Author's notes:

Standard disclaimer, I own nothing. It all belongs to JKR.

This is just a little something that bit me after reading a number of similar stories and I thought I'd give it a try. You can assume the story is canon compliant up to the just about the end of Harry's rescue of Ginny in Chamber of Secrets. It goes AU when he falls unconscious before Fawkes arrives to drip tears in the wound on his arm.

This is a stand alone story not related in any way to any of my other works

I'm going to be posting very short chapters. Don't worry though, the story is complete and I'll post a chapter a day.

Enjoy,

Sorcerer's Muse

Finally, Peace.

Chapter XXI

A Towel?

"Up you come then." She gave a gentle tug and he stepped up into the campervan. "Don't move, and no peeking," she warned leaning past him to shut the door. Harry latched onto her as she pulled back, capturing her lips in a searing kiss that took her more than a few moments to break away from. "You are misbehaving," she teased.

"I'll have you know my eyes were never open and not one word was said in regards to accosting my girlfriend."

"Cheeky little thing, aren't you?"

"I've been taught the importance of reading the fine print." He reached for her again.

"I'll bet," she said, batting his hands away. "Do you want your present or not?"

"Till you took your lips away I kinda thought I was getting it."

"Incorrigible," she muttered.

"In a good way, right?"

Lis leaned in and pecked his lips. "In every way." She retreated as he tried to chase her, putting her finger up on his lips. "Ahh."

Harry let out a dramatic sigh. "Ok, but I expect cake or a nap soon or I won't be held responsible for the consequences."

Lis tugged his hand. "If you would only behave you would already be getting that nap."

"But what about the cake?" he whinged, cautiously shuffling after her. Lis guided him to her sitting area, positioning herself so he could see but she would be able to see his reaction as well.

"Are you ready, or are you going to keep whinging?"

"Depends on if you're going to show me a giant cake or not."

"Open your eyes." He did so, blinking a few times to get his bearings before taking in the love seat that had replaced her chair and ottoman. She'd also managed to squeeze in a second little bookshelf that, for the moment, remained empty of anything but a framed picture of the two of them riding the same wave. "So I thought we might need something more permanent than just transfiguring my ottoman for those rainy days."

"It's nice," he said.

"You think?" she asked.

He nodded. "It'll be nice to sit next to you and I'll be able to see the water too. You really are astonising at charm and transfiguration work."

Lis smiled. She could tell he was a bit confused yet. But that was fine. It only made it more fun if it took him a bit to catch on. "There's more," she said.

"More?"

"Look in the bath." His brow furrowed. "Just look." He shrugged and turned, moving to the door and peering in. Lis pushed him all the way in. "Do you like it?" she asked.

Harry turned a slow circle, the confusion on his face growing. "Erm, did you add another orchid?"

Lis giggled. "You really don't see it?"

Harry turned another circle. "I'm sorry, I don't. I'm sure I'll think it's brilliant once you point it out though."

"Well what about if I show you this?" she pointed.

Harry took a second to respond. "The toothbrush holder," he said dubiously.

"No?" she asked, seeming confused he wasn't seeing what she was. "What about… this?" she adjusted the towel on the bar."

"A towel?"

"You're certain you don't see something different about them?"

Harry glanced between the towel bar and the toothbrush holder a number of times. "Nooo," he said.

"You don't see that there's… two toothbrushes, or two towels on the bar?" Harry blinked and his eyes darted between the items again. Lis stepped so she her middle was pressed to his. "I made changes in the bedroom too," she said.

"Changes?" he asked.

"Mmm, I put in a queen bed." She saw the light starting to dawn on him. "There's a new wardrobe as well… I don't think I've filled even a third of it. Mind, half of what's left is mine as well but…" She trailed off, playing with the collar of his tee-shirt.

"Are you… asking what I think you're asking?"

"I still want to go slow. Not because I'm afraid. But because I think there's a good likelihood our first times are also my last first times and I want to savor each and every one. But yes, Harry, I want you to move in with me."

"You're absolutely certain?"

"I am."

"I–I don't know what to say."

"Do you not want to?"

"No! No. I'm just… Overwhelmed."

Lis stretched up and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Should we break the mattress in?"

Harry grinned down on her. "That sounds like the best birthday gift ever." Lis backed away, pulling him by the hand out the door. Turning for the bedroom she led him to the ladder. The moment her foot touched the first rung it morphed and twisted into a narrow spiral staircase. "Sweet Merlin," Harry exclaimed.

Lis laughed joyously. She'd forgotten she'd not showed him that bit before. She hurried up the steps, pulling him along with him. "Watch your head," she warned. "I didn't actually add any space so it's a bit short and quite tight."

Harry ducked in the space with her. Obviously, as he'd not seen the ladder/staircase in action, he'd yet to be up here. The ceiling was only about five foot ten and at six two he needed to duck his head to fit. One side of the queen bed was pushed up against the front wall of the van and there was but a foot of space between the end of the bed and the wardrobe. A two–level cubby shelf inset into the wall at the head of the bed took the place of nightstands, with a glass for water on each side and room for books or, in Lis' case, her knitting project. It was tight. But coming from his tent it was like stepping into a palace.

"I'm glad you didn't add space," he said. "It's because it's small that makes it so amazing."

Lis crawled onto the bed and held her hand out. "I'm glad you like it, because we're about to find out if two people can live in less than thirty square meters without murdering each other."

Harry climbed on the bed beside her. "Lis," he said. "As long as you were happy I could live with you in my porsche."

Lis laughed and curled in against his side with her head on his chest. "Your porsche does not have a toilet. And I promise you, if you want me to be happy, you must ensure that I always have my own toilet."

"Technically, you don't have that anymore."

"You, I can tolerate. A thousand of my closest friends from the beach, not so much."

Harry chuckled softly and they fell silent for a short while before he pressed a kiss to her crown. "I love you, Lis." He was a bit bothered she didn't respond, but then realized she'd fallen asleep. He pressed another kiss to the top of her head and followed her.

Author's notes:

Poor Harry. He says those words and she's fallen asleep on him.