Hogwarts had reached the end of another term, and the first through sixth years were loading up onto the train. The seventh years wouldn't be leaving for another week. A tradition at Hogwarts was that the seventh years be given a special ball as a reward for their efforts, and their graduation would take place in a few days.
Harry was summoned to Dumbledore's office one final time, but this time, Hermione was asked to come with him. The two lovers headed into the gargoyle-guarded staircase and ascended into the headmaster's office.
Albus was perched behind his desk; his glasses hanging off the end of his nose. Harry was surprised to see Professor McGonagall there as well, but none of the other professors were there.
"Ah…Harry…Hermione…thank you for coming."
"Is there a problem, professor?" Hermione asked. Harry tried to hide his smug grin from her; he already knew why they were here.
"Not at all, Miss Granger, Harry had asked for something, and we wanted to get your opinion as well. Harry…if you would…" Dumbledore said, trying not to chuckle.
Harry turned to face his fiancé, and Hermione quirked her eyebrows up at him.
"Hermione, I know that this is gonna sound really strange, especially with what just happened, but…I want us to get married…for real this time. If it was up to me, I'd wed you tomorrow, but I know that you and your mom have some special things planned. That's why, if you'd like, I'd like to have it two days after our graduation - here at Hogwarts."
"Are you serious, Harry? But…we don't have a flat or any place to stay, and what about jobs for the both of us. I thought that we were going to decide upon a career where we could both work together. Why the sudden rush?"
"Herm, this is not on a whim. We'll have a place to ourselves for the whole summer; that's part of my wedding present to you. As for jobs, Professor McGonagall has a rather interesting proposition for you," he said with a wide grin.
"Miss Granger, you have proven yourself to be one of the most accomplished witches that I have ever had the ability to teach," McGonagall said proudly, and Hermione blushed.
"Harry, as well, has proved himself worthy of his reputation, and you have shown your bravery and courage as well," Dumbledore added.
"With the recent attacks by Voldemort and the Death Eaters in the past two years, the Ministry of Magic has begun a new training program at Hogwarts. Hermione, Professor McGonagall would like you to become her apprentice…or protégé if you will. Your official title would be listed as that of a junior professor, and you would assist her in her classes and sometimes perhaps even conduct them in her place."
"Are you serious, ma'am?" Hermione nearly gawked, and the older woman gave her a small smile.
"Minerva chose you specifically, Hermione. In addition, Harry - despite the fact that he doesn't need the training - would become an apprentice under me. There is another reason why we are asking this of you."
Dumbledore paused for a moment and looked up at Minerva. The old man grinned and pushed his glasses up onto his nose.
"Minerva and I are getting on in years, and we'd like someone to take our place here at Hogwarts. We'd be proud if in a few years time, you two would accept that responsibility."
Hermione was shocked beyond words, and Harry was stunned as well. He hadn't been told that Dumbledore wanted him to replace him as headmaster.
"Professor Dumbledore…I…I don't know what to say! I'd be honor to accept the position, but…I'm not quite sure how well I'll do. I'm not very good at teaching others; even Harry gets scared by my tutoring techniques. I don't want to disappoint either of you."
"Hermione…you sound just like me when I was your age," Minerva stated.
"When I'd been told I'd been given a position as professor at Hogwarts, I was very nervous myself. However, I know that you can overcome any obstacle you put your mind to. I'm not asking you to learn everything at once. You'll merely develop the skills and knowledge needed in my position. Harry will go through a similar process with Professor Dumbledore.
"I…I'm still not sure…" she turned to her fiancé, "…Harry, what do you think?"
He actually had a large smile on his face.
"What I think, Herm, is that we've been given the perfect job for us. We both love this place, and I know you love the library here. It would only make sense that our careers would begin here as well. I couldn't see my life without Hogwarts being a part of it. I know this is a lot to take in, but I think it's a great opportunity. You may think that I want to go gallivanting across the world to various places, but I'd just as soon stay right here. Our lives are anything but normal, Hermione, but Hogwarts is as close to normal as I can think of right now. Am I wrong?"
"No, you're not. It's true; this place is like a home away from home for us. You're right, Harry, I love this place as much as you."
Hermione turned to face the two professors.
"Professor McGonagall, I'd be honored to accept the position…" she turned back towards Harry.
"…and as far as your question, Mr. Potter, I have no problem with it. I want to be your wife more than anything in the world."
Harry drew her into his arms and hugged her tightly.
Dumbledore grinned at the two, young lovers, and McGonagall just rolled her eyes. Yes, they had made a fine choice for their successors.
Their final night at Hogwarts as students came upon them too fast. The seventh years were all headed toward the Great Hall, which had been charmed to look like a giant ballroom.
"Harry, I can't believe you two are actually going to be professors here!" Ron gasped
"Well…not right away at least…but eventually…yeah," his best friend replied.
"We're only going to be junior professors, Ron," Hermione corrected him.
"Still, it's a great honor to be selected personally," Lavender added.
The four of them were nearing the Great Hall, and they could already hear the commotion inside. Harry was fidgeting a little; everyone knew that he didn't like to dance. However, his eyes strayed to Hermione next to him, and he couldn't complain. She looked absolutely stunning. A knee-length, emerald green dress hugged every curve on her body, and it made him want to apparate the two of them back up to their room right now! He tightened his hold on her hand and bent down to kiss her neck.
"Have I told you how sexy you look tonight?" he whispered into her ear.
A shudder ran down her spine, and her cheeks tinted slightly.
"Excuse us," she motioned to Ron and Lavender as she pulled Harry into a shadowy alcove. Her friends laughed but continued on their way.
Hermione pressed him against the wall and rubbed her body up against him.
"Thank you, and that suit makes you look delicious," she purred and caressed the silk of his shirt.
Harry groaned and buried his face in her hair.
"Why did we come down here tonight? I'd much rather take you upstairs and help you out of that dress," he growled.
Hermione felt her knees go weak, but a playful grin appeared on her face.
"You can later, love, I promise. Besides, I have a surprise for you."
"And what is that?"
Hermione's smile turned absolutely feline, and she licked her lips as she whispered in his ear.
"What would you do if I told you that I have nothing else on under this," she purred.
The torches on the walls flared up as Harry's temperature skyrocketed, and the bulge in his pants grew to full size. His hands were twitching, and he was certain that smoke was going to start coming out of his ears.
Hermione giggled as she watched Harry's brain short-circuit, and it made her feel incredibly sensual to do this to him. She stroked his face with her hands while her hips wiggled and grinded against the steel ridge in his pants.
"You want to know what I'd do!" Harry suddenly growled, and his eyes snapped open.
Grabbing her hand, he yanked her into a nearby classroom and slammed her against the door.
"Damn you, Hermione," he said just before jamming his tongue down her throat.
To say that she was surprised was an understatement. She was almost frightened at the ferocity in Harry's kiss. He was almost punishing her. His hands slid up her back and slid the zipper of her dress down.
'No…he wouldn't…' Hermione gulped, but she couldn't bring herself to stop him. She'd never felt him kiss her like this; it was so hard and possessive - like he was claiming her.
Pulling back just slightly, he yanked the straps off her shoulders, and the material slid to the floor. He growled as he saw that Hermione's words were true; all he found underneath was her.
"You temptress!" he hissed into her face.
"Am I now?" she challenged, daring him to continue their illicit romp.
"Yes…you are…" and his mouth closed over her right breast.
He wasn't gentle this time, but simply took all that she had, and Hermione thrust her chest out towards his hungry mouth. Harry quickly undid his pants and shoved them to the floor along with his shorts. He hoisted Hermione's right leg into the air and slammed into her.
"Harry!" she screamed as he penetrated her fully.
He pounded her into the door, and all she could do was hang on for dear life, but it was so damn good!
"Hermione…you're…my…sassy…bookwormish…sensuous…vixen…" he punctuated each word with a thrust into her.
Hermione moaned in ecstasy as Harry shagged her senseless. She was so wet that her juices were leaking onto the floor. He pummeled into her opening while his mouth was busy paying homage to her perfect breasts. A quick snap of his fingers ensured no one would hear them, then he grabbed her hips and slammed into her harder than before.
"You're mine, Hermione. No man is ever going to know what a sexy body you have except me. I'll kill anyone who dares to touch you," he growled.
His words were dangerous, but it only made her hotter. She clenched down on him even harder, and he moaned into her chest.
"Yes, Harry, I'm yours…forever. I don't want anyone else to be inside me but you; I only want you to touch me. I won't allow any other woman near you either. You're mine, Harry Potter, and I'll never let anyone take you away from me."
Harry chuckled at her submissive and then possessive words. He stared into her burning eyes and saw her love for him.
"We belong to each other, don't we angel?"
"Yes, we do, my love."
He kissed her long and hard as his thrusts quickened.
"Good, now…cum for me, Hermione!"
"Harry!" she cried out as her body soared over the edge.
Harry nuzzled her neck and pulled her hips flush against him as he spilled himself inside her. His legs gave out, and they slid to the floor with him still inside her.
Hermione lifted her face from Harry's sweaty neck and giggled as she shook her head.
"You ruined my surprise, Harry."
He panted heavily but tried to glare at her.
"Herm, after you told me that weren't wearing anything under your dress, did you really think that I wouldn't do something about it?"
"Well…I…I figured you could at least wait a little while," she huffed.
Harry grinned and squeezed her breasts.
"Sorry, angel, I can't resist this sweet, little body of yours."
"You letch!" she teased but kissed him softly.
"Me! Who's the prissy nymph who decided not to wear underwear tonight, hmm?"
"I'm not prissy!" Hermione chided.
"Sure you are, love, it's part of your charm," Harry replied with a grin.
She rolled her eyes and extradited herself from his lap, as Harry stood up to give her a hand.
After spending twenty minutes cleaning each other up, the two lovers finally made it to the Great Hall. The dance was already in full swing, and Ron and Lavender came over to greet them.
"Where have two been? We left you guys like half an hour ago!" Ron gawked.
Harry took one look at Hermione, and they both leered at one another.
"You didn't!" Lavender gasped.
"I'm not saying a word," Harry replied.
"Neither am I," Hermione added.
"Don't you two ever get tired of each other?" Ron groaned and slapped his forehead.
Harry grinned and slid his arms around his fiancé from behind.
"Nope, I'll never get tired of my beautiful bookworm."
Hermione rolled her eyes and elbowed him softly in the ribs. As punishment, she pulled him out onto the dance floor. It was a slow song so she knew that Harry wouldn't mind this.
Indeed, he spun her around and pulled her close. His hands rested on her hips, and they began swaying to the soft music. The rest of the night passed in a blur as the couple stared into one another's eyes. This was so familiar to them both, and yet, they were drowning in the sensations invoked by their closeness.
The evening was perfect for them. Their meal was even more spectacular than normal, and Hermione squealed when she saw the massive assortment of desserts that were made available to them.
By the end of the night, everyone was full, happy, and a few were a little tipsy from the butterbeer that had been allowed at the dance. Ron and Lavender were finishing their last dance, while Harry and Hermione had left about half an hour earlier.
"Lavender…you look beautiful tonight…" he murmured and ran his hand down the open back of her dress.
"Thank you, Ronald, you look wonderful as well," she cooed and rubbed the back of his neck affectionately.
They'd both had quite a bit to drink tonight, and it was making their inhibitions for each other even less than normal. Lavender suddenly gave him a smoldering kiss, and Ron felt his arousal soar to dangerous heights.
"Lavender…I love you, and I want to do this right…but…right now…I want you more than anything."
"Do you now?" she replied and smiled widely; she'd been waiting for this moment.
"Yes, I just wish that we had a quiet place for us to be alone."
"Oh…but we do, my darling. Harry and Hermione won't need both their rooms this evening; I'm most certain of that. Now, come on."
Ron let himself be pulled upstairs and towards his friends' room. Lavender opened the portrait hole with the temporary password that Hermione had given her. She'd really owe her one after this. She kissed her beloved redhead and pulled him towards the staircase.
"Lavender…did you…plan this…" he groaned between kisses. She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
"Maybe…come get me and find out…" and she bolted up towards Harry's room.
Ron chased after her and followed her into the bedroom. He was stunned to see candles suspended all around the room, and the bed was turned down. Lavender was standing in front of the bed with a seductive smile on her face, and she handed him a note.
Upon opening it, Ron gawked at the words inside:
Hey Ron,
The place is yours for tonight, but make sure you clean up your mess! Have fun!
Love,
Harry and Hermione
He wanted to crawl into a hole and die; he'd been set up!
"Oh Ronald…" his mind cleared to hear Lavender calling him.
She sauntered over and kissed him hungrily. Her hands began undoing his robes, and he began to shake.
"You've been wonderful to me this year, Ron, and I know that you love me. This night is ours; I want you to make love to me right now."
All he heard was her last sentence. Like a volcano erupting, he proceeded to plunder her mouth and pulled her flush against his body.
"Hmm, Ron, is that a wand in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" she purred.
His smile was positively fickle, and he kicked the door shut.
"Let's find out, love," and he pulled her down onto the bed.
Over in the other bedroom, Harry stopped his movements as he heard his door slam shut, and a sly grin formed on his face.
"Harry…what's wrong?" Hermione moaned from atop him. He looked up at the woman riding him and chuckled.
"Sounds like the plan worked, Herm. Ron has no idea what Lavender's going to do to him; my room is gonna be trashed tomorrow."
"But they deserve this, Harry, you know that."
Her eyes narrowed, and she clenched her muscles around him.
"Just like I deserve to have you get back to pleasing me. That is, if you're up to it, Mr. Potter," she giggled.
Hermione gasped as he suddenly thrust deep inside her.
"I'm more than up to it, Mrs. Potter. I'm yours for the night, angel."
"Good…cause I'm yours for the rest of your life."
Author's Notes: I'd like to thank everyone to thank everyone who has stuck by me throughout this story. I know that a lot of you were upset at me for taking so long in doing the last few chapters, but I love this series so much, and I didn't want to ruin it by just throwing out a bunch of crap. I'd say that they'll probably be two or maybe three more chapters to this, but I promise…next time…it's time for the wedding!