Branded

Disclaimer: I own nothing…I’m just playing with them.

Rating: R…don’t think it’s smutty enough to rate NC-17

A/N: Just a little idea that came into my head and took me just a couple of hrs to write. Hopefully the characters are somewhat believable. I don’t have a beta, so all mistakes are mine, and I’m sure there are a few.

“Shhh,” she whispered between gasps of breath. “Someone will hear us.”

Sweat dripped off his forehead as he wildly thrust into her over and over again. Her own quiet panting turned into low moans as he slowly drove her toward oblivion. She clutched at his shoulders as she wrapped her legs tighter around his hips, bringing him deeper inside of her.

“I can’t be quiet when I’m with you,” he groaned as his mouth crushed against hers.

“Oh, please….harder,” she said with a ragged whimper. He pressed her harder into the wall as he grabbed her hips bringing her down to meet each thrust up making her shudder with pleasure.

His lips roamed over her face and settled on the soft skin of her neck where he gently bit, then sucked hard to muffle the groan of release she was bringing him to.

“Be careful,” she breathed out as she tried to pull away from the tight clasp of his mouth. “You’re going to leave a mark.”

“I won’t,” he promised as he broke away from her neck and dipped his head down to slide his tongue across her shoulder then back up to her neck again.

He felt her shiver then tighten around him as she moaned in contentment. The heat of the tiny room and the lack of oxygen left him dizzy as he felt her slump against him. He slammed into her one last time then slid bonelessly to the ground as he held her tightly to him.

“Hermione Granger!”

Hermione had been absorbed in reading her copy of the Daily Prophet while eating her morning toast. But with Lavender’s surprised outburst, her head snapped up and she turned to see Lavender staring at her with a look of both fascination and total astonishment.

“What?” Hermione asked with a little trepidation. Although they were once roommates, they were never the best of friends and from the sound of Lavender’s shrill voice, she suspected whatever Lavender had to say to her wasn’t going to be pleasant.

“What is that on your neck?” Lavender asked as she nudged Parvati who was sitting beside her.

Parvati sat up and pointed accusingly at Hermione. “You have a hickey!”

Suddenly everyone near them at the table turned to look at Hermione’s neck trying to see for themselves if it was true.

Hermione blushed at the sudden attention and hunched her shoulders subconsciously trying to hide the offending mark on her neck.

Ron and Harry, who were sitting on either side of her turned to look at her neck. Hermione quickly glanced at Harry seeing his look of surprise before Ron leaned across her to get a better look at the red mark that branded her neck.

The emotions crossing Ron’s face could be read like an open book. First came disbelief then sadness but it was anger that turned his cheeks red. “Who did that to you?”

“Yes Hermione,” Lavender said as she slyly smiled at her. “Who have you been sneaking around and steaming up broom closets with?”

Hermione picked up her paper and tried to act as if nothing was awry. “It’s none of you business,” she pertly told the nosy blond.

“Well, it sure the hell is my business!” Ron yelled. “And I want to know who the guy is.”

“Ron, keep your voice down,” Harry warned.

Hermione sighed and put her paper back down. “How is it your business Ron?” she asked calmly.

Ron sputtered with indignation. “I’m…”

“You’re not my boyfriend Ron.” Hermione said, cutting off his tirade before it could begin. “You’re my friend. And as my friend, I’d expect you to honor my privacy.”

Ron could only stare at her in disbelief. “I’m one of your bloody best friends. I would think that that would deserve the right to the truth.”

Lavender watched the two bicker. “Well, we can eliminate Ron from the list.” She smiled sweetly when Ron turned to glare at her. It was no secret that Ron liked Hermione. The fact that Hermione was with someone and it wasn’t Ron was big news. “Let’s see…maybe its Ernie. Since he’s head boy and you’re head girl, you two could sneak off and no one would know.”

“Maybe it’s McLaggen,” Parvati suggested. “They went to Slughorn’s party together last year.”

Ron looked at Hermione as the girls began to randomly throw out names. None of the names mentioned seemed to strike a chord with Hermione.

Harry who had been relatively quiet up to that point looked at his watch and started to scribble faster on the scroll in front of him while he glanced at his transfiguration textbook. “Just leave her alone,” he grumbled.

They ignored Harry’s order. “Come on, Hermione. Please tell us who it is.”

Hermione frowned. “Why is it so important to know who it is. Why do you even care?”

Lavender only started at her. “Because it’s you,” she said as if any four year old would understand.

Hermione immediately took offense. “What do you mean ‘because it’s me’? Am I not allowed to have a relationship?” Her anger from Lavender’s words caused her to speak with brittle fury. “I guess I’m just too plain and ordinary for anyone to consider me worth the effort. I’m just a boring bookworm that has no emotions. No one could ever find me attractive or worth loving.”

Under the table she felt a hand slide across her thigh and gently squeeze giving her reassurance that she was indeed loved. She stopped her outburst and brought her hand down to slide into his, linking their fingers together and holding tightly.

Parvati shrewdly looked at Hermione. “I just wonder if snogging is all that’s going on.”

Ron had been going over his own mental list of potential guys Hermione could be with suddenly looked up at Parvati. “What do you mean?”

“I just wonder if our head girl isn’t actually shagging someone.” Parvati said as she stared Hermione in the eye.

Hermione glared at the girl but refused to say anything to that comment.

Harry looked up from his homework and watched both Lavender and Parvati practically salivate over this new idea. They were both watching Hermione, looking for any evidence that could prove their theory correct.

“Come on, Hermione,” Lavender’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “You can tell us. Are you sneaking someone into your room at night?”

Parvati grinned. “I bet your neck isn’t the only place this mystery guy’s mouth has been.”

Ron could only stare in horror as the two girls tried to corner Hermione with their questions. The idea of Hermione kissing another guy was one thing, but her having sex with him too. The idea sent his brain spinning toward madness.

Hermione quickly picked up her books and stood. “I’m not even going to respond to your lurid suggestion.” She looked to Harry then Ron. “I’ll see you two in class.”

Lavender and Parvati whispered between themselves as Hermione walked off.

Ron suddenly felt sick. He suspected that what Parvati had suggested just might be true. He turned to Harry and leaned closer. “What do you think?”

Harry looked up from his homework that he was finishing. “What?”

“Do you think that Hermione’s shagging some bloke?”

Lavender turned to hear his answer.

Harry remained silent for a moment. “Ron, all I know is that Hermione is a beautiful young woman who could have any guy she wanted.”

“But…” Ron started.

“If she’s with someone that makes her happy then that would make me happy too, because she deserves it.” He looked squarely at Ron. “If you care for Hermione, you’d want that too…no matter who it is that she’s with.”

Ron stared at Harry as a thought suddenly occurred to him. “You know who it is.”

Harry remained silent for a moment. “Yes, I know who it is,” he mumbled. “And believe me when I say that he loves her very much.”

“You’re not going to tell me who it is?” Ron asked with disbelief, suddenly hurt that Harry wouldn’t share the information with him.

“Ron, this is all still new to you and you’re angry and hurt. It wouldn’t matter who the guy is, you’d hate him anyway. I think Hermione will tell you who it is after you’ve calmed down enough to face it without the resentment you feel now.”

Ron sat silently taking in what Harry said. “Maybe you’re right,” he admitted. “Does she really love this guy?” he asked with a whisper.

Harry looked over to Ron, but Ron only stared at the table. “Yes Ron, she does. And he loves her too.”

Ron stood up and grabbed his book. “I’m heading to class.”

Lavender and Parvati glanced at each other.

“It’s you, isn’t it?” Lavender quietly asked so only Harry could hear.

Harry only smiled as he picked up his own book and followed his best friend out the door.

Her fingers slid through his hair as she pulled his head closer, as she opened her mouth allowing his tongue entrance.

His hands moved from around her back to slide up her sides until his thumbs brushed against the swell of her breasts.

“We’ve got to tell him,” she whispered as she nipped at his earlobe.

Harry pulled away from her and rested his forehead against hers. “He already knows. He just won’t let himself admit it just yet.”

Hermione sighed. “He may know it’s you, but he still needs to hear it from us.”

“I know,” Harry admitted. “But I told him that he needed time to accept it before you told him who it was.”

She smiled. “Do you enjoy talking about yourself in third person?”

Harry growled playfully at her as he pulled her against him. “You know I think putting that hickey on your neck was the best thing I’ve ever done.” He kissed her neck where he’d marked her. “In fact,” he moved his head to the other side of her neck and began to kiss the side of her throat. “I think I’ll leave an identical mark on this side. You know…branding you mine.” His lips attached to her neck and he gently suckled causing Hermione to slightly squeak in response.

She pushed his shoulders against the wall of her bedroom and smiled deviously at him. “I think it’s my turn to brand you, Potter.” She tugged at his hands and led him to her bed where she straddled him when he lay down. She leaned down and gently bit his neck feeling the moan he made vibrate against her lips. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re a free man, now would I.”

The next morning Harry and Hermione arrived at the great hall for breakfast. Both ignored the whispered comments about them as the walked to their usual spot next to Ron.

Ron glanced up from his plate as they took their seats in front of him. His eyes were immediately drawn to the mark on Harry neck.

Harry waited for the outburst he knew would be coming, but was surprised when Ron just shook his head and returned to eating his breakfast. He smiled at Hermione and they began to fill their own plates.

“I guess this is you way of telling me it’s you?” Ron mumbled between bites.

“I guess.” Harry admitted.

Ron glanced at Hermione and saw the anxious look in her eyes and swallowed his own emotions. “I’m happy for the two of you.”

“Are you really, Ron?” she asked with trepidation.

“No,” he answered honestly. “But I will be once I get used to it.”

Hermione smiled brightly at him and reached for Harry’s hand to give it a squeeze.

“But none of that now,” he said eyeing their clasped hands. “I may acknowledge the fact that you two are together, but I don’t want to witness any mushy kissing or touching.”

“We’re only holding hands, Ron,” Hermione said.

“Yeah, but that’s just how it starts. Soon you’ll be kissing next thing you know I’ll have to start hosing you two down.

Hermione gave him a look of annoyance. “Please, I know how to behave in public.”

“Just the fact that you both have hickeys displayed for the whole school to see tells me differently.”

“Ron….” She started with exasperation.

Harry squeezed Hermione’s hand and turned to Lavender who was listening to them bicker as usual. “Everything’s back to normal,” he told her with a smile.