Harry sat perfectly still on the ritual altar in the center of the chamber, his legs crossed beneath him and his eyes closed in deep concentration. The stone beneath him felt warm from the lingering traces of magic, and his breathing came slow and even.
Inside his mindscape, time stretched out in ways that made no sense here in the real world. What felt like hours or even days to him passed in mere seconds or minutes for everyone else. The air around the altar hummed faintly with residual power from their carnal rituals, casting soft golden flickers across the ancient walls.
Hermione, Daphne, and Susan clustered together at a large table they had dragged into the corner, their heads bent over maps and lists of potential targets. Hermione traced a finger along a line of wards on one parchment while Daphne pointed out a weak spot with a sharp quill mark. Susan nodded along, adding notes in her neat handwriting about patrol patterns they had observed. Their voices stayed low as they planned the next offensive push.
Celeste lounged on a cushioned chair closer to the altar, her long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. She wore one of her usual barely-there crimson slips that clung to every curve, the fabric thin enough to show the outline of her nipples whenever she shifted. Her eyes stayed fixed on Harry with a soft, possessive smile playing on her lips.
Tonks leaned against the wall not far from her, her arms folded, watching the whole scene with raised eyebrows while Fleur sat a bit away on an cushioned bench, her posture straight but her gaze locked on Harry and the altar, a faint flush coloring her cheeks.
Tonks let out a breath as she shifted her weight. “Here he goes again. Bloody hell, look at him sitting there like he’s meditating on the meaning of life. I know time passes different in there for him, but how does something like this even work? One minute he’s casting spells like he means to destroy the place and the next he’s out for what feels like five minutes but comes back talking about months inside his own head. Magic like that messes with my brain just thinking about it.”
Celeste turned her head toward Tonks with a lazy grin. “It’s a fascinating bit of business, isn’t it? The mindscape forms when the ritual magic surges strong enough to pull his consciousness deep inward. Whenever we have sex, it raises all that power, mixes it with the protective spells already wrapped around his soul, and boom. He can use it to get into a personal realm built from his memories and essence. Time dilates because inside there, his mind processes everything without the limits of a physical body. No hunger, no need for sleep in the same way. He can learn, explore, confront the Horcrux fragment, and strengthen the bonds holding it down. It’s like his soul takes a long holiday while his body rests right here on the altar. The first time it happened by accident during our initial ritual. The magic connected with that thing inside him and dragged him under. Now he goes in on purpose sometimes, especially when we need to check the condition of the bindings on the piece of that vile cretin’s soul.”
Tonks grinned widely, her hair flickering from pink to blue at the tips. “Sounds mental. In a good way though. So all that power from you riding him or whatever just flips a switch and sends him on a spirit journey? Wicked.”
Fleur bit her lip as she stared at Harry, her eyes tracing the way his chest rose and fell steadily. The altar looked so solid under him, the same place where things had gotten so intense so many times before. She did not say anything, but her fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
Over at the table, Hermione glanced up briefly from her maps and murmured something to Daphne about adjusting the timing for a scouting run. Susan added a quick comment about reinforcements, and the three of them dove back in, their conversation going on in the background.
Fleur said, her voice soft. “Tell me more about this ritual, Celeste. How it all works and everything.”
Celeste’s grin widened, turning predatory, her eyes glinting. She rose from the chair smoothly, her hips swaying as she crossed the short distance to Fleur. The succubus moved sinfully, every step sensual, the hem of her slip riding up her thighs. She came to a stop right behind Fleur, who remained focused on Harry, and placed her hands gently on Fleur’s shoulders, her palms warm and soft. A pulse of her magic flowed out immediately, a soothing wave that sank into Fleur’s muscles and eased the tension there. It felt like a gentle caress along the skin, relaxing and inviting at the same time.
Fleur shivered lightly under the touch, her breath catching.
Celeste leaned down, her lips brushing close to Fleur’s ear as she whispered hotly, “Curious, are you? Or is there something more at play here, beautiful? I can feel how your body reacts every time you look at him.”
Tonks watched the display with a clear glint in her eyes, her grin sharpening as she tilted her head to take it all in.
Fleur’s voice came out in a whisper. “I want to know the mechanism behind it. That’s all.”
Celeste smirked against her ear, her fingers kneading Fleur’s shoulders with slow, gentle pressure while more of that relaxing magic poured through. “What do you feel in this room right now, Fleur? Or better yet, what does the Veela in you feel? Be honest with me.”
Fleur visibly shivered again, her body leaning back just a little into Celeste’s touch. “It has been overwhelming ever since I arrived at this property. The energies here pull at me constantly. But in this ritual chamber, it is something else entirely. It’s like... “
Celeste cut her off smoothly, her voice a low purr. “Like a poor wanderer who has been stranded in the desert for far too long has finally found an oasis. Right?”
Fleur gave a shaky nod, her eyes still fixed on Harry. “Yes. Exactly that.”
Celeste kept her hands moving, sliding them down Fleur’s arms in a slow caress as she continued to feed that calming yet arousing magic into her. “That is precisely what I expected you to feel. Veela are creatures of deep passion and desire, Fleur. Your senses stay active, always searching for a mate who can truly satisfy and complete you. It’s both a wonderful gift and a heavy curse. Once that bond forms, it lasts for life. Nothing can break it. But until then, the need keeps building. It can push you toward the wrong person in desperation, or lead to other choices like seeking relief in ways that leave you empty afterward. Many Veela end up in those situations, you know.”
Fleur agreed quietly, her tone carrying a touch of resignation. “It’s exactly what has given Veela women that stereotypical reputation across the globe. People assume we are all like that, always chasing pleasure.”
Celeste hummed sympathetically, her breath warm against Fleur’s neck. She squeezed Fleur’s arms gently. “You made the same mistake yourself, didn’t you? Your Veela side grew so desperate that you chose someone you thought could be your mate. But he could never truly be that for you, and in the heat of it all, you could not see clearly. You have paid the price for it since.”
Fleur closed her eyes for a moment, recognizing the truth in those words. Tonks reached out from where she stood and gave Fleur’s shoulder a supportive squeeze, her expression softening with understanding.
Celeste kept her voice gentle but firm. “You are fortunate to have escaped that situation so soon. Many Veela women never get out. They live miserably year after year, or things turn violent and they end the man themselves. It happens more than people admit.”
Fleur murmured, “That is another reason why my kind is looked down upon. Many consider us dark creatures because of stories like that.”
Celeste scoffed softly, her hands still working their magic on Fleur’s arms. “Don’t pay any mind to fools who say such things. They fear what they don’t understand. Getting back to the point though.” Her tone shifted, growing hotter and more intimate as she leaned in closer again. “What do you think of my Master, Fleur? Be truthful. I see how you watch him.”
Fleur’s eyes widened a bit at the direct question. Tonks’s eyes widened too, but she stayed quiet, watching intently.
“What are you getting at, exactly?”
Celeste smirked as she continued without missing a beat, her words dripping with heat. “It must hit you hard as a veela when you sense him pleasuring me, Daphne, or Hermione. The way the air thickens with our shared desire, the sounds of skin on skin, or the pure power he brings to it. Your senses pick up every detail. How sensitive it makes you feel, how a deep part of you craves that same treatment, that same intense connection. You felt it strongly the other night, didn’t you? When I was with him and the waves of it washed over you in the sitting room. Your body responded even though you tried to hold back. Thighs pressing together, that flush creeping up your neck, the way your nipples tightened under your clothes. I could sense it all.”
Fleur’s breathing grew heavier, her chest rising and falling noticeably as she sat there under Celeste’s touch. The succubus kept pouring out her magic, making the sensations build in a slow, tempting wave.
“I know it is impossible for your inner veela not to notice his prowess,” Celeste went on, her voice low and seductive. “How capable he is, how virile. He takes what he wants and gives so much pleasure in return. As a creature of lust and passion myself, I can easily recognize when another being like you seeks to bond with him. The pull is there. It calls to you in this chamber especially, where the ritual magic lingers and amplifies everything.”
Fleur’s lips parted, and she breathed out shakily. “I have never felt anything like this before. It’s so strong.”
Celeste let out a soft, understanding sigh, her hands squeezing Fleur’s arms reassuringly. “I know exactly how it feels, darling. It’s overwhelming, is it not? Like standing at the edge of a vast ocean during a storm, the waves crashing against you and pulling you in with irresistible force. Or like a flower that has been closed tight for too long suddenly feeling the sun’s full heat, blooming whether it wants to or not. Your whole body aches with it, your senses lighting up every nerve. The need builds low in your belly and spreads until you can hardly think straight.”
She gave Fleur’s arms one final gentle squeeze before straightening up slightly. “If that is what you and your inner veela both want and recognize in him, maybe the best thing to do is to take it. Claim what calls to you.”
With that, Celeste glanced over at Tonks and gave her a quick wink, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She stepped away from Fleur, her hips swaying as she returned to her chair and sat down again with that satisfied smile.
Tonks stared at Fleur for a long moment before she shifted her gaze to Harry still sitting motionless on the altar. A thoughtful look crossed her face as she processed everything that had just unfolded. Hermione, Daphne, and Susan were still deep in their planning at the table, though Hermione had glanced over once or twice during the exchange, looking curious.
Fleur remained where she stood, breathing a little unsteadily, her eyes drawn back to Harry like she could not help it. It took everything in her power to keep her allure restrained.
Celeste watched her with quiet amusement, crossing her legs and letting her slip ride up a bit higher on her thighs. The seeds had been planted a while ago, and she knew the plant was about to grow. The succubus in her could sense the shift in Fleur’s energy, the way desire and curiosity warred with her usual composure. It was only a matter of time, maybe even hours, before Fleur reached her decision, and it would be interesting to watch.
Tonks finally broke the brief silence with a casual remark. “You alright there, Fleur? That was some heavy stuff Celeste dropped on you.”
Fleur managed a small nod, though her voice came out a bit husky. “I’m fine. Just... thinking.”
Celeste chuckled softly from her seat as she leaned back, content to observe for now. Her role was to guide and tempt where needed, and she had done exactly that. Thinking was good but feeling it was even better.
All this while, Harry stayed completely unaware of it all on the outside, lost in the depths of his mindscape where he continued his work.
xXx
A little while later the air around the altar shifted noticeably. A faint ripple of magic pulsed through the chamber, and Harry stirred. His eyes opened slowly, blinking against the torchlight as he returned to the physical world. He unfolded his legs slowly and carefully, his muscles a bit stiff from sitting so long in one position. The stone felt solid under his hands as he pushed himself up and swung his legs over the edge of the altar. He took a deep breath, feeling the difference in the air compared to the golden garden of his mindscape.
Everyone was waiting for him. The women had gathered closer now, their planning materials set aside for the moment. Hermione stood with her arms crossed lightly, watching him with concern mixed with relief. Daphne leaned against the table, her expression calm but attentive. Celeste smiled warmly from her spot, and Tonks pushed off the wall with a grin. Susan stared at him calmly, her eyes falling on his slightly shaking legs as he got comfortable.
Fleur stayed a step back, her gaze fixed somewhere near the floor rather than meeting his eyes directly. Harry noticed that right away. It puzzled him again, the same way it had been doing lately. Fleur was usually so self-assured, carrying herself with that natural veela confidence. This avoidance felt off.
Daphne spoke first, her voice steady. “How was it in there this time?”
Harry rolled his shoulders to loosen them. “Productive. Really productive. I got a lot of work done sorting through things and preparing for what’s coming.”
Hermione stepped closer, her brow furrowed. “You were in there much longer than last time, Harry. Almost half an hour out here.”
Daphne nodded cautiously. “Yeah. How long did it feel like for you?”
Harry ran a hand through his messy hair as he thought about it. “I don’t know exactly. Time gets fuzzy in there. But a couple of years must have easily passed. Maybe more. It’s hard to keep perfect track when you are exploring every corner of your own head.”
Hermione grew visibly concerned, her eyes widening. “Years? Harry, is spending that much time in your own mind healthy? That sounds like it could mess with you in ways we don’t even understand yet.”
The others showed similar worry on their faces. Susan frowned slightly, and even Tonks looked a bit more serious. Fleur glanced up for just a second before looking away again. Harry saw it all and raised his hands in a reassuring gesture.
“I get why you’re all worried. It would freak me out too if it was one of you. But I’m fine. Really. I don’t plan on going back anymore anyway. I feel like I’ve gotten capable enough during those years in there to do much better than I have been doing so far in this war. The extra time let me work through a lot. Made things clearer.”
Celeste stood up smoothly and came over to him. She leaned provocatively against his side, her body pressing in close with that familiar heat. Her slip shifted against her curves as she did it, one hand resting on his chest. “You’ve been doing better than anyone else already, Master. Now it will only get better. You should see the confidence in yourself. It suits you.”
Harry chuckled warmly. He wrapped an arm around her waist and squeezed her gently, pulling her in a bit more. Her presence felt relaxing after the long stretch in his mind. He met her lips in a gentle kiss, and Celeste hummed softly into it, her fingers tracing a light pattern on his shirt.
The others stared, especially Fleur who felt a familiar sensation once again. They pull away after a moment, and Susan spoke up, her curiosity clear. “How does the time spent in your mindscape really work in terms of time itself? Does your body age differently or something?”
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment as he considered the question. He kept his arm around Celeste while he answered. “I don’t look older, if that is what you are asking. My body ages based on the actual time that has passed out here. But mentally, I do feel more mature. It’s as if my mind ages based on the total time, including how long I was active in the mindscape. The body stays on normal time but the mind catches up with everything experienced inside. It’s a paradoxical situation. Fascinating in a weird way, but yeah.”
Tonks let out a low whistle. “So that means you’re mentally older than your physical age now. Interesting.”
Harry concurred with a nod. “Pretty much.”
Tonks smirked at that, her expression turning playful in a way that made her eyes sparkle. Harry caught it and raised an eyebrow. “What’s that about?”
She shook her head with the same smirk still in place. “Nothing. Just noting that little fact.”
Harry did not push her on it. He knew Tonks well enough by now to recognize when she had something on her mind but was not ready to spill it yet. Instead, he looked around at the group. “Have you lot decided on our next course of action while I was under?”
Daphne, Hermione, and Susan exchanged a quick look with each other. But before any of them could speak up, Tonks jumped in. “Actually, I want to have a talk with Fleur and Celeste.”
That surprised them all. Harry blinked. “Okay. If you need to talk to them in private, that is fine.”
Tonks nodded. “Yeah, private would be good.”
Celeste glanced over at Tonks, and Tonks gazed back at her with a slight quirk of her lips. Celeste smirked in return, that predatory edge showing again. She addressed the group smoothly. “We can talk upstairs while the rest of you go over the plans down here. Sound good?”
Harry glanced between the two of them for a second. Something was clearly going on between them, but he decided not to dig into it right now. He shrugged. “Fine by me.”
He turned toward Fleur. She finally glanced up at him properly, and Harry was surprised to see the conflicted look in her eyes. Normally, she carried herself with such poise, always looking graceful. This hesitation was new, and it showed in the slight furrow of her brow and the way she stood. She gave him a small nod before turning to follow Tonks and Celeste out of the chamber. The three of them headed up the stairs, their footsteps fading as they went.
Once they had left, Harry looked at the remaining women. “Any idea what that’s all about?”
They all looked at each other. Hermione raised her shoulders in a small shrug. Susan kept her expression neutral. However, Daphne gave him a small smile. “We’ll all find out soon enough, I am sure.”
Harry nodded. He was not the type to push when people needed space. “Alright then.” He joined them at the table and gestured to the maps. “Tell me about the plans. What do we need to do next?”
Hermione pulled one of the larger parchments closer so he could see it better. “We narrowed it down to a couple of strong possibilities. This one here looks promising because the wards are weaker on the eastern side.”
Daphne pointed out several marks she had made. “We could use that to our advantage. Susan and I worked out a few approaches that should let us hit hard without spreading ourselves too thin.”
Susan nodded. “Timing is key. We need to make sure we draw some of their forces away first so the main target is not as heavily guarded.”
“Same as last time, then. Would be risky, right? They’d expect something like that.” Harry noted.
“Exactly,” Daphne replied. “It would be more challenging than the previous one.”
Harry nodded, his mind already turning over the details. The years he had spent in the mindscape had sharpened his tactical thinking. He asked questions, suggested adjustments, and felt that new confidence settling in his chest. The women responded well, building on his ideas and refining the plan together.
As they talked, Harry couldn’t help but wonder briefly about what was happening upstairs with Tonks, Fleur, and Celeste. But he pushed the thought aside for now. They would share when they were ready. Right now, the priority was making sure their next move counted. The war waited for no one, and they had come too far to hesitate.
xXx
Celeste led the way upstairs with her usual sensual grace, her hips swaying in that slip of a dress. Tonks walked beside Fleur, occasionally bumping her shoulder lightly in a friendly way. Fleur stayed quiet, her mind clearly racing after everything Celeste had said earlier down in the chamber. The manor halls felt warmer than usual, or maybe that was just the lingering effect of the conversation still buzzing through her.
They reached a comfortable sitting room on the upper floor. Celeste settled into a plush armchair in the upstairs sitting room, crossing her legs so her slip rode up her smooth thighs. She looked between Tonks and Fleur with that ever-present sensual smile. “So, what is on your mind, Tonks? And how can we help our dear Fleur here?”
Tonks smirked, leaning back against the wall with her arms folded loosely. She turned her gaze to Fleur, her eyes warm but direct. “Are you finally ready to take Celeste’s advice? Or do you want to keep torturing yourself like this?”
Fleur took a deep breath, her shoulders rising and falling as she gathered herself. She met Tonks’s eyes first before she glanced at Celeste. The words started coming out slowly at first, but then they picked up speed, like a dam breaking after holding back for too long.
“I feel it all the time. Every time Harry is with one of you. The veela picks up on it immediately. My body responds whether I want it to or not. I hear the sounds, the way he takes control, the pleasure in all your voices, and it stirs something deep inside,” she said. “The veela recognizes him as strong, capable, a true mate who could satisfy that constant pull. And it’s not just physical. I feel drawn to him as a person too. The way he protects everyone, the growth I’ve seen in him during this war. It’s been building since I got here, and being in that ritual chamber only made it stronger.”
Celeste nodded in complete understanding.
“I tried to push it down, telling myself it was just the energies or the stress of everything. But it’s more than that. Before this, I’d started to think maybe I’d never feel truly wanted again. Not after how things ended with William.”
Tonks listened closely, nodding along without interrupting. Her own expression softened as memories flickered across her face. When Fleur finished, Tonks gave her a supportive smile, though her voice carried a touch of her own past pain.
“It’s good that you’ve finally accepted it to yourself. Holding that in can’t be easy, especially with a veela screaming at you.”
Celeste leaned forward slightly, her expression turning serious for a moment despite the sensuality. She reached out and gave Fleur’s hand a gentle squeeze, her touch warm and lingering just enough to send a faint pulse of comforting magic through her.
“After what you’ve gone through, you deserve to find happiness too. The coldness that settled in, the way you started pulling away from parts of yourself just to survive... I see it. You don’t have to carry that anymore. There is no one else more capable of giving you that kind of happiness than my dear Master. He has this way of lighting a fire in people without even trying.”
Fleur’s eyes glistened for a moment as she considered the words. She gave a small, grateful nod, her usual poise cracking just enough to show the vulnerability underneath.
Celeste nodded back before her expression turned more serious. “Killing Death Eaters and snatchers is all well and good, but destroying that soul piece is even more important. That abomination has tainted my Master for far too long.”
“Exactly,” Tonks added. “Our focus should stay on that too. The ritual needs seven different women. So far Harry has done it with three. We need to keep moving forward with it.”
Fleur caught on quickly, and she gave them a small, knowing smile. “I feel like I know where this is going.”
Tonks and Celeste both smirked at that, and Fleur took another steadying breath before she gave them a resolute nod. “I want to do it. And it’s not just because of the ritual. I want it too, what you all have with Harry. I’ve never felt anything like this pull for anyone in my life. The emotions hit so intensely whenever Harry is with someone else. I believe you, Celeste. I think Harry really is my bond mate. For the first time in years, I feel hopeful instead of just... empty.”
Celeste nodded smugly, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction, though a playful, lustful glint crept back in as she shifted in her chair. “I can sense these things, darling. My Master is indeed that for you. Your veela is practically screaming it from the top of her lungs. Not literally, of course, but the sentiment still holds.” She winked lightly to keep the mood from getting too heavy. “And trust me, once you let yourself feel it fully, that coldness will melt away fast. My Master knows exactly how to warm a woman up.”
Tonks and Fleur both chuckled at the image.
Celeste leaned back in her chair, regarding Fleur for a moment. “So now we have our fourth candidate in you, Fleur. That means three more remain. And with you opening up like this, it feels right for you to be a part of this.”
Tonks shifted her weight, her smirk growing wider as she straightened up. “I might have an idea for the fifth.”
Both Fleur and Celeste looked at her with raised eyebrows. Tonks grinned fully now. “Fleur is not the only one being affected by everything going on here. I have not missed how Harry has changed during this war. He has transformed from that boy we knew into this desirable man that any woman would be lucky to get with. The leadership, the confidence, the way he carries himself now. It’s hard not to notice. After Remus, I thought I was done. It was like part of me shut down. I had lost hope that I would ever feel that spark again. But watching Harry step up... it has stirred things I thought were long gone.”
Fleur asked in a concerned tone, leaning closer. “Are you sure about this, Tonks? Really sure? I don’t want you jumping into something if part of you is still hurting from before.”
Tonks gave her a warm smile and nodded. “I had slight reservations at first, considering I am more than seven years older than him. But Harry is no longer that much younger compared to me in the ways that matter. The war has aged all of us. And after feeling so cold and detached for so long, this feels like a real chance at something good again.”
“Don’t forget the mindscape. The years he spent in there on top of everything else. He’s physically eighteen, but mentally, he is in his early twenties.”
Tonks nodded again. “Yeah. His life has made him mature beyond his years, and the time in his mindscape has only enhanced it. That is why I don’t have any more reservations about being involved with him. I don’t know yet if I want it to remain a permanent fixture between me and Harry like it is for you all. But I want to be a part of the ritual too. I want to help destroy that piece of soul and see where things go from there. It’s been too long since I felt this kind of hope, that I can truly live my life instead of just surviving day to day.”
Celeste smirked, her eyes gleaming as she looked at both women with a mix of compassion and that unmistakable lustful hunger. She stood up gracefully and pulled them both into a quick, warm group hug, her body pressing close in that sensual way she had.
“Once you get with my Master, it’s impossible for you to stay away. Trust me on that. He will chase away those last bits of coldness until all you feel is heat and belonging.”
Fleur and Tonks shared an amused look, the hug leaving them both a little flushed but lighter. Fleur remarked with a chuckle, “Given the sounds I’ve been hearing since arriving here, I don’t think you’re lying either, Celeste.”
Tonks chuckled, but she couldn’t resist a teasing remark. “Careful there, Fleur. Next thing you know you will be moaning his name louder than everyone else combined.”
Fleur retorted with a light laugh, some of her usual confidence returning. “As if you won’t be right there doing the same. I’ve heard how you get when you are excited about something. Besides, after feeling so numb for so long, the idea of letting go like that actually sounds... freeing.”
Celeste gave her a playful smirk in return, her hand lingering on Tonks’s arm for a moment. “Now, is there anything else you two want to talk about? Any more reservations or second thoughts? We can sit with this as long as you need.”
Fleur and Tonks exchanged a glance. Both smiled and shook their heads, the emotional openness leaving them with renewed energy. Celeste rubbed her hands together with clear delight. “It’s going to be so much fun having a veela and a metamorphmagus as part of my Master’s harem.”
Both Tonks and Fleur snorted at that, the former shaking her head with a laugh. “You make it sound like Harry is collecting a collection of rare women to add to his tally.”
Celeste said nothing, just kept that knowing smirk on her face as the three of them stood up and started walking back downstairs together.