Yeah so since my last chapter was a little short I thought I'd update a but quicker! AND to make things a even better its my longest chapter yet and also my favourite to date

One more quick thing before we start. After the war Ginny decided to go back to school for 7th year and then after that Harry travelled for a year as part of his Auora training. Then when he came back it took a while for those two to get going so that's why they've only been together for four years and not 6. Just to clear that up! Anyway enjoy!

Chapter 10

Hermione lay snuggled in Harry's arms as the golden sunlight warmed their bodies. She heard him sigh with happiness as he buried his nose into her soft curls and wrapped his arm tighter around her waist. Hermione let a small smirk grow on her face as she recalled last night's events.

Yesterday she and Harry had went their separate ways to work – not that either of them were particularly focused – and Hermione had pottered around floating through the day. That night she had grudgingly went dinner with Ron and had made an effort not to get in a fight. She really had. But as usual he had made one of his 'Ron comments', as Hermione was now accustomed to calling them and the whole thing had ended in a complete and utter shambles. Hermione in a flurry of annoyance had stormed out of the fancy restaurant and stomped half way across London to cool off. Then she sent Harry an owl using a code word they had come up with – 'vodka' – to let each other know to come over and he had been only too happy to oblige as he was facing yet another night without Ginny. After a ridiculously bad start Hermione's night took a turn for the better to say the least. And it just kept getting better. They spent most of the weekend together in Hermione's flat – Ginny apparently had some sort of Quidditch retreat and Ron had enough sense to let Hermione cool off – and they weren't bothered by anyone. However Thursday and Harry and Ginny's 'surprise' party loomed closer and closer and seemed to but a dent in their perfect little sex bubble as the weekend came to a close. But for the moment they were snuggled up on the Sunday in bed having lost all sense of time.

"I could just lie here forever…" Hermione said sighing.

"Me too." Harry murmured nuzzling her neck.

"We should probably move though." She said indifferently.

"Probably." He said laughing lightly.

"Come on we should grab some breakfast or lunch…or dinner. What ever time it is." She said sitting up and Harry groaned in protest and pulled her back down with a kiss. She tried to mischievously wriggle free but he roped his arm further around her waist and pulled her on top of him and she stuck out her tongue.

"Cheat." she said and with a provocative smile she straddled his hips as he stretched and yawned trying to seem nonchalant but he couldn't hide his twitching arousal from beneath her.

"Cheat? I think not, it's not my fault I'm strong." He said raising an eyebrow as she ground her hips against his.

"True you're strong but I know exactly how to get you Mr. Potter." Hermione retorted.

"Oh? And how is that?" he asked coming up to a sitting position and gripping her hips.

"Like this." She whispered seductively and then drew him in for a long kiss. Then she traced the outline of his stomach slowly and lightly with one finger and with her other hand laced it through his back locks all the while grinding against him but refusing him entry by not sitting still. When they broke the kiss Harry had to gulp back the lump of desire in his throat.

"Th-that's not doing much love." He stuttered out and she gave him a questioning look and shuffled off him.

"Oh really? Well then I'll just go for that nice hot shower I was planning all by myself." She said climbing out of bed and swinging her hips in that certain way.

"Stay cool Harry…" he desperately thought "Resist that little minx!" Then all of a sudden she stopped and leant on the frame of the bathroom doorway biting her lip in anticipation.

"Coming?" she said with a smirk knowing she'd won already.

"Who am I kidding?" he thought and practically jumped out of the bed.

---

Later that day they had lunch together and finally parted. But to their dismay they weren't to meet again till the night of the surprise party. Firstly because they actually had to actually go to work and function and two the damn red headed Weasley's wouldn't leave them alone. Ron had owled Hermione incessantly and seemed not to leave her alone in order to yet again make up for the disastrous dinner. Ginny too had paid some unexpected attention to Harry but only because she was looking forward to a rather lavish anniversary gift. So surprisingly he had actually managed to spend the night in his own bed.

So the next time they were able to see each other was on the Thursday night. Ron and Hermione decided to go separately and when Hermione turned up the Weasley household was as usual full of life. Molly in her own loveable way was bustling around the kitchen weaving in an out of Fred and George's (A/n – I couldn't do it! I just couldn't!) latest version of firecracker snap – like exploding snap only with a bit more kick. Tonks, Lupin, (again just couldn't do it!) Teddy who was now a bouncing six year old and the new baby Eponine were seated at the table and Tonks was amusing the toddler by changing her hair colour. Bill and the very pregnant Fluer and little Victore were curled up together in an arm chair in the corner of the kitchen and Hagrid in his massiveness was standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Ah Hermione dear!" Said Molly as Hermione stepped out of the fireplace brushing the dust off her red cloak. She wasn't lavishly dressed but had at least made an effort. You know tamed her hair, slapped on some make-up, put on a nice simple cream dress that she happened to look fabulous in – of course she told herself this had nothing to do with Harry being there. No definitely not. She held her breath for a moment. This was it, she was in. No going back now. Hermione just prayed she wouldn't give anything away. She had a plunging feeling in her stomach those first few seconds when Molly Weasley scanned over her.

"Need any help Molly?" Hermione asked politely trying to keep the tightness and panic out of her voice.

"Oh no dear." Said Molly in her usual jovial tone and Hermione let out a small sigh of relief "Just sit down. Is Ron coming soon?"

Hermione nodded and tried to keep the frown from her face at the mention of his name and took a seat beside Tonks and Lupin and the children.

"There we go." She thought "This is easy enough, no one knows. It'll be fine."

"You look beautiful Hermione." Said Tonks, shaking Hermione from her thoughts.

"What? Oh thanks you look lovely too." Hermione told her warmly.

"Hmmm yes it would seem that a lack of sleep suits me." Tonks laughed. "I'm up every few hours with this one." She said gesturing to the baby "Her father seems to be deaf to the world at three in the morning? Doesn't he Eponine?"

"It's called selective hearing I think every man has it." Hermione laughed and Lupin gave them both a sardonic look. Then there was another eruption of green flames from the fireplace and out came a dishevelled looking Ron.

"Almost went into the wrong fireplace." He mumbled as Molly wiped a smudge of dirt from his forehead causing Fred and George to laugh hysterically.

"Aww ikle wikle Ronniekins still getting mummy to wipe the dirt from your nose." Fred mocked.

"Even when your girlfriend's sitting there? I mean she must have wiped lots of thin-"

"Yes thank you George." Said Hermione not liking where this was going.

"Thanks…" mumbled Ron giving her a rushed peck on the cheek which she received coldly. He sat down next to her and lent in speaking quietly.

"I'm sorry about the other night." He began but Hermione cut him off.

"Now's not the time, not tonight. Harry and Ginny will be here soon." She said sternly. He nodded and looked away ashamed and right on cue Harry and Ginny appeared more gracefully than Ron from the fireplace. Ginny was flushed and Harry didn't look altogether happy.

"Okay mum me and Harry cant stay long we have dinner reservations in half-" Ginny babbled as she took off her cloak unaware of the other people in the room. She stopped short when she noticed the assembly in her old kitchen.

"SURPRISE!" Fred and George shouted simultaneously while letting off mini fireworks that spelled happy anniversary. Ginny could only gape confused and Harry feigned surprise.

"Well say something?" said Molly exasperated.

"So…so we're not going to Delmico's?" Ginny questioned Harry and he raised an eyebrow in surprise at her.

"What I think Ginny means Mrs Weasley is thank you." Harry said hugging her and Molly beamed. The next hour passed with gift openings, light conversation, Fred and George's usual antics and a lavish meal that rivalled Hogwarts feasts. It was pleasant enough and Harry and Hermione interacted just the way they always had except from the knowing smiles or looks they gave each other when no one else was watching. They were all taking a break from eating before desert and the room had split into a few groups now that Arthur Weasley, Percy and his fiancée Penelope, Neville and Luna who were also engaged and Lee Jordan had arrived. From across the room Harry saw Hermione chatting to Lupin casually and decided to take her a drink.

"Here" he said walking over to her and placing a glass of Rosie wine in her hands.

"Thanks." She said and flashed him a dazzling smile.

"Harry my boy, I hear you're making quite a splash in the Auror world." Said Lupin patting him on the shoulder "Top of your class."

"Well I wouldn't say that…" Said Harry shuffling his feet.

"He's just being modest." Hermione said beaming. "He's doing wonderfully!"

Lupin nodded and then somewhere from across the room Eponine began to cry. Lupin sighed.

"I'm afraid that's my cue, I'll be right back." He said making his way across the almost empty kitchen and took the baby outside . The room had been opened up like at Fluer and Bills wedding and led out into the garden. Now that Lupin had went ouside to give his crying toddler to Tonks Harry and Hermione were alone at the back in shadowy corner.

"You look beautiful." Harry said quietly gazing at her softly and she felt herself go red.

"You look quite dashing yourself." She replied with a smile. He brushed a hand gently over her cheek and she closed her eyes, mesmerised by his silky smooth touch.

"I've missed you these past few days." He said softly moving closer.

"Really?" she asked looking into those enchanting green eyes directly for the first time that night. She found it strange how they could still make her breathless. And Harry felt the same way. He was lost in a sea of chocolate brown and tenderness that he'd craved for the last few days. They were incredibly close, their lips almost touching, and their reason almost slipping. So excruciatingly close.

"Harry, Hermione you've to come out we're going to have some ca-" Lupin began but stopped when he saw the two jump away from each other like jackhammers. He gave them a questioning look and noticed the awkwardness in the room.

"What?" Said Harry more sharply than he meant. Lupin continued to stare at their flushed demeanour for a second.

"You guys should come out, we're about to have some cake, that's all." Said Lupin carefully giving them one more curious look before turning away. An awkward silence crept over them.

"That was close." Hermione said finally.

"It was." He replied quietly.

"We should get out there." She said and Harry nodded walking out the double doors immediately. He walked so briskly in front of her it seemed like the two hadn't really been together inside at all. As Hermione walked into the bright garden of the Burrow she could feel Lupin's eyes on her from behind but she refused to meet them cursing herself and Harry for their stupidity and weakness. A second later and they would have been kissing and they couldn't have shrugged that away. However she couldn't hide the twitch of jealousy on her face when she saw Ginny's arm wrapped tightly around Harry's as they cut a large sponge cake together laughing freely. That's when it hit her. She was that girl. The other woman. She wouldn't ever be able to do this with Harry would she? Although they hadn't talked about where this thing of theirs was going she doubted that she would ever replace Ginny in this picturesque scene with family and friends – well not ever these family and friends.She'd never be forgiven for her actions if they every found out. Nope no anniversary parties for Harry and Hermione at this house.

And yes there it was. The sinking feeling had returned. Damn. She had to look away for a second as she heard Ginny laugh girlishly as Harry placed a dollop of icing on her nose. Then there was a tinkling of glass and Molly Weasley got everyone's attention. Hermione raised her eyes again when she was sure there were no tears there.

"Well I'd just like to say a few words about our Harry and Ginny." She began her eyes glttering with proud tears "Seeing you two makes me happier than anything else in the world. Harry you're like a son to me and Arthur and we can't believe you two have been together for almost four years and I'm sure there will be many more to come. Perhaps I may even see another child married and get more than one grandchild before Fred and George give me an early grave." She said Molly causing everyone except Hermione and Harry to laugh. "Anyway to Harry and Ginny" she said holding up her glass and everyone followed holding up their glasses of wines or spirits before sipping there's – or in Hermione's case draining hers.

Then all of a sudden the jovial atmosphere was paused as a large grey owl swooped down and plopped a letter into the youngest Weasley's hands. She opened it carefully and quickly read it. Some strange emotion passed on her face but Harry couldn't quite place it. Then she folded up the letter quite business like and tucked it away in her robes.

"I'm sorry Harry but I'm afraid I have to leave…" she said not really sounding all that sorry at all, almost excited.
"What? It's our anniversary!" he said feeling anger build up from the bottom of his stomach but keeping his voice low so as not to alert anyone.

"I have to, team emergency." She said sternly. "I'll see you later at home."

She turned and went into the kitchen but Harry followed her.

"Ginny, Ginny wait!" he called and now everyone turned round to watch as they matched back into the house.

Hermione listened more closely than anyone. They were fighting that's for sure. She could hear the agitation in Harry's voice and the coldness in Ginny's a few moments later the front door slammed and clicked. Harry re-emerged.

"Sorry everyone but Ginny had to run. It would seem that there's been a rather serious injury and they have to make some changes to the team…" he said obviously irritated. No one said anything but the silence was deafening. "Excuse me." He said before turning back into the house once again and trudging upstairs. Everyone in the garden looked around awkwardly not knowing what to say.

"I'll go talk to him." Said Hermione to no one in particular but everyone heard and thought it best. Yes safe reliable Hermione would calm him down and fix things. Just like she always did – or so everyone thought. She ignored Lupin's curious glance at her as she rushed out the room.

---

Hermione knocked softly on the bathroom door but there was no answer. She tried again but silence was still her only reply.

"Harry it's me let me in." she said tenderly and a few seconds later he opened the door and she stepped in. After an uneasy silence Hermione spoke.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked but he just leant against a tiled wall, arms crossed burning a hole with his eyes on the linoleum floor.

"She shouldn't have gone it wasn't right…" Hermione tried "It is your anniversary after all; you have a right to be mad."

"I'm not." Harry said sharply "I mean I'm not mad at that."

"Then what?" Hermione said quietly "Is it…is it me?"

"No of course not!" Harry said quickly "I'm mad at myself."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Mad that I felt so guilty…you know about us. I thought I had a girlfriend who loved me and wanted to be with me and it made me feel sick when I went home; knowing what we'd done." He spat "but there's no reason, she doesn't even want to spend our anniversary together."

He said it miserably and it stung Hermione a little but she didn't let it show. Instead she saw the pain and felt how torn he was inside. She saw hot tears form in his eyes and couldn't help but reach out.

"Hey its okay…" she said softly hugging him and letting him nuzzle at her neck and breath in her calming scent. It was so surreal. Here she was comforting her lover because his girlfriend had upset him. She sighed and petted him on the head.

"What did I do to deserve you Hermione?" he asked looking again into her chocolate eyes. And then without warning he kissed her, taking her by surprise. He put all the frustration and guilt and craving he was feeling into it and his passion made Hermione feel slightly dizzy. She responded eagerly, pressing herself against him. Harry groaned when he felt the curves of her body through his clothing and his body reacted with its usual vivacity. Kissing her deeply and exploring every nook and cranny of her mouth with his tongue he pushed her towards the door and heard her mutter a silencing charm. Hermione's deft fingers unclipped the buckle on his suit trousers while he hitched up her dress and pulled down her underwear and tights. Harry grabbed at the cotton pants with one hand and lifted her up against the door with the other as she kicked off her shoes and undergarments and wrapped her legs around his hips. Hermione moaned when he stopped to suck at a particular spot in between her breasts and thanked Merlin she remembered how to do a wandless silencing charm. In a flash Harry's boxers joined his trousers on the floor and Hermione felt his hard length at her entrance. Her body flushed with anticipation as he teased her with the tip of his member and pulled off her bra to suck on a nipple. Finally he plunged into her and groaned as her hot wetness engulfed him once again. Harry began to thrust hard and fast and Hermione's head was thrown back in pleasure as he went deeper and deeper. The friction and breathing increased and Hermione was pinned between Harry and the door. He seemed endless inside her and she didnt know how much longer she could stay there pinned in ecstasy. And all the anger and the hurt Harry had felt before disappeared the moment he kissed Hermione. When he was close to her, joined with her nothing else mattered, nothing else existed. Harry gave one more deep thrust before pushing Hermione and him over the edge. Breathless and panting they both rode out their orgasms and trembling Harry let Hermione down from the door and pulled out of her.
"How can you do this to me?" he murmured softly into her cheek as the sweat poured form his forehead. Their bliss was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hey whoever's in there hurry up!" came the unmistakeable cry of Percy Weasley. Harry turned to Hermione while fastening his trousers with a blind look of panic on his face.

"It's okay he can't hear us." She assured him adjusting her dress and concealing the row of red bite marks on her collar bone. "I'll apparate into Ron's room."

Harry nodded tucking in his shirt and a moment later she was gone with a small pop. He looked in the mirror and straightened himself up some more before undoing the silencing charm and opening the door.

"Sorry Percy…" He mumbled brushing past him and Percy shook his head in annoyance. When he arrived in Ron's room Hermione was sat deep in thought looking out the window.

"Well I feel a lot better." He said chirpily and she gave him a coy smile. "We should probably get back down."

"Yeah, so we've been up here having a talk then." She said slyly.

"Yep just two friends together, working out some problems…making each other feel better." He said.

"A lot better…"

"Definitely."

He took her by the hand and gave her one quick kiss before they descended down stairs and back to their real lives.

So guys that's that! This one just seemed to flow out a lot better and that's why its early. And Yay! I have reached over 100 reviews! WOW! That makes me so happy! Thanks guys but please keep on reviewing it makes me smile and update faster!

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