Chapter 11
Tom returned to his own room but didn't fall asleep quickly. He lay on his back and thought about Skyler. She'd obviously been dreaming about him, she said his name so many times. And he knew what she'd been dreaming about.
He'd done it with other girls. He hadn't cared about them, he'd just done it to clear his head, to pass the time, to feel good for a while. But it had only been once per girl. Around 11 or 12 girls, he wasn't sure, within the space of about a year and a half. Skyler had been with one man almost ten years ago, many times, then again for the past few months, but that didn't seem to be to make her feel good.
He'd thought about it with Skyler, obviously. It was what had kept him going sometimes over the past few years when she hadn't been around. Sometimes he'd thought of it at rather inconvenient times when he'd been a teenager which had been embarrassing. He'd wanted to when they'd been together in Hogwarts, he'd come close many times, but he'd never brought up the courage to go all the way.
But to see her right there, her hips moving, her back arching, her hands clenching, it had all become so real. He felt nervous, why should he be nervous? He'd been with other girls and they'd all seemed to like it.
But Skyler was different. He cared about her. She was his, and he didn't want to ruin it.
But when would be the right time?
The Death Eaters were always around, even though most of them had homes and jobs. He realised, Christmas was almost upon them. He would send them all home for Christmas so he could be alone with Skyler, at last.
Skyler was oblivious to his plans and carried on regardless. She dreamed about Tom a few more times, mostly, unfortunately while he was with her. She would wake panting with his hand over her mouth, him staring at her in astonishment.
One night, she decided she'd had enough. Enough brief kisses, enough hesitant touching, she knew what she wanted. And she wanted it soon.
It was late, Tom sat in a high backed armchair before the fire in the dining room, staring into the flames and swirling around the remainder of a goblet of wine. Skyler knocked on the door which was ajar.
"Come in." Tom said carelessly.
"Tom?" Skyler said quietly, padding into the room.
He looked around, setting the goblet down. She was the only one who called him by his name. "Sky."
"Hello."
She spoke quietly, her voice sounding more innocent than usual. She couldn't stop staring at the way his muscles showed through his shirt as he moved.
"Come, sit with me." He beckoned her towards him.
She walked over, and sat in his lap on her chair. Surprised, Tom touched her shoulders. She kissed him enthusiastically, pressing her small body against his.
"My... god." Tom whispered hoarsely, staring in astonishment when Skyler reached down and pulled off her silk nightdress over her head.
"Kiss me." She hissed in his ear.
He did, running his hands down her back to her slim waist.
"More... more." She mumbled, starting to unbutton his shirt.
"Sky..." Tom whispered hesitantly.
"No. Want... you." She muttered in between kissing him.
He returned the kiss, surprised as Skyler pushed his shirt off of his shoulders.
Normally he initiated things like this. It was a new experience and he liked it.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and Briggs and one of the Simmons twins walked in. They stared in shock at Skyler and Tom.
Quick as a flash, Tom had his shirt back on and his wand in his hand. He stormed towards them.
"Don't you fools ever learn to knock?!" He raged, casting a spell quickly.
They were all pushed backwards by the force of his spell and the doors slammed shut.
Skyler sat, shivering on the chair, her arms covering herself.
"Tom?" She said after a minute.
He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, but we can't continue tonight, Sky. You should go back to bed."
She pulled her nightdress on and walked towards the doors. She reached up and kissed him sweetly. He stared after her as she slipped out of the door, breathing in the scent of her sweet vanilla perfume.
A few days later, Bennett Simmons, the awkward twin with glasses and no tattoos, approached Skyler while she was sitting on a windowsill in a remote room of the palace, hugging her knees in a thin lilac dress.
She looked up at him and gave a small smile.
"Good afternoon, Miss." He said.
"Oh, Bennett, call me Sky."
He relaxed a little. "Alright. May I sit?"
"Of course."
She shifted a little on the windowsill to make room for him and he sat.
"Is it true that you're... uh, laying with the Dark Lord?" He asked after a moment.
Skyler sighed. "No."
"Oh. Because I..." He looked up at her nervously. "I think I'm in love with you."
Her indigo eyes widened. "Oh... my god."
"But I know you care for him."
"I do... Ever so much."
"Then there is nothing to be done."
"I... I'm sorry." She said hopelessly.
"You cannot choose what your heart wants, and neither can I." Bennett said wisely.
She sighed, touched his hand and walked out.
A few nights later, a soft knock came at Skyler's door. She padded across and opened it a fraction. It was Tom.
She smiled at the sight of him, having not seen him for a few days and opened the door further to let him in. He walked into the room, and sat on the chaise longue. Skyler sat beside him.
She kissed him gently. He returned it, a little more hesitant than usual. She started to wrap her arms around him but he stopped her, holding her slim wrists carefully.
"What's the matter?" She asked, concerned.
"I don't know if we should do this anymore." Tom said slowly.
"Do what?"
He sighed. "I'm not good for you, Skyler."
"I don't care." She said instantly.
"I'll ruin your life... I'll ruin you." He said, holding her wrists as they started to tremble.
She shook her head vehemently. "How could you ruin my life?" She moved closer to him, lowering her voice a little. "It's been better every day you've been in it."
"You deserve someone better, someone... normal."
"Where is this coming from?" She asked gently.
"I saw what happened with Bennett the other night..."
Skyler pulled her wrists from his grasp and cupped his pale face in her hands.
"Listen to me."
He stared back at her with his grey eyes.
"There is no one else I would rather be with in this whole world, than you."
"Sky..." He began again.
She shushed him. "I can't live without you, Tom."
"You don't mean that."
She moved her hands to his shoulders. "I do. I'd die if we were apart."
"The only reason we'll ever be apart... is if one of us dies."
"And that's not going to happen any time soon." Skyler said firmly.
The time had come at last.
Tom banished all of the Death Eaters from the castle. Skyler had been looking especially enticing recently and he found himself aching for more than just kisses, like he'd done when they were teenagers and he was racing with hormones.
Oblivious, Skyler had a hot shower after having a walk around the snowy hills.
She noticed that Tom had been acting a bit strange for the past few days, almost like he was avoiding her. They had recovered after his concerns and were getting even better than before.
Skyler washed herself and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a white fluffy towel around her body. She dried her hair a little with another towel but was interrupted by the door swung open. Tom strode over to her and took her hand. He pulled her out of the room, down the corridors, down the stairs and into the dining room.
"Tom, what-" She began but he kissed her passionately.
Skyler returned the kiss, relaxing into his arms.
Suddenly, he reached to her back and pulled her towel off. She stood before him, her cheeks flushing in surprise and embarrassment. She'd never felt so exposed, more alive.
"So beautiful." Tom said in a low voice.
He lay her down on the cool glass table, stroking her damp hair.
"Do you remember all those dreams you had?" He asked her, taking off his own clothes.
"Yes." She said, almost weak with anticipation as she watched him.
"Well this is going to be so much better." He said in her ear, leaning over her.
She quivered, touching his neck as he pulled her closer and prepared himself.
He was right. It was so much better than she had imagined, than Tom had ever experienced with any other girl. They melded as one. It seemed to last forever, never stopping, never tiring, never hesitating. She had no idea how he could know exactly what move would make her feel like she was in paradise, but he did. Tom was surprised by her daring, her ability to make him feel so good.
When it was all over, after many hours, they collapsed on Skyler's bed, gasping for breath.
"Tom..." Skyler said after they'd almost caught their breath.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
He kissed her forehead and they both fell into deep, content sleeps.
Christmas had come. Skyler burst into Tom's room. She dived on him and straddled his waist.
"Merry Christmas!" She cried.
"Is this going to be my present?" He asked, smirking and gesturing to their waists close together.
She chuckled. "No. Not yet anyway..."
She reached behind her and produced a neatly wrapped parcel.
"Do you remember the first Christmas we spent together?" Tom asked as he tugged at the wrapping.
Skyler grinned. "In Hogsmeade. Drunk on Butterbeer and kissing until we hit the floor."
He chuckled then finally unwrapped the present.
It was a silver pocket watch, and when Tom flicked it open, Scarborough Fair began to play quietly and there was a tiny black and white photograph of Skyler.
Tom pressed his cool lips to Skyler's, hugging her to him.
"Sky, I love it." He said.
She smiled up at him and Tom felt a rush of emotion towards her. A warm feeling spread through his heart. Something he was very inexperienced with. Love, he supposed.
She touched his cheek and he grabbed her hands, moving them over her eyes.
She giggled like a little girl while Tom reached under his bed and pulled out her present.
Skyler removed her hands from her eyes and grabbed the small black velvet box. She lifted the lid and gasped. It was a silver and diamond necklace, understated but breathtakingly beautiful. Exactly how Tom described Skyler.
"Put it on me." She said and stood up, her back to him.
He stood up and unclipped the necklace and put it around her pale neck. He placed a kiss or two there as well and Skyler turned around and gave him an extra Christmas present which required no Galleons to buy it with.