1 Unexpected Request

Dinner was almost over when Harry felt somebody tapping his shoulder. He turned his head and saw Padma standing behind him.

"I'd like to talk privately with you," she said.

"Alright. Just wait a moment, please." Harry took a napkin and wiped his lips of any remains of the meal. He then placed it back on the table and stood up. "I'll join you in the common room as soon as I finish," he said to Ron and Hermione. Ron didn't seem to notice, being too busy eating. Hermione only nodded.

They found an empty classroom and went in. Harry noticed that Padma cast some privacy and silencing charms on the door and on the room. He wondered what she wanted to talk about, as they had never been too close, although she and Parvati had been Ron's date and his during the Yule Ball. He knew she had been quite disappointed then. She had joined the DA the previous year, proving to be very talented, almost as much as Hermione. Still, he could see no reason why she suddenly needed to talk with him in private.

Once she was satisfied that their privacy was assured, Padma sat down at his side, looking quite nervous. Harry was surprised to notice how different she was from Parvati – her identical twin. While they looked almost the same, they acted very differently.

"What do you need to talk with me about?" he asked after noticing that Padma was too unsure of herself to start talking.

Padma took a deep breath. "I want you to take my virginity," she said quickly, as if fearing of losing her courage mid-sentence, her face reddening.

Harry knew what it meant. With all the talking about girls that he had heard in the boys' dorms, there was no chance he wouldn't know. Still, it was too unreal. Did Padma really ask THAT from him?

"I'm not sure I heard you correctly," he said.

Padma covered her face with her hands. "It's so embarrassing!" she mumbled into her hands. She then took another deep breath and uncovered her face before talking.

"I need to lose my virginity before the summer vacation. There's an old Indian wizard who wants to buy me for a wife and the only way I can escape this is to become 'used goods' before he comes to close the deal." She covered her face again in embarrassment.

Harry frowned. The mere idea of selling a girl to become a wife was infuriating, yet he knew it was still practiced among many purebloods, sometime even against their better judgment due to financial problems. It was futile for a sixteen-years boy to try and change it. Yet he wondered. Padma was a very beautiful and attractive girl, just like her sister. He knew Parvati had lost her virginity more than three years earlier, as she didn't mind letting everybody know. Why would Padma need his help? Couldn't she find someone who would be glad to help her, someone she knew better?

"Why me? You could choose any boy at school. None would have refused, I'm sure."

His words seemed to bring Padma's confidence back a bit.

"If I may choose anybody, why not you?" she teased him.

"Well... I don't really have any experience, you should know, and I don't want to disappoint you. Besides, I'm dating Ginny."

She smiled at him. "I have no experience either, so I won't be able to compare. Besides, I already know you are tender and considerate as evidenced at the DA. These qualities are much more important than having previous experience, and I'll help you gain it."

She now frowned. "As for Ginny – it doesn't look like real love to me. I think that's only potion induced love. Would you like me to check?"

Harry didn't want to believe that his love for Ginny was not true love, yet if others suspected, maybe it was prudent to check it?

"Yes, why not. Can you do it now?"

Padma seemed undecided. "The spell makes your front glow different colors, depending on the potions it detects. To see the glow, you need to take off your robes and your shirt."

Harry looked around. The classroom they were currently in was on a well-used corridor. Despite the privacy charms, it was quite possible that someone would come in and find them. They shouldn't be found in any compromising situation.

"So, we can't do it here," he said, understanding her hesitation. He thought briefly and smiled. "I have the first Quidditch practice tomorrow. I usually take off my shirt as soon as I dismount my broom. You can be there and it won't look suspicious."

Padma smiled. "I'll be there. Now, what about my request?"

"I can't really refuse. Hermione calls it my 'saving people' tendency. I think we should check for the potion first, though, before doing anything else."

Padma seemed relieved. "Fine. I'll be at the pitch tomorrow. I trust you not to tell anyone, not even my sister."

"I won't tell anybody."

/\/\/\/\/\

"What did she want?" Hermione asked him as soon as he arrived to the common room.

"It was private. I promised not to tell." He knew Hermione didn't like not knowing something, especially something concerning her friends, yet he had to refuse.

"Oh, you promised..." she said, looking deflated.

"What have you and Ron done while I wasn't here?" he asked.

She turned sad, making him regret his question. "We quarreled. Again. He just refuses to listen to logic! It's so frustrating!"

He felt like asking, 'Why do you insist on being with him?' but thought better of it. Besides, if Padma would find he was doped, this could mean Hermione was as well. As much as him falling in love with Ginny seemed out of character to some, Hermione falling in love with Ron was much more suspicious.

Instead, he asked, "Where's Ginny?"

"She felt tired and retired early. I think I'll follow her example. Good night, Harry." Hermione smiled as she greeted him and turned to the stairs.

"Goodnight," he said, looking at her retreating figure. He thought she looked quite shapely, really.

/\/\/\/\/\

The next afternoon was quite warm. By the time Harry finished the Quidditch practice, he was all sweaty. This was reason enough to take off his shirt the moment he was on solid ground. Ginny landed near him. "We both stink. I'm going to take a shower. I suggest you do the same."

Harry nodded and watched Ginny walking to the changing room. He then heard, "Potter!"

Turning around he saw Padma approaching. "It will be quick," she promised. "You really need a shower, although I find your scent quite nice."

She took his hand and led him behind the broom shed. A quick cast later he saw his torso glow blue with some red surrounding it. Padma frowned at the sight.

"Blue is Amortentia. Red normally signifies a loyalty potion, but I'm not sure what the combination means. I'll have to check it in the book." She canceled the spell then lifted her head and pecked a quick kiss on Harry's lips. "Now, go shower, before your girlfriend finds out."

Ginny grabbed his arm possessively as soon as he came out, leading him back to the Gryffindor tower. "What did Padma want?" she asked.

Harry wondered how she knew. "She had a question about DADA homework," he said, not liking her nosiness. He felt like he was starting not to like a lot about her.

"Well, you really are the best at that," Ginny said.

She wanted to cuddle with him once they arrived at the common room. Harry obliged for a short while. Even though he started doubting his feelings, cuddling with a beautiful and shapely redhead was still very nice.

He then excused himself. "I have some homework to finish and I'm really tired."

This gave him an excuse to sit with Hermione for a while. He wondered if her feelings for Ron were also created by a potion. He wanted to tell her about the potion test but didn't want to reveal too much yet, especially if she was also dosed. Instead, he tried to appeal to her protective nature.

"You know, with all that had happened, I'm quite worried somebody would find a way to sneak a poison or some other potion into my food or drink. Come to think of it – you and Ron are almost in the same position, being my closest friends. Isn't there a way to detect a potion in one's food or drink?"

Hermione frowned in concentration, the way he always found adorable. "I think I saw something in a book. I only skimmed over it as it didn't seem important at the time. I'll check it in the library tomorrow."

"Thank you," he said softly, turning to his homework. It was already done, actually, but he needed an excuse for Ginny. Besides, it never hurt to read and check it over at least once.

Due to Hermione having different classes, Harry didn't see her until lunch. She was sitting between Lavender and Parvati, which Harry found unusual, yet she waved him over to join them, forcing Ron to either sit somewhere else or at Lavender's side, but not near either Harry or her. Harry didn't mind, though. He didn't really like to listen to Parvati's endless chatter, yet she provided just as nice a view as Padma, and Lavender was quite an eye-candy as well, although he thought Hermione was the best. Pity she was dating Ron.

As soon as she finished eating, Hermione grabbed Harry's arm. "Come, I found something interesting at the library. Ron, will you join me as well?"

"No. You know I can't stand the library," came the expected reply from a mouth full of food.

"Well, see you later. Come, Harry!"

Soon after leaving the Great Hall, Hermione shoved Harry into an empty classroom and secured the door. "Take your robe off and expose your chest," she ordered.

Harry thought he knew what would come next.

Hermione cast a spell and Harry's torso started glowing blue with red fringes. Hermione gasped. "You are under both love and loyalty potions, I wonder if both are administered by the same person."

She then cast "finite" to end the glow. "I want you to cast that spell on me now." She wrote down the spell and demonstrated the pronunciation a few times. "No wand movement necessary. Just point it at my chest or my stomach."

As Harry turned his eyes to her, he found that she had already removed her robes and unbuttoned her blouse, revealing her bra-less breasts. His eyes bulged out at the view, but Hermione urged him. "Harry, you'll get to see them later, if you like, but now cast the spell!"

He forcefully moved his eyes away, took a few calming breathes, studied the spell and then turned back to Hermione, trying to look only at her face. Soon enough, Hermione was glowing blue, but no fringes. She looked at herself appalled, saying nothing.

"I didn't expect you not to wear..." he started hesitantly.

"Why? Didn't you like the view?" she asked teasingly. His comment seemed to shift her mood.

"Oh, I liked it very much. I only thought all girls..."

"I don't like wearing a bra. I feel confined in it. Besides, my breasts are not so big and don't need support yet. Maybe if they grow larger or heavier I'll change my mind. Do you think I need it?" Her blouse was still open for him to freely examine the view.

Harry blushed. "No. They're perfect. I really enjoy seeing them the way they are."

"Good!" she said, finally buttoning her blouse.

Harry was still confused, though. "Why did you say you'll let me watch them later?"

She sighed. "I've already cast that spell on myself in the bathroom. I only wanted to both verify it and make you know without telling you. I also thought about who I liked best before being affected by the potion. It was you, so I thought to compensate us both for the time lost, at least symbolically."

Please Review!