Her mind was nearly blank. Few thoughts remained and they were all unwise. Her hands wanted to touch him and her mouth, she wanted to drag her lips and tongue all over him. Her nipples were tight and she could feel them against the bodice of her dress. It was best not to think about how wet she was and how badly she wanted to feel his fingers against her wet folds.

The look in his eyes was everything she could want. So intense and goosebumps raced across her skin. She could feel herself flush and knew it showed. That the colour was crawling down her chest and she watched his eyes flick to where her dress met her skin and she bit her lip. Trying to keep in the whimper.

Small warnings flashed in her mind. Nearly silenced by the torrent of desire she felt. Made so much worse by his. Tonight had been better. Zabini and then Maks had each made a difference but with Finn it was more of a change. So much easier for him to understand her and for her trust and anticipate his responses. It had made her longing worse but this was a different kind of wanting. It felt like she couldn't take from him though. So she waited. To be released from the tension. For him to release her.

The eyes on her were familiar and they had been here before but it wasn't those two younger people. They had been through so much and were tempered. Stronger and weaker for their experiences. The want to know him. Feel him. It was nearly frightening in its intensity.

Then he moved. He reached for her hand. Slowly but she flicked her eyes from his to the hand before back. No challenge. No taunt or dare. Just the same blatant desire and she made herself release the door knob. The feelings in her hand told her that she had been gripping it tightly and she flexed it once before his fingers caught in hers and then he took a step. It was enough. He had decided on this at least and she shook her fingers free of his and stepped into his chest. Pressing her face into the hard muscles and breathing in his scent. She felt his arms close around her and hug her to him. His warm breath on the top of her head. Then the glass left her hand and she smiled into his chest.

Knowing they couldn't stay in the doorway, she made herself release her hold and take a step back. Their eyes met and she felt herself flush again. This time it wasn't all sexual desire that she could see. There was softness too and the hands on her waist tightened. She felt suspended in the moment. Unable to move or break the tableau.

"Let me." He said and she took a long blink at the rough sound of his voice. She didn't know what he meant exactly but she nodded once. Knowing that it was right. Weeks had passed since he had come home and neither of them had pushed. He wouldn't now and if he did then it wasn't spontaneous or without thought.

Those blue eyes held hers and then he released her waist and led her by the hand into her dressing room. She felt the magic on her dress release and knew Siggy had undone his magics holding it to her.

Finn stopped in front of the long mirror and stood behind her. Their eyes met and she watched his hands move to her shoulders and then felt them run down her arms. She couldn't stop the shiver at his touch. It felt as if sparks were racing down her skin and she knew he could see it. The long blink he took told her that he could and that he liked her reactions as much as he ever had. He wasn't pressed up against her though and she wanted the warmth of him. Then the hands moved to her back and traced the line of her dress. Hermione felt hot and cold at the feelings and emotions flooding her.

Then his eyes dropped to the closures and she watched his concentration as his big fingers released the tiny buttons. It was slow and his knuckles touched her skin as he undid each one. Her fingers caught around each other, it was all she could do not to spin around or reach back for him. When his eyes met hers she knew it was the last one and she tried to ask her question.

The fire in his eyes flared brighter and she knew he wanted her to let it fall. Then it softened and she knew it would be okay if she didn't. It took only a second for her to decide and she unwound her fingers and lifted her arms away from her sides and watched his face. She felt his fingers tighten in the fabric. Holding it to her and waited. His eyes were on hers and she couldn't help the small smile in response to his disbelief. Then he grinned but it was gone in an instant and he looked at her with concentration, even determination. Then his eyes were looking at her body as he released his hold. It didn't move at first and she watched him focus on her chest. Then it began to slide and the combination of the fabric moving on her and his face was ratcheting up her desire again.

No one had ever looked at her like that. She had dropped her glamours so it was her body. With scars and imperfections. His face showed none of that though. For a minute she stood in her black strapless bra and knickers. Completely still. His eyes met hers then and she let the tear fall. This hadn't even been something she thought about. That he wouldn't like her body with scars or whatever hadn't even registered but now she knew that it was important. He looked overwhelmed and she looked down so she didn't trip and took a step back. Then another and her back pressed against his chest.

In the mirror, she watched his eyes close and then his body shiver and hands flex. Waiting. Until he was ready. Or wasn't. Now she knew. This would happen. Eventually. It didn't have to now though and she didn't think it would. Then one of those hands gently touched her hip and then wrapped around it. Slowly the touch formed and he was holding her to him. Letting her eyes fall closed too, she breathed and felt him against her. Let the moment be and relaxed into the warm chest behind her.


This was the most overwhelmed he had been since that first day. His body felt so much and his mind was working too fast. His witch was brave and beautiful. He had known this but seeing her now. As she was. No glamours or reticence. It was her asking him, was he ready to see her that had brought him back into reality. It was if they had been the only two and the raging fire between them all there was. Then it wasn't only that, the other things were there.

He loved her. It was so hot and strong. The tightness in his chest and how he felt strung tight. Gone was his little cub, this was a woman grown and she was perfection. The lines of her waist and the shadows between her thighs. Then other things had registered and the years were there. Years without her. Scars he knew the stories of but not from her perspective. His witch had been sleeping when he snuck into the hospital wing after they went to the Ministry and he could barely look at her. It was to much at a time he had no emotional bandwidth left. Then he heard the story and knew how it had happened. Dolohov hadn't complained about his performance in that dirty cafe and Maks hadn't been surprised after their own torture sessions.

That was the war though and there were other years. Years she had spent here. In his home and with his son. His. It was more than he could believe. Felt like a dream. This witch, this woman was his. He had been married and even with the Magics binding them, there had been none of this feeling. Her warm weight pressed against his chest was all that was grounding him. The raging hard on he had was almost minor in comparison to everything else he felt. The warmth of her skin against his hand and then she relaxed her weight against him and he couldn't help opening his eyes.

Her whiskey ones were closed and he was glad for the moment. To see them together. It was one of those moments he wanted to engrave into his mind. Always be able to remember it.

"Don't open your eyes. You are so beautiful Hermione. I had memories but couldn't imagine you getting older. I didn't want to. This woman is beyond anything I could have dreamed up. Being here with you. Thank you." He broke off then. Knew he would cry or something if he kept going and she was blushing hotly. Now he could see it crawl down her chest and he groaned lowly. Her eyes did open then and the honey ones were soft and wide. Then her hand reached back for the one not on her and she laced their fingers together and wrapped it around her waist. Looking at him the whole time.

His white shirtsleeves were stark against her warmer shin and her hand looked tiny in his. Her whole body was enveloped by his and he relished the feeling of possessing her. Right now she was his. In this moment she had given herself to him and he wanted to bury his face in her neck but he wanted to watch too. Her eyes trace his face and where he was touching her. As if she too wanted to remember.


"Let's go to bed." She spoke after a still minute of both of them observing the pair in the mirror. Most of her apprehension and uncertainty was gone and so were the frantic feelings of lust. She wanted him. It just wasn't overwhelming her and more had passed in this room than their combined desire.

He released her slowly and she turned to grab a tank top. That was enough for tonight. Keeping her eyes down and not hiding was the best she could do as she undid the bra and then let it fall before pulling the tank top on. Finn was watching her, she could feel it but she didn't blush. Not in embarrassment anyways. Her flush was for the intimacy of the moment. Coming home with him and having him in her space. His face was intent when she met his eyes and she let herself look at him. Not his reflection. The dirty blond waves that touched his shoulders and how he looked in the crisp white dress shirt.

Then she rolled her eyes at his grin. Enjoying her blatant perusal of him. Walking into the bedroom was comfortable and he lifted her onto the bed by her waist and then stepped between her bare legs. Their eyes met until he started undoing buttons and she watched him. Reveal more of his chest and she didn't tray and stop herself from touching him. Her hands opened on the hard muscles and she ran them up to his mech before back down to his waist. Then she looked up and the serious look on his face told her that he was alright. Not overwhelmed like earlier and she kissed where his heart was beating before resting her forehead against him.

Then his hands were in her hair and pulling at the hidden pins. She chuckled lowly and released the magic holding them in. He chuckled as they fell to the bedding and reached around her to pick them up. The shirt was only hanging on him and she leaned back before reaching up to push it off of him and then her eyes were scanning his chest and arms. Completely exposed to her for the first time.

"Can I kiss you?" It had to be asked or dismissed and she didn't want to be guessing.

"Little cub. Merlin." The words were groaned and his hands were threading into her curls and he was looking at her with more than she had ever seen. Then he was looking at her lips and leaning into her. She trailed her hands up his neck and closed her eyes. Knowing. Waiting. The first touch of his lips to hers was soft and more of a brush then he was kissing her. As if there hadn't been years between them doing this. Or another witch.

Finn's tongue traced her bottom lip and she opened her mouth and then met him. Knew he would try and take her wits. It was familiar and heart stoppingly different. This time she wasn't trying not to feel. Not to let herself love him. There was no reminders of his not being hers and she kissed him back with all she felt. Loving how his hair felt in her hands and the slight roughness of his cheeks. Then he pulled away and she breathed heavily.

"Hermione." It was a question and she knew what he meant.

"Are you wearing pants to bed?" Her direct question got a huff from him but she held his gaze and knew the breathiness kept it from being a deflection. It was her answer and he was stripping them off quickly. Then crawling toward her across the bed. From his side of it. Siggy had added each item when she was here. Holding her eyes and daring her to tell him no. She hadn't.

Then he was hovering over her and she just waited. For him to decide what he wanted. How much further if at all. His eyes were flicking from her hair to her face and then eyes. Eventually he caught her gaze and she smiled a bit. Not being able to keep it in. He smiled back. Genuinely and she felt so much.

"I want you. So badly. I just don't want to blow this or fuck up." It was blurted out and he blushed a bit. Which was cute and she couldn't help but grin. Like the first time she had asked to touch him and he had blurted out about her not judging how long he lasted. He had been waiting ages for her to ask. When she could reign it in, she nodded seriously and rested her palm against his cheek.

"It's enough just to be here with you. If that's enough for now." She didn't want to bring up the erection he had most of the time they were in this bed. That she was awake for anyways. He hadn't and didn't try and hide it either so she just accepted it and tried not to make it worse.

Then he grinned at her and she flushed. It was one she recognized and it meant he didn't buy it. Knew she wanted more and before it would have meant her admitting it. Before she got any satisfaction. Then she scoffed and rocked her hips against him gently. He just grinned at her deflection. Then he lifted one of his hands to her breast and squeezed gently. Her smile fell and she watched him. Then rested her hands on his upper arms and nested back into the pillows behind her. If he wanted to torture her then she could take it.

His eyes flicked from her breast to her face and his thumb circled her nipple. That broke her composure and she wriggled under him.

Then he was kissing her and fondling her. His weight pressing more firmly between her legs. For minutes they stayed like this. Shifting and rubbing against each other before she wrapped a leg around his hips and shifted herself against the hardness then both of them groaned and he broke the kiss.

"Like behind the tapestry." It wasn't a question but his eyes asked her and she flushed as the memory flashed through her mind. She wanted to answer but a whimper came out and she gave up and nodded. Her whole body warming and tightening in anticipation.