The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 13

It was Saturday morning, the morning after Fidelity showed Noah the Room of Requirement. As Fidelity made her way through the castle that morning, she found herself wondering if Noah was as eager as she was to see the rest of the room.

After breakfast, she spotted him near the entrance to the Great Hall, chatting with a group of students, as usual. His face lit up when he saw her, and he excused himself from his friends to join her.

"Hey," he greeted her with a smile, falling into step beside her. "You look like you've got something on your mind."

Fidelity smiled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was actually thinking about last night. There's still a lot of the Room I haven't shown you."

Noah's expression brightened with curiosity. "I've been thinking about it all day. I can't wait to see the rest."

"Good," Fidelity said, a playful glint in her eye. "I thought maybe today I could finish showing you. If you're up for it, of course."

Noah grinned. "You know I am."

The two made their way up to the room.

"I was thinking we could start at the beach vivarium." Fidelity said with a cheeky smile.

"I love the beach." Noah all but smirked.

"So do I."

Fidelity took Noah through the three vivariums he had yet to see. She introduced him to all the creatures and showed him a few of her favorite spots. Fidelity admired the way he got on with the creatures. Afterwards, they headed downstairs in the Room to one of the couches. Noah had his feet up on the ottoman while Fidelity had her feet in his lap.

Noah absentmindedly traced patterns along her ankle, his touch gentle but sending small sparks up her leg. Fidelity glanced at him, a smile tugging at her lips as she noticed the playful look in his eyes.

"You're really comfortable, huh?" she teased, nudging him lightly with her foot.

He chuckled, eyes meeting hers. "I could say the same about you. I think my lap's become your favorite spot," he winked.

Fidelity blushed furiously. "Maybe it has," she replied, leaning back further into the couch, her gaze softening as the teasing atmosphere faded into something more tender.

Noah shifted, his hand sliding from her ankle to her knee, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of her skirt. "You know," he said quietly, his voice lower, "I've been thinking about something."

Fidelity's heart skipped, feeling the change in the air. She unconsciously bit her lip, her eyes not leaving his. "Oh? What's that?"

Without answering right away, Noah leaned forward slightly, his other hand moving to her cheek, cupping her face gently. His thumb grazed her skin, and Fidelity's breath hitched as she felt his closeness.

"This," he whispered, before closing the gap between them.

Their lips met softly at first, testing the waters, but the moment quickly deepened. Fidelity's hands slid up to his shoulders as she leaned into the kiss, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. Noah responded in kind, his grip on her knee tightening as the kiss grew more intense.

She shifted her position, moving her feet off his lap and onto the floor so she could be closer. Noah's hand slid to her waist, pulling her against him as they kissed.

Fidelity's fingers threaded through his hair, and Noah responded with a soft sigh, his hands holding her as if he never wanted to let go. When they finally pulled back, both of them were breathless, faces inches apart, eyes still locked.

Words seemed to escape Fidelity, her head practically spinning.

Noah grinned, his thumb gently brushing over her lips. "I think that was even better than the first time."

Fidelity laughed softly, her heart still racing. "I can't argue with that."

They lingered in the comfortable silence, catching their breath, the air between them still humming with the intensity of the moment. Fidelity's hand remained on his shoulder, and Noah's fingers lightly traced circles on her waist.

"So," Noah began, his voice still soft but now carrying a teasing edge, "how long have you been planning to bring me here?"

Fidelity chuckled, leaning her head back against the couch. "I actually thought about for a while."

"About the Room or... something else?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself.

Fidelity swatted his arm lightly. "The Room," she said with a grin, though her flushed cheeks suggested otherwise. "And now, I get to share it with you."

Noah's teasing expression softened at her words. He shifted his hand to cover hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. "I'm glad I get to."

Fidelity nodded, her eyes falling to their joined hands. "Yeah," she met his eyes again, "so am I"

Noah smiled, his thumb brushing across her knuckles. "You're not what I'd thought you'd be like."

A laugh escaped her throat. "What did you think I'd be like?"

"I don't know... but not this."

"Well, I'll choose to take that as a compliment. I suppose you're not what I expected either."

"Definitely a compliment. You're incredible, Fidelity."

Fidelity felt warmth bloom in her chest at his words, her heart swelling with a mixture of emotions she wasn't quite ready to unpack. Instead, she smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

"Okay," she said, breaking the moment with a playful grin, "before we get too mushy, there's still one more spot I wanted to show you."

"Oh? Something else you've been hiding?" Noah teased.

Fidelity just teasingly raised her eyebrows in response, rising to her feet and pulling him along with her.

Noah followed her lead, his curiosity piqued once again as they made their way back up through the Room of Requirement, Fidelity leading him towards a section he hadn't seen yet.

As they approached a large wooden door, Fidelity hesitated for a moment, biting her lip before finally turning to Noah. "This is my addition to the Room," she said softly, pushing the door open.

Noah stepped inside, his eyes widening at the sight before him. The circular space was wide and open, the ceiling enchanted to reflect the night sky, glittering with stars. In the center of the room stood a large telescope, and all around were cushions and blankets scattered across the floor.

Fidelity smiled sheepishly. "This is where I come to look at the stars. I know there's the astronomy tower, but this is private, and more comfortable. It reminds me of home... my dad used to teach me about constellations when I was a kid. This part wasn't originally here when I discovered the room, but it shifted at my wishes."

Noah gazed up at the twinkling stars above, the gentle glow casting a soft light over everything. "Fid, this is amazing."

She smiled, relieved by his reaction. "I thought you might like it."

Noah took a seat on one of the cushions, pulling her down beside him. "Definitely."

They sat together in the soft glow of the stars, the atmosphere once again shifting into something quiet and serene. Noah tilted his head back, staring up at the sky above them. "Do you still know all the constellations?"

Fidelity nodded, her eyes following the familiar patterns above. "Most of them. Want me to teach you?"

"I'd love that," Noah said, leaning back against the cushions as Fidelity began pointing out different constellations, her voice a soothing melody against the backdrop of the enchanted night.