Somewhere Safe - Chapter 51

The rest of the day was thankfully dully. He was tired and sore after the duels and after-shower activities. Harry spent the time catching up on assignments. The Ravenclaw contingent, along with Hermione and Miranda, sped the process along. Two things became apparent as they worked through the classwork. One, the group assembled were scary smart. If it wasn't for the innate perfectionism, they could potentially take over the Magical World. Secondly, he had been treating Miranda like Hermione, but they weren't the same person. The longer he spent around them the clearer it became. They truly acted like sisters instead of interdimensional doubles.

It was easy to compare the two of them while they were distracted with coursework. There were just as many similarities as there were differences. Hermione held herself with more confidence than her twin. Miranda had a tendency to raise her voice when people didn't understand something instead of explaining it. It was funny to see Hermione get frustrated with what was basically her in the first year. The longer the study session went on the more it became clear that Miranda was her own person. It made him wonder how different her life had been.

She was Hermione with no real friends. If she stayed the same girl she was in First Year then even the Ravenclaw scholars found her tough be around. He could see the barely hidden annoyed looks they gave her when she was distracted. Hermione was the one who sat closest to her and even then she was slowly scooting away.

"Miranda," Harry called.

The witch in question stopped what she had been doing to look at him. Delphi gave him a thankful look that she would be spared from further conversation, using the term liberally.

"Yes?" She said, setting a stern glare at him.

"What do you like to do for fun?" He asked.

The question ground her train of thought to a halt. Her face went blank for a brief moment.

"What does that have to do with Potion Theory?" Her voice had a tinge of frustration to it.

"Nothing," Harry replied shrugging. "I'm asking about you."

"Oh," she blinked a couple of times at his answer. "Read, I guess."

"What type of books?" Harry asked.

"Non-fiction," she replied a little too quickly.

"Really?" Harry said with a small smile.

"Yes," she narrowed her eyes at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"I was wondering what fiction books you like," Harry said. "Fantasy, science fiction, romance, that kind of thing."

Miranda shot an accusatory glare at Hermione. Her twin answered the silent question with a shake of the head. Miranda relaxed a little before she turned to face Harry once more.

"I do like some fiction," she said. "I have an in-depth set of requirements."

No one could argue that fact. Harry forced himself not to smile. The others at the table went silent at the statement.

"Why?" Miranda asked.

"I wanted to know," Harry replied easily. "Do you want to do something together tomorrow? I know there's a bookstore in Hogsmeade. We could go. You can show me your favorites."

Her cheeks turned a bright red.

"That would be nice," she squeaked. "Excuse me."

Miranda practically knocked over her chair with how fast she stood. The table watched as she fled into one of the bedrooms.

"That was sweet of you," Hermione said giving him a gentle smile.

"I'd like to get to know her more," Harry said shrugging.

~

Unfortunately, Miranda wasn't in many of his classes through the day. She was too focused on the lessons in the few that they did. Harry would have thought she was doing it on purpose, but he had seen the same behavior with Hermione. When she was in study mode there was no way to distract her. At least, nothing that he knew wasn't life threatening.

He did notice that she had taken a bit more care in her appearance. She hadn't put on a bunch of make-up or altered her uniform, instead she pulled her hair into two tails and taken extra care with how her clothes fit. Miranda had added a little make-up but nothing more than usual.

Harry tried his best to be subtle about his observation. He didn't like it when people stared at him like a dancing monkey. So, he put in an effort not to do that to someone else. He kept his glances at her to a minimum, only doing so when it made sense to look her way rather than staring. The coven had taken to sitting together in the classes that they shared which made it a little easier to pay attention to her.

The members of the coven were pressed for free time after lunch break. His classes required his mental focus which left him scant few opportunities to watch her. It wasn't until after Runes that he started to question his approach. He was still treating her like she was the same girl he had known for years. It wasn't fair to her.

Harry thought back to first year and how Hermione was before the troll. He took that mental image, then tried to guide her progress through to present day. It was harder than he thought. This world didn't have the issues the old one suffered from. No Voldemort meant there wasn't a Mirror of Erised, Philosopher's Stone, Basilisk, Dementors, or escaped convicts. If anything, his attempt to cobble how the last few years went. He didn't have a baseline for what a 'normal' school experience meant.

The optimal method to find out about her time at Hogwarts was to ask her. All he had to do was wait until after class. Contrary to what most people thought, he didn't mind waiting. It wasn't something he enjoyed, but he could be patient when needed. Years being in the cupboard under the stairs had taught him how to keep sane while isolated. The assignments helped pass the time too.

Finally, the day of classes drew to a close. Part of the privileges for being on one of the Hogwarts teams was the ability to visit Hogsmeade. The students had to be back by curfew and needed to inform their Head of House, but it was still an awesome perk. Harry rushed back to their room, swapped over to some comfortable clothes, and waited for Miranda in the common area.

Thankfully, punctuality was one of the traits shared between the dimensional twins. She joined him in the common area a few moments later. Like him, she had changed into comfortable clothes rather than stay in the school uniform.

"Are you ready?" Harry asked offering her his hand.

She nodded, took his hand, and blushed bright red. They tried to ignore the fawning looks from the assembled members of the coven. The other witches were treating it like their little sister was going on a first date, which was not far from the truth.

Miranda and Harry shared a few shy glances as they walked through the castle. The school had regular carriages running to the town and back. It helped keep a random assortment of students from lingering along the road as well as sped the trip along.

"Where would you like to go first?" Harry asked once they were in a carriage.

They were early for the rush to Hogsmeade. In about an hour there would be a flood of students heading to the carriages. As it was, they had a private one. Miranda had taken the option to sit across from him rather than beside him. The local businesses were happy for the extra business, even if the restaurants were busier than they had expected. Students were more than happy spending their allowances for food that didn't come from the kitchens. Harry couldn't hold it against them, he was planning on staying out for dinner as well.

"There's a nice little bookstore and café," Miranda spoke softly. "It has a few reading nooks that are nice and cozy." She paused. "Unless you want to go to somewhere other than a bookstore. I know you offered, but we're not obligated to go."

"Miranda," Harry kept his voice even, yet firm. "It sounds nice. Do you go there often?"

"Sometimes," Miranda let out a long breath. "My parents have a summer home in Hogsmeade. A lot of First Generation and Half-Blood witches do. They stay in the Muggle world while school is on, then come here once it's out. It started during the First World War to keep the magical community safe and protect the smaller population against loses they couldn't afford."

"That would mean there's a lot more to it than the places I know," Harry said with a smile. "Would you be my tour guide?"

"Yes," Miranda replied with a solid nod.

"Thank you," Harry said. "Did you attend primary school here?"

"No," Miranda shook her head. "We weren't invited until my magic activated."

"How old were you?" He asked.

"Nine years, two months, and five days," she replied proudly. "I had two years of general education in Hogsmeade before starting at Hogwarts. It's not required, but I begged my parents to attend the summer school sessions."

"What were the subjects?" Harry asked, now legitimately interested. "I didn't think they started teaching magic to kids until they were eleven."

"Technically," Miranda answered easily slipping into her 'tutor' voice. "Pureblood magical families teach their children various magic through their daily lives. The subjects cover recent history, basic domestic charms, and facilitate integration into the new society. Most people don't realize that moving from Muggle to Magical is on par with a foreign country."

Harry let the information settle in silence.

"Sorry," Miranda mumbled.

"For what?" Harry asked.

"People don't like it when I go off on tangents like that," Miranda replied sighing.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know," Harry shrugged. "Does this café have any specials?"

"Yes," Miranda brightened instantly. "Everything they have is amazing, but the scones and the French Roast are the best."

"Coffee instead of tea?" He asked.

"I love tea," Miranda defended. "But coffee has more kick to stay awake for long study sessions."

"What about a Pepper-Upper Potion?" Harry asked.

"They aren't safe to take in large doses," Miranda explained. "No more than three in a day or there are side effects. A couple of cups of coffee with sugar are equal without the issues."

They spent the next hour in the bookstore-café sipping true French Roast coffee while snacking on baked treats. The conversation stayed close to her reading preferences. She absolutely refused to tell him what type of fiction she liked to read. It was tempting to push, but trust would come in time. This wasn't about pestering her or putting her on edge.

Harry decided to steer the conversation to something solid once the topic of books started to run thin.

"Do you want to be part of the coven?" Harry asked.

"What?" Miranda stiffened in her seat.

"The coven," Harry clarified. "Do you want to be part of it? I wanted to make sure. You don't have to if you don't want to. I like you; we could still be friends if you decided to leave."

She went silent for a long moment.

"I want to be here," she said softly.

Harry gave her a gentle smile. He gently took her hand and gave it a little squeeze. The small touch had her blushing again. He intertwined their fingers to keep the connection.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked just as softly.

She nodded. There was a spark in her eyes after a moment.

"Do you want to see my house here?" Miranda asked with a coy smile. "It's an apartment, not a house, but you know what I mean."

"Sure," Harry replied with a smile.

The bill had already been settled. Crowds of students had arrived during their coffee break, which made it hard to continue speaking once they were outside. The café had some sort of sound muffling charms on each booth to allow for unimpeded conversation.

Miranda led him down a side street. The road changed from cobblestone to asphalt once they stepped away from the main thoroughfare. Of all the things in this world, for some reason, seeing the pavement made his head spin. All around them looked like a normal muggle neighborhood that just happened to be a few steps away from Hogsmeade. A row of apartment buildings, none more than three levels, lined either side of the street. Farther down the road he could see townhouses and eventually actual houses with yards. It was like someone took a slice of each type of neighborhood and placed them here beside the others.

"Are you alright?" Miranda asked.

"Yeah," Harry closed his eyes as he spoke. "It's weird."

"I know," Miranda whispered. "It took a while to get used to it."

She led him along the street by the hand. He was able to get his mind back on track after a few moments. It didn't take long for them to reach one of the apartment buildings. The lobby had been expanded, Harry guessed that every room in the place probably was as well. He wouldn't have been surprised if every building in town did too. For some reason, that fact actually helped ground him. Magic was something he expected from Hogsmeade; townhouses and apartment buildings were not.

Miranda led him up the stairs to the second floor. There were doors to more apartments than the building had space. Another bit of magic.

"How many people live here?" Harry asked absently.

"There are fifteen apartments per level," Miranda explained. "But these are mostly seasonal housing. People who live in Hogsmeade full time have regular houses. Regular for the magical world." She paused. "The town triples in population in the summer and longer breaks."

"Wow," Harry muttered.

"Here we are," Miranda said as they came to a stop in front of a door.

She took out a key that he hadn't noticed before and unlocked the door. The room was immaculate with everything in its place. It looked like a magazine rather than somewhere that people actually lived.

"The House Elves have been at it again," Miranda grumbled as they stood in the doorway.

"You don't like them?" Harry asked.

"It feels too much like slavery for me," Miranda sighed. "I know it's not. The fae have their own rules to things, but…"

"I get it," Harry nodded. "It's kind of like the Cobbler and the Elves."

"Hm?" Miranda asked.

"It's a story," Harry replied. "A cobbler is overworked; he has all these shoes he has to make but he just can't keep up. One day, he wakes up to find that all his work is done. Not only that, but the shoes also look amazing. It keeps happening. Every time he leaves a project out overnight, someone finishes it. Eventually, the cobbler finds out that it is elves that are helping him. To say thanks, he sets out a meal for them. They trash the place and leave, never to return." He shrugged. "I think that's how it went."

She thought for a moment then nodded.

"Come on, let me give you a tour," Miranda led him inside.

She led him through the apartment. It had indeed been expanded. Harry found the tour rather interesting. Technology didn't mesh well with Magic, so the community had come up with some alternatives. Windows could swap between different views, a radio had a slot for books which it would then narrate, and the kitchen was magical with a modern aesthetic.

"And this is my room," Miranda stopped in front of a closed door.

There were hand painted patterns along the frame as well as her name in the center. It had already been changed to Miranda. Harry noticed another door from the corner of his eye. This one looked exactly the same, except it had Hermione in the center.

"They made a copy of the original once Hermione decided to stay," she explained. "It was a towel cabinet before."

"They couldn't add a new room?" Harry asked.

"Too taxing on the enchantments," Miranda shook her head as she opened the door. "Want to take a look inside?"

The words hung in the air between them. Harry didn't think he was a genius when it came to witches, but he knew this was a simple invitation. Stepping into this room would advance things to the next level.

"Do you want me to?" Harry asked.

She nodded. Harry flashed her a roguish smile. He swept her off her feet into a princess hold then carried her in like newlyweds. Miranda gasped as he lifted her and giggled all the way to her bed. He set her down, resisting the temptation to toss her among the horde of stuffed animals.

The next few minutes were a blur of sloppy kisses, groping, and hurried undressing. Their rush made the simple moments take longer than necessary. Soon, Harry found himself flat on his back. The mountain of stuffed animals had been relocated to the floor.

Miranda moved between his legs. He was on his back as she began to bite along his thighs. The sharp flashes of pain only enhanced his need for her. She nuzzled his sack before giving each testicle a sloppy kiss. A low moan escaped his lips as she teased his length with the tip of her tongue. She moved from bottom to the top. Her tongue swirled around his crown to catch any pre-cum that she had coaxed from his balls. She flashed a smile. Her head dipped down as she took the head of his cock in her mouth.

Harry moaned as he felt her mouth on his cock. Miranda set a steady pace; each bob of her head dipped a little lower until she took his full length. His hands grasped her hair. She stopped bobbing and sloppily kissed along his length.

Miranda crawled up his body. Her progress was marked by quick bites along his torse. He groaned when she ran her teeth along his nipples. Once she had climbed enough to straddle him, Miranda guided the head of his member to her scorching pussy. She teased the tip with her wetness. Miranda let out a long, shaky moan as she was impaled by Harry cock. She then began riding Harry rotating her hips, grinding them and bouncing up and down.

Harry took an active role and held Miranda’s hips to help with her movements. He watched his handful-sized breasts bouncing as she rode him. It was a shame to ignore them. He sat up and attacked Miranda’s sensitive breasts. His mouth latched to an erect nipple and began sucking. Miranda moaned as she pressed Harry’s head to her chest.

Miranda panted. He switched and attacked Miranda’s other nipple as he used one hand to keep manipulating her abandoned breast. Miranda leaned back to give more of her chest to Harry’s hand and mouth. She screamed as she reached her climax.

Her cunt gripped Harry’s cock tight. He rolled them over as she orgasmed and began pounding away at without letting her get a moment of peace. His hands slid to her lower back. He lifted her hips to reach deeper. Her pussy gripped him tightly. Miranda's pussy squeezed his cock wildly every few strokes. He increased the lengths of his strokes, pulling out slowly before pressing with the same speed back into her.

Her moans shifted to a scream as her body began to buck harder back against him.

He slowed down, fucking her deep and hard as she orgasmed. Her cunt desperately tried to milk his thrusting cock. A long, formless scream erupted from her as pussy clamped down on him. It turned into a rough moan as she spasmed around him again. He gripped her hips, pulling her as close as he could. Harry groaned as he pumped her full of cum. He slowed his thrusts once the last bit of seed was out.

They held each other as they basked in the afterglow.

"I'm glad you're here," Harry said as he pulled her closer.

They settled onto the bed nestled against each other.

"Me too," she whispered in reply.