Dean, dressed only in a towel, gave a squawk when Alicia walked out of the fireplace. He bolted into his bedroom and pulled the door closed.  "Sorry you had to see that!  I'll be out in just a mo'."  As he pulled on his boxers, he asked, "Are you early, or am I running late?"

Alicia smirked as she perused his fridge, finding it rather empty. "I'd say I was right on time, Dean, darling.  Nothing I haven't seen before, doll.  Albeit, not on such a good looking man."  She chuckled, expecting a shoe or something to fly out at her, but grinned when she received no stunning blows to the head.  She strolled over to the mantle and perused the artwork there.  He'd done so much with it, and she couldn't help but feel proud.  She came to the pictures of her Yoga class and sighed.  Merlin but I miss them.  And there was a picture he'd done of Ginny.   I must look her up soon...  Her eyes found the painting he'd done of her.  How he'd made her look so... alluring, she'd never be able to discover.

Back in his room, Dean cursed under his breath.  The rest of his clothes were still laid out on the couch.  Alright, Thomas, he thought.  Just bite the bullet and go out there.  It's not as if she's going to throw you down on the couch and shag...  Dean shook his head.  Let's not go there.  That way lies madness.

Opening the door, he crossed over to the couch.  As he tugged on his slacks, he said, "Sorry again.  I'm not usually this much of an exhibitionist."  Dean smiled suddenly.  "And 'Nothing I haven't seen before'?  Isn't that supposed to be my line?"  He pulled on his socks, and began searching for his shoes. 

"Be nice to me and you can see again." Alicia smirked. "You know I'll sit for you whenever.  Thanks for doing this with me, by the way.  It's sweet of you."  She grinned evilly. "Not so sweet of me but then, when have I ever been sweet?"  She stopped herself from trailing a hand along his chest.  Now that's an intriguing natural instinct...  bare chested men suddenly make you want to put your hands on them?  She shook her head and grinned at him, "As far as being an exhibitionist, I think I have that role, out of the two of us.  Are you ready?"  She gave him a once over as he finally got his fitted brown jumper on.  "You look good."

"So do you.  Downright edible, in fact - perfect for what we're doing today"  He paused for a moment.  "At least you can get away with being an exhibitionist." He smirked. "Any man not dead or gay would love to attend that exhibit.  Unfortunately, some of us can't make that claim."  He offered her his arm.  "Shall we?"

Alicia grinned, a slight blush tinting her cheeks. "Thanks Dean, you sure know what to say to make a girl feel special.  And we shall," she said, giving him a sort of side hug as she took his arm.  With a soft pop they were in front of the Ministry of Magic.  They entered, receiving their "Visiting Cormac McLaggen" badges, and made their way to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Stepping off the lift, they made their way through the cramped maze of cubicles.  After a few close calls with flying interoffice memos, they finally reached his door - Cormac J. McLaggen, Undersecretary.

Dean stopped, and signaled Alicia to do the same.  "Alright.  You remember the plan, yeah?"  She nodded.  "Just remember - if I go off-script, just go with it."  He put his arm around her waist.  "Ready?"  Alicia nodded again, giggling slightly.

Strolling up to the secretary's desk, Alicia smiled at the girl, leaning into Dean, slightly.  "Hi, Hildi," she smiled, reading the nameplate.  "I'm Alicia Spinnet, and this is Dean Thomas.  We came to visit Cormac, just to drop off a present.  And, because we know our friend Cory can get a bit touchy when he's working long hours," she looked concerned for the girl, then smiled, "We brought you some flowers to brighten your day."

Blushing slightly, Hildi reached for the flowers.  "Thank you, Miss Spinnet, how very kind of you.  So you two are friends of Mr. McLaggen?"  She paused for a moment.  "He asked not to be disturbed, but I'm sure he'd want to see his friends and he has been terribly busy."  She smiled and said, "Why don't you two just head on in and surprise him, then?" 

"Thank you so very much.  We don't see each other very often, and tend to be a bit boisterous when we do, so for the sake of your ears you might want to take a break for a bit.  Maybe an hour or so?" Dean said with a bright smile.

"I do have a few errands to run, Mr. Thomas.  I'll let you three catch up," she said.  Gathering her purse, Hildi left the office, closing the door behind her.

Alicia smiled at Hildi's retreating form. "That went well," she  said quietly.  The two friends strolled to the door, and with a deep breath, Alicia pushed open the door, and walked in ahead of Dean.  "Hi, Cormac," her voice was practically a purr, and she smirked at his crowded desk, pushing aside thoughts of visiting him under different circumstances and clearing those piles; thoughts where Dean was not with her, and she was not trying to make him regret being a toerag.

Er...this can't be good, Cormac thought.  Rising from his chair with a look of trepidation on his face, Cormac waved Alicia and Dean further into his office.  "Hi, Alicia.  It's nice to see you again."  He looked towards Dean.  "Thomas, it's been awhile, hasn't it?"  Gesturing towards the two chairs in front of his desk, he said, "Please, have a seat."

Alicia smiled sweetly at Cormac, and sat in the chair he'd offered.  "Indeed, Cormac.  It's been a while, however, it's always a pleasure."  She paused, and looked at Dean.  "We just wanted to pop by and brighten your day, as we know how hard you've been working lately.  Lots to do in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement...  And with all those witches we hear tell that you entertain."  She smirked, and leaned forward slightly, knowing that her v-neck jumper was not exactly hiding anything, and placed her chin on her hand.  "We have a gift for you. Right Dean?  He was kind enough to help me with it.  Dean's wonderfully... talented."

"I'm afraid you've been misinformed, Alicia.  I've been quite busy at the office lately, as I'm sure you can see," he said, while motioning to the mess that was his desk. "You brought me a gift?" A vat of Bubotuber pus, no doubt. 

"Well, if the rumors of your entertainment are exaggerated, then you'll appreciate the gift all the more, won't he, Dean?"  Alicia turned to the man seated beside her, and placed a hand on his arm.  "Would you like to give it to him?"

"I'd be honored, love", Dean replied, giving her thigh a quick squeeze - very high on her thigh.  "Ali thought that since you spend so much of your time tied to this dreary little office, you might appreciate a splash of color just to brighten things up a bit."  Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a tiny parcel and his wand.  With a flick of his wand, the parcel enlarged into a rather large painting.  As Dean passed it over the desk to Cormac, he continued.  "She came up with something that she was sure you could... appreciate."   He paused, then added with a  truly evil smirk, "Merlin knows I did."  Dean leaned back into his chair, his hand resting again on Alicia's leg.

How do I get myself into these situations?  Trying to hide his grimace, Cormac reached for the painting, tearing the brown paper off of it, pausing when a large section of the middle of the portrait was revealed. Both of his eyebrows shot up as he realized exactly what he was unwrapping.  Tearing the rest of the packaging off, a beautifully bare Alicia Spinnet was revealed in a rather...tantalizing pose.  Trying not to swallow his tongue at what he was seeing, he cleared his throat and reached for his glass of brandy, taking a large drink.  "So, Thomas. You painted this?"  From a photo, no doubt. "It's a rather nice likeness, although, I'm afraid I've never seen it first hand."  He looked towards Alicia and winked.  "Quite lovely, indeed."




"I had to hold that pose for hours, but Dean certainly made it worth my while."  She smiled sweetly at Cormac, and held his gaze steadily, "And I thought, 'Cormac is a man who should know what he's missed out on.'  I'm so glad you like it though, Dean worked so hard to meet my standards."

Grinning, Cormac stood up and carried the picture to the side of his desk, and leaned it against the wall where it was in plain sight of them all.  "I'm very flattered that you would go to such lengths to satisfy me, Alicia.  How thoughtful, really.  I hope you didn't put yourself out."  He sat back in his chair, and looking towards Dean he said, "And what a good friend you are, aren't you? Gryffindor to the very end."

"Actually, I was in quite a Slytherin mood when we... got together, for this little project,"  Dean smirked as he slowly stroked Ali's leg from the knee almost to her waist, "Snakes definitely came to mind, anyway.  And I'm glad you appreciate my efforts as much as Ali does.  All I can say is that it was a pleasure.  Granted, we had to go at it for hours, but what can I say?  I was inspired."  Dean's smile turned more than a bit evil.  "I'm just glad I was able to... fulfill all of her requirements."

Ouch.  Although, they probably got all sentimental and talked about their feelings, too, while they were at it.  "Yes, well, apparently inspiration comes easy to you, Thomas."  Of course how the sodding wanker got in her bed quicker than I could, I'd love to know.  Clearing his throat again, Cormac managed, "Thank you for the smashing gift, Alicia.  I'd love to sit here and further ruminate over how and why this portrait came to be, but I am terribly busy.  Do see yourselves out?"

Dean stood, and helped Ali up from hers. "Of course.  We'll leave you to your cramping hands - all those forms in triplicate, simply awful.  I'd also like to thank you for the praise, and for the opportunity to get... reacquainted with Ali.  If not for you, we'd probably be veritable strangers still."  Dean smiled.  "And inspiration does come, but not quickly... and rarely just once.  It reminds me of something Thomas Edison once said: "Invention is one percent inspiration, and 99 percent perspiration.  Good day, Cormac."  Dean wrapped an arm around Alicia's waist and asked, "Shall we, love?"

"Indeed," Alicia bit her lip, and then turned back to Cormac. "Ta, Cory.  I do hope that we'll have occasion to chat again."  She grinned, and walked with Dean to the door, turning towards him in thanks as he opened it for her.

Looking down at Alicia's upturned face, Dean had a sudden flash of inspiration.  This ought to drive him totally bugfuck... provided Ali doesn't hex my goolies off, he thought.

Alicia stiffened slightly as Dean grasped her hip and pulled her against him. While his other hand tangled itself in her hair, Dean leaned down and brushed his lips lightly across hers once... twice, before he felt Ali begin to relax in his arms.  He kissed her again, exploring her lips with soft nibbling kisses, tugging at Alicia's bottom lip with his teeth as they parted for a moment.  Dean pressed Alicia gently into the doorframe as his lips descended on hers once more.  Perhaps this wasn't such a good idea, he thought a bit dazedly as he felt her return his kisses with growing enthusiasm.  Oh, hell.  In for a penny, in for a pound.  He deepened the kiss, caressing the seam of Ali's lips with his tongue.  Her mouth opened under his, and rational thought was swept away.  Dean moaned deep in his chest and fisted his hand in her hair as he felt Alicia's nails dig into his shoulder.  As the kisses grew more heated Dean used his free hand to lift Ali's leg, which she promptly used to pull him even closer.  She gasped as their hips met, and their kisses became frantic.  Dean slowly trailed his hand along the underside of her thigh. He caressed her bum under her skirt for a moment, then used his grip to pull her even harder into him.  She began grinding her hips into his. The low moan she gave was possibly the most erotic thing he'd ever heard, and as her head lolled back he began to kiss her pulse.

Reality finally intruded when an interoffice memo whacked him in the side of the head on it's way through the door.  Dean reluctantly released Alicia and took a small step back.  Taking a shaky breath, he pasted a smile onto his face and turned to Cormac.  "Sorry about the spectacle, Cormac, but just look at her!  I just couldn't not, you know?"  His smile became a bit more genuine as he added, "And if you ever want a similar artwork commissioned, you will keep me in mind, won't you?  I do so love the work."  Dean and Alicia left, closing the door behind them.

Obliviate me, please. Shaking his head as if that would help him forget what had just transpired, Cormac hollered, "Hildi! Hildi!  Get in here-now!"

Damn it, Dean.  That was not helpful.  I mean, the look on Cormac's face was...  But...damn.  I wasn't supposed to leave this exercise wanting to shag you.  Hell, you're my friend. But then, there was Fred...  But that was different! I'm not supposed to want Dean that way at all...  I'll deal with this later... I have to go flying.  I can't think about this now. "Well," Alicia spoke finally, after the door shut behind them, "I have Quidditch.  I'll owl you...  We'll hang out...  Or you can owl me, if you'd rather...  Gods, I'm sorry about this, Dean."  With that apology for what she was about to do, she walked away, not quite fast enough to be called fleeing, but fleeing nonetheless.

Dean's shoulders slumped as he watched her all but sprint away.  Damnit, damnit, damnit!  What the hell were you thinking, Thomas?  She fucking trusted you, and how do you repay her?  She asked you to help her, for God's sake - not to molest her!    He scowled.  And all you can think about, you bastard, is how she smelled.  How she tasted.  How fucking good she felt against you... How you're tempted to run after her, tear off that skirt and fu...  Dean sighed and hid his face in his hands.

"I am a bad, bad man."