A/N: Hello, everyone! In commemoration of the 100th chapter, today I decided to upload a LONGER chapter. I hope you like reading it as much as I liked writing it. I confess that I'm a little bit afraid of sharing this chapter, because even though I loved writing it and I rated this story M for these particular scenes, I'm still afraid of what you guys may think. Nevertheless, I truly hope you guys enjoy it. Don't forget to leave a review, because I always love reading your opinion. If you want, you can send me a private message too. As you already know, any comments, critiques or concerns, feel free to contact me.
Chapter Sixteen - A Chimaera Before Christmas
A rain falls angry on the tin roof
As we lie awake in my bed
You're my survival, you're my living proof
My love is alive and not dead*
I know I promised Chiara I would keep her secret under lock and key.
I know.
But in order to brew such tremendously difficult potion, I had to have an ally with me. It wasn't my intention to betray her trust – and she was putting way too much trust in me -, but with the full moon so close and the clock ticking mercilessly, I didn't have much time to brew the potion. Without enough time, I'd have to spare some of my rest time, which meant brewing it all hours of the night. Being alone while doing it wasn't a pleasurable thought in my mind. It would be too easy to fall asleep or lose focus. I needed someone I could trust to be there with me and keep an eye on the potion so nothing would go wrong. Who better than my delightful boyfriend – that had a secret of his own – to help me through the steps? I told him about Chiara's situation and it didn't seem to bother him.
"A lot of students probably have similar secrets, Bubo," he said. "I'm unlikely the only one with a load of them."
"I thought your only secrets were being an unregistered Animagus and part vampire," I said. "What else do you have up your sleeve?"
He smirked. "Oh, ma chére. You have no idea."
I get a book on advanced – and awfully difficult – potions at the library and Talbott sneaks into the Greenhouses to steal some aconite from Professor Sprout's personal collection. It's wrong and it makes me feel a little nervous, but knowing that Chiara might spend the entire full moon like a beast thriving for blood is enough to ease my mind and make me focus on what I need to do. It would be easier if she had been honest with the professors in the first place. It would've made things simpler. But Chiara doesn't seem like the kind of girl that would trust such dark secret on anyone. The thought only adds to my anxiety, knowing that she decided to trust me, a complete stranger, of all people, so I shove it in a dark corner of my mind.
The Wolfsbane Potion needs my undivided attention. It needs to brew for eight hours, with constant care upon it. There are dozens of ingredients to add and the movements are so precise that thinking that a single swift too wide or too fast can make the entire thing go wrong, makes me deeply nervous. Talbott helps me take everything to my brother's secret room, where we meet on Wednesday night, after dinner, to start the concoction. The cramped room, crowded with antiques, isn't the best of places to brew a potion, but it's a place I know no one will show up to disturb us.
I clean the table to have a place to chop the ingredients while Talbott separates equal amounts of doxy fangs and wings, adding them to the boiling cauldron. The base for the potion is an infusion of sage, rose water and saffron, and what first smells like an interesting soup, soon starts to reek of old broccoli.
"Pass me the grasshopper legs," I ask him, and he hands me a flask full of long, greenish things that resemble sticks.
"I confess that this is not what I had in mind when you told me we'd be spending the night together," he teases, mixing the potion.
I smirk. "The holidays are just around the corner."
"Like your father would ever allow us to sleep in the same bed," he says, his garnet irises glistening in my direction, making me blush.
I bite my lip. "It's not like we couldn't shapeshift into flying animals… and fly right through each other's windows… and crawl into each other's beds…"
He chuckles softly, adding four brain mushrooms to the potion. "I know it's bold to assume… but this potion must taste nasty."
I nod. "If it tastes like it smells, you're probably right."
As soon as I add the lion fish scales, it starts to produce a greenish fume and smell of a blend of old socks, mould and rotten fish. I know it's something extremely helpful for people like Chiara, who suffer with the werewolf curse, but it makes me feel bad that she has to drink such nasty potion every single month. And I thought that the period potion that I drink every month was bad enough.
It takes all night for the Wolfsbane Potion to brew. We leave it cooking under low heat, feeling our lids getting heavy. Talbott unrolls an old, dusty rug and spreads his cape over it, laying down with his head rested on his arm. I yawn, mixing the potion one more time for it to turn yellow. I rub my eyes, feeling the exhaustion falling upon me. According to the instructions, the potion must cook for four more hours before I can even touch it. I set Rowan's alarm clock – that I borrowed for this exact moment – to wake us up in precisely four hours. My eyes fall upon Talbott's resting figure and I crawl to his side, finding a comfortable place in his chest. The drumming of his heart works as a lullaby, making my eyes get tired and my whole body relax.
I dream that we are making out in my bed, back in Brighton, under the lights of many candles and the sweet sound of a jazz song playing in the distance. The feeling of him removing my dress is incredibly realistic, and I can feel every inch of his skin that moves across my body. I allow myself to be completely hypnotized by my dream, feeling my whole body shiver when he rests his lips on my neck, opening his mouth just enough to bite my flesh.
I wake up to the sound of the alarm clock and Talbott promptly puts down the fire under the cauldron and stirs the concoction lightly, which turns into a faint shade of ochre. I rub my eyes, glad to see that the potion is absolutely perfect and releasing the awful pungent smell of rotten mushrooms.
"It's perfect," I say, stretching.
"It's almost time for your detention," he says. "Let's store this potion and leave the flasks here. We can fly to the dorm and you can change into less wrinkly clothes."
I grin, trying to fix my extremely messy hair. I help him pour the potion into ten different flasks and then place them into a box underneath the table. Talbott's hair is all messed up too, pointing to every direction. He runs his fingers along the strands, eyeing me with a smirk upon his lips.
"So tell me," he says. "What were you dreaming of, that made you moan all night long?"
On the day preceding the party, I double check all my lists to be sure everything is in order. Holly's baked goods are expected by the end of the afternoon, just like Mrs. Weasley's incredible cake. The only thing left to do is invite a certain antisocial professor that has been dodging my attempts after every single class.
I manage to talk to him after lunch, when he's macerating a bunch of dried flowers into a fine powder. The only sound, echoing through the cold classroom, is of the pestle against the mortar. I can't even hear him breathing. He's so concentrated, surrounded by the dried flowers and empty jars that I think he's forgetting to breathe.
"Do you ever stop working?" I ask him.
"What should I be doing?" he asks without looking at me. "Swimming in the Dark Lake?"
I contain a giggle. "Are you coming to Rubeus's party tomorrow?"
He looks at me as if I just said something extremely disgusting. "No."
I frown. "Why not?"
"In case you did not notice, Hagrid and I are not exactly… chummy," he says, sharply.
"And you're going to let it prevent you from having a good time?"
He turns his eyes back to the smashed flowers. "I do not think Hagrid will want me at his party."
"You don't have how to know that," I say.
His face twists into a scowl. "Yes, I have."
I place my hands on the table in between us, eyeing him with curiosity. "And why's that? What happened?"
He presses the pestle against the flowers with more intensity this time, crushing them and producing an intense sound of leaves being smashed. I sigh.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" I insist.
He stops, letting out a long breath. "Not today."
I lean forward and as he lifts his head to look at me, his eyes seem to get a little vulnerable under my stare.
"Fine. You don't need to tell me," I say. "But I'd really like you there." Once again, he doesn't reply. I know best than to insist on something that might end put setting us into a bad mood. Instead, I decide doing something else, which might put us at ease.
There's an insane amount of flowers to powder, so I grab another mortar and pestle from the shelf and pull a chair by his desk, starting to smash the little buds into a fine powder. He doesn't say anything and the silence that installs in between us is somewhat comfortable. My lips curl into a smile as I realize how much I missed our private lessons. It's like a different dimension, away from all my hectic life. It's a place where I can truly enjoy myself without worrying about detention or Dumbledore's ridiculous plans.
When I leave the dungeons sometime later, I'm feeling lighter. My hands smell of dried plants and my jeans are a little dusty. I don't care, though. After spending sometime in the humid and mossy dungeons, I feel like my soul is replenished. As I walk past a window, noticing the greyish clouds that are forming in the horizon, I let out a long, relaxed sigh. There's no anxiety inside of my heart.
Only peace.
When Sunday finally arrives, there are colourful balloons all over the Great Hall. The Butterbeers, nice and cold, are spread upon the four tables, which were pulled aside to form a single long one. Holly's treats, her way through the entire French pastry book, arrive in the afternoon, and carried by no less than ten different owls. Dozens of macarons, éclairs, croissants and tarts flood the tables, surrounding the huge chocolate cake sent by Mrs. Weasley.
"Everything looks absolutely perfect," I say, watching Professor Flitwick enchant the piano, a few violins and a saxophone to play during the party.
"I went to Hagrid's hut and told him that Professor Dumbledore needs him here in precisely one hour," Charlie tells us.
"And he didn't question his motives?" Tonks asks.
Charlie shakes his head. "He was too focused on watering the turnips."
"At least we have plenty of time for everyone to arrive and for us to put on the final touches," I say.
Professor McGonagall, standing in the middle of the room, enchants the ceiling for it to shine in a thousand stars, while Madam Hooch sends out fake Bludgers that say "Happy Birthday" whenever they hit a wall… or someone. Everyone seems to be involved somehow. Even Mr. Filch, who hates everything and everyone, agreed to help and is organizing some muffins in a cake stand.
I'm helping Rowan create a tower of truffles when Dumbledore arrives, wearing lavender robes and a dark blue hat.
"Good evening, Miss Lockhart," he says, cheerful. "I am completely enchanted by your ability to create such wondrous party."
I look at Rowan. "Well, I had tons of help."
He grins. "You are truly resourceful, Miss Lockhart. Well, what do you think of this gift I have for Hagrid?"
Right behind Dumbledore's whimsical robes, grappling at his long vests, is a creature of auburn fur and scary eyes. It looks at us through its caramel eyes, looking awfully terrified.
"A porlock!" Liz gasps, walking to us and kneeling right next to the frightened creature. "No need to be afraid, sweetheart."
"Do you think Hagrid will like him?" Dumbledore asks.
"All I know is that I do!" Liz says, scratching the porlock's head.
"He's going to love it, sir," I say.
"How did you get one?" Liz asks, excited.
Dumbledore grins. "Oh, I have a friend that works with magical creatures. Wonderful guy, that Amos Diggory. His son is almost of age of coming to Hogwarts. Amos is incredibly proud of his young Cedric."
I force a smile. I just hope that, when Cedric comes to Hogwarts, there aren't too many dangers lurking in the dark. Liz continues playing with the porlock while Dumbledore walks around the room, appreciating the decoration.
At ten to seven, the Great Hall is crowded with people, all wearing party hats. Just like in Halloween, Rakepick is not around. Maybe because we didn't invite her? Perhaps. But what truly ends up surprising me, it's to see Professor Snape sneaking into the room, trying to camouflage with the stone wall. I smile, watching him disappear in the crowd. I'm not sure if he's trying to hide from Rubeus, thinking that he'll throw a tantrum for seeing him at his party, or from me.
Nevertheless, I join the Frog Choir by the main door, standing in formation while waiting for Rubeus to enter. By the food's table, Rowan is smuggling a pink macaron. I snicker, my heart pounding with the anxiety.
"He's coming!" Charlie shouts, looking through the window.
"Everybody, be ready!" Dumbledore shouts.
The seconds seem to take forever, and I hear my heart drumming inside my chest in anticipation. Professor Flitwick waves his wand, getting the instruments ready. When the doors open, everyone explodes in a joyful "Happy birthday", as I join the choir in a cheerful version of the felicitations song.
Rubeus looks around in deep ecstasy. His dark eyes get watery as he absorbs the scene, his head turning from side to side to see everything. When his eyes meet mine, I wink at him. He opens a sweet and emotional smile, drying a tear with a huge handkerchief. Dumbledore rushes to wrap his arms around him in a gentle hug, showing him the shy porlock that is looking around, not quite understanding the whole fuss. Rubeus releases an excited shriek, kneeling to pet the little creature's head.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore," Rubeus says, wiping his. "Yeh didn't need to…"
"I won't take the credit for it, Hagrid," Dumbledore says, gently. "It was Miss Lockhart's idea, after all."
Rubeus looks at me, his eyes being filled with tears once more. "Athena! This was a lovely surprise!"
I smile as he wraps his huge arms around me, flooding my shoulder with his tears. "Happy birthday, Rubeus."
I wrap my arms around his neck, inhaling his scent of earth and wood. I close my eyes, remembering how he's been there for me from the very beginning, rescuing me from the Devil's Snare, back in another time, when Merula and I used to hate each other. I chuckle in his hair. Used to…
"Yer such a special kid, Athena," he says.
"You're the one who's special, Rubeus," I say.
He looks at me with kindness and emotion in his beetle eyes and, in that moment, everything feels worth it. All the stress and all the hours preparing the party… Nothing in the world will make me forget his joyful expression.
"Now let's get this party started!" Professor Flitwick shouts, making the instruments start playing.
The Great Hall is filled with the sound of a cheerful music, and everyone instantly starts hopping all around the room, dancing and eating and enjoying themselves. Even Mr. Filch seems to be happy, eating a blueberry muffin while dancing with Mrs. Norris.
Only the poor little porlock seems to be finding the whole experience extremely distressing. He's hiding underneath the table with only his legs sticking out.
"Oh, this little baby here seems awfully scared," Hagrid says, lifting the table cloth to pet the creature's head. "I think the room is too noisy for him."
"Do you want me to take him to your hut, Rubeus?" I ask him.
Rubeus look at me with gratitude. "Oh, Athena… if it's not too inconvenient for yeh… I think the little boy would enjoy some peace and quiet. Fang loves magical creatures, so I think they'll become instant friends."
"C'mon, buddy," I say, reaching out to scratch the porlock behind his ears, but instead, he reaches out to me and holds my hand. "Oh, how adorable."
"They are lovely creatures," Rubeus says, thrilled.
"I'll walk you there," Talbott says, placing his hand on the small of my back.
"Come with us, buddy," I say, guiding the porlock through the door, to a quieter hall.
We leave through the main door, reaching the gardens. The sky is dotted with thousands of stars and the full moon is shining beautifully against the sapphire night. Talbott accompanies me to Rubeus's hut and I feel the porlock tightening his grip on my hand when he hears Fang moving inside the place.
"Don't be afraid," I say. "Fang is cool. He'll keep you safe."
I open the door lightly and Fang's snout is the first thing I see. He jumps to the front step, sticking his wet nose on the porlock's fur, who jumps back in fear. Fang waves his tail, hopping excitedly around us. The porlock grapples at Talbott's jeans, producing a soft, hesitant sound. Talbott scratches his head reassuringly and when Fang barks again, the porlock jumps.
"Fang! He's scared. Don't make it harder on him," I say, petting Fang's head.
Fang looks at me, confused, and lays down, eyeing the porlock with sad eyes. It takes a few more minutes for the little caramel creature to gather the courage to approach Fang. He reaches out with his little furry hand and pokes Fang's snout, which makes Fang instantly stick out his tongue and flood the creature's hand with drool. The porlock produces a sound similar to a chuckle and rushes inside, to the warm and quiet hut, being followed by a quite chuffed Fang.
"That was… adorable," I say, closing the door.
"Not as adorable as watching you talk to them," Talbott says, affectionately, leaning on to plant a kiss on my lips.
I wrap my arms around his neck. "I love being alone with you."
"I wish we could stay here longer," he says, kissing my jaw and neck. "But people will begin to wonder where we went… Snape might scold you again for walking around with a vampire…"
I smirk. "Full vampires are not nearly as handsome as you."
He look at me with scorching eyes. "You look dazzling under the full moon. Like an otherworldly nymph."
I kiss him softly. "Stop bewitching me with your words. Let's go back to the party."
He winks, entwining our fingers and walking with me through the grassy hills, back to the moonlight touched castle. The nightly air is cold and fragrant, smelling of lilies and pines. From the distance, we can hear Fang's barks and the porlock's happy sounds. The faint sound of music tells us we're getting close, but as we're crossing the gardens, we're faced with a trio that we're not expecting.
My heart gets cold as ice and my shoulders get rigid as I stop mid stroll. Talbott's hand gets tighter in mine and I clench my jaw apprehensively.
"Well, well, well," Fenrir Greyback says, an evil grin on his lips. "We ain't the only ones who came out to catch the full moon…"
I swallow hard, my eyes meeting the two other pairs of mean irises that gleam under the starlight. The werewolves stand on each side of Greyback, as if working as his bodyguards. However, Greyback himself is way taller and bulkier than the two werewolves.
Greyback throws his head back, producing a long howl that makes me shiver inside. I take a step back, hesitantly, as the full moon escapes from behind the clouds. Greyback eyes me with viciousness, his muscles contracting and his face growing longer as he transforms into a huge werewolf.
I swallow a gasp, my hand reaching for my wand. Next to me, Talbott eyes are fierce and full of purpose. Though there's fright in my heart, his stare is able to make me feel more powerful.
"We can do this," he says, wand in hand.
I nod.
I aim my wand at the werewolf on the left and Talbott to the one on the right. Greyback tilts his head, grinning sinisterly at us.
"Stupefy!" we shout, loud and clearly, and the purpose in our voices reflects in the strength of our spells. They hit the two smaller werewolves harshly, striking them on their chests and making them fall back, unconscious.
Greyback's crimps his snout, threatening. He growls, leaning forward.
"Together?" I ask Talbott.
"Together, Bubo," he says, confident.
Greyback leaps forward, his claws stretched out in my direction. He opens his mouth, showing his sets of sharp and stained pointy teeth, growling gutturally while reaching out to me.
"STUPEFY!" we shout and the bolt of crimson that emanates from our wands meet midway, braiding into a stronger entangle that hits Greyback like a cannon ball.
The werewolf's eyes widen in surprise, rolling down into his head as he is pushed back with tremendous strength, hitting a tree with an astonishing impact. Talbott and I wait, panting and hesitant, but Greyback doesn't move.
"Incarcerous!" I cast on him, watching the ropes wrap him tightly.
Talbott looks at me with wide eyes.
I shrug. "Just in case."
"I'm not judging you," he says. "I'm just surprised because… that's what I was planning on doing."
I wink at him. "We're in a perfect tune, Mr. Winger."
He uses the spell on the smaller werewolves, who remain unconscious like a rock. "Let's take them to the castle," Talbott says. "Cecil Lee won't know what to do with them, but, hopefully, someone will."
"Talbott, watch out!" I shout.
Running towards us is nothing less than Professor Kettleburn's missing chimaera. The enormous lion growls threateningly at us, and his snake tail glistens under the moonlight, hissing and flashing its long and sharp fangs in a way that can only mean it's not here to play fletch. I take a step back, aiming my wand at the huge creature.
"Will this night never end?" Talbott shouts, irritated. "Ugh! Curse this castle! Petrificus Totalus!"
His spell is so strong and filled with exasperation, that it wraps the creature's body in cone of energy, binding its limbs together and making it fall heavily to the floor, producing a loud sound, like a rock falling from above. Talbott looks at me, his eyes glistening with anger under the starry skies.
"I can't wait to go home with you," he says, distressed. "Incarcerous!"
The ropes wrap around the chimaera's body, binding the snake tail to the creature's stomach. I let out a long, nettled sigh, casting the floating spell on all four creatures. They move just a little above the ground, for they are too heavy for me to support the spell too strongly in order of them to float a little higher. So it ends up making them hit their heads against a few rocks as we move towards the castle.
"So… discretion or dramatic entrance?" Talbott asks as we approach the Great Hall.
I smirk mischievously. "I think we deserve to have some fun after what we've been through."
"I couldn't agree more," he says, pointing his wand at the door, making it blast open, producing a loud noise that makes everyone jump out of their skins.
I wave my wand, boosting the four creatures forward, making them fall heavily in the middle of the room. Though still unconscious, Greyback grunts a little with the impact of his body against the stone floor. Someone lets out a shrieking sound and when I look for the source of it, I notice that Merula is hiding behind Ben, her violet eyes wide and scared. In Ben's cheeks, the redness seems to build, along with a very snooty grin.
By the food table, Cecil Lee has a cupcake crumbling in his hand, his jaw dropped in utter disbelief. I stare at him, putting my wand back in my pocket.
"My baby!" Professor Kettleburn yells, rushing towards his chimaera. "Oh, my poor baby! What did you do to him? It's okay, baby… It's okay…"
I ignore him. He begins stroking the creature's mane, whispering something by its ear. The whole room seems engulfed by a profound silence, which only adds to the intensity of the stare I have locked with Barnaby's uncle.
"Are you satisfied, Mr. Lee?" I ask, out loud and defiant. "Am I ready to join the WCU?"
He looks at me, scared and astonished. I watch him gulp and put the cupcake back on the table, wiping his hands on his purple suit. The entire room watches him with expectation, but he doesn't move a muscle. I watch some students move away, revealing a very distressed Professor McGonagall.
"I think it's time to ask for someone to come and fetch these beasts," she says.
"Y-you don't m-mean my darling chi-"
"Don't worry for now, Silvanus," she says, harshly. "But if you lose this beast once more, I'll have to take action."
Professor Kettleburn sobs, hiding his face in the creature's mane. Professor McGonagall releases a huff through her nose, clearly irritated. She turns her head to stare at Cecil Lee, who's looking baffled and overall frightened.
"Mr. Lee, if you'll be so kind to accompany me," Professor McGonagall says, sharply.
I watch him gulp. "Oh… Oh, yes. That… That is exactly what I'm going to do."
Professor McGonagall casts a much stronger spell than mine, carrying the creatures out of the room, followed by a shaky Cecil Lee. He rushes right after her, leaving a safe space between him and the unconscious werewolves.
My eyes scan the crowd, noticing Rowan's amused expression and Rubeus's look of pure horror. Even Professor Flitwick seems to be eyeing me with a half impressed and half astonished look. But what makes me feel truly jaunty – like I'm able to conquer the world – is Professor Snape's expression, from the corner of the room.
The presumptuous smirk on his lips says everything.
This is what he means when he says I should be a Slytherin.
The defiance.
The bravery.
The disdain.
He shakes his head amusedly. From where I'm standing, all I do is shrug. He maintains the intensity of the stare and moves his lips soundlessly, in a secretive sentence that only I see.
Well done.
Cecil Lee leaves Hogwarts on the very next day, accompanied by other members of the Unity who come to take the werewolves straight to Azkaban. Fenrir Greyback and his henchmen were kept in a cell in one of the castle's tallest towers, locked by a spell cast by Dumbledore himself. Barnaby's uncle seemed to be very proud of himself, though his colleagues were eyeing him with irritation. He didn't direct me the word nor looked at me anymore, which, to me, sounded like a victory. Barnaby also seemed to be relieved to see his uncle go away.
"I told you he was weird," he says, right after they left.
"He's not weird," Rowan says. "He's useless."
Talbott and I win a hundred points each for Ravenclaw for sparing the castle of the werewolves and Dumbledore even starts mentioning the possibility of an Order of Merlin. Exhausted both physically and mentally, Talbott and I don't even pay much attention to it. All we want and need is to go back home for a well-deserved rest.
Thankfully, the next weeks pass swiftly like an eagle cutting the skies. The hardest part is saying goodbye to Penny, who flashes her baby blue eyes at us with a pinch of sadness. Barnaby decides to stay with her, so she won't spend the holidays completely alone. I hug her tightly, promising I'll send her a huge box of chocolates.
"Be careful at Knockturn Alley, Athena," she says by my ear. "That place is awfully dangerous."
"I'll be okay," I say, placing a kiss on her forehead. "And you… don't lose hope, okay? We'll make it through this."
She nods sadly, wrapping her arms around me one more time. I close my eyes, remembering all the times she's been there for me, always bearing a sweet and optimistic grin. I let this image accompany me all the way to the station, where I find a compartment to sit with Talbott, near the train's end. As we rush through wintery landscapes of pine trees and frozen lakes, I visualize Penny's beautiful face and let it make the strength and courage inside of me grow larger. Rescuing Beatrice won't be as simple as stupefying a bunch of werewolves. I don't even know what waits for me in Knockturn Alley.
Talbott notices my despair, for he wraps his arms around my shoulders and opens his poetry book, reading poems about fierce wizards who conquered power, wisdom and love. His voice works just like a calming potion, making my heart drum peacefully inside my chest and my mind focus only on his mellifluous voice. At some point, he closes the book and leaves it on the seat next to him, leaning on to place a kiss on my lips. I wrap my arms around his neck, allowing the sweetness of his kiss to numb me completely.
The compartment door opens abruptly, revealing a smirking Rowan eating a huge cauldron cake.
"Couldn't wait till you got home?" she asks, amused.
I blush furiously, fixing my hair. "What do you want, Row?"
"Bill told me to let you know that he wants to accompany you to Knockturn Alley," she says. "Given that he's seventeen, he'll be able to use magic in case you guys need it."
I nod. "Okay."
"Be careful there, Athie," she says. "Promise me you'll write and tell me everything."
I grin softly. "I always do."
She winks mischievously at us, making Talbott's cheeks burn, and then closes the door, disappearing in the corridor.
"Do Rowan and your father have a pact?" he asks. "They always make me feel like I'm perverting you."
I snicker, leaning to kiss his jaw. "Aren't you?"
He shivers under my lips, tilting his head to steal a warm and delectable kiss. "Not yet."
This time, I'm the one who shivers. He continues to kiss me, shifting from delicate and chivalrous kisses to more daring ones and then back to the delicacy, until sunset turns the sky a watercolour of oranges, pinks and yellows. When the train finally stops, my lips are burning.
As we cross the platform to get to King's Cross, we are greeted by my Dad and a cheerful Phil, who rushes to wrap his arms around us. Dad crinkles his nose when he sees Talbott helping me with my luggage, and promptly grabs my trunk and wraps his arms around my shoulders, pulling me away. I grin at his jealousy as we walk to his car, where he helps us put all our things inside. Talbott and I sit together on the back seat, but Dad keeps watching us from the rear-view mirror. Nevertheless, given that the mirror only shows him our faces, Talbott finds a way to slide his hand over the seat and entwine his fingers in mine, making my heart race all the way from London, through the beautiful scenery of Crawley, passing by Haywards Heath, towards our lovely wintery Brighton.
"We can go ice skating sometime," Talbott says to me as we drive past the Pavillion.
"Ice skating?" his grandfather says. "Well, Chris, your daughter surely made a more sociable person out of my grandson."
Dad mumbles something at the steering wheel and turns right on Windsor Street, where he enters our building's garage. As soon as we get into the elevator, I let Edgar out of his travelling crate. He pokes Twilight through the thin bars of his cage, but my owl simply turns his head to the other side and ignores Edgar's baby paw.
Phil opens the door to the 902 apartment, helping Talbott take his things inside. "Meet us here in five minutes, Chris."
"Five minutes? That's barely time for me to hug my daughter!" Dad complains.
"You promised to help me make the custard!" Phil says before closing the door.
I take my things to my room, allowing Twilight to leave his cage and fly towards the night sky, while Edgar climbs onto my bed, exploring the space between my pillows. Dad comes to my room, reaching out to call me for a hug. I wrap my arms around his waist, resting my cheek against his chest. He plants a kiss on the top of my head, lovingly.
"I missed you so much, kid," he says.
"I missed you more."
"No, you didn't," he says. "You had Talbott to keep you company."
I lift my head to look at him. "Are you jealous?"
He looks away, clenching his jaw. "No. I just find it unfair that he got to spend months with you and I'll only see you for a few weeks before you return to school."
I snicker, getting on my toes to kiss his cheek. "I love you, Dad. C'mon, it's been more than five minutes."
"Ugh, curse Phil and his damn spotted dick," Dad says, offering me his arm and walking me to Phil and Talbott's apartment.
When we get there, Phil already had his hands dirty, separating the yolks while Talbott is slicing some vanilla beans. Dad heads to the stove, where he proceeds to heat some milk.
"How can I help?" I ask.
"Could you set the table, dear?" Phil says. "Dinner is almost ready. I just need to finish baking the pie."
I grab some plates from the cabinet, placing them along with some candles over the dinner table, and even make some roses out of the red napkins. A while later, Phil is placing a kale, chestnut and mushroom pie on the table, along with a beautiful spotted dick with custard on the side.
"That's a lovely dinner, Phil," I say.
"Well, we wanted to make something special for your return, kids," he says. "Especially after hearing what you've been up to these past months."
From the other side of the table, Talbott's cheeks get ablaze. "And what is that, Grandpa?"
Phil cleans his mouth with the napkin. "All the werewolf hunting. That seems pretty impressive to me."
"And pretty reckless," Dad adds.
"It's not like we went searching for them," I explain. "They sort of found us."
"Found you doing what?" Dad says, squinting at me.
I gulp. "Taking Hagrid's porlock back to his hut."
"Uh-huh," he says, drinking some of his lemonade.
"Enough of embarrassing them, Chris," Phil says. "C'mon, tell us all about it. What exactly is an Order of Merlin?"
Phil manages to ease the tension and the rest of the dinner goes on smoothly. The pudding, scrumptiously delicious, becomes the main topic of the conversation, and I take note on Phil's recipe to give to Holly when I see her. When the meal ends, I'm feeling happy and safe for being back home.
Dad leans back on his chair, tapping his stomach. "Dinner was scrumptious, Phil. I couldn't eat another bite."
"Save some space for the scotch, Christopher," he says. "You promised me we'd go there tonight."
"I feel like I keep making too many promises," Dad laments.
"Where are you guys going?" Talbott asks.
"To this incredible place that is inaugurating tonight, in London," Phil explains. "It's actually a franchise of a very popular Scottish pub. And Christopher here promised he'd go with me to the opening night."
Dad huffs, running his fingers through his hair. He looks at me as if he's trying to find a good excuse not to go.
"Dad, promise is a promise," I say, flashing him an uncompromising stare.
"I know…" he says, impatient. "But I didn't want to leave you alone on your first night back."
"Dad, I won't be alone," I debate.
He flashes a mean stare at Talbott. "Now I certainly don't want to leave you alone."
I roll my eyes. "Dad, relax for five minutes, okay? Go out and enjoy yourself. I'm actually really tired from the trip. I'm going straight to bed after washing the dishes."
He chews his cheeks, still obviously suspicious of me. I stand his stare until he looks away, defeated.
He sighs. "Okay, then… I'm going to get my coat."
"Yes," Phil says, joyful.
Talbott helps me take the dishes to the sink. After a few minutes, my father returns with his coat, eyeing us with severity. He looks at me – while I have my hands on the sponge and the dirt plates – and at Tal – who's holding a dishcloth -, and lifts an eyebrow.
"All right, kids," Dad says, drily. "We'll be back in an hour."
"An hour… HA! Frankly, Christopher…" Phil says and then looks at me and Talbott. "Don't wait up for us."
Dad mumbles something incomprehensible and offers Phil his arm. Phil waves excitedly at us and then they Apparate, leaving us alone in the quiet kitchen. I turn to look at Talbott, who's eyeing me with a smirk upon his lips. He runs his finger up and down my spine.
"A few hours…" he says. "It's music to my ears."
I smirk. "What do we say we… have ourselves a slumber party?"
He winks at me, impishly. We finish doing the dishes and he instantly wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me to a heated kiss.
I smile in between his lips. "Very well, then. I'm going to take a shower and put on my pyjamas. I'll meet you here soon."
"I can't wait," he says, placing a kiss on my neck.
I roll my eyes, wonderstruck, and rush back to my house for a well-deserved shower. My thoughts rush the entire time and when I leave the bathroom and unconsciously open my lingerie drawer, withdrawing my burgundy set, it's when my heart begins to race.
Is it going to happen tonight?
Do I want for it to happen tonight?
But it's the perfect timing… We're alone… Dad and Phil won't be back for several hours…
What if we never have another chance like this?
Okay, don't freak out… It might not even happen… Maybe we'll just spend the night kissing…
All right, but just in case…
I put on the lacy bra and panties and throw my blue flannel pyjamas on top. With my heart still drumming impatiently inside my chest, I grab one of the Persephone's Pome potions that I made. I drink one of them in a single gulp. They taste like pomegranate juice and make my skin tongue tingle a little bit. I state at myself in the mirror while I brush my teeth, my hair and spray on some perfume, wondering if I'll look any different after tonight.
Just relax, Athena. Don't panic.
Rowan's words rush through my mind as I walk towards the window.
He is a gentleman, she said. He has probably thought about it too… He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would do it out of whim… He'll probably be romantic and…
I rest my back against the wall, trying to catch my breath.
Relax… Just relax…
I open the window, looking around – at the snowy scenery in front of me – and take a deep breath before leaping, transforming mid-air and spreading my wings to the cold night. I fly to the other side of the building, landing softly on the windowsill of Talbott's bedroom.
I transform back, crossing my legs and watching him enter his bedroom and close the door behind him, his pyjama top still open, revealing his cinnamon smooth chest. It takes a few seconds for him to notice my presence, but when he does, he almost jumps out of his skin.
"Jesus Christ," he says, resting his back against his wardrobe. "You nearly gave me a heart attack."
I walk towards him, running my hands up his chest and wrapping my arms around his neck.
"You got here too fast," he says.
I look around, noticing that there are candles everywhere, still unlit. My heart begins to race unhinged, but faster and more painful this time.
He is thinking about it…
Okay, Athena. Do. Not. Panic.
Just be cool.
I snap my fingers, making all the candles get ablaze. Talbott's eyebrows rise and he flashes me a surprised look.
"Impressive…" he says and starts to button up his pyjamas.
I pull him by his collar, towards his bed. "Don't bother."
My hand reaches for the light switch, drowning both of us in the flickering light of the candles. I lock my lips against his, feeling the wonderful taste of his cinnamon toothpaste, allowing his marvellous scent of clove and nutmeg to intoxicate me. I fall softly over the bed, pulling him over me, running my fingers over his smooth chest.
My eyes linger on his ruby irises, which are looking right through me, smouldering hot, half-shut and flirtatious. Through the curtain of thick lashes, I feel like he is reading my soul. My heart pounds heavy as he wraps his arms around me. I relax my lips, leaning closer against his touch. My hand moves to his nape as I pull him closer, locking pressing my lips against his. They are soft and ablaze, gentle and delicious. He kisses me with urgency, his tongue slipping through my opened lips, caressing mine with delightful movements that send shivers up and down my spine. I wrap my fingers in his hair as my lips are devoured in his heated embrace.
I slide his shirt from his shoulders, throwing it onto the floor. My hands trace his collarbone and descend to the hem of his pants, and I feel him shivering under my touch.
"Athena," he moans, rubbing his nose against my jaw, descending to my neck. It sends uncontrollable chills all over my body. He pulls my collar aside, kissing my clavicle.
Little by little, while his lips are still glued to mine, he proceeds to unbutton my pyjama top. It slips down my shoulders, falling next to his, on the floor, by the bed. He gulps when he sees my lacy bra, in the deepest shade of burgundy, his favourite colour. He kisses my lips, descending to my cheek and throat, leaving a trail in between my breasts. He removes my pants, exhibiting my matching burgundy panties.
"You've put these on… because you wanted me to see?" he asks, his voice slightly choked.
I bite my bottom lip, feeling the shyness and nervousness fade little by little, being replaced by a sense of boldness. "That's why I bought them in the first place."
He swallows hard, making me chuckle. I wrap my legs around his hips, pulling him onto me. I weave my fingers along his scalp, manoeuvring him towards my neck, where he proceeds to kiss me ardently. His hand on my nape guides me to his shoulder, and I kiss it lightly before digging my teeth in his smooth, warm skin. I hear his breath catch. His fingers tighten at the back of my neck. I dig in deeper, feeling the shivers run up his spine. I run my fingernails along his back until I reach his pants. Underneath, he's wearing black silky boxers. I bite my bottom lip, pressing him against me. He gasps, biting my bottom lip in a way that is both painful and extremely delicious.
Our skins are a beautiful contrast against each other: his, warm and dark, and mine, pale and rosy. The candles launch flickering lights upon us, which dance ghostly as I run my nails, painted in a light shade of blue, upon his back.
"Talbott," I moan by his ear as he runs his tongue from my collarbone to my earlobe.
"You've no idea how much I longed for this," he says. "These past months have been a torture."
His hands travel all over my back, detaching my bra's hooks, swiftly throwing it away. I look at him – seeing my burning eyes reflecting in his irises – and bite my lips as he leans against me, kissing my jaw, neck and descending to my chest. I curl back, swallowing hard to the feeling of his lips over my skin.
His lips crawl across my belly, descending to the hem of my panties. He wraps his fingers on the thin fabric, pulling it down. It makes me feel suddenly exposed, but he pulls the covers upon us, making me feel a little more relaxed. Outside, the snow starts to fall heavily, sending a freezing breeze through the gap on the window. However, inside Talbott's embrace, everything feels warm and comfortable.
I run my fingers along his chest right to his boxers, pulling them out as well. He runs his hand along my thigh and I wrap my fingers in his hair, holding it tightly. I let out a vexed moan when he stops caressing me, his arms wrapping around my waist. I land my hands on his back as he kisses me tenderly, feeling him press his hip against mine. He looks at me, a dreamy spark in his eyes and an inviting smirk upon his lips.
"Are you sure you want to do this tonight?" he asks.
I nod, placing a kiss on his chin.
"Just so you know…" he starts, his voice a little shaky. "I have never done this before. So I'm a little bit… hmm… nervous."
I chuckle, feeling my heart relax as I catch his bottom lip in between my teeth. "Me too."
I rub my nose against his, barely touching his lips with mine, wrapping my legs around his hips and pulling him closer. He lets out a surprised gasp. I hide my face in the curve between his neck and shoulder, swallowing a painful gulp. I feel my hips tensioning, but Talbott's gentle kisses on my cheek and temple makes me relax, little by little. He looks at me, a mixture of concern and fondness in his eyes.
In the bar across the street, a soft version of Silent Night starts to play. My hearts swells with the sweetness of our moment, hidden from the snow under the covers, in each other's arms, surrounded by the flickering lights of a dozen candles. Rowan was right all along. Talbott ended up being the true gentleman she said he would be. An indecipherable smile appears in his lips as he tilts his head to look at me.
"What?" I ask, feeling my cheeks blush.
"It's nothing… I just…" he gazes into my eyes, his eyes scorching in the dark. "I love you."
My heart nearly stops. I look at him with a slightly shocked expression, his words echoing inside my head. I can't prevent a smile from coming to my lips as I cup his cheek, studying his handsome face. This time, I don't hold back.
"I love you too."
His eyes sparkle in every shade of scarlet. He leans on to kiss me feverishly, holding me tight against his chest. He rests his lips on my cheek, close to my ear.
"And all her face was honey to my mouth… And all her body pasture to mine eyes… The long lithe arms and hotter hands than fire… The quivering flanks, hair smelling of the south… The bright light feet, the splendid supple thighs… and glittering eyelids of my soul's desire."
He glues his lips to mine. "I love you, Athena," he says in between kisses. "Endlessly. Forevermore. With all my heart."
I smile in between his lips, not nearly as eloquent or poetic in order to form a breath-taking sentence. Instead, I just say:
"I love you, Tal. Truly. Madly. Deeply."
He smiles at my words; one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen, making my heart melt like ice cubes under the sun. He caresses my hair, resting his face on the curve between my neck and shoulder, and I hold his back tightly as he, slowly and chivalrously, begins to move. At first, is mildly unpleasant. An annoying sting that makes me want to move away. But as he steals a kiss after another, devouring my lips with feverish passion, the pain begins to dissipate, slowly turning into comfort.
I feel my insides throb when I think of we are truly doing, after months of desperately wanting to rip off his clothes and crawl into his skin. I dig my nails into his back as he starts to move faster, my thighs pressed against his hips. As he slips in deeper, I have to muffle my moans in his shoulder. Still, though I'm quenching my curiosity of knowing how it would all feel like, there's something else I'd like to try.
"Talbott," I moan, tilting my head to the side, moving my hair away and exposing my neck. "Please…"
He stops, looking at me with a frown. I look at him from the corner of my eyes, biting my bottom lip. He gulps.
"Athena, I… I told you I wouldn't attack you and-"
"Who said anything about attacking? Just bite my neck, Talbott," I grumble.
"I… I don't know if I'll be able to stop…" he says.
"You will."
"Athena, I don't know…"
I turn my face to look at him, my eyes ablaze. "Do you want me to beg?"
He rests his forehead on mine, taking a deep grasping breath. "I can't promise it will feel as good as in the Forbidden Forest," he says. "What if it hurts?"
"It won't," I say. "Not more than being struck by a Bludger."
He chuckles, returning to move carefully. "Why are you teasing me? It kills me to see you like this… wanting it so badly… you don't know what you're asking for…"
I arch my back, exposing my throat. "I'm not teasing. I'm begging you."
He rests his lips against my neck, kissing it gently. I feel my veins throb inside of me as he moves deeper. I can barely hear the Christmas songs playing in the street. His breath is loud as he starts panting against my naked skin. I rest my hand on his nape, feeling him slowly open his lips, touching my neck with his teeth.
"Please…"
He sinks his sharp fangs into my skin and my eyes widen in the dark, feeling waves of electricity run all over my body. I lose my voice inside of me, a silent gasp dissipating in my throat. My heart begins to race inside my chest as bolts of an outstanding pleasure strike me one after the other. It's almost unbearable… It's of an overwhelming intoxication that leaves me completely numb in his arms. I run my nails deep in his shoulders as I arch my back, feeling him drink from me as moan after moan escapes his lips. My body seems to explode from the inside out, sending shivers all over me as I, at last, relax in his arms, tired and slightly numb. With one last gulp, he releases me, throwing his head back, his lips stained with my blood, letting out one last satisfied groan.
He swipes his tongue over the blood on his lips, returning to my neck to lick the blood that is dripping across my skin. It stings and it's delicious, and I release a satisfied moan as he drops heavily next to me, panting.
My fingers look for the spot where he bit me and a smile flashes through my lips in utter indulgence. My chest feels absurdly light as I lie on my stomach, placing my elbows on the bed and eyeing him with a smirk, resting my face on my hand. He looks at me as I watch the sweat drip down his temples. I bite my lip, studying how wonderfully hot he looks with his lips stained in red.
"I hate you," he says, panting.
I smile, satisfied. "No, you don't."
"No, I don't," he agrees, closing his eyes. "God, that was… extraordinary."
I chuckle, resting my chin on his chest. With the candle lights kissing his skin and with such a relaxed expression upon his face, Talbott manages to look even more handsome.
"What?" he asks, opening his eyes lightly and looking at me with curiosity.
I circle my finger over his chest. "You know… they won't be back for a few more hours at least."
He laughs. "I admit that… I don't feel as tired as I thought I'd be… Maybe drinking your blood sort of… replenished me."
"Then why don't you drink some more?" I tease, biting his earlobe lustfully.
He bites his lip. "Let your body recover the blood you lost. I don't want to drain you."
"And who cares?" I say, moving over him and sitting over his hips. I watch him catch his breath. "I can rest later."
I run my fingers over his chest as he looks at me with a smirk upon his lips.
"Athena, you're playing with fire…" he warns as I brush my lips against his.
I chuckle before kissing him ardently. "You can't get burned when you're the flame."
* I'll Be – Edwin McCain
