Authors Notes: Thanks to everyone who's reading and reviewing this!!!
This chapter actually took the longest to write- it's very hard to write a chapter like this when your mum keeps coming into the room to show you stuff lol.
The next page of the album contained a single photograph and sprinklings of sand. Harry laughed as he watched the three of them muck around.
The holiday had been Hermione's idea. They were finished with Hogwarts and the war was over. They'd lost so many people and they needed time away from the constant onslaught of the wizarding media.
She had booked the entire trip without telling them- one weeks holiday at an exclusive muggle beach resort in Spain. It had been exactly what they had needed and Harry had fond memories of the days they spent lazing around the pool and on the beach- but his fondest memory of all took place on their second last night…
The table on the balcony was immaculately set, the candles flickering slightly in the slight breeze coming up from the beach. The sun was setting over the water and the air felt magical.
Hermione let herself into Harry's room and came and stood beside him on the balcony and looked out to the sea with him.
'I wish we didn't have to leave,' she said sadly, resting her head on his shoulder.
'We don't have to. We could buy a house and stay forever,' Harry said and she laughed softly.
'You know we can't. You're going to training in six weeks. And then- and then I'm off to Rome.'
Harry sighed. Hermione had received a letter just two days into their trip, with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study out of the Italian ministry's archives, the oldest in the wizarding world. Hermione, who had been studying ancient magic since the start of their sixth year, had jumped at the opportunity and flew to Rome as Harry and Ron were flying back to London. Harry was going to miss her severely- they'd never been separated for more than two months. But he would be occupied for the time she was away, with his first six months of Auror training, training which Tonks had brightly told him was hell- but it got better.
'So, are we going to eat?' He asked, indicating to the table he'd arranged so perfectly.
'Well, um, actually,' she said nervously, stepping away from him, back into the room. 'Harry…'
Harry felt his palms go sweaty… she had never said his name that way before. Feeling as if he was possessed slightly, he stepped into the room, following her steps of only moments before and found himself standing in front of her.
'Harry…' she whispered, lifting her hand and running it down his cheek.
'You… you know I love you…' he whispered hoarsely, mimicking her gesture.
'I know…' she whispered. 'Which is why… why this is right…'
He looked into her chocolate brown eyes and felt his heart melt. Clumsily, feeling as if it was his first kiss again he bent ever so slightly and captured her lips with his own.
The kiss he received was nothing like any kiss Hermione had ever given him. He stumbled backwards slightly and she fell with him, breaking away and laughing slightly. As soon as Harry righted himself, she was kissing him forcefully again, but this time Harry was prepared for the intensity.
Slowly, as the kissing grew more and more intense, Harry cautiously slid his hands underneath the white singlet she was wearing. Her skin was silky smooth and her stomach recoiled slightly at the shock of his touch. Ever slowly his hands inched their way up her front, until they came into contact with the bottom of her bra. Harry's hands then found a life of their own, sliding up over the soft satin, massaging gently. She moaned ever so softly and Harry figured he had to be doing something right.
The possessed side of his mind taking over again, he drew his hands away from the treasures he'd discovered and carefully gripped the bottom of her shirt and broke away from the kiss they were sharing. He looked into her eyes and knew he didn't need to ask the question. She was sure.
Slowly and cautiously, not wanting to ruin the moment, he lifted the flimsy white singlet up and over her head, tossing it to the side. His hands quickly found her breasts again and it took him by surprise several seconds later when he felt her cool hands on his chest- she had unbuttoned his shirt and he hadn't even noticed. He slid the shirt off his shoulders and tossed it aside, in the general vicinity of her shirt.
Much to his surprise, Hermione took the next move. She sat down on the edge of his bed and, very teasingly, removed her bra. She shifted backward onto the bed a little bit more and Harry couldn't contain himself and he practically leapt onto her, making her laugh out loud.
He loved her laugh.
Possessed again and finding himself very comfortable lying on top of this beautiful woman, he began to furiously kiss every bit of creamy skin he could find. He took a trail of kisses down her stomach and found that her light blue skirt was stopping him from going any further. The skirt was removed very quickly, along with the panties she was wearing. Harry knew there would never be words to explain what he was feeling as he traced a lazy circle on Hermione's naked stomach.
Whilst he was concentrating on the wonderful sight which he could now enjoy, Hermione was concentrating on the buckle of his belt, which she pulled off like a whip, before undoing his fly and sliding her hand in gently. It was Harry's turn to moan as her hand gently played with him, before sliding his jeans off him and tossing them aside like a piece of garbage.
Harry's palms started to sweat nervously as he lay above her again- he could hardly believe what he was about to do… he loved Hermione so much it left him breathless…
'All I've ever wanted is you,' she whispered, running her fingers through his hair. 'I love you, Harry.'
'I love you too, Hermione.'
Waking up the next morning, a soft breeze blowing in through the still open balcony doors, where the table still lay set and the candles had burnt down to stubs, Hermione in his arms, Harry knew what it meant to be truly happy.