To Harry's surprise, Hermione leaned right into his arm and placed her head on his shoulder with a heavy sigh. Harry held her for quite some time before he released her and began rummaging through the things he brought.
"I'll make us something to eat, I bet your hungry."
"A little." She admitted.
Harry took out a frying pan, a sandwich bag full of finely chopped mushrooms, sausage and grated cheese, four eggs and some toast.
"I thought I'd make some eggs on toast for us."
"I didn't know you could cook Harry." She said with gleaming eyes.
"After living so long with the Dursely's, you have to know how to cook. It's one thing I'm grateful they made me do, I quite enjoy it."
Harry placed the pan over the fire with a couple of slabs of butter and carefully tossed the chopped mushrooms and sausage into the frying pan. He allowed them to sizzle before he added the eggs and the grated cheese. He used a spoon to stir the ingredients since he had forgotten a spatula. Harry slid the scrambled eggs from the frying pan onto a plastic plate and quickly placed the toast on the frying pan to let it lightly brown. He placed the spoon in the scrambled eggs and took two more plastic plates, where he placed two pieces of toast on each one.
"This smells delicious Harry."
"That's because it is." He winked and laughed.
"We'll see about that." She teased.
Harry allowed Hermione to place the eggs on her toast first and watched as she took her first bite.
"Oh Harry this is disgusting!" Her face broke into a frown.
Harry's hands shook and his face paled.
"I… I'm sorry Hermione… I don't know what I did wrong, it's just-"
Hermione clenched her stomach as she erupted in laughter.
"I'm just joking… its very good. Actually, you'll just have to make this more often for me now." She grinned from ear to ear.
Harry pulled Hermione close and started to tickle her through the blanket.
"Harry, stop, this isn't fair." She pleaded giggling and flaying her arms in an attempt to stop him. He pinned her hands down with one of his and placed a leg over her knees as his other hand continued to tickle her sides.
"Ahhh Harry, no stop, stop, please this is torture!" She laughed uncontrollably as she tried to kick out with her legs and squirmed her body in an attempt to escape.
Harry's eyes widened and he let go of Hermione as soon as he realized that the blanket covering her nearly bare body was bunched at her feet. He felt a cold sweat sweep down his spine and his breathing slowed but was much heavier. He backed up a couple of strides on his knees and covered his eyes, forcing himself not to pull his fingers apart to look at her beautiful figure again. The suns rays had lightly tanned her skin, her curves were even more noticeable without the wet shirt clinging to her sides and her legs were long and lean; Hermione was perfect.
Harry felt her soft fingers curl over his hands and she slowly removed them from his eyes.
"Hermione, I'm so sorry, I…" Harry's heart hammed in his chest.
"Shh, It's okay." She whispered taking his hands and guiding them to her waist.
She then glided the tips of her fingers up Harry's arm, up his neck, around his face and brushed a strand of hair from his soft emerald eyes.
"Hermione I... what I mean to say is,"
She placed her finger on his lips and leaned her face towards Harry's.
"Don't talk… just kiss me."
Harry's heart leaped to his throat and he felt his muscles tense, he leaned into Hermione and gently placed his lips on hers. The kiss was innocent, it was two lips pressing against one another; it was two souls being joined for a quick beautiful moment. Their kiss was simple, just like their relationship had been for so many years, but that sweet simple kiss meant more then words could ever express and it would change their lives forever.
They pulled apart from one another; they touched foreheads looking into each other's eyes, memorizing the moment. She wrapped her arms around him and ran her hands down his back, her eyes left his as her lips explored his neck, he let a moan escape from his mouth. She lightly dug her nails into his bare back, as if she was begging for him to feel her. He responded by gently lowering her to the sandy surface and showering her stomach with small kisses, which teased and made her giggle with delight. Harry needed to feel those lips again; he towered over her slender body and allowed himself to be hypnotized by her almond eyes. Hermione's hands plunged into his messy hair and her fingers tangled into the pool of jet-black strands, slowly pulling him forward into another kiss. Her lips were so full, so tender and much softer then he had ever imagined, her skin felt like silk; he needed more, he wanted more. Harry glided his tongue across her lips hoping to be welcomed inside; she opened her mouth slightly allowing him entry. Her mouth was warm and sweet. She held back a little at first unsure of this new sensation, but was soon overcome by emotion and she began to kiss Harry deeper, colliding her tongue with his, moaning, calling his name in between breaths, and arching her back, pressing her delicate body against his.
Harry knew what was coming next, he couldn't allow it to happen, not know; she wasn't ready and deep within he knew he wasn't either. It was Harry's turn to be responsible and stop this wonderful event from going any further, and Harry knew he would have to do it gently.
"Hermione?" He managed to mutter before she thrust herself against him.
Harry had to clench his teeth as all the blood in his veins rushed madly from his head downwards.
"Uh huh?" She asked nearly out of breath before she kissed him again with her swollen lips.
He forced himself off her and carefully pulled her into his chest so that her back was pressed against him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her ear.
"Hermione, listen. I… I… want something like this to be perfect, and yes, it is perfect right now, but, I just want us to, to take things just a little bit,"
"Slower." She finished for him.
"Yes slower, and not because I don't want us to do this. I just, I, I care about you so much Hermione."
She turned to face Harry and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Thank you for being so careful with me Harry, I'm sorry I got carried away. I don't want to regret anything I do with you. I wish I could look you in the eyes right now and tell you that I'm ready to give myself to you, I know my heart says I am, but I just, I mean… you're my first love Harry."
Harry's heart skipped a beat and he grinned. He was so thankful that Hermione wasn't angry with him and his heart melted when she said that he, Harry Potter, was her first love.
She memorized his face with her fingertips and kissed him like there was no tomorrow. Harry felt her tremble from the nightly chill in the air and pulled her into himself. He reached over to the crumpled blanket and wrapped it around his back and her front. They sat before the crackling fire, content to be silent for the moment and reflect on what had just happened.
"What do you think Ron will say?" She questioned after their moment of silence.
"I reckon he'll think it was about time we got together."
"Why would he think that?"
"Why wouldn't he?"
" I, I just, I mean he might feel a little awkward that his two best friends are dating one another."
"Trust me on this one Hermione, he wont."
"What makes you so sure, what if he feels like he doesn't fit in?"
"First of all, it would be our turn to make him feel awkward after all his open make out sessions with Luna Lovegood during our serious discussions,"
Hermione laughed.
"And secondly, well, that's a secret."
"Oh come on Harry, tell me."
"Maybe one day, for now my first answer will have to do."
Hermione sighed and decided not to argue the issue any further. She knew Harry would tell her when he was ready and no amount of pleading would make him change his mind.
"Harry?"
"Hmm?"
"Where's my backpack?"
Harry rubbed the side of his neck with his hand in a nervous fashion.
"I, uh, I'm sorry Hermione, I, I… I forgot to bring it with me." He lied.
Harry's stomach flip-flopped, he felt sick that he couldn't and didn't tell Hermione the truth about her backpack and her journal. He wanted to, he was about to, but he just couldn't form the words into a sentence.
"That's okay Harry, but I really would appreciate it if I could get it back tomorrow."
"Okay." He managed to say.
"I really should be getting back now, it's getting really late." She said starting to get up.
Harry's hand fell gently on her delicate arm.
"Stay, just a little while longer, please?" He pleaded.
Hermione looked into those eyes, into those emerald green, persuasive eyes. They needed her; it felt so good to be needed.
"Okay Harry, but only for a little while longer, Alright?"
Harry didn't answer as he gathered her back in his arms. She leaned her head back to rest on his steady shoulder, sighed and didn't think her life could get any better.