Lyra Malfoy returned to the Slytherin Common Room, still a bit flushed from the experience. Being put under the Imperius Curse and feeling Potter's power had made her regret some of her life choices. Every time he tried to push, he pushed back harder.
And if she was honest with herself, there was something about his power that made her not want to push.
"So, how was it?"
Daphne sat at the edge of the fireplace, working on an essay for Snape about poison antidotes. Daphne's sister, Astoria sat close by, and then Pansy, her friend Autumn Runcorn, and Daphne's friend, and by friend, Lyra meant concubine, Tracey, sitting nearby, casually reading the Quibbler.
That nonsense actually had the gall to print of those articles about her, that she was the bastard daughter of Narcissa Malfoy and a time traveling Harry Potter, and not Luicus Malfoy. As if.
"You couldn't break the curse, could you?" Daphne asked. "Not even once."
"I….I just have to practice," Lyra said. "Potter's not going to get the better of me."
Daphne had a calculating smirk spread over her face.
"Thirteen days," Daphne said sweetly. "Hey, Tracey….do you like this maid outfit or that maid outfit?"
Lyra just scowled when Tracey looked up from the magazine she was reading.
"I like that one….it matches her eyes," Tracey said. "Although I wouldn't mind wearing that one….if you want me to."
"We'll talk later," Daphne said. "What did Potter make you do?"
Lyra recounted the entire experience. Tracey, Autumn, and Astoria all broke out into fits of laughter. And Pansy really tried hard not to burst out into laughter. However, her face betrayed her.
"Well, things could be worse," Daphne said. "He could be making you eat whatever those twin terrors whipped up for their little side hustle this week."
Lyra pulled a face. She would not eat a damn thing that those ginger gits created. Yet, Potter would create her.
At this point, Millicent Bulstrode entered the Common Room. Millie had been a person who had really matured over the past year as well. She was pudgy before, but she shot up in height, and was now built like an Amazon of Greek Mythology. She towered even over Crabbe and Goyle and she could eat them for lunch if they got in a fight.
"What's going on?" Millie asked in a soft voice.
"Well, Princess over here seems to think she can throw off the Imperius Curse," Astoria piped up. "And she's let Harry Potter put her over it to train her."
Millicent just smiled as Daphne jumped in and explained the bet they have going on.
"You really are arrogant to a fault," Millicent said. "Ooh, when did you join SPEW?"
Everyone noticed the badge on Lyra's robe.
"Well, Potter made me when he put me under the curse, and I also pledged three hundred galleons….ooh, Granger doesn't know a damn thing about house elves and what they're like," Lyra grumbled. "And how they're going to take real offense to what she's doing."
"To be fair, it's not like Muggleborns are taught necessary lessons about magical culture," Daphne said.
"That's not a bug, that's a feature," Tracey murmured under her breath.
"Well, Potter asked me to recruit new members, so Pansy, you're joining," Lyra said.
"Absolutely not!" Pansy shouted, almost red in the face. "There's absolutely no way in hell that I would join Granger and her stupid, nonsensical movement. You have to be losing your bloody mind."
Lyra looked unmoved.
"You will," Lyra told her quietly. "Unless you want me to tell your father who you've been sneaking out to see."
Pansy looked gobsmacked.
"You wouldn't dare," Pansy said.
"Watch me," Lyra said. "In fact, I think you should all join."
"Actually, I do too," Millie said. "I don't agree with the extremes Granger does, but there's a lot of deplorable treatment of house elves. They should be a right, not a privilege."
"Here it comes," Autumn murmured.
"I think her organization could have some merit, we just have to work with getting her to a more moderate stance and away from the less extreme stance of free all elves," Millie said. "We just have to convince her."
"Oooh, right, we can convince Granger to change her opinion, because you know, she's always been one to be supportive of people who have opinions different than hers," Lyra said. "That arrogant, frizzle haired, buck toothed…why does Potter even put up with her?"
"Guilt and obligation," Tracey said. "After all…there was the troll and the fact that Granger was petrified by the Basilisk."
Well that made sense. Potter and his nobility. Lyra had no idea who she felt about that.
"Did you even try to fight the Imperius Curse at all?" Astoria asked. "Or do you deep down want Potter to take control of you?"
"I don't…don't be ridiculous," Lyra stammered. "I'm a Malfoy. I don't want some half-blood to take control of me…speaking of which, can you believe that he's claiming that the Dark Lord is a half blood?"
"You likely shouldn't call him that, unless you want to make people believe you're in his league," Daphne said.
"Professor Snape calls him that," Lyra said.
"Well, I half expect Professor Snape to tie someone to a set of railroad tracks," Daphne said.
Several of the group just laughed.
"Wouldn't put it past him," Autumn said. "But, did you try?"
Lyra just hesitated.
"I tried…I really wanted to, but when I met Potter's eyes," Lyra said.
"Don't look in his eyes, then," Pansy said. "Duh."
"Hard not to, they are extremely gorgeous," Millie said.
"You can't…you can't be serious," Lyra said.
"She's not wrong," Pansy said.
"She's not," Autumn agreed.
"Can't blame you," Daphne said. "There's something enchanting about them."
"I heard people say they were the same as his mother's," Tracey said.
"Well, Lily Evans was gorgeous for a Mudblood," Pansy said.
Daphne slapped Pansy in the face. Pansy huffed in response and Lyra narrowed her eyes.
"I'm only allowed to do that," Lyra said sternly.
"She was being rude," Daphne said.
"It was a compliment," Pansy said. "Evans was one of the good ones."
Daphne just sighed.
"Thirteen days," Daphne said. "Well, it's after midnight now, so twelve days."
"I'll do it and you'll be bowing down before me," Lyra said.
"Of course, Princess, whatever you say," Daphne said in a condescending voice.
Harry had been extremely skeptical when Lyra Malfoy came to him, wanting to be trained on how to resist the Imperius Curse. However, the fact he had her on her knees, and at his will, felt really good. It gave Harry a sense of control that he never felt he had for the longest time.
He had spent the past evening covertly researching the laws regarding the Imperius Curse in particular. Hermione questioned him about it, but Harry said he wanted to understand how he was able to throw off the curse and why others could not and she left it be, for once.
Well, it was interesting. The curses were technically illegal, but the Imperius Curse had quite a few exceptions that they could be used. They were only illegal when being used against a human being of greater or equal value to the caster and only without their consent. Well, Harry most certainly had written consent, although give his status as the hero of the wizarding world, a small cynical part of Harry wondered if there were many who could be considered of greater or equal value to him.
Well, that was a thought that made him as arrogant as Snape believed him to be.
"I can't believe I sold so many badges."
And here comes Hermione. Ron followed her.
"I don't know why so many Slytherins would even bother joining spew…."
"It's S-P-E-W, Ronald!"
Well, obviously it was. Harry just hummed and put honey on his toast as he waited for the latest bicker fest between Hermione and Ron to peter out.
"And Bulstrode came to me and asked," Hermione said. "And Lyra Malfoy donated three hundred Galleons, as well she should, after how the Malfoys treated Dobby."
"They're up to something," Ron said. "Harry, do you think they're up to something?"
"Well, it's Slytherin," Harry said. "Maybe Lyra feels guilty….."
"Since when have you started calling Malfoy by her first name?" Ron asked.
"Since she started to tutor me in Arithmancy and Study of Ancient Runes," Harry said quickly.
"You don't even take those classes," Hermione said.
"Well, maybe I want to switch, given Trelawney keeps predicting my death," Harry said.
There was a pause.
"Point well taken," Hermione conceded. "But, still why go to Malfoy for help? She's…she's just awful."
"Well, yes, she is, but…Harry knows what he's doing," Ron said. "At least I think he does."
Well Harry would like to thank Ron for the vote of confidence.
"Still, I could have helped him, if he wanted help," Hermione said. "You don't need to be going to other people to get tutoring…while I'm here I mean…it's not….I mean, I could always help you."
Harry just sighed. This little explanation was going to cause more problems than it solved.
"Hermione, I…well, my reasons are my reasons," Harry said.
"But…."
"Drop it."
"But…."
"Drop it!" Harry said forcefully.
It would be very easy to slip and put Hermione underneath the Imperius Curse. But, Harry did not want to do that, at least not in public. Legally, he could get away with putting her under the curse. She was Muggleborn for one thing, and right or wrong, lesser than Harry in the eyes of magical law. And she owed Harry a couple of life debts as well.
"Fine!" Hermione snapped. "There's something more going on with her….after how she's been, you can't just see her as something else….just because her tits grew in doesn't change the fact she's an awful person."
"Oii, and you get off on calling me shallow?" Ron asked.
"I'm not shallow, Ronald."
"I'm not the one who brought up Malfoy's tits out of the blue!"
It would be so easy to put her underneath the Imperius Curse. Harry could tell Hermione's insecurities coming from a mile away. Her bushy hair, buck teeth, and rather plain looks, and the fact she had not matured as well as some of the witches in her year, despite being older than all of them, did not grow into her curves at all.
Although Harry figured Hermione got her looks from her father's side of the family, having met her. Because, Hermione's mother was gorgeous, buxom, beautiful, definite MILF, and despite only meeting Charlotte Granger just a handful of times, Harry had more than a few dreams about her.
Hermione's Mum had it going on.
Harry had a soft spot for older women, or rather a hard spot. He lost his virginity to Penelope Clearwater just last year after she wanted to thank him for slaying the Basilisk. And he "bartered" with Madam Rosmerta in exchange for her not blowing the whistle on him being in Hogsmeade illegally last year.
The argument between Ron and Hermione finally tapered off.
"She's stormed off to the library," Ron said.
"You don't say," Harry murmured.
"Look, mate, if you…want to get with a Slytherin…just be careful," Ron said. "It's your business…and I'll be honest, I wouldn't say no to Bulstrode stepping on me."
Well, there was something about Ron Weasley that Harry could go with knowing, like ever. Harry distracted himself by watching Cho Chang and her group of equally beautiful, if someone bitchy and snooty, friends going down the steps. The Ravenclaw Seeker could be his very easily.
A female voice which cropped into his head last night indicated that would just be one curse.
"Eyes off Chang, mate," Ron said. "We've got Potions. You know how Snape is."
All too well.
Lyra just groaned. Snape was being as he usually is, and she was pretty sure Potter was going to take it out on her. And Granger, for some reason, was being more hostile than usual.
"What did you tell Granger?" Lyra demanded.
"That you were tutoring me in Arithmancy and Ancient Runes," Harry said.
There was a long pause.
"You'd be better off with Greengrass on that front," Lyra said. "I'm fair at those subjects…but there aren't that many good choices for electives. Divination is a bit of a joke…Muggle studies are centuries out of date…and I really regret taking Care after a hippogriff mauled me. And I know you had something about it getting away, Potter. you always do."
Harry did not confirm nor deny what Lyra said.
"You only got attacked because you wouldn't listen to Hagrid…."
"The oaf should have made himself more clear!" Lyra snapped.
"You're on thin ice, now," Harry said. "And you were playing up your injury for attention. I got worse from Lockhart. And you like getting the attention. Maybe if you like attention so much, I should make you streak through the Great Hall completely nude."
Lyra just shivered.
"You wouldn't dare," Lyra said.
"I wonder if Snape would actually put you in detention for indecency," Harry said. "I don't know why he would let you get away with so much. He's not your godfather, or something?"
Lyra pulled a face.
"Please, as if my father would make a nothing half-blood like Severus Snape my godfather," Lyra said. "He's just a useful tool that my father cultivated, he was a prefect when Snape was a first year. Snape ran around with a crowd of people, all of them ended up in Azkaban, because…well they were willing followers of the Dark Lord…."
"Voldemort," Harry said. "His name is Voldemort. Well, actually his name is Tom Marvolo Riddle."
And there he was again. Actually, Lyra remembered seeing the name "Riddle" on a diary in her father's study, before her father angrily pulled her away and told her that room was off limits.
And she never saw that diary ever again.
"You want to know the real reason why Snape hates you?"
Harry had stopped.
"You don't know anything," Harry said.
"Maybe, I don't, maybe I do," Lyra said. "Dumbledore didn't tell you, did he?"
Harry just looked at her.
"You don't know anything," Harry said. "You're just trying to rattle me so you'll have an easier time fighting off the Curse."
"Maybe," Lyra said. "Are you going to make me tell you the truth?"
"Imperio."
Lyra's eyes glazed over. It was much easier to do this.
"Tell me the truth," Harry said. "What do you know?"
"Snape and your mother were friends at Hogwarts, before Hogwarts," Lyra said. "According to my mother, Snape became rather creepy in his obsession with your mother, especially when James Potter started to express his interest. Your father and Snape hated each other from day one. Snape always followed them around, trying to get them in trouble. Especially Lupin…you remember what he is. It all came to an ugly head one day, after OWLs…and your mother…well Snape called her a Mudblood. And your mother dumped him as a friend…there is also a reason why Dumbledore seems to trust Snape, my father doesn't know what it is, and neither does my mother. But, he was passing information to the Dark Lord for a long time. So maybe he was doing it to the other side as well, to hedge his bets. Don't know. I wasn't around."
Harry just had been floored for a second.
"Snape is a tool, but I think he's Dumbledore's tool as much as ours," Lyra murmured. "We'll use him, but we don't trust him."
"Dumbledore knew," Harry said.
"Such a public and dramatic incident, he would have to," Lyra said. "He was the one that got Snape off on all charges and he couldn't even get Sirius Black a trial. Father was very amused by that one."
Harry just blinked.
"Dumbledore," Harry murmured.
"Yes, Dumbledore," Lyra said. "We have a saying in our circles. It's always Dumbledore. Every thread of our society could be connected to him. And a lot of the problems are because of him."
Harry took a deep breath. He did not want to believe her. But this was just…Harry had no idea what to make of that one.
And yet, it was Dumbledore's orders that he was sent to the Dursleys in the first place. Harry realized how much power Albus Dumbledore held and how much sway he held just by being him.
If only Harry had a fraction of that sway and influence, he would be in a good place. He would never have to worry about people like the Dursleys ever again for instance. And he could crush Snape.
"Are you upset, Potter?" Lyra asked. "I think Muggles have a saying…where you never meet your heroes…."
The Imperius Curse had been broken for a second.
"Snape hates me because he was jealous of my father and that he wanted my mother," Harry said.
"That's what I've always heard," Lyra said. "I thought someone would have clued you in. Lupin didn't mention that the entire time he was here?"
"Lupin didn't mention much," Harry said. "I didn't find out for six months that he was friends with my father."
"He's a coward," Lyra said.
"Don't…don't say that," Harry said.
"It's true," Lyra said.
Yes, well there was most certainly evidence for that. Still, no one said anything. Harry supposed he could forgive Sirius, because he was both on the run and also feeling a bit revenge happy against Wormtail at the time. But, Lupin had no excuse other than his own insecurities.
And there was Dumbledore.
"Snape has his uses," Lyra admitted. "But, those who know, realize he was nothing but a pathetic, beaten man who found his time obsessing over a useful Mudblood…."
"Enough!"
Harry's eyes went on Lyra.
"You will not discuss my mother in a degrading way," Harry told her. "Is that clear?"
"Potter, I…."
"I asked you a question," Harry said. "Is that clear?"
"Fine, Potter, yes," Lyra said. "Then what are you going to make me do today?"
Harry looked outside of the room and cleared his throat. And then, Peeves the Poltergeist appeared before them.
"What is it, Potty?" Peeves asked.
"It would be a shame if you utterly trashed this room," Harry said. "It would give Filch a stroke."
And with that, Peeves began to trash the room. Lyra watched the spectacle as Peeves laughed and decided to trash most of the castle as an encore.
"What does that prove, Potter?" Lyra asked. "Other than having Filch skin you alive."
"Well, you needed motivation," Harry said. "When's the last time you cleaned something?"
Lyra looked at Harry like he had grown an extra head.
"Do I look like a house elf?" Lyra asked.
"Imperio."
The pleasant sensation of being under his control washed over Lyra. She shivered.
"Clean up this room, top and bottom without magic. I want to see it shine."
Lyra hesitated for a second.
"Do it!"
She could not, she could not, but she had no choice. Lyra had been compelled, as if her thoughts were not her own and her body's actions were not her own.
Lyra started to scrub and scrub and scrub. She tried to fight it, but she could not. Her hands were shaking.
She fought harder this time. This curse actually made her go against her inner nature, being a spoiled-entitled pureblood princess who never had to do a chore in her life.
Hours of backbreaking, agonizing, work, Lyra was finished. She looked into Harry's eyes for a long second, barely able to stand.
"Poor thing, did that wear you out?" Harry cooed. "Well, I hope you enjoyed a small taste of my childhood. Having to clean up a mess that a destructive hooligan made no matter how much it wore you out."
Lyra just pulled a face, but she could not understand what Potter was talking about.
"Tell me, what did you expect me to do to you?" Harry asked.
"Something sexually degrading," Lyra murmured. "I would have rather had that."
"Mmm, I'm sure, you would," Harry said. 'One more thing before you go…this soap."
"What soap?" Lyra asked. "What do you mean?"
Harry shoved the soap into Lyra's mouth and with one flick of a wand started to wash her mouth out with it.
"For using that word to refer to my mother," Harry said. "And every time I hear that word from you…the soap is going in your mouth."
Lyra would rather it be his cock. And she looked startled at that frank assessment.
"Is that clear?" Harry asked
"Yes," Lyra gasped through the disgusting taste.
"Good girl."
And those words made Lyra shiver again.
"Return and be thankful I don't make you walk all the way to the Slytherin Common Room. And you would…because I would tell you too."
She would have rather had those beans than what Potter made her eat.
"What happened to you?"
That was Pansy's overly cheerful greeting.
"Potter made me clean, and made me…eat soap," Lyra grumbled. "Because, I said a certain word against his mother."
"Mmm, yes, that would do it," Daphne said nonchalantly. "Well, there's still time for you to throw off the curse."
"I hope it wasn't Lifebuoy, I hear that stuff can make you go blind," Tracey said, while not looking up from her book. "Oh well."
"Potter put you under again," Pansy said. "You'll never catch me getting controlled by some half blood."
"Fine, you want to try and throw off the curse?" Lyra asked. "You're coming with me and Potter's putting you under."
Daphne and Tracey watched the ongoing argument go on
"I didn't…."
"Or, I'll tell your father who you've been sneaking out to see," Lyra said.
"You wouldn't dare!"
"Didn't we already do this?" Tracey asked.
"Likely," Daphne said dryly. "Just let it play."
"Fine, I'll prove that….I'll prove it," Pansy said. "Potter's not going to put me under. No way I'll kneel before a half blood, curse or no curse,"
Suddenly, Blaise Zabini stopped short and looked around.
"Did I walk in on something really stupid?" Blaise asked.
"Yes," Daphne said nonchalantly.
There had been a long pause.
"Fair enough," he said, while shrugging. "Continue, ladies."
And with that, Blaise was gone. And the aftertaste of soap still remained in Lyra Malfoy's mouth.