Hush (Harry Potter)
Harry had snuck out of his dormitory. Again. How could he not? The infinite potential and possibilities of having both a map of every nook and cranny of the grounds of Hogwarts and an invisibility cloak which allowed him to wander undetected left him feeling giddy and unable to sleep.
His recent inability to sleep may also be a product of the tension created by the escape of a mass murderer who may or may not wish to kill him- that was nothing out of the ordinary for Harry, really. So, that was not the cause of his inability to sleep, perhaps it was... his cheeks dusted with a blush as he vividly pictured the cause: brunette hair, big brown eyes and pale flawless skin. He shook himself out of his thoughts, cursed his traitorous brain, and continued down the dark corridor.
His nightly escapades were usually conducted in his fluffy socks and without shoes, he couldn't risk being loud and alerting either Filch, Mrs Norris or another teacher. The invisibility cloak was draped over him as he held his wand in one hand, it illuminated the Marauder's map which he held in the other, his concentration was arrested as he tried to discern where this 'secret passage #4', as written on the yellowed parchment paper map, was located.
He had failed to notice the approaching figure, a figure of average height, lovely, lean, and the subject of many of his thoughts. The figure belonged to that of Jessica Pennington, she was shadowed by the cover of night, quiet in her own steps as she crept about the sleepy castle. Their collision was abrupt and startling- Jessica had let out a loud yelp as they both fell, they tumbled into one of the many decorative suits of armour and it clattered the ground with an ear-shattering sound that echoed down the corridor.
Harry shrugged off the cloak, "Jess, I- shit! I didn't see you. Shit!"
Jessica looked at him unimpressed, "Are you fucking serious? Harry, you dumbass!"
The two paused as they heard the patter of footsteps rapidly approach, Jessica's eyes widened in fear and Harry felt his pulse rise. Without thought, Harry shuffled forward and covered them both with the cloak. He extinguished his wand's light and his attention was directed behind Jessica. He didn't seem to notice that Jessica's face was becoming increasingly red as she tried to lean away from him, he was so close that she could feel the heat of his body on her bare legs.
She had been visiting her Slytherin friend, Katia, before this. The two girls had been clad in the sleepwear, Jessica in her pyjama shorts and cotton t-shirt and Katia in her matching silk set. Jessica was aware of Harry's nightly adventures and on her way back to the Gryffindor tower, had hoped she would stumble upon him, she hadn't realised that her wishes would be granted so literally but, she wasn't complaining... Her heart beat so violently that she was sure that Harry could hear it.
Harry's eyes followed Snape's figure hawkishly, the man, lighted by his own wand, walked right past them with a swish of his dark cape. Harry let out a sigh in relief and turned his gaze towards Jessica, only now realising that he was all but straddling her. Her brown eyes stared up at him, his own deep green returned the stare. For a moment that seemed like an eternity, they sat like that. Her sweet shallow breaths ghosted his face and he was so close that he could count each long lash upon her eyelids.
"Hey," Harry said lamely.
It seemed to be the right choice though because Jessica's lips turned into a grin, "Hey."