Chapter 6
Desires
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months as the attacks from Voldemort became a memory. It was now coming to a full year since Hermione had come and lifted the threat of Voldemort from Gryffindor's shoulders and peace was quickly regaining is hold through the country.
Hermione marveled at how beautiful the countryside was and made sure to explore it everyday she could. She still practiced her weapons and kept the soldiers in fit condition, she was one of the few left that did not believe that Voldemort was quiet for no reason. But the fear of Voldemort was pushed aside every now and then with the thoughts of the family she left behind.
Sitting on a hill close to the practice fields she looked at the slopes in the late afternoon remembering the outings she would take with her family on days like this.
I wonder if Mom and Dad are still wondering what happened to me. What if they forgot about me? No, no they would never do that. I shouldn't think like this, like I'm never going to see them. I'm going home one day. I will miss this beautiful place but I miss my home more.
"Hermione!" a voice called, Ginny, stirring her from her thoughts. "Come on, it seems the men have forgotten how good you can be with your archery. They're holding a contest and winner gets whatever they desire! Let's make these boys cry, Hermione!"
Hermione laughed at her friend's glee at the thought and stood up, "Sure, I suppose I could win another contest, it couldn't hurt my reputation." Both girls laughed at this and ran to the archery field.
*******
"Oh no, not again!" the men cried from the sides as Hermione earned her fifth bulls eye of the day. Hermione and Ginny laughed at the men's groans and started to think of what they wanted.
"Is it too late for me to enter?" Harry leaned against the fence and men cheered for him.
"The prince!"
"Harry can take her on"
"Take her down, my prince, for all of us" They all cheered good naturedly. Harry smiled at their praise and looked at Hermione.
Hermione turned to Ginny, "What do you think Ginny, I've never really seen him with a bow before, is he any good?"
Ginny smiled at her friend, "Allow me to put it this way, if there was a death eater a thousand miles away that sneezed, Harry would know it and there would be an arrow through that death eater's heart before you say `bless you'."
"Thanks Ginny," Hermione retorted sarcastically.
"Well?" Harry questioned jumping over the fence.
Hermione sighed, "Very well. Five rounds of arrows and the person to get as many in or close to the bulls eye wins, which is one-hundred yards away, fair, your highness?"
Hermione could have sworn that Harry flinched when she called him that, but the next moment he was smiling and called for his arrows. Perhaps she imagined it?
"Ready" called Ginny
They both took their starting stance.
"Aim"
Each drew an arrow to their cheek.
"Release!"
Before anyone could even blink, two sets of arrows were already in the air and a third set on the way. Three, four, five, and they settled into a relaxed position, lowering their bows.
"I'll check" Ginny started off but was stopped by Ron,
"Wait, I'll go too." And they both went to see who the victor was.
Harry looked over at Hermione and tentavely began, "How are you, Hermione?"
She slightly stiffened for a moment but answered, "Very well, your highness, and yourself?"
"I'd be better if you called me Harry"
Hermione looked away. She was near him again and now that the adrenaline rush had worn off, the memories of his touches and kisses, the night of the ball, came rushing back and she felt like running a thousand miles away.
"Here they come!" The men shouted at the return of Ginny and Ron.
"So who won?", they all asked.
Ginny and Ron both smiled and Ginny started, "The person got three out of five on the bull's eye and two on the inner circle, while the other got two in the circle and three in the inner circle. The winner is none other than…"
"Harry!", Ron finished.
The men shouted and cheered for their prince.
Harry bowed to the crowd and then Ginny asked, "So, brother, what do you claim as your prize?" Ginny couldn't have a bigger smile on her face because of how Hermione was slowly making her way toward the castle.
Harry looked at her and their eyes locked. She couldn't move, she was too terrified and excited about what he might ask, ask of her.
Harry gazed at her for another moment before speaking, "I shall claim my prize later, there is no rush." The men groaned at this, wanting to know what it is the good prince wished.
Harry laughed at their protests and then searched for Hermione but she was nowhere to be seen. He had an idea where she might have fled to, so he went in search of her. Climbing through the castle he reached her bedroom door and knocked.
"Who is it?" Hermione called out.
Her voice, I've never head anything sweeter, he thought.
He entered the room to find Hermione standing by her window. She turned and jumped to find Harry in her doorway.
"Your highness, what-"
"I wanted to claim my prize…. with your consent, of course." With each word he took a step closer to her, finally standing right in front of her.
Hermione's eyes fluttered shut for a moment, she whispered, "And what is this prize you wish?"
I'm unable to move! How does he keep doing this to me! I could face down evil lords, a massive army, but I can't move when Harry is inches from me.
"Just…a small… kiss" he whispered and brushed his lips against hers. She was reluctant at first, just standing there, realizing she should run, but reason was quickly being abandoned for desire. No passionate kiss ensued but a few soft kisses, each sweeter than the last. Hermione could taste him as her tongue slid across his bottom lip.
Harry couldn't help but to moan at her touch, and allowed her access. And so their tongues danced with a shyness but familiarity. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, savoring the feel of her in his arms. She began to wrap her arms around his neck but he caught them and brought them back to her side and pulled away.
They were both slightly out of breath but it was clear that they wanted more. All Harry wanted to do was kiss her, touch every inch of her and love her, it's all he had ever wanted since their first kiss. But he would not do it like this, not with doubt in her heart. He knew that she might agree to it now but didn't want her to regret it later.
He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Thank you, my love." He took one last look at her before walking out of her room with as much decorum as he could.
Hermione was left with an empty room, a head full of thoughts, and a heart full of feelings.
****
"You're going away?" The queen asked with dismay.
"Only for a short period of time, your majesty." Hermione bowed. She needed to get out and away from the castle. It had been a few weeks since she and Harry shared the kiss in her bedroom but it still left her with a confused head and an even more confused heart. She decided that she needed to get away so she could figure out what she really wanted.
"I have a spot picked out and Ginny will know where to find me if a problem arises. I've checked the guards and Ron will still be here, I'll be leaving you in the best, capable hands I could find, your majesty." Hermione ended.
"Very well, but Hermione if I may ask?"
"Anything, your majesty.'
"This wouldn't have anything to do with Harry would it?" Hermione was caught off guard at this and began to stutter a reply.
The queen laughed at this, "It's quite alright, I'm well aware of how you both feel. Hermione I know your reasons for refusing Harry's advances but I must say that they do not hold much weight. If you love someone you should be with them, because you never know how much time you'll have." A tear traveled its way down Lily's cheek as she remembered her time with James.
Hermione saw this and felt truly sorry for the queen but said, "I'm afraid it's not always that simple."
Lily shook her head, "Ah well, everyone must learn their own lessons. I hope you enjoy your days of rest Hermione, and please return soon." Hermione stated her thanks and bowed once more, taking her leave and prepared to pack.
***
Hermione enjoyed her trek through the woods but was relieved when she came upon the spot where she would spend the next few days.
A few trees were clustered together to form a circle where she would set up her bedroll, the roots would make fine protection. A waterfall, with a cave lying behind the rushing waters, could be seen near-by and the stream passed right by her tree cluster. The rest of the woods were not so condensed and she found the meadows off to her right, where she intended to lay later and just gaze at the sky, a tempting offer. This will be perfect.
Over the few days Hermione enjoyed her relaxation, something she felt she had rightly earned ten times over. Spending her days collecting firewood and taking long walks through the surrounding woods, Hermione breathed in the peace around her. She felt like she had only lived a life of battles but lying in a meadow she tried to make shapes of the clouds overhead, something, she realized, she hadn't down since her childhood. When she did this she remembered a life with her mother and father, and how the only thing she had to worry about was a calculus test. Such thoughts of the past made her feel alone in this strange, yet similar, world. She felt home sick so tried to banish these thoughts and feelings while on her vacation. The only thing she wanted to feel was peace.
On her fifth day Hermione decided to take a swim in the stream. She swam back and forth for a few feet until she reached the waterfall. Ducking her head, she dived under the pounding water and came out on the other side. This was one of the reasons she had picked this spot, the secluded cave. No one suspected that behind the moving sheet of water there was a hollowed out cave big enough for her to stand in comfortably with the water only coming to her waist. A moss-covered rock lay slanted at the end, rising out from the water with a few cracks of light shinning through the ceiling to make the cave a little less dark and a little warmer.
A perfect spot indeed, she thought as she brought her head back to have the water run through her hair.
She ducked under a few times and felt the water run down her body as she rose. With the running water the only sound she heard, her thoughts somehow turned to Harry. She would love to take him here, show him this cave. Some where hidden from the outside world. Closing her eyes, she ran her hands up and down her arms as a shiver erupted over her body, imagining they were Harry's hands. She was so preoccupied in her daydream that she didn't hear the splash of someone rising behind her.
"Harry" she gasped slightly as her hand brushed over a hardening nipple.
She imagined his arms encircling her waist and small kisses trailing from her shoulder, up her neck, and back down. Hermione shook her head slightly, "This dream is a little too real for me." Opening her eyes she looked down and to her amazement the arms encircling her waist were still there. She gave a small gasp before spinning around, launching a punch to the strangers face.
A strong hand caught hers and she saw who it was. "Harry?"
Harry smiled before leaning into kiss her. Hermione stood there shocked at what was happening, unable to respond. The last few coherent thoughts she had before finally submitting were how is Harry here? How can I do this? He has no shirt.
He kissed her desperately as if he was trying to breathe through her. His arms wrapped around her waist tighter and tighter, not wanting her to move away, though she had no intention of doing so. Hermione, who now found her hand released, moved it to the back of Harry's head, burying it in his hair to keep his head close. Her other hand found a task in wrapping itself firmly around his neck.
The taste of him, the sensation of his skin touching hers brought back the memories of their first kiss, intensifying this one. Where ever his skin touched hers felt like it was on fire. He slowly began to walk her to the slanted rock and softly pushed her down. They separated for a second, both panting rapidly. He brought his hand up to her cheek and caressed it in the way that could only be described as tender love. The hand trailed down to her right breast. He promptly began to kiss her neck once again, sucking and teasing, while his hand kneaded her breast, rolling the perked nipple between his fingers.
Hermione could not help but let out a moan at each kiss. She pulled his head toward her lips, knowing that she would die if he didn't kiss her soon. Feeling that enough attention had been given to her right breast his hand slid even further down and stroked her thigh up and down, propping himself on his left arm so as not to harm her. Little moans were released from the back of her throat and they kissed deeply. Their tongues flitted and danced around each other, getting to know each other properly.
Harry backed away a bit to look into her dazed eyes. He bent his head down and strokes his cheek with hers, wanting to feel her as much as possible, and Hermione just wrapped her arms around his body, holding him in place.
If this is a dream she thought then, please, never let me wake up.
"Hermione" he whispered. Harry knew the effect he had on her, he had seen it in her eyes before. Coming here, he thought he could perhaps break the barriers that she held around her heart. But he didn't count on the effect she had on him. His legs were weak and his desire only grew further with the feeling of her naked body under his. "Hermione, please" he whispered.
He began to kiss each eye then journeyed down to give a quick kiss to her luscious lips. He didn't stop there as he continued on to her throat and gave equal attention to both breasts. Sucking on each hardened nipple with his tongue, her moans and gasps only drove him further. He continued to leave a trail of kisses down her sensitive stomach and only stopped when he reached the waterline, where he could go no deeper but desperately wanted to.
"Please what?" she gasped as he retook her right nipple. Torture, pure torture was what this was. She wanted him, badly, but knew there was a reason she couldn't, but she could not remember what it was, her mind was focused on other things.
He brought his head back to her neck and kissed it slowly leaving wet kisses in his wake. "Just tell me" he whispered. "Tell me how you feel."
She pressed his body closer to hers and wrapped a leg around his waist, holding him there. She rose against him feeling his hardness and knew that he wanted her as badly as she wanted him. What did he say? She thought fuzzily.
"Mmm" she groaned
"Please, tell me Hermione" Harry repeated bringing his lips once again to hers. One of his hands dived underwater and gently brushed against her nub, sending every one of her nerves into overdrive. Another moan was released.
"I…." she pressed against him again, focusing on his chest against hers and his lips on her bare, wet shoulders.
"I….I love..." she gasped as his sucked at the base of her neck, his hand had gone back to stroking the inside of her thigh. Suddenly, she noticed another feeling, something cold.
Feeling cold was quite impossible at this point, so her curiosity got the better of her and she opened her eyes and looked to her right. Harry's hand lay on her right arm, gently rubbing it up and down. There was the source of the cold, the metal ring he wore.
The metal…..ring.
The ring with the Gryffindor insignia on it, showing his heritage, his royal bloodline. Her mind suddenly became very focused as she pushed her hands between them. He moaned at her touch, not realizing her change. She pushed him back while rising, which confused Harry.
He sat up and looked into her eyes, the desire was still there but the restraint had returned, No! he thought I was so close to breaking through! He brought his head in for another kiss but her hand found his lips and he halted.
"Harry" she murmured, "I…I can't"
"Hermione please, stop pushing me away, I'm right here. I want you; I love you, no other. Just let yourself love me back." He held her to his chest. Hermione whimpered at the touched but pushed him away.
"Please, please just go." Hermione said and turned away.
A dumbfounded look creped onto his face, but realizing he was defeated began heading toward the falls. Before he dived under he turned back and said, "I'm not going to give up, Hermione. You mean too much to me." And with that his head disappeared under the falls.
Hermione waited on the rock for ten minutes; a half hour, or a day, time seemed to have stopped. She didn't know when it happened but she found herself crying her heart out, her tears mixing with the clear stream.
It was a few days after the waterfall incident until Hermione returned to the castle. Ron was the first to greet her upon her return.
"How was your trip?" He asked after he gave her a welcome back hug.
Hermione put on a genuine smile, caused more from seeing her friend than actual memories of the trip. "It was…relaxing. Put a lot of things into perspective, you know."
"Well, the men will be glad to see your back; the new recruits have become lazy and need a good whipping, if you get my meaning." Ron laughed.
Hermione laughed at this as well, it would do her some good to make a couple of new recruits run a couple miles. "Where are Ginny and the queen and Ha-? I should probably tell them I've returned."
Why am I still thinking about Harry?
Ron didn't question her reluctance to ask for Harry, he knew the situation and did not want to push his friend. "I believe they are in the gardens. It seems Queen Lily has taken it upon herself to recreate the gardens so that they look even more beautiful than before her absence."
"Thanks, I'll stop by the barracks later but don't tell the men. Let it be a welcomed surprise." Ron chuckled at this and waved his good bye as he went off toward the practice fields.
Hermione headed off to the gardens and, indeed, found the queen and her daughter attacking a rose bush.
"Just a little more, Ginny" Queen Lily said as she gave one last tug. The stump of a rose bush came out with dirt flying off and the queen began brushing it off. "That's better, I'd rather start from scratch since this one seems to fair gone."
It was then that Ginny turned to look toward the door and archway and spot Hermione. "Hermione!" She called out and ran to her friend. "I'm glad your back" she said as she gave her hug.
The queen did not delay in her approach and walked swiftly after he daughter. Reaching the two she engulfed Hermione in a hug as well, "We're very glad you're back, dear. The place seems so dull without you now. How was your holiday?"
"It went well, my queen" Hermione smiled at the two women that had become like family to her in her time here.
She was glad to be home.
******Author's Note*********
I did promise that I if I received ten more review I would update, I try to keep my promise. Again I apologize for the grammatical errors, I apparently can't help them. Hope you like where it is going, because it's drawing to a close.
I also apologize for the rating going up, I'd rather be safe you know.
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