Chapter Three: Want You So Bad I Can Taste It
Tensions were rising as summers end began to curl around them. Things between the trio only heightened as they realized the last of their childhood had finally passed them by the moment Dumbledoor had fallen from that tower. His limp body mangled into the stone below and his vacant eyes showing the last departing strand of whimsy that may have lingered with them. Time had come for them to pull up their metaphorical bootstraps and embrace the war that was heading towards them faster than a land devastating hurricane. Hermione was back home limbs sprawled out on her bed but the house was empty and the silence was deafening to her spinning mind. This was the big weekend of course for the dental community and her parents had left for a town a few hours north to attend unworried that their daughter was capable and responsible enough to manage on her own. She hadn't let onto them at all the dangerous storm heading their way wanting to let them stay in their much safer world. Just how long could that last though? How long could their blissful ignorance keep them safe from the wizarding world spilling out into their own? The thoughts had plagued her all summer and she knew regretfully what she would have to do before she left for the burrow next week.
It all seemed unreal how could something so overbearing and terrifying be falling on the shoulders of her and so many other young adults? How could something so destructive wipe out the lives of so many others needlessly only because of burgeoning biased hatred? Nothing about it made any rational sense but since when did any war make sense? No matter how people may try she knew they were still faulty creatures who would never overcome their prejudices. Even thinking of the people close to her she might lose to this absurd fight would bow her body over in seizing panic and crocodile tears she couldn't begin to hold back.
Knowing this train of over thinking would get her nowhere she bounced off the bed onto her feet with a new found idea for the evening. She would be getting no sleep tonight anyways with the way things were headed and so she began rummaging through her closet for a suitable outfit. Most of the summer she had spent constantly at her parent's side when they weren't working just having solitaire days of typical house fun and so it wouldn't be a fuss at all in her mind to take a night out to have some real excitement. The bittersweet thought that it could be her last filled her mouth with thick saliva that was almost as hard to swallow as her new reality. Settling on a pair of barley worn bell bottom jeans and a flowing red silk blouse she made her way downstairs to grab her house keys and satchel. At least now with the keys she would have something to idly toy with between her fingers to keep her nervous itching's at bay.
Leaving for a long night in the city made her feel a bit naughty as she never really did anything like this at home. Sure at Hogwarts she had snuck out to the bars and even engaged in late night dormitory parties but her real home was a much different sort of affair. She respected her parents and their trust in her so she kept on her best behavior for them. It was no surprise as such then that they hadn't noticed the change in her that had been taking over. In their eyes she was still their thoughtful diligent daughter who had never had an arbitrary thought in her life. Looking at her choices for the future with them she realized soon it wouldn't matter at all because they wouldn't even remember her existence at all. What would one night that would never be remembered matter then? It was just one more peculiar piece of identity to add to her growing new life.
Walking through the darkening city streets of London perspiration was already gathering down her back and as the hairs on the neck stood up through the slick oil the strange feeling came back to her once more. She almost wished it really was someone watching her and seeing all her dirty little secrets but she knew it was only her muddled panic addled mind playing tricks on her. The thrill of someone seeing right through her like no one before was strangely exciting but she knew ultimately just a fantasy. There was no alluring moon hanging above her tonight, no extra light to shine her way, just the low shine of old auburn street lights. Oddly though the night had become her most comforting friend in a weird way. It never asked anything from her and always wrapped its self around her like a worn in blanket. It concealed who she was in its contorting shadows and kept her secrets self from any true on looking eyes. Safe from all except one whom she wasn't even aware of.
Viewpoint shift
Finding her took him a good while longer than he anticipated but as always he had that one lucky stroke that he needed. Hanging around the city limits all he needed was to spot her on a shopping trip and that's exactly how he found her. A local bookstore had become his favorite spot to pursue and he knew that she was the type to come to this store eventually as he'd seen her time and time again in the bookstores of Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. One particular evening he had stationed himself in a plush oversized chair in the back of the store when the sweet smell of lilac and sandalwood crossed his path. He knew then that she was near and oh by merlin's luck he caught the glimpse of her unmistakable curly hair float past a bookshelf just ahead of him. A leap in his chest and a foretelling drop in his stomach and he knew that there was no turning back this would be his only chance. The month he'd spent waiting seemed like years and years and he missed her sweet haunting presence like a drug that had long left his veins. Upon following her to the small outer limits town she called home he found a nearby motel and made himself a nice place to stay for a while and found himself quiet enjoying the none hectic environment compared to the Wizarding world he was rather used to.
He was short on money and often pickpocketing just to pay for his meals but it was nothing he wasn't used to. The financial risk was well worth it in his skewed new look upon things. It didn't take long for him to notice though that the brewing dark clouds that loomed over the wizarding side of London had not escaped the muggle side at all though. The twisted looming vibrations hung thick in these clouds as well though anyone not attuned to the magical atmospheres wouldn't notice at all. Even being someone experienced with survival and hardship the shivers still dragged up his spine at what was lying ahead for them all.
As she left her home his breath was nearly knocked from his chest seeing her in such an absolutely striking outfit. Not even the darkness could keep the cherry red color from glowing against her form and made it only too easy to follow her into the hectic muggle night club. She settled at the farthest end in a booth all alone and he followed suit in the opposite side to keep his eye on her. Taking in all the people around him he felt a tad more in his element with all the unwashed and more rebelliously dressed folks littering the club. The odd look he had grown so used to seeing on her soothed over her face as she ordered up a beer and sank awkwardly into her seat. For nearly an hour she sat idly in her seat drinking two beers and eyeing the dance floor raking in the view of all the trancing bodies moving in a certain groove. If he hadn't known better he'd almost of assumed the look she was radiating was pure lust and longing at the scene before her. Reaching in her satchel she procured that same black tin he'd observed so many times and slid something out from it and into her mouth before washing it down with her beer. A sick feeling struggled in the pit of his stomach as he'd never actually seen her take anything from the tin before. It had for so long still remained a puzzle with no pieces but now he finally had something to place with it. It couldn't be what he thought it was or could it?
As the minutes passed her posture and general demeanor changed significantly and if he had been closer he knew that he would see a far away look glossing over her eyes. Things were starting to look like they were heading in the direction he never expected to cross with her and it unnerved him incalculably. Chugging off the last of her beer she struggled majorly to get out of her booth and make her way towards the dance floor she'd been questioning all night. As the crowd welcomed her into their sticky saccharine pattern he felt that unwelcomed sense of jealousy writhe inside of him again. The flashing lights and pulsing beat made it hard for him to focus on her as she bobbed and weaved in and out of spots and up and down against other bodies. His head was swimming and he hadn't even had a drink yet but the territorial need was still wiggling about in his limbs causing them to tap angrily before he made what he thought was the next rational step. He popped up from his seat and made a targeted bee line for the dance floor until his eyes locked back onto her.
Several men had inched upon her body and were grinding against her as she indulged just as well in their presence losing herself entirely to the music and the sensations. Watching these men grope their filthy hands all over her body brought a venomous taste to his mouth and his towering form soon emerged behind her giving quite a scare to the other men who quickly scattered back away to any other woman nearby. He had mastered his scowl quiet well and showed just enough teeth to make clear that he was not one to mess around with. Aching for more physical contact she spun around and continued dancing with the nearest person which in this case was him. Fiery hot electricity flayed all his nerves alive as her hands sought contact with his chest and her big doe eyes all glassy and distant looked up at him pleadingly.
"Dance with me please."
Her voice was nearly a haughty whisper and he felt all his confidence falter at the power she was having over him so effortlessly. This was a dangerous game that he was playing but he was already waist deep with no way to escape. She bit her lip vicariously and slid her hands inch by inch down his chest until she reached his waist line and tugged him in close to her. The tables had flipped and in this moment he was no longer the one doing the hunting; she was the one hunting him. A twitch in his thigh dispelled any chance he had of talking himself out of this one and before he knew it they were moving against each other in rhythm and entangling him in a sweaty clutter of unbridled lust. Sliding his arms around the lowest point of her waist he felt her take the lead and just mimicked what she was doing in a desperate attempt to seem skilled at this. His leather jacket felt ten times heavier soaked in sweat and stuck to his skin uncomfortably but nothing could shake him from this feeling and this moment being in such close proximity to her. As the minutes turned to more than an hour they fell into such great sync that they could no longer tell where one person began and the other ended. It was hypnotic and entrancing for them both to just let go so freely and let no personal thoughts track their every move. For once it was just their bodies taking hold and seeking comfort in someone else similar. Flesh bore on flesh and bruised soul upon bruised soul seeking to fill a desperate aching just squirming under their skin.
Only once his hair was drenched and slicked against his face did he slow them down and suggest they move back to a seat for a break. It pained every fiber of his being to be removed from physical contact with her but his head was starting to spin he was so thirsty and he knew she would be just as bad off. Nodding absent mindedly she gripped his hand and pulled him along to her booth and settling into the side opposite him. Flagging down a waitress he pulled out crumpled money from his pocket to buy them both waters and felt a flush of slight edginess being in a much more typical setting with her. He never let himself get this close.
He never let himself get so enthralled with a woman.
He had never felt like this in his entire life.
He had made a fine mess.
"So tell me beautiful, what brings you here tonight?"
Even if his body was betraying him he kept up his cool detached tone with little to no effort. The deep tenor of gentle voice brought a shiver up her spin and shook her a bit from her trance to focus in on him. He wasn't very conventionally attractive she thought but she'd never really been once who cared for that much anyways. Though the room was too dark to tell she figured his eyes for some shade of blue and could tell by his unshaven stubble and disarrayed brown untidy hair that he wasn't one for putting much stock in physical appearance as well. She swore she spotted a long red streak in the nest of brown as well but wasn't sure in this lighting. Something about him though brought flurried light feelings in her chest and a rosy blush to her cheeks. The black eyeliner smudged around his eyes only made the smolder he was giving her disarm her even more as he waited patiently for an answer.
Ordinarily she would no better than to bare any amount of her heart to a stranger but she was in a muggle club and figured what would be the chances she would ever see him again anyways. With much trepidation she decided she would let him know the gist of things without betraying her own code. A truth hidden in an open statement very well couldn't get her in much trouble could it? Perhaps she should try to salvage some sense of coyness though after her flagrant display on the dance floor with him.
"Can't a girl just want to have a little fun?"
The tone was brazen and even flirty as her fingers twiddled with the water bottle in their grasp and stared at him unabashed. Who was this girl and what had she done with Hermione's body?
"I 'figure if I introduce myself maybe you will tell me the truth now won't ya doll?"
He meant it as a demand but carefully tried to place it in a question to catch her off guard. He was tried of being the one in the prey position and was ready to be the hunter again. His hands glided over the table and placed themselves upon hers stilling them against the cold plastic under them. His hands were hot and slick and she could still recall their feeling on her skin. Though she should have been more nervous it was as if the weight just slid right off her shoulders and he knew that he had found his in.
"Names Scabior beautiful 'an what should I call you?"
A peculiar name for a peculiar man she mused to herself. As the seconds ticked past she was becoming more and more aware of the feeling of his hands on hers and she swore her face was probably the color of the crimson carpeting below their feet. Not wanting to give him her full name she mentally settled on going by her middle name Jean since it wasn't technically lying.
"You can call me Jean and dear Scabior I'm here because things are looking rather grim for me and I needed a temporary escape if you must know."
The long drawl in her tone almost made her shudder thinking how eerily similar she had just sounded to professor Snape. She hadn't meant it at all to sound entirely bored with his question but it just slipped out. His side heavy smirk made her heart flutter ever so noticeable and he had yet to still remove his hands but she didn't want to ask or move them herself. The feeling was so comforting and it had been so long since she had felt an actual physical connection to someone. It was almost as if he existed on the other side of the veil that she had long been trapped on separated from others. The bleariness had still not left her eyes and she wore exhaustion like a second skin as she sunk into this intimate moment with him. He swallowed heavy in their silence reeling in just an unsettling thoughts but tried his best to maintain his skilled level of half disinterest.
"I'd say we're in the same boat love. Mind sharing my company for the evenin'?"
It was a risky move to get closer but he had dug his hole and was prepared to lay in it. He realized agonizingly he would do anything just to keep feeling her silky skin under his calloused fingertips. It was a calculated move though as he knew there was also a fair chance she would not recall the details of his face or countance after this night because of all the things she was under the influence of. She was well blitzed out of her mind proper and he felt the distinct need as always to make sure she would make it home safe. It was sickening to know he'd grown so found of her but it was an investment he had to keep track of. The pattern was truly beginning to grow on him though he'd never admit to it.
"I'm not one for spending the night with a stranger but Merlin…might as well."
Hesitation rode heavy behind every word and she almost regretted it as she said it but it was too late. The light smile dancing on her lips had betrayed her and she knew that a tiny part of her wanted to stay near to this man she barely even knew. He found himself staring at her lips and aching to press a thumb to the bottom one and find out if they were as soft as he had imagined they were. Between the visions flashing in his mind of finding that just out and his brain also trying to grasp for a plan of where to take this next with her he was floundering. Just another thing to tack on a long list of reasons why he needed to stop letting himself fall into this trap with her. It was a vicious cycle always leaving him feeling unsure and he was never a man without plan.
"This place is a bit stuff love, 'ow about we head down to the all the night coffee shop and settled up a bit?"
It was truly the first thing to come to mind and he was amazed he'd even been able to offer that up with how much he was swimming. As much as he fancied another chance at an intense dance session with her it was too tormenting to even consider the idea only making his thigh twitch even more at the thought. She knew that sobering up would be a good idea and without hesitation accepted the invitation of course. And just like that they were stumbling out back onto the city streets and meandering through scattered crowds of other rowdy weekenders out having a pleasurable night as well. The stumbling was mostly on her part though as he shifted himself to be up against her as they walked so she could lean on him trying to find her proper footing. Neither one sure of just where this evening would take them but acutely aware of this new sensation of closeness they hadn't known they ever missed.