6. Lazy day with some revelations
Harry awoke slowly lying on his back with the strange sensation that someone, Hermione, was slowly stroking his morning hard-on. In his drowsiness he didn't move but enjoyed the sensation without showing signs of being awake. Hermione slowly raised herself to a sitting position straddling his thighs. She then moved up positioning him and then sat down on him. His eyes fluttered open for an instant seeing her with closed eyes and her head flung backwards with en ecstatic smile on her face. This was obviously another experiment of her own.
When she began to slowly grind her hips against his, Harry settled more comfortably on his back and let his hands follow her thighs up and rest on her hips. He didn't make a sound but showed his awareness by allowing himself to move slightly in the same rhythm.
Harry opened his eyes, only to find Hermione still wearing that ecstatic expression on her face with closed eyes. His own gaze wandered over her exposed body lit by the morning light, her breasts swaying with her movements, her slender waist with soft but clearly toned muscles, her hips and soft thighs resting on him, her patch of brown curly hair mingling with his darker black, and an occasional glimpse of his own erection moving within her mysterious folds. His mind was filled with a mixture of affection, wonder and pure lust.
Her motions became fiercer, and she leaned forward, resting her hands on his upper arms, allowing him to move his hands up to her breasts. He massaged her stiffened nipples with his thumbs while thrusting vigorously into her. Their movements became erratic and they reached their climax nearly at the same time, she collapsing onto his chest. Her body had a thin sheen of perspiration, and she breathed hard. Between gulps for air she whispered:
"Thank you Harry, that was fantastic. I love you."
"I love you too", he answered. "You continue to astonish me. Was that also from Lavender's book? I didn't know you were reading such things."
"So I can still have surprises for you?"
"They will surely be pleasant surprises:"
Nothing more was said. She adjusted to his body, snuggling close laying on her left side with one leg and one arm around him and her head on his chest. He reached out for the blankets and tucked them around them both. He held her close. Her breathing became regular and she was soon asleep.
Harry lay awake with his left hand stroking her hair down the nape of her neck. His mind boggled with this huge mental leap. He lay here with a girl in his arms, a completely new sensation. He felt a wonderful calmness. If someone, only a few days ago, had told him that this was going to happen, he wouldn't have believed it. That it was to be with his best friend, Hermione Granger, wouldn't have made it any more probable.
On the other hand, they had known each other for several years by now, and they had never really been on bad terms. Rather, they knew the ways of each other so well that they often had found that only very few words were needed in discussions. A thought hit Harry as a lightning: They really shared their backgrounds; they had both been brought up in a muggle family and had been to a muggle school for their first years. On summer vacations, they had seen some muggle TV and video films, at least much more often than many of the school mates. Harry remembered that in muggle school, he really had been rather a good student, doing his homework to the satisfaction of his teacher. Why was it more difficult to concentrate on homework nowadays?
Harry's mind drifted off into memories of his first years at Hogwarts. Often a girl with bushy brown hair and chocolate eyes appeared to his mind. Maybe he had been in love with Hermione all these years without realizing it? At least, the pictures in his mind showed her in many other situations than did the pictures of Ron. There was a certain sentiment around Hermione in his mind. Many a memory centred on her brown eyes, either smiling at him with good humour in a meeting or after a common experience, or out of concern after one of Harry's many accidents.
With a start, Harry thought to look at the alarm-clock at his bedside. It was about time to get ready for breakfast and a new day. He took a steady grip on Hermione and rolled her up on top of him. He began rocking her lightly, still holding her in his embrace.
"Mione. Wake up; breakfast will be ready shortly."
She began to move in his arms. She looked into his eyes and gave a sigh. Hermione returned Harry's embrace, kissed him and whispered.
"Harry. I thought it was a silly thing to fall in love with my best friend. Now I think that it was the best thing that could happen. I already know you and feel at ease together with you. Thank you for being you."
"Yes Mione. I've been thinking that we've shared a lot that since we first became friends. We have experienced much and grown since then. - At least you have," he added, giving her bottom an extra hug.
"Do you think I am fat?" she asked anxiously.
"No silly! I love every inch of you. You are gorgeous. You are definitely not fat. Lavender and Parvati must have told you that; haven't they?"
"I'm afraid they are more interested in their own looks," Hermione answered getting out of the bed and putting on her dressing gown. Crookshanks was waiting for her at Harry's door and followed her when she left for her own room.
Harry's eyes followed her when she got up and dressed. She truly was setting his teenage hormones in action. His chest felt too small for his heart. The motion of muscles under her soft skin and the vibration of her breasts when pulling the dressing gown around her made his blood burn.
Harry started for the morning shower still thinking. Surely, if Voldemort was to threaten Hermione, the image of her this morning would add quite a few percent extra power to Harry's spells. BUT, Harry felt convinced; "the next battle will not be my love against Voldemort's hatred. There will be some other factor involved."
"I will have to discuss that prophesy with Hermione," Harry decided for himself.
---
Hermione was already waiting in the common room when Harry came down.
"What took you so long?" she asked starting though the portrait hole.
"I was thinking", Harry answered.
"Oh, that explains a lot", Hermione teased him.
Hermione's smile made Harry forget trying to tease back. He merely took her hand in his, starting towards the breakfast in the great hall.
"Harry! What if someone see us holding hands?" Hermione whispered.
"Why not? I'm just proud of being the boyfriend of the great Hermione Granger". Harry took his chance to tease her back. The effect was that Hermione reached the breakfast table with rather red ears.
After serving herself pumpkin juice and a large bowl of cereals, Hermione continued:
"But if people here see us, they will tell others and then the rumour will spread. What if Ron hear about it before we can tell him?"
"I've got to think that it doesn't have to be a problem. Sirius was best friend to my parents, and what I have understood, he was very happy when they came together. And he has been as a father to me, as you know." Harry was silent for a while. Hermione looked at him with understanding, and then he continued. "Ron would most likely react in the same way. He wouldn't be jealous anyway. I think his greatest interest lately has been to get Lavender to bed."
Hermione seemed shocked. "Is that really so?"
"Well, more or less, that's what it adds up to. - But remember, Ron's decent. She's not anybody to him."
Hermione mused for a while: "I would really prefer not to make a secret of our being together. I really feel happy, Harry, and it would feel great to be able to live with it in a normal way."
"What makes me afraid is not the gossip, but that Voldemort may use you to get to me. Maybe we should ask Dumbledore about that some time."
A couple of minutes later, when they were done with the breakfast, Harry asked:
"Mione, could we go to the library today? I would like to show my assignment in Transfiguration. Maybe you can help me with some ideas?"
Harry smiled inwardly at Hermione's reaction. He had guessed rightly. She beamed like she had got another Christmas gift.
"Yes! Naturally! I have some research going as well. I haven't planned anything else for the day."
"Actually I want to discuss some other things with you today as well. Maybe after lunch. I have an errand to Hogsmeade. I would like to do that tomorrow. That's one thing we have to talk about. And then; we have the prophesy. But let's start with the library."
"Prophesy? You know I have no belief in divination."
"This one is different though."
They left the breakfast table together walking close but not holding hands. They could sense a number of pairs of eyes following them through the big oak doors.
---
"Look, my assignment has got the title 'Transfiguration through the ages'", began Harry.
"I started with some books on Transfiguration of different age, and found that the things you transfigured things into seemed to follow some fashions. Today we often transfigure things into goblets, saucers, hairbrushes and the like. A hundred years ago, they were fond of transfiguring into kitchen utensils, before that, frogs, mice, rabbits and other small animals were popular. I need some way of getting it systematic though".
"Whoa", answered Hermione. "That sounds very interesting. Maybe you have detected something more than McGonagall actually intended. - Let's see. If we look in the registry for books used as textbooks here at Hogwarts, we should get a nice set of books from different periods. Then you only need to look up the contents of each book and count the entries. Then you put down the counts on a big sheet, draw your conclusion like you have already done, and write it up."
"Yeah, that sounds like what I had in mind, but I don't know how to do that without having a job that would take weeks, just to seek out all those books."
"Harry, now it pays off to have a bookworm as girlfriend," Hermione said with some bitterness in her voice.
"I've never called you that!" Harry interjected.
"No, you haven't. At least the last few years, I give you that. Really, Harry, I know that you can see other things in me, but I have heard that too often. Now, I will show you the beauty of this library. Madam Pince has described how the search magic works on several occasions, but few seem to grasp it. She has finally allowed me to use that magic by myself."
"Really?"
"Look," Hermione continued, "The registry cards are sorted in a certain order by the query spell. The default order is alphabetic of course. That's how you normally see them. Now, watch out!"
Hermione took out her wand. "Select Transfiguration, Hogwarts textbook, standard course, order by age".
Harry was thunderstruck. Only Hermione's calm made him stay and watch. Register drawers opened and closed, cards erupted into the air, flew around and finally settled into a previously empty drawer. Hermione calmly went forward and looked at the small number of cards that had assembled themselves.
"Here Harry, these are the books you have to find. Shall I show you how to do that?"
Hermione turned to Harry with an air of triumph and pride. The only answer he could produce was "Please".
Hermione raised her wand again, touched the selected cards and said, "Show books". To Harry's amazement, he heard a soft sound here and there among the bookshelves, and he saw a few books slowly sliding forward.
"Now you take one of these markers for each book, write your name on the dotted line, divide it in half and place the upper part in the bookshelf where you take out the book. The other part goes into the book. That allows the book to find its way into the shelf when you return it."
"I see. Madame Pince has always helped me when I have borrowed books before".
"She is very careful of her library. I had to ask her several times before she allowed me to search for books by myself. - Now you write down what's on those cards before we return them into their proper places. Then you can start scanning trough the books and count the various transfiguration targets."
Hermione looked at Harry, rather pleased with herself. Harry sensed that and opened his arms to give her a hug. Harry had come to understand that behind her façade of self-confidence was a small girl seeking approval, not at least from herself.
"Thank you Mione. I knew you would know how to do this in no time. - Oops, you seem rather hard breasted today." Harry had felt that she had her old-fashioned bra on today. He hastily continued. "I hope to see you perform more 'Mione's Miracles' in the future." He kissed her forehead.
Harry took the small deck of cards and went to his desk. "I will start copying these right away."
Hermione remained standing a while with a satisfied expression. She felt happiness in being able to help and obviously impress Harry. She also found satisfaction in seeing him starting his work. If only this could continue with both of them working together like this!
Harry felt relieved that his idea of transfiguration practise being influenced by changing fashions seemed to hold. The help from Hermione meant that he now could see the future work promising a successful end. He stole an occasional glance in her direction and smiled inwardly when he saw her press her hand to her bosom, testing its resilience. Obviously the topic would come up again. He thought to propose a visit to Miss Tanner's lingerie shop tomorrow.
After an hour's work, he was done with the list of references and had constructed a chart to fill in the findings in scanning through the various books. He stood up and went over to Hermione at her desk.
"What are you reading?" he asked.
"Are you done with the cards? I can show what to do with them," she answered.
"Yes please, but I can guess what the incantation will be. It is best you do it though."
She put the registry cards Harry had used back into their special drawer and said: "Default order. Reorder." This time Harry was prepared for the action. Cards zoomed through the air, drawers opened and shut, and in an instant, the cards were back in their proper places.
"Impressive!" Harry had grabbed Hermione's arms from behind and leant forward whispering in her hair. "But you didn't tell me what you were reading."
"I started reading Occlumency before Christmas. I thought that it is important for you and that if I did some reading we could practise together. Maybe it would be easier for you to do that with me than doing it with Snape. Only I didn't dare suggest it," she said in a low voice.
"Mione, if I didn't already love you, I would begin now," Harry said. "And let's promise to never again be afraid of each other." They remained standing holding each other for a while before silently returning to their respective work.
---
"Lunch time," Hermione said, closing her books and arranging them in a neat pile on her desk. Harry started doing the same with his books and the big piece of parchment he used to arrange his findings. They then walked hand-in-hand out of the library, down the corridors to the main hall and the lunch table. Both of them were in good mood. For Harry, there was a new feeling of a bit of work well done. He had often had that feeling after DA-training or after Quidditch practise, but never before after a morning in the library. For Hermione, Harry's obvious admiration for her skill with the library registry was boosting her self-esteem.
After lunch, the good mood was mixed with the satisfaction of a full stomach. They decided to start the afternoon before the fire of the Gryffindor common room. Hermione made her way up to her own room while Harry stoked the fire.
They sat close together on the couch staring into the flames silently and at peace. Harry took her hand in his and stroked her fingers gently with his thumb. She leaned on him letting her head fall on his shoulder. Minutes passed.
Harry let go of her hand and moved his right arm around her shoulders cupping her chin with his left hand. He leaned in for a kiss. She accepted his attempt by leaning backwards and opening her lips to his probing tongue. She tasted of mint - she had taken some time with a toothbrush. Harry hoped his own breath would not be too bad. She definitely didn't seem to mind anyway. His left hand roamed on, over her arm, down her waist, pulling her further into his embrace. She put her hand behind his neck while his free left hand found its way around her back caressing her spine.
Now he felt it. He moved his hand around cupping her right breast while continuing his kisses. She moaned. He pulled away a few inches, looked her into her eyes, smiling.
"You have changed your bra."
Hermione went red on her ears. Harry pulled her to him and whispered in her ear.
"Nice touch. I liked that."
She buried her head against his neck.
"Mione. May I ask why you wear such old-fashioned bras like the one this morning?" Harry tried.
Harry leaned down on her and pushed her back on the couch. "Mione. This is Harry. I don't laugh at you, I don't think badly about you and I'm happy you thought to change. I'm just curious and have wanted to ask you for a long time but of course earlier I couldn't. And it does have something to do with some other things I want to talk about. And I know there is always a reason when you do something."
Hermione appeared both frustrated and flustered. "Why do you ask such a question? We sit here kissing and - having a wonderful time - and you - you start - start teasing me for my underwear." She seemed about to cry.
"Mione, dear; I'm sorry, but you know. - Before I understood I loved you, I was curious about you. That maybe is the first stage. I kept watching for details of you. And of course, girl's underwear is interesting for boys." Harry held her hands in his, talking in a low voice. "I remember once when I and Ron came to your dormitory to fetch you - we were going somewhere - and you girls had got your laundry back. Lavender and Parvati giggled and made a show of their bras when stuffing them into their drawers, but you were instead very secretive and tried to hide your laundry. I happened to see enough to recognise the same design I've seen in aunt Petunia's laundry. That astonished me, and it still does."
Hermione had been looking into Harry's emerald eyes when he told his tale. She saw only honesty and love, and her own eyes began to water. "Harry, I've never had girls as close friends, and it's not easy to go buying underwear with your friends if they are boys, as you and Ron. Besides I've been more interested in books when spending my allowance." She made a small pause before she continued. "I've got a cousin, a couple of years older than me. I've got some of her clothes when she had grown out of them. When I was small, I admired her very much, so it was great when I got a bra of my own that way. Since then, it has been rather practical for me. And that sort are made to last," she added with at smile.
"Good," Harry said. "Tomorrow we will visit Miss Tanner and buy you some new things. I hope a boyfriend can be allowed into such a shop."
Harry saw her hesitate a second, and added. "I will pay for them, and we can go have lunch somewhere in Hogsmeade as well." When he saw her still hesitant, he pulled her to him and continued:
"Mione, listen! Money is not a problem. I've got enough for the two of us, and I think we should be allowed some fun with them. I need to tell you this. I've been thinking about it and this is something you should know."
"This will be a long tale," Harry started. "I learned of wizard money when I first visited Gringotts together with Hagrid the summer before the first year began. I then got to know that a fairly large heap of money actually was mine, an inheritance from my parents. I have not been very concerned about money until this summer; I've always had enough not to bother. I've felt rather awkward about this, as you know, especially as I've understood that others were not so well off.
This summer I inherited Sirius. It was really awful, but one day Dumbledore just picked me up at the Dursleys' and brought me to Gringotts to learn what I had to learn and to sign the proper documents.
Some things were just amazing. What you se in your vault is not actually your own money but some magic money used for reckoning. The real money is lent to customers who pay interest, just like in a muggle bank. That's why the heap can grow without putting anything new into it oneself. Also I learnt that I actually paid for my study at Hogwarts with some of my own money and that my inheritance actually was cared for by some trustees. Do you know who the trustees were?"
"No," answered Hermione who had been listening intently. "But I could guess at professor Dumbledore".
"Right, and professor McGonagall and a third one. Want to guess again?"
"Let me think. It couldn't be Sirius - Lupin?"
"No, Mr Weasly; Ron's dad".
"How come, no one told you? But why is this important just now?"
"Wait. Now this pile has grown considerably. The law-goblin I met said that the dividends of that pile should make 'a quite considerable difference to the economy of an everyday wizard family' as he put it.
But there were more: The house at Grimauld Place is now mine. I don't like it though. Too many memories and I don't trust Kreacher.
And then there is a block of flats in central London. The rent alone brings in a lot of galleons, plus that one of the flats, on the top floor, is reserved for me. It might come handy in a year or so. After Hogwarts, I mean.
And finally, there is a large country estate that for centuries has belonged to the Black family. The farming is run by a foreman and brings in a considerable sum, but the main house and its surroundings are available to move into if I so wish. There is a problem though. Bellatrix Lestrange argues that the estate should go to her, but the solicitor at Gringotts says that she has no chance of winning a case in court. She can be dangerous in other ways though, as we know."
"Sounds like a wonderful place to live in," Hermione said. "But everywhere will have its dangers as long as Voldemort is still around."
"Let's talk about Voldemort later. Can you guess the name of that house? It has something to do with your name."
"What about 'Harry's Hermitage' or something?" she said giggling.
"No, it is called 'Abbey Grange'; there are remains of an old monastery church nearby. The house is very nice and newly modernized. I visited there for some hours together with professor Dumbledore when we were done at Gringotts."
"Well", continued Harry, "the point is that we don't have to worry about money if we need something. There's more than I really understand"
"So that's what's behind the articles in 'Witch Weekly'!"
"I don't know what they know or don't know. They seem to write what they want anyway. More important is however that I should write a will. The solicitors at Gringotts have been pestering me about that. Without a will the money would go to the Dursleys if I should be killed. That could be reasonable in a way so long as my money came from my parents only, aunt Petunia being my mother's sister. But now things are different, aren't they?"
"What do you have in mind?"
"Naturally, you are the closest person I have, and I would like you to inherit me if I get killed. I've been thinking on this. You should not think I am buying you with dreams of future wealth. This is just how it is. If I can't use the money, I want you to have some fun with it."
"Harry, if you die I wouldn't want to live on, regardless of the amount of money."
"You don't decide such things yourself. And the money could bring some sort of consolation. You would be a very wealthy witch".
"More likely, we will die together."
"Thank you." Harry said, stroking her cheek. "That possibility should also be provided for. In that case I think your parents should have one third, Ron's parents one third and Ron himself the rest."
Hermione was silent for a short while, thinking. She then said, somewhat hesitantly: "You sure are very generous, but I think all the people you have mentioned would feel rather awkward about that wealth. I think you should divide half maybe in that way and donate the other half to Hogwarts for instance. But if - Voldemort - wins, that's what you are thinking about, isn't it, I wonder what the world would look like. If those people would still be there, or even Hogwarts."
Hermione stifled a yawn. "Let's suppose you win. I can't think of how the alternative would be. Come here!" Hermione lay back on the couch, resting her feet on a stool.
Harry snuggled close to her with his face to the fire, resting his head on her belly. He threw his left hand around her body and hugged her. He put his nose into her clothes, feeling her warm scent. It had a strangely calming effect on him.
"I hear your stomach rumble. It goes Blo-blop now and then," Harry said.
"Silly, I've just had my lunch. Of course there is a lot going on." Hermione tugged at Harry's hair. He moved up another inch or two:
"Mione. I've never been this physically close to another person. Not since I was a baby. It's great but I get sleepy." He extended his left hand and held on to her free hand, and let out a big sigh. In a few moments he was asleep. Hermione followed soon after.
Neither of them noticed when Crookshanks entered through the portrait hole, followed by a tabby cat. The two cats sat down in front of the couch for a while. The tabby cat then went further into the common room. A moment later, it came back, now in its proper human form: Professor McGonagall. She remained standing before the fire, looking at the sleeping pair. A thin smile formed on her lips, whether out of a tender memory or because of a suspicion confirmed is not known. She then left a note on the floor, nodded at Crookshanks and left the room.