All warnings were given first chapter… please refer to it!
The Crow
(First Arc: The witch from another world)
(Part 06)
XxxxXxxxX
'Pay attention Violet'
"Let us depart Miss Potter" Her host escorted Violet to the bottom of the stair, changing his grip on her arm so he could touch the small of her back. A flutter of nerves sprung in the witch's heart, making it skip a beat at the light touch on a sensitive part of her body.
No one's ever touched her there. Not since she was eleven and away from Uncle's belts.
"Oh, yeah" Violet managed without stuttering, and then she remembered what he said before and sent Clow a questioning look "Cambridge?"
The sorcerer nodded, idly leading them to the front of the manor, a servant opening the door for them.
"The college town" He introduced lightly "Even before the mundane people appropriated these lands for themselves, the magical community has been using it as a place to store knowledge of the mystic arts and as a communal center. Underneath the college is an underground passage that leads to the biggest magical library in the Queen's land" He explained, leading Violet down another set of stairs, these leading to the stone pathway into a blooming front garden "If you so desire, we can visit it some other time"
The coach was there along with a couple of horses and a nicely finished carriage. Violet hesitated for a moment; she's never been inside one of those before.
But Clow's reassuring hold pushed her forward, until he had both of them sat comfortably inside – the relatively spacious compartment was done in the sorcerer's colors, and there were windows framed by delicate curtains to allow Violet a view from the landscape if she so wished.
"Cambridge exists in my world too… but I don't think it's storing a magical library" the witch picked up the line of conversation once the carriage started moving, settling herself on the unfamiliar sensation of being inside an animal drawn vehicle. She'd honestly rather ride. Maybe Clow has horses or some other magical variant…
Then his smile turned absolutely mischief filled.
"And I am afraid that not much in terms of possessions came along with you, Miss Potter" He told her with such a straight face, that Violet almost believed his innocence if it wasn't for the devious smile painting his face.
It took only a blink for Violet to understand.
'Oh Merlin's holy woolen hat… is he implying that I fell naked in his arms?'
Her face didn't take more than a second to flame up in embarrassment – no clothes, no shoes, no wand. 'Whose wand did I finish using at the battle of Hogwarts anyway?'
"Oh…" She mumbled under her breath, turning her head so the thick strands of dark brown/red curls could shade her ragingly red cheeks.
The master sorcerer chuckled, a dark sensuous sound that filled the air with motes of tingly magic.
'Is this how mum felt being courted by a trickster?' Then she caught her own thoughts and blushed even harder 'Who said anything about courting?! Down Violet! Bad, bad witch!' No one would be interested in her as a person! She's way too thin and had next to none womanly curves thanks to the horrible diet her "family" subjected her to.
"Indeed, Miss Potter" He told her about how he was called outside his courtyard by a thunderstorm, and caught her from lightning itself. "Do not worry yourself over the past, it was inevitable after all, and here we are on our way to pick you new supplies"
"But… did you see…" This time she did stutter.
It's not as if Violet was self-conscious about her own body too – she slept in a dormitory in which the only bathroom had to be shared between four girls – there were lots and lots of unwanted, female naked skin flashing.
'Did you see my scars? Did you see how thin and inelegant I am?'
"My eyes could only focus on your lovely face" Clow Reed kindly assured and Violet calmed down immediately, believing him. 'How strange… and the dreams I've been having, the urge I have to lay myself in his arms and let him surround me entirely… I don't think I'll mind too much if he saw me naked…' "And I believe you've gotten acquaintance of Ms. Katya, she's the one who has been taking care of you"
Shaking her head – her cheeks a lost cause by now, so red the color has been seared into her complexion permanently – the perils of having red hair genes.
"Thanks… I mean, thank you" Violet told him, later regretting it as she overthought things too much.
…
A dinner where she didn't even know how to use the silverware came to mind.
Hopefully he isn't embarrassed by her uncouth rearing, she certainly is embarrassed enough for the two of them already.
…
'Why does it matter anyway? It's not like I have reason to feel shame of my education! Why does it have to be inadequate? If he's disappointed, he can go feed himself to Fluffy!' A silky, gentle voice would whisper in her ear thus: "He isn't disappointed, he's ecstatic. You are his treasure, he will have you and love you no matter how you act or look"
As if sensing her mood, Clow Reed met her eyes with slanted blue ones "Miss Potter, you can use the words you feel most comfortable with. I understand this is not your time much less your world, so I'd have you feel free to your habits"
Her shoulders dropped a little.
'He understands'
"It's alright… I should get used to it anyway, you know? People have a lot of expectations of me" Violet urged him to take the bait, let her change the subject, steer it into something she was more willing to discuss.
"Merited?" Clow bit the figurative bait, contemplating her with that thoughtful, caring look he seemed to only spare for her.
Violet shook her head with a huff, hesitating only a bit. If she continued with this, she'd tell him about what led her here
"No… not in the beginning" She decided to go forward. 'In for a Knut, in for a galleon'
"You can trust me with your past, Miss Potter" His words were warm, serious and contemplating, he trailed off his first sentence, but then smiled lightly, dissipating the solemn statement but not erasing its' meaning "I should also know the limits of your knowledge if I am to teach you" he offered a valid excuse.
Accepting the words, the green eyed witch nodded again, sighing deeply while shifting on the carriage seat so she could spy out the window. The rolling landscape was calming – fields and fields passing by with the occasional richly constructed manor sprinkled in the distance.
If she tried hard enough, Violet was sure could pretend to be back in the Hogwarts express – maybe eleven again and heart filled only with excitement.
"Fine… It's not as if this is a secret back home anyway, and no one here would understand…"
Ever the gentleman, Clow offered a way out.
"If it is too personal…" His gaze bore into her, looking through Violet as if he could see all of her.
Only there is no way I can live in his house, enjoy his hospitality and not show at least a little trust. 'It's not as if I don't trust him and I want to tell him'
"If there's anyone who deserves know, I think it's you. Both of my closest friend know as well" The witch started, allowing her cheeks to move her lips into a small, dry grin "There was this Dark Lord… self-entitled as Lord Voldemort, though his real name was Tom Marvolo Riddle. He spent a decade terrorizing everyone, spreading vicious propaganda and violence in the Enclaves… One day, a prophecy was made – it told of a baby, a 'chosen one', someone who would have the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. That was me" 'I hope this doesn't devolve into a sob story' "My story really starts on the night of Halloween in 1981, and it goes like this…"
So Violet told her story.
…
Light touches spreading a line of fire down her back.
She was curled forward, grasping at the bedspread, desperately gasping and gulping air as pleasure made her body tremble.
Large hands ascended from the curves of her waist, tracing tingly lines while they made their way to her breasts. A firm, encompassing touch and he had her flesh cased in his hands, nipples rolling between his fingers as his lips worshiped the skin of her neck.
Her back arched, naked flesh meeting his chest, hips meeting his - and legs entwining. His warmth was intoxicating, spreading through her body with every beat of her hammering heart.
"Come here" He whispered in her year, twisting her body so she'd lie beneath him as he nestled between her legs. They were both naked, no clothes, no obstacle, just a haze of thick, pulsing magic to accompany every breath that left their lips, synchronizing until they were almost one.
He slowly moved down, trailing wet, sucking kisses all over her belly and torso, stopping only to swirl his tongue around her navel – exquisite pleasure shot through her nerves, making her stomach clench and her toes curl – he didn't stop there though. Down, down he went, until his hot, tenacious mouth found-
…
Violet jerked awake with a startle.
Verdant eyes opened wide as a last wave of pleasure rocked her body from head to toe. 'Isn't this awkward!' And as a consequence, she found herself quite… uncomfortable in her small clothes and covered in sweat.
Spending almost seven years sharing a room with Lavander – arguably the one amongst the Gryfindor girls who managed to lose her virginity before all other girls… so she'd freely give advice even when not asked…has taught Violet something.
'I'm aroused' she admitted, nervously scanning the carriage and finding her companion. The look he's sending her was downright sinful. Dark, heady and promising, with his lips pulled in a smirk that jerked at her core… and then, before Violet could contemplate the meaning of his stare, the sorcerer shifted, eyes hooding and face blanking.
"I hope you had a nice nap" He spoke, voice still low "I thought you would appreciate the scenic route back to the manor the best, but it seems you're still a little tired after all"
The witch nodded sharply, eyes wide. "Y-yes. I'm sorry for passing out on you"
They spent the day in Cambridge, with Clow guiding Violet through the markets and helping her chose era appropriate clothes. They talked and talked and talked, the young woman finding her attraction to him justified.
'If Hermione had a crush on Lockhart in second year, I guess I had a small crush on professor Lupin… smart, powerful, dangerous older man, I'm seeing a pattern!'
"Not at all" Clow Reed's lips stretched back into a grin, he seemed inordinately happy for some reason – Violet stopped short, suddenly getting the impression that she's done something incredibly embarrassing while asleep – she did have a… vivid dream. "You can rest for the afternoon, I have some work to take care of but if you won't mind, accompany me for supper once more?" He asked her with a cheerfulness that made Violet's eye twitch.
She eyed him suspiciously.
"Um, no, I slept most of the ride back so I'm alright. I guess that since you have work, I will just explore a little" She paused, finding his eyes and hiding a seep blush. "And I'd love to have dinner again, thanks"
'Right now, it sounds as if he's inviting me for a date!' She thought furiously, averting her eyes from his and accepting the gentlemanly hand being offered to help her down the carriage. 'I feel like I'm in a fairytale… when is the other shoe going to drop?'
She's not actually afraid he's only amusing himself at her expense. That's not conceivably possible.
Though all it took was a moment of weakness to the unbidden depressive thought to surface 'And what about when I go home?'
'I can't fall in love with Clow…'
XxxxXxxxX
Clow Reed is a man of action.
Though for every action there is a plan.
The year of 1855 dawned with a series of inconspicuous dreams. Little hints like delicate butterfly wings brushing against his senses. Quick flashes of images alluding to a bigger picture, echoes of sounds singing a distant melody, ghosts of sensations making every nerve ending in his body alive…
And then by July he knew something was coming. Yuuko just confirmed it. The information he received from his prescience was still scarce, though precious for its rarity.
And then almost a year later he met Violet Potter.
'Young, fresh, powerful and broken'
He could see it as a light inside her eyes, they matched his. Their bond snapping into place and sending warmth through his being in thick, long waves… He discovered within the first day of truly interacting with Violet that although she's a naïve and inexperienced little thing, she had the irrevocable potential to grow – they could grow into something so much more.
He saw love.
If he managed to win her love there would not be a day in his life without happiness and smiles. It also brought enormous amounts of relief because he can't see Violet Potter. To someone who has the level of prescience he does, not knowing something is a blessing.
But if he lost her…
…
A lonely little boy sits on a tall chair in front of a fireplace.
Empty eyed and pale faced.
At his feet lay a panther like creature, and kneading his shoulder is a pretty red haired girl with butterfly wings. He plots and plots, trying to find meaning in his actions. It helps – he's Eriol Hiragizawa and Kinomoto Fujitaka all at once and yet, he's none of them after all.
…
No choice at all, in the end. He'd hold onto his precious broken gift and shelter her until her pieces were molded to his own.
Broken things belonged together.
First…
Paperwork.
XxxxXxxxX
TBC~