.viii.

"How could I be so stupid!" Hermione raged as she stormed down the muggle street. Harry raced beside her and passed apologetic expressions to those she nearly ran into. "I am quite possibly the stupidest person in the world."

"Don't be silly, 'Mione."

Hermione immediately came to a stop. Harry skidded to a halt and nearly fell over. "A wedding dress, Harry. We're getting married in five days. I don't have a wedding dress!" She threw her arms wide and nearly smacked a man in the face.

Harry grabbed her wrists and pulled her close. "It's going to be fine."

"Fine?" She leaned closer. Her eyes were wide and her curls had turned even wilder than usual. She looked half mad. "Five days, Harry! Five! That's not fine."

Her frantic energy didn't even phase him. Nothing really phased him after having seen the state she was in leading up to their NEWT exams. "We're almost at the wedding boutique that Luna's friend recommended. She said they sell the dresses off the rack. That's all we need. Molly has promised to alter it for you." He looked around and stepped closer. "With magic," he whispered, "she'll have it done in less than a day."

"But what if I don't find something," she wailed.

Harry pulled her into his arms. "You will."

Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. Her nose pressed into his sternum "What if it's hideous?" she mumbled into his shirt.

He shook with silent laughter. "Then you'd make it look beautiful."

She rolled her eyes and pulled back. "Shut up."

"It's true," he protested as he refused to let go of her. "You're stunning. And honestly, you could wear my jersey to the wedding and I'd be happy. Actually, I rather like the idea of you wearing my name on your back when we say our vows." He nodded with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Really drive the point home, ya know?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Dream on, Potter."

Harry smirked and leaned forward. For a moment, Hermione's breath caught as she thought he might kiss her. His lips touched the tip of her nose and the curly haired witch tried to conceal her disappointment. He'd yet to kiss her since everything that had happened the other day. She'd been waiting for it and although he'd been more intimate, it'd all been very family friendly.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

No, she thought with an infinite amount of sexual frustration. "Thanks," she whispered with a little smile. Her eyes lingered on his lips. Harry drew in a shaky breath before slowly releasing her.

"We should go. Luna's probably waiting for us already." He took her hand and led her the rest of the way to the wedding boutique.

It was a small shop with carpeted flooring and soft pink walls. Luna was waiting for them in a white chair. She had a bridal magazine in her hands that she was reading upside down. The blonde looked up at them through her funky sunglasses and smiled brightly.

"Hello!" She jumped to her feet and clutched the magazine to her chest. "You're here. Just in time too." She raised an eyebrow in a slightly scolding manner, if Luna could ever be perceived as such. "We have an appointment, you know."

"It's Hermione's fault."

Hermione wrinkled her nose at Harry. She turned back to their best friend. "I have no idea where to start."

"Sparkles!" Luna immediately exclaimed.

Hermione gave a single nod. "I stand corrected. I know I don't want that." Harry laughed at Luna's exaggerated pout. Hermione went to the sales girl and checked in for their appointment. The three were shown a change room for themselves and given free reign to look through the dresses. The girl gave a nod and a smile and told them to let her know if they needed anything. She then dashed off to help another girl trying on a poofy white dress.

Hermione turned and shrugged at the both of them. "Alright, let's do this. Luna, you still need a maid of honour dress as well, so maybe we can start there."

"Oh, I was thinking -"

"- Nothing I haven't seen and approved of." Hermione whirled around and quickly became lost in a sea of dresses.

Luna turned to Harry. "She needs to destress."

He gave her a slightly confused look. "How is that my problem?" Luna raised an eyebrow pointedly and followed after her best friend. Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. He followed after the two witches, knowing they'd protest if he didn't participate.

It was quicker to find them a dress for Luna than Hermione thought it'd be, but that was mostly because once Luna found her dress she refused to take it off.

"I'll wear it out of the store. I don't think I'll ever take it off." She paused and her head tilted. "Until I get home, Rolf and I rarely wear clothes."

Harry's face turned a furious shade of red. He looked to Hermione, his eyes wide.

Hermione covered her mouth. She nodded once. "You're going to give Harry an aneurysm."

Luna blinked. "Is that like when you've got too many Wrackspurts?"

"Yes, exactly."

The blonde turned wide, blue eyes on Harry. "Sex is a great cure for that." Harry groaned and collapsed into his chair. He dropped his face into his hands.

Hermione smiled at Luna happily. "I've never believed in Wrackspurts more." The two girls shared a smirk before Hermione shook her head. "Okay, now seriously, take off the dress. Let's find me something next."

Luna looked down and swished her flowy, floor length skirt. "Something with flowers as well?" Luna had set her heart on a soft pink dress with tulle overlay. Stitched into the fabric were numerous, colourful flowers. It wasn't sparkly, but Luna was still holding out hope for Hermione to wear something bedazzled.

Hermione made a face. "Probably not."

Luna sighed and entered the changeroom to get back into her striped skirt and sparkly top. Hermione turned to her finacé and pressed a hand to his shoulder. "Deep breaths," she instructed with a touch of dry humour.

Harry groaned. "I really didn't need to hear that."

She bit back a grin. "Just wait until she's pregnant and there's proof."

Another pained groan.

"Are you torturing him again?" Luna asked as she stepped out of the changeroom. Hermione nodded with a bright smile. Luna nodded. "Well, that's good. Let's continue with a sexy wedding dress."

Harry looked up with a frown. "They don't make those." Luna wriggled her eyebrows and skipped away to a wrack of white dresses. He turned to Hermione. "Do they make those?"

Hermione laughed. She took his hand and tugged him to his feet again. "Come on. Maybe I'll try on of the sexy ones on for you."

"They don't make those," he protested again.

Hermione picked out the bulk of the dresses. She vetoed everything Harry chose and reluctantly allowed herself to try on a flowery, sparkly gown for Luna.

"It's lovely," Harry immediately said.

"I'm not getting it!" she shouted as she stormed back into the changeroom. Luna rolled her eyes and hummed happily from her seat.

The next dress was worn with a vindictive smirk. It was low cut and tight all over. The bodice had pearls and jewels across her breasts that had been pushed up enticingly. Harry nearly swallowed his tongue.

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

"Guh…"

Luna smiled at Harry as he stared, his mouth open. "I don't think he likes it." She turned back to Hermione. "But I think he might like to help you out of it." The witches burst into laughter.

"Why am I even here?" Harry lamented loudly.

Hermione stifled her snickers. "Because - because you're my very best friend. I couldn't make a decision like this without you." Harry smiled lovingly at her. "But that doesn't mean I don't want to torture you at the same time."

He shook his head at her, still smiling, as she ducked back into the changeroom. Luna nudged her shoulder against his. "Will you sleep with her tonight?"

Harry's eyes widened. "Luna!" The witch smiled innocently. He eyed her, wondering if Hermione had talked to her about everything. After a moment, he decided not and raised an eyebrow in silent question.

"She's been throwing herself at you," Luna explained and Harry couldn't argue.

Since his conversation with her after their date, she'd turned the flirting up to a whole new level. She'd apparently forgotten what trousers were when wearing his quidditch jerseys. She was trying to drive him mad and it was definitely working.

He wasn't sure if Hermione had confided in Luna, but he was inclined to believe that Luna simply knew what was going on. The little blonde had a way of simply knowing.

"I figured your date set off some sparks," Luna continued. "Did you like the dress?"

Harry nodded. "She looked breathtaking." He looked down at his hands.

Luna slipped her arm around his and leaned into his side. "Are you waiting for something?"

He sighed. "I really don't want to talk about this."

"She's still Hermione," Luna continued as if he hadn't said anything at all. "She'll still be Hermione after you two have sex. Actually, she'll be more herself. You'll know her more fully. It's a very intimate experience to make love to someone you're already close with. I didn't experience it until I was with Rolf. I prefer to sleep with acquaintances, a few strangers."

He turned to her and raised his eyebrows. "Are you finished? Actually, don't answer that - you're finished." He looked toward the changeroom again, signifying the end of the discussion. Luna leaned her head against his shoulder. "Strangers," he whispered as he shook his head. Merlin, his heart couldn't take anymore.

Hermione stepped out of the changeroom in a big, ballroom style gown. The dress had off the shoulder straps and a pristine, white material. "I like the modernity of this one, but the skirts are a bit heavy."

"I love it," Harry declared. "You look like a princess."

Hermione blushed and smiled at him from beneath her lashes. "I want to be able to dance at the wedding. We'll both be tripping over these skirts." She attempted to lift the skirts and gave up after they rose an inch. She dropped them and huffed. "I feel like I weigh a million pounds."

Harry laughed. "Alright, next one, then."

"Sparkles!" Luna shouted as Hermione disappeared again.

"No!"

Harry shot Luna a look. "She's going to hex you."

"We're surrounded by muggles."

"She'll find a way."

The next dress was less heavy, but Hermione didn't like the whimsy look of the tulle skirts. "It's too much like Luna's dress."

"There aren't any flowers," the blonde protested.

"This is pointless," Hermione whined. "I hate this. Why is this so hard?"

Luna cocked her head to the side. Her eyes widened sadly and she stood before disappearing into the stacks of dresses. Harry glanced towards where Luna had gone off and decided to deal with the near hysterical bride first.

"It's going to be okay," he told her as he rose to his feet.

"You keep saying that," she whispered sadly.

"Hey," he wrapped his arms around her waist, "look at me. What's wrong?"

Hermione's eyes teared and she looked away. "I wish my mum were here." Harry closed his eyes. Of course, he should have guessed that.

"We should have called Grams."

Hermione shook her head. "She wouldn't have been able to make it downtown in time. And she hates this sort of thing." She wiped at her cheeks. "Mum had this beautiful white dress. Simple and elegant. And this veil." Her eyes met his emerald green ones sadly. "This long, cathedral veil with lace along the edges."

"Why don't you wear your mother's dress?" he immediately asked. That was something girls did, wasn't it?

"She sold it," Hermione explained tearfully. "They needed money after the wedding. They were still in school and broke and they sold it all off." She crossed her arms over her chest. "I've just seen it in pictures."

Harry sighed sadly and pulled the witch into his chest. He rested her head on his shoulder and gently stroked his fingers through her curls. "I'm sorry," he whispered. Hermione sank into his embrace with a sigh.

"Try this one," Luna interrupted.

Harry and Hermione pulled apart. The younger witch was holding up a long, white dress. Hermione smiled at Luna gratefully and took the dress. She disappeared back into the changeroom again.

She slipped the dress she was wearing off and hung it up with the many others they'd already tried. The dress Luna had picked was decidedly different from what Hermione was expecting. It was a pure white colour, no shades of cream like a few of the others she had disliked. The neckline stretched across her collarbones, teasing at her shoulders before the dress elegantly dipped down her back. The fabric gathered at the base of her spine, hiding the beginning of a row of cloth covered buttons that made their way down her rear.

Hermione turned and eyed the way the fabric moved around her legs and feet. It was long, modern, and elegant. The dress almost felt casual in comparison to the other ones she'd tried on that day. She rather loved it. She felt sophisticated and romantic. She wasn't a romantic, but no one but Harry needed to know that on her wedding day.

She smoothed her hands down the front of the dress and smiled. This might just be the one.

When she stepped out of the changeroom, Luna smiled brightly. Harry turned and his eyes widened. His mouth dropped open.

Hermione bit her lip. "Thoughts?"

He blinked. Her question finally seemed to register and he moved. Harry was in front of her in two long strides. His hands cupped her face as he kissed her. Hermione's fingers curled around his wrists. Her eyes fluttered shut.

He pressed his chest against her own. His tongue swept across the seam of her lips. Hermione eagerly opened her mouth as Harry angled her head back to deepen the kiss. Her chest swelled and her body flooded with heat. It was startling the way everything just fell away when he kissed her. He pulled back a moment later. Hermione followed his lips, unwilling to let him go so soon.

He smiled down at her. His fingers still tenderly cupped her face. "You're so perfect."

"So, you hate it?"

He shook his head and chuckled quietly. "Never take it off. Just wear it everyday."

Hermione smiled widely. "Will you kiss me like that everyday if I do?"

His eyes flickered across her face. Her freckles, her lips, her big brown eyes. "Do you want me to?"

"I do."

He smoothed his thumb across her bottom lip. "I think I can manage that."

:::

Harry did not sleep with her when they got home. They dropped the dress off with Molly to alter and thanked her profusely for all her help. By the time they got home, Harry was begging off to get some work done at the hospital before the wedding.

He'd kissed her sweetly and then dashed through the floo before she could protest. Hermione tried not to pout. She turned to Luna who was searching under the couch for Hermione's ever elusive cat.

"He's killing me," she complained as she shuffled around the kitchen and made them tea.

"He's nervous."

"I know." She did pout then.

Luna huffed and sat back on her heels. Her curly blonde hair was in a scattered disarray. "That doesn't mean you can't give him a little push."

Hermione sighed. "I'm already flirting more. I'm touching him almost constantly. We cuddled last night before bed."

Luna pulled up a seat at the breakfast bar. "But you did that before." Hermione frowned as she thought about that. They did tend to touch fairly often, something she'd recently put on Ginny's lack of intimacy with him in their relationship. "You need to do something new."

The curly haired witch eyed her friend suspiciously. "Like what?"

Luna smiled mischievously. She slipped off her seat and went to the bedroom. Hermione followed curiously. Luna opened the drawers of Hermione's dresser. When Harry had moved in several weeks ago he had taken over some of the drawers for himself.

Luna picked around until she found what she was looking for. She smirked and held up the lacy teddy for her friend to see. Hermione's eyes widened. "That's a bit aggressive, don't you think?"

"Desperate times call for desperate measures. How long has it been since you've had sex?"

Hermione crossed her arms and shifted on her feet.

Luna raised her eyebrows at Hermione's telling silence. "I've had sex three times today."

"Three? Today?"

Luna shrugged simply. "I have a very healthy sex drive."

Hermione smiled and shook her head. "I miss our chats."

The younger witch nodded as she laid the pink lace teddy on the bed. "It has been awhile since we've talked. You've been busy, though. It's perfectly understandable." She turned back to the dresser and sifted through Hermione's other lingerie. "I've been settling in with Rolf, as well."

"How's that going?" she asked as Luna held up a short black silk dress. It was floor length with a slit up the leg. "That one's not that comfy."

Luna hummed and folded it before putting it back. "Rolf is lovely. We're planning a trip to India in a few months."

"Really?" Hermione moved to the bed and crawled to the centre. She crossed her legs. A ball of black fur jumped up and crawled into her lap. "Hey, sweetie," she cooed to the little cat. She scratched her finger on the flat of the kitten's head. It purred loudly.

Luna smiled at the cat. "Hello, Nix. I have treats for you. Remind me before I leave?" she asked of the cat. Nix meowed back.

"How long will you be gone for?"

"At least three months. If our search goes well, up to a year."

Hermione smiled sadly. "But what if we need our favourite reporter on the scene?"

Luna returned the smile. "Riley is my main writer. I trust him to take care of you. He works really well with my photographer, Winston. I'll make sure to get you all well acquainted before I leave again."

Hermione hummed and nodded as Nix purred in her lap. If Luna trusted them, she knew there was nothing to worry about. "Have you and Rolf talked about kids yet?"

Luna held up a pair of lace black knickers. She nodded approvingly and set them aside on the bed. "We decided to wait until after we get back from India. That's when we'll start trying."

"That's fairly soon," Hermione instantly responded and the anxiety in her voice was evident.

Luna shrugged. "I take that to mean you and Harry are waiting the full five years."

"I like my job," Hermione protested. "And if I'm pregnant, I'm not allowed to do experiments. The last thing I want to do is be stuck in Research for the rest of my life." She pouted. "I'm good at it, but it's not as fun. And once I have the baby, I'll be kept in Research until my magic levels return to normal. For some witches, that takes years."

"And you and Harry want more than one child," Luna added in.

"Exactly!" Hermione paused. "Actually, we haven't discussed it. But I'd assume so. We have Teddy already, but I'm sure Harry wants a few more. So do I, frankly." She pursed her lips as she thought about that. How many children would they have? How many did Harry want?

Luna smiled happily at the ensemble she'd put together. Lace black knickers under a short black negligee. Simple and sexy. She began to fold and put away the other pieces. "That makes sense - why you want to wait, I mean. Your career is important to you. Just as Harry's is to him. It shows a great deal of love that neither of you even considered infringing on one another's happiness."

Softly, Hermione responded, "Harry's happiness has always been one of my number one priorities."

Luna finished putting away the clothes and turned back around to her best friend. Her big blue eyes stared in that oddly omniscient way she had of doing. "And your happiness has always been Harry's. A perfect match."

Hermione rolled her eyes. That 100% match floated around in the back of her mind, taunting as ever.

"I should go, I need to get some work done for the Quibbler." Nix meowed. "Yes! Your treats. I'll leave them on the counter, shall I?" She gave Hermione a familial peck before kissing the cat's head.

"Thank you for coming. That dress you choose. Luna, it's perfect. Thank you."

Luna shared a sweet smile with Hermione. "I'm glad you like it. I'm sorry I teased you so much beforehand. I should have realized how stressful the situation was for you." Her smile turned sad as she looked down.

Hermione reached across the bed and grabbed the blonde's hand. "Hey, I had a wonderful time. Your teasing made me smile. I wouldn't change a single moment of this day. It was perfect. The fact that you picked out my lingerie for tonight has only made it better."

Luna laughed. "Don't tell Harry."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Do I look stupid?" she joked.

:::

Audrey Hepburn danced and sung her way across the screen as she attempted to become a "proper lady." Hermione was laid out across the couch in the first bit of downtime she'd had since all the wedding business had started up. The wedding was in two days. Everything was prepared and taken care of. Mrs. Weasley was heading up the final preparations at the cottage for the next two days. Harry and Hermione had never been more grateful to be honorary Weasleys.

Harry was snuggled up behind his finacé as they watched My Fair Lady. Their legs were tangled together and his thumb was tracing patterns on the skin of her hip where her silky negligee had ridden up to reveal her lace knickers.

His lips trailed along the skin of her neck. He pressed a kiss to her pulse point. Hermione closed her eyes and hummed happily.

Since the wedding dress shopping a few days ago, Harry had finally overcome whatever hurdle had been stopping him from kissing her. He hadn't gone further than snogging and a bit of light petting, but Hermione wasn't complaining. She hadn't let up in her flirtations with him in the least and she'd taken to Luna's advice of wearing lingerie around the flat.

Harry's fingers slipped beneath the lace of her knickers. Hermione's breath caught. "Please - please don't tease me," she whispered.

Harry smirked against the skin of her shoulder. "Tease? Like you've been teasing me all week?"

"Seducing you," she breathed. She reached back and her fingers curled into his hair, "there's a difference."

He snorted. Despite the sound of disagreement, his thumb slowly dragged her panties down her thighs. "Only you would think so." She hummed in response. Her eyes fluttered shut as his fingers trailed across the tops of her thighs. "I've been thinking about this all week," he whispered into her ear.

Hermione shifted. She bit her bottom lip in an attempt to quiet her moan at the sound of his voice in her ear.

"All the things I want to do to you," he continued. His lips trailed soft kisses along her jaw. He paused for a second and his breath fanned out across her jaw. "Did you… do you want to hear?"

"Yes…" She drew the word out so long, Hermione almost sounded like she was speaking parseltongue.

Harry grinned. "I want to taste you." His finger slipped between her folds and teased her slit. "Shit," he hissed when he felt how wet she was. He hadn't been expecting that, if he were to be honest.

Hermione's head fell back and her body arched under his attention. Harry leaned forward on instinct to tease one of her breasts with his mouth through her negligee. His thumb pressed against her clit and Hermione gasped as she came. Her eyes squeezed shut and her body tensed as a wave of pleasure rolled through her to the tips of her toes.

When she opened her eyes again, Harry was staring at her with a small smile on his face and wonder in his eyes. Hermione felt her face grow hot. That had been embarrassingly quick for her. It wasn't fair. It'd been ages since she'd a proper release and the way he'd been whispering in her ear about what he wanted to do, he'd hit one of her favourite kinks without even trying.

She smiled awkwardly. "Oops." It was like all the hesitation in the air around them snapped.

Harry laughed. He leaned forward and captured her mouth in a deep, passionate kiss. Hermione wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled him into the cradle of her thighs. She pressed her chest up against his own. Harry's hands travelled up her body. He pushed her negligee up as he went. His lips broke away from hers as he pulled the fabric over her head and dropped it over the end of the couch.

They stared into one another's eyes breathlessly. Harry cupped the side of her face with his hand. "You're so beautiful."

Hermione smiled. Her eyes glinted. "Take off your clothes so I can say the same."

His grin widened. He rose up on his knees and his eyes trailed across her body. She had the most enticing collection of beauty marks that mapped themselves out across her neck, breasts, and her left hip bone. He wondered if she'd let him map them out with his lips and tongue. He wanted to worship her body the way he'd dreamed about for longer than was decent.

His shirt was tossed to the floor. Hermione bit her lip as she eyed him up. He leaned over her. They stared into one another's eyes again. Both could feel the edge they were sitting on. An edge they were about to tumble over together. It took everything in Hermione not to reach out to him. She had given him control. It was something she knew he needed, but it didn't lessen her desire to pull him close, roll them over, and have her wicked way with him.

But the prospect of Harry deciding exactly where this night went held a whole different sort of excitement for her. There were very few people that she would throw herself at the mercy of, but Harry had always been one of them.

His hand cupped her cheek again and he smiled softly at the look of want in her eyes. He didn't think he'd ever get tired of seeing that fire burning in her chocolatey orbs. It made him feel powerful. If she asked, Harry was fairly positive he could move mountains for that look. He could change the orbit of the earth for the way she looked when she had come undone.

The fact that he had been able to do that to her with only a few whispers and light touches made his heart hammer in his chest. He'd been thinking about doing that for her all week - for years really - and the reality was so much better than his imagination.

"Harry," Hermione whispered breathlessly as he swept his thumb across her bottom lip. Harry slowly closed the distance between them. She moaned into the kiss. Her fingers tangled in his hair. He pressed himself closer, revelling in the feel of her naked flesh against his own. His hands and lips explored her body leisurely. He licked and sucked his way down her neck as his hands cupped her breasts.

Hermione moaned in approval. She writhed under his gentle touches and soft lips. The way he touched her left her breathless. She'd had plenty of sex before. She'd even made love. But something in the way Harry touched her made her feel like she was being worshipped.

He slipped her leg over his shoulder and pressed a trail of kisses up the inside of her thigh. Hermione pulled her right leg over his other shoulder. She raised herself up onto her elbows and smiled down at him.

Harry glanced up at her and when he saw her wide smile, he couldn't help but laugh. "You look far too pleased."

"You've never looked better," she teased with a wink.

He narrowed his eyes but his smile didn't dissipate. Instead of responding, he leaned forward and licked along her wet slit. Hermione's head fell back as Harry's tongue curled inside of her. Breathlessly, she asked, "That the best you got?"

Harry pulled back. He looked up at her, slightly shocked and a bit hurt. Hermione raised an eyebrow challengingly. There wasn't a speck of cruel intentions on her face and he immediately knew she doing what she'd always done - pushing him to do what he wanted. Courage washed through him. It filled his chest and steeled his resolve.

Harry ducked his head back down between her thighs. Hermione's eyes fluttered shut and she moaned. A second later, Harry was speaking in parseltongue with his tongue still inside her. Hermione's eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed.

The excitement in her voice did him in and he pulled back. His body shook as he laughed.

Hermione immediately rose to her elbows and shot him the most dramatically sad look he'd ever seen. "Why are you stopping?" she questioned, even as she laughed as well.

He wiped a tear away from beneath his glasses. "I've always wanted to try that."

"Well, ten point to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter. That was the best bloody idea you've ever had." Harry's forehead rested against her inner thigh as he laughed. "Can we keep trying it?" Hermione eagerly asked.

Harry chuckled and nodded. "Lay back."

"Yes…" She pressed her head back into the soft cushion of the couch. The way Harry's tongue moved, was the most incredible experience of her life. She never knew the human tongue could even move that way. Hermione gasped and moaned. She shifted on the couch. Her hips thrust up against Harry's mouth. He snaked his arms under her thighs and held her hips down.

Hermione's fingers curled into his wild hair. She pressed up again, as much as she could with his hands and arms restraining her. She could feel her body winding tight. Her toes curled. Her breathless moans filled the air.

She pressed her fingers against her clit. Her eyes squeezed shut as her body clenched. Her orgasm crashed against her like an ocean wave hitting the beach. The feeling overwhelmed her as it passed through her entire body and tore a startled cry from her lips.

Her hips jerked and her fingers tightened in his hair. Harry eased her through her orgasm. His tongue guided her through the aftershocks. Her body was still shaking as he lifted her knees from his shoulders and crawled back up the length of her body.

He smiled down at the blissful look on his face. He fought down the mad blush that rose to his cheeks. He was more than a bit startled with his own actions. He felt a bit like instead of dipping his toe into the kiddie pool, he'd just dived off into the deep end. Hermione looked more than a bit pleased though, and Harry knew he had been thoroughly enjoying himself.

Hermione's lashes fluttered as she slowly came back to her senses. Her cheeks were flushed and her curls a mess. He didn't think he'd ever seen anything so beautiful. He realized, this is exactly what she'd been talking about last week. These were the moments he'd been missing out on.

A flash of annoyance for Ginny rushed through him, which he quickly forced back down. He'd spent enough time annoyed and angry with her. He was going to revel in the moment. He was going to enjoy every single breathless second with the witch beneath him. And as Harry watched Hermione smile widely at him, he determined that nothing would ever hold him back again.

Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck and she drew him in for a long kiss. Harry pulled her in against his chest. He guided her legs around his waist and without a word, lifted her up as he slowly carried her to their bedroom.

He set her onto the centre of the bed as he kissed her deeply. Hermione breathed out a soft cry of protest when he pulled back. He pushed his boxers down before quickly joining her on the bed again. He leaned over her. His hand cupped the back of her head as he kissed her once more.

"Under the covers?" he asked when he pulled back.

Hermione hummed. "Only if you want. I prefer on top." She winked.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Why do I feel like you mean that in more ways than one?"

"Because you're a very, very smart boy." Her finger trailed across his lips. "With a very, very good tongue."

Harry winked and smiled that confident, charming smile that Hermione adored. He leaned forward and pressed his tongue into her mouth, showing her all the ways he could be very good with his tongue. And he was. Hermione curled her fingers into his hair once more and lost herself in the feeling of his tongue in her mouth. She could taste herself on him.

He pressed against her. Hermione lowered her hand and wrapped her fingers around him. Harry moaned into her mouth. She tried not to break into another mad smile, but it was hard not to when she wrapped her fingers around his length. Merlin, that was going to feel amazing inside of her, she already knew it.

She stroked him eagerly. Her thumb swept across the top on the upwards stroke and Harry broke the kiss with a curse. He buried his head in the crook of her neck. Hermione bit her lip in an attempt to hold back that same smile from before. She continued her ministrations, slowly increasing the speed and pressure.

"Fuck, Hermione." He reached down and grabbed her wrist. When he pulled back to look at her, she was smiling innocently. She batted her lashes at him. "Stop causing trouble."

"Me? Trouble? Why I'd never." Her eyes glinted with mischief.

He made a noise of mild disbelief.

"I'm offended at the insinuation," she declared with a shake of her head.

Harry rolled his eyes. "You're just trying to make this harder, aren't you?"

"I thought that was the point?" she quipped.

He narrowed his eyes and leaned in close. He teasingly bit the bottom of her earlobe and growled, "Enough, witch."

A thrill ran through Hermione as she replied with a silky, "Yes, sir."

Harry settled between her thighs with a laugh. "Are you always like this?"

Her cheeks turned pink in a moment of mild embarrassment. She shrugged a shoulder. "I like teasing you." She cocked her head to the side. "Besides, sex should be fun. We're finding pleasure with each other, no one said you could only do that one way."

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "I like your way." It eased his anxieties. Hermione always knew how to make him feel safe. She knew how to make him forget all the worries that were rushing through the back of his mind.

She nodded quickly. "It's the best way." He slowly shook his head, his nose nudged her own. His fingers curled around her thigh and slowly hooked her leg over his hip. He stared deeply into her eyes. He leaned over her, putting his weight on his forearms by her head. Hermione felt as her heart stuttered in her chest. The way he was staring at her had her toes curling and her heartbeat racing. "Harry?"

He slowly closed the distance between them. His lips and tongue teased her own in a deep kiss. Harry ground his hips against hers. Hermione moaned loudly into his mouth. She moved her hips in time with his own and he made a pleased sound.

He reached a hand between them to help as he slowly eased himself inside her. Hermione's eyes squeezed shut. Her mouth fell open in bliss. Harry took calming breath to centre himself. "Holy shit," he whispered.

Hermione bit her tongue on a laugh. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pressed soft, gentle kisses to the side of his face. She nodded. "Whenever you're ready."

He nodded against her shoulder but didn't move otherwise. After a long moment filled only with Harry's deep breathing, he finally began to move. Hermione couldn't contain her moans. She moved her hips in time with his, her back arching and her nails digging into his skin.

"Yes, Harry," she breathed between thrusts.

He slowly picked up the pace. His own pleased groans joined her own. The frames on the wall shook as the bed rocked back into the wall. The bed creaked.

It was overwhelming. Far more overwhelming than Hermione was expecting. She felt completely unprepared for the effect Harry was having on her. His earlier touches were nothing in comparison to the tenderness he handled her with now. Every touch was filled with sweetness and caring. The emotion of the moment swelled up inside of her. She had to bite her lip to stop herself from crying.

Hermione's face was flushed red. She gasped, unable to utter even an exclamation as her orgasm took her by surprise. Harry groaned into the side of her neck. His glasses were slipping so far down his nose that they'd nearly fallen off. His face was just as flushed and sweaty as her own.

The feeling of completeness swept over him like a tidal wave. Sex had never felt like this before. There was a level of emotion and intimacy that he realized had always been lacking. He wondered if this was simply the difference between sex with Ginny versus Hermione, or if it was the difference between sex and making love.

When he'd regained his breath, he pulled himself up a bit and fixed his glasses. He smiled down at the pleased look on her face. "Like the cat that got the canary."

She hummed and nodded. Her fingers trailed down his sweaty chest and along the defined muscles of his stomach. "Can you blame me? That was fun."

He chuckled and eased himself onto the mattress beside her. He rested his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. He'd just had sex with Hermione. If he could only go back in time and tell his eighteen year old self to not give up hope like he had. He'd honestly thought he'd never be able to have this. Never have the woman of his dreams.

"Harry?"

He blinked his eyes open and turned his head to the curly haired witch beside him. He was going to spend the rest of his life laying beside her, with her, waking up next to her. His heart swelled inside his chest. "'Mione?"

She grinned impishly. "Want to have some more fun?"

Harry laughed incredulously. He was the luckiest man in the world.

:::

Hermione stood before the door to her walk in closet. Her wedding dress was hanging off of the door, the train only just managed to miss dragging across the floor. It was still beautiful. She had no regrets about her decision. Molly had done all the alterations needed and the dress fit perfectly. Everything was ready for tomorrow.

Hermione was getting married in the morning.

The flowers had been set up. The decorations were in place. The catering was taken care of. The cake had been picked up. Everything was ready. But something was wrong. It still felt like something was missing.

Hermione reached her hand out. Her fingers trailed along the silky fabric. Her mother would have loved the dress. Tears sprung to Hermione's eyes. She pulled her fingers back as if burned.

"All done," Harry announced as he stepped into the bedroom.

Hermione quickly wiped her eyes and turned to give him a bright smile. "Is it okay?"

He made a face. "It's a bit small, but I fit in the bed and dresser. I put up some pictures we have of his parents and the Weasleys."

"The toy chest?"

He nodded. "It fit too." He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest. "I just feel bad we don't have more space for him. We'll need to start up the search for a house again, after the wedding." They'd renovated the closet between the bedroom and the living area into a bedroom for Teddy. They'd expanded the space, taking from the living room in order to do it. It was a tight fit and they both knew it wouldn't last for long.

Hermione snuggled into Harry's chest and nodded silently.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

She squeezed her arms around him tightly. "Just missing my parents again," she replied, trying to make it sound less serious than it was.

Harry nodded sadly. "There are a lot of people I wish could be here tomorrow."

She smiled sadly. "We should get a portrait done of them all."

He chuckled quietly. "Christ, imagine the party in that frame." Hermione laughed. When she quieted again, he pressed another kiss to her head and whispered, "I have something for you." He went over to the bedside table he'd taken over and pulled out a square felt box.

"What is this?" she asked as he handed it to her.

"Open it."

She did. Inside and laying on a plush silk bed was a beautiful opal necklace. The stone was a smooth oval pendant on a thin gold necklace. "It's beautiful," she breathed. Her fingers touched the smooth, polished stone.

"I thought you could wear it tomorrow, along with your mother's earrings."

Hermione smiled as her eyes filled with tears. "Harry…" She touched his chin and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "I love it. Thank you."

Harry smoothed his knuckles along her cheekbone. "Despite the circumstances, I want tomorrow to be everything you've dreamed of."

A happy tear fell down her cheek. She nodded. "It will be."


Happy Canada Weekend! Tomorrow I'll be a new story! I've already let my readers on my other story know and vote on what they'd like, so in fairness, I'll be posting the same story info here. Your choices are a Thormione, a Sirmione, or a Harmony.

The Thormione will be more sporadic updates, mostly because I'm not as far along in it. It takes place post-Hogwarts but the war has dragged on for a few more years and is still ongoing.

The Sirmione is a non-time travel "Hermione born in the 70's" trope. It's actually inspired off of my Child Bride story. There's an explanation Hermione will give later that super inspired me as a "what if" scenario and I ran with it.

The Harmony has super!Harry, not-a-muggleborn-Hermione, and lots of Marauder love. Featuring alternate realities and an epic "save the world" storyline!

Currently, Sirmione is in the lead. So if you really want to see another story, I recommend you leave a comment to let me know!

Next chapter is the wedding! See you then. (Also, thank you so much for all your kind responses over the last chapter. I was so nervous and you all made me feel so much better about my decision to incorporate those scenes. I'm really glad that it not only added to the story but provided more for the whole Ginny/Harry plotline. Hopefully, this sex scene lived up to the hopes and dreams. It was a delicate balance between amusing and serious and I hope I got it alright.)

xx