As promised, here's chapter four already!! Keep the comments coming - I do so love reading them and knowin' all me 'ard work ain't been in vain!! Pretty please!!

Now - warning - smut ahead- although probably not quite what you're hoping for!! Sorry!! I have to get inside Hermione's head and show you how unfulfilling her life actually is - although she doesn't quite realise it yet - foolish girl - it's b****y obvious to me! So, I'm afraid there's some Hermione/Ron action in this chapter - eeeekkkkkk! It is so important to the story and hopefully gives you a glimmer of what may (!?) be to come with the 'right' person!! All in good time ....

Enjoy! (Oh by they way, I still don't own any of these characters! Although I am quite happy not to own Ron.)


Four – Awakenings

It had been four days since Hermione had met the Malfoys in Flourish and Blotts. She told herself that she was over it and put her extraordinary reaction down to shock and exhaustion. As the days had passed she had successfully managed to wipe it from her mind and set about busying herself with work and preparing for Ron to come back. She had been feeling his absence acutely and was desperate for his presence to fill the hollow emptiness of the flat. She was sure that her longing for his return was due to her love for him, although noted clinically that when Harry or Ginny had visited, her mood had equally lightened and her loneliness had been assuaged.

But, no, she asserted, it was Ron she wanted and needed most, Ron whom she wanted to hold her at night to push back the oppressive dark. She would kiss him, reassure him she loved him.

Reassure herself.

The nights had been difficult, but she was so determined not to allow her mind to wander back to the earlier events, that she had survived them surprisingly easily. There had certainly been no repeat of the bizarre sensual feelings she had experienced that night. However, she longed for physical contact more than ever, and found herself reaching down to the sweet, tender bud between her thighs every evening. She had never felt the need for this before, instead reading or finishing off paperwork before trying to sleep. As Ron was the only one she had ever had intimate knowledge of, it was his face she conjured up as she coaxed herself towards her moment of release. Her orgasm would come with a gentle moan, but she noted with slight shame that at the moment of sweetest pleasure Ron's face would invariably fade.

When at work, Hermione had been overly conscientious and diligent, determined to impress. She had no wish to repeat the episode of earlier in the week. Her camaraderie with her workmates was good and she enjoyed the rigour and intensity of being in Ministry employ.

On Thursday evening, Ron was due to return, and by 2pm that day Hermione found herself clock-watching and counting down the minutes until he would apparate back to London. He was due to return to a modest corner of Diagon Alley and for once at 5pm sharp, Hermione tidied her desk, said her farewells, and hurried out of the Ministry towards the location.

She reached the spot quickly and glanced at her watch. Five minutes. She paced a few steps, turning rapidly and repeating the process several times. Then, at exactly the appointed time, she heard a pop behind her, and spun around to see a weary but relieved looking Ron standing laden with bags. She flung herself around his neck and showered him with kisses. The force knocked him back in surprise and he dropped half his belongings. "Steady on, 'Mione," he gasped, but quickly a broad smile broke out over his face. "Take it you missed me then," he muttered in her ear between chuckles.

Hermione grasped his head firmly in her hands and pulled him down towards her for a passionate kiss. As pleased as he was, Ron was rather unsure as to what had got into his girlfriend and after a short while pulled back and broke away. He was even more shocked when he saw tears streaming down Hermione's face.

"Hey, babe, what's the matter? It's only been a week. I've been away for much longer before. What's got into you?"

Still clasping the sides of his face Hermione said, "I just missed you. I just missed you so much." She looked him deep in the eyes, searching them. Ron, bemused, smiled back. Eventually she lowered her gaze and muttered, "It's good to have you back."

"Yeah. 's' good to be back too." Ron paused briefly, thrown by the intensity of her emotion. Then, almost embarrassed, resorted to his usual self. "Come on, babe, let's go home. I'm bloody starving. What's for dinner?" He slung his bags over his back and an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close to him. Hermione smiled to herself and rested her head on him as they walked together back to the flat.

Over supper, which Hermione had carefully prepared the night before, they chatted happily, Ron telling her about his trip and filling her in on the new code of conduct for Quidditch umpires. Hermione spoke little during the meal, letting him rumble on, happy to have living words filling the flat again. He was happy and although it had tired him, had obviously enjoyed his trip. His good humour spread to Hermione, who at that moment believed she was happier than she had been for ages. Now that Ron was back, she could truly forget the events of earlier in the week and start living again.

After washing, she went to the bedroom before Ron and chose her red silk cami and pants. She climbed under the covers and waited for him. He was longer than she expected, but eventually entered the room, yawning loud and long. When he noticed what she was wearing he looked vaguely startled. "Blimey, Hermione! You haven't worn those for a while. I'd forgotten you had them." He may have commented on her attire, but it did not seem to be having the desired effect. He got into bed, kissed her lightly on the cheek then rolled away from her and settled down.

Hermione lay staring at the ceiling, a feeling of frustration and annoyance starting to creep upon her. But her mood had been so good tonight, that she quickly banished it. She could not remember the last time she had initiated sex, but tonight would be different. Turning towards him, she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Ron?"

"Hmm?" he mumbled back.

He wore only boxers in bed and his back, although prodigiously freckled and more slender than some, was firm and toned, as you would expect of a Quidditch player. She ran two fingertips tenderly over his shoulder then slowly down the centre of his back, enjoying the feel of the muscles under her skin and noting each vertebra as she edged down his spine.

This eventually elicited a response, and Ron dragged himself over to look at her. "'Mione?" he queried, as though at a loss to know what she was doing. She raised herself up on one elbow and bent her head down to place a warm kiss on his abdomen. He exhaled audibly and she continued planting supple kisses over his stomach, ever more firmly as she slowly but surely worked her way up his chest. As she reached a nipple, she caught one briefly between her lips, causing a slight hiss to escape from Ron's mouth. She raised herself up further and paused to look into his eyes.

He held her gaze, a look of astonishment etched on his face. Hermione bent her head forward, pressing her lips to his. At first, he gave no response, but her passion was infectious and he soon moved his lips under hers, opening her mouth with his. His tongue flickered in. Gods, she tasted good. He'd forgotten how good she tasted. Hermione joined his tongue with her own and opened her mouth further, urging him to plunder her. Their tongues mingled violently, but she did not pull back, only responded with increased passion. He was amazed at the intensity of her desire and it fuelled his own. He grasped the back of her head, curling his fingers into her hair and moved over her, turning her onto her back so that he could now assault her hot sweet mouth with renewed vigour. Ron's technique was sloppy and far from subtle, and Hermione giggled slightly into his mouth, but her physical need was so great that she continued to open to him.

She reached up and gripped his back, feeling the muscles harden under her touch. He broke from her for a breath and she moaned slightly at the loss of his mouth on hers. Panting, he looked down at her, unsure how to react to this new woman in his bed, not that he was complaining. Hermione arched her back and a groan escaped her lips. She longed for him to touch her again. She felt her nerve endings aflame, reigniting a vague memory. With her back arched, her breasts and nipples were cooled in the night air and she desperately wanted him to touch, rub, taste them.

Ron gazed down her body towards the apex of her thighs and couldn't believe what he saw.

"Hermione. You're touching yourself." He sounded so shocked, a brief flush of embarrassment moved over Hermione, but it quickly passed. Instead, she quickly wriggled out of her pants, took his hand and guided it down to her centre, replacing her hand with his. Ron had never been any good at foreplay, but now she knew exactly what she needed.

He wasn't sure how to proceed; he had never known Hermione to behave like this, but he was rock hard and he wanted her to be ready for him. He gingerly fingered her soft folds, unsure and clumsy. He was nowhere near the spot she wanted but her body burned so much that it didn't matter. Another groan escaped her lips. The sound transmitted itself straight to Ron's groin and he knew he wouldn't last much longer.

He rubbed inexpertly a few more times, causing Hermione to arch up towards his fingers, willing them towards the right spot. But just as she expected to feel a swell of pleasure, he withdrew his hand and quickly positioned himself over her. Grabbing her hip clumsily with one hand, he held his throbbing member with the other and thrust into her suddenly. She had been wet with anticipation for some time, but the sudden loss of his fingers from near that sensitive bud, and his hurried and unexpected penetration caused resentment to bubble up inside her.

As much as she wanted him, the manner in which he had entered her made her passion subside and she became quite passive under him as he thrust erratically into her. Ron didn't seem to notice the sudden dampening of her lust and she knew he wouldn't last long. He didn't, as with a few more poorly aimed jerks, he came messily inside her, collapsing heavily onto her with a groan of her name.

"Bloody hell, 'Mione," he panted, still lying heavily on top of her. "What's got into you? Give me a bloody heart attack, you will." Eventually, she felt his flaccid member slip out of her, but still he didn't move.

She lay under him, staring at the ceiling. Her mind was empty. Frustration swept through her body, but she stopped it entering her thoughts. She was happy to have Ron back. They had had a lovely evening. The sex was no worse than it had been before.

Her limbs ached to the point of cramp setting in and she longed for him to move off her. She touched him tentatively and whispered, "Ron?" A snore rose up from the body slumped over her. She sighed deeply and with a huge effort pushed him off her. He mumbled incoherently, snorted and went immediately back to sleep.

Hermione lay there immobile for several more minutes, mulling over the day's events. The reality is never as good as the anticipation, she reminded herself dully. Her hands moved down over her cami, so soft and smooth over her skin, once again. She allowed her fingers to quest further down. Her thighs fell open and her index finger swept slowly up her centre. She jerked upwards. The tender bud of flesh at the top was still crying out for release, having been so cruelly denied earlier.

Ron had turned away from her and was breathing heavily, fast asleep.

Her left hand moved to her breast under her top and she rubbed her fingertips slowly but firmly over the nipple. It quickly rose to attention, demanding more. Her right hand was now energetically exploring her folds. She plunged her middle finger deep into her vagina, curling it slightly to feel the silky walls inside. She became increasingly curious and added another finger into the tight passage. Her walls gripped them and sent a wave of pleasure up her body. She arched her back and moved her fingers rapidly, sensing a quickening towards release. Withdrawing her fingers, she stroked up again towards her clit. At the first touch a shot of exquisite fire shot through her body and she knew she needed to come soon.

She felt for her nipple again and squeezed it between thumb and forefinger, sending another delicious shot through her body, to straight between her legs. She stroked firmly and rhythmically, caressing the bud of nerves that would send her over the edge. Feeling the glorious tightening in her abdomen, she increased her pressure. She pinched her nipple hard and caught her clit at just the same time. The wave broke and she arched her back high off the bed as exquisite pleasure washed over her heaving body.

In the darkness, she came down slowly, breathing heavily into the black of the night. Never had she needed that physical release so much. She turned her head towards Ron. He was sleeping deeply. She lay still for a few more minutes, trying as best she could to empty her mind. Then she turned slowly and closed her eyes to try to sleep.

It came to her surprisingly quickly, and as she inhaled deeply before slumber finally took her, the faint aroma of musk and spice briefly filled her senses.


Who is Hermione kidding? Come to your senses, girl!!

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