Uneasy Thoughts

Harry lay awake in the Burrow...sleep eluded him for the third night in a row.

It was after midnight, coming towards the end of the summer break now, and he would soon be going back to school for his final year.

He was of course quite pleased to be away from the Dursleys' house, there was no question of that. He loved staying at the Burrow. He always had, and always would, as long as he was welcome.

However, that happiness couldn't wipe away the fact that school weighed heavily on his mind. He had all sorts of tests to perform and pass in the coming school year, all sorts of other things going on in his life, Voldemort, Death Eaters, Dementors, and a hundred other woes facing him.

But this wasn't why he couldn't sleep....

He got up quietly, tip-toeing down the stairs, almost willing them not to creak or groan. He passed into the kitchen and got himself a glass of water...still deep in thought.

What should he do? The feelings spinning in his mind couldn't be hidden for long...or could they? What would Ron say if he found out...maybe he knew there was an attraction, but he would have dismissed it without a thought.

If, however, he found out for sure that anything physical had gone on, especially what they had got up to, Ron wouldn't be pleased at all, to say the least...none of the Weasleys would appreciate him betraying their trust either by doing it right in this house under their noses!

However they trusted Harry implicitly...the beginnings of any suspicion would probably never even got beyond their subconscious minds.

Harry walked to the door and looked out into the bright moonlight of early morning. Glancing at his watch, Harry saw that the time was about three-thirty a.m.

More thoughts rose unbidden to the surface of his mind, thoughts of a few brief encounters, furtive caresses disguised as an innocent hug or a simple touch in passing, stolen kisses, sweaty passion, the realising of desires long hidden, the spasming wild release of...it...guiltily into her...his admitting to himself this was what he was after, the secret kept by a tearful vow by the two of them under a moon not unlike this one.

He walked back across the kitchen...glancing at the Weasley family clock on the wall...the hands were all pointing to "asleep", except for Ginnie. Her hand on the clock pointed to "studying". It gave him a pang of conscience...he couldn't sleep, neither could she apparently...should he go and talk to her...or would that awaken things which should better remain hidden?

Confused, he turned back and looked out the door. The moon shone even more brightly, and he walked out into the yard itself, to take a seat on a stone bench by the wall, flowering vines all around him.

He sat staring up at the moon, thoughts of the encounters, the passion, and the thrill came to his mind again, and he felt a stirring in his striped pajamas.

He decided not to fight it and his hand stole to the bulge, stroking gently, his eyes almost closed, when he heard a creak on the floor near the door. It opened a bit and he pressed his hand down into the bulge, hiding it, embarrassed.

She looked around and saw him, and he sighed with resignation...why fight it? The look in her eyes, her slight smile, her gaze straying to his crotch, they all said clearly that she was feeling the same.

She came and sat beside him, and all the hints over the years he had hardly noticed once again fell into place...looked like "not fighting it" was a mutual decision.

She kissed him gently, her hands beginning to caress him.

"Just relax, Harry dear...we know this is what we both want."

Harry leaned back and embraced her, smiling as he replied in a husky voice.

"I should think that's pretty obvious Mrs Weasley...."