Well, I think Lazy-anji has gone into hiding...that or she has too much homework. Last I knew she was on Ch. 31. So, since I feel bad making Mandi wait, I'm going with Mandi's lone vote and keeping this puppy PG. Sorry, Lazy-anji. Hope you can forgive me. Also, my computer has been acting weird so I'll probably be putting several chapters up tonight just in case. This chapter is very short for a couple of reasons. 1) It has been heavily edited, and since you've read Ch. 35 you already know why. 2) I was going to put this bit at the end of Ch. 35, but I decided to leave off where I did to create a little tension.
Chapter 36:
"Let's just stay like this for a little longer..." Michelle whispered.
Harry lowered his face into the nape of her neck. They held each other till their breathing returned to normal. Feeling Michelle shivering beneath him, Harry reached down and pulled the covers over them. Laying on their sides facing each other, neither spoke. Harry reached out and stroked Michelle's cheek. She could feel him trembling. Coming closer, she wrapped her body around his. She brushed the hair from his forehead and kissed his scar lightly,
"Are you still cold?"
Harry searched her eyes, almost afraid to answer, "No..."
"Are you sure? You're shaking." She hugged him tighter.
"It's just that...I wanted to tell you...I..." he was cut off by Fang's loud barking. Harry and Michelle scrambled out of the bed and threw on their clothes. Fang continued to bark as footsteps could be heard outside the hut. Someone knocked at the door. Harry looked to Michelle.
"You stay here. I'll go see who it is."
Michelle was about to protest, but Harry got out of the room before she could say anything. She made the bed using a quick spell. Standing by the door, she listened to what was happening in the front room. She could hear Harry talking. She recognized the other voice. It was Dumbledore's. She debated on stepping into the front room, but thought better of it. After a few minutes, she heard Dumbledore leave and Harry returned.
"Dumbledore was out walking and saw the smoke from the fire. He knew Hagrid was gone so he came down to find out who was inside."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him I couldn't sleep so I came down to check on Fang like Hagrid asked me to do. I don't think he really believed me, but I didn't get in trouble. He strongly suggested I get back up to the castle though." Harry put out the fire, while Michelle made sure they hadn't forgotten anything. Tossing the Invisibility Cloak over themselves, they headed back to the school. Reaching the common room, Harry returned the cloak to his bookbag. They climbed the stairs quietly till they reached Michelle's room.
"Thank you for the necklace...for tonight...for everything." she said keeping her voice down.
"Happy Birthday..." He wanted to say something more, but didn't want to risk waking the house. Instead, he kissed her. She leaned into his body, her tounge slipping between his lips, reminding him how much he wanted her...and, he supposed, how much she wanted him. Breathless, she pulled away. He could see something in her eyes, something in the way she was gazing on him. He would have to ask her about it in the morning. Sneaking into his bed, Harry found it hard to sleep. He kept playing the night over and over in his head. He finally drifted off, a small grin on his face.
