Lemon Grass and Sleep

BUBBLE BUBBLE TOIL'N TROUBLE

My back hurt from hunching over the cauldron as I stared into the murky, frothy liquid as I stirred it gently. The steam rose in thin tendrils and spun around my face and filled my nose with the scent of smoke. It probably hurt from a certain someone else too, I thought bitterly.

"How's it going?" Fred asked from the couch, letting his textbook fall to rest on his lap.

"I'm thinking maybe another day or so and it should be potent enough. We might want to wait a few extra days just to be sure, but if I know what I'm talking about," I devolved into mumbles to myself, "And I do...of course. Waiting a few more days might be better..hmm..."

"Agh, I am beat," Glinda burst into the room, slinging her bag onto the ground and plopping down on the couch. "These courses are no joke."

"You could say that again," sad George as he meandered in behind her. "How is the potion coming along?"

"Rather well, I would say," I replied, glancing up for a moment.

"That's what I like to hear."

"Oh, Soot, let me show you the dress I ordered. It's supposed to arrive any day now."

Glinda stood and brought me a piece of paper that looked like it'd been clipped out of a catalogue. It was an ice blue that matched her eyes, something that would make her look like a snow queen in the middle of the Yule Ball.

"That's quite lovely," I commented, looking it over and brushing my thumb across it, "That's lace right there, is it?"

"Yes, isn't that fun? And look there, those tiny dots are pearls."

"How much was that?" I asked incredulously, turning back to my stirring.

"Mm, anyways," she turned quickly back to the couch. "I hear you boys opted into the apparitions class, how's that going?"

"Horrible," they answered.

"It's mighty hard to get the hang of, so much mental work," George complained.

"I didn't expect there to be wand magic involved, I was hoping I'd get some magical charm or something."

"Well deserved for not doing your research beforehand," I muttered, moving the spoon rhythmically.

We continued bickering for a bit before the four of us decided to take to studying and getting our homework done for the day. We took our familiar seats at the table and I hardly even flinched when Fred decided to lay his hand on my knee.

Even though the homework was extremely difficult, I found solace in the comforting sounds of the fire crackling and pages turning. Glinda's humming of the school song wasn't even annoying, just soothing in an odd way.

"They're having us practice dance in a couple days, I heard it from Luna," Glinda mumbled, not taking her eyes off her parchment.

"Ugh, what?" George stretched his arms into the air and groaned. "Like how?"

"Probably the waltz for the ball," she sighed, "I hope we don't have to pick partners."

"That's gonna be embarrassing," I immediately started brainstorming for who I would try and pick. Surely it'd have to be a girl, maybe Halla would agree.

The weeks leading up to the tournament felt just like the last couple days leading up to Christmas, unimaginable excitement. I wasn't even sure why I was so happy to look forward to a bunch of wizards and witches from rival schools coming to visit us--I didn't even know the first thing about the TriWizard tournament.

"Alright," I hesitantly whispered, pulling the ladle of potion out of the cauldron and carefully spooning it into a small vial. "Be very delicate with it."

"Of course," Fred mumbled, taking the glasses as I handed them to him and laying them on the table.

We looked over my finished work, seven vials filled with temporary aging potion. The glass glinted in the light and the potion laid still inside.

"Should we do a test?" I murmured, glancing at him nervously.

"I don't think so, if it works, it works."

"I mean, alright. If it doesn't, I still want my payment."

"What do you take me for, a crook?" He asked playfully, hand sneaking around my waist as he sidled up behind me. Glinda and George had left a few hours ago, and I had a sneaking suspicion Fred was feeling particularly antsy today.

"N-No," I stuttered quietly, eyes laser focused on the vials as I felt him weave his fingers together as they laid heavily against my stomach.

"Good, can't have you thinking badly of me," he whispered into my ear.

"How do you do that?" I murmured, not even really planning on having him hear me.

"Do what?"

"Know exactly what I like without telling you," I looked over my shoulder, "It's crazy weird."

"Crazy weird in a good way, right?"

"Well, yeah, but still."

"Hmm," he hummed, looking at me for just a moment, "I'm always testing, you know. I just keep track of how you react to things."

"What?" I breathed out, feeling my cheeks heat up.

He didn't answer for a quick minute, instead choosing to plant his lips on my neck as he thought of how to respond to my question. I felt him move to stand a little closer, his body heat radiating off of him and making me feel safe and protected. Or, maybe trapped, but in a good way.

"Like when I wanted to try...the tie, that was a little test, and you most certainly..." He placed a delicate kiss on my neck, "Enjoyed it."

"S-So?" I muttered, closing my eyes as he continued.

"So, I'll be sure to do it again," he lowly spoke into my ear. "Just like this right here, you jump a little every time I whisper in your ear. So, I make sure to do it a lot."

"Ugh," I grunted quietly in response.

"And I won't even mention the little phrases that drive you wild, you might just melt in my arms from embarrassment."

"What am I, your next candy experiment?" I asked incredulously, flinching again when I felt his hands unlock themselves.

"No, even better, actually. You're my boyfriend."

I choked at that word, completely caught off guard. My hand flew up to cover my mouth and my eyes snapped open to find Fred's fingers already unzipping my pants as he made quick work of my clothes.

"We aren't even by the bed, Glinda and George could-"

"They left ages ago," he soothed, sliding his palm along my stomach.

"Y-Yes, but-"

"Let's just take a quick break, mm?" I could almost feel him smirking against my neck.

"I have homework to do," I whimpered as he pulled my hips backward toward the closed curtains.

"You don't say?" He mumbled, "So do I, we can do it later."

"Fred," I whispered, "You're so insufferable, sometimes, you know that?"

"Believe me, Thomas, I am completely self aware. Isn't that part of my charm?"