CHAPTER THREE.
( HIDDEN LOVE.. )

     Ella was in the common room. Hiding out like she did most nights. The girls of her dorm were having a girly night and Ella did not feel like joining in. Preferring to read than gossip over boys that she didn't care about. Layla didn't have prefect patrol that night either and though they were going to spend it together, the girl's night had taken over. Causing Ella to quickly evacuate.

     So, now she sat next to the fire on the sofa. Her blanket over her shoulder and her copy of Jane Eyre in her lap. It was a battered copy of the book that she had gotten for her 11th birthday but she loved it far too much to replace it. The worn spine making the title almost unreadable. It was a clearly well loved book but was not Ella's favourite.

     The story was interesting enough and the writing was nice but often overly descriptive to a boring extent. Ella loved the classics but sometimes it took her months to even get through one book. She much preferred the works of Tolkien or King. Though she was never a fan of horror before, Stephen King had her hooked and she adored the stories she read even if they scared her half to death.

     Either way, she was trying to get through Jane Eyre. It was one she had been desperate to reread and as she sat, she heard footsteps from the boy's dorms. The noise against the stairs causing her to look up. A exasperated Remus appearing with a small frown on his face. He ran his fingers through his hair, muttering about Prongs being an idiot before he noticed Ella.

     "You shouldn't be up," He commented as he paused by the fireplace. Ella used her finger as a bookmark, closing it and looking up at him. She knew she should be in bed but she much preferred to keep read on some nights. It wasn't like it made her wake up any later. She was always an early bird. It made her sleep deprived but she was used to that now. It had become pretty natural to her to not always sleep the best.

      "And you should be on your duty," Ella said smiling overly sweetly at him. He rolled his eyes in response and then approached, curious about the book. He noticed the name and seemed confused before realising that it was one of Ella's muggle books that he hadn't ever laid his eyes on.

     "I'm going to duty but you're going to be sleep-deprived tomorrow if you don't go up," He reminded. Ella shrugged in response. Not really caring all that much. She knew it was a bad habit to get into especially for her but she had easily slipped into sleep at 9pm the first night back. It wasn't hard for her to adjust her sleep schedule. That was mostly due to her own magic but it didn't entirely matter to her.

     "I'll finish this chapter and then go up? Would that satisfy you, Lupin?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow. Her head tilting up a little to meet his gaze. He thought it through for a moment. The silence spreading between them before he let out a huff and shrugged. He knew that she was stubborn so really there would be no way to convince her to do what he wanted. She would be set in her beliefs until they ended up hurting her in one way or another.

     "Yeah. If I'm back from duty and you're still here. I'll drag you back to your dorm by your ear," He commented as he walked towards the portrait hole. He then gently pushed it open and stepped out. Not bothered what Ella's response to his words would be. It would probably be some snarky comment and he had more important things to do than debate a sleep schedule with a stubborn Gryffindor.

     Ella just continued to read once Remus had gone. That meant she had half an hour to finish the chapter and that would be easily do-able. She didn't even realise she had finished the chapter and moved onto the next one until she heard another set of footsteps. It was from the boy's dorms again and when she looked up and saw James, she grinned.

     Only half his face was being illuminated by the fire but he still managed to look gorgeous. His glasses had fallen down a little and he pushed them onto his face before running his fingers through her hair. The grin on his lips as he walked over to her. It had been so long since she'd seen him alone. They had always been surrounded by other people, not that she entirely minded really. She just wished that they could have just a little bit of privacy like they did over the summer.

     James wasted no time in coming over, moving to straddle her waist. He very nearly squished her book but she was quick to dog-ear the page and rest it against her stomach. A pout on her lips as she looked up at the taller boy. She should really be the one straddling him but alas. Here they were.

     "I was tryin' to read," She commented as she moved her hand to caress his cheeks. Her fingers running along the skin, her thumb stroking the cheekbone before she ran her fingers through his hair. Her smile spreading wider as she gently untangled the knots. Allowing him to lean into her touch, he had missed her so much.

      "You say that every time but you know you prefer to be in my lap," He commented and Ella rolled her eyes. He was right, he was definitely right but currently it wasn't like they were in that position. He was in her lap, his hands resting in his lap as he looked into her eyes.

     "Well, maybe I'll consider stayin' if we switch places then 'cause you're currently sat in my lap," She said, looking up at him. Her smile widening a fraction. James chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to her lips, muttering a soft 'fine' before they turned over. James moving to sit down and Ella quick to straddle his waist. Her hands resting on his shoulders as she ran her fingers along the collar of his shirt that he was still wearing.

     "Better?" He asked, a teasing lilt to his voice as his hands moved from her waist to her face. His hand running along her cheek before his thumb gently stroked over her lip. She tilted his head at him, raising an eyebrow at his actions. Either way, she let out a hum of approval. James smiling as he pressed another soft kiss to her lips. Ella couldn't help but squirm slightly as his hand brushed over her sensitive thigh. Her hand coming down to gently take his. Kissing the boy back as she intertwined their fingers.

     The kiss didn't last long with Ella refusing to let his hand move any further. When he broke away, he was pouting. His free hand moving to the back of her hair, keeping her close. Her forehead rested against his as she looked into his blue eyes. Her smile growing just a little more.

     "We're in the common room and Remus just went out for 'is duty," Ella said, moving her head away from him. If they were this close, anyone who happened to see would have no doubt in their intentions. At least just sitting in his lap could be viewed as something more friendly. Ella could make an excuse but not if she was seen kissing him.

     "It's not like this is the first time we'd do it in here and I'm Head Boy, he's a prefect and would never tell on his superior" James commented with a smirk spreading across his face. Ella looked at him before she stole his glasses from him. Thankfully, he could see pretty well without them. His eyesight being long distance rather than short. He watched as she put them on top of her head and he couldn't help but smile. It's where they often ended up while they were kissing, to keep them out of the way but also somewhere accessible if they were interrupted. It also meant that her hair was pulled back from her neck, giving James the perfect opportunity to attack the skin with kisses.

     Which he promptly did. His kisses starting at the corner of her lips and slowly trailing across her cheek before landing on her jaw. He softly nipped at the skin which earned him a playful whack to the leg. He then travelled down, chuckling softly against her skin. His hand on her thigh pushing up underneath her shirt, brushing close to where she wanted it. Ella quickly grabbed his hand to stop him.

     "I don't wanna risk gettin' caught. Especially not by the prefects. Our friends," Ella said hurriedly. Really not wanting to explain why her and James were kissing and cuddled up in the middle of the common room. James let out a soft sigh against her neck but continued to leave soft kissing. Nipping and sucking on the skin before soothing it with his tongue. His actions making Ella want to melt. Her arms wrapping around him and leaning against him, allowing him to do what he pleased.

     "When did he leave?" The boy asked. His voice muffled but Ella understood. Her hand moving to gently run through his hair. She could barely think straight with him kissing her neck like that. His kisses stopping every now and then, the boy eventually becoming impatient. His nose nudging at the ticklish spot on her neck, causing Ella to giggle as she pushed his head away from her, "When did he leave?" James asked as he watched her face. The happiness and delight only made him smile that little bit wider.

     "Maybe five minutes, possibly ten," Ella shrugged. James smirked and then lifted her chin. His hand moving the hair out of the way of her neck. His fingers gently running across the skin, making her shiver. James always had this control over her and she hated it. It was so easy for him to make her putty in his hands. She melted at his touch.

     "Twenty minutes is plenty of time. We've spent less time on this before," James responded as he moved his gaze to her face. Looking into her eyes with something she couldn't quite recognise beneath it. It was something she sometimes saw when they were doing this. It was something mischievous yet there was something else, something different.

     "I suppose but that was only because you 'ad morning wood and we were supposed to be going out," Ella smirked, her fingers running through his curls again. Twirling them around her finger as she smirked to herself. James gently nudged her in response, a small pout on his lips that Ella was quick to kiss away, "Tomorrow. We can do it tomorrow," She said as she pulled away. James let out a soft groan, burying his face in her neck. His lips attacking her skin again. His nose nudging the sensitive spot but she tried not to react this time. Enjoying his kisses too much.

     "But I want to do it now. You said we could hook-up anytime," He argued. His tongue licking the marks he'd left. Some of the marks would certainly be there come tomorrow but he slightly enjoyed that thought. Ella sighed and lifted his head up again. She knew she had but they still had to be careful.

     "Being caught by Remus isn't what either of us want. We agreed to keep this between us, Jamie," Ella muttered. Pulling out the nickname that only she used for him. When Sirius had done it once, it had been made clear that he could never do that again. So, he didn't. The nickname was reserved for Ella and his mother. Only those two. It was a special thing for him.

     "You're right but I'll be having my way with you tomorrow. To make up for it. Maybe even on your prefect duty on Thursday too," He said, a sly smile spreading across his lips as he looked into her eyes. She shrugged and ran her fingers along his jaw, stroking along the skin. James leaning into the warmth of her skin and her touch. Their whole relationship was supposed to just be about sex. That is what they'd agreed but as they became more comfortable, it had become more intimate.

     Ella knew it was nothing more than James fulfilling his desire to be loved by someone but to her, it was something else. James acted more like a boyfriend than a casual hook-up. He was loving and attentive. Teasing but the relationship was their secret. It was a strange situation she'd found herself in. James wished to be loved and she gave that to him without even realising it.

     The unconventional way their relationship worked, however, was never something Ella brought up. If she made a comment about the lack of casualty their casual-hookups held then it would ruin everything. Ella would be lost without his soft touches and teasing kisses even if he saw them as nothing but meaningless actions. That's not what they were to Ella but she knew his stance, his thoughts. He was easy to read and she didn't let those ideas ruin moments like this one where he was back to gently kissing her neck.

     He finally pulled away from her neck after a few more minutes of just enjoying her skin and holding her, a pout on his lips nevertheless. Ella then leant forward and pressed a kiss to his lips, brushing stray hairs out of his face. She was so used to James without glasses that it didn't even bother anymore as she admired him. He looked adorable in the firelight.

     "I'll find you after your class, okay?" He said and Ella nodded. She clambered off his lap and moved to lie down. The blanket across her lap now as she picked her up book from behind her head. James gave her one more look before standing up and that's when Ella noticed his hard-on. She used the book to cover her snicker as she let him go. That would be a nightmare to get rid of but he was usually able to handle on his own when she wasn't available.

     So she focused back on her reading, wanting to get some more done for the night. She was also hoping that by the time Remus dragged her to her dorm, her dorm-mates would be asleep meaning she could get ready without being forced to gossip with them like old mothers.

     However, despite her attempts to focus on the book, Ella found herself staring at the fire. The memory of James still lingering. His touch on her neck, the feel of him on her skin. She never realised how much she adored that boy until she'd gone too deep to even get out. His mere presence made her grin and everything he did made her feel one way or another. She had never felt more in love and she was sure she would never love anyone as much as James.

     Her gazing was eventually cut off by the huff from Remus who came over and gently tapped her head. Ella had long since abandoned Jane Eyre and the dazed happy look in her eyes caused Remus to raise an eyebrow. Ella didn't let him question it and instead sat up and folded the blanket, draping it back into it's place.

     "Since when did you wear glasses?" Remus asked, gesturing to James' glasses that were still on top of her head. Ella covered up her alarmed look with feigned casualty.

     "For readin', sometimes. I usually only wear 'em when I'm tired," Ella tried to play it off casually. Smiling up at him but Remus didn't seem to believe her. His hands over his chest and she gave him an incredulous look, "I'm serious! I do, I forgot about them and had to run upstairs and get them. Have you tried to read Jane Eyre? It makes my eyes strain," Ella said quickly, being slightly too loud. Remus nodded and looked at the glasses and then her neck that was exposed. Small marks littering her skin.

     "And the marks on your neck?" He questioned. Ella then began to walk towards the girl's staircase. Remus following to make sure she went upstairs. He was also waiting for her answer and Ella was trying to formulate the perfect response.

     "Potions earlier. Severus threw some potion at me. It caused a rash, Madam Pomfrey said it would go down by the end of the day," Ella lied flawlessly. The words seemingly real enough but this was Remus. There was something wrong here, he knew it but decided to take Ella at face value for now.

     "Okay. Just get to bed, okay? You need to sleep," He said, watching her open the door to her room. Ella nodded, sending him a soft smile before she disappeared into the dorm room. Remus stayed there for a moment, listening to her move around before he ran back down the stairs. His hands resting in his robes.

     Ella let out a sigh of relief when she heard him leave, James' glasses being taken over and placed carefully on her bedside table. The movement disturbing Molly who opened her eyes to look up at Ella. The cat had clearly missed Ella's presence.

     Ella then changed into some pyjamas before sliding into bed beside the cat. Molly rolling over and meowing at her. Ella shaking her head softly before pulling the covers. Molly quick to settle herself snuggled up to Ella. Ella was able to fall asleep pretty quickly as she snuggled up to Molly.

***

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ! really debated putting this together with two other scenes but this scene is just so long that the chapter would be like 6k+ so here we just have a little 2.9k chapter for y'all! so we got more of ella and remus and thennnn some more james :)  he's honestly the love of my life at the moment and writing his character here was honestly ridiculously fun. so i hope you enjoyed the chapter <3