Chapter Fifty-Four

My Valentine

I fumble through the blackness, his large hands around mine being the only thing anchoring me to the castle, this world, my life. I've never liked the dark. Plus this blindfold is itchy.

"How much longer Caleb?" I whisper. It's late - so far past curfew that we would normally just stay in the Common Room, except nearly every couple stays up past curfew on Valentine's Day. That means there are more prefects and teachers roaming the halls, and thus we have to be quieter.

"Almost there, Brown-eyes. Almost there." I feel his lips, gently kissing mine when we finally come to a stop. His hand reaches up, fingers running through my hair, before tugging the strip of fabric away from my face.

We are standing in front of our broom cupboard - the one we used to meet up in when we were still sneaking around.

I turn to my boyfriend - who is looking extra adorable in a navy button down shirt and dark jeans tonight - and raise my eyebrows.

"If you wanted a romp in the broom cupboard, you could've just asked. You didn't need to blindfold me and drag me here, Caleb." I joke. I'm confused though. Is he expecting sex? There's not much else we can do in a broom closet, it's tiny. He laughs loudly, his head tipping back, his eyes crinkling. Merlin, he's hot.

"No, Lily. I'm not after a "romp", as you so nicely put it. Just ... come in and see." He pulls me by the hand and, with his other, opens the door in front of us.

It's breathtaking. It's ... enchanting.

The pokey room is filled with gorgeous light orbs, glowing in soft hues of pink and yellow and - my personal favourite - violet. They float around the air, up by the ceiling, almost dancing, and turning the once dusty, murky closet into ... a truly magical place. All of the clutter has been cleared away and a soft lilac rug has been laid out on the dirty floor, with two buckets placed side by side with pink fabric draped over them nearby. On the rug is a picnic basket.

"Oh my - Caleb. This is -" Amazing. Wonderful. Unreal. "So romantic." I can feel myself welling up. Caleb steps inside with me, closing the door behind us.

"I thought you deserved romance. I - I wanted to show you ... how much you mean to me, Brown-eyes. I did the best I could with a broom closet - I thought you would want to be in "our place" for our first Valentine's Day." He mutters, looking into my eyes. His hand becomes clamy in mine but I don't care. I'm just as nervous.

"You did beautifully." I stand on my tiptoes and lean in to kiss him, to show him how much he means to me. The kiss becomes very heated very fast, as most of them have recently, and once again I can feel his lips on my neck. They search down, lower and lower. To the thin spaghetti strap of my top, resting on my shoulders. Then back across my collarbone, the hollow of my throat, my jaw. He's everywhere. I feel him everywhere. It's exquisite, and then it's gone.

He pulls away sharply, and both of us are breathless. Gasping like the Giant Squid out of water.

"That - that really wasn't why I asked you here, I swear." He breathes, flushing a little. He clears his throat, and gestures to the pretty buckets and the basket. "Come on, let's sit. The sandwiches will be going cold." He jokes.

I laugh at his terrible joke, because even though it isn't that funny, I love him. And I'm going to tell him, because this is the sweetest thing anyone had ever done for me and the happiest I have ever been and it's really just the perfect moment. We sit.

He fishes out sandwiches of all my favourite flavours - ham, egg maynonaise, cheese and pickle, chocolate spread - a massive chocolate bar, and a bottle of something I don't recognise. Caleb notices my confused look and explains.

"It's called Sprite. It's a muggle drink. It's incredible, trust me." And I do, of course.

We sit for hours, until the early morning, on uncomfortable buckets, talking about everything. Anything. Nothing. The whole time I'm trying to build up the courage to tell him. To actually say the tiny, powerful words out loud.

Finally we stand to leave.

"I've had a wonderful night with you, Caleb." I murmer.

"I've had a wonderful few months with you, Lily." He smiles and leans in to kiss me. I pull back sharply.

"IthinkI'minlovewithyou." I blurt out before his lips have a chance to touch mine. Damn. Not exactly how I wanted to do it. I'm just really nervous.

"What?" He whspers. But I know he heard me the first time. Have I made a huge mistake? Will he think me immature, moving too fast? Oh hell, if I'm screwed anyway ...

"I'm in lov-" I can't finish my sentence. He cuts me off, pressing his lips to mine.

It's hot. So hot. I'm pressed against the stone wall so suddenly that I'm winded. His hands are on my waist, gripping me tightly to his body, my fingers are locked in his hair.

I try to be confident for once, pushing my kisses down his neck, tearing at his shirt buttons. It's like someone has taken over me and I am not myself.

"I love you too, Brown-eyes. I - ah dear God." He gasps, dragging my lips back to his.

And suddenly his shirt is off. And my shirt is off. And my legs are wrapped around his, the only things holding me up are his hands on my thighs and the wall on my bare back, his body pushing me hard against it. And I can feel something there, like - Oh MERLIN. It's his ... woah. It feels ... wow. I'm so turned on. So warm. His hot mouth on my neck and face and lips only add fuel to my fire.

I'm scared of where this might go. Of where I might let it go.

"C-Caleb," I gasp out. He groans in return, against my chest. Thank Merlin for lacy black push-up bras. "I w- I want ... I want -"

I don't get to tell him what I want, because the door swings open. Standing in the doorway is a sandy-haired boy, covering his eyes with both hands. It's that boy Molly is friends with - Nick. I didn't know he was a Prefect.

At this point Caleb let's my body slide down his until I'm standing, and only now do I remember I'm topless.

"I'm not looking guys, it's cool. Put on any missing clothing items and go get some sleep you nymphos, its past 4. Oh and I won't take any points or anything - Happy Valentine's Day." Smiles the guy, still covering his face.

I pull back on my shirt quickly, looking at Caleb who does the same, both of us blushing.

"Um - Nick right?" I ask, when I'm fully clothed. The boy tentitively peeks out from between two fingers before lowering his hands.

"Yeah. Lily." He acknowledges, nodding, then he looks at Caleb and sticks out his hand. " Hey I'm Nicholas Carter."

"Caleb." Smiles my boyfriend and shakes the boy's hand. "This is nice 'n' akward."

"Nah, don't worry 'bout it. I've walked in on so much stuff tonight ... this is probably the least akward. PS - nice move with the floating lights, bro."

Caleb laughs, bids Nick goodnight and we go to leave. Nick stops me, placing a hand on my arm.

"Um - Lily? Have you - have you heard from Molly recently? Since she left?" He stutters, seemingly shy for the first time. I can see that he really cares about my cousin.

"She's fine Nick. Studying, getting ready for the baby. She misses Hogwarts ... you too, I think. You were pretty close, huh?"

"Yeah - um-" He avoids my question, "So her health is good? And the -um - baby's?" He questions, gesturing akwardly to his own stomach.

"Yes, she's fine. I promise. Should I tell her you asked? It would mean a lo-"

"-No. No, I mean, it's fine. Thanks Lily." He thanks me, and then he leaves.

And I let my boyfriend walk me back to my dorm. Neither of us bring up how close we got to sex, or that we told each other we were in love, or wondered aloud what this huge step meant for our relationship.

The silence is peaceful. And I can feel the love we aren't talking about in the kiss he leaves me with as he says goodnight. It's kind of perfect.

Of course I would wake up to drama.