Chapter 64
"Yes," both girls replied.
"Excellent," said Harry. "Now, before we go to bed... and you're both, of course, welcome to join me in mine and it's already enlarged... I think we may need to talk about what Luna said when we first sat down at the Ravenclaw table. We need to clear the air about that."
Both girls blushed but also nodded; and the three of them moved to take seat at the couches in front of the fireplace.
When they were sitting down, Harry started things off. "You both know what Luna meant, right?"
Hermione blushed again and looked away. But Daphne asked, "How likely is it she's pulling a prank on us?"
"Highly unlikely," Harry sighed. "When Luna pranks, she always mentions a fantastical creature as part of it. And she's too much of a sweet and gentle soul to prank us about this. One thing she most definitely is not, is cruel or heartless. And pranking us about this would be cruel."
"It makes sense, you know," Hermione softly said. "For it to be a true three-way bond, rather than two separate two-way bonds with one person being one end of both, this is the sort of thing that would need to happen."
"But, how do you finalise such a bond?" Daphne asked; curious, yet still embarrassed. "I mean... you know... we don't have the right equipment."
"I've been thinking about that, and I don't think it's a matter of having the right equipment," Harry offered aloud. "I think it has more to do with the intimacy of the moment. If you think about it, it's a physical act where two people, basically, emotionally open themselves right up to one another. It's that intimacy that finalises the bond, rather than the physical act.
"When we sleep together and just cuddle, that's a symbol... an act... of intimacy. That's why it helps our bond to strengthen."
"You're thinking it has to do with levels of intimacy rather than levels of the physical acts," opined Hermione. Surprised, she said, "That's actually quite logical... and profound thinking."
"You don't need to sound quite so surprised when you say that, love," Harry half-snarked. "I am capable of logical thought and positing a workable hypothesis or two."
With another embarrassed blush, Hermione quickly said, "Sorry! I wasn't meaning to imply you aren't. I was meaning to imply I was surprised I hadn't already thought of it. After all, I'm the one who seems to be somewhat famous for making those leaps of logic."
Before things could get out of hand, Daphne said, "So, you think it's more to do with the various levels of intimacy. Just how far would we have to go to test that?"
Glad that Daphne had got them back on track, Harry smiled at her and said, "I think we need to see if we can judge for ourselves the various levels. Because, I think it's a direct reflection on how we feel at each level that decides intimacy.
"For example... and I'm sorry to raise this so clinically, Daphne... but you cannot consider rape to be an intimate moment. I don't think rape could ever finalise a bond. It's a violation; an act of total dominance of one over another. So, I don't think it's the physical act that finalises it."
"Again, that makes a lot of sense," said Hermione, still thinking about it to herself. "If Luna can see auras... especially the aura of our bond... I wonder if she'd be willing to help us by telling us when she sees the bond getting stronger. That way, we can see how well we're doing."
"I don't want to be the subject of an experiment, Hermione," Daphne said with a frown, clearly getting upset.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Harry quickly said waving his hand in a warding off gesture. "I don't think that's what Hermione means; and it's certainly not what I mean, either.
"I think, with Luna's help, she can visually monitor our bond and let us know if we're in trouble or improving. Plus, I think she may even be able to tell us if and when the bond is finalised; and that may be able to occur without... coitus. I mean, it has to be the case, if Luna is correct that there is a latent bond between you two.
"Of course, if she makes a determination like that, we could then approach Madam Pomfrey for a medical determination; so, we're not just relying on Luna's opinion. And, I also think the way to approach this is, if we can set aside our embarrassment, we calmly discuss what we consider intimate and see if we can progress matters in a way that is comfortable for the three of us."
With a sad but resigned sigh, Daphne said, "You're right. I'm being silly."
"No, you're not," Hermione disagreed. She moved to sit down next to the other girl and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "This is all both quite confronting and exciting for the three of us. We're all handling it to the best of our abilities given our history. We may, together, make mistakes; but, we'll do them together and learn from them.
"If Luna really can see the aura of our bond... and Harry, at least, seems to think she can... then we have someone who can watch out for us and let us know if our bond is in trouble. It means we don't have to worry about losing it and end up rushing things. We may be able to slow things down, if any of us feels they need to."
"Exactly," Harry confirmed.
"Do you think this has any reason to do with why Della was firm with the Hat... Gryff... for us to be sorted into Ravenclaw?" asked Hermione.
"I think it's pretty much a 'given'," he replied with a shrug. Starting to get up, he said, "Anyway. If everyone is comfortable with where we are, at the moment, I'm heading to bed. After the talk we've just had, tonight I'm asking you to join me. I think the three of us just need to cuddle a bit before going to sleep. Or, at least, just be in each other's company."
Both girls looked up at him and nodded. And Harry headed for bed while the girls head for their own rooms to get changed.
While the three were discussing the latest news about their bond in their new apartment, Dumbledore walked into his office. As he walked in, he allowed his anger to show.
Walking to his desk, he sat down behind it and turned to glare the Hat.
"Tell me why you failed to obey my instruction, and sort Harry and the other two into Gryffindor," he demanded.
"It is my role to sort the students, Headmaster," replied Gryff, with a verbal smirk. "I sort them based on matters of which you are to remain unaware.
"However, you should know that there are... players... who have vested interests in this little chess game of yours of which you cannot even fathom. And their powers are far greater than your own. I strongly advise you to withdraw from the board; lest they decide your meddling is so much of a nuisance it would be best to remove you entirely."
Dumbledore almost physically reeled back in shock. The Hat's words shocked him to the core.
"I... Wh-what do you mean?" he stuttered.
"I mean," returned Gryff. "There are powers involved in the lives of those three you have no hope in standing against. And, if you do not withdraw from meddling with their lives, are likely to take a direct hand in stopping you."
"Who?" asked Dumbledore.
"I cannot tell you," the Hat smugly replied. "It's not that I don't want to... even though that is the case... I simply cannot tell you."
That, more than anything else, sent a chill of fear down Dumbledore's spine.
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