Moving Forward: Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Harry was blissfully unaware of what was going on in his bedroom right at this hour. He was happily sitting with Sirius and Ron in the living room of Grimmauld Place, watching as the two went head-to-head in a game of chess. There was no one else present nearby apart from Mrs. Weasley who was busy in the kitchen, happily going about her way to preparing for dinner.

The Sun always set in the west, and Ron had Sirius on the backfoot very quickly. Harry watched on, amused as his godfather raked his brain to come up with a strategy which he knew was bound to fail when he turned over to see Fred and George enter the living room. The moment they saw him, they grinned and came over, sitting beside him on the couch.

“And our mysterious partner finally shows his face,” Fred grinned.

“One has to wonder how our partner became so mysterious though,” George continued, smirking.

Harry had a sinking feeling that the twins knew at least a little bit of what was going on with him and the numerous women who were now living in the house, but he could not be sure. With the twins, one could never say anything for certain.

“How it goes with the lovely Miss Malfoy, partner?”

“Never thought you’d go for a snake, but you do you, mate.”

Harry chuckled, replying, “Can’t complain, guys.”

“What’s this I’m hearing? Partner?” Sirius interjected as he looked over, having lost another game.

“Hush, Sir Padfoot!” Fred whispered furiously, craning his neck to see whether his mother had heard anything. “Not so loud.”

“Sir Padfoot?” Sirius asked, blinking before grinning widely. “I like it. Now what’s this partner business?”

Harry smiled. “I’m a silent partner in their business. These two want to open a joke shop after Hogwarts and I gave them some funding last year. And Sirius, silent means silent.”

The old marauder made a zipping motion with his hand, chuckling.

“Some funding, he says,” George snorted. “A thousand galleons is not some funding, partner.”

Ron’s eyes bugged out.

“A thousand!?” the redhead hissed. “You gave them the Triwizard winnings, didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want that money. Better it be used for something good. I’m sure these two will make it big,” he replied with a shrug.

“Make it big we will,” Fred nodded emphatically. “Zonko’s won’t know what hit ‘em.”

“You boys make any good stuff already?” Sirius asked, eager to know more.

Fred and George smirked and began explaining all the goodies they had come up with.

“There’s this nifty little tablet we’ve decided to call U-No-Poo,” Fred said snickering.

“Love the name, by the way,” Harry grinned.

“Lemme guess,” Sirius chortled. “It stops your shit, doesn’t it?”

“Aye, good sir. Stops it right at your butthole. You sit, you feel it trying to get out. You try to go, you get no poo,” George replied, coaxing a laugh out of everyone.

“Imagine somehow sneaking one of those in Mad-Eye’s food,” Ron said, laughing. Everyone envisioned the sight of Moody on a shitter grunting out expletives when nothing happened.

“Bloody hell,” Sirius laughed. “What else?”

“Well, there’s this Demon Dung. Better than the regular dungbomb from Zonko’s, with the authentic stamp of quality certification from yours truly!”

“How bad is the stench?” Sirius asked eagerly.

Smirking, Fred replied, “Bad enough that Snape would start crying.”

Sirius’ eyes widened in glee.

“That I’d pay to see,” he snickered.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of the floo as it went off in the other room, and they looked over.

“Where’s Harry, Molly?” A calm voice asked from the corridor outside the living room, and Harry turned toward Sirius with pursed lips.

“Sounds like the old man,” the man replied, and they saw the headmaster come in with Kingsley. He was followed by a concerned Mrs. Weasley.

“How can I help you?” Harry asked in a curt tone. Dumbledore frowned.

“Good evening, Harry. Kingsley just informed me of recent developments here,” Dumbledore said as he took a seat. “I know it is not my place to tell you who you can or cannot let into the house but—”

“People should refrain from interfering in matters when they know it’s not their place to, headmaster,” Harry replied immediately, his voice one of forced calm. Eyes widened around the room at his words.

Dumbledore looked at him keenly.

“Kingsley here also told me what happened in Greengrass Manor today,” he said. “According to him, there were twenty Death Eaters. His group captured ten, and the remaining ones who made it inside the house were all found dead, most in very disturbing manners.”

Wide eyes turned to look at Harry who sat there with a calm look on his face.

“Correct about those who went inside. Don’t know about the rest,” he nodded.

“Harry dear,” Mrs. Weasley whispered in shock as she stared at him. “Don’t tell me y-you—”

“Put them out of their misery, yes,” Harry replied, still speaking calmly as he leaned back on the couch. The woman staggered back as if slapped. Her eyes were wide as she stared at him and he was sure she felt as if she didn’t know who was sitting there in his guise.

Ignoring her, he looked at Dumbledore and continued, “They were going to gangrape all four women and I’m sure they wouldn’t have stopped at that before they killed them. Permanently dealing with them was the least I could do.”

“That is not for you to decide, Harry,” Dumbledore replied firmly, a deep frown on his face.

“No?” Harry asked, tilting his head. His voice gained a slightly mocking edge as he replied, “And who gets to decide then? You perhaps? Is that it, headmaster? I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what you believe, considering your conduct in the past.”

Looking around, he stared at everyone present. Ron was looking down at the table with a frown while the twins stared at the spectacle with wide eyes. Sirius looked at him and gave a small nod, indicating that he had his back. He looked back at Dumbledore who was frowning and Kingsley who was staring at him with that accusing look, as if he had gone out and killed a family of innocents.

“You took the law in your hands, Mr. Potter,” Kingsley replied with a sigh.

“I don’t think I did,” Harry replied easily, earning a surprised look from the man.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said you’re wrong when you say I took the law in my hands,” he replied. “As far as I know, killing animals is completely legal in the magical world, even for pleasure. Isn’t it true, Mr. Weasley?”

The Weasley patriarch had just come in, and he looked at him in surprise. Seeing the expectant look on Harry’s face, the man nodded.

“It is true that there is no law prohibiting killing animals,” he nodded.

“There you have it. No law broken,” Harry’s eyes hardened slightly, shining an intense emerald. “I saw mad animals… And I put them down like they deserved to.”

“That is enough from you, Harry,” Dumbledore said, his voice gaining a slight edge to it. “No matter how much enraged you feel, killing is never an option. The Order does not resort to Death Eater tactics.”

“If you think what I did was even remotely comparable to what the Death Eaters do, headmaster,” Harry sneered. “Then I fear what they’re saying about you in the papers is absolutely correct. You’ve lost your marbles.”

Everyone was so shocked at the fact that Harry had killed those Death Eaters that his manner of talking to the headmaster paled in comparison. However, he was not done.

“No wonder you were losing the last time and had to rely on a child offing Voldemort to save your lives.”

Dumbledore stared at the young wizard with a deepening frown, wondering how he had made such a massive lapse in judgment. He had hoped that estranging Harry from himself would save the boy from Cornelius’ backlash. However, nothing of the sort happened. And now, Harry felt so betrayed that he seemed to have no faith in how he or the Order operated. The boy had instead chosen to go down a path he never had wanted him to go.

Not for the first time, Albus Dumbledore chided himself for the worthless decision he had taken. He should have never told Harry about his plans of inaction. He could fully understand the young man, and he knew Harry was fully justified in feeling this way about him, but what had happened now was not something he had ever envisioned.

“Be it as it may, Mr. Potter, you don’t get to kill them just because they are Death Eaters,” Kingsley reiterated. “Our task is to capture them and let the judiciary take care of the rest.”

“The same judiciary that chucked my godfather into Azkaban without even letting him plead for his innocence?” Harry asked immediately, effectively shutting the man up. “Forgive me if I have zero faith in this judiciary you speak of.”

“Harry…” Dumbledore sighed. “This path that you are talking about… it’s nothing but a slippery slope. Take one step and it will pull you downward until you find yourself falling deeper and deeper into the pits of misery. Do not let it consume you.”

“A bit rich coming from you, considering everything you told me about, don’t you think, headmaster?” Harry chuckled mirthlessly. “It was okay when you were orchestrating something like that, and now that those who truly deserve to die are dead, you express your disappointment? Quite hypocritical of you, I must say.”

Dumbledore’s frown deepened as he stared at the young man who looked away from him.

Turning toward Kingsley, Harry asked, “Who was there with me, Auror Shacklebolt?”

Kingsley frowned.

“Madam Bones, and I fear she must be very suspicious of you as well, even if she didn’t see you do anything.”

“Let me put those fears to rest then,” Harry replied. “Amelia Bones gave me the permission to kill any Death Eaters I found, which means I did nothing that could land me in trouble. I killed four of them with a ribbon cutter, two of them with gouging curses, and three of them with a poison that first paralyzed them. Amelia Bones took care of the final one, some Florian Avery, with a cutting curse to the throat.”

Eyes shot open wide at that statement, and Dumbledore stared at him with an ashen face. Harry stared at the old wizard with a stoic look in his eyes, not hinting at the true depth of the repulsiveness he was currently feeling for him.

“As long as I kill Death Eaters out of anyone’s sight or in front of those who won’t oust me, there will be no case against me. I have the backing of the Director of the DMLE herself, and I believe that should be enough for everyone.”

The living room was shrouded in impenetrable silence as Harry finished. He stared hard at Dumbledore who took a long moment to take it all in.

“Is that so…” the headmaster whispered, and his eyes gained a certain gleam that Harry failed to decipher. “Even then, killing is something we cannot condone, Harry. You might have the permission of Amelia Bones herself, but it does not mean that is how we will start operating from now on.”

No one spoke anything, too shocked to hear everything that had been said so far and all they could do was remain silent, watching the two wizards stare each other down. The air was thick with tension, a certain anxiety gripping every person present.

Outside the door to the living room, a trio of women who had arrived a couple of minutes ago stared at the confrontation in silence.

Dumbledore had expected several manners in which Harry would react, but a derisive scoff was the last thing he had in mind. He stared at Harry as the boy stood up and shook his head, almost as if in resignation.

“Then I believe this is something we shall never agree on,” Harry replied, and Dumbledore almost recoiled at the look of utter revulsion in the young wizard’s emerald eyes.

“You are right, Harry. We shall never agree on this,” he managed to sigh.

“I know,” Harry nodded before his eyes hardened. “Do not presume to make decisions for me ever again. You can go on capturing animals who are better left buried under the ground. I will go on ensuring they are put down like the scum they are. Our end goal might align, but our methods never will. I will not interfere in how you conduct your Order business, and I would very much appreciate it if you and your Order kept out of my business as well.”

Everyone stared, shocked at Harry’s declaration. The young man in question kept staring at Dumbledore.

“I see,” the old wizard whispered as he stood up. Harry’s words were as clear as they could be, and he knew. Years of experience had proven to him that there was nothing he could say or do to sway the young man’s mind. Their paths were separate now, and he had no choice but to accept it.

Without saying anything else, Dumbledore turned around and walked out of the room, noticing the Black sisters and the lady of House Greengrass standing outside the door. He gave them a nod each and briskly strode forward. The woman looked behind at the retreating wizard before turning around and entering the living room.

“Remember what I told you, Sirius?” Harry said as he looked at his godfather. “Back when I first arrived here? I told you.”

Sirius sighed and gave a small nod, watching as Kingsley turned around and walked away. To the side, he spied Arthur holding back a visibly upset Molly before he somehow managed to usher the woman out of the living room lest she escalate the matter even further.

“You alright?” Narcissa asked with a frown as she came in. Harry looked over at the Weasley Twins and gestured with his eyes toward Ron before nodding toward the exit, and the boys frowned but obliged.

“C’mon, Ronnekins, got a little job for ya,” Fred said, hoisting his younger brother to his feet who looked at him in surprise.

“But—”

“Been a long time since we tested anything together, innit?” George let out a forced grin as he grabbed Ron’s other shoulder. Everyone watched as the three wizards walked out of the room, and Harry nodded at Ron when the redhead looked behind with a frown. Once they were out, Harry sighed and sat back in his seat. The women came over and took their seats on the couch.

“So?” The blonde asked once again, and Harry looked at her.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, earning frowns from everyone.

“Dumbledore’s always been like that,” Sirius sighed. “Even in the last war, he prohibited us from using any lethal spells or other ways that could kill the Death Eaters. We often clashed on that point.”

“I remember reading about the argument between him and Barty Crouch Sr. back when the Unforgivables were legalized,” Andromeda said with a sigh.

“I don’t regret what I did, not one bit,” Harry said firmly as he looked around the room before his eyes rested on Evelyn who gave him a firm nod. Harry gave the woman a small smile. “I’d do it all over again if I had to.”

“Everyone here understands you, Harry,” Sirius replied, looking around and seeing everyone nod. “And I’m sure we all agree. After everything that has happened so far in this ongoing struggle against Voldemort, we have only so many fucks to give.”

“I knew the old man would confront me after learning about it,” Harry said. “I can’t explain how much I wanted to curse that hypocrite to the deepest pits of hell when he began his lecture.”

There were frowns shared around the living room at the vehemence in Harry’s tone. Each of them used to believe that he was the poster child of Dumbledore and to see him like this was entirely unexpected.

Finally, Narcissa decided to ask what she believed was on everyone’s minds.

“Just what did he do to you, Harry?”

Harry’s lips pursed as he looked at her.

“I’d like to know it as well, Harry,” Sirius said softly. “Back when you came here, I was shocked to see you so pissed off at Dumbledore. I told you what my views were back then. That our goals were the same, and that it would be better if we worked together. But now it seems that line of thought doesn’t matter anymore.”

Harry sighed.

“I can’t be bothered to give a full explanation yet, but I’ll tell you the gist of it,” Harry replied, to their slight disappointment. Still, they nodded and listened to him. “The old man had been orchestrating events to make sure I died because he had a silly grand plan which doesn’t matter anymore. Everything I went through at Hogwarts had been somehow either arranged by him or was deliberately left to play out in the hope that I would somehow die.”

“What!?” Sirius whispered in shock as the women’s eyes widened. Harry nodded.

“For some reason which I’ll tell you later, he believed that I had to die, but the bastard didn’t want to dirty his hands directly. He admitted all of it to me himself. That he wouldn’t have killed me, but he wouldn’t have done anything if something were to somehow happen to me either.”

“That filthy swine,” Sirius hissed as he shot to his feet. “I’ll fucking kill him!”

“Sit down, Sirius,” Harry said firmly, earning a glare from his godfather. “You’re going to do nothing.”

“Like hell I won’t,” Sirius hissed as he made to walk away, only to freeze in place. Everyone looked over toward Narcissa who gave a curt nod and put her wand away, staring at the frozen man in place.

“Use your brain, you dolt,” she chided. “You seriously think you could do anything to Dumbledore? And even if you did, then what? Don’t forget, as much as we might dislike the old man, he is one of the few keeping the Dark Lord at bay for now.”

She released the charm and Sirius glared at her. Narcissa gave him an unimpressed stare. Sighing, he looked away and sat back down, glaring at the floor.

“His time will come, Sirius,” Harry said firmly. “After what I’ve seen today, I know he won’t rest easy until he does something to neutralize me. Currently, his hands are tied. Once they are not, he will act. That is a given.”

“What is it that you’re not telling us, Harry?” Narcissa asked curiously. Harry looked at her with a small frown.

“That is another thing I can’t tell you yet,” he told her meaningfully, and Narcissa recalled their discussion from some time ago. Her lips pursed and she looked away. Andromeda and Evelyn looked on, frowning.

Harry knew Dumbledore would not do anything to him right now. The prophecy was in full effect, and the old man knew no one but he stood a chance at killing Voldemort. No matter how much he disapproved of his actions or how much the ritual might influence him from now on, Dumbledore would do nothing until Voldemort was dealt with.

He knew there was a possibility that Dumbledore didn’t have any evil intentions toward him, but he was not going to take that chance. Before Dumbledore did anything to him, he would make sure to do everything to ensure the old man could never harm a hair on his head.

“Our way is separate from the Order now,” Sirius said gravely. “There is no way they would trust us from now on.”

Harry smiled at his godfather, happy that he was firmly on his side.

“This was going to happen sooner or later, Sirius,” Harry replied. “And now that it has, it’s time for us to consolidate our power as well. We had only Voldemort against us until now, but I believe it will be the Order keeping us under scrutiny as well, trying to interfere as much as possible.”

Surprised, Sirius turned to look at him.

“What are you planning, Harry?”

Harry looked at the man and smirked. He stood up and brandished his wand.

“You’ll know soon. Now come on, I have some pent-up energy waiting to be released. Who wants to help me out with it?”

XXXXX

Narcissa and Evelyn watched the spectacle in front of them in fascination. Sirius and Andromeda were standing a little ways apart, casting and shielding simultaneously as the young wizard on the other end of the arena cast rapidly while batting any spell that came toward him.

“He is something else, isn’t he?” Evelyn asked, impressed.

“He certainly is,” Narcissa nodded, watching on as Harry conjured a massive rock golem and made it attack his opponents, who had to work together to take it down while simultaneously keeping his spells at bay.

“I don’t even want to think about what would’ve happened if he hadn’t come to save us,” Evelyn whispered, and Narcissa glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. “We were totally helpless, almost naked. Merlin, I’ve never felt more humiliated in my life. If he didn’t come at the right time…”

“He’s got a knack for saving beautiful women from misfortune, I’ll give him that,” the former lady of House Malfoy remarked with a small smirk as she watched the golem explode before Harry transfigured the fragments banished toward him into flower petals, smirking. It was evident that he was a class apart.

“I heard about this harem of his from Daphne,” Evelyn whispered so that only Narcissa could hear. “And this ritual that’s at work here. It’s all true then?”

Narcissa sighed and nodded.

“All of it. All the women you see in this house except the Weasley woman and that Granger girl are either involved with him, or want to.”

“Even you?” Evelyn asked with a shrewd look in her eyes. Narcissa bit her lower lip and nodded.

“This ritual… it works mysteriously. I felt it the moment I met him, and the feeling has only gotten stronger ever since. Even now I can barely hold back from giving myself to him, and I know the same applies to Andi as well. She’s on the verge, and I know her resistance is crumbling rapidly.”

“She’s still torn over this notion of somehow betraying Tonks?” Evelyn asked with a frown, earning a sigh from her fellow blonde.

“Even Nym is trying to convince her mother into joining them, if you can believe it,” Narcissa chuckled. “It all sounds so depraved, and yet, a part of me can’t help but wonder…”

“… how it would feel to just give in and be a part of this wicked yet alluring arrangement,” Evelyn finished for Narcissa, biting her lower lip. Narcissa turned around to look at her friend with a glint in her eyes, and Evelyn nodded.

“I’ve been feeling it too,” she replied softly. “This sensation, telling me to give in to him and let him make me his. That he would always protect me, just as I will be protecting him from those who mean him harm.”

“Figures,” Narcissa nodded gently. “He saved your life. Your magic recognizes that debt, and you told me you explicitly said that your house is indebted to him as well. That family magic would hold you responsible as well. I believe all are playing a role in this.”

Evelyn bit her lip softly as she saw Harry swat another curse aside and whispered, “This feels so overwhelming.”

“Tell me about it,” Narcissa replied with a snort. “Go ahead with it if you want it so bad. I can only imagine how tough it will get for you otherwise if you went against the effect of the debts and the influence of this ritual. Just keep an open mind when his harem members come for you.”

“What do you mean?” Evelyn asked curiously.

“Those women have this little system in place. I won’t spoil it for you, but if what we had in our past is anything to go by, I’m sure you’ll love it,” Narcissa replied with a meaningful look in her eyes. Evelyn recalled their time at Hogwarts and her eyes widened slightly.

“Oh.”

“Oh indeed,” Narcissa smiled and looked away at Harry who had finally decided to end it. Two quick stunners from his wand took care of both Sirius and Andi who slumped over, unconscious. He gently lowered them to the floor and revived them.

“Still, it would feel wrong to do this without telling Daphne about it,” Evelyn frowned. “I don’t know if she would even approve of me getting involved with someone she loves.”

“If it’s any consolation, the magic of the ritual takes care of any possible resentment among the harem members,” Narcissa replied, to Evelyn’s surprise. “And it seems obvious now that you’re going to be one of them soon.”

“It’s that powerful?” Evelyn asked.

Narcissa nodded. “Also, I’ve come to know that the ritual is meant to ensure the happiness of everyone involved, and that it takes care of any sense of hesitance on anyone’s part as well. What you previously considered unfathomable would become normal so easily that you’d be surprised, at least that’s what I believe. Why do you think Nym is so insistent on her mother joining, or why my Cassie has also been trying to nudge me into giving in?”

Evelyn didn’t say anything. She simply looked over as Harry came over with Sirius and Andromeda in tow.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow then,” Harry smiled and walked out of the room, leaving three women staring at his back with desire apparent in their eyes.

“You know, I have no idea what’s actually happened that attracts you women to him like ants to syrup,” Sirius remarked as he looked at them. “Do you know what it is?”

Surprised, they looked at the man who chuckled.

“It’s pretty easy to tell. I won’t judge anyone of anything. As long as everyone involved is safe and happy, who am I to complain about it?” Sirius remarked with a smile. “Just… if you do decide to go ahead with what I’m sure so many already have, just don’t do anything to hurt that lad. He’s been through enough.”

The women looked at each other for a moment before they turned toward Sirius.

“Hurting him is the last thing we want to do, Siri,” Andromeda whispered. Sirius looked at her and his eyes softened. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

“And you, it’s about time you got over Ted. He’s gone, and I understand you loved him, but I believe you should move ahead with your life. I’m sure Ted would want you to be happy again,” Sirius said gently. Andromeda looked at him with wide eyes, but he only smiled.

“I’ll see you all tomorrow then. Goodnight.”

With a parting nod, Sirius walked out of the dueling arena.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Sirius said suddenly, turning around with a smirk. “Sometimes, Harry likes to take a hot bath after these duels, in case you wanted to know.”

With a conspiratorial wink, he turned around and went upstairs.

“That mutt,” Narcissa muttered with a shake of her head and saw the two women looking at her. “What? I’m not going for it without him seducing me into it. I can control this urge well enough.”

Andromeda sighed.

“I… I need to think about all this,” she said. As one, the two sisters looked at Evelyn who looked to the side.

“My magic is calling for me to do this,” she muttered. “I don’t think I can…”

“Oh go ahead already,” Narcissa chuckled as she stepped toward the woman before she leaned forward with a wicked grin. “You deserve to have some fun, and given what we’ve seen, you’ll have lots of it. And you better give us the lovely memory after you’re done, for educational purposes of course.”

Evelyn snorted softly as Narcissa stepped back.

“You’re still the same Narcissa I knew back then,” she remarked. Narcissa simply smirked.

XXXXX

Harry let out a groan as he finally sank into the hot water of the large bath and he closed his eyes, leaning back and making himself comfortable.

Sirius and Andromeda had been a decent enough challenge for him to blow some steam, but after the knowledge he had acquired from Voldemort, they were nowhere near truly challenging him. He always knew he was a powerful wizard. However, now he had almost all the knowledge he needed to back it up. Granted that most of the knowledge he had acquired consisted of the most heinous of spells, but he could not complain. They were but a component of the massive pool of immense knowledge that Voldemort had acquired over the years.

His mind wandered back to the confrontation with Dumbledore, and he sighed. It was indeed inevitable, and he knew the consequences of it. Dumbledore would not trust him now, and neither would the Order. That included people he previously considered good friends and allies. He grimaced when he recalled how Mrs. Weasley had been looking at him before he steeled himself. He knew it was going to happen one day. It was useless to ponder upon it.

His musings were interrupted when he heard the approaching footsteps and he looked on as the door opened. His eyes widened slightly when he saw who it was.

The woman walked in as if she had no care in the world, and Harry watched as she began to strip. The robes he had conjured a few hours ago went flooding near her feet, and she daintily stepped out of them. He stared as she reached behind her and unsnapped her bra, dragging the straps over her shoulders and down her arms before effortlessly throwing it away.

Her breasts were more than a handful, easily on par with Nat’s, and he watched as they jiggled enticingly as the woman bent over, leaving those heavenly globes of hers hanging in front of her. His eyes feasted on the dangling orbs while the woman grabbed the waistband of her panties and slowly dragged them over her curvy rear. She gently lowered them down her legs and let them pool at her feet.

She stood up slowly and looked at him, and Harry couldn’t have looked away even if he tried. His eyes stared into hers as she stepped forward, stepping down the small stairs and into the pool. The water came up to her breasts as she walked forward, uncaring of her lack of modesty. They stared at each other as the woman reached him, merely a few inches away, and this close, Harry could feel her body heat and the soft breaths she let out every other second.

“This is a surprise,” he said, his voice gravelly as he stared at her.

Evelyn smiled.

“Is it?” she asked, amused. “You’re telling me you didn’t expect this after what happened today?”

Harry did indeed expect it to happen, but he didn’t think it would happen so soon. He admitted as much to her, prompting the woman to smile gently. She took another step forward and pressed her front against his, resting her hands on his chest. Harry’s hands held her by the waist and he gazed into her sapphire pools – so similar to her daughters. She relished the feeling of her breasts pressing against his chest and felt him hardening against her thighs.

“Narcissa told me about this ritual you are under the effects of,” she whispered, her breath hot on his face. “She told me how you feel a connection with witches who magic deems compatible with you, and how the witch feels drawn to you as well. I hope you felt the same connection with me the way I felt it with you?”

Harry smiled.

“In addition to that, consider the fact that I owe you a life debt now, and then the debt that I acknowledged as the head of House Greengrass. Everything makes me beholden to you. I am bound by honor, magic, and desire to serve you,” she said softly, caressing his chest with wet hands and trapping his erect manhood between her thighs, squeezing gently.

Harry took her hand over his chest, right where his heart was, and held it there. His eyes stared deep into hers.

“No woman I am with is there to serve me,” he replied. “Nor is anyone bound in any manner. We are together because we want to be, and because it makes us happy and feel loved. I love them, just as they love me and each other, and that is all there is to it. Nothing else.”

Evelyn stared at him in surprise before she smiled softly.

“Love?” She said with a soft chuckle. “I never experienced what it’s like. Cyrus was an obligation, my husband in a marriage arranged by our families to enforce an alliance. Over time, we came to appreciate each other, but it was never love. Only duty.”

Harry leaned forward slightly so that their faces were inches apart, and his arms gently reached behind her to hold her by her hip. Evelyn’s hands went up to his shoulders, tightening slightly as she held on to him.

“Then I’ll make sure you’re adequately loved,” he whispered against her lips. “And I’m sure all the women will do the same. You’ll never feel short of love ever again, that’s my promise.”

“Is that so?” she whispered, breathless and eager.

“The choice is yours, irrespective of the influence of magic. The choice is always yours,” he replied softly. “All you have to do is reach forward and take it.”

That was enough for Evelyn. Like a kite that had its string cut, she let herself float away into nothingness and slammed her lips against his.

XXXXX

To be continued…