A/N - this took so long and this is the second version - I gave up on the first after about 6000 words and I had only got half way through. Now, although this is about the first time our young couple make love, don't expect smut (I hope your not disappointed) - this is more about the journey, I guess. Anyway - I hope you enjoy and sorry it's taken sooooo long.
Thanks for the reviews for the first part, by the way, they mean a lot.
First Time
Hermione sat nursing a mug of tea, enjoying the feel of the summer's sun on her face. If anyone had seen her, she would seem the picture of calm - a young woman without a care in the world.
However, Hermione was anything but calm. Yesterday her best friend got married; Ron had officially grown up.
The marriage of Ron and Luna wasn't the cause of her discontent though and as she sat there on a deck chair in her parents back garden, her mind swirled with the events of the previous day.
It was making her head ache.
"You were home early last night, is everything okay?"
The voice came from behind her, making Hermione look over her shoulder to her mother; she gave a small smile and nodded in acknowledgement as her mum sat down in the chair next to her.
"How was the wedding?"
"Beautiful," Hermione replied somewhat wistfully, "lovely. Luna looked incredible, Ron was blissfully happy - everything went without a hitch."
"Yet you were home by eleven thirty…"
"I know."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Hermione thought over her mother's question - did she want to talk about it? Or more importantly, did she want to talk about it with her mother? Taking a deep breath, Hermione looked away from her mum and down to the cup that was held tightly in her hands, knowing that if she didn't talk to somebody, she'd explode.
"Do you remember Ginny?" she asked, "Ron's little sister?"
"The one that had a thing for Harry for a long time?"
"Yes," Hermione confirmed, taking another deep breath, "well, I found out last night that she had had sex with her new boyfriend, someone that she's only known for about six months, even though she knows that everyone in her family would kill her and him if they ever found out."
"And that upset you?"
"I thought she would be the last," Hermione sighed, "I thought I would lose my virginity at least before Ginny. But no - idiot Hermione, who has this archaic idea that she wants to wait until she's married before having sex, is the last person on the planet to lose her virginity!"
"You and Harry haven't had sex?"
Hermione turned to her mother smiling a wry smile, knowing she was blushing slightly but shrugged it off.
"No," she confirmed, "stupid huh."
"Why is that stupid?" Mrs Granger asked, "I actually think that's amazing - you two are so close…"
"That's just it!" Hermione interrupted, putting her cup down and turning to her mother fully, "we're so close, we know we'll get married one day! So why wait? Why am I so hung up with staying pure until my wedding day? No-one else does! Everyone I know has had sex and nothing horrible happened to them, why is it such an issue for me?"
"I never thought of you as someone who did something just because everyone else did," her mother began gently, "the fact that you and Harry are so close yet you have the ability to stick to what you believe in in situations where I know self control is at its weakest - you should be proud of yourself, love."
"I know," Hermione sighed again, "it's just difficult - yet another thing that makes Hermione Granger different from everybody else."
"What's wrong with being different?" Mrs Granger asked with a smile, "why is standing up for what you believe in wrong? Hermione, so many young ladies, myself included, regret their first experience because they had sex for the wrong reasons or they just weren't emotionally ready for the impact of being so intimate with someone brings.
"You have read books that have taught you both the health and mental ramifications of having sex young. You have asked your dad and I questions that most young people your age would never have considered. Because of this, you're cautious…"
"It scares me," Hermione cut in, looking down at her hands, "the whole idea…it scares me silly."
"Then you're right to wait," Mrs Granger confirmed with a nod before taking her daughter's hands in her own and making Hermione look at her, "sweetheart, you'll know when you're ready because the thought of sharing that part of you will no longer make you afraid…"
"What happens if I'm always afraid?"
"You won't be. One day you'll look into Harry's eyes and know that you're ready in your heart and soul - don't let yourself be pressured into doing something you're not ready for. You're lucky because you have someone by your side that is willing to wait and take this journey with you, not many women have that. Men can be selfish sods when it comes to sex but Harry loves you and…"
"I don't know if Harry loves me. He's never told me."
Hermione felt her eyes begin to tear as her mother paused, understanding that this was the real reason of the mornings anguish. Taking a deep breath as she tried to calm the mess of emotions she was feeling, Hermione carried on.
"I think Harry was going to ask me to marry him last night," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Was going to ask you?"
"Yes," Hermione nodded, "instead he asked me what would I do…you know, if he proposed. Would I say yes. I told him that we were too young, that we weren't ready. He didn't take that very well."
"Oh Hermione."
"I said that I loved him with all my heart but I didn't really know if he loved me or not because he's never told me, that I needed to know for sure before…"
She couldn't continue as her tears took over, her sobs the only sound able to be released. Allowing herself to be enveloped in her mother's comforting hug, she cried away the vision of Harry's hurt face when she had told him. After a few moments, her mother pulled away from her, produced a hanky which she held to Hermione's nose to blow into, just like she did when Hermione was small. Taking the handkerchief from her mum, she did as was instructed and tried to wipe away some of her tears.
"What happened sweetie?" Mrs Granger asked gently.
"We…we were having a lovely time," she said sadly, "I even got him to dance with me a few times. Ron and Luna had left so we were finally able to relax. He…he asked me if I had ever thought of us getting married and I said that one day, when we're a bit older. That I thought we weren't ready. Oh, I'm such an idiot!"
"And you told Harry you didn't know if he loved you?"
"Yes," Hermione whispered, her tears falling once more.
"You know, for some men it's really difficult to express how they feel…"
"But daddy tells you he loves you all the time!" Hermione interrupted, her voice rising.
"Your father was brought up in an environment where expressing how you feel was natural," Mrs Granger smiled in remembrance, "his parents, your nanna and poppa, were married for fifty-three years before poppa finally left us. And I think every day of those fifty-three years they told each other how much they were in love. Harry didn't have that."
"No, he didn't" Hermione admitted with a sigh, "and I know that. I know on some level that expressing himself is so difficult because of his life and what he's gone through - not just with the Dursley's but…but everything else. Yet there's this part of me that wants the romance, wants to hear him say it, even if it's only once…"
"He loves you Hermione, he just doesn't know how to tell you."
"I know. I'm being stupid. And now he probably will never ask me…"
"Oh, I wouldn't write Harry off yet," Mrs Granger smiled, affectionately pushing a strand of Hermione's hair behind her daughter's ear, "and he will tell you, you just need to let him do it in his own time, when he's ready…"
"Which may be never…"
"Hermione, you knew when you started this relationship that he wasn't the gushy, romantic type. If you wanted a man to shower you with 'I love you's', long stem roses and gentle walks on the beach, then you have the wrong fellow. You can't mould him into someone he isn't just like he can't mould you into someone you aren't."
Hermione didn't say anything as she thought about her mother's words. She was right, of course - Harry wasn't the gushy, romantic type and if he was, he wouldn't be the Harry she loved. And it wasn't like he didn't show affection, because he did. In fact, sometimes he was very, very sweet.
She sighed.
"I don't think you'll be waiting long," Mrs Granger continued gently, "I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he is with you. Sweetheart, the boy is smitten and now he knows that you need to hear the words…"
"So you don't think I've made a terrible mistake?"
The two women looked at each other, mother and daughter - alike in so many ways. Hermione searched her mother's eyes for some much needed comfort and saw the love and understanding that she desperately required along with a wisdom that she admired so much.
"No I don't," the older woman assured with a smile, which quickly grew into a grin, "you know what I think you should do? I think you and Harry should go away together, just the two of you. Get away from us, from the Weasley's, from everything. Go off and have some fun!"
"Go away?" Hermione repeated, pulling away from her mother in shock, "but…but we have to make lesson plans! Get ready for Hogwarts! We can't go away…"
"You have three weeks before Hogwarts starts," Mrs Granger countered, "you could go away for two weeks and do the lesson plans when you get back. Besides, you already have yours done for the first and second years because you taught them last year and I'm sure Minerva's plans are more than alright to begin with."
"Harry has to start from scratch…"
"From what you've told me, Harry can think defence with little effort. And I know both of you have been working on a new syllabus as soon as he was awarded the job of Defence professor. He'll have plenty of opportunity to finalise it all."
"We can't, I mean, me and Harry, it's not right, you know, to be so alone…together?"
"Oh honey," Mrs Granger chuckled to see Hermione so flustered, "it doesn't need to be a holiday of debauchery..."
"Mum!"
"You could have separate rooms," her mother explained with a laugh, "it doesn't matter. Just go off, have some fun, relax. Enjoy yourselves."
"Harry's never been overseas," Hermione said thoughtfully after a few moments of silence.
"Just another reason to go, show him the world!" her mother exclaimed excitedly, "I guarantee that you'll get closer, even if you don't take things to the next level."
"You really wouldn't mind Harry and I going away together?"
"I really wouldn't mind."
Hermione thought about it for a few more moments, wondering if it was the right thing to do and whether Harry would even agree to it. But it did appeal on so many levels.
"I think it's a brilliant idea," she said finally, standing and giving her mother a hug, "thanks mum."
"You're more than welcome," Mrs Granger smiled, watching her daughter head out to the garden shed.
Hermione was halfway across the lawn when she turned back to her mother, serious once more.
"If…if I did give into temptation," she began hesitantly, a blush tainting her face, "would you be disappointed with me?"
"No my love," Mrs Granger smiled, "not in the slightest."
Hermione just nodded and continued her way to the shed. In moments she was standing in the backyard of the Burrow, the remnants of yesterday's wedding everywhere. She made her way to the house and saw the dozing figure of Mr Weasley in one of the chairs, his face shaded by an umbrella.
"Hello Mr Weasley," she called out, startling him slightly.
"Oh, hello there Hermione," he welcomed as he tried to sit up right, "having a bit of a lazy day today."
"I think you and Mrs Weasley more than deserve it," Hermione replied fondly, "yesterday was brilliant."
"Yes, it did go rather well," Mr Weasley nodded with a proud smile.
"Um, is Harry around?"
"You know, I haven't seen him today," Mr Weasley frowned, thinking hard, "but then again, I've only recently been up. Try his room."
"Thanks."
With a parting wave, Hermione left the Weasley patriarch and made her way into the unfamiliarly silent house. It seemed Mrs Weasley had also slept in, though she had got rather 'merry' as the wedding celebrations had progressed so it may not only be sleep keeping her off her feet.
Hermione smiled at the thought before sobering up as she stood outside Harry's closed door. Wondering if he was still angry at her and knew there was only one way to find out, she took a deep breath and tapped gently.
"Harry," she called, "it's me."
She heard the scrape of his chair on the floor, indicating he was definitely in his room, and in moments the door was opened. She gasped slightly as she saw his face, tired and pinched - like how he looked during the last year at Hogwarts.
"Hi," he greeted awkwardly as he looked down on her.
"Hi," Hermione said with more than a little nerves, "can…can I come in?"
"Of course," he blustered as he blushed, opening the door wider for her so she was able to enter his room without touching him, "sorry."
She saw he had been working at his desk on what looked like the syllabus for his classes. She smiled. Hearing the door close, she turned to face him and saw that he hadn't moved from his spot in front of the now closed door. They looked at each other, an awkwardness between them that seemed so foreign, so out of place. Her heart plummeted.
"I was going to ask you to marry me last night," he said at last, his voice low and his eyes dropping, unable to keep holding her gaze.
"I know," she replied simply, her mouth dry, "I'm sorry I ruined it."
"Don't apologise," he continued quickly, "you were right. We aren't ready and…and you deserve…"
"Stop," she cut in, striding to him so that they were now just inches apart, "Harry, you are more than I deserve and don't you ever think otherwise! If anything, I don't deserve you!"
"So, I guess we both don't deserve each other," he joked, finally smiling.
"Right," Hermione agreed with a smile of her own, "do you forgive me?"
"Only if you forgive me," Harry replied. She nodded her 'yes' and nearly cried when he kissed her for the first time in what seemed like forever. It felt so good being in his arms again.
"I've got a proposition for you," she said as she pulled away, taking his hand and leading him to the bed.
"Oh yeah?" he questioned, leaning in for the next kiss as they sat down - with a laugh, she stopped him, pushing him away.
"No, not that silly!" she admonished, "a holiday!"
"A holiday?" he repeated, sitting upright and looking at her quizzically, "what do you mean, a holiday?"
"You and me going away somewhere, anywhere," she explained excitedly, "you choose. We have a few weeks before classes start and I see you've already begun your class plan so we have heaps of time. What do you think?"
"I…I don't know Hermione…"
"Come on Harry," she urged, intertwining her hands with his, "we can go anywhere you want to - Europe, America, Canada, China, Africa…"
"I don't think you're parents would be too pleased if we went away together…"
"It was my mother who suggested it."
He looked at Hermione in shock before he nervously dropped his gaze non-seeingly to the floor and thought hard, a frown creasing his forehead. Giving him the time to think things through, she just sat there and waited. After a little while, he looked back up at her.
"Alright."
"Alright?" she repeated, not sure if she had heard him correctly but knowing she had when he gave her a broad grin, "you want to go?" Harry nodded.
Squealing, she drew Harry into a hug before kissing him squarely on the mouth. With her mind going ten million miles a minute, she missed his amused look as he watched her begin to plan.
It wasn't long before she found out that the preference was to travel as Muggles, to go to France, Italy and Greece, to go as soon as the could and that they would get twin-share-bed hotel rooms.
Two days later, they stepped off of the train onto Paris soil.
Hermione had been to Paris many times with her parents but Harry helped her see one of her favourite cities in a whole new way. He was like a child, excited by everything and anything, experiencing the new culture with wide, curious eyes.
Their first day was spent doing the major sights - the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. That night they dined on the Champs-Elysées, watching buskers and street artists before retiring to their separate twin beds.
The following day was spent soaking up the sights and sounds of Paris with Harry finally convincing Hermione that he really wanted to go to the Louvre for the afternoon. Hermione knew he was going there solely because he realised it was her favourite place, but was grateful for his sacrifice.
That night they slept (in their pyjamas) in the same bed.
They made their way to Italy on the train, spending a night in Dijon then Lyon on the way. By the time they reached Milan, they were totally relaxed and enjoying themselves immensely.
Hermione marvelled at the change in Harry - it was like he had come to life. His eyes had a sparkle that she had never seen before, and he seemed to walk with an ease that came from the lack of the constant weight of expectation he had been carrying for so long.
Voldemort's demise had been over a year ago now, yet everyone still expected great things from Harry and were confused when he had done nothing but help Hagrid out on the grounds of Hogwarts for the past year. Only those close to Harry knew it was what he needed, time to figure out what he was going to do with his life. His leg had continued to strengthen with the constant exercise, allowing him limited broom travel now and the option to start Auror training had been given to him.
But he was the most happiest at Hogwarts and when he was offered the job of the newly formed Defence professor position, he accepted it with little thought. The fact that Hermione would be the new full time transfiguration teacher had been an added bonus.
There had also been official ceremonies and many, many funerals that Harry had had to attend, his responsibilities never fully leaving him.
Until now. And he was loving it.
His smiles were genuine, his laughter unchecked and often. He would charm the old ladies selling their traditional crafts from street stalls and on more than one occasion had him and Hermione invited to join in a family meal, experiencing Italian life at its rawest.
He walked with a confidence that made people look at him and his natural paleness, thought to be due to an inheritance of his red headed mother, turned out to be because he had hardly seen the sun during his youth. Though drowned in sunscreen by the ever-cautious Hermione, Harry was turning a lovely, healthy tan.
From Milan, they went to Venice and it was there that Hermione experienced the most wonderful night of her life.
They had just finished their fantastic dinner at a restaurant not far from the main canal and were now walking back, hand in hand, to their hotel. The day had been brilliantly hot, with the early evening still comfortably warm though it was dusk and the sun had gone to bed. Both were full from their pasta, contented silence wrapping them up in its embrace. They were crossing one of the many stone bridges that were familiar throughout the Venetian canals, when Harry paused at the top, looking out at the scene. Hermione stopped next to him, smiling at what had caught his attention.
The setting sun's glow was tinting the water red, gondola's with their mainly tourist passengers weaving through the darkening canals, their lights reflecting on the ripples of the water. There were ancient buildings on each side, signs of everyday life - a pot plant here, a washing line there - made the picturesque scene real.
It was magical.
Hermione had never felt so happy, so at peace. It was all so beautiful and perfect that she was sure she could stay there forever. Her mother had been right, of course, and this trip had been the best idea with her relationship with Harry the strongest its ever been.
The last few nights, they had shared a bed and although they had progressed to both sleeping without tops, that had been enough. But she wasn't sure how long she was going to be able to hold out. Just his touch was enough to send her over the edge now - it was getting more and more difficult to stop.
Just the thought of Harry touching her sent a shiver down her spine and in an instant, she felt his arms wrap around her as he stood behind her and drew her into him.
"Are you cold?" he asked, his lips close to her ear.
"No, not really," she answered truthfully, sinking into his embrace.
"Hermione?"
"Hmmm?"
"I love you so much."
His statement bolted her out of any form of tranquillity as she swivelled around in his arms so they were now face to face. He seemed calm as he looked down on her, not at all startled by her reaction.
"What?" she spluttered out.
"I love you," he continued, smiling as he ran a finger down the side of her face and along her jaw line, "more than I ever thought possible. This trip, with you, has proven to me just how much. Every day with you has been amazing and every time I look at you, I realise just how beautiful and wonderful you are and just how very lucky I am that you're in my life. I couldn't imagine my world without you by my side. Which made me come to the conclusion that I love you, that I've loved you for a long time and that you need to know."
"Oh." Her short answer made him chuckle as he leant forward to rest his forehead against hers.
"I thought it would be difficult to say those words," he breathed, "but you know what? It wasn't so bad." With that statement, he kissed her, softly but with a passion that she felt with every pore - she wanted him so badly right now. When he pulled away, she sighed with disappointment. He smiled.
"It's been so difficult, being with you, alone, in all these fantastic places," he said, his voice deep and arousing, "and not finish what we've started so many times. Because you are getting harder and harder to turn down Miss Granger…"
"So are you," Hermione whispered - his smile grew.
"Can you wait a bit longer?" he asked, his hands moving to her face, gently holding it so their eyes were locked, "I know it's stupid, but I want to be married to you before we…"
"It's not stupid Harry," she interrupted, putting a finger to his lips to stop him talking, "we can wait."
"I may need to sleep in a separate bed then," he advised, taking her hand and kissing it gently, like a knight with his princess (in all those fairy tales she had hated as a little girl), "I love you Hermione Granger," he grinned.
"And I love you Harry."
They kissed again then restarted their walk to their hotel, though Hermione was sure she was floating. The rest of the trip was as perfect as the first half - Rome was brilliant, Athens amazing and the cruise around the Greek Islands was breathtaking.
But it was all a blur as the glow of Harry's love overshadowed everything else. It seemed that once the initial fear of saying 'I love you' to someone was overcome, it no longer was difficult for Harry to tell her how he felt. Never showy, or, Merlin forbid, gushy, he would whisper it in her ear as they looked out from the bow of the boat they were on. Or tell her before they slipped into their separate beds and went to sleep for the night. Or when she was about to buy something, making her forget her purchase as his words muddled her mind.
However, all good things must end and all too soon it was their last night of their holiday with them due to fly home the following morning. They had decided to have a lazy day by the hotel's pool, reading and relaxing, enjoying the Greek sun.
When Harry excused himself mid morning, Hermione didn't think much of it and went back to her book. When she realised he hadn't reappeared when it was ready to have lunch, she started to be concerned. He turned up out of nowhere and told her he was organising a surprise for her which may take the rest of the day, that she wasn't allowed to find out what it was and that she should just lay back and relax.
So Hermione did just that, thinking that it would be a special 'last meal' or something, and was slightly confused when the meal, although lovely, wasn't anything spectacular. Her curiosity was piqued but she didn't want to spoil his surprise so didn't pry.
The following day, they were packed and ready to catch their flight from Athens back to London. They got to the airport and Hermione immediately started to head to the check in counter until Harry stopped her with a smile.
"Are you ready for my surprise?" he asked mischievously.
"Its here?" she frowned, confused, "at the airport?"
"No," Harry chuckled, "but we aren't catching a plane. Do you trust me?"
"Without a doubt," she smiled.
Harry smiled back before taking her hand and leading her away from the throngs of people. He discreetly cast a disillusion charm on them both and their luggage before making the luggage disappear. She looked at him in surprise, wondering where all their stuff had gone - but he just grinned at her in response. He then hugged her in close, her head resting on his chest, allowing her to hear the steady beating of his heart.
In an instant she felt the unmistakable feeling of disapparation and when she opened her eyes, it was to a dark, cold, damp, small room.
"Harry?" she questioned, but was sushed as Harry went to the only door in the room and gingerly looked out. Their way was obviously clear as he opened the door wider and indicated for Hermione to join him.
Walking to his side, she gasped in surprise as she recognised where they were. They were within the halls of Trinity College, Dublin.
"Thanks Callum," Harry was saying to the young man next to them, who it seemed had been guarding the door.
"No problem Mr Potter," Callum replied, his accent thick and unmistakeably Irish, "you know where you're going, now?"
"Yes, yes, Mr Flynn showed me yesterday." The Irishman nodded his acknowledgement, then went on his way, leaving Harry to look down on the flabbergasted Hermione.
"We're in Ireland," Hermione stated.
"Yep."
"Oh Harry, this is a wonderful surprise," she enthused, "I love Dublin!"
"This isn't your surprise," Harry told her as he took her hand and began leading her through the nearly deserted corridors.
"It isn't?"
"No," he said cryptically.
They came out into the courtyard of the elderly university where they crossed the short cropped grass and headed into the closed entrance way to the Book of Kells, where they met a dignified looking gentleman.
"Ah Mr Potter," he welcomed, "Miss Granger - this way."
Opening the door, the gentleman guided them into the deserted information section which described the making and history of the book that had survived since the ninth century. Hermione had been there before, a year before in fact, when she came to Ireland with her parents, yet the urge to take time to read the facts and figures once again slowed her. Harry just tugged at her hand, making sure they walked quickly through the displays until they got to the glass cabinet that housed the book itself. There, they paused and looked at the magnificently embossed pages, its artistry nothing close to amazing.
"Come on," Harry urged gently, "we kinda need to do this before the public are allowed in."
She smiled and let herself be led up the stairs beyond the reverend Book, stepping into the amazing library, the Long Room, that sat above the one of the oldest remaining books in the Muggle world.
Hermione loved this place, as she did with any location that housed ancient and amazing tomes. It was still early, a little after eight, and the sun shone through the arched windows. She left Harry and their guide (who, unnoticed by her, left the couple alone) and went to the nearest shelf where a leather bound volume sat, telling her it was printed in 1845.
She felt Harry come up behind her, gently taking her hand and leading her further into the library. They rounded a corner into a reading nook where the morning sun left dappled patterns on the carpet. There were bunches of flowers on the tables and a cooling bucket with a bottle of what looked like wine within it. Her heart began to beat wildly as she thought about what this all meant. She had never considered a proposal as her surprise - after all, it had only been two weeks since she had ruined his last attempt. But when she turned to him, to ask what it was all about and found him lowering down to one knee, she could stop the tears that began to fall.
"Hermione, you have always been there, always by my side even though I gave you no reason to put up with someone like me. You were the first ever person to tell me you loved me and it took a slap in the face for me to realise just how much I love you. I know I couldn't love anyone the way I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life by your side, showing you just how much.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes," she said softly, her words choked by her tears.
"Sorry?"
"Yes Harry - I will marry you," Hermione said more loudly, laughing when he grinned, stood, picked her up and spun her around happily.
And for the next four months it felt like her feet never once touched the ground.
The news of their engagement and subsequent planned Christmas wedding caused much celebration, joviality and more than a little panic. Hermione and Harry returned to Hogwarts and began their careers as teachers in their old school, safe in the knowledge that after the wedding, there was a home for them in one of the many towers within the castle walls.
The location of the nuptials was the first stumbling block as they needed to cater for both the magical and Muggle worlds. The church at Godric's Hollow was finally settled on with the twenty-third of December available for the ceremony with the promise that the existing Christmas decorations would not be disturbed. Once the location was sorted, things just fell into place.
Not wanting a grand affair, most of the time was spent in creating the security wards that allowed only those invited onto the church grounds. The reception was to take place at the Three Broomsticks with all the catering done by Dobby and his friends. The only flowers were for the bride and her two attendants - Luna and Ginny - while the dresses were chosen off the rack with Hermione falling in love with only the fourth dress she had tried on.
It all was simple and with little fuss.
As the day drew closer, the nerves finally began to affect Hermione. She was more than happy when the students left for the Christmas break and she could retreat back to her home in Oxford. By the morning of the wedding she hadn't seen Harry all week, what with one thing or another, but in a way she was glad. It made the longing to see him even greater and the desire to finally make love to him stronger.
She was enjoying the fuss heaped on her by her mother, Molly, Luna and Ginny. Taming her hair, doing her make-up and then the final assist into her wedding dress - it was like a dream. As she left the comfort of her family home, wrapped in a brilliant white cloak that covered her dress, she said her good-byes to her childhood and then flanked by Luna and Ginny, dissaparated to the church grounds at Godric's Hollow.
Her father was waiting for her at the church door, which he opened and allowed the three women in. Ginny and Luna removed their outer cloaks of the deepest forest green before turning to Hermione to help her. She knew every eye was on her, but there was only one she really cared about.
Taking her father's arm, she heard the music that meant it was time. With a comforting smile from her dad, Hermione began her walk down the aisle.
It was then she saw him, handsome and striking, waiting for her. She saw him smile and smiled back, barely aware of Ron and Neville standing at his side. The ceremony was a blur, though she knew she said the right things at the right times, and before she knew it she was in his arms for the first dance at the Three Broomsticks.
It had been perfect in every way but now all she wanted was him and as he looked down on her she could see that the feeling was mutual.
It was early when the newly wed couple begged their leave, graciously accepting the wolf whistles and lewd comments as their small party of guests knew why they wanted to make an early get-away.
They arrived at their hotel in London still dressed in their wedding attire and was escorted to their room by staff with knowing smiles. Hermione didn't care. It was taking all her self control not to attack Harry on their way to London and as soon as the busboy left them alone in the very, very extravagant honeymoon suite, Harry and Hermione finally learnt the most intimate secrets that only lovers can share.
A/N - see, I told you. Hope you're not disappointed!