Time Keeps on Slipping - Chapter 9

Harry sat in the room that had been set aside for Hedwig. She was perched on his lap as he petted her gently. Usually, she only allowed a couple of scritches on her chin, or a soft touch on her belly. Currently, she wouldn't let him stop touching her. She would bump his hand with her head when he paused. He had only made the mistake of trying to stand once.

Hugo froze in the doorway. He held a plate of food filled with a variety of meat.

"Hello." Harry smiled at him.

Hedwig allowed him to stop once she saw her dinner. She hopped over to her perch and waited for Hugo to approach. He turned his attention from Harry to Hedwig. Then he strode over to her in a stately manner. He set the plate on a raised table near her perch.

"Presenting your dinner, Miss Hedwig." Hugo said in a faux-stuffy accent.

She inclined her head.

"I shall pass your compliments to the chef." Hugo bowed.

He turned to face Harry with a smile.

"She likes you." Harry chuckled.

"Mum says it's because I remind her of you." Hugo shrugged. He ran a hand through his orange hair. "Not sure how. We look nothing alike."

"It's not all about looks." Harry replied. "I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to scare you."

"You were freaking out." Hugo waved his apology away. "I would too." He sighed. "Dinner is ready."

"Thanks." Harry nodded as he stood and looked at Hedwig. "I'll see you soon."

She shot him a look that wasn't as scathing as before. It was softened slightly by the piece of bacon that dangled from her beak.

Hugo led him back to the kitchen. Rose, Hermione, and Ron waited for them at the table. There was a lot more room without all of the extra people. Harry smiled at them as he took a seat.

"Rose said I passed my OWLs?" Harry asked Hermione.

"You don't remember?" Hermione asked with a small raise of her eyebrows.

"It was a busy year." Harry chuckled.

"I'll say." Ron groaned.

"Yes." Hermione nodded. "You passed your OWLs. Does that mean you want to start at Sixth Year?"

"No." He shook his head. "It all blurs together. I remember DA, but Defense was never an issue. It's the other classes that I want to get right."

"Plenty of time for quidditch too." Ron gave him a conspiratorial wink.

"Ronald." Hermione sighed. "Harry's education is more important than quidditch."

Rose laughed as she took a drink. It came out as a snort which she tried to cover with a cough. The glare that Hermione shot at her made it clear that her deception had failed.

"Something to say, young lady?" Hermione asked in a flat tone.

"It's just nice to not be the focus of that topic." Rose smiled brightly.

"You play?" Harry asked before that topic could take off.

"Chaser." Rose said with a proud smile. "I didn't get on the team as a firstie, but I'm pretty good."

"Pretty good, she says." Ron chuckled.

"She's even better at Potions." Hermione cut in.

Harry looked over to Hugo to see him roll his eyes.

"What about you?" Harry asked.

"I don't play quidditch." Hugo shook his head.

"Do you have a favorite subject?" Harry tried another approach.

"Charms." Hugo smiled brightly. "Uncle Fred and George took me on earlier this summer. It was amazing. They're almost got MMMRRMLLLUM working."

Harry scrunched up his brow in confusion.

"Nondisclosure Charm." Hugo chuckled. "Forgot about that. It's like the Fidelus but for information."

Harry snapped his gaze at Hermione.

"Aurors know the counter-spell." Hermione offered with a smile.

"Nice catch." Harry let out a breath.

"Mom said you were good at Defense." Rose took the initiative to turn the conversation to him. "What else did you like?"

"I liked potions before I met Snape." Harry gave a dry chuckle. "Cooking was one of the few things I enjoyed before Hogwarts. Potions looked a lot like it when I read the book."

"You never told me that." Ron blinked in shock. "Here I thought you'd never opened a book without Hermione pecking at you."

He didn't react to the glare from his wife.

"Of course, I read the books." Harry chuckled. "I could only smuggle one or two out at a time over the summer. It wasn't until I got to the Burrow that I could get to all of them. You do remember we had homework over break, right?"

"Don't remind me." Ron groaned.

"Have you two done yours?" Hermione directed the question to her kids.

"Yes, mom." The two said in unison.

"Anything other than potions?" Hugo asked quickly.

"Transfiguration and charms." Harry replied with a soft smile. "They felt like real magic." He paused. "Who teaches Transfiguration now?"

"Professor Greengrass." Hugo said with a dreamy smile.

"Greengrass." Harry said the name slowly. "Why does that sound familiar?"

"Daphne Greengrass." Hermione answered with a grumble. "Fought her for top marks every year."

"Our year, blonde, Slytherin." Ron filled in. "Her little sister married Malfoy."

"Huh." Harry shook his head. "I think Luna mentioned that." He looked around the room. "Where did she go?"

"I think she went back to the Department." Hermione replied. "She practically lives there."

"After she ate all the apple tarts." Hugo muttered.

"Not all of them." Rose smiled brightly at her brother. "They were tasty. Gran had the crust so crisp."

"I hate you." Hugo glared at his sister.

Rose smiled ever more. The rest of the dinner progressed in a much less tense fashion. Conversation was a bit stilted, but pleasant. Harry got the feeling that family meals weren't too common. Hermione ducked out back to the office once she had finished. Ron disappeared into his office once she was gone.

Harry sat with Rose and Hugo at the table. He didn't know what to say. Neither did they.

"What do you do now?" Harry asked finally.

"Read." Hugo shrugged. "Mom locks the mirror after dinner."

"The mirror?" Harry cocked his head to the side.

"Oh, right!" Rose hopped to her feet. "You don't know about them. Come on."

The two led Harry back to the room where he had spoken with the Weasley family. There was a large mirror along one side of the wall. A couch and a couple of comfy chairs were spaced out to face it. He hadn't given it any thought at the time.

"It's the magical version of TV." Hugo explained.

"You know about TV?" Harry asked.

"Our grandparents are muggles." Hugo laughed. "We know about TV."

"The Mirror Network doesn't have as many options as Muggle channels." Rose shrugged. "There are news channels, plays, sports events, and stuff like that."

"Wow." Harry nodded appreciatively.

Hugo tapped the corner of the mirror. The reflection shimmered then faded away. In place was the image of an old fashion lock. Beside it was an hourglass that was set to countdown.

"Mom wanted to make sure we focused on homework after dinner." Hugo rolled his eyes. "Dad has one in his office that she doesn't know about."

"We use it during the season." Rose added.

"I think I'm just going to go to sleep." Harry shook his head. "Today has been weird."

Hugo laughed as he turned his attention to the bookshelf nearby. Rose motioned for Harry to follow her. She led him up to the room.

"And here is your room." Rose said as she presented the door to him. "I'm the first door, Hugo is the next. Just shout if you need anything. I'll be in my room."

"Thanks." Harry smiled at her. "I'm ready for some real sleep."

Rose nodded. She took a step away then paused for a moment.

"You know what?" Rose turned back to him. "No. I'm not a coward."

Harry wanted to reply but found his lips occupied by hers. His head spun as she pulled away.

"I want you and I'm not going to ignore it." She grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Come to my room if you want me."

Harry didn't wait. He grabbed her hand and led her to her bedroom. She opened the door to reveal a mixture of muggle and magical sports posters on the walls. Quidditch stars mocked the non-moving pictures of basketball players. A few scattered clothes dotted the floor and a broom hovered by the large window on the other side of the room. More importantly, a large bed with Gryffindor colored sheets rested against one of the walls.

The click of the door echoed through the room. A small wave of privacy spells followed a moment later. He looked over to Rose to see her wild curls tumble over her shoulders. Her brown eyes stared back at him full of longing and need.

Harry flashed her a roguish smile before he pulled his shirt over his head. She drank in his lithe form for a moment. It was nice to see that it came from actual activity rather than magic. Some wizards used potions or specialized spells to sculpt their bodies into the perfect image. The problem was that it was too perfect and didn't look right.

Rose jumped as his hands ran the length of her arm. She quickly undressed. A slow strip of seduction was not in the cards. This time. Depending on his performance there might be another.

It was his turn to admire her. She had a tight body with an amazing ass. Her breasts were maybe a handful, but they were gorgeous and fit her frame perfectly. Harry decided to test his theory. He cupped her breasts, finding they filled his hands nicely. She let out a shuddering breath as his fingers teased her nipples.

Reluctantly, he removed his hands to take off his pants. Harry smiled at her hungry look. She let out a short, sharp scream as he swept her into a bridal carry. Rose giggled as he brought her over to the bed. She bounced on the mattress as he let her go.

Rose reached out to him. Harry shook his head and dropped to his knees before her. The quizzical look on her face was erased by shock as she felt his warm breath on her thighs. Harry ran his hands along the back of her thighs as he lifted them up.

He then began to stroke her lower lips with a gentle, teasing touch. Rose moaned. She bucked her hips, desperate for him to press harder. Instead, he leaned in to give her slit a quick lick. Rose let out another shocked scream. It faded into a long, low moan as he slid his tongue along her lower lips. He lapped at her pussy in firm, slow strokes. Each ended with the tip of his tongue brushing against her clit. She hooked her legs on his shoulders and tried to pull him closer.

Rose covered her mouth with her hands as she started to back her hips in time with his licking. Privacy charms were great, but it never hurt to be careful. Her back arched and she screamed into her hand as she reached her peak. Harry continued on; his tongue drew out her orgasm until she sagged limply on her bed.

"Please." Rose moaned. "Please. I need you."

Harry let her legs drift down beside him. She gasped as she gripped his shaft.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Nothing." Rose chuckled. "You're big."

She silenced whatever he was going to say as she teased the crown of his cock along her lips. Harry pulled her into a deep kiss and pushed forward. Rose moaned into his mouth; her arms wrapped around him to hug him tight. Harry slid his hands down her body to cup her ass. He lifted her just a bit to get a better angle. Rose mewled as he pressed deeper into her.

Harry shifted his grip to her hips. He started with long, slow strokes to allow her to adjust. Rose wrapped her legs around him. She tensed her muscles, urging him to move faster. He took the hint and snapped his hips forward with more power. He pulled back until just the head of his cock rested inside her. He paused as their eyes locked. His hips snapped forward, slapping deep into her hot, tight depths.

Rose cried out; her hands scrambled along his back as Harry hammered her into the bed. Each thrust lurched her body further along the bed until her head hung off the other side.

She let out a sudden scream as she hit her peak. Harry groaned as he felt her fluttering around his length. He let himself go now that she had been taken care of. Harry slammed his hips forward one last time before he erupted deep inside of her.

Rose let out a cooing moan as she felt his warm seed fill her. She pulled him down onto her for a couple of minutes as they relaxed. He buried his head in her neck as he caught his breath.

"That was…." Rose giggled in a fuck-drunk tone. "Woo."

"Woo." Harry agreed before he placed a soft kiss on her neck.

"I would love to cuddle, but you better get to your room." Rose nuzzled the side of his head.

"You're right." Harry sighed.

They both moaned as he slowly pulled out of her. He stumbled on wiggly legs as he got dressed. Rose laughed as she watched him. She rested her head back on the bed as he stepped out. There would definitely be a next time. On top of that, she could rub it in Dominque's face that she had sex with Harry.

Harry was able to walk normally once he was out in the hallway. He did stumble though. Not because his legs were weak, but because he wasn't alone in the hallway.

Hugo leaned against the wall.

"Looks like I owe Louis a galleon." He shook his head and chuckled.

He left Harry stunned in the hall.