A/N: I have to laugh when reading some of the reviews! I also like that I am able to surprise some of you with the different twists and turns this story (and my others) take. For that, I would like to thank my lovely muse, even when she is a coward and refuses to face the readers after twisting things up. There are some reviewers (and you all know who you are) that review every chapter, and every story of mine, and for that I am forever grateful. This chapter is dedicated to all of YOU!!
MATCHMAKERS TO THE RESCUE
CHAPTER SIX
Hermione looked at Harry in disbelief. "How dare you do that when I'm telling you I don't want to talk to you?" she asked furiously.
"I dare because I have the right, damn it! Either you come out or I am coming in there. We are having this conversation," he responded just as angry.
He stepped away from the doorframe and pointed his hand at the bedroom. Without looking at him, she walked out of the bathroom, head held high. Once she reached the bed, she grabbed her robe and put it on. She was not having this particular conversation while exposed, thank you very much!
Harry took a moment to compose himself. He was losing his control and he had no right. It was his stupid question and his bloody doubts that had put him in the position he was now in. He hated fighting with Hermione. He did not have a snowball's chance in hell of wining the argument, but he knew he had to explain. Hermione did not deserve the way he was acting, as he had his own damn past. He had acted like a jealous arse and before he knew it, their wonderful vacation was on the rocks. Taking another deep breath, he followed her into the room.
Hermione was pacing the room back and forth, trying to control her own anger. She hated fights. Her rows with Ron had been enough to last her a lifetime. She was not used to fighting with Harry and it hurt her deeply when they did. She had never been as open with anyone about her feelings, but she had bared her soul to him. The few men she had shared her life with paled in comparison to what she felt for Harry and for that reason alone she had to find a way to end the fighting. She took a deep breath and prepared mentally for what was to come.
Harry finally reached her side and looked at her. He could see the anger and hurt shining in her expressive brown eyes. Without thinking, without reasoning, and without a doubt in his heart, he knew what had to be done. He walked up to her and grabbed her by the waist, not giving her a change to react or reject him. He looked at her one more time before he lowered his lips to hers.
Hermione was surprised by his actions, since she had not expected that. Her anger started fading and she was not able to fight off his tenderness. She had expected an angry kiss but his gentleness was her undoing. She thought briefly that she was becoming weak when it came to him, but that thought was quickly buried. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.
Before she knew what was happening, images started pouring into her head and it was a moment before she realized it was his way of making up for their argument. She broke the kiss and leaned her forehead against his chest, keeping him close as she concentrated on the images.
FLASH
Hermione coming down the stairs and finding Harry at the bottom, looking up at her with wonder in his eyes. Hermione smiling at him, but then looking behind him, and her smile growing bigger. Viktor coming to the bottom of the stairs as she walked down to meet him. Harry watching as Viktor took her hand gently into his and kissed it. Viktor putting his hand on her lower back and guiding her into position to enter the big hall. Harry watching for endless moments until his date cleared her throat and he looked at her instead. Harry frowning as she danced and laughed with Viktor. Ron and her arguing over Viktor while he kept his mouth shut despite the fact that he was still upset. Harry frowning when he saw her in the library with Viktor. Harry standing by the lake watching her and Viktor walking hand in hand in the distance. His jealousy eating at him whenever she mentioned him. His gladness when he had departed.
FLASH
Hermione and Ron fighting. Harry trying to make them stop. Ron telling him he had finally asked her out and that Hermione had said yes. His anger and jealousy once more coming to the surface. Ron telling him about their first kiss and Harry listening like a good friend while dying a little inside. Ron and Hermione fighting. Harry no longer willing to stop them and hoping they would breakup. Harry feeling guilty about his feelings. Ron and Hermione kissing and Harry watching from a corner, tears in his eyes. Ron and Hermione fighting and finally breaking up. Hermione crying while Harry hugged her close and whispered understanding words in her ear. Ron and Hermione making up as friends again, and Harry feeling elated they had decided to keep things simple.
FLASH
Hermione telling him about her date with David. Hermione telling him about her date with Patrick. Hermione telling him about other blokes. Harry finding fault with each. Harry hating all of them. Harry wishing he was one of them. Harry wanting to ask her out, but afraid of Ron and Ginny's reactions and his fear she would say no. Harry watching her while she studied. Harry watching her while she read. While she walked down the street. While she laughed. Harry finding her asleep on the couch and covering her with a soft blanket, then whispering he loved her and kissing her cheek softly.
FLASH
He showed her his fear when he dashed into the girl's bathroom to find the troll attacking her. His dread when he had found out she had been petrified by the Basilisk. Flashes of their third year, when they had saved Buckbeak and Sirius together. His immense gratitude for her help during the tournament on their fourth year. His anger and terror when she had been struck by that curse at the Department of Mysteries on their fifth year and he had thought her dead until Neville reassured him otherwise. Their constant fights during sixth year and his apprehension that, at the end, she would be right as usual. The search for the horcruxes and the final battle with Voldemort.
~*~
And so it went for a while. He bared his very soul and deepest feelings to her. He kept nothing hidden. She saw flashes of Cho and Ginny, but none of it seemed that important to him. He had a crush on Cho and his feelings for Ginny had been sincere, but he had not been in love with either one of them. His love had been Hermione's from the very beginning.
When the memories stopped flowing, she kept leaning against him trying to absorb all she had seen. She'd had no idea he had felt that way. She had seen brief flashes of pain and anger in his eyes throughout the years, but she had never imagined she was the reason behind them. She had always thought it was due to the increasing danger around them. Now she knew she had been wrong all along.
Harry waited for her reaction without saying a word. He wasn't sure what to expect since he had shown her more than he had initially intended. Once the memories had started flowing, he hadn't wanted to stop any of them. He wanted her to know the depth of his feelings for her. He had never loved anyone the way he loved her and she had a right to know. He knew in his heart that he would love the woman in his arms until the day he died.
Hermione finally lifted her head and looked deep into his eyes. There were unshed tears in her eyes and they finally fell when she blinked. He hugged her closer to him and kissed the corners of her eyes, tasting the saltiness on her skin.
"Oh, Harry, I had no idea you felt that way," she whispered.
"I thought maybe you needed to know."
"You didn't have to do that, you know."
"I know, and neither did you. I am sorry love. I had no right to act as I did before."
"Let's forget about it, okay? It's over and done with and there's no reason to dwell on it."
"I've loved you from the moment I met you, Mione. I just didn't realize it then since I didn't know what love felt like. Throughout the years, you showed me what love was and as time went by, my feelings for you kept growing until I thought I would burst from them."
"No one knew? You never talked to anyone about it?"
"I had no one to talk to! Ron would have killed me if he knew and I didn't have any close friends that I felt I could talk to."
"You could have talked to me and saved us both a lot of anguish. I also hated seeing you with Cho and Ginny. And the others once we were out of school," she confessed.
"Why didn't you say something then?"
"It just never occurred to me that you would return my feelings. I am nothing like the other girls you dated. They were all beautiful and sophisticated. Everything I'm not," she finished and looked down at his chest again.
He took her hand and led her out to the balcony. She leaned against the rail facing the ocean, with her back to him. He watched her for a moment, wondering again why she couldn't see how beautiful she truly was. He walked up to her and hugged her from behind. She sighed and leaned against his chest and rested her hands on top of his at her waist.
"I really want to know why you think that, Hermione. I do not see any fault with your looks. You are a beautiful, intelligent, and charming woman and any bloke would be lucky to have you. Granted, they wouldn't live for long, but I'm sure there are tons of men out there dying to ask you out."
She chuckled at his words and he smiled. He kissed the top of her head and snuggled closer to her. It was a beautiful starry night and a pleasant ocean breeze could be felt.
"If that's true, how come no one at school really asked me out?"
"Well," Harry said and cleared his throat. He might as well be honest about that, too. "There was a sort of unspoken death threat for any guy above fifth year that came too close to you," he finished weakly and waited for the explosion that was sure to follow.
He did not have to wait long. He knew his Hermione too well.
"What?" she asked angrily and more than a little surprised by the news. She tried to turn around in his arms, but he kept her where she was. He was not about to lose any of his important bits, and Ron was not there to get his due either.
"Like I said, it was mostly unspoken, but all the guys at school knew they would have to face Ron or me, if not both, if any of them dared to hurt you. I guess most of them were smart enough to stay clear of danger."
"Harry James Potter, I should hex you both into the next century!" she said as comprehension finally hit her. How dare they do that to her!
"We were only trying to protect you! I'm a guy Hermione and I know what most teenage guys feel when they have a beautiful girl in front of them. It is not the top head they think with, if you know what I mean. We didn't want anyone trying to take advantage of you."
"And you didn't think I could take care of myself? I've been fighting for survival for years, Harry, and it really pisses me off that you thought I needed a keeper."
"I'd do it again in an instant if I knew it would keep you safe. I am not sorry for keeping the others away. No one had the chance to really hurt you or play with your feeling and for that, I am grateful. You were too important to me then, and you are more important to me now. I would kill anyone that put a finger on you with intentions to hurt you," he finished darkly and she had no doubt that he meant every word.
She sighed again, the fight once more leaving her body. How could she be mad at him for loving her so much? Yes, he had acted like a prat. Yes, he had been patronizing. Yes, he had taken her feeling for granted. Nevertheless, in the end, it was all due to his love for her and she could not be angry at him for that.
They had both been a bit stupid in dealing with the situation. She could have said something to him about her feelings instead of simply letting time go by. She could have been honest with him instead of pretending she was happy when he went out with other women. They were both at fault.
"Do you hate me?" he asked softly when he couldn't deal with her silence anymore.
"I should," she answered simply.
He smiled and kissed the top of her head once again. "But you don't."
"No, I don't."
"Is this our first official row?"
"I think it is."
"Are we still mad at each other?"
"I'm not sure."
"I don't want to fight anymore, Mione. This is our last night here, and tomorrow we go back to London and our daily routine. I don't want to go back being mad."
"I don't either, Harry. I don't want the last night of our holiday to end like this either."
"We could always make up," he suggested as his hands began untying her robe and his mouth nibbled at her earlobe.
"You mean you want to shag," she said attempting a serious tone, but a smile tickled her lips.
"They do say make-up sex is the best," he told her as he parted her robe and cupped her bare breasts in his hands lovingly.
"You still think with your lower head!"
"I haven't heard you complaining about that, love. Besides, I have your best interest at heart."
"I'm not daft, Harry!" she told him and chuckled.
"No, you're not. You're hot, and sexy, and loving, and wonderful, and I love you to pieces!"
"Sweet talker."
"Mmm, is it working?"
"I don't know. Why don't you try to find out?" she suggested huskily leaning fully against him and feeling the beginnings of his arousal in the small of her back.
"I think I will."
One of his hands left her breast and moved softly down her belly. He reached her feminine lips and his skillful fingers proved between them, finding her already wet. Her response to him was incredible and finding her warm and wet for him made him harden even more. While his fingers played with her, his other hand took her robe off, leaving her naked.
She had to admit she loved the feel of the ocean breeze on her naked body. She cast a quick glance at their surroundings, glad that no one seemed to be out in their balconies. The sun had fallen and they were not in danger of being spotted, but she was still careful. She murmured a couple of quick spells to further protect their privacy in case things got a bit loud or out of hand. She also did the contraception charm before they lost their heads and all sense of decorum.
Harry kept caressing her with his hands, keeping her in place at all times. He stepped away from her and removed his boxer shorts. Once he was done, he moved closer to her again and started kissing her nape and her back. Her hands were holding on to the railing as she murmured words of encouragement and voiced her pleasure at his kisses. He then grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back a bit. He put his hand on her upper back and pushed her down gently, so that she was leaning against the railing. Her eyes widened when he grabbed her waist and slowly pushed into her wetness from behind.
She moaned loudly as she felt him moving in and out of her. At first slowly, savoring every thrust. And then faster, as she encouraged him with her movement and words. Harry was lost in her heat. The ocean breeze played with her hair and cooled them off. One of her hands left the railing and moved to his waist, holding him closer to her.
"Harder, Harry. I want you to make me come hard."
Her words, so uncharacteristic in nature, and uttered in such a low and sultry voice, were his undoing. He pushed harder into her, losing all inhibitions and letting go of his hunger for her. She kept calling out his name, moaning and groaning as she climbed higher. One of his hands sneaked around her waist and went into her feminine folds once more, playing with her hard nub as he pushed into her repeatedly.
With a guttural cry, she dissolved in his hands, her orgasm as strong and hard as she had begged of him. He pushed into her several more times, prolonging her pleasure a few more seconds until he was unable to hold back anymore and his seed spilled into her. He called out her name and held her closer to him and his body shook with the strength of his release.
He pulled out of her reluctantly and she finally turned in his arms and kissed him with abandon. Her fingers went into his hair immediately to play with the soft tresses. His hands cupped her arse and pulled her closer to him. He started walking backwards into their bedroom and finally reached the bed. He lowered her body to the mattress and lay on top of her, kissing her back with fervor.
Desperate caresses and kisses awakened their passion once more and before they knew it, they were making love again, this time looking into each other's eyes. They both noticed the strange light that seemed to surround the other's pupil, but said nothing as their loving increased. This time, they came at the same time, still looking into each other's eyes, still noticing the strange luminous light in their pupils, and loving each other fiercely. Harry collapsed on top of her, but quickly moved onto his back and pulled her with him. She lay her head on his chest and felt the rapid beating of his heart against her ear.
Moments later, fully sated and satisfied, they fell into a peaceful sleep.
~*~
"Ron," Luna called from the bedroom the next morning.
"Yes, dear?" he asked as he came back into their room. He had been standing at the balcony watching the ocean.
"I think I should warn you about something that happened last night before we go down to breakfast to meet the others."
"Is something wrong?" he asked as he moved closer to her and frowned at her serious tone.
"Maybe or maybe not, but I want you prepared all the same."
"You're scaring me, love."
"Oh, no need to be, Ronald. After all, it is all in the past. Last night, Harry and Hermione revealed to each other many things through their memories. Maybe more than they intended, but it is done now. Should either of them seem a little cold or distant with you or Ginny today just ignore it, since it isn't important."
"How do you know this? Have you talked to Hermione?"
"I knew something had happened. I woke up with that feeling and I called her a few minutes ago to make sure they were okay. I was right."
"So they are mad at me?"
"Not really, but they now know a lot more about each other than ever before, so it might still be a good idea keep the jokes to a minimum at the table during breakfast. Hermione is a tad mad at both of you for keeping the boys at bay back in school."
"Aw, shit, did she have to find out about that? I'm going to kill Harry before she kills me. Luna, I love you and I want you to know I would have loved to marry you and have children with you. I'm sorry we won't make it to the altar after all," he said and hugged her tightly.
Luna laughed at his silliness and hugged him back. "Don't be so dramatic, Ronald. She won't kill you. She might lift you up into that palm tree again and leave you there the rest of the day, but she won't kill you. She knows it would make me very sad and she likes me."
"Don't mention that bloody palm tree to me again! I hate palm trees. First I get splinters in my arse from shagging against one, and then I get put on top of one as if I was a bloody Christmas tree star!"
Luna laughed at him once more and he joined her in the silliness. He kissed her gently and smiled at her when they pulled apart.
"Do you know what I love most about you?" he asked her.
"No, but I'd love for you to tell me," she replied.
"I can be myself around you, silly prat that I am, and you still love me for me. You understand me and you support me in everything I do. I've never had that with anyone before."
"I love you for the same reasons, Ronald. I can be Looney Lovegood around you and its okay. You also love me for me."
"That I do, sweetheart. That I do."
And just to prove it to her, he kissed her again.
~*~
Harry walked into their bedroom in time to see Hermione hang up the phone. "Who called so early, love?"
"Luna. She had one of her premonitions and called to make sure we were okay."
"That was sweet of her. What did you tell her?"
"That we had shared many memories and that I threatened bodily harm to both you and Ron, but ended up making love with you instead. She's still going to warn Ron not to mess with me in the next few days, though."
"Should I be worried?"
"No, I don't think so," she said and frowned a little at him. "Why do you ask?"
"Just wanted to make sure, since you're like `Super Witch' now," he said jokingly and ducked as half of the bed pillows came flying at him with a mere movement of her hand.
"I'll show you `Super Witch'," she said as she raced after him into the living room.
Once again, they were late to meet their friends for breakfast.
~*~
A/N: There you go! I hope that satisfies those of you that wanted to know what would happen if they shared some of their memories and were a bit mad at Harry for his previous behavior. More Ginny and Draco in the next chapter. Until next time.
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