A/N: it's rainy and cold here, so there isn't much to do except post! LOL Already cleaned, have some sick children so I thought I would post a few chapters for you. This is the first one of the few I am posting…
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Night 2
Brian and Marissa didn't finish the note until after their lunch, which consisted of ham sandwiches and an apple a piece. Millie had delivered it in her usual overlarge yellow t-shirt with the string tied around the middle and this time when Brian asked her how she was, she had all but beamed at him, probably happy someone was asking ABOUT her and not for her to do something. He noticed that she didn't seem to have harmed herself in anyway from her comment made the previous night. That made both of them a bit more excited about asking her for help.
In between their lunch and early evening they rewrote the letter numerous times and talked a bit about school, Quidditch and whether the entire wizarding world knew they were missing. As the afternoon wore on, Brian noticed that Marissa still seemed preoccupied with whatever had transpired during their morning trip down the hall.
It was now half past six and Marissa and Brian were sitting by his schoolbag sharing a few crystallized candies and a bottle of water. Brian read the letter for what must have been the tenth time that afternoon:
Dear Parents,
First, we're ok…truly. Second, this is what we know about where Nott is holding us. We believe we're in America, going by our watches which have gone back in time six hours also judging from the fact, when we were port-keyed out of Hogwarts, it was cloudy and later in the afternoon; when we arrived here it was sunny and morning. We landed right in the middle of a sparse spare bedroom and there's no sign of the Muggle electronic cat/portkey that brought us here. Marissa went to pet it because it was actually meowing and looked very much alive and in doing that, found us here…
The note went on in alternate turns of Brian's small cramped handwriting to Marissa's neat penmanship, describing everything from the room to the hall, to the ugly lights, to what they saw outside. The last quarter of the letter was more personal and they had debated over writing a note to each parent, then decided on saving their last two sheets of parchment (a few others being scrapped first draft letters) and wrote a combined note to their families.
As we close b/c of the lack of parchment, we want to let you know we love you and know that you're doing everything you can. We're being taken care of; he isn't smart enough to try anything and we don't believe we will be moved anywhere else. After this letter is sent, we will still be putting our heads together trying to come up with other ways of contacting you, or cluing you in as to where we are. Please let Amy know we aren't mad or upset with her; this isn't her fault at all…it's all Nott's for thinking he can try and get something he never really had in the first place.
Hang in there everyone, we are.
We love you,
Brian and Marissa
"Who would have thought that doing nothing would make you so tired?" Brian pondered, wiping his hands on his jeans, folding the note into quarters and stowing it safely in his bag. He busied himself with putting the top back on the box of candy and stowing it back in his school bag, then covering everything with his invisibility cloak.
"Mmm-hmmm." Marissa already had her head back against the wall with her eyes closed, looking worn out. He knew she was still upset about whatever happened while he was in the loo that morning; but when he had asked her again about it she had just shook her head and changed the subject.
"Should we ask Millie tonight if she would send something for us? Pretend like we don't have it written yet?" Brian asked, trying to draw her out of the shell she had retreated into.
"Probably would work better that way." Marissa opened her eyes and turned her head towards him. He was watching her concernedly, sitting in the same position as she was with his hands folded over his stomach. She could sense he was trying to figure out what was wrong and as his dark eyes searched her face she felt ashamed for being so upset and not telling him. It wasn't fair for him to wonder what was wrong with her, not when they were in this situation together.
"I'm sorry," she said, lowering her gaze from his, not being able to form a coherent thought; the way he looked at her sometimes was like he was looking through her, trying to see her soul and it unnerved and excited her at the same time.
"For what?" his voice registered surprise and he shifted to turn towards her a bit.
"I've been pissed off…scared…all day and just kept all that inside me like usual and it's not fair to you." She wriggled uncomfortably not used to sharing her emotions so readily with him.
"What did Nott say? Did he DO anything?" Brian's voice adapted an edge as he asked her the last question, bringing about a glance of surprise from Marissa.
He never got an answer as they both shot to their feet, hearing the tell-tale slide of the door down the hall. This time, their last trip to the bathroom was quiet, but both Marissa and Brian felt that Nott was angry, probably about his little plan not working out. Brian kept an ear out the whole three minutes he was in the bathroom, making sure Marissa was fine. She didn't take much longer than he had and a few minutes later, they were locked back into their snug, white room
Brian repeated the question he had asked before their bathroom break and saw her hang her head, running her hand nervously through her hair mentally preparing her answer.
"He was just making comments…I can't…," she shook her head not being able to voice how he managed to make her feel almost ten hours ago. To try and disguise her discomfort she leaned back, stretching out her arms and back. Then let her arms collapse at her sides in a helpless gesture.
"I'm not going to let him hurt you." Brian's tone was tender and firm at the same time, and so were his hands that squeezed her shoulders in a comforting way.
"He didn't hurt me, Brian…he just made me feel…," she struggled for the right adjective to describe exactly what she had felt listening to his comments. She looked at a point over his shoulder and said the only word that was in her mind.
"Dirty…I guess," she was forced to take a step towards him as he pulled her closer. Marissa was thankful for his arms that wrapped around her and that he wasn't trying to diminish what Nott was doing, because she knew his tactics. Closing her eyes she laid the side of her head on chest, feeling the safest when he was holding her. She never thought she would need anyone this much especially to feel safe. She never thought she would be so glad he was there and with these two sudden realizations about herself, she felt the tears beginning to well up.
"Dammit," she whispered as they leaked out of the corners of her eyes. As she lifted her arm to wipe her cheeks, Brian realized she was crying.
"I'm going to kill him," Brian whispered fiercely moving her so he could look at her face, totally misunderstanding why she had tears falling down her cheeks.
"No, it's not that," Marissa wiped at her eyes and when she glanced up at him she saw something so powerful in his eyes she was rendered speechless. She had no idea what it was…she could only describe it as potent; she couldn't even attach a name to what she saw, all she could do was gaze at him-- letting him see her...the angry, confused Marissa.
"What then? He's part of the fact that you're crying." Brian reached up and brushed a tear off her chin.
"I'm just glad you're here with me," she blurted out not being able to tear her gaze away from his. Placing her hands on his waist she pulled herself into his embrace, feeling his hand tilt her chin up at the last minute and she was pretty sure she initiated the kiss this time.
It wasn't the same, shy, tentative kiss they had shared the night before. Her body wasn't asking for that. Her body and mind wanted proof of his remarks and she kissed him hard, her hands running up his back, pulling herself closer.
For the first time, Marissa felt how powerful Brian James Potter was. Not just because he was Harry Potter's son, not because he seemed to be radiating an energy that woke up every cell in her body, but the way he felt against her, under her hands. He was solid, strong; full of a vigor and force all his own and as she tasted the mint from the toothpaste her hands told her that his shoulders were the best thing ever. He was emanating a powerful pull, making her want to be closer making her grab his neck, pulling herself up onto her toes deepening the kiss-- suddenly feeling a resistance behind her knees. She wondered when she had backed up towards the bed but found she didn't care as she managed to climb on it backwards, feeling Brian's hands guide her back safely.
For a moment their lips parted as she leaned back against the bed. His arms seemed to move her up towards the pillow, his eyes never leaving hers as serious and dark as Marissa had ever seen. If his magnetic gaze would let her pull away, she knew she'd find the same intense expression on his face. With a slight movement of her fingers brushing along his collar bone he leaned in, meeting her slightly parted mouth.
She returned his kisses hungrily; her hands massaging a path from his shoulders down his muscular upper arms then back up lightly touching his neck. He was beginning to relax into her, helping her enjoy the feel of the strong muscles moving under her hands as one arm moved to cradle her neck supporting his weight and the other trailing down her side with just enough pressure not to tickle. Before she knew what she was doing, her hands were wedged between them, grasping the buttons on his shirt. With shaking fingers she managed to unbutton all but the last one. His hand that had settled on her hip reached between them and in a flash it was undone signaling for her to push back his shirt, tugging it off his arms, then gasping against his lips as her bare arms touched him.
`Him. His warm skin. Brian's…,' her thoughts whispered.
`Did I just say that aloud?' she wondered as she felt his lips move softly to her cheek and work their way down her neck. Her body was torn between concentrating on that wonderful sensation or the fact that his hand was now on her thigh, tugging her leg up enabling him to settle into her more deeply. Not sure what to do with her hands, as she captured his lips again, she decided she needed to feel more of that warm skin his shirt had been covering. Trailing and pressing her fingers down his spine, she could feel him press into her as she moved them lower, rubbing them in little circles feeling the rough material of his jeans around his narrow hips like he had done the previous night. A moment later her body seemed to push reflexively against his as his hand skimmed over her breast and rested against her neck. With neither of them stopping the other's ministrations it didn't take long for them to figure out how to synchronize those movements causing them to move against each other in a way she never thought of herself doing. She was feeling the most wonderful, powerful, frightening feelings and urges and she wasn't sure how much more she could take without exploding.
`Oh my God, I can't not be doing this with him…,' Marissa's jumbled mind managed to make one coherent thought before feeling him shift heavily and suddenly finding herself on top of him, feeling him bury a hand in her hair and the other warm against her skin following the same path down her spine as hers had earlier. A soft noise came from her throat as her bare stomach touched his sending quivering, fluttering feelings down to her core. She hadn't even realized her shirt was pushed halfway up her body and at this point she didn't care.
Brian was quite sure that having Marissa resting on top of him, her legs on either side of his hips was the most brilliant event that could ever happen. He enjoyed the softness of her hair clenched in his fist, keeping it away from their faces and his hand pressing right at the small of her back was the only thing anchoring him to the bed. He was sure that if she continued her sweet, hesitant kisses down his jaw he was going to fly off the bed. Or the culprit might be her thumb rubbing up and down near his shoulder. He was pretty sure she didn't even realize she was doing it, but it was fantastic…how one little touch just about melted him into the mattress, and how she managed to render him motionless was beyond him. Flexing his fingers (making sure he could still move something) against her soft skin she shifted her weight erupting a flame that coursed throughout his whole body and his hands clenched as a soft moan stuck in his throat. She stilled, her lips right next to his ear and for a moment all he heard was her rapid breathing with his name in there somewhere.
"Merlin," he breathed, trying to control his breathing and emotions without actually having her move. Her forehead touched his shoulder and he swore she smiled into the hollow of his neck.
"I think… we need to stop," Marissa's lips moved against his neck causing him to shiver.
He nodded feeling her hair now tickling his cheek and gently tugged down her t-shirt letting his hands rest on her hips, not sure whether to move her or let her make that decision on her own. He deliberated with all the thoughts running through his head:
`Should I apologize for this? What is going on with us? I wish she'd say something because I have no idea what to say to her. I've never done this before and I don't think Marissa has either.'
As if it was his habit now, he lifted a hand from her hip and lightly ran it down the back of her head, feeling the slight swelling of where she hit her head.
"How's your head?" he whispered letting his hand slide to her back.
"Good; hardly hurts at all anymore," she said, her breath like feathers across his neck, bringing out yet another shiver. He felt her smile and heard a giggle as it passed through to him.
"You're laughing at me." Brian pretended to be hurt, trying to reign in the flame that was still moving through his veins.
"Never." Marissa made a move to roll off of him and he suddenly had the desire to see if she was ticklish.
"Well." He turned on his side and Marissa caught the note of amusement in his voice a split second to late, "now you will!" He ran his hand up her ribs and she dissolved into shrieking laughter, trying to push him away. He relished in the happy noises coming from her, so totally different than what she was like during the day. Finally, she begged for him to stop her chest heaving, both of them laying on their backs, each a vague outline in the murky light.
He saw her raise her hand and press a button on her watch.
"Almost eight!" she did nothing to cover the surprise in her voice that they had just been fooling around for over an hour.
"Wow, time flies," Brian murmured and felt a light slap on his arm.
"Don't make me tickle you again," he reprimanded, poking her in the ribs. Marissa scooted away and promptly fell off the bed. For a moment there was complete silence and Brian started howling, holding his stomach and rolling around the bed.
"Oh…God…Marissa…you ok?" he gasped, peeking over the edge of the bed, glad to see, or rather hear, she was laughing too.
"Fine. Maybe I'll just stay down here where it's safer!"
"Wimp," Brian goaded and for a few beats there was silence. "Are you trying to make me feel guilty for you falling off the bed?" he pulled himself closer to the edge when suddenly she pounced on his back.
"Oi, Malfoy, you will pay!" he laughed as her fingers poked and skittered over his ribs. Bracing his hands on the mattress he performed a pushup, then flipped over covering her body under his. His hands searched for hers and accidentally found her ribs in the process. After much name calling and helpless giggling he had managed to pin her hands next to her shoulders.
POP!
Brian sat bolt upright, Marissa not too far behind him and they stared at Millie near the door, with the pitcher of water; both but shadows.
"Master Potter, Miss Malfoy…your water," Millie bent down and placed it next to the door.
"Thank you. Millie, can we ask you a question?" Brian was sitting at the edge of the bed next to Marissa. His hand found hers and grabbed it.
"Yes, Master Potter," Millie squeaked in her high voice.
"Well, umm, we want to let our parents know that we are safe and were wondering if we wrote a letter, could you get it to my father or to Draco Malfoy?" Brian felt Marissa squeeze his hand, waiting for a response.
For a moment all they could hear was the shallow breathing of themselves…or maybe it was Millie. Marissa half thought she disappeared when she didn't answer right away, but a second later she was proven wrong.
"Tomorrow afternoon I will be sending mail via Owl while he is out. It is my job to send the mail," was all Millie said and with a POP she was gone.
Brian heard Marissa blow out the breath she had been holding.
"I think that might have been code for yes," she whispered, suddenly excited that they might be able to contact the outside world. She felt Brian's shoulders slump a bit.
"What's wrong?"
"I just…for a while I thought she'd say "no" and then I'd have to start thinking of a…harsher alternative to get in touch with them."
"Well, she didn't say "no" and it's "we" not just you who has to think their way through this…mess that we're in." Marissa rested her hand on his shoulder that must have felt like they were carrying the weight of the world.
She felt his shoulders move up and down as he sighed. "I kept trying to come up with other plans if this one didn't work. Overpowering him didn't seem to be an option as he has a wand and the last thing I want is for either of us to get hurt. I've looked at that bedroom door a million times in two days and there's no way through it except if you are on the other side."
"We would've thought of something, Brian. We're just fixated on the letter, that's all. Come on," Marissa tucked her knees under her and moved back a bit on the bed, letting her fingers linger on his shoulder, hoping he'd get the hint to follow her. Being the perceptive male he was he did understand what that lingering touch meant and together they climbed under the mussed up covers. He heard her mumbling to herself something about hating to sleep in jeans as she whipped them off under the sheet and dropped them on the floor next to her.
They faced each other in the darkness, somehow finding each other's hands.
"Why don't we just try to sleep and look over the note again in the morning, getting it ready for Millie? One thing at a time," Marissa said wisely feeling his hand slowly relax under hers.
"Right. I think you should have another one of your Diviniation like dreams…maybe you can somehow communicate with them," Brian told her, now not being able to see anything but the velvety blackness.
"I'll try my best," Marissa said and he could hear the smile in her voice. "Let's sleep…escape this…prison for a bit." Marissa felt him lift her hand up a bit then run his lips light as a feather across her knuckles.
"I think we did that a bit earlier," he said brazenly, stunning Marissa for a minute who couldn't think of any smart comment so she stuck with the truth.
"We sure did." But it came out as a whisper as he pressed another firmer kiss against her knuckles. She felt all the tenderness in the world behind that single gesture and felt the need to return it. Minutes later they were both fast asleep, hands clasped between them…as if they were recharging the force that kept them sane during the day.
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