Always : Theodore Nott

Chapter 36

"I've never been to this part of the lake. It's truly beautiful. Whoop-,"Aurora said as she tiptoed along the rocky shoreline of the black lake.

Nott caught her hand before she almost fell.

"I know, it's my favourite part. I was on my way back from here the night I saw you swimming with the twins. Do you remember?,"he asked as he lead her to a large flat rock at the very edge of the waterline.

"I do indeed,"Aurora mumbled as she hopped onto it.

"That swimsuit was mesmerising,"he said, matter-of-factly, as he joined her on the rock.

"Oh shut it—,"Aurora begun but she was cut off by a large arm snaking around her waist and pulling her in between his legs.

He couldn't get close enough to her. He didn't know what it was, but her presence just seemed to send a calming sense, almost like an relaxing Aphrodisiac, through his body. And to the naked eye, one would think they'd been together for years. It was a comfortable existence within which they both felt completely and utterly at ease in the others presence. It was remarkable.

"Comfortable are you?,"Aurora said with a roll of her eyes.

Nott responded by kissing her shoulder and resting his head in the crook of her neck.

"I preferred my former position, but this will have to do,"he said, running his left hand up her thigh.

Aurora blushed furiously.

"Ah, and she goes pink,"he mocked.

Aurora threw her hand back and gave him a light swat to the face.

"Piss off,"she said, dropping her head in slight embarrassment.

"I'm not complaining,"he said, pulling her tighter.

Aurora liked this. This comfortable intimacy. Of course, the man could work wonders with that tongue and those hands, as she'd just learned, but it was this she craved deep down. An intimacy she was never show by her father as a child, or the twins growing up, as that always remained strictly out of friendship.

It was like she could breath. Like the air was filling her lungs properly. And it was irreplaceable. Sirius had to be wrong. She couldn't imagine that the boy nestled in behind her would do anyone harm. Let alone agree with the horrifying beliefs of a madman such a Voldemort.

But, curiosity had in fact caught her tongue. And he noticed.

"Spit it out,"he commanded.

Aurora froze, had she let her occlumency walls drop for a moment too long so that he could read her mind? No, her walls were too good and he wasn't that talented as an Occlumens.

Think....quick.....think.

"What are you planning on doing for Christmas?,"she blurted out.

Nott laughed into her hair.

"Halloween is merely a few days away and you're worried about Christmas,"he chuckled.

"It's a stressful holiday if one isn't prepared,"Aurora restated.

Nott shook his head.

"Probably go back to the serpents den and have a thrilling meal with my father. You?,"he said coldly.

Aurora thought.

"Well if it makes you feel any better, I'll more than likely be having dinner with the Weasleys. Father doesn't do Christmas. Not since Mum died,"she said, almost clapping her hand over her mouth as she realised how much she had said.