2 Settling In

In the aftermath of the battle, Harry was brought to Hogwarts where he was promptly checked by Madam Pomfrey. Harry saw several beds occupied by the remaining five who had accompanied him to the ministry, giving them little attention.

Dumbledore stood behind him all the while as Pomfrey ran various scans. Harry simply looked around, taking in everything around the Hospital Wing. It looked exactly how he remembered.

"Everything seems to be in order. Your injuries shall heal fine after the potions you just took, and that scar of yours also seems to be healing. I believe there would be only a faint mark, if even that, once it's done," Pomfrey remarked as Dumbledore stared at his forehead.

'Must be checking out the scar.'

Finally, Harry was allowed to leave the hospital wing when the old woman deemed him fine, and Dumbledore asked him to follow. Putting on the show of being an innocent, obedient student, he started to walk behind the old wizard, all the while taking in every bit of the castle that was Hogwarts.

A vast majority of the walk was new to him, things he had never seen appearing and disappearing, while there were a few elements that Harry recalled seeing before. However, he had no problem assimilating every bit of knowledge since his and Harry's memories were cojoined together now. After all, he was Harry Potter in this world.

Within a short amount of time, they reached the headmaster's office and Harry saw the gargoyle step aside when the headmaster approached. They walked inside Dumbledore's office and he stood there as Dumbledore took a seat with a sigh.

"Please have a seat, my boy," he smiled at him tiredly. Harry gave a small smile and sat down, looking up to see him peering at him over his half-moon spectacles. Dumbledore's eyes locked on his forehead, where that scar used to be. It only sported a faint outline now.

"First of all, let me congratulate you on the tremendous amount of bravery you've shown tonight, Harry," Dumbledore began with a genial smile. "Although your actions were reckless, you carried yourself with utmost responsibility and I could not be prouder of your conduct tonight."

Harry raised his eyebrows slightly and simply nodded with a smile.

"You must be wondering what happened to your scar," he gazed at his forehead once again, and Harry nodded.

'No need to expose my cards already.'

Dumbledore smiled slightly.

"Your scar was a cursed one, Harry. A curse that could have happened only when Tom tried and failed to kill you all those years ago. We don't have to go into the technicalities right now, but the fact that you are free from the curse is very relieving."

'So… he wasn't going to disclose the truth, huh? Well, no worries on that front. I knew all about it anyway, not that I'm going to admit anything.'

Harry chuckled internally, giving Dumbledore a slightly confused look.

Dumbledore sighed.

"Alas, I feel it's time for me to come clean with you regarding a few matters. I am sure you must be wondering about the prophecy," Dumbledore started, his gaze looking forlorn as he stared at him, and Harry nodded.

Dumbledore smiled.

"You see, my boy, a few months before you were born, I was interviewing someone for the post of Divination professor in Hogsmeade. The meeting had been rather stale if I am being honest, and I had already given up on her, but then something happened. I feel it prudent that I show you the memory of the event," Dumbledore intoned before he got up and levitated the pensieve on the table.

Pointing his wand against his temple, he pulled out a silvery strand and dropped it into the surface, and Harry watched as the glowing thread submerged inside the liquid.

"After you, Harry," Dumbledore nodded toward the pensieve. Harry nodded and dipped his finger inside it.

Immediately, he felt himself descending into freefall until he was dropped to the floor. Quickly grabbing his bearings, Harry looked around and saw that it was a dimly lit, old, decrepit room with two chairs occupied by Dumbledore and who he recognized as a young Trelawney, a small table separating them. Harry had only caught his bearings when Dumbledore arrived and stood beside him.

The memory started playing, and Harry saw how Trelawney suddenly went into a trance and uttered the words that had decided his life before he was even born. However, before she could finish her trance-induced monologue, Harry heard some commotion from the outside.

"What do you think you're doing here, you scoundrel!? Out! I remember telling you to not come back, can't you understand? Ugh! Your greasy hair is still foul, you imbecile! Go away now! And I don't want you returning, you understand?"

The shout was followed by a small crash and Harry thought with a grin that Aberforth must have thrown Snape out rather forcefully. Outwardly, he played dumb and looked at Dumbledore, who was looking at him.

The memory played out in its entirety, and they found themselves once again in Dumbledore's office.

"So that was the prophecy, Harry," Dumbledore remarked, banishing the pensieve back to its cabined at looking at him intently. Harry gazed at him.

"How did Voldemort know about it?" Harry played along.

Dumbledore sighed.

"A death eater overheard part of the prophecy and relayed it to Tom, who narrowed it down to two children who were born at the end of July: you and Mr. Longbottom. Tom chose you, a half-blood like himself, and marked you as his equal. You are the child of the prophecy, Harry, as evident from the Department of Mysteries recognizing you as well."

Harry's eyes widened in realization and he looked at Dumbledore with a narrowed gaze.

"It was Snape, wasn't it?"

Dumbledore's eyes widened slightly.

"What makes you say that, my boy?"

There was an undercurrent of apprehension in the headmaster's voice, something Harry noticed right away.

"The shouting outside. The man said something about greasy hair. That was when I suspected it was him. However, your reaction just now confirmed it. It was Snape."

Dumbledore sighed.

"Professor Snape regrets it until today. Yes, it was him who told Tom of the prophecy, but he had no idea who it was referring to. Once he realized Tom was targeting you, he immediately switched sides and became a spy for the Order, taking immense personal risk in doing so. Believe me, Harry, apart from you, no one hates Tom more than Professor Snape."

"Why would he care?" Harry asked, "Why would he care what happened to me or my family? Didn't he hate my dad? I've seen the memories. The two of them hated each other. Why would he switch sides if there was so much bad blood between them? Shouldn't he celebrate? The man he hated so much was going to die along with his family."

Dumbledore frowned.

"That is something better left with Professor Snape, Harry. I shall not speak of his motivations, but I can only reassure you that you have nothing to fear from him. He is firmly on our side, and that's all you need to know," he stated firmly.

Harry said nothing. He knew the truth anyway.

"Now Harry, there is something I need to talk to you about," Dumbledore started gravely, looking at his wrist.

'So, we're finally at the crux of the matter.'

Harry acted confused. Slowly, he widened his eyes before taking the Elder Wand out of his wand holster and holding it out.

"I'm so sorry, Professor. I didn't know why I had your wand. Here," Harry placed it on the table between them. Dumbledore looked at the wand for a long moment, before he closed his eyes and sighed. Picking up the wand, he held it out in front of him and placed it back on the table. Harry stared at him, confused.

"It is yours now, Harry," he stated, and Harry watched on, confused.

"I don't understand, Professor," Harry played dumb. Dumbledore sighed.

"You disarmed my tonight, my boy. The wand no longer recognizes me as its master. It has switched its allegiance to someone else now. You. I cannot use this wand to its full potential, not like you can," he remarked, gazing at the wand with a frown.

"I… I see," Harry said softly, grabbing the wand and holding it up. Immediately, a surge of power shot through him, making his hair sway slightly before it receded. Dumbledore smiled slightly before his face took on a serious look.

"Now Harry," he began, and Harry looked up at him, "there is something you need to know about that wand."

He nodded, giving the headmaster his utmost attention.

Dumbledore looked at him, "It is not a normal wand. There are speculations, but no one knows about the true origins of that wand. Some say it was crafted by Death, while some say it's a work of sorcerers of the past. What no one can deny, however, is that it has a bloody history," Dumbledore stated gravely.

"You cannot let anyone know about it, Harry. Use it like a normal wand, never show it to any wandmaker you don't trust explicitly and without a binding oath, and never act as if it is something special. Act as normal as you can, and don't let your actions cause suspicion."

Harry looked at Dumbledore in surprise and nodded.

"People have killed in the past to possess that wand, Harry. And once the wrong people know that you bear that wand, they would not hesitate to kill you to take the possession themselves. You have to take special care, Harry."

Harry widened his eyes slightly before looking at the wand in his hand. Looking up at the old headmaster, Harry gave him a resolute nod. Dumbledore smiled slightly.

"I feel this concludes our discussion tonight, Harry. Next year onwards, I am going to take a personal look into your studies. I hope you'll give this old man a few hours of your time as we go through various matters that would help us out in this war."

Despite knowing what those lessons would entail, Harry gave Dumbledore a wide smile and nodded. Dumbledore chuckled.

"Off you go then, I believe the curfew would be starting in about half an hour. More than enough time for you to visit your friends in the infirmary before going to sleep."

Harry smiled and nodded before holstering his new wand and turning around. As he was about to open the door to leave the office, Dumbledore's voice sounded out.

"I must admit you've taken the revelations of the night far better than I expected, my boy. And I'm happy to see that you have mastered Occlumency to such an extent that I couldn't even touch your defenses," Dumbledore remarked casually, and Harry stopped and turned around to look at him.

Dumbledore smiled at him, and Harry nodded before walking out of his office.

Instead of going to the Hospital Wing, he made his way to the other end of the seventh floor toward the Room of Requirement, fully intending to test the limits of his newfound powers and perks. Now that he was reincarnated as Harry Potter and had the power of the Elder Wand, he was determined to find out what he was truly capable of.

It was such a pity that the Harry of this world had never once tried to be the best wizard that he could be, always leaving it all to Hermione. Here he was, with an ability to play with reality itself, and all he did was slack off. A real waste of potential.

Not anymore though. He had no intention of staying average or slacking off. He was going to become the best he could be. There were no rules, no limits.

He reached the corridor and paced, looking with satisfaction when the door materialized. Harry opened the door and grinned.

Rows upon rows of junk stretched far and wide. The Room of Hidden Things. Why waste time when he could start taking out pieces of the wanker from the get-go?

He walked around, looking for the bust of the ugly warlock, following the path he faintly remembered. It took him fifteen minutes before he found the statue, and right on its forehead, it was.

The diadem was sitting there innocently, its sapphire gem glittering in the light and Harry gently levitated it down on the floor. He could feel it whispering bullshit, the faint voice slightly grating on his nerves, and promptly, he grabbed a piece of silk from the side and threw it over the Horcrux. The whispering receded and Harry lifted it and fisted the silk, holding the diadem like a parcel.

"Now what?" he asked himself, before looking around. His eyes fell on a familiar cabinet and he grinned.

"Oh, I almost forgot about you," Harry whispered, walking over to where it stood and pointing his wand at it. The Elder wand thrummed with power; a feeling Harry was slowly getting familiar with.

"Now, let's try out my first offensive spell. I wonder if I can cast it silently," Harry muttered before pointing his wand at the cabinet.

A blast of light erupted from his wand and struck the cabinet forcefully, and Harry watched gleefully as it was blown into pieces.

"Whoa!" Harry exclaimed, grinning at the explosion. The cabinet was blown into smithereens, splinters going around the area as what remained was only the base on which it stood.

"Now, what to do with you?" he muttered, looking at the silk-wrapped diadem in his hand before an idea lit up his head.

"Let's see if I can pull this off. Magic is intent, imagination, and power, right?" Harry muttered and focused.

Instantly, he conjured a small glass tube, wide enough to accommodate the diadem, and grinned. Picking it up, Harry dropped it, chuckling when there wasn't even a scratch. Placing it on the floor, Harry cast a multitude of spells at it, from gouging and blasting curses to cutting hexes, and the tube didn't even scratch.

"Wicked!" Harry grinned, before dropping the diadem inside.

He pointed his wand into the opening and willed the cursed flames into existence. A thick stream of flames erupted from his wand, and Harry pulled back slightly. Instantly, Harry felt a mental pull and grimaced as the Fiendfyre tried to wrestle itself out of his control. The strain was considerable, and it took all his resolve to keep it contained in the small tube.

He heard a loud wail erupting out of the tube as it exploded in a shower of sparks, and Harry quickly tried to bring the flames down. Sweat poured down his face as the flames intensified slightly as if snarling at him for his audacity of trying to control the cursed fire, but Harry didn't budge in the slightest, gritting his teeth and willing for it to die.

He must have stood there for at least ten minutes, trying to wrestle down the flames which seemed to fight him at every step, not backing down in the slightest. At last, Harry managed to extinguish the fire, panting heavily as he looked around himself. The area around him was undamaged as far as he could see, apart from some scorch marks here and there, and Harry sighed in relief that nothing had caught fire.

One thing was for sure though. Harry had to work hard at mastering this spell. Controlling it was a bitch, and he didn't want to risk it without being confident that he could take it down when he wanted.

There was no sign of the glass tube or the diadem and he realized that the explosion had taken care of both. The diadem must have melted, Harry thought, as he looked around. He could see a lot of articles scattered around the room, coins included, and Harry resolved to have the place harvested of all potential articles which could make him money. After all, why not? It wasn't as if all of it was going to help anyone just by sitting in here, was it?

Now, he was raring to try out a few more advanced spells, and he willed the room to change itself. This shit will never cease to amaze me, Harry thought, as the room morphed right in front of his eyes. A swirl of colours was followed by the room changing its shape, structures appearing and disappearing as the huge pile of junk was replaced with a room clear of everything apart from an ominous-looking dummy that held a black wand and looked at him with emotionless eyes. He grinned. 

Bring it on, bitch!

The first salvo of spells left his wand, all exactly how he imagined they would, and Harry grinned. He didn't even have to make any wand movements or incantations as explained in the books or movies and only had to visualize what he wanted to happen, and it happened. Harry watched in excitement as the dummy twisted to dodge a few spells, while it shielded the remaining. One cutter passed through its defence and hit the dummy on the chest, and a loud gong echoed around the room. He grinned excitedly.

His grin was wiped out when the dummy returned fire though, and he erected a shield quickly. He watched in fascination as the spells hit the shield with enough force to make his arms shake under the strain before they overpowered the shield and obliterated it. His eyes widened slightly when the dummy didn't relent and started to fling spells at him, and Harry saw everything as if it happened in slow motion.

The spells were coming toward him, and suddenly, Harry found himself weaving through them, dodging all the jets of light and returning fire. The exchange continued for a few more minutes and the longer the duel went, the more Harry found himself getting comfortable.

One final volley of borderline dark curses later, the dummy was broken in half and hanging slightly, bits and pieces blown off as Harry panted.

"What the fuck!?" Harry exclaimed.

'Just what happened to me? Was it another one of those perks that Death, I mean, Maria bestowed upon me? Was it because of the Elder Wand that I suddenly became such an agile and combative motherfucker? Because I recall clearly that this world's Harry has never been like that. Sure, he was quite agile due to his prowess of being a Seeker, but this was an entirely different level altogether. Even the spells were more powerful and accurate, and although he was a capable wizard, it was never like this.'

Harry grinned. He would be a fool if he got upset at the fact that he had more power and was more capable. Even though he was nowhere near the likes of Voldemort or Dumbledore, he was happy. He'd only improve from now on, something Harry was going to focus on intently. He had no desire to be a slave to the whims of either of the powerhouses of Wizarding Britain.

He was thinking of going for another round when Harry heard someone on the other side of the door. Sharply, he turned around to look at the door before he willed it to be transparent. The sight made his eyes widen slightly.

There, clad in the attire she had worn to the ministry tonight was Hermione, looking at the door with a frown. Harry took in her appearance. She truly bore a remarkable resemblance to Emma Watson, with her hair in slight disarray and her breaths coming out in short gasps which did something wonderful to her upper body. Harry decided to open the door and let her enter.

True to his guess, her eyes widened when she saw Harry was there before a small relieved smile took over her face.

"Oh Harry," she cried as she flung herself into his arms, and Harry instinctively wrapped her in a tight embrace.

She was showing no restraint, hugging him tightly, and Harry could hardly complain. Her body was curvier than he had thought, as he felt her against his front, and with a soft squeeze, Harry leaned back to look at her.

"Are you okay, Hermione?" Harry asked tenderly as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. Her eyes widened slightly at his actions but she didn't say anything as she nodded.

"Madam Pomfrey told me that it was fine if I wanted to leave. She said I was very lucky that the curse only grazed me slightly. She said," she hiccupped, "she said that if I had been hit by the curse properly, I might not be alive right now."

He pulled her back in his arms and stroked her back softly.

"What about the others?"

Hermione sighed.

"Ron and Neville are out. Madam Pomfrey said they have to stay in the infirmary for a few days. Ginny and Luna will be out tomorrow or the day after."

He nodded and held her close.

"It's okay, Hermione. You're okay. We survived tonight," Harry whispered in her ear, before pulling back and dropping a kiss on her forehead. He smiled at her shocked expression and stroked her cheek before pulling away.

"What are you doing here by the way?" Harry asked her, willing the room to transform into a bedroom. Hermione looked around in surprise as the room transformed into a replica of a five-star suite.

"Huh?" She muttered, confused, before what Harry asked her registered.

"Oh, I just didn't feel like going to my dorm right now, not after what happened tonight, you know?"

He nodded, before looking at her for a few seconds.

"Would you like to stay in here tonight?" Harry asked, deliberately not looking at her. There was no response for a few seconds before she sighed.

"Yeah. I don't think I want to be alone right now," she muttered.

"Alright then," Harry nodded before two small rooms appeared on either side of the room.

"Bathrooms," Harry replied to her questioning look, and she nodded before she turned around and started walking away. His eyes stayed glued to her swaying backside for a while until he shook his head and turned around to walk to the bathroom.

About fifteen to twenty minutes later, Harry had taken a shower and changed into a white t-shirt and navy-blue track pants, and stepped out of the bathroom, only to stop abruptly. His eyes widened as he saw Hermione leaving her bathroom, clad in a silky white nightdress with a white gown draped over it. Blood rushed southward as Harry took in her nervous demeanour, and something about it was oddly thrilling.

"T-this was the only thing available inside," she tried, and Harry gave her a reassuring smile.

"I don't mind, Hermione. You look really beautiful," Harry replied sincerely, and her eyes widened slightly before her lips curved into an uncertain smile. She looked at the bed before looking at him. Harry gave her a shy smile.

"I thought you'd like to stay close tonight, after what happened, you know… I can make another bed appear if you'd prefer though. Your choice."

Hermione's eyes widened and Harry saw her having an internal battle before she closed her eyes and nodded.

"It's okay, Harry. I don't want to be alone tonight either."

He inwardly smiled in triumph.

She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes before she bit her lip. Harry saw her hands grab the gown in the middle, before, with a sigh, she took it off and dropped it on the floor.

His eyes feasted on the bare flesh displayed. Thin straps held her nightdress up on her shoulders, coming down to just above her knees as she kept her eyes away. Harry gazed with surprise at the slightly low neckline, and her cleavage was on slight display. To his pleasure, Harry noted that her tits were much larger than he had thought, and he internally grinned.

Hermione didn't look at him and slowly slipped under the covers. Harry shook his head before laying down on the other side. He willed the lights to dim and saw that a faint blue glow lit up the room.

Moving a bit, Harry made himself comfortable, before he saw that Hermione was facing away from me and was laying there, her body quite rigid. Harry sighed. That girl needed to loosen up. No worries, he was here now.

For some time, they simply lay there in silence. Hermione was turned away, and Harry was looking at the ceiling while glancing at her back out of the corner of his eyes every once in a while.

Finally, Harry decided to take the first step, and slowly, Harry scooted closer until he was almost touching her back. Harry observed her body stiffening and her breathing getting laboured from the proximity, but she didn't pull away.

He decided to proceed and lifted his hand to rest on her waist. She shivered under his touch and Harry stroked her skin over the thin fabric of silk before he dragged his hand forward until it was resting on her stomach.

Slowly, Harry scooted closer until his front was entirely pressed up against her back, and Hermione gasped when his crotch pushed against her hips. Harry caressed her stomach and moved his erect dick against her delectable rear, and she whimpered. Even after all this, she didn't pull away.

Heartened that she was not stopping him, Harry slowly dragged his hand upward, caressing her over the thin silky fabric until it rested right under her tits, and Harry stopped. He waited for her to tell him to move his hand away, but no such rebuke came. Harry moved his hand even more, and this time, she gasped audibly.

'Fucking hell, but her tits are really large and soft, easily filling my palm up' Harry thought and as he squeezed, he was rewarded with an erotic moan from her. His fingers were softly sinking into the naked side of her breast where her cleavage was, and Harry gave it another squeeze.

"H-harry…" she whispered, as he buried his face in her hair and inhaled her scent that was so uniquely Hermione.

"Yes, Hermione?" Harry whispered as he leaned upward, nibbling on her earlobe and biting it. She moaned.

"W-what are we doing?" She whispered as she ground her supple ass against his hard cock, and Harry returned the favour with equal passion as he slowly started thrusting against her in tandem with her moves.

"I don't think I can define it," Harry replied, cupping her face and turning her around. Even in the bluish light, Harry could make out the redness of her face, and with a small smile, closed the space between them. Hermione's eyes widened for a moment before she relaxed and melted into the kiss, as Harry continued to caress and fondle her breast.

'But I'm sure this is what we both want right now.'

Inwardly, Harry grinned.

XXXXX

To be continued…

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