Chapter 18

The morning was already heavy with mist when Harry shook Ron awake, pulling him out of a warm slumber. "C'mon, Ron," Harry urged, shaking his shoulder harder as Ron groaned into his pillow. "We've got to get to the lake."

Ron buried his face deeper, grumbling. "Mate, seriously. I'm not getting anywhere with this. Miniscule progress, barely worth it. Can't we just—"

Harry shook his head, cutting him off. "Seven years of Hogwarts, Ron. Miniscule progress adds up. You want to keep dragging your ass, or do you want to actually get something out of it?"

With a groan, Ron tossed his blankets aside, feet hitting the cold stone floor as he mumbled under his breath. Begrudgingly, he followed Harry out of the dorm, through the castle, and out into the cool morning air.

They jogged slowly around the Black Lake, deliberately taking the long way to avoid the stares of Hogwarts' ever-watchful female population. Harry kept his head down, but he could feel the weight of those looks, the hunger behind them. Sometimes it was flattering, sometimes it was just exhausting.

Once they reached the far side of the lake, Harry stripped down first, tossing his shirt aside before diving in, the cold water biting at his skin immediately. It was refreshing, sharp, like a slap to the senses. He opened his eyes underwater and immediately froze.

A giant, unblinking eye stared right back at him. Panic surged through his veins, and before he could even think, he was kicking hard, breaking the surface with a loud gasp. Without looking back, he shot out of the water, stumbling into the woods nearby, breathing hard, his heart pounding in his chest.

Ron, still struggling to get his shirt off, caught up to him slowly. "Harry? What the hell, mate? What happened?"

Harry leaned against a tree, sucking in air, eyes wide. "There's a fucking giant eye in there, Ron."

Ron blinked, still out of breath from the jog. "What are you on about? You sure you're not just pulling my leg?" he asked, confused. He glanced at the calm lake. "Come on, you've got to be messing with me."

Harry shook his head vigorously. "I'm not. Look for yourself."

Still skeptical, Ron wandered back to the edge, bending over and dipping his head underwater. He stayed under for a few seconds before yanking himself back, stumbling away from the water. His face had gone pale.

"You—were swimming with that?" Ron asked, his voice shaking. "That—that thing down there?"

Harry nodded silently, still trying to catch his breath. "Yeah. The giant squid. I've been swimming with that."

Ron looked horrified, mumbling to himself, "Maybe that's the thing that tickled my feet that one time."

Just then, a voice called out, making both boys jump in surprise. "There you two are!"

They turned to see Hermione standing under a tree, arms crossed, looking somewhat exasperated. "I couldn't find you by the dorms or the usual spot. Thought you'd disappeared."

Ron, still rattled from the squid, waved her off. "Why are you looking for us this early, anyway?"

Hermione shifted, a light blush creeping up her cheeks. Before she could answer, Harry grinned, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Hermione, don't tell me you've been watching us every morning."

That blush deepened instantly, and Hermione averted her eyes. Ron, oblivious, laughed and said, "You jealous we're enjoying ourselves, Hermione? You can join if you want."

Harry snorted at Ron's cluelessness, and he and Hermione exchanged a look. "Hermione likes seeing us without our shirts, mate," Harry said, teasing. "Gets her all worked up."

Ron frowned, still not quite following. "Why? What's that do?"

Hermione, now beet red, mumbled, "It just… makes me feel good, alright? Seeing you guys like that."

Ron shrugged, still confused by the whole thing. "Well, if it makes you feel good, you should just join us."

Harry shot her a grin. "Yeah, Hermione, why don't you join us in the water?"

She bit her lip, looking flustered. "I'm not… I'm not wearing anything under this."

Harry's grin widened. "Even better."

She hesitated for only a moment before starting to pull off her clothes, her eyes flicking nervously between the two boys. When she was finally down to nothing, she stepped gingerly toward the water, dipping a toe in.

Ron, not having any of it, splashed her with a handful of cold water, laughing when she gasped in shock. "Oh, come on, Hermione! It's not that bad!"

She retaliated immediately, splashing Ron back, and soon the three of them were caught in a flurry of cold water, laughing and shoving each other as they splashed and kicked, the chill forgotten in the chaos. Harry, caught between Ron's splashes and Hermione's shrieks, couldn't stop the grin from spreading across his face. But as they played, he felt a shift in his briefs, and with a sly glance at Ron, he tugged them off, tossing them onto a nearby rock.

Ron, noticing, shrugged and did the same, leaving the two of them stark naked in the lake while Hermione floated blissfully on her back, eyes closed, soaking in the sunlight.

Harry and Ron exchanged a silent nod before they struck. "Hermione, hold your breath!" Harry yelled, and before she could even react, Harry grabbed her by the breasts, pulling her under, while Ron took hold of her legs.

Underwater, Harry pressed his lips to hers, giving her a breath before pulling back and watching as Ron, still unsure, leaned in and gave her a kiss of his own. Harry grinned under the water. Good on you, Ron.

When they finally surfaced, Hermione broke out gasping, spluttering at Ron, "You prat!" She shoved him playfully, but the smile on her face gave her away. Harry chuckled, watching as they bickered good-naturedly before he climbed onto the warm rock and sat, letting the sun dry him off as they swam back to join him.

Sitting together on the rock, the sun drying their skin, Harry shifted back into serious mode. "Alright, time for the real reason we're here," he said, motioning for them to close their eyes.

As the three of them sat quietly, legs dangling into the cold water, Harry focused. The chill numbed his senses, clearing his mind as he reached inward, feeling for the magic he'd brushed against before. The air around them shifted subtly, and Harry felt the familiar warmth of magic mixing with the natural cold. He pushed, just a little, and the wind warmed for a brief second.

He opened his eyes to see Hermione's eyes already open, confusion on her face. "What was that?" she asked quietly.

Harry smiled. "That's what magic feels like."

Ron was still sitting with his eyes closed, focusing, oblivious to the conversation happening beside him. Harry glanced at him before standing, gesturing for Hermione to lie back on the rock. She looked up at him, her eyes burning with hunger.

He didn't waste time. Spitting into his hand, he slicked himself up, then leaned down to kiss her, his hands roaming over her body as she sighed beneath him. He rubbed her, teasing her entrance, before pulling back slightly. "Don't make a sound," he whispered, his voice low. "We don't want to distract Ron."

Hermione nodded, biting her lip as Harry stood up, slipping a finger inside her, hooking it to pull her toward the water. She followed him, the cold biting at her skin as they waded to the far side of the lake, where a giant rock wall rose above them. Harry pressed her against the wall, her back flat against the heated stone as he slid inside her.

The warmth of her entrance pushed away the cold, and it didn't take long before he was moving inside her, his hands pinning hers above her head as he fucked her hard against the rock. Hermione's breath came in short, quiet gasps, her body writhing beneath him as he thrust deep, rough. When he came, it was quick, his release spilling into her with one last sharp thrust.

Once it was done, he pulled back, panting slightly, watching as Hermione caught her breath. "How was it?" he asked, a grin tugging at his lips.

Hermione frowned, shifting against the rock. "It was… not great," she admitted, her voice low. "The rock's too hot, and the water was freezing."

Harry chuckled sheepishly. "Wanted to try something new, I guess."

She laughed, brushing it off. "At least I came once."

Harry grinned. "I'll make it up to you somehow."

Hermione smirked, reaching down to grab his softening member, giving it a teasing squeeze. "Maybe this for a few hours will do the trick."

They laughed together, and Harry dressed quickly before heading back to Ron, who was still sitting with his eyes closed. "Where were you two?" Ron asked, his tone curious.

"Just trying something out," Harry replied casually, motioning for Hermione to get dressed. "Didn't want to disturb you."

Ron glanced at Hermione, noticing the trail of white dripping from between her legs. He grinned knowingly. "Did that thing again, didn't you? The one that supposedly feels good?"

Harry smirked but nodded. "How'd you do, Ron? Did you feel it?"

Ron beamed, looking up at Harry. "Yeah, mate. I felt it! The magic, I mean. It was… something else."

Harry clapped him on the back, genuinely pleased. "Good. You're getting it."

Hermione whined from beside them, clearly frustrated. "I didn't feel anything this time."

Ron shrugged. "Didn't get it my first time either. You'll get there."

Harry chuckled, watching the two of them. Another strange day at Hogwarts.The morning was already heavy with mist when Harry shook Ron awake, pulling him out of a warm slumber. "C'mon, Ron," Harry urged, shaking his shoulder harder as Ron groaned into his pillow. "We've got to get to the lake."