Week 19

Hermione rubbed her hands together and watched Harry and Ron debate over what movie to buy tickets for. She figured the dancing movie was too much of a romantic comedy for Ron's taste (not to mention he probably wouldn't understand much of the references) Ron also couldn't stand horror movies.

"Look, this cinema is still showing the Arthur legend film. Let's watch that one," Ron offered.

Harry turned to Hermione. "What do you think?"

She agreed. "I'm always up for a historical film."

Harry nodded and bought their tickets. Once inside the theatre, Harry and Hermione hurried to find seats and quietly fought over who would sit next to Ron.

"I sat next to him last time," Hermione grumbled under her breath.

"I don't want to be stuck in the middle," Harry whined back.

In the end, it was Ron, Harry, and then Hermione. They quieted down as the film began. And they spent the next two and a half hours watching the film and listening to Ron softly wringing about the inaccuracies.

"Merlin did not look like that."

"Guinevere was a warrior?"

"Where the bloody hell is Morgana?"

After the movie, they picked up take out and returned to Hermione's flat where Ron continued to fume over the film.

"Merlin was a wizard!" Ron slammed his hand against the table.

"Muggles don't know that for sure, Ronald," Hermione stabbed into a piece of chicken.

"Well," he continued around a mouthful of food, "at least that sex scene wasn't too graphic. It was about to get a little uncomfortable with the two of you next to me."

Harry choked on his soda.

"That warrior-lady whoever is a looker."

Hermione laughed. "She's beautiful."

"You know," Ron placed his fork down, "I don't know when it was the last time I even had sex."

Hermione slapped her hand against her forehead.

Harry groaned. "Oh, please don't start."

"But really," Ron's cheeks were pink. He pushed his food around. "It's been kind of lonely."

Hermione sighed. It's been ages since she had sex too. Not since, she felt her face heat up - Greece.

"Well, get yourself a girlfriend," Harry mumbled. He kept his eyes on his food.

"Easy for you to say, boy-wonder." Ron leaned onto his hands. "I wish I could just have someone where we can have sex, you know, but not be together."

"Like a no-strings-attached relationship?" Hermione piped in. Ron and Harry whipped their heads toward her. She bit her lip. "What?"

"What's a no-strings-attached relationship?"

"Have you had an NSA before?"

Ron and Harry exchanged glances before looking at Hermione again.

She shifted slightly in her seat. "It's what you described, Ron. It's a relationship where you just have sex, without the regular boyfriend-girlfriend relationship."

"Oh." He grabbed his fork again. "I probably couldn't do something like that though. Not with everyone practically knowing who I am. Plus, being an Auror makes it extra difficult." He eyed Hermione. "You could probably do it though."

"Me?" She squeaked.

He shrugged. "You can shag a muggle and not worry about anyone going to the press. I can't find someone in the muggle world. I'd just muck it up."

She crossed her ankles. "You have a point."

Ron stuffed the rest of his food into his mouth. "Well, this was fun." He stood up and gathered up his empty food containers. "I gotta head home. I promised Fred and George I'd help in the shop tomorrow."

He tossed the trash away and then came back around to kiss Hermione on top of her head. "See you two later." He stepped back toward the door and disapparated.

Hermione stared at the empty space for a moment. Could she really find someone to start a no-strings-attached relationship? She wasn't the type of person to just meet someone and jump into having sex. She'd rather know them first and deep down she knew that if it was just for sex - she wouldn't be comfortable sharing an intimate part of herself with a stranger, especially when she'd have to hide a part of her identity.

She had come to mildly regret that rendezvous in Greece. She worried whether Danil would ever share what happened between them. She was slightly reassured knowing that the status she held in magical Britain, didn't reach or have the same effect abroad.

"Hermione?"

"Huh?"

Harry had sat down on the couch without her realizing it. He looked at her quizzically. "I said, have you thought about doing something like that?"

She turned to face him, propping one leg on the sofa. "No, but I can see the perks. Have you ever had something like that? Or thought about it?"

Harry tugged on his jeans. "Yeah."

Hermione scoffed. "Yeah, what? Had a no-strings-attached or thought about it."

"Had," he mumbled.

She squealed. "Really? Do I know them."

He pushed his hair out of his face. "No, and don't think about finding out who it was because they don't live here anymore."

Hermione laughed. "Alright, alright. Anyway, I don't know if I could do it. I don't want to have sex with a practical stranger."

"They don't have to be strangers."

She shrugged. "True. It could be like a friends with benefits thing? I think I'd rather be friends or at least really well acquainted with the one I'm having sex with. You know, like we talked about before. I just want to be able to be comfortable," her face flushed, "try new and different things without worrying about them stabbing me in the back." She pushed her hair over her shoulder. "Maybe I should just find a muggle to sleep with."

"No," Harry snapped.

She raised her eyebrows.

"I mean," he wiped his hand over his face, "just hear me out, okay?" He shifted to face here. "I've been thinking about this and I've been debating whether or not to ask you," he mumbled

He left the rest unsaid, but she heard him loud and clear. "You want us to have sex?" Her voice rose.

He nodded, unable to verbally confirm. "I've been thinking about it ever since that night in Paris."

Her cheeks flamed and she recalled their tangled limbs, his heavy presence behind her, and her dress that did little to protect her dignity.

"Harry, I'm sorry!"

He tensed. "It's not like it was a bad thing and I just figured, we're both single, I'm not looking to date anyone and I thought, maybe you wouldn't be so against it. We're friends, we trust each other, and you can count on me not telling anyone about what you like in bed. I'll even sign a non-disclosure agreement."

She laughed lightly at that. "This is…"

His face paled and he gripped his knees. "I sprung it on you, I know. Would you think about it, at least?"

She licked her lips and braced herself. "And you're serious about this?"

He nodded, meeting her eyes briefly.

"I'll think about it."