The Gentleman and The Lady-Chapter 6
Harry read it twice trying to figure out what the Mata Hari reference could be. That threw him for a loop. Of course, if Hermione was getting help from an Oxford educated psychology student, it could just be a mind game. But he liked that she thought it was funny.
Harry sent the owl back straight away with a simple reply. "Eight o'clock, be ready for a feast." He didn't sign it or use names. He now had only a few hours to figure out where the world he was taking her. He didn't expect that they'd go out without eating first and none of the places in Hogsmeade would qualify as imaginative. Was her little get your mind out the gutter comment a reference to oral sex? He shook his knowing it was by her next line. "Get your mind out of the gutter boy." Takes one to know one he thought as he realized she had to be just as sexually deviant as he to read between the lines of a comment as innocent as `be ready to feed me'. Ooh, let the games begin. He was impressed that she had his mind reeling without one sexual word or phrase. He even considered that maybe she was talking about feeding her something like grapes or strawberries in a very non-sexual but erotic way. Well, only time would tell.
It was a different feeling, he thought, as he dressed. He had nice shoes and the linen slacks were light and airy as opposed to denim which was heavy and hot. His silky seaweed-colored shirt and neutral colored jacket made him look a lot different than she'd ever seen him before. Then he thought about his glasses. He was horrible about keeping them clean. Hermione was forever cleaning them or fixing them for him. He cleaned them now.
It was five-thirty and he felt sure that he could get to London make a reservation and Apparate at her door in time to make this work. He knew flowers didn't show a lot of flair but a handshake was a lot worse alternative. Unless, he thought….
He got to Hermione's door right at three minute before eight and knocked. He felt uneasy but he knew that would soon pass when he saw her. He looked good and for the past half-hour he was sure she could be wearing a potato sack and look good. He was excited in a different way this time.
"Hi, Harry. Good timing. I was just putting the last of the dishes away," she said.
He pulled out his gift for her from behind his back. He had thought of it earlier and he was glad it worked out. He had a half-dozen roses and the biggest heart-shaped lollipop they could make in two and a half hours at Honeydukes. "Hi, Hermione. I missed you."
She smiled and covered her mouth. Her eyes were wide with excitement. He knew he'd passed stage one with flying colors when she took them both raced into the house put them on the table ran back to him and threw her arms around his neck. "You remembered to feed me!" She hugged him in such a way that he felt her pressed against him in a completely new way. And, it wasn't a bad feeling at all.
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Hermione said a minute later with a look of pure joy on her face. "First, for being on time. Second, for surprising me so nicely. Third, for looking so handsome tonight." She started to turn away. Then turned back. "Thank you. That's for being such a great guy."
Suddenly, Harry didn't want to Disapparate to anywhere. He wanted to walk with her, but he forced himself to remember that they'd been there and done that on this street and it would get old the first time someone that knew them started poking fun. Regardless of what they said, that was not something either of them wanted tonight.
He stepped back and let her close the door and offered her his arm. She looked at him for a second and took it. He just looked at her for several seconds as they walked. He was trying something he'd thought about all afternoon. He really didn't like taking his eyes off of her sometimes, so he was drinking in every expression. "Is everything okay, Harry?"
"I just don't want to forget the smile on your face when I saw you. You're really pretty tonight," he said.
She blushed and walked along for a moment still holding his arm in silence. Harry stopped under a lamppost. "Okay, we're going to London for dinner. Have you got a good grip?"
"Yep, you bet I'm not letting go of you easily," she said with a smile. "POP!" They disappeared from the Main Street in Hogwarts.
Harry picked a shadowy area not too far from the taxi queue he'd seen a few nights before. He picked it because the street noises would probably hide the sound of them Apparating and it was a short walk to the restaurant.
He hoped that he hadn't set himself up for failure by being so flashy at her flat. He didn't have anymore tricks up his sleeve for the rest of the night. She'd put on a very nice satine dress that clung to her hips. He was glad for the thin long coat she put on over it for the chill in the air. He found himself wanting to look at her bum more than once. He'd seen her in jeans and dressed very nicely before, but she wasn't fifteen at the Yule Ball anymore. What was a promising figure then had blossomed into full womanhood now. He asked himself if this was because she was dressed differently or his perception of her was different. He knew it was probably a bit of both.
The crossed the road arm-in-arm. "Harry, this is nice. I like the excitement already. I mean the city and people. Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are kind of lazy towns. This is bright even at night."
She was right. It did a lot for their mood as she passed the storefronts. At one point he'd felt a little hesitation. Had he been holding her hand he would have gotten to far ahead. The way they were walking he felt her slowing both by the turn of her head and the angle she walked. He stopped. "Something catch your eye?"
"Yeah, us," she said with a smile. "We look brilliant together." She'd looked over several times before but this was the first time she'd stopped. The long window went to the sidewalk and the background allowed their reflection to look almost lifelike.
"Well, that's all you looking brilliant. I'm just a frog waiting to be kissed by his princess," he laughed.
She turned to him slowly and unexpectedly. She put her hand softly to his cheek and kissed him. This wasn't a "oh, I guess people kiss when they like each other way" of the past Sunday; but a "full-mouthed feel my lips until your heart and groin ache with desire" kind of way. If he hadn't know better he'd have screamed "yahoo".
He put his hands inside the jacket, softly touching her hips and her hands held his shoulders. He wasn't sure when he'd ever kissed anyone where the soul purpose was the pleasure of feeling their lips and feeling their sweet breath. He felt her sexiness in his loins, but he wanted this right now and nothing more. She stepped back and wiped the lipstick of his lips. "I've wanted to do that for four days," she said. "It was worth the wait. I couldn't keep walking with this green frog. I had to have my prince."
He wasn't sure they could sustain this kind of excitement all night without finding a hotel or getting arrested. But he knew it was special and he liked it. "I'm not sure I've ever been kissed like that," he said. He hoped it didn't sound stupid, but it was true. When desire was mixed in with all the other emotions he felt for her it had been different.
"If you're going to keep saying what I'm thinking, we might as well just stare at each other and never say another word," she said with a smile. They resumed walking without a word.
He turned and looked at her every seven or eight steps though. In between, he felt her eyes on him. He knew they would talk about it when the sat down in a few minutes. They arrived in front of the restaurant just before nine. He had planned to walk with her and talk, but what had happened made so much more sense. He laughed out loud.
"What Harry?" she asked.
He told her what he'd just thought and she smiled. "I loved the walk without talking Harry. I just like being with you. The kiss happened because…well, it happened because you were a frog and I needed my prince." She giggled again and he laughed at her playfulness.
"Party of two, Potter," said the maitre d'. "Non-smoking, away from the bar, Sir, correct?"
"Yes, thank you," said Harry. Hermione was watching him as he walked slowly and let her go before him. He held her chair and slid her in nicely, making sure she was close but not too close. "I love you," he said almost choking on the emotion. He felt like such a wimp for a second, but he cleared his throat and maintained his composure.
Hermione hadn't faired so well. She had that `what did you do that for' look. The tears threatened to mess up her make-up. She was able to get a little bit of control back and said, "Damn you, Harry. You're going to have me crying before we get to dessert."
"Hate to break this too you, but you didn't make it to cocktails," he said with a smile. "But neither did I so we're even." He sniffed a bit.
"Wow, I don't think either of us was prepared for this," said Hermione. "I'm not letting you get lucky, Harry. You owe me two or three more of these dates first." She giggled.
"Well, I have to tell you about my new best friend then," he teased and raised his hand flexing his fingers turning slightly pink.
Hermione looked around to make sure she wasn't overheard. "That doesn't mean I can't let you see what you're missing," she winked. "You know, just to do my part to promote that friendship."
"You're being a little minx tonight aren't you?" he said kidding. "Okay, so who is Mata Hari?"
"I remembered the old movie about the World War II stripper who was a double-agent for the Allies and the Germans and it just thought it was funny," she giggled. "That's all. A little more imagery of Hedwig carrying secrets to the male enemy."
"The enemy?" gasped Harry. "What?" He said playfully.
"I'll save the explanation for pillow talk sometime, promise," said Hermione.
Harry raised his arm as though calling the waiter whispering, "Check please!" When the waiter did come he paused for effect the lady and said, "The lady has asked me to get her drunk on your finest wine." The waiter smiled as if he knew Harry was being cute.
"Sir? Would you like to see the wine list?" he answered repressing a laugh of his own.
Hermione was doing her best not to show any cheek toward Harry with the waiter present and the effect was quite amusing. "Yes, please."
"Harry, that was rotten," she said with grin. "You nearly embarrassed me."
"Hey, we have a long way to go remember?" he said with an uneasy laugh.
"Yes, we do and you may get to know your best friend better than you think," she said with a wink. "Since we're playing this game, I'm sure you gave your friend a name?"
"Let me think about that one, there are a couple of obvious ones that aren't really original," he shot back.
"Well, humor me with an example," she egged.
"Rosey Palm. And, as long as she brings her five sisters, my dance card is full," he smiled smugly.
"Oh my God, you are a…" she lowered her eyes and looked at the napkin on the table. She was laughing and trying to suppress it at the same time. "You are a very sick individual. Why didn't I know you could be that funny and sick too?"
"I don't know. Maybe I've had too much time alone on the farm and no one to talk to," he said.
"Baloney, but that's your story and I'm sure you're sticking to it. I would if I ever wanted some play from me," she said with a grin.
He changed the subject. He could see that the whole sexual innuendo thing would die a horrible death soon if they continued. A good plan was to save it for another time when they needed an ice breaker. "So, I saw you putting the linens up on the shelves. I'll bet you give Dobby and Winky fits when you do that."
She smiled. "Yes, it does vex them a little, but I figure they'll get over it. Besides, they put things up there by magic and I have to get it down. I can put the stuff where it's more convenient to get at."
"Just tell them how it works best. They live for making people happy," said Harry.
"I know. It just makes me sad that there is a whole species of creature that derives pleasure from slavery," said Hermione. "They don't even know it."
"I don't want to ruin the night, but it's not slavery, Hermione. Slavery is when someone has dreams and desires that are being lost because they have no free will. These creatures are slaves when they are forced to live in our world." Harry said sadly. "But I love you for your devotion to them. You have your opinion on that and I have mine."
"Well, I like the way you explain it better than the way other people do. They act as if I'm crazy. If only they could pick their masters instead of the other way around. Then mean people like the Malfoys could never have had house-elves to begin with," she said quietly.
Harry had never considered that argument. Hermione was intelligent. It was only a matter of time, he felt, and she would find an argument that would change things to some degree. She was also determined which he found vexing at times. Smiling at the thought of the word she'd just used.
"So what else did you do this week?" he asked her.
"Well, you've seen my dress," she said. "I made it myself. I always wanted to do something nice and I found someone to help me with a pattern. I had to do the ruffles by magic though which was a bit of a disappointment."
Harry was impressed. She had to have some help for sure she could not have tailored the bodice and skirt to fit that well by herself. It was perfect and she looked wonderful. "I think I told you that you look wonderful, but your dress is just the sexiest thing I've ever seen on you," he said with no cheek in his voice. He wanted it to be a sincere compliment about her style and body not a crude one.
"Wow, that's a nice thing to say. Okay, the points are heading toward keeping Rosey and her sisters on the sidelines at the dance. There is still a long way to go before the last dance though," she smiled kindly.
"You are so cute when you smile I can't go without saying it one more minute," he said.
"What did you do except try to kill Rosey at the hut this week?" she said trying to deflect another compliment that kept her face pink with embarrassment. .
He laughed and told her a bit about talking to Marlie and only a minute or so about the disjointed flashbacks to the last night in the Ministry. Mostly he told her about buying his clothes.
"Marlie is one really good friend," said Hermione. "She told me you talked but she refused to say what you talked about. Just so you know. That's why I respect her. She told me that she spilled the beans on me a little, but she said that was the last time. I haven't had a lot of really good female friends over the years for obvious reasons."
"Takes a bit of getting used to though, that one," said Harry as the waiter brought back the Wine List. He asked, "Recommendations?"
"The house wine is very fine choice, Sir," said the waiter sparing Harry the embarrassment of getting a wine lesson.
"That would be great then, thank you," he said with a deep breath followed by slow steady expulsion of air to relieve the tension.
"Why are you so tense, Harry?" Hermione asked. "I don't want you to think it bothers me, but I want to make sure that goofing around like we have hasn't gone beyond acceptable limits and made you feel uncomfortable."
"Can I answer your question with a question?" he asked. "Which I suppose is a stupid thing to ask since by asking that question I've already done it. You have rocked my world Hermione."
"In a good way, I hope," she said. "I gather that wasn't the question?"
"Well, I just want to know if you asked me that because I've gone too far with it and it bothers you?" he asked.
She adjusted her napkin on the table. "Harry, there is no way to overdo something with you in my life. But, I really liked the softness of being quieter and subtler more than the randy talk. When you said the thing about the prince, I was ready for you to take me to a hotel right then. I had built up so much sexual energy thinking about kissing you all week. I really want us to push the limits of our ability to say no, Harry. I know that sounds terrible."
Harry waited for moment to make sure she'd finished. "I wasn't exaggerating about the power I felt when we kissed," he admitted. "We let that moment pass. If we wait and let one of those build again when we are in a position to act on it, it will be the way we want it I think."
"We'll have lots of them I think, Harry. They're not hard to find if you're with the right person," she reached across and caressed his hand.
He was going to mention the book that talked about sensual physical contact but knew she was a master at it. He could learn that from her. There was warmth to her touch that made it sexy, passionate and loving all in one simple act. "I like when you touch me like that Hermione. It's such a simple thing, but we haven't done it before the other day outside of the Hospital Wing. I didn't have an explanation for wanting to see you there until just now."
"One thing you can expect is more of it then. I don't want you hurting yourself subconsciously to feel what I'd freely give you," she said smiling with a kindness in her eyes Harry knew was for him-and him only.
"Do I do anything that just makes you feel all warm inside when you're with me?" he asked.
"Yours are a little more subtle as you can imagine Harry," she said as he noticed that the waiter was back for the salad and soup order. "Hold that thought."
"Sir, Madame. Would the gentleman or the lady care for an appetizer, soup or salad?" asked the waiter.
Hermione winked at Harry. "I'm having my appetizer right here, but a Caesar salad would go well with him," she said playfully. The waiter smiled. "Yes, my lady very well said."
"And for the gentleman, would a sweet vinaigrette be in order?" he asked.
Harry looked to Hermione for approval. She smiled. "That would be fine, thank you."
"Very Well, Sir, my lady," he said.
Harry wasn't sure what just happened but Hermione smiled from ear to ear. "When we make love the first time," she whispered. "It will be the experience of a lifetime, I know it. I'm not sure I want this dinner to end though. You're such a gentleman."
Harry blushed. In a flash of an instant, he felt fear for that moment. He wanted her to feel loved, but he wanted to feel power and tear her apart exploring every part of her. How would he be able to have both? He didn't want any sissy stuff but he wasn't willing to do anything that wouldn't make her happy. Well, he realized he had a subject for another conversation at another time.
"Do you want to hear what you do that turns me on?" she said suggestively.
He knew his expression at that moment was embarrassing. He winced at the pain of the arousal her words generated. She giggled in a moment of understanding of what the look on his face was. "That was one of them," she said with a soft caress of his hand.
"Harry, you make me feel so alive. Your eyes burn straight to my soul. You can make me happy inside by just looking at me. I was aroused by the way you wouldn't look away from me as we left my flat. I saw desire in your eyes. I've seen it before, but I saw my lover then. And again when we looked in that window tonight," she said. "Oh, there will be plenty of moments don't you worry. I'm sure of it."
He realized that they had achieved at this moment what that couple experienced at the taxi queue two nights earlier. But that couple was at the next level. They already knew what he and Hermione had to talk out. They knew how to drive each other wild with a look and laughter. He and Hermione had a way to go, but Harry was starting to think the road was shorter than they told each other. It wasn't a race to get there either. The finish line was when they had their grandchildren and kids sitting wherever that dream took them.
"Harry, are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I have one of those pillow talk things too now I think," he said with a grin.
"Cool, well, I'm starved and here's the salad," she said with a wink.
Harry would have thought they were so carried away that the bottles of wine would have come by the truck load, but they sipped it and still had half a bottle of wine leftover by dessert. They'd talked a little but mostly they looked at one another in blissful silence. He suddenly had a desire to become an avid reader of those self-help books, but he knew it was a crutch. He and Hermione could write one if they just listened to their hearts.
"So, are you well fed?" he asked suggestively when she'd put her fork across her plate.
"Mind, body and soul, Harry. Couldn't eat another bite," she giggled. "Why does that feel like a lie?" She touched his hand. "Be back in a jiff."
He watched her walk away. The curve of her shoulders to the lithe lines of her waist was an image that filled him with a desire he knew was raw and exciting. But her hips and bum making the fringe of her skirt sway as she moved made him have to turn away. He had seen other guys ogle a girl like that and he was self-conscious not to embarrass himself or her like that.
He smiled at the lady and gentleman two tables away that seemed to get what he'd seen the people at the queue had gotten. They smiled at one another as though the love between himself and Hermione had infected them as well.
He wondered what planet he'd lived on before this week. Had everyone else been just visiting him and Hermione in their little clueless world up until now? Had someone else tasted the sweetness that he saw in her? He wasn't disgusted by the thought, because somehow he knew that Hermione wasn't getting the same man the other women in his life had had. He knew he wouldn't get the same woman that any man who might have been with her had either. Was there a time to ask? Was there a way to ask what it was like when she felt aroused? Could he tell her what pleased him without feeling that he was asking her to be a sex object? He'd known that feeling. He'd asked girls to do things to please him and didn't care if they objected. It was different now. It was something he wanted to explore not demand.
She was returning. He looked at the fall of her hair around her face and the way she carried her arms at her sides so gracefully. The soft skin of her neck plunged sweetly to the not large, but ample cleavage of her breasts. She was one of those women he found to be beautiful in a portrait sort of way. He was the type woman who could be painted in the classic corset or as a nude with her hair flowing about her breasts only revealing what was necessary to suggest her femininity. He wondered how he could think this way and have looked at any other woman and say to himself, "Nice tits!" He smiled inside never losing the first description when he looked at her.
"Wow, now I'm full," he said as he took her hand and led her to her seat. He kissed sweetly on the cheek.
"Just now, what else did you have?" she asked in puzzlement.
"I just had a wonderfully fulfilling feast for the eyes," he said.
She blushed. "You're full of…shall we say, bull droppings…" she laughed. "Thank you, Harry. I'm sorry for saying that. It's such a sweet compliment I think felt uncomfortable for a second and resorted to making a joke."
"Well, just know it's true. Okay?" he said with a smile.
"I want to walk to the Thames, Harry." She said emphatically. "I just want to walk and enjoy the nice night with you."
"Well, let's do it then," he said. He subtly motioned for the waiter. "The check, please."
Harry and Hermione set off in the wrong direction at first and walked for twenty minutes. When they realized their mistake, they laughed that if they'd been on a date with anyone else there would have been a little tiff. But they were so wrapped up in chatting and stopping for a little snog, here and there that they eventually agreed that if they got to the Thames by next Saturday they'd be satisfied.
"Harry, I want to remember this night as the night we fell in love, not the night we screwed each other's brains out for the first time," said Hermione.
"As contrary to little Harry's pleas as that notion is, I have to agree," said Harry. "I'd be so afraid to go nuts on you and ruin it that I really need to make sure that I know my hat from my shoe. You've got me all turned `round like that you know."
"That's sweet, Harry. And, another thing: Tonight you've made me laugh from the pit of my stomach and cry from my soul. It's just too-I hate to say it-magical." They hugged the way he'd always hoped a hug would be. It was light and airy and cheek to cheek. They weren't holding on for dear life any more. There was no fear of letting something come between them. If someone tried to come between them, they stop and kick that person's arse together and laugh at the person's misfortune. He felt strange. It was as if they looked forward to letting go so they could enjoy the pleasure that came with coming together again.
"Hermione, you know, I already look forward to seeing you again and you're still here," he said out of the blue.
"I think that's what happens when you know it is right Harry. You know the other cliché don't you? It's actually a cliché about being a cliché. Here it is: `It isn't called a cliché for nothing.' A true cliché is so true it's self-evident," explained Hermione.
Harry wasn't sure what the hell she just said, but he knew of a new way of saying it. "Here's new way of saying it," he said with a huge pregnant pause.
"Well? Are you going to share it with me?" asked Hermione.
"But it's so obvious, what I'm going to say," said Harry laughing. "It's:"
"Harry loves Hermione and Hermione loves Harry."
She smiled and kissed him. The rubbed noses and looked in each other's eyes standing in their original destination overlooking the Thames.
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