Contentment

Madeline mindlessly stared through Professor Binns, her History of Magic Professor.  They were currently covering the beginnings of the first Wizarding folk and their role in making the Magical World what it was today. But as she had already read most of the text, her mind was preoccupied replaying this morning instead. 

Madeline had woken up to soft kisses being placed on her neck, Oliver's hands trailing along her sides. He'd whispered that he had to go before anyone figured out that he'd stayed the night in her dorm.

She had turned towards him, his lips locking hers in heat instantly. They had both gotten lost in the kiss. In the feeling of their hands on each other's bodies, moving as one. 

Oliver moved to her neck, trailing his tongue down her pulse point, and Madeline didn't think that she'd ever be able to forget the fire that spread through her body. The want and the need to have him close. 

She'd been the one to break the kiss, telling him that he really should be going before everyone else was up. Madeline wouldn't deny the fact that she enjoyed seeing him stand up tall, watching with adoration when he slipped his shirt over his head. 

It had taken everything in her to not pull him back into bed when he leaned in to give her a kiss, and she knew that he'd come willingly.  She was certain, because the moment the first moan had escaped her lips, Oliver's hold had tightened on her, sending a mixture of pleasure and arousal through her body, his own arousal pressing into her.  

She watched him stop by her door, his head turning to give her a sweet smile. 

And the cherry on top of that was that breakfast had been more on the enjoyable side that morning when Madeline didn't see Caden in the entrance to the dining hall, and Coralina hadn't been at the table either.  

"Alright class."  Professor Binns old voice pulled her from her head, and Madeline refocused, feeling a blush rise up her neck.  "Your essay is due next week, and I suggest that you get a head start on it if you're planning on proofreading it."  His words drawled out and Madeline half smiled at that.  While Cuthbert Binns was the only ghost Professor in Hogwarts, he was by far the least impressed when his students, especially seventh years, didn't present a nice-looking essay to him.  

Knowing that Oliver was going to be on the pitch until lunch time, Madeline made her way towards the library to use her free period to work on her essay.  She had two free periods in the week, and she was quite fond of spending them in the library, getting most of her assignments done. Save for the days that she spent ogling Oliver on the field.

Not paying attention to the people around her on her way towards the library doors, Madeline didn't see the two Aurors walking past her.  Didn't see one of them stop dead in his tracks, a sinister smile crossing his lips before he turned towards his partner to mutter something, before turning on his heal to follow her into the library. 

Finding an empty seat, Madeline pulled out her History of Magic textbook and some parchment, intent on writing down notes as she reread the passage about the first Wizards.  Feeling a shift in the air, Madeline's blood ran cold when she heard a chair being pulled out and realized that it was the one across from her.  She looked Caden dead in the eyes, fighting the urge to stand up and run. 

What the hell is he thinking?  Sitting down like that at her table, and not even asking.

Caden smiled at her, and that smile made her want to throw up.  He looked older now, but that was to be expected.  He was nearing his twenty second birthday, and Madeline cursed herself for remembering what his birth date was.  She didn't want to remember anything when it came to him. 

She didn't speak, didn't blink, didn't breathe as she waited for him to voice whatever vile words were running free in his mind. She should have expected this. Should have remembered his last words to her. 

You'll never escape me. 

She shouldn't have lied to Oliver last night, because of course Caden wouldn't pass up on saying something nasty to her. 

Why the hell didn't she just go to the pitch after class? She knew better than to be alone right now. 

The Auror across from her looked her up and down, making her feel filthy.  "Hello Madeline."  She didn't respond, only raising an annoyed brow at him. 

Caden clicked his tongue, running his tongue across his perfect, white teeth.  "What, you don't great old friends now?"  Madeline swallowed hard, forcing the bile to go back down her throat. 

"We're not friends."  She told him, her hand reaching for her wand.  

Caden clicked his tongue again in disapproval and tilted his head to the right. "My bad."  He told her, his eyes not staying on her face and Madeline fought the urge to cross her arms around her chest.  "I was sorry to hear about your grandmothers passing." 

Madeline didn't even so much as nod her head, choosing not to respond to him at all and that had seemed to be the wrong choice as his smile only grew.  "It's impolite to not respond when someone is telling you that they are sorry about a loved ones passing." 

Biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from screaming, Madeline forced a smile.  "Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you."  She told him, her voice cold and unpleasant.

"That's better." 

"What do you want Caden?"  It came out faster then she could think, and Madeline wished that she hadn't asked.  She didn't have to interact with him.  She didn't owe him anything.  

Caden relaxed in the seat, his Auror robes stretching to fit his body movements.  "I almost forgot." 

"What?"  What the fuck was he on about?

"The way you say my name, little bird."  Madeline winced at her old nickname, feeling the bile rise up her throat again.  Her heart felt like it was going to stop beating altogether. 

"Don't call me that."  

Caden's eyes widened in amusement, his fingers sprawling on the table.  "You used to like it."  He told her, his voice cold and unpleasant.  She hated hearing it. 

Madeline drew in a breath, trying to get her heart to beat at a normal pace.  She didn't want another attack.  Not because of him, and most definitely not in front of him.  He didn't have that power over her, she told herself.  Not anymore.  Not ever again. 

"What's wrong?  Not in a talking mood little bird?"  Caden sounded genuinely concerned, and it made her blood crawl inside her veins. 

"Don't call me that."  She repeated herself, looking around the room and feeling the urge to cry from pure happiness when her eyes landed on Percy who had just walked into the room.  

A finger brushed against hers, and Madeline's body reacted in panic when she tore her eyes away from Percy who hadn't seen her, flinching her hand away from the table, her fingers tightening on her wand that was now under the table. 

"Do Not, touch me."   

Caden clicked his tongue at her, a sick smile spreading across his face.  "Or what?  Nana isn't here to protect you anymore." Madeline's blood ran cold with dread and hatred, her face morphing into disgust. 

"And I'm not a little girl who needs protection anymore."  She told him, eyes growing cold.  "I'm not that easily scared." 

Caden nodded his head, his eyes lowering to her chest again.  She should have closed her robe.  Stupid, stupid girl, her mind kept screaming at her, but it was too late now.  "I can see that, little bird."  He told her, his eyes meeting hers.  

Madeline swallowed, taking in a calming breath.  

He wasn't going to win. 

If he wanted to frighten her, that was long past now.  She hadn't had a single nightmare about him in years, and she wasn't going to give in now.  Yesterday had just been a fluke.  Yesterday, she hadn't been expecting to see him.  

"What do you want?"  She asked again, eyes looking to where Percy had been, and her mind lapsed when he wasn't there.  He couldn't have left.  Madeline was the one who needed to leave.  

Caden cleared his throat, forcing her to look back at him.  "Many things."  He told her, licking his lips. "I'm just deciding how to go about getting them."

"What-"  

"Aren't you supposed to be out patrolling, or doing something else rather than making a student look like she wants to throw up?"  Madeline breathed in, looking to her left, and met Percy's eyes before he turned back to Caden, his eyes narrowing.

Madeline thanked the gods for this gift, promising that she'd never let herself be out in the open like this.  He wasn't going to get another opportunity to talk to her. 

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?"  Caden's voice grew cold, and Madeline could only imagine what his face looked like.  But she didn't want to see if she was right, instead focusing her gaze on her savior.

"None of your business."  Percy told him, his cocky voice matching Caden's, making Madeline smile.  Not many could intimidate Percy.  "Now, if you don't mind, which I don't think you do, I'd suggest you go back to your duties Auror."  Percy told him, tilting his head to the side.  "Wouldn't want anyone to think that you're slacking on protecting our school from the big scary monster now, would we?" 

Madeline heard the chair move, finally looking at Caden whose face was twisted with displeasure, his eyes narrowing down on her.  "We're not done talking, little bird."  He told her, sending a glare towards Percy before leaving the library.  

Madeline met Percy's eyes when he took the now empty seat, his face twisted in worry and confusion.  "What was that all about?" 

"Nothing."  Madeline swallowed the lie, her heart feeling lighter now that he wasn't here. She only promised to be honest with Oliver, and Percy would have to just forgive her for the lie.

"That didn't look like nothing M.  Why did he call you little bird?" 

"Percy please, it was nothing.  He's just an old family friend that isn't in my life anymore."  Better some truth rather than none.  She didn't like the way lies felt coming out of her mouth, brittle, like swallowing a rock. But she didn't want to involve anyone else.  She didn't want to involve Oliver either, but she had no choice now.  

"That's why you looked like you wanted to bolt out of here before looking at him like he was the monster under your bed?"  Madeline studied his face, wondering if it was in his blood to be so bloody observant and nosy. Shaking her head, she breathed in, letting her muscles relax.  

"He's just not a very pleasant person."

"Does Ollie know about him?"

Madeline nodded her head and didn't like the way Percy tilted his head, his eyes searching hers.  "I promise he does. I told him yesterday. Let's not talk about him, okay? He's not someone that deserves that much attention." She wanted to believe her own words. 

"Fine. Want to head to lunch together?"  Madeline shook her head, packing her book and putting away her wand. 

"I'm going to see Professor McGonagall."  She told him, giving him a genuine smile. He did save her from the monster under her bed after all. "Thank you, by the way."

"Always welcome."  Percy told her, standing up as well, and she was glad that he didn't need for her to tell him what she was thanking him for. 

'''

"How are you feeling?"  Minerva asked Madeline, watching the girl with careful eyes.  

"Better."  The girl told her, keeping a soft smile on her face.  Madeline looked around her aunt's office, finding its exterior warm and welcoming.  The office was smaller than the Transfigurations classroom but was still just as impressive.  

Minerva nodded her head, a gentle smile spreading across her futures.  "Alright then.  I don't suppose you want to talk about what caused it?" 

"Not really, if that's okay."  Madeline watched the older witch nod again and felt an instant stream of relief flood through her.  

"I understand."  Her aunt told her after a long moment of silence, causing Madeline to let out the breath she'd been holding.  "In that case, let's talk about Mister Wood."

"What about him?"  Madeline didn't mean to sound defensive, but the reality was that they barely started dating, and have known each other for even less than barely.  She didn't want to have to defend her decision to anyone. 

"Nothing in particular, Madeline.  Simple things, really.  How did it happen?  Mister Wood is a great pupil.  I'm not surprised that he has caught your eye, or you his."  Hearing her aunt say that, made Madeline relax, her worry about the short time going away.  Oliver really was a good person. She was happy her aunt could see that. 

So she told her aunt everything from day one, leaving out the snogging from the last couple of weeks out.  Or that he'd stayed with her last night. 

"You sound smitten with him."  If Madeline didn't know any better, she would have suspected that the other women was trying to tease her.  Madeline didn't know how to feel about that. 

"I think I might just be.  Oliver is great.  Minerva..."  Madeline trailed off, focusing on her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her robe, before looking back up at her aunt.  "Do you think it's weird that we're dating when we haven't known each other for even two full months?"  

Holding her breath, she watched the older women's face relax, her eyes going into a daze before she answered, her voice coming out gentler than Madeline had ever heard.

"Not at all.  I think that sometimes, sometimes we meet a person that feels like they just belong."  Minerva told her before she seemed to come to herself, a curious look crossing her futures.  "Why?  Has someone said something to you?" 

"No.  At least not to my face."  Minerva nodded, looking at the clock on her mental.

"I'm sorry to cut this short."  They both stood up, Madelines mind feeling lighter.  "Perhaps we could take to tea one of these afternoons?"

"I'd like that."  Madeline told her, and truly meant it.  She hasn't been spending much time with her great aunt, and still not having received any letters from her friends, she was feeling a weight in her heart.  One that she couldn't explain.  One that only seemed to disappear when she was with Oliver.

"Say, next Wednesday evening?"

Madeline agreed, following her smiling aunt out of her office.  

'''

Oliver had had been waiting for her outside of her last class, letting her know that he wouldn't see her until Astronomy.  They had been able to reserve the pitch through the whole day and were going to put it to good use since Hufflepuff had the pitch reserved for tomorrow.  

Madeline had avoided Caden's eyes during dinner, feeling a hole being drilled through her skull.  She still had no idea what he was doing here, and she hated that. They weren't ever supposed to have crossed paths since the last time she had seen him. But something clicked in her head, the purple roses showing up by her door not a mystery anymore.

Now all she had to do was find out how the asshole had gotten past the fat lady.

Glad that dinner was over, Madeline let Percy's body shield her from Caden, her attention focused on the sole fact that she would get to see Oliver in a short half an hour. 

And he didn't disappoint.  He'd been waiting for her by the bottom of the stairs, and by the time class was over, they were the last to leave, letting all of the students and Professor Sinistra leave, before Oliver had her all to himself.

"How was practice?"  Madeline managed to ask in a whisper, fighting the urge to moan at the way it felt to have his body pressed against hers, her back lining up with the wall behind her.  Oliver grinned at her, leaning in to bite her bottom lip.  

"Brilliant."  Her muttered, his tongue tracing hers.  "How was your day?" 

Madeline's heart soared, her head spinning when she pulled his head down to hers, stealing a heated kiss.  She didn't want to think about the library.  "Better now that you're here."  She muttered into his lips, feeling his hand snake around her back, pulling her closer still. 

"Happy I can be of service."  His voice purred into her ear, his tongue tracing down her neck now and Madeline felt the heat between her legs, her fingers digging into his shoulders.  

Oliver's tongue teased her, a moan filling the stairway when she felt his lips suck on her gentle skin, his fingers gripping her into place.  Whatever he was doing, she liked it.  Loved it, actually.  She wanted more, but she wanted him to feel what he was doing to her.  To feel the arousal that the simple action of his lips and tongue on her neck brought her. 

Without a second thought, Madeline's fingers tangled in his hair, pulling his head away from her neck before she was on her toes, her tongue trailing along his neck.  Oliver's body tensed for a split moment before he used his hold on her to move them and now his back was pressed against the wall, his moan filling the stairway when Madeline sucked gently on his pulse point. 

Oliver moved his leg between hers, and Madeline felt her body react to it in kind the second she felt his tight against her heat, her actions becoming sloppy at the sensation.  She felt his leg move, his thigh pressing more into her and swore her vision blurred from pleasure.  This felt good. 

This felt right. 

This felt like the type of sin she was willing to burn for. To let the world swallow her whole if she could experience it again and again and again.  If only this was sending her into overdrive, Madeline wanted to find out what it would feel like to have him in full.  

She wanted to know what sounds he could get out of her if he took her whole.

She felt the world crash around her when the pressure between her legs disappeared, reality kicking in. She hadn't heard it until Oliver had his hand over her mouth, his eyes apologetic and worried. There were footsteps approaching them, fast. Too fast.   

Madeline nodded, her heart rate picking up for a different reason as she took a step back from Oliver, her eyes trying to see who was making their way up to the Astronomy tower.  She hoped it wasn't Professor Sinistra, or her tormentor.  

The footsteps died then, and Madeline smiled at Oliver when they heard the voice of their intruder. 

"See? No one is up here."  Percy's voice sounded exhausted, and slightly mean.  

"They could have heard us coming."  Coralina's voice made Madeline want to laugh. The other girl didn't sound like she was sure.  

"Or you were just hearing things. Come on Lina, I told you I don't want to make tonight's rounds long." Percy told her. They sounded close. 

"I swear I thought I heard something."

"Rats."

"Rat's don't make those sounds."  

"And you'd know all about what rats sound how exactly?"  Percy's voice was growing borderline menacing and Madeline had to put a hand to her mouth to keep herself from chuckling.  

"I wouldn't."  Coralina told him in a defensive tone, and Madeline heard her sigh in defeat.  "Fine Weasley, you win.  There isn't anyone up here.  Lead the way."

"Finally."  

Oliver and Madeline listened to their retreating footsteps, both silent for what left like eternity before Oliver took a step towards Madeline, leveling her with a crooked grin.  "That was close." 

"Too close."

"Maybe next time we should take this somewhere more private."  Oliver told her, wrapping his hands around her body. 

"Who told you there will be a next time?"  Madeline felt her heart melt when Oliver cocked his brow at her, licking his lips.

"Your body's reaction."  The words sent shivers down Madeline's spine, making her blush furiously.

"Mmm, you'd react the same way if I was teasing you with your arousal, Wood."  Madeline's breath left her when Oliver's mouth opened, his eyes growing hungry at her words before his fingers skimmed under her breasts, making her feel aroused all over again. 

"Perhaps.  I guess you'll have to show me."  He told her, leaning in to tease her lips with his.  "Maybe I'll get a glimpse on Sunday. Win or lose?" Madeline nodded her head, only focusing on the way his lips met hers, open and inviting.

She'd burn in hell to have him like this forever.