A dear friend and I had a lovely gossip after she had had a 'wonderful night' following a long period of abstinence. We tittered and shared experiences as friends often do, and she had mentioned that sort of ache one gets after a rather lovely long evening. It sparked a plot bunny for me, so for your reading pleasure, I give you

A Pleasant Ache

Hermione Granger had a secret. She knew it was one of those secrets that was shared by all women and although known by all, it was not talked about in polite society.

She walked into her office at the Ministry with her usual bustle and said hello to her work partner, Luna Lovegood. The blonde put her parchment down, took a long look at Hermione and asked, "What's different about you this morning, Chip?"

Chip was the ridiculous nickname Luna had given Hermione when they had attended University together after the war. Hermione had worked in a Muggle coffee shop—to help pay fees—baking pastries and muffins, specifically chocolate chip ones that had become her signature speciality. 'A bit of magic!' she would respond with a wink when asked what had made them special. She often arrived at their shared flat, smelling of the goods she baked and so Luna had dubbed her.

"Nothing," Hermione mumbled as she placed her coat and bag on the coatrack near the door. She went to her desk, sat down and was instantly reminded of what was different about her.

Luna noticed her seeming discomfort and pounced.

"Chip…I noticed you didn't come home from your date with Severus last night. You're sitting rather gingerly this morning. Anything you want to share?"

Hermione smiled shyly and blushed as she stammered, "I, erm, well you know…"

"You had sex?" Luna asked with no hesitation whatsoever.

Hermione nodded with a smile.

"Then why are you all blushy? Surely you and Ron…?"

"No, Luna, never."

"Never with Ron or never, never?" she hedged, her eyebrows raised.

"Never, never," replied Hermione.

"But we've talked tons about sex!" exclaimed Luna incredulously. "We've had hen parties for our friends that were nothing but wall to wall sex talk. You always listened when I talked about Draco and Harry and I, so I just assumed…" she trailed off.

"Yes, but I never explicitly said I had, had I?"

Luna looked into the distance as though she were recalling every conversation they had ever had. "No, I suppose you hadn't!" she agreed.

"Well, now I'm saying I have."

"Tell me everything!" Luna asked, moving her chair so that she was in front of Hermione's desk. She called for an elf to bring them some tea and biscuits. Tray delivered, she further waved her wand and cast a Muffliato.

Hermione smiled and giggled just a bit. "It was a lovely evening even though it was raining outside the whole time. He cooked a very simple meal—chicken, potatoes, veg—and we had wine to go with it. After we ate, we had pudding in the sitting room while watching a movie. We talked and talked and before I knew it, the night had flown. It was rather late, probably around one in the morning when I said I should go, but he suggested I should stay so I wouldn't have to go out in the weather. He said he'd sleep on the couch, and I could have his room."

"Couldn't you have Floo'd?" asked Luna.

Hermione shook her head. "He doesn't have a Floo."

"Couldn't you have just Apparated?"

"I wasn't exactly pressuring him to find me a way home," Hermione teased.

Luna smiled. "So what happened next?"

"He took me to his bedroom to show me where things were…the loo, where to put my clothes. He'd gotten me one of his T-shirts to sleep in. He then kissed me, just to say goodnight, and well…it wound up being more," finished Hermione as her voice drifted off in memory and her cheeks began to burn.

"Was it nice?" Luna asked excitedly.

"It was," said Hermione, "it was soft and gentle. He was so wonderful, making sure I was completely ready for the moment he, well, you know."

"Was he surprised you were a virgin?"

"He had supposed I wasn't, considering I am twenty-six years old! But when I told him he thanked me and was very loving about it. Afterward, he wondered if I shouldn't have saved such a precious gift—as he put it—for someone more worthy."

"What did you say?"

"I told him that I wasn't necessarily saving it for marriage or even for a particular person, but I am glad it was him that I was comfortable enough to give it to; I care for him very much."

"It hurt, didn't it?" Luna asked, curiously.

"Not as much as I had thought. It felt mostly like a burning followed by a sharp pain. He stopped for a moment and kissed me until I was not so tense. After that, it was wonderful."

"Did you have an orgasm?"

"Not from intercourse no," Hermione smirked. "Earlier he made sure I had had one, though. Did you on your first time?"

"No. I don't know why so many of those stories we've read in those Muggle romance novels always have the women orgasming multiple times on their first time. Most of my other friends said they didn't either."

"I felt I could have, though," Hermione said. "He was really hitting some great spots even I didn't know I had!"

Luna giggled. "What's he 'like'?"

"What do you mean, like?"

"Naked, of course!"

"I don't think he'd appreciate me telling anyone what he's like naked or even what he's like during sex."

"Hermio-neee!" Luna wheedled.

"I've no basis for comparison except from the Playwitch models I've seen, but he's better than most, but not quite big as some we've seen," Hermione said primly, and then burst into laughter when Luna goggled at her. "He's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

"Did he want to do anything…weird?"

"Having only a book knowledge of sexual practices, Luna," said Hermione, "we didn't do anything as you put it, weird. As I become more experienced, he may wish to try other things."

"Did you talk about the sort of sex he's had?"

"Not in the actual moment, but yes."

"And?"

"He's experienced. He would like to teach me the sorts of things he likes and perhaps I may enjoy as well. He's not into BDSM, if that's what you're wondering."

"Well, one does wonder. He has that dark, brooding, dugeony thing going on."

Hermione laughed. "He is all of those things, yes, but he also is a very kind, brave, and could be a very loving man."

"Do you think he loves you? Has he said so?"

"No; we're not at that point yet, but he would like us to become exclusive and see where things go."

"Will you be spending more time with him in the evenings then?"

"Yes, as often as we can. I also want to help him with his research; he may publish a book."

"What will you during term time at Hogwarts?"

"I can freely go to Hogwarts as I have no obligations at the weekends. We'll just take it a day at a time."

Luna reached over and squeezed Hermione's hand. "I am happy for you, Chip. You've looked happier than you ever have since you began seeing him."

"I am happy," she smiled and then as she shifted in her chair, she made a small face.

"The ache?"

Hermione nodded.

"I've got a potion that will help; do you want it?"

"Would you think I was weird if I said no? It's a sort of pleasant ache, you know. It makes me remember what happened and how wonderful it was. I wouldn't mind if it lasted for a while."

"I think I know what you mean. I felt the same way after I lost my virginity."

"Will it always happen? The ache, I mean?"

Luna laughed, but in a way that let Hermione know that it was another one of those things women experience, didn't talk about, and wonder if it will always be. "I think I wondered the same thing, but no. Perhaps the first couple of times and maybe if you and Severus have some more rigorous sorts of sex. But no, it won't last."

Both women were silent for a bit.

"I suppose we should get back to it, eh?" suggested Hermione, standing.

"I suppose," agreed Luna who stood to push her chair back to her desk.

Hermione stopped her and pulled her into a loving hug. "Thank you for being my friend, Luna, and for listening to me prattle on today."

"Oh, Hermione; you've been my friend since Hogwarts. I don't think I'd have gotten through without knowing you were my friend."

The room became rather sniffly at that and breaking apart, the girls laughed and wiped their eyes.

"Let's get to that Sanderson file; we need to figure out how he managed to get a Class Six restricted pet into his house," Hermione said, and the pair got down to work.