The Grind (And Helping Heather Potter) [Book 2]

"Ah, Atlas, Aurora, Septima," Dumbledore greeted with a kind smile.

"Albus," Aurora greeted with a smile as well.

"I would offer you a hand to shake but both of mine seem to be occupied at the moment," I said.

Dumbledore chuckled with twinkling eyes, "So I can see. You three are simply radiant tonight."

Septima curtsied, "Thank you, Headmaster. You are looking quite dashing yourself."

"Albus, dear. Despite the event, there is no need for formalities," Dumbledore rebuked.

Pink dusted Septima's cheeks, "My apologies, Albus. I'm still a bit nervous."

"Nothing to it, my dear Septima. You are a beautiful young woman with the talk of the year on her arm. There's nothing to worry about but enjoying yourself. Mingle, dance, make merry, and laugh. The night is yours," Dumbledore advised.

"T-Thank you, Albus. I shall endeavor to make this a night worth remembering."

"Very good. Don't let me keep you. I spy Severus lurking in the corner. I think I will go bother-… chat with him. See if I can't get him out of his shell. There's a Professor from Durmstrang in attendance and Severus came without an escort. I think the two of them will get along wonderfully," Dumbledore excused himself.

Aurora blinked as Dumbledore left, asking me and Septima, "Aren't all the visiting professors from Durmstrang male?"

"I'm sure Albus doesn't see how that's relevant," I stifled a smirk.

Septima giggled, her remaining anxiety evaporating into the ether as she did, "Poor Severus. Pomona told me he couldn't convince Lady Narcissa to attend with him."

After sharing a laugh over Snape's misfortune, I turned the conversation back to my two dates, "Albus is right, you know? You two look absolutely stunning tonight."

Aurora grinned and Septima blushed, both leaning into me a bit more. They must have coordinated their dresses with each other. And Aurora must have won the chance to lead that coordination. Their aesthetic certainly matched her style more than Septima's.

Aurora's dress, of course, took after the stars. It was a tight, slinky number that hugged her figure with an open slit for one of her legs. The color of the dress was a gradient that faded from dark blue to black as if emulating a twilight sky. Specks of white dotted the dress, enchanted to sparkle like the stars they were supposed to be.

Septima's dress was similar in form and function. But instead of the stars, she wore the moon. Twin crescents cupped the inside curve of her cleavage. Her dress was also pure black instead of Aurora's gradient and dipped low in the back to reveal a tantalizing expanse of flawless pale skin.

In comparison, my outfit was nothing to write home about. It fit well and was rather classy — something I had to thank my quite generous salary for (I still hadn't gotten around to visiting the Black Vaults). But its elegance lay in its simplicity. Just an open black, fitted robe with a white shirt underneath and dress pants.

Aurora's grin didn't fade as she looked around the converted Great Hall, "We do make quite the throuple, don't we?"

"Oh dear," Septima covered her mouth. "Our students are staring."

"At you two, I'm sure," I said.

"I wouldn't say that," Aurora giggled. "I recognize the look in Ms. Parkinson's eyes and it's certainly not directed at Septima or I."

I groaned, "Ugh, I'm still not sure how to deal with her. She's called me 'Daddy' several times during class now."

"I think it's rather cute. She obviously didn't have a good relationship with her birth father. You'd make a much better male role model for the girl," Septima suggested leadingly.

I grumbled halfheartedly, "My main issue is that she does it during class. If she truly wants my approval, she should be trying her best to learn instead of trying to extract a reaction from me."

The three of us continued scanning the Ball's attendees as we waited for the champions to make their entrance. Innocent comments were thrown around here and there to amuse ourselves.

"Severus seems to be defending himself well."

"For now…"

"Where are Luna and Gabrielle?"

"They'll be a bit late. Luna wanted to make an entrance… Yes, I'm just as worried about what that entails as you are."

"Hagrid and Madam Maxime make for a cute couple, don't they?"

"Everyone cleans up so well."

"Good Lord, is Mr. Finnigan already trying to spike the punch?"

"Eh, students can have a little fire whiskey. As a treat."

Occasionally, we found something that caught our focus for more than a simple comment.

Draco Malfoy was quite literally hanging off the arm of a woman who must have been a foot taller than him — not counting her high heels. I vaguely recognized her as a Durmstrang student, one of the Russians perhaps? She was, well, statuesque was the only way to describe her. A long, slender leg — toned with muscle — peeked out from beneath a flowing white dress. Her skin was so pale it might as well have been sparkling under the Ball's lights. Her expression was icy but amused and she led the young Malfoy around as if he was on a leash.

"I believe Mr. Malfoy may be in danger tonight."

"His date is rather… intimidating. Still very beautiful though."

"What are you going to do with him, Atlas?" Aurora inquired. "He does fall under your Lordships after all. Twice over, at that."

"I believe I'm going to leave the final decision up to Narcissa. Personally, I don't much care what happens to him. He's been more than a little disrespectful to me and my ward," I said, shrugging.

"Perhaps we should treat him as a daughter of the House and give him away with a dowry," Septima suggested, amused by the idea. "Judging by tonight, we should be able to find an interested 'buyer' — so to say."

I didn't bother hiding my smirk, "I'll be sure to broach the idea with Narcissa."

"I hope it's not too inappropriate to say I hope she agrees," Aurora tittered into her hand.

Eventually, the champions and their dates made their entrance, led by Professor McGonagall. Heather and Hermione looked spectacular, going for matching dresses like Septima and Aurora, though Hermione's was a periwinkle-blue and Heather's was emerald-green. All of the champions and their dates looked spectacular in fact.

However, there was something I noticed with a frown. Fleur's date didn't appear to be at his best tonight. He was drooling, actually drooling. And couldn't seem to keep his hands to himself.

Fleur herself alternated between glaring at her buffoonish date and scanning the crowd for something. She found it when her eyes landed on me. For a moment, they lit up. Then she settled into a glare even more scathing than the one she directed at her date.

I winced. I'd probably have to do something to fix that. Fleur's date — a Ravenclaw I vaguely recognized but couldn't place with a name — looked only moments away from making a grab for Fleur's ass in his Allure-driven daze.

"Either of you see what I see?" I asked my two dates.

"How the opening dance is about to devolve into a scene of sexual assault?" Aurora growled, her eyes locked on Fleur's date. "Yeah, I see it."

"S-Surely it won't be that bad…?" Septima tried to make up an excuse.

"Septima. He just tried to pinch her ass. In front of everyone. And Minerva. She had to swat his hand away. Not only is that just deplorable, but this is her night. She shouldn't have to deal with Allure-stricken fools. Especially not as her date."

Septima sighed, "I suppose you're right. Divide and conquer?"

"So long as you two don't mind adding a fourth…"

"Of course not, Atlas. Go save an unfortunate Veela. Again," Aurora smirked at me. "Just know that you owe us an extra dance each by the end of the night. And I'm not talking about the upright kind~"

Before the opening dance could be started, the three of us approached the champions. Septima went to Minerva to stall and explain the situation to her. Aurora took Fleur's date, pulling him aside bodily and hitting him with a stream of water from her wand in an attempt to sober him up. I went to Fleur herself, smoothly taking the poor brain-addled boy's place at her side.

"Devil," Fleur hissed something that could have maybe passed for a greeting out of the corner of her mouth.

I put on a smile, "Hello, Fleur. It seems you'll get what you wanted after all. My generous dates and I decided that you were looking a bit uncomfortable. So we've come to your rescue. I'll be performing the opening dance with you in place of your unfortunately incapacitated date."

"I had it under control!"

"Did you?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

Fleur faltered, "I-… Well, he would not have gotten far!"

She calmed herself and cleared her throat, "Ahem… Still, it is good to see you've come to your senses. Now, you shall be escorting the most beautiful woman here. Rejoice, Fiend."

"Eh, this is more of a charity case than anything else," I smirked, deliberately pushing Fleur's buttons. "Aurora and Septima are still my official dates. With you, it's more like… I'm doing you a favor out of the goodness of my heart."

"H-How dare you!" Fleur let out a scandalized, gasping whisper. "You brute! You barbarian! You contemptuous fool! I shall see you drawn and quartered for your insolence!"

I glared at her slightly, "I will leave you here to dance by yourself, Fleur. I enjoy our little games but don't push it. Threatening to have me tortured is going too far."

Suitably chastised, Fleur looked down, "I-I'm sorry… Y-You just make me so angry sometimes…"

"If it makes you feel better, I do think you're one of the most beautiful women here. You are the belle of the ball, quite literally."

Fleur preened, bouncing back, "I am, aren't I? And how lucky you are to have that belle on your arm."

I patted her hand condescendingly, "Of course, dear. The luckiest man here."

Fleur didn't seem to pick up on my snark, practically giddy, "Finally, everything is as it should be. The Fiend has been tamed by my beauty and charm. Soon enough, he will r-r-ravish me again. I shall grin and bear this 'tragedy' with my unending benevolence. How d-dreadful~… Oh, woe is me!"

I rolled my eyes fondly as she drifted off into fantasy. Still, I took her arm in mine and took her date's place amongst the champions' group. Heather snickered at my 'misfortune'. Like a mature adult, I stuck my tongue out at her.

Other than Heather and Fleur herself, my arrival was greeted with smiles and polite nods. Hermione gave me a little wave as well. I knew Cedric and his date Cho Chang quite well as their professor. They were both brilliant and it felt good to see them happy together. Krum and his date — a very petite Durmstrang girl were more unfamiliar but they still greeted me politely.

Eventually, Minerva returned to the group, having gotten a justification for my actions from Septima, and nodded to me, "Now that the… danger… has been averted, we shall begin. Pair up with your partners. The music will start soon. Atlas? Thank you for taking responsibility and acting to avert disaster."

"Of course, Minerva," I said modestly. "It's barely an inconvenience."

She left and the champions took up starting positions with their dates. I held Fleur at a polite distance while we waited for the music to signal us to start.

"Is that all?" She scoffed. "No, no, this will not do at all."

She physically shifted my hand placement, settling one on her lower back and holding the other within hers.

"Much better," Fleur sniffed haughtily.

In this new position, we were practically glued together at the hip. She stared up at me with smoky eyes, daring me to protest. I didn't. Instead, I took up her unspoken challenge, pulling her impossibly closer. A preening purr seemed to resonate involuntarily within her chest.

The band began to play and our feet moved in sync. Almost instantly, I was thankful for Septima's lessons. Fleur all but led me, with grace and poise and familiar feet, instead of the other way around. I did my best to keep up and then take back control.

I had a feeling Fleur would think less of me if I let her do all of the work. I was of half a mind to let her even still but reason prevailed. This was her night. I wasn't about to ruin it in such a petty way.

We swayed and spun to the beat. I did my best to make sure every eye was trained on her. Despite how… difficult she could be, Fleur deserved nothing less. She was a beautiful woman and I made sure the whole world could see that fact.

A wide smile stretched across her lips. So lost in the moment, Fleur let her Allure billow out around us. There would be no denying her tonight. 

Even the other champions disappeared before a happy Veela in her element. She was entrancing, intoxicating as if desire given physical form, and I'm sure her presence tonight would be remembered for years to come.

Eventually, the first song wound down and the rest of the Ball's attendees stormed onto the dancefloor. I saw the other champions exit the floor out of the corner of my eye. Fleur was too unflappably present to take notice.

With no other choice, I indulged her, staying on the floor for a second song. She deserved a small sacrifice like that. 

She was a champion, a belle of the ball, and a young woman in her prime, having the time of her life. I was more than happy to help her revel in the attention.

It was at times like this — when Fleur wasn't glaring at me or playing her silly denial games — that I was reminded of what a gorgeous creature Fleur was. She was practically transcendent. All fluttering silver hair, bright eyes, and a killer body. And then there was her Allure, billowing and crackling the air around her like flames. Fleur was as close to angelic as a mortal could be.

When we finally did leave the dance floor, Fleur was panting with exhilaration. You wouldn't have been able to scrub the smile off of her face with a power washer. Wide eyed and practically vibrating, I led her to the drink table to quench our thirst.

"Incroyable! Merci, Atlas, for a wonderful dance!"

"You know, that might be the first time you've called me by my name."

Even that slightly cutting remark didn't dim Fleur's attitude. She grinned, "I am sure I do not know what you are talking about, ~Devil~"

I sighed dramatically, "Ah, what a shame… For a moment there, you were almost attractive."

"You take that back!" Fleur's giggles said she wasn't serious. "I am always attractive. Maman named me 'the flower of France' for a reason! Consider yourself fortunate that I even deign you with my lofty attention."

"So fortunate…" I deadpanned.

"Indeed, I am glad you are finally treating me with the proper reverence," Fleur declared imperiously. "Now that I've grabbed your focus, you will drop your cruel and unusual intentions for my baby sister."

"Fleur, if I cut Gabrielle off because of you, she might literally kill me."

"And? Why is that a problem?"

"Well, I quite like being alive. And if I'm not, I can't keep lavishing you with worship like a goddess deserves."

"Hmm," Fleur hummed. "You make some good points. I would not like to lose such a devoted worshipper now that you've finally acknowledged my beauty and greatness… Very well. Swear yourself to me and I shall make it my duty to ensure your intentions are pure."

"Yeah… I'm not going to do that," I refused up front.

"Wha-! B-But you must!" Fleur sputtered.

"Fleur," I reasoned. "Your sister loves me. And she's not the only one. Don't you love her enough to trust her judgment? If not, what about Septima's? Or your own?"

Fleur huffed, turning away in denial, "Hmph! I don't know what makes you think I'm in love with you."

Sighing, I conceded this topic, "Let's not get into this right now. Enjoy tonight, Fleur. As Dumbledore told me earlier, 'Dance, mingle, make merry, and laugh. The night is yours.'"

I turned to leave and Fleur hurried to stop me, "W-Wait! Y-You are leaving me…?"

"I have two other dates to pay attention to," I reminded her. "You're welcome to join us but they deserve to have fun just as much as you do."

She worried at her lip for a moment before resolving herself and regaining some of her usual spunk, "I shall join you. Rejoice, Beast."

I chuckled to myself, "Girl, Septima and Aurora are going to eat you alive."

"I must prepare," Fleur said, shuddering. "This is punch, yes? Is there alcohol here?"

"I think I saw someone spiking the punch."

"Good."

She spooned herself a cup and drained it just as quickly. After a few deep breaths, she went back for another. This cup she sipped from delicately.

"I-I am ready to meet your mistresses, Devil."

I snorted, "If anything, you're the mistress."

Fleur turned her nose up at me, "Than I shall be the best mistress of them all. The kind that even the main wife loves and cherishes."

"Is that so?" I smirked. "Well, you can bring that up with Septima then."

We made our way through the throng of Ball attendees, smiling and making nice as we did. Fleur was still the center of attention. And for good reason too. Grace incarnate, she glided across the floor, her feet barely seeming to touch down. Her Allure was back under control, tightly coiled around her. It was just enough to attract attention and give those close a taste of what she really was.

I gave Septima and Aurora short pecks when we reached them, "I brought company."

Aurora smirked, eying Fleur up and down like a predator, "So we see~"

"Just in time, Atlas dear," Septima said, drawing me back into a more fierce kiss while Fleur simply watched. "I believe Luna and Gabrielle are about to make their entrance."

I blinked, just as shaken by that information as I was by the kiss, "How do you know?"

"Luna does have a certain way with things, doesn't she?" Septima's eyes might as well have twinkled with how smug she was.

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" I groaned.

"My baby sister has been enlisted in this… 'entrance'?" Fleur asked, suddenly just as worried as I was.

"That is what Luna has told me. Will that be a problem?"

It was Fleur's turn to groan, "Almost certainly. Gabrielle brings a unique flavor of mischief to everything she's involved in."

"Oh, I'm sure you two are overreacting," Aurora tried to reassure us.

Fleur and I just fixed her with a pair of flat gazes and said nothing. And that's when the strings and horns and woodwinds started…

"Ode to Joy? Well, I suppose it is Yule and Christmas isn't far off," Septima expressed, mildly surprised.

A whole symphony cut across the Great Hall, interrupting the Weird Sisters — the band that was playing the Ball. People looked around, wondering where the additional music was coming from. Leaves of Holly began to fall from the ceiling. As the Ode reached its first crescendo, Luna made her entrance.

"Blimey, a Gray-horned Bibbledygonker! How'd she tame that?" Hagrid's booming voice cut through the symphony.

Luna appeared from… somewhere. She rode into the Great Hall on a great goat-looking creature. One the size of a small car. Its horns could have easily gored even Hagrid and Luna sat on its back like all was right in the world. It pulled a large log that had been set ablaze, roaring with flame as if a bonfire. A gigantic bough of Mistletoe was held in the beast's mouth. It was also flying, stepping on air as if it was solid ground. Because why not…

A line of unopened butterbeer bottles marched in behind Luna. The bottles began to distribute themselves as Luna and her steed pranced around the room above everyone's heads. She did a couple of laps to make sure everyone had a bottle or two or three and then stopped, perched atop a goat that was perched atop thin air beneath the Yule Ball's chandelier.

The music reached its second crescendo and ghostly voices began to sing along. Literally, as it turned out. Looking around the fringes of the Great Hall, I could see that Luna had enlisted the Hogwarts ghosts into her entrance scheme.

With the opera joining the orchestra, the second missing member of my coven made her entrance. Gabrielle Delacour flew into the Ball on wings of fire. She was also clad in what had to be the skimpiest, thinnest excuse for a white dress I'd ever seen. It wasn't so much a matter of flashing her panties as it was not to flash them. The part covering her breasts might as well have been made of string. A flaming halo sits around her head and I just about cotton on to what Luna's trying to do.

"Angel!" Someone gasps.

"A Veela Angel!"

"Blessed be this day…"

Surprisingly enough, there actually seem to be some Christian Wizards in the crowd. Most of them were Muggle-born but I saw an odd Pure-Blood here and there reacting the same way. Though they were mostly the ones visiting from Durmstrang so maybe that had something to do with it.

"Luna!" I hissed when Gabrielle joined her beneath the chandelier. "Get down from there!"

"Okay!" Luna cheerfully agreed. "But why?"

"Oh, where do I even start?" I asked rhetorically.

"The beginning is usually a good place," Luna helpfully informed.

I dragged my palm down my face, "Just… just come down here before Minerva starts to yell at us. Please?"

"Okay! C'mon, Ang-rielle! Mush, Prancer!" Thankfully, Luna complied, descending from the air without leaving the back of her colossal goat.

Her mount stopped in front of me and Luna hopped off, landing lightly on her feet. She skipped over to me, innocent as can be. Gabrielle descended as well. She was immediately pulled to the side by Fleur who began lecturing her in rapid French while Gabrielle just giggled at her sister.

"This is just… so unnecessarily extra, Luna," I said. "And please, please get rid of that log before someone gets hurt."

"But it's the Yule Log!" Luna complained. "It's an important part of Yule traditions. So long as it burns, the festivities can't end!"

"And how long is it supposed to burn?"

"12 days."

"So you're supposed to be… the Yule Spirit?" I asked, trying to work through Luna's thought process.

"Yep! I couldn't find a goat but I thought a Gray-horned Bibbledygonker worked just as well."

"It certainly fits," I deadpanned. "And the butterbeer?"

Luna beamed at me, "You can't have Yule without ale! Don't be silly, Atlas."

"Right… So you're Yule. And I assume Gabrielle is supposed to be the Christmas Spirit? Or just an Angel? I wasn't aware she was Christian."

Luna blinked, "I don't see what that has to do with anything. She's just exercising her Veela heritage. It's not her fault if people mistake her for an Angel. She's just a winged Veela who happens to be celebrating Christmas."

I nodded along, "Of course, of course. Her entrance wasn't designed to evoke religious awe at all. Because that would be rather silly and inconsiderate, wouldn't it."

Luna stared at me blankly for a moment, "… Yes… Yes, it would."

"I'm glad we agree… Well, if you wanted to make an entrance, you certainly succeeded."

"Thank you!" Luna bounced back to her usual smile.

"But now you have to clean all of this up. And put that burning log somewhere else. This is a classy event, Luna. Be respectful to the ones who spent so much time planning and putting it together," I lectured lightly.

"Awwww~" Luna deflated before trying one last thing. "Before I do, can I have a kiss?"

"In front of everyone like this?" I raised an eyebrow, looking around at everyone watching.

"We are underneath Mistletoe," Luna pointed up at her goat that was chewing on the bough of Mistletoe with a blank stare. "Don't worry. I've already cleaned it of Nargles!"

Sighing, I conceded. I leaned down to plant a small peck on Luna's lips. She hummed happily, accepting my 'peace offering'. Feminine 'Aw's rang out from the watching crowd. Then she snapped her fingers, calling her mount down to her, "C'mon, Prancer! We've got cleanup to do!"

I thanked the stars that Luna was willing to humor and listen to me on this. I could already see Professor McGonagall glaring at me out of the corner of my eye, promising without words that I would regret it if she had to step in to take care of Luna. When it didn't come to that, she gave a satisfied nod and went back to enjoying/chaperoning the Ball.

With the excitement seemingly over, people went back to their business, enjoying the Ball and the fun little 'distraction' Luna and Gabrielle had provided. I shook my head fondly, marveling at the events that had come to surround me in a mere semester's time. Then again, this was Hogwarts. Nothing was ever boring in this Castle.

With Luna temporarily occupied and probably unable to get into trouble, I returned to my dates. Fleur was still lecturing Gabrielle and my other two dates were watching with open amusement. I slipped between them, putting an arm around each.

"Is this going as poorly as it looks to be?" I stage-whispered.

"It is not going poorly!" Fleur snapped. "Gabby will listen to me on this… this nonsense! She will see reason and know that she cannot go about exposing herself like some common harlot!"

"There is nothing 'common' about me, sister~, about us~" Gabrielle purred.

"It is most definitely going poorly…" Aurora deadpanned.

"Of course, there isn't!" Fleur declared, agreeing with her sister and yet continuing her argument. "We are Veela! Magnificent! But that is all the more reason we should not be giving away free shows like this! Save it for your beloved, Gabby."

"Oh? So you've accepted Atlas then?" Gabrielle hopped on Fleur's last sentence.

"If it makes you cover your tits, sister, then yes!"

"Well, I suppose I should ask Atlas what he thinks of my outfit then. He can decide whether or not I am too 'exposed'," Gabrielle giggled.

They both turned to me and Fleur fixed me with a glare that said, "If you do not convince my sister to see reason and retain her modesty, I will make your life a living hell."

Nodding, I said, "I think you look beautiful like this, Gabrielle. That said, I do hope you'll keep such… ahem, creative… interpretations of modesty to our private times instead of public events."

Gabrielle nodded in return, agreeable once it was me asking instead of her sister, "Oui, I can do that. I shall find other ways to dazzle the public. As Fleur says, my body should be reserved for my beloved."

As if on cue, Gabrielle's dress shifted forms. It seemed to grow fabric and stretch to cover more of Gabrielle's body. It was still a fairly revealing dress but it was now much more in line with common British decency.

"Did you plan this somehow?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

Gabrielle blushed, "Non, Luna insisted on the first dress. I insisted on having it charmed for this form as well. In case I became too embarrassed by the attention…"

Fleur threw her hands up in frustration, "Oh, of course! She listens to you! But if her dear sister asks, I may as well be talking to a brick wall!"

Dignified and serene, Gabrielle turned up her nose, "You are much more interesting to tease, sister. Though Atlas is more fun in the most carnal of ways~"

I interjected before Fleur could release the scream that seemed to be brewing inside her, "Alright, girls. That's enough 'sibling bonding' for tonight. Let's just enjoy ourselves, yeah? I owe all of you at least a couple of dances."

The mention of dancing seemed to do the trick. Gabrielle abandoned her sister in an instant, latching onto me through Septima and looking at me with hopeful eyes. Fleur slowly depressurized, going from moments away from an explosion to a quiet simmer that could sit in the back of her mind. I'm sure Gabrielle hadn't heard the end of this conversation though.

"Ahem," Aurora cleared her throat. "I believe we had first dibs? Well… second but we'll say the opening dance didn't count."

I took her hand, "Then may I have this dance, Miss Sinistra?"

She tittered, "I must insist, Mr. Black."

IIIII

The night passed, full of excitement and merriment. We danced, we laughed, and we drank. Oh, how we drank… The Ball was a resounding success. Even with multiple someones (*cough* Finnigan and the Twins *cough*) spiking the punch several times over.

The boys were caught rather quickly by the hawkish eyes of Professor McGonagall. But their early departures didn't do much to kill the mood. And, somehow, the punch bowl was never replaced with a non-alcoholic variant.

The result was to be expected. Tipsy guests having the time of their lives. With the help of magic and sobering charms, no one got drunk to the point of blacking out. Things stayed relatively under control and the mood of the Ball stayed high enough to brush the hanging chandelier.

By the end of the night, my feet were about to give out on me. I danced with Aurora. And then Septima. Then Aurora again. Then Luna and Gabrielle took their turns together in an odd but enjoyable three-way dance. Heather and Hermione got in on the fun at some point. Even some of the other staff and students in attendance took the chance to get a few moving moments alone with me.

At one point, I spun Pansy Parkinson away and let her keep spinning during our dance for calling me 'Lord Daddy'. 

I remembered seeing Draco Malfoy being dipped by his statuesque date and kissed in a way that would have wooed the densest people in the world, whether they were men or women or anything in between. 

Neville Longbottom and Susan Bones seemed to be dancing together quite a bit. I think they came with each other. They made for a very cute couple. 

The two Gryffindor girls who chased me weeks ago were attending the Ball with the four Hufflepuff girls who caught them in their trap. They also made cute couples. Though in their case, it was more like a pair of throuples.

A sour-faced Snape danced with the male Durmstrang Professor who was pursuing him, seemingly unable to make his escape.

Daphne Greengrass had to save me from her little sister Astoria yet again at some point during the night. When she did though, there was something unusual in her eyes. Like she was measuring me for something. When combined with her flat eyes, dark makeup, and gothic dress, it made for an intimidating picture.

Still, the night had to end at some point. The Ball officially ended at midnight but there would no doubt be pockets of partying throughout the Castle until dawn. My party excused ourselves just before the official curtain call and escorted Fleur and Gabrielle to their carriage lodgings. We also escorted Luna back to my room to keep Bella company. Septima and Aurora had seemingly decided beforehand that my night wasn't over just yet.

They led me up to the Astronomy Tower, a place I assumed would be one of the persisting pockets of partying. As we climbed the final stairs to the spire, that assumption seemed as if it would be proven correct. A pair of voices echoed down the stairs as we climbed, becoming clearer and clearer as we drew near until the point that they became recognizable.

"This doesn't make any sense!" Hermione raged, sounding as confused as I'd ever heard her.

"Maybe-… Yeah, I got nothing…" Heather's voice joined Hermione's.

"Everything's already set up perfectly. And we didn't do it!"

"So someone else was planning the same thing we were? I mean, it is the Winter Solstice. It has to be a popular ritual date, right?"

"But this exact ritual?! It's not rare but it's not exactly common knowledge either. I had to order a book from Norway to find it. And it's still not something to be done lightly. It's a big commitment. Anyone who isn't in a situation very similar to ours would hesitate. Who could possibly have done this?"

Aurora cleared her throat as we came to a stop at the top of the Astronomy Tower, "That would be us. Hello, girls, I wasn't aware you'd left the Ball already."

Heather and Hermione froze like deer in headlights. They stared us down and we stared them down in return. They blinked and we blinked. Finally, having had enough, I looked around the Tower and asked the most pressing question.

"What is going on?"

The Tower's top floor had been cleared of everything it usually held. The telescopes were moved, the star charts and the tables they sat on were missing, and even the large mechanical globe structure had been temporarily displaced. In its place was what looked to be the setup for a ritual.

Concentric lines of ashes were drawn onto the floor to form an intricate ritual circle. They spiraled in and out, encompassing almost the entire top floor of the Tower. Candles had been lit and placed strategically around the space. Disks of gold and boughs of holly floated in the air as if suspended by the sheer atmosphere. The strangest thing about the setup was the mat of densely packed dirt in the center of it all.

Septima took it upon herself to explain, "Atlas dear… Surprise? This is what we had planned for the rest of this evening. Aurora requested to join the coven when she inquired about joining us for the Ball. Since it is the Winter Solstice — a very magically powerful and important night — we decided it was only fitting to make her initiation into something special. Which led to this ritual. However, it seems another pair of applicants had a very similar plan."

"Okay," I exhaled, serious and severe for a moment. "I was expecting most of that. Even Heather and Hermione trying to join. Just not the ritual or tonight specifically. So I'm not complaining. Hell, I welcome it. But humor me for a second and please, lay everything out for me. All of you."

"I quite like both you and Septima," Aurora volunteered herself to go first. "And I'm not against the type of relationship you seem to be building. So I thought I might as well throw my hat into the ring."

Heather went next… and immediately threw her best friend under the metaphorical bus, "Uh… This was Hermione's plan!"

"Heather?!" Hermione rushed to explain. "T-That's true but it's not the whole story! W-We've already established that the three of us are courting, r-right? After that moment in the Room of Requirement? And you knew we had a plan…

"Well, that partially started this summer. But it didn't develop into anything concrete until we discovered you were forming a coven. I wanted another way to protect Heather and give her the big family she's always wanted. And to join that family…

"You seemed to perfectly fit the bill. We were hoping to spring the question on you tonight. The ritual was just supposed to be a bit of extra 'profit'. It would be beneficial to everyone and I want Heather to have every advantage possible for when she inevitably faces V-Voldemort again."

"I only organized Aurora's part in all of this and her version of the ritual," Septima shrugged when the ball was passed to her. "Something that we did talk about beforehand. Things were just already more in motion than I implied."

"I remember," I nodded. "You were very calculating about the whole thing. Talking about what benefits, connections, and advantages Aurora would bring to our blossoming coven. Almost… cold, my dear."

Septima huffed at my smirk, "There was another conversation planned once we got up here. I wouldn't just force this decision on you, Atlas. You, of course, have as much final say in our coven as I do. Perhaps more since it bears your name for the moment. Well… Your old name."

"Unfortunately, it seems that both plans for tonight have been thrown into disarray…" I paused for dramatic effect. "So I might as well throw my ruined plan on the fire as well."

I couldn't help but grin and chuckle at the expressions of shock I received, "I actually recognize this ritual setup, and for good reason too. I may or may not have been planning on utilizing it tonight as well. My father sent me a book on Ritual Magic from the Black Library after I mentioned my interest in the subject. 

"I don't think he mustered the courage to retrieve it himself though. He must have sent Andromeda. Which unfortunately means it's not one of the family tomes. But still, it contained this ritual and since the Winter Solstice was right around the corner, I thought I'd try it out with the coven."

Aurora and Septima blinked at that bit of information. Hermione gaped at me with an open mouth and a dropped jaw. Heather started to laugh. Slowly and softly at first, but it quickly evolved into full-blown guffaws.

"Oh, Merlin! That's too good! All of us-… All of us were trying to do THE SAME DAMN THING! We all found the same ritual and wanted to try it out on the only night available. If it was possible, I'd say this was the best prank of the century! What an absolutely odd series of coincidences!"

As the rest of us realized the humor in our current situation, we joined Heather in laughter. It really was quite ridiculous and unlikely that everything would line up like it did. If I didn't know any better, I would think something was pulling the strings behind the scenes. Eventually, we all calmed down and all that was left was for us to decide what we were doing next. To ritual or not to ritual? That was the question…

The ritual we'd all somehow stumbled upon was something of a celebration, declaration, and protection all rolled into one. It was deeply tied into Norse magical traditions and the Winter Solstice. On the darkest day of the year, the Norse would gather, celebrate, declare that the sun would rise again, and ask magic for protection until it did.

It was called 'Rebirth of the Sun' and it had a beautiful sentiment behind it. Maybe that was what grabbed all of our attention. Even in the darkest hour, people could still look forward to the light returning. Even after the fire had burned out and left nothing but ash, there would be another flame. Even when the blackest demons lurked on the fringe and threatened to invade, Mankind would endure until the rising spring sun could drive them away.

In the end, there was only one possible decision. We wouldn't get a better chance to try it out unless we wanted to wait another year for the next Winter Solstice. The ritual had already been set up. There was no point in letting it go to waste. Plus, five people was the perfect amount for this ritual…

And so, we disrobed, gathering in the center of the ritual circle. The girls took a cardinal direction each and I stood between them all as the focus of the ritual. They all lit a small flame at the tip of their wands to start the ritual. Like a pilot's light, it glowed dim and blue. I lit mine last and one by one, they added their light to mine. The Rebirth of the Sun had begun.

"In the dead of Winter's night, a fire is lit to last until sunrise," I intoned.

"We tend to the fire, maintaining its light and warmth and offering its ashes for protection from the dark," The girls joined me.

"Until the sun rises again, we frolic and live so that the night does not forget what life is," I added.

"Praise the night. Praise the dark and everything it hides from us. Praise the coming spring and the return of life. And so it does not think we abandoned it for the darkness, PRAISE THE SUN!" The girls finished.

The wind seemed to kick up as we spoke the ritual words. Darkness crept in, isolating us from the rest of the world. The candles around the Tower extinguished themselves. The only light that remained was concentrated into the flame I held at the end of my wand. It levitated upwards, leaving my wand to perch over our heads like a temporary sun.

At the very top of Hogwarts Castle, five people invoked an ancient ritual, so changed over the years that it must have been unrecognizable from what it once was. Yet the sentiment behind it remained the same. The world may be dark now, overtaken by cold Winter and black night, but the sun would return, bringing warmth, light, and life with it.

Septima stepped forward first, coming from the North. Like the first Winter's wind, she warned of the months to come. Still, she was not to be shunned lest one shunned the very change of the seasons.

A cold gust of wind rustled the flickering flame above our heads, somehow only feeding its strength. Cold hands rested on my chest. Cold lips pressed against my own. I didn't shiver or flinch away, instead meeting the coming Winter with strength of will and open arms.

Septima and I descended to the packed earth below us. Our bodies came together. I felt myself slip inside her with ease. Familiarity made us move as one, pushing and pulling each other.

Steel slid within its sheathe. Silk gripped steel, welcoming it entirely. Warmth and sensation flowed between us, rushing in and out in time with my thrusts.

I thrust down into her and she pressed herself back up into me. We lost ourselves to the pleasure of frolicking together as the ritual called for. The night watched everything we had to give, silent as ever. Over and over again, flesh came together in a celebration of fiery life.

Septima gushed around me, wet and eager. I throbbed within her like hardened steel given life. Sheer, almost unbearable heat filled our coupling. Passionate but not slow, I speared into Septima and she accepted me to her core.

Her lower lips hungrily swallowed me. Our combined pleasure built, reaching ever upwards for the peak. Nirvana came slowly and was all the more intense thanks to that pace. We peaked together, cresting our sensational waves and riding them out with held hands and moaning mouths.

I spilled myself inside her and she spilled herself around me. As we came, an almost traitorous thought invaded my mind. It persisted until I couldn't ignore it anymore. I couldn't think of a better time for it than right now.

"Should we start trying now or wait until we're married?" I whispered against Septima's lips.

She moaned louder than she did with her climax and kissed me even harder. I took that as the answer I was looking for. Still, I didn't ensure conception. But I didn't prevent it either. Thanks to a certain perk I had, I could just leave it up to chance. If it happened right now, it was meant to be. If it didn't, we'd always have more chances.

Slowly, we came apart and stood. My seed dripped down the inside of Septima's thigh. She left me with a lingering kiss and then the first of my soon-to-be girls came up for her turn.

Aurora came from the West like the last setting of the sun. Her arms wrapped around my neck and she fixed me with a grin. Still raring to go, my manhood pulsed within the press of our stomachs against each other.

"Ready, big boy~?" Aurora rasped, voice husky with desire.

I shot back a challenge, "Are you?"

Aurora gave a throaty chuckle, revealing the hint of nerves in even her easy-going nature, "Ready as I'll ever be."

"Do you want to take the lead?" I asked.

Her grin returned, just a bit shaky, "That might help."

And so, the last setting of the sun descended to the packed earth below with me underneath her. Aurora mounted me, straddling my hips and rubbing my hard cock between her buttcheeks. She felt like the last moments of light at dusk. Smooth skin, soft flesh, and sticky arousal greeted every movement I made.

Dark as sin and twice as hot, Aurora's lidded eyes looked down at me. She bent down over me, trailing her perfectly-shaped tits up my chest until her lips were level with mine. Her lower half rode upwards and mine followed, desperate to keep in contact with the wet heat that was just out of my reach.

It started with a kiss. Not on my lips but on my chin. Then another on each cheek. Even more trailing along my jawbone, over my pulse point, and down my neck. Only then did she return to my lips. And when she finally gave me a taste of what I desired, I drank greedily from the source.

Her lips pressed against mine. Our tongues roamed freely. Her hands came up to cup my cheeks and mine came up to cup her ass, pulling her into me even more.

With only a bit of fumbling, Aurora reached down and aligned me with her entrance. Slowly, she pressed backward, not breaking our kiss for a moment. My cock parted her lower lips just as my tongue parted her upper ones.

She moaned into my mouth. I returned the favor as I was engulfed by dripping satin and silk. Her inner walls hugged me. I stretched her open with one long, continuous thrust. With a grip like no other, Aurora eagerly accepted me into her deepest parts.

Fully seated inside of her, we paused. Her hips rolled, grinding my cock against her core. Mine bucked to meet her. Slow sensuality faded into passion as Aurora began to ride me.

Her core flexed around me, drawing me in even as she pulled me out of her pussy. Lower lips clutched me, almost turning themselves inside out until I thrust back into her. The process was repeated once, twice, thrice, until it was as if we couldn't stop.

Our bodies moved in sync. I filled her completely and she sucked in everything I had to give her. Her inner walls were stretched taut around a thick rod of throbbing flesh. My balls clenched as if trying to add any extra force to my thrusts that they could.

Fire flooded our veins. Musical moans were muffled by my mouth. Every muscle in my body felt like it was on the verge of snapping from tension as I spent myself thrusting as deep as possible each time. Aurora's body yielded, taking me inside with just as much fervor.

Time faded away, losing meaning in the face of pleasure and connection. Our bodies met over and over again. Our magic wasn't far behind, reaching across the increasingly close gulf between two people until we were touching in every way possible.

Aurora and I swirled around and within each other. I saw the stars. I saw the moon. I saw this wonderfully laid-back woman for everything she was and could be.

She stilled, almost definitely seeing the same about me. Buried to the hilt on top of me, Aurora Sinistra began to shudder. Her whole body shook. Her pussy quivered around me. Droplets of pleasure dripped down my shaft and she clenched down so hard I saw stars again.

I couldn't hope to resist. My body responded, balls jumping and cock pulsing as white-hot ecstasy shot up my shaft. I groaned as I spent myself inside of her. Rope after rope leaped from my cock into her core, flooding her with the same warmth I'd just spilled.

< New Coven Member Initiated >

< Coven Members (5): Septima Vector, Luna Lovegood, Gabrielle Delacour, Bellatrix Black, Aurora Sinistra >

< +5 to Astronomy >

< Astronomy 38+5=43/100 >

"Welcome to the family, Aurora," I whispered in her ear.

Her shudders, having just died down, restarted. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then with a groan, Aurora began to extract herself from me. I followed, standing with her.

"Right, well, that was fun!" Aurora grinned, still a little shaky on her feet. "Good luck, girls. I think I need to sit down…"

As Aurora retreated, Hermione stepped up to me like the first warm winds from the South. She smiled up at me, as nervous as she'd ever been. I returned the smile, trying to reassure her that everything would be fine.

"I-I'd like it if you took control, P-Professor…" Hermione stuttered.

"I can do that," I said calmly to put her further at ease. "And call me Atlas, Hermione. You're about to join our family. It's the least you could do."

"Y-Yes, P-Professor Atlas~!" Hermione squeaked.

Sighing, I changed tactics, "You're such a good girl, Hermione, you know that? So brave. So loyal. ~So smart~. I'm lucky to have you in my life, in my coven. We all are."

Hermione moaned at the praise, practically collapsing into me. I supported her as I lowered us both down to the packed earth below. She held onto me tightly and I didn't even have the chance to let her go.

"M-More~ P-P-Please…?" Hermione panted.

"Such an intelligent girl~" I cooed to her as I lined myself up. "Brightest Witch of Her Generation is underselling your talents. You can do anything you put your mind to. You could conquer the Wizarding world and I'd be right behind you the whole way. I'm so proud of you, Hermione~ Good girl~"

I slid inside her easily as I spoke, splitting her around my girth. Her head snapped back as she stretched. Her mouth fell open but no sound came out. When I called her 'good girl', her legs snapped closed around my waist, pulling me the rest of the way inside her. Finally, she made noise. A drawn-out, keening moan filled my ears.

I could feel her insides fluttering around me. Her muscles tensed. I couldn't move an inch within her embrace. Instead, I simply held her, stroking her hair as she rode out a monstrous climax.

She whined and whimpered when I finally began to move. In and out, I slowly sheathed myself inside Hermione and withdrew. I set a constant pace, steadily fucking her until I set all of her nerves on fire. Through it all, I cooed even more praise into her ear.

"Good~ Good girl~ You're taking me so well. You're so tight, so wet, so eager~ That's it. Pull me in with those thick thighs~ Can you feel me? Here? What about here? Tell me how good you feel~"

"Oh, oh oh oh oh oh, Merlin and Morgana~!" Hermione was almost sobbing with the overwhelming sensation of it all. "So good~! So so so so so good~! I'm gonna cum again! Oh, don't stop~! Never stop~! Atlaaaaaaasssssssss~!"

Her whole body shook. Thick, plump, surprisingly strong thighs clamped around my waist, trying desperately to hold me inside of her. I pressed through her grip and continued to fuck her into the floor. Cries of ecstasy filled my ears, ringing beautifully within the ritual space.

Her fingers clawed at my back. I smothered her keening moans with a kiss. She threw herself into the embrace with everything she had. Hermione came again, her clit trapped against my pelvis and my cockhead grinding deep within her depths.

With her last orgasm, her magic let me in. She smelled of old books and parchment and ink and the pure joy of mastering something new.

A desperation for approval filled her, one that my magic did its best to satisfy. On the tail end of her last orgasm, she went stiff again. My magic, my approval, rushed into her being, filling her to completion just like I was doing in the physical world.

"Good~ girl~" I cooed one last time, letting myself release inside of her.

My essence flooded into her, battering any defenses that remained to dust. Wave after wave, the torrent of cum filled Hermione's womb to the brim until it began to leak out around my girth. I left her packed oh-so-full and practically insensate.

She twitched, clinging to me as I stood. Tight around me, her arms and legs supported her position. I was barely allowed to move an inch inside of her. Like that, I looked to Septima for a bit of help. Thankfully, she heeded my unspoken call.

"Come on now, child. It's time to let go. The ritual isn't finished just yet," Septima coaxed Hermione off of me. "Let your new coven support you, Hermione."

Slowly and with a whimper, Hermione allowed herself to be extracted from me. Septima supported her as she stood on shaky legs. The evidence of our joining dripped from her core and could be seen in the way she wobbled into Septima's arms.

< New Coven Member Initiated >

< Coven Members (6): Septima Vector, Luna Lovegood, Gabrielle Delacour, Bellatrix Black, Aurora Sinistra, Hermione Granger >

< +3 to Teaching >

< Teaching 47+3=50/100 >

Heather — the final participant of the ritual — smirked at me, coming from the East like the first sunrise of spring. Behind her, the first rays of dawn light could be seen peeking over the horizon.

Time had lost all meaning and the ritual had proceeded apace, lasting until we could greet the sunrise as it was supposed to. The temporary sun above our heads was on its last legs. Its purpose was nearly spent, providing us with just enough light to see the morning creeping up on us.

"You know, you're kind of scary, Atlas. Leaving a poor young girl in a sorry state like that? Ooooh~ It gives me ~shivers~" Heather purred.

"Having second thoughts?" I asked, just to be sure.

Heather blinked, "What? No. I want to do this even more now that I've seen what you're capable of!"

I paused and then nodded, "Yep, that makes perfect sense when it comes to you, Heather. How would you prefer to do this?"

"Hmm…" Heather pretended to think for a moment before grinning. "Surprise me~"

"I can do that. Accio Heather's hair."

"Wait wait wait! Give me a second! I wasn't read-YYYYYYY~!"

I ignored Heather's giggling squeal. She landed within my reach and I fisted my hand in her hair, making her crane her head back to look up at me. My other hand grasped her hip, pulling her flush against my body.

Heather did her best to smirk despite the blush on her cheeks, "C-Careful with the hair, Teach~"

Ignoring her lackluster attempt at conversation, I ground myself against her outer core. With bent knees, my cock slid between her legs and smothered her clit. Heather moaned, striving to look down. I briefly let her.

Still trying to hide her excited nerves, Heather giggled, "Think this thing can hold me all on its own?"

"Why don't we find out?"

My arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her up while Heather squeaked. I stood to my full height, holding Heather a good distance off the ground.

Level with me now, Heather stared into my eyes. Her gaze darted down to my lips. I kissed her soundly, silencing any more unnecessary comments before they could come out of her mouth.

Heather's eyes fluttered closed as she kissed me back. Strong, flexible legs came up to encircle my waist, locking together behind my back. If it weren't for our limbs supporting her, Heather would have looked like she was perched atop just my dick. I felt myself harden further at the thought.

As if hearing my thoughts and taking them to their logical conclusion, Heather used those legs of hers to wrench herself up my body until my tip was poking between her lower lips. All the while, she never broke our kiss. We worked together to begin lowering her onto the thick shaft that supported her.

Tight. Oh-so-tight. I'd never felt anything as tight as Heather. She was all dense, smooth muscles and copious amounts of lubrication. I slid inside her. Every inch of my cock felt as if it was caught within a vise.

I groaned, forcing her farther down my cock. That was the only way to describe the process. I had to fight for every inch of progress I made inside of her. Heather's inner walls clamped around me, resisting the stretch. But her eager moans drove me onward.

After what felt like hours but must have been minutes, I fully hilted myself inside Heather. Her entire lower half squeezed around me, from her legs to the walls of her pussy.

Heather shuddered, breaking our kiss and burying her face in the crock of my shoulder. She mewled there and nipped at my flesh as her hips tried to grind me impossibly deeper.

Hands wrapping almost all the way around her slender waist, my hips bucked. Heather moved with me, quickly coming to bounce on my cock. Up and down, she rode me in mid-air. Her strong core tensed around me as I pistoned myself deep each time.

Heather panted into the skin of my throat, still somehow conscious enough to try and tease, "I-Is t-that all you g-got~? C-C'mon, Teach~ I can take it~"

For some reason, her teasing made me growl. It might have had something to do with the fact that after she said that, she latched onto my neck with teeth and hungry lips, trying to leave a hickey for the world to see.

Regardless, I reacted. I fell to my knees, doing my best to keep the pace of my thrusts as I did. Using my grip on her waist, I put Heather's back to the dirt below us. Then with more than a little bit of effort, I extracted her legs from around my waist and tested her flexibility by putting them over my shoulders.

Heather squeaked and then laughed as she was manhandled, "That's more like it~! Give it to me good, Atlas~!"

I fucked myself down into Heather in this new mating press position. I fucked her so hard that I came up off my knees, planting my feet to give myself more leverage. My quads and butt burned as I repeatedly put my whole body weight into my thrusts.

Heather's head snapped back onto the dirt and her eyes snapped closed. She moaned, loudly and carefreely declaring her pleasure to the world. Her legs flexed over my shoulder and I was sure her toes were curling.

She was so hot. So wet. So unbelievably tight. Her insides coiled around me, trying desperately to squeeze everything out of me. Sticky trails of fluid followed my every movement. Buns of steel weathered my thrusts until Heather's butt began to turn pink. Her tits jiggled, barely contained by her legs in this position.

As the sun started to peek over the horizon, Heather and built to the final climaxes of the night. Flesh clapped against flesh. Puffy pussy lips were split open and stretched. A sensitive spot of nerves on the top of Heather's entrance, opposite her clit, was ground to dust with each thrust. Her internal muscles spasmed and twitched around me until something broke within both of us.

With twin groans of ecstasy, we came. We came and came. Heather's magic accepted me alongside the flood of my essence. Mine did the same for hers. Danger, luck, and broken fate seemed to swirl around us.

< New Coven Member Initiated >

< Coven Members (7): Septima Vector, Luna Lovegood, Gabrielle Delacour, Bellatrix Black, Aurora Sinistra, Hermione Granger, Heather Potter >

< +4 to Luck >

< Luck 45+4=49/100 >

< Ritual Completed >

< New Perk Unlocked >

< Winter's Chosen: You Are One of Winter's Chosen, Meant to See the World Into a New Spring, +5 to All Stats >

< Body 38+5=43/100+, Mind 46+5=51/100+, Soul 41+5=46/100+ >

< Unexpected Consequences Detected >

< Due to the Ritual (Rebirth of the Sun) and the Newly Established Coven Bond, Heather Potter's Connection to ??? Has Been Smothered by Winter's Darkness >

I blinked. What the actual Hell? Instead of basking in the afterglow, I looked around as if expecting the 'Unexpected Consequences' to make themselves known. Imagine my surprise when they did.

Away from all of us, something had materialized within the Astronomy Tower. It was horrific. An ugly thing that looked and felt like an affront to magic and nature. It was as if something had taken a fetus and twisted it past the point of recognition. The fetus lay there, huddled in on itself as if the very world was burning it until it started to cry.

Its cries attracted the attention of the others. I was the first to find words for what we were witnessing.

"What the Hell is that?!"

"I don't know but I kinda really want to kill it," Heather responded.

"T-That cannot be natural…" Hermione stuttered, having taken the time I was with Heather to recover somewhat.

"It's like it took this form to try and gain sympathy… Some kind of survival instinct? A Magical Creature perhaps?" Septima mused.

"Wait, did that thing come from me?! My scar's bleeding! It… It only does that around Voldemort…" Heather shuddered in disgust. The rest of us weren't far behind.

"What an abomination…" Aurora added her two cents. "If there were ever a baby I would stop, it would be that thing."

"I don't think it's actually a baby," Hermione said. "Like Professor Vector said. I think it just took that form."

"Kill it," Heather decided, stone-faced as our still-connected state was forgotten for the moment. "Kill it with fire."

As if on cue, the first rays of morning light reached the top of the Astronomy Tower not a moment later. They crept across the floor toward the twisted fetus. The instant they made contact, the fetus let out an ungodly screech. Purged by light and whatever remained of our ritual, the fetus began to smoke and burn to ash.

"Well…" Heather said once there was nothing left but white ash. "That takes care of that problem… So who's up for round two?"

I looked at her incredulously, "How can you possibly still be horny?"

"Hey! I only got one orgasm. Hermione got at least three! Round two seems only fair to me," Heather defended herself.

Seeing the considering looks on Septima and Hermione's faces and the grin on Aurora's, I knew this wasn't a battle I was going to win. I groaned, feeling my body protest. Stay strong, Little Atlas. Just think of this as another form of the Grind…