"If I Could Melt Your Heart" by Redcandle17
Disclaimer: All recognizable characters and elements from the Harry Potter series belong to J.K. Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended.
Alicia leaned against the wall, smiling to herself as she watched Cassius reprimand a group of young Slytherins and Gryffindors who'd been throwing simple curses at each other in the hallway. She smirked as he took twenty points away from Gryffindor and was then forced to take the same amount from Slytherin.
After the Gryffindors had sulked away, Cassius grabbed one of the Slytherin boys and whispered something Alicia couldn't hear. Her smile faded as Warrington held the boy up by his collar then dropped him abruptly, causing him to fall to the floor. After the Slytherin children had scurried away, Alicia approached him. "You're going to be a terrible father," she said.
Cassius frowned at her. "They forced me to take points from our house. They need to learn to be discreet when they attack Gryffindors."
Alicia wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face against his chest. "Then offer them pointers on how to hex Gryffindors when no one's looking instead of manhandling them. They're little kids."
He didn't return her embrace. "I think I'd be a good father. My children wouldn't be ill-mannered brats."
"I don't want to talk about children, I want to snog." She smiled at him, waiting to be kissed.
"I can't. I'm on duty."
"Cassius, darling, would you really rather stop Third Years from writing rude things on classroom blackboards than kiss me?"
He looked tempted, but gently peeled her off him nevertheless. "If something happens to draw the teachers' attention, I'll look irresponsible for not having stopped it in time."
Alicia pouted. "You just don't want me anymore."
Cassius kissed her quickly. "I want you more than anything else, but not now. Meet me outside the prefects' bathroom tomorrow night?"
"Of course, but there's no reason I can't stay with you now."
"People will notice – and gossip."
"We'll pretend to be fighting. I have some good insults about your house I haven't used yet."
It was oddly excitingly, exchanging insults while in sight of other people and kissing while they were alone. Alicia had to work to keep the smile off her face lest any of their fellow students became suspicious. The most amusing – and difficult – part was encountering other Slytherins and Gryffindors who wanted to help.
Alicia had to bite her lip to prevent herself from laughing when Millicent Bulstrode called her an ugly Gryffindor harpy. When Cassius, with an insincere smile, finally convinced Millicent to go back to her dormitory, Alicia snickered. "She's probably hoping you'll go tuck her in and kiss her goodnight."
"That's not funny. Merlin, she looks like a hag."
"She fancies you. I think it's cute." She tilted her head and pretended to be upset. "Or should I be worried?"
"She's a half-blood," Cassius said, not looking the least bit amused. "Don't even joke about it."
"Half the witches and wizards in Britain are half-bloods. What's the big deal?" Alicia stared at him challengingly, daring him to start babbling about blood purity.
Wisely, Cassius pulled her into an alcove and pushed her against the wall. "I don't want to talk about half bloods."
"I don't want to talk at all," Alicia said, loosening his tie and unbuttoning the top buttons of his shirt so she could get better access to his neck.
Professor McGonagall appeared just before Alicia could reach the portrait of the Fat Lady. Alicia glanced at her watch surreptitiously. She wasn't late, there were two minutes left before curfew. Still, she stared guiltily at the head of her house without speaking. Although Alicia thought Professor McGonagall always looked disapproving and slightly worried, the Transfiguration teacher looked more so now.
"Er, Miss Spinnet, I trust you are taking the necessary precautions?"
Alicia had no idea what Professor McGonagall meant and her puzzlement must have shown on her face.
McGonagall sighed heavily. "You're taking contraceptive potions or using a contraceptive charm, are you not?"
Alicia felt her face burn and wished she could sink into the floor. She shook her head.
"Charms are quick and easy, but they sometimes fail. It is best to use them only when you've forgotten to take the potion regularly. Madam Pomfrey provides contraceptive potions to young women who request them. I suggest you visit her soon."
"I don't need them, Professor," Alicia said, so mortified that her voice was a mere whisper. "I really don't."
McGonagall gave her a sharp look, surveying her from head to toe. "Perhaps not now, but it would be best to start taking precautions soon."
Alicia wondered whether the glamours covering the marks on her neck had faded. Or maybe she hadn't managed to smooth her hair as well as she thought she had. She supposed the expression on her face or her body language could have made McGonagall suspicious. "I will take precautions when I need them, Professor," she assured McGonagall.
McGonagall nodded and wished her good night.
Alicia sagged against the Fat Lady's portrait as she watched McGonagall stride away. "That was embarrassing."
"That's where you've been going, you naughty girl! Now, tell me, dear, who is the young man?" the Fat Lady asked. "A poetic Ravenclaw? A sweet Hufflepuff? A seductive Slytherin?"
"No one," Alicia lied. "I've been studying in the library. Now let me pass."
"Password first."
"Puffskein."
But the Fat Lady still refused to allow Alicia access to the Gryffindor common room until she told her whom she had been with. Alicia glared at the portrait, trying to think of a believable lie. "Roger Davies."
"Nice try, dear, but I do know about him and the French veela girl. You're pretty, but no one would leave a veela for you."
Alicia wondered why Hogwarts couldn't simply use locks and keys like muggles did. "It's after curfew, you'll get me in trouble for being outside the dormitory."
"Tell me," the Fat Lady sang.
She'd heard once that people wouldn't believe the truth if it was incredible enough. "Fine," she sighed theatrically. "I was with Warrington."
"Hmm, determined to keep it a secret, are we? I do understand. I have secrets of my own. Why, Sir Cadogan and I..."
"Please, can I go to bed now?"
"Unfriendly girl," the Fat Lady huffed, her frame swinging open.
Alicia groaned when Katie pounced - literally and metaphorically - on her. Hadn't she been interrogated about her love life enough for one night?
"You were with Warrington, weren't you?" Katie demanded.
"No! Of course not. Didn't I say weeks ago that I wasn't going to do anything with him?"
"No, you said you wouldn't 'do anything you couldn't handle.' I'm sure you're quite capable of handling that Slytherin...all over that big, strong body of his..."
"Confine your imagination to your Divination homework, little girl. Hey, where's Angelina?"
Katie gave her an injured look. "You're going to tell her all the sordid details, but not me?"
"There are no sordid details to tell. If you're that obsessed with Slytherin Quidditch players, I can find out Flint's address and you can stalk him over the summer. Maybe you can bribe his house elves to get him drunk enough to forget that he could go to Azkaban for touching you."
"Find out from Warrington?" Katie asked slyly.
Alicia threw her hands up in disgust. "I am not involved in any way with Warrington, damn it." She ignored the Second and Third Years suddenly paying attention to their conversation. "Why doesn't anyone believe me?" Am I really that bad a liar? Giving up on convincing Katie that she was not snogging Warrington, Alicia sprinted up to the Fifth Year girls' dormitory.
Katie followed her. "Angelina's having a threesome with the twins in your room," she said matter-of-factly. "You're going to be out here for a while, you might as well tell me about you and Warrington."
Alicia ignored her. However she found that the door was indeed locked. She headed back down to the common room, sighing. It's not fair. Why doesn't anyone give Angelina lectures about birth control and grill her for details?
The following night, as Alicia leaned contentedly against Cassius's broad chest, she asked, "Do your friends suspect anything?"
"They don't have to rely on suspicions," he replied, "I've told them everything." He slid his fingers between her legs. "Every single little detail."
Alicia bolted upright in alarm before realizing he was joking and settling back. She wasn't sure what felt more heavenly; the warm, foamy water, or touch of her bare skin against his. She'd been reluctant to use the prefects' bathroom at first, though Cassius argued endlessly that it was private and far more comfortable than the Quidditch pitch. She wasn't sure she could restrain herself if they were naked in a tub together. But it was easier than she'd expected. The key was to remember how satisfying it was to know there was something he wanted that she could control - even when her own body tried to convince her that giving in would be more satisfying.
Well, her body had also tried to convince her to quit Quidditch after a month of Oliver's pre-dawn practices her Third Year. She hadn't listened to it then and had no regrets. She determined to ignore it now also. At least until next year.
"McGonagall advised me to start using contraceptive potions," she said casually.
Cassius shifted away from her slightly, so that there was no longer anything poking her back. "Why? What did you tell her?"
Alicia smiled to herself. "I suppose I looked like I'd been shagged. Anyway, I told her I didn't need them."
"Are you sure?"
She slapped his hand. "I'm sure." Then, "I didn't say stop."
By "next year" I meant, of course, next school year. Or better yet, this summer. That's perfect. He can spend all summer at my house while my parents are at work.
She stopped thinking as Cassius's fingers rubbed against her more insistently and he nuzzled her neck. Yes. Her moan was stifled by his mouth closing over hers.
It was worth sneaking around and dodging questions from perceptive people, Alicia thought later, as she curled her hand around Cassius and licked the column of his throat. Not that she'd ever had any doubt.