26. Summer 95
Susan liked staying with Hermione and learning about the Muggle way of life. It also helped that Neville came almost every day to visit Harry. The four teens enjoyed being together, chatting, watching TV, going to the cinema and even shopping a bit.
"I've never known Muggles had so much fun," Susan told them. "It looks like magical Britain doesn't know a lot about the Muggle way of life."
Hermione smiled. "Wait, I still hadn't shown you the computers and the Internet. I'm sure you'll love them."
Actually, Susan didn't like some aspects of Muggle London. She found her first time on the Underground to be quite traumatic, and the next time not much better. "I don't mind that train going underground, but there are so many people! I've never known there are so many muggles in Britain."
Hermione smiled understandingly. "The magical communities are really small and secluded. There are only a few thousand magical people in Britain, but there are several millions of Muggles, and many tend to live in large cities. I've visited New-York when I was much younger, and London looks like a small town in comparison. It was quite overwhelming."
Neville found it hard to believe. "You mean to say that New-York is much bigger than London? That's… unbelievable."
"I'll show you the numbers when we reach home. We may even check on the Internet," Hermione promised.
They still saved some time for cuddling in pairs, with each couple opting for a secluded bench in one of the smaller gardens, either in London or in that small town in Kent, where they lived. Harry liked those times best.
As Dowager Longbottom didn't plan to join the younger people on vacation, Neville came to stay with the Potter a day before the departure. Both he and Susan were extremely excited, as this was going to be their first time abroad and their first flight in a plane. Although the Potter house had a Floo connection, James preferred the Muggle transportation this time, to give the youngsters another taste of Muggle technology.
The first impression the two purebloods had when approaching the airport was, "It's huge!" There was no structure in magical Britain even close to this size. Once they reached the terminal building proper, it turned into, "So many people!" Even the crowds at the underground seemed insignificant compared to the number of people who were standing in what looked like interminable queues. The group still joined one of them. Hermione pointed at the large boards posted everywhere and explained in a hush. "Each flight has a unique combination of letters and numbers. These appear on the flight ticket, and you can find your flight on one of these boards. It indicates where you should check-in, which means where they take your luggage and check that you really are on the list. We then have to go to another hall, where they check our passports before going to the boarding area, where, once again, we must check the boards to find the exact boarding gate. It's much simpler to do than to explain, as you'll soon see."
The queues advanced quite quickly, and soon enough they were heading to the boarding area. "The shops around are supposed to be tax-free, but most of the prices are no cheaper than what you may find in other stores," Hermione explained. "Their main attraction, though, is the distraction they provide while waiting. Some also have quite good merchandise."
They stopped at one shop that had perfumes and other cosmetics. "You may prefer that other shop," Hermione told the boys, pointing at an electronics shop. The adults acted similarly, only insisting everybody comes to the boarding gate on time.
Neville was not too interested in the electronics shop, mainly because he had no use for it, as nothing would work in a magical environment, as far as he knew. Instead, he looked at a clothing shop, where some very daring swimsuits were on display. "Do women really wear these?" he asked Harry, his face turning red.
"Of course they do. Some are not ready to really expose themselves completely, yet they want to show as much as possible." Indeed, some of these swimsuits looked not much larger than three stamps with some thongs connecting them. "Don't bother about them, though. Most places we're going to visit allow full nudity, and nobody bothers with swimsuits."
This didn't seem to have the desired effect on Neville, as he turned even redder, before dragging Harry to another shop.
The girls arrived there a bit later. "Do you have any swimwear with you?" Hermione asked Susan.
"I have a one-piece, full body swimsuit. Do you think it would do?"
Hermione grimaced. "Only old ladies still wear that kind. How about this one?" She was pointing at one of the miniature suits.
"Is it even legal to wear so little?" Susan wondered, blushing nicely.
Hermione shrugged. "As long as your genitals are covered, nobody's going to protest. Then, most of the time we're going to be where even this is too much."
Susan bought such a bikini suit, in a colour similar to her hair, and a white one, a tad less revealing. "When wet, it's almost transparent, but still legal," Hermione had told her. This seemed to help Susan decide.
Excitement rose again as they started boarding. "How can so many people fit in one plane?" Neville asked.
"I'm sure they all fit nicely, and this isn't even a big plane," Harry reassured him. "The bigger planes can take all the students in our school along with the staff and still have some empty seats."
"Wow!" was all Neville could say.
The interior of the plane proved much less exciting. In a way, it looked like a long and wide bus with small windows. As expected, Neville sat with Susan at his side, while Harry and Hermione sat a row behind them. "What are these?" Susan asked, pointing at the pocket in the back of the chair in front of her.
"Well, you have the brochure of how to act in case of emergency, along with some less important brochures and a sick-bag, in case you get sick on the flight," Hermione explained.
"What do you mean by 'emergency'?"
She shrugged. "I've never encountered one, but various things can go wrong during a flight, and the airlines must assure the safety of the passengers in such case. We shall have a short explanations given before take-off."
"Why do people use air planes if they're not safe?" Susan sounded quite frightened.
"They are safer than the buses or the underground, but flying so high, if one panics in an emergency, it can cause greater damage than on the ground. You should pay attention, but you can be quite sure to not need any of this."
Indeed, as soon as the last passenger boarded, the stewardesses made a short demonstration and then took their seats, ready for take-off.
The rest of the flight proved quite anticlimactic. After a long wait and a short take-off, they reached cruising height, well above the clouds, and could see nothing through the windows except for an occasional glimpse between the clouds. Landing proved not much better, as once they reached below the clouds, there was no time to even look outside before reaching the airport.
Some additional waiting in queues and then a short taxi ride took them to a hotel in the Paris. "We're going to visit some museums tomorrow," Liz told the youngsters. "Now, I suspect the boys will have to share one room and the girls another. We shall settle in our rooms and then take a tour of Paris at night, including dinner."
Harry thought nothing of the way they were allotted their rooms. He noticed Suzy and Hermione whispering to each other, but paid it no attention. Girls were always having some private conversations, so it seemed. He helped Neville settle, as this was (another) first for the shy boy – staying in a muggle hotel room. A few minutes later they heard a knock on the door. Harry opened it, finding Hermione and Susan standing there, both seeming refreshed. He noticed that they even changed clothes, wearing nice summer dresses with lots of exposed skin. He admired both girls, and smiled appreciatively. Neville, who also came to the door, seemed to turn red and lose his tongue.
"Don't you like my new dress?" Susan asked him teasingly.
Neville gulped a few times before he could control his voice. "You look fabulous in that dress. It shows… quite a lot of you."
Susan shrugged contentedly. "Remember, in a few days you'll see all of me. You shouldn't lose your voice each time you see some more skin exposed than you've been accustomed to."
Neville just nodded, his eyes stuck to her quite low neckline, that showed more than a bit of cleavage. Harry had also noticed it, and Susan was endowed well enough to make it very attractive, but he still liked Hermione's look better. Her dress exposed almost as much, the main difference being that her breasts were smaller.
The girls seemed to come with a certain plan in their heads. "Do you like our sleeping arrangements?" Hermione asked.
The boys seemed confused by the question. Hermione elaborated. "Don't you prefer to share room with your girlfriends?"
Neville's face reddened again. Harry smiled apprehensively. "I'm not sure that our families would approve of that."
"They don't need to know, first, and then, in a few days we'll be spending our time together with no clothes at all, and not necessarily in the company of the adults. We could certainly do anything at that time. It wouldn't matter if we're together already."
Neville blushed harder. Harry just smiled. "You're right, as usual, but wouldn't it be better if we don't anger them so soon? They'll be more relaxed when we reach the vacation resort."
Hermione wouldn't budge. "I've thought of that and discussed it with Susan. If we do it now, they will get accustomed to the idea by the time we reach there, making our vacation much better."
Harry nodded. "What's your suggestion, then?"
Hermione scanned the room. "I think Susan would like this room better, having two beds. You can join me in the other room, sharing a double bed."
Harry felt his face heat. "Are you sure about it?"
She smiled teasingly, yet her voice stayed serious. "As we're going to get married, I think it's just natural to get accustomed to sleeping together. It would be awful if we find we have a problem with that only after we're married. Don't you agree?"
Harry nodded, suddenly unable to talk. He noticed Susan going closer to Neville and taking his hand in hers, both blushing nicely. He then thought he was lucky not to have unpacked yet, making the move much easier.
"What will we tell our parents?" he asked.
Hermione shrugged. "My parents already know that we're a couple. Dad may frown a bit, but you know how much he likes you. Your parents know about our betrothal, so they're bound to understand and agree."
Harry nodded reluctantly. "I hope you're right."
They didn't have time to discuss it any further, as there was another knock on the door, and then James came in. "Take a light overcoat," he advised, "as we shall probably return quite late and it may turn a bit cold, especially with theses dresses."
Susan blushed a bit, noticing that James scanned her. She still noticed his nod of approval, as if he knew what went through her mind when choosing that dress and agreed with her. This only deepened her blush.
They soon boarded the tour bus that took them through Paris, stopping at several places with explanations and stories about the various attraction. They then boarded a restaurant boat on the Seine. It gave them a different perspective on the city, along with a tasty and generous dinner. James even allowed the teens to have a small glass of wine each, considering them mature enough for that. Dave just nodded his agreement.
By the time they finished the river tour, including the dinner, it was already chilly. The girls, especially, were thankful for having brought some warmer overcoats.
They boarded the tour bus again, now watching the various lighted attraction that brought Paris the title "City of lights". By the time they reached the hotel, everybody was tired. The adults wished the teens goodnight before going to their rooms. The teens, despite being just as tired, switched places first. Susan was still repacking some of her clothes when Harry came with his suitcase. She blushed a bit before hurriedly finishing packing and moving out.
"Take only your toothbrush out. We're going to sleep naked," Hermione told him.
"Are you sure it's a good idea? I mean..."
"Harry, we've already seen each other naked; we've already touched each other all over, although it was last summer. Why should it bother us now?"
"Well, I'm… you..." Harry wasn't sure how to say it without offending Hermione.
She smiled reassuringly at him. "Last summer I wasn't ready for more, and you certainly weren't. I think we're readier now, and I'm sure you won't force me. I'm not so sure I won't. Whatever happens once we sleep together, it's alright with me."
"But… what if..."
"I've already learned the contraceptive charm. I'll teach you when we have time. Right now, just brush your teeth and come to bed. I'm really tired."
Harry opened the suitcase and searched for his toiletry, taking his brush and toothpaste. He couldn't ignore Hermione, who quickly rid herself of her clothes and then cast a spell on herself, resulting in some bluish fog that seemed to get absorbed into her abdomen. She then walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Harry joined her a moment later, still clothed. He couldn't really concentrate. Hermione's breasts had grown a bit since the previous summer and were now moving when she brushed her teeth, giving him a very enticing view that he just couldn't ignore.
Hermione finished, being very aware of the effect her naked body was having on her betrothed. "I'm waiting in bed," she told him, leaving him alone in the bathroom.
Harry brushed his teeth and then undressed, taking his clothes back with him. He then moved to the bed, where Hermione was patting the place left for him. "Kiss me goodnight," she said.
Harry kissed her lips tenderly. She responded with a sweet kiss as well. They kept it short. Hermione turned around. "Hug me," she told Harry in a sleepy voice. He moved as close as he could and hugged her tightly, cupping a breast with his hand. Hermione sighed contentedly and fell asleep. It took Harry much longer to make his body calm down, but he fell asleep after a while, a wide smile adorning his face.
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