Chapter 125

Everything always smelt oddly of chemicals in St Mungo’s, like old potions and antisceptics, it was a nauseating smell to Atlas, she fought back bile whenever she passed the emergency care section, often times Chiara, the healer who had once tended to Atlas after her run-in with Nagini had voiced the same, as a werewolf, her senses were just as strong if not stronger than Atlas’s. It was a wonder she stayed as a healer, Atlas could never bring herself to stomach it for longer than a few hours. But, Katie needed the company and as the only student permitted to leave Hogwarts regularly, Atlas felt she should pass on letters and notes from Leanne to her girlfriend for her, petty post like letters weren’t allowed past security due to the intense measures taken to protect their dead and dying patients. Which made sense but also isolated victims from their families abroad or in situations that forbade them from visiting.

And no one wants to be alone in their final moments.

Luckily, Katie was not one of those people, the girl was awake, looking sickly, paler than anything but she was awake and smiling, still cracking out jokes and lighting up whenever Atlas visited which was a bi-weekly occurrence. Katie would trade stories of her own, the most recent one a continuing love story between the two patients a few beds over, luckily they went out for lunch when Atlas visited so Katie didn’t have to use her inside voice.

“And then he started talking about marriage! Marriage, Atlas! He kept bringing up his lack of a love life and she was all like, ‘Oh yes Mr Abbaey, I feel the very same, it’s so lonely at our age,’ and the woman was laying it on thick Atlas, and –” Katie continued regaling her story, Atlas smiling and nodding along when appropriate.

Of course, the secret love lives of the patients was not the only thing she explored, Atlas, per Harry’s request, had asked Katie what she remembered which was unsurprisingly not a lot, she had suffered a traumatic event and Atlas wouldn’t be surprised if Katie’s body naturally locked away those memories for her recovery.

“Speaking of love lives, when are you asking Hermione out?” Katie waggled her thin brows, her eyes sunken from her treatments and yet they sparkled all the same, mischievous and probing. Atlas rolled her eyes and flushed, thinking of that night, that godforsaken night that had Atlas turning into some possessed thing that grew weak at the slightest hint of Hermione’s perfume, every time Hermione touched her recently Atlas had thought things, thought thoughts not meant for any place beside the one between Atlas’s ears. 

She was going mental. A literal dog gnawing at the bars of its cage.

“I don’t know yet,” Atlas said and Katie grinned, leaning forward.

“Yet?”

“No, I mean, that’s not what I meant,” Atlas rushed, flushing furiously as her heart grew frantic, beating for a girl miles away who she would see very soon. 

Hermione. Hermione. Hermione.

Atlas desperately needed a cold shower.

“If you’re not dating her by the time I can walk again I am going to stage an intervention,” Katie threatened, and she seemed serious too, “I’ll get Ginny to help and you already know she’d jump at the chance.”

“You’re crazy.”

“No, I think you’re crazy,” Katie said and flicked Atlas’s nose. “You are the stupidest mother fucker I have ever had the absolute pleasure of meeting you twat,” she continued and Atlas would’ve laughed had Katie been saying it to her in any other context, instead she flushed and puffed up indignantly, “that girl looks at you with the wildest eyes, she constantly seems on the brink of –“

“Katie!” Atlas snapped, a brilliant red to her cheeks.

“And don’t get me started on you! You’re so pathetic it’s crazy, have you seriously not noticed how absolutely insane you look whenever she’s mentioned?” The sickly girl ploughed on despite Atlas’s growing mortification, “And you know I love you girl but please look in the mirror and say her name because you’re not subtle and it makes me sick.”

Atlas was at a loss, her mouth open, fumbling for words as she looked about ready to pass out, a few of the Healers had even stopped to look at them from other bedsides, their errands paused. They quickly made themselves scarce when Atlas shot them withering glares.

“And by Merlin, on the off chance she doesn’t like you, some serious conversations need to be had because I’d be extremely concerned for your safety and the chance of you being killed and consumed because she looks starving,” Katie finished and grinned, satisfied as Atlas remained shocked still, “Now, are you ready for your tomorrow, how’s Dean going as my replacement?”

“Uh…good,” Atlas muttered, still taken aback, shocked, feeling a little hollowed out as she stared at Katie and absorbed every word said, “Ron’s still acting out…he – uh – made Demelza cry the other day, it was messy” Atlas had managed to reign in her momentary lapse of conscious thought.

“But he’ll sort himself out yeah? You’ve got to win this one against Slytherin,” Katie said, almost pleading. “You got to make up for it if Ron’s shit.”

“He’ll sort himself out,” Atlas insisted and checked her watch, “I need to start the journey back soon for our last practice and to catch up on some Herbology homework.”

“I really am grateful for your visits Atlas,” Katie said, catching Atlas’s wrist as she stood, “giving me Leanne’s letters…” she said, casting a glance to her bedside table, “it really means a lot and I’m sorry you’ve been missing your Herbology lessons.”

“It’s fine Katie,” Atlas insisted and ruffled her hair, “I’ll see you after our big win ok?”

“Better bring me that trophy Atlas,” Katie grinned and Atlas nodded with a huff, turning to sign out on Katie’s papers, “Oh and make sure to give Hermione a victory smooch yeah?”

“See you in two weeks, Bell,” Atlas huffed and left.

The trip back was uneventful, Atlas had to go through the usual troubles, writing documents and confirming her identity just to use certain Floo Networks that would get her a stone’s throw away from Hogsmeade, she’d have to then take a Muggle bus to a closer village and take a carriage back to Hogwarts, it was a whole ordeal that she was glad she only had to do bi-weekly. But it was worth giving Katie the company. Atlas remembered how horribly alone she felt when she was cut off from her friends, and even then she’d had the company of Moody to entertain her.

It was around five when Atlas made it back to her dorm room, quickly taking the cold shower she had needed those three hours ago after dropping off some of her things and then getting changed into her Quidditch gear to join the others down at the field. Hermione wasn’t in when she had returned so she reasoned the girl was watching everyone practice. It was both a blessing and a curse considering all Atlas craved these days was Hermione’s eyes but simultaneously, she knew she could not handle any sort of interaction after her conversation with Katie.

Maddening.

Atlas bolted towards the Quidditch pitch, showing up a little late, the entire team sans her already up in the air, though not much playing was going in as Ron and Ginny seemed to be locked in a heated debate with Harry between them both. It didn’t raise any alarms in Atlas, the two had been up in arms since Ron had brought up Zasha in an argument. Atlas had given him the iciest cold shoulder when she heard.

It was Atlas’s gut reaction to seek out Hermione’s reaction so she looked into the stands only to find McClaggen sat right beside her, smirking as he watched the interaction between the brother and sister. Atlas couldn’t care less about that however, what bothered her was how every other seat was available and he had chosen to sit next to Hermione.

Something burned in her chest as she flew past the fiery exchange and dropped down beside Hermione. “Atlas! When did you get back?”

“Just now,” Atlas said, her gaze set on Cormac, “what are you doing here? If you’re here to mock Ron, he really doesn’t need that right now.”

“Nah, I’m just here to talk to Granger,” Cormac said brazenly and Atlas felt something monstrous in her snarling, sharpened claws carving into the bone of her ribs. “Besides, doesn’t look like Weasley needs knocking down anymore, he’s as low as possible without my help, kissing the earth.”

“Keep talking and you’ll be six feet lower.”

“Atlas,” Hermione interjected the growing tension between the two, placing her hand on Atlas’s chest – the touch had her flinching, her body overwhelmed with such itchy heat Atlas’s guard lowered instantly. 

Cormac noticed.

“I get it, you’re jealous,” he said and Atlas ground her teeth together tight, so hard it physically hurt her, “jealous of me, and you should – Granger’s my date to Slughorn’s Christmas party, I just asked.”

“Hold on –“

Hermione’s words were cut short, as an ugliness coiled in Atlas, a terrible thing, elastic bands snapping, their rubber leaving marks across the monster’s hide as it slipped through the gaps between her ribs and lunged. Atlas tackled Cormac around the middle, slamming him into the seats, her fingers curling into the front of his jumper as darkness coiled her arms and her fingertips blackened, her breathing was heavy, laboured, eyes voidal rather than gold or brown.

The ringing in Atlas’s ears increased, she couldn’t hear a thing aside from the all-encompassing earsplitting screech rattling between her bones, she felt as if she wasn’t breathing, she could feel the air filling her lungs but it felt hollow, so she took in more and more, the rise and fall of her chest increasing as she waited for Cormac to pale, she waited for smirk to fall off his face when Atlas’s magic swallowed them both and exposed this man to his deepest most darkest fears.

A hard shove pulled her out of it as she fell to the floor, the back of her head colliding with the bannister, she looked up and saw Hermione standing above her, panting heavily, tears in her eyes and her stance almost protective over Cormac.

Protective over Cormac. Cormac.

 “What are you doing!?” Hermione shouted, shaking, looking at Atlas her eyes wide.

Atlas couldn’t say anything, every part of her focused on Hermione’s eyes, her breaths shallow, the darkness in her fingertips sinking into her skin as voidal black returned to a mix of gold and brown, honeyed and frantic. Cormac stumbled to his feet, looking between the two of them before running away.

“Atlas!” Hermione shouted again.

“He would have deserved it.” It shocked her, Atlas’s own words, the way she meant them.

“You don’t…Atlas,” Hermione breathed, looking at her, eyes searching, “go and practice.”

“What?” Atlas said, shaking, bewildered, “Why do you care so much about him?” Atlas asked, her jaw clenched and every part of her body, her heart and soul was telling her to shut up but her mouth kept moving, talking and talking, “was it true then? He asked you out and you said yes? To Cormac!?”

“Are you hearing yourself!?” Hermione snapped and yes, Atlas was hearing herself, hearing herself and hating every world because she knew, realistically she knew. She’d just attacked McClaggen, she’d attacked the boy for having a crush on Hermione. She felt sick. Every other action she’d taken, every violent thought or act could have been justified in some way, every person she’d purposefully used that part of her magic on had deserved it but Cormac? She’d tried to use it on Cormac for calling out her jealousy?

What was she even doing?

“You don’t mean any of this…” Hermione muttered and Atlas tensed.

“Why won’t you just answer the question?”

“Because it’s stupid, Atlas!” Hermione shouted, “It’s a stupid question and if you had a shred of sense you’d know the answer! You idiot! You’re such an idiot!” She snapped and pushed at Atlas’s chest.

“Hermione –“

“You could’ve hurt him! Irreparably!” Hermione said and Atlas sobbered, the fog clearing, finally finding control of her tongue as her eyes wandered to the slither of purple licking up Hermione’s neck. “Just…go and practice, I need to check on Cormac, as a concerned Prefect,” she said curtly and pushed past Atlas after shouldering her bag.

Atlas turned just as Hermione’s walk turned into a run, her heart dropping.

Why did she say that? Why couldn’t she just tell her? Tell her why she’d reacted so stupidly.

She understood now why Muggles considered it a sin. Jealousy. Envy. The neighbour of possession. Somehow she made it through practice, missing every single shot she tried to make, everyone looked cautious, with both Ron their Keeper and Atlas, their star Chaser suddenly plummeting in skill, tomorrow was not looking good.

“What’s going on?” Harry had pulled her aside after, looking annoyed.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me, we have a lot riding on you tomorrow,” Harry said and Atlas shrugged him off. “No, hey, you never talk to me,” he said and stopped her again, gentler this time, “come on Atlas…what happened?”

There was silence, charged and tender until Atlas broke and told him everything. All that she did, all that she felt and how she felt now, monstrous and tense. They ended up sitting in the locker room, long after the others had left and sat in silence for a bit as Harry processed everything he had been told.

“You need to tell her,” Harry said and Atlas looked at him and then back at the floor.

“I know.”

“Otherwise it’s going to tear you apart.”

“I know.”

“Both of you.”

“Merlin, Harry, I know!” Atlas snapped, and buried her face in her hands.

“…I think maybe a punch would have sufficed by the way,” Harry smiled warily, rubbing Atlas’s back. “Less traumatising.”

“Yeah…” Atlas said again, though with a hollow huff and looked straight ahead at her team jacket. “I know…”

They walked back soon after, Atlas a slight mess. Harry had ordered her to get a good sleep but she just couldn’t, the need to see Hermione, to be with her and talk keeping her up. And so she waited, eager to rest her beating heart, to reveal something, to say something for the first time in years, she sat on her desk, wringing her hands, fiddling with her bracelet and staring at a single spot on her floor. She waited and waited, well beyond the dipping of the moon and into the rise of the sun. 

Hermione did not come back to the dorm.

She couldn’t focus, she had half a mind to pull out of the match in favour of finding the girl, her stomach churning at breakfast, she looked just as green as Ron, the boy throwing back some tonic Harry had given him, Atlas didn’t think about it, her gaze perpetually stuck on the seat beside her. She wasn’t here either.

“Ginny, where’s Hermione?” Atlas blurted, looking across at her teammate. 

However, Ginny glared. She glared and ignored her, standing up from her seat and leaving. Atlas was perplexed, that ache growing in her, the absence of Hermione, not knowing where she was, especially with where they left everything, it made her sick, she felt as if she was on the brink of tears whenever anyone spoke to her. She wondered if this was how Hermione felt whenever she went radio silent and felt a horribly painful longing bury its claws into her chest.

She didn’t know what was happening to her, this influx of need was so sudden.

It was pathetic. Atlas did one last search before the match but couldn’t find her, a horrible restlessness in every move she made.

“Have any of you seen Hermione?” Atlas asked in the locker room, noticing once again how Ginny ignored her and left onto the field, the others all shook their heads and Atlas finished dressing, struggling with the strap of her shin pads.

“I got you,” Harry muttered and bent to a knee to tie it for her. “The weather is good…Vaisey, the Slytherin Chaser isn’t playing so they’re one down and Malfoy’s been replaced by Harper…” he said, trying to make conversation as Atlas’s hands habitually ran through her hair. “Ron also thinks he’s been given Liquid Luck so he’s looking more peppy…”

Atlas said nothing.

“That just leaves you,” Harry sighed and Atlas finally looked at him, “…Hermione’s going to be watching in the stands…she’s always watching in the stands – and she’ll be watching you, you know she’ll always be watching you.”

“Harry…”

“Atlas, I love you and I would never lie about something like this,” Harry said, cutting her off. “She just needed her space…Ginny told me – that’s where she stayed last night, in Ginny’s room, okay?”

“She was with Ginny?” Atlas asked and Harry nodded. “Oh…”

“Put your boots on and let’s go,” Harry said and Atlas obeyed, shoving her feet into her boots and tying them up before following Harry out of the tent. Their brooms came flying over to them and Atlas deftly caught hers, letting out a shuddering sigh.

The crowd cheered as they arrived and Madam Hooch approached the field but Atlas couldn’t pay attention, her eyes wandering the stands trying to spot Hermione, but she couldn’t all she saw was Luna’s giant lion head and a sea of either red and gold or green and silver. Vaguely, she heard Hooch tell them to mount their brooms and she did so automatically, waiting and waiting.

The whistle blew and, unlike how it would’ve been last year, Atlas was one of the last in the air, the star chaser distracted as she zoomed through the air, ducking and weaving over bludgers but never attempting a possession over the Quaffle for more than a minute, always passing to Dean or Ginny. Zacharias would commentate on it in the stands, picking Atlas apart but she was so deep in her head she couldn’t even bring it to phase her.

She wished she cared, she wished there was anything that would tear her mind from the image of Hermione in her head, of the idea of her lips, her touch, her scent, she couldn’t think straight. A Bludger smacked into her side as she tried to punch a Quaffle out of a Slytherin’s hand and she found herself in the frozen earth, the Bludger clutched to her chest as she gasped for a breath, coughing, red-faced. Several loud ‘ooo’s’ echoed throughout the stadium and Atlas simply laid there, letting the Bludger go so she didn’t get done for obstruction.

“Merlin’s beard, Atlas!” Madam Hooch shouted as she ran over, “you didn’t get confounded before the match did you, girl?”

“No…” Atlas groaned.

“Then why are you playing so poorly?” Madam Hooch asked.

“Because she’s sick,” Ginny said as she descended, her boots crunching against the frozen grass. “Lovesick.”

“Ah…” Madam Hooch muttered and seemed to shuffle away, the whole thing apparently out of her pay grade.

“Stop being pathetic,” Ginny huffed and hoisted Atlas up to her feet, “Atlas I will punch you so hard, can you come back to earth please?”

“Why didn’t you tell me Hermione stayed with you this morning at breakfast?” Atlas said as she grabbed her broom and dusted herself off whilst holding her side. 

“Because I was annoyed at you?” Ginny shrugged and rolled her eyes, “Hermione came to my room sobbing her eyes out and all I got was your name so, yeah, I was pissed, and then she told me everything this morning and my anger became fresh, so sorry if I wasn’t sunshine and rainbows because seriously? You think she’d go with McClaggen?”

“No,” Atlas said, the mere idea of it igniting that coiling envy around her throat so tight it made it hard to breathe, “I just…I don’t know what I thought.”

“Clearly,” Ginny said and sighed, pulling Atlas into a hug, “Please, just…focus on this, don’t get hurt, you know that’ll make her worry. If we win I’ll convince her to talk to you.”

“Really?” Atlas asked, pulling back and when Ginny nodded she pressed a kiss to her forehead, “Thank you I…I need to apologise.”

“Yeah you do,” Ginny scoffed and punched Atlas’s shoulder. “Come on, Dean is fighting for his life.”

“Ok ok,” Atlas said, giving her a weak chuckle as she grabbed her broom and rose in the air again, she took in a breath, looking around and spotted the Quaffle under the arm of Uruqhart. 

Within an instant she was gone, streaking across the pitch, her body hugged tight to her broom, she rolled beneath a Bludger, flinging her arm back and punching the leather ball out from under Urquhart’s nose, it flew out and right into Ginny’s arms, the girl making a vague gesture with her fingers that Atlas recognised from her early days of teaching Ginny some tricks.

The entire field was passed in an instant, Atlas aiming for a spot in the air and then, at the last moment, sticking her arm up and turning to catch the Quaffle from Ginny before flinging it behind her back and in through the tallest hoop. The exhilaration from making the shot was insane, Atlas let out a breath, a shudder of elation shooting through her spine as she hi-fived Ginny in the air as they passed each other.

Atlas looked for Hermione again but found no one, her heart sinking a little before she was reminded of the prize that would come if they won. And Atlas wanted it desperately. An hour of the game was gone and Gryffindor were leading ninety points to zero thanks to Ron’s extraordinary Keeping skills, the boy confident atop his broom, a sly smug grin on his face after each shot saved. It helped even more now that Atlas was back in the game, locked in on the Quaffle, determined to make shots and keep any points away from the Slytherins.

They needed the game to end soon. Atlas needed the game to end soon. Harry needed to find that Merlin-be-damned Snitch.

“And I think Harper of Slytherin’s seen the Snitch!” Zacharias Smith shouted through his megaphone. “Yes, he’s certainly seen something Potter hasn’t!”

Atlas turned to look and her eyes widened, “Demelza!” She shouted and the girl turned, nodding as she flew towards the Bludger, angled her strike and pelted the Bludger directly at Harper, it clipped the back of his broom sending him into a tailspin and Harry overtook him, making a great swipe for the tiny fluttering ball and caught it.

“Yes!” Atlas cheered and flew over to Demelza, hugging her fiercely and cheering as the crowd erupted. 

A small commotion sounded in the commentators’ booth and Atlas turned just in time to see Ginny hurtling herself at Zacharias. As the crowd shrieked and laughed, the Gryffindor team landed beside the wreckage of wood under which Zacharias was feebly stirring, Atlas kicked a piece off  of him and regarded him with a sideways look as she heard Ginny saying casually to an indignant Minerva, “Forgot to brake, Professor, sorry.”

They went to their changing rooms, Atlas practically tossed off her gear and changed into some casual baggy clothes, ones that belonged to Charlie but she didn’t care, in this moment she was focused on finding Ginny – finding Ginny so that she could then further find Hermione.

“Party up in the common room, Seamus said!” Dean yelled over the hubbub exuberantly, his voice carrying into their separate room. “C’mon, Atlas, Demelza!”

The chatter died down, everyone migrating up to Gryffindor Tower. That left Demelza and Atlas to themselves.

“Where’s Ginny?” Atlas asked, tapping the side of Demelza’s leg as she stood and untied her boots.

“Professor McGonagall wanted to talk to her,” Demelza said and Atlas made to talk, about to ask if Demelza had any idea how long she’d be when she caught something in the corner of her eye disappearing behind the closing door.

A head of bushy hair. 

Atlas ran, forgetting all about her boots and tossing them behind her as she flew out of the door, she shouted out to Hermione but lost her and ended up back at the Common Room, panting and a little sweaty, she looked around, taking in several steadying breaths in front of The Lady’s Portrait, the painting was ajar, students coming in and out of the party as the music pounded within and Atlas sighed, deciding to delve into room and sift through the crowd of people.

As soon as she entered she was bombarded with congratulations, many talking about her comeback, her burst of energy and her masterful direction of Demelza in the final seconds, she practically ignored everyone, accepting maybe a single drink as she peered over bobbing heads and tried to find Hermione.

“Ron! Ron! Ron!” The room began to chant and Atlas glanced over at the centre of the room, watching as he was tugged up beside Lavender and pulled into her arms, the kiss was… open-mouthed, they looked to be practically eating each other’s faces, Ron’s inexperience showing, however, the crowd roared with approval and Atlas felt heat rise to her cheeks, her need to find Hermione growing even greater.

A fluffy ball of fur dragged across her shins and she glanced down, following Crookshanks as he expertly weaved through the crowd and back out of the portrait, mewing loudly when Atlas was almost dragged back into the party by students who wanted to celebrate, he even swiped at some of the more insistent ones. He stopped at a classroom and Atlas looked down at him, the cat looking up at her, she murmured her thanks and patted his head before pushing the door open.

“Hermione?” Atlas called out and saw the girl, sitting atop the professor’s desk, alone except for a small ring of chirping yellow birds circling her head. “Hermione…”

“Atlas,” Hermione seemed to wipe at her face and stood, brushing herself down, she snuffled, “what are you doing here?”

“I was…trying to find you,” Atlas said and swallowed, “actually, I’ve been trying to find you all day.”

“Didn’t think I was with McClaggen did you?” Hermione said coldly, though her voice was brittle and harsh and Atlas winced, shaking her head as she stepped closer.

“Of course not, it…didn’t even cross my mind.”

“So why did you think I’d ever say yes to an oaf like him?” Hermione huffed, her cheeks a pretty pink and Atlas couldn’t help but stare, swallowing solidly, her throat dry as she fished for words and continued to inch closer, “do you think I’m easy? Is that it?”

“No, never,” Atlas instantly answered and sighed, “Hermione I was just…defensive, I — even the idea of him, trying anything it…I just,” tears built in Atlas’s eyes, the girl wrestling with herself.

“What?” Hermione coaxed, sniffling a little but waiting, her eyes wide, expectant as Atlas stopped just in front of her, any closer and their bodies would touch. “Please…say something.”

“I’m…sorry,” Atlas whispered and pulled Hermione into her arms, hugging her tight, “I just…I can’t handle it, the idea of you and someone else,” gentler arms wrapped around her too, wound just as tight and Atlas let out a shuddering breath, “the suggestion of him having you at his side at the party – his date it…” she grew weak. She couldn’t say it, yet it pained her not to, a torturous battle within herself, “You’ve been by my side – you’ve been with me for years, through everything that I have done and become and I guess I just — I can’t stomach it, I couldn’t and I attacked him and it’s not right…I know it wasn’t right…but I didn’t know what else to do, I didn’t – didn’t know, I just felt so much and it manifested in the worst way possible but Hermione…”

“It’s okay…” Hermione whispered but Atlas shook her head and pulled away, looking down at Hermione, tears streaming down her face as she swallowed, wiped her eyes and continued.

“No, no it’s not okay, I shouldn’t — feel like this but you reduce me to this thing, this baser thing and it feels like I could live with only existing for you, pleasing you, protecting and worshipping you and I wouldn’t care –” Atlas sniffled, palming her eyes to hold back her tears as her voice grew hoarse, “I don’t care that you….condense me into this stupid creature that wants and yearns for you, I’ve felt this way for years but I feel like I’ve needed you for lifetimes — Hermione I…I still can’t fucking say it.”

“Atlas…”

“I…I need to say this, I –“

Hermione kissed her.

Briefly, pulling away after a moment so that her heels returned to the floor but she had kissed Atlas, the girl blinking, dazed, shocked, more tears welling up in her eyes as if she were on the brink of sobbing, she rubbed them, swallowing solidly, “could…you do it again?”

“Do what again?” Hermione grinned, her hands slowly slipping up and resting around Atlas’s neck, pulling her in, their noses brushed, an innocent kiss of their skin, Atlas was still crying, her eyes focussing on Hermione’s lips entirely, her words a whispered between them, spoken into Hermione’s mouth.

“Kiss me…please,” she almost begged and Hermione’s breath hitched against Atlas’s lips, the girl pulling Atlas down and kissing her again, longer this time, less chaste, fueled by need and years of longing. It had been soft but grew swiftly in intensity, Atlas’s arms that had been comfortable upon Hermione’s waist circling around to cling to her as if she would slip away at any moment, her only solid foundation. The back of Atlas’s knees hit the edge of a chair and it was only then she realised Hermione had been guiding her backwards to it, so she obliged, sinking into the seat and welcoming Hermione into her lap when she climbed on top.

Atlas’s jaw twitched as Hermione’s hand rested upon the muscle there, the taller girl making a small sound into Hermione’s mouth when her bottom lip was caressed by the tip of Hermione’s tongue, she pulled back to breathe but couldn’t bring herself to stay away for too long, kissing a long line upon Hermione’s neck, lower and lower before reclaiming her lips again. Atlas couldn’t think, her mind blank and consumed by the woman in her lap, her hands wandering, fingertips slipping up under Hermione’s shirt and dragging gently across her soft skin, climbing higher and higher.

“Atlas…”

“Yeah?”

“Not yet…” Hermione panted and Atlas nodded, her hands simply resting on Hermione’s hips as they continued to kiss, open-mouthed and hot, breaths intermingling and lips bruising, she felt as if she were opening up her very being to Hermione, the fibres of her soul ready to be seen and found, ready to be given to Hermione to be treated however she saw fit and knowing it’d be with care.

“Hermione…?”

“Mhmm,” Hermione mumbled as she kissed Atlas’s jaw.

“Are we dating now?”

Hermione sharply pulled back, her eyes widened and her cheeks red, “that’s how you’re going to ask me?”

“What?” Atlas’s eyes shot open from their lidded state and she panicked, “No! I didn’t mean like…I didn’t — Hermione you –“

Once again, Hermione shut her up with a kiss, Atlas melting quite quickly as she found herself leaning in again when Hermione pulled back, “Yes…of course we’re dating.”

“…I’m going to buy you so many books,” Atlas promised and pressed her lips to Hermione’s, swallowing her huff of amusement and deepening the kiss instantly, mouths threatening to open once more.

“Weasley is our king!
Weasley is our king!
He didn’t let the Quaffle in!
Weasley is our king!”

The girls parted, looking at the door and then back at each other.

“…I really hate that fucking song,” Atlas groaned and Hermione snorted a laugh, burying her face into Atlas’s shoulder. “What?”

“I really love you,” Hermione sighed and Atlas looked at Hermione, her eyes watering.

“I…feel the same.” She choked out and Hermione smiled, resting her head against Atlas’s shoulder.

“I know.”

What if I told you there are going to now be so many kisses it will make you home-of-phone-ick now?

Not edited its currently, 3:11 AM I’m going to bed.