*Disclaimer: Pffft. Yeah. I'm JK Rowling, and I'm backing H/Hr, even after all called all the H/Hr shippers "militant". Ha! Jeez, if I was Jo, I'd totally re-write the last 3 books, anyway! So no, not her, not making money of this… nothing, zilch, zero. Happy? Kthnx.
*AN: Okay, so I apologise profusely for taking so long with this chapter. Oh, I would also like to warn you all, that it's edited a bit. It's not the greatest chapter I've written, I mean, I wrote it when I was 14 and I'm almost 18 now, so there's about a 4 year gap, there. I can do better! Anyway, I tried to do what I could with it…
I hope you guys enjoy! =]
Chapter 4: Crossing The Line
"We're home!" Hermione called through their flat. She dropped her bags near the coat rack, and went off to search for Ron.
"Um." Harry watched her walk away. "I'll just deal with this stuff." He took out his wand and with a wave and a pop, the bags disappeared. He walked over and looked into his bedroom, seeing his bags sitting neatly on his bed. "God, I love that." He grinned, hearing voices in the living room.
He followed them quickly and made his way in, leaning against the door frame as his mouth dropped.
There, sitting in front of the TV was Ron, a raven-haired Ginny and an excited Hermione.
"Oh my God, I can't believe it's you, Ginny! Where have you been?!" She grinned, leaning over and pulling her long, lost friend into an embrace.
"Oh, I've been.. around, you know." She said awkwardly, returning her grin and hug none-the-less. "I've missed you, Herm." She added, mumbling into Hermione's chestnut curls.
"I've missed you, too." Was the sincere reply.
"Ginny?" Harry said, looking at her in a incredulously.
"Everyone keeps saying my name like it's a question!" She chuckled softly. "Do I look all that different? I mean, I know the hair is different, but - oh whatever, come here!" She grinned, standing up and walking over to Harry, wrapping her arms around him. He did the same, a slight smirk on his face.
"It's good to see you, Gin." He muttered, letting go of her to get a better look at her. "And no, except for the hair, you haven't changed a bit!"
"Sheesh! Thanks Harry, I was beginning to feel like I was someone else!" She exclaimed, returning to the couch and sitting down in between Ron and Hermione.
"So, how long have you been here?" Harry asked, sitting down on the armchair near the couch.
"Oh, I got here about a week ago. Ron's been so kind as to take me in for awhile." Ginny smiled to her brother and patted him on the arm lovingly, a look of gratitude stretched across her face.
"Ah, you're family. I'd do anything to help a family member out!" He grinned back at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"So you got here the night we left for Canada?" Harry asked, smiling at Ron and Ginny. He then blushed slightly, catching a glimpse of Hermione. Her face turned a slight crimson also, but she didn't speak. What happened in Canada was going to stay between the two of them. He was taking it with him to the grave and hoping she would, too.
"Yup! Well, so Ron tells me..." Ginny's grin faded slightly as she saw both Hermione and Harry having identical blushing fits. "How was your time in Canada, anyway?" She added, a sly look on her face. She may have spotted something that had more behind it than just an innocent blush.
Harry and Hermione both answered at the same time.
"Good!" Harry replied. -- "Great!" Hermione piped up.
"Really?" Ginny asked, a slight smirk spreading across her lips.
Harry and Hermione replied again, at the same time.
"Yes, good!" Hermione spit out. -- "Yes, great!" Harry chimed in.
They exchanged awkward looks at each other, Hermione biting her lip and Harry scratching the back of his neck. She licked her lips absentmindedly and to Harry it seemed painfully slow. It was as if he was watching a slow-motion movie. He watched her tongue dart out of her mouth and slide along her soft lips.
He groaned in the back his throat, his eyes growing slightly wider. Ginny and Ron continued to talk to each other, not noticing the torment he was being put through.
Hermione watched his dazed expression and grinned, there was nothing cuter than his dazed look. He was adorable. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes were glazed over behind his glasses and his hand was scratching his neck subconsciously.
She didn't know what had suddenly come over her, but Hermione wanted him. Right then and there. She wanted to tease him, to bug him, to make him want her. She didn't know where this feeling came from, but it was one she could not ignore.
Ron ceased his talking for a moment and stared at the two of them in bewilderment. "Oookay. I'm going to get some drinks."
"Um, I'm gonna go to the loo." Harry said abruptly, gulping slightly as he tried to pull his attention away from Hermione's torture.
"And I need to go get something out of my bag." Hermione said quickly afterwards.
This is my chance!
Harry, Hermione and Ron stood up from where they were sitting and the trio left the room, leaving Ginny behind. Ron turned right to go to the kitchen and Harry and Hermione turned left to make their way down the narrow corridor, towards the bedrooms and bathroom.
Once Ron disappeared into the kitchen, Harry turned to the right and walked into the bathroom. Hermione turned to her left, walking into her bedroom, both of them shutting the doors in unison.
Harry flicked the light switch on in the bathroom, but didn't remove his pants to use the toilet. He didn't need it, it was only a lie to stall away from the rest of them. He was being driven completely insane by everything Hermione was doing. The smallest action sent shivers up his spine. He had to learn to control his thoughts or, of course, chuck them out completely. Whichever worked best...
Get out of my head, get out of my head!
He began to pace back and forth, breathing deeply. For just a moment, he halted at the wall opposite the toilet, placing his hand on it for support. "Dear God, what has happened to me?" He mumbled to himself, "Come on, pull yourself together, Potter!"
'Pop!'
Harry continued to mutter to himself, not quite hearing the noise over the pounding of his ear drums.
"Busy, Harry?" A voice said from somewhere behind him. He turned around and there was Hermione, standing before him, a devilish smirk plastered across her face.
Harry 'eeped' and cleared his throat, "Yes... I was about to use the toilet!" He said, the tone in his voice giving away the obvious lie.
She continued to grin, "I didn't think so." She said cheekily. Within seconds, she began to walk painfully slow towards him, her devilish air never leaving.
Harry gulped, turning to face her, watching her carefully. "Hermione, w-w-what are you d-d-doing?" He stuttered, his eyes widened from shock. He stood there, transfixed by her bluntness.
"I'm conducting a Science experiment." She said softly, halting in front of him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning up on tip-toe and pressing her lips carefully into his. She could hear Harry groan in the back of his throat, the sound vibrating against her lips. It felt nice... it felt right.
Harry bent down slightly, holding the back of her thighs. Picking her up and wrapping her legs around his waist, he turned her around and pressed her back forcefully into the wall.
Oh SOD regaining control!
The little gasp that escaped her lips was reward enough for such a daring thing to be doing, on his part. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to her neck and mumbling softly into her ear.
"Anything, for Science."
-------
"Do you think there's something going on between Harry and Hermione?" Ginny asked, entering the kitchen.
"Geez, Ginny, you scared me!" Ron said, clutching at his heart. "And no, I don't think anything's going on." He added simply, looking in the cupboards for some wine.
"Really? You don't think anything could be going on?" Ginny continued to pester him, casually walking over, facing her back towards the counter and pushing herself up onto the sleek surface. She sat on top of it, her feet dangling off the edge, as she watched Ron search for alcohol.
"Nope." He answered shortly, "Besides, they would have told me."
"Yes, but they just got home. And I've been around, so they haven't exactly had time to tell you anything in private." Ginny shrugged, as Ron stood up, straightening himself out and closing the bottom cupboard lightly with his foot, as he placed the wine carefully on the counter, only feet away from where Ginny was sitting.
"Come on, get down off of the counter." Ron said, looking up at his sister and raising an eyebrow at her.
"Why? I'm not in your way!" She whined slightly. She saw Ron's stern face and groaned in annoyance, jumping down gracefully from the counter. "You haven't changed Ron. Still no fun!" She added, sticking her tongue out at her brother and chuckling softly.
"Yeah, well, that was my job, wasn't it? To keep you in line?" Ron said, a smile pushing at the corners of his lips, as he began to search for four wine glasses.
~*~*~
Hermione moaned quietly, "Oh my! Harry!" She mumbled softly, grinning cheekily as his lips left hers and trailed down her neck. Her chest heaved into him, as she desperately began to remove her blue jumper, revealing a thin powder blue tank top.
Harry kept her pressed against the wall, his hands sliding down her sides and encircling her behind, squeezing slightly. He grinned when he heard her giggle and moaned when he felt her hips wiggle slightly against his.
"Pent up emotions never did me any good." Harry mumbled against the skin of her neck, through a soft groan. He began to feel the aftershocks of her wiggling hips, run through him in places he hadn't quite paid any attention to in awhile.
He drank in the smell of her. Her touch, her lips, her gasps and sighs, her moans and giggles were becoming intoxicating. He was becoming drunk with every passing moment; every second in her proximity was insanity. This was all just too much to take in at one time. His head began to spin, his heart began to thump against his chest, he was much too high to come down just yet.
This had to be a dream. He would wake up any moment now, his face pressed against the cold tiles of the bathroom floor. He would leave the tiny room and find Hermione sitting on the couch in the sitting room, with Ginny and Ron. He just knew it.
"It is awfully hot in here." She said, her voice raspy and deep, pulling him out of his thoughts. She sounded desperate, which was most definitely a good sign. Then suddenly, it was as if the heavens had opened up and God reached down and touched Harry, blessing him. 'Let there be skin' he must have said -- and then, there just was!
Slowly, but surely, Hermione began to remove her tank top, exposing more skin and skimpier clothing.
Harry's mouth dropped slightly, his eyes growing big. "Black?" He gasped softly, the sound dying in his throat as he muttered the one-word question. He could have died on the spot. Never had he pictured Hermione in black underwear.
This, is officially, one of the best days of my life!
-------
"You know, they're taking an extremely long time to get back... I think I'm gonna go check on them." Ginny said to Ron, fifteen minutes later. Both of them sat in the sitting room, wine glasses and wine bottle on the coffee table.
Ron shrugged and picked up the remote, flicking on the TV. "Well, do what you want. But don't let them know you think they're lying. I did that once, they guilted me for weeks! I never did it again. You just have to learn to trust them, Gin." Ron said, reaching for the wine bottle.
Ginny quickly whacked his hand away. "Don't you know it's bad luck to open alcohol by yourself with more than one glass on the table?" Ginny raised her eyebrow at him as he grunted in slight annoyance. "Just wait, okay? I'll be back..."
"Says who?! Now look who's becoming a party pooper!" He said to her back, watching her leave the room. He sighed and put his feet up on the coffee table, changing the channel on the TV with the push of a button. Seconds later, Ginny peeked her head back in.
"And get your feet off the coffee table! That was Nana Weasley's!" She said, eyeing him with sternness.
Ron grunted again in reply, rolling his eyes, crossing his arms and putting his feet down as he began to mutter, "Geez... can't even relax in my own house!"
~*~*~
Hermione's breathing was quickening, all because of him. This made his head swim happily. In a matter of minutes, all that was left was her black underwear and Harry was becoming restless. He wanted to remove them also. A longing blazed in the pit of his stomach that he simply couldn't quench.
She grinned slyly up at him, her body stretched out on the floor underneath him. Harry was hovering over her, touching any bit of bare skin she would let him. He placed his hand on her inner thigh and she gasped softly, as he began to experiment, not knowing just how far would be enough.
He had her in his system and there was no easy way of getting her out. He was too far gone, almost like being sucked in by quick sand. The more he fought, the harder it pulled him in. He was a goner!
He leaned in and placed a kiss to her stomach, hearing her heart beating frantically in her chest. He grinned as he realised how excited he was making her. This was his way of getting back at her, for how crazy she had been driving him all this time.
His kisses trailed down her stomach, across her belly button, stopping at her hips. She moaned slightly -- pleadingly, even -- her eyes filled with that familiar longing he knew so well. Seeing it in her eyes, only seemed to make him worse.
'Bang, bang!'
"Harry? Are you almost finished in there? I need the toilet!" Ginny's voice came from right outside the door, cutting Harry's thoughts short.
"Y-yeah! I'll be out in a minute!" Harry said breathily, straightening himself up so that he was kneeling before her, in nothing but his boxers.
"What are we gonna do?!" Hermione whispered urgently to Harry. She got up quickly, beginning to gather up her clothes from the floor. "Where the hell is my tank top?!" She added, more to herself than to Harry.
"I don't know, Miss 'I'm-Conducting-A-Science-Experiment'!" Harry whispered back sarcastically. Hermione glared at his sarcasm and came across her tank top, picking it up.
"You could have stopped me, you know!" She whispered coldly, pulling it over her head.
"Really? Could I have? Are you kidding me?! Do you know how sexy you looked, strutting up to me and wrapping your arms around my neck?! Sweet Jesus, I thought my prayers had been answered!" Harry gulped slightly, picking up his shirt and putting it over his head, as well.
Hermione smirked and blushed slightly, "Had you really been wishing this would happen?" She asked quietly, biting on her bottom lip as she now tugged her jumper down over her torso. She went straight to working on putting her pants back on, her socks already on her feet.
"Herm, do I really need to answer that question?" He said, smirking slightly and raising his eyebrow in mock suspicion. "Come on! Look at you! You're perfect... any man who would be fool enough to turn you down, is well -- a fool!" He added lamely, turning his back on her as he bent his upper half down to his knees, slipping his feet into his socks.
'Bang, bang!'
"Please hurry up, Harry!" Ginny called.
Harry sighed, reaching for his pants by the toilet, as he saw Hermione button up hers.
Outside, Ginny sighed in annoyance. "Oh honestly." She mumbled to herself. She was becoming extremely impatient. She had already tried going into Hermione's room, but there was a tricky high-level charm on the door, preventing her from using the unlocking spell on it.
"I'm coming!" He called again, skimming the room to see if any piece of clothing was left.
Ginny groaned slightly in annoyance. She knew something was going on and she was going to prove it!
"Alohamora!" She cried, her wand pointed at the bathroom door. The lock clicked and it stood, ajar. Ginny pushed her way in. Upon entering she froze, her mouth open in shock as a tiny gasp escaped her lips. "Oh-!"
"Uh... sorry Ginny! But, you shouldn't have burst in like that!" Harry said frantically, pulling up his pants and zipping them.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to. I just really have to go. You've been in here for quite awhile." Ginny said in a small and embarrassed voice, as she hung her head slightly. Harry really had been using the washroom. Thank God the toilet was opposite the door, or she would've gotten a view she didn't want to get.
Harry sighed slightly, "It's alright, Gin." He said, walking over to the sink, running his hands under the tap, drying them off with the towel and patting Ginny on the back. He waved slightly as she closed the door, only to turn around and be faced with a grinning Hermione.
Harry leaned down and whispered frantically to her, "I thought you were still in the room with me!" He almost yelped at the thought of getting caught by Ginny. "Could have told me you were apparating out!"
Hermione continued to grin, "Well, I was changed, heard Ginny casting the spell outside and apparated into my bedroom." She nodded knowingly, winking slightly and walking ahead of him down the hall.
He watched her walk away, tingles being sent up his spine as he realised he had just been kissing the girl in front of him. Hell, it was more than just a kiss. They nearly went all the way! He was bursting to the brim with excitement. He wanted to shout it to the mountain tops; he had snogged Hermione Granger!
He was calm on the surface, but inside, he was doing a victory dance. He knew he had to keep his mouth shut about this, but that was going to prove to be extremely difficult, given the circumstances. He had been waiting for something to happen between the two of them for years; their old flame had once again been rekindled. Only this time, nothing stupid would screw things up.
"What took you lot so long?" Ron asked them as they entered the sitting room.
"Oh, I was looking for something in my room." Hermione said.
"And I was using the washroom. The toilet wouldn't flush, we really need to get someone to check that!" Harry added.
A slight smirk spread across Hermione's face, telling Harry that she was having a hard time composing herself. He had to admit, he couldn't either. His mind was racing with thoughts, his heart still pounding frantically against his chest. He was afraid Ginny or Ron would catch on, for his body seemed to be running amuck and he only was just managing to keep it under control.
Hermione Granger was no longer something he wanted. The more he looked at her, the more he knew deep down, he needed her.
-------
She said, I'll throw myself away.
They're just photos after all.
I can't make you hang around,
I can't wash you off my skin.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped in a whisper, her back against the wall. She felt his lips upon her neck, making her skin tingle. "Harry, it's three in the morning, Ron's asleep in the next room and Ginny's in the guest room!" This warning was followed by a quiet giggle as Harry's tongue slid slyly out of his mouth and along her sensitive skin.
Harry grunted in acknowledgement, his tongue and lips never ceasing their movements. His hands slid from the base of her neck, down her sides, halting at her waist.
Outside the frame,
Is what we're leavin' out.
You won't remember, anyway.
Even as much as Hermione was against this idea right now, she loved the feeling of their proximity. "Harry!" She whispered in a more frantic manner, the seriousness in her voice perhaps making up for her body slowly and agonisingly giving into Harry's.
"Don't put up a fight." Harry whispered against her ear hotly. His lips pressed kisses against the skin just underneath her ear, across her cheek and to her lips softly, where they halted and pressed firmly into hers.
I can go with the flow,
(Oo oo, oo, oo, oo, oo)
(I can go) Don't say it doesn't matter,
(With the flow)
Matter anymore.
She was so taken aback by the kiss, that her body would no longer allow her to protest. It relaxed into his grasp, as she loosely wrapped her arms around his neck, the kiss deepening. When they broke away and gasped greedily for air, Hermione only managed to get a word in.
"Why-?" She was again cut off by Harry's lips.
I can go with the flow,
(Oo oo, oo, oo, oo, oo)
(I can go...)
You believe it in your head.
But he broke the kiss once more, trailing his lips from her chin across her cheek and down her neck. "Because, I need you, Hermione." He whispered against the skin of her neck, sending shivers up her spine.
"No, you want me, Harry." She whispered back, gulping slightly as she held back a moan. "You just want me. Maybe I shouldn't have done anything today. I wasn't thinking..." She trailed off, holding back another gasp.
It's so safe to play along,
Little soldiers in a row.
Fallin' in and out of love,
(Oh, oh)
Something sweet to throw away.
Harry stopped his attack on her skin and straightened up slightly, looking down at her carefully. The only light in the room was the moon pouring through the windows, in between a gap in the curtains. When he straightened up, he had a thick bar of light bath half of his face in a soft glow. Hermione looked at him carefully, waiting for him to speak.
Now, I want something good to die for,
To make it beautiful to live.
I want a new mistake,
Lose this more, then hesitate.
Now, you believe it in your head.
"Hermione, this isn't a case of what I want, anymore. Don't you see?" A question burned in his eyes as he looked at her, her face lined with soft shadows.
"What do you mean?" She looked at him curiously, slightly confused.
I can go with the flow,
(Oo oo, oo, oo, oo, oo)
(I can go) Don't say it doesn't matter,
(With the flow)
Matter anymore.
"I need you, Hermione." He whispered, his voice gentle and laced with sincerity. This whole thing had gone much further than he had expected. His feelings for her were intensifying, but yet he had promised himself he wouldn't go in too deep. He was lost in her, it seemed.
I can go with the flow,
(Oo oo, oo, oo, oo)
(I can go)
You believe it in your head.
(With the flow)
Everything was too foggy and misty to come back. He was too lost to be saved. But, the more he thought about it, the more he liked it this way. He watched as a slight smile spread across her face, the shadows shrouding her in mystery, as her eyes met his in a grasping stare.
You believe it in your head,
You believe it in your head.
She stood on tip-toe, pressing her lips into his softly. She let them linger, before breaking the kiss and gazing up at him once more.
"Then take me." She whispered, her face set as she made up her mind.
(Oh, oh. Oo oo, oo, oo, oo, oo)
Harry's eyes widened, then he grinned down at her. In a matter of seconds he leaned in, pressing his lips firmly into hers. He deepened the kiss immediately as he pressed his body harder into hers, every line and contour meeting pleasantly. She let out a yet another moan against her will. At this point, he knew he had won.
(Oh, oh. Oo oo, oo, oo, oo, oo)
He had been holding back for years now, but this was his chance to finally let his mind and body loose. He knew, as he felt her fingers entangle in his hair, that he had reached a point of no return.
(Oh, oh. Oo oo, oo oo.)
And even though he was so lost in her, he was loving every second of it.
(Oh, oh)
('Go With The Flow' - Queens of the Stone Age, from 'Songs For The Deaf')
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*AN 2: Anyway, more soon! Please read and review, I'd love some opinions! ;]