Chapter 5 - Changing
Disclaimer: None of these phenomenal characters belong to me. They are the wonderful brain children of the amazing JK Rowling. No money is being made from this. (I have the pitiful bank statements to prove it.)
Rating: R/NC-17 (some chapters)
Pairing: H/Hr (eventually)
Summary: Misunderstandings, miscommunications, and jealousy lead the characters on a rollercoaster of emotion. Angst 'o plenty.
Author's Note: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. After agonizing over how I wanted the scene to play out, for better or worse, this is what turned out. This chapter has been not been beta read. Sorry if its riddled with errors. Also, special thanks to sabine and prong69 for listening to the pre-posting blatter.
The room was small and sparsely furnished with only the barest of necessities. This didn't seem to bother the only two occupants as they lie across the bed with various texts and notes thrown about. Hermione's eyes were locked on Ian as he poured over one of his books. He certainly was handsome, a combination of his strong jaw and playful boyish expressions. His sandy blonde hair was hanging in his eyes and she fought the impulse to brush it from his forehead, knowing the distraction would only serve to annoy him.
"Really Hermione, if you were just going to sit there and stare into space you should have just stayed at the party," stated a very agitated Ian, "You know how important this exam is and it's in less than 5 hours."
"You're the one that waited until the last minute to prepare for it. I'm just trying to help," Hermione said, her irritation at the situation growing by leaps and bounds. "And it's quite funny that you haven't missed a question yet that I've asked."
"What are you suggesting, Hermione?" Ian asked. Hermione sat up and Ian followed suit. "Is it so wrong to ask for your help? It's not like I asked you here for some insidious reason."
"I'm sorry. It's just that I was hoping that I could spend a little more time with Harry tonight. You know how terribly I've missed him since he's been away." She let out a sigh and some of the anger left Ian's face, his eyes once more holding some of their usual warmth.
"I really do appreciate you helping me with this, Hermione. I'm sorry if I seem ungrateful; it's just been very stressful for me lately." He wrapped his arms around her and proceeded to place small kisses on her neck. "Besides, it looked like Harry and his partner were moments away from leaving themselves. They look good together don't they?"
Hermione, who was just beginning to enjoy Ian's ministrations, pulled away from his embrace abruptly, "You think there's something going on between them do you?"
"For someone so smart you certainly are naïve sometimes aren't you?" he asked with a grin. "It's time your friend Harry got to have some regular fun isn't it? I can't imagine having gone straight from school into Auror training. That bloke is in serious need of some fun."
He tried to pull Hermione closer but she pulled away from him. "I think it's entirely possible for two people of the opposite sex to be friends and never have those kinds of feelings for each other. Anyhow, I don't think Chris is his type at all."
Ian pulled her closer once more and nuzzled her neck. He trailed his hand across her stomach and fingered the edge of her blouse only to be rebuffed once more. "Hermione, this frigid act is getting to be really old. When are you going to loosen up?"
The flasks of potions in the room began to shatter and the lights began to flicker, "How dare you talk to me like that?" She tried to control the magic radiating from her with little success, "I think it's best if I leave now. Come see me when you pull your head out of your arse."
She picked up her jacket and with the slightest pop she was gone.
The air was chilly as she appeared just outside the Weasley's safety wards. I hope Harry is still awake,
she thought, and I really hope he's alone, she added as an afterthought. As she walked up the hill to the
burrow the idea that Harry may not be alone stewed in her mind. Harry would never do anything…inappropriate in Mrs.
Weasley's home. She hastened her steps as she saw the Burrow growing in the distance. There were no visible
lights which suggested everyone had long gone to bed.
She said a silent thank you that the Weasley's wards recognized her as she was able to cross the threshold and enter the home without having to disturb anyone. Her mind was swimming with thoughts of the argument she had just had with Ian. It wasn't the first time they had argued over the boundaries she had imposed upon their physical relationship. Even though they had been together for awhile she wasn't ready to take that final step with him. Up until the incident tonight he had always been very understanding of her wishes. As she walked up the stairs to Ron's old bedroom she thought perhaps she had been too hasty in leaving Ian's flat. She was never one to walk away from an argument. Something about tonight had really grated on her nerves and she was grateful to finally have her best friend home to speak with.
The hall was softly lit as she meandered her way down to Percy's old bedroom, hoping Harry had opted to keep with old habits and sleep there. There was absolute silence in the household and she smiled when she realized this was the first time she had ever known this home to be so tranquil. She tried to open the door but found it locked.
She muttered a simple unlocked spell and found herself face to face with a very sleepy looking, agitated Auror. "Merlin Hermione, are you always in the habit of unlocking bedroom doors in the middle of the night? I have to tell you that might not have been such a big deal at Hogwarts but that might not be such a good idea these days. You'll never know what you might find."
She looked Chris over and realized she was wearing one of Harry's old seeker's shirts. "I'm, oh, this is, and I'll just leave then. I'm sorry." Oh my god, oh my god.
"He's not here, Hermione. Last I saw him, Harry was playing a game of chess with Ron; he's probably passed out in Ron's old room." Hermione looked at Chris and couldn't help but feel the smallest twinges of envy. Here was a girl that was just woken out of bed in the middle of the night and her hair and skin was flawless; not a hair out of place or any creases from sleep on her face.
"Thank you," she said softly, feeling very much like a chagrined child. With a quick nod and muttered goodbye Chris closed the door leaving a slightly embarrassed Hermione standing in the hallway.
The walk down the hall to Percy's room was far shorter than she remembered; this time she knocked softly on the door before she saw that unruly mess of black hair in the doorway.
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?" he asked, opening the door for her and wordlessly inviting her into the room.
"I have no idea, Harry," she replied honestly, "I feel like I didn't get a chance to really talk to you tonight. I'm so sorry I left so abruptly." She really looked at him for the first time in over a year. Long gone was that gangly teenager of the past. His shirtless upper body answered all the questions her imagination had ever asked. Ginny was right, Auror training really had transformed their friend. His body was still lean but very well sculpted; his face rugged and well defined. He gave her a curious look as he caught her gaze lingering on his physique a moment longer than propriety would have allowed.
"See something interesting?" he asked, chuckling lightly as her cheeks colored.
"You're not that little boy I met on the express anymore, are you?" She was unable to hold his gaze and their awkward pause in conversation seemed to stretch into eternity.
He cleared his throat and answered, "You're still the person that knows me best, Hermione." He laid his hands upon her cheek and whispered softly, "I thought of you so often when I was away. I dreamt of you."
"You don't know what you're saying, Harry," she replied, leaning into his caress, "Too many things have changed. We've changed…"
"We're not so very different," he whispered in return. He drew her closer to him, finding her so very pliant in his arms.
"There are other people involved now. We can't do this." She looked into his eyes and was held captive by their hypnotic gaze.
"So tell me to stop." With that said he pulled her roughly against him and devoured her lips with his own, running his hands possessively over her body.
She reciprocated in kind, feeling the hard planes of his back as she let her own hands wander over him, hoping to learn every crevice of his body. Her body temperature was rising and she could not contain her gasp as he backed her up against the wall pushing his hips against hers, feeling that delicious pressure in her abdomen beginning to build.
She could feel how hard he was against her and couldn't believe she had never known him this part of him. His mouth was wreaking havoc upon her neck and she whimpered as he nipped at a particularly sensitive spot. He lifted her with ease and she wrapped her legs around him, finding his lips with her own as she moved her pelvis against him. He carried her across the room and deposited her on the bed, tearing his mouth away from hers only to remove her shirt.
Hermione bolted upright in bed. Her breathing was erratic and sweat ran down her body. Thank Merlin it was just a dream, she thought. She had debated after her argument with Ian if she should return to the Burrow but felt she wasn't in the right frame of mind to be having a heart to heart with her friend. She had been right if her dream were any indication.
I shouldn't be having these thoughts about Harry. But even she couldn't deny that her dream had left her unmistakably very wet.
Author's Note 2: Yeah, I know, I'm just not right… Even though the last portion of the chapter was a great big tease there is method to my madness. Hope you stick around to read the next chapter coming soon. Please leave me some feedback. Lots of feedback = greater posting motivation ;oP