Down the Hall

bubblegumlocks

Rating: NC17
Genres: Angst, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 6
Published: 16/01/2006
Last Updated: 24/01/2006
Status: completed

*Warning* This short ficlet is pure smut and not for the faint of heart. What happens when Hermione is forced to choose and ends up in a loveless (on her part) marriage? UPDATED--After much pleading I've added another part to this. Warning because it's angsty and involves more of R/Hr, but have faith because it does end up right!

Chapters

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Disclaimer: Obviously, these characters are not mine and do belong to JKR, etc. I just like making them do naughty things to each other. ;)

A/N: I’m going to apologize now for the abundance of commas. I really can’t live without them, but I do hope they aren’t distracting. …Oh, and the inspiration for this comes from cheeringcharm’s “O” and any number of wonderful affair fics I have read. I was bored in one of my classes last semester and a picture of this popped into my head. Since I have no talent for art, I decided to write it. Enjoy!

p.s. This hasn’t been beta-ed, so any errors are mine and I apologize.

***

Hermione crept out of bed, careful not to disturb Ron. She laid the blankets close to him, trying to leave him a little warmth to not raise his suspicions. She tiptoed to the door and opened it softly, then stepped outside.

Where Harry was waiting.

He captured her in his arms and kissed her fiercely, effectively masking her surprise. Moments later, she melted and returned the kiss passionately.

They broke and walked silently away from the door, but still kept it in sight. The door remained open to watch for any sounds of Ron from the bedroom.

She started to speak, but Harry pushed her against the wall roughly and claimed her mouth again. She moaned in his mouth instead.

Pushing them closer to the wall, Harry raised one hand and put it close to her ear, holding himself up. The other ran down her body, cupping a breast here, tickling her stomach there, before lifting her leg to wrap it around him. Her nightshirt gaped slightly around her leg, allowing him to run his fingertips up her thigh. Hermione moaned again and shifted restlessly against his torture. She thrust her hands in his hair, gripping him tightly and pulling him closer in a brutal competition over who could make who breathless.

They both succeeded when Hermione wrapped her other leg around Harry’s waist, leaving herself vulnerable to him and just not caring.

He continued to caress her naked flesh under the nightgown. She placed one of her hands on Harry’s bare chest, slithering it down to the elastic of his pajama pants. When he moved to bite her neck, her hand slipped in and gripped him firmly. They both gasped as she enveloped his cock with her hand and began to stroke him lightly. He stopped teasing and turned his attentions away from her flesh and onto her clit, keeping rhythm with her stroking.

They kissed hungrily again as Harry tried to lift her nightshirt more. She stopped and pulled down his pants enough for him to spring loose. A moment of adjusting for the right position, he then thrust into her, covering her lips with his as she screamed.

He continued to move in their well-practiced rhythm as his hand returned to its attention on her clit. Hermione moved her hand to her breast, twisting and squeezing the nipple as she moaned against Harry’s mouth.

She came first, her hands going stiff and her vision swimming in front of her. Harry kissed her tenderly, nibbling on her lower lip as she came down from her high. He followed, a few sure, swift thrusts into her welcoming body. He rested his forehead on hers and they breathed in tandem. He helped her remove her legs from him and kissed her softly again.

They stood close to each other, Hermione’s back still pressed against the wall. She listened for Ron, just a few feet away. She straightened her nightshirt as Harry performed the cleansing charm. She gave him one last lingering kiss before going to the open door.

She paused in the doorway and looked back at Harry, a question in her eyes.

He smiled. “Tomorrow?”

She smiled back, her eyes lighting up. She bit her bottom lip shyly and nodded happily before crossing the room and lying back down next to an oblivious Ron. She thought about her encounter for a few seconds more before closing her eyes and turning close to Ron to go to sleep.

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A/N: After much debate with myself and my muse, I bring you the second, more depressing part of this. I’d like to thank those who reviewed the first part, especially lovewithnoface, and those who practically begged me to continue it. So, here you go! Oh, and any mistakes are still mine as this is unbeta’d.

***

Ron opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling. He took three deep breaths, counted to ten then shifted slightly. Hermione wasn’t in bed. Again. He sighed. He brought his left hand in front of his eyes and looked at his wedding band. He twirled it around his finger, watching it. He stared a bit longer then brought his hand back to his side, sighing again. He turned over and closed his eyes to wait for morning.

Morning came slowly for Ron. He heard their last kiss and felt her return to bed. He felt her breathing ease and turned over to watch her. Her left hand was curled up under her head and he saw her band, just like his. He rolled back onto his back and sighed again, before sitting up to prepare for the day.

He thought about waking her up and confronting her, but he knew her expression would kill him. He walked softly around the room, careful not to wake her and left for the day.

***

Ron couldn’t concentrate on anything all day. He couldn’t help but feel betrayed, disappointed. He tried to feel shocked but so many images in his head reminded him not to be.

Every time Harry entered the room, her smile was a little brighter and wider. Every time they shared a look and their wordless conversations they’d had since as long as he could remember were imprinted upon his brain. He shook his head and sighed as he remembered their wedding day. Harry was more nervous then he was and he couldn’t keep his eyes off of her the entire ceremony. She cried slightly throughout despite being the type of woman who would not cry or be weak in public.

Ron looked at his wedding band again before putting his head in his hands and letting go. He was not jealous, he told himself, just broken.

***

Ron walked into Harry’s flat and found him in the kitchen.

“How long?” Ron asked calmly.

Harry looked up, the obvious question in his eyes. “How long?” he asked.

“Yes, Harry.” He walked a little closer. “Exactly how long have you been fucking my wife, Harry?”

Harry dropped his knife. “Um…Excuse me?”

Ron backed Harry against the counter. With a deadly whisper, “How long have you been fucking Hermione?”

Harry didn’t meet his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about Ron.” He sidestepped Ron to gain some space.

“Oh I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Ron followed him out of the kitchen. “And your running from me is just convincing me of your guilt.”

Harry stopped in his tracks, his back to Ron, mumbling.

“Harry?”

Harry looked him in the eye. “Since three weeks after you got back from your honeymoon.”

Ron sat down, floored. “How?” he rasped. “How did this happen?” He shook his head. “No, why did this happen? How could you do this to me, to us?”

Harry looked away again. “We never wanted for this to go so long. Ron, she,” he stopped. “She just wasn’t happy anymore.”

Ron stared at his back. “She wasn’t happy after six bloody weeks?”

Harry just shook his head. “Just ask her about it.”

Ron stood up. “I don’t believe you. It’s been over a year and…” he sighed. “I just can’t…” He walked closer to Harry. “I would never have done this to you, Harry.”

Harry watched him leave before sitting down. “You didn’t have to,” he whispered to himself. “You didn’t have to because you spoke to her before I ever had a chance.”

***

Hermione came home to an empty house. No lights were on and no sounds were coming from any room. Perplexed, she turned on the first light she came to. She jumped when she spotted Ron on the couch, staring hard at her. Before she could truly react, he stood up and crossed to her. He gently brought her face to his and kissed her long and hard and passionate before turning and leaving.

She remained motionless for a minute until a sound from outside jolted her. She wandered aimlessly throughout the house, noticing all traces of Ron were missing. Finally, she stopped in the kitchen to find an envelope propped up on the table with her name in Ron’s scrawl on it.

She sat down, slightly afraid of the envelope. She carefully picked it open. Ron’s wedding band fell out into her hand and she began to cry. She shakily pulled out the single piece of paper and read it twice before drying her tears.

“Dearest Hermione,

My first thought is of how much I thought I knew you and loved you. Then my thoughts turn to how much you’ve betrayed me.

Why? Why did you sneak out night after night to meet Harry, our best friend?

I spoke to him for the last time, much as I kissed you for the last time.

I am, really just disappointed that all I’ve ever been dealt in life has been secondhand and virtually worthless. Especially your promise to me.

I love you, but you’ve hurt me. I’m staying at the Burrow tonight, then I’m leaving England. I can’t bear to be here while you two remain.

Always, Ron.”

She twirled his wedding band in her fingers, then left to confront Harry.

***

Hermione’s face was red and she was shaking the letter at Harry when he crossed to her. He took the paper from her and held her.

“I didn’t tell him,” he murmured in her hair. “He heard us last night and asked me about it earlier. I told him the truth Hermione. What else could I have done? We’ve already lied so much to him.”

“He’s gone.”

Harry pulled back, then hugged her again.

“He’s gone and he’s not coming back.”

He kissed her eyelids as she calmed down.

“He’s our best friend. And he’s gone,” she finally whispered.

Harry led her slowly to his bedroom and laid her down. “Shh,” he whispered. “Relax, we’ll figure this out tomorrow.” He laid next to her, his arms comforting her sobs.

***

“Harry, he’s gone. He’s left England. He’s left us and –“

“I love you.”

“And—what?” She looked at him.

“I love you Hermione and I’m sorry I’ve never told you. I know it’s not appropriate now but I wanted you to know that this, what we have, is not just based on lust, at least for me. I’m not expecting you to do anything, but if you stay here with me and not go after him I’d be the happiest man alive. I know it’s selfish but I can’t seem to care despite Ron being my best and oldest friend. But I love you, so much, and I think I always have and I’m sure I always will.” Harry looked away, ashamed of his speech yet relieved to finally have it out there. “An affair is temporary. I love you and this hasn’t ever been temporary for me. I just, I can’t seem to live without you. You’ve been everything for me for so long and I just, I love you.”

He looked back at her, shocked at her silent tears. “I’m so sorry. I…” he paused. “I can leave.”

She shook her head and leaned over to kiss him gently. “I’ve always wanted to hear you say that. I’ve always loved you.” She stopped and sighed. “I love Ron, too. I don’t want to demean what we had and I will always love him, just not like I do you. Part of me is grateful for our relationship however strained it always has been. The rest of me is relieved and, oh I feel so shallow because I’m so happy you love me. I am ashamed of what we have done to him, but,” and she threw herself into his arms. “I love you,” she whispered.

He smiled and kissed her. “I’ll always love you.”

The End.

***

A/N: Okay, I know the ending is lame. And don’t get me wrong, I love Ron, especially when he’s mature about things (which we all know he can be, deep down). I tried to better explain myself during Harry and Hermione’s last dialogue, but it’s still rather abrupt and callous. Anyway, I hope this answers some questions and everyone enjoyed the ending. Just imagine the great sex they’ll have after admitting their true feelings for each other because I’m not up to writing it! : ) Thanks again!