Harry stood at the foot of his bed, wondering what he was going to do with the picture in front of him. Mahari was on her back, and had kicked all cover that remotely acted as if it wanted to touch her skin away from her, one hand flung out off the side of the bed, and was almost spread eagled. Not that he didn't mind the view. But he was tired again, and needed to go to sleep.

Which would have been easy if he would just nudge Mahari over and crawl in beside her… but the thing was that there was no space on a twin sized bed… and things were sort of different after… after he had seen… He was snapped out of his reverie when Mahari abruptly turned over and looked at him. "I always know when someone is looking at me." She said sleepily, pushing her wayward hair out of her face. "Come to bed Harry." Her voice muffling as she buried her head in his pillow, giving herself a full body stretch.

Harry didn't even know how he moved so fast, but he managed to pull off his shirt, leaving his pajama pants that he had worn earlier. The prospect of sleeping in a bed with Mahari never really meant much considering they had done it before. But the first time was out of comfort; this time… was out of companionship.

Mahari turned over onto her side, and allowed him onto the bed. He released the air he was holding unconsciously, and looked at her and smiled. She looked wide-awake now, and slightly nervous, no doubt mirroring his face. "You still have your glasses on." She said.

"Yeah. I want to keep them on until I fall asleep." Harry brushed a length of hair off of her face, obscuring her right eye and lips. She was smiling slightly, and in the faint light her eyes almost glowed. "You are bloody beautiful." He whispered, wanting the compliment to stay with Mahari and he, so not even the wind could have it.

Her smile widened, and she lifted her head off of the pillow finally, pushing herself up to her elbows. "Something tells me you're not in the sleeping mood anymore."

"No, I am tired actually. But the thing is, there is something in my bed that isn't letting me sleep." Mahari looked at him evenly.

"Really? Well, you know you don't have to stand for that. Kick it out, whatever it is. I'll help you find it." She sat up and picked up the blanket and sheet that was bunched up at the bottom of the bed. "Nope, it's not there." She nudged a laughing Harry out of the way as she lifted up the two pillows at the top of the bed. "No, not there either."

"I see it." Was all Harry said behind his grin. Mahari looked at him mock serious, throwing her hands up in the air.

"Well, describe it to me. I'll get rid of it right away!" She said valiantly. Harry thought for a moment before speaking.

"Well, it's a girl-"

"A girl! I'll get the hussy!" Harry swallowed his laughter as he continued.

"She has long black hair." Mahari nodded and kept looking around.

"And she has on your pajamas." Mahari's eyes widened in feigned shock.

"She broke into my house and stole my clothes? The bitch must die!" She started looking in fevered earnest, although there wasn't anything else left on the bed but the two of them.

"I know her name." Harry motioned for her to come close, and he made sure his lips brushed her cheek on the way to her ear. He was rewarded by her delicious shiver, and he learned he loved the feeling of his lips on her skin.

"Well?" Mahari didn't trust herself to say anything else.

"Her name is Mahari." She pulled back slightly and looked into his eyes.

"Wow. That sounds like my name."

"Last time I checked, that was your name." Harry smiled, reaching up to trace the curve of her cheek with his thumb. Mahari's eyes darkened, and she leaned closer.

"So, are you going to turn me in to the authorities?" She asked, her breath ghosting over his lips. They were almost touching nose to nose, and in no rush to close the distance.

"Well, that depends. What do you have that could be used to bribe an upstanding gentleman such as myself?" Mahari smiled and reveled in the emotion, the desire that was rolling off of Harry in waves and she lowered her shields for the first time in six years. Abruptly the heat at the pit of her stomach burned hotter, and she leaned in to claim his lips.

The kiss was slow and languid, a reacquainting of souls rather than tongues, and somewhere in the mix arms and legs became secondary, and Harry eased Mahari back down to the bed, not allowing him to break contact. She broke off the kiss, inhaling deeply as he continued to lay kisses down the side of her cheekbone, caressing her ear and down her neck.

"Harry…" Mahari's voice exhaled his name softly into the air, and his body reacted to it, becoming taut… he had to do something with his hands… they crept to her hips, up her waist, and skimmed the side of her generous mounds to get tangled in her amazing hair.

Capturing her lips he felt as if the demons that constantly fought for his life melted away, and there was nothing in this world or the next that mattered if they weren't in the bed with him. He lost all sense of himself as he tried to break away from his past, and the gate was Mahari's lips.

Mahari gave herself a mental blink. She was confused for a moment, and then realized what she was feeling. It was Harry's emotions… for her. Forcibly humbled, she didn't realize she could inspire such a range of emotions in one person. The one felt above- no that wasn't the right word for it. The emotion she felt through all others was appreciation. For just being there for him, something she thought nothing of. He had been hurt, continuously hurt, and thus was afraid to enjoy their budding relationship as he does, for fear it would destroy him.

Destroy him? Mahari interrupted the kiss, Harry rising up so he could look into her eyes. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

She smiled and brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. "No, it wasn't that. What are you afraid of?" Mahari felt his panic flare, and she took pity on him as she put her hand on his cheek. His eyes closed at the touch, and his arms lost strength as they melded together, just holding each other.

Mahari felt something drift across her mind, and she stirred enough to crack an eye open. She tried to turn over, but Harry was hogging the covers, the pillow, the bed, and her body. Smiling, she started to tug her arm and leg out from under her when a burst of angry static scratched itself into her head, burrowing into her brain. The sensation caused her to yelp and promptly fall out of the bed.

Harry's eyes shot open, and he leaned over the bed, perplexed. "Are you alright?" He asked, but the question died on his lips as Mahari, who was wide awake by now, shook her head furiously and put her finger to her lips. Wha- The bedroom door was being unlocked.

Harry was out of the bed in a flash, shoving Mahari's clothes and shoes under the bed, and shoving his glasses on his face. The door opened for only the fifth time in two days. His Aunt Petunia walked just inside of the door, not releasing the doorknob, as if it was the last bastion of sanity.

"Yes?" His aunt's eyes flickered to his as she played with the tie at the neck of her blouse.

"Vernon and I have decided it is time for you to come out of the room. I mean, really… you're not a prisoner in this house."

"I'm not?" Harry let the incredulity he was feeling reflect in his voice. Petunia's already thin face looked drawn, and she crossed her arms.

"No, you're not. But there are rules!" She hissed, glaring at him. "I can't always come to your rescue when you've had a row with Vernon."

Harry took a deep breath. "What do you mean, come to my rescue? I've been locked in here for two days!"

"Yes, but at least you've had bathroom access." She gave a slight snort as she shook her head. "You were always ungrateful. Never satisfied with what we gave you. Even though you and your kind… have almost ruined my life!" Mahari frowned at the words 'you and your kind'.

She felt the bond of blood they shared. Harry was related to his uncle by marriage. When the thin woman walked into the room, she brought a hum of energy that she felt more strongly when she closed her eyes… an energy that was everywhere, but she didn't notice it. It was in the furniture, the wood, and the air everywhere… Suddenly Mahari could barely breathe.

"Just stay out of Vernon's way." Petunia closed the door behind her, and Harry's throat caught until he heard her walk away, the door still unlocked. He blinked when he remembered Mahari.

"Mahari!" He whispered, jumping onto his bed and pulling her up. Harry went over their conversation, just making sure that he didn't give anything away, but he knew he was safe when talking to his aunt, she didn't tolerate hearing anything about magic.

"What!" She said, struggling to breathe. As soon as Harry touched her hand, the feeling released her, and she pulled in a full breath.

"Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." He asked, concerned.

"Fine. I'm going to go home, take a nap, and we'll talk later on today, right?" Mahari wasn't looking at him, as she pulled her clothes from under the bed and stuck her leg in her jeans leg. Harry watched her fall back onto his bed as she lost balance, and she pushed her hair off of her face and started shoving herself into her clothes.

"Alright…" He didn't like the way she was acting, but he wasn't going to press the issue. It seemed as if something had spooked her. But he knew her enough to know that if she had a problem with what went on last night, he would be the first to know.

Harry handed her the now empty picnic basket, and she paused as their fingers brushed on the handle. He held her, just his touch stilled her movement. Looking up into his eyes, she realized she was hurting him. "Don't look like that Harry."

"Well, how do you want me to look?" He asked her, pulling her closer as he tugged on the hem of her shirt. A smile played at her lips as she looked away playfully.

"Like the world is ending." She whispered. Harry sighed and they finally hugged.

"Tell me it isn't."

"It's not."

"Then I'm good." Mahari looked up at him, still in his arms, and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Then it's all good." She smiled and climbed out of the window quietly. Harry watched her until she waved before entering her house. He felt rather than saw someone behind him, and he turned around. It was Dudley.

"How long have you been standing there?" Harry demanded, anger coming to the forefront. Dudley shrugged and leaned against the doorway.

"Long enough. How long do you think I'm going to let you stay in this house?" He asked Harry. "Look, you know you're unnatural. You've put away all your freaky things so she wouldn't find out about you."

"Shut up Dudley." Harry said conversationally. He gathered together his stuff to take a shower, ignoring his cousin. He walked to the door and was halted by Dudley's large girth. "Let me pass."

"Why should I?" As soon as he finished the question, he was staring down the shaft of his wand.

"Because Dudley, I'm faster than you. I've proved that before, and I proved that a few days ago on the playground. It wouldn't take anything major to knock you out again. Magically or physically." He smiled as Dudley's face was wiped of all amusement, replaced by resentment and fear.

"I'm going to get you. And nothing is going to save you, least of all that stupid little stick." He glared at the shorter boy and walked out the door, slamming his bedroom door shut.