Harry & Cho
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HANGING TIME
By: xushi
Chapter Sixty-Five: Look How Far We have Come
Lily Potter was buried up to her elbows in parchment. Imagine, two years into her Post-Hogwarts training, and already she wanted out. As far as she was concerned, graduation could not come soon enough. The only thing bearable was the fact that Robert Philips, her boyfriend of over two years was suffering right along with her.
It was a miracle how far she had come. Not to mention, how far they had come.
“Troubles?” he asked, coming up behind her chair, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, and leaned in to press a kiss against her hair.
She sighed. “Just lamenting the fact that I still have an unending amount of work to do, and that graduation is four years away.”
He pressed his cheek against her hair, breathing in the floral scented soap she used earlier that day. “It’ll be all over before you know it.”
Lily finished the problem set she was working on, and set her quill aside. “Rebecca owled us earlier. Want to add anything to my reply?”
Robert squeezed her small frame. “Just that I miss her, and I hope she comes and visits soon.”
She turned her frame in her chair, and took in his appearance. Robert was dressed in his nightclothes, and his hair was tousled. “Going to bed?”
His eyes twinkling, he smiled. “Care to join me?”
Lily curled an arm around the back of his neck, and drew his head down to hers. “Give me a couple minutes.”
He returned her kiss warmly. “Meet you there.”
As she watched him walk away to their room, Lily could not help but think about how incredibly lucky she was. She was attending a great school, she had amazing friends, her parents were closer than they had been in a long time, and she had an amazing boyfriend. Yes, she really was lucky.
As she stood up from her seat at the table, and made sure all her files and parchment were in order, she took a long, languid stretch, arching her back, interlacing her fingers and stretching them above her head. Lily yawned, feeling utterly drained, but blissfully happy.
She went about her nightly routine – brushed her teeth, brushed out her hair, and changed into her pyjamas – before she tiptoed into their room. Lily watched as Robert slept on his side, taking in how his chest rose and fell with each breath he took. She smiled. “I really am lucky,” she whispered.
Lily slipped into her side of the bed, and curled her body close to Robert’s. Robert stirred, but he did not turn around. He interlaced his fingers with her, while she kissed his neck.
“Love you,” she breathed.
As was customary on most nights, she and Robert fell asleep with their fingers interlaced.
“Re -”
“Fine! Let’s talk about why I come back from tutoring and our kitchen looks like a horde of owls was set loose. Let’s talk about why our living room - why are your clothes draped over the chair? What in the name of Merlin made you think you could leave your clothes out? I can’t even believe – and there’s owl food stuck in the carpet! What the bloody hell -” Rebecca’s voice stops. “You better have one hell of a good explanation, or at the very least, a very good apology, Ethan Finnigan. You better fix everything right now, or I am this close to transfiguring you into a beetle and stepping on you!”
“Would you just -”
“At the very least -”
Her long string of outrage was halted quickly by Ethan cupping her face with both his hands, and pressing his lips against hers, effectively silencing her.
Rebecca didn’t reply. When Ethan pulled away, she blinked. “Oh,” she breathed, “what did you go and do that for?”
He shrugged. “You wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise. I figured that was a good way to get you to stop talking.” Ethan brushed her hair off her face. “And by the way, did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”
She slapped his arm teasingly. “Thanks.”
“You’re very welcome.”
Rebecca frowned. “Now, where’s my apology?”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re still on about that?”
“Along with paying your half of the rent, I think I am entitled to an apology when you are to blame for a situation.”
Ethan sighed. “All right, Rebecca Philips. I love you, and I’m sorry.”
She smirked. “That’s more like it.” Rebecca curled her arms around his neck. “Now, kiss me again, Ethan Finnigan.”
“Well, when you put it that way ...” Ethan did not finish his sentence, before he pressed his lips to hers again.
Author’s Note: Short update because I have a lot of the upcoming plot details worked out, and this chapter works better as a good transition one. Title for chapter is from the Matchbox 20 song of the same name.
Thank you for all the reviews!
Until next time, please review and thanks again.
- xushi
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