Once again Harry found himself lying naked in the Room of Requirement, Hermione sprawled across him with one leg wrapped around him as she slept on his chest. The raven-haired Gryffindor knew that he should go back to sleep as well, but he couldn't. He cherished these moments; moments of pure peace where there were only his love and himself.
He took the opportunity to once again admire the curves of his girlfriend's body, his fingers brushing lightly over the thigh she had draped across his hip.
The last few months had been the happiest of his life. He never knew what it was to truly live before. He had spent the vast majority of his life in fear of one thing or another. While he knew there were still things to fear, still things that posed a threat, Harry could not find it within himself to worry. He now had faith that he would prevail.
As he lay there, this time the Room of Requirement had provided them with a bed, he thought back over the time since he and Hermione had disappeared. No one had seemed to be surprised that the two of them had become an item.
"Nah, it isn't surprising, mate." Neville had said one evening at dinner. "The two of you have been so in sync for years I knew it was only a matter of time..."
Hermione had blushed slightly at that and leaned against his shoulder, smiling at Neville.
Every day with Hermione seemed to heal something deep inside Harry. He still had bouts of self-doubt and days where the ghosts of his past haunted him, but those times were becoming less and less. The guilt the young man felt was lessening with each day as well.
At the moment, Harry's life was perfect he thought. There was nothing better than what he had with the beautiful girl in his arms. However Harry's life is never that easy, he knew that. And even though he was so deliriously happy with Hermione, he knew that something was coming. He could feel it. He knew all the way down to his bones that something was about to change, and that scared him. His instincts were screaming at him to hide Hermione away and protect her. He could feel that whatever Mother Magic had in store would rock him to his very core. He could feel danger in the air and he had mentioned as much to Hermione. All she had said was that she knew something was coming, could see it in the tightness of his shoulders. The brunette had simply kissed him and told him that whatever was coming she would face with him, at his side where she belonged.
Sliding his hand absent-mindedly up and down Hermione's back as he let his thoughts wander over the possibilities of what was to come, she stirred.
"Harry, why aren't you sleeping?" She whispered groggily.
"Because winter is coming..." He replied softly, making her laugh softly.
"Too much television for you." She said, rising up to rest on her arm over him, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Then give me something else to do..." He said cheekily.
"Oh I will," She said, her voice lowering to a husky tone. "Even though one would think you would be sated after last night."
"Mmm, last night was definitely amazing." Harry said, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. "But I can never get enough of you." He finished, pushing Hermione onto her back and leaning over her. "I swear you're some sort of drug to me." He whispered, brushing his lips along her neck. "It's like I can't breathe unless you're in my arms."
"Mmmm Harry." the witch breathed, a shudder running through her at his words. "Please..." She whispered, as his hand moved teasingly along her side.
Catching her lips in a deep kiss, Harry moved his hand up to cup her breast, brushing his thumb over her nipple. Moaning into his mouth, Hermione arched into his touch, her hips shifting slightly.
As the raven-haired male kissed her deeply, passionately, he continued to tease her, his hand massaging her breast, gently pinching her nipple until he had her panting and whimpering in need. "Please..." She begged softly when their kiss broke for air.
Nodding, he kissed down her neck, moving his mouth over the swell of her breast to her nipple, taking it into his mouth and sucking lightly, his hand still tugging and teasing the other.
At the warmth of his mouth on her sensitive nipple, she moaned softly, her hands sliding along his shoulders.
"Mmm 'Mione, I want something..." He said, his voice rough with arousal. "Can I have it?" He asks.
"Anything..." Hermione replied without a second thought, trusting him implicitly.
Moving himself to rest between her legs, Harry slowly began to kiss down her body, his hands sliding along her thighs. Stopping only when his face was level with her slit, he looked up at her, the blush staining her cheeks serving only to make his cock twitch. "I want to taste you." He whispered, his breath hot against her wet slit.
He held himself back from licking at her wetness, waiting on her permission for such an intimate act, his hot breath the only thing touching her.
After a second that seemed like an eternity, she nodded shyly and Harry silently thanked Merlin. He had been wanting this for so long, he just never wanted to push Hermione for something she may not want. This was yet another thing he'd heard the twins going on about, Seamus as well. He'd never given it much thought until he'd been with Hermione.
Leaning in, he gently licked along her slit, tasting her and groaning at the deliciously sweet flavor of her. Shifting himself to lay with his head between her legs, his arms wrapped around her thighs, his hands softly kneading and massaging them.
Harry slid his tongue over her clit and smiled at the high-pitched keening sound that came from her. Deciding he wanted to hear that again, he pressed his mouth over that sensitive nub, swirling his tongue around it, teasing her as his hands held her.
She tasted so good, he needed more, needed to taste all of her. Tilting his head, he licked along her slit once more, before sliding his tongue between her folds, pushing the tip of his tongue against her opening. Realizing his tongue was long enough, he gently pushed it into her, tasting her inside and moaning at the amazing flavor of her.
He looked up as he pulled his tongue from her slit, brushing it up over her clit, and caught the look of pure pleasure on her face. He wanted to taste her climax, he needed her orgasm in his mouth. Doubling his efforts, he sucked gently at her clit. He released one of her thighs and slid a finger into her still very tight pussy, pressing up against that perfect spot he had found.
He could feel her walls squeezing around his fingers as she got closer and closer to the edge. Wanting to push her over that edge, he slid a second finger into her, moving both in and out of her faster.
Her hips were bucking as he used his fingers and mouth on her, her hands digging into his hair. "Harry!" She screamed as she suddenly came apart, her juices soaking his fingers, pulling them out, he slid his tongue into her, moving his hand up to rub her clit and drag out her orgasm, wanting her juices on his tongue.
He moaned at the taste of her as she flooded onto his tongue, his cock painfully hard as she rode out her orgasm. "Mmmmm" He moaned against her slick lower lips. Pressing one last kiss to her clit, he moved up over her, rubbing his weeping cock teasingly against her mound.
"Mione..." He whispered, kissing her neck before biting at it lightly. "You are so beautiful." He said, continuing nibbling at her neck. "You taste so good."
"Harry." She whimpered, sliding her hands up Harry's back. "Please." She said, rubbing herself up against him invitingly.
"Mine..." He whispered against her lips as he pushed his entire length into her still pulsing cunt, dragging a loud yell from her.
"Always..." She whispered back, wrapping her legs around his waist as he began to pump in and out of her.
As that one word fell from her lips, all of the control Harry had over his actions fell away, pounding hard and fast into her accepting body. "Mione, let go..." He groaned as he held her hips, pushing deep into her. "Let me feel your fall." He growled into her ear, his long thick member pumping in and out of her.
His words pushed her that last distance, feeling her clench tight around him as she came, his body responding in kind, filling her with his essence, both of them almost screaming in pleasure. Neither of them noticed the light that surrounded them during their shared climax, nor the crackle of magic in the air.
Things had just changed and neither had seen the shifting of the tides or the ancient magics that had just altered the course of their shared future.
After their second stay in the Room of Requirement, which thankfully was not another extended disappearance, more and more changed with the young Gryffindor couple. The teachers began to notice how connected the two were. It was as though they subconsciously could feel the other, anticipate and know before the other moved and adjust accordingly. They would be in class and would shift, move or speak simultaneously. It was as though the two students had become one living, breathing being.
While those who noticed realized how good this could be for Harry, the boy who, time and again had lost everything; they also worried that this could be a bad thing. They were concerned that the two students could become far too dependent on each other to the point where they were unable to function on their own. This possibility was something that Minerva McGonagall mentioned to Fillius Flitwick as they sat side by side eating breakfast one morning.
"Filius, what if this... whatever it is with them, renders them unable to function as separate individuals?" The Head of Gryffindor asked.
"Minerva, I understand your concern for your Lions, but I assure you that is highly unlikely. Both of those students are too strong on their own to become so dependent on one another. As much as it pains me to say this..." the small man said, looking sadly over at the pair, "Young Mister Potter has lost so much... He has had to become completely self-reliant. While I hate that he has had to endure so much in his short life, it has made him stronger than most adults I know."
"Harry has indeed been put through more than his fair share of heartache." Minerva said in agreement.
"You are also forgetting that Miss Granger is a force to be reckoned with in her own right. That young muggleborn has a strong sense of what is right, more than most. She would not allow herself to become so reliant on another that she could not do for herself. And she would never allow Harry to become so. She's always been his voice of reason and I have no doubts that that will continue." Filius said with a soft smile for his students. "That witch will keep him moving, motivate him, but keep him his own person. She may support him but she would never let him become anything less than what he is." The Charms professor reassured his colleague.
"You're right Filius, I don't know what I was thinking." The Scottish woman said, shaking her head. "Those two are the most self-sufficient young people I have ever met, second only to those twin devils." She said with a laugh before becoming serious once more. "But something is coming Filius, I can feel it. I felt a shift in the flow of Magic herself last night. As though something big is coming into play." She said.
"Yes, I felt it too Minerva." Flitwick said with a nod. "It was as though all of magic took a deep breath in preparation for something. Though what that something is, I have no idea."
Watching the two students they had just been discussing, Minerva noticed something odd. Her young green-eyed lion had a look of distress as he held his girlfriend who looked a little under the weather.
Directing her colleague's attention to the two students, they watched as Harry stood and pulled Hermione up, wrapping an arm around her and leading her out of the Great Hall. "I do wonder what that is about?" She murmured under her breath.
Minerva did not like the idea that something was going on with one of her Gryffindors that she did not know about. How many situations could she have helped Harry avoid in the past if only she had paid better attention to the young man? So with that in mind, she bid goodbye to the small professor and followed her two favorite students out, hoping to find the cause of their unease.
As she almost caught up with them, she realized where they were, Harry was leading Hermione into the Room of Requirement and whispering into her ear softly.
Minerva's concern for her students skyrocketed when she saw the look of worry on Potter's face. The boy had been so relaxed and at ease the last few months. Had something happened? Had he seen something in his connection with Voldemort that had him distressed? She had thought he had gotten the hang of Occlumency enough to keep the foul man from his dreams and mind.
Just as she reached the door, hoping to follow them in, the door disappeared. She should have known that the castle would protect the occupants from discovery or interruption. She just hoped that when they emerged they would tell her the cause of their worry and upset.
Harry sat once more in the Room of Requirement with his girlfriend, though unlike all of their other excursions here, this was different. They were not running their hands over each other's bodies, worshiping and loving each other. This time he simply held Hermione as she was sick, over and over; brushing her hair back from her face and rubbing her back as she retched. Once again the Room of Requirement had transferred into exactly what they needed. It was a dimly lit, cool room with a sink, shower, toilet, and tub in one end and a large, comfortable looking bed at the other. Currently, Hermione was hovering over the toilet, reproducing her breakfast.
Harry was worried about her, his mind automatically going to the worst possible scenario. Had she been poisoned? Had she been cursed? Had she somehow touched a cursed object? He didn't know what to do or how to help her so he remained as he was, comforting her and holding her through it.
Once it seemed as though she had expelled all that was possible, he flushed for her and closed the lid, turning her to sit on it as he asked the castle for something to clean her with, smiling as a rag appeared on the sink. Quickly, he wetted the rag in cold water and used it to carefully clean her face of all evidence of the past fifteen minutes. As he turned to rinse the rag he almost laughed, seeing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash sitting on the edge of the sink. 'Thank you, Hogwarts.' He thought silently, wetting the toothbrush and applying the toothpaste before handing it to the brunette. "Here, this will help you get rid of the taste." He said softly, kissing her forehead reassuringly.
"I don't know what came over me, Harry." She said after she leaned over, spitting into the sink and rinsing both sink and mouth. "It was as though once I finished eating my stomach decided that it couldn't handle the eggs." She said shaking her head and leaning against her boyfriend.
"I wonder what could cause that." He said, his voice laced with concern as he wrapped his arms around her, holding the girl close to him.
"When I was a small child I was allergic to eggs, but I grew out of that." Hermione said shakily. "Or at least I thought I had. I haven't had a reaction to them in years."
"Maybe that allergy has just come back." Harry said softly, rubbing her back in soothing circles. "Avoid eggs for a few days and see how things go?" He questioned gently.
The brunette nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a good idea. I really don't relish going through this again."
Harry nodded. "I hate seeing you sick. I wish there was more that I could do." He said affectionately, reaching up and brushing her hair behind her ear.
Pulling away he took her hand and led her to the bed, gently stripping her before lifting her into his arms and laying her down carefully. Once she was settled, he quickly divested himself of his own uniform and climbed in bed with her, pulling her close. "I just need to hold you." He whispered into her ear, nuzzling her gently. "I need to feel you safe in my arms for just a little bit."
She smiled, leaning up and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Wrapped up in your arms is the only time I truly feel safe." She said, her face open and honest, no sign of shame or embarrassment.
They nodded off wrapped up in each other's arms, a smile on their faces. An hour later they were roused by a small house elf looking very anxious at being sent to wake the couple.
"Professor McGonagall is being asking for Mister Harry Potter Sir and Missy Hermione Granger to be in her office now." The tiny elf said, wringing her apron in her hands nervously.
"Thank you, ummm… What is your name?" Harry asked before Hermione could get riled up about the rights of elves and her S.P.E.W. views. They'd never get to the professor any time soon if she got going about that now.
"I is being Mopsey, Mister Harry Potter Sir." The little elf said, slightly relieved not to be punished for waking them.
"Thank you Mopsey, we will be right there." Harry said, dismissing the little elf as quickly as possible, knowing perfectly well that Hermione disapproved of houselves and what she thought they stood for.
Once the little elf was gone, he kissed the top of Hermione's head and slid out from under the covers. "Let's get this over with, we still have two more classes today." He said reaching for his trousers. "How are you feeling now?" He asked with concern etched all over his face.
"Much better, Harry, thank you. A nap and cuddles were exactly what I needed." The girl replied with an adoring smile, reaching for her own uniform.
Twenty minutes later found them sitting in their Head of House's office, accepting tea.
"Now," the stern woman said, taking a sip of her own tea, "while skipping class is never desired, I noticed you were unwell this morning. Are you feeling better?" She asked, her brow furrowing in concern.
"Yes Professor." Hermione said, clearly confused as to how her teacher had known she had been sick.
"I'm very glad to hear that. I saw you leave the Great Hall looking very green this morning." The Scottish woman said, seeing their confusion. "Have you any idea what caused you to feel ill?" She asked gently.
"I'm not sure Professor." Hermione answered. "I had eaten some eggs for breakfast and I think that was it." She said with a shrug. At seeing her Head's lack of understanding she elaborated. "As a child, I was allergic to them but had grown out of it once I was about seven years old. It seems as though the sensitivity to them has returned."
"Ah, well while I hate to hear of your allergy and discomfort, I am glad that it is nothing more serious." The older woman said, relief evident in her voice. She too had been worried that maybe Hermione had been targeted due to the combined statuses as Harry Potter's girlfriend and a Muggleborn.
After finishing their tea they were dismissed from Professor McGonagall's office and sent off to lunch before their afternoon classes. Thankfully as Hermione ate there was not a repeat of that morning's events, though Hermione did seem to be starving. No wonder, seeing as she had been unable to keep anything she had eaten down. So as they sat at the lunch table eating she ate with gusto, finishing off two chicken salad sandwiches and a bowl of fruit.
Harry watched her eat, happy that she seemed to be over whatever it was that caused her to be sick that morning. Unknown to him, they both sat reflecting on the morning's events.
In the time they had spent together Hermione had grown into herself, become more confident and sure of herself. She could finally see herself through Harry's eyes and she could see how beautiful she was to him. She could see his love for her in everything he did; from the soft touches and gentle kisses to the way he cared for her and grounded her when she needed it.
She could see the woman she had become reflected in his eyes. Gone was the awkward and bossy little girl she had been, replaced by a woman that was special enough to have caught the heart and eyes of the best man she had ever known.
Harry had also changed, able to see himself as his girlfriend saw him. He had finally found someone that saw who he really was. He was human, fallible, and imperfect. He was not a weapon, he was not the Savior, he was Harry. Just Harry. He saw that while she knew he would fall, she didn't expect or wait for it, and would simply help him up and help in move on. She didn't expect perfection or some great act of heroism, she just expected him to live. He could see in her eyes, the way she looked at him, smiled that special smile just for him, that she loved him.
She had given him the only thing he had ever wanted. She had given him a family; she was his family now.
And at that moment it hit him, like a ton of bricks. He felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. His entire body tensed as he watched her eat a strawberry, something that until now she hadn't been all too fond of. Part of him praying to the Gods, old and new, that he was wrong. Yet another part of him, a small part that had wanted this, even subconsciously, prayed he was right and the consequences be damned.
He knew what was wrong with Hermione that morning.