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Walking, Alive by Stietoe
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Walking, Alive

Stietoe

***

Harry almost howled in frustration.

It had felt so good stopping Hermione mid-lecture, and forcing her to forget herself. He could only hope that would ever be possible in real life…

But it had even felt better, kissing her like there would be no tomorrow. Kissing without having to pause for breath because it was just a dream, kissing without holding anything back, kissing without having anything to lose, kissing that blew your senses away… Actually, the word 'kissing' made it sound so empty: it didn't convey what had been so real in the world of unreality…

It had felt so liberating, and had added a whole new meaning to the expression, snogging someone senseless. It had made everything that had come before, pale in comparison. As a matter of fact everything had seemed to hold a less bleak countenance ever since he'd been having those dreams. Or maybe it had started before: the moment he'd started realising his best friend was the most desirable being he'd ever laid eyes on…

But it had been EXTREMELY frustrating to find himself kissing his pillow!

***

Hermione felt strangely calm. It seemed like she'd passed the limit of anger mixed with neglected need. Only one word stood clear in her mind: revenge.

She'd had enough. Somehow, she would have the upper hand, and she was passed caring if this suited Harry or not. She was not going on like this, she would relieve her needs, even if she had to tie Harry down to get it from him.

Tomorrow morning, she would head to the Restricted Section; she just would have to cancel on gossip session with the rest of the Gryffindors at breakfast. That wouldn't be a terrible waste, but they couldn't hold her to her Head Girl status all the time, by making her 'interact' with the female student body 24/7.

*********

Hermione felt a bit evil right now, oh, how she planned this into detail... She was still… irked by the dream from the night before. But now that she'd found out the source of the dreams... The fact that he had drugged her with his presence, kissed her into oblivion...

Anyway, the point was it shouldn't have happened... The dreams HAD to stop, or she was going to crack and do something even more drastic then what she was planning now. Hermione hadn't any real qualms about her 'plans'... She'd been researching dreams all morning, and came to a conclusion at last.

Part of her had been dying to tell Harry immediately, but that had been but a very small part.

No, tonight, she'd show him what she was made of…

So the only advice she could (but wasn't going to) be giving him was: 'Just try and keep your shorts on!'

***

Harry had been avoiding Hermione at first. He'd gotten up early, and had been down to the Pitch flying around furiously on his broom. He didn't know what to think anymore, it was just too much. But he knew he'd have to talk to Hermione sometime…

Resolving himself to find her, he'd been faced with the fact that someone (most likely Hermione) had taken his Map, and that he wasn't able to find her all day. Of course being Saturday didn't mean he could spend the whole day looking for her. He had many chores, on top of homework that needed to be done. But so had Hermione, and armed with the map she had the advantage if she wanted to avoid him.

At last he assured himself that after the rounds he had to do that evening, he'd find her in their rooms and she'd be forced to speak to him then. Yes, that would do…

Unfortunately, when he arrived late, there wasn't any Hermione there. Throwing his body tiredly on the couch he shoved his fingers between his glasses and closed eyes and rubbed, moving his fingers to his temples, then, massaging them. Sinking deeper in the couch he heard something crunch. Turning his lower body sideways, he saw a piece of parchment.

Wrinkling his forehead, he recognised his precious Marauder Map. He wouldn't have left it just lying there, would he have? And surely Hermione wouldn't have left it so carelessly, if she'd taken it. Now he was wondering if Hermione had been the one to take it, or didn't she.

Well, at least now he'd be able to tell where she was. Picking up his wand, he opened the Map.

She was in the room.

***

Hermione was pacing impatiently, until she realised Harry could be in their rooms from now on. And that would mean he could be watching his Map at this very moment. She'd borrowed it for the day, not wanting to crash into Harry, before she had an answer about the dreams. And after that, she just wanted to face Harry off on her own terms.

The key was to bring him to the room. She hoped he'd find the Map, and would be coming down here. If not to talk to her, then at least to shoo her out of the room which he thought of as his. She didn't despair yet, because if she knew Harry, he would come down here tonight even without the Map, or without the knowledge that she was here…

Now all he had to do was show up, and then she could do with him as she pleased…

In a remote part of her brain she acknowledged the fact that what she was about to do didn't resemble her usual logical actions. But damnit, these thoughts just fuelled her anger towards Harry more. It was his fault she had come up with this plan in the first place!

Now if he could just come through that door before she blew up from anticipation, that would be just fine by her!

Catching herself, she forced herself to take a nice long, and calming breath. It wouldn't do to get jumbled because of nervousness, if she wanted to complete her task! She wanted to be ready when Harry arrived, and not faint at the first sight of him! Taking deep breaths, slowly, to avoid hyperventilation, she was able to focus with all her mind on the task before her.

And it wasn't a minute too soon, either!

***

Harry had crept into the 'frustrationroom' shedding his Cloak he looked around. He couldn't see Hermione anywhere… Had she left yet? A wave of disappointment went through him… Then he looked more closely at the changed appearance of his room.

She had redecorated it! Harry took in the crispy white sheets on a decent looking mattress on the central four-poster. Thankfully she hadn't cleaned out the corners of the room, but all the filthy pillows were stacked orderly on one side of the wall…

How could she have done this! This was his place! He wanted it messy; it was the basis of its appeal. Why did she come into his life and disrupt everything! Where was she anyway!

Grabbing the Map for the second time that night he found to his consternation that Hermione's dot was on the other side of the bed on which she had been tied on during one of their dreams. The bed that was now unbearably clean! Looking up from the Map he looked suspiciously to the place where Hermione should be.

Nothing.

The Map couldn't be faulty, though. And he had his Cloak here next to him on the flour. And with a concealment charm he should still be able to see the contours of her body disrupting his line of vision, since nobody could hold being absolutely motionless for more then a few seconds…

Clenching his wand, he prepared to defend himself. Even though his brain told him that only Hermione could have access in here, and that she would never harm him, he liked to be prepared for anything… Coming closer, the silence weighed heavenly against his ears. He couldn't even hear her breath…

Again glancing at his Map, he saw that he was standing directly on front of her. Gingerly reaching out he tried to see if there was anything solid there.

The moment his brain registered he was indeed touching something, he lost consciousness…

***

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief… The Baiting Spell had worked perfectly. She had been unsure if her invisibility from that spell wouldn't work like the concealment charm, and then Harry would've known immediately. The other tricky part of that spell was that it was of an unpredictable duration…

The tension leaving her made her tremble… But she had to focus… Harry would soon wake up, since he had been trained to fight disabling charms. And despite the Baiting Spell having the effect of a powerful Stunner upon touch, she knew he would wake from it soon, and she better not lose her nerve now…

***

Harry woke up, feeling slightly disoriented, but forced his mind to quickly assimilate the events leading to his predicament. Opening his eyes he noticed he didn't have his glasses. While doing that he was momentarily panicking, since it seemed he was not able to move at all. Concentrating, he tried to fight of the bonds that held him.

But he soon realised that he wasn't held by a Petrificus Totallis, and squinted around trying to take in more of his surroundings… He blanched when it downed on him that he had been tied to the bed, in the same way Hermione had been, but not with his Gryfindor tie, or anything… No, since he was still fully clothed, thank Merlin for small favours… But with shackles of some sort…

It was weird… from what he could perceive with his bad eyesight, they had to be old metal ones. But they felt extremely soft, and didn't cause pain where they came in contact with his skin, even when he pulled hard.

Cursing under his breath, he next tried to shout the spells in the vague hope of achieving the wandless magic Dumbledore seemed so sure Harry was capable of… Of course nothing happened, and then he heard a soft chuckle just above him…

His eyes in desperate slits, he tried to see her, but to no avail. The mattress underneath him moved a little, and he felt her breath tickle his nose. She must be under the Concealment Charm…

"Hermione? Why/"

He was cut of by an invisible finger against his lips. He heard her whisper and strained his ears to listen to her:

"Shh, Harry, I'll tell you… But first… you have to promise me to stop that ridiculous shouting… I know you're a powerful wizard, and you'd probably be capable of wandless magic for minor spells by now. But I have to tell you: even Dumbledore would have trouble breaking the spells I've put on your bonds…"

"Hermione/"

Harry started to lose his patience, and didn't understand this crazy situation he was in. The girl in question though, shushed him gently:

"I'm not going to hurt you, Harry. Honestly! I just wanted to let you know I found the cause of our little problem…"

Harry frowned; his brain trying to work out what this all meant. So she knew where the dreams had come from? What did that have to do with him being tied spread-eagled onto an old four-poster? And why did she conceal herself?

Ready to fire his questions at her, and to release the extreme disgruntlement he felt, he took a deep breath, glaring in the direction he thought she must be. Before he could utter a sound though, he was silenced in a new way…

Soft lips descended with not so soft carefulness upon his. A warm, yielding weight covered him suddenly from hip to chest, and all thoughts about protesting vanished from his brain. She was straddling him, and he felt the warmth of her body instantly through the layers of his cloths, making him wonder what she was wearing.

Images flashed through his head. Though limited in experience about these things, he was still a seventeen year old male… Hermione wearing only underwear, or like in the dreams… or maybe, if he was lucky, some black leather…

For just a few moments, it didn't matter that all those thoughts didn't sound like anything Hermione would ever wear. But then again, the whole situation he was in, sounded like nothing Hermione would ever do…

Of course, with her kissing him and wriggling her warm body on his, these forbidden thoughts he had of her only increased the nervous anticipation inside him, and it didn't take long for clear evidence of his desire to rise. His mind blissfully clouded for the moment, he didn't notice that Hermione would certainly feel his reaction to her.

***

Hermione was enjoying herself immensely, though she still felt a bit nervous, the passion in the shared kiss melted her insides. The concealment charm and taking away his glasses helped, though. She wouldn't be able to do this facing him directly. Disgusted with herself at her cowardly methods, she was reminded to what had led up to this and was re-boosted in her confidence.

Reluctantly breaking the kiss, she noted with extreme satisfaction that Harry lifted his head, as if to capture her retreating lips. Looking down at Harry, Hermione was quite pleased with herself. The little blush on his cheeks, combined with the brilliant greenness of his eyes was breathtaking. And the evidence that he was anything but indifferent pressed against her.

Without her conscious knowledge, her hands had found their way to his adorably mussed hair. He really looked edible, and a great wave of tenderness pulled her into losing herself in those green eyes.

***

Harry was still slightly panting. He was trying to see her, even though his brain told him how futile that was. Even after she broke the kiss, she was still resting on top of him, and her hands in his hair were driving him mad… Through the jumble that was his brain he remembered he was tied up, and the sudden need to just hold her became unbearable.

"Untie me"

It was supposed to come out as a command, but, out of breath, and still feeling the lures of desire torment him, it came out as a pathetic whisper. Despite that, Hermione didn't say anything for a moment, as if considering this. But his hopes were quickly dashed when she chuckled again…

He could've sworn she shook her head and before talking sweetly:

"What about me then? I wanted to tell you something very important! And you'll listen"

With that she brought her body up and her hands out of his hair. Missing the warmth already, she was sitting lightly on his belly. Extremely frustrated that he couldn't see her, but strangely excited about it too, he held his breath and waited for her next move.

She started speaking in her usual lecture mode:

"I had a real problem finding anything useful about our subject of our annoyance. Most of those prophesy books are full of rubbish about dreams…"

Suddenly Harry noticed the top button of his old dress shirt pop open as if on his own account. About to protest, Hermione must've seen him looking down because she continued in a voice that was a bit more forceful. It was the sort of tone she used when she wanted Ron and him to pay extra-close attention to what she was saying.

The way she was prattling on usually got on his nerves in every day life. Now, it strangely made him anxious. She had opened his shirt methodically, and when she rested her palms flat on his bare chest, it made him crazy when she didn't seem to be inclined to do anything more.

"… But then I stumbled upon a useful book about magic and sub-consciousness. It had a very interesting chapter about accidental Legimency…"

Through the hazes of his mood, he barely understood what she was saying. And then she did something that had his cheeks flame red.

Scooting lower, she'd brushed her bum slightly over his hips and the restrained erection. Ignoring his gasp she stated matter-of-factly:

"That must be quite painful"

Before he could say anything, he felt her hands brushing his waist and he saw his belt being taken out of the loops. Excruciatingly slow, at least for him, she open his trousers to give his swollen flesh a bit more freedom. Harry's mind was reeling and he was starting to believe he had somehow ended up in some kind of Alternate Universe.

"So, now you can concentrate again on what I was trying to explain! So: because you can't control your powers of Occlumency and Legimency, your strongest and restrained emotions have gotten the better of you! Hence the dreams where you force your emotions on me!"

***

There, now he knew, too. Hermione restrained the urge to smirk smugly when she saw the look of confusion on Harry's face. Then again, maybe there wasn't enough blood left in his brain to really understand what she'd just said. That he was responsible for their problems!

But no matter, she'd just have to play her revenge on him, and then he'd think twice of coming after her in her dreams! He should just ask her in real life, the bloody coward!

Getting up she walked over carefully to the table she had set up behind the head of the bed. It wasn't easy to prance around invisibly; you had to keep your balance, and try not to knock into anything…

Hmm? What would she use first? The chocolate or the whipped cream? Or should she just have the ice-cream first, wait… she had a quill somewhere to! She should've planned this bit more: what would happen first? Quite the dilemma…

***

Please review! I need them, I wither away and die without them… ok, without the drama: just leave your opinions for me to learn from!