A/N: Here is the final part of this brief story. Thanks for the reviews, and please enjoy.
Rescue Mission
Chapter 3: Love, with Lust
"Look, Hermione, if you don't feel like doing anything now, or if you don't feel ready, or if you want to wait until you're married, or even if you don't like me enough, then just say 'no,' and we can still be the best of friends, can't we?" said Harry.
"Of course, we can, IF I say no," said Hermione. Then, she got a serious look on her face, grasped Harry's head in both of her hands, and kissed him quickly. "But, I'm NOT saying no!"
"Uh, that's great," said Harry.
After taking a deep breath, Hermione looked directly at him and said, "Harry, is there 'a somewhat private place with a reasonably soft surface' where we can go right now?"
* * * * *
"Huh?" said Harry.
"Your eloquence overwhelms me!" said Hermione with a grin. "There is a bedroom in this place, I assume, where it might be more appropriate to continue what I hope will be a truly long and in-depth . . . discussion?"
Harry recovered from his initial shock, grinned back at her, and then very quickly he picked her up, slinging her body over his shoulder. In spite of her squealing protests, he carried her into his bedroom and dropped her onto his king-sized bed. She sat up, looked around, and laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?" asked Harry.
"It's not exactly what I expected to see in the bedroom of the notorious 'Great Lover of the Wizarding World.' While the bed certainly is large enough for serious debauchery, what's with the plain Danish Modern furniture? Where are the stocks, chains, handcuffs, and whips? Where are the ceiling mirrors and the wall murals depicting satyrs chasing nymphs with three-foot erections?"
"Why on earth would I want pictures of nymphs with huge pricks?" said Harry, laughing.
"I . . . you know what I meant, you evil man," said Hermione, and then she added, "it is quite a normal and nice bedroom."
"That's only because you haven't looked in the closet and seen the love basket and rope assembly. It hooks on a special ceiling attachment with a pulley system, and the whole affair can be spun, raised and lowered, or both can be done simultaneously. There's a strategically located hole in the basket, padded of course, where you can sit," said Harry, leering at her.
"STOP IT!" laughed Hermione. "I don't want to hear any more about your vile, disgusting, and perverted practices. I believe that you had mentioned good, clean, old-fashioned 'senseless fucking,' or something similar?"
"Never would I use the word 'clean' regarding sex. It's always a bit 'dirty,' at least if you're doing it right! Anyway, I said that we would 'fuck ourselves senseless,' I believe," said Harry.
"It was that we would 'fuck EACH OTHER senseless,' actually," Hermione said, correcting him. She hesitated, and then she added, "so, are you going to do something before I get scared and chicken out?"
Harry reached out and pulled Hermione to her feet so that they faced each other. He kissed her on her lips briefly. He pulled off his tee shirt, and then he unbuttoned her blouse and helped her out of it. He kissed her again, and then they helped each other out of their jeans and slacks. He looked at her beige bra and matching knickers and smiled.
"A front snap always is convenient," Harry said, as he popped it open and slid the straps off her shoulders and down her arms.
He knelt in front of Hermione and rubbed the side of his face against the front of her knickers, then he pulled them over her hips and down to her feet, and he helped her to step out of them. He stood up and they faced each other, drinking in each other's bodies. Harry started to lower his boxer shorts, but Hermione took his hands in hers.
"Harry, as you see clearly, my body is NOT that special, and it hardly can be called 'beautiful' by anyone," said Hermione, hanging her head, and after dropping his hands, reflexively crossing her arms across her chest.
"Hush your mouth," said Harry, as he reached out and lifted her chin.
"But it's true," said Hermione, her lower lip quivering. "You must have seen lots of better looking ones. My breasts are - "
"I said to hush," said Harry, and as he placed a finger across her lips, he continued, "we definitely have to do something about your self-image situation, don't we?"
Then, he took her hands in his and pulled them to her side. He cupped the sides of her high cone-shaped breasts very gently with his large hands, massaging her small nipples into an erect state with his thumbs. Then he released them, lowered his head, and licked each nipple. He stood back up, took her hands into his again and slowly spun her around, first in one direction, then in the other, and then back to a position facing him.
"Sorry, Miss Granger, but that will cost Gryffindor quite a few points, either for being grossly ignorant or for telling deliberate lies!" said Harry.
"Harry - " Hermione began, but Harry interrupted.
"Hermione, you ARE beautiful, period! You're every bit as lovely as I have seen in my most wonderful dreams of you," said Harry.
"Harry - " Hermione began again, but again Harry placed a finger across her lips.
He spun her around again, and he knelt behind her and said, "this is just a down payment for an old debt."
He kissed her once in the small of her back, and next he kissed each of her ass cheeks a half a dozen times. He rose, spun her around, and facing her again, he reached around and began to massage her bum.
"What the devil are you - " Hermione started to ask.
"I made a down payment on an old debt, just as I said," smiled Harry. "I figure that during our seven years together at school, you probably felt like making the request 'kiss my arse' to me at least a dozen times a week. Of course, you were both too nice and too much of a lady to say it in so many words."
"ONLY a dozen times a week?" Hermione replied, smiling also.
"Well, I plan on doing my best to settle the debt entirely this evening, though you'll be receiving a lot of the kisses on certain other portions of your beautiful body," said Harry.
"I still think that my bum is a bit too large, and - " said Hermione.
"Hush, again!" Harry interrupted. "My lifestyle of the past few years has not been very admirable, and it has done nothing good for my sobriety, reputation, or moral character. But, I think it is fair to say that I've been exposed to about as many young, attractive, and very healthy females and their body parts as has any man. So, when I speak about yours, it is with no small amount of expertise."
He smiled at Hermione, and then for the first time, he REALLY kissed her. The next thing she realized, they were on the bed, with their mouths locked together and with their tongues intertwined.
Harry pulled his lips away, and said, "THAT was just a preview, Hermione! But, we had better take care of the necessities right now, before we get more than a little out of control. That is, if you wish to continue . . . "
"Could you get my handbag, please," said Hermione.
Harry nodded and flicked his hand, and the large handbag zoomed from the living room through the bedroom door and onto the bed. While Hermione rummaged in its depths, Harry went to his dresser, opened a drawer, and extracted two small vials of liquid, both containing the same combination contraceptive and prophylactic potion. He sat back down next to Hermione on the bed.
"Yours or mine or both?" he asked.
"Both, just to be extra safe, I think," she replied, after she withdrew two vials from her handbag and scrutinized their tiny handwritten expiration dates.
They exchanged one vial of each other's potions, popped the tops, and drank them in front of each other. Next, Hermione withdrew her wand from the purse, tapped it on her abdomen just below her navel, and muttered some inaudible words. As she turned to put it away, her purse tipped over, spilling a thin square package onto the bed. She blushed and reached for it, but Harry's hand snatched it first.
"Hmmm," said Harry, "a genuine 'Bertie Botts Every Flavor Condom!' I see that you are a very naughty girl who patronizes the 'back room - adults only' section of Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes, since they have exclusive distribution rights for these particular novelties. AND, it is an 'Extra Large - Crowd Pleaser' in size! Should I be jealous of some very special wizard friend, whom you haven't mentioned, my dear?"
"Harry, please give it back," Hermione said, blushing furiously. "And, I did NOT purchase this . . . this THING. I . . . I was in their store, and once I find out which one of those Weasley prats planted this in my purse when I wasn't looking, I'll make him wish he had never been born!"
Harry smiled and handed it to her. Then he said, "an unkind person might inquire as to what you WERE looking at or purchasing in that part of the store, but certainly not a gentleman such as Harry Potter!" He hesitated, and then added, "seriously, Hermione, do you prefer that I use a condom?"
"Why?" asked Hermione, with a puzzled expression. "We've taken potions, and . . . "
"I wasn't referring only to pregnancy or disease prevention, Hermione, but to the fact that, er, direct contact with a certain male bodily fluid can be a bit off-putting for some women," Harry said.
"Oh," said Hermione, and she hesitated.
"Hermione," Harry said, and he lifted her chin up and looked directly at her. "You . . . you aren't still a virgin, are you?"
"Harry, I've got to say something before we begin," said Hermione, after taking a deep breath and lowering her head. "I . . . I . . . I don't have much experience. I'm not a virgin, but . . . but, I might as well be one," she stammered.
"Darling Hermione," said Harry. "I don't care a bit about your experience, or how extensive or lacking it may be. I love YOU, the person, and not your past."
"No, you don't understand," she continued. "I've slept with two different guys a grand total of three times, and . . . and I didn't feel much of anything. I think I may be frigid, at least with ordinary sex."
"NO!" said Harry, and he grabbed Hermione's shoulders and shook her hard. "Look at me, and listen carefully. If you didn't enjoy sex before, it was not YOUR fault. It was because of the ignorance or possibly even the inconsiderate selfishness of your partner."
He kissed her hard again, and then he said, "Hermione, you have masturbated at some time in your life, have you not?"
"I . . . yes, of course . . . sometimes, I . . . " she said, blushing deeply.
"I don't care about the details, whether it involved a simple use of fingers, a vibrator, or a lucky cucumber! The point is, did you bring yourself to an orgasm?" Harry asked.
"Uh . . . yes," replied Hermione, in a small voice and still blushing.
"There's the proof that you're NOT frigid. If anyone, including you, could figure out how to manipulate your body and get results, then clearly it does work as designed, does it not?" asked Harry. Before she could respond, he kissed her again, and said, "Hermione, I really, really, really love you, and I am going to enjoy the next few hours more than any other thing in my life! I am going to do my absolute best to make you feel happier than you ever thought possible!"
"You said 'hours,' Harry? I'll believe that when I feel them! But, no matter what you say, or how you say it, even you cannot talk me into an orgasm. So, shut up, kiss me, and then please fuck me senseless," she replied, and she grabbed Harry's head with both hands, pulled his lips to hers, and thrust her tongue inside his mouth.
* * * * *
Over the next hour, Hermione was proven to be very mistaken. Not once, not twice, but three times, Harry "talked" her into extraordinary and memorable orgasms, at least in a manner of speaking.
'How is it possible,' she wondered, 'that ANYONE, much less her very own Harry, could be so bloody fantastic and do such wonderful things with his tongue and a pair of fingers?'
Much later, she would recall a few snatches of conversation in the time between what Harry had referred to as "preliminary foreplay" - the three greatest orgasms of her life, up until then - and the soon to be forthcoming "main event."
"I suggest that we've thoroughly disposed of the obviously false rumor concerning some sort of 'frigidity' on your part," said Harry. "In fact, I'd say that you may be the most 'un-frigid' young woman I've ever had the pleasure of pleasuring!"
Hermione finally found her voice, slightly hoarse following significant amounts of very loud screaming.
"I . . . I . . . I insist on returning the favor," she said. "By the way, Harry, why DO you still have on your shorts? You're not embarrassed by my seeing 'Little Harry,' are you? I trust that he is at least a bit larger than your finger."
"Well, fair is fair, and since you do insist," said Harry, getting off the bed and standing up.
"I should tell you that I'm probably not going to be very good with my mouth - " began Hermione.
"Trust me, Hermione. I can guarantee to you absolutely that while some women may be better or more experienced than others, there truly is no such thing as BAD oral sex to any man!" said Harry.
He dropped his boxers and stepped out them. He looked straight at Hermione.
"Hermione, meet 'Little Harry,' and 'Little Harry,' meet Hermione. I hope you'll become very good friends," said Harry.
"OH . . . MY . . . GOODNESS!" said Hermione, her eyes almost popping from her head, as she gazed at Harry's partially erect penis.
"I think he really does like you, Hermione! See, he does want to play . . . Hermione . . . HERMIONE, are you there?" said Harry.
"I . . . IT . . . WOW!" was all that she could say.
"Hermione, it's just a penis," said Harry.
"THAT'S not 'just a penis,' it's . . . it's . . . " said Hermione.
"Hermione?" said Harry.
"There's no way that . . . that all of it EVER is going to fit - "
"Trust me, Hermione, enough will to get the job done!" said Harry.
"I'm really not sure - " said Hermione.
"I am!" said Harry.
Hermione was mistaken again, and Harry turned out to be right. In fact, to Hermione's great surprise and even greater pleasure, Harry was "right" four separate times over the course of the next couple of hours, with each one for Hermione lasting longer and being more pleasurable than the time before.
At last, after Harry's promised "hours" had proven to be no exaggeration, both young lovers collapsed in the arms of each other, utterly exhausted.
* * * * *
Though he didn't realize it until the next morning, Harry Potter had undergone a profound change over a relatively short period of time, beginning with his opening his door to Hermione Granger.
When he awoke, he felt entirely differently than he had on every other "morning after" with every other woman he ever had slept with. Always in the past, he had experienced both feelings of guilt and strong anxiety.
He felt guilty because, in spite of his having taken pride in trying to give pleasure as well as to receive it, always, he had been concerned more with own enjoyment. Ultimately, he would realize on every next morning that he had used yet another woman as a means to his own ends. That he felt guilty afterwards did speak well of his underlying decency. That he couldn't stop himself from continuing in his self-indulgent behavior indicated both that he was all too human and that he needed help.
He felt anxiety over such questions as, "is she still here?" or "am I still at her place?" and "how can I get rid of her?" or "how soon can I get away?" and variations on those themes.
However, this morning was very different precisely because during the previous evening he had verbally unleashed feelings that he had suppressed for more than half of his life. Then, to the object of those feelings, he had devoted himself to giving as much pleasure as he was able. Most important of all, those feelings had been reciprocated. Harry realized that he loved and was loved, and he made decisions that would change the rest of his life.
He slipped out of bed very quietly, visited the bathroom and took care of a very pressing need to relieve his bladder. Next, took a quick shower, and then, he went to the kitchen, started the coffee percolator, and put the teakettle on the stove.
While he waited on the coffee and the water for the tea, he heard stirring in the bedroom, and shortly afterwards, the shower running.
When he returned to the bedroom, Hermione was back in bed, sitting up and smiling at him. He looked at her and wondered again, as he had the night before, just how it was possible that the beauty of the whole person who was Hermione Granger could be so immeasurably greater than was the mere sum of her separate parts.
"Are you okay, Hermione?" he asked. "How are you feeling?"
"Never better!" she replied, her smile widening and becoming almost impossibly more beautiful.
There was nothing that Harry rather would have done than to leap first onto the bed, and then onto Hermione, and shortly to hear yet again much louder confirmation as to exactly how she was feeling. But he restrained his impulse, and he simply asked her what she'd like to drink.
After each of them had a first morning cup, tea for Hermione and coffee for Harry, he cleared his throat and looked at her with a serious expression.
"We need to talk about something . . . some things, actually," Harry said, as he climbed back into the bed and wrapped his arm around Hermione. "I've made some decisions about my future, and they involve - I hope - you, as well."
"Oh?" Hermione said.
"This is supposed to be a secret - at least for a while - but I know that you can be trusted not to blab it around," said Harry. "This school year, beginning today, will be Headmaster Dumbledore's last."
"Really?" said Hermione, avoiding Harry's eyes as she spoke.
"Yes," said Harry. "Next year, when he retires, Professor McGonagall will become Headmistress, and there will be two important faculty positions that will need to be filled. Both Dumbledore and McGonagall have been offering to me a job for the last couple of years, and . . . and for next year I'm going to accept."
"You're going to be the new teacher of Transfiguration and Head of Gryffindor House?" asked Hermione, still avoiding Harry's gaze.
"ME, HEAD OF HOUSE?" exclaimed Harry, with a laugh. "Hell, no! With my background history as a student, the first time I tried to take points or to discipline a rules-breaker, probably the ground would crack open, and I'd be swallowed into the bowels of the earth!"
Hermione giggled, and Harry continued.
"No, it's Defense Against the Dark Arts for which I'm in demand," he said. "Two weeks ago, I had lunch with both Dumbledore and McGonagall, and I told them that I'd think about it. I intended to decline again, but I've changed my mind. At the same time they asked me who I thought might make a good successor to Professor McGonagall, but I wasn't sure. However, I am now."
"Are you . . . are you thinking about ME?" asked Hermione.
"Who else?" said Harry. "You'd be perfect, the best possible choice! You did say that you expect to be finished with your studies before Christmas, didn't you? And, you said that you hadn't yet made any other future plans, so . . . "
"Well . . . yes, but . . . you're not going to try to talk me out of returning to the States?" said Hermione.
"Never," said Harry. "I know how much time you've spent on your studies, and I suspect that you enjoyed them immensely. You wouldn't be . . . YOU, if you didn't! As much as I'd love for us to set up permanent housekeeping right now, I wouldn't dream of asking you to do so. But, to return to the original subject, what's the problem? I remember how you used to talk about how wonderful and worthwhile it would be to teach for a living. And, what better place possibly could exist for teaching than Hogwarts? As to when, waiting for a year will work out quite nicely. Even if you don't get back home until after the winter holidays, it'll still leave plenty of time for the most important business of all."
"What ARE you going on about, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Our wedding . . . what else?" said Harry. "You don't think for a second that after last night - and I don't mean only the enjoyable bedroom exercises - I'll ever be satisfied with any other woman, do you?"
Hermione opened her mouth, but no sound emerged, so Harry went on.
"Think seriously about what you want, Hermione. You know that I'm filthy rich, with more gold to my name than Croesus or Midas ever dreamed of, so whatever you desire, I'll provide. We could obliviate as many Muggles as is necessary, and put the Royal Family weddings to shame with an extravaganza in Westminster, or maybe a sunrise ceremony at Stonehenge would be more to you liking, or . . . choose anything else that your heart desires."
Hermione continued to avoid making direct eye contact, which Harry finally had noticed.
"What's the matter, Hermione?" he asked.
"I . . . I don't know . . . I really do like the idea of returning to Hogwarts, but are you certain that it's what you want to do? As to the other . . . subject, you . . . you don't have to marry me, Harry, just because we've slept together," she replied.
"Of course, I'm certain . . . IF it can be with you," said Harry. "Actually, it MUST be with you. Can you imagine the field day that the press would have if the insatiable libido of 'Harry Potter, Ravisher of the Innocents' were to be released upon Hogwarts and its supply of potential teenaged witch 'victims,' without having first his having become a respectable, married man? That aside, the real reason I want you as a wife is that I love you . . . I always have and I always will."
Hermione smiled, but she said nothing.
"Look," said Harry, "if you want to think about it, or even if you really want to pursue some other career, that's okay, but please tell me that you'll become my wife. We can live anywhere that you want, and . . . I never thought much about my life of the past few years, but I KNOW now that it happened only because of my earlier stupidity and cowardice. I spent it in a fruitless search for another 'Hermione,' but I never found one even close to the original!"
Hermione was silent for a long time, but finally, in a small voice, she said, "okay."
"GREAT!" said Harry, leaning over and kissing Hermione's forehead. "Impossible as it may seem, you've made me even happier than I was last night!"
They spent the next hour in bed, simply holding each other and making small talk. Then, over Hermione's not terribly strong protests, they arose, got dressed, and had a breakfast more substantial that tea and coffee.
Next, each wrote a note regarding certain teaching positions, and they dispatched Hedwig to deliver them to Hogwarts.
They left the apartment and paid a visit to a jewelry shop, where, over Hermione's much stronger protests, Harry insisted on buying for her an engagement ring holding a diamond that seemed large enough to choke a fully grown dragon.
Next, they went to the Diagon Alley office of The Quibbler, where they gave to Luna Lovegood Weasley and her father an exclusive news scoop of their engagement, even posing for a few photographs.
After a few other stops, made mostly to renew old acquaintances and to spread the word of their new relationship to friends, they entered the premises of a certain joke shop located at Number 93. Fred Weasley, co-proprietor of the establishment, had the misfortune to be present, while twin brother George was taking a break. Upon greeting Harry and Hermione, and after noticing the expression on her face, Fred made a second mistake, by attempting to run for it.
Hermione stunned him and added a binding charm to immobilize him. Ginny Weasley came into the front of the shop from the storeroom area, and upon seeing Harry and Hermione, she squealed in delight and embraced both of them. When she noticed Hermione's new piece of jewelry, she squealed even louder, and more hugs and kisses ensued.
"What's with 'Prat Number One' there on the floor?" she asked, finally noticing her brother.
"Last week, the git slipped THIS into my handbag," said Hermione, removing the joke condom package and showing it to Ginny. "Even if it wasn't him, he did know about it, as he tried to escape before either seeing it or my saying anything."
"You've got to teach him a lesson," said Ginny, and after looking at Harry and blushing, she added, "come here a moment."
They moved away from Harry, and went into a whispered huddle. Upon emerging from their brief discussion, both witches had beet-red blushes.
Hermione cast on Fred a charm or spell unfamiliar to Harry, but its effect provoked immediate and profound sympathy. Suddenly, a bodily appendage normally located between the legs of a wizard had taken the place of Fred's nose, and presumably the opposite had occurred, as well.
After Ginny opened a package labeled 'Patagonian Pepper Puff' and blew across its contents in the general direction of Fred's body, sure enough, verification was obtained that a perfect swap had happened. The upper front of his trousers emitted slightly muffled sneezing sounds.
The girls laughed uncontrollably, and Ginny spoke up, "I wonder what would happen to his new, er, 'nose,' if I could get a couple of over-endowed and under-dressed Knockturn Alley tarts to come in here? On second thought, I really, really do NOT want to see it! But, this could give an entirely new meaning to the term 'blow job,' couldn't it?"
Hermione giggled, gave a thoughtful look in the direction of Harry, and said, "I'm thinking along different lines. Do you realize that with the right wizard, a lucky witch could have regular and oral sex simultaneously?"
Harry didn't quite faint, but he did feel light-headed, and he suspected that his face might be exhibiting a blush similar to those earlier ones of the two girls. "Uh, Hermione . . . remind me NEVER to do anything to get you angry."
Hermione smiled at him, and she responded, "well, Harry, I'd never do such a thing to you, no matter what you did . . . and at least as long as you continue to . . . to perform satisfactorily, we'll have no need to consider alternative anatomical arrangements, will we?"
The binding and stun charms began to wear off, and Fred moaned. Hermione walked over to him and said, "we've got to be on our way, but I have something for you, Fred." She tossed the Bertie Botts condom package to him and added, "here, since it is still the allergy season for some people, you might need this in case you get a runny . . . nose!"
Fred sneezed, through his actual relocated nose, and with alarm, he looked down at his trousers. Then he reached up, and very gingerly, he felt his new 'nose.' Quickly, he ran behind the counter, pulled a small mirror from somewhere, and looked into it. He cut loose with a scream that would have provoked envy from any Muggle horror film heroine.
"Don't worry, Fred," said Hermione, over her shoulder, as she and Harry headed for the door, "I am VERY proficient in charms and spell-work, and I assure you that this one will last only for twenty-four hours." She hesitated, winked at Ginny, and said, "or was it twenty-four DAYS? Oh, well, you'll know for certain by this time tomorrow! In the meantime, you DEFINITELY will want to keep your 'nose' out of other people's business!"
They returned to Harry's home, had dinner, and retired to the bedroom quite early in the evening. They made love only once, and then held each other, both of them about as happy and contented as they could be.
"Do you want to know something, Hermione?" asked Harry.
"What?"
"I can't help but to have the strange feeling that somehow and in some way, it actually was you, and not I, who orchestrated what happened last night. I think that you've done for me what Lily Evans did for James Potter without my realizing that it was happening. Did you actually intend to bring me to my senses, to save me from myself, and to help me finally to grow up and to become a real man?"
Hermione snuggled closer, gently stroked the side of his face, and just smiled. She considered confessing everything immediately, but she rejected the thought.
'No,' she said to herself, 'maybe I'll tell him tomorrow, or maybe I'll tell him in twenty years, perhaps on our anniversary. Harry doesn't really need to know right now that I accepted the job at Hogwarts over two months ago, or that I talked with McGonagall and Dumbledore about their offer to him at that time, and again just last week!'
Her real "mission accomplished," the latter two words being the entire message on her note written that morning, Hermione contemplated her forthcoming wedding. As interesting as Harry's suggestions had been, not to mention other ideas of her own, she knew exactly what wanted. The only negative aspect was that they'd have to wait exactly an entire year.
* * * * *
So, Harry gave up his life of meaningless fun and games and Hermione completed hers of university study, and shortly after the Christmas holidays, she informed him of what she believed would be the ideal wedding.
Then, on the next September 1, they apparated to London from Hogwarts, where they had been busy with the rest of the faculty in preparing for a new school year, their first as teachers. Former Headmaster Dumbledore, who would officiate at the ceremony, and Ron and Luna Weasley joined them, and their small party made its way to King's Cross Station. From a special platform, they boarded a special train, and they made their way to a very special compartment. During their return trip on the Hogwarts Express, Harry and Hermione became both Mr. and Mrs. AND the Professors Potter, and they lived VERY happily ever after . . . or did they?
The End?
A/N: I'm thinking about a sequel, but I can't make any promises.