Once more to Lady Starlight...thanks, and obviously I don't own this, I owe money on my car
Chapter 18: Beginnings
**************************Little Hangleton*********************
September 19, 1997
"Severus," Voldemort hissed as the ex-Slytherin Head strode at his heals. Voldemort looked over as a pair of masked Death Eaters levitated a limp victim past them. The Death Eaters bowed as the dark pair passed. The door closed behind the Death Eaters and faint screams reached the ears of the two. Voldemort smiled darkly, his lipless mouth a faint line. "I will require more of the potion."
Severus took a fearful glance around the dark, dimly lit hallway under the old, ruined Riddle Manor. A soft squeak cut off abruptly as a rat was swallowed by Nagini. Voldemort smirked as he felt Nagini's pleasure. "Sire, may I ask why you need such a potion?"
Riddle stopped his pacing and looked at Snape. His eyes glowed faintly as he considered for a long moment, "Not as of yet Severus, you will know soon enough."
**************************Room of Requirement************************
10:00 am
Luna scissor-kicked her way back to her feet and swept her long hair back out of her eyes. The band she had had in to hold it back had fallen out a couple of passes ago. Hermione grinned at her and sliced her foot through the air at Luna's head. Luna grabbed her ankle as it passed and pushed up.
Hermione went with the motion, flipping backwards and landing in a backwards summersault and bounding to her feet in one blurred movement. Luna charged and Hermione was forced on the defensive as Luna snapped a jab, a backfist and a sweep at her; which Hermione blocked, ducked backwards and jumped over respectively. Luna hopped backwards as Hermione's left leg scythed through where her stomach had been a heartbeat before. Luna grinned at her and snapped a kick at Hermione's knee. Hermione dodged it, as Luna commented absently, "I was thinking the other day...uggh." The hammer striking wood sound of Hermione striking her block snapped across the room.
"What?" Hermione panted as she dropped and swept at Luna's leg. Luna jumped over the sweep and tumbled forward, leading with her elbow.
Luna shook her head to throw her hair back out of her eyes, "Do you think blonds have more fun...uggh." She took Hermione's snap kick in the leg, but blocked her follow up to the head. None of the cadre fought with the safeties on any longer. In more settled times it would have been amazing how fast the skills they had needed were absorbed by the teens, but there wasn't really a choice any longer. "Or are we...uggh," she punched a quick combo at Hermione, getting through on the third hit and receiving an open hand blow to the jaw in return, "easier to spot in the dark?"
Hermione shrugged, grinned, hopped once on the balls of her feet and MOVED. Even with her occasionally spotty abilities, Luna barely followed her as Hermione hooked the back of her leg, dropped her to the mat, and punched for her throat. Hermione's middle knuckle rested lightly on the blonde's esophagus and Luna tapped the mat next her. Hermione rolled off her, bounded to her feet, and pulled Luna to her feet. "I don't know Luna." She flicked her wrist and a pair of towels shot over from a folded pile the Room had created next to a half-dozen, life-like target mannequins. "What does Ron think?" her eyes twinkled at the odd girl that was rapidly replacing the spot Ginny had held for years.
"Oh, Ronnie's a boy...I love him, but he is a touch daft," Luna replied easily and started minutely inspecting the towel Hermione handed her, for what, Hermione did not, or did she really want to, know.
Um...kettle, hello, my name is pot. Hermione thought instantly as she dropped to the mats, and folded her legs under her in an easy lotus. Hermione looked down at her towel in her hands and pulled a drink from a water bottle that had appeared at her hand. "Um, Luna..."
"I would be honored, eight?" Luna replied as she bent double at the waist and touched her forehead to her shins. Hermione just nodded. "Good," Luna replied softly as she reached down and grabbed Hermione's hand with both of hers, "I haven't worn that dress I bought this summer yet." Luna smiled hugely, showing all her teeth and Hermione giggled.
******************************Godric's Hollow****************************
Poppy looked around the tastefully decorated living room as she waited for her patient to return. She looked at the mixture of Muggle and Wizarding volumes on the various bookshelves, the entertainment center in the corner, and the assorted Gryffindor memorabilia. Poppy had listened early this morning as Remus had come to her, and given her the location of a house hidden under the Fidelius, which she could not now, literally could not, divulge the location of, even if Voldemort himself questioned her. She shivered a bit at the thought as she smiled kindly over at the solid man sitting in a leather armchair, looking upward worriedly as they waited for his wife to finish redressing after Poppy's examination.
After another minute, Jane returned from upstairs, from the new guest bedroom that had been added in the most recent renovation, and came down the stairs. The owners of the master suite had yet to spend a night in it, but even though Roger and Jane knew that neither would mind if they took the bigger bedroom, and would probably insist on it if they knew, they hadn't. Roger had made a joke about they should get used to the in-law's visiting bedroom anyway. He didn't know how right he was, of course.
Jane came down the stairs and perched on the arm of the chair Roger was in. "So Poppy am I alright, I would think that the flu would..."
"I am afraid that you don't have the flu, Jane," Poppy said quietly, she paused as she looked down at the parchments on the enchanted clipboard she was holding, "In fact you are in perfect health...as is your daughter."
"I would assume that Hermione is," Roger replied instantly before he looked to see Jane covering her mouth with both hands. Her blue eyes danced as she looked down to see Roger looking up at her dumbfounded.
Poppy laughed slightly, "Normally considering whom my usual patients are, this isn't a particularly welcome event at that time in their lives, but I think I can make an exception in your case." Jane fell into Roger's lap in the chair and cried softly on his shoulder.
"When, Poppy?" Roger asked as Jane looked up, her bottom lip in her teeth, giggling slightly.
"Late May sometime, I should be able to tell you more precisely during your next exam." Poppy got up, and grabbed the Portkey that Remus had supplied her. "I have to be returning, lest someone see that I am gone, but I will be back. I will send along a schedule of appointments along with Remus and a diet for you to follow Jane." Poppy glanced down at her clipboard, "Do you want me to say any thing to Miss...Hermione?"
Jane and Roger shared a long glance, finally he shook his head, "No, please don't, it will be pleasant surprise, I hope." Poppy nodded, and vanished in a fall of color.
Jane looked up at her husband happily as he ran his hands through her hair, "Well we had always wanted a bigger family." He laughed.
"Yeah, what's the bet we gain a daughter and son-in-law in the same year?" Roger quipped as he pulled her in for a kiss. She shivered as his hands ran up the back of her jumper.
"That's a sucker bet, honey," Jane snorted, "of course if they get eloped, they are damn sure going to have a wedding I get to go to."
"Sure dear, sure," Roger replied placatingly.
******************************Hogwarts*********************************
2:15 pm
"The key to fighting many dark creatures is often selecting your ground," Lupin said with no trace of nervousness for himself, even with the Slytherins dotting the back row, they didn't even pay attention to him, with the exception of a few. "Some of this is a branch of Magizoology, dealing especially with such beasts as Acromantulas," Ron shuddered on Hermione's left, and Harry fought not to laugh on her other side, "Sphinxes, Manticores and the like, and I am sure that if you paid attention to Hagrid, you have learned extensively about them." Lupin looked like he wanted to laugh himself as he paced over to his desk and leaned back against it. "However, several of those creatures that I have just mentioned are currently classified as beasts..."
"Isn't that you as well, Professor?" a voice uttered just a touch too loud from the rear.
"That will be twenty-five points from Slytherin," Lupin replied without breaking stride. He flicked his wand at the front of the class and a large chart listing many dark creatures and their weaknesses appeared. "Memorize this, some of this is also listed in Scamander's book," he glanced over to see Hermione's hand up, "Yes, Miss Granger," Lupin said after the barest of pauses. Damn, I almost called her Mrs. Potter...I've been listening to Nymph tease them too much.
"Is there a reason that werewolves and vampires are listed as beasts, sir?" Hermione inquired.
Lupin frowned as he glanced back to the chart. "They are variously listed as beasts and beings, Hermione, like Centaurs, House-Elves and other intelligent beings." A soft snigger from the back of the room did not escape lycan hearing, and Lupin's hazel eyes shot to the back, but too late to find the actual miscreant. "As to my original point, it is often possible to use the surroundings to your advantage when facing dark creatures. For example, a vampire will often not want to cross moving water such as a stream or river. This is more evident in turned vampires than purebloods of course, but even the purebloods will often show a reluctance."
Lupin continued on with his lecture as Harry carefully took notes, only glancing over at Hermione out of the corner of his eye once or twice a minute. We should invite Lupin and Tonks, Hermione announced after a minute. Harry turned and looked at her for a bit before nodding and returning to scribbling down notes. Hermione squeezed his hand under the table before she picked her quill back up and resumed taking notes; or rather the part of her brain that wasn't always concerned with at least some aspect of Harry or his well being, which had been recording what Lupin was saying, transferred what it had heard to her quill hand.
I do wish...
Hush Harry, hush, it's ok, I'll get that chance later, her lips twitched, and as they were in the front row, only Lupin and Harry noticed, and Lupin didn't say a word beyond starting in on which type of wood often made the best stake.
The remainder of the class was more of the same, with Harry or Hermione or occasionally one of the other DA members asking a question or two. The bell rang and the class vanished like the early morning mist when the sun came up. Hermione motioned towards Remus, and Harry nodded. She gave him a smile and walked up with him to the Marauder.
"Yes, Harry, Hermione?" Lupin asked as he placed several texts into a large, leather bag on his desk. He turned to them with a slight smile as he placed his wand into his robe pocket. He watched as Harry and Hermione's eyes flicked to each other's.
"Um, Remus," Harry asked very quietly, "are you and Tonks doing anything tonight?" Lupin shook his head, puzzlement evident in his gaze. Harry looked again over at Hermione.
"Could you two come around to our common room about eight, we would appreciate it," Hermione finished for him nervously. Lupin looked at the pair of them oddly as if he expected bunny ears to sprout from their hair any second.
"Sure, I think we can," Lupin replied slowly.
The sun was shining down over the tops of the mountain and through the trees bordering the lake as Harry and Hermione walked slowly around the winding dirt path where he and Hermione had once hidden from his critics and fears after the Tri-Wizard selection. She glanced over at him as she shared the memory, Sorry, no toast today.
Did I ever thank you for that? Harry asked as he brushed his hand against hers. She smiled but didn't answer immediately. They both glanced up as a soft hoot whispered through the trees above them, and Hedwig fluttered in to land on Harry's shoulder next to Hermione. Hermione reached up and petted her as they paused and looked out over the lake. The squid was waving to several giggling third-year girls who were over by the rocky shore where both of them and Sirius had almost lost their souls to the Dementors.
Hermione finally shrugged slightly as they started off again, Hedwig bobbing slightly on Harry's shoulder, and looking back and forth between Harry and Hermione as if wondering why they weren't holding onto each other. I don't know, Harry, and honestly, you never will have to. Kinda the point.
I know. But, thanks.
You're welcome. Her hand came up and brushed her hair from her eyes, before pulling a band from her pocket and pulling it back into a tail. She stopped and sat down on a large rock overlooking the lake and glanced up as Harry joined her, and pulled his knee into his chest. You scared?
No, not really, I was scared when I was going to ask you, she glanced at him, and a chestnut eyebrow crept up leisurely, fine...I'm scared shitless.
Me too, baby. Her hand came over to rest on his for a moment, before returning to stroke Hedwig's feathers once more. Harry's familiar had remained on his shoulder throughout their walk and Harry's sitting down. "Alright, you can come too," Hermione replied to the owl. She cooed softly and hopped over to Hermione's shoulder.
"HARRY, HERMIONE," Harry rolled his eyes as he heard the voice of Hogwarts' resident photojournalist. Harry and Hermione moved apart hesitantly, as if their bodies were trying to resist their brains. The young blonde came running up, with his camera in hand. He stopped in front of them, "Can I take your picture, please?" Harry glanced at Hermione she gave a small nod, and he nodded to Colin. "Squeeze in together" Harry's arm went around Hermione's waist and her head fell to his shoulder without a thought. Hedwig hopped out of the way, and settled on Hermione's other shoulder just as Colin's shutter clicked and as quick as that, the photo that would later be their wedding picture was born. "I'll get you a copy Harry," Colin waved as he ran away, happy that Harry had let him take a picture without complaint.
"He's just weird." Hermione said after a moment, watching the sixth year take off towards the castle seemingly as happy as a pig in slop.
"Yeah," Harry agreed as a small, black and white bunny hopped across the path. "He is odd." He looked at his hands for moment before, pulling his glasses off with one hand and pinching the bridge of his nose with the other. His eyes cut sideways, So what are you doing tomorrow?
She laughed; I had better be recovering... Harry grinned as she glanced down to smooth her skirt over her legs. Why Harry? She asked seriously.
I just want to go to Hogsmeade or something, before we start in on studying for the day...Ron will be busy at Quidditch.
Oh, she realized, and looked up over at him. I won't stop you, if?
I don't have time Hermione, he replied grimly, Ron might think I'm daft for not playing, but I don't have the time to practice, I have too much to learn. I guess I'll just watch. Harry looked back over his shoulder at the castle. It was getting less and less fun every year anyway, I love the game and flying, but it seems like another bit of my childhood that I have to give up. The part that really annoys me, is that fucking Umbridge gets to watch me sitting there in the stands...it'll tickle her pink.
Hermione didn't care who would walk up, as she leaned over and pressed herself against his side. How about I turn her into a Niffler...she'll chase her paws all day long...Harry laughed, and slid off the boulder to his feet. He turned and caught Hermione as she slid off and gave her a quick kiss.
Let's go, Mione. Their fingers wrapped around each other's until they emerged into a populated area, and fell apart. She flashed him a small, nervous look as they entered the castle, and headed to dinner.
*****************************Head's Chambers*********************
8:00pm
A certain portrait was looking rather pleased with himself as he looked over at Luna, Ron, Remus and Tonks. The latter three were looking rather perplexed, while Luna looked...happy. She had been true to her word and had worn a rather, bright, blue sundress, that seemed a touch too light for the end of September, but no one really commented. It was Luna after all. The three confounded ones, along with Luna, looked over across the room at the portrait of Dumbledore, who was deep in conversation with Harry.
Harry for some reason was rather dressed up for a Friday night. His jade green dress shirt and black trousers contrasted sharply with the simple jeans and a jumper that Ron had on, or the tweed jacket and trousers Lupin was sporting. Tonks, looked at Harry critically, glanced over at Dumbledore's image which was raptly listening to Harry's account of their last, failed attempt to gain a Horcrux, and suddenly her eyes grew huge. She giggled loudly behind her hands and bounced up and down like a large, slightly demented bunny rabbit. Lupin looked at her as if she had gone insane, until she came over and whispered something urgently in his ear. Both of Lupin's eyebrows went up as he glanced at her, over at Harry and back at her, to see her nodding furiously.
The door opened to Harry's bedroom, Hermione came out nervously for some reason and took Harry's hand. Her lower lip trembled a bit as she looked up at Harry. She had also chosen a simple, white sundress for tonight, with her hair falling in waves over her back and a single, conjured white lily tucked behind her right ear. She glanced down as Harry muttered a spell under his breath and she felt the various security wards around the suite go into full effect, even the map couldn't see them now if it weren't already here. Crookshanks and Hedwig were sitting together on a nearby windowsill, as it they were spectators at a particularly interesting Quidditch match.
Harry looked around the room, at the blazing fire going in the mantle, at the worn couch in the corner, at the perplexed guests and back down at Hermione before speaking. "Um, thanks for showing up, we, um, I mean Hermione and I we decided that we would go ahead and get married." Remus just stared as Tonks giggled. "We were wondering if you would consent to being our witnesses."
"Ah, Harry," Lupin said after a long, long moment, "I'm not against this, really I'm not," he said urgently, waving his hands in front of him, as if to ward off an attack, "but who is going to marry you two?"
"That would be I, Remus," Dumbledore's image replied jovially from behind Harry. "It seems that there is no ruling actually taking away my powers as a Warlock of the Wizengamot, nor Headmaster for that matter, despite my current...situation."
Both of Lupin's eyebrows shot up, but he did not object further. In the portrait, Dumbledore proved once more that canvas could, twinkle, as he turned to Harry and Hermione. "I imagine that if I were there in person, that this would be a more formal affair, but, as it is, let us get started shall we?" Harry and Hermione slowly nodded as one, and Dumbledore chuckled softly. "Excellent, now, if Ronald and Luna would take places as the Best Man, and Maid of Honor respectively, after all we do need someone to hand off the rings don't we?" Harry silently dug in a pocket and handed Ron a small box. Ron opened it and handed Luna the slightly smaller one of the pair.
Harry and Hermione had decided that they wanted bands of their own if possible, so late last Saturday, the two of them had vanished to Diagon Alley under slight disguises to acquire said rings. The matched pair that came from a trip where Hermione had deliberately looked like Lily to Harry's shock when he saw her, with charms turning her eyes emerald and her chestnut waves, dark red, and Harry had magically been as blond as Draco, were a pair of one-off creations that could have only been created by magic. Platinum and gold had been melded together in a Damascus pattern to run together like water, much like the pattern that made up the swords and daggers, but in precious metals rather than steels. A faintly glowing band of runes ran along the inside of each ring denoting both their names and a few other sentiments.
"Excellent," Dumbledore began, then looked around at the guests, he seemed to take a breath, "years ago, I watched a young boy, one that I had hoped against hope would emerge relatively unscathed from what I had chosen to put him through. Fortunately, he did, and exceeded any of my hopes for him. I watched as he found friends and later much more, the likes of which hadn't been seen here in years, and I was relieved a bit I admit. And now, the time has come to complete a pattern that began seven years ago, one of ebbs and valleys that leads us to today."
"Marriage is a holy bond, with obligations and responsibilities beyond those of any other duty. It is a also a journey of highs and lows...much like how you two got here, that with luck, may take you centuries further along that road, and beyond. In all of my years as Headmaster, I can remember all of the couples I married, both in school and without..." Lupin and Tonks looked shocked, "Oh, yes these two are far from the first that I have married still in school, or right out of it for that matter, but I think that they may be my most favorite so far." He watched as Hermione's hand clenched almost painfully on Harry's and Lupin's ears seemed to perk up as he could hear their hearts beating in time. "At this time, there is really nothing that I can say, that they themselves can not, so I shall leave it to them, Harry?"
Harry took a breath and took both of Hermione's hands in his. Somehow, though neither seemed to actually move, they were suddenly standing, looking into each other's eyes from a few inches away, their foreheads touching lightly. The faintest hint of ozone permeated the air, as the small hairs on the necks of the watchers began to prickle. Time stopped, and somewhere far away, a bell tolled, Harry whispered, "Hermione...ever since I met you, I've always imagined my life with you there. I think that along the way, I've forgotten what a life was without you in it somewhere, and I really can't imagine living without you. You're probably the only person I've ever really known who loves me for who I am, not an image, but me, all my flaws as well as what I'm supposedly good at. You are almost the only thing that has kept me sane and alive for the past six years and you are the one inspires me to be the best Wizard...and man I can be. Thank you Hermione, for giving me a purpose and a reason to live, beyond what others may think. I love you more than I can possibly say, I love you, Mione, now and forever."
Hermione bit her lip as a soft, choked sound escaped her throat. She didn't bother to wipe away the tears that fell softly as she leaned forward, a bare couple of inches, to kiss him, before pulling back slightly and whispering, "Harry, my love. I dreamed of us together since before I really knew what those dreams meant. You are my heart, my soul and the one who makes me be better than I would otherwise be. Without you I would still be hidden up in the library, hiding behind a stack of books, if I was even here at all. Everything I have done, and everything I will ever do, will be for us, for you. When we finally pass from this plane to our next adventure, after a day or a millennium, know that I love you now, I loved you then, and that I will love you always, and always and I will be with you forever."
Next to the couple, Luna gasped as a sharp wind ruffled her skirt and a sudden bubble of force pushed her and Ron back. The candles in the room flickered as twin; soft glows lit chocolate and emerald eyes. Dumbledore chuckled softly, "Excellent, excellent. Now Harry...Do you, Harry James Potter, take Hermione Jane Granger as your wife, to protect her above all others, to honor her above all others and to love above all others, in happiness and sadness, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall inhabit this plane of existence?"
"I do, I will, now and forever." Dumbledore's eyebrow crooked at Harry's slight change and he turned to Hermione.
"Hermione Jane Granger, do you take Harry James Potter as your husband, to protect him above all others, to honor him above all others and to love above all others, in happiness and sadness, in sickness and in health as long as you both shall inhabit this plane of existence?"
Hermione's lip twitched upward, "I do, I will, now and forever." Small crackling energy webs crackled at the edge of the room, and Dumbledore seemed ecstatic. Behind them, Lupin pulled his and Tonks' joined hand to her lips as she leaned against him. Luna glanced around Hermione, to catch Ron's eye and he gulped.
Dumbledore glanced at Ron and Luna and nodded, the extended the rings to their respective honorees and watched, a touch amazed, as the rings lifted in front of them to float in front of Harry and Hermione. "Harry, please take the ring that is destined for Hermione and repeat the following. With this ring, this symbol of our bond, our love, I bind my magic, my heart and my soul to yours." Lupin's jaw dropped as he recognized that Dumbledore had upped the ante even further, invoking the old ceremonies that were seldom if ever practiced in this day and age, as they were well neigh impossible to break, even with death as they made the pair one...and suddenly he knew. Instead of objecting he pulled Nymphadora fully into his arms and back into him, her head resting under his as they watched. On either side of Harry and Hermione, the two purebloods were slightly speechless as Harry plucked the ring from the air and slid it on Hermione's ring finger until it abutted Lily's ring.
Harry was crying slightly as he placed the ring on her finger, "With this ring...this symbol of our bond, our love, I bind my magic, my heart and my soul to yours." The fingers of his left hand remained intertwined with hers as Dumbledore nodded and looked to Hermione.
"Hermione, the same."
Hermione plucked the ring from the air and slid it on Harry's left ring finger; her voice was soft and slightly choked up as she whispered, "With this ring, the symbol of our bond, our love...I bind my magic, my heart...and my very soul to yours...even though you already had all three." she added in a faint breath that only Harry heard. A sudden crackling bridge of light snapped between the rings and a green glow erupted in their eyes fully as a brief wind ruffled feathers, fur and hair about the room. Ron and Luna were knocked back another pace before the bubble collapsed with the almost-newlyweds standing stock still, unaffected.
"Very, well then," Dumbledore pronounced, "I hereby declare you husband and wife," he grinned, "I hope you can take it from here." Harry nodded vigorously as he and Hermione pulled on each other's hands to pull them together.
The room faded away as Harry felt Hermione's hands leave his to knot in his hair and her tongue suddenly dancing with his. Somehow his hands ended up running though chestnut curls as she leaned against him, trusting him not to let her fall. Faint greenish glows escaped slitted eyelids as their ears ignored distant sounds of amusement.
Finally they fell apart slightly, their heads still together, their eyes still looking directly into each other's. Hermione was fully relying on Harry to support her now, or perhaps it was the other way around as Dumbledore spoke, "May I present then, Mr. and Mrs. Potter."
Applause came from the few spectators as the pair finally broke apart, and came to their senses more or less. Hermione turned and gave Luna a hug, while behind her; Harry hugged Ron like a brother. They switched after a moment, for Hermione to hug Ron and kiss him on the cheek, with Harry doing the same to Luna. Lupin was almost crying himself as he swept Harry and then Hermione into a hug. "Did we surprise you, Moony?" Hermione managed after a bit.
"A little bit, yeah." Lupin laughed. Harry grinned as he led them to the sitting area and dropped onto the couch, Hermione falling with him to end up on his lap. Lupin shook his head as he dropped into a chair opposite them and Tonks, being Tonks, sat on the floor at his feet and leaned her head back against his knees. Ron flicked his wand and a tray of six butterbeers appeared, he took two and sat down, grunting slightly as Luna emulated Hermione. "I do wish that you had told us before...when the hell did you get engaged?"
"The train," Hermione replied instantly, she looked around the room, "you aren't mad are you, Remus?" she looked to Harry, "I mean you are..."
"You're about the closest thing I have left to a dad, besides Hermione's dad, Remus," Harry finished for her, "I know that we..."
Lupin shook his head as he leaned forward, "No I understand Harry, believe me," He looked down at Tonks as she looked up, "I understand. If the times were different, then yes maybe you rushed things, but somehow I don't think that you did even without that consideration." He laughed at a sudden memory, "I almost called you Mrs. Potter this afternoon in class, already, I'm really going to have to watch it aren't I?"
"Yeah," Harry and Hermione whispered as one. "Speaking of that, I guess that you all realize that we can't let this out, until Voldemort is dead, this was for us, really." The other four nodded and Hermione and Harry joined their hands, again, Fidelium Orbis Amor, they incanted together and all three rings flashed as one. "Fidelius charm," Harry explained as they looked at the room. He took a drink of his beer to quench a parched throat.
"So, now what then, Harry?" Lupin asked as Crookshanks and Hedwig decided to join the party. Hedwig settled next to Harry, while Crookshanks padded over to Tonks as she was on his level for an ear scratch before jumping up on the couch to take up half of it.
"We go on as we were, Remus, we act like we were before in public," Hermione answered, with barely a touch of bitterness. The last of the butterbeer flowed down Ron's throat and he summoned himself another.
"Are you sure you want to do that Hermione?" Tonks asked as she looked around the room, "This is a nice suite, I think it's even better than Wolfie's." she added thoughtfully after another minute of examination. "I never was...good enough to be Head Girl."
"Well, you know..." Hermione said with a smile. She turned to Harry and kissed him, just because, before shrugging. "No, that's not what we want to do, but we will until Ginny stops her whatever, then, we might, ummm," she laughed and Harry joined her, "we might date or something."
"Yeah, or something," Harry agreed, "Tomorrow, it's back to the salt mines, I think Hermione and I are going to go to Hogsmeade while Ron's at practice."
"You still could play, mate, I, um know the Captain," Ron put in. He watched as Luna got up and stretched. She smiled down at Ron and crooked a finger, beckoning Ron to his feet. She flicked her wand and soft music began to play. Ron took her hand, but she shook her head and waved to Harry and Hermione. They looked to each other and stood, Hermione flowed into his arms and they started to sway to the music.
The song ended as Ron and Luna started to dance, followed by the elder two. Harry smiled slightly as he kissed his new wife, and rested his cheek against hers. The two of them, never noticed as Lupin, Tonks, Ron and Luna silently slipped out of the suite and down the stairs to the hallway.
After several minutes, maybe an hour, Hermione glanced up at Harry, and around the room. She laughed softly as they noticed that sometime since their last check on reality, they were alone. She led Harry back to the couch and they collapsed together on it lengthwise. They lay quietly for a moment, not talking as Hermione rearranged her rings in the proper, married order, and kissed his cheek. So, Harry feel any different...
Other than that odd, deliriously happy feeling and the sudden warmth where the fear was...no, not really, Harry replied cheekily, Hermione giggled as she looked down at his chest and started undoing buttons. A soft mewing sound seemed to accompany her lips as she started to nibble next to his ear. Just what do you think you are up to Mrs. Potter...
Well, Mr. Granger...
Ha, Ha...
Hermione's hands stopped as she looked up at him through long, dark lashes. He could feel her hands trembling slightly as she placed them flat on his chest, Bloody hell, Harry, why am I so nervous all of a sudden? His hand came down and trapped hers in his as his other ran in small circles over the small of her back.
Probably the same reason I am, forever is a very long time...but there's no one else I could spend it with but you. I love you Hermione.
You know...if we are to do this right...Hermione's eyes flickered and a millisecond later they were in their room. Harry raised an eyebrow as she pushed him back onto the bed and stepped back. He watched, silently, as she bit her lip nervously and reached behind her back. A small movement later, her dress lay pooled at her feet leaving her only in a tiny pair of black knickers. Harry groaned as she crawled over him and sat on his lap, rocking side to side slightly as she slowly unbuttoned his shirt. Hermione smirked as her eyes cut down for just a millisecond before glancing back up.
This...is...not...fair...Harry managed as he felt a sudden magic pulse vanish his shoes, and a millisecond later his pants leaving only a thin layer of cotton and an even thinner layer of silk between them. Brown eyes twinkled as she started kissing him along his collarbone before slipping down to nuzzle him at the base of his throat. He grunted as she reached down to slip a hand into his boxers, and stroke him a couple of times, as her lips crashed against his. Jade eyes darkened to forest as she felt a pair of callused fingertips slide under her knickers to retaliate and tweaked a small nubbin. She gasped and sat up.
With a small motion of his fingers, Hermione felt herself being floated backwards to lie on the bed, and her kickers vanished to wherever half of their laundry had gone. I should do a pape... Hermione idly thought, her brain always working, and then, suddenly it shut down, as she felt Harry kissing his way down her stomach, tickling a smooth patch of skin, before... "OHH....FUCCCK..." Hermione gasped as she saw a pair of glasses fly past her field of vision as Harry flipped them in the general direction of the nightstand.
He settled in, licking, nibbling and occasionally lending a finger or two to the task. Her hands slipped to her own breasts, teasing them as Harry was busy a bit further down. He grinned against the inside of her thighs as she growled softly from somewhere deep in her throat. A breath, a second, and Hermione shuddered against his face, screaming...something...the sheets bunched up in her fists, and her center bucking up off the bed as he held her down gently with his hands on her hips.
She looked down, panting, a loopy smile on her face, as Harry crept back up her body, stopping to nurse a bit on the way before capturing her lips with his. She groaned loudly, almost a roar, as she knotted her fingers in his hair in an attempt to keep him firmly attached at the lips.
Hermione groaned as Harry pulled away, his lips slipping down to tease one breast while his fingers played with the other. She eased back up to a sitting position, backing up on her elbows. My turn, she announced, and pounced. Harry bit off a laugh as she threw him back, and his head bumped against a post of the bed. OHHH, I'm sorry, baby. Hermione half-giggled, at his slightly crossed-eyes.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him down, rolling at the same time so she ended up looking down at him. She ran her lower lip through her teeth as she looked down at him with brown eyes gone black. Envesco... Harry...make me your wife...please... He nodded as she reached down and back, stroking him a couple of times before guiding him home.
She slid down slowly, her eyes slipping shut until only a tiny sliver of her eyes shown through. They sat motionless for seemingly a millennia as Hermione, felt herself already crashing, and Harry whimpered at the sensation. Her eyes opened incrementally a hair as she leaned forward, captured his lips again and started to move. A tiny flicker of green fire flitted across two pairs of eyes before erupting fully. The fall of her hair hid both their faces from observation as only their panting breaths disturbed the curtain, and hearts fell in step as minds and souls fell into each other.
"Harrrry....ff..faster..." Hermione grunted and yelped as he flipped them over, and her ankles came up behind his back with a will of their own. A loud purr, progressed to a soft yelping sound as she pushed back up, matching him, push for push. She shivered again as a precursor shot along her nerves.
"M...M..iiiii..onneee" Harry whispered, breathlessly as he felt the echo of her emotions, and sensations over the top of his own. He fought to hold on, a touch longer, as he started sliding in and out faster, meeting her as she pushed up off the bed.
A minute, another and a warmth began to spread. "OHHH, MERLIN, I....LOVE...." Hermione felt her body crash as her inner walls clenched almost painfully around Harry, and she felt him come a moment later after one more, quick movement. A soft crashing sound came from several places in the room, but neither paid it any heed. That was one of the main reasons that Dobby was the highest paid House Elf in England, and possibly the world. Most of their stuff was reasonably sturdy anyway.
"You..." she finished tenderly as Harry collapsed onto her, and panted into her neck quietly, as she lay perfectly still, content to enjoy the random twitches and warmth of the afterglow and the comforting weight of her husband on her body.
You too, Mione, Harry replied, not bothering with using up precious oxygen. After a minute, he slipped out as Hermione quietly bemoaned the loss. He crawled up slightly and rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him like a blanket. A second later, she felt the covers come up and cover them, and her eyes, once more chocolate looked into his as she reached up and swept sodden bangs from his eyes, before doing the same to her own, damp hair.
Her knee pushed his apart to nestle between them as she lazily stretched enough to kiss him gently. Hermione smiled, as she felt their hearts slow together, easing towards sleep, which she felt rapidly overtaking them both. Night Harry, she whispered as her eyes dropped closed. Love you.
I love you too Hermione Potter, Harry replied instantly; then grinned slightly as he felt the automatic response her unconscious mind gave him when she was asleep. His arms tightened around her as he closed his eyes and waved his hand to extinguish the light. I do wonder where the hell my glasses ended up, was his last thought before he let sleep claim him, after all he and Hermione did have training before they could enjoy themselves tomorrow.
A/N: Next Chapter, Training, Quidditch, a study session interrupted, and yes we are at like 6851 words, barring revision before Hermione and Ginny have a "little talk."