The Important Things

“Oh, my,” she moaned softly, arching into his hands, encouraging his touch. “Do that again.”

He smiled softly, his breathing slightly rushed. “You mean this?” He moved his hands and repeated the caress gently.

She moaned again, louder this time, and arched again before relaxing under his touch. His body tingled as the blood started moving to his groin and he shifted, trying to get more comfortable above her.

“You like that?”

Her laughter was soft and husky and he thought it was likely the sexiest thing he had ever heard. “I would’ve thought that was obvious,” she replied in an oddly deep and breathless voice.

“I suppose. It’s just,” he shrugged, tried to fight the blush rising on his cheeks. “Well, I’ve never done this before and I just want to make sure I’m not doing it wrong.”

She smiled gently and lightly rubbed his thigh where it rested by her hip. “Relax, Harry, I don’t think there’s really a wrong way to do this. Besides, it’s me. You have nothing to worry about.”

He sighed and lightly ran his hands over her back. “I just want to make sure your enjoying it.”

Her smile widened and she laughed lightly. “Oh, Harry, I am enjoying it. Very much.”

He brightened immediately. “Yeah?”

She nodded. “Oh, yeah.” She reached for his hand, pulling it to her lips and pressing a soft kiss to it and then guided it down her back to the hem of her shirt, moving it so the tips of his fingers were just under the edge. “Don’t stop.”

He swallowed hard. “Okay,” his voice cracked and he quickly cleared his throat. “Right then.”

He slowly, tentatively moved his hands up her back under the white cotton uniform shirt she still wore, hoping that she wouldn’t stop him or that he wouldn’t do something wrong that would offend her. Her skin was soft and warm beneath his hands. He moved his hands over her bra, leaving it for now, and moved his hands over her shoulders, keeping his touch light and gently. He didn’t want to rush this, he wanted to take it slowly, make sure he pleased her. He could take things slowly, even if the tension nearly killed him. He could handle taking things one step at a time. They had plenty of time ahead of them and their relationship was still new, still young, they’d only been together for a few weeks after all.

She moaned again and shivered under his touch. He could move slowly, it wouldn’t kill him. He’d survived Voldemort, he could survive this.

“Oi, would you two either quiet down or take it somewhere else? People are trying to study here.”

He jumped, nearly falling off the couch, having forgotten that they weren’t alone. He felt annoyance flood him with the interruption. Would anyone punish him, the savior of the wizarding world, if he were to kill Ron for interrupting them? Really, couldn’t he have done the considerate thing and leave quietly, leaving them alone to do with each other as they please?

Hermione huffed and pushed herself up onto her elbows on the couch, nearly dislodging Harry from where he straddled her thighs, and glared at Ron. “If you had bothered to start your research paper when it was assigned two months ago you wouldn’t have to rush through it tonight, two nights before it’s due.”

He frowned at her. “People have lives, Hermione. I have a life which means that I have better things to do than sit around studying every night, unlike you.”

“Oh, please, Ron. I do not sit around studying every night. Am I studying right now? No, I’m trying to spend time with my boyfriend and do nothing that is school related. Besides, you’re the one doing homework on a Saturday night. How sad.”

“Sad is spending all of your time on school work and having such a boring life that you have nothing better to do than finish all your homework weeks in advance.” Ron replied bitingly. “This is the first night in ages that you haven’t spent nagging me and Harry to do our homework.”

She smirked and lightly squeezed Harry’s knee. “That’s because Harry has been done that assignment for nearly as long as I have and I’ve better things to do tonight than fight with you to do your homework when I know it’s pointless since you’d ignore me anyway.”

“Harry’s only done because you wouldn’t shut your bloody mouth until he brokedown and obeyed you. I swear, you’ve taken the poor man’s dignity and self-respect. You’re changing him and I don’t think I like it one bit.”

Harry sighed as he felt Hermione tense under his hands. “That’s enough, Ron. You’ve no right to say that to her.”

“No right?” He argued heatedly. “You’re my best mate, I have every right to be concerned about what she’s doing to you.”

“No,” Harry said, “you don’t. What’s between Hermione and me has nothing to do with you. If she’s changing me, it’s only for the better. I would’ve failed out of school ages ago if it hadn’t been for Hermione, so I can’t very well be angry with her for pushing me or challenging me.” He gently rubbed Hermione’s shoulders, continuing with her massage, slowly easing the tension out of her muscles again. “She is, undeniably, the most important person in my life and I desperately hope that never changes, so I will not sit here and listen to you talk to her like that. Especially when she’s done nothing to deserve it. It’s your own fault that you’re sitting here writing an essay, not hers.”

“My fault?” Ron gaped, his face quickly turning a frightening red. “If she would’ve helped me weeks ago, then I wouldn’t be here, now would I?”

Harry scowled at him. “No, if, for once, you had started your work when you should have, then you wouldn’t be here tonight. Hermione shouldn’t have to hound you to do your work, it’s your responsibility, not hers. So leave her alone, Ron. There’s nothing wrong with studying or caring about her marks.”

Hermione sought out Harry’s hand again and squeezed it tightly in thanks for his words and for defending her, even against their best friend.

The look Ron set on Harry was dark with betrayal by Harry’s defense of Hermione. “There is when it’s all you care about. There are more important things in life than books and grades.”

Hermione scoffed. “School is hardly the only thing that I care about.” She slowly rolled to her back, careful not to dislodge Harry. Smiling delicately at him, she reached up and tenderly trailed her fingers over his cheek. “Whereas school will eventually come to an end, there are some things that will always be a part of my life and that will always be far more important than anything and everything else.”

Harry smiled warmly, deeply touched by the meaning behind her words, and leaned down to touch a lingering kiss to her lips. Ron cleared his throat loudly to prevent any further shows of affection in his presence.

“Hermione, I’m touched. I didn’t know you cared that much.”

She smirked. “Well, yes, I suppose you could count yourself as one of those things, Ron. On the good days, at any rate.”

Harry chuckled and moved his hands to Hermione’s, slipping his fingers between hers and gently squeezing.

Ron scowled at the two of them. “Would you two knock it off? Really, there are other people around, you know, and no one wants to see that.” He gestured roughly at them, indicating the way Harry was straddling Hermione, sitting on her thighs, and holding her hands. “Take it some where else. I need to get this done and I can’t very well do that with the two of you being all disgusting and touchy like that.”

Harry, in respect of his friend’s wishes, loosened his hold on Hermione’s hands and shifted to move off her, but she would have none of it and moved one hand from his to his thigh to hold him in place and tightened her hold on his other hand.

“Ron, this is our room, not yours, so if it’s bothering you that much why don’t you just go to the Gryffindor common room or the library. Actually, why don’t you go even if it isn’t bothering you.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is? Just kick your best mate out and let him fend for himself. You know, this is Harry’s common room, too. You don’t set the rules, so, unless Harry wants me to leave, I’m not going anywhere.” Ron fixed Harry with a firm look, making it clear that he fully expected Harry to invite him to stay.

Harry opened his mouth to tell Ron that he didn’t mind him staying when Hermione gently squeezed his hand, drawing his attention to her. She smiled sweetly, but the heat in her eyes betrayed her wishes and Harry had never been able to resist that look. Her hand moved lightly over his thigh in a feather light touch that had his every nerve ending at attention… not to mention a few other things. He shifted above her, moving his hand to her side, fingers lightly touching the sliver of soft skin that showed where her shirt had risen up. She grinned wickedly, inching her fingers up his thigh. His body thrummed with anticipation, knowing well what that look in her eye meant. He slowly leaned down to her.

“Well? Harry?”

Right, Ron. Well, that was easily taken care of.

“See you tomorrow, Ron.”

Harry could swear that he could feel Ron’s surprise, but Hermione was still smiling at him in that way she had and any concerns over hurting Ron’s feelings were erased from his mind.

“What? Harry!” His voice was loud, outraged. “You can’t be serious. You’re going to choose her over me? I’m your best mate.”

Harry skimmed his lips over Hermione’s in a barely-there caress, causing her breath to catch as she reached for him. He moved just out of her reach, drawing a growl from her. He laughed lightly.

“Harry? Are you listening to me?” Ron was getting angrier, clearly not impressed that he was being ignored.

“Night, Ron,” Harry said absently.

“But-“

“Goodnight, Ron,” Harry and Hermione said together, forcefully, before turning their attention back to one another and forgetting about their best friend’s presence. They carefully ignored his angry muttering and the unnecessary noises he made as he made as much of a show packing up his books as he possibly good. The portrait door closed behind him, effectively silencing his ramblings.

“Mmmm, finally.”

Harry grinned. “Impatient tonight?”

She shrugged and raised her hand to the back of his neck, lightly tugging at his hair. “Well, it has been nearly twenty-four hours since we were last alone.”

He kissed her quickly. “Too long.”

“Much too long,” she agreed.

“Ron’s going to be angry with us tomorrow.”

She pulled him down for another longer kiss. “He’ll get over it.”

He grinned. “Until the next time we kick him out so we can snog in peace.”

She moved her lips to his neck, lightly kissing and nipping the skin she found there, delighting in the moan her attentions drew from him. He carefully lowered his body, resting his weight on his arms at her sides so as not to crush her. He moved over her and she drew her legs up around his so he rested comfortably between her legs, his lower body pressed enticingly against her. He sucked in a breath when she moved deliberately against him.

She smiled wickedly. “Seems to me that you’re ready to do more than just snogging.”

He blushed deeply, wondering how he could still be so easily embarrassed about his body’s reaction to her. It certainly wasn’t the first time they’d been in a situation such as this. “Is that a problem?”

She laughed breathlessly. “Merlin, no”

She tugged him down again, this time holding him in place as she pressed her lips to his, sweeping her tongue between his lips. They’d deal with Ron tomorrow, if they ever made it out of bed.