Old Enough to Know Better...
You can find more of this on by SubscribeStar (dot adult slash KajaWilder), it’s posted past FwB2 Ch. 50 there. You can find the same on my new Patreon (via Discord per their ToS), under /WildErotica. The DISCORD is at https://discord.gg/N9yDASt6Cw . If you prefer direct links, go to my Discord and follow the ‘links in general’ section to find the ones you want. All of my fics are well ahead of what I post here, often 10-30 chapters ahead.
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Chap. 36: Harrods: Old Enough to Know Better...
Hermione looked at the older witches, Hestia Carrow, Fleur Delacour, and Katie Bell, with a serious expression as the pulled the girls (Hestia gawping openly, the other two a little more used to shopping in the muggle world, like her), to the a side hallway out of the pain press of shoppers. From there, she led the way to a familiar cafe, the first place she’d ever had coffee on a trip here with her mother when she was fourteen.
After she had helped Hestia order (tea, thanks), and Fleur and Katie had convinced the waitress that they were not, in fact, up and coming models or celebrities and gotten their orders taken too, the serious look returned. “Alright, I’m going to cut right to the chase. Katie, you’re in-in, right? With Harry? The rest of us?”
The Mediterranean beauty glanced around at the small group of young women, then nodded. “I… am. I was a bit nervous at first. Not because it’s a group relationship, Harry might’ve mentioned this wouldn’t be my first, it’s just…”
Katie sighed, and looked down, swirling her own coffee, something she and Hermione had ordered while Fleur had tea as well, “You’re all so amazing. Smart, talented, beautiful… I think I’m alright looking, don’t get me wrong, but I’m just… just a normal girl. I play Quidditch. I’m pretty good at it… but that’s about all that makes me special, and Ginny is a better flier than me. I’m just not sure I… fit.”
“You do-” Hermione started, but was interrupted by, of all people, Hestia.
“Katie Bell, Chaser for Gryffindor House since 1991, when she was a second year. The youngest Chaser for any House team in one hundred and twenty-two years, narrowly beating out Regulus Black of Slytherin, who began chasing after an injury in the second half of his second year.
“Rated third of sixty-six Gryffindors old enough to be part of the unofficial ‘hottest witch’ competition as of this year, or second depending on how you decide the tie. As context, Ginevra Weasley is number one within Gryffindor, and Lavender Brown is the other second or third, while Parvati Patil and Hermione Granger are the next two down. Interestingly, also tied, as Miss Granger’s status has continued to climb since her fourth year.”
Katie drew in a breath to protest, but Hestia’s level look and flat delivery did not slow one whit, “Ranked fourth in her year academically, while being considered for Quidditch Captaincy, and narrowly losing out to Harry James Potter the previous year, her last on the team, and being an active member of the Gobstones Club as well. Has been scouted by seven known teams within the wider European Quidditch League, including by two members of her own favorite team, the Wimborne Wasps.
“Finally, she is known to be a personal friend of one Harry Potter, and as of the beginning of the previous school year, among his lovers. She has a close relationship and friendship as well with Ginevra Weasley, and is at the very least friendly with two other members of Potter’s growing harem of lovers, the aforementioned Hermione Granger and Lavender Brown, while she is on at least cordial terms with Parvati Patil, who is Lavender Brown’s best friend as well. Did I miss anything?”
Katie swallowed. “Er… I… I didn’t know, um, half of- of that…”
Hestia nodded, “This is the service that Flora and I provide to Harry, our liege-lord, in return for his protection, until such time as he becomes our husband in practice if not in legal name. Information.”
Hermione could not help but be impressed with the speed and accuracy that the older witch, even missing her twin at the moment, had rattled off that much data with. “I… do you have that kind of information on… on all of us?”
Hestia looked to her, “No. Our dossier on you is considerably larger, as we have been interested in you for a greater amount of time. To save you the effort of asking, since it became clear that you and Harry James Potter had become friends.”
Hermione gulped. “I…”
Hestia’s head cocked to the side, and for the first time Hermione, too, noticed the heterochromia she and Flora shared on opposite eyes, though she wasn’t given a chance to mention it, “Please do not be alarmed. The two of us were trained to do so by our parents, Alecto and Amycus Carrow, but we have never supplied what might be considered actionable intelligence to the Dark Lord or his subordinates. Our parents were… removed, before the Dark Lord thought to call upon us, thankfully, and put our information to use. We, obviously, have since sworn our loyalty to Potter, and thus the information we have about each of you is strictly bent toward furthering his goals and aims, and no other’s. Except our own, as sisters, as individuals, and as a larger prospective coven, of course.”
“Which means…?” Katie asked quietly, glancing at Hermione and Fleur for support. The oldest of them simply smiled gently. The youngest frowned thoughtfully, but neither said anything.
Hestia did, however. “To put it simply, Flora and I are on your side. To again save Miss Granger-”
“Hermione,” she shuddered, then continued in a mutter, “Mrs. Granger is my mother.”
The twin nodded, her head cocked to the side again, “To save Hermione the effort of asking for clarification, yes, Flora and I both intend to, and we believe have made satisfactory progress toward, showing Potter- Harry- that we intend to join him completely as well. We have, in fact, stated that outright as I recall, to him. We will be coven-mates and sisters with you, if our plans continue. We will not work against you, or attempt to harm you. Doing so would run counter to our own interests, as a coven, a family, is only as strong as its weakest relationship.”
“I… Okay…”
Hermione shook her head, hoping to give Katie a moment to catch up. She knew the older witch wasn’t unintelligent, but she clearly wasn’t prepared for the onslaught of what Hestia had just confronted her with, intentionally or not. “Okay, thanks for clearing that up, Hestia. I… well, I don’t have my reservations, exactly. I trust you, because I trust Harry completely, and he trusts you. I won’t warn you against betraying us for that, if nothing else.”
Hestia nodded, her green and brown eyes staying forward as her head tracked to Hermione instead. “I appreciate that, but if it would make you more comfortable, feel free. I understand that Flora and I can seem… odd, and that people may have misgivings.”
“No, I really do trust you,” Hermione repeated, “And yes, you’re correct that it would’ve been my first question to you. That does simplify things, as well. I needed to talk to the three of you, well more you, Katie and Hestia, then Fleur, but she should have input as well, about something. Flora notwithstanding, the four or five of us are the oldest of Harry’s current group. And, I suspect, we will likely remain that way, more or less. Again, not counting Lilith’s age, as she’s sort of outside the usual dynamic.”
“That iz fair,” Fleur nodded, “she iz both dominant and submissive, controlling and free… and of course, in’uman. Treating ‘er as normal would be more strange, I theenk. Rather like yourzelf, ‘Ermione.”
“Hm? What do you mean?” the brunette asked.
Fleur gave a bare-shouldered shrug that caught the eye of, Hermione noticed, not just Hestia and Katie, but a dozen other patrons of the small cafe inside Harrods, too, “Simply zhat you are both at zhe top of zhe proverbial peeking order- apologiez, pecking- but still below ‘Arry ‘imself. But you are also a Switch, able to be submissive and dominant, as needed.”
“I’m aware I’m a Switch,” Hermione replied with a frown, “Case in point, Pansy… but what do you mean I’m at the top of the pecking order? Harry wouldn’t even like us thinking about that, much less talking about it.”
“Yet, ‘Arry does not underztand zhat we are ladies, we women, we like to know where we zhtand among our peers. And yes, for zhe record, I, Fleur Delacour, do consider you, all of you, my peers. For what zhat is worth.”
“Thank you,” Hestia agreed with a nod.
“Er…” Katie’s reaction was a bit nonplussed, “I suppose I… but, you’re a Triwizard Champion, Fleur! And half-Veela!”
“Zho?”
Katie didn’t seem to know how to react to that, and watching her mouth open and close several times as she tried to formulate a response, her hand waving back and forth between the blonde and herself feebly, brought a smile to Hermione’s face.
“So… you’re… you, and I’m just me,” she finally said.
A platinum blonde eyebrow raised, “And I am ‘just me’. I am skilled at Magic, yes. ‘Arry is better, ‘e proved that by winning zhe tournament, if nozhing else. I am beautiful, yes. But I am still just a person, Katie. What matters is not… what you zhink of me like that. What anyone zhinks of me in so… such… crude terms. What matters is that ‘Arry makes my toes curl in my slippers when I zhink of kissing him. Zhat I begin to drip when I think about being alone whiz him… or whiz others. Whiz all of you. I am, as you said, ‘alf Veela. Passion is in my nature, and I am ‘ardly picky between men and women.”
“But…”
Hermione smiled and reached out to put a hand around Katie’s on the table, “What I think Fleur is trying to say is that in Harry’s eyes we’re equal, and we should try to think of each other as equal, too. Even if- I hate to say she’s right about this- we probably do have a pecking order. I’m not going to agree I’m at the top, though.”
“But you are,” Katie told her quietly, “Everyone knows you are. At least, all the ladies do. It isn’t that he doesn’t care about us…”
“’E loves us desperately,” Fleur smiled softly, her sky blue eyes lighting up as she thought about it for a moment.
Katie continued, “We look to him to be in charge, but beyond that? It’s Fleur, probably because she’s older, then… then you.”
“While I am also a Switch,” Fleur added, “I prefer zhe… how to say… I prefer to be pounded into zhe sheets zhan to take charge, at least where ‘Arry is concerned. And I yield, ‘appily, any ‘authority’ over ‘Ermione as the ‘top’ because that is what I wish. I would never seek to come between zheir many years of friendship, or zhe complete and utter trust and love zhey ‘ave for each ozher. So, I am perhaps in a position of height, but I am not zhe top.”
“Then who?” Hermione asked quietly, “I don’t… Daphne?”
“Daphne Greengrass is submissive to Tracey Davis, we believe,” Hestia replied, “and while outwardly the face of their couple, anecdotal evidence suggests that Tracey Davis is the one who makes most of their decisions as said couple. While quiet and unassuming, she is definitely the ‘top’ in their own relationship. Thus, it would be awkward for Daphne to have a leadership role in the broader group.”
“P-” Hermione stopped. She knew Pansy wouldn’t even come close, the girl wanted to be ‘below everyone’. Ginny, perhaps. Maybe.
She sighed, “I… Fine. I suppose you might be right. I don’t like it, but…”
Fleur smiled, and reached out to take her free hand much as she’d done for Katie, “If it makes you feel better, ‘Ermione, you and I can take turns ‘topping’ each ozher later. But no one knows ‘Arry or ‘is needs and desires better zhan you, except Lilith, and she cheats. Zhey are basically zhe same in zhat way, anyway. What zhe wants, ‘e wants, and what ‘e wants, zhe wants.”
“That’s true,” Hermione giggled, “I… very well, fine, then. What does the ‘top’ need to do? I’m not vetoing people Harry wants to bring in.”
“Non,” Fleur laughed, “I doubt zhat you would say no anyway, to almost anyone. Not whizh zhose Runes. Now zhat you ‘ave awakened to your zhexuality, I am afraid zhe cat is out of zhe bag. No, simply… be our compass. Our guiding star. We will take our lead from you. Nozhing different zhan what you are already doing, only we trois- we three- ‘ave said openly what all of us already know. As for zhe rest of zhe order, well… we shall see, zhall we not? It is early, still.”
Hermione frowned once more, then sighed. “Well.. alright. If that’s what you all think is best, I… I don’t like it, but I understand your reasoning. I don’t necessarily want the position, but it will cause problems if I don’t take up the mantle, won’t it?”
“Undoubtedly,” Hestia nodded. “Social dynamics are something Flora and I struggled to understand for years until we began to treat it like a game. It helped to learn the rules. Now, while some might consider it cold, we have used that understanding to streamline many interactions in our own lives. To use a more military analogy… Knowing who the leader, the commander, is helps the chain of command fall into place immensely.”
“I… can see that how that would be helpful,” Hermione agreed, “If I’d done the same, I might have had a very different childhood. I feel like I have learned the ‘game’ well enough by now, but… well, I’m sure we all know I’m hardly Neurotypical. It… was interesting for me, in Primary. Er, pre-Hogwarts level basic education in Maths, language, history, and so on.”
“You also ‘ave us, now,” Fleur smiled kindly and gave Hermione’s hand a squeeze before she released it, “And we like you as you are.”
“Damned right,” Katie chuckled, and turned her hand over to squeeze Hermione’s back too, though she didn’t let go. “Harry has good taste in women, I’ll give him that. You’re all pretty amazing.”
Hestia looked over at her, but didn’t respond verbally.
Hermione still saw her blush, and smiled softly herself. “At any rate, that brings me to the next matter. I… May have had a hand in helping Lilith shape how the manor was remodeled. I didn’t know that’s what she was doing with the questions, but in retrospect it seems obvious. We… may have inadvertently created a small problem, though.”
Fleur frowned cutely. Hestia’s head cocked to the side.
Katie was the first to put her finger on it, “The… bedrooms?”
“The upstairs ones specifically, but yes. The intent was that the lower floor’s wing of bedrooms was for the children, which is why they’re smaller. Most of Harry’s girls eventually want one or two or maybe as many as three. Some, like Susan, want five or even more.”
Hermione, at least, knew why Fleur blushed at the mention of children, though out of respect for Fleur’s decision (a more public announcement the next time there was a get-together, she said), only she and Pansy were privy to the secret. Fortunately, the others didn’t seem to notice, though privately Hermione was starting to suspect that, like her, the Carrows were the type to notice everything, they just didn’t react to much outwardly. “Anyway, the middle floor is for the adults, guests, or possibly older children, adult or older teens, after they get to that point. They’d still have roommates, but it’s to keep the older from being roomed with the younger too much. Given… well, Harry, his family, and their aura influence, I’m sure we’ll already be dealing with enough experimentation as it is.”
“That… could be a problem,” Katie agreed, “We’ll have to keep a close eye.”
“I think, honestly, education and honesty will be key,” Hermione told them, “Answering their questions, making sure they understand was is and is not alright is probably the best course of action, at least in general. Different children will have different learning curves, obviously, but I-”
She exhaled slowly, “I’m getting sidetracked. Yes, the problem is the upper floor, though. We didn’t necessarily plan it this way, but with those larger bedrooms and two girls apiece, Lilith included because she deserves her own space as well, we… we don’t have enough room.”
Katie frowned again, and started ticking off, “You, Hermione, and Ginny I assume. Fleur, Luna, Pansy, Daphne, Tracey, Susan, myself, um… Padma and Parvati? Lavender, Flora, and yourself, Hestia… and Lilith.”
Hermione shook her head, “No, not quite. Kennedy. Right now, the Patils, you, Katie, and Susan and the Carrows are all staying downstairs with Lavender and Luna. But Daphne and Tracey already claimed one room, myself and Ginny the next one down. Pansy’s in the other wing and right now Astoria and Daphne, and of course Tracey, aren’t staying, but… if something happens we’ll need the space. Better to have a plan in place. Plus…”
“Plus…?” Fleur prompted, “Ajouter?”
Hermione shook her head, “Non, eh… more.” Then, in English again, “In addition to, or ‘there’s also this to consider or take into account’.”
“Ah, zhank you. It is not often I come across words like zhat any more, but still zhometimes. Go ahead, ‘Ermione, s’il vous plaît.”
She nodded, “Well, there’s also the possibility that Harry will add others. We don’t know. His rate has slowed down considerably, you and your sister, Parvati, not withstanding. And I’m not sure Harry knows about Kennedy’s feelings, yet. Honestly I’m not sure they’re healthy, but… after what’s happened to the girl, I wouldn’t feel right sending her away. She’s traumatized enough.”
The others all nodded together. All of them, all of Harry’s friends, had helped out at one time or another over the last few weeks while the victims had largely been housed at Harry’s manor. Even Millicent Bullstrode and Cassius Warrington (the former with a new engagement ring on her finger, Hermione had noticed at the time), for a couple of days.
“Still, as I said, right now there’s exactly enough room including Kennedy, if nothing goes wrong or no one is added. Of course, there’s always the possibility someone will change their minds and that would free up space, but…”
“That doesn’t seem likely at this point,” Katie giggled, “Harry’s too good, too nice, too sexy.”
“Exactly,” Hermione grinned back. “At any rate, we need to figure out a plan for what to do with the rooms. I don’t want to make someone feel like they’re second-class by forcing them into the smaller rooms, or to be further from Harry-”
“Zhome would like zhat, but I understand,” Fleur grinned.
It wasn’t hard to figure out she was probably talking about Lavender and Pansy, but Hermione could only roll her eyes, “Yes, well… I have an idea of Harry’s financial situation: he’s not hurting for money. But I don’t want to unilaterally decide we should build another addition to the house, either. We certainly can, and there’s a few options for where to put it on that floor. Over the planter boxes, or the balcony over the washrooms on the first floor, and so on. With magic it’d be sound enough, but I’m not too keen on using permanent expansion charms for a living space. Too much risk if they fail.”
“It iz not a good idea, no,” Fleur agreed, sipping at the last of her tea and reaching for a biscuit from the tray they were splitting, “We can dizcuss zhat with ‘Arry and zhe ozhers, though. When the time is right. I do not think it is worth worrying about right now.”
“Perhaps,” Hermione conceded, “but this next one definitely is: Those rooms are only furnished with the basics. I know Harry’s had us come specifically to get things to fix that, but I think we should work on the guest rooms and children’s rooms, too. At least get an idea for patterns, colors, and so on.”
“No House colors,” Katie shook her head, “at least nothing dominant like that. It’s fine for a kid to have an idea of a favorite House, but I don’t want to create rivalry and division before they even get to Hogwarts.”
Hestia nodded, “I agree.”
“Fair enough,” Hermione smiled, “Well, then, I propose we go to the bedding department down this hall a short way, and...”