Places Of Silence

Mute

No words were ever spoken between them.

From the first night he had entered her room till now, there had been no words.

It had been the first day of winter when it had started. Alone in her room she had sat reading from her textbook, studying for her exams listening to the snow as it fell against her window frame. It had been three weeks since the snow had started to fall, and "cabin fever" was running riot with the normally active students. The castle seemed to be getting too small for the students and teachers a like. Harry was almost beside himself from the lack of Quidditch and Ron kept complaining that the brightness from the snow had affected his ability to concentrate. Professor Snape was increasingly edgy and had become more than unbearable, which resulted in her loosing 100 points for handing homework in early. Malfoy was up to his old tricks and she was tired of having to deal with them still. Being Head Boy should have made him more responsible, but instead, he baited her more than ever. How did she let him affect her after all these years? Had she not made a vow to herself that she would no longer let him get to her? She was annoyed when Harry had leapt to her defence again even though she had made it clear to him that she was more than able to take care of herself. He knew that of course, but the brotherly love he had for her made him act out. Snape had outdone himself when he had given Harry & Ron their detention this afternoon. They were assigned to cleaning the spider's pen in the dungeon, which every student knew was almost certain death. Professor McGonagall was furious when she found out, but once a detention was set, there was no way that she could change the punishment. Malfoy was beside himself with excitement when he found out. It made her wonder if he would break into song about the long awaited demise of the "wonderful" Harry (bloody) Potter.

He was always finding something for Snape to pick on, but today had really been the worst. While they were cutting up their sneevle intestines, Malfoy had cast a quiet spell, which animated them. They had splattered Ron and hit everyone in a two-person radius. Enraged, Ron had turned and hit Malfoy with a loaded "Duck Face" curse, which had bounced off his counter curse and hit Neville square on the chin. Screams had filled the dungeon as curses flew freely between the classmates, until Snape silenced everyone. He had given Harry a month of detentions and had sent all the effected students to the hospital wing. Neville had been made to clean up the classroom while Ron had been dragged kicking and screaming into the Spiders pen with Harry.

Hermione had walked slowly to her room seething at Malfoy and the unfairness of it all. What she really needed was to sit quietly in her room, eating a chicken salad and reading a good book. Exams were coming up and she had much to study before she felt comfortable sleeping. She had heard Malfoy enter their shared common room later in the night, and she resisted the urge to speak to him about today's class. She couldn't be bothered arguing again, it was all getting too hard and she was tired with the constant bickering that went on between them.

So, that is how it was the night that everything had changed. She was sitting alone when the door had burst open. He stood in the doorway glaring at her, as she sat in her chair at the other end of the small room. Eyebrow raised, she looked at him waiting for a response. Surprisingly, he entered her room instead. He stalked across towards her chair with a smirk playing at his lips. How dare he? She watched through angry eyes as he came toward her with his hands at his sides. His hair was slightly messed, and he didn't look happy as he invaded her room. Standing, with anger mounting, she glared back at him, almost daring him to come closer.

He took a slow step forward until she could feel his warm breath on her forehead. As he did, she took a step back instantly hitting her legs on the chair behind her. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest she was sure he could hear it, but her façade was strong and defiant. Features softening, he slowly tilted his head to the side and leant forward, even closer then before. His lips gently brushed hers as his arm slowly snaked around her tiny waist pulling her closer towards him. She felt his strong legs against hers and his strong arm around her. Somewhere inside her head she had the feeling that this shouldn't be happening, but the warmth from his soft kisses soon overcame the warning and she melted into his arms.

While his entry to her room had been abrupt, she was shocked to feel the tenderness of his embrace. The way that their lips had moulded to each other's was perfect and she could feel new warmth snaking its way up her legs and into her stomach. It was a feeling that she was unfamiliar with, but she knew that it was right for this moment. Delicately, she let her arms fold around his neck, and her fingers to caress his hair gently. Deeper the kisses became until it felt like they were breathing as one. Never before had she experienced something so tender and breathtaking as this, she could feel one hand on her waist and the other gently cup her face. His hand travelled down from her face to her shoulder and then across her breast as he kissed her even deeper. She forgot herself while his hand pulled her skirt up and she pressed herself against his body as his hands pulled her leg up and around his waist. This new feeling was amazing and she could feel her body softening.

The one time she had allowed herself to be kissed, she had walked away incredibly disappointed and slightly soggy. She had made the decision then and there never to allow such juvenile silliness to happen again without proper attention. This was nothing like the cautious fumblings of Ron underneath the Quidditch stands. This was something mature and experienced and something she never wanted to end. Her head became light as he gently massaged her and she felt his body shudder as they moved together to the rug. Could something so soft feel so good? It was like being teased with the softest of velvets. The warmth from the fire warmed her back and the feeling of his hands on her skin made her tingle. Achingly slow were their kisses and touches until they both gasped together and finally opened their eyes. Together they lay in the firelight not daring to move in case they broke the spell that held them together.

With a sigh he pulled away gently. He sat up slowly not wanting to disturb her as she lay there. Not for the first time, he savoured how stunning she was. He traced his finger across her face ever so slightly, and he could feel his chest ache as his fingers gently touched her still wet lips. Her once bushy brown hair had smoothed over the years and was now spread across the rug in soft folds. Her figure had transformed from the stocky build it was in first year, to a delicate softness that made her irresistible to him. He wanted to put her beauty into words, but found himself speechless for once.

So, with nothing more, he left her room.

*******************

She smiled now at the memory and returned to her homework. It was only a month until graduation and her days were filled with speech preparations and activities, which were a part of the Head Girl formalities. It meant that they were spending more and more time together working on speeches and administrative activities, which gave them time alone together without question. They had never spoken about their nights, and she was thankful for that. It meant that she was able to pretend that they would continue. The reality was so far removed from their nights together. What would people think? Gryffindors would be shocked to say the least she allowed him to get close to her, let alone to spend the night with her. Slytherins of course would be outraged and the fact that she was muggle-born. They would make it difficult, not to mention dangerous.

During the day nothing changed. They still fought with the same venom they always had, but at night it was different. It hadn't taken long for him to share her bed. At night he would come to her wanting only one thing. She had changed in the months that they had been together. She was suddenly sure of herself, able to command such feelings from him that he never entertained. She knew about the nightmares and that the only way he could sleep, was in her arms. Previously it had been a ritual for him to take the dreamless potion that Snape made, but now he had a better (but not less addictive) solution. They were able to forget the politics and sides, and were able to be alone. In their world, he was quiet and loving, and she was wild and passionate. Together they had explored each other and now had found their expression together.

He could picture her face and body every time he closed his eyes in class. He could see the goose bumps rise as his hand gently traced a line from her shoulder to her breast. He could feel her breath against his chest as she slept, and he could feel her heart against his. It amused him that no matter what they were doing, their hearts always beat in time. In fact, everything they did in their world was in time. It was like they had found their other half in this strange secret life away from the jarring truth of their daily existence.

Only once had she spoken. In her sleep he though that she had said something to him, but he was never sure and didn't want to break the peace but asking her about it. He relished the peace that he felt when they were alone, it was a curious feeling, being safe. He knew that it couldn't continue past graduation and he wondered if she had thought about the future as he did. He knew that his destiny had been mapped out and divergence was not an option. He knew that at the end of this month his safety would end and the nightmares would return. Voldemort had ways of reminding his followers that they were his alone. He knew what would happen to him if he failed the tests and if he disappointed his father. He had seen the consequences whenever a disloyal follower had strayed. He had seen curses worse than ever imagined performed on men, women and children whenever there had been an attempt to stray from the chosen path. He had felt years of pain within him and knew that soon it would become his life. The only place that he knew peace and comfort was in her arms and each day was a painful reminder of the polar opposites of their life. Day and Night. By day he taunted her, willing her to hurt. Wanting to punish her for making him remember the pain. He wanted to punish her for making him think that there was a path different to his destiny. Each barb was an attack on the comfort she afforded him and the security she offered him. Yet each night she would take him gently into the darkness. All fights forgotten and all dreams remembered. They would lie together on her soft bed surrounded by pictures of the ones who loved her, illuminated by the soft glow from the firelight.

He would dream about her soft hands on his chest that calmed his soul. Her soft lips that were slowly kissing his temples right now were making him wish that there were no tomorrows. In her he had found his enemy and his saviour. He knew that she would watch him as he stalked the castle and he knew that deep down she did care for him. Maybe it would work? Maybe he could walk away from his family and his chosen life and confine himself to her room? He smiled as her lips met his. He could dream after all. He allowed her to tease his lips open and felt her soft tongue enter his mouth. All thoughts left his head as she wrapped her arms around his neck again, willing him to continue what he had started.