Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Hermione's Furry Little Problem	By : Gandalfs-Beard Category: Harry Potter AU/AR > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 242818 -:- Recommendations : 5 -:- Currently Reading : 20
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its associated properties. They belong to JK Rowling. I make no money from the production of this work.

Chapter List
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The Mingling Table was slightly larger at breakfast the day after the task. Harry and Hermione sat in their usual spots directly across the Hall from the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall. Luna and Parvati took their seats next to Hermione, and Daphne and Fleur sat next to Harry.
On the other side of the table, facing them, Fred, George, and Angelina were back, as were Dean, Neville and Ginny. Viktor was accompanied by Lavender, and Cedric and Cho made a show of leaving the Hufflepuff table to join the rest of them.
Strangely, up at the Staff Table, next to Ludo Bagman, Harry spied Percy Weasley in Crouch’s seat glaring at him. Harry frowned, wondering what that was all about. Then he remembered that Percy had graduated a year early and taken an internship at the Ministry according to Fred and George, who had complained vociferously about it at the World Cup.
Nobody really knew what had happened in the Black Lake except for those at the Mingling Table, who were being filled in by Harry, Hermione, and Fleur over breakfast.
“That’s odd Hermione,” Harry remarked, his face creased in puzzlement as he perused the morning paper after giving Hedwig a piece of toast, “All it says in the Prophet is that Fleur and I came in second and first. There aren’t any details. You’d think Skeeter would be going on about how I tried to start a war with the Mer-people or something.”
“I don’t think the Minister and the Prophet have worked out how to spin the events to their advantage Harry.” Hermione replied.
“Well what do you reckon...?” Fred began.
“Should we start spreading the news?” George asked.
The Champions and their loved ones all looked uncomfortable. None of them were sure what to make of things. Harry peered into his wife’s eyes quizzically, and her furry ears and tail twitched noncommittally. Hermione wasn’t really certain what was best. Finally Harry shook his head.
“Look, all we know for certain is that the Minister has it in for Hermione and me,” Harry responded, “but there’s nothing we can do to really prove to everyone else what really happened in the lake. Or prove that she’s the one behind it. The Minister could say it was Bagman or Crouch behind it all.”
“All I know...” Harry swallowed anxiously and peered meaningfully at Fleur before glancing back to the other two Champions and continuing. “All I really know is that I don’t want any of you to get killed just because she’s out to get me and Hermione. I’m sorry you’re all being forced to participate because of the stupid magical contract. I don’t really know what else t’do about it for now until we know what the next task is.”
Fleur got out of her seat and put her arms around Harry, giving him a lingering kiss on the cheek.
“Don’ be sorry ‘arry. You are ze only one ‘oo did not chose to be in ze tournament. All of ze ozzer Champions--we chose zees. We knew eet was dangerous when we signed up for eet.”
“Fleur is correct Harry,” Victor stated firmly, “Zis is not your fault.”
“And I’m the one who’s sorry Potter!” Cedric said glumly, “I should never have doubted you.”
As everyone finished eating, Harry actually spotted the Headmaster approaching the Mingling Table for once. Dumbledore appeared in a somber mood.
“Harry, Mrs Potter, you are both excused from classes today. Perhaps you could join me in my office after you have washed up from breakfast. We have some rather important things to discuss.”

~o0o~
Harry felt a bit uneasy, and Hermione decided to sit on Harry’s lap with an arm and her furry tail curled around his shoulders in the comfy armchair in Dumbledore’s Office. Many of the Headmasters on the wall peered intently at the students while Fawkes fluttered and groomed his wings. Harry thought that he knew what Dumbledore wanted to talk about.
“It’s alright Professor Dumbledore. I understand the Minister is behind all of this. And I know about the Order... I have more or less since last Easter and the beginning of last Summer. Mr Weasley and Dobby told us...”
“Indeed,” began Dumbledore. Harry was surprised to see that he looked sad and a bit sheepish.
“Harry, there are a number of things I should have personally discussed with you from the very beginning--but for a number of reasons I either left it to others, or chose to keep things to myself. Some of those reasons were personal, others because I thought them dangerous to reveal, and--most unwisely--some because I thought you were just too young to comprehend. I now understand myself, that is not true of you, or your wife.”
“You are both far more mature than your years, and have borne burdens that many adults have not. And due to who you are--who you have become--my staff... my friends--have come to show me the error of my ways.”
“Professors Snape and McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey, and your Godfather Sirius, have been instrumental in helping me see who you really are Harry--who you both are. You yourself with your actions, helped me see who you are... and gave me a glimpse into myself in the process.”
“I have been an old fool and kept secrets far too long...” a tear glinted in the corner of Albus’s eye.
“I once told you that the Truth was a beautiful and terrible thing... as an excuse to hide it from you. Today, I must tell you that it is more terrible to keep the truth from those who most deserve to hear it. That forgiveness which I asked you for at the end of First Year, I do not deserve it.”
“I should have told you from the very beginning of First Year that Voldemort would be seeking you out. Harry... there is a Prophecy. Prophecies can often be dubious at best. Regardless, it was accepted as legitimate by Voldemort, and thus made real by his actions when he chose you as his target. It has been largely broken by a series of events beginning with Mrs Potter’s transformation--but you should know of it nonetheless because it was about you and Voldemort.”
“We have to fight each other don’t we!?” Harry stated simply, “And one of us will have to die.”
Albus Dumbledore stared at Harry, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Yes! Though with your Horcrux gone, it is no longer guaranteed that you must personally face Voldemort. Your mother's magic still protects you from Possession, his touch, and his Killing Curse. And there is more to it of course. There was another the Prophecy could have referred to before he chose you...”
“It’s alright Sir--really.” Harry interrupted, “I worked it out for myself when Dobby visited me at Privet Drive. Prophecy or not, Voldemort thinks that I might be able to kill him again, and he won’t stop until he finishes me first. I understand. If there is more, it’s not really important. That’s all I really needed to know. Especially since you already had Professor Snape help me get rid of the Horcrux in myself.”
The tear in the corner of Dumbledore’s eye finally broke free and rolled down his cheek.
“Thank you Harry... Sincerely! I do not deserve your graciousness...” Dumbledore paused and heaved a great sigh as if to calm himself before continuing. “Henceforth, everything I know or come to learn of which relates directly to you, I shall make you aware of.”
“That is the second part of the reason you are here in my office. I am inviting you and your wife to participate in some of the Order meetings Harry. You belong there--and I dare say that those closest to you belong there as well. Misses Lovegood, Patil, Greengrass, and Delacour--all of their families have pledged their support to the Order. It is only fair that their children should join us as well.”
Hermione’s tail swished and Harry gaped, his eyes bulging in utter amazement. Neither of them had ever thought that they would be allowed to sit in on Order meetings--much less with their best friends.
“None of you are too young to know the Truth and participate at the very least in learning about the Evil which will take us all if we cast our eyes away and blind ourselves. I understand that now, like I did not before. I cannot protect you without also teaching you what you must know to protect yourselves.”
“There is a meeting tonight. After dinner, please be here in my office, all of you, and we shall depart by floo to the home of someone else--someone I once believed would always be an enemy--but who has become as much of a friend as one could ever hope to have. She is the cousin of your godfather Harry... Narcissa Black.”
Harry and Hermione both gasped in shock, knowing exactly who she was.
“Once her husband was Lucius Malfoy--but no more. She has truly forsaken her past... and even cast off those of her own blood who would commit acts of great evil. I know this Harry, because I have a special talent, much the same as Professor Snape’s. I can see into people’s minds and see what they see--and what they have seen.”
“Your wife, with her own special abilities, will be able to tell you that what I say is true, especially when she uses her gifts at the meeting tonight. You do not have to trust my word on this. Trust Mrs Potter, as the truth will be physically palpable to her.”
Hermione purred and blushed, the tip of her bushy tail flicking in happy embarrassment as she wriggled on Harry’s lap. Harry grinned at her and gave her a scratch behind a furry ear. He trusted Hermione with every fibre of his being.
The Headmaster averted his eyes briefly feeling his own heart warm at the tender sight of young love. Another tear broke free and rolled down his other cheek. He swallowed guiltily before continuing.
“And... and Harry, I know words will never--ever--be enough to make up for 12 and a 1/2 years of suffering. I am profoundly sorry for neglecting you for so long at the Dursleys... for not looking in on you in all that time to check on your well-being. That was truly unforgivable of me. I...” the Headmaster’s voice broke, and he tried to compose himself again as more tears followed the first ones, “I have no excuse for my behaviour in that regard.”
Harry’s cheeriness was suddenly shaken by the sight of Dumbledore’s distress. Enduring Vernon and Dudley’s brutish onslaughts, and dodging Aunt Petunia's half-hearted swipes with frying pans had been painful indeed. But he was free of that now, and he was beginning to think that Dumbledore might have had something to do with that. Tears sprang to Harry's own eyes.
“Please Sir,” Harry squeaked, “It’s alright. It’s done with now. Uncle Vernon is gone. Really! I don’t care about that anymore now...” Harry gulped, “Now that I have a REAL family and a REAL home.”
“You are far too kind Harry,” Albus choked. “I do not deserve your graciousness... That would be Minerva... And Hagrid!”
“But--but there is one last thing. There is one other here at Hogwarts who may yet have something painful to reveal to you. It is however, not my place to speak for him. I trust... I trust that you will offer him some small measure of forgiveness should he ever be able to speak for himself...”
Harry cast his eyes down, wondering who the Headmaster meant. There really was only one person he could think of. Snape had mentioned Harry’s mother once--the day Snape had started being nice to him--and compared his mum favourably to Hermione.
Harry had hated Snape from the bottom of his heart since the first day that Snape had bore into him with his venomous gaze and chosen to do his utmost to make Harry’s life at Hogwarts miserable--something to do with hating Harry’s father apparently.
But Harry had stopped hating Snape when Snape began treating him and Hermione better. Harry had begun to wonder if Snape had liked his mum and been jealous of his father. Maybe Snape had done something really bad like Pettigrew had.
Ever since Snape had invited Harry--and Hermione--to study Advanced Potions with him, Harry had seen nothing but sorrow and grief in Snape’s eyes. And the day that Snape had helped him destroy the Horcrux in his head, Snape had said that he believed in Harry in such a soft, gentle tone, that Harry had sensed something in the Potions Master which reminded him of how Sirius felt towards Harry.
Whatever Snape had done, Harry knew it was eating at him, that it was causing him great pain... and Harry knew that when it came time, he would forgive him.

~o0o~

Molly Weasley was still having some difficulty getting used to being in the house of someone who had been an enemy for so long. Narcissa was a courteous host though, and Molly was on her best behaviour--until Harry emerged from the fireplace. Molly’s eyes narrowed. Harry needed to be protected and looked after by those who knew what was best for him. He was too young to be in the Order, and he still looked too scrawny and in need of a good feeding.
Arthur beamed at Harry and greeted him warmly while his wife looked on pensively.
“Good to see you again Mr Weasley...” Harry grinned, before being embraced by Sirius.
The green flames flickered again, and Hermione joined the hug, twirling her fluffy tail. One after the other, Luna, Parvati, Daphne, and Fleur exited the fireplace... and finally Albus Dumbledore made his entrance and the green flames faded.
Molly was in a high dudgeon now.
“What’s the meaning of this Albus?” Molly scathingly inquired, “The Order is no place for children,” her voice began to rise and Severus glared at her while Poppy and Minerva cringed, “Harry I understand, but this is ridiculous...”
“Good Evening Molly,” Dumbledore interjected politely, “Harry would naturally share whatever he learns here today with those who love him. They may as well sit among us. Especially as their families are doing so much to support the Order--thanks to Harry...”
“You might as well just induct the lot of them then,” Molly shouted, “Do you really think their parents want them to be fighting Dark Wizards...?”
“Molly! Please,” Arthur said embarrassedly, “They’re just sitting in...”
“And why shouldn’t they be fighting Dark Wizards?” Sirius responded sharply.
“Sirius is right Molly,” Moody growled. “These ‘children’ are all being forced to confront Dark Wizards whether we like it or not. We all are. They need to know what they’re facin’... They need to be prepared. Is that what you want? For them to face danger without knowin’ what it’s all about?”
“Of course not Alastor,” Molly gasped angrily, “But...”
“But nothin’...” Moody snapped. “They’re here to learn what they will be dealing with in coming months. That’s just how it is. Get used to it.”
Molly quieted, and looked to Remus for support. But when he just raised his eyebrows at her, she knew that she had lost and settled for mutinous looks. Albus nodded gratefully at Moody.
“Well, if we’re all ready then,” Dumbledore said smoothly, “why don’t we join our gracious host at her table...”
Harry, Hermione, and their friends let out huge sighs of relief as the tension began to drain. But they were still quite anxious, and all sat quietly together at one end of the long dining table, trying to be as unobtrusive as possible. Dora left the adults at the other end and went to sit with them.
“If you would please be so kind Narcissa?” Dumbledore began, as he glanced down the lengthy ebony table at the apprehensive youngsters, “Some here do not yet know the circumstances by which you have come to host us.”
Narcissa’s stomach tightened and she swallowed nervously. She looked to her cousin Sirius, and he gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
“I... My husband and I were betrothed at an early age,” Narcissa began, “There was a contract... For those too young to know, Marriage Contracts were once common among the Noble Houses. Though they are no-longer validated by the Ministry today, Contracts issued before times changed are still upheld. My father had pledged me to the Malfoys from birth.”
Hermione's bushy tail bristled as she and Fleur gasped in horror. Daphne cast her eyes away, glad that her own father had steadfastly refused Lucius Malfoy’s many offers. Luna and Parvati cuddled closer together and shuddered, furry tails aquiver. Harry’s stomach churned in revulsion at the idea of an arranged marriage, bought and paid for. He felt like throwing up. It struck him as tantamount to slavery.
“I did grow to love my husband eventually, and at one time I shared his beliefs. We all did in those days... we were raised to believe in the superiority of our blood. But over time I came to see the cruelty and suffering that such beliefs wrought. I begged my husband to withdraw from the company he kept.”
“When he did not, we grew further apart. There was war--and more distance between us. But by the time it was over we had a son, and I had hoped to put it all behind us. But... but as you know, my husband maintained his arrogant views, and passed them on to our son.”
“When my husband was finally sent to Azkaban for his many crimes after losing his temper at Hogwarts, and our son eventually joined him for his own crimes, I sought a way out. There was a clause in the contract...”
“A clause which gave me the right to divorce should my husband ever be arrested and convicted to a life sentence. And if my husband’s heir were to also be convicted of a crime which would have carried a life sentence had he been of the age of majority, the clause also allowed me to assume control of his estate...”
Narcissa paused, and peered apologetically at Parvati, Luna, and Daphne.
“I... I am shamed by my own blood--my son. For his grievous offences I am truly sorry. Offering my home as a sanctuary for those who have been wronged by my husband and my son will never be payment enough. But it is the least I can do...”

AN: Response to review:
@ staar: There's a lot more to happen between this point and the maze yet. But let me assure you, I like "happy endings" for my heroes in more ways than one... ;-)
Which means the villains will all get what they deserve eventually in this fic--and a LOT more good guys will survive in this version.
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Hermione's Furry Little Problem