Lunch with Ron was quite enjoyable. The two men got together once or twice a month at the dingy pub to catch up, rant about work, or argue over Quiddich. This time, Ron immediately filled him in on how Hermione acted during pregnancy, what she normally ended up craving, and how demonic she was during actual birth. By the time that story rolled around, both men were feeling quite happy as they sipped scotch.
It was nearly one thirty when Ron returned to work, and Harry had Tom perform a minor sobering charm on him so he could head out into muggle London. As soon as he stepped into the crowd, he lowered his sunglasses over his eyes and faded into the crowd. He stopped in front of an old fashioned bookstore, and walked over to the sale table and picked up a medium sized leather-bound book and began to silently read the summary. He decided it was something Hermione would enjoy more than he would. He stepped inside the old fashioned bookstore and walked to the front counter where an elderly woman was reading The Times.
"Can I help you, sir?" she asked kindly.
Harry silently slid the book on the counter as he examined the display case. "How much for the signed Jane Austin?"
"Two thousand, young man."
"I'll take it as well." He said seriously.
"Would you like them wrapped?"
"Yes please," said Harry as he opened his wallet and removed his bankcard. He silently thanked Gringotts for this latest invention. Harry thanked the woman and headed back out into the blazing sun. He crossed the street and slipped unnoticed into the Leaky Cauldron. He criss-crossed his way through the bar and into Diagon Ally.
x-x-x-x-x
Hermione quietly hummed to herself as she strode through the isles of shelves that held her precious books. What set her apart from Flourish and Blotts was that she sold a bit of everything, while they catered more to Hogwarts students and history. She had history, fiction, non-fiction, children's books, Hogwarts manuals, magical cookbooks, and books of household spells, even some selected muggle literature. When Hermione had opened her shop almost five years ago, she was welcomed with open arms, and was still welcome into her old haunt.
When Henry and Sarah were younger, she used to love bringing them to work with her. She would sit them in their swings and the stream of customers or whatever their mother would do would endlessly fascinate them. As they grew older, she had no choice but to send them to Molly's, which she was grateful for. Molly had taught all of her children everything they needed to know and then some for when they went off to Hogwarts. She was doing the same with Henry and Sarah, and hopefully if she accepted it, hers and Harry's child as well.
The very thought made her smile as she subconsciously rubbed her stomach. She would never forget the look in Harry's eyes after their news had sunk in. It was pure, utter joy and happiness. A Quiddich house cup couldn't bring that look to his eyes. But she and their child could.
She spun on her heel as she heard the tinkling ring of the bell over the door. Rounding a corner, she stopped and smiled as she came face to face with Harry.
"I brought you something," he said awkwardly as he handed her a professionally wrapped antique box.
"You didn't have to." She said happily as she carefully lifted off the lid and picked up The Pride and the Prejudice. "I already-"
"This one's signed," he explained.
"Harry, these are incredibly rare and expensive," she exclaimed as her fingers lightly traced the signature.
"I found it in the first shop I walked into," he shrugged.
"This must have cost a fortune… I can't accept this." She whispered, shaking her head.
"Yes you can ... It wasn't that much, I promise."
"How much," she asked suspiciously.
"It doesn't matter, if it was too expensive, I wouldn't have bought it," he said seriously as she set the Jane Austin aside and examined the other one.
"I've heard good things about this one," she said approvingly, "it's a classic."
"Ah." He replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"Aren't you supposed to be reading Auror Training applications?"
"I finished."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
"I love you." She whispered as she leaned back into his embrace.
"I love you too."
"Floo Ron. I'm not ready to tell the Weasleys about the baby just yet."
"Alright."
x-x-x-x-x
Two months later Hermione sighed as she opened the bottom drawer of her dresser where she kept her maternity clothes. She had been denying it for weeks, but her regular clothes were simply becoming too tight. She found it odd that they were this tight this early into her pregnancy. Some of her customers had even cautiously asked if she was expecting again. She embarrassingly admitted that she was indeed with child, but left out the part that it was with Harry.
She finally decided on a pair of jeans and a light pink spaghetti strap pregnancy top. Slipping into a pair of flat sandals, she grudgingly declared herself ready. It seemed every time she got pregnant, the uglier she felt while she was expecting.
She grabbed her purse as Harry stepped out of their large walk in closet fully dressed, and looking as shaggable as ever.
"Ready?"
"I look horrible."
"You look beautiful."
"You're just saying that."
"I'm not."
"Yes you are."
"Hermione, you're beautiful, regardless what you're wearing, if you're pregnant or not. Okay?" he said seriously as he approached her and took her into his arms. She instantly found herself lost in his piercing emerald green eyes. "You're just nervous about everyone finding out about us," he whispered softly as he ran a finger across her cheek. She shivered.
"You're birthday's coming up," she whispered, changing the subject.
"I don't want to do anything." He said simply.
"It's your twenty seventh birthday, we have to do something. At least go out to dinner. A fancy bistro along the river, just you and I. I'll make Ron take Henry and Sarah so we can have a romantic evening alone together…"
"You've been planning this," he accused.
"Maybe a little," she smiled. "Let's get going… I'm dying to see Henry and Sarah… They've been with Ron and Lavender all week."
"I was talking to Ron in the lift the other day. Apparently they've taken to Lavender well. Henry's a little quiet around her, but that's understandable…"
"That's a relief."
"A big one."
"Can I side-along appearate with you?" she asked. "I don't want to show up looking bewildered."
"Alright," he said as she relaxed into his tight embrace and closed her eyes as she buried her head in his chest. "We're here." He whispered.
"MUMMY!" shouted Sarah as she flew out of the kitchen, brown hair flowing gracefully behind her. Hermione pulled out of Harry's arms to hug her daughter.
"I've missed you so much, darling," she whispered into the little girls hair as she held onto her tightly.
"I missed you too, mummy. Has the baby kicked yet?" she whispered.
"No sweetheart, it won't for a while," she whispered back, kissing the top of her head.
"Hi Harry!" Sarah said brightly as she moved away from her mother and hugged Harry around his midsection. "I missed you too."
"Thanks, Sarah," said Harry awkwardly as he bent down and kissed the top of her head.
Sarah grinned brightly and disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Grandma! Mummy and Harry's here!" they heard her should.
Grasping Harry's hand for support, they made their way into the back garden where everyone was situated. Ever since she found out she was pregnant; Hermione had taken to wearing baggy clothes to dinner. She knew Molly had an eye for such things as pregnancy, and she would likely over react and start thinking the worse, which was why she, Harry, Ron, and Lavender decided to wait to tell Ron's family about their relationships.
"Hello Molly," said Harry warmly as she quickly embraced Harry and kissed him on the cheek.
"Hermione," said Molly as she approached her former daughter in law, and stopped dead. "Hermione?" she repeated, her eyes bulging as they rested on the noticeable bump on her stomach. Harry instantaneously flew to her side and grasped her hand, for which she was grateful. The two of them silently stared back. "Oh my."
"Molly-" began Hermione, but she was cut off.
"Does Ron know about you two?"
"Ron's known about us since we began seeing each other. He's also known about the baby," explained Hermione, her voice just above a whisper.
"He's fine with it. He's happy for us. We really wish you would be too, Molly." Said Harry seriously.
"Are you going to get married?" she demanded.
"We haven't really talked about it," said Hermione truthfully. "But we will eventually. Perhaps after the baby's born."
"How far along are you?"
"Four and a half months."
Molly gave Harry a fleeting look, which caused him to look away uneasily.
"How long have you two been dating?"
"Four and a half months." He admitted quietly.
"Molly, please don't be angry at us," pleaded Hermione.
"You went straight to Harry after you left my son?" she asked, her voice shaking slightly. "Or were you with him before you left my son?"
"Mum," came Ron's voice from the back door. "Don't blame her. It's neither of their faults. It's mine. I was with Lavender for months before Hermione and I finalized our divorce."
"Ron?" Came Arthur's voice from the bottom of the staircase. He had obviously been listening to the whole thing.
"Oh Ronald…"
"I'm not apologetic about it, mum." He said quietly.
"I've forgiven him, Molly," added Hermione.
"If Ron hadn't made the choice to be with Lavender while we were still married, we wouldn't have gotten a divorce. If Ron and I hadn't gotten a divorce, I wouldn't be with Harry, and we wouldn't be having our first child together. Ron's happier, I'm happier, and Harry's happier … that's all that matters. I love Ron, I always will … as my brother, not as my husband," said Hermione seriously. "We understand that this may be hard for you to digest at the moment, but please, we need you to be happy for us."
"As long as Harry promises he'll stay with you."
"Nothing could take me away from her," he assured.
Molly remained silent as Lavender silently joined Ron's side.
"You're going to be an amazing father, Harry." She whispered.
x-x-x-x-x
Hermione spent the next week planning Harry's birthday. Ron had agreed to take Henry and Sarah for the weekend, and planned on taking them, along with Lavender, to their first Chudley Cannons game. As fate would have it, Harry's birthday fell on a Friday. She had made reservations at a small restaurant alongside the River Thames.
Harry's eyes immediately fluttered open as Hermione pressed her hot mouth to his. He responded instantly by tangling her tongue with his. Her arms slowly wove around his neck as she pressed her warm body against his. Hermione pulled away as he pushed his hips against hers.
"Not now," she panted as she gently stroked his flushed face.
"Why the hell did you wake me up like that then?" he grumbled pulling her back towards him and wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face in her neck.
"Happy Birthday." She whispered into his hair.
"Now this is just unacceptable. You wake me up like that, and reject me sex on my own birthday?"
"Maybe I want you have breakfast first." She whispered.
Harry finally realised that there was a tray floating in mid-air containing a wide variety of breakfast foods. He hastily sat up in bed as Hermione climbed out of it to take hold of the tray.
"You shouldn't have done this." He said as she sat down beside him.
"Yes I should have. It's your birthday, I love you, and I'll spoil you as much as I like." She said happily, and kissed him lightly. "Now shut up and eat."
Harry grinned and returned her kiss and dug into his plate.
Ten minutes later, they had cleared their plates and Hermione had magically rid of them. She climbed off the bed and walked over to her dresser and slid open the top drawer and removed a flat, medium sized box.
"I got these the other day. I thought you'd like them," she said quietly, as he slowly lifted the lid.
"Are these…?" questioned Harry.
"The baby sonograms." She nodded.
"Oh god…" he whispered as he carefully lifted them out of the box and stared.
"Look at the bottom," she said calmly as she subconsciously tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and scooted up beside him.
Harry's eyes trailed down to the small writing at the bottom. His breath hitched in his throat.
"We're having a boy." He said, looking up at her.
"We're having a boy," repeated Hermione as Harry's face broke out into a grin.
"A son," Harry whispered as he lowered his eyes back down to the pictures. "This is amazing."
"I know," laughed Hermione. "Henry will be thrilled he's getting a brother."
"Yeah… Sarah's just so happy that there's going to be a baby, period."
"She loves them."
"Yes she does."
"I love you," said Hermione as she took the pictures from him and placed them on the nightstand.
"I love you too," replied Harry as he leaned against the headboard.
"Go take a shower. We're spending the day in the city."
"I told you, you shouldn't have planned-"
"Oh hush up, Harry."
"I don't think you should be wandering around all day in your condition."
"I'll be fine, Harry," she assured.
x-x-x-x-x
They had been blessed with a beautiful day. Harry was happy spending a normal day wandering London's waterfront aimlessly with Hermione. They looked like a normal couple, both looking incredibly happy as they awaited the arrival of their son.
At five, they returned home to change and get ready for dinner. Hermione had made reservations at a fancy bistro on the waterfront. She had remembered Harry saying something about wanting to try the food there.
"Hermione darling," Harry called from the bathroom.
"Yes?"
"Can you go in the top drawer of my dresser? There's a box. Can you open it and bring it to me?" He instructed as he buttoned up his forest green shirt, leaving the top two buttons undone. He heard the sliding of the drawer, silence, and then a gasp. He stopped dead as he entered their bedroom. She had on a pale blue strapless dress that seemed to be made for her. It hugged her in all the right places, particularly around her midsection, where it did indeed confirm that she was with child. She had done light make up, which seemed to illuminate her eyes, and had magically curled her hair so it flowed gracefully down her back. She was looking at him expectantly as she held the tiny black velvet box in her hand.
"Well?" she asked finally.
"You look absolutely stunning," he whispered.
"You're not to bad yourself."
Harry shook his head as he joined her side. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"What do you think?"
"I didn't open it."
"Well open it."
"I'm scared."
Harry shook his head as he carefully plucked the box out of her grasp. He turned away from her as he opened it. He removed the ring and threw the box carelessly on the bed and turned back towards her. Hermione was smiling anxiously at him as he took a step forward and dropped down onto one knee.
"I didn't originally plan to do it this early, or this way … but it feels so right. Ever since I came back to England, everything I've done is for you. I love you so much, and you're the main reason I get out of bed every morning. I love your children as if they were my own, and I can't wait for our son to make his appearance into our lives. I need to be with you, Hermione. Will you marry me?"
Hermione quickly wiped away the tears that had started to form in her eyes and nodded vigorously. "Yes Harry, oh Merlin yes…" she whispered as he got to his feet and slid the ring onto her finger. She took a moment to examine it. She had never seen anything like it before. There were eight extremely tiny diamonds in the shape of a heart, with a miniscule pink diamond in the centre. "It's beautiful."
"It was my mum's," he explained as he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
"I've loved you for so long," she whispered into his chest as he held her tightly.
"I know… We don't have to wait anymore, we're together now." He whispered back as he kissed her forehead. "We've got to get going or we'll lose our reservation."
"You're right," agreed Hermione as Harry tightened his grip on her and dissaparated them with a loud crack.
When Hermione opened her eyes, she and Harry were standing in the alleyway beside the restaurant. They quickly straightened themselves out and Hermione affectionately grasped Harry's hand as they walked inside.
"Name?" asked the waitress politely.
"Potter," said Hermione.
"Ah yes," she said, smiling brightly. "Would you prefer to sit outside on the veranda or inside this evening?"
"Outside," said Harry.
"Right this way," she instructed, leading them through a pair of stained glass doors and sat them behind a couple who by Harry's glance looked to be in their 50's. Harry stepped forward and pulled out Hermione's chair for her and he sat down across from her. Their waitress gave them their menus and disappeared.
"The river looks so beautiful at night," commented Hermione.
"Huh?" said Harry distractingly.
"Are you alright, Harry?" she asked worriedly.
"My aunt and uncle are here." He said in a low voice nodding to the couple behind her. "I don't think they recognise me, or something about allowing freaks like me into the restaurant would have ensued." He said casually as he skimmed the menu.
"You're so negative about them," she sighed. "They must have done at least one nice thing for you."
"They got me a coat hanger for my tenth birthday."
"Harry!"
"They did!" He laughed. "I got two pence and a tissue-"
"Oh Harry…"
"Ask Ron. I let him keep the money."
"Are you ready to place your orders?" Came the voice of their waitress.
"I'll the spaghetti bolognaise, and a glass of water," said Hermione politely.
"And I'll have the eggplant rigatoni and champagne." Added Harry as he handed her his menu. He glanced over Hermione's shoulder and locked eyes with his wide eye aunt. If there was one thing to blow his cover, he was sure it would have been his eyes. He looked away quickly.
"Harry it can't be that bad," Hermione reassured.
"Hermione," Harry began as he raked his hand through his hair. "They hate me for what I am, and who I'm related to. They held that against me for the sixteen years I lived under their roof. I doubt much has changed. Do you want to dance?"
"Please," she said simply as they both got to their feet and joined the other couples that were dancing to the small orchestra that was playing in the corner. He placed his left hand on her waist and carefully took her right in his and stared into her eyes.
"I hope our son has your eyes," she whispered.
"I hope he has your smile," he whispered back as he spun her, causing her to giggle.
"He'll have your charm," she laughed.
"Along with my Quid- `football' skills, smashing good looks-"
"You're really pushing it," said Hermione stepping closer to him.
"He'll have your kindness and intelligence," he said finally as she laid her head on his shoulder. "They're looking at us," he commentated. "She's whispering something to him … now he's looking straight at me … he looks a little furious … the veins going …"
"Harry just look away."
"I would love to just-"
"Harry no. Not tonight."
"I love you," he said simply.
"I'm sure." She said dryly. "Go sit down, I have to go to the loo."
"Alright love," he said, kissing the side of her head and headed back to the table. He was determined not to look at his uncle.
Hermione entered the ladies room and quickly entered the stall. She knew Harry wouldn't approve of what she was planning, but it was worth a shot. They were the only family he had left, and she wished they weren't so bitter towards each other. Sighing, Hermione flushed the toilet and straightened herself out before unlocking the door and headed over to the sink.
"Hello Mrs. Dursley," she said warmly.
Petunia Dursley studied her for several seconds. "Do I know you?" she asked carefully.
"I'm your nephew Harry's fiancé, Hermione Granger. We met years ago when I picked him up from your home when he moved out?"
"You're marrying my nephew?" she asked, astonished.
"Yes I am. He's such a wonderful man…"
Petunia seemed to be at a loss for words.
"I don't want to sound straightforward," said Hermione "but Harry and I are getting married shortly after the birth of our son. I know he won't admit it because he's so stubborn, but it would mean a lot to him if you came to our wedding. I know you never got along while he was living with you. But you're the only family he's got left."
"I don't know what to say," stated Petunia as she stared at Hermione's determined face.
Hermione remained silent.
"How is he?" she asked finally.
"He's doing great since he moved back."
"Moved back?"
"He was working for our Australian government for almost ten years."
"He's been in Australia all this time?"
"He's been home for a while now. He's the Head of the Auror Department in London. It's really good for him ... He really enjoys it. He's been such an amazing father to my two children… He was absolutely thrilled when he found out we were going to be having a child together."
"You have two children? How old are you?"
"I'm almost twenty eight. I married young … started a family too early. They're six and four."
"I see."
"But please, consider it? I'll make sure an invite gets to you, as all my family are well, normal. So there won't be a lot of our people there anyway, close family and friends. I know Harry and his uncle will never get along, but you're the last connection he has to his mother. It would mean a lot to both of us if you came," said Hermione seriously. "I have to get back. Harry will wonder what's keeping me," she added simply, and left the lavatory without another word.
"Is there a party in there going on that I'm not aware of?" Harry asked as she sat back down across from him.
"Of course not. You're never to question what a woman does in a bathroom," said Hermione dismissively.
"Dully noted," replied Harry as their pates were placed in front of them. "Thank you," he added kindly to the waitress.
"This is delicious," stated Hermione after she had taken her first bite.
"It is… They say it's one of the finer Italian restaurants in London," Harry explained. "This was likely why it's reservation-only. How did you manage to get in here?" he asked suspiciously.
"I made our reservations shortly after you mentioned this place," she admitted guiltily.
"Hermione, that was months ago!" Harry exclaimed.
"I wanted everything to be perfect today. You're always worrying over something or someone… You deserve this and so much more, Harry…" She said lowering her eyes to her plate.
"Hermione, don't think that, please…" Harry whispered. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me today, but the only thing that's really mattered is that I was with you. You're already giving me the best gift anyone's ever given me. Something no one else could. You didn't have to do any of this."
"I don't deserve you, Harry. Not at all…" whispered Hermione. She refused to look at him.
"Don't say that. Don't ever say that. I need you, Hermione. I need to be with you. We're finally together, we don't have to hide anything anymore."
Someone clearing their throat interrupted them. Harry and Hermione looked up to come face to face with Vernon Dursley.
"Can we help you?" Harry asked flatly.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded.
"Eating, that's what people normally do in a restaurant, see," replied Harry as he took a sip of his champagne.
"How can you afford to eat here?"
"Quite simple actually. I make in a month what you make in a year, and half of that is transferred into pounds onto my credit card, and then I'll simply swipe that credit card though the debit machine before we leave, and it will be as simple as that." Explained Harry.
"I find that hard to believe, you make more than I do?" said Vernon incredulously.
"Yes I do. Now if you don't mind, my fiancé and I are trying to finish our meal until you rudely interrupted us. Perhaps this will be a good example for your son no doubt, who is sitting at home watching television. Perhaps telling him that his cousin is a millionaire might motivate him to do something with his life."
"Why you little-"
"I'm well over seventeen now, bear that in mind." Warned Harry.
Vernon sputtered, and then stomped away.
"I'm sorry about him," came Petunia's voice. "I want to offer my congratulations on your engagement and baby."
Harry stared. "Thank you, Aunt Petunia… It really means a lot to us, really."
"Perhaps you can bring the baby by when it's born?"
"We'll think about it," explained Hermione.
"Thank you. Happy Birthday Harry, by the way." She said smiling before turning to leave.
"Hell has officially frozen over," confirmed Harry.
"She's always liked you, Harry, I'm sure." Said Hermione as she rolled her eyes.
x-x-x-x-x
Harry tightened his hold on Hermione's sleeping naked form in his arms. She had been asleep for hours, but he found himself unable to do so. He couldn't stop thinking about what she had mentioned at dinner, something about her not deserving him. It was her tone of voice that bothered him while she said it. She sounded serious, and that's what scared him. Was she only with him so she could give him a son, then leave because she thought she didn't deserve him?
He began thinking back to recent weeks. He had thought everything was going great with them, but the more he thought about it, the more she seemed distant. She was quieter, and seemed curter with him. Maybe it was just the pregnancy hormones, or maybe she was regretting getting into a relationship with him so soon after her divorce from Ron. It seemed as if she was pushing him away.
Harry eased his arm out from underneath her and rolled out of bed. He slid back into his discarded boxers and walked over to the patio door and slid it open. He stepped outside and sank down into one of the hanging swings and stared out over the city.
He lowered his head into his hands. He knew it was too good to be true. Especially for him. He was Harry Potter for Christ sakes. Nothing ever went right for him. He felt the tears flow freely down his face as he heard movements from behind him.
"Harry?" he heard Hermione distantly say.
He didn't respond as he raked his fingers through his hair and covered his face with his hands.
"You weren't in bed so I came to-" she stopped dead as she heard his quiet sobs. "Oh Harry…"
Hermione instantly stepped forward and knelt down and pulled his hands away from his face. "Harry what's wrong?" she asked as she cradled his head against her chest.
`You're going to leave me after the baby's born, aren't you?" his voice was just above a whisper.
Hermione was at a loss for words. "Harry you know I would never do that." She said finally as she stroked his head as they sat on the cool cement balcony leaning against the bars. "Why would you think that?"
"Because I'm Harry-bloody-Potter," he said bitterly. "Nothing ever goes right."
"I don't understand why you would think I would leave you… I love you, Harry."
"What you said at dinner … you've been acting odd lately…"
"Oh Harry you didn't take that seriously, did you?" she cried. "I'm so sorry I've been driving you away … my parents are making me nervous, is all… I didn't mean to take it out on you, I swear. Ever since they retired in Scotland they've been calling me trying to get me to visit with the children … more so than ever now, as I'm pregnant again and with you. They want to meet you. They remember me saying I was friends with you in school, but that's it. I'll never leave you Harry, not in a million years. I promise." She whispered.
"Keep going," he said flatly.
"What?"
"You're not telling me something."
"Don't be mad at me," she whispered.
"I promise."
"The Prophet and Witch Weekly has been at my store constantly trying to get an interview and pictures with me ever since they found out we're together. They've been more belligerent now since they found out I'm pregnant." She admitted.
"How long has this been going on?" he demanded.
"About three months now…"
"Hermione why didn't you tell me?"
"I knew it would make you upset…"
"Hermione, they're reporters, they're ruthless…"
"I know that, but if I ignore them they'll go away."
"They'll be around more than ever as your due date draws nearer." He whispered as he altered his position slightly and buried his face in her neck.
"I know…"
"We should go somewhere else to have the baby." He whispered. "Somewhere only we know."
"Maybe." She sighed as he pulled away from her and placed his lips against hers. "Again?"
"If you wish." He chuckled as he helped her up and pulled her as close as she could go against him and kissed her hard. He wrapped his arms around her waist as their tongues tangled together. Hermione groaned as she felt his erection against her midsection. Harry pressed her against the outside wall and hitched up her short silk nightdress, where to his delight, she was gloriously naked underneath. Her hands wrenched his shorts off his hips and he instantly pressed his head against her, causing her to instantly buck her hips against him. She felt him smile against her lips as he gently moved himself around her pink folds, before quickly pressing himself against the bundle of nerves at the top causing her to whimper.
"Not here. My arse is displayed to the world and I don't trust that." He said huskily as he moved away from her and picked her up and brought her back inside the flat and closed the door and pulled the curtains shut. Hermione lifted her nightdress over her head and threw it carelessly on the floor as Harry attacked her lips as they tumbled backwards on top of the bed. Harry began trailing kisses down her neck, chest, stomach, thighs and legs before he kissed her foot and slowly began pressing light kisses to her inner-thighs. He suddenly stopped, and Hermione looked down expectantly to see why he had stopped, then she let out an audible gasp as he plunged his tongue inside of her. She threw her knees over his shoulders as he swirled his tongue around inside of her, and gently tugging on her outer lips with his teeth, causing her to moan. He forcefully began to suck on her and she suddenly found herself unable to control the bucking of her hips. His mouth suddenly latched onto the small nub and she nearly screamed as she came crashing. He eagerly lapped up her juices. He then slowly moved upwards and pressed his forehead against hers. Hermione grabbed him around the neck and kissed him hard, tasting herself on his moist lips and in his mouth. Harry steadied himself as he slowly pushed himself inside of her. Harry groaned. She was so tight, hot and wet around him as he thrusted in and out of her. He loved how she felt around him. She never ceased to turn him on in any way possible. With one final thrust, his orgasm over took him and he collapsed on the bed beside her.
Hermione instantly rolled over on her side and wrapped her arms around his neck and moved as close to him as she could and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. "I love you, Harry. Don't ever forget that," she whispered in his ear.
"I'm sorry I doubted you," replied Harry as he kissed her tenderly on the lips before he buried his face in her neck. Hermione smiled as his breathing became even, signalling he had finally fallen asleep. She carefully pulled the blankets over their naked bodies and curled into Harry's embrace and allowed sleep to overtake her.
x-x-x-x-x
The sun was shining abnormally bright when Harry awoke, alone, with a thin cotton sheet barely concealing his abdomen. He opened his eyes to see the curtains thrown wide open, welcoming the sun and light breeze into the bedroom. He rubbed his eyes as he struggled to sit up in the bed. He looked around for Hermione, but she was nowhere in sight. The door to the bathroom was slightly ajar. He slowly climbed out of bed, and shrugged his robe on his shoulders and made his was to the bathroom. He swung the door open to see Hermione relaxing in the bath with a book. She looked up briefly when he entered.
"Hey," she greeted as he walked into the small room that held the toilet.
"Hey," he called back. They remained silent as Harry washed his hands and headed over to the shower.
"Why're you going in there?" she asked, not raising her gaze off her page.
"Would you rather I went to the one downstairs?" he questioned innocently as he leaned against the wall behind her as she gently set her book down.
"Not really."
"Would you rather I not shower at all?"
"Not really," she repeated playfully as she sat up and reached for the knot at his waist. He backed away.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, a playful smile slowly began to grace his features.
"Trying to get that robe off you," she said truthfully.
"I can't just shag all the time-"
"That's the understatement of the year," Hermione retorted as she slid back into the bubbles.
"I was joking, love," she heard him whisper in her ear as his teeth grazed her earlobe, causing her to shiver. His lips slowly pressed light kisses along her neck and up her jaw before coming in contact with her own upside down. She groaned and threaded her wet fingers through his hair. They were interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing. Harry tore his mouth away from hers and swore under his breath as he pulled the cotton robe back around his body and headed into the bedroom and picked up the battery-operated phone off the dock by the bed.
"Hello?" he said, slightly irritated.
"I'm looking for Hermione?" came a woman's voice.
"May I ask who's speaking?" he asked as he walked into the bathroom and shrugged off his robe and slid soundlessly into the bathtub beside Hermione.
"It's her mother," said the woman critically.
Harry instantly handed it to Hermione who frowned.
"Hello?" Hermione politely said. "Oh, hello mum."
Silence. Harry studied her face as he draped his arm over the side of the bathtub, allowing Hermione to lean into his chest.
"That was Harry," she explained as he kissed the top of her head. "I'm sorry, was asleep."
Harry glared at her as she grinned and kissed him silently on the cheek.
"Henry and Sarah are with Ron this weekend."
Pause.
"I'll have to talk to him about it."
Pause.
"I'll call back as soon as we do, mum. I love you too." She said hastily and hung up the phone.
"You little liar," Harry said as she reached up to cup his face.
"You don't snap at my mother," she responded as she smeared some of the lightly perfumed foam across his cheek.
"I didn't mean to," he defended truthfully. "She interrupted us, I had a right."
"You're pathetic," she whispered, kissing his chest as he rubbed lazy circles on her arm. "She wanted to know if we wanted to spend a few weeks with her and dad."
"You and I we, or you, I and children we?"
"You, I, and children we."
"When?"
"We leave Monday."
"How about next week? The new aurors are coming in, and I have to…"
"Show them around and make your speech?"
"Basically, yeah."
"How about Henry, Sarah, and I head to Scotland by aeroplane on Monday, and you come after your seminar?"
"But I'll still be alone for a week."
"I think you'll survive a week, Harry." She said seriously, as he kissed her cheek. "I love you."
"I know," he whispered as they gave into their passion once more.
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