Epilogue: Finally
The portrait hole swung open and Lavender and Ron stumbled through it into the Gryffindor common room holding hands, bright eyed and pink-cheeked from their jaunt around the lake. Lavender's knitted cap and her long blond locks were heavily dusted with snow; the wind had been whipping about swirling the flakes like mad and the temperature seemed to have dropped at least ten degrees since that morning when the pair had gone out shortly after breakfast. They'd wanted to spend sometime alone before they left for the Christmas holidays the next day. With lessons ended for the term most of the inhabitants of the castle were letting off as much steam as possible. Raucous laughter and exuberant chattering voices could be heard wafting through the corridors from vacant study rooms and empty classrooms. When the weather permitted the snow covered grounds were peppered with people trudging around and pelting one another with snowballs. If not the house common rooms and the Great Hall were filled with students enjoying the respite from work before heading home for the holidays. It having been too cold outside for their liking Ron and Lavender were hoping the common room had emptied out enough to afford them a modicum of privacy so that they could cuddle by the fire. As they hurried into the warmth of the room they were quite relieved to see that the common room was in fact empty. Ron was pulling Lavender towards an empty armchair when she of a sudden nudged him in the ribs sharply and pointed to the couch in front of the fireplace.
There on the couch were Harry and Hermione; obviously Ron and Lavender were not the only ones who wanted a bit of time alone. Harry was sitting with his back against the arm of the couch, Hermione was nestled snugly between his legs her back pressed to his chest. Her knees were drawn up and a book lay forgotten across her lap. Harry was holding her left hand in his left, his right was slowly running up and down her right arm softly caressing the bare skin. Hermione's head was thrown back onto Harry's right shoulder, her right hand tangled in his windswept ebony locks. Her eyes were closed and a rather wicked smile was playing about the corners of her lips as Harry kissed and nipped at her exposed throat intently. Ron surveyed the scene before him and exchanged a smile with Lavender.
It had been a month since Harry and Hermione had started dating and it would have been a gross understatement to say that they were a little enamored with each other. Following his taking a bludger to the head during the last Quidditch match Harry had finally figured out that Hermione was as barmy over him as he was about her only she needed to know his feelings were sincere and that he wanted more from her than just sex. Harry told her how he felt and to show that he was being honest he asked her out on a real date, which Hermione accepted. What followed was the single most amazing courtship in the history of Hogwarts. Harry who had always shied away from revealing his true feelings to anyone made it abundantly clear to anyone with a solitary brain cell how he felt about Hermione. He escorted her to and from lessons, held her hand whenever she was near, complimented her endlessly and he openly showed his affections for her both verbally and physically (they were now expressly forbidden from doing their evening patrols together as McGonagall had caught them committing infractions they were supposed to be preventing; using empty classrooms to snog in, one time too many).
Their relationship had created quite a bit of talk as most people had apparently thought that the school's star Quidditch player, resident hero and Head Boy had ruined all chance of making a go of things with the rather bookish albeit beautiful Head Girl. The female population of Hogwarts was still reeling from this latest scandalous turn of events and it was commonplace to hear such quips as "Lucky girl that Granger" and "What's she got that I haven't". The males in the castle weren't much better and on more than one occasion they had been heard muttering things like "Damn that Potter" and "Besides the whole hero thing what could she possibly see in him". Ron shook his head and with a significant look in Lavender's direction said very loudly.
"I don't see why you two are down here hogging our couches to snog on when you've got a private one of your own upstairs!"
Hermione's eyes flew open. Startled by Ron's voice booming through the quiet of the common room she turned her head towards the door to see who had entered the room. This move gave Harry better access to the sensitive pulse point of Hermione's neck, which he took full advantage of by alternately nuzzling and licking the spot passionately. Hermione had been about to say something but Harry's abrupt change of tactics caused her to close her open mouth and bite down on her slightly red and swollen, thoroughly kissed lips as a moan rose from her throat. Lavender stared at the pair openly admiring Harry's technique. Ron winced at the sounds coming from Hermione and upon seeing the envious look on Lavender's face whipped out his wand and said.
"That's enough…you two cut it out or I'll hose the pair of you down!"
Hermione turned back towards Harry and untangled her hand from Harry's hair and stroked his neck adoringly as she whispered something in his ear. Harry nodded; their lips met briefly in a chaste kiss and Harry raised his head a decidedly happy grin on his face. Hermione scooted back closer to Harry and laid her head on his shoulder again, he in turn wrapped his arms about her and pressed a kiss to her temple. Ron frowned as he said.
"Urgh…"
Hermione rolled her eyes and replied.
"Oh honestly Ron you're being childish…its nothing you haven't seen before…or done for that matter."
Ron dropped down into the chair facing the couch. Lavender lowered herself onto his lap.
"You've no idea what I've seen Hermione and you certainly have no idea of what I've been doing."
Harry looked up and replied.
"Ron you spent the summer trying to peek at Bill and Fleur snogging and the first official action you proposed to Lavender as her boyfriend was I believe to go and have a snog. So I think its safe to assume that you've both seen and done this enough not to be grossed out by it."
Ron retorted.
"Well those two instances are entirely separate. First off with Bill and Fleur how could I not see them, they used every bloody surface and area of space in the Burrow to snog in. As for Lav and me, I have to show my affections for her don't I."
Lavender beamed at Ron and planted a kiss on his lips. Ron smiled smugly, pleased that his answer had engendered such a favorable response. Harry laughed loudly and replied.
"Are you trying to take the piss Ron? You know bloody well that you were peeking at Fleur and Bill because you fancy that one-quarter Veela and you snog Lavender constantly because…well because she lets you!"
Ron shot Harry an affronted look and answered back.
"Whether those two things are true or not is beside the point. The point is I don't want to see you two carrying on like bunnies!"
Harry smiled evilly.
"Then I suggest you look away."
Harry lowered his head and resumed his earlier assault on Hermione's throat, which elicited a fresh batch of moans from Hermione. Lavender's eyes widened as she watched Harry's tongue dance and swirl across Hermione's skin. A breathy "Oh my" slipped past Lavender's lips and Ron seeing the flushed color of her cheeks asked.
"What are you oh my-ing about?"
Lavender turned and was about to answer when they heard the soft muffled sound of feet hitting the carpet. Both Ron and Lavender looked up to see Harry and Hermione heading towards the stairs though how they were managing was a mystery considering that their lips were still connected and their hands were roving all over each others bodies. At the base of the stairs they stopped and Hermione raised her wand towards the portrait hole and muttered two quick spells. Ron looked askance and said.
"What are you doing?"
Hermione smiled and replied.
"Taking your advice and adjourning to our private quarters. I charmed the door so that anyone who comes back to the common room will develop a sudden urge to go elsewhere. It should give you about an hour…I also added a silencing charm just in case."
Harry added.
"I'd try the couch…its loads more comfortable than that chair you're in and the mistletoe above it adds quite a festive touch don't you think?"
That said Harry waggled his eyebrows suggestively at Ron turned around scooped Hermione up in his arms and disappeared up the stairs with Hermione's laughter ringing through the air. Lavender looked at Ron and said.
"Well now that we're alone what do you want to do?"
Ron wrapped his arms around Lavender and standing to his feet started walking towards the couch and said.
"How about we make good use of that silencing charm eh!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hermione stepped into the main Gryffindor common room looking for all the world as though she was the cat that'd swallowed the canary. She was dressed in a pair of baby blue sweatpants and a matching zippered jacket with a hood; the jacket was unzipped an underneath it she wore a white tank top. Her mass of brown curls was pulled up into a ponytail atop her head. As she made her way to the corner couch where she saw Ginny, Lavender and Pavrati sitting several fifth and sixth year boys stared after her longingly. Hermione however was oblivious. She sat down beside her friends.
"Hello…what are you ladies up to this evening?"
Ginny looked Hermione up and down, taking in the self-satisfied smile and the soft scent of citrus and vanilla floating on the air surrounding her and said.
"My don't you look content."
Pavrati looked up from her magazine and did her own appraisal of Hermione and added.
"Very content indeed…where've you been hiding yourself all day? I don't recall seeing you since before lunch!"
Hermione shrugged and replied as she took a seat next to Lavender.
"Oh I've just been upstairs in my room."
Pavrati nodded.
"In your room eh…hmmm…come to think of it I haven't seen much of Harry this afternoon either. You wouldn't happen to know where he is would you Herms?"
Hermione shrugged noncommittally and glancing around the room answered.
"I don't see him around here anywhere…maybe he's up in the boys dorm…or he could be roaming round the castle getting into some mischief or other…"
Ginny tossed a pillow at Hermione, which she narrowly avoided, and rejoined with.
"Oh stop acting as if you have no idea where he is! He left here not half an hour ago with Ron…hair still damp and reeking of your citrus and vanilla soap…wearing a smug little smile on his face that's identical to yours!"
Pavrati let out a squeal of delight.
"Oooooh…what have you and Harry been up to…you haven't been…"
Pavrati raised and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Hermione's face remained impassive. She had spent a delightfully leisurely afternoon in bed with Harry cuddling and snogging. Then Harry had topped it off by treating her one of his incredible massages and drawing her a long hot relaxing bubble bath; during which he'd gotten carried away and caressed her more intimate bits so thoroughly that she'd hauled him into the bath along with her as she'd kissed him. She had wanted to do far more than kiss him but they'd agreed when they began dating not to rush into anything more until they were sure things would work out between them. So she'd reluctantly settled for snogging the hell out of a still fully clothed Harry. Sighing Hermione came out of her wandering thoughts and saw three expectant pairs of eyes watching her waiting for her to tell them everything, which she of course had no intentions of doing. Hermione smiled and said demurely.
"What may have or may not have happened between Harry and I is just that between Harry and I… a lady never tells."
Ginny and Pavrati opened their mouths to protest but were stopped by Lavender who intervened and sagely said.
"Herms is absolutely right…the goings on between her and Harry are private."
Hermione grinned and said.
"Thanks Lav."
Lavender returned her smile and retorted.
"Unless you happen to stumble into the room that they're holed up in while snogging each other senseless!"
Pavrati and Ginny squealed and giggled like banshees. Hermione threw the pillow Ginny had lobbed at her earlier at Lavender.
"I thought you said what Harry and I did was private!"
Lavender shrugged.
"It is private when you do it in your common room but when you do it in this common room its open for discussion."
Hermione crossed her arms across her chest and responded cheekily.
"Well that's the last time I charm this common room to give you and Ron a moment alone."
Pavrati squealed yet again, Ginny's mouth dropped open and Lavender blushed scarlet. Pavrati shook Lavender's arm and asked.
"You and Ron had the common room all to yourselves…what happened?"
Lavender quickly retorted.
"That's private…"
"What's private?"
The four girls turned to see Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus and Harry weaving their way through the scattered chairs, tables and bodies to the couch on which they were seated. Ron reached over the back of the couch and lifted Lavender into the air. He then proceeded to cram his large gangly form into the space she'd just occupied as he placed Lavender on his lap. Neville took up a chair to the right of the couch. Dean dropped down in front of the chair to the left of the couch that Ginny was sitting in. Seamus took a seat on the coffee table directly in front of the couch while Harry perched himself on the right arm next to Hermione. Ron restated his question.
"What's private?"
Pavrati spoke quickly before Lavender had a chance to reply.
"What were you and Lavender doing alone in the common room this afternoon?"
Ron flushed and unconsciously tightened his hold on Lavender as he stammered out a reply.
"We…were…ummm…er…ummm…ahh…well…its like Lav said…its private!"
Dean smiled and said.
"Looks like somebody's been carrying on!"
Seamus nodded.
"I believe you're right mate."
Pavrati's voice sang out again.
"Those two aren't the only ones!"
Seamus nodded again and said.
"We know…we just saw Neville here snogging that Roper bird from Hufflepuff!"
Lavender took up Pavrati's squealing and said.
"Really?!"
Dean nodded his head vigorously as Seamus elaborated.
"Yep…really going at it they were…that…what's her name…"
Ginny supplied the answer.
"Allison."
Seamus snapped his fingers and went on.
"Right…that Allison was all over our Neville…said she was going to miss him something terrible over the holiday break!"
Ron whooped and bellowed.
"Way to go Neville!!"
Pavrati giggled madly.
"Why Neville I never would have guessed!"
Lavender chimed in.
"Its always the quiet ones."
Neville blushed and tugged at the collar of his jumper. Ginny quipped.
"Speaking of quiet ones…you've been keeping mum through all of this Harry."
Pavrati added.
"Yes Harry you have been very quiet… and I thought you'd have something to say on this subject considering you and Hermione had your own little interlude today."
All eyes turned to Harry who was absently stroking Hermione's hair that he'd released from the ponytail she'd pulled it up into earlier. His only reply was a lazy grin. He turned his attention from the group to Hermione and standing to his feet and extending his hand to her said.
"Ms. Granger, I fancy a stroll about the castle and as you're leaving first thing in the morning and I'll be without your charming company for three full weeks I was hoping you'd join me."
Hermione smiled and sliding her hand into Harry's said.
"Why thank you for asking Mr. Potter I would love to accompany you!"
Hermione rose gracefully from her seat and slipping her arm through Harry's they strolled out the portrait hole without saying another word.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry was roused from sleep Christmas morning by the feel of soft warm lips pressed against his own. His eyes fluttered open and he caught a flash of curly brown hair and warm chocolate eyes. Unsure of whether or not he was dreaming or outright hallucinating he pulled his lips away from the lips assaulting his and in a sleep-tinged rasp called out.
"Hermione is that you?"
Hermione's tinkling laughter filled the room and Harry rubbed his eyes and opened them widely. There kneeling above him on the bed was Hermione dressed in a heavy red cloak, the hood and cuffs of which were trimmed in white fur. Harry sat up in bed and running a hand through his messy mop of hair.
"What are you doing here?"
Hermione answered airily.
"Well I've come to give you your Christmas present of course!"
"But you were supposed to be spending Christmas with your family…you said your grandparents were coming and that you hadn't seen them for ages."
Hermione nodded and replied simply by saying.
"That's right."
Harry scratched his head and asked.
"Then what in the name of Merlin are you doing here?"
"As I told you before I've come to bring you your Christmas present…are you not pleased to see me?"
"Of course I'm pleased to see you! I just thought that you wanted to spend the holidays enjoying your family."
Hermione smiled.
"I did and I was with one exception."
Harry quirked an eyebrow and asked.
"And what pray tell was the exception?"
Hermione bit her lip and answered.
"I missed you terribly! I couldn't stand the thought of you here at school all alone with just the teachers for company…so I talked to my parents and my grandparents and explained things and instead of having Christmas on Christmas day we had it on Christmas Eve and well here I am!"
Harry grinned.
"You did that for me?"
Hermione nodded. Harry crooked his finger and beckoned to her.
"Come here I want to thank you."
Hermione shook her head.
"Not until I give you your present."
Harry noticed the gleam in her eye; he sat up straight in bed and said.
"All right then let's have it."
Hermione took a step backwards from the bed and slowly unfastened her cloak. As the cloak fell from her shoulders and poled at her feet Harry's eyes widened and his breath caught in his throat. There at the foot of his bed was Hermione dressed in nothing more than a see-through red lace teddy that clung to her curves and left absolutely nothing to the imagination and a pair of red stiletto heels. Harry muttered.
"Merlin, Morganna and Circe!!"
Hermione smiled sexily and asked.
"You like it then?"
Harry nodded slowly and dumbly. Hermione's smile grew wider continuing in that same sexy tone she asked.
"Well aren't you going to unwrap your present Harry?"
Harry grinned wickedly and beckoned for Hermione. This time however she felt her feet leave the floor as she floated over to the bed and into Harry's arms. Just as their lips were about to meet in a searing and passionate kiss Harry stopped and asked.
"Are you sure about this…we don't have to…"
Hermione softly kissed his lips to stem his words and whispered.
"I'm sure Harry. I want this…I want you…haven't you figured out how in love with you I am?"
Harry smiled, kissed her gently and replied in a low raspy whisper.
"I love you too Hermione…I love you too!"
-->