Schooling went on, despite the fear in the halls. Snape was able to keep the fear of the unknown out of his labs, mainly because his apprentices, and the regular students, were more concerned about him, than some unknown. Harry knew everything had a price, and his talk with Master Snape would definitely have one. Harry wasn't surprised when he found Master Snape in a caning mood the next week. Snape kept it to his typical 5, not wanting to completely erode discipline by overreaching, but it looked to be a near thing.
Harry had prepared the additive and had it ready in his dimensional store. Like usual, a Snape caning day was done at the end of class on Tuesday. Hermione was the last caned as usual, and she had managed to stay up for the whole 5. Hermione still let out a scream after each strike, and was sobbing before the end. Snape, after finishing Hermione, just stalked out of the room. After Hermione returned and replaced her skirt, all the apprentices went to the lab to make their balm, with the senior apprentices keeping a weather eye on the juniors. Steward and Elanor told Harry and Hermione, "Don't apply any until one of us have graded it." The two nodded and got to work.
Harry saw Hermione about to make a critical error, "STOP! Don't add the abraxan hair so soon. You need to wait until the potion thickens slightly, not just changes color!" Hermione paused, and nodded. Elanor growled, "Eyes on your work, Apprentice Black!" Harry replied, "Yes, senior apprentice!"
Once Hermione's potion was completed, she saw Harry adding a clear liquid to his ointment, changing the color from tan to grey. "What are you doing?" Harry replied, "I'm adding the additive neutralizer to change the balm to non-addictive." The other apprentices' heads snapped up hearing that.
Steward, having finished his own potion, came storming over and examined the balm. After examining it, and testing the balm, "Everything is in order. This is the modified balm, non-addictive. Why did Master Snape give you the recipe?"
Harry looked at Steward, who was more curious at this point than angry. Harry answered, "Hermione suspected something was off about the balm, so we tested the balm with Hermione's parents. They pointed out the addictive properties of the potion. When I came back from break, I confronted Master Snape on that quality. He indicated Hermione's mother was an obvious source of her brilliance, as she was exactly correct. We then discussed the history of the potion, and his creation of an additive which will remove the addictive effect. I made it and added it to my balm. I appear to owe the rest of you an apology, as it is abundantly clear, that conversation initiated this latest cane day."
From his spot, Cedric said with excitement, "Share that recipe and we will call it even. I wondered why I would want to do more and more for my applier after a couple of episodes."
Steward sighed and shook his head. Looking at Harry he stated, "Well, so much for that test. Both, Elanor and I had to realize that quality for ourselves, and confront Master Snape ourselves, to get the recipe. We were told to keep a watch on those of you unaware, so nothing untoward occurred until you figured it out. To think a first-year apprentice who is just a second year figured it out in 6 months. Apprentice Granger!" Hermione looked to Steward. He nodded, and said "Excellent work Apprentice Granger." Hermione curtseyed with a smile, then winced when the curtsey made her bottom burn more.
Harry then shared his vial of neutralizer, though obviously Elanor and Steward had their own, which turned all the other balms appropriately grey and received the approval of Steward. Hermione's passed, and was converted too. She was finally modifying her balm to improve it. Harry was very relieved. The other apprentices then all left, to have their paramour of choice, apply the balm. No one needed to watch the juniors any longer, now that the balm was non-addictive.
Once the others left, Harry went over to Hermione. Hermione was standing there at her station, with tears falling from her eyes, trying not to sniffle. Harry asked gently, "Hermione, would you like to go somewhere else, or apply it here?"
Hermione looked to be riddled with doubt and insecurity. "I need to do it here. I feel much safer here, as everyone here, I trust. But I'm scared. You said this version removes the addictive properties of previous applications. What if our feelings were created by the balm?" And her voice cracked as tears started falling down her face, when she asked the question. Harry could see how low her self-esteem was. Hermione already believed Harry could not love her. She wasn't worthy, so it had to be the balm.
Harry grabbed her face with both hands, exclaiming loudly "I don't believe it! I know I love you! However, if you decide I'm too dangerous to be around you or your family, i will do that. It will kill me, to just be friends, but if that is what you wish, so be it." And Hermione could see just how much it cost Harry to say that. He was terrified she would leave…just like her.
Hermione, concentrating on Harry's disbelief, replied fiercely, "We will do each other, at the same time."
Harry with a puzzled look, asked "How?"
Hermione with a slight smirk which was more grimace, because she was still in so much pain, replied "69. You lie down on the table and I will get on top of you. I will be doing your bottom while you do mine. I have actually wanted to try this, as I think we will create a feed-back loop which should be glorious."
Harry still very worried about how dangerous he was, replied cautiously, "Remember your safe words. If you suddenly don't want me touching your sex, SAY SO. I will stop."
Hermione, removing the rest of her clothes, snorted, "Like that will happen. Strip off, and get on the table, my Lord!"
Harry stripped, and got on the table. It was seriously unpleasant for his bottom to lie on the table until he bent his knees, and lifted his bottom off the hard surface. Hermione then lay on top of him with her bottom on his chest…so she could see his bottom too. Harry grabbed a handful of ointment and smeared in on. Hermione let out a gasp, and then a "Oh Morgana! That feels so good…and I still want to suck your cock!" She then started working on his bottom.
Harry more relieved than he could say, on hearing Hermione's testimonial said, "Unnnhh. Oh, Hermione! That is marvelous, and if you think I'm not feasting on this delicious pussy, so graciously offered to me, you are straddling the wrong Wizard!" Harry then enjoyed Hermione rubbing the ointment into his bottom while he progressively stronger and more forcefully massaged it into hers.
After about 15 minutes, Harry said, "Time's up, witch. Prepare to be eaten!" And dragged Hermione back so he could get to her comfortably.
Hermione let out a "Squeak" when he suddenly moved her. She then gasped and groaned when Harry very aggressively got to work. "Ouch!" He bit her labia, not hard, but really! Hermione noticed Harry was not avoiding her anus like he used to, giving attention to her whole perineum…she also noticed she had absolutely no problem with that, even with the occasional sharp nibble of her labia. Time to repay the favor, and she did her best to swallow his cock.
Hermione was right, there was an excellent feedback loop that made it inconceivable to stop, despite multiple climaxes. Once they both had swallowed each other's essence a couple of times, well Harry shot three times, and Hermione fell six times, they were finally able to stop and got up. The two then cleaned their stations and Snapes table. Doing this, Hermione asked, "Do you think this table is used for anything other than caning…and sex?"
Harry just replied with disbelief, "Not a bet I would take." making Hermione laugh.
Merlin, he loved to hear that laugh, especially after a caning. Hearing Hermione laugh after a caning explained to Harry, in no uncertain terms, exactly why Snape had invented the balm. All to hear her laugh, instead of hearing her cry.
Harry and Hermione were too busy with all their advanced classes to notice the cold weather, or the colder response the other students had for them. Well to Harry, but since the only class she didn't share was Charms, Hermione felt it too. The Hufflepuff were mostly on their side, but even they wondered who this heir of Slytherin could be, and no one thought anybody could be more of a threat than Heir Black. Geeze, even Darla avoided him, and she was a founding member of his fan club! Merlin, he actually had a fan club, shudder.
It was time for the next Quidditch game. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. "Annnd at Seeker for the Badgers. The one. The only. The BLACK SWALLOW of Hogwarts! Harrrrry POTTER!" The cheers were noticeably less than the last game. There were even a few boos mixed in. Ah well. Harry blasted out doing his usual acrobatics. At least Hooch was ignoring the grandstanding, now.
The chest was kicked open, and they were off. The only problem was the Gryffindor's were avoiding him! 'What the hell?" Harry thought, 'Well, if these pussies were going to be afraid, time to give them a reason to be afraid!' And, Harry went active. He flew through formations, led bludgers through, kicked quaffles away, and was being a nuisance rivaling the twins put together. Oliver was absolutely apoplectic, and screaming at his players. Gryffindor was already down 150 to 30. It was ridiculous. Even Lee was yelling at the Gryffindors to man up and play.
Shortly, Harry saw the Snitch, and was off. He quickly grabbed it, and showed it to Madam Hooch. After the whistle blew ending the game, Harry went and picked up Hermione. He pulled her behind him on the broom, and flew to the locker rooms without any celebrating or acknowledging anybody. Harry wasn't a happy wizard.
Once in the locker room, Harry let Hermione off his broom and put it away. He then turned to her with eyes full of pain and sorrow, and begged, his voice breaking, "I really need you now. Would you stay with me?"
Hermione was already removing her clothes and folding them on a bench. She pulled Harry in for a hug, holding him tightly. She answered assuredly, "Oh course I will stay with you, Harry. All you ever need, is to ask." She then helped remove his clothes and gently washed him in the shower. Eventually, she was just holding him while he cried. He couldn't believe the Gryffindor players were so afraid of him, they couldn't play.
By this time, the other players were coming into the shower. They noticed Hermione comforting Harry while he cried, and wondered how winning could suck so much. After a while, Fred and George entered, ignoring the naked females in the room. Heck, the twins have had sex with most of them, Quidditch players enjoying each other's company more than non-Quidditch players. The two stopped a respectful distance from Hermione holding Harry while he still cried. Gred said sadly, "Harry we are so sorry. I don't know what got into the girl's heads, but Oliver is going to paddle them raw after that performance, and honestly, they deserve it."
Forge then said hopefully, "You know we aren't afraid of you right? With the shit Ron did, we would deserve to be more afraid than anybody, but we know you. You are not the Heir of Slytherin! If you were going to kill someone, you would tell them to their FACE!"
Hermione then gently disengaged herself from Harry, who was quieting down, and went to hug them both, "Thank you brothers. Harry needed to hear that."
"Here! Here!" said some of the Badgers in the background.
Gred said with some of his usual humor, "Merlin's hairy bollox, Hermione! Put on some clothes before hugging us. We don't want to actually give him a reason to kill us!" and everyone, including Hermione laughed. Harry actually smiled too.
Two of the ladies smiled at the twins, "I can't see you two celebrating anything with the other team right know. Want to wash our backs?" with a not-so-subtle invitation while another lady nodded with a grin. The twins paused, grinned, and started stripping off quickly.
Hermione grabbed Harry, "And that's our cue to leave." Waving good bye to the developing orgy, as they left.
The next day, three apologetic chasers caught Harry in the hall. They each said they were caught up in the fear from his madness and forgot the reason he was so angry (losing Hermione). They found out from the twins, that Harry was crying in the shower over what they had done. They felt ashamed, and currently the twins wanted nothing to do with them, they were so angry. The three chasers each gave Harry a hug promising to make it up to him in the future...in any way he wished.
Harry just pretended to misread the obvious signs of sexual interest, "Just play hard next time. Winning against an opponent, unwilling to try is not fun."
Angelina, the last to hug, not wanting Harry to miss her offer, squeezed his bum and ground against his dick when they were hugging. Harry just smiled, and as she turned away, smacked her on her bum. Angelina jumped and yelped, "OUCH!" embarrassed.
Harry then said somewhat disappointed, "I hope this apology isn't because three naughty girls, had their bottoms properly spanked."
Alicia blushing furiously, quickly denied it, "NO! We are apologizing because what we did was ridiculous. I'm really not sure how it happened, as we take our Quidditch very seriously. You deserved the apology. We definitely deserved the paddling Oliver gave us." And the girls walked away with timid smiles, which Harry returned.
Things continued along. The sheep stopped bleating…somewhat, and started acting normally around Harry again. It had gotten around the school, what Harry's response was to the last game. No one could imagine a dark lord crying over being so feared, and easily winning a game. Not that anybody was stupid enough to tease Harry about being a cry-baby. After all, this cry-baby, could and would, end you.
Harry was almost ready for the charms OWL. Harry and Hermione were working on 4th year Runes and Arithmancy by this time, and were happy to be on schedule for OWLs at the end of next year. They were still getting high Os on the monthly exams, which they were doing every 2-3 weeks. They had Hermione on 4th year Charms now, and Transfiguration while Harry was working on his Transfiguration OWL requirements. He thought he might do his transfig OWL this summer if things go well with Charms. All in all, things were looking great.
It was three weeks to finals and time for the Quidditch final against Slytherin. Harry had spanked Hermione a few times to keep her from getting crazy and earning punishments in many of her classes, but especially from Snape. Snape was watching her closely, as finals approached and Quidditch kept Harry away. All the apprentices where aware Snape was a hare-trigger, from roasting Hermione at the least provocation. So far, Hermione was using the threat, and Harry's not so subtle reminders to her bottom, to keep herself centered. She was studying, but not obsessively, and hadn't given Snape a reason to discipline her. Snape was impressed, as he expected Hermione to again, lose it without Harry there to constantly rein her in.
The Badger's were in the locker-room prepared for the final game, when Hooch came in, "Return to your common room. The game is cancelled."
Cedric asked, "What happened?"
Hooch replied glancing at Harry, "There's been an attack. Harry, you need to get back, now."
Harry, with icy fear crawling up his back, jumped on his broom and was off like a shot. He raced into the great entrance and ran into Snape. "Harry stop!"
Harry stopped quickly, and landed demanding, "Where is she?"
Snape replied consolingly, "We don't know. All we got is a message written on the wall, outside the 2nd floor bathrooms."
Harry barely nodded as he flew up the stairs to the bathrooms above the great hall. Sure enough, there was a message written on the wall 'Their skeletons will lie in the chamber forever.' Near by there were three aurors examining the site.
Harry yelled to the aurors, "Who is missing? Who's skeletons!"
One auror replied realizing who was asking, "Darla Diggory took Hermione Granger into the girls' bathroom and vanished."
Harry went into the bathroom and looking around, saw no one. There was a group of toilets in the room, and the room looked abandoned…oh this was Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
Harry gambling, yelled, "Myrtle! Are you here?"
A ghost of a girl just past 2nd maturation, with glasses, bad skin, slightly overweight, and lanky hair showed up, all pouty, "You don't have to yell. What do you want? All the aurors were in here earlier. They didn't find them. No, I didn't see them either."
Harry exasperated, asked "Well, have you seen Darla in here before?"
Myrtle answered fearfully, "She has come in here a few times. She scares me, I often hear a hissing when she is here."
Harry said in a conciliatory voice trying to keep Myrtle talking, "Can you tell me if there is anything unusual about this room?"
Getting angry at Harry, Myrtle replied with obvious sarcasm, "Bedside's me dying here?"
Harry looked at her, then asked curiously, "How did you die?"
Myrtle pouted and tried to flirt with Harry, "That's a rude question! Fine, no one ever asked me how I died before. At least you are interested, somewhat. All they do is scream and throw things through me. VERY RUDE! I was in the toilet and heard a boy talking. This was the girl's toilet! I came out to yell at him, and I saw big yellow eyes. I died. I never felt anything."
Harry again curious asked, "Where did you see the eyes?"
Myrtle pointed, "By those sinks over there."
Harry went to a tower of sinks in the center of the room, and started looking at them. He tried the faucets and one doesn't work.
Myrtle curious about Harry's search watched him. She noticed him trying to get that faucet to work, and volunteered "That one has never worked. Never knew why, they never fixed it."
Harry examined the faucet and found a snake carved in the side of it. Well, Slytherin was a house of snakes. Could it be parsel? {Door, passage, Unlock, Open, Cl-}
On saying Open, the sinks sunk into the tower, and it lowered into the floor leaving a passage. As Harry was getting ready, Myrtle said, "If you die, you can share my elbow with me. It will be cozy!"
Harry shook his head, and mounted back on his broom, going down the hole. He reached the bottom and saw a passage covered in old rat bones with a low ceiling. It's rough carved from the surrounding rock, and unfinished, similar to a mine shaft. There must be thousands of rat skeletons on the floor. What would eat so many rats, but leave the skeletons behind, Harry wondered.
Harry after using a lumos, decided to follow the passage. As he was floating along for a while, he saw a large white object on the side of the passage. He quietly floated over to it, and saw it was a huge snake skin. The thing must be close to 20 meters long weighting hundreds of kilos, minimum.
Eventually Harry reached an ornate circular door with numerous snakes in it. He again said, {open} and a series of locks unlocked with loud clicks. The door then swung open. On the other side, was a grand throne room with huge columns holding up the ceiling. They lead to a huge statue of someone at the end. Under the statue was Darla lying on the ground, unmoving. Hermione was tied naked and spreadeagled on top of an altar inside a ritual circle in front of the throne. She was very obviously positioned for a ritual deflowering, with her knees forced wide. Harry approached, hoping the ritual has not been done yet…