A/N: All of the characters you recognize belong to the wonderful mind of our beloved author, JK Rowling. I promise to put them back when I am done playing with them.
I guess I also wanted to address a couple of concerns some of you seem to have. This story has some OOC parts, and that's where some of the creative aspect of it shows. I also wanted to address another angry comment saying I'm making Hermione look like a slut. I was surprised by this, since she is clearly only flirting with Harry and no one else. Not sure where I failed and gave that wrong impression of her. Hermione is NOT a slut, and I would never portray her as such since she is my favorite character of the books.
As far as the belly ring and the tattoo, I knew that would raise many eyebrows, maybe that's why I did it. My favorite part was the significance of it. The little make-up (and it is little) that she now wears as well as her more manageable hair do, are all part of growing up. Women have been vain since the beginning of time and will continue to be so. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and it does not mean she isn't the same person inside, it just means that she cares a bit more about her looks.
Again, thanks for all of the reviews and comments. They are appreciated and nothing is taken the wrong way. I am certainly looking forward to more of them, since this chapter is also OOC in some parts.
Dinner For Two
Hermione took the door attendant's hand and got out of the car. Harry quickly followed and smiled his thanks at him. After paying the driver, he turned his attention to Hermione.
"Shall we?" he asked gesturing towards the steps leading up to the restaurant's door.
She nodded and took in her surroundings. There was a bit of a line at the door as she had suspected. Harry put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. As they were ascending the steps, several flashes went off and blinded Hermione for a moment.
"Bloody hell," she whispered.
"Language!" Harry said laughing. "You've gotten really bad about that, you know."
"It's yours and Ron's fault. I can't very well live with the two of you and not pick it up," she explained.
"True. Let's go in before it gets worse. It's Friday and the paparazzi is usually here trying to catch something."
"Well, if you don't want them to take our picture, you might want to keep your arms to yourself," she told him looking at where his fingers rested on her waist.
Flash
"I should just kiss you and see how crazy they go," he told her in good spirits.
"Harry, don't you dare. We would become a media circus once again."
He smiled wickedly at her, kissed her on the cheek, and moved to her ear. "Spoil sport."
Flash
Hermione felt her body tremble and his warm breath touched her earlobe. "You're a bad man, Potter."
"But you love me all the same, Mione," he said smiling and looking into her eyes. He forgot were he was for a moment, and he would have kissed her for real had the server not chosen that instant to interrupt them.
Flash
They heard the many groans as they were whisked inside the restaurant at once. Hermione felt a bit guilty, but then she remembered exactly why they had certain privileges and forgot all about the guilt. They had saved their very world, for Merlin's sake.
They were led to a table on the back that was secluded and very private. Thanks to a beautifully carved room divider and some strategically placed potted plants, they could have dinner and enjoy their time together without people staring at them. Hermione was glad for that since she was not in a sharing mood. She had only been gone a few days, but she had missed him dearly.
Harry pulled out a chair for her, and waited for her to sit down. Instead of sitting across the table from her, he pulled his chair around and sat at her side. He ordered a bottle of wine while Hermione concentrated on the menu.
"What are you going to order?" she asked him. "This is my first time here and I'm not sure what to get."
"Do you want me to order for you? I've tasted just about everything they serve here and it's all very good."
"Yes, that would be fine. Thanks." She said this still looking at the menu and avoiding his gaze.
He could tell by her dry tone that she was not pleased. "Something wrong?"
"Not a thing."
"Mmm hmm." He looked at his own menu and smiled. His heart was elated that she was jealous.
Hermione peaked at him and saw the smile. That made her even madder. She had figured the restaurant was a frequent stop for him. He was on a first-name basis with the staff and it meant he brought many of his dates here. All of a sudden, she was not so hungry anymore and laid her menu down. She looked out the window and sighed quietly. She refused to listen to the voice inside her head. She was NOT jealous.
Harry could not stand it any longer. He put his menu down and called her name softly. When she did not turn around, he brought his hand up and cupped her chin, making her look at him.
"Stop thinking so much, okay. I know what you are thinking and it is true. I am not going to apologize for that. But," he said as she was about to turn away again, "tonight is about you and you only."
Hermione looked deep into his eyes and saw the truth there. She nodded.
Flash
He let go of her chin and looked at the window at the same time she did. Apparently, the paparazzi were still trying to get a good shot of them. She lifted her hand casually and waved it at the window murmuring some words. The spell made the glass darken considerably, and while they could still see out, the photographer would not be able to see in.
"Wow," Harry said impressed. "You've really gotten good at casting charms without your wand, Mione."
"Comes with the territory, I guess." She uttered the words nonchalantly, but inside she was brimming with pride at his praise.
The wine arrived and after tasting it, Harry approved of it and the server poured them each a glass.
"Mr. Potter, our head chef knows that you are here with Miss Granger. He has asked me to tell you that he is preparing a special meal in your honor. He will bring it out himself when it is done."
Hermione was impressed. Harry was right; their fame did have its rewards.
"Tell him we appreciate it and we're looking forward to it."
He nodded and walked away. Harry turned back to Hermione and smiled. "See? What did I tell you? There is no reason to feel guilty or bad for the things people want to do for us. We paid a high price for it."
She nodded. "It makes me a bit uncomfortable, but at the same time I understand where you are coming from."
"You know we're going to make headlines tomorrow, right?"
"Harry, we've been making headlines for years! Even back in school we were romantically linked by that hideous woman. Tomorrow will be no different."
"See, that's what I like so much about you, Mione. I can be myself and relax because I know you're out with me because you genuinely like me, and not for being noticed by the media."
She cocked her head to the side. "Are you implying that the women you date only go out with you because you're Harry Potter?"
"Something like that," he said a bit embarrassed.
"That's impossible," she said outraged.
"Is it?" He was dying to hear what she had to say on the subject.
"Of course it is! You are handsome, charming and intelligent. I would be honored to go out with you, Harry James, and they should be as well."
He smiled. He could not help it. She was so cute when she got excited about something. When she realized what she had just said, she blushed.
"Thank you, Mione. That was nice for my ego." He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. Before she could pull apart, it happened again.
Flash
"Oh, for the love of god," she said exasperated as she pulled her chair back.
Hermione turned around quickly and there was fire in her eyes. She got up from the chair and raised the hem of her dress, exposing the wand holster she always wore under her dresses or skirts. She pointed it at someone Harry could not see.
"Accio camera," she said and the camera flew into her hands. She quickly tapped it with her wand and smoke came out of it. He knew the film was ruined beyond repair. She threw the camera back at the poor guy and hit him square in the chest. He caught it and groaned.
He was immediately escorted out, none to gently. Harry watched mesmerized as she put the wand back in its holster and pulled the hem down. He has also gotten a good glimpse of her smooth thigh. He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat a bit.
"That was brilliant," he told her admiringly.
"Thanks. It felt good to do it as well," she told him as she sat down again.
"I didn't know you still had the holster."
"Why would I get rid of it when you had it made especially for me? Besides, how attractive would I look if I were to carry the wand in my hand while dressed like this? It was a wonderful gift and I have gotten a lot of use out of it," she explained simply.
Harry had the wand holsters made for all three of them right before the war. It had made it easier to carry their wands when they were backpacking from place to place trying to find the Horcruxes. They could wear them over their jeans and it was by their hands at all times without them running the risk of losing it on long treks or climbs.
"I didn't know you had it under that dress either. You can't see it bulging and that dress is skin tight on you," he said running his eyes appreciatively over her figure.
She smiled at him. "That's were magic comes in. I can charm it so it isn't noticeable at all. Do you like the dress?" she asked at the last minute throwing him off.
"You know I do, so don't even bother fishing for compliments. You look smashing and you know it. I am sure you noticed the looks on the faces of the crowd and we walked in. The women wanted to claw your eyes out and the men just wanted to rip the dress right off." He took a deep sip of his wine when he finished talking.
"Harry, how barbaric," she gasped.
"I am only stating the obvious."
"Are you saying, since you're a man and all, that you would do the same?" she asked and looked at him over the rim of her glass.
He was saved from answering by the chef, who chose that moment to come by their table with two steaming plates. He placed the plates in front of them with a flourish and smiled at both of them expectantly.
Hermione looked at the beautifully prepared dish and smiled. If it tasted as good as it looked, she would be in heaven. Since she knew she was expected to try it first, she cut a small piece of meat and placed it in her mouth. She closed her eyes as the flavors exploded inside of her mouth. She gave a little moan as she chewed.
Harry watched her and shifted in his seat once again. He was going to hire the chef and bring him home with him just to see that look on Hermione's face everyday. She looked like she was in ecstasy and he grew hungry just watching her. However, his hunger was of a different kind.
"Do you like it then?" the chef asked timidly. She had also enchanted him. What else was new, Harry thought sarcastically.
"Like it? I love it. This is splendid, chef," she said giving him a sincere smile.
"Enjoy then. I will send dessert a bit later. I made it especially for you, mademoiselle."
Okay, so he was not going to hire him after all, thought Harry.
"Thank you."
The server put another bottle of wine on the table after uncorking it and removed the empty one. Harry filled their glasses once again before turning to his own meal. Once he tasted it, he had to admit it was delicious.
They continued talking as they ate and Hermione told Harry all about her trip. By the time she was done, they had finished the main course and the server had brought over dessert. The plating was incredible.
"Oh," Hermione said as she looked at it and smiled. On the plate was a chocolate cake covered in raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries. When she cut into it, warm chocolate sauce oozed from the inside. She took a bite and closed her eyes once again, savoring it.
Harry cursed under his breath. He had never realized how sexy Hermione could be when she ate. His arousal was beginning to bother him a bit and he knew there was nothing he could do about it. He wondered how in the bloody hell a person could be jealous of chocolate cake.
"It's that good, huh?" he asked watching her.
She nodded.
"It's sinful. Rich and exotic. It melts in your mouth and you want to go on savoring it for as long as possible. The combination of flavors and texture is almost erotic in nature. I would dare say it's better than a good shag!" she finished and smiled at him, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
If Harry had thought his erection was bothering him before, he had been dead wrong. He was so hard it wasn't even funny. He was glad the tablecloth covered his lap or he would have some explaining to do.
"Is that so," he all but croaked.
"Taste it and you'll see."
He nodded and took a bite out of his dessert. He had to admit it was good, but he had his doubts about the shag part. He knew without a doubt that being with her would make his other physical encounters pale in comparison.
After eating in silence for a few minutes, Hermione took a delicate sip of wine and looked over at Harry.
"You never answered my question," she told him as she set the glass down.
He was shortly lost. "What question was that?"
"The one about ripping my dress off," she said as she licked some chocolate sauce from her lips.
Harry almost chocked on his cake. He had thought she had forgotten about that. He swallowed before answering, taking his time as he did so.
"Do you honestly want me to answer that, Hermione?" he finally asked.
She looked into his eyes and saw raw hunger in them. Did she dare? Oh, hell, why not?
"I'd like to know the answer, Harry, otherwise I wouldn't have asked," she replied daringly.
Harry put his fork down and looked at her. "Then maybe this will answer your question," he said as he leaned towards her and kissed her.
Only this time it was not a bare brush of his lips, but a deep and fully satisfying kiss. He drew back after a few minutes and they were both panting slightly.
"Does that answer your question?" he asked in a voice deep with arousal.
She looked surprised, but she recovered quickly. She ran her tongue over her lips, as if savoring the taste of him and smiled. His eyes followed her tongue and the need grew in him. He wondered when had she become such a seductress, and why he had not noticed before now.
"Yes, it most definitely did."
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