A/N: I will be posting the first chapter of my Draco/Ginny ship tonight called "Dragon Tears". Check it out if you like those two together. Also, I had to include the scene in the Burrow with Draco and The Weasley's because of certain things said that will be made clearer in future chapters.
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New Years Day
It was Wednesday, a little after ten in the morning and Harry was curled up next to Hermione in bed, enjoying the feeling of the rise and fall of her breathing against his chest. He had been awake for the past fifteen minutes, but was so comfortable he didn't feel like moving from his bed, until he heard the distinctive pop of Ron apparating downstairs. Harry let out a sigh and gently eased his arm out from under Hermione, who rolled over mumbling in her sleep. Grabbing his robe, wand and glasses he staggered downstairs giving Ron the evil eye.
"Did I interrupt anything?" Ron asked leaning against the front door.
"No; she's still sleeping." Harry yawned and waved his wand at the Muggle coffeemaker to start their morning brew.
"Aren't you supposed to be chaperoning or something?" Harry walked into the kitchen and sat down, running his hands through his hair. Draco was probably already at The Burrow and Ron was supposed to be present, to keep an "eye on things" as he put it.
"She can watch herself for a few minutes. I wanted to grab that catalog you had from the jewelers store. I'm not going to stare at Malfoy and my sister all day, I need something to take my mind off of them." Ron drummed his fingers on the counter until the coffee was done, then poured himself a cup of coffee and slid one in front of Harry, pushing the cream and sugar towards him. Harry raised his hand and silently accio'd the magazine to him and slid it to Ron.
"Can't stay too long though," Ron explained.
"Did he show up yet?"
"Yea, twenty minutes ago or so. When I left they were standing by the garden, talking and watching the gnomes."
"Think he's nervous?" Harry took a sip of coffee and sat back, appraising Ron who absentmindedly stirred more sugar into his coffee.
"Hell, Ginny sure is! But, I haven't talked or really seen him yet. They've been outside the whole time. You coming for dinner tonight?"
"We'll be there."
They sat in silence for a few more minutes as Hermione came down the stairs, clearly not aware that Ron was in the
kitchen. She had on a sleeveless tank top and pair of short pajama shorts. She was halfway into the kitchen when she
saw Ron sitting at the table, studying her.
"Good thing you don't walk around like that in the Common Room." Ron nodded at her bedtime ensemble. Hermione crossed her arms across her chest and scowled at him.
"Not a morning person are you? OK then!" Ron finished his coffee and grabbed the magazine.
"Thanks." He nodded at Harry and turned to Hermione who was still standing there, arms crossed under her breasts, her hair braided down her back and not saying a word. Ron leaned down and kissed her cheek.
"You sure look cute in that," he winked at her as she stared at him.
"See ya!" he apparated before Hermione could react.
"Did he just say I look cute?" Hermione shook her head and uncrossed her arms, making for the coffee.
"Yea, I think he did." Harry smiled into his cup, hiding his face from Hermione.
"Why would he say that? I think he needs to go have a good shag if he is that repressed…saying I'm cute," she grumbled, plopping herself down in the chair that Ron had occupied, waving his cup to the sink.
"Are you offering? At this point, he might take you up on it." Harry kept his head down, blowing on his warm coffee.
"Stop laughing and no way." Hermione took a sip of the hot liquid and let out a sigh.
"Can I take you up on it?" Harry looked at her and smiled, clearly shocking Hermione this morning.
"What?" Hermione squeaked and watched him walk over to her, bend down and kiss her on her head.
"Just keeping you on your toes." He squeezed her shoulder and headed upstairs for the shower, listening to her splutter about "boys" and all they think about.
Minutes later, Harry was standing in the shower, neck tilted back letting the warm water wet his hair, as he opened his eyes to reach for the shampoo bottle he let out a yell and grabbed the wall. Hermione was standing in front of him, in the shower, completely naked.
"Holy---MERLIN! HERMIONE! What the hell are you doing?" Harry ran a hand over his face, trying to recover his normal heart beat.
"Well, I thought since all you think about seems to be keeping ME on MY toes, I thought I would turn the tables a bit." She walked over to him and ran her hands up his wet chest, resting them on his shoulders. She stretched up and kissed him, her body pressing against his letting the shower running down over both of them, matting her hair to her face.
After stunning Harry for a few seconds, he came to his senses and wrapped his arms around her first squeezing her bum gently as he ran his fingers up her back then to her head, smoothing her hair back from her face. He was enjoying this immensely, never having showered with her before; he was soon realizing that this was fun and very erotic, feeling her hands move smoothly over his wet back, his hips, pulling him to her. Her lips were moving hungrily against his as she was moving things along very fast. In one quick move, he found himself pushed against the wall out of the spray and he gave in to her, his hands gently kneading her hips, lost in the warmth of the shower, her hands moving on certain parts of his body lighting a fire inside him; he pushed against her uncontrollably, ready to take her right there if he could figure out how to NOT slip and break something.
As if sensing his control was slipping from him, she moved her lips from his, kissing his cheek, his neck, his chest, flicking her tongue over his nipple making him jerk into her with a gasp. He felt her pause for a moment, (typical Hermione filing that cause and effect for later) then continued the soft kisses to the other side, her hand still moving up slowly from below his waist as she kissed the other side of his chest. He was going to lose any control that was left, and he struggled to get a grip around her, feeling her slightly slippery body move closer to his.
Her hands moved to his shoulders as she heard him groan her name and saying something that sounded like, "Now". Pulling away with a sly smile, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, knowing that they would probably slip and hurt themselves if they tried anything else in the shower stall.
Harry stared at her. She was fuzzy but he could see her raise a hand and he grabbed it, following her, both stark naked
through the door into their room. He scooped her up, loving the squeak she made and dropped her on the bed, scrambling
on top and settling himself on her, capturing her lips with his. He let his fingers brush across her abdomen and
Hermione felt the charm and was impressed with how quickly Harry could cast it now.
That being done, his hands moved quickly over her body, rubbing her shoulders, her breasts, her stomach, her hips; causing her to squirm against him and telling him to "please" something. He couldn't make it out and didn't care when he felt her grab him a bit rougher than usual and guide him to her. He lifted his hips and pushed all the way into her, feeling her arch against him, pushing herself down on him trying to get him to go further. Harry's breath hitched in his chest as he felt her envelope him into her body with legs, arms, clenching around him; he was lost in the sensations of their wet bodies, the cold air plus her moving quickly against him; hearing her say his name over and over, louder and louder, the pauses in between getting shorter and shorter until he heard his name endlessly. Her breathless cries, intermingled with his made him move quicker and they reached the peak of their lovemaking at the same time, both feeling that heat explode within them and expressing it uncharacteristically with yells and moans.
Collapsing on Hermione, not caring if he was too heavy he breathed in her sweet scent, one hand playing with a damp piece of hair and the other under her shoulder.
"What brought that on?" Harry mumbled into her shoulder, feeling her hands run lightly up and down his back. Hermione giggled, another out of character sound for her.
"Just felt like it," she said softly.
"m'kay…," Harry whispered moving slightly so he was lying on his side, feeling the damp sheets under him.
"Harry?" Hermione moved her head so she could see his face. He was so relaxed that he had his eyes closed. As she nudged his nose with hers, he opened his eyes and looked at her.
"I love you." He didn't even blink once before he said it back to her, staring straight into her eyes the whole time.
"I think," Harry started trying to jump start his brain. Hermione raised her eyebrows, "I think I need to finish my shower. Never did wash my hair." He touched his forehead to hers and kissed her gently.
"Yep, damn interruptions." Hermione smiled at him, raising a hand to his cheek then touching his wet hair. Her ring caught the sunlight streaming in around the edges of the blinds and she turned her eyes from Harry's deep green gaze to her hand.
"I'm not wearing anything but your ring," she said half to herself as she turned it around her finger with her thumb.
"As it should be. I think I like this outfit better than that damn dress." Harry ran a hand down her back, over her hip and back up again.
"Unless, you wore the dress with nothing under it." He grinned at her and saw her roll her eyes.
"Time for a cold shower for you." She nudged him off the bed. "I took a shower last night, so I am just going to the bathroom and then get dressed." She blew him a kiss as he walked to the bathroom, appreciating his finely toned athletic body.
The rest of Harry and Hermione's day was spent walking through Diagon Alley, picking up extra quills, parchment and a book that Hermione wanted to read. Never did Harry's hand leave hers or her waist and more than once they ran away from someone with a camera, waiting to get a picture of the two of them for whatever Wizard/Witch Publication they happened to work for. They passed the hours uneventfully, having a nice lunch and then watching a Muggle movie on Harry's television while Ginny and Draco were at The Burrow, taking each minute as it came.
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Molly turned around from putting the last of the groceries in the refrigerator and saw the three of them coming down from upstairs. Ginny had given Draco a tour of the inside of the house.
Ron ducked his head at the last minute in order to not hit his head on a rafter, intent on getting to his lunch.
"Draco, how are you?" Molly asked him, muttering a spell to add juice to their glasses. Ginny gestured to the seat next to her, against the wall, for Draco to sit.
"I'm fine, thanks Mrs. Weasley." Draco seemed perfectly composed, but Ginny was sure the "Mrs. Weasley" part was difficult for him to say seeing as the past six and half years it was always "Weasley" whenever he referred to her family. Ginny stared at her sandwich, not feeling very hungry. Her stomach was so filled with butterflies she thought she might actually levitate out of her chair. Ron kicked her under the table, the first half of his sandwich already gone, and nodded towards her plate. Ginny narrowed her eyes at him in silent communication and he kicked her again under the table.
"Stop it," Ginny hissed at him, causing her mother and Draco to look at her.
Ron just smiled at her.
"Git," she hissed at him.
"Ginny!" Molly scolded.
"He's kicking me." Ginny muttered and Ron shook his head. Draco covered his mouth with his hand, hiding a smile and Ginny swore she saw her mother glance at Draco, a ghost of a smile on her face as well before she turned back to the sink, magically cutting up vegetables for dinner that night.
"Ron, just eat your lunch and stop looking at mine." Ginny moved her plate a bit closer to her and began taking small bites of her ham sandwich.
"So, Draco, how are your classes? I hear you have NEWT level Potions?" Molly asked, glancing back over her shoulder at him. Draco took a sip of his pumpkin juice and nodded.
"Yes I do."
"I hear it's the hardest class on NEWT level," Molly added and Ginny glanced at Ron who was staring at her plate. She kicked him this time and he stuck his tongue out at her.
"It is. It's very time consuming and very difficult."
"Only Percy ever made it through that class, though I hear Hermione has it with you. Is Professor Snape still very specific about the length of his homework assignments?" Molly asked remembering, along with Ginny and Ron, Percy complaining his teacher would ask for eleven and one eighth inches of homework, just to be annoying.
"He sure is. He is measuring in 16th's now. Although, if Ginny makes it into NEWTs next year," he looked at her, realizing he had no idea how many OWL's she received. Ginny nodded, her mouth full and he turned back to Molly, "Professor Snape might not be teaching it."
At this bit of news he has three pairs of eyes on him. He looked from one to another. "I guess you didn't
hear?" Draco wiped his mouth with his napkin, seeing them shake their heads.
"I heard that he is thinking of retiring already since he didn't get the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
"Bloody hell, NOW he does it!" Ron muttered, receiving a stern look from his mother.
"Sorry, mum," he muttered.
"Where did you hear this?" Ginny asked and took a bite of her potato salad.
"Apparently Professor Sunnyvale," Draco started and Ron rolled his eyes at the sound of her name, remembering how boring the DADA class had become, "was talking to him and she told someone my mother is friends with, so that's how I heard."
"Professor Sunnyvale? What kind of name is that?" Molly asked shaking her head.
Ginny giggled, remembering how much her brother and Harry would make fun of her and her oblivious attitude. She seemed to be a cross of Professor Binns and Umbridge with her teaching style and as the boys were looking for more action they became bored very easily in the class. No one knew how to answer Molly's question so they wisely said nothing finishing up their lunch.
"If you all are done, you need to go because the cooking is about to begin." Molly came over and cleared their plates.
"No one is allowed in here when she cooks, " Ginny explained, standing up.
"Very dangerous," Ron added. Draco thanked Molly for lunch and they walked into the living room where Draco saw a chess board set up in the corner.
"Fancy a game?" Draco looked at Ron who hesitated. Ron wasn't sure if this was a good idea, he had only lost to Harry once (back when school first started and he was pining for Samantha) but won every other match. Ron also wasn't inclined to give a win to his sister's current…boyfriend.
"Umm…Draco?" Ginny caught herself before she said his last name. "Are you a good player? Because Ron, well… let's just say it's the one thing he can kick all of our arses at."
"Thanks Gin. I feel the love," Ron retorted and looked at Draco.
"I don't know how good your brother is, but no one in Slytherin has beaten me yet." Draco said a bit smugly.
"You're on then." Ron waved two chairs over and they sat down, beginning to set up their pieces. Ginny watched from the sofa, not quite believing her eyes. She stared in silence for the first few minutes, realizing that Draco was a good player just by seeing the slight movements that Ron would do in response to a move- shifting slightly in his chair, a cock of his head…she had to get Harry and Hermione to see this!
Quietly she slipped upstairs to the fireplace in her parent's room and popped her head to Grimmauld place. She saw Harry and Hermione curled up together on the sofa watching something on TV. It was Harry who saw her first.
"Ginny!" he exclaimed, surprised to see her there. Hermione leapt off his lap and got down on all fours.
"You ok?" Hermione asked.
"Fine. But you two have to come over and see this," Ginny said breathlessly.
"What?" Harry joined Hermione on the floor looking at Ginny.
"Just floo over here, to my parent's room. You'll see." Ginny smiled and disappeared from the fireplace. Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
"What the hell?" Harry muttered, helping Hermione up and stealing a kiss before they found their shoes and floo powdered themselves over. Hermione noted that the time on the clock that she had given Harry for Christmas read 1:30pm. They weren't expected for another two and a half hours. Harry held her hand, threw the powder around them and said clearly, "The Burrow, bedroom."
Ginny was waiting for them in her parents room, pacing. She ran to them when they appeared.
"Harry, you know more about this than I do so you will have to tell me if Ron has met his match."
She grabbed Harry's hand and led him down the stairs, through the kitchen where a surprised Molly watched them walk into the living room. Hermione ran into the back of Ginny as she and Harry stopped, and she pushed herself between them. There in the corner, playing chess were two people Hermione never thought would do anything together. They didn't look up, apparently intent on the game and Harry took a seat on the corner of the sofa, his experienced eyes dancing over the board.
Ginny nudged his shoulder and he looked at her mouthing, "He's good!"
A few seconds ticked by and they quietly crept back into the kitchen, ignoring Molly's glances.
"You're right Ginny, he has met his match," Harry said quietly, then turned to Molly and gave her a wave.
"Hi, Molly," Hermione ran over and gave her a quick hug.
"What are you doing here so early? And why did you floo into my bedroom?" Molly held a knife in her hand, her chopping paused for the moment.
"Ron and Malfoy are playing chess and Ginny asked us to come because she thinks Ron might have some competition," Hermione explained.
"Really?" Molly's red eyebrows shot up and she smiled. "Good. Maybe Draco will take some of the
arrogance out of your brother." She turned back to her vegetables and now had the meat browning on the stove.
"What do we do now?" Hermione asked, sitting on the edge of her chair.
"You can go back if you want. I didn't mean to interrupt but I wanted to be sure I wasn't seeing things. Wait til Fred and George see this." Ginny shook her head and watched Harry get up as Molly called him over to let the owl with the day's mail in.
Hermione leaned over and whispered quietly, "How is it going so far?"
"Good! I am still a nervous wreck." Ginny admitted. "He saw my room, and saw some of my drawings."
"Really? You never let anyone in your room, except for me of course." Hermione smiled. Ginny explained how he had asked and she figured she had nothing to lose.
"Did he see your sketch book?"
Ginny shook her head as Harry joined them and put an arm around Hermione.
"Was she telling you about how she attacked me in the shower this morning?" Harry asked casually.
"HARRY!" Hermione slapped him, hard, on the arm and Ginny stared at him.
"Ummm…nooo."
"It was brilliant. Might have to enlarge the shower stall if she continues." Harry grinned at the looks on their faces.
Ginny leaned over and whispered, "We kissed outside and de-gnomed the garden," she said smugly.
Hermione's eyes got as wide as saucers and Harry looked utterly confused. Hermione remembered the advice she had given Ginny about things moving when a full blooded witch and wizard kissed or…did something more.
"No way!" Hermione gasped.
"What? Is this some kind of code?" Harry looked back and forth, seeing Hermione shake her head at him. She could not believe with a kiss that Ginny and Draco managed to make all the gnomes fly out of the garden.
"Sorry Harry, but she and I need to talk." Hermione grabbed Ginny's hand and dragged her up the stairs. Harry stood there for a moment then still confused he quietly went into the living room and sat on the sofa, watching the Slytherin and Gryffindor under the window staring at the board between them.
For a few moments they didn't realize he was there and Harry let his thoughts wander between the chess game and the girls upstairs, wondering what kissing and gnomes have in common.
He heard the familiar groan Ron makes when a piece gets taken.
"Malfoy, you suck." Harry saw Draco place Ron's castle with his pile of pawns, a knight and bishop. Ron glanced up and saw Harry sitting there and looked startled for a moment.
"Either Ginny became a guy or Harry is our audience."
Draco looked up and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Having fun you two?" Harry asked leaning back.
"When did you get here and why are you here?" Ron asked stretching and cracking his neck.
"Ginny wanted me to come see you guys playing; she thinks that you may finally have found someone on your level."
"How long have you been here?" Draco asked and Harry glanced up at the clock.
"About fifteen minutes. The three of us came in a few minutes ago and you didn't even notice."
Draco glanced at the board and gestured for Ron to make a move. He then looked up and around the room.
"What happened to everyone?"
"Molly is still getting dinner ready and Hermione dragged Ginny upstairs for some girl talk." Harry saw Draco's eyes flick towards the stairs then back to the board as Ron moved.
"Weasley, stop taking my bishops," Draco muttered, drawing his attention back to the game.
Everyone was quiet and Harry didn't even hear the girls walk back into the room until Hermoine sat next to him. She tugged at his sleeve and whispered it was time to go until they were supposed to be here and Harry nodded. He ruffled Ginny's hair and she knocked his hand away, waving at them as they made their way outside to apparate home.
Two hours later Harry and Hermione were back at The Burrow, visiting with all the Weasley brothers and discussing the possible retirement of Professor Snape. At the same time Hermione was keeping an eye on Ginny who looked very happy and relaxed standing by Draco's side as they talked to Fred and George. She had talked with Ginny when she arrived and had found out that Draco admitted he could play the piano. It wasn't an admission that he made easily, but Ginny had shared some drawings of hers with him and asked him what he might do that not many people knew about.
Hermione had told Harry who promptly spit out his juice he had been drinking at the time and he glanced over at Draco who was sitting on the floor next to Ginny.
"That is something I would have NEVER thought he could do…not that I have thought that much about what he does in his spare time," Harry wiped his mouth with a napkin Hermione handed him. Hermione watched as Ginny and Draco now sat talking against the living room wall. Ginny was holding a sonogram picture in her hand of her future nieces.
"What do you think? How long til Ginny admits she is probably falling in love with him?" Hermione nudged Harry who was watching the Chess game between the male Weasley's. Not moving his eyes away from the game he answered her quietly.
"Probably as long as it took me to admit that I was in love with you."
"And how long was that?" Hermione asked surprised.
"Probably two years or so."
"Two YEARS?" Hermione grabbed his arm and spun him around so he had no choice but to look at her. "TWO YEARS?" she asked again. "I thought it was just sixth year?"
Harry shrugged. "Well, I've thought about it and realized in fourth year after seeing you at the Yule Ball and things fell apart with Cho that I might have more than just friendly feelings for you. Then when everything happened that following year, especially in the Department of Ministries, I knew. The way I felt from that moment on never changed, but I couldn't admit it….with Voldemort and all." Harry fidgeted a bit under gaze, feeling like he just got caught doing something wrong.
"But you said...," Hermione spluttered, "and I didn't even know? Well, we can't let them go that long." Hermione shook head, still not believing what Harry had just said.
"I think they will find the way there faster than we did, Hermione." Harry nodded in Ginny and Draco's direction. They were still sitting against the wall, watching a Magic Trick that Fred was doing with a deck of cards. Hermione nodded in agreement, watching her best friend sitting next to what was her enemy and she was still trying to figure out her overall feelings about them being together.
Her musing was cut short as the call came from the kitchen that dinner was ready.
With what was a well coordinated dance everyone found a seat at the magically enlarged table and began the process of passing around the many dishes of food that graced the scarred tabletop.
During the course of dinner, Harry and Hermione learned that Charlie and Katharine were expecting twin girls around the beginning of April. Ginny was so excited she almost smacked Draco in the face as she jumped up and down.
Hermione was happy to see the Weasley clan so excited on the birth of the first set of grandchildren, but she felt a pang of sadness which Harry must have noticed because he squeezed her hand under the table. Hermione realized if she hadn't had her miscarriage (which she thought happened because of stress) she would be almost three months pregnant.
Hermione took a deep breath and let it out, squeezing Harry's hand then pulling it away so she could continue
eating, listening to the multitude of conversations moving around the table. She was happy to be a part of Harry's
life and happy they were a part of The Weasley's. In the back of her mind she knew a baby would have made things so
much more difficult. But the decision she was wrestling with was to whether or not tell her parents what happened in
November of last year. That was something she was going to have to discuss with Harry.
She pushed the thought from her mind as the talk drifted to Harry the last Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff right before holiday.