Peace and Quiet

Returning to Hogwarts for his 8th year to finish his education was stressful. Harry just needs some peace and quiet. The best place to go is the Room of Requirement. Oddly enough, someone is already there.

~§~§~

There were two things that Harry knew for sure. One, Hermione could talk him into doing just about anything. Two, coming back to Hogwarts had been a bad idea. He loved the castle, but there was just too much of everything to relax. There were too many people staring at him like he was Merlin Reborn. Too many memories of friends he had lost. Too many scars of the final battle.

Somehow Hermione had become even more driven in her studies. She made up for her missed school time with a fervor that bordered on obsession. Logically, he knew that it was her way of coping with everything. She was a major part of the war as well and drew attention now. He wanted to help her, but he was just so fucking tired.

Everywhere he went there was something to keep him from the rest he so needed. The dorms were too empty and too packed at the same time. He avoided the Great Hall at all costs. Even his broom didn't offer respite. Someone would see him and then a crowd would gather to watch or join him in a matter of minutes. He took to wandering at night. The empty hallways were the one place that he found a bit of solitude. The map made it easy to avoid any prefects on patrol. Filch had retired, the lucky bastard, which removed a major hurdle. Unfortunately, there was only so much walking he could do before he was just too worn out.

Harry stood in front of the door to the Room of Requirement. He didn't know why it had taken so long come back to the room. That was a lie. He knew it was the memories that kept him away. There was an underlying dread that the room would conjure the past to relive. He didn't know if it was possible, but magic never did have to make sense.

The door before him wasn’t one he had expected. It didn't look like any others in the castle. In fact, it looked like the front door that belonged on a house. The kind that he would see in the pleasant parts of the Muggle world that the Dursleys tried, and failed miserably, to recreate.

For that reason, he knocked. His hand was on the knob a moment before the door swung open. An attractive woman in her mid-twenties answered the door. They stared at each other for a second. A mingle of recognition and confusion mingled in her eyes. There was something about her that was familiar, but he couldn't place it. She wore casual robes rather than the style for students. He didn't recognize her as one of the new professors.

"Oh, sorry." Harry gave a shy smile. "I didn't realize someone was her already."

"No." She shook her head. "It's fine. Come in."

She stepped out of the way. Harry surreptitiously checked her out as he stepped inside. Her light brown hair was tied up in a simple tail. Even with the robe, he could tell she was tall, lithe, and with a modest bust. Quickly, he shifted his attention from her to the room. It was in the arrangement of a nicely furnished living room.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked once she closed the door. "I don't want to interrupt."

"It's fine." She gave him a polite smile. "I just needed some peace and quiet."

"I can relate." Harry chuckled as he took a seat.

He let out an involuntary groan as he sank into the cushions. It felt wonderful to finally be off his feet.

"Looks like you needed that." The witch chuckled.

"I've been walking most of the night." Harry nodded.

Harry watched as she took a seat on a couch nearby. There was a book with a marked page and a cup of tea on the little table in front of it.

"You're not a student." Harry said as he tried to place her.

"I graduated a couple of years ago." She offered. "This seemed like the best place to come and think."

"That makes sense." Harry chuckled.

She picked up her cup of tea and took a sip. All the while she studied him.

"I know you from somewhere." She said after a moment. "Apologies, I'm being rude. I'm Alice."

"Harry." He offered.

He braced himself for her to connect the dots. Not even the room could supply a place to rest. Instead, Alice shrugged. Either she really didn’t know who he was, or she was good at putting up an act. Her eyes flicked to the book then to him. She crossed her legs and settled back on the couch.

"You look too old to be a student." Alice said as she appraised him. "But you don't carry yourself like a simpleton."

"Thanks." Harry laughed. "I think."

Alice smiled at him.

"Technically, it's my seventh year." Harry explained with a sigh. "It's my eighth. I wasn't able to attend last year with the war."

A look of sadness settled on her face.

"Oh." She whispered. "Sorry. I didn't know."

"That's why I'm here." Harry waved off her apology. "Everyone has questions. Why are you here?"

"A man." Alice rolled her eyes as she stirred a bit of sugar in her tea.

Harry chuckled.

"Laugh it up, fuzzball." Alice pointed the spoon from her tea like a wand at him. "Men are horrid."

"As a man." Harry held up his hands. "I completely agree."

"Smart." Alice lowered the spoon. "You know how it is. With the war and everything going on, we all rushed relationships. It's quite the rude awakening once you stop dodging spells and your blood settles. My parents were happy when I got married. They thought I'd sit at home behind the wards and pop out heirs like a good little pureblood wife."

Harry nodded. That helped explain why he didn't know her. She had graduated before him, and she ran in pureblood circles. Even the ones in Gryffindor were kind of hard to put up with for long periods.

"The fact that I met my husband in Auror training was lost on them." Alice set down her tea before she spilled it. "Now, they aren't happy that I haven't given them grandkids. On top of that, my husband has the audacity to agree with them. I'm just supposed to hang up my wand and pop out babies. It took my all not to curse him sterile."

Harry laughed.

"I know the spell." She glared at him.

"I believe you." Harry said, still laughing. "I know what you're talking about. My best friends are going through the same thing. Well, not the baby thing. They want to get married now. I love them both, but I don't see how it would work. She wants to change the world and he wants to play Quidditch."

"What about you?" Alice asked. "Any witches chasing after this green-eyed devil?"

"Green-eyed devil?" Harry said in mock offense. "My lady, whatever have I done to make you think of me so unkindly?"

"Aside from undressing me with your eyes the moment we met?" Alice countered.

Harry blushed. His breath hitched as she set down her tea cup and leaned forward. He caught a glimpse of her cleavage as she took her time. There was a big smile on her face when he finally wrenched his eyes up to meet hers.

"Sorry." He managed to squeak out.

Harry looked away in search of anything that wasn't the witch in front of him. Something shifted in the corner of his vision. Instinctively, his eyes snapped to the movement. His wand was out and in his hand faster before he even realized.

"Nice reflexes." Alice commented. "You weren't the only one with wondering eyes."

The tunnel vision faded enough for him to realize what had changed. Instead of a couch, she sat on a bed. Alice patted the spot next to her.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked as he stood.

She nodded as she lifted her wand. It moved in a familiar motion as the lock on the door clicked into place. Harry sat down beside her. Alice pressed herself against the side of his body. She ran a hand down his chest and stomach to his crotch. Her palm rubbed over his cock. Harry bucked his hips at the touch. His cock began to swell against her hand.

"That's promising." Alice giggled as she started to kiss her.

He groaned into her mouth as he slipped a hand inside her robe and cupped one of her breasts. With her own moan, Alice pushed her hand under his pants to massage his length. She let out an appreciative sound as he reached his full hardness.

"If can you had any doubts." Alice grinned as she sat up and scooted down to kneel between his legs.

She popped open the button of his jeans. Alice undid the zipper then pulled them down his legs. His rigid erection sprang upward as the confines of the denim was removed. Alice licked her lips as she pulled the straining fabric of his boxers down as well.

"This is a beautiful cock." She whispered as she grabbed the base.

Alice stroked him a few times while looking up at him with a glint in her eye. Opening her mouth, she wrapped her lips around his swollen head, her tongue swirled around his ridge.

With a hiss, Harry ran his fingers through her hair as she started to bob her head slowly up and down his length. With each descent, Alice took him deeper and deeper, until she’d swallowed him entirely. Harry groaned as she swallowed around him, he looked down to see her wink up at him with his entire cock still buried to the hilt in her throat. She shook her head back and forth while she pulled back up. Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked hard on his head.

She paused before swallowing him once more.

"Fuck." Harry grunted.

Alice smiled up at him while her lips slowly slid back up to the tip. This time, she gave his throbbing head a kiss. Alice moved quick, she stripped out of her robe, leaving her completely naked. Harry took the time to take off his shirt while she straddled his waist.

She lined him up with her entrance. Alice lowered herself onto him with a moan. Then, she put her hands on his shoulders before she started to up and down slowly. His hard length slid in and out of her tight folds.

Harry planted his feet on the bed, grabbed her hips, and began to meet her bouncing with his thrusts. He lifted his head, he kissed and sucked on her bouncing breasts. She watched as he tried to catch one of her nipples. Alice laughed and shook her chest back and forth, slapping him in the face with her soft breasts.

He wrapped his arms around her waist as he rolled both of them over. Harry flexed his hips, driving his cock deep inside of her. Alice moaned again while hugged her arms around his chest and dug her nails into his back. Harry kissed her hard as he began thrusting at a steady pace.

This was the last thing he had expected when he decided to come to the room. As such, he knew he wouldn't last too much longer. Harry was not one to leave a woman in the lurch. He hooked an around her waist as he slipped a hand between their bodies. Alice let out a little squeak as he found her clit. He rubbed in a quick, circular motion as he continued to thrust. Her breath started to pick up, her muscles started to tremble. Harry had to concentrate to hold back his own orgasm.

Just as he was about to lose control, Alice arched her back. She came with a moan. Harry moved his hand from her clit to grab her hips. He thrust a few more times before he reached his end in her tight, trembling depths. Harry pulled her into a kiss as he let loose inside of her.

Alice went limp on top of him. They collapsed to the bed. He panted as they both enjoyed the afterglow. Harry rolled onto his back and pulled her close to his chest. For the first time in a very long time, he drifted off to sleep with a sense of peace.

She was gone when he woke up. The scratches on his back and a little note waited for him.

Harry,
You were wonderful. I hope we can do this again sometime.
Alice

Harry shook his head as he tucked the note inside his pocket. He never thought he'd sleep with a married woman. Even one that was having second thoughts. It was too late to take it back now. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to see her again. A relationship with a married woman wasn't going to work, he had no delusions about that. Still, he wasn't opposed to an affair.

He sighed. What was he thinking? Hermione would kill him if she ever found out he slept with a married woman. He was a hero now, but people like Rita Skeeter would be more than happy to find something like this to ruin him.

Maybe he needed to see if Ginny wanted to try again.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled a moment before she wrapped him in one of her tight hugs. "Where were you? I checked your dorm, and no one had seen you."

He looked around to see that he had managed to walk to the Great Hall on autopilot. Unfortunately, that meant that a large portion of students were now staring at him.

"I slept in the Room." Harry whispered.

"Tell me first next time." She huffed.

He followed her to the Gryffindor table. Harry started to load his plate.

"Hey, Harry." A familiar female voice.

"Alice?" Harry looked up to see a girl across from him.

She looked like Alice, except her hair was darker and she had green eyes.

"Alice?" The girl scrunched up her face in confusion. "My mom, Alice?"

"Right…" Harry said slowly. "Your mom, Alice. You two look a lot alike."

"Everyone says that." She rolled her eyes. "Ready for potions? I'm doing really good now that Snape isn't teaching it."

"Neve!" Hermione snapped. "Don't talk about the dead like that."

"Neve?" Harry paused as he stared at the girl.

"What?" The girl blushed. "If Harry can make a joke about it, so can I."

Hermione glared at Harry.

"Neve." Harry cleared his throat and ignored his friend. "Do you have a brother? One our age? Named Neville?"

"Yes, Harry." Neve deadpanned. "For the past seven years I have had a twin brother that I have hid from the entire world."

"Neve Longbottom." Harry whispered.

"Harry Potter." She whispered right back. "You're being weird today."

Harry stare across the table at the girl. Her incredibly familiar green eyes stared back at him. It looked like Alice had a baby after all.

~§~§~

I am currently sick and don't trust myself with any long-term story plot. One of the poll ideas a while back was Harry going back to the Marauders Era. I thought I'd have some fun with it.