A/N: Thank you everyone! I got such a positive response from the last chapter and I'm glad you're all still enjoying this story! I apologise for any spelling/grammar mistakes, I promise I do proof read every chapter I post - some things must just get overlooked and I promise to do better. This story is now going to go at a faster pace and I think this chapter is one a few of you have been waiting for...it's cliché but I think the timing is right. Enjoy, Many Thanks! :)

A/N: Chapter Warnings – Possible mentions of sexual assault, violence, bad language and sexual situations.

Chapter 39 – Harry, Hogsmeade, and Valentine's Day

Hermione's nerves were in tatters, she kept expecting Harry to say something to someone. In reality, Hermione trusted Harry and knew that he wouldn't really tell anyone but the fear of just him knowing freaked her out. It had been about a week since their talk in the common room and she was still fretting, but Harry seemed to be absorbed in the world of Cho Chang, since their kiss the other day, Harry had been spending every free moment with her.

It was the first week of February and it was a Hogsmeade weekend, and Harry and Cho were going on an official first date, Harry was excited but also nervous that he was going to cock everything up.

"Right let's get going. I'm looking forward to this trip. What are you and Cho planning on doing Harry?" Hermione asked him.

Harry shrugged.

"I think we're going to go and shop in the town and then we will probably go to the pub for lunch" Harry told her.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked her.

"I'm just going to do a bit of shopping, stock up on a few things" she said.

"Are you going on your own?" Harry asked her.

"Well I'm planning on walking to Hogsmeade with Ron, Neville, and the boys but I don't think I will stay with them, I think they want to go and look at some new Quidditch stuff" Hermione told him.

Harry shook his head.

"Apparently the guys are going to the joke shop, it's Valentine's Day next week and obviously because they're all single they're going to get some joke Valentine's stuff. They're planning on pranking the girls" he told her.

Hermione groaned, she would never understand their boisterous ways but she accepted them anyway.

"God, I forgot about Valentine's Day. It's the one day a year where everyone finds someone to rut up against. And the girls go all googly eyed over secret love letters" Hermione said. She didn't mind Valentine's Day really but when your roommates are Lavender and Pavarti, you tend to end up hating the goddamn day.

Harry chuckled at her response and the two headed towards the quad where they had arranged to meet everyone after breakfast.

"How are you celebrating Valentine's? I take it you will do something with Cho" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. That was pretty much the plan that he had in mind. He would have to think of something to do for her. Maybe not something romantic but at least something to cheer her up because Hermione had been right, Cho was really struggling this year, even if she put on a brave face about it all.

"What about you? Doing anything with a special someone?" Harry grinned, trying to ruffle her feathers.

Hermione tried to act nonchalant.

"Nope, nothing special. Doing what I do every year probably, reading a book whilst munching on the pity chocolates that I get from you all" she grinned back. That really was how she typically spent Valentine's.

Harry nodded.

"He doesn't seem like the type to celebrate that day, does he?" Harry said, leaving heavy implications in the air.

Hermione froze mid-step and let out a deep breath.

"Look, Harry, about that, I just-" she started to say.

Harry cut her off with a look.

"Honestly Hermione, it's really none of my business, I don't know what's going and I don't want to know. The less I know the better. Just be careful, I don't trust him and don't worry I won't say a word to anyone" Harry told her.

Hermione smiled at him; glad that he was accepting what would be a massive scandal should information ever get out.

"However, if he does hurt you-" Harry began the typical protective big brother speech but was cut off with a look from her Hermione.

"-yeah you're right, I would be able to do fuck all" Harry finished.

Hermione laughed at him as the pair approached the group of Gryffindor's who had been waiting for them.

"Thanks Harry" she said.

Harry smiled back.

"Right, Hogsmeade" Harry declared and everyone cheered, they were looking forward to getting away from the castle for the day.

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Once at Hogsmeade, Harry and Cho broke away from the group to get their date started and Hermione joined the guys with their trip to the joke shop.

She wondered if she should get Severus something. It seemed ridiculous, Hermione Granger did not do Valentine's, she wasn't good at this. Maybe she should go to the sweet shop and just get him those chocolates that he likes. Oh gods why was everything so bloody difficult!

"Earth to Hermione, you awake in there?" Ron asked her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Yes sorry, what were you saying?" She asked him.

"We're done here are you ready to go? Do you need more time? We will wait. We're going to the sweet shop next" Ron told her.

"Nope I'm ready to go, let's go get some sweets" she smiled at him. She was internally shaking her head; nothing ever came between Ron and his sweets.

Later, Hermione was putting her goodies from Hogsmeade away and she lay down on her bed. She was ready for an early night tonight. Harry and Cho hadn't returned from their date yet and Hermione was too exhausted to stay up waiting for them. She would find out the details tomorrow hopefully. She settled down for the night and went to sleep. The following week was a blur.

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A week later and Severus had conveniently planned Hermione's occlumency lesson on Valentine's Day evening. Severus had never done Valentine's Day and the thought of the whole day made him nauseas but he felt different about it today.

He felt that he needed to do something special for his Hermione, even if it wasn't a traditional Valentine's Day he still wanted to let Hermione know that she was special to him and he didn't know how else to do it. If he was being honest with himself, he was absolutely terrified, he was actually trying to impress a female, something he'd never really done before and here he was, telling himself that the sweat that was beginning to drip down his back was caused by his Bunsen Burner in the freezing cold dungeon. Merlin help him! His nerves were in tatters and she would be coming soon for her lesson.

Severus sat and took a couple of deep breaths to calm his nerves. He must've been sat there for longer than what it felt like because soon, he heard a timid knock on his door.

"Enter" he said, trying to mask his nervousness.

Hermione walked in, dressed in her casual clothes, and with her bag hanging from her shoulder.

"Evening Severus" she said and she grinned at him.

He then stepped aside so that she could walk into his quarters. She entered the living room and froze.

There were floating candles lighting the room, along with the roaring fireplace, and in front of the fire, Severus had pushed all of his furniture out of the way and had set up a thick blanket on the floor, surrounded by cushions. In the middle of the blanket was a picnic basket.

She gaped at the scene, it was beautiful and to be honest, she hadn't expected anything like this.

"Oh Severus" she whispered.

She looked back to where he was standing behind her and her heart melted when she noticed that he looked like a lost lamb. He was standing in the corner by the doorway and he had the most uncertain look on his face, he looked scared, he was pale and Hermione wasn't sure if it was the flickering of the floating candles but it looked like his hands were shaking. He was absolutely terrified.

"I um, I've never really-, er, I hope this is-" he stuttered when she looked at him.

Hermione felt a tear slide down her cheek; she had never felt so happy. In that moment, they were the only two people who existed, they were in their own world and nothing could destroy it. She had never felt so loved.

She sniffed, and wiped the tear from her face and walked over to where he was still stood looking unsure against the wall.

"You're perfect Severus" she whispered to him, as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him lightly on the lips.

The kiss was sheer love and belonging, a feeling that neither of them had ever felt before and as they kissed Hermione knew that this was where she wanted to stay for the rest of her life, in his arms.

The two separated and Severus took her hand and gently led her to the blanket and they sat down.

"I've never celebrated this day before I didn't know what to do, I wanted to do something special but I wasn't sure if-" he was cut off when Hermione placed a finger lightly against his lips.

"Severus, I wasn't expecting all of this, I know you're not really the type to celebrate these types of things but what you have done tonight is the most beautiful, wonderful, and heart-warming gesture anyone has ever done for me. Severus thank you, this is amazing" she said to him and gave him her fondest smile.

He smiled back, almost looking shy, and reached for the picnic. He felt a little nervous still, it wasn't like he had a magnificent meal prepared for her or anything like that but he had prepared sandwiches, her favourite fruit and some treats for them, accompanied with the Rosé wine that he knew his Hermione loved.

They sat in bliss as they ate and laughed about nonsense that seemed so trivial in the world considering what was happening out there but this, this was paradise.

After they'd eaten, Hermione lay back against Severus' chest and both just stared at the fire, silently and contentedly. Hermione stared into the fire and felt like she was invincible, she felt new, she felt strong and she knew that she could do anything as long as she was in this man's arms.

She turned to Severus and started kissing him once again, this kiss was a little more passionate than the one they had shared in the doorway but Hermione wanted passion, she was ready for passion and she wasn't letting Severus go.

They both moaned as their hands roamed each other's bodies and eventually Hermione stood up and looked towards Severus' bedroom and then she looked back at him. He sensed that she was ready to go to bed so he stood up and extinguished the candles and the fire, he then picked Hermione up bridal style and carried her into his rooms and set her on his bed.

He undressed so that he was ready for bed, and he noticed her doing the same. He averted his eyes until she told him that she was decent and he joined her in bed.

They lay next to each other just watching one another.

Hermione leaned in for another kiss and she pressed herself right up against him. After a couple of minutes of snogging, Hermione let her hands roam down his stomach and played with his snail trail, one of Hermione's favourite spots on Severus ' body, not just because she liked playing with the hair that was there but because she knew that it drove him wild. It was a particular sweet spot of his.

Severus groaned through the kiss as her hands began to wander lower and lower until her hand had found its way inside his boxers, and was wrapped around his now hard dick. Severus was still moaning in pleasure and he began playing with her breasts.

Hermione boldly took off his boxers so that he was now lying completely bare in front of her, she sat back and removed her top. She didn't wear a bra to bed so she was now sat in front of him in just her knickers.

Severus looked at her like she was the most beautiful creature that he had ever seen. She felt sexy. She paused.

"Severus, I'm ready" she whispered, looking into his eyes.

Severus' heart stopped, he didn't want her to feel pressured, and he trusted her to tell him if he was going too far. He took a deep breath and nodded.

"If you need me to stop-" he left the sentence hanging.

She nodded in understanding and she lay back down beside him and pulled herself close to him. Severus took a moment to just appreciate her in every single way and his hand found a stray curl of Hermione's hair and he played with it affectionately.

Severus leaned in and kissed her again, this time they took things very slow. Severus was hard and he was ready whenever she was, he slowly moved his hand down to her knickers and gently rubbed her through the fabric.

He could feel that she was dripping wet and he could tell that she was sufficiently prepared for him.

He gently, and slowly, pulled her knickers down her legs, not looking at her until she nodded at Severus that she was alright to continue.

She took a deep breath and looked into Severus' eyes, she saw respect, admiration, and pure love radiating from his eyes and there was the highest level of mutual trust between the two.

She nodded to him, indicating that she was ready and Severus slowly moved his body so that it covered hers. He allowed his fingers to wander down to her womanhood and slowly inserted a finger into her channel.

Hermione gasped, Severus froze on the spot and was about ready to pull his hand back when he noticed the look of wonder on her face. She was basking in the sensation of his finger being intimately inside her. She smiled at Severus and waited for him to continue.

Severus gulped and he added another finger and then another, hoping that he was preparing her correctly, he moved his fingers inside of her and used his thumb to service her clitoris, she shrieked in pleasure and she could feel her whole insides pulsing, she was close, they both knew that.

Severus began to massage her clit a little harder and within a minute she was thrown over the edge. She moaned in pleasure as she orgasmed hard, and could feel sweat gathering on her forehead. She was so comfortable with what was going on that she had never felt so confident in her life. After she calmed from her orgasm, she looked back up at Severus whose breathing was just as laboured and he was staring at her in amazement.

"Please Severus" she said, she knew that she wanted to do this, she was ready for this and she needed this.

"Are you sure my love?" He asked her gently.

"I've never been so sure about anything in my life but this, right here and now, I'm ready Severus" she told him looking him in the eye.

He searched her eyes for a moment before turning back to the situation at hand. He once again covered his body with hers and he slowly lined himself up with her entrance.

As he slowly moved forward and placed just the tip inside of her, he watched her for any uncertainty, if there was any hint of her uncertainty, he would be stopping.

She was getting used to Severus being partially inside her and moved her hips slightly to indicate that she was alright for him to continue.

He slowly and gently inched himself further and further inside her until he was all the way in and paused. He knew that she no longer had her virginity but he also knew that she would most likely still be quite tight, and it may still be tender for her if he was to go at the standard pace. He looked into her eyes.

"You are perfect and absolutely beautiful" he whispered to her.

"As are you Severus" she whispered back.

Hermione took a moment to get used to this new feeling; she was shocked at how gentle and just how nice it all felt. She wanted more, and she wiggled her hips slightly, feeling Severus inside of her. She was still a little tight, and she had braced herself for any pain but there was none. Severus had made sure that she would feel no more discomfort than was expected in this situation.

She paused as Severus groaned, he looked slightly strained. Was she hurting him?

Severus took a couple of steady breaths, Hermione's hip wiggling was not helping his current arousal and he was determined to make this last. He looked down at her and noticed the worry in her face.

"I'm not hurting you-" she asked but Severus shook his head.

"No love I just needed a moment to control myself or this will be over before it starts" he said.

Hermione understood what he was telling her and blushed shyly at him. He smiled at her as he felt her gently thrust her hips up to meet his.

Severus got the message and slowly started thrusting his hips back and forth and finding the correct pace that Hermione was comfortable moving at.

She moaned loudly once the rhythm had been set, and they were holding each other as close as possible and Severus was kissing every inch of her skin that he could reach.

All too soon, they both felt their climaxes approaching, Hermione was murmuring incoherently as she orgasmed for the second time that night and her orgasm was Severus' undoing. He came with a roar and Hermione watched him, she had never seen an expression so beautifully, naturally, animalistic. She felt elated, she felt loved, and she felt free.

Severus slowly pulled out of her and lay beside her, she could feel that her muscles ached and she knew she would probably be a little sore in the morning but she didn't care, she was in heaven right now.

She lay there for a few moments before she felt Severus' finger stroking her cheek, wiping away the stray tears she had shed at the pure loving emotion she had just experience.

"Are you alright love?" Severus whispered to her, she was crying and he was so worried that he had hurt her. She turned on her side to face in and pulled him close to her and snuggled into his side.

"That was amazing Severus" she whispered as she looked into his eyes. His eyes were swimming with emotion and she could have sworn that she saw a tear build up in his own eye before he blinked and it was gone. His eyes weary, as were hers. They were both exhausted.

"It should never have been anything other than amazing my love" he told her, voice thick with emotion.

She nodded.

"I love you Severus" she said sleepily.

"I love you too my darling" he whispered back as he watched her smile at him before slowly falling asleep in his arms.

He kissed the top of her head gently.

"I love you so much" he said as he too fell asleep.