Socks, Sex and Snitches
(Part 1 by Imogen)
Candlelight flickered gently though the
Great Hall, casting chattering faces in a soft glow of warm light. Harry helped
himself to more treacle sponge pudding and grinned over at Ginny, who was
sitting beside him. The last few weeks had been rather busy, with exams
approaching and the extra Quidditch practises for the last match of the season:
Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Consequently, they had seen very little of each
other, beyond quick encounters in the corridor, or at meal times, and this was
irritating them both. Tonight, however, was going to be different. Harry had
thought of somewhere new where they could go to be alone.
Ginny looked almost radiant in this
light, he reflected, watching her out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't
help smiling at her. Her long red hair reflected the light, different strands
of colour conflicting with one another to shimmer in the light. She was
chatting eagerly to Hermione, waving her hands in the vivacious way she did when
she talked about something which interested her. Harry felt his cheeks heat up
a little as he thought of just where he would like those very hands to go
tonight.
"So what about Quidditch practise?" Ron
said, interrupting his reverie. "Oh, stop drooling over my sister. I want to
keep some dinner down, thank you very much."
"Oi!" Ginny protested, and threw a bread
roll at him. "He can do that all he wants. Anyway, you're one to talk." At
this, Ron turned rather red, and muttered something about passing the custard.
Harry laughed, and shoved the jug across the table.
"Well, I've booked the pitch," he
admitted. "To be honest, I think we've all been training so hard we could do
with a night off. We're flying incredibly well, and it's going to cause all
sorts of problems if we over do it. What do you reckon?"
"A night off sounds good," Ron said,
sneaking a sideways glance at Hermione, and grinning furtively at her.
"You keep that up, and I'll be throwing
rolls at you as well," she chuckled, reaching for his hand. "You can't look at
me like that here."
"Right then," said Harry brightly. "Let's
have the night off." He felt Ginny's hand travel onto his leg, and slowly
caress his thigh. He swallowed awkwardly, feeling the effect as she began to
let her fingers wander in sensuous circles.
At the end of the meal, the four of them
left the dining room together, and clattered noisily up the marble staircase
laughing about an incident in Transfiguration earlier in the day, when Neville
had managed to transfigure himself into a footstool, and couldn't change back
until Seamus sat on him. Neville popped back into his normal shape in sheer
surprise, causing them both to sprawl across the floor in a very ungainly
manner.
"I left my book there," Ginny suddenly
blurted out. "I'd better go and get it."
"I'll come with you," Harry said
instantly, and without a second glance at Ron and Hermione, the pair of them
hurried off up a few floors and along to the Transfiguration corridor.
Nearing their goal, Ginny paused, and
grinned impishly at Harry.
"I lied," she said, giggling
mischievously, and wrapping her arms around him.
"I know," Harry responded, the heat of
desire building in his chest as he stared into her eyes. Lips met with
passionate fire, darkness enveloping them, as they staggered backwards against
the wall, oblivious to the:
"Well, honestly!"
from the outraged portrait immediately
behind them.
"Can we?" Harry asked at length,
breathing unsteady.
"Yes," she whispered, seeking more
kisses, pressing herself up against him in her eagerness. "Tonight. Where shall
we go?"
"Quidditch changing rooms are free,"
Harry grinned wickedly. He nuzzled against her ear. "Why else do you think I
cancelled practise?"
A low moan escaped her as he teased her
earlobe, and trailed kisses downwards.
"I hate to interrupt," a cold voice
suddenly drawled behind them. "Especially when you so obviously need a hotel
room. My, my, things must be getting bad Potter if you're resorting to sleeping
with that."
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry growled
furiously, gripping his wand and Ginny tightly. "Get it out and then get out of
my sight."
"Just wanted to know if you were using
the pitch tonight," he sneered. "You're going to lose anyway, so I don't know
why you're bothering."
"The pitch is booked," Harry said in a
flat, firm voice. "It's all yours tomorrow, so you can teach them how to stay
on their brooms then. Tonight, it belongs to me."
"Well, you've got to have something to
look forward to, I suppose, Potter," Malfoy smirked knowingly, and with a final
insolent appraisal of Ginny, he turned and walked off.
"I could… I could… " Harry began
furiously, and suddenly felt a small hand on his arm.
"Don't let him get to you," she said,
reaching up to kiss him. "He's not worth it. Don't let him spoil this, please."
Harry looked down into her dark brown
eyes, and felt his anger begin to subside instantly. His hand tangled itself
lovingly in the depths of her red hair.
"You take the invisibility cloak," he
said quietly. "No one will be surprised to see me down there if they look."
"I'll meet you down there in half an
hour?" she grinned, and giggled in anticipation.
"You're on," he said cheerfully, feeling
that at long last they may have found a place far enough removed from the
castle to protect them from yet another of those embarrassing interruptions.
