The Love Shack---Chapter 10
Harry woke the next morning refreshed. There was something to the way that he and Hermione were when they teased each other and talked openly. He had wondered quite often why it seemed that they didn't do that more often. Were they truly falling into the trap of mundane familiarity that their liaison the week after her birthday had been designed to prevent?
That question burned in his mind as he walked toward the house that morning shivering cold. It was only a few hours until things would be ready for her, but what could he do that would make this special. He had noticed throughout the week that she would probably not be overwhelmingly surprised at the things he'd done to make them ready for her to live with him. That's what he'd hoped would happen.
He walked in and looked around. The little skit that he'd worked out with the twins and Marlie the night before had worked to perfection. They had come over straight away while he was napping to finish the painting (done by magic of course) as well as patch holes where Harry had carelessly pounded nails in his vain attempts to become an accomplished muggle carpenter. Marlie had left Hermione and then had come to add the little things like ruffles to the curtains and make the beds. He supposed he could have brought Hermione with him, but after so much work he didn't want to come in and see something glaring that he could have done better.
The furniture from Hermione's would finish off a couple of the places. And the pictures on her walls were so special that he knew they had to have a place here too. He looked at the floor and Fang's sad face. "Don't worry boy, she'll be back today," said Harry. Harry was sure that it was Hermione that Fang missed most.
Harry tried to think of what would cap the day off nicely. Then he realized what had been bothering him all along about asking her to marry him. "Finally," he thought, "I know what I can do." It would take him a few hours but it wouldn't be hard.
He sat down at the table and scribbled notes furiously. He made a list. He tried to figure out how to best accomplish something that now filled him with excitement. It was harder than he first thought. Finally, he looked at the notes he'd made and was satisfied that he could pull it off.
He got out of his work clothes and dressed casually. He walked back to the gate and Disapparated. It only took him a few minutes to find the few things he needed in the little mall he'd passed that night he'd bought his clothes. He needed a spare shoe box, a hat box and a couple of cards. It was simplicity that made Hermione so wonderful. She didn't expect much from anyone. Today, she would get more than she ever expected.
He returned to the hut. He had built the vanity in the spare bedroom; he'd decorated that bedroom just for her. It was time to leave a trail of hints everywhere she went in the house. He wondered how inspiration like he had now happened. In each room he left a card addressed to her. Each of them corresponded to something that he'd done with specifically her in mind. No earth shattering revelations were here. Some were sweeter than others, but when added together they were his proposal. It was simple. After all these years, a simple "Will you marry me" seemed to be inadequate.
He let out a sigh. When he opened the door to leave, he thoroughly expected this walk to be either the fastest or the longest he'd ever taken in his life. When he dreaded doing something it went by so fast that it was upon him before he knew it. When it was something he wanted desperately it seemed to take forever to get there. Today, the walk was filled with anticipation, but it hit neither end. He wondered if he should be more excited. He was going to ask Hermione to marry him. It was like a ride in a car on a long trip where you allow your mind to wander as the driver did all the work. Somehow his feet carried him and his mind played all the moments that made this the right thing to do. He realized as he arrived at her door why he seemed so calm. He was ready to make a verbal commitment to someone he'd committed his heart to long ago. They were now ready to coexist.
He let himself in and saw her sitting at the table going over some papers. "Oh, hi, Harry." She smiled stood up and gave him a kiss. "I was just looking at my O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. reports and thinking how long ago that seems. But I realize that it's only been four or five years. I've been here for two and a half though so maybe that's why it seems so long ago."
"It's funny how time changes everything, isn't it? I was just thinking some of the same things on the way back," he said. "Are you ready to see the place now?"
She smiled and said, "Sure. Wow, you're really going all out. It's barely noon and you're all dressed up. You look handsome."
Another idea popped into his head as he asked her, "So, are you ready?"
"Give me a few minutes to change. I'm dressed for lounging about here not going out," she said.
"Okay, well, I'm going to wait outside for a few minutes while you change," he said.
She looked at him strangely. "Alright, is everything okay?"
"Perfect Hermione, it's just not as cold today as it has been," he lied. It was colder than it had been, but his nerves were starting to play havoc with him. But not in the same way as the four previous times, he'd tried to propose. This time it was as if he had energy to burn. It wasn't long before he saw her come out into the hall from the bathroom through the window as he stood on the steps.
He had an ulterior motive for not wanting to be inside with her this morning. His every thought was about her. He often caught glimpses of her as she changed when he was inside. Today, as lovely as she was her beauty would be an unwelcome distraction. He heard her footsteps from inside crossing the hardwood floor toward him. He opened the door to let her out.
"Harry, it's cold out here. You liar," she said teasingly. "Are you sure you're okay, Sweetheart?"
"I just have a lot on my mind, but it's all good. So don't worry. Let's go," he said holding his arm out for her.
"I'm really excited to see it, Harry. I know you've put a lot of work into it," she said. "I think you may be treating me way better than you needed to with it, so I guess I feel a little guilty too."
He heard that and it just increased the feeling of certainty that he'd found a wonderful way to express his love for her in their new home.
"You normally aren't so quiet, Harry. This is kind of spooky to be honest," she said.
"We're almost there," he said. In his mind, he ran over the dialog that would fit with each new discovery as she made it.
"Oh, Harry, the curtains look wonderful from the outside," she said. "That's a nice surprise by itself. I had expected to have to do that."
He simply smiled. The excitement in his chest began to grow. His heart raced. He opened the door and let her enter in front of him. He watched her carefully. "Harry, I knew this would look different, but this is absolutely wonderful. I like these, it's a cute touch." She pointed to the little signs he'd put up showing her where he thought her furniture and pictures fit into the room.
On the mantle, there was a picture of the two of them. It was from one of the first times they'd seen each other after her return. It was one of those campy poses that friends of the opposite sex do for fun to ruin a picture someone hopes to get of them in a romantic embrace. He sat next to her on a stool at the Three Broomsticks smiling with eyes crossed as Hermione hugged him to her chest making a fish face. "Oh, Harry, you kept this horrible thing." She giggled. "Why would you do that?"
"Hermione, I found it this week and thought it represented our silliness and denial of our feelings. I could hear your heartbeat in that picture and, quite frankly, I wish I'd had the nerve then to bury my face between your breasts," he revealed. "You're so wonderfully cute and lovable in a mood like that."
She smiled and took the envelope addressed to her next to it, "Hermione #1". "What's this Harry?" she asked.
"Read it, silly," he said.
She opened it and read, "We are at our best when we are together without inhibition and looking to laugh with and at each other." She was speechless and hugged him. It took her a few seconds for her to stop staring at those words for the second time.
Somehow she hadn't seen or recognized the bear-skin rug lying on the floor in front of the fire. Harry had improved the place but he still wanted the rustic log cabin feel to remain. "Wow, this is soft. And, look you have a little bench seat big enough for two over here. I take that it's for warming up in front of the fire."
"Yeah, I thought it's easier to warm our feet in front of the fire this way when it's really cold," said Harry.
He knew it would be the little touches he'd made not the sweeping changes that would attract Hermione's eye. On the kitchen table sat a fruit bowl and a place setting for two. There was a pink envelope on one plate "Hermione #2. She opened it and read it. She laughed. He'd found a humorous card this morning that said it perfectly. He'd added a few words to personalize it. It was one of those cards where it had an out of shape cartoon guy sitting at the table with a plate of bones and little hearts floating above his head puckering toward a skinny, smiling woman. It said, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." He'd added something to make it read. "They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm just glad you got there and never left."
"You're full of surprises this afternoon," she said. "I take it there are more of these ramblings throughout the house." She said smiling.
In her room, she found the vanity with heart-shaped light bulbs, usable frilly-lace decorative boxes in pretty pastel colors. Harry had a shoe box propped in the chair with a note attached "Hermione #3". "For the girl who has everything, a shoe box filled with…" Inside the box was a single sock like the ones she'd made for the house-elves all those years ago with another note pinned to it. "For my hot little house-elf, I offer you clothes in recognition of your freedom to choose. Your choice to stay with me is worth more than you know."
There were two more notes, but now he focused on the last one in the master bedroom. The large king-size canopy bed was beautiful. Even as a guy, he thought so. The thick down comforter, oversized pillows and covers along with the heart-shaped pillow between the two main pillows looked inviting. In the center of the bed was a round hatbox with a bow.
He wanted to clear his throat, but it was too late. He was choked up as he'd feared he would be. "Open it, Hermione," he croaked. Inside were two tattered wool stocking caps-one blue and one pink. Harry smiled inside at the silliness of it all, but was proud of the fact that he knew she would understand. A note "Hermione #4 and #5"on top said, "Matching Sorting Hat's. Handle with Care." Below that was another card which contained the fine print as if it were the disclosure on a loan for a credit card. "Placing this hat on your head, binds the wearer to the House of Potter for life. The magic in these hats is permanent. It cannot be undone. As clothes are a symbol freedom, these hats bind the wearers to lifetime contract where love, respect and hot sex are mode of payment in return for like services rendered by the other. If you accept this contract see your sales person for proper fitting."
Hermione stood stunned. The tears ran freely. For a brief instant, he thought she'd put down the box close it and run out. It was what he'd feared all along. But she turned to him holding each hat by their fuzzy little tassels, "Are you the salesman?" she said with a smile. "I think I want to put mine on please."
Harry now hoped he could get the only part he'd not put in writing out the say way he'd thought of it, "Well, along with the hats there is a special today that runs the end of our lifetime, would you be interested in hearing about it?"
She smiled at his playfulness. "Yes."
"The special usually includes an entire wardrobe matching the hats and sock, but as the salesman really is not interested in seeing the lady in clothes he offers her the other sock for absolutely no extra cost." From behind his back, he showed her a sock matching the first one with an open jewelry box and engagement ring emerging from it. "Will you marry me, Hermione?" He took the blue hat and put it on. Next he brushed her hair away from her face and put the pink one on her. "The hats are a separate offer from the ring and the socks. You have the freedom to choose one or both."
"But I take it you want me only in this hat and the socks to answer," she said giggling.
"That was the general idea," he said kissing her as his heart pounded and he felt his excitement grow. He then took the ring and placed it on her finger. It wasn't a big diamond at all. He'd not had the money for the one he would get her later.
It only took moments for them to undress and begin the dance of love in their new home in a bed that seemed like a cloud. The laughter and pleas of passion mixed together in an x-rated version of he-said-she-said. Hours later, they lay together sore and unable to move.
Harry traced her breast with his finger lingering just long enough over the nipple to make Hermione brush his hand away. "Oh my god it still feels brilliant," she said. "I love you, Harry."
"I love you too, Hermione," he said laying aback into the pillow exhausted.
"So have I paid your salary for the month yet?" she giggled.
"No, that's only good for a day or so. I'll tell you when I'm paid enough," he teased.
"Yes, I'm realizing just now how a hard man is good to find," she giggled again. "I know it's old and unimaginative-but true."
Harry smiled. "I want to get married in the spring Hermione," said Harry. "Early May would do nicely."
"That's a splendid idea. I just thought I'd share something with you. It's certainly can't be offered as fact, but it can be mentioned as a strong possibility. Come August or September the bird coming down the chimney in our home may not be an owl with a bundle of mail."
"Sorry?" asked Harry without thinking. A moment later he realized what she meant. "Really?"
"Yes, Harry you picked the perfect time to plant a seed. The only thing we have to wonder now is whether the soil is fertile enough," she giggled. "Some couples try to time things perfectly to conceive and it's this point in my cycle that we'd be doing each other like rabbits if that were the case. It's only possible, but more probable than any other time. But I'll welcome the stork if he comes."
He smiled. "I hope you know that it's good news if it is as you suggest," said Harry.
"Harry, I wouldn't be disappointed if it wasn't either. But I have the feeling that I'm only going to be wearing these socks for the foreseeable future and the odds go up if that is the case," she said rolling over pressing her breasts into his chest. "Did the socks have a double meaning, Harry?"
He smiled shrewdly. "Could be? If it was what do you think they meant? Both meanings?"
"The first was easy. You offered me my freedom again and you were telling me that you wanted me to choose to stay as I had already done. The second was to keep me from having cold feet and backing out, right?"
He laughed. "Yep. Was it that obvious?"
"Only I thought of it because I think you were more worried about your cold feet than mine," she said. "Isn't that more accurate?"
"You're scary you know that?" he said laughing. "You know I have one more surprise for you though. I ordered it today. I suppose I could have made one by magic, but it's cool to wait for it."
"What's that?" she asked.
"Well, it's actually for both of us. It's a sign for the front door that says, `The Potters-Harry and Hermione.' I knew you'd say yes," he said.
"Oh you did, did you?" she said climbing atop him and pinning his hands to the pillows. "What gave me away? Was it the fact that I stayed with you every day you'd let me for the last two months while you acted as if your pecker had an out-of-order sign on it?" She rose up and put him inside her again. He gasped at the intensity of her warmth. "Oh don't worry, Harry, you don't have to do anything. It just seemed like such a waist of a good hard man."
Her hips worked him slowly as his hands found her breasts. Each rise and fall of her hips primed him for an explosion he knew would come sooner rather than later. "Bloody hell," he said breathlessly even though he hadn't moved. "Oh shit, what are you doing?" He felt the contractions of her muscles milking him as she moved. "Hermione, oh. Not so fast, slow down." She slowed her movements to let him recover. He sat up and held her still.
Breathlessly, she said, "I didn't know if you could feel that or not, but it makes me feel good." She smiled. "You're in real trouble Harry. I've only gotten this part of it twice in my life until today. I'm making up for lost time." She moved again throwing her head back as Harry kissed her bare neck and breasts.
It only lasted a few more minutes before they both gasped a minute or so apart, unwilling to let the contact between them go. He rolled her to her side and held he head to his chest. "Whew, this is insane," he said. He ached all over from the excitement and prolonged exercise. "Either, I need to gym to exercise or we need to use this as a daily workout routine."
"Oh, we can work something out," she said with a giggle. "Lie down and let's rest for a while. This fifteen round fight is only half over."
Harry groaned feigning injury. And then smiled knowing her eyes had snapped open staring at him. "Just kidding, my hot little house-elf." She smiled back.
House-elves were not attractive creatures by human standards, but it was their warmth, devotion and willingness to please that were endearing. Harry hoped that she understood the reference was not in anyway referring to physical characteristics. He held back laughing at that thought. She would have left if she'd have thought she looked like one, he realized. She had to have understood.
The late fall and early winter days meant that darkness came earlier. They awoke naked except for Hermione's socks just before dinner time. Harry lay staring at the canopy breathing deeply and as he relaxed next to her. "Hi, Harry. I'm going to be so sore," she laughed groggily.
"That's what you get for trying to kill your future husband the first night you screw him," he said smiling. "But I'm willing to keep letting you try though." He rolled over and kissed her.
"Let me take you out for dinner tonight, Hermione. We can celebrate and come back to Hogsmeade for a nightcap," he suggested.
"That would be nice, but I'm afraid I'll walk funny," she giggled. "Never in my life did I ever imagine that I could enjoy causing myself such discomfort and consider doing it again."
"We need to eat and a good walk will help to relieve our aching muscles." He got out of bed and held his hand out to her. She stepped down and he realized that they fit perfectly together. He pressed her hips to his by pulling her buttocks to him. "You feel so good," he said as he kissed her and felt her breasts against his chest.
"Yeah, well, we'll never get out of here if Little Harry chooses the menu," she giggled. "Somehow I don't have the heart to tell him no today." She slapped his bum playfully.
He jumped in the shower. They would have to go to Hermione's to let her change and there was no sense in her getting her hair or anything else wet before walking in the cold air. He dressed quickly. "Are you ready, Sweetheart?"
"Sure am, Harry," she said wearing her pink stocking hat. "Don't tell me you knitted this yourself."
He laughed. "No, but I didn't want them too look store-bought either, so I conjured up a couple and then used my wand to give them that look."
"What you did for me today Harry was so far beyond words," she said snuggling as they walked. "I'm just speechless for each little card and sentiment you expressed. Thank you." Her lips were warm on his flesh even as the wind chill pierced their jackets and burned their faces.
She ran in and left Harry sitting on the sofa. There was no more teasing needed he realized. They'd gone beyond that today. Oh, there were still plenty of erotic moments to be had, but it didn't need to be that subtle now. He heard the door to her room open a half-hour later.
"Wow, are you stunning tonight, or what?' he stammered. Every curve was accentuated in such a way that anyone else looking at her would see her beautiful dress and figure but he would imagine her bare skin beneath. "You are gorgeous."
They Apparated in the exact same place they had two months earlier. They walked the same way and stopped before the same window and kissed. "Harry, I never answered. I will marry you. I want to be with you for as long as we live."
"I want that too. I knew it all along, but it took you saying that you weren't going anywhere last night to convince me. It meant somehow that if you could still love me, I could forgive myself. That wasn't a bad thing or self-criticism. I forgave myself this morning when I realized that's what had to happen to love you with all my heart," he said.
They began walking as they talked. "Forgave yourself how?" she asked.
"I don't know exactly. I just remember thinking that I'd not been faithful to you. I had loved you and done so many things that were the exact opposite. I felt guilty for that. But I realized I'd chosen and you had accepted me, so really all that was left was for me to accept myself and let your love in," said Harry. "Then every kind moment we'd ever had together flashed in my memory. I realized that's what pleased me most--your smile and happiness. If I continued the way I was going I was going to make you unhappy and I couldn't have that."
"Maybe Harry, but I love you too much for that to happen this soon. I'm happy that you feel good about it. It's what makes this moment so special," she said.
They had arrived at the same restaurant. "I remember you and the lady, sir. Potter, non-smoking, away from the bar. Correct?" The maitre d' looked at the ring on Hermione's finger and smiled.
"Yes that's right," said Harry. "How did you remember?" Harry asked the maitre d'.
"I see all types of people enter, sir. I see everyone who enters. There was an aura around the two of you when you were here last. It glows more brightly today. Some things you never forget, Mr. Potter. The love you two share is one of them."
Harry smiled, pulled out Hermione's chair, and let her sit saying, "I guess he saw this for us all along."
Hermione said. "So did I Harry. I'm glad you joined me in that belief."
Harry's heart filled with gladness and hope.
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