Just an Itch

Friendly Business Trip

Hermione had breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally sitting in her seat on the plane next to her former Professor. She had been convinced that she was going to miss the flight and was terrified that another great opportunity would've slipped through her fingers. The relief she saw on Bella's face when she rounded the corner onto the jet bridge was enough to know that the older woman wanted her on this trip. Bella let Hermione have the window seat because she had never been to Italy before and she insisted that Hermione get a view of the mountains and architectural sites as they descended. She was very aware of how close the older woman's body was next to her in their airplane seats but she tried not to think about their shoulders and thighs touching as she looked out the window and sipped from the water she had asked the stewardess for.

About twenty minutes into the flight, Bella tapped Hermione's shoulder and offered her an earbud. "Want to listen?" Hermione nodded and put the earbud in, listening to the soft sounds of Taylor Swift. She smirked and looked up. "What?" Bella questioned. "What's the face for?"

"Oh nothing," Hermione schooled her facial features.

"No," Bella pushed back. "That's not a nothing face. What are you thinking?"

Hermione let a little laugh out of her nose, "I just didn't have you pegged as a Swiftie."

Bella's jaw dropped. "I am not a Swiftie. Take that back right now."

Hermione snatched Bella's phone and scrolled through the playlist, smiling as she scrolled by all the Taylor Swift albums. "Could've fooled me."

"Some of her music is enjoyable," Bella rolled her eyes. "Besides, I know you enjoy her music and I thought you might like to listen to her during the plane ride. If you are going to be ungrateful I'll just take my ear bud back."

"No," Hermione shook her head. "I do love her and I appreciate you thinking of me."

"That's more like it," Bella put the playlist back on and shut her eyes, effectively ending the conversation. Hermione settled further into her seat, turning slightly to look out the window, her back pressing more fully into Bella's arm. She felt Bella stiffen slightly then her body relaxed. She wasn't sure how long she had been looking out the window but sleep overcame her and she found herself being gently nudged by the older woman. "Hermione," she felt a hand grip her thigh. "Wake up, pet."

Hermione jolted awake, her neck was stiff from the awkward position she was laying in. She noted a heat spreading up her leg from where her Professor was still touching her. She cleared her throat and stretched her arms over her arm. She saw Bella looking at her out of the corner of her eye. "Are we there?"

"Nearly," Bella finally lifted her hand from Hermione's thigh and pointed to the window. "Look," she leaned into Hermione resting her chin on the younger woman's shoulder so they could both look out the window. "There's the colosseum."

Hermione's breath hitched, "it's beautiful. I don't have words..."

"We can go this week," Bella whispered her breath dancing across Hermione's ear, causing an involuntary shiver to rip through her body. They had only been alone together for two and a half hours and she was already having inappropriate thoughts about her Professor. "It's not far from where we will be staying."

"I'd like that," it came out breathier than Hermione had intended.

"There's so much history in this city. We have five days here, pet. Anything you can think of that you want to see, I can make it happen for you."

"I thought this was a business trip."

"It is. We do have business to attend to but that doesn't mean we can't sightsee," Bella smirked leaning back in closer to the other woman, pointing out a few more sites from the window.