Hermione was in shock. Despite listening to the younger girl pine after Harry Potter for years, it was quite the surprise to see her lunge at him and weld their lips together in front of everyone in the common room. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed as she watched and she couldn't take the pain any longer. Hermione turned abruptly on her heel and rushed through the crowd to the stairs to her dorm. She ignored the noise of the party and catcalls at her back as she rushed to be free of both it and the pain.

Taking the steps two at a time, she was nearing safety. Four steps shy of the landing, the steps disappeared from under her feet and with a high pitched squeal, she began to slide down the magically slippery surface they had become.

Hermione slammed her eyes shut tight as she waited for the crash when she'd skittle those gathered partiers at the base of the stairs. Instead, she felt something firm grab her arms and use her momentum to swing her up into the air and catch her tight against a firm panting chest.

Her now free arms closed around the torso she was pressed against and she noticed the sound in the room had diminished considerably.

Opening her eyes, she found a bright green pair staring back at her, burrowing into her very soul and seeing everything she had hoped to hide from them.

A grin spread slowly over Harry's face, starting at the corners of his eyes and lips but soon overtaking his entire face. Hermione bit her lip as she tried in vain to squash the feelings and heat which that smile bloomed within her. Harry leaned forward and her heart skipped a beat as she felt his firm warm lips press against her own and her breath was gone.

Hermione's mind spun as her body registered every sensation swirling about. His firm arms holding her hips against his own. Her legs entwined behind his back helping him keep her in place. Her long fingers wending their way into his messy locks. And most of all, his hot lips pressing harder against her own and blanking her mind.

Harry pulled away long before her senses returned and she felt her chest heaving with heavy breaths, her bosom tight against his own and she blushed as she realized her decision to forgo a bra this afternoon might not have been a good one after all.

"Please don't do that again, Hermione. I choose who I give my heart to, not someone that jumps me in the common room. If you'll have it that is."

She barely registered the movement until it clicked that she was nodding in response, but he caused her breath to catch once more by kissing her a second time. Her mind did not fail her this time as she pressed her body even tighter against him and gave her all to the kiss. Wanting Harry to understand that she not only accepted his heart, she freely returned her own.

Noise broke out around them once more, but Hermione's entire focus was on the man whom she had fallen utterly in love with. Who seemed to return her feelings completely. Only the brushing of another rushing past them broke up this longer and more intense kiss. Hermione looked over Harry's shoulder to see a head of long red hair rushing up the reformed stairs and she felt a little bad for the Weasley girl.

"Shhh, I choose you. That is not your fault." Harry whispered so softly that only she could hear.

He lowered her slowly and her legs came free from around his waist. Though it took a few moments once they returned to the ground for her to regain full control, she was very glad for the reason behind the weakness in her knees.

Smiling at Harry, she entwined their fingers together and was surprised when he pulled her through the common room and out the portrait hole.

"It's too noisy in there, and I had nothing to do with that victory. I'd much rather spend the evening in your company than theirs." Harry offered, quelling the question that must have been showing on her face.

The renewed feeling of joy echoed through her body at his words, further ensuring she believed this wasn't only some horrid dream as she sobbed in her bed.

"Harry?" She asked, pulling the pair to a stop as he turned yet another corner, taking her who knew where. "Why me?"

She regretted asking immediately, afraid she would not like that answer, her bottom lip once more coming under the assault of her fears.

But his replying smile soothed any worries that arose as he stepped up to her, their similar height meaning neither was forced to crane their neck uncomfortably.

"Why would it ever be anyone but you?" Another steaming kiss arose and it wasn't until the pair heard a familiar throat clear behind Harry that they separated once more.

"Certainly I have not found one of my prefects and the quidditch captain kissing in the hallway setting a bad example for the younger students." McGonagall reproached as she stared at the two.

Hermione felt the blush soaring on her cheeks once again as she trembled at what their strict head of house might do to punish such behaviour.

"Never, professor. We were just making our way to avail ourselves of a nice comfortable broom closet."

Hermione's blush doubled at Harry's cheeky response and she turned to stare wide-eyed at her… friend. Still friend for the moment at least.

"My girlfriend and I have not had the pleasure of that Hogwarts rite of passage as yet, and what better night than tonight." Harry finished.

Hermione's heart was racing and she wanted so badly to reprimand Harry for his words, but she dare not move lest her actions bring McGonagall's wrath upon her.

Professor McGonagall shook her head as she stared at the cheeky boy before her, and Hermione could swear she saw the edges of her lips twitch slightly.

"Move along, Mr Potter. Before I am forced to take points for cheek." And with a swirl of her green robes, McGonagall disappeared around the corner, heading in the direction of the Gryffindor common room.

Harry looked at her once more, and with a cheeky smirk, began leading her once more through the corridors. This time their journey was much shorter before they were standing before a rather familiar-looking tapestry and Harry let go of her hand for the first time in she knew not how long. It's absence making her heart thud in what she was sure was unnecessary fear as Harry summoned a door in the blank stone wall and he reached out for her hand. She clasped his warm fingers and the swelling fear was soon settled as she followed him into what must be the most extravagant 'broom closet' she had ever seen.

"Harry!" She chided as he settled himself onto the most comfortable looking 'bucket' she'd ever seen and he pulled her sideways onto his lap, the heat building within once more.

"I meant what I said to Professor McGonagall. It's about time another Potter played the Hogwarts Broom Cupboard Challenge, and there is only one girl this Potter plans to try it with."

Hermione's heart hammered away as her arms slithered around his neck, shuffling herself up his lap until she could shift no closer. Her own smile mirroring the bright one on her best friend, nay, boyfriend's face as she leaned in once more and finally completed another of her Hogwarts bucket list.

Make out with Harry in a Hogwarts broom cupboard.

It may be an overly designed mockup made by the Room of Requirement, but it did the job for her purposes tonight.