The next morning, Harry received a long and detailed letter from Hermione. While describing how she enjoyed seeing her family again, it stated on multiple occasions how she wished to share her experiences with her best friend, and missed him terribly. However, there was one experience he wished she hadn't shared with him, and that was Hermione's conversation with her mother.
Hermione had a long talk with her mother about the paddling she experienced. Her mother wasn't happy, especially with the unwarranted episode, but did point out something Hermione was purposefully ignoring.
In a very short time, Hermione was cured of her worst habit. Her mother, gently reminded her that she had been discussing her need to badger teachers for more than three years and achieved nothing, not to mention the need to write novels and textbooks for every assignment.
Hermione, once told the consequences, and suffering them, again once, had not let herself repeat that mistake for the whole term. That was definitely something to celebrate.
Hermione wasn't happy. Here she had told her mother about how she was brutalized, and her mother effectively told her, it should have happened earlier as it would have removed the problem before Hogwarts!
So, Hermione than tried another tact, and told her about the bare threat. She indicated that if warranted, the student was required to strip naked before being tied over a spanking bench and paddled! Her mother asked for more details.
Hermione was then forced to admit multiple professors were present with at least one female, and by 4th year, a female was required to apply the discipline. She also admitted this was the most extreme punishment, prior to expulsion, for a student and reserved for egregious offenses.
Her mother then asked, "Has anyone recently earned such a punishment?"
Hermione cried out, "Yes! My best friends both received 20 bare!"
Mother looked concerned and asked, "What did they do to deserve it?"
..... Hermione wasn't answering.
Mother frowned and asked warningly, "Hermione…"
Hermione huffed and replied evasively, "Fine, they came looking for me and fought a dangerous creature instead of going somewhere safe."
Mother just looked at Hermione and clarified, "Looking for you?"
Hermione looked embarrassed, as she answered "I had been horribly teased that day, and was crying in a toilet. I was unaware of the danger, so they came to warn me."
Continuing, she said, "Once warned, we were cornered by the creature, and Harry killed it to save Neville."
Mother then calmly asked "Do you think they earned the punishment, Hermione? Do they think they deserved the punishment?"
Hermione threw up her hands and said, "I don't know, but Harry said he would gladly pay the price in order to save me again."
Mother snorted and with a smirk replied, "Wow. A boy risked his life to save you, was given 20 bare for it, and said he would definitely do it again. I'm glad they have you on birth control."
Hermione screamed, "MOTHER!" completely mortified.
Mother, enjoying teasing Hermione replied with some humor, "What…are you limiting yourself to oral? Seriously Hermione, this boy is a keeper."
She then grabbed Hermione's hand and look seriously at her, getting her attention "I'm teasing about the sex, as I'm glad you aren't there yet, but you are rapidly approaching that age. I gave you a complete education before sending you to boarding school, including most ways to be pleased, and to please your man. Don't act like we have never discussed this, or that detailed reference book I gave you."
Mother then paused and smiled, "You apparently have a dedicated and heroic shining knight. I would have had problems staying out of his bed if I had such a boy, at your age. Though to be fair, I was a bit older than you before I went any further than snogging and heavy petting." Hermione was blushing furiously and didn't say anything.
Mother then continued, "However, if I'm reading this properly, he already respects, even admires you. That means he will not pressure you to do something you TELL HIM you aren't ready to do. As puberty gets going, he is going to strongly desire to experiment. Keep the communication open so he knows what you will do, and what you won't."
Hermione still blushing furiously, couldn't keep quiet at this insult to her Harry, "He would never force me!"
Mother grinned at Hermione's defense of her man, "Probably not intentionally, but a mother worries. You are so far away, and every time you leave I wonder how much changes before you return. I miss you so much." Her mom then showed where Hermione learned how to hug so much.
After a nice hug, Mother decided to return to the original subject, "Getting back to your attempt to elicit support against the paddling. You are worried about stripping naked in front of teachers who have seen most, in not all, of the other students naked. All in fear of the 'worst' punishment? Maybe this fear will keep you from doing something stupid, like fighting dangerous creatures?"
She continued when Hermione huffed and looked away, "It certainly kept you from alienating all the students and professors. As long as you earn your punishment, I have no problem with you suffering the fruits of your labors, dear."
Hermione shuddered, "But the naked…"
"Being naked in front of others can be embarrassing. It can also be freeing. It's all how you look at it, as people's eyes on you really doesn't do any harm unless you let it. If you are so terrified about doing this, practice with your girl friends in the dorm until it doesn't bother you anymore."
Hermione shuddered again, "But the men…"
Mother grabbed her hand consolingly, "That is more problematic. The only way to get used to that would be to practice with a male you trust. Do you know one?"
"...MOTHER!" Hermione said enraged at her mother teasing her about Harry again.
Grinning at Hermione, Mother than calmly instructed, "Next summer we will travel to the Mediterranean and some nude beaches. We will get you over your body shame. Seeing so many other people who really need to wear clothes?…that will take some practice."
Needless to say, Hermione was livid. Unfortunately, she rambled when nervous or upset. She was also detail oriented and Harry almost had a stroke at the oral comment. He was actually hoping she would hold off as he really wasn't ready to explore anatomy with her…yet."
After reading Hermione's letter, and then putting it somewhere really safe (he was going to write to Gringotts for a lock box for inside his trunk), he started on his own letter.
Harry wrote about Gringotts, the shopping, the dance lessons, and the Ball. He mentioned the people he met and the ladies he had to dance with. It melted Hermione's heart when he plaintively whined about desperately wanting to dance with her instead, as he would have enjoyed that so very much more.
He then wrote about the possibility of moving in with Cissa's sister Andromeda. Evidently he was going to live with Tonk's parents…if Dumbledore didn't ruin it. He explained that he met her and she seemed nice.
He also talked about meeting Neville's gran and how he pranked her. (Hermione muttered, "that boy…") He would see her at school soon and he needed to stop writing. He was going to Neville's house for lessons on being an Earl. Oh, yeah! I'm now the heir presumptive for Earl Black!
ALWAYS there for you, Mine,
Best Friend Harry.
Needless to say, on reading his letter, Hermione screamed "MOTHER!!!"
Her mother came running in, "What's wrong?"
Hermione threw up her hands and cried out in distress, "He's now going to be an Earl! It was bad enough he was to be a Baronet, but an EARL!"
Mother came over to her and said, "Do you think he has changed? Can I see the letter?" Hermione handed it to her.
Mother grinned and said with amusement, "Wow, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Always there for you, Mine? Best Friend Harry? Girl you have him…unless you screw it up. Everyone else is going to treat him differently. If you truly care for him, treat him as you always have, your best friend. Trust me, it will make the difference."