Socks, Sex and Snitches
Socks, Sex and Snitches

(Part 1 by Imogen)

Candlelight flickered gently though the Great Hall, casting chattering faces in a soft glow of warm light. Harry helped himself to more treacle sponge pudding and grinned over at Ginny, who was sitting beside him. The last few weeks had been rather busy, with exams approaching and the extra Quidditch practises for the last match of the season: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Consequently, they had seen very little of each other, beyond quick encounters in the corridor, or at meal times, and this was irritating them both. Tonight, however, was going to be different. Harry had thought of somewhere new where they could go to be alone.

Ginny looked almost radiant in this light, he reflected, watching her out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't help smiling at her. Her long red hair reflected the light, different strands of colour conflicting with one another to shimmer in the light. She was chatting eagerly to Hermione, waving her hands in the vivacious way she did when she talked about something which interested her. Harry felt his cheeks heat up a little as he thought of just where he would like those very hands to go tonight.

"So what about Quidditch practise?" Ron said, interrupting his reverie. "Oh, stop drooling over my sister. I want to keep some dinner down, thank you very much."

"Oi!" Ginny protested, and threw a bread roll at him. "He can do that all he wants. Anyway, you're one to talk." At this, Ron turned rather red, and muttered something about passing the custard. Harry laughed, and shoved the jug across the table.

"Well, I've booked the pitch," he admitted. "To be honest, I think we've all been training so hard we could do with a night off. We're flying incredibly well, and it's going to cause all sorts of problems if we over do it. What do you reckon?"

"A night off sounds good," Ron said, sneaking a sideways glance at Hermione, and grinning furtively at her.

"You keep that up, and I'll be throwing rolls at you as well," she chuckled, reaching for his hand. "You can't look at me like that here."

"Right then," said Harry brightly. "Let's have the night off." He felt Ginny's hand travel onto his leg, and slowly caress his thigh. He swallowed awkwardly, feeling the effect as she began to let her fingers wander in sensuous circles.

At the end of the meal, the four of them left the dining room together, and clattered noisily up the marble staircase laughing about an incident in Transfiguration earlier in the day, when Neville had managed to transfigure himself into a footstool, and couldn't change back until Seamus sat on him. Neville popped back into his normal shape in sheer surprise, causing them both to sprawl across the floor in a very ungainly manner.

"I left my book there," Ginny suddenly blurted out. "I'd better go and get it."

"I'll come with you," Harry said instantly, and without a second glance at Ron and Hermione, the pair of them hurried off up a few floors and along to the Transfiguration corridor.

Nearing their goal, Ginny paused, and grinned impishly at Harry.

"I lied," she said, giggling mischievously, and wrapping her arms around him.

"I know," Harry responded, the heat of desire building in his chest as he stared into her eyes. Lips met with passionate fire, darkness enveloping them, as they staggered backwards against the wall, oblivious to the:

"Well, honestly!"

from the outraged portrait immediately behind them.

"Can we?" Harry asked at length, breathing unsteady.

"Yes," she whispered, seeking more kisses, pressing herself up against him in her eagerness. "Tonight. Where shall we go?"

"Quidditch changing rooms are free," Harry grinned wickedly. He nuzzled against her ear. "Why else do you think I cancelled practise?"

A low moan escaped her as he teased her earlobe, and trailed kisses downwards.

"I hate to interrupt," a cold voice suddenly drawled behind them. "Especially when you so obviously need a hotel room. My, my, things must be getting bad Potter if you're resorting to sleeping with that."

"What do you want, Malfoy?" Harry growled furiously, gripping his wand and Ginny tightly. "Get it out and then get out of my sight."

"Just wanted to know if you were using the pitch tonight," he sneered. "You're going to lose anyway, so I don't know why you're bothering."

"The pitch is booked," Harry said in a flat, firm voice. "It's all yours tomorrow, so you can teach them how to stay on their brooms then. Tonight, it belongs to me."

"Well, you've got to have something to look forward to, I suppose, Potter," Malfoy smirked knowingly, and with a final insolent appraisal of Ginny, he turned and walked off.

"I could… I could… " Harry began furiously, and suddenly felt a small hand on his arm.

"Don't let him get to you," she said, reaching up to kiss him. "He's not worth it. Don't let him spoil this, please."

Harry looked down into her dark brown eyes, and felt his anger begin to subside instantly. His hand tangled itself lovingly in the depths of her red hair.

"You take the invisibility cloak," he said quietly. "No one will be surprised to see me down there if they look."

"I'll meet you down there in half an hour?" she grinned, and giggled in anticipation.

"You're on," he said cheerfully, feeling that at long last they may have found a place far enough removed from the castle to protect them from yet another of those embarrassing interruptions.