CHAPTER 17
September 19th 2001
Hermione Granger moaned at the slowly growing sensation in her lower area, a tongue swiping across the most sensitive spot, and a mouth sucking roughly. She gripped the pillows at the side of the bed to brace herself, biting her lip with her top teeth to contain the inconsistent pleasure.
Though, this was definitely a lovely beginning to her 22nd birthday. Having her fiance go down on her was an extremely rare occasion that only happened once a year, if she was lucky. The red-head between her legs was nervous when it came to heading down there, but he woke up today confident in bringing her to satisfaction.
Ever since her meltdown in her office a few days ago, in which she doubted her love for Ron, Hermione had decided to work harder than ever on their future marriage. The guilt that had been overwhelming her the past few months had gotten to a breaking point, and made her realise she needed to be more invested in improving her relationship. If they were going to have a strong marriage, she needed to have her whole heart invested.
That afternoon, Hermione laid out a timeline in which she would use it to give new energy to the marriage plans before the wedding day. This involved, going to Ron's quidditch matches on the weekends, having sex every day, scheduling in a date night twice a week, and only overseeing magical creature projects at the ministry, no longer getting her hands dirty in the court battles or taking on new tasks. If putting off plans to bring magical creatures to justice meant that Ron would mean more to her, then that was what she had to do.
So here she lay, in the heat of their morning sex, doing her best to enjoy Ron's sloppy but careful work. The feel on his stubble was coarse against her thighs, scratching tender skin and leaving a small red rash. His tongue had slowed in speed due to the length in which he had been down there, unsuccessful in bringing her to the edge yet.
"Did you want me to come back up?" Ron asked, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand at the bottom of the mattress.
"No." Hermione breathed. "I am almost there."
It was a lie, but she had hoped that by speaking it out would bring it into existence. Hermione closed her eyes and let her mind drift off to relax her. Hermione tried to think back to a time where she had felt sexually aroused before. There was the time in Australia where her and Ron got handsy at the beach, or when she first moved in her own aprartment and they had sex in every bedroom, maybe the time that Krum fondled her in the Hogwarts library? Nothing was working.
Suddenly, the memory of being attacked at Malfoy's house reentered Hermione's mind. His thumb swiping across her cheek, the husky smell of his cologne overwhelming her senses and the look of fire in his sharp silver orbs. She wondered what it would be like to feel his mouth on hers, if he would be a sweet kisser or harsh like the words on his tongue. Suddenly, she imagined what his tongue would feel like down where Ron was right now. There was no doubt Malfoy would know what to do with a woman in bed, a man that confident doesn't act like that without knowing he has the package to back the attitude up.
The thought of the blond's mouth against her body made Hermione heat up. With the help of Ron's mouth swishing back and forth, Hermione could feel her climax building. Her stomach clenched as the tension rose, eyes rolling to the back of her head and before she knew it, she was moaning out in pleasure.
Her thighs quivered in recovery as Ron began to kiss her stomach and made his way up to peck her cheeks. Hermione laid there hot and clammy, unable to steady her legs. She had never had an orgasm from oral before, this was a whole new experience for her. And yet, the guilt of what image brought her to the edge lingered heavily.
What a way to start her year as a 22 year old.
"I am going to start breakfast if you want to have a shower." Ron whispered against her ear, as he sucked on her neck. He must feel proud of himself for finally satisfying her like that.
"O-okay." Hermione stuttered back, still spasming.
As her fiance rolled off the bed, and walked out of the room, Hermione slapped her face with the palm of her hand onto her forehead. Blowing out through her lips to relieve the tension in her confused brain. The plan to keep her mind on Ron was not going to plan.
After getting up and having a shower, Hermione strolled into the kitchen to see two bowls of cereal laid out on the dining table, a bottle of milk stood at the centre of them both. Not necessarily a cooked breakfast she was expecting, but then again did Ron even know how to cook eggs?
Two arms wrapped around her waist and a pair of lips kissed her cheek.
"Happy Birthday, 'Mione." Ron croaked into her ear.
"Thank you, Ronald." She smiled, rubbing her hands on his crossed arms.
"Would you like your present now or tonight?" He asked.
"Mmmm, now."
"Okay. Sit down and I'll bring it to ya."
Ron slipped his arms away from her body and walked into the spare bedroom. Hermione took a seat at the kitchen table and poured the milk into her bowl. Not a minute later, he walked back into the lounge area with his hands behind his back, a toothy grin across his face.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hands." He instructed.
The witch obliged, cupping the side of her palms together, unsure of what Ron could have gotten her. Hopefully it was not as bad as the time that he got her a sick cat after Crookshanks passed. Burying two pets within three months of each other was not the best time in Hermione's life. Feeling a heavy weight placed down on her hands, she grasped onto the present, feeling a long thick stick within her touch. Dear Merlin, this better not be but she thought it was.
Opening one eye at a time, Hermione confirmed that it was in fact what she guessed it was. A broomstick.
"Surprise!" Ron exclaimed, "It's the newest Firebolt."
Shocked at the uncharacteristic gift, Hermione frowned and half smiled, unsure of what to say.
"Oh my." Was all she could get out.
"I know you don't like flyin' that much, but I figured that when we get married I can show ya how to handle a broom. That way we can fly in our new backyard out in the country."
"The country?" She questioned.
"Yeah, we're movin out to the country once we're married right? Can't stay in the city with Mum talking about kids n all that." Ron took a seat across from her, scratching the back of his neck.
"Ron…" Hermione sighed, leaning the Firebolt against the table ledge. "We have talked about this. Having children is not on the table for us right now, you have to tell your Mum eventually."
"I know, I know. But maybe they'll come up with a potion or somethin' by the time we wanna have kids." His eyes were filled with so much hope. He truly believed they were going to have a family that was more than just the two of them.
Hermione and Ron had overcome many fights over her medical complication that was corrupting their future. When the healers had told them a few months ago that she was unable to have children, they had an argument that lasted three days. It wasn't until Ron came knocking on her office door with a bunch of flowers from his mother's garden that they apologised to one another and decided they would cross that bridge when they came to it later down the track. For now, they just needed to love one another and the rest would fall into place.
Not wanting to cause a disagreement on her birthday, Hermione brushed the potion comment to the side.
"Thank you for the gift." She grabbed his hands from across the table. "I am sure that you will be a wonderful flying coach."
"Speaking of flying." Ron started, "Don't forget there is that ministry quidditch game this weekend."
"Ah yes. It must have slipped my mind."
"Ha ha." He rolled his eyes sarcastically. "You should invite that ferret Malfoy to play, see if his skills are good enough these days."
"You want Malfoy to play?" The mention of the name made her stomach do a summersault.
"Bloody hell yeah! Would be wicked to throw a bludger at that smug bastard's face." He laughed, grabbing the milk to pour into his cereal.
"I shall ask him." Said Hermione, interested in seeing the men that consumed her mind take it out of the field.
The two then shared a breakfast filled with nothing but small talk and the sound of Ron's loud chewing. Kissing her fiance a loving goodbye, Hermione headed off to work. Her day was lightly scheduled today, wanting to solely take on paperwork to keep her from diving into heavy loaded new projects that require full attention. A sacrifice to make her relationship stronger.
Stepping out of the elevator into the department head floor, Hermione could see Astoria perched behind her reception desk with a sweet smile ready to greet the senior leaders.
"Good morning, Astoria." Hermione greeted, walking up to the assistant.
"Good morning, Miss Granger, and a very Happy Birthday to you."
"Oh, thank you." She blushed.
"Have you got much planned to celebrate today?" Astoria asked, leaning her chin on her elbow.
"Not much, I am afraid. A party over the weekend for all of Britain to dote upon was more than enough, I can assure you."
"That was definitely a party to remember. I thought you and Ron looked very sweet together."
Now that the conversation of the ball was on topic, Hermione couldn't help but feed the temptation to ask about the receptionist's night with Malfoy. A question that had needed to be answered a little too desperately for a happily engaged woman.
"I saw that you and Mr Malfoy seemed to leave quite quickly." She baited.
Astoria lowly chuckled at the observation, preceded by a tucking her long black hair behind her ears.
"You saw that, did you?"
"I had no idea that you two were so fond of one another. Do you plan on continuing to see him?" Hermione might as well get what she came for.
"As much as my mother would approve, I do not think Mr Malfoy is very interested in pursuing a future with me outside of the night we already spent together."
"What a pity…" She replied, satisfied with Astoria's answer. "You two would have made a very sweet couple."
"Sweet is not necessarily my taste, Miss Granger. No offense." The younger witch grinned.
"Right. Well, I shall be in my office for the remainder of the day. Feel free to knock if I am needed for anything." Hermione awkwardly pressed her lips to a smile, tapped her fingers on the desk and scurried into her designated workplace.
Closing the door behind her, she was gobsmacked at the sight of a dozen white roses sitting on her desk. The flowers were perched in a gorgeous crystal vase, and a small card poked out the top of the petals. Pulling it off, Hermione read the card between her fingers.
You deserve these.
Once this wedding is over, we can go back to our normal lives.
Until then, love you.
"How sweet." She giggled, before smelling in the fresh scent of the flowers. This gesture from Ron no doubt trumped the poor efforted cereal breakfast they shared together. As Hermione lifted the vase up onto the shelf of her small bookcase, a light tap reaped against the door.
"Come in!" She invited, straightening the bunch of flowers to look more presentable. Turning around she saw the one and only Malfoy at the entrance to her office. Standing in one of his grey suits today, he had slightly damp hair as if he had stepped out of the shower not that long ago. Oddly, there was no tray of tea in his hands.
"Hi." She greeted.
"Hello." He returned. "Happy Birthday, Granger."
"Thank you." Hermione smiled, not surprised he knew the date of her birth. "What? No tea today?"
"Not today, actually. I have a rather busy schedule, so I will not be able to brighten your lifeless day."
"A true travesty."
Hermione held out her arm to encourage him to walk over to her desk with her. The two stood facing each other on either side of the table.
"I have a present for you." He smirked, pulling his hands out of his pockets and sliding one down the side of his hair.
"You did not have to get me a gift, Malfoy." Hermione insisted, pouting her face at his generosity.
"It would be awfully unfair of me to not get you a present after you so delicately one upped me by giving me a record this year. Trust me, it is not much."
Realising who she was talking to, Hermione became suspicious of what Malfoy had organised. After all these years of growth and maturity, it would not be out of character for him to turn around and play a silly prank on her, purely for his own entertainment.
"Please don't let it be another broomstick." She said under her breath, scared of what her hateful friend would try to give her.
"I am guessing that Weasle-bee got you a broomstick." Malfoy half laughed at her nerves.
"Yes. And I-"
"Do not like flying." He finished her sentence for her.
Hermione was taken back by his knowledge of her. Maybe she did talk too much.
"Right. I do not like flying." She looked at the ground, embarrassed by her predictability.
"May I ask why your fiance decided to bless you with sporting equipment you loath?"
"I believe it was an attempt to overcome my fear and create a bond between the two of us."
Malfoy lifted his chin and pursed his lips. Obviously judging Ron's endeavour to bring spice and trust into their romance.
"Well, I did not get you a broomstick, so you can untwist your knickers." He teased.
Hermione rolled her eyes at the distasteful joke. Malfoy put his hand in his coat jacket and pulled out a rectangular wrapped present with a bow on top. The gift wrappings were an emerald green and the bow was gold. Oldly, not silver like a typical Slytherin would have done.
Handing it to her from across the desk, Hermione shook near her ear, only to hear nothing. The weight and feel suggested a book. Tugging back the tape, she opened the gift wrap to pull out a maroon hardback journal. On the cover was a date engraved 24th August 2001 in gold lettering to match the bow. Looking up at Malfoy, Hermione frowned in confusion as to what the journal could contain. He nodded to indicate she should open the gift.
Flicking back the first page Hermione read the foreword of the book.
This is only the beginning, Granger.
Touched by the personal note, she continued to discover what this journal contained. Turning to the next page, Hermione recognised the handwriting and content of a thank you note that had been written to her the week following her success with the werewolf trial. Wanting to see more pages, she went through the next few pieces of parchment only to recognise the whole book to be thank you letters from the trial. The date on the front was the day that her ministry law bill had finally passed.
"You made a journal of all my letters after the court case." Hermione said in shock, a hand covering her mouth in awe of the hand made present.
"I figured that you would prefer to read them as a book, rather than a pile of old parchment scattered in the drawers of your desk." Malfoy mumbled.
Hermione's heart felt so full at this moment. It was such a personal gift that suited her taste so well. A unique book written just for her, covered in words of gratitude towards all her hard work. It was perfect.
"This is… I-um... " Hermione struggled to find the right words. Instead, she chose to walk around the desk and embrace Malfoy into a tight hug. Her arms curled up to meet his shoulder blades.
The sudden show in affection threw Malfoy off, and he stumbled back a bit, but caught his footing quickly. He did not hug her back for a few seconds, clearly not used to being in such close proximity to muggle-borns, but eventually brought his arms up to loosely wrap around her upper back near the neck.
"Thank you." She whispered into his chest.
Hermione could hear his heart beating. It was quickening the longer they stood with one another, he was probably enraged by her touch. She did not care, she felt warm in his arms.
Gently moving her hands to meet at his spine, Malfoy abruptly jolted out of the embrace and hit his legs against one of the guest chairs. The hastily exit from a change in position confused Hermione. But the moment she saw the look of humiliation and fear in his eyes, she knew what had been done.
"Oh Malfoy! I am so sorry! I completely forgot about your scar." Hermione frantically apologised, hands clutching her chest to stop herself from reaching out to him again.
Malfoy used one hand to steady himself on the chair behind him, while the other shakily ran through his fringe. A moment passed where he stared at the floor, chest heaving, seemingly like he was trying to gain control of his breathing pattern. Collecting his composure, Malfoy cleared his throat, shook his head and looked Hermione in the eye.
"It is fine, Granger." He assured her with a stern voice.
"Are you sure? You seem a little pa-"
"I said I am fine." He repeated.
Hermione squeezed her lips and bopped her head in small nods. Aware of the damage she had caused, and the lack of solution her words would give him.
"It truly is a wonderful gift, Malfoy. I cannot thank you enough." She smiled lightly.
"My pleasure, Granger."
The witch and wizard remained staring at each other like they usually do in awkward situations like this. Neither wanting to be a leader and break the tension. Hermione admired his courage for being able to contain an evidently growing panic attack, but also despised him for shutting her out so easily. Then again, what did he owe her? She was attached to someone else.
Feeling the book in her grasp, Hermione remembered the gift she was given at breakfast, and the flowers that were sent to her, both from Ron. Oh, Ron. That was right, she was supposed to be focusing on her relationship with her fiance, not persisting that a friend trusts her. This plan was definitely going to take longer than she originally estimated.
The hug that her and Malfoy shared made her feel more at home than she had in a long time. Perhaps she would just have sex with Ron again tonight to make up for the flutterrry feeling in her heart right now.
"Well, I have a tight schedule so I must get go-" He started.
"Wait, a second." She interrupted. "There is a ministry quidditch match this Saturday. Will you be attending?"
"This is the first I am hearing of it, so I doubt I am invited."
"Don't be silly, of course you are invited. Harry organises the game annually, and challenges professional players to take the ministry on. This year Ron has requested that you join."
"Throwing a bludger at Weasley does sound terribly enticing." Malfoy smirked, getting back into his usual playful self. "Tell either of the twits to send me an owl with the details."
"Excellent!" Hermione squeaked. Her cheeks blushing at the rush of joy she just blurted out.
"I really have to get going." He used his thumb to point to the exit. "Have a nice birthday, Granger."
"Thank you." They both shared small smiles with one another before Malfoy turned to make his way out, closing the door behind him.
Hermione slumped into her office chair and banged her head against the desk, groaning.
"What an idiot."