Somewhere Safe - Chapter 33

The rest of the day went by quickly. Padma, Miranda, and Hermione made sure everyone kept up on their homework. Lavender and Luna caught Delphi in a corner to discuss dueling. Katie and Iris had settled down to talk Quidditch. Harry sat in a large comfy chair with Rose on his lap. She rested her head on his chest as they watched the others do their thing. He couldn't help but smile at how easily everyone settled into the coven idea. They even ate dinner together in the attached dining room. Harry didn't remember it being there before. In fact, the suite had changed even more now that he took a moment to look around.

Their common room wasn't as large as the Gryffindor one, but it was definitely bigger than before. There were a couple of new doors as well. He also noticed now that everyone was dressed rather casually. Not just muggle clothes, they had on pajamas, lounge wear, or simply underwear. This new world had a different feel to it, but he didn't think that walking through the castle in their underwear was normal.

"Did you just figure it out?" Rose teased.

Harry turned to face her slowly.

"They enlarged the room to fit the coven." Rose explained.

Harry nodded. He pulled Rose closer against him. It just felt right to have her near. Jealously seemed to be muted within the coven. So far, the times that did pop up were expressed in teasing rather than glares and hexes.

"Hey, Harry." Katie called. "Come over here."

Harry patted Rose on the leg. She slipped off his lap and took over the chair.

"Nice and warm." Rose made a show of settling in.

Harry chuckled as he crossed the room over to Katie and Iris.

"What's up?" He asked as he took a seat beside them.

"You're a seeker." Katie nodded to Iris. "Iris is nervous and wants some tips."

"You did great, Iris." Harry gave her a smile.

"I'd still like some input." Iris blushed.

"Alright." Harry bobbed his head. "The best advice I can give is to pay attention to the game. A lot of seekers focus only on finding the snitch. That can work, but it's easy to overlook little things. The snitch is sneaky and has a sense of humor."

"I don't think the snitch is alive." Iris chuckled.

"Not the point." Harry said. "I like to stay higher than the action and watch from above. That way I can keep an eye on things, if my team needs help, if I need to run interference, that sort of thing. It also helps me spot the sparkle of gold from the snitch. You could do it from below too, I guess, but you're more likely to get targets by beaters."

Iris let the thought sink in.

"Get some goggles with impervious on them as well." Harry added. "They help even on clear days. It keeps your eyes from drying out and you don't have to worry about stray bugs or particles."

"I should do that too." Katie chimed in with a broad grin. "You have no idea how many times I get broom dust or grit flying at my face."

"Thanks, Harry." Iris smiled at him.

She leaned forward and gave him a small hug.

"Can I sleep with you tonight?" Her face flushed as she whispered the question.

"I'd like that." Harry gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Aw." Katie pouted. "I wanted to call dibs."

"It's a big bed." Harry laughed.

"I wasn't planning on much sleeping." Katie wiggled her eyebrows at him.

Harry felt his face flush.

"Did you break Harry?" Lavender took a seat on his lap.

Luna came up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Where's Delphi?" Harry asked.

"Here." Delphi called from across the room. "Mother is leaving. I need to go see her off. She'll be back once the tournament starts."

Harry nodded. Delphi swooped in. She planted a firm kiss on his lips that left his head spinning as she pulled away.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Delphi added. "Mother has some old fashion habits. The farewell dinner will last long into the night."

"Do I need to be there too?" Harry asked.

Delphi blushed. She shook her head then hurried from the room. Harry looked at the other girls for clarification. They were no help. Lavender, Katie, and Iris stared at him with an expression that he could only classify as swooning. He turned his attention to the only other person thinking straight.

"What did I do?" Harry asked Luna.

"Family dinners are for family." Luna stated like that explained it all.

"Right." Harry nodded. "I got that part."

"Good." Luna nodded in reply.

Padma noticed the state near-worship of the girls around Harry. She made her way over.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Delphi had to leave to see her mother off." Harry replied. "I asked if I needed to go as well."

"Aw." Padma cooed. "That's sweet."

"Why?" Harry asked. "They won't tell me anything."

"Family dinners are for family." Padma said.

"That's what I told him." Luna chimed in.

"What does that mean?" Harry held back a sigh.

"Family." Padma repeated. "Parents. Siblings."

Harry motioned for her to continue.

"Spouses." Padma teased.

"Oh." Harry said slowly. "And asking if I needed to come…"

"Was implying you two are basically married." Padma finished.

"Aren't we?" Harry asked. "All of us? That's what a coven is, right?"

"You're so sweet." Padma joined the group of swooning witches.

Harry scrunched his brow in confusion.

"He doesn't even know he's doing it." Lavender sighed as she cuddled closer to him.

Harry decided not to press the issue. It was giving him a headache. Just when he thought he was getting the hang of the coven thing something like this happened. He made a mental note to talk to Lily and James the next time he saw them. It felt nice that he could see them as people and parental figures. If he had to quantify the relationship, it was like he had been adopted.

Had they actually adopted him? Did they need to? His train of thought went from minor confusion to migraine fuel.

"I'm going to go to bed." Harry patted Lavender on her leg.

She pouted as she stood.

"I get tomorrow night." Lavender stated.

"Is it on the schedule?" Padma asked.

"You've already got a schedule arranged?" Harry chuckled.

"That's what we've been working on." Miranda joined the group.

She carried a chalkboard with a grid on it. Along the top were three columns: Shower – Bed – Date. Their names were on a list on the side. Harry noticed there were even a couple of extra spots that were blank.

"What are those for?" Harry pointed at the blank spots.

"More witches." Hermione answered.

"More?" Harry's jaw dropped. "Why?"

The witches around him laughed. Once more, he looked to Luna for some sanity. She scrunched up her nose it thought.

"At least three." She said with a firm nod.

Harry shook his head. He hadn't been awake all that long, but he was already tired. It felt like his brain was slowly turning into mush.

"Goodnight." Harry called.

"Night, Harry." They called after him.

He stripped off his clothes as he got closer to the bed. It looked warm and inviting. He bundled the clothes in his arm before he dropped them in the laundry basket. The Elves would grab them from the floor, but that felt disrespectful. He set his glasses on the nightstand and climbed into bed once he was down to his boxers.

His breath was starting to slow when he heard the door to his room click open. He raised his head to see Iris make her way into the room.

"Harry." She whispered. "Are you awake?"

"Yeah." He replied.

"Can I still sleep with you?" She asked.

"Of course." Harry grabbed the top of the blanket and flipped it open for her.

His vision was blurry, but he could make out the shape of a smile on her face. She burst into a flurry of movement as she stripped down to her underclothes. Harry only got a quick look at her tight body before she dove under the covers. She snuggled against his side and used his chest as a pillow. A moment later she hooked one of his legs with her own.

"Goodnight." She hummed happily.

"Goodnight." He kissed her forehead and drifted off to sleep.