Unofficial Portkey Archive

That's The Way Love Goes

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

AN: Written for oh_honestleigh for 2007 smutty_claus exchange (Original Post: Here ).

A huge thank you to lily_rose21. for the beta and amazing help. Thanks!

Passages in italics are flashbacks. :)

That's The Way Love Goes

Present Time

December 23, 2019

Harry Potter looked around at his new apartment. There were several untouched boxes all over the place and except for an old Muggle clock, the walls were still empty.

Harry looked again at the clock on the wall. It was already 05:15 pm.
She was late.

"This is it." he said out aloud, allowing himself to a small but content smile. "This is it." He was nervous yet serene, if that made sense. He had waited for this moment for so long.

Harry shut his eyes tight, releasing a nervous and breathless laugh as he let them pop up again a moment later. Thinking....how much can your dreams and wishes change, but still continue the same?

~***~

March 1st, 2004

"I love Ron, Harry" she said quietly, "and, sometimes we just have to change."

~***~

Harry had never understood or accepted that someone had to change themselves to please someone else. It just seemed wrong.

And looking back, he realized how Hermione had changed; how she had turned into something he couldn't recognize. Maybe it had been during the Horcruxes' hunt. Maybe it had begun even earlier, in their sixth year.

~***~

"That day I realized it wasn't her who had changed, but you."

~***~

Harry shook his head to vanish the memories and then lowered his gaze, looking at his left hand. The ring's mark still could be seen. It had taken too long.

His mind went to his children and he smiled sadly at the thought of how unfair he and Ginny had been with them. And he pitied Ginny for trying to use them to save their marriage.

'You can't heal what is already dead, Ginevra.'

~***~

Ron and Hermione's House,
2008
Hugo's first birthday.

Ginny looked briefly in Hermione's direction before turning her gaze back to him. "We need to save our marriage before it's too late."

~***~

Ginny had been afraid of something that he hadn't realized yet.

~***~

Ministry of Magic, 2012
Hermione's office

"I hope you are not trying to steal my wife, Potter!" Ron Weasley said jokingly before moving toward his wife and giving her a small peck on the lips.

~***~

"Harry?" a quiet voice spoke behind him, breaking his reverie.
Harry turned around and then he saw her.

Hermione, she had a small smile on her lips.

"I didn't hear you entering."

She bit her lip, but kept silent. There was a strange nervousness in the air.
"You are late."

"He signed." they spoke at same time.

They laughed nervously.

Silence.

"Ron signed the papers." she repeated looking into his green eyes.
He felt his throat going dry.

"Did he?"

She nodded.

"So this means that--"

"We're divorced. Ron and I aren't a couple anym--"

He interrupted her with a kiss.

Their second kiss.

~***~

December 2nd, 2015
Harry and Ginny's house, the kitchen.

And then neither of them realized who moved first; she was in his arms, and he had his lips on hers, his hands inter woven in her brown locks as her arms wrapped around his neck.

~***~

"H-Harry..."

"No," he moaned, bringing her body even closer to his.

His lips started to travel up and down her neck, and then her jaw line, just before they finally meet her mouth once again.

He felt her lips parting beneath his as if in invitation. Harry's tongue slithered into her mouth smoothly, in a caressing, gentle movement.
His felt inebriated.

She moaned against his mouth, and he let his fingers lose them selves in her hair.

They parted. Their breathing was erratic. They smiled at each other. They were shinning.

Harry gazed at her brightened brown eyes and his eyes flicked to her swollen lips. Their lips touched again.

It was demanding and urgent, enveloping.

That single time in his kitchen had been both a blessing and a curse.
Now, it was freedom.

~***~

And he was terrified.

~***~

Reluctantly, as the need for air started to become an issue, Harry broke the kiss, letting his lips hover over hers.

"Hermione," he murmured against her lips, "my Hermione." Harry nibbled her lower lip lightly. "My Hermione."

"My Harry," Hermione whispered back as she put a hand on his cheek, caressing it gently with her thumb. "My sweet Harry."

He gazed down to her eyes and smiled. "I have so much to-"

"Shhh" She placed a finger on her lips, causing her to stop. "Not talking. Not now, not today. We have a lifetime to talk, to analyze..." He closed his eyes briefly feeling the sensation of her fingernails going up and down his skin. "I've analyzed, calculated, and pondered all my life. Today, I want to just feel."

Harry opened his eyes and tightened his arms around her, pulling her closer. She was right, they would the eternity to consider whatever there was to consider. This moment, this day, was only about them.

"Love me." she whispered, her gaze never letting his, "love me. Love me, Harry."

Without a word, Harry gathered her in his arms, lifted her and took her to bed.

~***~

Potter House,
September 1st, 2019

He loved her -and even though he felt like he was dying inside at the thought of hurting Ron and Ginny, he knew he could no longer carry on with the façade that had became his life.

~***~

In his bedroom, Harry laid her down on the bed with delicate reverence. He felt somewhat foolishly nervous as his eyes flickered at her figure.

She looked perfect, with her brown hair spread all over the bed, an anxious but happy smile playing on the corner of her lips.

Harry wished he was capable of whispering silly, sweet nothings in her ear.
The raven-haired wizard gazed at her tenderly and leaned down, letting his lips melt against hers. It was kind and gentle. Harry felt her hands start to fiddle with the hem of his shirt, pulling it from his waistband.

Harry broke the kiss and with a fast movement, he pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it aside at the bedroom's floor.

Beneath him, Hermione gave him a sly smile, letting her fingernails run up and down his bare chest, causing him to groan.

Piece by piece, they stripped each other bare.
'Beautiful. She is beautiful,' was the only thought that came to his mind as he stared in awe at her naked figure.

But beautiful simply seemed too plain, too obvious.

"You're perfect." he finally spoke with a thick voice, giving her a gentle kiss before he trailed his lips down her jaw and over her throat. He made sure he explored every soft curve of her with his mouth and his hands were everywhere, as were hers. "You're perfect," he repeated against her smooth skin.

"No, I'm not." she weakly protest, moaning softly at his ministrations, "I'm forty."

Reluctantly, Harry let his lips leave her skin to look at her. "And that's why you are perfect." he whispered, his eyes boring into hers. "Yes, you're forty and you're gorgeous and wonderful..." He leaned down and kissed away a single tear that began to fall down her cheek. "You're perfect, body and soul."

Hermione giggled. Surprised, Harry raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Oh, Harry! That was so corny!"

Harry tried to look stern but failed tremendously. "Yeah, it was." And they laughed a little. "But you're still perfect." he sobered up. "Perfect with your curly hair, your bossing nature, your fear of heights, your loyalty, your friendship..."

"Friendship..."

"I love you, Hermione." he whispered in a quite tone.

"I love you too, my Harry." she whispered back.

Once again, Harry brought his lips to hers. He felt her lips part beneath his, her invitation to continue farther with the kiss. His tongue slid slowly between her lips, groaning softly at the flavor of her sweet mouth.

Her back arched against him as she kissed him back. Harry began to travel down the side of her breast to her ribcage, her hips, and her thigh.

Hermione's fingers were lost in his hair, as their tongues tangled in passionate and intimate dance. As the kiss deepened, Hermione wrapped her legs around Harry's waist and drew him closer to her.

"Love me, Harry. Love me."

~***~

Ministry of Magic
September, 2019

"Our marriage ended a long time ago, Ron. We were just living with its remains."

~***~

Harry slipped two fingers inside of her wetness, slowly stroking her until she started to arch for more.

Harry then slipped out his fingers, causing her to moan loudly in protest. Smirking lightly, he began to kiss and lick the corner of her mouth to her collarbone, sliding down her throat, the valley of her perfect breasts, her bottom belly. ..

When his tongue touched her wet core, Hermione screamed out as her hips rose up towards him. He slid his hands under and held her still. He teased her over and over again, flicking his tongue over her clit one moment and circling around it the next.

"Oh god...Oh god..."

Harry looked up at her and then slipped his two fingers inside her once again.
"Do you like it?" his voice was thick with desire.

"Oh Merlin, yeah..."

Harry removed his fingers, taking them to his mouth, sucking them.
"You taste so good..."

Hermione pulled him to her and kissed him hard, his tongue slipping into her mouth, letting her taste herself.

Feeling his arousal becoming at each moment even harder and almost painful, Harry moved forward, placing himself at her entrance.

"I need you now, my love." He hissed against her hair, "I need to be inside of you."

"Make me yours, Harry." Hermione said bringing her mouth to his.
As the kiss deepened, he felt her wrapping against his waist, dragging him even closer to her.

Harry started to push inside her in a leisurely fashion, his lips never leaving hers.

"Faster." He heard her moan into his mouth. "Please Harry faster." He began to pump in and out of her, slowly gaining speed and pushing harder, faster into her.

Harry felt he was coming first but he held out waiting for her to come.
When the sensations became too much Hermione felt the rush of her orgasm take her over. Harry groaned loudly as he felt her entire body shake in pleasure as he continued to move inside her, burying ever deeper inside her.

When Hermione started to climax, breathing in shuddering gasps, and crying out aloud his name, Harry spilled himself inside her.

"Harry!"

"Hermione!"

Breathing hard he slowly lowered himself on top of her, slipping out of her and rested his head on her shoulder.

"I love you Hermione." he whispered, sincerity cracking his voice and looked at her, hardly daring to believe that it had been real. "I love you much."

"I love you too, my Harry." she smiled, curling up in his arms.
There were a few seconds of comfortable silence until Hermione spoke again.

"I'm sorry if I arrive a little late," she said, "I didn't even ask if you had to wait too long. Have you?"

Harry just nodded.

"Oh...if I knew...I would have tried to be here faster. How long have you waited for me?"

"All my life."

The End.