Once in a Blue Moon

CHAPTER 4

He came to her that night.

As she reached around to unlace her gown, she felt his hands on her shoulders. His lips at the nape of her neck.

She felt his hands slowly, tantalisingly unlace her gown - caressing her spine, and slipping inside the opening to caress her breasts.

His breath was maddeningly warm against her skin, and as he finished the unlacing, she shivered. His mouth retraced the route down her spine his hands had taken to, caressing the base of her spine with lips, tongue and teeth.

As he stood and moved his hands to her shoulders she felt him hard against her buttocks, and her breathing quickened.

Too many years without him. Too many lonely nights.

Abruptly he turned her round, slipping her gown off her shoulders and down her arms. Pilar shrugged her arms out of the sleeves, and let the shimmering sapphire silk pool around her feet.

He groaned as he saw her in the firelight. The earrings catching the light, and the flames making shadows on her bare flesh. The flesh covered stockings eerily erotic against her pale thighs - the flimsy piece of lace doing duty as underwear arousing him even more.

He watched her bare breasts rise and fall with the quick breaths she took - and she moved towards him - her hands undoing his coat, slipping inside his shirt and fumbling with his belt.

And yet, not a kiss, not a word.

She pushed his trousers down - their eyes never leaving the other. He felt his blood thunder in his ears. He reached out to the woman, and pulled her against him - for the first time in 16 years, their lips met - and the passion between them exploded.

Pilar cried out as his mouth covered her nipple. His tongue and teeth teasing it into a peak. Her hands on his shoulders curled and her fingernails dug into the skin.

Beneath her hands, the man was different than she remembered. His skin was older - but he was still hard muscled - his everyday clothing concealing the muscles and the man that he was, behind the façade.

His mouth moved from her breasts to her mouth, and she welcomed his kiss - her tongue twining with his, both of them moaning with passion and need.

"Take me now," she gasped, "Please - I can't wait any more".

She gave him no chance to reply - fastening her mouth to his again - as if she could drink in the lost years.

Their eyes met - and in each other's eyes they saw their love - their desire. For both, they had only one goal - fulfilment.

The sex was explosive. Both concerned only with feeding a need they had not known fully until then.

Tears ran down her face as she pulled his head down to hers - their kisses now frantic with love.

The man looked concerned as he watched the woman cry. "Did I hurt you?" he asked, "Are you OK?"

Pilar reached her hand to his face and cradled it. "No love," she said, "You couldn't hurt me, these are tears of joy, not pain."

He kissed her again - this time there was no sexual need in it. It was a kiss of infinite tenderness.

Pilar wriggled suddenly- the situation they were in, becoming apparent to them both - and Pilar found that half sitting on a book was not comfortable!

The man moved back from her, and she suddenly felt alone again. She reached out her arms to pull him back. His arms came around her and he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"I've never had you in a bed," he said, smiling slightly wickedly, tossing her onto her bed.

Pilar landed, her hair coming down from it's careful arrangement, and falling around her bare shoulders. She stretched out on the bed like a cat, and smiled lazily. "Then it's about time you rectified that," she said. "And quickly."

He climbed on the bed next to her, and the cycle of loving began again - almost as frenzied as the first time.

The aftermath of their climax left them both drained - but gradually the cold started to seep in, and they climbed under the bedcovers. With the warmth came renewed desire - but this time there was not the hunger that had been there before.

Their kisses and caresses were gentle, their lovemaking the same. To Pilar, it seemed as if it was a dream - the slow, lazy thrusting somehow more arousing than anything else.

This time, as he climaxed, he kissed her. "I love you," she said.

He rolled off her, and held her close - Pilar never wanted him to let her go. They drifted off to sleep, both finally satiated. And now, only the wonder of their love was left.

As the man held her close, he watched her eyes close and sighed contentedly. How could he go on pretending to the world that she meant little more than an old friend to him?

3 November - Hogwarts - early morning

Pilar woke alone. She could feel the warmth and hollow where he had lain beside her, and wondered why he had not woken her before he left.

The memories of their night returned, and she decided if he had woken her, he might be there still.

She sat up in bed, pushing her hair out of her eyes. She looked at the pool of sapphire silk on the ground - and smiled. She remembered he loved her in that colour- but had had no idea that it would have the effect it did on him.

Stretching, she felt the soreness between her thighs and gingerly got out of bed. It had only been the second time they had made love - and she marvelled at the change the years had made.

The fumbling schoolboy and girl lovers were gone. His touch had been sure and strong - seeming to know exactly where and how to touch her to best effect.

Her eyes darkened. How many other women had he had after they had been separated? Where had he learned what he had done to her? Jealousy reared and she felt tears come to her eyes as she imagined him with other women. Giving them the pleasure he had given her.

She went into the bathroom, turning on the shower and stepping into the hot blast of water. As the water washed away the jealousy, she shrugged. What right had she had for jealousy - when she had tried to forget him with other lovers.

All of a sudden, Pilar laughed. She was being foolish in the extreme. After all, neither had been virgins when they came together either. But she remembered the fumbling of their one encounter with fondness. Funny how love turned sex from just that - to the scared and tentative loving that was making love.

Funny how a boy and girl who had had their share of relationships had turned into clumsy dolts when they realised that lust was in fact love. When they found their friendship had deepened.

And how foolish they had been to think that they had all the time in the world to plan.

She came out of the bathroom, wrapping a warm robe around her naked body. As she did, she looked down at the low table. On it was the usual cup of tea, with a Blue Moon rose next to it.

The parchment next to it had more writing than usual on it.

"Good morning my love," she read, "and thank you for the most wonderful night of my life. I love you."

She touched the words gently. What it must have cost him to put it in writing. Perhaps there was even more to him than she had thought.

Pilar hoped she would have the rest of her life to find out.

3 November - Hogwarts -afternoon

The large gymnasium was empty when Pilar entered. She was early for this class in combat and was pleased. It was the fifth years this afternoon - and she had a feeling that they had it in for her. Certainly they seemed to cause the most trouble in class.

Sighing, she started stretching exercises.

Snape entered just in time to see her bend over backwards slowly and flip. "Well, I see you're ready," he said, taking off his coat and also starting to warm up.

The past couple of months had taught them to work well together in class - fortunately for them. Unfortunately for the class. The pair had gained a reputation amongst the students - who debated regularly which was the worst to cross.

Pilar usually came out on top - she was an unknown quantity, whereas they knew what set Snape off.

The students entered - and Pilar's mouth tightened as she saw Draco Malfoy in the lead, and watched as his goons tripped up Neville.

"Class has not yet started, Gentlemen," she said, "But as you are so keen, I assume that you would love to assist Professor Snape and I in a little demonstration"

The three looked startled "Er, sorry Professor. It was an accident," said Malfoy, looking at Snape.

"I'm sure it was," he said silkily, "You know how clumsy Longbottom is."

"Hmmm," said Pilar sceptically. She had heard it all before, "You OK Neville?" she asked the boy, helping him to his feet.

"Yes Professor," he said.

"Right," she said briskly, "You've all come on well. Today we're going to look at some of the stick forms you can use. These can come in useful, as it means that you can almost always find a weapon.

"However, we intend to concentrate on the light staff- as this is something that many magical folk carry. Professor Snape, if you please," she called, and caught the staff he tossed her, before joining her in the centre of the circle of students.

"Mr Longbottom," said Pilar, "Please call time for us. Five minutes, no more. Ready?" she asked Snape.

He nodded, and advanced.

Hermione looked at the two of them, eyes wide. The staves were a blur as they blocked and parried. And she joined in the rest of the class in wincing whenever a blow connected.

"They really dislike each other," she said to Harry and Ron, "But they are good. I can't see how I could ever do that."

Harry and Ron nodded - their respect for their strange new teacher grew with each passing day - so far she had managed to catch every trick played on her, and the student body had given up on her.

"Time," called Neville, and the two combatants reluctantly finished. Both breathing heavily - both moving carefully and limping slightly.

"So," said Professor de Lisle, "you can see that this is a very fast form of combat, and one that can inflict a lot of damage. You will also find that in an emergency, your broomstick will make an excellent staff. So, please pair up and we will take you through the basic moves."

The rest of the class passed rather eventfully. By the end, a third of the class had to be taken to Madame Pomfrey, and those students were edified to hear her opinion of both Professors as she treated students and teachers.