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 The two girls were snuggled together the next morning in the spoon
position, Marietta curling her body around the smaller Hermione, her hand
cupping one of the brunette's mango-sized breasts.  After Marietta had
fucked Hermione to orgasm the night before, the two had rested for awhile,
and then made love again.  And again.  A short nap, and then again, each
filled with an almost insatiable desire for the other's body.  Finally they
had both fallen into an exhausted sleep.

   Given its location in the castle, the Room of Requirement had no
windows, for it did not border on an exterior wall.  But Hogwarts was
Hogwarts, and so the two girls were awakened by the morning sun streaming
through the window curtains.  Hermione stretched luxuriously, her mind
instantly flooded with images of the night's lovemaking.  She liked the
feeling of Marietta's hand on her breast, but wanted to return the favour,
and so she rolled over, looking into Marietta's wide-awake face.  Marietta
greeted her with a smile and a kiss, which Hermione eagerly returned.  Then
suddenly Hermione pulled back.

   "Marietta - you're cured - there's no marks on your face at all!"

   "Yes, Hermione," said Marietta calmly.  "But did you have any doubt? 
After what happened last night?"

   Hermione had to admit that she'd been so taken up in the fun of the
night's activities that she'd forgotten the original purpose of it.  The
two laughed together, and began to kiss again, the exchange growing in
intensity.  Perhaps the kissing would have gone on for hours had they not
by mutual unspoken agreement moved on to other, more interesting
activities.

   Afterwards, showering together, the two girls talked about the various
things they'd done, laughing as they did so, but as they dried themselves
off, Hermione's voice took on a more serious note.

   "Marietta, I don't know how to say this or ask this, but - where does
this leave us?  Do we - can we - see each other again?  Here?"

   "Of course, sweetie," replied Marietta.  "Things might get a bit
complicated, though.  You know how attached Luna is to me.  I would never
want to hurt her, but on the other hand, I will make love to whomever I
want, whenever I want, unless I have specifically agreed otherwise.  I've
been very clear with Luna about that, and even though she knows I have had
lovers over the summer, she make mistakenly think she has exclusive rights
to me at school.  But you don't need to worry about Luna - she will never
know about you and me."

   But Hermione was wondering about something else entirely, and unusually
for the highly articulate girl, she was having trouble expressing herself.
Marietta knew what Hermione was really wanted to express, but was too
polite to say, for fear of giving offence.  Hermione wanted Marietta as a
lover.  But discretely - secretly.

   "Hermione, please don't worry.  I know that you're not ashamed of what
we did.  I know that you're not embarrassed at others knowing that we've
been, or are, lovers.  What you're trying to protect is your love for Ron.
You fear that if he knows about us, you may lose him.  Don't worry
yourself. I know he's the love of your life, and I'm not, nor are you mine.
It's that simple.  So you and I can enjoy each other, and while it can be
hard not to be jealous, we must try.  If, when Ron finally wakes up and
takes you - and that reminds me, you must show me that hymen restoring
charm you told me about last night - you find you no longer can see me,
I'll understand." Hermione felt great relief at this, for the thought that
she might never be able to make love to Marietta again was painful to her.

   The two headed for the door, dressed in their clothes from the night
before.  They donned the invisibility clock, and emerged from the Room of
Requirement.

   Outside were Crabbe, Goyle, Malfoy, and Pansy Parkinson, whose clothes
were somewhat in disarray - perhaps she had been the entertainment during
the boys' long overnight vigil.  How had the four Slytherins had followed
them, Marietta wondered.  After all, they'd used the invisibility cloak the
evening before.  But before she could think more about this, Goyle woke up.

   "Someone's here - the door opened and closed - I heard something!" His
shouts immediately woke the others.

   "Find those two bitches," screamed Malfoy - "They must be using Potter's
cloak!" The four Slytherins ran to and fro in the corridor, arms
outstretched, hoping to make contact with the two girls.

   Hermione was taken completely by surprised, but having survived dueling
with Death Eaters (and even having bested some), she knew she was up to the
challenge.  Her wand was in her hand in an instant.  Marietta was no less
proficient, and in a trice the three boys and Pansy were huddled heaps,
doubly confined by Hermione's paralyzing curse and bound by Marietta's. 
The two girls had not even had to emerge from the cloak, nor had they
uttered a sound, their use of unspoken spells perfect.

   Hermione whispered in Marietta's ear.  "I'm not sure quite what happened
here.  But we'd better find out." Marietta nodded her head in agreement. 
In no time the Room of Requirement was open again, and the need was very
urgent - the two Gryffindors needed a safe, quiet place to get some answers
to some very important questions.  After blindfolding the four Slytherins,
Hermione and Marietta dragged their motionless victims into the room,
closing the door firmly behind them.  Leaving the mischief makers to
themselves, Hermione and Marietta removed the invisibility cloak, and went
to a far corner where they could whisper in safety.

   "They haven't seen us, nor heard us," said Marietta.  "So the don't
really 'know' it's us, even though they must be pretty sure, give what
Malfoy said."

   "I agree," said Hermione.  "And we need to found out what they were
about.  But I have to admit I'm not experienced with memory charms at all -
never tried one before.  How about you?"

   "I'm the same, but you forget, Hermione, what room we're in.  I don't
think we're going to need memory charms to open up the mind of Malfoy or
any of the others."

   Of course, thought Hermione.  They were in the Room of Requirement, and
the room knew their needs - or thought it did.  On the walls were various
sharp instruments.  A brazier burned in the corner, ready to assist their
inquiries by heating implements.  Although the room knew what Hermione and
Marietta needed to do, it did not have any understanding of their
character, and so it was unaware that the nasty, sharp objects and other
torture devices were utterly unsuitable for the two girls.  Ignoring the
rack, the bastinado strap and the cat o'nine tails, Hermione searched
through the shelves and cupboards, looking for something as efficacious but
less brutal to effect their purpose - veritaserum, perhaps.  But no luck.
No potions, nor even ingredients.

   But Hermione was not at a loss.  "Marietta, have you ever heard the
expression, 'the threat is stronger than the execution?' "

   "No," she replied.  "But I think I know what you mean." And so that is
how Malfoy found himself naked and bound to a table.  After tossing a coin,
Marietta was the happy winner, and so she remained under the cloak, there
being only room for one, given the level of activity that was now called
for.  Hermione went to a far corner of the room, where Malfoy would not be
able to see her, although his blindfold was now removed.  Crabbe, Goyle and
Parkinson remained on the floor, paralyzed and unseeing, but able to hear.
Hermione and Marietta had agreed that there was no point questioning those
three - of course Malfoy was the one in charge.

   Malfoy's eyes rolled in terror as he saw a pair of tongs pick up a long,
slim piece of stainless steel, the purpose of which he could only imagine.
He screamed as he saw the instrument float through the air towards him, and
almost cried with relief as it passed by the base of the table on which he
lay.  But when the instrument was placed in the brazier for heating, his
screams renewed and with greater intensity.

   "There now, young Malfoy," he heard a voice speak.  "We haven't even
started yet, and you're practically dead with fear." The voice was odd -
high and cold, like no voice he'd ever heard before.  His father had
described a voice like this, so that he'd recognize it if the occasion ever
came . . .

   "Lord Voldemort!" squeaked a terrified Malfoy.

   Hermione had charmed Marietta's voice very well to disguise it, but it
had never occurred to her that Malfoy would mistake it for that of the most
evil dark wizard in living memory, and she had to struggle not to giggle.

   Marietta didn't miss a beat.

   'Unfortunately for you, Malfoy, I am not all-knowing.  If I were, I
would know why you were outside the Room of Requirement when I came out
this morning.  I would know why you saw fit to wait for me, forcing a
meeting which I had not called for, and which certainly you have not
earned. And so I suppose I will just have to do my best to find out.  If I
can.  I'm not really sure that I can get the truth out of you.  You see,
inside Hogwarts, my powers are sadly somewhat limited - at the moment.  And
so I have to resort to cruder, muggle-inspired methods to learn what I need
to know.  Shall we get started?  Let's see . . .  " The instrument, now
red-hot, floated through the air coming closer.

   "NOOOOO Please Lord Voldemort no I beg you I'll tell you please let me
speak oh please I'll talk I'll tell you everything . . ."

   Hermione had suspected that the mere thought of facing torture would
break Malfoy quickly, but his belief that Voldemort was the author of it
ensured his immediate compliance.

   "Then speak, boy - and quickly.  I don't want to have to re-heat the
stiletto"

   "I saw Marietta walking down the hall - then suddenly she disappeared. I
kept walking, and heard her whispering to someone - I recognized the other
voice - it was that mudblood Granger.  So I followed the whispers and when
I saw them come in here, I got my friends to help me stand watch!"

   "And you did this because . . .  " asked 'Voldemort', in a bored voice.

   "I know they've been up to something - for months they've been wandering
the halls first thing in the morning before everyone's up.  Then something
happened in this Room a while back - I haven't found out what - but the
whole DA was here, and so they must be up to something - I swear - I just
wanted to know . . .  "

   "Surely you have more important things to do, you stupid fool."

   "Yes I know but I just thought . . ."

   "You must stop thinking this instant.  Thinking doesn't seem to be your
strong point, any more than it is your useless father's, don't you agree?"

   "Yes - of course yes you're right sorry I'm really sorry sorry
SORRYYYYY" - Malfoy's voice became a high-pitched shriek as the
needle-sharp, glowing stiletto moved towards his face.  But it stopped
inches away from an eye.

   "I suggest you find something else to do, and stop skulking uselessly
about the castle," said the disembodied voice.  Malfoy was quick to take up
the suggestion.  He assured 'Voldemort' that he'd stick to his own business
from now on.

   "Good," said Marietta.  She had maintained her composure admirably
during this encounter, no where near laughing.  But now, when an wonderful
inspiration hit her, she almost broke down.  It took a minute to compose
herself, and then she reached into a pocket, where she'd slipped one of the
love-making instruments she and Hermione had used to such delight the night
before - she had thought it would come in handy for future lovemaking, but
now it would serve another purpose.

   "I want to make sure of your loyalty, boy.  And you are loyal, are you
not?"

   Malfoy was profuse in his assurances.

   "I am pleased to hear you say so.  But I want to make sure.  Do you see
this, Malfoy?" said Marietta, holding up the long dildo with which she'd
fucked Hermione the night before.  On seeing this Hermione doubled over,
screaming with silent laughter.

   "Y - yes," said a baffled Malfoy, his voice quavering.

   "Every night, after lights out, at precisely midnight, you will insert
this in your anus, and keep it there until dawn.  Do I need to explain what
will be your fate if you disobey me?"

   Malfoy really didn't want to know.  Having to sexually assault himself
nightly was a small price to pay for escaping with his life, and he could
not bear to hear any more - he just wanted to run as quickly as possible
while he-who-must-not-be-named was in the mood to let him go.

   And so 'Voldemort' undid the curses binding Malfoy and the others, after
first having taken a number of strands of hair from each of them.  The four
fled, falling over themselves to escape the presence of the Dark Lord,
their flight audible even after the door slammed shut behind them.  Once
they were truly gone, Hermione and Marietta collapsed in laughter.

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