Somewhere Safe - Chapter 27

Hermione shot him a question filled look as he approached. She didn't miss the fact the contented smirk that Delphi wore, nor the slightly rumbled clothing. And she wasn't the only one. Professor McGonagall waited near the others for Harry and Delphi to rejoin the group.

He did a quick headcount of the coven so far. There was Hermione, Other Hermione, Rose, Iris, Padma, Lavender, Katie, Delphi, Luna, and Parvati. He wasn't sure if Parvati was a part of things though.

"Due to the circumstances." Professor McGonagall spoke clearly. "You are free to visit Hogsmeade for the evening."

The girls around him perked up. His Hermione looked like she was going to burst. Harry couldn't deny he was just as excited.

Lily and James led them out of the Great Hall. They opted to walk rather than take a carriage. Harry was thankful for that. He didn't feel like answering any questions about the 'talk' he had with Delphi. He smiled as Hermione walked beside Lily. She launched a constant string of questions at her, which his mother answered with ease.

The other Hermione, he really needed to come up with a better way to think of her, had placed herself next to her dimensional twin. As odd as it was, she seemed more content around her than the others. Padma came in a close second. The newly added Ravenclaw was a bit lost among the crowd. Parvati had tagged along with Lavender, Rose, and Katie, but she still managed to try to interact with her sister. Iris swooped in to save the day. The younger girl smoothly slipped in step with the Ravenclaw and drew her into a conversation.

Everyone was spaced out just enough to keep close, but not so much as to overlap conversations. Harry took in the scene. He felt a gentle smile cross his face. It was one he had worn quite a lot since he had arrived in his new home.

Harry had only been to Hogsmeade a couple of times. From what he could remember, it was a small village with maybe three hundred residents, and that was a generous estimate. There had to be some people who lived there year-round to support the various businesses. The joke shop, bookstore, two pubs, and the café couldn't survive solely on the few Hogwarts visits.

Hogsmeade here wasn't a village. It was practically a city. The streets were smooth stone instead of packed dirt. There were three-story apartment buildings made out of brick, and private homes that looked like smaller version of Victorian mansions. It even had a commercial district with strips of tightly packed shops. In the middle of it all was a smaller version of the Gringotts. The entire place was an odd mix of Victorian architecture and 1940s London. It was almost like they had simply transplanted buildings from the city over to the town.

He could spot the familiar stores, but there were at least ten more that he didn't know. There was a haberdashery, cobbler, and three different clothing stores. The Three Broomsticks looked to be a proper pub rather than a medieval tavern. It was larger too. There were a couple of restaurants nearby that he didn't recognize. He spotted a Muggle Nibbles building as well.

Of course, Hermione noticed the row of bookstores first. Her dimensional twin led her into a store that sold used books. They both wore the same smile. Harry chuckled as they pulled Padma along with them. Delphi watched them leave with a slight frown on her face but kept close to him.

"You can join them." Harry whispered.

Delphi jumped at the sound of his voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about." She shrugged.

"You're a Ravenclaw." Harry chuckled. "Skipping a bookstore is like torture to you."

Delphi glared at him. She slowly took a step away. Harry smiled at her. She took another step, then scampered off after the trio. Luna joined her, smoothly syncing up with her strides.

Harry felt, rather than saw, as Rose moved into the free spot beside him.

"She freaked me out at first." Rose slipped her hand in his.

"And now?" Harry asked.

"She won't hurt me. Any of us, I mean. There's a connection." Rose leaned her head on his shoulder. "You can feel it, right? Like a thread between all of us."

Harry nodded. Katie stepped up and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"You're hogging the Harry." The brunette chaser pouted.

"We need to fix that." Lavender slipped up against his other side. She draped his arm over her shoulders.

"Hermione could make a schedule." Harry chuckled.

"That's not a bad idea." Rose mumbled.

Katie was a little too tall to ride on his back, so she had to walk in-step with him. Not to be left out, Iris wiggled her way in front of him. They were now a walking dog-pile.

"Are you comfortable?" Harry asked Iris.

She 'accidentally' brushed her butt against his crotch.

"Now I am." Iris said as she shot him a wink over her shoulder.

Katie's breath tickled the back of his neck while Lavender squeezed his arm against her chest. Harry had to focus to keep himself upright. He could only hope that Iris didn't notice the hardness pressed against her tight butt. She would have to be numb from the neck down, but he could hope.

"Do you think she'll stay?" Rose dropped her voice low.

"I don't know." Harry sighed. "I don't know if it's possible."

"What do you mean?" Rose kept her voice low. "The Room brought her here; it should be able to get her back. Right?"

"I stepped through the Mirror of Erised." Harry explained. "I think that's a pretty big part of it. Has the mirror even been in Hogwarts?"

"No." Iris spoke up. "Magical Artifacts of a C-Rating or higher are kept under guard in the Department of Mysteries."

Harry gave her a nod of appreciation.

"How do you know that?" Katie asked.

"The worlds first broom is kept there." Iris replied. "There are all sorts of enchantments on it that are illegal these days."

"She wanted to steal it." Rose smiled at her sister.

"Borrow." Iris blushed. "Borrow it. For a while. Without asking. Or give it back."

"That's stealing." Lavender laughed.

Hermione and the others moved from one bookstore to the next. She had to get an expandable bag to carry all of the books she had bought. It was dinner time by the time they were finished. James and Lily were happy to cover the cost. Hermione gave them each a bone-crushing hug in thanks.

The girls attached to Harry took the time to show him the other shops in the area. There were a couple of brooms he had never heard of in the Quidditch shop. He didn't look around in there too much. It brought up a tangle of emotions when he thought about the sport.

Lavender picked up on his dip in energy first. She took him to one of the shops that specialized in dueling. One wall was dedicated to posters that displayed famous duelists. They were silent, but still moved. There were quite a few rude gestures thrown from one poster to another. The oddest bit was a duelist who had multiple posters that spanned a four-year period. Each version of her looked rather confused when faced with their clone.

"What would happen if the posters were linked?" Harry asked as he watched the poor duelist.

Lavender thought about it for a moment. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. The process repeated a couple of times.

"I don't know." She said slowly. "It would either be amazing, or terrible."

"How so?" Harry asked.

"Well, they could possibly duel to see who's better." She dropped her voice so only he could hear. "Or they could try to kill each other."

"Why would they do that?" Harry cocked his head to the side.

"Professional Duelists are highly competitive." Lavender replied with a nod.

"Can a portrait die?" Harry whispered.

"I don't think so." Lavender shrugged.

Thankfully, further conversation was interrupted by dinner.  He tried not to think about it while watching Hermione and her double. Who would win in a duel between the two? He didn't think they would try to kill each other. Well, not yet anyway. They were different enough to be their own person rather than the same just copied over.

They settled on The Portkey. It was a restaurant that didn't exist in the other world. The place had a decent crowd even though it was the middle of the week.

"That was wonder, Mrs. Potter." Hermione smiled brightly.

"None of that." Lily waved the words away. "Call me Lily."

"Thank you, Lily." Hermione smiled again.

"We should get back to the castle." James said with a sigh. "It's getting late."

There were carriages outside when they finished. He was too tired to care about the details. His stomach was full, it was warm, and the ride back to the castle almost put him to sleep. He gave his parents each a hug before they left. Harry had worried that it would be awkward, but it felt as natural as anything.

It wasn't until the group of Gryffindors reached the tower that the realized Hermione didn't have a place to sleep. There wasn't an open bed in the dorms. Even though the two got along, the Hermione's didn't feel comfortable sharing a bed.

"There's enough space in my room." Harry offered.

The lionesses stared at Harry like he had grown another head.

"Right." Lavender leered at him.

"There is." Harry shook his head. "I can sleep on the couch. Tomorrow, we can ask Professor McGonagall to get something arranged."

Hermione, his Hermione, stared at him for a moment. A slow blush brightened her cheeks.

"I don't have any nightclothes." She whispered.

"And there's only one bed." Lavender added.

"Stop it." The Other Hermione rolled her eyes. "Come on, I'll give you one of mine."

"Thank you." Hermione followed after her double.

Harry joined the others as they made their way into the Common Room. There was a private entry there as well. He could see the perks of being Head Boy. A couple of minutes later, Hermione hurried back downstairs with a bundle of clothes in her arms.

She didn't say anything to the others. Instead, she headed straight to the door and waited.

"Goodnight." Harry said to the others.

"You have a good night too." Lavender teased. "Treat her right."

"Stop it." Katie slapped Lavender on the shoulder.

Harry opened the door and let Hermione go in first. She looked around the room with an appraising eye.

"There's a private bathroom through there." He motioned to another door. "You can get changed in there. I need to grab a pillow and a blanket then I'll move to the couch."

He turned to grab something from the bed. A tug on his sleeve stopped him. He looked back at Hermione and found her much closer than he expected.

"I gave myself some advice." Hermione whispered. "Great, now I sound crazy."

"What?" Harry asked.

"The other me." She said. "She gave me advice when I was up there."

"Ok." Harry waited.

She didn't say anything.

"What was it?" He asked finally.

"Don't be a coward." Hermione whispered.

Harry glared at the door they had just come through.

"You are not a coward." He growled. "I don't care if she has your face, she does not get-"

Hermione pulled him into a kiss. A bolt of energy rushed along his body.

"I am when it comes to you." Hermione whispered. "I love you, Harry."

Harry kissed her again. A soft, slow kiss full of emotion. Her borrowed clothes hit the ground as she wrapped her arms around him. Harry rested his hands on her hips as the kiss deepened. He reached lower and grabbed a handful of her firm ass.

"Harry." Hermione squeaked.

"I have wanted to do that for years." Harry chuckled.

"Really?" Hermione blushed at him.

He nodded. She pulled him back towards the bed. They stopped at the edge. With a small, shy smile she began to undress. Harry's eyes widened, he had expected a kiss, maybe some groping. Not this. His brain short-circuited as Hermione stripped completely nude.

His hands stopped moving as he admired her. He could feel his mouth water as he took in the sight of her. Her breasts were maybe a handful, but they were perfect for her, and her nipples were a wonderful shade of pink. He stared at her, trying to commit every inch of her to memory. She had a trimmed patch of dark brown pubic hair.

Hermione interrupted his appreciation as she dropped to her knees before him. With a giggle, she had his pants down and out of the way in a matter of moments. Her dexterous fingers began to caress his shaft and sack. She wrapped a hand around his hardening member to speed it along.

"How are you so big?" She whispered as she stroked him. "You're so skinny."

He couldn't think enough to form words.

Hermione kissed the tip of his cock. His jaw dropped as he watched her swirl her tongue along the ridge of his cockhead. She looked up at him and waited for their eyes to meet before she took him into her mouth.

Harry moaned as she started to bob slowly. Each time she went a little deeper. It didn't take long for his crown to tap the back of her throat. She backed off to take a break and breath. Her hands kept busy. She stroked him as she stared up at him. The lust drunk glaze on her eyes sent a thrill through his body.

Hermione giggled as she stood. She pushed him on his back onto the bed. Hermione straddled him. She rubbed her already wet slit along his shaft. Harry moaned as she rocked back and forth. She cooed and ground into him each time the head of his cock brushed her clit.

"How are you so good at this?" Harry muttered.

"Books." She replied with a hungry look.

Hermione reached between them to angle his member as she rocked forward. They both moaned as his cock slipped into her. The two of them stilled for a moment to savor the feeling.

"So big." She moaned as she started to grind against him.

His brain refused to supply him with words. He reached up to take her breasts in his hands. They did fit nicely with a bit of room to spare. He caressed her nipple with the pad of this thumb, before rolling it between his fingers. She moaned and leaned into his hand.

"You are so damn sexy." Harry finally managed to conjure words.

In response, she picked up speed. She rocked back and forth as she rode him. Harry pulled her down into a kiss. The new angle allowed more room to thrust, which he took full advantage of. She moaned into his mouth. Their bodies started to clap as she moved to meet each thrust.

Hermione placed a series of quick kisses along his jaw. She continued on down his neck. Harry groaned as he felt her teeth against his skin. Her pace somehow increased. She pounded down into him, her hips moving as fast as she could.

"Harry, fuck. I'm cumming!" She screamed.

It was too much. Harry groaned. His hands shifted to her hips. He lifted her up a few inches and held her there as he slammed into her as fast and as hard as he could. Harry tightened his grip on her hips. He pulled her down, not content to let gravity determine how deep he could reach. Harry pulled her down into a kiss. The extra sensation sent him over the edge. He released rope after rope of hot cum inside of her. She shook with each pulse.

"Wow." Hermione drew the word out.

"Agreed." Harry nodded.

She cooed as she rested atop him. A contented smile played on her face as she enjoyed the feeling of being filled with his cum. Harry felt his eyes drift closed as the afterglow settled on them. Hermione snuggled against his chest.

Neither of them had enough energy, or desire to move. He began to absently stroke a hand along her back as they drifted off to sleep together.