A/N: Please be aware that this installment has some CiD (Couples-in-Distress) content. Just thought I'd give you all a head-up, as I know it's a sticking point for some. Still, hope you enjoy!
Private Tutoring: A Kinky Hogwarts Story
Chapter 2 – The Second Prisoner
“Mmmpppgghh…” When Cho regained consciousness, she did so in fits and starts, the drug Tonks used potent enough that it relinquished its hold on her only grudgingly, her thoughts refusing to reignite. Through that lingering haze, brief hints of sensation filtered into the beautiful Ravenclaw’s mind: the feel of stout ropes about her lithe figure, how they creaked with every slight movement, the squeak of leather, the awful taste of something sticky sealing her mouth.
But nothing of sight. Only darkness greeted Cho as she came awake, and fear took hold, burning away the last of her drowsiness as she attempted to rise from the cold stone floor. “Mmmpggghh?” Her limbs… tight bands of pressure held them fast, rendering them clumsy, useless, hands reaching out and touching nothing. She’d been tied up. Tonks had actually tied her up, and the certainty she’d displayed in agreeing to Tonks’ request shattered like glass at the firsthand sensation of being left bound and gagged and utterly helpless. An instant later, the panic set in, sending her heart pounding and a frightened scream escaping the stifling confines of the gag. “Mmmppggghh!” Like a worm on the hook, the beautiful Chinese girl writhed in her bondage, fears deepening as the knots held firm. “MMMPGGGHHHH!”
And in that instant before terror completely devoured her, with the safeword on the tip of her tongue, Cho’s pride, such as it was, reared up inside her soul like some wounded beast, savage and scornful, to jolt her back to her senses. Enough, you pathetic, witless girl! Do you honestly think falling apart is going to make this any easier? You’re a Ravenclaw, for Merlin’s sake, so start acting like it! Breathe! Focus! Assess!
Instinct took over, and Cho felt rather than heard herself take her first shuddering breath. Though she doubted Dr. Haywood’s breathing exercises were ever intended to be employed while she was bound and gagged, they nevertheless served their purpose, and bit by bit, the tide of fear ebbed away, leaving her thoughts sharp and clear.
And full of self-loathing. Yet again, she’d allowed her emotions to get the better of her, the inner strength she’d worked so hard to develop since Cedric’s death proving hollow and brittle in the face of any real pressure. How pathetic are you when a mere training exercise is too much to bear? Cho castigated herself inwardly. That it had only been a moment’s weakness brought on by the shock of waking from her drugged slumber was no defense. Ginny certainly wouldn’t have succumbed, nor would Hermione, for they both possessed the sort of resolve that Cho could never hope to match, only envy. Indeed, she was convinced most of her female classmates would have handled it better, and the knowledge she’d failed yet again to live up to the high standards she set for herself sent the Ravenclaw’s spirits sinking even further. You really are the perfect damsel, Cho; pretty and pathetic and useless. Just a scared, stupid, helpless little girl who can’t hack it when things get rough. No wonder Harry decided he was better off without you.
Perhaps he was right to do so. Perhaps there was nothing to her but tears and insecurities and a fragile spirit that fell apart at the slightest touch, no matter how much she pretended otherwise. But as bad as it had been to give into her fears, refusing to make up for that lapse would only compound her shame, and worse still, disappoint Tonks after all the kindness and respect the older woman had shown her. That was all the spur Cho needed. Fresh conviction emerging in her soul, she set about assessing her bondage, each restraint methodically examined in turn by a mind both sharp and eager to make up for her previous failings, and bit by bit, the full picture of how Tonks had secured her was revealed.
First, her arms. Two coils kept them bound securely behind her back with what felt like square knots, one looped about her wrists so that her hands were pressed flat against one another, palm to palm, the other keeping her elbows locked tight. Slender fingers curled back, seeking a convenient knot to pick and finding nothing. Cho knew little of bondage beyond some old adventure novels or poetry she’d read in the past, yet in those stories, there was usually some description of the beautiful damsel being further secured by a length of rope encircling her body beneath her breasts, so that her upper arms remained pinned to her sides… a restraint that was conveniently missing here. An oversight on Tonks’ part? A deliberate flaw she intended for Cho to recognize and make use of? Or perhaps she’d simply considered it redundant, for as it stood, Cho’s arms had been rendered into a single ungainly limb, the ropes holding fast as she flexed her wrists. This also had the side effect of pulling her shoulders back and thrusting her perfect breasts forward, and despite herself, Cho couldn’t help but blush at the latter fact. Stay focused. Your assessment isn’t done.
Her legs were next. Three coils bound them at the ankles, thighs and below the knees, each one snug against her body through her nylons and boots. That squeaking noise she’d heard had come from the latter, as the fine black leather garments rubbed against one another in her struggles. Like with the ropes binding her arms, these too failed to budge as she squirmed about, though Cho was quick to notice her ankles had been bound side by side rather than crossed, meaning she might be able to hop about if necessary. Assuming she could ever get to her feet in the first place. Or even know where to go…
The lack of sight wasn’t helping that issue, but at the very least she knew the cause now. In her panicked disorientation, a part of her had feared she’d been rendered truly blind, but thankfully, that had proved an overreaction. Instead, a blindfold of shaped leather covered the upper half of her face, shrouding her soft brown eyes and leaving her in darkness. Grunting, Cho gave a sharp shake of her head. Nothing; the buckle drawn tight at the back of her head remained secure, the leather snug and unmoving against her silken skin.
Finally, there was the gag. “Mmppgghhh…” she offered an experimental cry, the sound feeble in her ears. “Mmmpgggghhh!” came her full-throated scream, again blunted by what felt like a firm sponge shoved into her mouth. Makeshift though the gag might be, it was still effective, and despite her best efforts, Cho could not force it out, thanks to the thin, sticky material banded over her lower face from cheek to cheek. Spellotape, maybe? Whatever it was, it kept her pouty lips sealed and the sponge in place, and ensured any would-be rescuer would have extremely close by to hear her cries for help.
And there was certainly no guarantee of that. Cho had no reason to believe Tonks lied about keeping her prisoner inside the school grounds, but that was still a vast area to search, made even more difficult by both the castle’s shifting layout and its many secrets. The Room of Requirement was just scratching the surface of what Hogwarts concealed, for there were any number of hidden chambers scattered throughout the castle, some connected via secret passageways, some shielded by magical wards or disguised entrances, a few made manifest on a whim by the castle’s magic or erased just as quickly. Indeed, over the centuries, entire sublevels had been forgotten, rediscovered by adventurous students then lost again to history once they graduated and moved on with their lives. Even the Marauder’s Map needed to tap into the castle’s network of wards to ensure it remained accurate, at least as far as she could determine. No single individual could claim to be familiar with every single solitary inch of Hogwarts, and it seemed entirely likely that wherever the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was holding her, it was a bolthole only she knew about. For her part, the blindfold meant Cho had few clues to work with. The feel of stone beneath her, cold and smooth to the touch, probably meant she was somewhere in the castle proper, while the lack of any draft or breeze suggested that her prison lacked windows, but otherwise, she was quite literally left in the dark.
One thing at a time. The fear was gone now, her bondage no longer a source of blinding terror. Rather, it had morphed into yet another problem for Cho to solve, no different than a complicated incantation or high-level potion recipe; difficult, but hardly insurmountable.
And to be a Ravenclaw was to solve difficult problems…
Her arms were the key. Undo the ropes securing them, and the rest of her bondage would swiftly follow. “Mmmpgghh…” Cho moaned softly as she strained against her restraints, finely woven cords creaking in answer yet holding firm. Again she reached out in hopes of finding the knot securing her wrist bonds, and again was left disappointed. That she’d not received any detailed, proper instruction in escape techniques from Tonks was no surprise, for even from their limited interactions, it was clear the DADA professor felt her students learned best by doing, and delighted seeing how they dealt with the unexpected. Cho’s struggles persisted, lithe body flexing beneath the close-fitting sweater. Just keep at it. If she worked at them long enough, sooner or later, the ropes had to give way… “Mmmppggghhh!”
And then, from out of the darkness, a new variable made itself known, throwing her careful, deliberate assessment to the winds.
For a second gagged voice, a man’s voice, sounded at the ragged edges of her hearing. “Mmmpgghh?”
“Mmppggghh!” Cho cried out in answer, heart skipping a beat from sheer surprise. Dark hair swirled about her as she cocked her head about, trying to determine exactly where it was coming from, silently cursing the blindfold all the while. “Mmmppgghh, mmppgghh?”
“Mmpppggghh!”
There, behind her, at least ten feet. Tucking in her long, booted legs, Cho awkwardly shuffled over in that direction as quickly as her bonds would permit, uttering an even chorus of grunts and shouts in hopes of leading her fellow prisoner towards her. As she did, the Ravenclaw naturally began considering this latest twist to the exercise. She should have expected the second hostage to be imprisoned beside her; Tonks had mentioned the importance of working together, and they couldn’t do that if held at opposite ends of the castle. That it was a man was more surprising, for though there were a good few male students in the university-level DADA class, on some level, Cho had just assumed she’d be partnered up with another woman-- Hermione, perhaps, or Susan Bones, witches of unquestionable reliability. Perhaps it’s Neville? Cho considered. Half of the female university class worshipped the humble Gryffindor from afar and sighed as he passed, and while not among their number, Cho still respected him as a capable and responsible wizard, just the sort she could rely on in this situation. He’d be a better choice than Ronald Weasley, at least; she and the redhead had never really gotten along, and she had no intention of remaining a captive simply because they were too busy quarreling about the choice of professional Quidditch team.
Of course, there were other possibilities, including one so remote she dared not consider it for fear of yet more disappointment…
The feel of a warm, muscular arm pressed against her back interrupted her musings, and with a start, Cho realized that they’d bumped into each other. “Mmmpgghh, mmmppggghh?” her fellow prisoner called out again. There was no determining who it was by sound alone, not while he doubtless remained thoroughly gagged just as she was.
That mystery could wait, for there was an opportunity here. Swiftly, the Chinese beauty pivoted about so they were back-to-back, elbows bumping against one another, while slender, dexterous fingers strained towards what she hoped were his wrists. If she’d guessed right… “Mmmpgghh?” No, stop moving around! “Mmppggghhh!” Cho shouted in frustration, and moved to seize his arms, warm flesh pulsing beneath the familiar texture of a Hogwarts sweater. To his credit, the second hostage seemed to realize what she intended, and his struggles ceased, giving her the chance to trace the path of his arm down towards his wrists and feel the touch of smooth ropes… secured tightly by a square knot, much like her own. Tonks did tie us up identically. It made sense. Why change what already worked? There was no chance of untying herself, for the DADA Professor had done well in tucking the knots away where Cho could not reach them, and no doubt her fellow prisoner faced a similar obstacle.
Yet even if they could not undo their own bonds, perhaps they could undo each other’s…
You can do this. You’re a Seeker, after all-- reaching out and grasping a small target should be no problem for you. And don’t worry about being blindfolded either. Anything can be undone, given enough time and effort, so stay patient and keep at it.
And don’t you dare even think about giving up.
So motivated, Cho once again reached out behind her, a few moments searching by touch leading her back to the square knot securing the other prisoner’s wrists. Evenly trimmed nails bit into the cords, tugging away, yet Tonks’ ropework proved resilient as ever. Undeterred, Cho persisted, a steady rhythm of soft grunts seeping their way through the tape sealing her lips. For his part, the second hostage seemed content to remain still while she continued her labours, for which she was very thankful, as this was difficult enough without having him squirm around and out of her reach.
And after what felt like an eternity of struggle, the Ravenclaw beauty felt the knot begin to loosen, a slender finger slipping into the gap left by the slackening cords and tugging as if her life depended on it. Bit by bit, the ropes succumbed to her efforts, and the other hostage now stirred himself, flexing his wrists to hasten the process, until at last Cho heard the coils fall upon stone, and a triumphant shout erupted past his gag. “Mmmpggghh!” Moments later, she felt his free hands scrabbling over her own bonds, strong and warm and rather pleasant to the touch, and only the need to repay him for his earlier patience kept her from shuddering in unexpected delight. It took him longer than she had to undo the bonds, but eventually, she was rubbing her now free wrists, before once again seizing his arms to still them.
For now came the truly difficult part. Grunting in exertion, Cho squirmed about so that she was kneeling on the floor, her long booted legs tucked beneath her and her back straight. She took a few deep breaths to steady herself, then stretched her arms as far back and up as they would reach. His elbow bonds were there, somewhere in the darkness behind her, and she forced herself to ignore the discomfort in her shoulder blades as she searched again by touch, leveraging every last bit of flexibility she possessed to the hunt. As before, the other prisoner thankfully remained still, and after a few minutes of determined searching, she found this new knot, and once again set about trying to undo it. It would have been easier if the other prisoner was lying down on the floor, for there’d be far less of a strain on her arms, but Cho discarded the notion. She was committed now, the gag made it impossible to communicate that idea, and between the blindfold and bonds, there was too great a risk of having him fall over and hurt himself. Better she bore the pain than anyone else.
For no one else should have to suffer for her mistakes, ever again.
Cho held onto that thought as the minutes passed and the ache in her shoulders grew, spurring her to greater haste, yet the ropes stubbornly refused to cooperate. “Mmmpggghhh!” she let out a frustrated groan, sweat trickling down her brow to stain the blindfold. Fingers hooked onto the knot, slipped away, found it again, tugged and pulled and jerked. The strain was beginning to tell now, and with it came a growing anger that inspired her to push through the pain. “Mmmppggghhh! Mmppggghhh!” She was sick of failing, of being found wanting, of always being disappointed in herself, of letting down the people she cared for, and she took out that anger on the ropes, finally finding a measure of purchase on the knot and tearing away at it with all her might. “MMMMPGGGHGHH!”
Then as the ropes began to slacken, Cho’s grip slipped once more, and she pitched forward so that she was bent double, fatigue finally winning out and leaving her lithe, athletic figure trembling. “Mmmppgghh…” I don’t have time for this! she screamed inwardly. They only had until nightfall to try and escape, and she had no idea how long they’d been unconscious or what other challenges Tonks would put in their way, so she could hardly afford to be delayed by her own frailties. Keep at it, damn you. You promised you wouldn’t give up, so keep at it! Yet her body betrayed her. Try as she might, she could not raise her arms for another attempt, the muscles at her shoulders aflame, chest heaving from her exertions, and she had no idea how long she remained there, helpless and despairing. I can’t fail again! I won’t!
And once again, everything changed in the space of a heartbeat.
For the hands that had brought such pleasure with their touch gently nudged Cho on her upper arms, and an intimately familiar voice sounded quietly from out of the enshrouding darkness. “Hold still for a moment, Cho. I’ll see if I can get this off you.”
Fatigue was gone now. Pain was gone. All that was left was the shock, keeping Cho rigid and compliant as the buckle securing her blindfold was unclasped.
No way. It can’t be…
And then the veil enshrouding Cho’s chocolate-brown eyes lifted away, leaving her staring into a pair of green ones, bright and clever and instantly recognizable, even without the glasses they normally peered through. Even then, there was no mistaking his famous scar, nor the way her heart pounded with nervous desire when she stared at him.
He’d always had that effect on her, after all…
“Thanks for getting my arms loose,” Harry Potter expressed, the offending coils tossed aside to lie with the sodden remains of his gag. His legs remained bound, but the Boy Who Lived was entirely focused on her, and Cho couldn’t help but shiver at being the focus of that attention. “Time I returned the favour…”