(no subject)
Title: Love, Luck, Lust and Loss
Author: apostrophe_ess
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR, I merely gain from playing these games in her playground.
Pairing/Character: Minerva McGonagall (aged 21), Tonio Veula (tall, dark, handsome and Minerva's working partner in Italy) as well as a number of other minor characters
Word Count: 3,884
Rating: R (I think)
Summary: In Italy, on secondment from the British Ministry of Magic, life is a little different than Minerva is used to. Now in the warmer south of Italy, Minerva and Tonio are having to play the part of lovers.
Author's Notes: A second story for millieweasley's history challenge **here**. If you fancy writing something historical involving our HP friends then there's still until the 18th March - plenty of time! Splendid icon for Love, Lust, Luck and Loss from the wonderful nimerha - Thank you!
Part One: here
Part Two: here
Part Three: here
Part Four: here
Part Five: here
Part Six: here
Part Seven: here
Part Eight: here
Link to part ten
Part Nine: Chapter Seven - Tensions
7th November 1946
The last three mornings had all been the same. Minerva and Tonio had each risen, dressed, and met in the small dining area where the hotel served breakfast. Tonio no longer assumed anything about meeting her in her room, and Minerva was always ready ahead of schedule. Neither of them mentioned the evening he’d walked in on her, though it was to each one of their most common thoughts.
Each morning so far had been difficult. There was a frosty air between them. Each did their utmost to conceal it, and tried really hard to be friendly, and probably to the outside world it appeared as if they were exactly what they were pretending to be - lovers. Lovers who attempted to conceal the fact they were stepping ahead of schedule and consorting before even officially engaged, yet alone married. The other guests privately thought they made a pretty poor show of their pretence in that way. If only they’d known.
As the hours of each individual day went on, they seemed to relax with each other. Each day they went to another part of the area and investigated a lead, or a hunch, and each evening they went along to the restaurant and reported back to Dora, through Jovanna. Yet however relaxed they became as the day drew on, the next morning was the same. Tense, frosty, and difficult.
Not once since the first night here had they had to retreat to a darkened corner and embrace. Each night that had hung heavily over both of them. Minerva found herself hoping hard that no-one would come by, and then was shocked at herself for feeling disappointed that they hadn’t.
Tonio willed people to walk the streets. He was longing to feel her in his arms again, to inhale the sweet scent that was a mix of the soap she washed in, the shampoo for her hair, and the cream she applied to her skin each day.
Once again this morning they followed the pattern they’d easily fallen into.
“Good morning,” Minerva greeted Tonio, a coy smile as she did so. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not too badly, thank you,” he answered before offering his arm to walk her into breakfast. “How about yourself?”
Minerva looked sideways and smiled again. “Not too badly either, thank you. It looks like another lovely day.”
From the tables already occupied looks were being exchanged. The couple, were a little too exact in their conversation for it to be as it seemed, they were all sure.
In truth, neither had slept particularly well. Tonio had, as he predicted with the lack of a woman to grace his bed, taken to a night-time stint in the bathroom. Minerva read herself into a daze each night, taking in little of the text, and reading the same pages over and over again.
Over breakfast each day, they’d confirmed their arrangements for the coming hours. They’d visited Viete sul Mer, and walked around the little ceramics workshops and showrooms, unable to find any pattern that closely resembled the fragment they had, safely tucked away in Tonio’s case.
They’d walked once more back into the hills and inspected the scene of the hot embers from the first day, and they’d spent some time at Hostaria il Briganita, the bar used by Ercole Marsalis during the music festival.
Today they were going to make a trip to Baia. Tonio had been looking forward to this excursion all week. Baia was a magical place, only approachable by over-age wizards as there were charms making an age line around the resort. The last time he’d been to this part of Italy, on a family holiday with his parents, he’d been unable to go across it. Too young by a few months, it had been annoying to wait back where the Muggles visited for them to return, and then when his mother and father had finally returned, Tonio felt the most uncomfortable he could ever remember feeling in the presence of his parents. Whatever Baia was like, they were unwilling to share with him, its effects were quite apparent, embarrassing even.
So far all he’d told Minerva about Baia was that it was a well known historical place, both for the sort of behaviour that was rumoured to take place there, and for the underwater remains a short way from the shore.
Despite being November the day was once again glorious. Baia being part of their world they were able, for the first time since they’d arrived, to Apparate there past the age line and so started the day by walking once more to Pozzuoli Lago D'Averno ready for the off.
As luck would have it, in Tonio’s opinion anyway, they passed other folk along the climb towards the hills. As they walked, her smaller hand tucked within his, he smiled to himself at his stupidity, feeling an idiot for seeing it as a good sign that they’d bumped into people, and had to adopt their façade. Tonio realised he was on the verge desperate and didn’t like it. He, the playboy wizard, picked his girl, took his fill of her, and moved on without a backward glance or single regret. He was used to them falling at his feet, letting them work hard to get his attentions, and then gratefully falling into his bed where he took more than he gave.
This girl, Minerva McGonagall of the British Ministry of Magic, who had the strangest Italian accent, and a work ethic to match his own, didn’t play hard like he did. She hadn’t once given a sign that she was unable to pass by his wizardly charms, she hadn’t hinted that she’d like to get to know him a little better. She’d scorned him. Without knowing she’d teased his senses, his hormones. If he wasn’t supposed to be acting the part of her fiancé he’d have taken his leave of her and the restaurant tonight and found a wench to satisfy his needs, and relieve some of his tension. Except, however much tension he relieved, and however long he rolled between the sheets with however willing a witch he found, he knew his needs would not be satisfied.
“A sickle for them,” Minerva asked, echoing Kiely’s words from weeks gone by. How distant he seemed in some ways now. She’d not even received an owl for a week or more, not that one would be delivered here. If there was mail it would be waiting for her back at her apartment, from Jocelyn too, of course.
“It’s nothing much,” Tonio offered, squeezing her hand a little.
Minerva was well aware her lack of abilities in the language curtailed conversation at times, particularly with some of the more intricate matters of the Italian magical underworld. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Tonio stalled, and turned towards her. If only she knew what she was doing to him. He was tempted to show her, to take a risk. To match his lips to hers and to demand what he wanted, to part her lips with his tongue as his hand slipped beneath the teasingly thin fabric of her dress and stroked the skin of her breasts, as she had herself when this had all started off. “I’ll let you know when, okay?”
“Aye,” she answered, reverting to the Scottish answer for a moment. “Come on.”
Tonio laughed. A short distance from the woods where the fire had been previously Minerva had taken off into a run, and was pulling him behind her. “I’m intrigued to see this place that you’ve not told me much about. Let’s not waste a moment.”
An hour later, protected by a bubblehead charm a piece, the two of them were swimming out to the remains. Side by side they swam, sinking lower in the water until the opening to the underwater ruin where they slipped through the curtains made by underwater plants, and into a circular chamber where once there eyes had adjusted they could see the walls were still covered with the last traces of patterns.
Just as if they’d planned it Tonio and Minerva peeled off as the sea-curtains closed behind them and moved around the chamber. With light finger tips Minerva brushed against the stone walls, feeling if the pattern was from carvings or die. Steadily, and systematically she examined the walls, floating upwards and sinking again to make sure she missed nothing. The patterns were hard to distinguish, but looked a little like the symbols seen on the Runes she’d studied at school. A little like, but not exactly. In one way or another she was sure there was a story to tell if only they could translate.
With almost a jump, Minerva turned around. Tonio was beckoning her to move over to the side of the circle that he’d examined. She nodded to his apparently urgent signal, and muttered that she was coming as fast as she could.
Someone else had been there recently, it was clear. Not that they should be surprised, the ruins were a well explored magical relic that people travelled from all over Italy, and beyond, to see. They were a sort of pilgrimage to some older magical families in Europe, who thought it was essential to see them before they died.
With a nod, Minerva followed Tonio out of the doorway, and surfaced in the water, removing the charm when their heads were once again in air.
“What did you make of that?” she asked.
“It is serious,” Tonio replied. “Let’s go to the beach and talk.”
In order to be able to talk openly they had to move back across the sands into a small cove, where they could see everything that unfurled on the beach in front of them.
The piece of the wall that was missing, just taken away, was part of the cleanest section of pattern. There was some significance to that, they were both sure.
“We have, a piece of pottery, a fire, part of an old historical temple protected by strong and ancient magic,” Minerva started.
“The sighting of some unusual people who raised alarm bells with you.”
“And who you thought, think, are Muggles.”
Tonio laid back against the sand, his head on an arm as he thought. It was true he had thought them Muggles, there had been no reason to see them any other way. If Minerva had not been with him, he would not have questioned the fact. But she had been with him, and she had caused him to question it, and now. “I agree with you.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” he took in a deep breath and let it out noisily. “But I don’t know why.”
“Because you can’t argue with my logic?”
“That’s as maybe,” Tonio answered, grinning towards her. “But can you tell me what logic had you pin them as not Muggles?”
“No.”
“I think-.”
“What?” Minerva interrupted.
“I think we should tell Dora.”
Minerva rolled onto her side and faced him. “You do?”
“Yes,” Tonio nodded. “I do.”
“And she won’t question us and ask us for justification?”
“Oh she will. You can be sure she will. And when we can’t give it to her then-.”
“What?”
“We’ll see okay?”
Minerva nodded.
“Anyway?”
“Mhmmm?” Minerva had settled back into the sand, enjoying the warmth of the sun against her face, dry and warm again now after the swim to the relic.
Tonio grinned again, and edged closer to her. “You were going to tell me about your book. The one you read yourself to sleep with.”
In the setting, which was quite perfect, it was hard not to be relaxed. Minerva explained to Tonio her passion for Transfiguration and her desire to follow her longing to be an Animagus.
“So you need to find the likenesses to an animal, or group of animals, for the next step?” he asked.
She nodded slowly.
“I can help you with that.”
Minerva allowed a smile to twitch at one corner of her lips. “I’m wondering where you’ll start. Bull in a china shop? Elephant?”
Tonio closed his eyes, and rolled back onto his back, his head on his arm once more. He was going to get a chance to get to know her a little better after all. What’s more, he was going to be able to do it in a way that even Dora couldn’t argue with. Assisting his work partner with her studies could never be termed unprofessional, could it?
At dinner that night, after a walk where they had been close enough to people to have to walk with hands held again, Tonio passed the information to Jovanna about the relic and Minerva’s hunch on the two men they’d seen earlier in the week.
“Signorina,” the waitress was at the door as they stopped onto the street. “You left this. At your table.”
Minerva held her hand out, her eyes dropping to the handkerchief which was pressed into her palm, and then lifting instantly to Jovanna’s as she crushed it in her palm and then stuffed it into the pocket in her skirt seam beside her wand.
The day had been market day in the town and the bars and restaurants were reaping their share of the profits of the stall holders. Peaches, lemons, olives, olive oil had all changed hands and now in relaxation, so was beer, wine, liqueurs and coffee. The streets were busy, people stood on the pavements putting the world to rights as they drank their pocket money away.
Now more than any other time since their arrival in the area, Tonio and Minerva needed to present the picture of a couple in love. His arm around her shoulder as they walked, and hers around his waist he whispered into her ear. Minerva had begun to understand some of the nuances of humour in the language now, especially with Tonio’s pronounced hints and facial gestures to help her out. Her giggle was infectious, and soon matched by his fruitier chuckle. Apparently lost in each other’s attentions both Minerva and Tonio constantly scanned the people along the edges of the pavements as they passed the cafes and bars.
Soon people begun to thin out, though there were small groups of twos and threes walking slowly, and not always straight, or slumped on a bench. Even one man in the gutter, his profits drunk far too quickly for his own good.
“What was it that Jovanna gave you?” Tonio asked softly.
Minerva’s hand moved to her pocket. “Nothing that was mine. We should look properly when we get back, in good light.”
Tonio nodded and squeezed her shoulder slightly as he leaned over and kissed her very gently on the cheek.
“Tonio,” Minerva whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“No don’t be. There’s no need.”
Tonight they went straight to Tonio’s room. Once inside Minerva found herself standing a little woodenly as he leant back on the door as he closed it. “Did you want to check? The handkerchief,” he nodded towards her pocket in response to the blank look.
Inside the handkerchief was a tiny slip of parchment. “We’re to breakfast at the restaurant in the morning. They will open specially. Dora has questions for us.”
“But for now-.”
“Yes?” Minerva asked with a smile.
Tonio summoned all this resolve. “Sleep. It’s been a busy day.”
“It has.”
He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of triumph at the tinge of disappointment in the words. “Sleep well, Minerva.”
“You too.” Minerva moved towards him and on her toes attempted to place a kiss on his cheek only to fail when he turned his head and brushed his lips lightly against hers.
“Sweet dreams.”
If sweet was ivy covered cottages, a picnic in a meadow, or puppies playing in a perfect garden then Minerva’s dreams were anything but sweet. Uncharacteristically she slipped instantly into slumber the moment her head hit the pillow, and not more than a few minutes later it seemed the pictures were playing in front of her eyes. A man, faceless, was paying attentions to her that her body couldn’t ignore. His hands and his mouth were taking her to places that she didn’t dare take herself while they were here. Who was it in the dream? It seemed important to know. Looking towards one side she saw the side view of Alastor Moody, but when he turned towards her it was Kiely. Kiely. Minerva arched towards his touch, desperate to feel his fingers stroke her the way he had before, but as she did he turned once more and it was Tonio there.
Tonio didn’t change back into Alastor, or into Kiely, he remained Tonio. If she took a breath in then she could smell him on the air, and when she turned her head, her face nuzzled into his neck.
“Tonio,” she called out in the dream and opened her eyes to find herself sitting bolt upright in her bed.
The door between the two rooms opened and within a second she was clasped in a tight embrace. Urgently she explored Tonio’s mouth, her hands moving frantically across his back, sliding down to the elastic on his pyjama bottoms.
Tonio needed no second request. She had called to him, and he’d come to her expecting a form of trouble. He’d not initiated this, she had, and after the events of the last week he hadn’t the strength to refuse. Not until she asked him too. Hungrily he kissed her back, catching her lip between his teeth as he moved from her mouth, pulling the thin nightdress up over her head and letting out a hiss of breath. She was more beautiful and alluring than he’d imagined, than the hints of her flesh had told him.
With heated kisses he moved down the column of her neck until he got to one of her breasts. The image was still there, printed on the back of his eyelids, of the way she’d touched herself before and now he was feeling what she felt except her reactions were different. As she’d looked dreamily into the mirror as she’d stroked herself, she was nearly crying out as he nibbled and nipped at her, her back arching. Still he moved with heated kisses, further and further until he reached the dark triangle and then he stopped. Settling himself Tonio gently moved Minerva’s legs till his mouth was at her folds, parting them slightly to work at her with his tongue.
He’d known she’d like this. How he’d known he had no idea and that he’d known previously was a surprise to him until that minute, but he was right and like it she did. As he licked, sucked, and nipped Minerva was driven wild. Her fingers reached for his head, and he smiled as she pulled him closer. She was almost purring now, pushing herself into him as his tongue darted within her and then made circles that drove her wilder still. Unrelentingly he continued, driven by her noises. That there was no silencing charm on the room might be a source of embarrassment tomorrow, but not on his part. He’d walk tall and proud.
It was a feeling of triumph that Tonio felt and heard Minerva’s orgasm approach, but still he didn’t stop. He let her ride the waves but not come down again as he licked and nipped, his tongue flicking inside of her over and over.
“Tonio,” she cried, her hands clasping at his hair. “Tonio.”
“You want me to stop?” he asked, breathlessly but with amusement.
“I do not. I want you to press me into the bed. I want to feel your weight on me. Please?”
Teasingly Tonio went back to her folds and circled his tongue once more around that place which had driven her mad.
“Please Tonio, please. I beg you.”
He didn’t want to be begged. He would give her what she wanted. What he wanted too. He was so hard it was hurting, so desperate too. If Minerva wanted him to press her into the mattress who was he to stop her? In one swift and easy move he slid up the bed, entered her and held her in his arms. His eyes locked to hers he moved slowly, his control still held as she became used to him within her. Rhythmically he thrust as the pressure built for them both. Minerva was a minx the way she tipped her hips to get the best feeling from him, and give him the best sensation. Soon she was making her little noises again, mewing softly until he dipped his head and took a nipple into his mouth, working his tongue across it and sucking hard on her breast.
The pain! For a moment he was taken aback and then he got used to it. She was scratching his back, her nails digging into him, probably drawing blood. Once more he bit down on her breast, the nipple caught between his teeth as he thrust more furiously. He recognised the sounds now, he’d heard them before.
With his feet braced against the footboard of her bed Tonio took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could feel the heat in his stomach now; he was at his point of no return. As well as he could he waited, fought the impending pleasure that was going to overtake him. He had to give her one more orgasm first.
Almost too late, as he could wait no longer Minerva came once again, and that was all it took for him to throw back his head and call out into the night as he released into her. Even then like a liner at sea which puts on its brakes, it was almost impossible for him to stop. Only when he felt himself softening and Minerva’s clasp on him relax did he withdraw and lay beside her in the tiny single bed.
“Hmmmm,” he muttered breathing hard.
“Tonio.”
“Hmmmmm. You’re quite something you know?”
“I am?”
Tonio nodded. “You are. Minerva McGonagall, very proper British rischioso*.”
She chuckled as he picked her up and took her into his bed in the other room.
“Tonio?”
“What?”
“I think I enjoyed that.”
“Hmmmm,” Tonio muttered, cradling her into his arms to sleep. She wasn’t the only one, though he suspected in the morning his poor ragged back was going to tell him otherwise. “Now sleep rischioso.”
Breakfast in the morning was a little later at the restaurant. When Tonio awoke Minerva was lying still looking very self-satisfied and watching him.
“Buon giorno,Tonio.”
“Good morning, Minerva,” he whispered back, rolling onto his side to take in her body once more. “I wish we could stay here all day,” he breathed into her neck. “But as we can’t, tonight I am going to make love to you.”
“You didn’t last night?” she asked.
He shook his head playfully and smiled. “That was just for starters. Tonight you will find out just how a real Italian loves his woman.”
*rischioso = wildcat
Author: apostrophe_ess
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR, I merely gain from playing these games in her playground.
Pairing/Character: Minerva McGonagall (aged 21), Tonio Veula (tall, dark, handsome and Minerva's working partner in Italy) as well as a number of other minor characters
Word Count: 3,884
Rating: R (I think)
Summary: In Italy, on secondment from the British Ministry of Magic, life is a little different than Minerva is used to. Now in the warmer south of Italy, Minerva and Tonio are having to play the part of lovers.
Author's Notes: A second story for millieweasley's history challenge **here**. If you fancy writing something historical involving our HP friends then there's still until the 18th March - plenty of time! Splendid icon for Love, Lust, Luck and Loss from the wonderful nimerha - Thank you!
Part One: here
Part Two: here
Part Three: here
Part Four: here
Part Five: here
Part Six: here
Part Seven: here
Part Eight: here
Link to part ten
Part Nine: Chapter Seven - Tensions
7th November 1946
The last three mornings had all been the same. Minerva and Tonio had each risen, dressed, and met in the small dining area where the hotel served breakfast. Tonio no longer assumed anything about meeting her in her room, and Minerva was always ready ahead of schedule. Neither of them mentioned the evening he’d walked in on her, though it was to each one of their most common thoughts.
Each morning so far had been difficult. There was a frosty air between them. Each did their utmost to conceal it, and tried really hard to be friendly, and probably to the outside world it appeared as if they were exactly what they were pretending to be - lovers. Lovers who attempted to conceal the fact they were stepping ahead of schedule and consorting before even officially engaged, yet alone married. The other guests privately thought they made a pretty poor show of their pretence in that way. If only they’d known.
As the hours of each individual day went on, they seemed to relax with each other. Each day they went to another part of the area and investigated a lead, or a hunch, and each evening they went along to the restaurant and reported back to Dora, through Jovanna. Yet however relaxed they became as the day drew on, the next morning was the same. Tense, frosty, and difficult.
Not once since the first night here had they had to retreat to a darkened corner and embrace. Each night that had hung heavily over both of them. Minerva found herself hoping hard that no-one would come by, and then was shocked at herself for feeling disappointed that they hadn’t.
Tonio willed people to walk the streets. He was longing to feel her in his arms again, to inhale the sweet scent that was a mix of the soap she washed in, the shampoo for her hair, and the cream she applied to her skin each day.
Once again this morning they followed the pattern they’d easily fallen into.
“Good morning,” Minerva greeted Tonio, a coy smile as she did so. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not too badly, thank you,” he answered before offering his arm to walk her into breakfast. “How about yourself?”
Minerva looked sideways and smiled again. “Not too badly either, thank you. It looks like another lovely day.”
From the tables already occupied looks were being exchanged. The couple, were a little too exact in their conversation for it to be as it seemed, they were all sure.
In truth, neither had slept particularly well. Tonio had, as he predicted with the lack of a woman to grace his bed, taken to a night-time stint in the bathroom. Minerva read herself into a daze each night, taking in little of the text, and reading the same pages over and over again.
Over breakfast each day, they’d confirmed their arrangements for the coming hours. They’d visited Viete sul Mer, and walked around the little ceramics workshops and showrooms, unable to find any pattern that closely resembled the fragment they had, safely tucked away in Tonio’s case.
They’d walked once more back into the hills and inspected the scene of the hot embers from the first day, and they’d spent some time at Hostaria il Briganita, the bar used by Ercole Marsalis during the music festival.
Today they were going to make a trip to Baia. Tonio had been looking forward to this excursion all week. Baia was a magical place, only approachable by over-age wizards as there were charms making an age line around the resort. The last time he’d been to this part of Italy, on a family holiday with his parents, he’d been unable to go across it. Too young by a few months, it had been annoying to wait back where the Muggles visited for them to return, and then when his mother and father had finally returned, Tonio felt the most uncomfortable he could ever remember feeling in the presence of his parents. Whatever Baia was like, they were unwilling to share with him, its effects were quite apparent, embarrassing even.
So far all he’d told Minerva about Baia was that it was a well known historical place, both for the sort of behaviour that was rumoured to take place there, and for the underwater remains a short way from the shore.
Despite being November the day was once again glorious. Baia being part of their world they were able, for the first time since they’d arrived, to Apparate there past the age line and so started the day by walking once more to Pozzuoli Lago D'Averno ready for the off.
As luck would have it, in Tonio’s opinion anyway, they passed other folk along the climb towards the hills. As they walked, her smaller hand tucked within his, he smiled to himself at his stupidity, feeling an idiot for seeing it as a good sign that they’d bumped into people, and had to adopt their façade. Tonio realised he was on the verge desperate and didn’t like it. He, the playboy wizard, picked his girl, took his fill of her, and moved on without a backward glance or single regret. He was used to them falling at his feet, letting them work hard to get his attentions, and then gratefully falling into his bed where he took more than he gave.
This girl, Minerva McGonagall of the British Ministry of Magic, who had the strangest Italian accent, and a work ethic to match his own, didn’t play hard like he did. She hadn’t once given a sign that she was unable to pass by his wizardly charms, she hadn’t hinted that she’d like to get to know him a little better. She’d scorned him. Without knowing she’d teased his senses, his hormones. If he wasn’t supposed to be acting the part of her fiancé he’d have taken his leave of her and the restaurant tonight and found a wench to satisfy his needs, and relieve some of his tension. Except, however much tension he relieved, and however long he rolled between the sheets with however willing a witch he found, he knew his needs would not be satisfied.
“A sickle for them,” Minerva asked, echoing Kiely’s words from weeks gone by. How distant he seemed in some ways now. She’d not even received an owl for a week or more, not that one would be delivered here. If there was mail it would be waiting for her back at her apartment, from Jocelyn too, of course.
“It’s nothing much,” Tonio offered, squeezing her hand a little.
Minerva was well aware her lack of abilities in the language curtailed conversation at times, particularly with some of the more intricate matters of the Italian magical underworld. “Is there anything I can help with?”
Tonio stalled, and turned towards her. If only she knew what she was doing to him. He was tempted to show her, to take a risk. To match his lips to hers and to demand what he wanted, to part her lips with his tongue as his hand slipped beneath the teasingly thin fabric of her dress and stroked the skin of her breasts, as she had herself when this had all started off. “I’ll let you know when, okay?”
“Aye,” she answered, reverting to the Scottish answer for a moment. “Come on.”
Tonio laughed. A short distance from the woods where the fire had been previously Minerva had taken off into a run, and was pulling him behind her. “I’m intrigued to see this place that you’ve not told me much about. Let’s not waste a moment.”
An hour later, protected by a bubblehead charm a piece, the two of them were swimming out to the remains. Side by side they swam, sinking lower in the water until the opening to the underwater ruin where they slipped through the curtains made by underwater plants, and into a circular chamber where once there eyes had adjusted they could see the walls were still covered with the last traces of patterns.
Just as if they’d planned it Tonio and Minerva peeled off as the sea-curtains closed behind them and moved around the chamber. With light finger tips Minerva brushed against the stone walls, feeling if the pattern was from carvings or die. Steadily, and systematically she examined the walls, floating upwards and sinking again to make sure she missed nothing. The patterns were hard to distinguish, but looked a little like the symbols seen on the Runes she’d studied at school. A little like, but not exactly. In one way or another she was sure there was a story to tell if only they could translate.
With almost a jump, Minerva turned around. Tonio was beckoning her to move over to the side of the circle that he’d examined. She nodded to his apparently urgent signal, and muttered that she was coming as fast as she could.
Someone else had been there recently, it was clear. Not that they should be surprised, the ruins were a well explored magical relic that people travelled from all over Italy, and beyond, to see. They were a sort of pilgrimage to some older magical families in Europe, who thought it was essential to see them before they died.
With a nod, Minerva followed Tonio out of the doorway, and surfaced in the water, removing the charm when their heads were once again in air.
“What did you make of that?” she asked.
“It is serious,” Tonio replied. “Let’s go to the beach and talk.”
In order to be able to talk openly they had to move back across the sands into a small cove, where they could see everything that unfurled on the beach in front of them.
The piece of the wall that was missing, just taken away, was part of the cleanest section of pattern. There was some significance to that, they were both sure.
“We have, a piece of pottery, a fire, part of an old historical temple protected by strong and ancient magic,” Minerva started.
“The sighting of some unusual people who raised alarm bells with you.”
“And who you thought, think, are Muggles.”
Tonio laid back against the sand, his head on an arm as he thought. It was true he had thought them Muggles, there had been no reason to see them any other way. If Minerva had not been with him, he would not have questioned the fact. But she had been with him, and she had caused him to question it, and now. “I agree with you.”
“You do?”
“Yes,” he took in a deep breath and let it out noisily. “But I don’t know why.”
“Because you can’t argue with my logic?”
“That’s as maybe,” Tonio answered, grinning towards her. “But can you tell me what logic had you pin them as not Muggles?”
“No.”
“I think-.”
“What?” Minerva interrupted.
“I think we should tell Dora.”
Minerva rolled onto her side and faced him. “You do?”
“Yes,” Tonio nodded. “I do.”
“And she won’t question us and ask us for justification?”
“Oh she will. You can be sure she will. And when we can’t give it to her then-.”
“What?”
“We’ll see okay?”
Minerva nodded.
“Anyway?”
“Mhmmm?” Minerva had settled back into the sand, enjoying the warmth of the sun against her face, dry and warm again now after the swim to the relic.
Tonio grinned again, and edged closer to her. “You were going to tell me about your book. The one you read yourself to sleep with.”
In the setting, which was quite perfect, it was hard not to be relaxed. Minerva explained to Tonio her passion for Transfiguration and her desire to follow her longing to be an Animagus.
“So you need to find the likenesses to an animal, or group of animals, for the next step?” he asked.
She nodded slowly.
“I can help you with that.”
Minerva allowed a smile to twitch at one corner of her lips. “I’m wondering where you’ll start. Bull in a china shop? Elephant?”
Tonio closed his eyes, and rolled back onto his back, his head on his arm once more. He was going to get a chance to get to know her a little better after all. What’s more, he was going to be able to do it in a way that even Dora couldn’t argue with. Assisting his work partner with her studies could never be termed unprofessional, could it?
At dinner that night, after a walk where they had been close enough to people to have to walk with hands held again, Tonio passed the information to Jovanna about the relic and Minerva’s hunch on the two men they’d seen earlier in the week.
“Signorina,” the waitress was at the door as they stopped onto the street. “You left this. At your table.”
Minerva held her hand out, her eyes dropping to the handkerchief which was pressed into her palm, and then lifting instantly to Jovanna’s as she crushed it in her palm and then stuffed it into the pocket in her skirt seam beside her wand.
The day had been market day in the town and the bars and restaurants were reaping their share of the profits of the stall holders. Peaches, lemons, olives, olive oil had all changed hands and now in relaxation, so was beer, wine, liqueurs and coffee. The streets were busy, people stood on the pavements putting the world to rights as they drank their pocket money away.
Now more than any other time since their arrival in the area, Tonio and Minerva needed to present the picture of a couple in love. His arm around her shoulder as they walked, and hers around his waist he whispered into her ear. Minerva had begun to understand some of the nuances of humour in the language now, especially with Tonio’s pronounced hints and facial gestures to help her out. Her giggle was infectious, and soon matched by his fruitier chuckle. Apparently lost in each other’s attentions both Minerva and Tonio constantly scanned the people along the edges of the pavements as they passed the cafes and bars.
Soon people begun to thin out, though there were small groups of twos and threes walking slowly, and not always straight, or slumped on a bench. Even one man in the gutter, his profits drunk far too quickly for his own good.
“What was it that Jovanna gave you?” Tonio asked softly.
Minerva’s hand moved to her pocket. “Nothing that was mine. We should look properly when we get back, in good light.”
Tonio nodded and squeezed her shoulder slightly as he leaned over and kissed her very gently on the cheek.
“Tonio,” Minerva whispered.
“I’m sorry.”
“No don’t be. There’s no need.”
Tonight they went straight to Tonio’s room. Once inside Minerva found herself standing a little woodenly as he leant back on the door as he closed it. “Did you want to check? The handkerchief,” he nodded towards her pocket in response to the blank look.
Inside the handkerchief was a tiny slip of parchment. “We’re to breakfast at the restaurant in the morning. They will open specially. Dora has questions for us.”
“But for now-.”
“Yes?” Minerva asked with a smile.
Tonio summoned all this resolve. “Sleep. It’s been a busy day.”
“It has.”
He couldn’t help but feel a small sense of triumph at the tinge of disappointment in the words. “Sleep well, Minerva.”
“You too.” Minerva moved towards him and on her toes attempted to place a kiss on his cheek only to fail when he turned his head and brushed his lips lightly against hers.
“Sweet dreams.”
If sweet was ivy covered cottages, a picnic in a meadow, or puppies playing in a perfect garden then Minerva’s dreams were anything but sweet. Uncharacteristically she slipped instantly into slumber the moment her head hit the pillow, and not more than a few minutes later it seemed the pictures were playing in front of her eyes. A man, faceless, was paying attentions to her that her body couldn’t ignore. His hands and his mouth were taking her to places that she didn’t dare take herself while they were here. Who was it in the dream? It seemed important to know. Looking towards one side she saw the side view of Alastor Moody, but when he turned towards her it was Kiely. Kiely. Minerva arched towards his touch, desperate to feel his fingers stroke her the way he had before, but as she did he turned once more and it was Tonio there.
Tonio didn’t change back into Alastor, or into Kiely, he remained Tonio. If she took a breath in then she could smell him on the air, and when she turned her head, her face nuzzled into his neck.
“Tonio,” she called out in the dream and opened her eyes to find herself sitting bolt upright in her bed.
The door between the two rooms opened and within a second she was clasped in a tight embrace. Urgently she explored Tonio’s mouth, her hands moving frantically across his back, sliding down to the elastic on his pyjama bottoms.
Tonio needed no second request. She had called to him, and he’d come to her expecting a form of trouble. He’d not initiated this, she had, and after the events of the last week he hadn’t the strength to refuse. Not until she asked him too. Hungrily he kissed her back, catching her lip between his teeth as he moved from her mouth, pulling the thin nightdress up over her head and letting out a hiss of breath. She was more beautiful and alluring than he’d imagined, than the hints of her flesh had told him.
With heated kisses he moved down the column of her neck until he got to one of her breasts. The image was still there, printed on the back of his eyelids, of the way she’d touched herself before and now he was feeling what she felt except her reactions were different. As she’d looked dreamily into the mirror as she’d stroked herself, she was nearly crying out as he nibbled and nipped at her, her back arching. Still he moved with heated kisses, further and further until he reached the dark triangle and then he stopped. Settling himself Tonio gently moved Minerva’s legs till his mouth was at her folds, parting them slightly to work at her with his tongue.
He’d known she’d like this. How he’d known he had no idea and that he’d known previously was a surprise to him until that minute, but he was right and like it she did. As he licked, sucked, and nipped Minerva was driven wild. Her fingers reached for his head, and he smiled as she pulled him closer. She was almost purring now, pushing herself into him as his tongue darted within her and then made circles that drove her wilder still. Unrelentingly he continued, driven by her noises. That there was no silencing charm on the room might be a source of embarrassment tomorrow, but not on his part. He’d walk tall and proud.
It was a feeling of triumph that Tonio felt and heard Minerva’s orgasm approach, but still he didn’t stop. He let her ride the waves but not come down again as he licked and nipped, his tongue flicking inside of her over and over.
“Tonio,” she cried, her hands clasping at his hair. “Tonio.”
“You want me to stop?” he asked, breathlessly but with amusement.
“I do not. I want you to press me into the bed. I want to feel your weight on me. Please?”
Teasingly Tonio went back to her folds and circled his tongue once more around that place which had driven her mad.
“Please Tonio, please. I beg you.”
He didn’t want to be begged. He would give her what she wanted. What he wanted too. He was so hard it was hurting, so desperate too. If Minerva wanted him to press her into the mattress who was he to stop her? In one swift and easy move he slid up the bed, entered her and held her in his arms. His eyes locked to hers he moved slowly, his control still held as she became used to him within her. Rhythmically he thrust as the pressure built for them both. Minerva was a minx the way she tipped her hips to get the best feeling from him, and give him the best sensation. Soon she was making her little noises again, mewing softly until he dipped his head and took a nipple into his mouth, working his tongue across it and sucking hard on her breast.
The pain! For a moment he was taken aback and then he got used to it. She was scratching his back, her nails digging into him, probably drawing blood. Once more he bit down on her breast, the nipple caught between his teeth as he thrust more furiously. He recognised the sounds now, he’d heard them before.
With his feet braced against the footboard of her bed Tonio took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He could feel the heat in his stomach now; he was at his point of no return. As well as he could he waited, fought the impending pleasure that was going to overtake him. He had to give her one more orgasm first.
Almost too late, as he could wait no longer Minerva came once again, and that was all it took for him to throw back his head and call out into the night as he released into her. Even then like a liner at sea which puts on its brakes, it was almost impossible for him to stop. Only when he felt himself softening and Minerva’s clasp on him relax did he withdraw and lay beside her in the tiny single bed.
“Hmmmm,” he muttered breathing hard.
“Tonio.”
“Hmmmmm. You’re quite something you know?”
“I am?”
Tonio nodded. “You are. Minerva McGonagall, very proper British rischioso*.”
She chuckled as he picked her up and took her into his bed in the other room.
“Tonio?”
“What?”
“I think I enjoyed that.”
“Hmmmm,” Tonio muttered, cradling her into his arms to sleep. She wasn’t the only one, though he suspected in the morning his poor ragged back was going to tell him otherwise. “Now sleep rischioso.”
Breakfast in the morning was a little later at the restaurant. When Tonio awoke Minerva was lying still looking very self-satisfied and watching him.
“Buon giorno,Tonio.”
“Good morning, Minerva,” he whispered back, rolling onto his side to take in her body once more. “I wish we could stay here all day,” he breathed into her neck. “But as we can’t, tonight I am going to make love to you.”
“You didn’t last night?” she asked.
He shook his head playfully and smiled. “That was just for starters. Tonight you will find out just how a real Italian loves his woman.”
*rischioso = wildcat