&;
He blinked once.
Twice for good measure.
His head was heavy as he sat up with the least bit of enthusiasm present on his face. His hair was ruffled greatly by his nape, standing wildly in all directions possible. This is why he hated evenings. His pure loathing on the idea of waking up in the middle of the night, with the most unattractive of looks, made him quiver. He ever really liked evenings. Nothing ever occurred at these times. It is only in the middle of the night, midnight to be exact, that things most controversial and exciting happen.
By his side, a blonde young woman shifted in her sleep. Harry stared intently at her.
Her cheeks were flushed a deep pink from the cold, and her left breast hung loosely over the quilt. Her lips were parted slightly, still swollen from the morning's events. An arm was raised just by her head, revealing the further curvature of her waist. Freckles spread across her arms, down to the curve of her stomach.
Harry glanced out the window, tantalized by the moon that shone brightly up in the sky. It was the same moon that saw him hiding beneath the shadows, watching her intently as numerous men surrounded her, giving winks and lines of flirtatiousness. It was also the same moon that saw the jealousy that sparked in his eyes as she gave the redhead a kiss on the cheek as he left.
He blinked thrice.
The anticipation of seeing her once again rose by his stomach. It was disquieting, and needy, that it somehow made him ache for her more. He envisioned her complete surrender to him, which only brought a grin to his face. At those moments, he did nothing but wish for her body to be entangled with his. His throat tightened at the mere thought.
The blonde moaned before opening her eyes slowly. The mattress moved slightly as she sat up, the quilt wrapping protectively over her bosom. He felt her hands travel up his back, before resting themselves idly on his shoulders. Her head nestled itself by his neck, her lips slowly traveling from his cheeks, down to the curve of his nape.
"I have to go." He mumbled. She halted briskly, her hands falling from his shoulders and onto the mattress. He hadn't really meant to be so upfront.
"Why? Must you?" She quipped. He now looked at her, his eyes still groggy from sleep. He looked at her, and the small laugh lines that were starting to form by her eyes. These wrinkles made her who she was to him. It was inevitable.
"Your husband will be home in an hour, Isabel. I cannot stay much longer." Her bright silver eyes sparkled.
"What difference does it make? He spent his morning with his lover as well. Don't I deserve my own?"
"I don't belong to anyone." His voice was monotonous, almost pulsed. It was then that Isabel bowed her head in shame.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"It's fine. You don't have to apologize." She took a seat beside him, the quilt wrapping loosely around her petit frame. The night air passed by them silently, giving them both chills for a fraction of a second. They sat in silence, their breathing so audible that somehow, it echoed around her chambers.
"Sometimes, I wish that it was him in your position." She spoke suddenly, just as tears fell to her cheeks silently. He sat still.
"I'm just a fantasy, Isabel."
"You're a lovely fantasy I'd want to live out."
"You don't want me. You want your husband." He gave her a glance, only to find her eyes swollen with tears. He knew that she was knowledgeable about this fact as well. She used him-they all did. That's why he exists in this world. To be used. To be that small infinitesimal fantasy for women whose hearts have swollen to the point of exploding. He lives to be their hero.
"But he's not mine to want anymore." They stared at each other, still and silent, feeling nothing but the air from the outside. With a heavy sigh, Harry turned fully to look at her, only to find her eyes deep in a befuddling daze. He tried to say something, yet the lust and desire in her eyes was so intense that he was left speechless.
"I must go." He was able to mutter. He stood up, surprised by his own hesitancy, and clothed himself once again. Yet, it was the heat of her body that made him halt abruptly. She was standing behind him, with her hand tracing circles by his bare back. He felt the desperation in her touch, and the longing that has finally surfaced after years of misery.
"Just once more, Harry. Please." He looked back at her, only to find himself thinking of the princess more and more. He wanted to see her. He needed to see her.
"…please." She pleaded once more. He stood still, looking at her with the heaviest of gazes. Her laugh resounded in his head endlessly. He needed to see her.
"He left you a choice, Isabel." He muttered. She looked perplexed.
"What are you talking about?" Her eyebrows furrowed heavily on her forehead. He threw on the last piece of clothing on the floor, before bowing in respect.
"Goodbye, Isabel." She opened her mouth to rebut, yet he had already left. She looked down her window, only to find him staring back at her with the same perplexed eyes she had just moments ago. Finally, she knew what he meant.
&;
He watched her from the crevice of the garden wall.
She was sitting with Rosa by the gazebo at the center. She had a narcissus flower tucked tightly by her ear. The yellowness of it still seemed to glow amidst the darkness of the night, which still somehow illuminated her face. Rosa was seated beside her, petting a stray cat that lay comfortably within her arms. The cat purred audibly, making Hermione laugh all of a sudden.
Her laugh echoed through the garden, and the mere sound of it made him want to watch her even more.
"She likes you, Rosa." He heard her say. Rosa gave back a meek smile.
"They are the slyest of creatures, my lady. And the most humble, may I add." He saw Hermione smile softly at her, and for a fraction of a second, Harry felt his head go heavy. The moon revealed itself from its hiding place behind the clouds, quickly brightening the garden in mere seconds. Hermione glanced up, a larger smile forming on her features.
"Oh Rosa, it's beautiful!" He heard her exclaim. The mere life in her eyes made him adore her even more. The very curve of her smile made her seem all the more perfect in his eyes. By her side, Rosa chose to smile with her as well.
"Yes it is, my Lady."
"Oh, isn't it lovely? It makes me want to tie a tight rope around it and keep it for myself." A small smile crept up his lips. Rosa, although, seemed unamused.
"My lady, isn't that selfish of you?" She exclaimed loudly. Hermione's smile vanished quickly before his eyes.
"I was merely kidding, Rosa." This small remark made him chuckle louder than he should. By the far end, Hermione's face shifted to his direction. He hid by the crevice quickly, closing his eyes in frustration as he inwardly scolded himself. He must go unnoticed while her servant remained, he thought.
Slowly, her speech turned into mere whispers. He assumed that she knew of his presence by now.
Slowly, he peaked through the crevice once again. The sparkle of his spectacles caught Hermione's attention. Her eyes widened visibly as she stared at his calm expression. He stared at her intently, and she at him, and for a moment, he had wished that Rosa never existed at those moments.
With his index finger to his lips, Hermione bit her bottom lip. It somehow amused him to see her so befuddled.
"Rosa?" He finally heard her say.
"Yes miss?"
"Would you fetch father a glass of water?" A grin played on his lips.
"But miss, he didn't ask for one." She glanced at him for a second's time, before turning back to Rosa. Her eyebrows were furrowed deeply by her forehead. He assumed it was out of anxiety. Or maybe panic?
"Well, tell him I told you to give it to him out of daughterly love and concern. He must be tired anyway." She cast another glance at him. He admired her gift for making up the best excuses.
"Right away, miss." Rosa said, somehow unsure of her actions, before retreating from the garden's premises. It was then that he saw her heave a sigh of relief, before standing up with an infuriated expression, and heading towards his direction. Running a hand through his hair, he leaned sideways onto the wall, both his hands folding by his chest.
"And just who gave you permission to enter the castle's premises?" She said in a loud whisper, her face showing signs of clear aggravation. Harry seemed non-pulsed.
"Well princess, I must say, you must train your guards more. They left the gate unguarded for a full twenty minutes." Her expression turned into awe.
"And you actually took advantage of the situation?" She sounded scandalized. Too scandalized, in fact, that it made Harry's grin widen.
"Well, of course. Any common man would."
"Common Stalker, you mean?" She retorted quickly. Harry chuckled.
"I'm insulted by the thought of you thinking I'm stalking you, my Lady." She gave a snort.
"Then what do you call this?"
"Mere observance."
"To the point of invading privacy?"
"Sometimes, you need to look closer to find what you're looking for."
"But you're merely observing, not looking."
"But why would you observe something if you're not looking for anything?" She opened her mouth to reply, but ended up closing it again in defeat. He gave a satisfied smirk.
"Must you always win verbal fights like this?" She scrunched her nose in irritation.
"You make me win them, princess. The fault lands on you." He quirked an eyebrow, soon making her huff a deep breath of frustration.
"You still haven't told me your intentions." She quipped. He shifted positions on the wall, now having his back resting lightly on the cold marble.
"I come as a mere visitor."
"An unwanted one." She mumbled under her breath. Harry looked at her amusedly, yet shockingly pulsed inside by her remark. Continuing, he spoke
"In addition, I think I left you hanging the other night-no pun intended." To his surprise, she laughed. It was a soft, almost whispered laugh that somehow urged you to laugh as well.
"You could be a jester for my father." She commented. He chuckled slightly.
"I'd be delighted to take the job. I've got a few jokes up my sleeves."
"Oh, but I'd have to warn you. My father's sense of humor needs a little tweaking."
"Then I shall tweak it in your honor!" He exclaimed teasingly. Hermione laughed harder, and it was beyond her knowledge that Harry was staring intently at her as she did so. The flower in her hair loosened slightly, just as small strands of her hair fell loose from her bun. The night air made her skirt billow behind her, and the grass from her own garden tickled the soles of her bare feet. Her sheer white shirt clung loosely to her torso, revealing the maroon undershirt she worse underneath. Her cheeks were slightly flushed by the cold, just as her nose wrinkled as her laugh echoed through the garden. Harry concluded that this, by far, was the very epitome of lovely.
He hadn't noticed her stop moments ago.
"Would you please stop staring at me? It's rude." She remarked. Harry, snapping from his reverie, chose to snigger under his breath.
"And this flatters you, yes?" She looked incredulous.
"How dare you!"
"Guards!" Hermione turned quickly, only to find Rosa screaming frantically behind her. Her eyes widened visibly.
"Rosa! Shhhh!" She whispered loudly.
"Guards! Quickly!" she continued to shout. It was only when Hermione placed her hand over the old woman's mouth that she stopped completely. Rosa looked to the place Harry was in, only to find him bowing down to her. Her eyes looked fearful.
"Rosa, listen at me!" Hermione whispered fiercely. Rosa nodded carefully.
"You will never speak of this to father, do you hear me?" The old woman nodded again. The worry in Hermione's tone was evident.
"Now Rosa, you must promise me that. Swear to the Almighty that you would not speak of what you saw!" Hermione stared at the old woman, who seemed to remain still. Seconds later, she nodded once more. Hermione gave a sigh of relief.
"Good. Now when I release of your mouth, you will neither talk nor scream. Is that clear?" Rosa nodded for the last time. Slowly, Hermione put her hand down to her side. Rosa was pale and flushed, with eyes still wide in fear.
Soon, an army of guards crowded the entirety of the garden, holding swords and axes within their palms.
"Where is he, princess?" The front liner asked. Hermione stuttered slightly.
"Men, I could explain. He's-" Looking back, she was left disappointed upon finding his spot empty as it was before. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. She glanced back at the guards, only to find them expectant and eager for an answer. She sighed.
"…imaginary." She ended. She saw Rosa's mouth open, and luckily, she was able to cast her a look before she was able to speak. The guards looked disappointed.
"With all due respect my Lady, but please. Do not call alerts such as this if you're just looking for a laugh." She nodded meekly.
"Yes, Chris. I apologize. You may go now." She said, instantly receiving a bow from each man in the courtyard. She curtsied in respect as they all stood and retreated back to their headquarters once again. It was then that Rosa spoke fiercely.
"Princess, how dare you accept strangers into this castle! It is unbecoming!" Hermione instantly looked defensive.
"It is not your place to tell me what and what not to do, Rosa! You have no right to tell me what to do!" By this, the old woman seemed pulsed.
"I may be a slave miss, but I've been yours since your birth. I think that gives me at least an infinitesimal right to tell you what and what's not right." Rosa said in finality, before leaving Hermione in the cold. She stood there alone, her hands folding across her chest as the night air swept past her. Each encounter with him drove her more curious each time. Somehow, as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to see him again.
By the other side of the wall, Harry leaned coolly, holding a narcissus flower within his palms.
He would see her again.
He promised himself that.
&;
A/N: I deserve to be chased by a mob holding deadly sporks and other cutlery. Honestly. As my school life started once again, I almost forgot about this beloved brainchild of mine. For this, I apologize. I guess I'll leave you guys with the responsibility of alerting me once in a while. I hope this one was worth it though. I sincerely hope it was. If it wasn't, sue me for recklessness and sloth. Really.