exiguis aestatis

When we pulled up to the back field, a bunch of people were already there, their cars and trucks pulled in a small semi circle. Vati and Lavender lay on the hood of Sally’s car and Dennis and some of his friends were already working on getting the fire going. 

Seamus hopped out the back holding the racks aloft shouting “we got the beeeeeer.”

Harry backed up so the bed was facing the fire and turned up the music. Seamus insisted on putting in Aquemini and immediately began shouting along to the lyrics along with Collin. 

Dean passed out cans while Padma pulled in with Demelza, Sally, and Lisa and Neville and Luna drove down as well. 

We all piled into a circle getting drunk and all shouting over each other until Demelza yelled we’re going to play Never Have I Ever. 

Everyone tried to get somewhat organized and put up three fingers. Dean told Demelza to start. 

“Never have I ever crushed on anyone here!” she practically yelled. Everyone laughed and jeered, many of the couples putting down fingers, I glared at her knowing she was targeting me. Collin and Dean, Sally and Lisa, Seamus and Lavender, Neville and Luna, all put a finger down, and… so did Harry as well! I looked at him in shock, wondering who he could possibly have crushed on, while I too lowered a finger. He caught my eye and grinned, ducking his head. 

Demelza cackled and shouted at everyone to drink and told Dean it was his turn. 

“Never have I ever… touched a pussy.”

“You can’t use that one every time!” said Lisa as she chucked an empty beer can at him. He just flipped her off and tossed it right back. “Drink bitch!”

It devolved from there. By the end of it, the warm night wrapped around me pleasantly, and I flopped back onto the ground, relishing in cool grass.

My head spun wonderfully and even through the music and voices of my friends I could still hear the brook burbling in the background and the wind rushing through the tall grass. 

These summer days. Full of friends, and inexpressible lightness. We ran wild, exalting in our freedom. 

Fuck, I was getting sentimental. This summer held the bitterness of a long goodbye, it held the promise of the freedom of adulthood, it held the giddiness of youth. I sat up quickly, taking a sip of my beer, and wandered down towards the stream. 

It was nestled at the edge of the field, among a long stretch of trees. A path wandered back and forth across it, spotted with small footbridges. I sat down on one of them, my bare feet dangling in the water. The air was cooler here among the trees and water, and it smelled fresh and bright. 

Maybe the beer was getting to me, but I was so damn sentimental. I took another sip. 

I startled when Harry sat down next to me, his approach hidden among the darkness and noise from around the campfire. 

“Hey, you doing alright?” he bumped his shoulder against mine. 

I hummed, “yeah, I’m good. Just thinking.” I flopped back against the bridge, looking up at the dark sky through the trees.

He laid down slowly, “about anything in particular?”

I stared at the stars, the pinpricks of light. 

“Nah, just enjoying today, glad we get to spend it with everyone.”

I heard more than saw him nod his head. 

He took a deep breath, opened his mouth as if to say something then shut it again, sitting up. 

I nudged him, “what?”

He glanced down at me, a shadow in the dark. “I’m just… I’m really glad I get to spend these days with… with you, really.” 

I was grateful for the cover of night, so he couldn’t see me blush. I sat up as well, my heartbeat loud against my ribs. 

“Yeah?” 

He was pressed against my side, almost sitting too close. His arm was warm, he smelled of summer skin and woodsmoke. 

“Yeah, I… I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime, y’know, on a proper date?”

I was stunned. Taken aback. Shocked. I barely got a nod, a spluttering yes in before Dean started shouting.

“Oy, you lot, c’mon back we’re…”

Whatever he was yelling trailed off as my brain jerked to a standstill. Harry leaned in closer to me, his hand coming up to cup my cheek and I knew I was in shock because no way was Harry freaking Potter going to kiss me right now, no fucking way. But then he was. And I gasped against his lips and leaned into him, and wrapped my arms around his neck, and he hummed and his lips moved against mine and he was so warm and right and…

Goddamn. 

Why hadn’t I kissed him sooner? Because this was everything. 

Everything. 

We pulled apart both out of breath and both holding the other way too tight. I laughed, loud and giddy, this felt unreal. A dream.

I could barely see him in the darkness but his grin was so bright, so wide. 

“I’ve been wanting to do that for quite a while now,” he said, still holding me close. 

I ran my hands through his hair, enjoying the way he leant into my touch. “Oh trust me, me too.” I laughed again, feeling lighter than air. 

We walked back to the fire after that. 

Luna was dancing next to the fire, swaying along to whatever was playing out of Harry’s truck. Neville was watching her with a dopey lovesick expression. But I suppose I couldn’t blame him now, as I’m sure I looked quite the same. Colin and Dean and Nigel were arguing about football, while everyone else was playing some sort of drinking game that involved insulting each other and chucking cans at one another. 

We sat down with little fanfare until Vati looked up and squinted at us. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face in time and she gasped. 

“What were you two off doing!? In the woods! Alone! At night!?”

Her shriek drew everyone else’s attention and I was definitely blushing now, probably a full shade darker than the glow of the fire. 

Harry snorted, “you make it sound scandalous. Where are Lisa and Sally right now?” 

Vati and Padma were grinning like loons, “yeah sure, but we already know they’re both so fucking randy for each other, but you!! …this… this is new! Isn’t it?”

They dragged me away after that, to get some girl chat in I’m sure, while behind me I heard the guys shouting to Harry, “Finally mate!”

I couldn’t help but grin at that. 

So we started dating after that. And the next few weeks fall into a wonderful routine of Harry. I got to hold his hand, touch his face, kiss him — gentle loving kisses that made me want to melt, full on proper snogging that made my knees weak and my stomach ache in that amazing wonderful way. I got to sit as close to him as I wanted, and never worry about if I stared at him for too long, or got too flustered by his stupid good looks. 

It was everything. Everything I could hope it to be. 

He took me round for dinner and I got to see his new flat and we spent even more time together than we had before which was saying a lot since we already saw each other almost everyday and he practically lived at my house. My parents definitely noticed. My mum didn’t say much besides to give me that knowing smile and pat me on the hand. I think she was rooting for us crazy kids to get together all along. 

But he still dropped by to pick me up to hang out with the gang. Every Friday we’d get everyone who could make it and crowd into the small pizza place in town, eating way too much and all cramming into those small dingy booths. 

So this Friday was no different. 

He'd texted a little while ago saying he was heading over. After I got his text I decided I should jump in the shower. I’d been helping out with the chickens and no way did I want to smell like farm animals around Harry.

I knew mum would just let him in when he got here. 

My door was open a bit and I was wrapped in a big fluffy towel fresh from the shower. 

And here he was, knocking on my bedroom door frame. As I turned around to greet him my breath caught a bit. He leaned there, in the doorway, looking at me in some kind of way, his eyes warm and mischievous.

"Hey," I said, a little hoarsely.

"Hey back," he said. "Ready to head out?"

"Yeah, almost, just gotta pick my outfit out."

He slipped in the doorway dumping his phone and keys on my bed.

"Need my help deciding?" he smirked, "I mean, I’m a fan of what you’re currently wearing, but I guess we don’t want all the boys fawning."

"You don’t want all the boys fawning," I corrected. "Worried about the competition?" I teased.

"Mm always," he said, making me blush. 

"Alright turn around," I prodded him on the chest, "I should get dressed now."

He turned around on the bed so he was facing my dresser, his back to my closet and his eyes facing down.

I hesitated then dropped my towel. A thrill ran through me, I was fully naked in the same room as him. This was a step we hadn’t got to yet. My heart beat faster and I waited a second, to see if he’d look up, both wanting him too and hoping he wouldn't.

There was a mirror above the dresser, all he had to do was glance up and he’d see me, fully bared to him. I looked at him in the mirror, his shaggy hair, his strong shoulders, his forearms flexing as he leaned back slightly. Ugh the things he did to me. I must have stood still for too long, been too quiet, because he shifted, glancing to the side then up, his eyes met mine in the mirror. Our gaze held, snagged for a moment, the heat rising up my chest. I knew any second he was going to glance down and see me naked.

I'd always been rather immodest, perhaps since I grew up with seventeen thousand brothers I never learned about virtuous things like 'feminine delicacy' or whatever. I knew what I looked like, and I'd always been rather pleased to be honest. But I'd never stood in front of anyone bare naked before. The urge to cover myself rushed in but I held out in some sort of defiance, knowing my whole body was blushing red but wanting to prove that Harry would look. 

And god, his look was like fire.