A Day At The Park
The Terrace Garden
Hermione's flat was situated in the neighborhood of Bayswater in a lovely old Victorian house that had been converted into three flats. Harry remembered that the estate agent who'd helped Hermione with her search had gone on and on about what an excellent find the place was. She'd said the location was ideal, as it was only a short walk from the famous Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Palace. She practically gushed about the closeness of the many restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and Whiteley's shopping centre. Mrs. Franks, the estate agent, had also informed them that the area was also home to a number of trendy bars and pubs, and popular tourist spots like Oxford Street, Baker Street, Notting Hill and Portobello Market. Yet none of those superior trappings had sold Hermione on place. What sold Hermione on her flat was the doting old landlady Mrs. Prentiss. Mrs. Prentiss, who lived in the first floor flat, had lived in the house for nearly fifty years. She and her husband had moved in right after they married. When Mr. Prentiss had passed on five years previous and Mrs. Prentiss found it to hard to make ends meet, she'd converted the house into three separate flats, as she couldn't bring herself to sell the place.
Mrs. Prentiss was the consummate grandmotherly type who called everyone "dear" and had an endless supply homemade treats. She was forever puttering around in the back garden of the house where she seemed to have devoted her spare time to recreating the Kensington gardens. Something about the older lady had endeared her to Hermione from the moment they met, and vice versa. Within minutes of their meeting, the two were carrying on as if they were old friends. Hermione had taken the flat on the spot and a week after she'd moved in she and Mrs. Prentiss had installed what they referred to as a quaint little terrace garden on the small terrace that abutted her bedroom. Hermione often went out on her garden terrace when she need to clear her head or simply wanted to enjoy a moment of solitude. It was here that Harry was certain he would find her when he apparated to her flat minutes after leaving Dudley and Melissa.
Harry had no idea what to expect when he turned up at Hermione's flat but if he were to judge by her rather abrupt exit and the rather pointed manner in which she hadn't spoken to or looked at him before she left, Harry imagined she was more than a bit put out with him at the moment. He reckoned that she was upset with him for having not told her about his running into Ron. He knew a moment's hesitation as he passed through her tiny foyer and made his way down the hall towards the bedroom. The picture of Draco Malfoy being soundly slapped round the face appeared followed closely by the image of Ron being attacked by canaries in a deserted Hogwarts classroom. Hermione's temper was quite a force to be reckoned with when she was sufficiently riled. Harry imagined her ire was more than adequately up on this occasion. Just as he reached the door to the bedroom another thought crossed Harry's mind. The occasion in which Hermione had sent a flock of vicious canaries after Ron had come after she had seen his divining for some unknown ore down Lavender Brown's throat. Was it possible that seeing Ron and Lavender together was the cause of Hermione's sudden departure? Could it be that she still had some residual feelings for Ron?
Harry stopped dead in his tracks as he contemplated this new revelation. Was it possible that Hermione still cared for Ron…in a romantic way? Though he was loathed to admit it, Harry imagined that it was more than likely. As near as Harry could tell Ron and Hermione had been heading down the relationship road since at least third year. That totaled out to around five years of devoted fondness and two years of committed togetherness. Could he honestly expect their five months of constant snogging couldn't compare to that? As he stood there lost in thought, he felt the familiar sensation of Crookshanks rubbing against his legs. Absentmindedly Harry bent and gave the cat a vigorous scratch behind the ears. Crookshanks purred with satisfaction and something in the sound was strangely comforting. Taking a deep breath and vowing to take whatever Hermione did or said to him like a man, Harry gripped the doorknob and stepped across the threshold into Hermione's bedroom.
Harry caught sight of Hermione exactly where he'd expected her to be, perched on the cushioned chaise that sat in the left-hand corner of her terrace garden. Harry crossed the bedroom quietly and stepped out onto the terrace. Without thinking what to say or where to start, he called out to Hermione gently.
"Hermione, are you alright…you left without saying anything…I…I was worried about you."
His words were greeted by a long unbroken silence. Just as Harry was about to speak again Hermione's voice permeated the air.
"I'm sorry I worried you."
"You don't have to be sorry…I just wanted to make sure that you were okay…with seeing…after everything that happened."
Harry stopped just short of mentioning Ron and Lavender by name. Hermione emitted a dry laugh as she picked up the thread of the conversation.
"I don't suppose you offered any sort of explanation for my peculiar behavior to Dudley and Melissa before you came after me."
Harry shook his head. Then immediately began to wonder if Hermione was able to see his movements in the darkness that shrouded them. Apparently, Hermione had been able to see him because at the precise moment that Harry opened his mouth to vocalize his response Hermione said.
"I suppose they'll think me quite mad after this…"
Hermione's voice trailed off and Harry replied hastily as he covered the distance separating them and dropped down on the edge of the chaise beside Hermione.
"They'll think no such thing…Dudley knows all about you, Ron and me. And I've told him a fair bit about our Hogwarts Days as well. I'm bound to have mentioned Ron and Lavender carrying on in sixth year at least once. Dudley will explain it all and he and Melissa will understand all about how seeing them together would be upsetting to you…"
Harry's comforting words were cut off by Hermione's rather sharp tone.
"Why would seeing Ron and Lavender together upset me?"
Hermione had sat up and was staring pointedly at Harry. Stammering he replied.
"Well…er…its natural isn't it…to be a little upset seeing a person you've cared for with someone else for the first time."
Hermione frowned a bit as she answered.
"Yes, but…"
Harry interjected.
"And I understand…I really do. You and Ron have a history; I respect that so I know it'll have been difficult to see him out with anyone least of all Lavender especially after sixth year…"
Harry's considerate diatribe was cut off by Hermione's near apoplectic screech of a reply.
"YOU THINK I LEFT THE WAY I DID BECAUSE I SAW RON WITH LAVENDER!"
Harry stared at Hermione in amazement and asked.
"That wasn't the reason?"
Hermione sprang up from the chaise as if she'd been just been poked in the bum with a needle.
"Of course that wasn't the reason!"
Harry frowned in confusion.
"But you saw Ron and Lavender and you froze…you dug your nails into my bloody arm…if you weren't upset over seeing Ron with Lavender what in the name of Merlin had you acting the way you were?"
"There I am walking along arm and arm having a laugh with my best friend and boyfriend when I look up and see my other best friend and ex-boyfriend who I chucked for you walking down the street. I haven't seen or heard from Ron in nearly five months… naturally I was shocked I had no idea how Ron would react to seeing us together."
Hermione paused and Harry nodded as he processed her words. Hermione took a breath and continued.
"I was worried about how Ron would react to seeing us out together. I thought he might still be narked about everything that went on between us all…I didn't want you to having a row or anything. Then I realized that you two had seen each other and talked things out and …and…I felt left out."
Hermione's voice dropped low on those last words. Harry eyed her quizzically as he asked.
"Left out, why would you feel left out?"
Hermione shrugged.
"I never had very many friends before Hogwarts…to be honest I didn't have any friends before Hogwarts. I have always been an outcast of sorts…you and Ron were the first people who ever took the time to get to know me. Seems we all had that in common being…outcasts that is. That's why you lot have always been so important to me. I knew when I ended things with Ron that I'd probably lost that friendship for good. I reckoned you lost him too but I hoped that maybe given time we'd be able to work things out…but when I caught on that you and Ron had already talked I remembered that I hadn't always been your friend. You two got on quite nicely without me before not hard to imagine you doing it again..."
Harry interrupted Hermione's explanation by rising from the chaise and pulling Hermione into his arms. He looked directly into her eyes as he said.
"I don't know if Ron and I will ever get back the friendship we had before but I do know that they'll be no getting on without you…its quite hard to function without one's heart…and that's what you are to me…my heart."
Harry leaned forward and captured Hermione's mouth in a tender kiss. Sweeping his tongue into her mouth and tasting the mint of the toothpaste, she was so fond of using; Harry moaned and clutched Hermione tighter to him. Hermione reflexively responded to the kiss reveling in the now familiar taste of Harry. As the kiss, deepened Harry ran his hands over the curves of Hermione's body that he'd learned so well in the past months. Turning his attentions to her neck Harry licked and nuzzled his way to her collarbone causing Hermione to moan and arch her body into his. As he made his way, back up Hermione caught his face between her hands and said in a breathless tone.
"Harry I think we should…"
Harry nodded as he spoke in a gruff whisper.
"I know…we should stop…"
Hermione cut across him and said.
"Actually I was going to say I think we should go inside…to bed."
Harry's eyes widened.
"I thought you wanted to wait."
Hermione entwined her fingers with Harry's and said.
"I think we've waited long enough."
As the words left her mouth Harry pulled Hermione back into his arms and kissed her until they were both panting with desire. Lips fused together they stumbled through the open terrace doors into Hermione's bedroom. The doors swung shut against the chill night air as they fumbled to the bed leaving a trail of clothing behind them as they went. Hermione ran her hands over Harry's exposed chest and began to trace her fingers across the hard muscles of his abdomen. At the feel of her hands on his bare skin, he sucked in a breath of air. Her lips followed the course set by her hands across his chest and arms. Hermione playfully nibbled the pulse point at the base of Harry's neck and he moaned her name softly. Smiling wickedly she trailed kisses across his neck and shoulders, he slipped his fingers into her thick brown curls and drew her mouth to his in a deep passionate kiss. He wanted to feel her skin next to his own; he wasted no time in removing the remainder of her clothing before laying her back on the bed to admire her in all her glory.
He took in the sight of her pouty lips slightly swollen from his kisses, her smooth golden skin, the rise of her full breasts, God, she was gorgeous. He stared at her amazed at the fact that this beautiful woman loved him. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her into his embrace. His mouth sought hers and they kissed. He allowed his hands to cover her body caressing her; he lowered his head and slowly licked the rise of her breasts as his left hand explored the damp heat at the juncture of her thighs. Hermione half-moaned half-whispered his name.
"Harry"
His response was a deep breathy whisper as he busied himself with caressing her inner thigh.
He flicked his tongue gently across her pink nipples and whispered.
"Gods Hermione you are so beautiful"
Harry drew a nipple into his mouth and began to nibble and suck until he had her writhing beneath him. Hermione knotted her hands into fists in his hair pulling his head closer to her chest. He gently slipped his probing fingers deeper inside her center and continued his torturous caresses. Hermione shuddered and her breathing quickened as Harry kissed and caressed her body, the desire he was creating in her was almost unbearable. She gave herself over to the feelings flooding her body and her senses. Hermione pulled Harry's lips to her own and before she kissed him whispered.
"Harry please…I need you…I need you now!"
Harry groaned as he felt her hand close around his hardened length and began stroking him. Stifling a groan Harry repositioned himself above Hermione and in one swift movement drove into Hermione's welcoming heat. They both moaned in ecstasy as they came together for the first time. Harry hadn't wanted their first time to be rushed but the feel of Hermione wrapped around him and the sound of approving moans and cries of pleasure proved too much for him. The pace of their coupling increased and all to soon he felt Hermione tensing beneath him calling out his name as she fell over the precipice of pleasure. Not long after Harry joined her in the oblivion of bliss as he too succumbed to his own release. A s their breathing returned to normal Harry drew Hermione into his arms and cradled her head against his chest, holding her as they both drifted off to sleep.
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