Nights in December

A night in December, part 4

The scent of jasmine once again permeated the Prefect’s bathroom. The enormous bathtub was full of warm, soapy water, and the only source of light came from a handful of lit candles in the windows. At the edge of the bathtub, Hermione Granger was reclining in the embrace of her lover, Ronald Weasley. They both had their eyes closed, and were enjoying the sound of the cold December winds howling against the walls of Hogwarts.

“I should head back soon,” Ron said, breaking the silence in the room.

“No, you shouldn’t,” answered Hermione smilingly, her eyes still firmly closed.

“And sleep where exactly?”

“In my bed,”

“Boys can’t enter the girl’s dormitories, remember?”

“You can. I’ve just decided that it’s so. You’re going to come with me to my bed and spoon me all night,” she answered, though they both knew that it could not be. Though they were allowed quite a few luxuries, the spell that prevented boys from entering the girl’s dormitories could not be circumvented.

“Sorry, Hermione, though I wish I could. Harry and Ginny are using the Room of Requirement tonight, so that’s out too,” said Ron. Hermione didn’t want to open her eyes, for she knew that it would spell the end of the night for them. As long as she had her eyes closed, she could stay in Ron’s embrace for as long as she wanted. She felt Ron lean his head towards her, and place a kiss on her brow. She gave up, and opened her eyes to look at her lover.

“I suppose this is our lot for now,” she sighed. But she would not complain. In six months’ time she would graduate from Hogwarts, and she and Ron could move together in a place of their own. She closed her eyes and smiled.

“What’re you smiling about?” Ron asked, smirking.

“Am I not allowed to smile, Ron?” she retorted, donning a smirk of her own.

“If it were up to me you’d never do anything else.” They sat in silence for a while.

“So,” Ron started, “when you say you want me to catch you in the library, what does that entail?” Hermione beamed.

“I want you to catch me off guard. It has to be… quick, inspiring and naughty.”

“I can do that. I can definitely do that,” Ron answered.