It's What's Inside That Counts
Chapter 15
May 27, 1998
"One more then it'll all be over with," Ginny said, patting Harry's hand.
"I thought my head would crack during the Arithmancy NEWT," Harry said.
"I'm sure you didn't do that badly," Hermione said. "How about you Ron?"
Ron gave a quick shy smile. At least she's talking to me again. She was talking to him again, but not like before. He was on his best behavior and was trying to make things better with her.
"I think I did alright all right on my Charms NEWT," he replied.
"Good for you," she said and resumed her conversation with Harry.
Ron had not yet received word from the school Board of Governors about his testing. It worried him: this year's Auror Academy training class would begin July 1st. If he didn't take his DADA NEWT before then, he would be placed on this year's waiting list and hope for a spot, which was unlikely. If a spot didn't become available, he would have to wait until next year. The thought of Harry and Hermione going into the Aurors without him was almost unbearable. As he sat pondering his fate and his Dad's well-meaning offer to work with him, a Ministry owl arrived for him. He sighed and opened the parcel.
To Mr. Ronald Weasley:
Greetings!
Since you meet the academic qualifications, I wish to extend you an offer to train as a Hit-Wizard with the British Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Enclosed is an application and information about the Hit-Wizard Division. Please return the application as soon as possible. Training begins on July 1st, 1998. We hope to have you on the rolls.
Trevor McGowan, OM2
Hit-Wizard Recruiting
Of course I'll accept! It's not the Aurors, but close enough! he thought and quickly fumbled through his satchel for a quill. Don't look a gift thestral in the mouth!
"What's got you so happy?" Ginny asked.
Ron gestured to the letter. She read it and her eyes went wide. "Wow Ron! This is great! You won't have to go and work for Dad!" she said.
Harry was reading the letter over her shoulder. "Well, what do you know? Hit-wizard Weasley," he said with a grin.
"What's O-M-2?" Ginny wondered.
"Order of Merlin sSecond cClass," Hermione said.
"I need to get this back to the Ministry and owl Mum and Dad with the news," Ron said excitedly and left his breakfast untouched. He didn't have a DADA NEWT to take today, so he would spend that time in study hall and the library.
June 5, 1998
Hermione sat among her fellow 44 graduates, impatiently tugging on the yellow tassels on her robe signifying her achievement as top graduate. No one, not even the Head Boy or Girl had higher marks . Professor Anderson was drumming his fingers on his thigh wondering just how long it took for 44 young, spry wizards and witches to walk forward and take their damned scrolls! Hermione chuckled at Severus' anxiousness, visible only to her. For months, she and "Professor Anderson" had been on their best, proper, discrete behavior. Hermione had come to the conclusion that the whole "absence makes the heart grow fonder" bit was utter, bloody rubbish.
Absence makes the body randier was more like it! she thought with a snort.
She started to daydream about the dinner Severus promised to cook her that night at her country house in Bristol, where they would take up residence. For dessert: lovemaking all night long. She shivered at the thought and drifted deeper into her daydream.
"Gregory Goyle," Minerva announced.
There was snickering among the audience when a witch, by the look of her- Goyle's mom, stood and loudly congratulated her "little Greggums!"
"Hermione Granger, taking top marks among this year's class," Minerva proudly announced.
Everyone turned to look at her. Did she hear her name called? Severus looked closer at her: her eyes were glazed over and looking blankly at the seat ahead of her.
"Hermione," Harry whispered and nudged her. "HERMIONE!" he whispered fiercely and nudged her again.
She shook her head, frowned and hissed, "What?!" impatiently.
"She called your name," Harry said.
Her head popped up. Everyone was grinning at her. She glanced to the Head Table and Severus was smirking at her.
"Oh," she said, rose from her seat and hurried to the front. She accepted her scroll from McGonagall, obligatory photo of the moment from Creevey and took her seat again.
"Finally," she said and plopped back into her seat. She felt Severus looking at her and his sultry words from earlier rang loudly in her mind. He cornered her outside the Great Hall after breakfast behind a suit of armor.
"I'll give you a few minutes to say goodbye to your little friends," he whispered silkily, "then I'm whisking you away. Is that acceptable to you, Miss Granger?"
It certainly was.
"Blaise Zabini," was the last name called. After hoots and calls in Italian died down, Minerva announced, "I present the Wizards and Witches of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, class of 1998."
They stood, shouted and threw their drooping hats into the air. Hermione gave Harry, Ron and a few others quick hugs.
"I gotta go," she said.
She glanced at Professor Anderson, who was glancing at her as he shook hands with some Slytherins and their parents.
"Go where? Aren't we going to celebrate?" Harry asked as she hurried away.
"I'll owl you!" she called out and waved.
The crowd parted for her as she made her way to Professor Anderson. Their lips crashed together in a longing, heated kiss among the clapping, hoots and catcalls of the crowd.
"Said goodbye to your little friends?" he whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear.
"More or less," she whispered back.
"Good," he said and they disappeared with a sharp crack of Apparition and appeared on the outskirts of Bristol. Her home was miles away.
"I thought we'd take a stroll through the countryside for a bit," he said lightly.
"I see," she said curiously. Her thoughts of tearing each other's clothes off in the parlor- or the den perhaps- flew from her mind. He wanted to take a walk?
He chuckled. "Sweet, your thoughts are quite loud...the parlor?"
He had to keep in mind that although he had one of the most intelligent, courageous witches to come out of Hogwarts in over twenty years at his side, a miracle really; she was also a nubile, energetic 18 year old woman. Tonight would be glorious. He would have his lucky hands full.
"Now, which way?" he asked.
She pointed to the road leading north. Half an hour later, they stood beside a post box and looked down a two hundred meter driveway to a manor.
"This is your country house?" he asked.
"Yeah," she answered. "You like it?"
"Yes, it's very nice," he said softly.
Once again, his heart swelled with affection for the girl. She had money and was opening this beautiful manor to him, to share her life with him, no questions asked. He had lived in two places in is life: his ramshackle cottage at Spinner's End and Hogwarts Castle. He knew neither would hold a candle to the simple elegance of this manor and its mistress. She jogged to the front door, looked down at a brick and turned it over with her foot to reveal a key. She grinned at him when he caught up to her, opened the door and stepped in.
"It's a bit dusty, but it's nothing a few spells can't handle," she said. "Come on, let me give you the grand tour."
For an hour, she showed him six spacious bedrooms, four large bathrooms, a cozy den, parlor, kitchen, and dining room. She frowned when they got to the overgrown "backyard." It wasn't a yard, but 20 acres of gently rolling hills, patches of trees, ponds and what appeared to be some land that was tilled at one time. A run-down chicken coop, fences that needed mending and a well were in the immediate vicinity.
"My parents...kind of...had a farm here at one time," she said softly and wiped her eyes.
He wrapped her arms around her from behind and looked out over the fields.
"And what did they have on this farm?" he asked.
"Some cows, some chickens, lambs...bunnies..." she said.
"Then we will have to get you some lambs and bunnies, won't we?" he said. The thought of her frolicking with lambs and rabbits was almost too much for his heart, not used to such simple, open affection.
She turned around, eyes shining and kissed him. "Cows too?"
"A whole herd if you'd like," he said.
That night at the Burrow, a raucous celebration was going on. Harry and Ron sang the Hogwarts song and toasted each other.
"To Harry Potter, future Auror," Ron said.
"To Ron Weasley, future Hit-Wizard," Harry said.
"And to Hermione Granger, if she was here, future Auror," Harry said and the Burrow inhabitants cheered.
At Granger Farm (that's what the post box said, so that's what Severus called it) the scenario was very different. Instead of a raucous, Butterbeer-filled celebration, the soft tinkling of wine glasses was heard over an intimate candlelight dinner.
"My congratulations to the brightest witch of her age leaving Hogwarts," he said.
She smiled shyly, took another sip of wine and looked at his chest, visible due to the top four buttons not buttoned on his white silk shirt that was not tucked neatly into his tight black trousers. Had anyone ever seen that? She licked her lips.
"Is the meat to your liking?" he purred.
She had never heard something so suggestive and absolutely loved it.
"Quite," she said.
"You know, it can be argued that food can be considered foreplay?" he asked and finished off his wine.
"Oh?" she asked. "Then by all means professor, explain."
He picked up a steamed asparagus spear.
"Note the phallic appearance of this particular vegetable," he said and swirled it in the garlic butter sauce. He held it to her lips. She slowly opened her mouth, he placed the spear on her tongue. She closed her mouth around it and slowly bit through it.
"Delicious," she said.
He raised an eyebrow and took a fig from the fruit plate. "Note that this fruit resembles a woman's..." he stopped and placed the fruit at his own lips. Hermione's lips were parted in anticipation. He darted his tongue out and tasted the fig, causing her breath to hitch. When he wrapped his lips around it and took a slow bite, she squirmed in her seat. When he lapped his tongue over the flesh to capture the juice, a small moan escaped from her.
"Delicious," he whispered.
She was shivering with anticipation. When he gave another demonstration on the fig, she could take no more. She pounced on him, plucked the fig from his hand and tossed it aside. She straddled him, kissed him again and and put her hands under his shirt. He sighed when she ran her soft hands up his abdomen and chest while suckling on his neck. He ran his hands up her shapely thighs, under her bum and pulled her close, massaging her firm but supple globes as she unbuttoned his shirt.
"Which bedroom.." he whispered. "Where?"
"..huh?...down the corridor," she mumbled and resumed her efforts.
With her still in his lap, he rose, holding her close. She wrapped her legs around him as he made his way to the bedroom. He nudged it open with his foot and laid her on the bed, leaning over her, taking in the sight. She had the temerity to wear a simple white sun dress, giving the appearance of a country maiden. Her hair was fanned out against the white quilt and her dress hiked up around her hips, revealing a white thong. She was demurely gazing at him, his unbuttoned shirt and his very obvious erection. She had been patient all these months, as a nun, but she was no nun and the time for waiting was over.