Chapter 1: Introduction
The rain blurred the amber glow of the streetlamps outside the tall windows of their London flat. Inside, steam curled from the spout of a brass cauldron perched precariously on the small kitchenette stove, filling the air with the acrid tang of crushed billywig wings and something faintly metallic. Silas Mercer watched the viscous, deep purple liquid bubble, his usually sharp blue eyes narrowed with intense concentration. His fingers, pale and cool, tapped restlessly against the worn wooden countertop. Weeks. Weeks of meticulous research, cross-referencing obscure texts from both wizarding libraries and vampire covens, late nights hunched over parchments, and countless failed concoctions that either did nothing or smelled alarmingly like burnt hair.
"Stir counter-clockwise now, Silas. Seven times, precisely." Padma Patil’s voice was soft but focused beside him. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical braid, a few loose strands clinging to her temples. She held a chipped measuring cup filled with shimmering moondew.
He took the glass rod, its end smoothed by constant use, and dipped it into the thick liquid. One… two… The resistance was surprising, like stirring cold treacle. Three… four… Each rotation seemed to draw the purple hue deeper, richer. Five… six… The metallic scent sharpened. Seven.
Padma poured the moondew in a slow, steady stream. The potion hissed violently, sending up plumes of violet smoke that stung Silas’s eyes. When the smoke cleared, the liquid had transformed. It was now a viscous, shimmering crimson, swirling with threads of liquid gold. It pulsed faintly, like a resting heartbeat captured in a vial.
"Merlin's beard," Padma breathed, leaning closer. "That… that looks right."
Silas felt a hum beneath his skin, an unfamiliar vibration that wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was anticipation, laced with a thick thread of fear. What if it worked? What if it didn't? He’d been undead since an unfortunate encounter with a feral vampire during childhood a few years before even moving to the U.K. and attending Hogwarts. The strength, speed, heightened senses, ability to walk on walls and fall slowly and gracefully they were gifts. But the coldness, lack of a heartbeat or breath, dread aura that took a month for new people to get used to, the need to feed on blood, the restraint that his jet-black ring given to him by his mother helped to mitigate those he and those around him had learned to live with, but the… other limitation? That was the curse. Especially the utter lack of being able to become aroused below the belt. He craved a physical and intimate connection with Padma outside of kissing and him pleasuring her, but he craved the messy, sweaty, consuming reality of mutual physical love that his condition denied him. Knowledge was his solace, his world, but it couldn't help but want the feeling of her skin against his, truly felt.
"You ready?" Padma asked, her brown eyes searching his face. There was no pressure, only fierce determination and a flicker of the same hope that clawed at his own undead heart. She understood his frustration, his yearning. She did too, it was why she’d thrown herself into the research alongside him, their Ravenclaw intellects perfectly matched and complimented each other's with a relentless pursuit of a solution. She didn't just want him; she wanted him somewhat whole even if temporarily and in bursts.
He nodded, the movement stiff. "As I'll ever be Padi."
Padma carefully ladled a small measure of the crimson potion into a crystal shot glass. It glowed with an inner light. Silas took it, his fingers trembling slightly. The liquid felt surprisingly warm against his unnaturally cool skin. He met Padma’s gaze, saw the encouragement there, and tipped it back.
It burned. Not like fire whisky, but like molten metal tracing a path down his throat, similar to how if he ingested garlic, but without the reaction. It settled low in his gut. He gasped, a sharp, involuntary sound. Then came the flood.
Heat. It erupted from his core, radiating and spreading outwards in dizzying waves. It felt like stepping from a frozen lake into a scalding bath. Every nerve ending, suddenly screamed to life. The rough texture of his sweatshirt against his chest felt like sandpaper. The cool air from the window was a shocking caress. The distant rumble of London traffic was an even more thunderous roar. And Padma… Padma usually smelled of vanilla, parchment, lilies, but there was a warm, salty-sweet scent that was uniquely her that he recognized. He felt himself start to feel something he never had before.
"Si?" Padma’s voice was laced with concern, her arm outstretched, hand hovering near his arm but not touching. "Are you–"
He grabbed her wrist. Not roughly, but with a sudden, desperate need for contact. The feel of her skin, usually warm, soft, alive against his own, now felt less. the contrast was noticeable. He felt the delicate bones beneath, the soft thrum of her pulse against his thumb. His senses were dialed up to eleven, hearing, sense of smell everything overwhelming.
''It… hurts," he rasped, but it wasn’t just pain. It was sensation. Raw, unfiltered, terrifying sensation. He was drowning in it. "Everything… too much."
"Focus," Padma commanded gently, stepping closer. She didn't pull away from his grip. Instead, she placed her other hand flat against his chest, over where his silent heart lay. "Focus on me. Just me. Breathe." He didn't need to breathe, not really, but he focused on the rhythm she was trying to impose. In… out. In… out. The overwhelming sensory tsunami began to recede slightly, leaving behind a vibrant hum, a newfound awareness thrumming in every inch of him. His gaze locked onto hers and then, lower. He felt it. A distinct, undeniable stirring. A heaviness. A warmth pooling low in his abdomen, centered somewhere that he had never felt before. His eyes widened, shock giving way to a dawning, incredulous wonder.
Padma followed his gaze downwards, then back up to his face. A slow, knowing, utterly beautiful smile spread across her lips. It wasn't just triumph; it was pure, unadulterated desire. "Oh," she breathed, her voice thick. "It worked."
Silas's voice was barely above a whisper, his eyes still wide with disbelief. He looked down at himself again, then back up at Padma, a tentative smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "It actually worked."
Padma's smile mirrored his, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "I knew you could do it, Si. I knew it." She leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to his lips. It was a promise, a celebration, a thank you all rolled into one.
Silas deepened the kiss, his hands coming up to cup her face, his fingers tangling in her hair. The potion's effects were still coursing through him, amplifying every sensation. The potion's effects were still coursing through him, amplifying every sensation. He broke the kiss, his breathing ragged, a hollow, unnecessary gesture that felt startlingly real. "I need to see you," he rasped, his voice rough with a hunger that went deeper than blood.
In one fluid motion, his hand shot out and grabbed his 10¾ inch black ebony wand from the kitchen counter where it had lain beside his potion notes. He pointed it at Padma. Before her brain could even process the movement, he gave a sharp, precise flick. "Vestis Depono!" She gave a sharp, startled gasp, her hands instinctively starting to move to cover herself before she stopped letting them hang at her sides. Her jumper, her jeans, her bra, her knickers, every stitch of fabric vanished into nothingness with a soft whump of displaced air before scattering on the floor behind her. She stood there, completely bare, skin flushing a beautiful, warm brown under the kitchen lights. Her dark, silky hair, once in a messy bun was now worn down over her elegant shoulders, as his deep blue eyes traveled down past the gentle swell of her full, heavy, perky breasts; her dusky, dark areolas peaked into tight, eager buds that beckoned his mouth to lick, suck and nibble. Padma's form was slender with a smooth, flat stomach with subtle soft inward curve that led to wide flared hips. She had a triangular patch of tightly, neatly trimmed curls at the apex junction of her gorgeous, sleek thighs which led down into a pair of long, powerfully built dancer's legs, between which was a slick spot of wetness that even from feet away Silas could easily smell.
The scent of warm, musk with a hint of sweetened vanilla hit and filled his nostrils as she sauntered closer with a graceful stride. Her dark, intelligent eyes widened, then darkened with a deep, smoldering approval. "Fuck, Fang," she breathed, her gaze dropping down his clothed body, taking in the very evident, very rigid proof of his success tenting and straining against his jeans. A slow, wicked smile touched her lips. "Don't just stand there, Fang. Come claim your prize." she added as she stood close by.
''Fuck, my sexy Lotus Petal, you're fucking perfect.'' he breathed, despite not needing to before he reached out and pulled her close against him, his cool hands finding her scorching waist as his hard, ridged erection pressed against her.
''All that research and you still look as if you're seeing your girlfriend for the first time. Really makes a girl feel loved.'' she cooed.
''Because I've never been able to...'' he started before she grabbed the back of his head and pulled it down to kiss her. Her tongue plunged into his mouth, hot and demanding, and he met her with a feral intensity he knew he possessed but didn't show. His hands slid from her waist down to the full, perfect swelled curve of her arse, gripping the firm, pert flesh hard enough to make her moan into his mouth. "Bedroom," she gasped, breaking the kiss, her lips swollen and wet. "Now, Fang. I need to feel you, all of you."
He didn't need telling twice. In a blur of motion that left the world a streaky impression, he had her pinned against the cool wall of their hallway, his body caging hers. The plaster was cold against his forearms, a stark contrast to the inferno of her skin. "Fuck the bedroom," he growled, his voice a low, predatory rumble she felt in her bones. He devoured her neck, his teeth scraping delicately, perilously, over her pounding pulse, a promise and a threat that made her shudder violently. "I can't wait. I need to be inside you. Now."
"Then do it, Si. Ravish me like we've both dreamed of for years." she challenged, her eyes blazing with equal parts lust and love as a hand rested on his fresh, new bulge that quickly undid his zipper and jeans button. His pants fell in a pool around his ankles, which he quickly stepped out of followed quickly by his boxer briefs. Once they were both naked, she hooked a leg around his hip, pulling him tighter against her, his rigid length pressed to her thigh. "Fuck me right here, Silas. Show me what that brilliant mind of yours has unlocked."
With a snarl that was pure instinct, he wrapped his hand around his thick veined hardness. It ached with an utterly foreign, yet thrilling weight in his hand. He lifted her easily and positioned himself at her hot entrance, the slick, hot proof of her readiness coating his still cool tip. "Look at me, Padi," he commanded, his deep blue eyes locking onto her dark brown pools. He pushed forward, a slow, inexorable invasion that stole the breath from her lungs. Her head fell back against the wall with a soft thud, a ragged, "Yes..." escaping her lips as he slowly filled her completely, stretching her, claiming her in a way he never physically had or could before. He was buried to the hilt, joined with her, and for a breathtaking second, they both just froze, overwhelmed by the seismic reality of it.
Then, Silas started moving his hips, slow and deliberate, a dance of restraint, control and desire. She gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders, nails leaving tiny crescent moons of pain that only heightened the pleasure. He was moving in and out her, filling her, claiming her in a way that was raw, primal and utterly, exquisitely perfect. The potion was working, and he could feel every inch of her, every quiver, every pulse of her silky cunt. He could feel the heat of her, the wetness, the way her body clenched around him, pulling him deeper, urging him on. He could feel the way her breath hitched, the way her heart pounded against his still chest, the way her body responded to his every thrust. It was more than he had ever dreamed of, more than he had ever hoped for. It was everything.
Padma's eyes fluttered closed, her head falling back against the wall as Silas continued to move inside her. "Harder, Si. Fuck me harder." she moaned, her voice ragged with desire. Silas complied, his hips snapping forward with increased force, driving into her with a newfound intensity. The sound of their bodies meeting filled the hallway, a wet, slapping rhythm that matched the frantic pace of their hearts. Well, Padma's heart, at least. Silas's chest remained still, but the sensation coursing through him was anything but. Every thrust sent a jolt of pleasure straight to his core, a sensation he had never experienced before.
He could feel every inch of her, every quiver, every pulse of her silky cunt. "Yeah, my exotic Petal," he growled, his voice a low, predatory rumble she felt in her bones. "Beg for it like a slag. Like you wanted to that night I snuck into your room, at your parents' house, Vati, feet away as I fingered your hole." He sucked on her neck, a promise and a threat that made her shudder violently.
Padma's eyes flew open, her breath hitching as she met his gaze. "Please, Silas," she gasped, her voice ragged with need. "Fuck me harder. Make me cum.'' She wrapped her legs around his waist, her heels digging into his arse, urging him on. Silas's eyes flashed with a primal hunger, and he complied, his hips snapping forward with increased force, driving into her with a newfound intensity. Padma's moans grew louder, more desperate, as her orgasm built, coiling tight in her core. Silas's thrusts became relentless, a brutal, primal dance of pleasure and pain. The scent of sex filled the air, a heady mix of sweat, musk, and the copper tang of her arousal. The sound of their bodies meeting was a wet, slapping rhythm, a symphony of lust and desire.
Silas's grip on Padma's hips tightened, his fingers digging into her soft flesh. He could feel her body trembling, her muscles clenching around him as she teetered on the edge. "Cum for me, Padi," he growled, his voice a low, guttural command as he felt his own release building, a strange, intense pressure in his lower abdomen that was both terrifying and exhilarating. He didn't know what it was, but he knew it was something big, something he'd never experienced before. Meanwhile Padma's walls started to flutter, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps, her eyes wide and unfocused. "Oh, fuck, Si," she moaned, her nails digging into his shoulders hard enough for blood to start pricking up against his skin as the scent od blood mingled with Padma's. "I'm... I'm going to... Yes, yes, yes!" Her body shuddered and convulsed, her cunt pulsing around his thick length as she came undone, her orgasm ripping through her with a force that soon left her boneless and breathless.
The sight of her, lost in pleasure, her body writhing against his, was too much. With a final, brutal thrust, he felt the pressure in his abdomen reach its peak, and then, with a shock that would've stole his breath away, released. His body tensed, his hips jerking forward as he emptied himself into her, the hot, sticky liquid filling her completely. He groaned, a deep, primal sound that echoed through the hallway, as his body shuddered with the force of his release. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a raw, intense pleasure that left him feeling both exhilarated and drained. He could feel every pulse of his cock, every spasm of his release, as he continued to both drive deeper into her and fill her more, the heat of his seed mixing with her wetness.
He came with a roar that echoed down the hallway, his body shuddering as wave after wave of pleasure crashed over him. He felt hot, sticky liquid spurt from him, filling her, marking her as his. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced, a raw, primal force that left him feeling both invincible and utterly spent. Padma's body went limp, her head lolling against his shoulder. Silas, while still inside her, carefully lowered her slightly. His body still joined with hers. He could feel the remnants of his release, warm and wet, trickling out of her, a testament to their shared pleasure.
Padma's chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath, her eyes fluttering open to meet his gaze. A slow, satisfied smile spread across her face, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen. "Well, fuck me," she breathed, her voice hoarse. "That was... that was something else."
Silas chuckled, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated through his chest. "You can say that again." he agreed, his hands still gripping her hips, his cock still buried deep inside her. He could feel her, every pulse, every quiver, and he never wanted to leave this feeling. He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to her lips.
When he pulled back, Padma's smile had softened, her eyes filled with a warmth that made his still heart ache. "I love you, Silas." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I've never felt this way before. Not like this." Her eyes searched his, looking for something, needing something. Silas understood. He felt it too, that raw, unfiltered emotion that was more than just pleasure, more than just desire. It was love, pure and simple. He leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, gentle kiss. It was a stark contrast to the raw, primal passion they had just shared, but it was no less intense. He could feel the love in her kiss, the love in her touch as her hands came up to cup his face, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks. He moved them to their bed, laying her down gently, his body covering hers. He wanted to be close to her, to feel every inch of her, to never let her go. He wanted to stay like this forever, joined with her, their hearts beating as one. Well, her heart beating, and his... not.
He pulls out of her, the sensation of their bodies separating sending a shiver down his spine. He climbs onto the bed, his hands gentle as he pulls her into his arms, her back pressed against his chest. He kisses the crook of her neck and shoulder, his lips lingering on the soft, sensitive skin. She shivers, her breath hitching as she recovers from the intense pleasure. Once she's steady, she grinds her ass against his still, surprisingly hard, cool cock. He groans, a low, guttural sound that vibrates through his chest. "Fuck, Padi," he growls, his voice thick with desire. "You're insatiable little slag aren't you?"
Padma giggles, a soft, breathless sound that sends a jolt of pleasure straight to his core. "I can't help it, Si," she purrs, her voice sultry. "Now that we can be together like we've always wanted. You're like a drug to me. I just want more.''
Padma breathed, her voice a husky whisper as she turned to face Silas, her eyes already filled with a renewed hunger. ''I want to feel you in every way possible before this wears off.'' She reached down, her hand wrapping around his still hard length, a testament to the potion's lingering effects. ''We've got hours, right? Let's make the most of it.''
Silas's eyes darkened, a slow, wicked smile spreading across his face. ''I thought you'd never ask, Lotus Petal.'' He rolled them over, pinning her beneath him, his body caging hers. ''Let's start with something we've both fantasized about.'' He captured her mouth in a searing kiss, his tongue plunging in to tangle with hers, a promise of what was to come. He broke away, his eyes locked onto hers. ''Ride me, Padi.'' Silas commanded, his voice a low, guttural growl as he lay on his back, his hands gripping her hips.
The next several hours were filled with different positions they'd always wanted to try, the sounds of their bodies slapping, moaning, dirty talk and orgasms echoing through their cozy London flat. The room was a symphony of pleasure, a dance of raw, primal desire. Padma's body was a canvas for Silas's touch, her skin flushed and glistening with sweat as she was speared, impaled and filled by his length, their hips moving in both sensual and feral rhythms until the last remnants of the potion's effects began to wear off and Silas again returned to being soft.
The first grey light of dawn filtered through the rain-streaked window, painting silvery lines across the wreckage of their bedroom. Silas lay perfectly still, Padma’s naked body a warm, heavy weight across his chest. The potion’s fever had broken hours ago, leaving behind a hum of satisfied exhaustion in his veins and a profound, almost terrifying clarity in his mind. He could feel every single thing: the crush of the damp sheets beneath them, the multiple places Padma's nails had drawn blood on hus body, the cool air on the parts of his skin she didn’t cover, the slow, steady thump of her heart against his silent ribcage. The scent of their sex was everywhere, a musky, intimate perfume that clung to the air, the bedding, their skin.
He shifted slightly, and the movement stirred her. Padma blinked awake, her dark eyes hazy with sleep, then focus, then a slow, dawning smile that made his dead heart feel like it might beat again. “Hey,” she whispered, her voice raspy.
“Hey,” he echoed, his own voice rough. He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, the gesture feeling unnervingly new, the simple contact sending a quiet echo of pleasure through his nerves.
She stretched against him, a languid, cat-like movement that made him acutely aware of every point where their bodies connected. “So. That was a thing that happened.”
A breath of a laugh escaped him. “Understatement of the century my Lotus Petal.” He let his hand trail down the elegant line of her spine, over the curve of her hip, memorizing the landscape of her. The faint bruises his fingers had left on her waist and hips stood out like dark petals against her skin. Evidence. “I feel… sacked. Pillaged. In the best possible way.”
“Mm. Me too. Not to mention sore, but also in the best way possible. Good thing I bought a salve when we decided to start these expirements.” She propped her chin on his chest, studying him. “Any regrets? Any… side effects?”
He thought about it, truly thought. The frantic, almost desperate hunger of the night was gone, replaced by a deep, satiated calm. But beneath that, a new current hummed. Not the potion’s artificial heat, but something born from it. A confident, patient awareness of his own body, of its capabilities, of this new, shocking dimension of his existence with her. It wasn’t just the ability to feel pleasure; it was the capacity for it, endlessly.
“No regrets,” he said, and the words felt more true than any he’d ever spoken. “Just… a lot to process.” He glanced at the closed bedroom door, beyond which the empty potion vial surely sat on the kitchen counter. A key to a lock he hadn’t known could be opened. “It changes everything.” Padma’s voice was soft, her gaze thoughtful as she traced patterns on his chest.
“I know what you mean. I no longer feel like I’m only half the boyfriend you deserve. And while I know sex isn't the only aspect of dating, I've felt like it's been holding us back from eventually taking that next step.'' Silas admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. ''I've felt like I was missing out on a fundamental part of being alive, of being human. And now...'' He trailed off, his gaze dropping to her lips, then lower, to the rise and fall of her breasts. ''Now, I feel like I'm finally whole. Like I can truly be your partner in every way.''
Padma's eyes softened, and she leaned in to press a soft kiss to his lips. ''You've always been my partner, Fang. This just makes it... more.'' She grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
''So what's next, my sexy Lotus Petal?'' Silas asked, his voice a low rumble.
Padma rolled over, ass pressing into his soft cock, which remained so with the potion out of his system, as she reached for the healing salve she mentioned last night. ''Mind rubbing this in places I can't reach?'' Padma asked, handing him the small jar of salve. He took it, his fingers brushing hers, a quiet spark igniting at the contact. He unscrewed the lid, the scent of lavender and something earthier filling the air. He dipped his cold fingers into the cool, smooth cream, then began to gently massage it into her skin, starting at her shoulders, his touch light, careful.
''Here?'' he asked, his voice soft, as he worked the salve into the faint bruises on her upper arms, the result of his earlier enthusiasm. She hummed in affirmation, her head resting on her arms, her eyes closed. He worked his way down her back, his touch firm yet gentle, his fingers tracing the lines of her muscles, the curve of her spine to her hips, which had obvious bruising from his string grip. She then directed him between her legs.
He gently spread the salve onto and into Padma's cunt, his fingers carefully exploring her intimate folds, ensuring every inch was covered. The cool, soothing cream felt different against her sensitive skin, but the gentle touch of his fingers sent a shiver of pleasure through her. She let out a soft moan, her hips subtly shifting to meet his touch. The salve was meant to heal, but the way Silas applied it felt almost intimate, a tender caress that sent a warmth building and spreading through her. She could feel his eyes watching her with a mixture of tenderness and desire. The salve was a balm, but his touch was a flame, igniting a fire deep within her.
Padma's eyes fluttered open, her gaze meeting Silas's. "You know what this means, don't you?" she whispered, her voice laced with a playful challenge.
''Yeah, that I've awoken my smart girlfriend's inner slag.'' Silas replied with a smirk, his fingers still gently massaging the salve into her. ''And that I fucking love it.'' His voice dropped to a low growl, his eyes darkening with renewed desire. ''I love seeing you like this, Padi. All marked up and sore from my rough touch, craving my cock. It makes me want to do it all over again right now.''
Padma's breath hitched, not because of his dread aura like the first month they'll met as kids, but because of her rising lust. However she knew her body wasn't ready yet, still too raw and sore. ''That sounds great, I'm still too sore, plus you've got work today, remember?" Padma said, her voice a mix of regret and teasing. Silas' fingers paused, then slowly withdrew, a soft sigh escaping him. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her shoulder. "You're right. As much as I'd love to spend the day in bed with you just cuddling, caressing your body and being all tender. I've got that report I need to turn in to Hermione.'' Silas said, his voice a low rumble, his fingers trailing down her arm, leaving a cool, tingling path in their wake. ''But I can't leave you like this, all hot and bothered and ready for more.'' He leaned in, his breath warm on her ear, his voice dropping to a low whisper. ''I can't leave you wanting, Padi.''
Padma playfully swatted at him quipping ''Please, until last night you've been leaving me hot and bothered for years. Left me to handling my own orgasms.'' Padma retorted, her voice laced with playful annoyance.
Silas chuckled, a low, throaty sound that sent a shiver down her spine. He rolled off her, his fingers trailing down her side, leaving a path of goosebumps in their wake. "I'll make it up to you tonight," he promised, his voice a low rumble. "I'll spend hours making you feel good, Padi.''
''Oh, I love date night. Dinner and foot rubs.'' she giggled.
Silas smiled, cast Scourgify a couple of times then started to dress. ''See you later Padi, will you bottle the potion for me?''
''Yeah, I got it.'' She replied as he continued dressing before promising to get a few goblets in him for breakfast at work and kissed Padma goodbye and taking the FLOO Network into the office.