Hermione stood in her foyer and closed her eyes. Her magic kept reaching for what she could feel from the rune stone array that was set around her property. It wasn't holding up wards yet but it was ready to. Tomorrow, her mentor had declared and she obeyed. She wasn't drained and knew he wasn't either but it was understandable that completely recharged magic would be needed if she was to do the majority herself.
Just then the apparition wards chimed and she felt Finn's magic brush against hers. A smile broke across her face and then fell. Last night had been strange and a bit overwhelming. Then she realized that neither had moved from their places and she frowned. Why wasn't he looking for her?
"Finn?" She called. Trying to make her voice calm and steady. She wasn't sure it worked. Then she made herself take a step and another one. Four more took her through the door into her floo room and there he was. His hair was a bit rumpled and he had a few sawdust shavings on the back of his shirt. The coat held in his hand seemed to have a tighter grip on it than normal.
As usual she couldn't help but scan his form. The way his pants hugged his thighs and the shirt tightened across his back and shoulders. Biting her lip, she made herself focus on the back of his golden head.
"Finn?" She asked again and this time let the uncertainty she felt into her tone.
"Little witch." He sounded tense and she stiffened in response.
"Could you... Why won't you turn around?" She blurted out. He spun toward her and took a step, then halted. She watched his eyes scan her and then lock on hers.
First he looked pensive or as uncertain as she felt and then they were showing other things. She wasn't sure what it was but there was heat and things that made her cheeks warm.
"Hi." She didn't know what else to say and he wasn't speaking.
"Hi." His posture relaxed and he took the steps required to meet her.
"How did it go?" He meant the stones, and she smiled.
"All set up. Tomorrow we should be able to start actually raising the wards." She did let some of her excitement show and she couldn't help the little bounce she gave. The smile he shot her was soft and again she wondered what was going on. Both just stood there and eventually she broke the silence.
"Carving today?" That got her a questioning glance until she reached up and pulled the two curled wood shavings from his shoulder.
"Runes." That explained it. He had been shifting from actual magic exercises to more specific and detailed applications.
"Do you have plans tonight?" She shook her head and watched his face, just knowing something wasn't quite normal. It didn't seem wrong. Then she remembered something.
"Astoria owled. Said she wanted to stop by quickly." She watched him nod and he didn't seem upset. Then he stuck his hands in his pockets and looked down. Deciding this was stupid she walked until she was nearly touching him and then ran her hands up his chest and to his shoulders. Closing her eyes she rested her forehead against the hard muscles of his chest and breathed in his scent. Today it held more tree smells than usual and she smiled into his soft burgundy shirt.
Feeling his fingers find her chin, she let him lift her face until their eyes met and she wasn't sure what he was saying with his bright blue ones. As usual, when she could, after scanning his face she just looked into his eyes and tried to show him. Tell him how much she felt, how important he was. Something flashed and before she could shutter her expression he spoke.
"Say it little witch." It wasn't an order but maybe a demand. She didn't know what to say and then the blazing look in his eyes told her that he knew.
"I..." She stopped. Fear or nervousness rising in her belly. His fingers held her face when she would have pulled away, not hard but still there. He nodded at her and watched her mouth before meeting her eyes again.
"I love you." It was a whisper and she would have tried to move away again but his free hand wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him. Then he grabbed her by her thigh and lifted her. Spinning and walking her to the wall so they were braced. He was so tall and seemed to do these things without thinking about it. Just move her. She thought it should bother her but it didn't. The whole time he just looked at her and then she was pinned between him and the wall.
"Are you sure?" He asked her and her instinctual response of scoffing at him was momentary when she let herself look him over. He meant it. Her face firmed and then she nodded once. Regardless of her uncertainty, she wouldn't let him think this was a slip of the tongue or less than what it was. Even if he didn't. Her feelings were genuine and it was hard to keep them contained.
"Little witch." His tone was low and so tender. Her breath caught and she felt her face flush. Then her heart was beating faster and she wiggled slightly against him. Unable to keep still.
"It's only three. She works till at least five right?" He seemed to be checking and she nodded again.
Then he moved away from the wall and with one arm holding her up began to walk to the stairs. She just watched him until his other hand gently cradled her head and pressed it to his shoulder. Holding her there. Allowing it, she waited and wondered what he was thinking about.
Her room was their destination and when they entered it he sat on her bed. Keeping her against him and she could feel his heart beat faster than usual through his shirt. Wanting to see his face, she looked up and watched him breath slowly with his eyes closed.
Then they opened and she was flipped onto her back and he was hovering over her. Eyes all over her face.
"If you are sure. I don't. It's just." She raised a hand and gently placed it on his cheek in reassurance. Tense was an understatement of his current posture.
"You are my witch." It wasn't a question but he didn't sound totally sure either. She waited for something else or clarification. Not understanding.
"I won't let you go." Now he sounded sure and she didn't know what to say. Had he been planning to?
Something must have shown because he huffed and rested his forehead against hers.
"I love you little witch. It's fucking terrifying, knowing that your whole world is an independent witch." This was said as if she didn't understand his problems and she smiled slightly. He meant it. Or it looked like he did.
"You love me." She didn't make it a question either and their eyes were locked on each other. Then it sunk in and she suddenly wanted to be closer to him. Much closer.
"Please Finn." She wrapped her legs around his and her arms around his neck. Closing the inch separating them, she kissed him. Some of her desperation faded, the kiss was soft and so full of emotion. Minutes passed and she relaxed, so did the body above hers.
When their clothes vanished, she hadn't even noticed him palm his wand, then she could feel him against her. His erection pressing against her thigh and the rough texture of his chest against her pebbled nipples. A moan broke from her and then she was pushing at him. Wanting to be able to see him, see them. After a moment he relented and rolled them so she was perched on him. When her hands closed around him, his groan was everything she could want. His eyes were open and she wasn't surprised when after a moment his hands closed around hers. She too wanted more than this.
"Lift me." She breathed out and flushed, her body tightening in anticipation. His eyes were steady on hers and then she saw it. The flare and hunger, overwhelming the tenderness that had been there, and she shivered. Unable to help her response to the need she saw there. Letting herself really believe that it was only for her. He needed her. No one else.
As his tip rubbed her slick opening she couldn't help her low keen. He was big and nearly too much for her. The slide was slow and she watched his muscles bunch as he lowered her. The tendons in his neck tightened and she bit her lip, waiting for him to slide her down. She had been thinking about this, him moving her, since their game of chase in the trees.
Then he was letting her slide down and she just tried to keep quiet until he was fully seated in her. The full feeling was overwhelming and the look in his eyes was so soft. She couldn't help it and moaned. Minutes passed and she couldn't take it anymore. So slow and so good but not enough. He knew it too and was waiting. Finally she nodded.
"I love you." It wasn't what she had meant to say, but it had the same effect. In a second she was on her back and he was looming over her, then he moved. Words came sporadically from him and she just closed her eyes and let her body feel him. When she tightened around him he praised her and his words made her blush a little bit, even then. She didn't care though.
"Hermione. You are mine." Her eyes snapped open and she caught his eye. He looked desperate as he moaned lowly and then kissed her. No more words were spoken and minutes later she lay with his head on her chest, carding her fingers through his hair.
"Yours." She spoke the word into the comfortable silence and felt his arms tighten around her waist.
The floo chime brought them out of their world of two. They had showered and were just laying together on her bed. He didn't want to let her go, but knew that he would have after too. Tomorrow and the day after. There was something to talking about things or at least acknowledging them. His witch liked to do that and he found the more certain feelings after worth the effort. Even if he couldn't say exactly what he felt, she was better at that, it was enough for Hermione. Or it seemed to be. The wonder on her face when he held her in the shower and told her how she looked to him. It was one of those times she was too much for him.
Now he lifted an arm and chuckled at her huff. Then he stood and helped her up. A last gentle kiss and he felt himself grin a bit, she looked so relaxed and her smile was nearly smug. He was glad her mentor wouldn't see it, he wouldn't like it.
"Floo me after, ya?" He asked as they walked down the stairs and she nodded.
"Dinner?" She asked and he thought that over.
"Take away from Tessario's?" He suggested and she grinned at his blatant offering of something she loved. Her lasagna was good but Raphael Tessario was a genius and had such a passion for pairing cheese and vegetables that some might consider his menu limited. Paradise was how she described it.
"Can't say no to that." She kissed his cheek as they entered the floo room and Astoria watched with interest. That she noted when she tore her attention from him and remembered why they were here. He chuckled at her and then smiled more casually at her friend. Astoria Greengrass was a beautiful witch, in the way of Narcissa Malfoy. Her colouring was different but there was a way they carried and expressed themselves. Potter seemed to enjoy it and he knew Hermione considered the witch a real friend.
"You needn't leave Rowle. Can we dispense with the formalities? That's what I've come here for. I want to speak to you about things without Harry, you though, I think, should perhaps be here." Something in her tone caught his witch's attention and her posture changed. Her gaze flicked from him to his witch and back again. A look from Hermione said stay so he just waited for the two to finish their non verbal exchange. The witches chins could get no higher after a minute and finally Astoria dropped hers.
"This. Last night. Family Hermione." It was a challenge and for a moment he wasn't sure. His witch loved people but family, she considered few in that category. Though there were other groups with equal importance to her. Then as he thought she would, her posture relaxed and she looked to him.
"Could you order enough for three. I've got wine." Then she gestured to Astoria to follow her into the kitchen, no doubt to her favourite table in what used to be a closet. Not really wanting to miss anything he grabbed his coat and spun away.
