When I arrived at the Hospital Wing, my heart was thumping inside of my chest like crazy. I bit my bottom lip, worried.
"Hermione! Where the bloody hell were you?" Regulus snarked and I glared at him.
"Someone from my past decided to show up all of a sudden." Well, it certainly wasn't a lie. I moved to Barty's bed, a frown etched into my features.
"Oh, Merlin. What the hell happened to you, Barty?" I whispered, taking in his shaking form. He opened his eyes wearily, jolting every few seconds.
"Mya…Mione…" I smiled faintly and stared up at Madame Pomfrey.
"Do you know what's wrong with him?"
"He's burning up from the inside, my dear. I'm sorry, but he won't make it through the day."
"He will, Madame Pomfrey. I'm sure of it. I've seen this curse before." I half lied. I had to thank Barty for giving me the counter curse later.
"Drak Feir!" I shouted, watching as the magic shot forth from my wand. Regulus watched with anticipation as Barty stopped jolting all of a sudden. I watched him, my heart frozen. It seemed like a life time before he gave any reaction to the counter curse.
"Mione…" I knelt down and conjured a wet cloth, dabbing his forehead, my eyes kind.
"How are you feeling?" I whispered softly, as if we were the only two in the room. He smiled, gripping my wrist tightly, stroking it softly as he opened his eyes. I gulped at the display of raw affection in them. He was finally beginning to truly open up to me.
"Hungry. And tired." I nodded, moving back, allowing him some space.
"I'll let you rest, then."
"No! No…" He rasped throatily. I stared up at Madame Pomfrey.
"I'll connect another bed to his. Just as long as he gets some rest. No fooling around." I blushed scarlet and nodded firmly, turning back to the crowd of snakes. I smiled at Regulus and he shooed them all out before giving me a small smirk. I settled down on the bed beside him and smiled.
"Your Barty came." He whispered quietly. I froze. How had he known?
"I felt it, the shift." I shushed him and kissed his forehead.
"Do you love me, Hermione?" I stared into his coffee colored eyes, breathing in deeply.
"I do. But, I will never become a Death Eater. Not for you, not for anyone. Nor will be in Slytherin. I know you wanted me to get re-sorted, but I refuse to, Barty. Gryffindor is where I belong, no matter who I acquaint myself with." He growled under his breath, letting it go for now. I knew that this wouldn't be the last time we talked about it. Barty was as stubborn as I was. I watched Madame Pomfrey fix him up a Pepper-Up Potion before she left us alone again. I watched him take the potion, making sure that he consumed it all, before asking what had been burning my curiosity ever since this Barty had known that my Barty showed up in the Room of Requirement.
"How can you tell?" He smiled crookedly and shushed me with his index finger.
"That isn't important right now. What is more important right now, Hermione?" I nodded, lying down beside him.
"That you get rest." He frowned and pulled my body up against his own.
"Not exactly what I had in mind…" He growled lustfully, his eyes consumed with his own lust as he grinded his hips against mine. I blushed scarlet and gulped, his hard arousal poking against my thigh persistently.
"How are you always, um, aroused?" I asked, my tone incredulous.
"It's a gift." He commented arrogantly. He chuckled softly and nibbled on my throat sweetly.
"I need you, always. My precious vixen." He whispered hoarsely, sliding his hand under my school shirt, undoing my bra skillfully. His eyes were greedily taking in my breasts. I gasped again as his other hand found its way underneath my skirt, sliding my underwear down my thighs, to down my ankles.
" Merlin, I can smell you from here, gorgeous." He breathed, inhaling deeply.
"Barty…" I panted as he plunged a lithe finger into my heat, his gaze concentrated on my face as he watched and waited for my reactions. He smirked, hissing with delight as I gripped his shoulders tightly as he thrusted his finger into me.
"Did he leave you wanting, goddess? Yes?" His voice was rough, hoarse. I arched my back, a small whimper escaping my lips. I nuzzled his neck, stretching as I tried to relieve the tight knot of pleasure building up within me.
"Oh no. I don't think so. You're not cumming until I'm buried deep inside of you, your walls tightening around my cock." I flushed at his dirty language, and pleaded with him.
"Barty- please!" He panted heavily and licked his lips hungrily. I glanced over at the door where Madame Pomfrey had disappeared through, apprehensive. He gripped my chin and forced me to face him once more. His tongue flickered out erratically, almost acting like a sensor to pick up the scent of our arousal.
"Exquisite." His eyes were bright with madness, a shallow reflection of his future self.
"Barty, you should, rest." I managed to utter, any coherent thoughts or speech destroyed by his wonderful fingers. If I was thinking straight, I would've noted the fact that I was acting so incredibly wanton that I would've wanted to slap myself in an attempt to make me see reason. But as it was, all I could concentrate on was how good Barty's fingers felt inside me.
"So wet, aren't you? A golden Gryffindor being pleasured by a snake, a Slytherin. I wonder what McGonagall would say if she heard? Merlin, why you think you belong in Gryffindor beats me. You're so passionate, gorgeous. In fact, I think that it's time for me to lay my claim on you. I know that the future me has already done it, you stunk of me when you landed in my lap, vixen. But, it's my turn now."
"Possessive bastard!" I hissed as he grinned maniacally. He licked his lips eagerly and snapped his teeth.
"Oh yes!"
It took an entire week before Barty escaped the Hospital Wing and Madame Pomfrey's 'wrath'. I wasn't that concerned when he was in there, as it stopped him from trying to lay more 'love bites' on me, thank Merlin. I was still recovering from the last lot he blessed me with. When I came out of the Hospital Wing after the first night Barty spent in there, Regulus began to mercilessly tease me about it.
"You're a marked woman now, Granger." He'd jeered. For the rest of the day, he was sporting pink hair everywhere and professing his love for every male in Hogwarts. The first one- Dumbledore.
"I want our duel, Granger. Five minutes, in the Room of Requirement." He hissed, his ego bruised. I laughed and he held his hand out.
"Oh, you're actually serious? Alright then Black, but be forewarned. I had an excellent teacher." The strings of my heart pulled tighter. I wasn't sure who my loyalties were towards anymore. My best friend, or the man whom had proclaimed himself as my fiancé?
I was surprised to see that Regulus had already arrived, along with a pack of Slytherins. I frowned disapprovingly and he simply smirked.
"Ready to lose, Gryffindor?"
"See, this is what I meant. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin can't possibly have a 'friendly duel'. It's completely impossible!" I huffed, rolling my eyes.
"Hmm, not everyday I get to see Regulus's ass get whipped by a girl." I turned around to see Barty standing on my side. He grinned and Regulus pouted.
"Barty, I'm your best mate! You'd choose her over me?"
"Easily. She wouldn't be mine if she couldn't hold her own, Reg. Plus, I'm eager to see her in action." I flushed as Barty's light banter almost made him seem sane.
"You won't interrupt?" I asked suspiciously. He simply shook his head. I pursed my lips and turned to Regulus. He was watching Barty curiously. We both knew something was up. He was acting too normal for the Barty we knew. No glimmers of madness, no manic grins. Just, normality. Something was incredibly wrong. I shook the thoughts from my mind and nodded to Regulus. He nodded back. We walked to the center, bowed to each other before assuming the position at our own ends of the converted room. The count ended, and the first sparks of magic flashed.