tugged impatiently at each other’s clothing, heedless of the popping buttons. As Daphne sat up to unclasp her bra, he scrambled out of his trousers, all while their lips remained awkwardly connected. The moment the last item of clothing hit the floor, Harry crawled back on top of her, and they shared a mutual, muffled groan as his excited length mashed against her folds.

They separated to catch their breath. He held Daphne’s gaze as he reached between their bodies and lined himself up with her entrance. With his head lodged in place, he placed his forearms on either side of her head and pushed.

“Oh, Merlin!” Daphne gasped.

Harry carefully but inexorably deeper into her core until he could go no further. He watched her face closely as he paused, giving her a few moments to adjust. At her nod, he began rocking back and forth, easing in and out of her gripping heat. Daphne threw her head back and groaned, rolling her hips in time with his. He thrust harder and faster, causing her large breasts to bounce in time with their movements. Taking one in his hand, he kissed her passionately and rolled the hard pink nipple between his fingers. She whimpered into his mouth and raked her nails down his spine.

Daphne began to writhe under him. He could feel a tremble in her muscles as she bucked desperately. She tore her lips from his with a gasp and clutched at his back frantically as if looking for something to hold onto. Every breath she took stuttered as she arched her back and squirmed restlessly. Harry plowed forward harder and faster, rocking her body with every thrust until, finally, she seized and shook.

“Yes!” Daphne exclaimed.

He maintained a relentless pace, seeking his own relief. Selfishly, he drove into her depths as she trembled and gasped below him. With an inarticulate grunt, he pinned his hips to hers and erupted, flooding her with the heat of his climax. Daphne gasped, and her eyes widened as she locked her legs around the back of his thighs. She met his eyes with a look of wonder before he collapsed breathlessly on top of her.

“Well, it’s about time,” Tonks said. “That was fuckin’ hot.”

Harry turned his head to the side and saw Tonks and Hermione spooned on the bed next to them. Tonks was behind Hermione, head propped on her hand and a smirk on her lips. Brushing the brunette’s bushy hair aside, she whispered in her ear. As Hermione crawled forward, Harry rolled off of Daphne, who lay panting, her eyes closed.

“Scoot over,” Tonks whispered.

He moved out of the way, and she took his place next to Daphne. Hermione made her way between Daphne’s legs and kissed the inside of her thigh. The blonde’s eyes shot, and she gasped as Hermione kissed her again, slowly making a path to her leaking folds.

“You know he’s going to fuck you whenever he wants now,” Tonks said.

“I’m well aware of what I agreed to,” Daphne replied, closing her eyes as Hermione reached her core. “Oh, that’s good, Granger.”

“Agreed to?” Tonks smirked, caressing Daphne’s breast. “You make it sound like a sacrifice. Admit it, you’d be happy to have Harry order you to suck his cock between classes. You want him to drag you into a broom cupboard and shag your brains out whenever he feels like it.”

Daphne hissed and grabbed two big handfuls of Hermione’s hair.

“Maybe he should just bend you over the Slytherin table in the middle of the Great Hall and show them who you belong to.”

“Oh, Merlin,” Daphne gasped.

Harry chuckled and shook his head, but his eyes were drawn to Hermione’s swaying bum as his erection gradually returned.

~

Apolline looked up from her book as she heard the front door open and close. Despite the Fidelus around Fort Potter, she palmed her wand cautiously. She relaxed when Amelia sluggishly entered the living room and wearily collapsed in her favorite chair.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

“Fine,” Amelia sighed. “Just exhausted. No one has any answer on how to deal with Dementors, Scrimgeour is playing politics behind my back, and the Wizengamot took six hours out of my day being utterly useless.”

Sighing heavily, she massaged the bridge of her nose.

“I’m sorry,” Apolline said sympathetically. “You should try and get some rest.”

“I can’t,” Amelia grumbled. “Every time I close my eyes, I see six of my Aurors staring blankly at a wall, babbling to themselves.”

Suddenly, she heaved herself out of the chair, walked over to the drinks cabinet, and poured herself a generous helping of scotch. She downed it in a single swig and set the glass back down heavily.

Apolline stood, relaxed her Allure, and walked up behind her. Amelia tensed momentarily as she hugged her from behind but quickly relaxed.

“Zen come to bed wiz me,” she said softly. “I weel distract you.”

“Tempting,” Amelia said, caressing the back of Apolline’s hand and glancing over her shoulder. “But I really am exhausted.”

“I don’t mind,” Apolline smiled. “Let me take care of you tonight.”

Taking Amelia’s hand in her, she led her down the hall and into her bedroom.

~

After sneaking Daphne back to the Slytherin common room under his cloak, Harry detoured to the Astronomy Tower on his way back. He knew Tonks and Hermione would be asleep, and it granted him a rare moment to sit and think by himself.

“I see I’m not the only one that sleep eludes tonight.”

Harry glanced over his shoulder at Professor Dumbledore and then turned back to gaze out at the stars.

“I imagine a lot of people are going to have trouble sleeping.”

“I imagine you’re right,” Dumbledore said.

He joined Harry at the edge of the railing, and they stood in companionable silence for a long moment.

“I wanted to let you know, since you were so concerned last time, that I’ll be leaving the castle for a week, perhaps longer, tomorrow morning,” Dumbledore said.

“Why?” Harry asked.

“I believe I’ve located another of Tom’s trinkets,” he replied. “One I’ll require your assistance to retrieve.”

“Why don’t we just go now?”

“Because I’ve yet to discover the exact location,” Dumbledore told him. “As soon as I have it, we will collect it together.”

He leaned on the railing next to Harry, his black hand sticking out in sharp contrast to the rest of his pale, white skin. It didn’t look any better or worse than it had the last time they’d talked in his office. Harry looked away and gathered the courage to ask the question that had plagued his mind for months.

“Are you dying, professor?”

Dumbledore gazed down at his hand and turned it over, gazing at it in the moonlight.

“Our time is precious on this Earth, Harry. We never know when it might come to an end,” he said before raising his eyes to meet Harry’s gaze. “But I assure you, I’ll be around as long as you need me.”

It wasn’t the answer Harry had hoped for, but he knew it was the best he would get. Together, they turned back to the stars and lapsed into silence.