Chapter 2

A/N: Here's another chapter for you guys. I just wanted to say a quick thanks for the huge response I've gotten so far. I appreciate all the follows, favorites, and reviews I get. Please keep them coming, I love to hear your thoughts on each chapter.

I will say that this coming chapter, right off the bat you will notice some changes to a canon character (Cinder). I have given her an AU backstory and while I'm trying to keep what we see on the outside for some of her personality intact, the foundation of who she is, is being changed to fit this story. So I will state this once before I get complaints about it, this story is obviously an AU (s in non-canon). Please don't waste both of our times if the only reason you are reviewing or PMing me is to tell me something along the lines of 'that's not how she would act… that's not canon!' I know, I'm warning you all in advance, Cinder will be OOC. I'm doing my best so that she appears somewhat the same on the surface at least.

That being said, feel free to leave reviews giving me your opinion on her characterization. I'd love to hear what you all think about that.

DISCLAIMER: This chapter will have some sexual content at the end. Please be advised of this before reading. It's only my second time ever trying to write a lemon, so its something I'm still trying to improve on. There may be the occasional sex scene in this story but it won't be ever single chapter, and sometimes will just cut away in the future when it's not relevant.

The woman currently known as Cinder Fall stirred her drink in annoyance, though she didn't show it on her face. Here she was forced to try and smooth things over with a lowly information broker all because Roman had screwed up. Glancing around her, she resisted the urge to scoff at the state of the venue she was in as well. It was a wreck, and Junior's goons in suits were currently trying to do construction work in the background.

Cinder froze with her drink halfway to her lips. She held herself perfectly still as she felt that… thing… that parasyte… shift inside of her. The burning hunger flared up again as well. She hated this. She had never trusted Salem, but she had been so sure that she was the one gaming her, not the other way around. Now she was stuck.

She didn't care overly much if people got hurt on her search for power, but she didn't relish it either. She knew from the onset of her going after the Fall Maiden that she would be stealing the power from the other girl, but that hadn't bothered her. If she couldn't hold onto it in the first place, she didn't deserve it. She could live out the rest of her life, still having use of her semblance. Cinder hadn't had that choice back then. She had been completely powerless… and cast aside.

She'd taken the enchanted glove from her master when the time came, already planning her own defection. She had no intention of helping that freak of nature in the destruction of Vale, not because she had any urge to protect the citizens of said Kingdom, but it really didn't serve her any purpose.

The problem was that she hadn't realized several things. She hadn't realized until it was too late was that the transfer was going to kill the girl. She hadn't realize that the transfer was going to be made by a Grimm. She hadn't realized that the Grimm was then going to be stuck residing in her very body. She hadn't realized she was going to be destroying her last chance for freedom...

The disgusting little thing was like a ticking time bomb inside of her. The moment she tried to strike out on her own, Salem would pull the trigger, and she would be dead, the maiden's power free to implant in anyone she chose. The whole point of working with her had been so nobody could treat her like this again and yet here she was… stuck. Her only chance at survival, as much as she loathed it, was to stay useful to her master.

Pushing the uncomfortable feelings away, Cinder continued her drink, placing it back down on the bar afterward. She could feel people's eyes on her as she sat there. She had no misconceptions about her beauty. Ever since she'd begun the transition from a girl into a woman, both men and women had either lusted after or been jealous of her looks. It was something she'd taken pride in and used as a weapon when needed. It was something Salem had taken advantage of too, having her seduce and kill all manner of important people for her. She wasn't one to usually go that far, but in the pursuit of power, she hadn't wavered. She was never going to feel that powerless… that worthless ever again. Plus, it wasn't like the people she'd ended had been innocent either. Cinder didn't delude herself, working with Salem was like making a deal with the Devil himself.

She hoped Junior took notice of her soon. Her current attire was entirely for his benefit. She was sure he would come by to try and pick up the lonely and gorgeous young lady sitting at his bar eventually. All previous business with him had been conducted through Roman therefore he would have no idea of what he was actually getting himself into when he approached her. Luckily, once they were alone, she could get straight to business. She was glad she wouldn't actually have to sleep with him. Based on the pictures she'd seen of him, he didn't seem to be her type.

"I'm here to see Junior," a voice said just down the bar from her, grabbing her attention.

He was young, with messy dark hair on his head, and a pair of modern looking glasses sitting perched on his nose. He wore a long red coat with a gold lion stenciled on the back. Something about it looked familiar, but she couldn't place it at the moment. Even with his somewhat short and thin stature, she could tell this was a huntsman or at least one in training. Apart from the flashy getup, it was clear in the way he held himself. It wasn't strange for a huntsman to come to Junior for information, so it wasn't that interesting, but watching this was better than nothing.

"The boss isn't in," the bartender said with a grunt. The man looked annoyed. Based on where he was positioned, Cinder had a feeling he'd just been interrupted on his way to try and flirt with her. That would have been tiring. It seemed she owed the kid for delaying that at least, "And even if he was, he doesn't talk to people without a scheduled meeting. He's a busy guy."

She watched the boy quirk his eyebrow in response. Drumming his fingers across the counter top, the last tap seemed to hit it with a much greater force than she expected. Cinder's body stiffened once again as something seemed to ripple out of that single tap of his finger in a wave. It was invisible, but she still felt it, and she had no idea what it was. That constant burning hunger she had felt since she had gained only a half of the Fall Maiden's powers seemed to roar to life at that moment as well. She had to grit her teeth so that she didn't whimper out loud.

Refocusing on this interaction before her, suddenly much more interested, she caught a small smirk slipping on the boy's face as he glanced over at a door that led to the second level. She knew that was where Junior was currently residing in his office.

"I think your boss will want to see me," he pressed. "Tell him Harry Potter is waiting to see him."

Cinder's body stiffened for the third time that night, but this time it was for completely different reasons. Her eyes darted over the boy… Harry… once more with a feverish intensity. It couldn't actually be him, could it? It had taken everything she had not to show a reaction when Salem had given the briefing a few years earlier about Ozpin taking on an apprentice under this name. That strange act had surprised her master, and as far as Cinder was aware, Salem still didn't know what had possessed Ozpin to make this decision. If the stories about Ozpin's use of magic were true, Cinder thought she might have a rough idea of what was going on, that was if this Harry Potter was who she thought he was.

She was well aware of the identity of the Boy-Who-Lived. She had grown up with the stories about him… back when her parents had still cared… before she'd been discarded like yesterdays trash… all for being a squib. Her jaw clenched just by thinking of that term, it was something she had thrown away a long time ago… just like her old identity… and her old world.

She had power now, the Fall Maiden's magic as her own… at least partially. Her real question was how Harry had arrived here on Remnant if it really was him of course? She was intrigued and needed to find more. The fact that he had foiled her parents' stupid little blood war all those years ago was only a bonus.[1]

Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't heard what else Harry had said to the bartender to convince him to admit that Junior actually was in, but another goon was hurrying up to the offices, having just had instructions whispered into his ear from his colleague. Harry, waiting patiently, was sweeping his eyes over the damaged portions of the club. He seemed to be shaking his head slightly, almost as if he knew something more about it than she did. His gaze soon returned to the bartender who was now looking a mixture of nervous and annoyed. She found it amusing.

Before she knew it, the goon from before was back, and he motioned for Harry to follow. With a chipper smile directed at the bartender, who scowled back, he followed the other man across the dance floor and towards the offices. She wanted more than anything to know what they were going to be talking about, but couldn't think of any conceivable way to make that work. Instead, she contented herself with her decision to see what she could find out about this Harry Potter when he came back. Smoothing things over with Junior could wait.

The bouncer held the door open before him, motioning him inside. Taking a breath, Harry entered the office, the door closing with an audible click behind him, all sounds of the dance floor cutting off completely. It seemed that Junior hadn't spared any expense on soundproofing this room. He also knew this is where the man liked to hide away when he didn't want guests. A little bit of subtle magic down at the bar had been able to pick him up though like a blip on a radar.

An exceptionally large man sat behind a desk before Harry. He had short black hair with a matching beard and mustache. He wore a black vest over a white dress shirt, a red tie, black gloves and black dress pants. As the door closed, he looked up at him with intense grey eyes. This was Junior.

"You're here for Ozpin tonight I assume?" He asked gruffly.

"I'm sure you know why," Harry commented.

"Fucking Torchwick," Junior growled. "If I get my hands on him…"

"So you didn't know what he was up to?" He inquired lightly.

"Of course not! You know me better than that," the information broker's thick eyebrows scrunched together. "I don't ask any questions when I hire men out for a job, but my boys should know the rules and bail if the client crosses the line."

"Well, your boys are currently being held in police lockup from what I hear," Harry tapped his cane absentmindedly against the floor for a few seconds. "It didn't take them long to blab about working for you."

The man swore, turning around and grabbing a decanter on a shelf behind him and pouring a generous amount of amber colour liquid into a glass. He motioned to second glass as he looked at him. Harry paused for a second. Huntsman and Huntresses were considered legal adults upon their enrollment in one of the four academies and thus he could drink, but technically that wouldn't take effect until after he'd passed initiation.

"Sure, just a little," he was probably making a mistake, especially since he should be keeping his wits sharp, but what could it hurt.

Despite his best intentions, Harry couldn't help but start coughing as the liquor burned down his throat and if Junior's booming laugh was anything to go by, he made for a comical sight.

"It's hard to remember you're just a young one sometimes," Junior grinned. "At least I know there is something can still fluster you. I was starting to think I'd have to send the twins over to flirt with you a bit to get a response."

Composing himself, even if his cheeks were a little red now, he raised an eyebrow, "You assume I can't deal with girls?"

That just made Junior laugh harder, "Well maybe there's some hope for you yet, and you aren't going to grow up to be a repressed virgin like Ozpin stuck up in his tower."

"Hey! He's pretty old, I'm sure he's at least gotten… you know what? I don't even want to think about it," Harry shut down that train of thought right there. "Plus, he's a good man."

"Oh, I know he is, doesn't mean it isn't true. I'm just saying, he's got Goodwitch following him around like a puppy dog, but with how uptight she always was, you know she's not getting-"

"That's enough," Harry interrupted desperately. Sometimes he forgot that Junior was a Beacon dropout and knew all the staff. From what he'd heard, his whole team had died on a training mission gone wrong. He'd left the school after that, disappeared for a few years, only to reappear, making a name for himself in the Vale underworld. "So… about your men."

Junior's expression sobered up pretty quickly, "Bunch of useless idiots. Do you know how hard it is to find good help nowadays? Then, Torchwick just waltzes in and says he needed to rent a few of them, and none of them come back. I should've known not to trust that snake."

"So, to confirm, you didn't know that Roman Torchwick was planning on robbing a dust shop with your men, nor that they would all get involved in an altercation with a minor, a huntress in training to in fact?" Harry asked.

The large man groaned, "No, I was not aware of any of that, just like I said before. You know I wouldn't be that stupid."

Harry shrugged, "Sorry, Ozpin was just pretty specific on me reminding you why the police normally leave you alone and all that."

He sighed, "I know. I know. Trust me, I don't plan on screwing that up. It's too useful."

"From what I've heard, they are still scratching their heads over why Torchwick took just dust and left all the lien," Harry said. "Of course you could try and resell it, but just taking the money would be easier and probably more worthwhile."

"I don't know about that," Junior scratched his head. "Torchwick has been acting strange though. He mentioned something about working for someone else… about having a powerful boss… It's just not like him to work for others."

"Why would he mention that?" Harry asked, suddenly leaning forward in his seat.

"To tell you the truth, I wasn't eager to lend my men to him the first place," he admitted. "He is a notorious thief after all, and I didn't want to get mixed up in one of his crazy robberies. He insisted that he just needed some protection. I was still hesitant at that point, and then he mentioned his supposed new bosses. Really, I was hoping one of my men could get some info about them for me on the job. If someone could really tame Torchwick, they're powerful and having powerful forces moving into Vale is something to worry about."

Harry took a moment to digest that info. This was definitely something Ozpin would want to know. Junior was good at keeping crime under control in Vale, and it was due more to him than the actual police that things were so good here compared to the other kingdoms. While many saw him as a criminal himself, and that was true to an extent, he did good work in cleaning up the streets. If something was worrying him, then it was something worth looking into.

"I should probably report back to Ozpin," Harry said, standing up. "Thanks for the info, Junior."

The man grunted, "Well, it was good to see you too. I much prefer dealing with you than the old man. He likes to talk down to me as if I'm still one of his students."

Harry grinned as he shook Junior's hand. Turning to go, he made it to the door, his hand just touching the door handle when he was stopped by Junior's voice.

"Oh, and Harry, I've heard there's been a recent spike in White Fang activity in the city. It's like their all flocking here or something and as far as I can tell, they are a hell of a lot more organized than I've ever seen them."

"What do you think it means?" Harry glanced at the man over his shoulder.

"I don't know," the man met his gaze with a serious expression, "I just have a bad feeling about it. They've been growing more and more bold as time goes on. Now they are gathering in a major city in unforeseen numbers… I just don't know."

He nodded, "I'll see what I can find. You have good instincts, and if you think something is up, I'll look into it. It might be harmless though."

If his intel was correct, the Faunus leading this branch of the organization here in Vale was Adam Taurus, the same Faunus that Blake, according to her parents, had been infatuated with. He had recruited her and her parents, despite their disapproval, were confident in the fact that they might have gotten involved romantically. If Blake had just up and left, it was possible this Adam was searching for her here. That would take a certain type of personality though that he wasn't sure he possessed. He really had no info on the Faunus other than what Kali and Ghira had told him, and that wasn't much.

"There's also something else," Junior licked his lips nervously, something that had Harry feeling suddenly on edge. "It's just rumours… could be nothing really…"

"What is it?" Harry asked as the other man trailed off.

"There's been some whispers amongst those in the underground that a new player is in town. Someone is targeting huntsman and huntresses," he replied.

"What?" Harry demanded, "What do you mean targeting? Like he's trying to recruit them into their organization?"

"Like murder," he said with a grim expression. A shiver passed through his body at this news.

"Are you sure?"

"No," Junior didn't break eye contact. "As I said, it's just rumours. Normally I wouldn't give it much thought, but for some reason, I don't know why, it's not sitting right with me."

Harry sighed, massaging his forehead, "I guess I'll start looking into this too."

"Be careful," Harry glanced up at him in surprise. "Things are stirring here in Vale. The Vytal Festival is coming up, and soon all of Remnant is going to have their eyes turned here. If there's any time for things to boil over, something tells me it will be then."

"Well, I'll see what I can find out," Harry gave Junior a strained smile that probably looked more like a grimace than anything. "Thanks for the drink."

The man chuckled, "Don't mention it. You'll need to build up your tolerance before you can really drink with me though."

"Yeah, yeah," he waved away the comment with a grin, pulled the door open and exiting the office.

He was assaulted immediately by the pounding of the base from the dance floor. Letting his smile drop, Harry sighed, leaning against the wall. He pulled out his scroll.

Harry: Hey Oz, Doesn't seem like Junior knew what Torchwick was going to use his men for. Supposedly they disobeyed his orders. Maybe Torchwick paid them off? Anyway, I believe him. He doesn't want trouble with the police. Torchwick might be working for someone else though. No ideas of who on this end. Junior told me some other stuff to, best to let you know face to face. We'll need to chat after initiation.

Sending his message, he slipped the device back into his pocket. Pushing off from the wall, he started down the stairs, his mind racing. All the things he'd just heard from Junior left him feeling disquieted. It wasn't like the infamous information broker to be that nervous. Like he'd suspected, it seemed like someone might be making a play for Vale soon. That was something he and Ozpin would have to stop. That and their constant vigil against the likes of Salem. It's not like things weren't bad enough already with the assault made on Amber. The thief had yet to reveal themselves to them either, and despite Qrows arrival mitigating the damage, he hadn't got a good look at any of the assailants.

Stopping on the main floor, Harry tried to decide on his next actions. Heading back to Beacon was probably best, seeing as how he had initiation in the morning, but he wasn't looking forward to sleeping on the floor with everyone else. Eyes trailing over the bar, he couldn't help but want to try something a bit less strong than what Junior had given him. What could sneaking one more drink hurt.

Striding over to the bar, Harry paused when he realized he had no idea what to get. Maybe this wasn't the best idea. He was being foolish… he should just head back to Beacon.

"What do you want?" The bartender from earlier asked him, his face impassive.

"Uh… a beer?" Harry responded without thinking. It sounded much more like a question than a statement.

"Really?" The man's face looked much more condescending now. "I'll have to see some ID?"

"What?" Harry scowled.

"Rules are rules," he the man smirked.

This guy really was a prick. He was just trying to get back at him for going over his head earlier. The problem was, Harry technically didn't have a huntsman in training ID card until after he finished initiation and it seemed this guy knew it. That's when he would officially be considered of age. As of right now, he had a pass that showed he was enrolled at a junior combat school, or the equivalent thereof because of being privately trained by Ozpin, but that only allowed him to carry his weapon inside the Kingdom.

"I'll buy him a drink," a voice spoke from behind him. For some reason, the hairs on his back of his neck suddenly stood on end. "If he'll consider keeping a lady company that is."

Spinning around quickly, Harry took in the woman who had spoken, and she most definitely was a woman. He was pretty sure that she was in her early twenties. If he were to ever take the time to actually consider what his own concept of sensuality was, this woman would match it exactly. She sat on the bar stool, holding a long-stemmed glass, full of some kind of clear liquid and a few olives, in hand. As he was trained, his eyes scanned over her, looking for any details he'd need in case she was a deemed a threat, but he found himself having to fight down a blush instead. She was probably one of the most attractive women he'd ever met, and that was saying a something.

She was wearing a dark red dress that was cut rather short, showing off the majority of her long toned legs, crossed as they currently were. To his surprise, her high heeled shoes looked to be made of solid glass, or at least some kind of similar looking plastic. The dress hugged her body snuggly, and as his gaze travelled back up, he was quick to notice how it stretched over the curve of her hips, showing off her narrow waist. The dress cut off just under her arms, leaving her shoulders completely bare and showing just a tantalizing hint of cleavage.

She had wavy dark black hair pulled off to one side so that it fell more over her left shoulder, part of her bangs on the same side hiding the edge of one of her strikingly amber coloured eyes. Meeting her gaze, he was momentarily captivated by those eyes as they almost seemed to glow ever so slightly in the low light of the club. Managing to break the contact a moment later, he picked up on a few more details, like the faint violet eyeshadow she had applied, the bright red lipstick artfully applied to her full looking lips, the small gold hoop earring dangling from her right ear, and a black choker around her neck. She really was something.

"I guess that wouldn't be so bad," Harry ventured with a small smile. "I'll take you up on that offer."

"Wonderful," she commented, looking up at him through her eyelashes and making him gulp.

"I'm not sure if I should serve a-" the bartender began again as Harry took a seat beside his new companion. He would have thought that the man actually did care about the law if he didn't still look so smug as he said it.

"I'm sure you wouldn't want to jeopardize your bosses reputation by refusing to serve me, would you?" She spoke up again.

Her voice was just as velvety smooth as before but Harry could sense the threat inherent in it. He had a feeling this woman was not one to cross and something about that thrilled Harry. With his training as well his… other… abilities, it was not often he was around someone who made him feel like they could pose a challenge. It was almost intoxicating.

The man's response was to simply slam a small brown bottled onto the counter, before stalking off towards a sparse collection of customers down at the other end of the bar.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised at a lack of customer service from this end of town," Harry found himself saying, not really knowing how else to break the ice.

"Indeed," she said with a contented smirk, taking another sip of her own drink. "It's not usually my first choice."

Harry's eyes slipped down to follow the movement of her full red lips, but he quickly caught himself, and looked back up to meet her eyes, "Do I get to know the name of my new drinking companion?"

"Isn't it only polite to offer your own name first?" She countered, while he took a swig of his drink and did his best to hide his grimace. The beer didn't really burn going down like whatever Junior had given him before, but it wasn't exactly what he would call tasty either. Maybe drinking just wasn't for him. Who knows what Qrow saw in it?

"I guess that's fair. My name's Harry Potter," he held out his hand which she took a moment later, her smooth, and surprisingly warm, skin sliding against his own.

For the briefest of moments, Harry almost thought he saw her amber eyes flick up towards his forehead, but it was so quick he wasn't sure if he had imagined it or not. It had been a long time since someone had done that upon meeting him. He was sure it was all in his head. His scar was still there, even if it had faded more than ever, though it was mostly covered by his bangs and thus out of sight. No one on remnant, except for Ozpin and Glynda, knew the significance of it.

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Harry." releasing his hand, he found he suddenly missed the warmth it gave off. "You can call me Cinder. Cinder Fall."

"It's nice to meet you too," he took another drink of his beer. "Though, I have to ask, what made you take pity on a stranger like me?"

She shrugged with a small smile, her raven locks swaying with the motion, "Just a whim, I guess. You looked like you could use some help."

"Hey!" Harry said in mock offense. "I could've taken him if I wanted to."

Harry cringed internally. He'd said it and even he knew that had sounded cheesy. He'd been around beautiful girls his whole time at Beacon, why was he suddenly feeling so compelled to try and impress Cinder.

Luckily, she only seemed amused by his words, "I've heard that all the staff here are trained to fight. It doesn't put the odds in your favour."

"I'd like to think I'm quite competent myself," Harry responded.

"Oh?" She didn't look surprised, merely curious.

"I'm actually a huntsman in training at Beacon," he admitted.

"I figured as much," Cinder was swirling the drink in her glass around slowly at this point, though her gaze on him hadn't faltered. "It does make me question why you couldn't have just shown your ID, then?"

"I'm a first year, so technically I'm not a student until after initiation tomorrow," Harry explained more. "And how could you tell?"

Cinder looked happy to confirm that information, "It's how you carry yourself. It's easy to spot for those in the know?"

"Oh?" It was Harry's turn to raise his eyebrow. "And how are you, as you put it, in the know?"

"I'm actually a huntress in training myself, studying at Haven Academy," the woman revealed. Harry was a bit surprised at that, especially since he was still sure she was a few years older than him. Not a lot but at least twenty, he assumed.

"A bit far from Mistral at the beginning of a school year?" Harry commented.

"Because of certain circumstances, my team and I were given permission to travel to Vale ahead of the other students for the Vytal tournament. It's giving us time to acclimatize to a new Kingdom," she explained.

"I see," he waited to see if she'd expand on what that special circumstance might be but unfortunately, she didn't elaborate anymore.

"What would a new initiate at Beacon Academy be doing so far from campus the night before his initiation?" Cinder asked. "Surely it wasn't just to sneak a drink in a back alley club when you can do it legally tomorrow."

He fought down a grimace, "Let's just say I had a part-time job to take care of."

"Interesting," her lips twitched upwards again. "A little business on the side never hurt anyone, though, I will admit that I would think the staff at Beacon would not take kindly to discovering your disappearance."

Harry ran his hands through his hair, "Technically, I have a bit more leniency than most. I'm actually apprenticing directly under Headmaster Ozpin and since I sometimes run small jobs for him, I'm mostly allowed to come and go as I please."

"That's quite impressive," Cinder complimented, her eyes bright. "How did that come about?"

"It's nothing special," Harry denied. "Ozpin basically ended up adopting me several years back and started training me so it wasn't much of a surprise to those that know us."

"I'd still say that is quite the accomplishment," Cinder leaned in slightly, making Harry's eyes widen slightly, "You said he adopted you? That sounds like quite the story… if you feel comfortable sharing of course."

Harry knew Cinder expected an answer. It was easy for him to see that the last part had only been added simply because it was what was socially expected. She wanted an answer, and he had a feeling she wasn't used to being denied. He decided to humour her.

"I'm not sure exactly how it happened, but I have a bad case of amnesia. I can't remember anything before the age of eleven, and none of the doctors I've seen have any idea why," Harry began, explaining the tale he and his mentor had come up with. "The first thing I can remember is waking up in the Emerald Forest all alone and with no idea how I had gotten there."

A strange look flitted across the woman's face, but it was quickly replaced by a sympathetic look. He wasn't sure what it was about, but he had a hard time reading her.

"I can only imagine how frightening that would be," she paused for a moment as if in consideration before continuing, "I was in a similar situation once before, though without the memory loss of course."

He was a bit intrigued by that but didn't press her any further. He didn't think he'd get anything anyway, "Yes, at the time it was. It didn't help that I was attacked by a pack of beowolves shortly thereafter. I didn't even know what the beasts were at the time."

"You were able to fight off a pack of beowolves in that condition at the age of eleven?" She looked legitimately impressed at that point.

He shook his head, "No, they got me pretty good. I'm not sure how I survived as long as I did, but luckily Glynda Goodwitch, Beacon's Deputy Headmistress, found me and saved my life."

"I'm surprised to hear that you decided to become a huntsman than," she said. "Events usually scar people in more ways than one."

"I like to think it's one of the reasons for what I do actually," Harry replied.

"Oh?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I'll admit that I like to help people and that did play it a part in my decision, but it was also more than that. When I was attacked by those grimm, I felt so helpless… so powerless… and I hated it. I vowed to myself that after surviving that ordeal, I would do my best to never allow someone else to have to feel the same way that I did that day!"

Cinder seemed almost to flinch at his passionate declaration, a curiously surprised expression passing over her face for a moment. He wasn't quite sure what to think about it, but Cinder definitely seemed affected, even if her face had returned mostly to normal. There was a look in her eye though that made him think she wasn't as settled as she had been before.

"That's a... noble... goal," she acquiesced a moment later.

Harry snorted, "You can say it, whatever it is that's on your mind, you know?"

"What do you mean?" Cinder seemed caught a bit off guard.

"It's obvious you have more thoughts on my choice of profession," he said. "You don't have to hold back. I can take it, so lay it on me."

The woman in red hesitate for another moment before she began speaking, "You just took me by surprise. As I said earlier, I was in a somewhat similar experience once. I despise weakness and constantly strive never to feel that way again. I thought you were going to say something similar."[2]

"Oh, I agree. I definitely don't like feeling that way either… in fact, I don't think anyone does," Harry told her. "I just decided to direct my energy to something more productive so hopefully more people don't need to go through that same suffering. If that happens, they won't have to push themselves to the extent that I have to escape their demons. It will finally break the cycle of suffering that has gone on for so long."

"But what about yourself?" She asked intently. "Why worry so much about everyone else? If you work hard enough and become stronger than everyone else, you'll never have to fear then."

"Wouldn't it be the opposite?" Harry asked. "Once you're at the top, you become the target that everyone aims for."

Cinder's smile grew, white teeth flashing behind her lips. Something about her almost looked predatory at that moment, "If they think they can take me, let them come. As I said, I'm not the same weak little girl from my childhood. I'm ready for them."

Harry shook his head, smiling nevertheless, "Despite what I've said, that doesn't mean I don't want to become strong for myself too. I'm also aiming for the top."

"Even if you'd have to face me?" She asked.

"Even if I have to face you," Harry replied, not even having to think it over. "I won't hold back. Anything else would be an insult. I'll give it my all."

Cinder's eyes almost seemed to flare at his challenge, "Good."

Throwing back the rest of her drink, she set it back on the counter, her lips curving up even further. There was something hungry about the smile she gave him at that moment. Making a motion with her hand, she ordered another round of drinks for them.

"So," she brushed a few strands of hair away from her eye. "What's it been like growing up with the famous Headmaster Ozpin?"

"Not a fan?" Harry asked, noticing the odd expression on her face when she asked the question.

"Oh no," her smile looked a bit strained to his eyes. "I've never met him."

"I see," he was pretty sure there was more there, but he didn't push. "Well, things were pretty good I guess. It definitely isn't a traditional life, but those are overrated anyway."

"Oh? Not one to want to settle down in a normal little family?" She asked.

Harry shrugged, "No, that's something I definitely think I want someday. I meant more that living a life conforming solely to others expectations of normality would be boring."

"You're a rebel, then?" Cinder looked a mixture of intrigued and amused. He had a feeling she was trying to figure him out.

Harry laughed, "I'm not sure if I'd call it that, but you can go with that if you'd like. It's got an ok ring to it."

"I will admit, that kind of personality is not what I would have expected from Ozpin's apprentice," her expression shifted indiscernible. "So he made a good parent?"

He frowned, "I don't know if I'd call him a parent, don't get me wrong, he is definitely a father-like figure in my life, but I still wouldn't call him a parent. He's my teacher… my mentor… it's the kind of quality he gives off perfectly."

"And that was enough for you as a child?" She asked.

Harry wanted to scoff, he'd gotten by with a lot less before he'd met Ozpin. He spoke without thinking, "Well, it was better than my so-called relatives before."

There was a momentary pause, "I thought you said you had amnesia from before?"

Shit.

Harry froze up. He'd never slipped up on his story before… how could he do that now? Why had he let his guard down so far? He needed an out… he needed something...

"From what Glynda said based on finding me, there's a good chance my previous guardians abandoned me in the forest to die, so I can assume they weren't very good," Harry tried for a confident look, but he wasn't sure he'd pulled it off.

"But you don't know that for sure?" Cinder countered.

He paused before letting out a sigh, "I've had a few flashbacks."

"Really?" For a moment, her expression almost looked triumphant, but Harry wasn't sure why that might be. "Why say you don't remember anything then?"

"I… I haven't told anyone else about the flashbacks before," Harry came up with this new story on the spot. "They've already said that they don't know what caused the amnesia in the first place, so I don't want to go through more tests for no reason."

There was a knowing glint in her eye that made him nervous, "Then why tell me? Someone you've just met?"

"I guess I just find myself trusting you," Cinder's eye's widened ever so slightly for a moment, looking surprised, but it was gone a moment later.

"Lucky me," she went back to her signature smirk, but that too faded away a moment later. "So from your flashbacks… you… didn't get along with your relatives."

Harry sighed, resisting the urge to run his hands through his hair as he thought about what he wanted to say, eventually settling on pieces from his life back on Earth, "From the little bits I remember, I lived with my aunt, uncle, and cousin."

"You're parents?" She began, once again making him feel self-conscious as he thought he saw her eyes flick towards his forehead, but he knew he was just being paranoid.

"I don't know," he lied. "I assume that they are dead if I was living with other relatives."

"I'm sorry," she said sounding sincere.

"It's ok. I don't remember them," he answered truthfully. He'd never known anything true about his parents until he'd met Hagrid and hadn't even known what they looked like until he'd seen them in that damn magical mirror before it had sent him here to Remnant. "There's been many good people that have taken care of me since then."

Again, something flashed in Cinder's eyes that he couldn't quite place, "Except for your Aunt and Uncle."

"Yeah," he frowned. "I… I think they were religious. They hated ma- aura…"

"Aura?" She raised one of her dark eyebrows.

"Well, unlocking it that is. They thought it was unnatural and as a result they hated huntsmen. Called them freaks," Harry laughed humorously. "Guess it didn't help that I wanted to be one."

Cinder's gaze burned into him intently, "I think I might understand."

"Oh? In what way?" He was honestly curious now, but as was with most things with this woman, they seemed destined to remain a mystery.

Sliding gracefully onto her feet, Harry wondered for a second if she was leaving… if he had pushed her too far. He was surprised at the pang of disappointment that the thought gave him.

"I hope your training included how to dance," her voice caressed his ears as she passed, her hand brushing against his arm and leaving what felt like a trail of fire in her wake.

Harry sat there stupefied, only snapping back to attention a moment later. Jumping to his feet, he looked around, his eyes catching sight her slim form disappearing into the somewhat crowded dance floor. Eyes following the gentle, yet alluring, sway of her hips, Harry made it halfway there before he realized what he was doing.

Dancing? Did he really want to do that? His training had actually included such lessons for the occasional state dinner he'd attended with Ozpin, but he didn't think ballroom dancing would fit in here. Despite that, he didn't falter. The sight of the beautiful raven-haired woman waiting for him was drawing him in like a magnet.

Closing the distance between them, Harry wasn't even sure how he got through the crowd. He'd caught Cinder's eye from afar and had just started moving after that. People could have been prostrating themselves before him for all he knew; he wouldn't have even noticed.

It wasn't until he'd arrived and after she'd gave him a lazy wink, her eyes already half-lidded, that everything else suddenly came back to him. The crowd surrounded them tightly, swaying and jumping to the bounding bass that echoed through the building. It was almost like the heartbeat of some giant beast he couldn't see, and it seemed to bring out some primal urge to move from within him.

Cinder had started to move, her hips swaying to the music in such a way that stretched her short dress even further, giving him tantalizing glimpses of her upper thighs and the curve of her ass. Feeling his own temperature start to rise, Harry's eyes darted around him briefly, but he relaxed when he realized that his actions were mostly hidden in the low light.

He began to move too. He didn't figure he was anywhere near as graceful as the vision in front of him, but it still felt good. Lost in the pounding beat, the flashing lights, and the energy of the moment, Harry forgot his worries. As the hour grew later, the club continued to fill, pressing the crowd together even more. This had the effect of pushing his new companion in even closer and before Harry knew what was happening, Cinder had wrapped her arms around his neck, continuing her previous actions.

"It seems your skills are satisfactory," she smiled. Despite the noise, her words still managed to find their way into his ear.

"I'm glad you approve," he murmured back.

Everywhere their skin touched felt like it connected with an electric shock. He could feel her breath, hot against his cheek as she moved before him, though none of that was what was at the forefront of his mind. Through all this time, he'd barely taken his eyes away from hers for even a second. It was already apparent to him that he could lose himself in the molten depths of her gaze if he let himself. She was incredibly sexy, there was no doubt about, but beyond the superficials, there was something strangely intimate about this non-verbal exchange they had engaged in with their eyes.

He hadn't even noticed that they had both moved… starting to lean in until their foreheads touched. There was a moment, only a second, where they both paused on the precipice of something greater. Harry knew this was a key moment in whatever it was that was between them. They'd barely even known each other for an hour, but something about her drew him in. He didn't want to second guess at it anymore, so taking the initiative, he closed the remaining inches between them, pressing his lips to hers.

For a moment, she didn't move, and Harry was just starting to worry that he'd made a mistake when he felt something strange. He couldn't be sure, especially with the volume of the music, but he was pretty sure she had growled into his mouth, suddenly returning the motion with twice the intensity. It was as if she were a person starved who had suddenly been presented with a grand feast. Without any thought on his actions, he slipped his hands onto the sides of her hips, feeling her curves through the thin material of her dress.

Trying to match the movements of her lips only seemed to add fuel to her fire. He didn't think he could catch up to her even if he tried. Like a fool, he'd created the spark and now he had no chance of outrunning the resulting flames. Tongue slipping into his mouth without waiting for permission, the slippery appendage swept across its new domain. Pushing back, Harry couldn't help but feel like this was more like a duel of blades than a kiss. That being said, the intensity that this type of exchange brought was much greater than what he was used to.

Tightening his grip on her hips, he pulled her closer. Her whole mouth vibrating with what he hoped was a noise of approval, she threaded her hands through his hair, pulling on it slightly at the back, drawing a gasp from his mouth. Shifting so that she could brush her leg up against him, Harry was pretty sure she could feel the physical proof of his arousal. That was a proven true a moment later when Cinder finally broke the connection between them and pulled back just enough so that he could see her face. The self-satisfied expression on her face gave him all the evidence he needed. She was proud of what she had done and wanted him to know it.

"Competitive, aren't you?" Harry said in a low voice.

Cinder just looked amused, "What can I say? I like to win."

Untangling her arms from around his neck, but keeping them raised, she stepped back. Relinquishing his own grip, he watched as she restarted her earlier dance. Running her hands through her own dark wavy hair, it exposed her slender neck and the choker around it to his gaze.

Harry wasn't without experience with girls. He'd dated before, but there was something about this girl… this woman… that was different. Maybe that was it. She only had two, maybe three years on him, and yet she was most definitely a woman, not a teenage girl. She had a sensuality to her that was beyond that which he was used to dealing with.

With one last heated glance, she spun around, only to lean back into him in the next moment. Even taken off guard, Harry was starting to get better at going with the flow of this unexpected night. Slipping his hands around her waist, he rested his palms flat against the soft yet toned expanse of her stomach. Allowing his arms to move along with her, he gasped as her soft flesh of her behind ground into him, creating a glorious friction down below.

Moving his face in towards her neck, he nuzzled past her raven locks, placing a slow kiss against her hot skin. It was something he was just coming to notice, but everything about her seemed warmer than usual, including her skin. He wasn't sure if she was always like this or it was just a byproduct of standing amongst so many people. Either way, it somehow seemed fitting. Taking a deep breath, a spicy and smoky scent tickled his nostrils just like the strands of her hair were currently doing.

Harry lingered in that position, drawing out his ministrations, as Cinder continued to move against him. Much like he'd felt he'd done for her earlier, she had lit a fire within him, and it only continued to grow and grow in his core as they lost themselves in their own little world. Harry hadn't even thought about where all of this was leading, too much focused on what Cinder was doing now, but it seemed she had been planning ahead.

Finally, breaking away from him after an unknown amount of time, she turned to face him once again. There was a tinge of pink on her cheeks, but not in the way one would expect. It looked like it was more from exertion than any kind of embarrassment. Harry had a feeling that Cinder didn't operate with the same level of modesty as most.

Tugging on his one hand, she began to lead him off the dance floor, back towards where they had originally come from. It looked like she was heading back towards the bar, but she stopped a while away from it. A look of distaste flickered across her face, and Harry followed her gaze to see the bartender from before.

"I'm not really in the mood to deal with that again," the woman asked. "Would you be up to joining me for another drink in my hotel. It should be better than what we'll find here."

Harry's eyes widened. He was pretty sure there was more implied with that question than was on the surface. He wasn't a virgin by any means, but he'd never been invited back to a woman's hotel before either.

"That sounds lovely," he replied. "Is it far? I have my motorcycle here."

She grinned, "That saves me from calling a cab, then. And no, it's not far."

Moving across the floor and towards the exit, Harry couldn't help but match her grin. Stepping out into the night, the music faded away behind them, though the faint pounding of the base was still audible to him. Though it was the tail end of the summer, the night air was still cooler than inside the club, and it served to sober him up a bit. He hadn't even realized it, but it seems like the alcohol had a bit more of an effect on him than he'd expected. Consciously activating his aura for a moment, he felt the remaining effects of the drink fade away. It was actually pretty hard for those with an active aura to get themselves good and properly drunk for any extended period of time. It was one of the reasons Qrow drank so much, and also the reason why it didn't kill him.

Leading Cinder over towards where he parked, Harry felt his nerves start to flare up a bit. He was a little embarrassed for basically grinding up against her in public, something that wasn't usually his style, but that wasn't that big of a deal. Embarrassment he could live with easily enough. He was more focused on how easily he'd let his story crumble around Cinder. He'd been living this lie for years and hadn't slipped up before. What had happened this time? Was it the alcohol? Is that all it took? Get a few drinks in him, and everything falls apart? He'd have to be careful in the future.

A laugh from beside him drew him out of his thoughts, "Quite subtle, I see."

They had reached his bike.

He'd been able to deal with Coco saying basically the same thing about his outfit no problem, but for some reason, Cinder's comment made him flush. He did his best to play it off nonchalantly, "You did see my clothes, right?"

"I suppose," she gave him an exaggerated once over. "If I'm already being saddled with your presence, this can't make it much worse I guess."

Climbing onto the motorcycle, Harry craned his neck to look at her, smirking, "I thought you were the one who invited me? Anyway, are you getting on?"

Her eyes narrowed though he didn't think she was actually upset. Strutting up behind him, she threw her leg over the bike gracefully. The short and tight lower half of her dress was stretched to its max and pushed upward even farther than before. He caught a quick glimpse of black lace but quickly averted his eyes, and did his best to calm himself down as she moved closer, pressing her wonderful curves up against his back.

Arms snaking around his waist, her lips came up close to his ear once again, "I'm starting to wonder if you planned all of this just so that I'd have to push myself all over you."

Coughing violently after nearly choking on his own saliva in a sudden intake of breath at her whispered words, Harry tried to regain control of himself. "Would you blame me if I did?"

He tried to play it cool, but he didn't think it quite worked with how his voice came out a couple of octaves higher than he'd intended. She chuckled lowly in his ear before pulling back a bit. Turning the key in the ignition, it roared to life. He was pleased to hear the small gasp behind him.

Taking off, he pulled into the street and pushed the bike to accelerate. It didn't take too long to get to where Cinder was staying, following her directions along the way. With their destination in sight, he quickly found a place to park and allowed his companion to pull him after her. Passing through the sliding front doors, he didn't pay the lobby any attention, too focused on the woman beside him.

They rode the elevator up, the number of floors he wasn't sure, exiting with Cinder as the doors slide open with a small ding. Following her down the hall, she stopped outside one of the doors. Figuring this was her room, he went to ask as much when she spun around and surprised him by pulling him into another kiss. Only too happy to oblige, his hands wrapped around her again, pulling her closer as she did her best to devour his mouth.

"Cinder! How did it go wi-" Neither of them had even heard the door across the hall open until someone had started speaking.

Breaking apart quickly, Harry though a bit flustered, managed to take in the dark-skinned girl standing in the open doorway. She had straight cut mint green coloured hair that had two long locks just visible at the back, though the what drew his attention the most was her dark red eyes, something that was quite unusual. He'd seen Yang angry before, including the crimson colour her eyes would turn when that was the case, but they weren't nearly as dark as this girl's.

"Emerald!" Cinder barked.

"Cinder, I… I… what are yo-" She stuttered.

"It's none of your business!" Glancing at Cinder, he resisted the urge to shiver at her expression. She looked pissed. In fact, if he didn't know any better, he'd say she was currently trying to burn this girl with her glare alone. "I'm busy. Leave us."

The another stammered apology, the green haired girl retreated into her room, not before throwing a quick glare his way that had him scratching his head in confusion. A small click from behind caught his attention, and he saw Cinder pulling her scroll away from a scanning pad on the wall. The door swung open.

Following her inside, he shut the door behind him before spinning to face her, "Well, that was a bit awkward. Is she one of your tea- oomf."

The rest of his question was lost as she forced him up against the door. For a second, he almost thought he was being attacked, something he soon realized was true, but not in the way he'd initially thought. Cinder was just continuing her earlier actions in a much more aggressive fashion.

Returning her fervor with equal measure and with one arm back around her waist, his other hand found its way to run through her soft raven hair. His cane thudded against the floor as it slipped from his hand. Feeling her teeth nipping almost painfully at his lower lip, his hand tightened reflexively on her hair, pulling back firmly on her head. She went with the motion with a small gasp, trying to create some slack. Using this chance, Harry pushed back, this time it was her back that impacted the wall. Before she could react, he moved down to kiss at her exposed neck just above the choker affixed there. It wasn't a very common fashion accessory, but somehow it seemed to work for her.

Busying himself with that for a moment, he couldn't help but let out a little yelp as one of her free hands somehow snaked its way downwards, squeezing gently in his more intimate areas. Taking advantage of his distraction, just like he'd done to her earlier, she, with a surprising amount of strength, managed to reverse their positions once again. Pressed up against the wall, Cinder yanked his coat from his shoulders, throwing it to the floor beside them before crashing her mouth into his once again.

The promise of a shared drink forgotten, Harry too allowed his hands to trail down her back, seeking out something below, but unfortunately for him, he was interrupted as he stopped to allow Cinder to pull his shirt up over his head. Years earlier, he would have been ashamed to allow anyone to see this much of his skin.

It wasn't like he was covered in scars or horribly disfigured though. While Vernon hadn't been afraid to smack him around a bit, he'd never been permanently harmed. The reason he would have been embarrassed was that he'd used to be uncomfortably thin. He'd never been fed properly at the Dursleys, and it had been evident with the way his ribs used to be visible on his small frame. Fortunately, that was a thing of the long past. Years of proper nutrition, exercise, and of course and an unlocked aura had done wonders for his physical health. He was quite fit and had built up some noticeable muscle definition, even if he wasn't physically that big.

Even with that knowledge about himself, it was still a nice ego boost to hear the small noise of approval that escaped Cinder's throat as she splayed her hand across the toned muscles of his stomach. Trailing her warm touch down lower, she tugged at his pants, popping the button out impatiently and pulling the zipper downwards. The next few moments compromised of her practically tearing his pants and boxers away from his body.

Unable to resist any longer, Harry yanked Cinder closer once again, his hands finally sliding down over the curve of her ass. Hands squeezing the soft flesh found there, he finally clearly heard that growl he'd thought he'd heard back in the club. It was a low sound from the back of her throat, and it was only as she was already moving towards him that he finally clued in that it seemed to be a precursor to almost every time she tried to attack his mouth. Meeting her in a heated kiss once again, he gasped against her lips as he felt her hand close around his length. Her grip wasn't too strong or anything like that, but there was a firmness in her hold that clearly told Harry that she was planning on being the dominant one in this exchange.

For reasons he couldn't quite explain, a competitive urge seemed to rise up inside of him at that moment. He wasn't sure if he really wanted just to allow Cinder to have her way. Acting on this without a second thought, he yanked up on the bottom seam of her short dress, pushing the material so that it was bunched up over her stomach. The left her lower half completely uncovered, except for the thin black pair panties she was wearing.

Cinder broke away, looking, for the first time that night, completely shocked. That wore off quickly, however, as her expression turned dangerous. It wasn't dangerous as in he feared for his safety, but more in that he had somehow egged her on even more. He had a feeling he was going to pay for that. Freezing up like a gazelle that had just realized it was under the scrutiny of a hungry lion, Harry waited to see what would happen next, not wanting to admit to himself that he found the situation exciting. He didn't even have to wait as long as he expected before she made her move. It was quickly apparent that his brief surge of resistance wasn't going to be very long-lived.

Reattaching herself to his lips, Cinder hoisted herself upwards at the same time, wrapping her perfectly shaped legs around his waist. Stumbling under this new burden, she wrenched him around so that he hit the back of his legs on something hard. Losing his balance completely, he fell backward, unable to brace himself since his arms were full. Luckily he felt his back sink into the soft mattress of the bed a second later instead of smacking into the hard floor.

Catching his breath for a moment, Harry looked up at Cinder who was already straddling his hips. One hand was braced on his best for balance, amber eyes burning into his own as they rested there. Cinder grabbed the edge of her dress, slowly and sensually pulling it the rest of the way up over her head. He held his breath as, with deliberate slowness, her breasts were revealed to his sight, bouncing softly. Eyes roaming over their curves, he couldn't help but think they were perfect. They were probably a bit larger than average, just more than a handful each, yet not overly large either, with small red nipples standing at attention on the tip of each snowy mound.

"Like what you see?" She asked, her voice sinfully sweet, as she ground up against him.

Biting his lip, ignoring the small flash of pain as he hit the same spot Cinder had bitten him earlier, he pushed back up against her, trying to increase the contact between them, but that only made her tut softly. "So impatient…"

This time it was him that growled. There was no way he could use some magic here, but he was suddenly seriously thinking of using his semblance to help him get the upper hand.

"I guess I can give you what you want," she ran her tongue over her full red lips. "You've been so good tonight."

Slipping her underwear off her legs slowly, as if just to tease him, Cinder got back into position again. Gripping him at his base, she lined herself up, making sure to meet his gaze once more. She slowly began to lower herself down and Harry's eyes nearly rolled up to the back of his head at the sensation. They were just starting and it already felt amazing. She was tight… so very tight, and soft like velvet, slick, and warm… almost unnaturally so. It was like all his senses were suddenly turned up to 200%. Both of them groaned out loud as they connected. Cinder finally stopping when he was all the way in. They were both breathing heavily at this point, but neither of them had broken eye contact. Ever since he'd first met Cinder earlier that night, he'd felt like she was fire incarnate... now he was certain of it. Despite everything they say, he knew he was toying with said fire, but he just couldn't help it. He just hoped this wouldn't burn him in the end.

"Are you good?" Harry breathed out, looking at her in concern.

Something indescribable flickered over face at that moment, but she composed herself quickly, the teasing glint back in her eye, "Me? Are you sure I'm not too much to handle for you?"

"Oh, I know you are too much to handle," Harry quipped. "But if it's all the same to you, I'd like to try anyway."

"It seems you're getting a little ch-" she raised herself up, stopping for a second before plunging back down to both of their pleasure. "-ch-cheeky."

The last word came out in a bit of a gasp based on her actions at the time. Copying her previous actions a few more times, she finally seemed to find her groove. Hand still on his chest, as if to hold him down, she began rolling her hips back and forth, her perky breasts bouncing enticingly with each movement. It felt amazing, the way her slick walls gripped and stimulated all the right areas, he couldn't but buck up against her every once in a while.

Having an idea, Harry planned another thrust of hips for just the right moment, making sure hit the little bundle of nerves at the top of her lower lips. Cinder gasped again, her eyes fluttering shut as her core muscles suddenly contracted. Taking his chance, Harry finally laid his hands on her perfect looking breasts. Squeezing the one softly, he couldn't but gently flick his thumb over her other nipple, enjoying how it seemed to harden even further under his touch.

Grabbing his hands, Cinder forced them back over his head, now leaning more directly over top of him, "Enjoying yourself?"

Instead of answering, Harry's eyes slipped back down to her breasts. Much like the famous Greek myth of Tantalus from his home world, her breasts hung like ripened fruits just above his head. Right there, tempting him, yet still out of reach. Twisting his arms and kicking out his legs, he knocked out the limbs supporting her, causing her to fall towards him. He caught her before they collided, and then purposely tangling their legs together, he rolled them over so he was on top.

Moving his head down immediately, he flicked his tongue along her hardened nipples. Giving the peak a kiss, the little nub was sucked inside his lips, brushing ever so light over the front face of his teeth. Cinder shuddered below him at the feeling. Smirking, he pushed himself up onto his elbows so that he could look down on her face. He was proud to see a healthy flush on her cheeks.

"What are you going to do now?" She asked, the challenge clear in her tone even at this moment.

"Oh, you know," he shrugged as best as he could in that position, giving her a smile before leaning down to meet her for another kiss on the lips, thrusting his hips forward at the same time. They both gasped into each other's mouths, and Harry picked up speed. Pumping his hips, yet keeping their torsos close, Harry marveled at the heat that came off her skin onto his. It hadn't been long at all, and he could already feel that familiar pressure building up in his core, but he held off as best as he could.

With both of them starting to breathe heavily, their foreheads resting close together, Harry moved his mouth down a bit to do something he was pretty sure Cinder had enjoyed earlier. Kissing along her neck once again and up near her ears, Harry heard her gasp. Back arched up with her bed sheets clenched in her fists, making the single most erotic thing Harry had ever seen, he felt her start contract and squeeze around him. That's all it took for him to burst. His whole body stiffened as he rode the wave of pleasure higher and higher before it all came crashing back down and he momentarily fell into oblivion.

He came fully back to awareness only a moment later, somehow having shifted off of Cinder to lay on his back, still breathing heavily. She didn't seem to be much better, though she was the first to recover, rolling alluringly onto her side. She made no move to cover herself, seemingly unconcerned by the fact Harry could run his eyes all over her body if he wished, but he guessed that was to be expected after what they'd just done. It was more to do with the fact that he had a feeling she could stand like that in the middle of a whole crowd of people without flinching. Not because she wanted to, but because she just seemed to have that particular kind of unshakable confidence.

"You're not the most modest are you?" Harry broke the silence.

"Would you rather that I covered up?" She made no indications of movement, watching him through her eyelashes.

"Not at all," he grinned. "I was just making an observation."

"I see," reaching out, she ran her finger slowly across his chest. "Making an observation of my own, I'll say you did better than I expected."

"Really?" He felt his grin widening. "You were too bad yourself."

"Don't get cocky though," her half-lidded amber eyes seemed to glow in the low light.

"Okay… okay," Harry fell back onto the pillow, allowing himself to relax, shooting up a moment later an important thought came to mind. "Wait! Are you on birth cont-"

"It's taken care of," she cut him off, an unreadable look on her face.

"Right… that's good," Harry trailed off awkwardly, feeling stupid for not asking beforehand.

Seeing her relax back, Harry allowed himself to do the same. Looking satisfied and for a moment like she was actually letting her guard down, he felt content. Feeling the usual post sex drowsiness set in, he closed his eyes, only intending to rest for a moment before finding his way back to Beacon to sleep before initiation… however, before he knew it, he had already fallen asleep.