The Feathered Serpent: Chapter 26

Note: All characters involved in this fic are above the age of consent.

The Dueling Chamber of Hogwarts buzzed with energy. Spells whizzed through the air across multiple platforms where students tested their skills against one another. The spectator stands lining the walls were packed with students from all houses, their excited chatter creating a constant background noise that occasionally erupted into cheers when a particularly impressive bit of magic was performed.

Harry and Daphne stood by the edge of the chamber near the tunnel to the dressing room, their eyes following the ongoing duels. Harry's hand was loosely intertwined with Daphne's, his thumb absently tracing circles on her skin.

"Look at Carmichael's footwork," Daphne said, nodding toward a platform where a fourth-year Hufflepuff was managing to avoid most of his opponent's spells through quick, precise movements. "He's gotten better since we last saw him duel."

Harry nodded. "Still telegraphs his offensive moves though. See how he shifts his weight before casting?"

Daphne's lips quirked into a smile. "We've become quite critical, haven't we?"

"Professional hazard," Harry replied with a grin, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "One more session, and we'll have those titles."

Their conversation was interrupted as two figures approached them. Harry recognized them immediately—Adrian Thornfield and Cassandra Blackwood, both fifth-year Ravenclaws among those who currently held the ranks of Duke and Duchess in the Dueling Club. Adrian was tall with broad shoulders and a serious expression that rarely broke, while Cassandra was lithe with sharp features and calculating eyes.

"Potter, Greengrass," Adrian greeted with a nod. "Quite the show you've been putting on these past weeks."

Daphne inclined her head slightly. "Thank you. You two haven't been doing so poorly yourselves."

Cassandra smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Careful compliments, Greengrass? That's not like you from what I’ve heard."

"I save my enthusiasm for special occasions," Daphne replied coolly.

Adrian crossed his arms, studying them both. "Word is you'll be challenging to join us today. Duke and Duchess, quite ambitious, if I may say so."

"That's the plan," Harry confirmed, straightening slightly.

"Four minutes and seventeen seconds," Cassandra said suddenly.

Harry raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"That's how long it took us to take down the last challengers," she explained, her voice carrying a hint of pride. "We've been keeping track of all your duels too. Impressive times."

Adrian nodded. "Which is why we have a proposition for you both."

Harry and Daphne exchanged glances before Daphne raised an eyebrow. "We're listening."

"Instead of the traditional format—you each facing one of us separately—we propose a tag-team duel," Adrian said. "You two against us."

Harry blinked in surprise. "That's... unusual."

"It's permitted in the club rules, though rarely done," Cassandra added. "It would be more... entertaining."

"And challenging," Adrian continued. "If you're going to take our titles, we'd rather make you work for them properly."

Harry looked at Daphne, a silent question in his eyes. She gave a small nod, and he turned back to the other pair.

"Alright," Harry said. "Tag-team it is."

A smile spread across Adrian's face—the first genuine one Harry had seen from him. "Excellent. I'll inform Flitwick. The main platform in thirty minutes."

As Adrian and Cassandra walked away, Daphne leaned closer to Harry. "They want to make a spectacle of this."

"Of course they do," Harry replied. "Everyone’s taking us seriously. This is their last chance to cement their legacy before graduation."

"And our chance to start ours," Daphne said with determination in her eyes.

Harry grinned. "Let's give them something to remember, then."

XXXXX

Word spread quickly. By the time they entered the chamber half an hour later, the stands were completely full. Harry noticed several professors had arrived—McGonagall sat with her typical rigid posture, Flitwick appeared excited, Snape wore his usual scowl, and even Dumbledore had made an appearance, his eyes twinkling from beneath his half-moon spectacles.

"Quite the turnout," Harry murmured.

Daphne gave his hand a squeeze. "Nervous?"

"Just adequately concerned," he replied with a small smile.

They approached the main dueling platform, which had been expanded to twice its usual size to accommodate the tag-team format. Professor Flitwick stood at its center, practically bouncing with excitement.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Greengrass," he greeted cheerfully. "This is quite exciting! We haven't had a tag-team challenge for the Duke and Duchess titles in nearly a decade!"

"We aim to keep things interesting, Professor," Daphne replied.

Flitwick chuckled. "That you do, that you do. Now, the rules remain largely the same—no dark magic, no deliberately harmful spells, victory by disarmament or incapacitation. However, in this format, both members of a team must be defeated for the match to end."

Harry nodded. "Understood, Professor."

Adrian and Cassandra approached from the other side, both now dressed in their dueling wear. Harry and Daphne had opted for their usual attire.

"Challengers and current Duke and Duchess," Flitwick announced, his voice magically amplified to reach the entire chamber. "Take your positions!"

The four of them moved to opposite ends of the platform. Harry could feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on them, but his focus remained sharp, his mind already running through strategies and counter-strategies.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Flitwick continued, "we gather today for an extraordinary event! Duke Thornfield and Duchess Blackwood have proposed a tag-team duel against their challengers, Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass!"

A buzz of excitement rippled through the crowd.

"The stakes? Should Potter and Greengrass emerge victorious, they will earn the ranks of Duke and Duchess of the Hogwarts Dueling Club—becoming the fastest pair in Hogwarts history to achieve such a feat!"

The applause was thunderous. Harry caught sight of Tonks in the crowd, her hair a vibrant pink as she cheered loudly. Beside her, Moody stood with his magical eye spinning wildly, no doubt assessing the coming duel from every angle.

"Duelists, bow!" Flitwick commanded.

The four students bent at the waist in formal salute.

"Wands at the ready!"

Harry felt the familiar surge of adrenaline as he raised his wand, positioning himself slightly ahead of Daphne as they'd practiced countless times in their fights with Tonks and Moody.

"Begin!"

Adrian moved first, his wand tracing a complex pattern in the air. The wooden planks beneath Harry and Daphne's feet suddenly began to ripple like water. Without exchanging a word, Harry countered with a silent Glacius Maxima while Daphne immediately went on the offensive.

A torrent of blue flames erupted from her wand, shaped like wolves that shot through the air toward Cassandra. The older girl responded with a sweeping motion that conjured a wall of wind, dispersing the flames into harmless wisps.

Adrian pressed forward, transfiguring the now-frozen floor into hundreds of razor-sharp glass shards that launched toward them. Harry barely had time to create a shield before they struck, the impact sending reverberations through his arm.

"Not bad," Daphne muttered, her eyes never leaving their opponents. "Chain formation?"

"On three," Harry confirmed quietly. "One, two—"

They moved in perfect synchronization. Daphne cast a powerful wide-area atmospheric charm that filled the platform with a thick mist while Harry transfigured the mist particles into tiny reflective fragments, creating a disorienting kaleidoscopic effect. Through this disorienting haze, they began their assault.

Harry's wand moved in precise arcs, sending concentrated blasts of magic through the mist. Daphne complemented his attacks with rapid-fire hexes, each spell following a carefully choreographed pattern they had perfected during their training.

On the other side, Adrian and Cassandra were forced to adapt quickly. Cassandra dispelled the reflective fragments with a wide-area Finite Incantatem while Adrian conjured a dome of energy around them.

"Impressive spell combination," came Professor McGonagall's voice from the stands. "They've been practicing extensively."

"Indeed," Dumbledore replied, his eyes following the duel with keen interest. "Most OWL students wouldn't even consider atmospheric manipulation in a duel, let alone first-years."

As the mist cleared, Adrian launched his counteroffensive. With a flourish of his wand, the air around Harry and Daphne suddenly became heavy and constricting. A gravitational hex, Harry realized, feeling his movements become sluggish.

Cassandra followed up immediately, transfiguring the shards on the floor into a dozen falcon-like constructs that dove toward them with talons extended.

"Opugno Maxima," Daphne muttered appreciatively, recognizing the spell instantly before casting a silent spell of her own.

The ground between them erupted as Daphne's magic took hold, conjuring a wall of interlocking stone shields that intercepted the falcons. Meanwhile, Harry fought through the gravitational hex, his counterspell dispelling Adrian's work.

The crowd roared their approval. From the corner of his eye, Harry could see students standing, their expressions rapt as they watched the exchange of advanced magic.

Harry had no time to bask in the praise. Adrian and Cassandra were moving again, this time in a pincer pattern that threatened to separate him from Daphne. He caught her eye and gave an almost imperceptible nod.

What followed was a display of magical coordination that had even Snape raising an eyebrow in grudging respect.

Daphne cast a duplication charm on herself, creating five identical copies that scattered across the platform. In the brief moment of confusion this caused, Harry transfigured the floor beneath Adrian and Cassandra into a quicksand-like substance while simultaneously erecting invisible barriers to limit their movement options.

Adrian reacted quickly, levitating himself and Cassandra above the transformed floor. But that was exactly what Harry had anticipated.

"Now!" he called to Daphne.

All six Daphnes raised their wands simultaneously, releasing a barrage of silent stunners. The real Daphne, however, had cast something else entirely—a modified atmospheric charm that created a vacuum pocket around their opponents, making shields difficult to maintain.

The audience gasped as Adrian's hastily erected shield flickered under the combined assault. Cassandra, however, was nothing if not resourceful. With a complex wand movement, she conjured a reflective dome that sent several of Daphne's stunners ricocheting back toward them.

Harry stood perfectly at ease, deflecting one spell and absorbing another with a remote shield charm over his wand. "They're not bad," he admitted, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"We're much better," Daphne replied confidently, dispelling her duplicates and rejoining Harry's side.

The duel intensified as Adrian launched his most impressive spell yet—a cascading wave of transfigured energy that resembled liquid lightning. It crackled across the platform, destroying Harry's barriers and forcing them into defensive positions.

Daphne gave her wand a sharp flick, reinforcing her shield just as the wave crashed against it.

Harry, meanwhile, had created a counter-transfiguration, his wand a blur as he converted the electrical energy into harmless light particles that shimmered around them.

"Remarkable," McGonagall breathed from the sidelines, a proud smile on her face. Beside her, Dumbledore nodded, his eyes twinkling.

Cassandra pressed the advantage, her wand tracing intricate patterns in the air. The light particles Daphne had created suddenly coalesced into binding chains that threatened to wrap around her legs.

"Daph!" Harry called out, concern flashing in his eyes for a moment.

"I'm fine," she assured him, already working to counter the spell. "Focus on them!"

Harry needed no further prompting, knowing she had it under control. His next spell caused the air to visibly distort as he manipulated its density, creating zones of resistance that slowed Cassandra's movements. It was a subtle but effective technique, one that Moody had taught them during their private sessions.

Adrian, seeing his partner's predicament, switched tactics. Rather than continue the frontal assault, he began a series of rapid transfigurations aimed at changing the battlefield itself. Pillars erupted from the platform floor, walls materialized and vanished, and the very air became charged with potential energy.

Daphne, having taken care of the chains, rejoined the fight with renewed determination. She and Harry moved as one, their synchronized spellwork creating an almost symphonic display of magical prowess.

"They're trying to wear us down," Daphne observed quietly as they took momentary cover behind one of Adrian's conjured pillars.

Harry nodded. "Time for the Wind and Stone?"

Daphne smiled, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I thought you'd never ask."

They emerged from cover with renewed determination. Harry immediately cast another powerful wide-area atmospheric charm, one that Moody had taught them specifically for combat situations. The air around them began to swirl, forming a controlled vortex that picked up speed with each passing second.

At the same time, Daphne executed her part of the combination. With precise wand movements, she transfigured debris from the battlefield into hundreds of stone shards, each no larger than a fingernail but sharp as a razor. These shards were caught in Harry's vortex, creating a whirling storm of cutting edges that advanced toward Adrian and Cassandra.

"Clever," Adrian acknowledged, his eyes widening slightly. "Very clever."

He and Cassandra raised their wands simultaneously, creating a dome shield reinforced with what appeared to be multiple layers of magical protection. The stone storm crashed against it, the impact creating a sound like thousands of raindrops hitting a roof all at once.

“Let’s not overwhelm them,” Daphne muttered under her breath, earning a small nod from him. “We are challenging ourselves, remember?”

"Their shield won't hold as it is," Harry said confidently, increasing the power of his vortex only marginally.

And he was right. As the assault continued, cracks began to appear in the dome's surface. Cassandra grimaced with the effort of maintaining the protection while Adrian tried desperately to create a counter-spell.

Just as their shield was about to collapse, Adrian made his move. With a powerful sweeping motion, he transformed the stone shards into butterflies that dispersed harmlessly around them. It was an impressive display of transfiguration under pressure, earning murmurs of appreciation from the crowd.

But Harry and Daphne had anticipated this. The moment the transformation occurred, Daphne cast a silent Immobulus that froze the butterflies in place, while Harry immediately transfigured them again—this time into golden chains that wrapped around their opponents' wrists.

Adrian and Cassandra struggled against the bonds, but before they could break free, Harry and Daphne were already executing their final move. Moving in perfect harmony, they cast simultaneous disarming charms, the red light of their spells merging into a single, powerful beam that struck both fifth-years square in the chest.

Adrian and Cassandra's wands flew from their hands, arcing through the air before landing neatly in Harry and Daphne's outstretched palms.

There was a moment of stunned silence before the chamber erupted in thunderous applause.

"Victory!" Flitwick announced, his voice barely audible over the cheering. "Victory to the challengers, Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass!"

Harry turned to Daphne, his face flushed with exertion but beaming with pride. "We did it," he said, pulling her into a firm embrace. Daphne hugged him back with equal enthusiasm.

"Was there ever any doubt?" she asked as she gazed up at him, though her own smile betrayed her elation.

As the chains dissipated, Adrian and Cassandra approached them, their expressions a mixture of disappointment and respect.

"Well fought," Adrian said, extending his hand. "I haven't seen spellwork like that from students your age... well, ever."

Harry shook his hand firmly. "It was a close match. Your transfiguration work is incredible."

"And your atmospheric manipulation is something to behold," Cassandra added, nodding to Daphne. "You two have definitely earned your ranks."

Daphne handed Cassandra's wand back to her. "Thank you. You've set a high standard to maintain."

Adrian chuckled. "Something tells me that won't be a problem for you two."

Professor Flitwick bustled over, practically vibrating with excitement. "Outstanding! Absolutely outstanding! In all my years of overseeing the Dueling Club, I don't think I've seen such an impressive display from duelists so young!"

"Indeed," came Dumbledore's voice as he approached, followed by Professors McGonagall and Snape. "You've all demonstrated exceptional skill today."

McGonagall's lips were pressed into a thin line, but Harry could see the pride in her eyes. "Mr. Potter, Miss Greengrass, your combination work was particularly noteworthy. I see the advanced studies have been put to good use."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied. "We had excellent teachers."

Even Snape seemed reluctantly impressed, though he made no direct comment on their performance.

Meanwhile, Dumbledore turned his attention to Adrian and Cassandra. "A valiant effort from both of you as well. Your NEWTs examiners will be pleased with your practical skills."

Adrian nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Headmaster."

Flitwick cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "And now, for the official ceremony!" He gestured for Harry and Daphne to step forward.

"By the authority vested in me as the faculty advisor of the Hogwarts Dueling Club," Flitwick began, his voice once again magically amplified, "and in recognition of your exceptional skill, dedication, and victory today, I hereby confer upon you both the ranks of Duke and Duchess of the Hogwarts Dueling Club!"

He produced two gleaming silver-blue pins, each bearing the insignia of the Dueling Club with a crown motif. "Harry Potter and Daphne Greengrass, accept these symbols of your achievement."

He pinned them to their combat suits with a flourish of his wand, the badges catching the light as they settled against the fabric.

"Let it be known," Flitwick continued proudly, "that Mr. Potter and Miss Greengrass are now officially the fastest pair in Hogwarts history to achieve these ranks!"

The chamber erupted in thunderous applause. Students cheered, some even casting celebratory sparks from their wands that showered the room with multicolored light. They had gathered quite a fan following, alright.

"Excellent work, both of you," Dumbledore said, his blue eyes twinkling. "Most excellent indeed."

As the formal declaration concluded and the crowd began to disperse, Flitwick gestured for Harry and Daphne to join him in a quieter corner of the chamber.

"I must say," he began, his voice practically squeaking with excitement, "in all my years overseeing this club, I've never seen such a meteoric rise through the ranks. You two have accomplished something truly remarkable."

"Thank you, Professor," Harry replied, still riding the high of their victory.

Flitwick leaned in slightly. "Now, as Duke and Duchess, you are eligible to participate in the summer dueling circuit trials. The qualifiers will begin very soon. I wish you two all the best."

Harry felt a surge of excitement as he exchanged a grin with his girlfriend. "This is exactly what we've been working toward."

"We won't let you down, Professor," Daphne added with determination.

"I have no doubt of that," Flitwick assured them with a smile. "Now, I believe you have some admirers waiting to congratulate you."

As they turned, they saw Tonks pushing her way through the remaining crowd, her hair now a victorious gold.

"That was bloody brilliant!" she exclaimed when she reached them. "The way you two moved together—I've never seen anything like it! I mean I have, but that was next level!"

"High praise coming from you," Daphne replied with a smile.

"Well-deserved praise," came Moody's gruff voice as he joined them. His magical eye was fixed on them, while his normal one surveyed the crowd. "Still room for improvement, but you're getting there."

Coming from Moody, this was equivalent to effusive praise, and both Harry and Daphne nodded gratefully.

"We'll keep working," Harry promised, giving Daphne’s hand a soft squeeze. "The qualifiers start soon."

"Dueling circuit, eh?" Moody's face split into what might have been a smile—though with all his scars, it was hard to tell. "Good. Nothing like real competition to sharpen your skills."

"See?" Tonks nudged Harry. "Told you he'd be excited. In his own terrifying way."

Daphne chuckled. "We'll need to step up our training even more."

"See that you do," Moody replied, though there was a hint of approval in his tone. "The real challenges are still ahead."

They took their leave, making their way to the dressing room to get changed into their regular clothes. They emerged a few minutes later, making their way toward the exit of the chamber.

As students continued to surround them with congratulations and questions about their techniques, Harry felt Daphne's hand slip into his. He squeezed it gently, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him.

They had done it. Duke and Duchess of the Hogwarts Dueling Club, the fastest pair in the school's history to achieve such ranks. Their summer plans were secure, their training had paid off, and they had proven themselves against some of the best the school had to offer.

But as Moody had said, the real challenges were still ahead. And they couldn't wait to face them.

XXXXX

Harry sat at the study table, his damp hair still clinging to his forehead from his bath. He wore a solid white t-shirt and black joggers, his posture relaxed but his fingers busy. The two silver-blue pins—his and Daphne’s, marking them as Duke and Duchess of the Hogwarts Dueling Club—lay on the table in front of him. His thumb traced the crown motif on one, a soft smile tugging at his lips. His mind replayed the duel, the cheers, the moment Flitwick pinned the badges to their suits. It felt unreal, like a dream he hadn’t quite woken up from.

The faint sound of water shutting off in the bathroom didn’t pull him from his thoughts. He was too caught up, his smile growing as he imagined the summer dueling circuit, the challenges ahead, and the fact that he’d be tackling them with Daphne by his side. His fingers lingered on her pin, the metal cool under his touch.

Daphne stepped out of the bathroom, her bare feet silent on the stone floor. She paused in the doorway, leaning against the frame, her eyes landing on Harry. He hadn’t noticed her yet, and she took the moment to watch him. The way his shoulders were loose, the gentle curve of his smile, the absent way he caressed those pins—it warmed something deep in her chest. Her own lips curved into a soft smile, her heart giving a little thud. He looked so content, so Harry, and it hit her how much she loved seeing him like this.

She took her time, and after a little while, she cleared her throat lightly.

Harry’s head jerked, his hand pausing mid-motion. “Oh, hey,” he started, a chuckle escaping as he leaned back in his chair. “Caught me daydreaming. I was just thinking about today, how we—” His words died in his throat as he turned fully toward her, his eyes landing on what she was wearing.

His jaw went slack. His eyes widened, his pupils dilating as they took her in.

Daphne stood there, her smirk growing as she watched his reaction. She wore a black silk nightdress—barely qualifying as a dress, really. The fabric was thin, almost sheer in places, clinging to her curves like a second skin. The neckline plunged low, showing off the swell of her breasts, and the hem barely reached mid-thigh, leaving her long legs on full display. Thin straps rested delicately on her shoulders, and the way the silk caught the dim light of the room made her skin glow. Her blonde hair was loose, slightly damp, cascading over one shoulder, and her eyes sparkled with mischief as she noted the way Harry’s gaze roamed.

“Fucking hell, Daph,” Harry managed, his voice rougher than usual. He swallowed hard, his eyes flicking from her legs to the dip of her neckline, then back up to her face, like he couldn’t decide where to settle. His hands gripped the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening. “You… you look…”

“Like what?” she teased, tilting her head, her smirk widening. She loved this—the way he was unraveling just from looking at her. It sent a thrill through her, warming her skin.

“Like you’re trying to kill me,” he said, half-laughing, half-serious. His cheeks were flushed now, and he shifted in his chair, clearly trying to keep his composure. “That’s… wow. I mean, bloody hell.”

Daphne’s laugh was low, almost a purr. She pushed off the doorframe and started sashaying toward him, her hips swaying with every slow, calculated step. The silk shifted against her body, drawing Harry’s eyes like a magnet. He couldn’t look away—didn’t even want to. His heart was pounding, his joggers suddenly feeling tighter than they had a minute ago. Every step she took made his pulse race faster, his fingers itching to reach for her.

“You like it, then?” she asked, her voice playful but laced with something hotter, something heavier. She stopped just in front of him, close enough that he could smell the faint lavender of her shampoo. Her legs brushed against his knees, and she leaned forward slightly, giving him an even better view of her cleavage.

“Like it?” Harry echoed, his voice hoarse. He forced his eyes up to meet hers, but it was a struggle. “Daph, I’m about two seconds from losing my mind here.”

Her smirk softened into something more wicked, her eyes glinting. “Good,” she said, reaching out to trace a finger along his jaw. Her touch was light, but it sent a jolt through him, his skin tingling where she grazed. “Because we did it, Harry. We’re Duke and Duchess. Fastest in Hogwarts history. Don’t you think that deserves a celebration?”

Harry’s breath hitched. Her finger slid down to his chin, tilting his face up slightly, and he was hyper-aware of how close she was, how little that silk was hiding. “Yeah,” he said, his voice low, almost a growl. “Yeah, we should celebrate.”

His hands moved before he could think, settling on her hips, the silk smooth and cool under his palms. He pulled her closer, just enough that she stood between his knees. The feel of her body under his hands, the way the fabric slid against her skin—it was driving him wild. He looked up at her, his green eyes dark with want. “You’re making it really hard to think straight.”

Daphne’s smile was pure sin. She leaned in, her lips hovering just above his. “Who said anything about thinking?” she whispered, and closed the distance between them.

Their lips crashed together, hungry and desperate. Harry groaned into the kiss, his hands tightening on her hips as he pulled her flush against him. Daphne’s fingers slid into his hair, tugging lightly, and the sensation sent a shiver down his spine. The kiss deepened, all heat and need, their tongues tangling as they pressed closer. Harry’s hands roamed, sliding up her sides, feeling the silk shift under his touch, then back down to her hips, gripping harder.

Daphne broke the kiss just long enough to climb onto his lap, straddling him in the chair. The movement made the nightdress ride up, exposing more of her thighs, and Harry’s eyes darkened further. “Fuck, Daph,” he muttered, his hands finding her thighs now, squeezing the bare skin. “You’re gonna be the death of me.”

She laughed softly, her lips brushing his ear. “Don’t worry, I plan to keep you around my entire life.” She nipped at his earlobe, and he groaned again, his hands sliding up to her waist, then higher, brushing the undersides of her breasts through the silk.

The fabric was so thin he could feel everything—her curves, her warmth, the way her body responded to his touch. He cupped her breasts, his thumbs grazing over her nipples, and Daphne gasped, arching into his hands. “Harry,” she breathed, her voice hitching, and the sound of his name like that sent a surge of heat through him.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” he said, his voice rough with desire. He kissed her again, harder this time, one hand staying on her breast, teasing her through the silk, while the other slid down to her ass, gripping firmly. The nightdress had ridden up enough that his fingers brushed bare skin, and he growled low in his throat, the feel of her supple curves driving him insane.

Daphne’s hands weren’t idle. She tugged at his t-shirt, pulling it up and over his head in one swift motion, tossing it somewhere behind her. Her fingers traced his chest, nails scraping lightly, and Harry’s breath caught. She leaned in, kissing along his jaw, then down his neck, her lips hot against his skin. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she murmured, her hands sliding lower, teasing the waistband of his joggers.

Harry’s control was slipping fast. He grabbed the hem of her nightdress, pulling it up and off her in one fluid motion. It fluttered to the floor, leaving her in nothing but a pair of black lace panties. His breath stopped entirely for a moment, his eyes raking over her—her full breasts, the curve of her hips, the way her skin flushed under his gaze. “Fuck, Daph,” he said, almost reverent. “You’re perfect.”

Her smirk was back, but her cheeks were pink, her eyes heavy with want. “Flatterer,” she teased, but her voice was shaky, betraying how much his words—and his hands—were affecting her. She leaned in, kissing him deeply, her bare chest pressing against his, and the feel of her skin on his was electric.

Harry’s hands were everywhere now—her breasts, her ass, her thighs. He squeezed her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers, and she moaned into his mouth, her hips rocking against him. The friction through his joggers was maddening, and he could feel how much she wanted him, the heat of her pressing against his growing hardness. “Fuck, I want you so bad,” he said against her lips, his voice raw.

“Then have me,” she whispered, her hands slipping into his joggers, brushing against his manhood. Harry hissed, his hips bucking up at the contact. She grinned, clearly enjoying the effect she had on him, and tugged his joggers down, freeing him. Her fingers wrapped around him, stroking slowly, and Harry’s head fell back, a low groan escaping his lips.

“Daph, you’re killing me,” he managed, his hands gripping her hips to steady himself. She just smirked, leaning in to kiss him again, her hand moving with an intentional slowness, teasing him until he was practically shaking.

“I wouldn’t even dream of it, my love,” she said, her voice husky. She slid off his lap, sinking to her knees in front of him, and Harry’s eyes widened, his heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst. “I want to taste you.”

Before he could respond, her lips were on him, warm and wet, and Harry cursed under his breath, his hands gripping the chair hard. The sight of her—blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, those blue eyes looking up at him as she took him in her mouth—was almost too much. She moved with confidence, her tongue swirling, her hand stroking what her mouth didn’t cover, and Harry was lost, every sensation overwhelming.

“Daph—fuck,” he gasped, his hips twitching despite his efforts to stay still. She hummed around him, the vibration sending another wave of pleasure through him, and he had to grip the chair to keep from losing it completely. “You’re so good at this.”

She pulled back just enough to grin up at him, her lips glistening. “Good to know,” she said, and immediately went back to work, her pace increasing slightly, driving him closer to the edge.

Harry couldn’t take it anymore. He tugged her up gently, pulling her back into his lap. “My turn,” he said, his voice rough, and before she could protest, he kissed her hard, tasting himself on her lips. His hands slid down her body, hooking into her panties and tugging them off. She was bare now, completely open to him, and the sight made his mouth go dry.

He lifted her slightly, setting her on the edge of the table, and spread her thighs. Daphne’s breath hitched, her hands bracing on his shoulders as he kissed down her neck, her chest, pausing to suck on her nipples until she was whimpering. Then he moved lower, trailing kisses down her stomach, until he was kneeling between her legs.

“Harry,” she said, her voice trembling with anticipation, and the sound of his name like that made his cock throb. He didn’t make her wait. His lips found her, tasting her, and Daphne moaned loudly, her hips bucking. He held her thighs, keeping her steady as he explored her with his tongue, finding every spot that made her gasp and writhe.

“Fuck, Harry,” she panted, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. “Don’t stop.”

He didn’t. He licked and sucked, teasing her clit until her moans turned desperate, her thighs trembling under his hands. She was so wet, so responsive, and the way she said his name—over and over, like a plea—pushed him to keep going, to make her feel as good as she’d made him.

When she came, it was with a loud cry, her body shaking, her grip on his hair tight. Harry didn’t stop until she was panting, her body limp against the table. He stood, kissing her deeply, letting her taste herself, and she moaned into his mouth, pulling him closer.

“You’re incredible,” she said breathlessly, her eyes dazed but burning with want. “But I need you. Now.”

Harry didn’t need to be told twice. He scooped her up, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her to the bed. The feel of her wet pussy pressed against his cock, feeling her heat so closely, was almost too much. He laid her down gently, climbing over her, and for a moment, they just looked at each other, the air heavy with love and desire.

“I love you,” he said, his voice soft but intense, his hands framing her face. “So much.”

Daphne’s smile was radiant, her hands sliding up his chest. “I love you too,” she said, pulling him down for a kiss that was slower, deeper, and full of everything they felt. “Now show me.”

He grinned against her lips, his eyes locked on hers.

“Gladly.”

To be continued...