Hey guys, here's another chapter. It's almost done, but once it's done I can concentrate on my other fics. I'm probably going to my ranch this weekend, and I plan on bringing my laptop with me so I can write on my spare time. So look for an update on Four of Hearts on Sunday nightJ
Chapter 14
It was finally Harry's birthday and the four of them were all over at Janey's house. Her parents were out of town again and Janey gave their butler the day off and told him that they didn't need to be served or pampered. They were going to hang out and behave like normal teenagers.
They ordered pizza, downed Dr. Pepper and Coke. They hung out in the playroom and Janey taught them how to play pool and Ping-Pong. Sometimes, Ron hit the ball a little too hard; which almost caused an injury when Harry nearly dodged the small ball that flew right at his head.
"I think I'll stay with the pinball machine," Ron said as he set down his paddle. "More safe."
"I think that's wise," Harry muttered.
They eventually went back to the den and Janey motioned Hermione into the kitchen and together they brought out the cake, singing Happy Birthday to Harry. "I'm getting a cake?" he said thunderstruck. "Wow....Janey, you went all out."
"Whatever, I bought it at the bakery....now blow out your candles."
Harry shook his head and then blew out all his candles in one breath. Ron tried to snag a piece, but Janey slapped his hand away telling him the birthday boy gets the first piece. "It's tradition," she said to him when he gave her a scowl.
After they munched on the cake they brought out his presents for him to open. Ron told him he left his gift at home, but would give it to him later, which told Harry he couldn't give his gift to him in front of Janey. "No problem, Ron," he said giving him a quick look of understanding.
"Well, here's mine," Janey said as she gave him a gold back with white tissue paper spilling out of the top.
Harry took it. "Janey, you didn't have to give me anything."
"Of course I did," she said seriously. "Harry, I've never had friends before and you were the first one who was ever nice to you, and because of you I met Hermione and Ron of course. I owe you everything."
Getting shy he casually brushed it off. "It was nothing, really...but thanks." He then reached out and grabbed a heavy book and pulled it out. "Oh...wow, Janey," he said as he looked at the book with beautiful painting of lily pads on the front and the title of the book was. "The World of Painting."
"Hermione told me that you were into painting and drawing," she said with a slight smile. "I thought you might like it....it's paintings from all kinds of famous artists. The one on the front is a Monet."
"It's great," he said as he began to skim through it. "It's perfect." He smiled at her and set it aside so he could sit up and give her a hug. "Thanks."
"No problem," she smiled as she returned it, then sat back next to Ron.
"Here's mine," Hermione said as she gave him a small wrapped box.
"Thanks baby," he grinned as he took the present and then slowly began to unwrap it to reveal a white box. He opened it and slowly pulled out a silver and gold pocket watch that dangled from a chain. It had age to it, but that's what made it so unique and beautiful. "Hermione...."
"It was my dad's," she said when he watched him study it. "My grandfather gave it to my mom and told her to give it to the man he loved, so of she gave it to my dad. She then gave it to me to do the same."
Harry looked over at her stunned and noticed that she was slightly turning pink with embarrassment. "Mione....this is....I...I'm speechless."
"Well, at least tell me if you like it," she said nervously.
Harry grinned. "I love it," he said as he reached over and brought her over for a kiss. "I absolutely love it." He placed the pocket watch back in the box so he could cup her face and kiss her more tenderly and thoroughly.
"Yeah, other people in the room here," Ron reminded them even though he was smiling. It was a sweet moment, he almost didn't want to ruin it. But it was getting awkward.
"Sorry," Harry apologized and then whispered to Hermione that they'd finish it later tonight.
"Come on, guys," Janey said as he patted Ron's leg. "Let's go for a swim...Hermione you can come up and change in my room...guys take any guest bedroom you want."
"We'll meet you back down here," Harry said as he stood up as well.
Fifteen minutes later, the four of them were back in their favorite spot. The hot tub. The girls took their original spot on their boyfriends' laps as the guys had their arms around the girls' waist. "Anybody wanna play a game?" Janey asked with a grin. "There's this game I always saw people play on my school grounds but....of course I never got to play."
Ron rested her chin on her shoulder. "What game is that?"
She turned her head to the side and grinned against his ear. "The kissing game."
Ron's head lifted up. "The kissing game? What's the kissing game? Sounds very intriguing...and fun."
"I'll say," Harry said. "Does it involve us?"
"Of course....it's a contest."
"Contest?" Hermione asked. "What do you mean?"
"It's pretty self explainatory. We kiss at the same time....first person who pulls away....loses."
Harry and Ron both dropped their jaws. "Wow," Harry said.
"Bloody Hell," Ron said as a smile spread across his face. "That's the best game I ever heard of."
"Here, here," Harry said and gave Hermione a squeeze. "Well, Mione and I make a good team."
"Okay then," Janey said as she turned around on Ron's lap. "On the count of three."
Hermione grinned as she turned around as well, straddling his lap. She shared a smile with Harry as she placed her hands on his shoulders and waited for the go.
"One....two.....kiss!"
Harry and Ron both yanked Hermione and Janey down for the longest kiss yet. The game had begun.
Harry and Hermione kissed slowly, taking their time trying not to push. Harry would peek an eye open to glance at Ron, making sure they were still going at it. They were all right and Ron decided to play nasty and splash them, trying to break their contact. Harry just splashed back as Hermione muffled a yelp against Harry's mouth, but never broke contact. Finally, Harry was running out of air and broke contact then turned to look at Ron and Janey who were also apart, looking back at them.
"Who broke first?" Ron asked out of breath.
"It was a tie," Janey said with a giggle. "I saw out of the corner of my eyes."
"A tie?" Harry groaned. "All right, tie breaker?"
"You're on," Ron said getting competitive.
"No, no, I'm done," Hermione said as she crawled off Harry's lap. "I will not be used to prove who's more manly."
"Oh, come on Mione," Harry pleaded.
"I'm also out," Janey said. "It was a tie, fair and square."
"Fine," Ron grumbled as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. "One more month," he whispered sadly into her ear.
Hermione smiled sadly at the two and decided it was best to give them some time alone. "Come on, Harry, let's go in the pool."
Harry stood up without questioning, because he knew she wanted to leave them alone and so did he. Hermione slid over the barrier that separated the pool and the hot tub and Harry followed soon after. He playfully grabbed her and dunked her underwater with his body and she came up laughing and then pushed his head back under. They flirted for a bit, splashing and dunking each other, before Hermione finally surrendered and swam into his arms. "Happy birthday, Harry," she said before she kissed him sweetly on the lips.
He smiled softly and then led her through the water. "Come on," he said as he pulled her under the waterfall where they had their first kiss. "I've wanted to get you back under here," he whispered as they both sunk low into the water. Harry was on his knees and Hermione's legs and arms were wrapped around him. "Nice and private," she said as her fingers began to play with his damp hair.
"My thoughts exactly," he said and then leaned down and touched his lips to hers...softly and gently, taking it all in. He lifted a hand out of the water to cup the side of her face. He swept his thumb across her cheek as he tilted his head and slowly slipped his tongue between the seam of her lips, bringing his other arm around her waist so he could pull her closer. Her limbs were wrapped tightly around him, desperately clinging to him so she could get as close to him as she could. She returned his kiss with the same lazy pace and kept up with him when he decided to turn it up a notch. She moaned urgently when she felt the change, gripping his hair in tight clutches with her fist.
"Mione," he whispered urgently against her lips. He left her mouth and kissed the corner of it, then trailed open mouth kisses down her neck. Water beads melted in his mouth as he made his way over to the soft spot below her ear. He felt her shudder under his touch and loved knowing that he had the power to make her respond to him.
A hand below the surface massaged the small of her back and slowly began to make its way up, stopping at the knotted bow of her top. His fingers fiddled with the knot and Hermione let out a surprise gasp. He pulled away immediately. "I...I'm sorry," he flustered. "I got carried away...I wasn't thinking..."
Hermione smiled softly as she framed his face, forcing his worried eyes to look at her. "Harry," she said and kissed him. "I'm only sorry that you stopped."
Harry's stomach dropped to his knees and a lump the size of a Quaffle appeared in his throat. He swallowed painfully. "Mione..."
"Shhh, she whispered as she grabbed both of his wrists and pulled them around her as she leaned into him. "Please continue," she said in his ear when his hand found the knot again.
Defeated by her power of persuasion; which didn't take much, he sighed as he buried his face against her neck and gave a quick tug at the string. No words were exchanged after that and they began to get lost in each other as they explored one another, discovering new feelings and desires.
"Harry," Hermione sighed as she reluctantly pulled away. "Maybe we...should..."
"Don't finish that sentence," Harry said cutting her off with a kiss. "Because I don't want to stop."
She grinned and giggled slightly when he nuzzled her neck. "How do you know I was going to say that?"
"Because you are always the logical one...I don't want to stop."
"So you've said." Her eyes fluttered close when he began to work a whole other different kind of magic from under the water. "But we've...got to...we need to head back to your house."
He sighed in defeat. "I know...you're right. It's getting pretty late, isn't it?"
"Hmm…way past midnight," she said as her fingers stroked his hair while his forehead rested against her shoulder.
"All right, let's go," he said and kissed her one last time before letting her go.
Hermione looked around the cave and then panicked. "Harry...where's my top?"
"It's not in here?" he asked as he looked around. "Um...I guess it kind of floated out of the cave."
"What?! But Ron and Janey are out there, they could see it."
He snickered but cleared his throat when he saw the look on her face. "Er...sorry...not too funny I suppose."
"Harry! Go see!"
"Right, right...just hang tight," he said as he tried desperately not to laugh and then ducked under the falls looking for her top.
"Looking for this mate?"
Harry looked up at the edge of the pool to see Ron and Janey standing there. He felt himself turned red when Ron was holding up Hermione's orange string bikini top. "As a matter of fact...I am. Mind tossing it over here?"
Ron snickered. "Having fun in the cave there, Harry?"
"What do you think Ron?" he asked getting impatient. "Top please?" Harry then felt a presence behind him and turned his neck to see that Hermione had come out and was now pressed against his back, hiding from Ron.
"Ron, you toss that back here right now!" she yelled over Harry's shoulder.
Ron started to swing the top in the air. "I don't know if I'd like to do that just yet."
Janey slapped him in the gut. "Ron, stop being such a prick."
"Janey, look at the situation here....I have to take advantage of this. So Hermy....what do I get out of it if I
give this back to you?"
"Are you seriously trying to get her on your bad side?" Harry asked amazed. "Are you mentally thick in the head or do you not remember what happened the LAST time you got on her bad side."
Ron's stomach dropped when he saw Hermoine's wicked grin he was giving him from behind Harry. He fully remembered the last time he made Hermione extremely mad. He unfortunately had pink hair for a whole week and he couldn't think of a counter curse, so he was stuck. Half the school started calling him pinky. "Fine," he grumbled and tossed the top at him. "There you go."
Harry caught it with a laugh and slowly turned around Hermione as they sunk down in the water. "There you go..need any help?"
"No, quite capable thanks," she said and then kissed him. "Thanks for bringing up the pink hair incident."
"I knew that would scare him."
"What did Hermione do to you last time?" Janey asked curiously as they walked back to the house.
"You don't want to know," he grumbled and then touched his hair nervously. "Does my hair look funny to you?"
She looked at him weird. "No, it looks fine to me."
He sighed in relief. "Good."