Fallen For The Hero || Hogwarts Legacy FF

Part 5

The problem with living in a relatively small area filled with hamlets occupied by wizardkind and other magical beings, was that word tended to spread quickly. Much quicker, in fact, than Rookwood had anticipated. He thought he'd have at least a week before anyone noticed that their precious hero was missing–he'd only prevented one person from remembering her, and she hadn't been the only one expecting Jadis to return. If he'd been thinking with the head on his shoulders, he would have asked her who was expecting her so he could deal with them. But having her so close and in his home had...well, thoroughly distracted him.

Whoever she'd been meant to see had reported her absence to a Professor, who had contacted Officer Singer in Hogsmeade, who asked around and learned that Victor had been in the village on the same day that Jadis had last been seen. Further investigation had detected the Oblivius charm on the friend he'd found, which intensified concerns and prompted a man-hunt for him.

Of course, the group of witches and wizards who approached Rookwood Castle knew what he was known for and what his associates were known to do. Still, as the sun reached high noon in the Highlands, a large group was assembling not too far away, seemingly readying to storm the castle and take the girl by force.

Rookwood snorted, watching them out the window of his rooms. "As if," he muttered.

"As if...what?" The girl asked.

He spun to see her sitting up on the bed, having slept later than usual due to an unexpected early morning awakening that had taken a good hour and a half. Normally she rose with the sun. Apparently exhaustion had won out. "You're awake. Good. How did you sleep, love?"

A slight flush appeared on her cheeks. "I was...very tired."

He chuckled, approaching her, and stopping right in front of her to press a kiss to her forehead. "You clearly needed the sleep. Fell asleep right away, if I recall correctly." When he pulled back, she smiled up at him before yawning and stretching out like a cat, elongating and awakening her muscles. He saw her wince. "Are you alright?"

She nodded quickly, smiling almost adoringly up at him. "Just a little sore from last night."

"It certainly was quite...adventurous on the muscles," he allowed, grinning.

"Indeed. But you were saying something when I woke up. Is everything okay?"

He sighed. "There is something of an issue beginning to surface, but I'm not quite certain how to deal with it just yet." He ran a hand through his hair, messing it as he often did when stressed.

Jadis stood up and reached for the robe draped over the post of the bed. He caught her hand, but she brushed him off. "If there's a problem, we need to address it, and you have a...difficult time focusing when I'm undressed."

It was true. He found the only thing he could focus on most of the time was her naked skin and how her muscles moved, thinking of other ways they moved in other positions. Just the previous night, they'd attempted to have supper three times, but kept getting distracted by each other's bodies. They'd only succeeded when he'd wrapped her in a blanket and pulled on his own pants. Even then, they'd jumped right back onto each other the moment they were done.

So he let her cover herself. If his suspicions were correct, and they usually were, they didn't have much time before an angry mob descended on them.

Jadis tied the robe at her waist and made her way across the room to the tea he'd had set in the corner, and began preparing a cup for herself. "So, what's the problem, Victor? You look horribly tense this morning."

He didn't bother correcting her that it was no longer morning, as that would only have succeeded in distracting them both further. Instead, he sighed, frustrated with himself. "There are people looking for you."