Chapter 2. Heat *1 year earlier, Hermione Granger's 19th Birthday.*
"We made it." Ron whispers in my ear. I can't help but smile. Here we are at the burrow, celebrating my birthday a little over one year after the Final Battle. We were a little worse for wear, but we had, indeed, made it. From our private little spot in the garden, we can see everyone talking happily as they clean up after dinner. I kiss Ron softly, expressing all my love in one gesture.
"I'm so grateful to be here." I say "I'm so grateful that you and Harry made it out alive. I'm so grateful that you and I are together." He kisses me again, more passionately this time. I think this may be the night we take the final step in our physical relationship. I press myself against him, eager to be enveloped in his arms.
"Blimey, Hermione. What's gotten into you tonight?" Ron asks playfully. "I need you. I want you." I reply "We can't have mum catching us though, let's wait til everyone clears out and then I'll have Harry come up to Ginny's room to get you."
Leave it to Ron to ruin the moment. A girl can't have everything. I grab his hand and we make our way back to the party. It's time for me to blow out the candles on my cake; I know what I'm wishing for tonight. As Ron sits with Bill and helps himself to a large piece of cake, I squeeze in next to Harry. He puts an arm around my back and gives me the biggest smile. I haven't seen him look this happy in a long time.
"Let me guess, you and Ginny officially back together?" I ask him. I don't even need an answer, the grin on his face says it all. "I'm so happy for you, Harry! I know how much she means to you." "Thanks 'Mione. You're the best friend a bloke could ask for. I see you and Ron are still going strong. You were getting awfully snuggly over there." Harry said playfully. "Merlin! You saw that?! I'm so embarrassed!" I know I must be blushing. Harry pulls me closer and gives me a big hug. "I'm really happy for you too, love. I just want to thank you… you know, for everything. We've been in some tough spots, you and me. I couldn't have made it here without you." He says, giving me a knowing look.
I know what he means. I flash back to those long nights after Ron left us during our hunt. As far as everyone knows, we just mourned, hid, searched, and talked. But we know the truth. We know how we really got through those nights. It involved firewhiskey, a long conversation, and some cuddling. That first night wasn't on purpose. We were teenagers trying to be grownups by drinking away our pain. We huddled together on my bed, a bottle of Ogden's that I had snatched from the wedding sitting between us. I think he had meant to hug me, but his hand grazed my breast. At first we laughed; we laughed until we realized he hadn't moved his hand. When Harry finally did move his hand it was to cup my breast as his thumb grazed my now hard nipple. I don't know if I moaned or sighed but it was in that moment that he captured my mouth with his. We didn't mean it, promise. We were just kids with raging hormones, racing adrenaline, alcohol in our systems and death on our tails. We lost our virginity to each other that night. It wasn't awkward or uncomfortable, it was a necessity. It was a way to stop ourselves from going crazy. Hell, maybe old Slytherin's locket even had some part in it. When we woke the next morning, we didn't discuss anything. We went about our day, hiding and switching off with the locket. That second night, though, Harry approached me with more whiskey. He took a shot, I took a shot, he climbed into my bed and I climbed on top of him.
I flash back to the present and I smile as I turn to Harry. "We did what we had to do." He gives me one last squeeze before asking Ginny to dance, and I find my way back to Ronald.
