Disclaimer: All characters belong to JKR. Original plot line belongs to me. Enjoy!

A/N: I wanted to say "Thank You!" to everyone that has added this story to their favorites or story alerts. I am humbled by your enthusiasm. I hope I can continue to do this story and my readers justice. Cheers!

Ron was fuming. After his "talk" with Neville he had run straight to Gryffindor tower to find Harry and Hermione. He needed to get to the bottom of…whatever was going on. He didn't want to believe that they could really be together, but here it was nearly 9 o'clock at night and they still hadn't shown up!

He was afraid to leave and check the library or the Room of Requirement, in case they came when he was looking for them. As the evening had dragged on he began to lose patience and once again considered searching for his friends, well, if he could call them 'friends.' Now it was too late to search since it was nearly curfew. His stomach was roiling around in anxiety. Where are they?

The portrait swung open to allow Harry and Hermione to tumble through. They were laughing and holding hands, both of them wearing huge grins, completely oblivious to anyone watching them. Hermione tripped on one of the floor rugs and Harry immediately wrapped his arms around her tiny frame to keep her upright. Her eyes met his and then they were kissing, slowly, sensually, easily as if they had been doing it forever. Or all day!

"What the bloody hell is going on?"

Everyone in the common room stopped and stared at Ron who was a vivid shade of red with a murderous glare directed at his friends. Then everyone noticed that Harry and Hermione were very obviously together. No one moved…no one breathed.

Harry turned around and carefully stepped in front of Hermione unconsciously to protect her from Ron's wrath. "When do you care, Ron? You are the one that usually flaunts your relationship in front of us. You left us to snog your life away and you're being hypocritical to not extend us the same courtesy."

Hermione gently squeezed Harry's hand and stood beside him. "You lost your chance to give a damn, Ronald. You broke my heart to date Lavender and then you shoved it in my face for months!" She had moved closer to him in the middle of the room and was getting wound up.

"We could have had something! I wanted to be with you, you stupid git! You bloody fool!" Suddenly she was directly in front of Ron with her face red and trembling with rage. "I used to be crazy about you!" Smack! Her tiny fist slammed into his chest. Ron winced, but didn't say anything.

"You, you asshole! How dare you jump on me for moving on! What gives you the right, Ron? You don't deserve me – I finally realized I'm too good for you! You can have Lavender, you'll be in line behind everyone else here!" Angry tears were trailing down her face and her voice ratcheted up one more octave as she finished her tirade. "You can have her, you clueless imbecile, but LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!"

Silence. Not even a cricket was chirping. Harry was staring at Hermione in awe – the entire Gryffindor common room was and even more standing on the stairs who had gone to bed, only to come see the Granger-Weasley show.

Ron swallowed thickly, "Her-"

SLAP! A bright red hand-print was standing out on Ron's otherwise pale cheek.

"You don't get to speak to me, Ron. We are done. I'm with Harry and I'm much happier without you, so I want to keep it that way." She turned on her heel, her hair smacking against his stinging face and confidently strode upstairs to the girl's common room. The crowds parted to let her pass without a word.

Ron hung his head in shame. She was right about all of it. He had been a royal prat, right up there with Malfoy, and he had abandoned his friends to make out with a known floozy to feel like a man. He looked around him and saw the disgust on most of his housemates faces. Neville was standing with his arms crossed across his chest, eyebrow raised as if to say 'I told you so.'

Finally, he met Harry's angry green eyes and sighed. "Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"Shut up, Ron! You can't tell me you didn't mean to do all the things you have done to Hermione or to me. You purposely ignored us. Honestly, I have nothing else to say. Hermione did a pretty good job emasculating you already. But take her advice and leave us alone or you will answer to me next time."

The rest of the spectators took their cue from Harry and exited the room, leaving Ron alone in the common room, fully realizing the weight of his actions. He sat down on one of the couches and decided to wait for everyone to be really asleep before going to bed himself. When the clock marked the hour as three in the morning, he wearily dragged himself to his room to sleep and wish that this night had been a horrible dream.

Hermione slept in the next morning. Her emotional tirade had left her physically exhausted. She had fallen to sleep almost immediately when she retired to her room and she was grateful that her girl friends knew she needed the extra sleep. As she was coming out of the shower, Ginny poked her head into the bedroom uncertainly.

"Good morning, Hermione. Um, do you need anything?" She was worrying at her lip and avoiding her eyes. "We decided to let you sleep in, but Harry begged me to check on you. He's worried about you."

Hermione smiled at her friend. "Thanks Ginny. Tell Harry I'm fine and that I will be down shortly. Oh and Ginny," she stopped the redhead before she left the room, "I don't blame you for Ron. He is the only one to blame for his actions. You are still my best girl friend."

Ginny hugged her fiercely. "Thanks Hermione. I was really worried. I'll tell Harry before he freaks out." Once she was gone, Hermione continued to get ready for the day, but she didn't take too long since Harry was about to have a heart attack. Pulling her hair back so it wouldn't frizz, she threw on some jeans and a shirt and flew down the stairs.

As soon as Harry saw her smiling and looking refreshed he felt lighter. He hadn't realized how worried he had been after hearing her tell Ron about her feelings for him. Even though everything she said was past tense, he was afraid she would have doubts and second guess their brand new relationship.

He grabbed her around the waist and spun her in circles, loving the sound of her laughter dancing around them. As he put her feet back on the ground he kissed her sweetly on her forehead and breathed in the smell that was all Hermione. My Hermione. He smiled at the thought. "You look beautiful."

She flushed slightly at his compliment. "Thank you. You look very handsome today, too." Harry was wearing a dark green tee shirt that complimented his dark hair and dark wash jeans that cupped his bum nicely. "So, did I miss breakfast?"

Harry smiled and nodded. "But I have a surprise for you that will make up for it. C'mon!" He took her hand and gently led her out of the tower and to the Room of Requirement. When they reached the door Hermione suddenly got very nervous, but she didn't want to let Harry know.

"Close your eyes before we go inside so I can actually surprise you." His smile and sparkling green eyes were too adorable to refuse. She smiled and closed her eyes. He guided her inside and then whispered excitedly in her ear, "Open them."

Hermione gasped. A small table sat in the center of a beautiful garden. Flowers littered the ground, a massive oak tree was in the corner complete with a swing hanging from the branches. Harry snapped his fingers and Dobby appeared wearing his mismatched socks and holding a menu. Harry chuckled at the expression on Hermione's face. He and Dobby made a great team.

Hermione walked over to the table and Harry pulled out her chair for her to sit. She blushed as she did so. Immediately Dobby presented Hermione with the menu, bowed slightly and stepped off to the side to give them some privacy. "Oh my word, Harry…this, this is," her voice quavered. "Thank you. It's simply gorgeous and you are the most amazing man I have ever met."

Harry's hand met hers across the table. "You're welcome Hermione. I wanted to do something special for you. You deserve it." He lifted her small hand to his lips and kissed it. Dobby sniffed loudly causing both of them to look at the tiny elf. He had large tears trailing down his face and a huge smile plastered on his face.

"Mister and Miss are happy and in love. It makes Dobby happy, too," he wailed. Harry just shook his head. He would never understand house elves and their mood swings.

"Thank you Dobby for helping Harry create this paradise."

"Oh, Mister Potter, Miss Granger th-thanked meeeee!" Dobby was positively sobbing now. With a crack, he disappeared, taking his loud sobs with him.

Chocolate eyes met emerald and they laughed until their sides hurt. "Oh, oh, ouch!" Giggle, snort, "Harry, what do you want to order?"

He was still chuckling, but he managed to say, "Do you want breakfast or lunch?" They were both more controlled and able to peruse the menu. Hermione settled on grilled chicken with steamed vegetables and Harry went with roast duck and potatoes. They enjoyed their lunch together and alternated between easy conversation and comfortable silence.

"I hope you saved room for dessert," said Harry after finishing their entrees.

"I just have room. What is it?" Hermione was excited to see what Harry would do next. The whole day had been incredible and she didn't think there was any way he could top it off.

He just smiled enigmatically and snapped his fingers. A small bowl of chocolate mousse appeared with two spoons to share. "Oh! My favorite!" He laughed at her enthusiasm, giving her a spoon and allowing her to take the first bite.

But Hermione surprised him by picking up some of the decadent dessert with her finger and licking it off. His spoon clattered on the tabletop. He watched her watch him as she took another dollop into her mouth and seductively licked her finger clean. I want to be her finger right now.

Hermione was quite proud of herself. As soon as she saw the mousse she made up her mind to try it. She had seen many women do it in the cinema and she was sure she could manage. By the look on Harry's face she would have to say that she was successful at her amateur seduction. After her finger was mousse-free, she licked her lips and moaned in appreciation.

"Don't you want some Harry? It's sooo good. Here, try it." She had another dollop on her finger and was presenting it to Harry to taste. Oh this is so much fun!

Harry couldn't believe what she was offering. Maybe she didn't know what she was doing to him, but then she pouted and looked at him from underneath her lashes. Little minx! I love this woman. Keeping his eyes locked on hers, he gently took her finger in his mouth and watched the expression on her face change from being in control to nearly losing it. Two can play this game, love.

He ran his tongue along her small digit, enjoying the taste of Hermione mixed in with the chocolate, and watched her close her eyes in pleasure. After removing his finger Harry decided he needed to know what it felt like, so he dipped his finger in their dessert and offered it to Hermione. She wasted no time in taking him in her hot mouth and swirling her deft tongue around his finger. Harry closed his eyes and moaned which made Hermione shiver in excitement. The butterflies in her stomach had moved lower down and watching Harry's face was making them flutter with more urgency.

Harry was sure that he had died and gone to heaven because there was no way that Hermione would be sucking on his finger and making his pants incredibly tight in reality. However, when he opened his eyes, it became apparent that this was real and that she was enjoying it just as much. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her pupils were dilated with desire – it was the sexiest thing he had ever seen.

"Hermione," he groaned. "Please, have mercy. I don't know if I can hold back if you keep going." His breathing was becoming shallow and it was taking all his self control not to launch himself across the table and make her his dessert.

Pulling back with a sigh and trying to reign in her own out of control hormones, she nodded. "I'm sorry I got carried away. I want to Harry, but I'm not ready yet. I didn't mean to tease you."

Harry laughed gently, "You can tease me anytime. Really, I don't mind and I understand. I'll wait for you to be ready, because…um, I've never done anything either." He was blushing furiously and staring at the table. Her small hand touched his and he looked at her.

"I'm glad. I like knowing it will just be me and you, and never anyone else." Her smile was genuine and reassuring to his sore pride. "Thank you again, Harry. Today was fantastic. Can we make this garden our own private hideaway?"

"Yes, I would like that. Maybe next time we can try out the swing, it's big enough for two people." They stood up and held each other's hand as they left and headed back to Gryffindor tower.

A/N: Sorry to leave you guys hanging again, but I feel like Harry & Hermione wouldn't just fall into bed so quickly, no matter how much their teenage hormones want them to. Please R/R!