Orpheus flopped onto his bed leaving most of his clothes on. He was finished with his morning NEWT and if he didn't get some sleep he wasn't sure he'd be able to make it to dinner. He had been up all night reviewing and now he was completely wiped out. His brain felt like mush and thinking hurt. He rolled onto his stomach and tightened his grip on his pillows. He'd rest for awhile then go to find Laura. Yes, rest....soon he was dozing lightly.

From her place in the common room, Laura had a perfect view of the boys' staircase, and she didn't fail to notice as the 7th years left one after the other, probably to celebrate outside, except Orpheus. She waited for a while longer, and he still didn't come down.

Deciding to go up and check on him, Laura made sure nobody was looking when she sneaked up the stairs until she'd reached the dormitory door. She knocked lightly, and when no answer came out, she pushed the door open slowly and walked inside, an immediate grin taking over her expression when she saw him fast asleep on his bed.

She crossed the room as quietly as possible and kneeled down in front of the bed, smiling to herself. He was probably tired, so she wouldn't want to wake him up… Just look at him for a few minutes, then leave. Yeah, that was the plan.

Orpheus was happily asleep, dreaming about Laura. She was just sitting with him and they were talking about something. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it lightly. And it felt more solid than it should have. Slowly Orpheus began to rub her hand, feeling up her arm with his fingers. He carefully opened his eyes and found Laura looking at him, her hand in his.

Laura couldn't help but startle when his hand held hers, because she'd really thought he was sleeping. Her grin widened, and she waited patiently for him to open her eyes before leaning forward and planting a small kiss on his cheek.

Orpheus turned his head and kissed her, sleep still lingering on him but wanting her just the same. He finally pulled away and smiled sleepily at her. "What time is it?" he asked groggily.

"It's…" Laura looked down at her wristwatch, then back at him. "Almost noon. I can go and meet you later if you want to go back to sleep." She offered with an amused smile, sliding a hand through his soft, light locks.

Orpheus kissed her again. "Mmhmm, no," he said as she ran her hand through his hair. "Stay." Not that he had much to offer her in his half awake condition but he wanted her close to him.

"Are you sure? You look tired." She traced her fingers gently on his cheek with her other hand, looking down at him with an admiring look.

Orpheus closed his eyes as she ran her hand over his cheek. "Stay," he said again softly. "NEWTs were tiring and stressful but I would rather be with you than alone right now." He opened his eyes at looked at her, his gaze gentle.

Laura gave a sweet smile, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "Some would say too stressful…" She added thoughtfully, remembering the many, many breakdown she'd witnessed from seventh years the past two weeks.

"I can help you relax?"

"You already are," Orpheus said as he went to sit up. However before he could his shoulder cracked, sending him back down onto the bed. "I guess my back is just a bit tense," he said with a bit of a groan.

Laura bit on her bottom lip, frowning in concern. She obviously didn't like seeing her boyfriend in pain.

Without thinking about it, or even asking for permission, she got up from her place on the floor and climbed the bed, and then staddled his waist (but made sure most of her weight was on her knees on the bed, not on his back). She grinned to herself and rubbed her hands together to warm them a bit, then placed them gently on his shoulders and began to rub in circular motions.

"Tony says I have magical hands."

At Laura's action of climbing on his bed Orpheus raised an eyebrow. However when she straddled his waist it wasn't an eyebrow that was being raised. He was about to ask her exactly what she planned to do when she began to rub his shoulders. The mention of her brother killed whatever horny notions he had been having which was probably all the better. "You massage Tony's back?" Orpheus asked before emitting a little sigh of pleasure. Not like this he hoped.

"Shoulders, back when we were younger." Laura smiled, applying a little more pressure with her thumb. She pressed it against his skin and slid it upward to meet her index finger, and at the same time, slowly moved her hands upward toward his shoulders.

"Oh," was all Orpheus could muster, his eyes slowly rolling back in his head. This was heavenly. "Tell me why we haven't done this before?"

"Because finals have rudely kept you too busy from me." Laura gave an overly dramatic sigh, but she was still grinning playfully. Her hands slid down his back slowly, found the hem of his shirt then slipped under it, touching his bare skin with tentative fingers.

Orpheus wriggled a little under the touch of her fingers. They brushed against his skin sending a shiver down his back. He awkwardly moved to unbutton the white shirt unsure if she wanted to take it off him or if she just wanted to touch him. Either way her hands on his skin was perfect. "Finals are all around awful. This summer should be a nice relaxing time for you. No school to worry about so you can occupy yourself with more fun things," he laughed.

Her hands were out of his shirt as soon as she'd noticed he was unbuttoning it, and instead they moved upwards to help him take it off, rather eagerly.

"Yes, definitely more fun things." She grinned and freed his arm from the shirt, then tossed it carelessly to the side. "What things do you have planned for your summer?" She asked softly, her hands returning to massage his bare back. But this time, she also leaned forward, making him feel her breath on his skin.

"Aside from seducing you, not many. Well you and work," he said lightly. Oh yes, seducing Laura was on the top of Orpheus' list. Especially right now. Her breath was nice and warm and her hands were soft. Orpheus smiled deviously to himself. He was a lucky man.

Laura let out a soft laugh, and leaned in to plan a small kiss on his back. "Oh my, you've had it all planned out already, huh?" Her hands were sliding down slowly, which made her sit back up for a moment. "I guess I better not go on vacation with my parents and spoil your plans."

"Yes, all planned," he said, suddenly not pleased that he was at a slight disadvantage. Laura was in control and Orpheus didn't know if he liked that. "Come stay with me when they go," he suggested. "Of course you can have the guest room," he added quickly, not wanting her to think the only reason he wanted her to come was so he could shag her. "I won't even make you sleep on the floor."

Laura laughed again, though she was a bit surprised he'd ask her to stay with him. Pleasantly surprised, of course. "Oh, you know I'd love to, but I don't think my parents will allow it, even if I have a bed and my own room, not the floor." She kept working her hands on his back as she spoke, determined to make him feel better.

"Well what if you tell them Klio will be there?" Orpheus suggested, liking the idea of her staying with him in London even better. "And Alecto is going to be there for about a week before she gets settled into her new place so you could mention that too. Over to the left a little."

Her hands moved automatically to the left, and Laura remained silent for a few moments to contemplate his words. "If Klio does stay there, I think I can convince them. Why is Alecto staying, though? You haven't mentioned this before."

"She has a job in London now. But her living arrangements weren't settled yet so she asked if I wouldn't mind if she stayed with me. I don't of course. I'm not even home often anyway so she has the place to herself." Orpheus was quiet for a minute. "If you're thinking about her and me then I have to say that you're mistaken, Laura," he finally said, his face set in a slight frown.

"I wasn't thinking about you and her like that. I know she's dating the head boy…" Laura trailed off, frowning as well. She wasn't jealous- she couldn't be jealous… It just wasn't like her. "I was just curious, that's all."

Orpheus was quiet for a long time while she kept massaging his back, a lot of different things running through his mind. "I don't want anyone but you Laura," he said eventually. If she could come this summer to visit him he could show her that.

Laura blushed furiously at his statement, not able to hold back a grin, and leaned forward again to kiss the back of his neck. It meant a lot to hear him say that, even more than she could ever think it would.

Orpheus rolled over slowly keeping Laura on top of him. He looked up at her and smiled, tucking her hair behind her ear before kissing her. "Ask you parents about it," he said at last when their lips weren't occupied.

"Mmhm." Laura nodded and kissed him again, placing her hands on the pillow on each side of his head to deepen the kiss. She had missed him too bloody much, and she knew she wouldn't be able to take it if she didn't see him at all in the summer, she knew she had to convince her father no matter what.

Orpheus kissed her again a few more times before he felt his drowsiness returning. He adjusted his position on his bed and put his arms around her waist. Orpheus pulled her closer and took in a deep breath of orange and vanilla before yawning deeply.

Laura had no idea that she was going to sleep in Orpheus' bed anytime soon, but he was tired and he wanted her to stay, so it seemed like the best solution. Smiling slightly, she moved off of him and laid next to him instead, leaving one hand to move gently on his bare chest. "You can sleep if you want."

Orpheus smiled, his eyes drowsy. "I won't hurt you," he said softly into her hair. Again he yawned and hugged her close, nestling his head closer to her.

"I know you won't. I trust you more than anyone." Laura whispered, nuzzling into his neck to get as close to him as possible.

"Luff you," he half murmured and with a deep sigh Orpheus drifted off to sleep.

Laura's breath got caught in her lungs for a few moments, and her eyes blinked rapidly in astonishment. Sure, he hadn't said the proper 'I love you', but it meant a lot just a same. Laura relaxed even more in his arms, grinning madly. He luffed her.