The Pitch
The smell of bacon, eggs and coffee roused Harry from sleep; he rolled over and blinked at the clock. It was nine in the morning. Harry stretched and rolled over onto his back. Hermione had obviously gotten up to make breakfast although he'd have preferred to wake up with her in his arms. Harry smiled to himself as his thoughts drifted to the beautiful woman downstairs and the things they had down in the very bed he was lying in. Harry closed his eyes as he remembered the intensity of their night of passionate lovemaking.
Once the door of Hermione's flat had swung shut behind them Harry had scooped Hermione up into his arms and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. Their lips met in a fiercely passionate heart-stopping kiss. When Hermione opened her eyes and looked up at him; he stared into their cinnamon brown depths and saw a look of pure unadulterated lust. Harry reached up and ran his right hand through Hermione's hair; releasing her hair from the twist she'd wound it into for their date that evening. With his left arm he pulled her flush against his body, Hermione's arms snaked their way up his chest. Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck as Harry lowered his head. Hermione felt his warm breath float across her neck; she tilted her head to give him better access. Harry lightly pressed his lips to the throbbing pulse at the base of Hermione's neck and heard her moan seductively as he began to trail kisses along her neck, Hermione allowed her hands to trail down Harry's body and slid them up underneath his shirt. Harry moved his hands to the back of Hermione's dress and quickly unzipped it then hastily removed her undergarments; Harry stood gazing at her perfect body for a moment before lowering his head and worshipping her beautiful form with his mouth. After several minutes of torturous pleasure Harry began kissing his way down Hermione's stomach. Hermione shut her eyes and moaned in passion as Harry intently feasted on the sweet forbidden fruit nestled between her smooth thighs. Having driven Hermione nearly to the edge and feeling that familiar warm tightening of his groin Harry stood and rid himself of his clothes before he kissed his way back up Hermione's delicious body. Again their lips met in an intensely fervent kiss. Her hands caressed his bare chest as he dipped his head and rained a trail of kisses down her neck. Hermione moaned and tangled her hands into Harry's hair as his lips journeyed from one spot on her body to another. Harry kissed his way back up her beautiful body reveling in the feel of her smooth warm skin. He brought his mouth down to hers and traced the seam of her lips with his tongue seeking entrance. Hermione granted his request and entwined her tongue with his while her slender hands roamed and caressed his back and shoulders. As the kiss deepened Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist and drew him closer to her. Harry groaned he wanted her so badly he was certain he'd go mad without her. As if she had read his thoughts Hermione lifted her hips and she and Harry became one. He was motionless for a moment just staring into her eyes amazed that they were actually together; she reached up and drew his face down to hers and kissed him. They began to move then enjoying the feel of each other; she wrapped her legs tighter around him pulling him closer. Harry lost himself in the wondrous feeling of being with her. Her name became his mantra as he chanted it over and over again. Her body, the sound of her voice calling his name, the curve of her hips, the indescribable taste of the mixture of her naturally sweet tasting skin and the salty sweat dampening it mesmerized him. Her eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted; the sexy moans and whimpers escaping her mouth were driving him crazy. Suddenly Hermione's eyes opened and her gaze locked with his. The pace of their coupling increased in intensity, as did the ardent cries issuing forth from her mouth. As Harry brought her to release, Hermione's back arched off the bed as the first wave pulsed over her, she moaned Harry's name and tensed around him, pushing him over the edge he shuddered and joined her in release.
Harry was jolted from his stroll down memory lane by the feel of Hermione's soft lips nuzzling his neck. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her down beside him and kissed her thoroughly before letting her go.
Hermione whispered softly.
"Mmhmm…I thought you were sleeping"
Harry grinned.
"No I was just thinking"
"About what"
Harry slipped his hand inside Hermione's robe and caressed her bare thigh whispering hoarsely.
"You"
Harry rolled over onto his side and resumed kissing Hermione's neck as his hand moved higher up her leg. Hermione bit down on her bottom lip to stifle a moan as Harry's hand touched and caressed her at her very center. When she found her voice it came out as a throaty whisper.
"What about breakfast"
Harry untied Hermione's robe and began trailing kisses across her bare shoulders and chest as he spoke.
"Love the only thing I'm hungry for is you"
Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry and drew his body down on top of hers.
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Hermione was awakened from her slumber by the sound of running water, rolling over she saw that Harry was no longer lying beside her. A bright smile covered her face as she remembered the feel of Harry's arms around her. She thought of joining him in the shower and the smile on her face grew even wider. They had already made love twice that morning that was not counting the three times they had made love the night before; Hermione found it somewhat astonishing that she could even entertain the thought of joining him in the shower for yet another round of shagging, the smile on her face grew wider still as she threw back the covers and strutted towards the bathroom. Hermione was just about to open the door when she heard a loud snapping noise coming from downstairs followed by her name being shouted from the base of the stairs.
"HERMIONE"
Hermione immediately recognized the voice as Ginny's. Glancing at the clock on her bedside table Hermione saw that it was nearly twelve thirty in the afternoon; she had forgotten that she was supposed to have lunch with Ginny today. Hermione frantically glanced around the room for her robe, not seeing it she grabbed the first article of clothing she could find to cover herself threw it on, and pulled her hair up into a loose ponytail. She once again heard her name being called but it was much closer, now it was coming from the landing.
"HERMIONE"
Grabbing her wand Hermione muttered a silencing charm on the bathroom and the bedroom before she quickly darted out the bedroom door just as Ginny raised her fist to knock.
Hermione was the first to speak.
"Ginny…what on earth are you doing here"
Ginny stepped back a bit startled by Hermione's sudden appearance at the door as well as her disheveled state; Hermione's hair was pulled into a very sloppy ponytail and she was wearing a man's green dress shirt with a lightening shaped appliqué on the left breast pocket. Ginny's voice held a distinct note of curiosity when she spoke.
"Well, I went by your office for lunch like we planned and Percy told me that you'd owled him and said you wouldn't be in today so I thought I'd pop over and make sure that everything was all right"
Hermione nodded distractedly.
"Yes well it was a late night and considering that I am caught up on my assignments at the moment I thought I would take a day to myself"
Ginny's jaw nearly dropped, Hermione had never so much as left early from work let alone taken a full day off without the situation being life threatening. Ginny continued.
"So everything's all right then"
Hermione nodded and quickly glanced at the bedroom door.
"Everything is absolutely fine…just having a bit of a lie in…I was actually about to jump in the shower having remembered our lunch date when I heard you pop in"
Hermione smiled contritely. Ginny matched Hermione's smile with one of her own.
"Oh good, you get your shower and I'll just wait here and we can leave as soon as you're ready"
Ginny took a step towards the door but Hermione quickly stepped in front of her blocking her way.
"No you should really get to the restaurant and make sure we have a table you know how busy Diagon Ally gets during lunch"
Ginny raised an eyebrow as Hermione pushed on.
"And seeing that it is most likely half-past twelve you have already lost half your lunch hour waiting for me if you wait much longer you won't be eating at all"
Ginny glanced at her watch, Hermione was right as usual but that did nothing to quell the sense Ginny had that Hermione was hiding something or more accurately someone behind that bedroom door. Ginny smiled she'd get her questions answered over lunch, she'd just tell Mr. Farthington that she was meeting with a client over lunch and that's why she was late.
"All right then I'll go on ahead and get a table…The Pitch okay with you"
Hermione nodded.
"Fine, I'll meet you in say…ten-fifteen minutes"
The two friends smiled at each other before Ginny disapparated and Hermione heaving a relieved sigh hurried into her bedroom to get ready.
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Harry arrived at his London flat with a pop; the coffee table was covered with dozens and dozens of unopened letters, unread magazines and three weeks worth of copies of the Daily and Evening editions of the Prophet. Looking at the unanswered post littering his living room Harry made a mental note to sort it out before it consumed the first floor of his flat. Dropping his jacket on the back of the nearest chair he strode into the kitchen all of his and Hermione's extra-curricular activity had him positively ravenous. Although he was fairly certain that if Ginny hadn't showed up to take Hermione to lunch the two of them would probably still be sampling the delights of each other. With a wave of his hand Harry opened the doors of the pantry, the cupboards and the cooler he saw that there was nothing edible in any of them; he'd forgotten to tell Dobby to stock the kitchen. Maybe he'd just pop over to Grimmauld Place there was always food there, he'd grab a quick bite then get in a few hours of flying before he met Hermione for dinner. Harry was so deep in thought that he didn't hear Ron when he apparated in.
"Bout bloody time I found you mate…I've been everywhere… Grimmauld Place, the Glynnmoor estate…your estate agent up there wants to see you by the way said something about the final terms of some property you're purchasing needs your signature and all that, then I went to your flat in Appleton, the Arrows practice pitch…what's this about you taking off the rest of the week"
Harry looked up at Ron with an indifferent expression on his face.
"Huh…ummm…er…nothing…everything's fine…I just needed some new lenses to play in and Quimby gave me some time off to get ready for the All England team tryouts"
Ron bobbed his head up and down in understanding.
Harry inquired.
"What brings you here…shouldn't you be at practice"
Ron chuckled.
"Looks like Quimby and Marx had the same idea, he told me to leave off practice until after the tryouts…said he didn't want to risk me getting hurt and ruining my chances…I figured Quimby might be thinking the same thing and thought maybe my best mate might fancy a bit of company…what have you got to eat in this place, chasing around after your bloody arse has me starving"
Harry replied.
"Sorry mate haven't been spending a lot of time here lately the cupboard's bare…what's say we go out then eh"
"All right but I think I'm a little undressed"
Ron gestured to his jeans and jumper and then to Harry's attire from the evening before. Harry mumbled something about having had an appointment earlier as he strolled back into the living room and slipped into his jacket. He turned to Ron and asked.
"So where to"
Ron stroked his chin thoughtfully for a moment before answering.
"How about The Pitch"
"Let's go"
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The Pitch was the wizarding world's one and only sports pub. Set in the heart of Diagon Ally the four level pub was decorated with tons and tons of memorabilia from all the leagues Quidditch teams ranging from the meat cleaver Walter Parkin carried to all the Wigtown Wanderers matches to the broom "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn rode on in his last match with the Caerphilly Catapults. Owned by an eccentric warlock who'd spent a fair few years traveling the professional Quidditch circuit The Pitch had become the hottest pub in wizarding London; it was often found full to the rafters with all sorts of high profile wizards and witches including Ministry of Magic officials, The Weird Sisters' lead guitarist and bassist Kirley McCormack and Donaghan Tremlett and naturally there were the droves and droves of Quidditch pros who frequented the establishment, chief among them Viktor Krum of the Vratsa Vultures, Roger Davies of the Tutshill Tornados, and the Kenmare Kestrels star keeper Oliver Wood. Although the most celebrated patrons of The Pitch were Harry Potter and Ron Weasley their notoriety as heroes from the war, their spirited Quidditch playing abilities and their perpetual listing on Witch Weekly's Most Eligible Bachelor List made any place they deemed worthy of their patronage an instant hit.
Ginny and Hermione were sitting in a booth towards the back of the crowded pub eating ham and Swiss cheese cubbies with vinegar and salt chips. Hermione was serenely chewing a chip as Ginny shot her a vicious look.
"Hermione I don't believe you're not going to tell me who he is"
For the past half hour Ginny had been pumping Hermione for information about her date the night before. It had taken a little coaxing but Ginny had gotten Hermione to share the details of her evening out with the mystery wizard, but when Ginny had vocalized her suspicions that Hermione hadn't been alone when she'd dropped in earlier that afternoon Hermione had clammed up tighter than a silencing charm.
"Oh you could at least give me his initials"
Hermione took a sip of her butterbeer then spoke.
"No"
Ginny blew out an exasperated breath.
"I don't see why you insist on keeping me in the dark…I mean honestly you've already shagged the bloke…"
"Ginny…"
Hermione spoke in an appalled whisper as a scarlet tint crept up cheeks.
"What on earth makes you think that I…"
Ginny cut her off with a wave of her hand.
"Mi, it didn't take a genius to read the signs…nearly one in the afternoon and you're not at work…you're not even out of bed, I practically have to scream my bloody head off to get you out of your room, then you won't let me get anywhere near the bedroom and to top it all off you're standing there in a man's shirt"
Hermione bit her bottom lip and flushed crimson. Ginny smiled and patted her friend's hand.
"He must be something special to have you carrying on like that"
A dreamy expression came over her face and Hermione smiled and replied.
"Yes, he is quite special actually"
"And does he have a name"
"Really Ginny don't be daft of course he has a name"
"What is it"
"Wouldn't you like to know"
Ginny was about to remind Hermione that she had told her all about her own relationship with Draco and that it was only fair that she reciprocate when Ron dropped down in the booth next to her.
"Well if it isn't my two favorite witches"
Ron grabbed a handful of crisps and popped them into his mouth. He then cast about looking for the waitress, not seeing anyone he called to the wizard behind the bar and ordered four house specials and two pitchers of ale.
"What brings you two to The Pitch"
Ron popped another handful of crisps into his mouth as Ginny responded.
"Oh nothing, just trying to find out the name of the bloke Hermione shagged last night"
Ron's eyes grew to twice their normal size, his mouth flew open and he dropped the handful of crisps he'd just picked up.
"Wh…wh…what did you say"
Hermione glared at Ginny from across the table, Ginny smirked before turning to face her brother.
"Hermione had a date last night with some chap and she's keeping mum about who he is"
Ron looked at Ginny and then at Hermione and then back to Ginny.
"She won't say who he is"
Ginny nodded her head in the affirmative to her brother's question. Ron turned his gaze to Hermione and spoke.
"All right then who is he"
Hermione stared at Ginny disbelievingly.
"GINNY…"
Ginny quickly replied.
"All I asked for were his initials but oh no you had to be difficult"
Ron launched into one of his tirades, questioning Hermione in regards to her whereabouts last night and who she was with. Ginny glanced up and caught sight of Harry coming towards them; she thought to herself that he was rather dressed up for lunch at The Pitch. She took in the elegant cut of his black trousers and matching jacket and the green shirt he was wearing really highlighted the color of his eyes. Ginny was about to tell Harry how cracking he looked when her gaze focused on the left breast pocket of Harry's shirt, there was a lightening shaped appliqué; the image of Hermione dressed in that very shirt earlier that day rose to the surface of Ginny's mind. Ginny's voice came out in a barely audible whisper.
"Blimey its Harry"
Hermione caught Ginny's words and their gazes met and held for the briefest of moments before Hermione turned her head and saw Harry lowering himself into the booth beside her just as two waitresses descended upon the table and deposited four large platters of food, two tankards and two pitchers of ale. As the waitresses disappeared Ron turned his attention to Harry.
"Harry, Ginny says Hermione went out with some bloke and she won't tell either of us anything about him"
Harry felt Hermione press her leg against his, he patted her leg reassuringly under the table before focusing his attention on Ron.
"So"
Ron looked mortified.
"So…so what is she hiding…I mean why wouldn't she tell us…"
Harry popped a chip into his mouth and interjected.
"Ron do we tell Hermione every time we take some girl out"
Ron looked thoughtful for a moment then answered.
"No"
Harry nodded and replied.
"Well then…besides Hermione is quite capable of taking care of herself"
Ron scratched his head and sighed.
"I suppose you're right"
Harry nodded, picked up his tankard of ale and took a liberal swig.
There was no more conversation among the four friends after that, they all sat and finished their lunch in silence.
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