Forbidden Love
Chapter 21
Hermione tilted her head back as he slowly made his way down her neck, leaving a trail of soft kisses. She ran her fingers through his hair and closing her eyes, relaxed into his strong embrace. As he made his way back up to her mouth they kissed softly their lips molding against one another, and when his tongue swept into her warm mouth as he deepened the kiss she removed a hand from his hair and ran it down his neck settling it onto a broad shoulder. After a moment of kissing deeply he readjusted so that he once again tasted her neck and his hand was lightly caressing her stomach just below her chest. Hermione's eyes slowly fluttered open and the ceiling of her sitting room came into focus, as she released a small gasp when he caressed her breast, a single thought popped into her mind.
'I wonder what mark I got on that Arithmancy essay.'
Noticing her lack of enthusiasm, Ron pulled back and looked down at his girlfriend. When her gaze snapped to his, he leaned forward and gave her a light peck on the lips before getting up from on top of her. As he readjusted himself, taking a seat on the edge of the couch, Hermione sat up and gave him a curious look.
"What's wrong?" she asked, her brows furrowing and her hand lightly touching his arm.
Ron looked away for a second, giving a light shake of the head before looking back at her once more, with sad eyes.
"This isn't working is it?" he asked softly.
Hermione gave him a probing look, "What is isn't working?"
Ron gave a sigh and stood from the couch, pacing back and forth in front of her he ran an agitated hand though his hair. After a minute or two of silence, he looked back down at his girlfriend.
"You know what I'm talking about… this, the kissing," he paused, "you just don't seem to be that in to it, that's all."
"I was into it," she responded frowning, he gave her a disbelieving look.
"Come on Hermione, you were barley paying attention."
"Well, neither were you! I was doing my part," she replied indignantly.
"Doing your part! So lying there like a corpse was doing your part?!" he exclaimed heatedly.
"I was not lying there like a corpse, I was trying to-"
"Look Hermione," Ron interrupted "I don't want to argue and I wasn't trying to kick off. I was just telling the truth, what we were both thinking and you know it."
"Don't tell me what I-" she stopped when he frowned and released a small sigh. "It wasn't working, was it?" she asked gently, giving him a sad look.
Ron shook his head and stuffed a hand into his pocket. "Hermione, we need to talk."
"About what?" she asked quietly, looking down at her hands.
He gave a long sigh before taking a seat on the couch next to her. Turning so that they were facing one another, he took her hands into his own and lifted her chin so that she looked into his eyes.
"About us," he replied softly.
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Harry sat under one of the large oak trees in the grounds, with his head buried in his six hundred and thirty seven paged potions book. Parchment and various other texts were scattered around the dark haired boy as he attempted to gather information for his extensive potions essay. Since his first Occlumency session with Snape, when Harry had gotten a bit cheeky, the potion master's attitude towards him had become almost unbearable. In fact, he had become so hard on him that Harry had even caught one or two Slytherins giving him sympathetic looks.
Lucky for him, also since his first Occlumency session with Snape, he and Hermione had mended their friendship. With everything now somewhat back to normal between them, she had - in typical Hermione fashion - declared it her duty to make sure he was prepared between classes and did what she could to help him out during. Since she always knew the answers to the questions, but no matter how often she raised her hand Snape never picked her to respond, Hermione had started taking upon herself to discreetly share those answers with Harry before the Professor could even finish the question.
However, given her current curriculum, even she couldn't help him with this massive potions essay that was due their next class. Though, she did agree to read over it once he was done and let him know what she thought. After over an hour of searching, he had finally come across something that might actually be relevant to his paper in chapter seventy-three, "Dangerous or Delicious: Palatable Potions," when he was interrupted.
"Harry!" Ron called out as he made his way across the grass and towards the tree.
Harry waited for his mate to get closer before commenting. "Ron, I was actually in the middle of researching my essay for Snape that's due next week, and you know how much of a git he's being. Do you think there's..." he trailed off at the look on the other boy's face. "What's wrong?"
Ron heaved a sigh and shoved his hands into his pockets. Biting his lower lip he looked towards the lake. "I-I ended it mate."
Harry sat up straighter; tilting his head a bit he gave the red head a sidelong glance. "What?"
"I said I ended it," he responded, looking at his dark haired friend.
"You ended what?" Harry asked slowly, moving to sit on his haunches he placed the book on the ground next to him and focused on his friend.
"It," Ron said, falling to a sitting position with a soft thump. "You know, IT. Our relationship."
Harry's brows furrowed, "Our relationship?"
Ron gave him an irritated look, "No, not your and my relationship, you git. Mine and Hermione's."
"What?" the other boy responded wide-eyed. "Why? What happened? Did you guys have a row?"
"No-well, yeah but-" he paused, thinking. "We had a fight, but not a big one. It just wasn't working."
Harry, still looking completely baffled, shook his head. "But, you guys are going to make up right? It's not permanent, is it?"
"Looks that way," he replied earnestly.
"But... why?"
Ron shrugged, "It just wasn't... there anymore, you know?"
The other boy stared at him quietly for a moment before softly responding, "Yeah."
Ron gave him a startled look. "Harry-"
"So does it have anything to do with Luna," Harry asked swiftly, cutting him off.
The other boy looked down at the ground and began to fiddle with a couple of blades of grass, "I... I guess, yeah." His friend gave a surprised look at the honest answer. "There's just something about her Harry," Ron continued, once again looking at his best mate. "I don't know what it is, we just... just, click. I mean, we're almost complete opposites yet we seem to have so much in common. When I talk she actually listens and when she talks I find that I do too," he finished giving a small chuckle.
Harry faintly shook his head "Yeah, but she's so..." he hesitated when the red head frowned, "…different. Don't get me wrong, I like Luna, I really do. She's very down to earth... well, in a sense."
To his surprise his mate grinned "Yeah, she does spend some time with her head in the clouds, but," Ron shrugged, "she's usually willing to come back down for me. Besides, even when she's not, I don't mind going up there- not for her."
Harry shook his head in wonder and amused smile formed on his face. "Wow, Ron that was almost poetic."
His friend blushed, "It's just that she makes me happy, that's all."
"And Hermione didn't?" Harry questioned gravely.
Ron gave a poignant smile, "Not anymore and not for a while, but then again I don't think I made her happy either."
They both fell quiet each lost in their own thoughts.
"Does she know?" Harry asked after a minute.
"Know what?"
"About Luna?"
Ron took a deep breath, giving a slow nod as he exhaled. "I told her. I know that I want to be with Luna and I didn't want her finding out another way. Besides, I don't know if you noticed but Hermione's a pretty bright witch so," he gave a half smile, "I'm quite sure it wouldn't have taken her long to figure it out."
Harry gave a minuscule nod, rubbing the back of his neck as countless thoughts rushed through his head. "What did she say?"
Ron shook his head, indicating nothing and the two boys resumed their mutual silence.
"Look, Harry," Ron started, licking his lips nervously when Harry gave him a questioning look. "I was wondering if you could talk to her, you know, make sure everything's ok. I'm pretty sure that she felt the same way I did, but she didn't really say anything. Just kind of sat there, watching me as I stuttered through why I thought we should break up. Then when it was said and done, all she did was nod and go into her bedroom."
Harry looked at him anxiously, "Maybe Ginny should talk to her, you know with them both being girls and all."
Ron shook his head, "We're her best mates Harry and with me being the cause of the situation that leaves you. Besides, you know just like I do that as much as they like one another, Hermione and my sister usually manage to drive each other daft if left alone for too long." At the other boy's wavering look he pushed a bit more. "Come on Harry, you know it would mean a lot more to her if you went. You're the only one who can make her feel better."
Knowing that Ron was right, the black haired boy gave a sigh and began to gather all his things. Once he was done, he stood and was about to head back to the school when his mate spoke again.
"Thanks Harry," Ron said, offering a small smile.
Harry regarded the other boy seriously for a moment before responding. "I'm not doing it for you."
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Harry entered his room giving a frustrated growl.
'Where the hell is she?' he thought throwing himself backwards onto his bed.
He had checked her sitting room, her bedroom, the library, the Great Hall, heck he had even checked the Astronomy Tower. He was thinking over where else she could be and glaring at the canopy on the bed when the thought came to him.
"Idiot," Harry mumbled, giving a groan and a mental slap of the head. He then hopped off the bed and rushed to the foot where he flung open his trunk. Digging to the very bottom, he rummaged around a bit before finally locating what he was looking for under a pair of old socks. "Ah-ha," he said to himself pulling the Marauders Map out of the chest with great flourish. Opening it, he immediately began to scan the moving marks for the familiar name. When he still didn't see her after searching for his third time, his brows furrowed and he frowned.
"How could she not-" he paused, this time he scoffed and game himself a physical slap of the head. "Of course you git," he grumbled, before placing the map back into the trunk and making his way quickly out of the dorm and to the Room of Requirement.
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It took him a moment to get inside, but after realizing that what he needed was to just see and talk to Hermione the door to into the Room of Requirement finally appeared and he was able to enter. She was sitting on a small burgundy couch in front of a roaring fire, her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and her robes were thrown over the back of the seat. There were several books spread out on the coffee table in front of her, but she had yet to pick any up. Instead she was staring blankly at the fire, her face devoid of emotion.
"Hermione?" he questioned hesitantly, making his way around the couch.
She gave him a startled look and then glanced quickly at the door, before turning her attention back to the dancing flames. He remained silent as he approached; taking a seat on the couch next to her he gave her a brooding look. She seemed ok- no, no she didn't, she seemed... vacant. He had expected her to be crying, cursing Ron for being such a prat, ranting, raving... or at least talking. He had been expecting everything, anything but the empty shell that was sitting next to him. His heart ached and he was completely confounded as to what to do.
'Wow, she must have really loved him,' he thought to himself, his heart beating painfully in his chest.
He sat next to her for a while, also staring into the fire and giving his mind time to work out what he wanted to say... and how he wanted to say it.
"Hermione," Harry ventured after several minutes, "Are you, you know, okay?"
She looked at him out of the corner of her eyes, but didn't answer.
"Please Hermione, talk to me," when she still didn't respond he gave a nervous chuckle, "I'm starting to get kinda worried here."
She looked down at her hands for a moment, before looking at him once again out of the corner of her eyes. "I'm fine, Harry."
He sighed and ran a hand though his hair, "No you're not. Please, talk to me Hermione."
"I should know if I'm fine or not, besides somehow I get the distinct impression that Ron already talked to you," she replied dryly.
"Yeah he did," he admitted giving a small nod "but now I want to talk to you. Will you do that; will you talk to me Hermione?"
"About what?" She asked once again studying the flames.
"Whatever you want," he responded touching her arm, he flushed a bit when she pulled away and put his hand back onto his lap.
She turned her head and studied him for a minute "Whatever I want?" Harry nodded "Did he tell you about Luna?"
He looked down for a moment before looking back at her and giving another nod. Hermione scoffed, shaking her head she looked back at the fire. Harry watched her for a moment, then looked down at his hands fidgeting with the sleeve of his robes. He had no idea what Ron had thought him talking to Hermione would accomplish. He also had no clue that she would be so upset over the break up and Luna, or how much it would hurt him that she was.
"He's gotten better at kissing," she commented, he frowned concentrating even more on his hands and choosing not to comment. "She must have taught him…" when she trailed off he waited patiently for her to gather her thoughts and continue. "She's so pretty," Hermione said after another moment of silence, Harry's head snapped up and she gave him a derisive smile. "I don't blame him, if I had a choice between her and me I'd definitely pick her," she finished looking back into the flames.
"What the hell does that mean?" Harry demanded, when she didn't respond he got up and pushed the books off of the table taking a seat directly in front of her.
She frowned at him and gave a small shrug. "Nothing I suppose. Harry what are you doing here?"
"Ron thought I could make you feel better. And what do you mean nothing, you don't make a statement like that and say it means nothing," he replied crossly.
"He thought you could make me feel better?"
Harry made an annoyed sound, "Stop trying to change the bloody subject Hermione, what did you mean?"
She looked him in the eyes for an instant before focusing on some unseen point just over his right shoulder.
"It means I'm not daft, that's what it means." She gave him a disconcerting look, "I could see what was going on at Christmas Harry, everyone could. I knew it was only a matter of time before he dropped me and picked up her. And why wouldn't he? I mean Luna's nice, friendly, outgoing, cheerful and beautiful, while I'm mean, snotty, reclusive, irritating and mousy."
"That's bollocks Hermione! You're not any of those things," Harry responded immediately, taking offense to what she had said.
She gave a contemptuous laugh, "Please, Harry, sure Luna's a bit barmy but she's a hundred times better then I am. She has enough sense to know when to shut up and listen to people, she-"
"Blimey, Hermione," he interrupted, "the only sense that Luna has is nonsense. That's what she talks, how she acts and its most of the things she believes in."
"Well regardless of her beliefs she's beautiful, the quintessential looks and soft straight hair that has probably never broken a single comb."
"That's it, you're nutters! You've gone completely unhinged. Luna? A quintessential beauty?" Harry couldn't help it, he began to laugh.
Hermione glared daggers at him "I'm serious, she is!" she exclaimed, becoming more irritated when he laughed harder, she gave his shoulder a small shove, "You're a prat!"
Harry tried to stop his laughter, but he couldn't get it to subside completely "I-I'm so-sorry Herm-Hermione," he cleared his throat, instantly sobering when she began to look close to tears. "I really am sorry, I was being a tosser." He reached forward and took her hand. "Please forgive me?"
She shook her head and as she looked at him a single tear escaped her lashes. "You just don't understand Harry," she said passionately, her voice trembling, "no matter what you say or what I do. I'll never be as pretty as Ginn-" she froze her mouth slightly agape and her eyes widening.
He stared at her in shock for moment, as his brain slowly processed what she had just accidentally revealed.
"This isn't about Luna, is it?" He asked gently, when she tried to hastily pull her hand back he tightened his grip.
Then reaching forward he grabbed the other so that he was holding them both. Harry gave both hands a small squeeze and then lifted his right hand, wiping the tears from her face and then lightly stroking her cheek with his fingers.
"Listen to me, you are beautiful Hermione," he gave a half smile, his eyes full of adoration. "You're the most beautiful girl I know."
She dipped her head and looked at their hands before looking back up at him and giving a nervous smile. She opened her mouth to respond then hesitated, lightly licking her lips before trying again.
"Make me feel better Harry," she stated softly, her eyes searching his own.
He wet his lips. "How?"
She didn't reply but instead gave another anxious smile. He hesitated, but only for a moment before he came forward and captured her lips in a light kiss. As she released his hand and brought her hands up to his chest, he applied a bit more pressure. When Harry probed her lips with his warm tongue they easily parted and he was granted access. And as the kiss deepened, Hermione ran her hands up his chest and to his broad shoulders. Placing pressure on the blades she pulled him closer and he willingly obliged, sliding off of the coffee table and coming to a rest between her soft thighs. Hermione moaned as her legs widened to accommodate the width of his hips and he placed his hands on the small of her back pulling the warmest part of her closer to him.
After a few minutes her trembling hands went to the front of his robes and she slid the heavy garment off of his shoulders. Once free of the slightly cumbersome item, he put his hand at the base of Hermione's neck and knowing what he wanted; she allowed her head to fall back and granted him full access to her long neck. When his soft warm lips made contact with her heated skin, she shivered a bit. Liking her reaction and wanting to elicit more like it, Harry unbuttoned the first couple of buttons of her shirt and moved his tongue to the base of her throat. He languidly made his way back up her neck and to her earlobe, taking it between his teeth alternated between slowly sucking and nibbling on it, silently relishing in the way that her fingernails clawed at his back though his light cotton shirt.
When she shifted, he pulled away and looked at her noticing that her eyes were ablaze with desire. Giving his chest a small shove she pushed him back a bit more and gave him an impish smile. Reaching forward she place her fingers and the top of his tie and pulled it until it was loose around his neck, she then drew him forward and placed her soft cool lips against his flushed skin. Tilting her head a bit more she began to stroke his Adams apple with her tongue, he smiled enjoying the sensation. However, when she made her way to his ear and began to suckle and nibble the lobe, Harry his smile disappeared and he emitted a deep groan, not knowing how much more he could take.
His hands went to her cream colored thighs and he gave them a small squeeze, taking pleasure in the feel of her soft skin beneath his fingertips. When she pulled back once more, he stared at her with lust filled eyes and she smiled in response. Reaching for his tie once more, she unhurriedly finished untying it and when she was done she wrapped the two sides of it around her hands and pulled him forward capturing his lips in a bone melting kiss. Harry whimpered as she invaded his mouth, stealing his breath and taking his mind captive. He came forward intending to lay her gently against the pillows of the couch, but was instead surprised as her body went all the way down without being hindered by anything. Realizing that she was lying flat, Hermione broke the kiss and gave a startled look around, with Harry taking the time to do the same.
They were both surprised to see that what had initially been a couch was now changed to something a lot bigger and softer. Hermione sat up on her elbows to have a better look around and they sunk slightly into the soft plush bed that was now supporting her body. When she gave Harry an anxious look, he immediately pulled back standing at the foot of the bed, hoping to relive her worries. However once he stood the gallantry of the action was lost as his reaction to their earlier activities became quite evident to them both.
"Sorry," he mumbled blushing "look, maybe we should st-" he was cut off as Hermione shifted to her knees rising and crashing her mouth against his own once more.
Harry was stunned when she began to pull his body forward. Breaking the kiss he gave her a questioning look. She didn't say anything but instead put her hand to her hair and pulled at the tie holding it up so her ponytail came loose and a soft chocolate mass of curls to fell softly onto her shoulders. Getting on all fours she slowly crawled backwards until she was positioned in the middle of the massive bed, sitting on her hunches. She tilted her head to the right and her hair fell slightly into her eyes. The curls partially obscured her face, but both of her almond colored eyes were still visible and watching him closely. Her soft pink lips were parted slightly as she expelled a soft breath and her teeth nibbled sensually on her bottom lip.
As she continued to watch at him with hooded eyes, Harry strained against his clothing and then climbing onto the bed, he hesitantly approached her. His amorous gaze remained fixated on her soft pliant mouth as he made his way forward. When he was close enough to touch her, she beat him to it as her hands slowly grazed her stomach before coming to a halt at the bottom of her shirt. As he looked on, she began to pull at the shirt, gradually freeing it from the waist of her skirt.
Harry watched completely entranced as she began to unbutton the garment, observing his reaction as she did so. When she got to the first button that was level with her breasts she faltered and a light blush began to spread on her cheeks and up neck.
"I, I must look like an idiot to you," she commented stopping and running her hands though her hair giving him a cynical smile.
Harry frowned "I already told you what you look like to me Hermione, you look beautiful."
She looked down, then back at him giving an unsure smile.
This time he closed the distance between them and began kissing her. As they continued to kiss, he slowly laid her down on the plush bed and began to stroke her bare flat stomach lightly with his fingers. When he had made his way back to the last button she had stopped on, he gave her a questioning look. She smiled and nodded her head in response and he undid the four remaining buttons.
Slipping her shirt open he stared appreciatively at the soft flesh that peaked from behind her lacy black bra. As he did so, her hands went to the buttons on his shirt and she made quick work of them. He lightly caressed her flushed skin as she undid his clothing and slipped his shirt off of his shoulders once she was done. After he had removed the garment, he placed a hand on each of her firm globes and gave them a light squeeze.
"Harry?" Hermione questioned in a husky voice.
"Yeah," he answered in a coarse tone, his eyes still fixated on the soft rise and fall of her chest.
"Do you think you can do it again?" she asked, running her fingers though his hair.
"What?" he questioned, looking at her with confused, passion clouded eyes.
She gave a small grin and bit her bottom lip, "Why Parseltongue of course," she responded her eyes twinkling mischievously. "That's what you did last time, isn't it?"
He chucked and blushed, "Yeah… I should have known you'd figure it out." She stroked his neck as he continued. "So you liked it then?" She blushed and nodded enthusiastically. "Good, I wasn't sure. I've never done it before so-"
"Never?" She questioned cutting him off; he shook his head. "Not with... anyone?"
He licked his lips and gave her a lop-sided grin "Only with you."
A fire blazed in her eyes once more as she pulled him forward and began kissing him deeply. As they continued he slowly made his way back to her breast and did as she requested, savoring the feel of her squirming against him.
Even though her hands had been roaming his body since they had begun kissing again, Harry was completely caught off guard a while later when they began to fiddle with the button of his trousers. Pulling back once more he gave her a startled look, however before he could question her Hermione placed her mouth back over his and began kissing him once more. As he placed heated kisses on her neck she wrapped her legs around him and began to move against him like she had that night. Harry let his head fall forward, resting it in the crook of her neck and moaned against her as the most delicious sensation came over his body. Placing his hand at the base of her back he pulled her impossibly closer and returned the movement. As they grinded against one another, his panting and her soft moans echoing lightly off of the bare walls, Hermione's hand again made its way to the front of his trousers. Harry placed his hand on top of hers, stilling the movement and pulled back giving her another inquiring look, this time when she tried to kiss him again he avoided the action. When he maneuvered away from her kiss, hurt flashed in the brunette's eyes, feeling her withdrawing he placed a hand on the side of her face.
"Hermione," he said softly, waiting for her to look at him before continuing, "Does this mean that you…" he trailed off when a deep blush covered her face, effectively providing him with an answer. "Are you sure?" She bit her lip and slowly nodded her head. "Have you ever..." he left if hanging, his stomach flipping nervously.
She shook her head "Have you?" she asked quietly, he responded with a short shake of the head also. "Do you want to? You know, I mean, with me? Because you don't have to, I would under-"
He kissed her, proficiently halting her nervous rambling. "Yes," He stated. At that one simple word desire and adulation became evident in her gaze. He smiled, running his gaze over her face and memorizing every detail. "You are so beautiful," he whispered in an awestruck tone.
Hermione gave him a brilliant grin and he leaned forward to kiss her once more. This time when her hands went to the button of his pants Harry didn't stop her, nor did she stop him when he did the same. As they explored one another's bodies in ways more intimate than either had ever experienced, they discovered a new world together. A world more knowledgeable than books, more addictive than Quidditch and more powerful than magic…and as they reached this newfound location in one climatic rush, the only things heard in the room were the crackling of the fire, the sounds of ecstasy and a trio of small whispered words dancing on firelight.
"I love you."
A.N. Wow… move quick don't they? (lol) so I guess the question once more is… now what? I know, do you? Oh and please remember that Harry was not Luna bashing he was just trying to make Hermione feel better. Also if you feel Hermione was a bit out of character I disagree, this is just randy Hermione not regular Hermione so she acts a bit more bold, that's all! (grin) Please don't run away screaming, stay tuned and PLEASE REVIEW!! Ja ne!
**Also for the delay I apologized, as you know I like to update every Friday but my beta has not gotten back to me on my latest story Redemption (D/G) and I hate to only update part of my stories… For the few of you who have given my other story a shot, I thank you and I'll update before the week is out. With or without my beta'd chappy.
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