Private Matters--Chapter 7
Harry and Hermione never felt so close and so alive. Harry sensed it and for once he felt at ease talking about things he never thought he'd talk about with her. They sat at a far table away from the bar on tall barstools. Hermione sat so close that Harry could move his face eight inches and kiss her. They were unaware of anyone or anything but each other.
Hermione's hand fell in Harry's as she folded her fingers in his hand. "Harry, what are we going to do? I have to go home tonight." The disappointment in her voice showed.
Harry felt the knots in his stomach growing. She had gone from an obsession over the past week to a reality that was more overwhelming than anything he ever felt. "Can't you just go home, talk to them and then sneak out. I don't want you to leave."
"Ooh, don't tempt me, Harry. I have to go back and tell them I was right about you," she said giggling and kissing his cheek for the fifth time in the last hour. "If we were alone at Hogwarts right now, I'd kiss you like I want because I could run and hide when I got the urge to let you have me."
He smiled. "Maybe you're right about the sexual tension being better than the act itself. Although something tells me that being with you would not be bad either," he said as he kissed her lips softly.
"Harry, I promise. Tomorrow we will go get a proper room somewhere and see where this all leads. Let me see Mom and Dad to tell them about my plan to spend the week with you first," said Hermione.
Harry felt the pangs of sadness again. He wondered what it would be like having a family that worried when he did not come home. He found his girlfriend's love for her parents a wonderful quality. In spite of the demands they put on her, she was a good daughter and respectful. She was a good girl and that made all the difference to him. He hated the way he was going to feel going home alone, but he was glad she was going to do something positive instead of something she would feel guilty for. "I can't imagine what it's like to want to yell at them and kiss them at the same time."
"I know Harry. It's horrible. They love me so much. That's why I'm not going to sneak around. I would rather let them feel a little uncomfortable with the truth than to discover me in a lie. I can't tell them I'm going back to Hogwarts just to let them think I'm safe from guys like you," she smiled. "I'm not telling them that I plan to be a bad girl though." She smiled and caressed his arm. "I do so want to be bad."
Harry laughed. He knew it was all in good fun as they teased each other. If he had taken each of the sexual innuendos and let his libido take over he'd have her up against the door in the ladies room with the skirt around her waist. He'd told her that a while before and she'd smiled sexily. He knew it might happen but he would not change a thing at the moment.
"Hey, kids, are you going to get a room or what?" teased Roger who left when he found himself intruding. "Wow, you two bring back memories of Marianne and I. Don't rush it though, I wish we hadn't."
Hermione put her arm around Harry's waist and slid closer. "Why, Roger?"
"Our lives were really hectic at the time. I was working two jobs and she was in school. It was like we had no time together for a while there. I just wonder what it would have been like if we had let things go for one more week until her summer break and spent more than just our first night together. I still love being with her when we get that old magic going after all these years. Just funny, like I said. I see my past in you two," he said reminiscing. "Harry, you have no idea what it feels like to let a beautiful woman push you until you can't take it. Mate, it's better to let it build than it is to move too fast. Trust me."
"No, I'm ready to die now and she's only going home for the night," said Harry.
"Mate, one fall and winter--I think it was `78-- Marianne and I had to be on different schedules for nearly two months. Her internship at the law firm meant long hours. We got the Christmas holidays together and somehow something always interrupted us. Her parents would visit unannounced or my buddies would barge in with a bottle wanting to play cards. Finally, when we got the time alone, mate…I'll remember that night still. Anyway, I see the bedroom eyes. I just thought you'd benefit from my experience with the love of my life," said Roger.
Hermione hugged Harry a little tighter. "I want it to be like that for us. Marianne seems pretty lucky."
"Not as lucky as I am. She gave up a nice career as a paralegal to go to Law School and then gave that up to raise our kids. I get to have fun talking with people in a bar every night and for awhile she got diaper duty," he said. "Believe me. You want to stay where you are for as long as you can. Hey, I should get going. You two have some more cooing to do." He laughed.
"Cooing?" asked Harry looking at Hermione.
"Love birds, silly," said Hermione. "He's right you know. We are lucky to have this time together," she said. She found herself singing along to the music from the jukebox. "This is a nice song."
"What is it tonight? I wonder if a potion can make you feel like this or if it's just natural. I feel like running around the block to get rid of this energy," he said standing and pulling Hermione to him to sway to the music.
"Harry, let's get a hotel tomorrow but with separate rooms until Saturday," suggested Hermione. "I want to make love to you but let's get so excited about it that we can't stand it."
Harry felt the ache in his crotch as it was standing close to her. "Do you really think I can make it that long if I know what's coming?" he laughed as he kissed her softly. "Don't give me a reason or I'm not responsible for my actions."
"I'm not sure you can make it out of here," she giggled as he ground into her to let her feel his excitement. "Wow, I'm going to pretend that's a roll of coins in your pocket." She said excitedly. "This is going to kill me too."
"I can make it, Hermione. Just don't change your mind on Saturday, because you will make me jump off the Astronomy Tower with a rope around my neck if you do," said Harry with a face like he was choking.
"No, Sweetie, I'd be sure to make good use of you before I'd let that happen," said Hermione. "This is so fun being flirty and kind of raunchy." She giggled with a tinge of pink in her ears.
"Hey, as much as I hate it, it's getting late and you don't want to go home too late. It's midnight," said Harry.
Hermione sighed. "We have to try to remember what this is like. See this is a hundred times better than I imagined and I had a pretty good imagination to begin with. I love you, Harry. Come on, walk me out to the corner." She stopped for a second. "Let me ring them up and warn them I'm coming so they don't get alarmed when I pop in."
Harry waited by the door as Roger approached. "Taking her home, mate?"
"Yeah, her parents are waiting up. It's been a traumatic time for them with the changes in Hermione's life," said Harry.
"You kids, take care of each other. It's worth putting off the things you want sometimes. The rewards can be huge," said Roger slapping Harry on the shoulder as Hermione approached. "Hermione, it's great to meet you. I hope my daughters get to meet you. They'd love you." He smiled. "Good night."
"Roger, that's sweet to say. Good night," said Hermione taking Harry's arm.
They walked quietly as the soft sound of sprinkles fell around them and then the larger raindrops began. They ducked under a canopy at a storefront window.
"You know I'd stand in the rain to kiss you, Harry. It's a big sacrifice for a girl who loves to have her hair look nice," she said leaning into him for kiss. "I should go though."
He felt the softness of her chest against his and the warmth of her lips teased him to arousal once more. "I am so glad you came back. I would have missed so much and I think I knew it too," he said tenderly. "I love you, Hermione. It's not a struggle to say that anymore."
"Don't make me cry, Harry. I don't want my parents thinking I'm sad. They'll just think I'm having second thoughts. If I am, it's about letting you ravage me tonight, but not about going back to the way it was before," she said. They kissed deeply again letting their hands pull one another closer. "I have to go now, or I won't. I love you, Harry. I'll see you tomorrow afternoon." She smiled. "All clear?"
Harry looked around, then down the street and nodded. A moment later, the familiar pop that had broken his heart just days ago no longer made him sad. She was gone. He was glad he had gone through that experience. He knew what he was missing before she left now and was confident in her return. Now he knew part of what lay in his future. He wheeled on his heel , walked to the corner and turned in to the hotel wishing she were there.
The next morning, Harry lay shirtless in bed staring at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his head. He wondered about the irony in his life at the moment. There was once a time when he longed for Ron and Hermione to contact him, because it felt as if there were no tomorrow. The feeling was almost too real, but Harry knew it only applied to that time in his life. Somehow, he had no anxiety about missing Hermione this time. He knew she would be back even if he missed her for only the ten hours they had been apart. She had come back when he thought she would not. There was no more fear of losing her.
He closed his eyes trying to imagine what she looked like lying beneath him awaiting his final thrust that would begin a new chapter in their lives. He could only put her face to the dozens of erotic pictures he and his mates had seen in magazines they'd had hidden in the Gryffindor Tower boys' dorm. He had brushed her breasts and briefly felt their softness. He remembered the energy of her legs wrapped around him as they kissed the afternoon before. He knew the wait and the teasing would be hard to endure, but what awaited was so much more than a frenzied snog followed by fumbling in the dark. Even if that's what happened Saturday, he had time to think of the things he wanted to do to her. He needed a cold shower.
Harry was not worried that Hermione was not coming, but the anticipation of how things were going for her and what they would do today made him a little antsy. When the soft knock came at the door around two-forty, he felt relief sweep over him. He opened the door and saw her smiling with two small bags tied together on rollers behind her. She looked more relaxed than she had the night before. "Hi," he said simply as he felt the butterflies that came with seeing a pretty girl that had starred in his fantasies just moments and hours before.
"Hi, Harry," said Hermione. "And to think I had to enchant them to get enough stuff in there." They kissed softly referring to the bulging bags behind her.
"Come in," he offered. He had the nice soft chair sitting in a well lit part of the room so she would be comfortable as he finished his packing. "So, are we off to the hotel now?"
"You bet, we are," she said cheerily. "Harry, it was so weird with my parents. They simply kissed me good night when I came in and said that we'd talk this morning. It was a tearful discussion, but I think they get it now. Well, they're trying to get it anyway. You can't teach old dogs new tricks in one sitting." She giggled.
"Nice, do you think it's really going to change the way they see you?" asked Harry.
"I don't know if it matters. I think I see myself differently because I acted like an adult instead of a kid demanding respect. It was weird. I felt like our plans for this week give me freedom too. They will never know the details, but facing the fact that I'm staying with you and visiting them was a shock," said Hermione. "I just hope I don't give away our secret once we take the plunge."
He walked over and put his hands on her shoulders. "I lay daydreaming of you this morning. It resulted in two cold showers already." He kissed the top of her head taking in the scent of her hair. "Are you sure you're okay with setting a date for it?"
"Harry, planning for the day I make love to my lover and boyfriend is not a terrible thing. What would be terrible would be to regret not being ready and missing the moment in a flurry of crazy hormones and emotions. I think that's why people used to wait until they were married and the honeymoon," said Hermione. "I still dream about that but I'm not waiting until I'm married. Some people--yes, you can read my parents into that--would think that what I'm suggesting is terrible."
"It seems you think a fair bit about that though Hermione," said Harry. "I love you and I want you, but what you need to feel like things are right are important to me too."
"I know this sounds stupid, Harry. It's probably very needy to say it this way. I don't want my boyfriend looking around for satisfaction with other girls when he makes me want sex too. So I might as well satisfy both of our urges at the same time. If I love you, whether we make love Saturday or after a wedding, it is nothing more than changing the date," said Hermione. "Don't worry, it's not going to haunt me to sleep with you for a few days and then share myself with you. I do want it to be very special though and not a moment where I wonder what just happened. All though the aches from doing it might make me wonder." She laughed. "Harry, it will be such a wonderful night if we let it be."
Harry returned to his bag and packed as he thought about what she was saying. He found it interesting to think of ways to help them find pleasure that night. He guessed that he had no idea what that initial feeling of sex was for a woman. He had heard it could be painful and that some guys hated being a woman's first lover. He could never imagine not wanting to share that with Hermione. He just had to understand enough so that when that moment came, he was mindful enough to be aware of her wishes in the middle of his own passion for her. Should he ask her now, or bit by bit over the next few days, or just let things happen?"
He decided to mention it casually. "I just want to make sure I'm not doing something wrong when it comes to the time to go through with it, you know?"
"We'll talk about it Harry," said Hermione. "I'm not sure either. Some women say it's better to just do it and try to ignore the pain and others say it's okay to pause and let the initial shock pass for a few minutes. So, I'm not sure yet. Either way, I want to make love to you," she said simply.
"Well, I suppose we should go. I already told Tom I'd leave today and he let me stay until you could get here," said Harry.
"Oh, Harry. I'm sorry. I forgot they have a check out time here," she said. "He didn't charge you, did he?"
"No, he was cool about it," said Harry.
Harry had the unusual feeling he had felt when she left the anteroom that night, but it was clearer than that one was. They were truly going from confessed sweethearts to romantic partners and lovers. To anyone watching or looking at them, they would see a young couple having fun and in love. To Harry and Hermione, they were starting to take the steps that would define whether they were destined to make it a lifelong partnership. Harry felt the twinge of uncertainty when he thought of the rest of his life with her and all it promised. Yet, if he were going to face the rest of his life with any girl he`d ever met, he had never met anyone more suited than Hermione.
"Okay, Miss Tour Guide, lead the way," said Harry.
"Harry, I looked up some hotels in the city and I think the Marriott is the nicest. Expensive sure, but worth it for the comfort." She described the rooms. There were lots of services that Harry had never thought of having. Dry cleaning, turn downs and complimentary breakfast were just a few. He was glad that he'd gone to Gringott's for a significantly larger amount than either of the other two times. This way she did not have to put her credit card to the test where her father would see what she was doing.
The ride through late afternoon traffic was as difficult as Harry expected. He had not come this far into the city before. It was intriguing to see the transition from very the regular workday dress of people near Diagon Alley and The Leaky Cauldron to a mixture of that and well dressed business executives, office workers, sales people and the greater law enforcement presence. Harry was impressed with the service and beauty of the hotel. He was glad it was nice. It felt like a holiday.
The check-in caused no embarrassment since they checked in separately for different rooms. They just asked to be on the same floor. Harry thought of how little that mattered because they could move between rooms by Apparition. Yet, it was nice for reasons of intimacy as they would walk from their rooms to dinner or out for the day. The purpose was to get lost in the moment and not rush.
He hung his things on the entry clothes rack. He looked around and found the most interesting thing in the room. It was the view of London below from the balcony. They would be able to sit outside in the night air. The phone rang. "Hello," he answered.
"Hi, Harry. The rooms are great, aren't they?" asked Hermione excitedly.
"Brilliant," said Harry. "Coming here or am I coming there?"
"I'll be there as soon as I finish putting away my things. Ten minutes, okay?" she asked.
"Sure, no problem. I'm going to check out the TV schedule," said Harry. "See you soon?"
"Yep, be right there," she said as he hung up.
He sat watching the international Cable News Network when he heard the knock at the door. He let Hermione in and observed, "Do you hear all this rubbish going on in the world Hermione? I had no idea."
She scooted up next to him and sat cross-legged on his bed behind him as he sat on the edge facing the TV. "Yeah, it's insane. We came close to being on there a few months ago, but no one would have known the truth."
"Do you ever wonder about the ones that got away? I mean particularly Snape. I still don't know why he helped us," said Harry.
"Harry, it suited him. I just hope he's not worse than what we got rid of," she said. "Somehow, I think it's different. He would have surfaced while things were still in an uproar around the Christmas holidays."
"Yeah, he's not stupid enough to let the Ministry regroup and throw a party for me, if he had other plans," said Harry.
"Exactly," she said. "I wonder how much of what is in the news is actually magic gone haywire. It's impossible to think that every country has the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad."
"Yeah, unexplained explosions, unsolved crimes that suddenly disappear from the news. I guess it's always been that way though," said Harry. He shut off the TV. "I found the erotic stations a few minutes ago." He stood up and turned around toward her.
"I hope it's not that really explicit stuff. I've never seen it and don't think I'd find it appealing Harry," she said shivering.
"No, just those Magazine channels with naked girls in showers and stuff," he said. "Hmm."
"You know, guys are so predictable. It the wind blows the right way, a girl has to take cover," she smiled and punched him in the stomach in feigned disgust. Then jumped up and put her arms around his neck. "I'll check them out when I'm in my room so I now what I'm getting into before I say I'll watch them with you."
Harry had thought that the atmosphere between them in the club the night before would be hard to match, but he was ready to be wrong if he was.
"Okay, let's plan dinner," said Hermione. "How about Chinese food?"
Harry had no problem with letting Hermione be the planner. She had not picked anything but fun things so far, so why change. Dinner was nice. He had the Hogwarts version of Chinese food and had eaten it once or twice with the Dursleys, but it was different in a restaurant than on carry-out. When they finished, it was still early evening with a lot of time to kill.
"I wish it were summer, Harry. It would be warm enough to find a cozy spot on the banks of the Thame to sit and talk," said Hermione. "Can't sit out too long when it gets dark now though."
"We can walk and talk, then duck in for a second to get warmed up someplace though right?" he asked.
"Yeah, sure." She said holding his hand as the walked slowly. "It's nice not to be cooped up in a room somewhere or in the castle."
"I agree," said Harry. "Why did you pick Saturday, just curious?"
"It's the last night, Harry. We'll be back at Hogwarts Sunday night getting ready for classes. Friday night is okay too, but I just liked the idea of a Saturday together with all the excitement of a weekend and the excitement that we couldn't wait one more day or it would be too late," said Hermione.
"No, I'm not trying to move it up, it was just interesting to hear why," said Harry. "I like this. I find myself wanting to find out what turns you on, you know. I mean things like the way we kiss, or if I touch you a certain way. You like to have your neck kissed, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do," said Hermione. "It's a sensitive place that doesn't bring that direct contact thing into play, you know. I notice how you like it when I touch your arms softly and run my fingers across your back when I come back or leave you sitting somewhere."
He smiled. "All this in twenty-four hours. We'll just explode into little balls of excitement Saturday," he teased. "All kidding aside, staying away from the temptation is hard, but it makes me find other ways to communicate."
"Yeah, guys do like communicating with their hands and private parts," said Hermione with a scintillating grin. "It's okay, but for me, I know you are attracted so groping me just says randy not romantic. You're better about it than I expected."
"I don't want to be though," he admitted. "I want to grab you every chance I get."
"I know but that's why I appreciate last night. You didn't get all hands and stuff but I never felt like you let me go either. I never felt like that before. You only have to have someone be all over you a couple times to know what it feels like to be thought of as a sex toy that breathes," said Hermione.
"Is there something more to it that I don't know?" asked Harry.
"Well, you know about Krum and McLaggan. I realize I was a lot younger than Krum and he tried to take advantage of that. It never leaves you when you, even if someone really likes you if they all of a sudden want more than you can give," said Hermione. "McLaggan was just a brutish jerk. Krum fancied me and I was shocked by how he could be. Ron, if there was ever a guy who was a doll one minute and an octopus the next." She laughed.
"So, you don't mean me when you talk about guys in general?" he asked.
"No not you," said Hermione with a grin. "It's different, Harry. I actually like the feeling of your touch. I'm just saying that so many times it's done without warning and with no tenderness at all. There are guys who get it and ones who don't."
"Do you think I'm neurotic, Harry?" asked Hermione a few minutes later. "I feel like I'm explaining everything."
"I think you're obsessed with making this work, Hermione. I don't mind really. It's kind of awkward because I don't talk a lot about how I feel. Yet it's interesting to hear how you feel. So, if you feel like you're explaining so I won't think your crazy, it's too late--I know you`re nuts. If you're just telling me how you feel so I know how to treat you, it's good." He smiled.
"I'm crazy?" asked Hermione with a little hurt in her voice.
"I never took you for being boy-crazy when you were younger, but I see now that having us around kind of meant you had boys around so you didn't get that way. You know, like Padma and Parvati used to be flirting with me all the time. Or the girls who made love potions and stuck them in chocolates. You kind of went the mature route and now you seem to be going through it," said Harry. "I love it though, it's not a bad crazy."
She stopped and pressed into him. "I guess it's the intellectual side that wanted to explain everything and suddenly the explanations were hollow when I felt tingly for a guy," she said. "I'm old enough to talk about it, but feel like I should have two or three years ago."
"You didn't feel that way about Ron?" asked Harry hating to bring it up again.
"No, not really. I mean sometimes. You know when there are those moments when you can feel the tension to say you like someone and snog, but they passed so quickly that it never really registered like it did the past few months," said Hermione. "I liked holding hands with you while we talked when you were sick. It was sweet to be close with a guy you knew fancied you but wasn't demanding anything." She paused as if she recognized the analysis was getting the best of her again. "Can we talk about something else?"
Harry thought for a second and laughed. "How about them Yankees?"
Hermione looked at him. "What the Americans? What are you talking about?"
He was doubled over in laughter. "While I was waiting for you to finish in your room, I flipped on one of the American channels. There was the show called `Seinfeld'. There was one of those pauses where no one knew what to say, right? Then this goofy guy says, `How about them Yankees?' Now I get it," said Harry. "I guess you had to be there."
Hermione was laughing too. "No I get it." They shared the laugh and talked about the currents of the Thames and the lights from Hyde Park.
Harry wondered when they were going to stop talking about every little thing in their relationship. It was not really annoying but he could tell that it could be. "Hey, what about watching some TV or sitting on the balcony in the hotel."
"Sure, I'll come to your place. I'm going to put on my robe and fuzzy slippers first though," she said. "I love my slippers to keep my feet warm."
Harry put his arm around her shoulders as they walked slowly toward the tall hotel a few blocks away. The air was so fresh he enjoyed the walk and taking it in. "So, TV shows or movies?" he asked.
"I don't care really," said Hermione. "Comedies though, no dramas with all that creepy angst and stuff. You know like `Masquerade' or anything like that."
"Never saw it," said Harry.
"Well, it's creepy even if it's a little sexy. I would rather laugh," said Hermione.
The evening was different than the night before. It was interesting to cuddle in a bed watching TV and not get carried away with snogging. Harry found the times they did snog for a few minutes a nice diversion. When Hermione started to drift off in his arms, he thought she was bored, then it dawned on him that she was just that comfortable with him. He never thought he'd find a girl going to sleep against his shoulder to be fulfilling. He took his glasses off and put out the light. It took a while to get used to the sensation of her with him, but he did and drifted off to sleep.
"I can't believe you let me fall asleep on you like that," said Hermione. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, it was nice. I never thought I could do that without going nuts, but you looked so comfortable I couldn't wake you," said Harry. He had awoken to find her lying on the bed next to him as if it were just another night of sleep. He'd smiled, rolled over and drifted off again himself.
"Well, first test of our willpower was successful," said Hermione. "I figured if you hadn't tried anything by two in the morning, I was safe so I didn't go back to my room. I'm going to go shower and get dressed. See you in a bit."
"You know I wanted to snuggle up behind you, but I was afraid you'd leave," said Harry.
"Don't worry, Harry. If you slip up and let your arousal show I'm not running away," said Hermione. "Just because you don't see it, don't think I don't get a little tempted myself. Bye, see you later." She popped out.
After a day taking in the museums, Buckingham Palace, and another nice dinner, Thursday was almost identical to Wednesday. Except that they got carried away snogging and Hermione found it better to go back to her room. Hermione was breathing heavily and needed to close her blouse. "Harry, that was so close to going over the edge. I have to go."
Harry felt the first pangs of wanting his arousal satisfied. It was surprising how little attention they paid to the TV toward the end. He could only cringe. "You are in so much trouble Saturday, ugh."
"I know," she said smiling. "I can't believe how sneaky you were getting my bra off." She giggled. "I need to have better control of you than that."
"Good luck, Granger," he said running his hand across her bare stomach.
"I really have to go," said Hermione. "Don't you ruin Saturday by doing anything in the shower. I'm serious. I know you want to finish what I started, but I want to finish what you started and I'm not going to give in."
"Aw, Hermione, I'm not promising that at all. My balls will be as big as Bludgers by Saturday," he said blushing at his admission.
"And what's wrong with that?" she asked toying with the hair on his chest.
"Hermione, that's just going to far," he said pushing her down again and kissing her from her forehead to her belly button.
"Oh no," said Hermione pushing him away in desperation. "We're sticking to the plan. Good night, Harry. I hate myself for this." She popped out.
Harry lay motionless with his belt unbuckled. She had touched him and that was the beginning of the end of they`re foreplay for the evening. He had put his hands in her knickers too start it, she just sighed and responded, "How do you like it?" He went crazy.
"I'm going to get you back for that." He would try the cold shower, but he knew that was like taking a tylenol for a severed neck. He laughed in anguish. "I'm going to fuck your brains out, Granger," he said on the way to the shower.
Harry laughed as hard as he ever had when he walked into Hermione's room just before noon the next day. She stood on the other side of the room with her wand out in a protective stance. "Bad Harry," she teased. "I'll use it if I have to." She quickly smiled and put her wand on the table. "We were both at fault last night. How did we get going so fast? See what I was afraid of?" She crossed and kissed him. "Hands up where I can see `em buster."
"Yeah, I do. That was insane," he said smiling with his hands in the air playing along. "I have an idea for today."
"Okay, what is that?" asked Hermione.
"Let's get some tickets for the city tour on one of the double-deckers. They're cheap this time of year and we'll see parts of the city we haven't yet," suggested Harry. "It's the warmest day we've had yet. It's like 23."
"Yeah, shorts and t-shirts. I'll need a hat and some sunglasses though if we're outside that long. It's the four hour one, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I think the last one is at two o'clock so I think we should get moving," said Harry.
"Yeah, gimme a second," she went into the bathroom for only minute or two. "Brushed my teethe again to kiss you." She kissed him again only this time more passionately and went to pickup her sweater. "Still might need this when the sun goes down."
He laughed at her in a totally loving way. She made him laugh because for the first time he was seeing Hermione Granger going with the flow. "Hey, come here." She came back. "I love you. It amazes me how much."
She smiled with genuine warmth. "Me too, Harry. Let's go before you make me cry."
The stops around the city hit most historical spots from the earliest days to the most recent. Number 10 Downing Street was cool, because it still was the home for Kingsley Shacklebolt as an advisor to the British Prime Minister. The areas that had once been the site for intense bombing during World War II made Harry think of the destruction the night the war with Voldemort ended. In one hour, two floors of the Ministry of Magic had been destroyed my fighting among Ministry Aurors and Death Eaters. That Halloween had been an incredible night of sadness and discovery. Ultimately, it had allowed Harry to move on and enjoy this moment with his wonderful friend and romantic partner--he shivered as he added lover to the list of titles she held in his life.
"Hermione, I wonder what it was like for the families here to hear the sirens night after night while the ground shook around them," he said. "Kind of sobering to think that Muggles still fight each other for little bits of land and we could take so many of their struggles away."
Hermione looked at Harry. "I never looked at it that way, but you're right. There is a lot we could do.
But if you look at history, they would fight to control us too just like nuclear bombs and oil. Even if it was a battle
that they couldn't win. We're not immune or perfect either. We're just as greedy within our own world.
I'm not sorry to be out of that one though."
He had never thought of Muggle wars in that way before. It was sobering to think of what he missed and what his parents might have seen. He shrugged and returned to looking at Hermione's legs in anticipation of Saturday night. He sighed as he looked her over.
She smiled at him. "What?"
"Just thinking how gorgeous you are," he said softly so as not to be overheard. His thoughts were not that pure, but she would find that out Saturday. He knew the internal laugh had leaked out. Before she asked, he answered, "Okay, I'm thinking about what I want to do to you tomorrow night. Beware, my love, I will do my best to make you beg for more." He was embarrassed when his voice rose a little to loud and couple near them looked on in disbelief.
She blushed. "Wow, I can`t believe you said that in public" she whispered looking off with a smile. "I hope you work out something good." She touched his hand. "You won't be disappointed either." She brushed his groin none too lightly while feigning to stretch across him to look over the side of the upper deck. "Ooh, sorry."
Harry winced and let it pass. He deserved it and he knew it.
The decided to make it an early evening and watch movies. They tried to avoid a repeat of the night before but still managed to find a comfort zone cuddled up watching TV. "I can't wait until you see my dress. I snuck out the other morning and bought one," she divulged. "I might not wear it long, but you'll see me at my best."
"I was wondering where you want to go to eat. I thought the pizza parlor would be nice," said Harry.
"See, you know me already. My dress isn't too fancy for there. Yeah, I like it. Good idea," said Hermione. "We will come full circle."
"Can I fall asleep with you tonight without a repeat of last night, Harry? I changed my mind if we can manage it," she said.
"I think so," he said kissing her on the forehead. "You are in so much trouble though."
"Yeah, well, you're not going to get away unscathed either," said Hermione. "Can you turn that off and shut the light?"
"Sure," he said. He took of his glasses and did as she asked. He fluffed his pillow and cuddled up behind her in a spoon. "Are we okay like this?"
"Yeah, it's nice," she turned and kissed him. "I'm happy, Harry. Really happy."
He simply smiled and let the feeling of her soft bum against him fill his mind. Neither of them mentioned his arousal, but it subsided as he fell away into a deep and satisfying sleep.
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