The sky was overcast, clouds rolling in and out as they had the whole afternoon. Harry looked over the prodigious chaser shallowly breathing, seemingly in a daze. He felt like an idiot not seeing it before, as suddenly her awkwardness and attention to him made a whole world of sense. His first instinct was to push away, but seeing her like this, he couldn't. The distance to the ground seemed a lot more daunting. Gently guiding her broom with one hand he brought them to firm ground. It had never stood out but she was half a head shorter than him, her insecurity only making it more obvious.
"You're not joking?" he said.
She shook her head and her eyes fluttered. Lifting her gaze, imploring chestnut eyes met his and a needle pierced his chest.
"I thought you and Reg..."
"Reg is nice, smart, but," she laughed nervously, "I thought I'd feel better being with someone else."
"Since-"
"Since you sat at our table. Did you think Lily was the only one?"
Harry's mouth felt dry at the admission, he had never been good with this kind of thing. But he knew he couldn't give her what she wanted.
"Luci, I-"
"I'm no fool you know," she said boldly approaching, "I haven't told anyone yet. After I graduate I'm moving to Germany, there's a world famous herbologist who invited me to research the Black Forest flora. I sent in a collection of essays in during summer break. I'm not going to have my big romantic story, Lily got there ahead of me."
She smiled and took his hand. "But I still want to win the Inter-House Cup, and I want to know what it's like to be kissed by the boy I like. I'm being selfish but I don't care, I don't expect you to say yes."
Harry was not immune to a pretty girl's confession, his whole body was surging with excitement. He had to get out, if he could only see Lily.
"I can't–. I have to go." His feet pulled him back. "I promise we'll win the cup."
-sSsSsSsSs-
Lily sat, fingers thumping on a book about charms when her thinking was interrupted.
"Two sickles!"
She looked up and saw her friend extending a hand.
"I've told you, I'm not indulging your obsession with hair style potions any more." she said going back to her book.
"It's a messenger fee!"
Lily ignored her, knowing it would take seconds for her to crack. Sarah sat beside her.
"It's Harry, he's out there waiting for you."
Lily cocked her head. "Outside the tower?"
Sarah nodded enthusiastically and Lily put away her reading. She was curious, for him to just come near the Gryffindor tower like this was a bit of a breach of social protocol. Her legs felt weak, like hell she would scold him for making such a wonderful mistake.
When she got to the exit she let out a surprised squeal as he took her arm and practically dragged her down the stairs.
"Where are we going?"
His answer was a mischievous smile. This was a new side to Harry, the way he hurriedly made his way down you'd think the world was going to end. It was impossible to stop herself from stupidly grinning at his outburst. He slowed when they got to the stairs above the library, carefully guiding her to their secret lair.
They didn't even make it pas the corridor.
He pressed her body against the cool limestone, his tongue tasting its way up from her neck to her lips. She let out a moan as they met, his begging tongue was enough to reduce her to a horny mess. She decided she liked him in control. When she felt the air against her chest she had to suppress a giggle. Without noticing he had unburdened her of her shirt. Encouraging his effort, she unhooked her bra.
Unwilling to leave her, he lingered on her mouth, slowly pulling away. He took the time to put his glasses inside his robes. With much longing he lowered to her breasts, sending warm pleasure through her body and down her legs. In between them she could feel a wet hotness burning. Fingers combing through his hair, she savored every sensation. It had been way too long. Her legs parted.
He slowed his tongue and ended with a teasing nibble almost sending her to the edge. She felt his breath coming up her bare chest and neck and met his completely unreasonably passionate glare. Lessening his tight grip on her hips, he moved one hand between her legs, feeling raw swollen skin beneath the fabric. She wanted to move closer but one hand was still restricting her freedom. He grinned seeing her helplessness.
A hand flashed like a whip to his face, just strong enough to leave a slight mark. His grin spread further as he released her. She gave him a vindictive look. Bringing her legs together she dropped her wet underwear to her ankles and stepped out of it. For the moment he relinquished, letting her ritualistically unbutton his shirt, sweeping it open with fingers finding taut muscle beneath. She had to pause for a second, there really wasn't enough time in the world for them to screw each other senseless.
She popped his button and lowered the zipper, letting trousers and boxers down his legs. Tasting his lips one more time she didn't have to speak the words, he was already waiting. He lifted her up by the legs, exposing her. With purpose he slid her over his length. Finally. She removed the distance between them pulling, her stomach filled with glee at the ease with which he lifted her, the affection with which he kissed her neck. Lifting her hands over his shoulders, she pressed closely, providing support. She lost herself in their movements and let out a high-pitched moan just for his attention. Her heart jumped as she felt him twitch inside her. She was so close, he must be too.
She pulled on a handful of hair and a moment later felt teeth bite down on her, not quite breaking skin. Her foggy mind barely registered her own shrill cries and her partner's deep groans. She spasmed against him and a moment later felt him tense. They were so incredibly good at this. That was the last thought in her mind as her whole body melted.
He let her down and took a smug look at her being, she did the same. He looked like he had just fallen down a bushy cliff and she probably looked even worse. She liked that they'd marked each other like this and her eyes went to a curve of red staggered lines and dots on her left shoulder. He helped her find and put on her clothes and they took time buttoning on and fixing each other.
Hand in hand they walked over to one of the couches for rest and a drink. They lounged each on an end, her bare feet in his lap.
"Are you going to tell me what that was all about?" she said pushing him with her leg.
He responded by caressing it with his thumb. "I was going crazy thinking about you."
"Uh uh."
"Don't want to lie to you but something made me boil over."
She stopped. "What?"
He rubbed the stubble starting to show on his face. "Luci. Told me she likes me."
"And?" she said mildly threatening.
"And nothing. I just stayed after practice to do some drills with her and she just… blurted it out, out of nowhere. She asked me to kiss her."
Lily sat up, moving her legs down. "Who the bloody hell does she think she is!?"
"Now hold on. It wasn't like that!"
"Like what?"
"I mean it wasn't… She didn't push, she just wanted to tell me, I mean it's weird but."
"Isn't she with Regulus?"
"Kind of."
"Kind of?"
He shifted to be next to her. He never thought she would be that jealous but the sight made his heart warm. "All right let's start over. She's moving to Germany next year and she just asked for a kiss, if we win the Quidditch Cup. She didn't expect me to say yes. She's a good person."
Lily was sitting with her arms crossed, still not wanting to drop her facade of anger. "You better not."
"I wasn't going to, just felt bad for her is all."
She pushed him down into the cushions and branded his lips with a kiss. "Good. Because you're mine, got it?"
He laughed and put his arms around her. "Got it."
"I guess thanking her for the surprise shag is out of the question." she said with a grin.
-sSsSsSsSs-
Lily could hardly keep her attention on transfiguration today. Under her textbook was the arithmantic proof of their new spell, linking blood magic with the sending. She'd checked it with Severus, he seemed convinced, but it was a far cry from charming furniture to change color by mood, or any of the benign magic she had experimented with. Later they would meet up to make sure everyone understood.
That seductress harpy of a quidditch captain had finally given Harry a break. Still, she smiled at the thought. Naught but four pink dots remained of the mark he'd given her last week. Sarah had noticed in the showers, with nothing less than pure shock. But she hadn't said anything, at least to anyone who would talk about it. It was a personal pleasure to Lily that someone else knew about their torrid exchange. And the urge to repeat it was ever present with her.
James had been civil, reasonable even since his apology. "I'll only accept your apology if you apologize to Harry." she had said. And that was that, Lily solves another case. If she wasn't so completely involved she might even give him the time of day. It's not that he had been so repugnant that he was beyond salvation, he was just such an inconsiderate little prat.
Besides that the mystery of the Founders was really starting to gnaw at her. What would they uncover? Dastardly plots against nature? A dragon's treasure? Sarah looked over when she stupidly giggled at her own ridiculous fantasy. But her life certainly had become more fantastical since Harry.
She looked over to Sarah, shrugging. She wondered what would happen if she told her the whole truth. Perhaps he head would explode, seeing as she almost had a stroke every time she would find out something about someone's love life. Hey Sarah, Harry is my time traveling son and we've been shagging every opportunity since Christmas. Or something like that.
She had thought about it, but it never really clicked. Undoubtedly by what she heard she should be feeling some kind of revulsion at the mere suggestion. But it wasn't like that. There was no point in overthinking. She was happy, and he seemed to be enjoying himself as well, the little pervert.
Professor McGonagall dismissed the class. Lily made an excuse about having to do some research to Sarah and made her way to a quiet corner to cast a disillusionment charm. She waited for students to filter out to their after-class activities and carefully went up the Grand Staircase. Stepping past the railing she saw no one there. Giving the password she made her way inside and grabbed a cup, reading over the proof again.
Remus and Severus came in not long after, finally followed by Harry. By the time he got there, Remus had almost finished studying their hard work. He sat down beside her and a few minutes later Remus turned over the paper. He ruffled his hair as he would when he was clueless.
"Just look here. First part you have the left side of the calculation, that's the blood magic. N goes over to A, that's the equivalency. Linked by this statement." She tapped the paper. "Then we have the modifiers, these runes. Now if you simplify. There, that's the new spell."
His eyes were darting over the paper, his finger comparing things. "Thanks for helping, I'm no good at this."
"You're welcome. But you do get it?"
"Just a second."
A few minutes later he was satisfied. It wasn't so much that he would be able to help much in case of a mistake, it was that they agreed they should all at least understand. The Hat had been right about some things, they couldn't afford to be a passing grade.
"So when should we start the ritual?" Remus said.
"Time is of no issue, just as usual the location should bear some significance." Severus answered.
"How about here and now?" Harry said.
"Could go wrong." Lily said.
They all looked at each other. It became clear that none of them were lacking the confidence. Severus went to the west annex and retrieved a brass bowl. Lily conjured four small needles and helped Remus draw the runes onto the table. When they were done, they all stood above it, ready.
At Lily's nod they pricked their thumb, letting blood pool together in the container.
In unison they chanted: "Bond of blood, bond of steel, from our own castles we steal."
Seconds after, theblood in the bowl darkened, turning reflective, and into blue smoke dissipating into nothing. They waited, not sure of the ritual being complete.
"Well, here goes nothing." Lily said, drawing her wand.
"Vacuo Mitto."
A blue light flashed from her wand as they all waited in anticipation.
Hey, hello? Can you hear me?
"Yes, I can. It worked! Went right through my occlumency." Harry said.
"So it works for one person? Let's try each one in turn." Severus said.
They did, and it worked wondrously. They discussed it in depth, with practice it would be better to practice silent casting, as well as try to converse with more than one person. It was all outlined in the spell, and it should work. In theory they could have a full conversation completely telepathically. As the excitement wound down something came to Harry's mind.
"So I was thinking, do we want to prepare for our visit?"
"What do you mean? Like get a map or something?" Remus asked.
"I mean this is a place that has been lost for centuries, who knows what we'll find."
"You mean like a troll guarding a bridge, or a dragon protecting a treasure?"
"Or a basilisk."
"Snakes give me the creeps." Remus said shuddering.
"And dittany, Severus can you brew a poultice?"
He lifted an eyebrow. "You think I could?"
"You can't?"
"No, I have."
"Basically we need to be ready for anything."
"Bit of a tall order." Lily said.
But they agreed it was a good idea, they would have to hit the library on their time off, and see what books in the Unity Dorms would be able to help them. Between practice and study Harry had little time. February 2nd, the day of the match against Ravenclaw, drew nearer.