Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related character.
A/N: Happy Thursday, all!
Shout-out to my wonderful beta team: accio-broom, smjl, adenei, be11atrixthestrange.
Find Me Under the Waterfall
Chapter 3
Karaoke Night
Hermione
Hermione's eyelids flutter open, adjusting to the stream of natural light flooding in through the wide, open windows. She can hear the soft sounds of birds chirping outside, almost as if nature is calling for her to start the day. She stretches her arms over her head with a beam on her face, and curls her fingers around her white satin sheets.
Waking up in paradise is the best thing in the world.
The grin on her face only inches wider and wider as she thinks of Ron — the tall, handsome, sexy man who snogged her senseless against her door the night before.
As much as she wanted to wake up with his warm body next to her in bed this morning, she appreciates that he remained respectable. He acknowledged their growing attraction to one another, while also showing that he liked her enough to take things slow.
At least — she hopes that's his intention. A part of her, a very insecure part, still fears that he made an excuse to bolt. After all, they didn't make plans to spend time together today. Maybe he forgot, since they were caught up in the moment? Or maybe he decided that he'd rather spend the rest of his stay alone, and didn't want to hurt her feelings.
No. Hermione sat up in bed, shaking her head at herself. Don't do this, Hermione. Don't start making up ridiculous accusations in your head without confirmation. Be sensible.
She hasn't had the best luck in relationships, with many ending in disaster. Her most recent boyfriend, Viktor Krum, decided he'd rather live life as a free agent instead of, as he put it, play house.
She tells herself that she didn't come on this trip to find a man, and she should continue on with her original plans. Although Hermione knows she needs to commit at least some time to writing, she decides that she can't do so without researching the resort more first. She also figures that if she happens to run into a certain blue-eyed ginger along the way, then so be it.
Hermione pulls out her two bathing suit options — the two-piece she wore the day before, and a separate one-piece that is a shade of deep purple. Her debate between her choices remains brief, and she snatches up the two-piece and heads for the bathroom to get changed.
She blushes as she recalls Ron's fingers trailing up her skin, releasing the ties that secured her top. As she reaches behind her back to knot the two flimsy strings together, she has secret hope that a repeat performance may happen.
Hermione pulls a black lace lightweight garment over her head to protect her modesty so that she can roam freely around the pool and breakfast areas before going for a swim.
She reaches for her key card and starts toward the door when a knock sounds. She freezes in place. It's still too early for housekeeping, she presumes, so who can it be?
Hermione hurries to the door and checks through the small peephole. She almost gasps out loud as she sees Ron's face staring back at her. He's rocking back and forth on his heels, appearing nervous.
She flings the door open much faster than she probably should, and greets him with a timid smile.
"Hi."
Ron takes a moment to cast his eyes down the length of her body, as if he were drinking in her appearance. She feels a rush of heat run through her and she crosses her ankles, clenching her thighs together.
When his eyes make their way back up to hers, he grins. "Hi. It's good to see you."
Hermione chews on her bottom lip, not sure if she should reach up and give him a kiss on the cheek. She decides to keep her awkward stance in the doorway, with one hand gripping the door handle and the other hiding behind her back.
Ron rattles on, not noticing, or addressing, her internal battle. "I know we didn't make plans last night, and I would understand if you needed some space or if you wanted some alone time. After all, we only just met, and you probably didn't expect to have some stranger come in and mess up your plans—"
"You're not a stranger," Hermione blurts out, her shy gaze finding him. "Not anymore."
Her stomach flips at the broad grin he flashes her. "Brilliant. So, er, I was wondering...do you want to make plans with me?"
So much for your itinerary, she thinks to herself, but pushes the thought away just as fast. "I'd be delighted."
Ron suggests they start with breakfast, of course.
A few minutes later, they enter a cafe, and Hermione smells the delicious aroma of fresh baked goods and coffee beans. The small eatery is vibrant in color, taking on multiple shades of pastel yellow, blue, and purple.
Ron places a hand on the small of her back, and leads her over to an empty two-seater table. She smiles as he pulls her chair out for her. The sweet gesture makes her think back to her previous relationships. Although she doesn't need a man to always be there to pull her chair out for her, she is aware that none of the other men she dated ever bothered to offer. As old-fashioned as it is, she finds the act endearing.
They take their time deciding what to get given the plethora of choices, and ultimately settle on ordering one savory and one sweet crepe, with the intention of sharing.
Their plates arrive at the table, and Hermione salivates from the smell alone. They take turns stealing bites off of each other's plates. Hermione's plate, Trois Fromages crepe, holds a thin dough filled with a blend of mozzarella, cheddar, and swiss cheeses. Ron's plate holds a sweeter-style crepe filled with apples, raisins, and cinnamon honey, topped with a chantilly cream.
"Mmm, this is just heavenly," Hermione moans out in appreciation for the delicatessen. She sees Ron gulp just before he casts his eyes downward to his plate, ears burning scarlet. Hermione smirks to herself, deciding that it might be fun to spend the day teasing him.
If she is going to suffer from the heat building between them, then she isn't going to suffer alone.
Ron's voice breaks her from her plans. "I know I've already said this, but I had a great time last night."
Hermione sends him a sweet smile, bringing her cup of tea to her lips. "Likewise."
"And, I know we both came here to work despite being on vacation, so if at any point you decide you've seen enough on my face, just tell me to bugger off. I won't be offended." Ron winks at her, and it takes everything in her not to swipe the china from the table and ravage him.
"We're in paradise right?" Hermione shrugs, her fingers toying with the rim of her cup, "We might as well have someone to share it with."
Ron watches the delicate movements of her fingertips with a tortured expression on his face, and a flurry of excitement bubbles through Hermione, knowing that her plan is already in motion.
After a few slow moments in languid silence, Ron clears his throat. "You look dressed for the pool."
Hermione nods towards his forest green and white striped tank paired with his dark navy swim trunks. "As do you. I was thinking of going for a swim in a bit. Would you like to come?"
He leans back into his chair with crossed arms, trapping her with his lustful gaze. "Sounds perfect."
They make their way down the winding path through the resort's outdoor recreational area. Several guests are already lounging poolside, drinks in hand, and enjoying the peace that the daylight brings.
Hermione feels Ron tug on her hand, and he guides her over to the largest resort pool. For her article, she takes note of the extraordinary landscaping around the patio, with many exotic and visually-striking plants surrounding the area. The water itself is crystal clear, and she is able to see straight through to the bottom, matching the tone of the nearby ocean.
"Oh, hey, the volleyball net is set up!" Ron points over to a black net that extends the entire width of the pool, and a single white ball floating in the water, just waiting to be picked up.
Hermione wrinkles her nose. "I'm not very good at sports." She doesn't fare well with competitive games, and the added component of the net being in the water makes it even more intimidating.
If Ron is at all bothered by her lack of enthusiasm, he doesn't show it. Instead, he does a quick glance around the perimeter to make sure it's clear of any people, and leaps into the pool with a big splash.
She places her hands in front of her to shield her face, and peeks through the crack to check for the all clear. Ron is laughing now, viewing the uncertainty on her face.
"So," he leans his head back in the water, waggling his eyebrows up at her, "Are you gonna come in?"
How does this man make swimming sound so sexy?
Hermione takes her time removing her cover-up, shimmying it down the length of her body before stepping out of it. She feels Ron's eyes burning a hole through her skin but wills herself not to look. Instead, she throws the discarded garment onto an empty lounge chair and walks towards the ladder at the edge of the pool.
She dips her toe in first, and the stark contrast in temperature surprises her in comparison with the smaller thermal pool they inhabited yesterday. This water is cool on her skin, and she doesn't feel brave enough to jump in like Ron, although a part of her wants to impress him.
Hermione decides to ease into the cool liquid, lowering her body at a snail's pace, avoiding Ron's eyes. The pool is shallow in depth, and her muscles relax once her feet plant on the solid ground and the water swishes around the middle of her torso.
She finally meets Ron's gaze, and he's staring right at her through the meshed net, the tiny specks of blue in his eyes glinting in the sunlight. Wading towards him, but remaining on the other side of the divider, she fights the urge to wrap her legs around his waist and kiss him full on the mouth. She doesn't fancy the idea of getting kicked out of the pool for public indecency. The impure thought makes her blush.
"Water feels good in this heat, yeah?" Ron asks.
Damn him. She finds it difficult to concentrate on forming a reply when all she can think about is how Ron used the words good and heat in the same sentence.
On instinct, Hermione wraps her arms around herself, trying to control the throbbing in between her thighs. "Y-yeah, sure does."
Ron holds up the white ball in his hands. "I'm going to start by serving the ball to you, and all you need to do is reach up and give it a good strike over the net towards me, alright?"
Hermione snorts. "Sounds easy enough."
She holds her arms up in preparation for receiving the ball, knitting her concentrated brows together. Ron propels the ball upwards and it soars over the net in her direction. Hermione makes a move to smack the ball but only manages to catch air as the ball lands with a splash a few centimeters in front of her.
"That's okay. Why don't you serve it to me?" Ron encourages, and Hermione picks up the ball and strikes it back to Ron's side. He lifts his hands high above his head and passes it to her side once more.
Only this time, the end result is much worse. The ball hits Hermione square on the head before landing with a sound splash in the water beside her.
"Oh, fuck!" Ron exclaims, and ducks underneath the net to swim over to her. He grazes the small bump on her forehead with his thumb. "Are you okay?"
Hermione wants to hide her face out of embarrassment but can't resist letting her eyelids grow heavy from Ron's tender touch. She doesn't let her eyes close all the way, as she is determined for him to know that she's not as delicate as she may seem. "It's all good!"
The less-than-stellar volleyball experience doesn't exactly compel her to try it again, though.
He must have read her mind. "How about we get us some drinks?"
"Sounds lovely," she hums.
"Pick your poison," he smirks. "I'll go and bring it back."
"Hmmm...something fruity and tropical!"
His eyes light up, already swimming backwards towards the ladder. "Oh, I have the perfect drink for you then!"
Ron returns just a few minutes later with two colorful frozen cocktails in ice-filled highball glasses. The drink itself appears as three layers of red, yellow, and blue colors.
"What is this?" She takes the drink from his hands with mild skepticism.
"They call it the Bob Marley."
Hermione raises a curious eyebrow. "After the singer?"
"Precisely." Ron holds up his drink and they clink their glasses together. "Cheers!"
She slides the mini umbrella to the side, and takes a small sip of the drink from the rim of her glass. Her taste buds explode with lush flavors of light rum, strawberry daiquiri, and fresh mangos.
"Do you have any other grand activities planned for the day?" Hermione teases, batting her eyelashes.
Ron's ocean eyes darken, and he sets his glass on the side of the pool before moving forward to place his hands on either side of her body. Hermione takes a deep breath, trying to retain the last bit of composure she has left.
"Ron," she warns, knowing she won't be able to hold back once his lips find hers.
"Don't worry. I know we're in public…" His smooth, sultry voice tickles the small hairs on her ear, "...this time."
As they share lazy kisses by the poolside in between drinks, the tagline for Hermione's article is at the forefront of her mind: Fall in Love with Pura Vida.
She doesn't think she's ever felt so free.
The day passes quickly, and Ron picks Hermione up at her door later that evening just as the sun is setting.
For her article, she needs to get a good grasp on the nightlife that the resort provides, so they made plans to check out the themed activity in the bar lounge.
"It's karaoke night!" Ron exclaims as he spots the sign on the door before they walk in.
"Oh, no no no…"
"What's your favorite karaoke song?" Ron holds the door open for her, and Hermione can already feel her palms growing sweaty. She doesn't sing, much less sing in front of a public audience.
"I don't have one."
"You're joking, right? Everyone has a go-to karaoke song!"
"You don't want to hear me sing. Believe me," she mutters under her breath.
Hermione takes comfort in the fact that the room is dimly-lit, which makes the atmosphere more relaxing and creates a sense of privacy among strangers.
Don't stop believin'
Hold on to that feelin'
There are two men on the small stage, each holding a microphone in one hand and a drink in the other, belting out the lyrics to a Journey song.
"Brilliant," Ron laughs beside her, and they maneuver their way over to an empty table.
They order drinks, and as soon as Hermione starts to think she'll be able to get by enjoying the amateur singers without participating, Ron squashes that hope.
"Let's do one together!"
Hermione opens her mouth, a resounding no on the tip of her tongue, but the two Journey-loving men walk past their table, and Ron signals for their attention.
"Hey, awesome singing you two! Love that song." He engages them with a polite smile.
One of the men with sandy-colored hair grins at them, speaking with a distinct Irish lilt. "Me mam would be so proud!"
The other man with dark hair and dark skin gives them a hearty wave. "Hi there, I'm Dean. And this is my boyfriend, Seamus. We love karaoke! Are you two going to give it a go?"
Hermione and Ron glance at each other, and she is unable to resist his pleading eyes.
"I suppose we are!" She relents. "I'm Hermione, and…" Her voice trails off, realizing that she has no idea how to introduce Ron to other people. It's way too early to go with a label but she doesn't want to prolong the silence and make the situation even more awkward.
"This is my Ron." Her eyes bulge out as she comprehends what she just emitted, and she fumbles to recover, "Ron...just Ron."
She feels her cheeks growing hot, and she's too afraid to look Ron in the eye. It's like she's a blushing schoolgirl all over again.
"You two are funny," Seamus chuckles. "Just so you know, it's karaoke with a twist on the theme."
"What's the theme?" Ron inquires, settling an arm around Hermione's shoulder. It's almost as if he can sense her discomfort and wants to ease it.
"It's magic night!" Hermione puts two and two together as another couple takes the stage to croon along to the tune of "I Put a Spell on You."
Ron gives her shoulder a nudge. "I have an idea for a song."
"Oh, do you now?" She challenges him with a suggestive eyebrow raise.
Before Hermione can talk herself out of it, she soon finds herself standing on the stage with the spotlight shining down on her face. The recorded instrumental music starts blaring from the speakers, and Ron lifts the microphone close to his mouth to sing.
Though I've tried before to tell her
Of the feelings I have for her in my heart
Every time that I come near her
I just lose my nerve as I've done from the start
Hermione's heart pounds against her chest as Ron directs the words to her, and she's impressed by his singing capabilities. He points at her to indicate it's her turn to join in, and she inhales a deep breath before chanting the lyrics on the small screen with a few minor alterations.
Every little thing he does is magic
Everything he do just turn me on
Even though my life before was tragic
Now I know my love for him goes on
Ron sends her a beaming smile, and everyone else just melts away. Hermione keeps her eyes focused on the tall ginger-haired man next to her as they sing together, and she almost doesn't want the music to end.
They receive a boisterous applause afterward, and Hermione is buzzing with adrenaline as Ron helps her off the stage.
Seamus runs up, giving them each a high five. "Alright, you two!"
Dean claps his hands together. "That was the sweetest thing I've ever seen!"
Ron's fingers touch Hermione's, and she intertwines them at their side.
"We're up next again," Seamus winks, hopping back up onto the stage.
Hermione recognizes the overture as the instrumental music starts to play, and she tilts her head to the side. "Does this one have anything to do with magic?"
Seamus shakes his head, grinning from ear to ear. "Nah, I just fucking love this song!"
Where it began, I can't begin to know when
But then I know it's growing strong…
The entire room starts singing along, and Ron sways their joined hands to the beat of the music.
Hands, touching hands, reaching out
Touching me, touching you
The music builds, and Ron turns to serenade her.
"Sweet Hermione!"
She giggles, "ba-ba-ba!"
Good times never felt so good
"So good!" Ron shouts in unison with the other guests.
Hermione joins in on the second chorus, "So good!"
"SO GOOD!"
The energy in the room is palpable, and Hermione feels so wonderfully and fully alive in that moment.
"I'm not ready for this night to end."
Her honest confession leaves her lips, waiting on bated breath for Ron's response. They are standing just outside of her room, her fingers circling the door handle behind her back.
His eyes are dripping with lust, a look that almost cuts off all circulation in her legs. "Me neither."
"So...come inside," Hermione bites her lip. "Please. I know what you said last night, and we don't have to, you know. But, I do have a private whirlpool that I think might be calling our names."
The corner of Ron's lip lifts. "You're fancy." He brings his nose closer, and she inhales the musky scent of his cologne. "I don't think I can say no to that."
"You could, if you really wanted to." She wants to make it clear that she isn't pressuring him to take the next step.
"I don't want to say no." His voice is deep and husky, and it's all the confirmation she needs before turning the handle.
