Written for:
February Event at Hogwarts: (dialogue) "What kind of hotel sells condoms?" / "My favourite kind of place." and (object) lingerie.
200 Characters in 200 Days: Barty Crouch Jr
Writing Bingo: Barty Crouch Jr
Chocolate Frog Card Challenge: Barty Crouch Jr - Write about Barty Crouch Jr.
If You Dare Challenge: 466. Fire Hazard
Valentine-Making Challenge: You Rule Conversation Hearts Candy - Write about any Death Eater.
Gringotts Prompt Bank: (colour) black. (said words) grumbled, moaned, reminded. (prepositions) across, following. (emotions) playful, frisky, spirited.
Words: 1037.

Following

The pair left the bar with their arms around each other, swaying this way and that as they made their way down the alley. The girl giggled at something the boy said, losing her balance a little in the process. Before they reached the main street, where the lights shone down brightly, they stopped, him leaning against the wall as she leaned against him, pressing her body into him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. His arms snaked up and down her soft curves through her dress. There were no illusions about what either of them wanted, as things heated up to the point of presenting a fire hazard right there in the middle of the back street.

When they eventually pulled away, the boy with straw blonde, wild hair and small brown eyes leaned in close to the girl's ear and whispered, "Can we go to your place?"

She shook her head, pursing her lips. "Can we not go to yours?" she asked, hopeful.

"No," he told her. "Fancy a hotel?" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he smiled.

"Well, I can't say no to that, Barty," she said, leaning into kiss him again.

He welcomed the affection before taking her by the hand, leading her out into Diagon Alley and towards The Leaky Cauldron.

"I hope by 'hotel', you didn't mean the Cauldron," the girl complained, grumbling and beginning to drag her feet.

"Holly, you know me better than that!" he replied. She smiled shrewdly and was patient, following where he lead.

The two were eighteen, only just out of Hogwarts and feeling free for the first time in their lives. The war was making even the most sensible members of society a little reckless, and these souls, Barty Crouch Jr and Holly Nott, had always had wild sides.

Barty lead Holly through the Leaky Cauldron and out into muggle London, taking a sharp left past a book store. They reached a crossroads and Barty lead them straight across.

"How far is it? I'm in heels here," Holly moaned.

"Not far, I promise. Next left," he replied.

They rounded the corner a minute or so later, and Holly looked up to her left to see the sheer size of the building. She read the name from the sign, Elder Court Hotel, and looked at Barty with raised eyebrows.

"Holy shit, this place is massive," she called out. "I'm gonna get lost." Barty just smiled.

There was still a concierge at the door even at such a late hour who held the door open for them. The woman at the reception desk smiled brightly and welcomed them as if it was a perfectly reasonable time to want a room.

"I want a room. Late check out." Barty asked, throwing her what he probably assumed was a winning smile, but that didn't quite work in his drunkenness.

"Certainly, Sir. Could I have a name please?" the receptionist asked.

"Crouch."

"Would you like breakfast?"

"What time is it?" Barty asked, thinking seriously about the preposition.

"Six 'til eleven," she replied, her smile beginning to wane.

Barty looked at Holly, as if trying to work out how many hours away that was and how hungover he'd be. "I want breakfast," Holly told him, pouting as she tugged at his sleeve.

"Breakfast it is."

"Will that be all?"

"Erm…" Barty thought. "No, I need condoms," he remembered, causing Holly to flush slightly.

"We have several sizes," she prompted.

"Oh, Merlin. Couple of each, let's see what fits," Barty said with a wave of his hand while the receptionist dealt with his request.

She told him the final price and Barty fumbled about with his money, Galleons and pound coins mixed together in his pocket with his notes. She gave them the key and told them their room number with a smile, and an automatic "have a nice stay".

As they were on their way to the stairs at the back of the foyer, Holly leaned into Barty and said in some sort of stage whisper, "What kind of hotel sells condoms?"

"My favourite kind of place!" Barty replied, grinning at the look of shock on her face.

"You could have just done a contraception spell, though," she suggested with a shrug.

"I could have, but in the state I'm in, you don't want me pointing a wand at your insides trying to remember the right words," Barty pointed out.

"Aww, you thought ahead," Holly cooed.

When they reached the carpeted stairs, Holly stopped them so that she could take her shoes off, carrying them in one hand while holding Barty's hand in the other as they made their way to the room.

"Did you have to pick a muggle hotel, though?" Holly grumbled, and this time Barty rolled his eyes at her incessant whinging.

"If you want your father to think you're still marriage material, it's the safest place," Barty reminded her.

"I know, but I don't have to like it," she retorted.

"You don't seem to like anything much. The bar was too loud, the walk was too long, the hotel's too muggle."

"I like you," she said with a smile and bedroom eyes as they reached the door. Barty unlocked it and led them in, but they only made it to the back of the door before she pounced, dropping her shoes and draping herself around him, pushing him into the closed door.

She kissed her as she brought her knee up to his hip, and Barty held it there with one hand while his other reached around her back to lower the zip on her dress. She pulled her long blonde hair over one shoulder to give him better access before setting to work on his shirt buttons.

He let go of her knee to push her dress down over her shoulders. She let him push it over her arms before taking over to lower it past her hips, stepping out of it when it fell to the floor. She stood before him in matching black lace lingerie before reaching for his hand and pulling him over to the bed.

Barty smiled appreciatively and followed, more than willing for her to take control.