Chapter Fifty: Cozy
Luci had tried to take the three of them back to Hogwarts, but Harry was adamant that he wanted to see her new flat, since he'd already been out all day anyway. Hermione, however, was anxious to get back to her classes. So Luci returned Ron and Hermione to the school, and then she and Harry Apparated into London, just outside of her new home.
"It's… nice," he said slowly, when they walked in, his eyes falling on her small second-hand couch.
"Tiny," she countered. "You can say it."
"No, you are tiny," laughed Harry. "This is… cozy."
"Yeah, it is cozy," she smiled contentedly.
He was looking around in interest. "What's with the scratching post?"
"For Persephone, when she comes."
Harry gave her a questioning look, and she explained, "My cat. I can't believe I never told you about my cat."
"I can't believe it either," he chuckled, strolling over to the kitchen. "So is this it then?"
"A tiny little bedroom. I mean, cozy," she amended.
"Let's see."
She pointed him in the direction, and he poked his head around the door frame, commenting after a moment, "Cozy."
"Yeah," giggled Luci from behind him.
Abruptly, he turned, seizing her, and they both fell into the doorframe.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, and he caught her just before she lost her balance.
"Sorry," he bubbled. "Got a little too eager. It's just… we're alone. In a good location…"
"Mmm hmm," she managed breathlessly.
She could only guess at what he was implying, until he kissed her ardently, pressing her into the wall behind them.
It felt like being on a rollercoaster. Her mouth never wanted to let go of his. A fist of desire squeezed rhythmically, creating ebbs and flows of heat, and she allowed herself to lose all control. She deepened the kiss and began to wrestle with his shirt, attempting to pull it up.
He muttered something against her lips, and she ceased instantly. "What?"
"I…" he panted.
She frowned, suddenly afraid, suddenly worried that this was the moment that he was going to abandon her.
He didn't meet her eyes, but choked, "Luci, I've… never…"
It took her a moment to process the words, but then her jaw went slack. "You…? No? Not with… her?"
Harry shook his head awkwardly, and relief crashed within her. Not with her. She couldn't prevent the pleased smile from forming on her face.
"But the whole location thing. You've been so… insistent…" she marveled anyway.
"On kissing you!" he corrected her. "For as long as I wanted. Without any interruptions. Not… that."
"Oh," she muttered, mortified, the heat flooding her cheeks. "Oh."
He sighed and moved away from her, further into her bedroom, regrettably, and turned his back. "I know you probably think it's mental, but… I haven't had a normal life, you know? And I'm sure you've done this loads of times, so–"
"Harry," she cut him off, and he returned to face her.
He looked humiliated, and she almost laughed, but she managed to say instead, "I haven't either."
His eyes widened and he spluttered, "Wh-what? But you're…"
"Freakishly old, I know."
"No… freakishly… beautiful," he grinned, and she beamed in response.
"My life hasn't been normal either, I guess. And I just… never found the right person," she concluded. "Until now."
Affection flooded his eyes and he moved towards her again, wrapping his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," whimpered Luci, swimming in his splendid eyes. "I didn't mean to push you. I jumped to conclusions. Once again."
"I was just… surprised," he said, his cheeks pink. "It's not that I don't… want to…"
She laughed, but the sound was stifled as Harry brought their mouths together once more. His skin was so hot that she felt sure that he was branding her. She purred at the intensity of the new kiss and he emitted a soft moan in response. The same one that had been echoing magnificently in her head since the first moment she'd heard it…
This time, he was the one who went for the clothing, his fingers fumbling with the zipper on her cardigan. And Luci had no intentions of stopping him.
