XX: All the Fun of the Fair

Chapter XX: All the Fun of the Fair

It was a sunny, late September day. The month had started foggy and gloomy, and the sunlight was now very much appreciated, especially after the dreadful, rainy summer.

Charis, feeling indebted to Grindling for the wonderful date they'd shared at the restaurant, had insisted on paying for their next date, and after having tried to come up with a zillion reasons why a lady should not be paying for anything, Grindling had replied that he would allow her to take him for fish and chips. And so Charis had told him to dress Muggle-style and taken him to a seaside town, where they had spent the morning walking idly across the beach and taking in the sea air. They talked and joked, and Charis could not help but admire the wizard beside her, who was looking rather sexy, if somewhat uncomfortable, in tight jeans and an impeccable black shirt. He had not tied back his hair today, and every time a strand blew into his face, Charis had to fight the urge to tuck it behind his ear and then kiss his cheek.

'It's lovely here,' Grindling pointed out for the umpteenth time in the early afternoon. 'It's been years since I just strolled along the beach.'

Charis smiled happily, delighted that Grindling was enjoying himself. Yet he had no idea that she was saving the pièce de résistance until last: The Grand Pier. It was out to sea, full of flashing lights and bleeping noises from the arcades, and Grindling looked rather wide-eyed at it all; being a pureblood, he'd never experienced these kinds of Muggle leisure pursuits.

'Noisy bunch, those Muggles,' he said jokingly and craned his neck to get a better look around. 'What is all that racket?'

'It's the games machines in the arcade. There are all kinds of machines in there,' Charis explained.

'Machines?' Grindling looked confused.

'Some, you can win money from. Some, you play games on. And some test your skill or strength.'

Grindling looked delighted at this, like a boy under the Christmas tree.

'Come on,' Charis said. 'Let's have a look!' And with that, she dragged him inside by the hand. She couldn't help but notice that his hand felt big in hers, warm and strong.

Grindling abruptly stopped at a machine with lots of stuffed toys in.

'I assume one is supposed to get one of those out?'

Charis nodded. 'That's right. By moving the mechanical arm. Look.' She put some money into the machine, and it whirred into life with lights and a little tune.

Grindling stood closely behind her, looking over her shoulder. 'Wingardium Leviosa would do the trick as well,' he whispered.

'Forgotten the Statute of Secrecy already, have you?' Charis joked as she manoeuvred the mechanical arm into position. She managed to grab hold of one toy, only for it to slip out of the claw as it moved back to the opening.

'Balls!' she exclaimed with frustration. 'Would you like a go?'

'Sure. Which one do you want?'

'The bunny is quite cute,' Charis admitted.

'The light blue one?'

'Yeah, that's the one.' Charis hastily put some coins in the machine.

'You know, you do not have to pay for me,' Grindling said cautiously.

'It's my turn,' Charis replied firmly. 'And anyway, they don't take Galleons here.' She smiled.

Grindling smiled back and turned to the machine. His face was screwed up in concentration.

'Bunny. Light blue bunny. Come to papa, now,' he muttered.

Charis could not help but giggle, which caused Grindling to lose concentration, and the bunny fell back down. Grindling's shoulders slumped dejectedly.

'I'm sorry. Did I put you off?' Charis asked innocently.

Grindling shrugged, but Charis was already distracted by another machine. 'Ooh, Whac-A-Mole! I love that!'

She ran over, Grindling following in her wake.

'Whac-A-Mole?' he asked, looking puzzled.

'Here.' Charis handed him a club. 'When I put the coins in, the aim is to hit as many moles as possible. Ready?'

Grindling looked at the club as if it were a two-headed snake. 'O...kay?' he answered unsurely.

Charis inserted the coins.

'Go!'

They embarked on a frenzied attack, giggling at the absurdity as they whacked frantically, and Grindling had either very bad reflexes or was distracted by Charis' bouncing breasts, as he didn't manage to hit too many moles. After a minute, the machine made a fanfare noise, announcing Charis as the winner.

'Yay! I am the mole slayer!

Grindling mock-pouted at the defeat.

'Naww, come on,' Charis said, linking her arm in his. 'I'm sure you'll beat me at something.'

'I am not aiming to beat you in anything,' he pointed out. 'But this game was too violent for my taste, I must admit.'

Charis leaned in and whispered, 'They aren't real moles.'

Grindling smirked and whispered back, 'I know that.'

Charis giggled, and as they looked into each other's eyes, an unspoken warmth passed between them, awakening butterflies in their stomachs.

'Would you excuse me for a moment?' Grindling said eventually, reluctantly pulling his gaze from Charis. 'Little wizards' room.'

Charis smiled. 'Of course. I'll just be over there, playing on Pac-Man.'

'Pac-Man. Okay. Right.' Grindling looked confused. 'I'll just be... yeah...' And with that incoherent sentence hanging in the air, he wandered off, looking around him at all the machines in awe.

Charis happily played on Pac-Man, getting as far the peach level before Grindling returned, but she was so absorbed in the game that she didn't notice him come back. She jumped as she suddenly felt something fluffy brush her cheek. It was a little light blue bunny.

'Can I come home with you?' Grindling asked in bunny voice.

Charis looked up, abandoning her game. 'Aww! You got it! Thank you.'

She gave him a hug of gratitude, and Grindling closed his arms around her, holding her far too tight than was necessary for a "You're welcome" hug. It felt nice, however, and Charis didn't want to let go, either.

'I'll have to think of a name for him,' she murmured, feeling almost a bit forlorn as they broke apart. 'How about Mr Gibbs?'

Grindling grinned. 'That's cute.' He kept his left arm around her shoulder as he looked around the arcade. 'What now?'

'There is a fairground outside,' Charis replied. 'Can we go on the dodgems?'

'I'm scared to say yes.' He laughed nervously.

'They're fun, I promise!' Charis tried to reassure him. 'They are little cars... automobiles. They have pedals on the floor: one to go forward, one to go back. And a steering wheel,' she explained. 'You drive around and try and dodge people, or if you are mean, bang into them.'

'Bang into them?' Grindling looked horrified. 'Muggles are violent.'

But Charis swatted his arm lightly. 'It's fun, you'll see!'

'I'm scared,' he confessed. And he wasn't even joking.

Charis ignored him, pulling him on to the ride. 'What colour car are you having? I'm going for purple!'

Grindling looked terrified. 'Um, yellow?' he suggested, truly feeling like a Hufflepuff.

'Come on, then!'

They each climbed into their respective cars, and loud music began to play as they started driving around.

Grindling was the worst driver ever, too much of a gentleman to bang into people he didn't know. Charis, however, knew the ride well and sneaked around and bumped into him. To Grindling's surprise and delight, it didn't hurt, and he laughed.

'Catch me if you can!' Charis called, and she drove off with a laugh.

Grindling set off in hot pursuit, eventually cornering her and bumping into her.

'Gotcha!' he yelled triumphantly. 'Revenge!'

'I knew you'd enjoy that,' Charis told him as they climbed out and made their way down from the ride.

'I thought I would be worse. But actually, I don't mind bumping into you.' He bumped into her lightly with his shoulder.

'Is that euphemism?' Charis replied, looking up at him through her eyelashes.

'Would you like it to be one?' Grindling asked in response, looking steadily at her.

Charis felt her knees go weak. 'It depends on what part of you wants to bump me...,' she answered in a low voice.

Grindling blushed at the insinuation.

'Are you hungry?' Charis asked quickly, wary of making him uncomfortable. The last thing she wanted was for him to find her uncouth.

Grindling nodded, clearly glad of the change of subject.

'Me too. Come on, then. They do the best fish and chips here. You have to have them overlooking the sea, with the fresh sea air around, though. I don't know why, but they always taste nicer by the sea.'

She took Grindling by the hand, and he trotted after her, looking for all the world like a lovesick puppy.

Charis bought them both a huge portion of fish and chips to share from a nearby stall, and they sat overlooking the sea, munching away.

'Do you like them?' she asked cautiously. It certainly wasn't haute cuisine, but it was one of Charis' favourite meals.

'They're lovely!' Grindling replied, making a humming noise as he sank his teeth into the fish.

Charis grinned with delight. 'They always taste better out of the paper too.'

'I think this is the best thing I have ever eaten,' Grindling pointed out, licking his fingers. 'I think, however, that this might be due to the company.'

He smiled endearingly at her, and now it was Charis' turn to blush. Grindling was such a sweetheart. He was charming, courteous and funny, good looking and the perfect gentleman. And he was going out with her! It was almost too good to be true.

Trying to hide her red cheeks, Charis busied herself by feeding chips to the sparrows and seagulls that had gathered not far away from their bench. And Grindling was glad that Charis was looking away for the moment. What he was about to do demanded a lot of courage from his side, courage which he needed to gather first. Charis was so sweet, so adorable, and she had captured his heart in a way no one else had for many years. He didn't want to make a mistake now.

As she looked back at him, her cheeks still slightly pink and a broad smile on her lips, Grindling put his food down on the bench behind him and opened his mouth to speak. But words failed him.

'What is it?' Charis asked as he had opened his mouth for the third time.

'I...' He cleared his throat. 'I would like to...'

He broke off once again. His hands were sweaty, and he could feel them tremble.

'Charis, may I kiss you?' he finally managed to ask, speaking so quickly that he feared she might not have heard what he'd said.

Charis' eyes widened in surprise. Had Grindling just asked for her permission to kiss her? She was rather used to men who just took whatever they desired.

'O-of course,' she breathed.

Grindling's heart leapt with joy, and he quickly dried off his hand on his jeans before carefully cupping Charis' chin and leaning in.

It was the softest kiss Charis had ever received, and it was over in a heartbeat. But when Grindling pulled back, looking deep into her eyes, Charis felt as dizzy as if they had shared a long, passionate French kiss.

'You taste of chips,' Grindling whispered and smiled. 'The best chips I have ever eaten.'

He leaned in once more, still cupping Charis' chin, and this time, he was a little bit braver, pressing his lips firmly against hers. And as he felt her returning his kiss, he grew bolder, sneaked a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. Oh, it felt wonderful to hold her in his arms.

Charis, too, enjoyed the sensation. Grindling's kiss was so different from any other kiss she had experienced so far: not as slobbering as Zabini's, not as demanding as Snape's. And she relished it immensely.

Resting her hands on his chest, only now noticing the expensive feel of the fabric, Charis leaned into the kiss, letting her head fall slightly backwards to gain a better angle, and flickered her tongue across Grindling's soft lips, delighted to find them parting at her touch.

She moaned softly as their tongues entwined, and Grindling pulled her even closer, burying one of his hands in her hair. He didn't want to let go of her, and he found his body respond to the newfound closeness in the most positive way.

'Charis,' he managed to bring forth between kisses. 'How serious... do you take... the Statute of Secrecy?'

Charis froze, puzzled, not sure why Grindling would ask her such a question in the middle of a passionate snog.

But Grindling carried on, covering her lips with kisses, her cheek, her neck...

'If it were up to me,' he breathed, 'I'd respectfully screw the Statute and...' He detached his lips from her skin and looked deeply into her eyes, '...and Apparate with you to my flat right now.'

Charis gasped. 'I... I want you too, Grindling,' she confessed. His kisses had sent waves of pleasure through her body, and as he had pulled her close, she had been able to feel his arousal. She had, however, neither dared make a move nor hoped he would. He was such a gentleman, after all.

Encouraged by her positive reaction, Grindling once more pressed his lips onto Charis', pushing his tongue into her mouth and kissing her boldly. And as he pulled her into a standing position, his arousal became very obvious to them both. Muggle jeans were not as forgiving as wizard robes.

They staggered into the shadows behind the fish and chips shop, and Grindling pressed Charis up against the wall, kissing her and grinding himself against her, and Charis could barely resist the urge to reach out for him and cup his growing erection through his jeans. She would not have minded him taking her roughly right there against the wall, but she had the distinct feeling that her making any bold move would spoil the mood. Grindling didn't seem the type who would appreciate being groped in public or having an outdoor quickie behind a fish and chips shop.

'Are you sure you want to come to my place?' Grindling panted. His voice was quite hoarse, and he didn't know what he would do if Charis said no now. Have the wank of the century, no doubt. He was too aroused to be able to just ignore it. But to his utter relief, Charis nodded, and he grabbed her firmly around the waist and Apparated right into his bedroom.

Charis had a quick look around. The room was minimal but tasteful, with a deep, cream shagpile carpet and various objets d'art dotted around the place. And the bed they were now staggering towards was big and covered with crisp white linen sheets.

Grindling pushed her down softly, and Charis fell willingly, and as he straddled her legs, leaning forward to kiss her face and neck and caress her breasts through her clothes, Charis tugged at his shirt, tearing off a couple of buttons in the process. Momentarily, she felt a need to apologise for ruining his shirt, but when she laid eyes on his bare upper body, she couldn't care less about the shirt. His skin was smooth and pale, and his abs bore witness of a healthy diet and plenty of exercise. Charis traced his chest with her hands, let them run upwards over his shoulders and down onto his impressive biceps. But as she was about to slide off his shirt, Grindling shrugged her hands away and instead engaged her into a deep, passionate kiss, and Charis forgot all about undressing him. Instead, she became acutely aware of his very evident bulge. She ran her hands down over his chest again, over his stomach, but as she ran her fingers inside the waistband of his jeans, Grindling took hold of her wrist.

'Let's take this slow, sweet one. Please?'

Charis looked up at him, slightly confused. They were both ready. She sure was! And judging from the straining buttons at his crotch, Grindling was more than ready himself. Why wait? Why take it slow?

She didn't say anything, of course, but still, Grindling seemed to understand her silent question.

'It... has been a while since I made love to a woman,' he confessed, a blush creeping over his cheeks. 'I fear I am out of practice.'

Charis smiled sympathetically. It had been a while for her, too.

'I am sure it is like riding a broom,' she said and giggled, and as Grindling laughed, the tension seemed to lessen for some moments.

Once more, they kissed. Once more Grindling tenderly caressed her breasts through her top, and Charis tried hard not to moan too much, not to seem too eager. She didn't want to put any pressure on him, didn't want him to be uncomfortable, but she could not deny that she was longing for him to touch her properly. She wished he'd be a bit rougher, that he'd tug at her top and her trousers, that he'd pin her hands over her head and have his way with her. Oh, if she could only tell him...

She let her hands once more slide under his shirt, ran her nails down his back and then took a firm hold on his butt cheeks, pulling him closer and at the same time lifting up her hips to meet him. Oh, that was no tiny wand he had.

Then finally, Grindling made a move. He grabbed Charis firmly around the waist and made them roll around so Charis came to straddle him. And as he looked up at her, his blue eyes were glittering, and he looked as if he had never gazed upon anything more beautiful. Carefully, he sneaked his hands under her top and cupped her breasts, and Charis pulled off her top and bra, letting her full breasts spill into Grindling's hands.

He was gentle, fondled her breasts as if they were made out of glass, massaged them and caressed them. And every time he let his thumbs rub against her nipples, Chris moaned and ground herself against his crotch and licked her lips appreciatively.

'You're beautiful,' Grinding breathed, and when Charis slid backwards and once more teased the waistband of his jeans, he did not resist.

His cock sprung from the confinement of his jeans and pants, and as Charis wrapped her hand around his length, Grindling gave a low moan. This felt so good!

'Merlin,' he managed to articulate as she started stroking him gently, and he bucked his hips. But as Charis shifted and leant forwards, her lips only inches away from the large, sculpted head, Grindling stiffened.

'Charis,' he panted. 'This is not a good idea...'

But she ignored him, lowered her head and took him into her mouth.

Grindling groaned.

'... been... a while...,' he managed to croak, but his hand, which he had extended to pull Charis away, instead grabbed hold of her hair and guided her into the correct rhythm. Oh, this was bliss.

And Charis enjoyed it, too. She enjoyed the feel of Grindling's warm member in her mouth and the sounds he was making. And encouraged by his hand in her hair, she started to suck hard, all the while cupping his balls.

Then Grindling withdrew his hand.

'Charis... I'm... begging you.'

He didn't really know what he was begging for. Part of him wanted her to continue, wanted her to suck him until he spilled himself in her mouth. But another part feared that everything would end too quickly. He had meant to make love to her, not have her blow him like one of the tarts at Persephone's Palace.

But Charis didn't mind Grindling coming. In fact, she wanted him to. She had never made a man come. She and Zabini had been interrupted before Zabini had even been close, and Snape... Snape had held back for some inexplicable reason.

Fighting hard to banish every thought of other men, especially of Snape from her mind, Charis closed her lips tightly around the very tip of Grindling's cock and pumped his shaft deftly with her hand, and after a few moments, he came undone with a grunt and a shudder that went through his whole body, ejaculating deep into Charis' mouth.

She was shocked at the amount for a moment. Also, she had not been prepared for the taste. It tasted strangely bitter, yet sweet at the same time. And she bravely swallowed all of it down, hoping it would please Grindling.

'Merlin's balls!'

Grindling swore quite passionately, and Charis looked up at him, somewhat fearful. Had she done anything wrong? But then his hand was once more in her hair, and he took hold of her, gentling pulling her up towards him. He was smiling when he wrapped his arms around her.

'Was I okay?' Charis inquired bashfully.

'Okay?' Grindling sounded flabbergasted. 'Were you okay? Circe's tits, Charis! I'm seeing stars!'

Charis giggled nervously. 'I've never done that before,' she confessed.

Grindling gave a short laugh. 'You seem to have talent.'

Then he exhaled slowly and wrapped his arms tighter around Charis, who snuggled into his chest.

'This is not how I meant for this to happen,' Grindling pointed out. He sounded less than pleased. Not angry, far from it. If Charis would have to venture a guess, she would have opted for sad.

'I enjoyed it,' she quickly reassured him. She had! And the last thing she wanted was Grindling to think that he had used her in any way.

'So did I, Charis. By Merlin, I enjoyed this! But... I had meant to bed you on roses. I had meant to make love to you.'

Charis felt herself grow all warm and fuzzy inside. 'There is plenty of time for that,' she whispered and planted a row of soft kisses of his chest. As far as she was concerned, they had all the time in the world.

But Grindling shook his head. 'I am afraid I am too old for a second round.'

He sounded truly mortified, and Charis wrapped her arms tightly around his chest.

'It is okay,' she whispered. 'Really.'

Of course, if she were honest, she would admit that she was disappointed. She was still very much aroused herself and longing for release. But then again, Grindling had warned her, and she could have stopped her ministrations. But making him climax had felt so good! And for that alone she could live with not getting any herself that afternoon. But when Grindling's hand wandered down her back and came to squeeze her butt cheek, she changed her mind. And when he gently pushed her onto her back and lowered his head to her breasts, she sincerely prayed that he would be able to perform once more this afternoon.

He lay down beside her, his lips alternately exploring her breasts and the soft skin on the side of her neck, and when his hand wandered south, caressing the inside of her thighs through her jeans, Charis squirmed. It seemed almost cruel that Grindling wanted to be so caring and gentle while she was longing to be taken hard and roughly.

When he finally asked permission to unbutton her jeans, Charis nodded eagerly; she knew she must be scorching hot between her legs by now. In return, she moved her hand tentatively towards Grindling's mid-section. He, however, denied her access by positioning his upper leg strategically. It seemed that he wasn't ready yet.

'It's your turn now, sweet Charis,' he whispered into her ear, tantalisingly tracing the edge of her knickers with her fingertips.

Charis wriggled and sighed. Grindling was so sweet, so caring. But didn't he realise that she didn't need to be seduced, that she was ready and just waiting for him to make his move?

She moaned loudly as his fingers finally made contact with her hot flesh, and Grindling looked delightedly surprised. It almost seemed as if he had never touched a woman in such a fashion. But he was curious and sensitive, and after some delicate probing, he found the very special spot that made Charis squeal with delight as he touched it.

'Are you enjoying this?' he whispered and once more started nibbling at her ear, all the while applying pressure to her nub.

'Hm, yes.' Charis moaned. 'Harder.'

'What?'

Grindling sounded puzzled, and Charis quickly caught his mouth in a passionate kiss in order to distract him. She did not want him to think that she was a wanton trollop. But his tender ministrations were driving her to the edge of insanity, and Charis yearned for him being rougher with her.

Thankfully, Grindling didn't repeat his question and even intensified his caresses, placing once finger on each side of Charis' clit and rubbing it deftly while his tongue explored her mouth. And Charis moaned and ground herself against his fingers. He seemed to have understood what she needed now, and he rubbed her harder and faster, thrusting his tongue into her mouth in the same quick pace. And Charis moaned frantically, flushing as her orgasm crept closer. If Grindling stopped now, she would surely die.

But he did not stop. His fingers moved quickly and firmly over her pulsating clit, and Charis peaked with an outcry that would surely alarm all of Grindling's neighbours. But she did not care. And she arched her back and jolted as if electrocuted, moaning and panting and calling out Grindling's name.

He made her come twice, and as he stroked her gently as to ease her down from her peak, he smiled fondly at her.

'Are you alright?' he asked, receiving a content hum in return. 'Looks like we both have undreamt-of talents.'

Charis looked at him in surprise. Surely, a man like Grindling must have bedded hundreds of witches. But the way he spoke made her think that he was quite... inexperienced. And he had mentioned that it had been a while...

He hugged her close and softly stroked her hair, and Charis was just about to doze off in his strong arms when his voice made her become wide awake.

'I am truly sorry, Charis,' he said. 'This did really not turn out the way I hoped for it.'

Charis opened her mouth to speak, but Grindling hushed her with a soft kiss.

'You were a dream, Charis,' he assured her, smiling a genuine smile. 'It's just... I'd really hoped to be... better.'

He looked truly mortified once more, but instead of saying something, Charis just hugged him tightly. She had the feeling that he had more to say.

'When I said it had been a while...' he continued. 'It's been a really long time...'

'Since you had sex?' Charis butted in.

'Oh, I've had sex,' Grindling assured her, sounding almost defensive. 'But those were quick, meaningless encounters. They weren't worth the effort, and although they quelled my hunger for flesh, they left me rather... unsatisfied.'

He moved his hand to his chest, and Charis understood that he was not talking about orgasms. He was talking about that warm and fuzzy feeling Charis felt in her chest right now. The feeling of having shared something special with a lover.

'It has been almost two decades since I made love,' Grindling carried on. 'There were times when I feared it would never happen again.'

Charis felt her heart go out to the wizard in her arms. She knew how it felt to be without love, but the poor man had suffered for twenty years. What a fate.

'May I... may I ask why?' Charis asked carefully, brushing a strand of stray hair out of Grindling's face. She truly hoped he trusted her enough to share his story.

'I was about your age when I realised I was in love,' Grindling started. 'Truly, deeply in love. We'd been out a couple of times during my last year at Hogwarts, but it wasn't until I had left school and had not seen her for a couple of months that I realised how much I missed her, how much I ached for her.'

'Couldn't you meet?' Charis asked.

'She was still at Hogwarts. Then I went to Greece to study, and when I saw her the next time it was at a friend's house. He presented her to me as his fiancée.' Grindling gave a deep sigh. 'She had to marry him. They'd been betrothed for years. But we had an affair before their wedding. It lasted three months. And during all that time, I was foolish enough to believe that she would run away with me. It broke my heart when she didn't.'

'Oh, Grindling.'

It might not have been the most romantic of pillow talk, and many women would have hated to hear the man in their arms talk about his long-lost love. But Charis felt touched and proud. Grindling had said he had not made love to any woman since the love of his life had married another. And he had also told her that he wanted to make love to her.

'I am so, so sorry, Grindling. I shouldn't have asked...'

'By Merlin, Charis, don't be sorry,' Grindling exclaimed and took her face into both his hands. 'I'm glad you asked. I'm glad you're still here.'

He kissed her tenderly, and Charis didn't know if she felt happy or if she wanted to burst into tears over the sadness of Grindling's fate. But when he continued kissing and caressing her, she kissed him back, letting her hands explore his smooth chest once more, and she hoped she would be able to heal this wizard's wounds. Eventually, they both fell into slumber, Charis nestled into the crook of Grindling's left arm.

It was him jerking away said arm an hour later that awoke her.

'What is it?' she asked in alarm.

'Nothing,' Grindling assured her, rubbing his forearm. 'Must have tried to turn with you still lying in my arms and pulled a muscle or something.'

Then the big grandfather clock in the hall chimed six times, and Grindling shot off the bed.

'Shit! There is this dinner I have to attend at six-thirty. I forgot all about it. And I'd much rather stay here with you and do this properly but...'

'It's okay, I understand,' Charis said truthfully. She'd had a wonderful time, and maybe breaking off this date now was for the better. They both had a lot to think about.

'I... I'll take you home, of course... I'll get changed right away. I'll still be able to make it in time if I take you home... Oh, Charis, I am so unspeakably sorry.'

'What on earth for?' Charis exclaimed.

'Many things.' Grindling laughed uneasily. It was clear that he was very uncomfortable.

'Go get changed, and I'll try to find my bra,' Charis said jokingly in order to defuse the tension. Her bra was lying right beside her on the bed. She didn't have to look for it.

Grindling disappeared into the en suite bathroom and re-emerged less than ten minutes later, wearing exquisite dove grey robes. He looked to die for, and Charis suddenly regretted breaking the day off so abruptly. She would not have minded looking at this dashing wizard for a while longer.

'I am truly sorry, Charis,' he repeated once more as he offered her his arm for Side-Along Apparition. 'I meant it when I said that I would want to bed you on roses. I hope that you will give me a second chance.'