Stolen Moment

“Let me love you to death…”

The words floated down the empty corridors, chased by the light sound of running feet. Two people emerged from the hallway and sprinted quickly across the patios. Breathless, they ran flat out across the lawns, seeking shelter behind the greenhouses.

“I’ll never love anyone like I love you – I’ll never so much as want to.”

“Can I have your word on that?”

“My word, my life, my soul.”

“Then that’s more than enough for me. Kiss me?”

Upturned lips received their request by light of night’s full moon. A gentle breeze stirred the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, the rustle of leaves creating a hypnotizing harmony in the background of the couple’s secluded world.

Pulling away and gasping for breath, she whispered, “I hate having to hide like this. We’ll get caught one day.”

“And I’ll serve every detention with a smile on my face. I hate having to steal time like this, but I can’t stand to not be able to touch you.”

“Then we should stop wasting time with my silly worries and you should touch me until our stolen moment is over.”

He was quick to comply. With deft fingers he released the binding clothes she wore. Her cloak floated gracefully to the ground, landing in a small gathering of cloth. Her shirt was quick to follow. Then his cloak as she proceeded with trembling hands. The buttons of his shirt gave way; the fabric falling to reveal his chest to her greedy hands.

They smoothed over his skin; celebrating in their reunion with the flesh they ached to touch. His lips fell to hers, dancing a dance that was as new and familiar as it was old and comforting. In each other they had found completion, one of the few who truly found their other half. Together there would be no obstacle to stand in their way.

“This could be one of our last times like this,” she whispered.

“I know, graduation isn’t far away,” he replied in a husky tone.

“What then?” she asked, the slightest hint of worry creeping into the edges of her voice.

“Have I not made my every intention clear?”

Her answer was interrupted by a soft moan. With the end of his question, his lips had sought out the soft skin of her neck. Velvet under his tongue, he explored with gentle caresses and playful nips. Her hands tightened around his neck, teasing the ends of his hair.

“Per-perhaps I’m still slightly uncertain?” she managed to squeak.

His laugh was low and throaty as he nibbled at her ear lobe.

“I love you, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. Here behind the greenhouses, out by the lake, in the broom closets and forgotten corridors of the castle, in our own gardens and in our own home. I want to love you in every way, everywhere I can. Make me the happiest man alive and agree?”

“Of course. I want to spend all of my time with you as well. There would be no life if you weren’t with me to share it.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

Their words fell away on the wind, having reached their destinations, promises made and confirmed. Likewise, the couple fell to the ground in a tumbled mass of arms and legs. A bird began its night song in the trees nearby, providing musical accompaniment to their exercise. The moon overhead crept across the skies, playing games with their shadows and forms.

All of this went unnoticed by the couple, too preoccupied with each other to spare a thought for anyone or any thing else. Just as the sky was tinged in pinks and orange they stood, righting their hastily fastened clothes.

“So was that a yes then? He asked, looking through the waning darkness to peer into the rich chocolate shade of her eyes. She smiled brightly and it was as though the sun had chosen to rise early.

“Was that your marriage proposal, Arthur Weasley?”

“It was…unless you would like me to ask you from one knee, Molly?”

She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him close despite their intimate activities of the night. This was a man she would never tire of.

“Yes!” she shouted, her voice ringing out across the grounds. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”

“Then I’ll always be a lucky man.”

“And I a lucky woman.”