Disclaimer: All persons in this story belong to JK Rowling and the respective publishing companies. No money is being made off of this story, and the author is not interested in anything else but the reader's enjoyment.
A/N: I am positively overwhelmed from the response that I received from the readers here at Portkey and those that were kind enough to review. I never thought something I wrote in the heat of the moment to get over the book-that-can-not-be-named would be so well received.
Special thanks to my beta bobo7891 for the quick work so that I could get this out to you today.
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Excerpts from the last chapter:
"I need it...you can have anything you want...just go lower..."
"Anything?"
"Annnnyything...."
"Even if it hurts a little at first?"
"Anything Harry...you have all of me....I belong to you, I will do anything you want...even if it hurts a little,"
"Remember...you promised...anything..."
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Chapter 2. Asking for it…
Harry made his way out to the main foyer of the Auror training facility before casting the charm to apparate himself to the Ministry of Magic to take Hermione to lunch. Quickly bypassing the guards who easily recognised him by the distinctive scar on top of his forehead he moved up to her floor in the building. Sometimes fame had its advantages.
"Hi honey…"
Hermione looked up at her husband with a beaming smile as he casually strolled through the door, no doubt having deftly made his way through the gaggle of adoring young witches in the outer offices.
"Ready for lunch?"
"Sure, lets go."
She said as she quickly forgot the latest report on her desk.
It can wait. This was her Harry, much more important.
They linked up arms as they turned to leave the office with Harry giving a wink to Ginny and Lavender as they passed their desks. The reaction her friends gave them was much friendlier than the stares that Hermione got as they passed the witches in the outer offices, some with looks of jealousy, and others with looks of disappointment that Harry had been taken and wouldn't even give a second glance their way.
The apparated down to Diagon alley after they left the Ministry to the "Little Widget", their favourite cafe in the back of the alley where Harry had proposed to her a couple of months after Hogwarts.
They ate slowly as they gazed into each other's eyes, each not really caring what they ate, so long as it was with each other. Idle chitchat followed about work, what they were going to do later in the week, and the latest gossip in the wizard world.
"Hermione…" Harry said suddenly after a slight pause.
"Yes honey?" Hermione's brow dipped as she looked questioningly into her husband's eyes, looking for concern or something wrong.
"You remember how you promised to do anything for me…um…this morning?" Harry continued in a more slightly hushed tone.
Hermione felt the heat rising from her face as she blushed at least 10 shades of red. She glanced quickly around room to see who could have heard Harry's question while thinking back to what she had promised him that very morning
Why was he asking now? Is he really that eager about it? Couldn't he wait till they got home? Of course she would do it for him, but did he have to ask now when anyone could be listening in?
"Sure Harry…" Hermione responded just as cautiously as he had asked the question.
"Umm…"
Now it was Harry's turn to blush as he shied away afraid to upset his wife with his request.
"Don't worry, you can ask me for anything, I'll do anything…I belong to you." Hermione said reassuringly as she noticed Harry's own blush and his hesitancy to ask after being so bold. She reached across the table with her right hand to take hold of his rubbing her index finger across the back of his thumb.
I want you to be happy Harry, can't you see that? I'll try, if it's what you want.
"Will…will…you…" Harry began again to try and give his unusual request.
"Yes…?"
Hermione trying to reassure her Harry that she wouldn't find anything he asked to be distasteful. Where was her brave and assertive Harry from this morning whom made her go through all that delicious torture just to make her promise?
"Willyougetatattooforme?" Harry blurted out quickly, blushed just as deep as Hermione had before and glanced around afraid that someone had inadvertently heard as he had said it just a bit louder than he had wanted. Nobody had even noticed the couple as they sat in the corner each minding their own business, as they were all busy trying to get their own lunches in the midday rush.
A tattoo? Was that what he wanted?
Her features showed surprised as Hermione registered what he had finally said.
A tattoo! And all this time I thought he wanted to…
Hermione let out a quick giggle as she laughed at herself inwardly for thinking all those naughty thoughts.
Trust you to think about those sorts of things Hermione…then again…this is Harry; he always makes you think of _those_ things…
"Oh no honey, it's okay, I'm not laughing at you…" Hermione had to quickly reassure Harry as she saw his hurt features forming on his face. She gripped his hand tighter to show it was all right and he didn't need to be ashamed about what he asked.
"Is that you wanted? A tattoo for me?"
"Umm…yeah…just a small one…"
Harry was relieved she didn't think he was a deviant or something for asking, his features quickly calming down at her smiling face.
"A little one huh?" Hermione raised her eyebrow while cocking her head slightly. She was trying to milk this one for as much as possible to pay Harry back for the morning.
"Um…yeah…"
Harry was floundering under her gaze as he was rethinking whether it had been a good idea to ask her at all now.
"So what kind of tattoo…and where do you want me to have it?"
Hermione continued her line of questioning enjoying it immensely as Harry started squirming in his seat and swallowing audibly.
It wasn't everyday one could say you had the most powerful wizard in the world on his toes - better enjoy it while it lasts honey.
Hermione thought to herself smiling inwardly while presenting a stern face to Harry.
"A snitch…umm….I saw…saw an advertisement…in the Daily Wizard Tribune…" Harry continued hesitantly after another audible swallow. Those tawny eyes of hers boring deep into his making him feel even more uncomfortable as he tried to gauge whether she was mad or not.
"A snitch huh? And where am I supposed to put this snitch?" Hermione continued toying with Harry.
This is good; I love it when I have him squirming. I wonder where he wants me to get the tattoo? Could it be?
"On your belly, lower belly…you know…just above…your…"
Harry gulped as he tried to utter the words that would tell Hermione where exactly he wanted it to be. But this was a crowded lunch room and he was feeling a bit nervous about saying it in such a place. He could feel the heat rising to his face and a sudden rush of blood to his loins as he pictured exactly where he had wanted the tattoo to go. He paused nervously and looked into Hermione's eyes with pale green, pleading puppy dog eyes, the same ones that had gotten him out of trouble with Hermione in the past.
Oh no, you aren't getting off so easily this time Harry. You have to earn this one.
"Above where Harry…?" Hermione said with an innocent face but unyielding face. She wanted him to say it, wanted him to yield to her, wanted him to give up his inhibitions for her.
He rose up slightly in his seat to lean across the table putting his face besides hers. He could smell the smell of soft strawberries and cinnamon scent drifting gently from her body and making him feel intoxicated as he tried to whisper into her ear.
"Your…umm…your…."
He just couldn't say it, he just didn't feel right saying it in such a public place. He started to feel upset about her asking him to say it and now wanted to call the whole thing off. Hermione could feel his anxiousness and decided to help him along a bit before he lost his nerve. She wanted it now just as much as he did, and wanted to show him that.
"You know Harry's, it's not just mine…it's ours…yours and mine Harry. Ours. You want me to place it just over there, that place, the place that belongs to you and me. Am I right?"
She whispered to him looking him squarely in the eyes, those pools of green that had attracted her all those years ago. Daring him to say otherwise.
"Yes…there. I want you to have it there." Harry quickly replied buoyed by her sudden affirmation of their love. He pressed his lips against hers to kiss her, not caring if anyone else was around.
Yes Harry, kiss me, show the world who I belong to. Who you belong to.
His kiss nearly took her breath away but it was worth it, it was her way of sealing the bargain. Letting him know that she was his completely forever more. Agreeing to what he wanted, apparently what he so desperately needed.
Finally when they broke apart breathing heavily he rose quickly taking her by the hand to the checkout to pay for the lunch and out the door before she had even had time to utter another word.
She was lead around one of the side alleys of Diagon alley into a basement shop slightly hidden from the normal wizard traffic that went on by in the alley.
A tattoo parlour. He already knew where to take me, he must have been thinking about it for a long time.
She reasoned as she studied the intricate designs covering the walls of the shop Harry had just led her into. Many hideous monsters and twirling shapes also adored the counters around the small dimly lit room showing off the skill of the artist as one with a careful eye and skilled hand.
Harry left her to stand by the entrance while he had a quick word with the old artist sitting in the back corner who at the time had been bend slightly over pouring over a book full of designs. The artist looked over at Hermione and nodded in her direction bidding her to come closer. She did so with slight apprehension, but with her Harry here she knew she was as safe as could be.
"Sit down…sit down…"
The old wizard beckoned her over to a chair that had her lying back almost like her parent's dentist chairs.
Most likely the best position to give her the tattoo Harry wants for me.
She sat back and Harry leaned over to kiss her reassuring her that it would be all ok.
"This is the one is it not?"
The artist had reached over to grab an open book with the design they had been looking for. He carefully laid it on her stomach to show them the design. It was the most intricate thing she had ever seen. It almost looked real enough to touch.
"My most special creation. Worth every galleon that one is."
The artist spoke excitedly yet in a low tone eager for them to accept his creation.
"We'll take it." Hermione surprised both herself and Harry by quickly accepting.
If this is what Harry wants, I'll take it. It's beautiful. No wonder Harry wants it so much.
"Ok, where would you like to put it?"
The artist queried while reaching around to prepare the wand he needed to impart the design onto her body.
"Here. Put it right here."
Hermione had grabbed Harry's hand and placed it with her own over the place he had paid so much loving attention to this morning. She looked into his eyes and could only see the love and gratitude he had for her.
Yes, this would all be worth it to make his love for her stronger, their bond and commitment to each other more firm than ever before.
"Ah, young lovers. I know… I know…"
The artist lightly chucked.
Harry continued to look into Hermione's eyes as he tugged her blouse out of the jeans she wore to reveal her stomach. She helped him by unzipping her jeans and tugging them slightly downwards while lifting her hips so that it exposed her stomach all the way to the top of her white panties which themselves were a low enough cut to just cover her pale brown curls. She smiled at him reassuringly to tell him that it was okay, she wanted to do this for him and no one else.
They both looked on in wide eyed amazement as the artist lifted his wand to her lower stomach and pressed slightly while muttering incantations under his breath. The wand glowed brightly as he moved it over her lower stomach covering the area in which the tattoo was supposed to cover.
It was all over quickly as Harry and Hermione released their collective breaths as they watched the artist pull back from Hermione's stomach and seeing the golden snitch design he had left permanently behind. It looked just as delicate if not more so on her stomach as it did in his book, the wings spread out as if in flight, the centre just under the elastic band of her panties and most likely on the borderline of her soft downy curls.
"Its lovely honey"
Hermione was the first to speak after they both had some time to study the intricate design on her lower stomach.
"Do you really like it?" Harry questioned her, a slight dip of his eyebrows showing the concern on his face that she might be upset at him asking her to get it but was hiding it for his sake.
"I love it honey, and I love you…more than anything."
She leaned her head over to kiss his him as he wrapped his arm across her middle starting to stroke the tattoo making her shiver with delight again.
"Ahem…"
The old wizard artist coughed slightly to remind them that he was still there.
"Oh sorry…"
Harry said sheepishly as they broke apart. Hermione quickly pulled up her jeans buttoning them again while Harry tugged her blouse back down. He helped her off the chair as they stood waiting arm in arm for the old wizard. He told them the price and Harry quickly fished out the handful of Galleons he had been carrying in a small pouch by his side complimenting the old wizard on his work as he did so.
"Thankyou young master, you are so kind…I know you will enjoy it," the old wizard graciously accepted the payment and the praise.
Did I just see a twinkle in the old man's eye?
Hermione thought to herself as she turned with Harry to leave the shop. They made the way to the front of the store and out back into the Diagon alley before they both looked at their watches.
"Just in time…" Hermione said, a little disappointed that they couldn't spend a little more time with each other before having to return to work.
"Don't worry honey, we'll have plenty of time tonight," Harry reassured her as he moved to kiss her tightly on the lips.
Oh, how does he do that? Make me tingle with just his kisses alone.
"I'll see you tonight?" She asked him again as he nodded quickly to reassure her. Kissing her again on her forehead he hugged her tight as he waved his hands and apparated them both back to work.
What a story do I have to tell Ginny and Lavender! They'll never believe it!
Hermione blushed as she walked briskly to her office from the front of the building where Harry had apparated her.
To be continued…
A/N: *ducks flying fruit* Alright, Alright I'm sorry… to be honest I really felt bad once I read your reviews and saw that you were expecting big things from this. I had half a mind to completely scrap this chapter and write something that would match your expectations but in the end bobo7891 convinced me that it would be good enough so long as I made it up to you in the next chapter. And yes, this was written as a response to the "Snitch Challenge" from http://www.livejournal.com/users/logansrogue/351477.html. I promise there will be plenty of fluff/smut in the next and final chapter for those of you that are kind enough to continue reading - there are signs of a sequel if you really like this kind of stuff.