AM I TOO LATE
Four's a Crowd
Chapter Eleven
Hermione arranged the pizza ingredients on the countertop in her kitchen. Pulling out her wand, she doubled the supplies so there would be enough for four, and then she sighed.
What's wrong with me? Harry has been dating Beth for years. Ridley is handsome and he likes my studies. It will never work between Harry and I. Never. He's getting married.
"He's getting married, Hermione," she whispered into her hands.
Someone knocked at the door. She composed herself and hurried to the door to open it. Ridley stood just outside. He held two cake boxes and a bottle of wine.
He smiled at her. "Hope you're hungry," he said as she ushered him into her flat.
"I'll probably be starving by the time the pizzas are done." She took the bottle and a cake box from him and walked into the kitchen. He followed close behind.
"Am I the first one here?" he wondered.
"Mmmhmm," she answered as she made space for the boxes on the counter.
Ridley lifted the wine bottle and turned it around in his hands. "Want to get a glass? The wizard at the store told me this stuff is amazing. It's made from grapes that grow on the ocean floor. A specialty from the Baltic Sea."
"Sure," she said. "Let me find a couple of glasses." She pulled two wine glasses from a cabinet and opened a drawer to retrieve the wine opener. She held the opener out to him.
Ridley smirked. "A wine opener?"
"What?" she asked, puzzled. "Don't you need one?"
"I have a wand."
Hermione snickered. "Sorry," she said, holding up her hands. "You caught me. Certified Muggle-born. So the cliché goes, 'old habits die hard.'"
Ridley took the wine opener from her hands, and his fingertips brushed across her palm. Her stomach jolted. Looking into his pale eyes, she could see more there-more if she could bury her feelings for Harry. She smiled at him.
He held eye contact. "You look great tonight."
"Oh, this old thing-"
Before she could finish, Ridley's arms were around her. His muscled body pressed into hers, and her breath hitched halfway up her throat. His lips were warm, and Hermione was too surprised to do anything but kiss him. Ridley moaned lightly into her mouth, and desire licked down her veins. He was strong. She was weak, and it had been so bloody long since she'd been kissed, she didn't care if she hardly knew him.
She encircled his neck with her arms and stood on tiptoe. He held her waist, and he pulled her closer still. There was heat between them. Hermione's head felt dizzy. She clutched onto him for support, and in the moment, nothing and no one else mattered.
* * * *
Harry stood in Hermione's doorway. The door was ajar. "That's odd," he said quietly.
"Maybe she left it open for us. Besides, I hear someone inside. Go on in," Beth said as she shoved him from behind.
Harry carried a grocery bag full of vegetables and another bottle of wine. Even though it had been Beth's idea to crash his evening of pizza with Hermione, she didn't want to eat pizza. She said her hips would get fat. Harry had grudgingly agreed to stop by the market and buy her fresh vegetables and another bottle of wine for courtesy's sake.
The living room was empty, but Hermione's CD player was emitting soft sounds of classical music. Harry rounded the corner and stopped. Standing in the kitchen, in a most inappropriate position, was Hermione and Ridley-locked together. Harry was too shocked to stop staring. In fact he took in every minute detail, even the details he wished he hadn't seen.
Ridley had Hermione shoved against the refrigerator. One hand was buried in her hair, the other had a firm grasp on her behind. Harry could hear Ridley's groans, and he wished someone would puncture his eardrums rather than expose him to such torturous sounds. Hermione, on the other hand, had one leg hiked on Ridley's thigh. Her hands were on his face, then in his hair, then on his face, then in his hair, then-
"Umm…excuse us," Beth said, and then she giggled into the back of her hand.
Ridley and Hermione sprung apart like repelling magnets. At least Hermione had the decency to blush. Ridley cleared his throat and then grinned like a dumbstruck jackass.
"Hey, guys. Didn't hear you come in," Ridley said.
"That's probably because the door was open," Harry replied.
"We…we…we were…" Hermione stuttered.
Beth moved into the kitchen and grabbed Hermione's arm. "We could see what you two were doing," she said and laughed again. "Come on. Let's get you freshened up. You look a little disheveled."
"Oh, okay. Sure. That's a good idea," she agreed and hurried past Harry without looking at him.
"Bad timing, Potter," Ridley said good-naturedly.
"That's for sure," Harry said. He opened Hermione's cabinets and pulled down another wine glass.
"It's just that…well, you see, I've been wanting to date Hermione for…for a long time," Ridley began. Harry jerked out his wand and opened his bottle of wine. He poured himself a generous portion without offering any to Ridley. "And, well…I think she's bloody amazing. I don't know how you could have known her for so long and never seen it…I mean, she's bloody fantastic."
Harry downed the entire glass and watched Ridley with narrowed eyes. He wanted Ridley to shut up. He wanted Ridley to choke on his tongue. Wishful thinking.
Ridley leaned against the countertop and grinned. "Man, it's unbelievable. She's intelligent and funny. I'm sure you know all of this, but wow, she's with me. I can't believe it. She's so great-"
"-I know she's great. Okay? I've known her for fifteen years," Harry said in clipped tones.
"I know you do. It's just crazy to think I've wanted to date her for so long and seconds ago we were-"
"-Ridley, I get the point."
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. How about sharing some wine? I need a drink."
Harry poured himself another glass and shoved the bottle into Ridley's hands. Then, he walked out of the kitchen. Ridley seemed oblivious to Harry's darkening mood.
Hermione and Beth walked out of her bedroom. Hermione continued staring at the floor while Beth scurried by.
"I'm going to start chopping vegetables. Harry in a few minutes, I'll want you to get started on the pizzas so we can get to business," Beth said as she began moving around in Hermione's kitchen.
Harry dropped onto the couch, and Hermione hovered in the center of the living room, not knowing what to say or where to go. She could hear Ridley and Beth chatting in the kitchen.
Finally, she took a deep breath and said, "Harry."
He glanced up at her and drank more of his wine. "Hermione."
She could tell he was annoyed. It caused an ache deep inside her. She glanced into the kitchen and felt sure Beth and Ridley wouldn't overhear. She crossed to Harry and sat down beside him.
"I'm sorry," she said finally.
"Don't be."
"Harry, I am. It was inappropriate," she continued. He stared into his wine glass.
"It's your flat. You can do what you want."
"Why are you being such a prat?" she asked in irritation.
Harry jerked his head up and glared at her. "Me? Why am I the prat? You were the one…you were the one…in the kitchen…you know what you were doing," he whispered heatedly.
Hermione leaned away from him. "So what if I was kissing a man in my kitchen? What do you care anyway?" she argued.
"I don't care," he quipped.
"If you don't care then why are you so mad?"
"I'm not mad."
She could see his clenched jaw, the line furrowed between his brows. "Harry Potter, I have known you forever. I know when you're mad. Don't lie to me," she said.
Harry's shoulders sagged and he sighed. When he looked up at her, his green eyes revealed defeat. "You're right. I'm being a prat."
"Why?" she asked quietly. Beth dropped a pot in the kitchen. It clattered loudly on the tile.
Harry shook his head. "I don't know. Well, I do know-"
"-what?" Hermione asked. She sensed something in Harry's words. She didn't know what it was, but it felt important. "What is it, Harry?"
He looked at her. He wanted to touch her face. He wanted to tell her everything was going to be okay-somehow it would all work out. He looked down at his hands. "I wasn't prepared to walk into your flat and see you and Ridley like that."
"I'm sorry, Harry. I don't know what I was thinking. I should have been more responsible," she said as she straightened out the wrinkles in her skirt.
"It's not that, Hermione. Kissing a man doesn't make you irresponsible. It's just you kissing a man that bothers me," he said.
Without thinking about it, Hermione reached over and placed her hand on Harry's. "Why does that bother you, Harry?" Harry's hand was warm. Touching him made her want to close her eyes and sigh.
"I…I…er, I-"
"Sweetheart? We're ready for you to start the pizzas," Beth interrupted.
Harry stood up and said nothing more. Hermione released a shaky breath. What was he going to say? she wondered. Ridley motioned to her from the kitchen, and she forced a smile as she walked to him.
* * * *
Harry, Beth, Ridley and Hermione sat on her couch. With remote in hand, Harry started the first wedding video. Hermione was thankful for the wine. It dulled the edges of her frayed emotions. Ridley's body was warm beside hers, and when she thought of their shared kiss, her stomach felt alive with fire.
"Sweetie, why don't you sit in the middle beside Hermione? The two of you always have good ideas about things. And Ridley, too. Feel free to spout off ideas. Of course, I have the executive decision, but opinions are always welcome," Beth said. Without waiting for Harry or Hermione to protest, Beth forced Harry to slide over.
The weight on the cushions in the center of the couch caused Hermione and Harry to lean toward each other. There seemed to be no position Harry could arrange himself in that would situate him away from her. Then, he stopped trying. He felt foolish. Hell, he and Hermione had slept in a bed together multiple times and he'd never once felt uncomfortable or weird. He knew he was being ridiculous about sitting next to her on the couch.
After a while Harry forgot he was sitting close to Hermione. That is until she nestled into shoulder. When he looked down at her, she seemed unconscious of their closeness. Her attention remained on the television.
After 10 DVDs, three pizzas, two and a half bottles of wine, and Beth saying, 'Clearly they have no idea what the fashion is in Paris these days' at least eight dozen times, Harry's attention was failing, Hermione was yawning, and Ridley was asleep.
"I don't understand how they can say that is fashion. Clearly they don't know what the-" Beth began.
And Harry finished with, "-fashion is in Paris these days."
"You're right, sweetheart. That's the tackiest thing I've ever seen. What do you think, Hermione?" Beth asked as she leaned forward and looked at Hermione.
Hermione shrugged. "It's not my taste. I don't care for that style of dress. I did see a dress the other day that was gorgeous," she said, and she closed her eyes and could almost feel the smooth slide of silk and lace on her body.
"Really? Who designed it?" Beth asked in interest.
"No idea," Hermione replied. "I forgot to check."
Beth looked shocked. "Oh."
"It was a great dress," Harry added.
"You saw it, too?" Beth questioned.
"Yeah," he answered, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut or fallen asleep like Ridley.
"Well, maybe you should show it to me," Beth said as she crunched on a carrot.
"No," Harry said.
"No?"
"No. It wasn't your style. It was more Hermione's style. In fact, it was the perfect dress for her. I don't think it would do for you at all," Harry said.
"In that case, you're probably right. I may just design my own. I have plenty of time. Excuse me, honey, I am in need of the loo," Beth said, and she heaved herself off the couch.
When she was gone, Harry looked down at Hermione. She was pressed against his arm. Her eyes were closed.
"Hermione?" he asked quietly.
"Hmm?"
"You sleepy?"
"Mmmhmm."
He brushed her hair out of her face, and her eyes fluttered open. He smiled. "We can finish this later. I'll clean up."
"Thanks, Harry," Hermione mumbled as he got up.
"No problem. I don't mind helping you clean up. I'll come over tomorrow, okay," he said as he directed their dirty dishes into the sink with his wand.
"No, thanks for saying that about the dress," Hermione said softly.
Harry stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "I can't imagine anyone ever wearing that dress but you." They locked eyes, and Hermione was sure she saw something deep and conflicted in Harry's eyes.
"Harry-" she breathed out in a whisper.
He shook his head. "Don't, Hermione. Don't say anything."
"But-"
"Are we leaving?" Beth asked when she saw Harry putting away the dishes and unused groceries.
"I think we're calling this a night. Hermione, maybe you should wake up Ridley. He's drooling on the armrest," Harry said.
Hermione stood up. "Thank you both for coming over. It was…fun," she said, and Harry smirked at her.
"Yes, it was. Thank you for having us over, Hermione. You're always so kind. You take of my Harry while I'm gone," she said, and she leaned over and kissed Hermione on both cheeks.
"Oh, I think Harry can take care of himself quite well," Hermione smiled.
"That's my Harry, so strong and capable," Beth said as she beamed up at him. She gripped his bicep and pressed her cheek into his shoulder. Hermione turned away.
"You want me to wake up Ridley?" Harry asked.
"No, that's okay. I'll wake him up when you're gone," Hermione answered.
"You sure? If you don't want to be alone with him, I can wake him up now."
"Come on, Harry. I think we both know that Hermione and Ridley are perfectly okay on their own," Beth said, and then she winked at Hermione.
"Have a good night," Hermione said. She walked them to the door. When she opened it, Beth stepped out into the enclosed hallway.
Harry reached out quickly and slid his hand down Hermione's arm. "I'll see you soon."
"Yeah. See you soon. Good night." She closed the door and knocked her head against it over and over again.
When she turned around, Ridley's head had dropped to the left, and he looked uncomfortable. She crossed over to him and tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Ridley? Ridley, time to get up," she said gently.
He opened his eyes and grinned sleepily. "What did I miss?" He yawned and pushed his hands through his sandy hair.
"Nothing," she said as she sat beside him. "Nothing at all."
"I can't believe I fell asleep," he said.
"I don't blame you. I'm pretty exhausted myself. One can only take so much of wedding planning and opinions on Parisian fashion in one evening."
Ridley smiled and reached for Hermione's hands. She wanted to feel a jolt of passion, but she felt nothing. "I would really like to see you again," he said.
"I'd like that," she said. And it was the truth. She liked Ridley. He was attractive, and more importantly, he was attracted to her. Plus his kisses were amazing.
Ridley stood up and pulled Hermione to her feet. He hugged her briefly, and as he walked to the door, he assured her he'd call soon. He even made a joke about her Muggle telephone.
She locked the door when Ridley was gone, and she felt more than exhausted. She felt emotionally drained and confused. Harry seemed changed, like he was seeing her from a different angle. Things had altered between them. She could feel it, and she knew he sensed it, too. What would the next day bring, she wondered, and the day after that? Was fate shoving them apart or shoving them together?
She collapsed on her bed, face down in her pillow, and screamed. No one would hear, but it sure made her feel better, if only slightly. She rolled onto her back and thought of kissing Ridley. Warmth started in her toes and traveled up, but by the time she felt a tingling in her chest, the mouth she imagined pressed against hers wasn't Ridley's. It was Harry's.