In Pursuit of the Unknown Power

Finally August the eleventh had arrived, Harry awoke with a huge smile on his face having dreamed about sitting on the couch watching a movie with Ginny. He wondered for a moment what it meant to have a non-sexual dream about another woman, while sandwiched between these two, but was quickly losing the details of the dream.

At some point they had all turned onto their right sides and Harry was now cuddled against Susan's back with Hannah spooning behind him. It was a very nice way to wake up. Harry took a moment as he ran his hand up and down her shoulder, to think about what he was feeling for the girl. He pulled her closer against him and sighed with the warm tingly feeling that emanated from every point where his skin met hers. And he took a deep breath, catching the scent of her hair and her sweat. He took another breath, suddenly not able to get enough of her.

Gabrielle ruined the mood when she walked in, already fully dressed and sat on the edge of the bed. "Good Morning Master, I am a good girl zis morning." She grinned at him.

He whispered back, "You are being a good girl pet, maybe Gin or Mione will give you treats later if you keep it up." He smiled back at her.

She leaned over Susan and kissed him sweetly before whispering, "Come Harry, we have work to do before ze guests arrive at noon."

He nodded and she left the room, then slowly shook Susan and kissed her shoulder, "Susie? Come on Susie it's time to wake up."

She moaned a little bit, something about a few more minutes and he smiled. He looked over his shoulder and found Hannah looking back at him. He grinned at her. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." She answered with a smile.

"Nice way to wake up yeah?"

"The best." She answered before she captured his lips in a kiss.

He pulled away after a moment still smiling, "Down girl, today is Ginny's day." Hannah nodded but caught his lips once more before she jumped out of the bed. He reached playfully trying to catch her but Susan had his other arm caught beneath her head.

"Down boy, Ginny's special day and all that." Hannah said and winked as she left the room.

He returned his attention to the girl in his arms, she rolled over to face him so that her front was pressed against his and he once again caught his breath at the tingling that went through him from the smallest sensation. "Good morning sleepy head." He whispered.

"Morning yourself." She whispered back as she squeezed his extremely hard erection, which was poking her in the thigh at the moment.

He grinned and repeated his admonition from earlier. "Down Girl."

She smiled but squeezed him again causing him to groan, "I don't think I am the one with the problem here." She said before she too captured his lips.

His breathing stopped all together for a second and then he rapidly drew in a breath through his nose before he moaned against her mouth. He pulled her closer for a moment deepening the kiss, before he pulled away. He asked an honest question but said it playfully to hide his curiosity. "What are you doing to me?"

"Making you fall in love with me hopefully," She whispered back to him quietly. He went quiet for a moment and thought hard about the change in his feelings since he had admitted to her that he had them.

"I think it might be working." He whispered back before he initiated the kiss and rolled her on top of him, her hair fanned out around his face, giving his sight a halo of Auburn. He kissed her deeply once again before she sat up, positioning him against her now wet entrance.

"So are you saying you are in love with me Harry?" She asked as she rocked a bit until one good buck on his part would shove him inside her.

He groaned but pulled her down on top of him and rolled them onto their sides. "I can't Susie, I'm sorry."

She nodded and smiled at him, "One of these days Mr. Potter." She left that statement unqualified as she rolled out of his arms and walked into the Ladies rooms to share a shower with Hannah.

He rolled onto his back and groaned, thinking over his feelings for Susan compared to those for Gin and Mione. It was funny how things could change in a few days. When they met the girls at Harrods he had told Susan that he had feelings for her that were not as deep as for the other two. She now meant at least as much to him as the other two. He was scared at the idea; he really didn't want some sort of Harem. It was hard enough satisfying two witches at once. He didn't think it would be fair to them if he had more than that, and yet he already had Gin, Mione, and Gabrielle, and unless things changed Susan and Hannah. He really needed to talk to Hermione. She always had a way of helping him sort his thoughts, that is if he could get her alone, or just her and Gin, without ripping their clothes off and spending a few hours inside them.

Still confused he got out of bed and headed for the shower, his hardon was not going away, and he suddenly regretted his decision to stay celibate today until he could be with Ginny. So he took himself in hand and thought happy thoughts about Susan, Hermione, Ginny and Gabrielle. Hannah had a guest appearance as well. After ten minutes and a sore arm he finally had a tiny orgasm that was anything but satisfying, it only left him with an ache.

And so a frustrated Harry dried off and got dressed, when he walked out of his closet the girls were conversing on his bed as usual and he gathered them to head out the door. After the usual breakfast they went back up the stairs and started on the decorating. It went much faster than the decorating for his own party since Harry could use magic. They then decided to watch a movie as they waited for the time to arrive.

Finally as noon neared they headed down to the Sitting room and drew their wands. As this was a practical defensive exercise Harry knew there would be no trouble from underage magic use. Not that they had gotten any letters since Amelia gave them the licenses anyway. The grandfather clock began to chime and they all held their breath, not knowing whom the git might have sent in his place. As the final bell tolled there was a pop as an envelope appeared and fell to the ground unaccompanied.

Harry checked for magical residue and found nothing but the leftover magic from the Portkey. So he stooped and picked it up. Inside he found two folded pieces of parchment, the first was Percy's invitation, and the second was a folded note addressed to Ginny. No matter how much Harry wanted to know what it contained, he would not invade her privacy like that, so he put the letter in his pocket and they sat back to wait for everyone else to arrive.

He heard the Twins Floo into the kitchen and they joined him shortly in the Sitting room, talking idly about new products. Apparently Moony had more than a few ideas that he and the Marauders had never been able to pull off and was happily sharing them. Harry was almost afraid for Hogwarts this year.

Bill and Fleur arrived not long after and elected to wait in the hallway where they could see the room, Molly and Arthur did the same. Ron walked in and found one of his uncomfortable/comfy armchairs in the corner of the room. Smiling as he saw Bill raise an eyebrow, before pretending he couldn't get comfortable. Harry was laughing on the inside at the first use of the prank they had designed. Remus and Tonks waited on separate ends of the Dining room.

Finally Harry felt the wards flare and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. The three Grangers and Ginny arrived to a chorus of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Ginny threw herself at Harry and wrapped her arms and legs around him as she kissed him. Hermione was helping her parents up off the floor and they were looking rather sick after traveling by Portkey.

Harry quickly looked around the room as Ginny continued to rain kisses all over his face. He had a grin that just wouldn't go away even as he noted the reactions of the others. Arthur was smiling at his daughter's happiness, which made Harry feel much better, even if Molly still looked undecided; she had a smile and tears on her face. Bill was shaking his head but smiling and the Twins, not really knowing the story just looked confused as their mother leaked beside them. The Grangers were the last faces he looked to, Dan seemed to have a smug look on his face as if he had been proven right about something, whereas Emma was crying right along with Molly, though the smile on her face was genuine.

He finally pulled away from the girl in his arms, "Hey you." He whispered to the crying girl.

She sniffed and used one hand to wipe away the tears and she laughed at him. "Hey yourself mister." She whispered back before kissing him one more time. She then climbed down from him and went to greet the rest of the family. Hermione quickly replaced her in his arms wrapping hers around his neck and kissing him shyly on the lips. "Hey mister." She whispered to him.

He smiled at his new favorite greeting. "Hey yourself." He noted that Dan suddenly looked confused again and Emma continued to smile, he was glad that at least half of the fight seemed to have been won already. Insight dawned in the eyes of the Twins and they quickly found Ron in the corner. Harry considered himself lucky that Ron was smiling. Though he had an idea that he would get a talking to later, possibly in the form of a canary or something equally helpless.

Bill was still shaking his head and looking at the nearest wall with interest. Arthur continued to smile and Molly seemed to resign herself to the fact as she approached and hugged Hermione once Ginny had released her.

"Hello dear, I take it you had a good trip?" Molly asked the scared looking girl in her arms. Hermione looked at Harry and then back to Molly.

"Um, yes Mrs. Weasley though I don't think Muggles will ever be able to get used to magical travel." She told the older woman.

"Now what is this Mrs. Weasley nonsense dear, from what I hear you are almost as good as a daughter-in-law, please call me Molly?" The older woman still looked torn, but was making the effort.

Hermione teared up and pulled the woman into a Hermione hug, which Harry knew from experience rivaled Molly's. The older woman's eyes bugged a bit as she was squeezed but suddenly everything seemed all right as she hugged the girl back with equal fervor. Molly sniffled once before wiping her eyes and pulling away. "Everybody, the cake will be served in the Dining room, and then I believe movies and music will be playing upstairs. You are all welcome to stay as long as you like."

Once the two overly emotional women had released each other they entered the Dining room and sang a birthday song as Ginny blew out 15 candles, which promptly relit themselves. Molly scowled at the Twins who had completely innocent looks on their faces. Of course everyone in the room knew that those two were the greatest actors of their generation. Ginny blew the candles out once more and they turned into butterflies, which flapped around her face and landed in her hair before they disappeared in colored sparkles. Molly smiled at that and instantly forgave the prank, as did Ginny.

Ginny loved the strawberry filling just as Harry had hoped, and when she was told the rest of the cakes design was Ron's she gave him a hug that would make her mother proud. She whispered to him as she held him, "Does this mean you stopped being a git?"

He grinned down at her, "Well, for now at least."

There were gifts all around including chocolate from Ron and books from Hermione. The one she was most interested was the last one she opened. It was from Harry. While at Harrods he had surreptitiously purchased a number of jewelry pieces that had caught his eye. Among them were four matching jade lightning bolt pendants worked in silver and set on a silver chain. When she opened the box the whole room went silent as they marveled at its simple beauty. She had Harry fasten it around her neck and smiled down at where it now hung perfectly between her breasts, next to her heart.

She kissed him soundly and then turned, placing her back to his chest and wrapping his arms around her where she held them firmly. Today was her day and she was going to stay right here if she had any say in the matter. Harry found it hard not to pick her up and drag her off somewhere as he felt that same tingle in his hands every time he touched her skin, and in his lips every time he kissed her. And she seemed so happy in his arms, as if she didn't have any cares in the world. He was beginning to feel the same way, until he locked eyes with Susan who was simply smiling back at him. That reminded him he had a mission.

They made their way upstairs and Ron had Dobby change the room to a new configuration. Platforms appeared out of nowhere and there were now three rows of seats all facing the television just like a stadium movie theatre. Harry slapped him on the back as he and Ginny sat down in one of the snuggle chairs and Winky brought everyone Popcorn as they watched movies. The other half of the room had the Wireless and a Radio but everyone was enjoying the show. Harry enjoyed cuddling with the girl in his arms immensely, but he was soon looking around the room for Hermione and Susan. Ginny noticed and she began looking for Hermione as well. They caught each other's eye and silently agreed. They moved to an empty couch in the back, collecting Hermione, Susan, Hannah and Gabrielle on the way. Gabrielle sat on the floor between Harry's legs. Hermione lay on one end of the couch beside Ginny across her lap. Harry sat in the middle of the couch with his arm around Ginny and Hermione's head on one leg, on his other leg was Susan and on his other shoulder was Hannah. It was a tight fit, but none of them were complaining as they watched the rest of the movie.

Dinner was served later as sandwiches and crisps since they were portable, and everyone else started to trickle out, once again wishing Ginny a Happy birthday until it was finally only Harry, Ron and the girls in the room. Harry hadn't liked the gleam in the Twins' eyes as they excused themselves, but guessed they wouldn't permanently disfigure him. Ron noted how close they all were, as well as the looks being shot between Harry, Ginny, and Hermione and excused himself as well. He may not be jealous any longer, but he really didn't need to see them together.

Finally it was just Harry and the girls who loved him, with the exception of Hannah who had elected to stay casual for the time being. The trio excused themselves and headed toward his Room. As soon as the door shut they attacked him, nearly ripping his clothing off, he had things to discuss with them but he was hard pressed to stop them. As he lost his boxers they began undressing themselves just as rapidly before throwing him on the bed where rather than immediately jump him like he was expecting they pulled the covers down and lay down on his shoulders before pulling the covers back over top of them. Suddenly he felt tears on his shoulders and he squeezed them both close to him, his own soon joining.

"What are you two doing to me?" He asked through a sob as he began to laugh at himself.

"Trying to make you fall in love with us?" Hermione asked and Ginny nodded as she sniffed and began to laugh right along with him.

He kissed her quickly and then Hermione before pulling them as close to him as he could. "It's working." He told them flat out.

Ginny gasped but Hermione looked pensive. "Harry you know we love you, but what does 'it's working' mean?""

He collected his thoughts for a moment. "I don't know really, when I had to leave you at Harrods I felt like part of me was walking away. And now when I touch you I feel a warm tingle anywhere we have skin on skin contact." At that statement both of them slid their legs up his causing him to growl. "Yes, exactly like that."

"Me too Harry," Ginny began, "Merlin I can hardly stand being away from you."

He nodded, "My problem is I still don't know, and I am afraid, and I'm starting to have the same feelings for Susan." He finished quietly, waiting for a reaction. It was Hermione who turned him to look at her.

"Harry, there is nothing wrong with loving. If you love Gin and me does that make you a bad person?" He shook his head. "I think its safe to say we both wish we could have you to ourselves, luckily we share well." Ginny giggled on the other side of him.

She continued, "Harry, if Love really is the power you have, then I say the more you can get the better. Gin?" Hermione asked, not wanting to speak for the other girl.

She was quiet for a few moments. "Harry, I love you, but I can share you if it means you will live past dealing with Tom. After that we can always see what happens but I am not jealous of any of the others, I just want you more than I can have you right now." She kissed him as a tear ran down her cheek.

"I still can't say it, I'm sorry." He whispered.

"Would you say that you love us but you don't know if you're ' In Love ' with us?" Hermione asked. He nodded after a moment. "Then please say it Harry, it is enough for now. Tell Susan as well if it's true."

He gathered up his courage and turned toward Ginny. "I love you Gin, I think I have since after you told me. That doesn't mean I know what real love is, but I think I understand enough to know that this feeling is love." She kissed him soundly at that and worked her way over his hips where she sank him quickly inside her, groaning a bit as he stretched her out after so long.

"I am in love with you Harry, but knowing you love me back, even a little is the best birthday gift I could have gotten." She kissed him again and began to rock him inside her, tears of happiness and frustration running down her face. Ginny sat up to pull him deeper and Hermione leaned in and kissed him deeply. She came before he did and quickly rolled off. "I want to taste you in Hermione Harry." She whispered and Hermione jumped at the chance quickly sheathing him inside her as well. Harry's eyes rolled back in his head at the slightly different feeling surrounding his now aching cock.

"Hermione, if you need to hear the words then yes damn it, I love you." He growled and she began to rock as Ginny had but leaned down to kiss him rather than sitting up. She took her time, enjoying every tiny movement inside her before her climax began to build. Harry ran his hands up and down her back and into her hair as he continued to kiss her. Finally he felt his own orgasm beginning and warned her with a moan into her mouth. She sat up and sped up her pace finally screaming his name and he came soon after, filling her with everything he had. This was so much better than wanking in the shower.

She then collapsed onto his chest for a moment to catch her breath. "I love you with all my heart Harry." She said before kissing him. Ginny cleared her throat.

"Birthday girl here, I want my treat." Hermione smiled and rolled off of him where Ginny quickly began to clean the witches folds and suck every bit of cum she could out of the girls hole. Harry got onto his knees behind her and slid his still swollen cock into her and began to pound. Every nerve was on fire and it was all he could do to keep moving, but she was the birthday girl after all and he knew this was one of the things she dreamed about.

Ginny came again as she lapped at Hermione's centre. The other girl was rapidly approaching another orgasm but Harry simply couldn't move any longer. Every tiny movement caused him excruciating pleasure. Hermione finally came yelling Ginny's name and Harry pulled out and collapsed onto the mattress, Ginny soon cuddled in between them. "Happy birthday to me" She sing songed with a stupid looking grin on her face. They both hugged her tightly and just reveled in the feel of touching their lovers.

Harry really didn't want to move, but he knew there were others waiting on them and that the Grangers wanted to head home and Ginny would be going with them. That is until Ginny spoke up. "Harry, do you want me to stay?"

He felt Hermione tense up with the hand that lay against her thigh. "Gin, I want both of you to stay but Hermione would be all alone and we can't do that to her now can we?" Ginny rolled the other direction and kissed the girl in question. "Never." She whispered to the girl who began crying as she hugged her redheaded lover.

"Thank you." Was all the response they got from her.

"Besides, I just so happen to have my license, and I can only think of two good reasons to Apparate." He said offhandedly.

"Harry! When did you take the test? Was it difficult? Were you able to find any information in the library? Can you teach me?" Hermione asked in rapid succession.

"Down girl," He said getting an annoyed look but she quieted and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I have an unlimited range license…" He was cut off by Ginny this time.

"What? I thought you could get up to 500 kilometers!"

Hermione shook her head, "Dumbledore has one as well, if you can prove your ability to go beyond 500 kilometers they issue you an unrestricted license to Apparate. But Harry just how far can you go?"

He decided to play with them a bit, "Well, for my test I checked out the Berlin Wall."

"That has to be nearly a thousand! Even Dumbledore didn't go that far!" Hermione exclaimed.

"And just how do you know how far the Headmaster can…" he trailed off quickly and said in unison with Ginny and Hermione, "Hogwarts a History." Before he groaned.

"It is a very interesting read, you should really check it out some time." She said as she looked at the amused faces of her lovers.

"In any case," Harry said continuing on, "During practice Tonks had me check out Ayers Rock…"

Hermione fainted.

Ginny was extremely worried, she had no idea what Air Rocs were but figured she would get an explanation once her girlfriend awoke. After a few minutes they were able to revive her and she lay on the pillow looking up at the two of them. "Harry, did you just say you can Apparate to Australia?"

"Australia?" Ginny asked with wide eyes.

"Super Magic." Harry replied with a shrug, both girls rolled their eyes at him.

"Fine Harry, so do you have any idea what your actual range is?" Hermione said now that her brain didn't hurt any longer.

Harry went quiet for a moment. "Hermione, why don't you lay back down, I don't want you hurting yourself."

"Out with it already!" Ginny exclaimed in excitement.

"Er…" He began suddenly nervous, "Around the world, give or take three feet." He looked up into Hermione's eyes.

"What do you mean around the world, do you mean halfway around the world or….."

"No Hermione, when I did the practice test I Apparated as far as my magic would take me, I moved three feet but the trace said I had travelled over 40,000 Kilometers."

"But if you went around the world from England taking into account a cosine of…" He cut her off.

"Sorry Mione, I already had this headache when Susie tried to explain it to me, I didn't think of a direction when I Apparated, I just thought take me as far as I can go. I am guessing I went roughly longitudinal rather than lateral. Alright?" He said as he brought his fingers to his temples and began massaging.

"Oh, alright then. Here let me do that." Hermione replaced his hands and was doing wonderful things to his head with her fingers.

"Thanks Mione… anyway, I only went to Berlin for my test because I didn't want to advertise my new freaky powers."

"Harry that is still nearly double what anyone else in History has done! What were you thinking?" Hermione berated him, even as she continued the massage.

"That I wanted to see Berlin?" He asked, suddenly realizing that he had indeed, still advertised his freaky powers, just not the full extent of them. Hermione and Ginny were just shaking their heads in amusement.

"So what does this have to do with us?" Ginny asked bringing them back on Topic.

Harry grinned up at them. "Well, I don't seem to know where you two are staying at the moment so I can't exactly pop over to visit…"

Hermione released his head and kissed him, "You mean it? You are going to come over?" He nodded. "The Granger residence is located at 1138 Brangwyn Crescent, Patcham." He felt the secret settle into his memory but it didn't do him a whole lot of good. He kissed her anyway.

"Thank you for trusting me with your secret." She nodded and smiled. "Now where is that?" She frowned at him.

"What? Now I can find it, but I still need directions having never been there." He smiled at her and she finally relented and told him.

"It is on the north side of Brighton… I will take a photograph of the house next door and send it to you, I assume that is how you got to Berlin and Ayers Rock?" He kissed her quickly.

"Have I told you I have a weakness for sexy intelligent witches?" Hermione blushed. "Yes that will work just fine, though try to pull back and get as much scenery as you can, preferably from a viewpoint like an alley where no one will see me Apparate in."

Ginny was listening with rapt attention, she was nowhere near learning to Apparate her self, but was fast becoming a knowledge sponge just like her girlfriend. Hermione looked thoughtful for a moment before responding. "Yes, we will also need to make sure that the sound won't alert anyone nearby as well."

Harry shook his head and she looked at him with that arched eyebrow again. "What Harry?"

"Lets just say I am not very loud and leave it at that until you can see me do it, shall we?" She looked at him funny but did not comment.

"Alright then, any more surprises for us?" Ginny asked.

Harry sighed as he rolled away and got out of the bed remembering the letter in the pocket of his trousers. He extracted it and climbed back into bed where he sat against the headboard, pulling Ginny up beside him before he handed her the letter. "I invited Percy to the party, sort of a good will gesture, he didn't come but he sent you a note."

He handed her the letter and she stared at it for a few minutes, Hermione lay across their laps and reached a hand up to play with the other girls hair, knowing this gesture would help soothe her. Finally she sighed and opened the letter.

Happy Birthday Ginevra,

Please let Lord Potter-Black know that I appreciate the offer to attend the festivities this afternoon however I am afraid I must decline at this time. I hope to apologize in person to him for my slander in years previous. He has been proven a reliable source time and again and I was too stubborn and unwilling to forgive you all for being right. I have made many mistakes in the past few years, and I would rather not taint your celebration with my shame.

It is my sincere wish that you will be able to forgive me for being so short sighted and blindly following a fool such as Cornelius. I have done a good bid of soul searching in the past weeks and I have simply not found the courage to make amends with Mother and Father. I will shortly begin writing to William, Charles, and Ronald. Please relate to Fred and George that I am willing to undergo whatever punishment they feel necessary at a time and place of their choosing.

Best wishes on your fifteenth birthday, and my sincere hope to see you again before your sixteenth.

Percival Weasley

Ginny sniffed a bit but wrapped her arms around Harry before she began crying into his shoulder. "That stupid, misguided, arrogant git! How could he think we wouldn't forgive him?" Harry ran his hand up and down her back making shushing noises. Hermione had gotten up and moved to her other side, joining in a three-way hug. Finally her tears stopped and she was smiling. "You really invited him to my birthday? Harry what if he had turned traitor after all!"

He smiled back, glad that her mood wasn't completely spoiled. "I thought he deserved the chance, and I thought you deserved your brother back. That does not mean we weren't all waiting for him with our wands drawn just in case."

"Thank you anyway Harry, this is the second best present I could have gotten today." She kissed him quickly.

He pulled back and smiled at both of them. "Come on you two, we have a party to get back to, and goodbye kisses to exchange."

That got them up and they quickly showered off before getting dressed, Harry had the self-control to keep the shower to cleaning only, though he longed to be inside them again. Finally they emerged from his Room an hour later, to see the other girls watching another movie. They got up as one and offered Ginny birthday hugs before the trio headed back down the stairs to find the Grangers having tea with the Weasley's.

Dan was eyeing him as if trying to decide whether to shoot him and get it over with, or put him in his dental chair. Emma however gave him an unexpected hug. "Thank you for setting this up Harry, it was very sweet of you."

"Um, no problem, I can't have them think I have forgotten about them just because they don't live here." He replied with a quick look at Hermione.

"Are you girls ready to head home?" Dan asked.

Emma leaned in and whispered in Harry's ear. "I'll work on him, don't worry about it." Which only confused him further.

Both girls kissed him on the cheek as they hugged him in tandem. Then they took hold of a length of rope the Grangers were holding and Ginny touched her wand to it. With a whispered ' Portus ' they were gone from his life once again and he felt the loss physically.

*************************SFTP************************

He walked back up the stairs in a daze, did he really just tell them he loved them? Did he really mean it? What did that mean anyway? He was still lost in thought as he entered the room and made his way to the couch where the three girls were cuddling. He sat quietly through the rest of the Movie and the girls draped themselves across him in various positions. Finally the movie ended at about eight and Hannah sighed.

"Well, time for me to head home." She said quietly. Harry snapped out of his introspection and helped her and Susan stand before untangling himself from a sleeping Gabrielle. He then stood and pulled her into a hug.

"I had a wonderful time this weekend Han, thank you."

She nodded into his shoulder, "So did I Harry, I'll see you next week." She then pulled him into a quick kiss before letting him go and walking hand in hand down the stairs with Susan. If he knew what he felt for Susan was love, he was still confused about Hannah. She was fun, beautiful, and sexy. He enjoyed being around her, especially how she unlocked some of Susan's inhibitions. But he thought that with as intimate as they had become he should be feeling something more for her than this, at least as much as he felt for Gabrielle.

By the time Susan had come back up he had thoroughly confused himself, Susan noticed as she sat down on the couch next to him. "What's up Harry?"

He stayed quiet for a moment until she nudged him, "Just thinking is all." He said noncommittally.

"Really, isn't that against the law?"

He smiled at her and gave her a second of his shag-me, his grin growing as her breath caught, "That depends on what I was thinking about."

"Don't make promises you can't keep." She said once she had recovered.

"I love you." He said suddenly catching her off guard.

"What?" She asked, scared to believe it.

"I am not in love with you, but I can finally identify this feeling. I love you just as much as I love Gin and Mione. I don't know what that means, but I know you deserved to hear it." He said not looking at her.

She turned his head and pulled him down on top of her as she kissed him. She waited until she knew she had taken his breath away before releasing him as he gasped for Air. "Why am I getting presents on Gin's birthday?" She asked with a smile.

"I told them both earlier, they told me if I honestly felt the same way about you I needed to tell you. So I guess you can thank them later."

Susan got a devilish look on her face, "Oh I plan to, multiple times."

Harry had interesting mental images flash through his head and he knew Snape would have had a heart attack if he had tried to read him just then. "Do I get to be there?" He asked.

"If you're a good boy you can be the main attraction." She told him with a grin. "Now is that what you were thinking about?"

He quieted again, causing her to worry. "Harry?"

"Sorry, thinking again."

"About what?"

"Hannah." He answered.

"Oh" She said even more confused. "What has you thinking so hard about her? Do you love her too?"

"No…" He said sounding very vulnerable. "I… don't know why… I just don't feel the same way about her as I do you. Why?" He looked about ready to cry so she pulled him into a hug. Perhaps sensing her Masters distress Gabrielle woke up and hugged his back.

"What is wrong Master?"

"Hey Pet, did you have a nice nap?" He asked with a smile.

"Don't change the subject Harry." Susan said sternly. "So you are upset because you don't love Hannah?"

He nodded, "I feel like it's wrong, like I'm being bad. How can I use her like that?"

"Harry, Hannah is here to be with me, playing with you is just a bonus. Did she or did she not tell you she wanted to keep it casual?"

He thought for a second, "Not in so many words. She asked if I would let her love me and I said yes, but later she told me she just wanted to enjoy things the way they are."

"So what's the problem then?" Susan asked, still confused.

"I haven't done anything with you that I haven't done with her, so why do I want to shag her but I don't love her?"

Susan thought for a moment. "Sex and Love are not the same thing Harry, and besides that, you have been spending every day with me for half the month, of course you have more feelings for me that you do for her. That doesn't mean you can't love her, just that you don't yet."

He looked at her and finally smiled genuinely. "You mean she doesn't mind?"

"Hannah still wants to try dating Neville, she has fun with us, and she trusts you like nobody else, but she isn't ready to fall in love. Don't feel bad because of her choices Harry."

He nodded before he spoke once more. "How is it okay for me to love more than one woman? To be this selfish?"

"Are you happy Harry?" She asked.

"Most of the time, today I felt like I could cast a hundred Patronus charms against a thousand Dementors. But watching them go nearly broke me." He whispered.

"Zere is nothing wrong with loving Harry." Came the surprisingly comforting voice of Gabrielle. He sat up and turned in her direction. "Love grows Harry, when you need more you just make more. Zere is nothing wrong with loving more zan one woman."

"I don't understand." He said looking confused at the wisdom coming from the girl who acted like nothing more than a silly blonde in his presence.

"Ze Veela know much about love, I have read much of what is written. Zere is nothing wrong with loving zem all." A single tear rolled down her cheek.

He pulled her into a hug and whispered into her hair, "I love you too Gabrielle, not as much as the others, but I do." She began sobbing into his chest.

"I love you Master, I am afraid you will reject me eef I say so." She then turned her head and kissed him. "My Maman is writing me a letter. I am to go home and attend Beauxbatons zis year. Ze school ees not accepting me at Hogwarts."

Harry was stunned, he hadn't actually thought about not having Gabrielle with him at school. "That can't be right, Dumbledore…" She cut him off at the name.

"Ze Headmaster has spoken with my parents, he says zere is nothing he can do eet is ze board of governors." She cried into his shoulder.

"Shhhh Pet… it will be okay. You will just have to visit for Easter and Christmas break. And then we have all of next summer together. When do you have to leave?"

"Ze eighteenth. I have only one week to be with you." She sobbed.

He comforted the best way he knew how, by pulling her into his lap and holding her until she cried herself out. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?" He asked her softly.

"When we are together I am only thinking of your happiness, my own c'est nothing." She sniffled as she was coming back into control of her emotions.

"Your happiness is my happiness Pet, that is how a Master should treat those he is responsible for."

She smiled and as he watched her hair seemed to straighten itself and her tear tracks dried to nothing before disappearing. "Only my Master… What shall I do?"

He thought for a long moment, "I order you to return to France for schooling, as much as I want you with me, I want you to have friends and get a good education. Please?"

Her smile brightened at his words. "I shall do as you order my Master, you will give me treats when I see you next?"

He grinned back and pulled her into a hug once again. "So many you will pass out my Pet."

Susan spoke up. "Does that mean I am going to get a whole week of you to myself?"

"I suppose so, its almost depressing when you put it like that." He said before he caught his slip, she was near tears at his off the cuff comment.

Releasing Gabrielle he turned and pulled Susan to him. "I love you Susie, I meant I have gotten so used to being surrounded that just the two of us seems a bit dull in comparison. I did not mean I won't treasure the time alone with you." He kissed her and after a moment she kissed him back, apparently forgiving him. "For now it is the three of us, how would you like to work the sleeping arrangements?"

"Gabrielle is leaving in a week, if you like you two can have the whole time to yourselves." Susan said quietly.

"Non! Master loves you and I will not keep you from him. Please Suzie stay with us?"

She nodded before speaking once again. "Then I guess its bath time Harry, now that we know what we're doing I expect you to take care of my needs on a regular basis." She got up and dragged him from the couch as Gabrielle got up under her own power.

"What have I missed?" The blond asked.

"It will be easier to show you." Susan said pulling Harry into his room with Gabrielle following.