Learned Lessons and Life Lessons
Chapter 1
Hermione gazed up at the ceiling through misty eyes. How perfect this moment was: she had graduated top of her class two weeks ago, she had an ideal career set for her back at Hogwarts, she had the man she loved. Her eyes rolled back in her head; her body trembled.
"Oh God........ Oh yes!"
"I love you," he said breathlessly never missing a beat.
"I love you t----- oh....oh...oh God yes!" Hermione gasped
"Say it baby, say it so I can come," he moaned.
"Oh...... oh....... OH!"
"Say it, I need to hear it!"
"Oh Ron, you're a GOD!"
Ron let out one final groan then fell limp on top of her in a heap of sweat and flesh. Hermione ran her fingers through Ron's delicate red hair. "That was amazing," she purred at him. Hermione smiled; her heart and her breath were starting to slow down. This was her favorite time. She felt so close to Ron like this. She felt safe. Slowly but surely another thought kept nagging at her mind. It seemed to be nagging at Ron's mind too. Hermione didn't want to say anything, but she often spoke directly what was on her mind.
"How do you think it will go? You know, with Harry tomorrow?"
"Erm," Ron quizzically searched for the answer. "I'm not entirely sure, but I'd hope he'd be happy for us - a bit shocked - but happy."
"Maybe we shouldn't've kept our relationship secret for so long," Hermione sighed. "I mean we've been together since our 5th year at Hogwarts, now we've graduated. If he'd known, Harry would be used to the idea by now."
"Right, but we agreed that keeping it secret would be best for out friendship with Harry. You know, he'd grown awfully fond of you by then." Ron said nervously as he focused in on the ring on Hermione's finger.
Hermione sat up, pulling Ron up with her. She looked lovingly and delicately into Ron's eyes as she lightly stroked his cheek. She leaned forward pecking him on the lips, then resting her forehead against his. She gently stroked the back of his head and neck.
"Ron, I love YOU. Harry liked me, yes, but I loved you then and I love you now. You were and are the only one I want and will ever want. Why else would I marry you?"
Ron gazed lovingly at his bride to be. "Oh, but you haven't married me yet. You'll have to find some other way to show me you love me."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yes, I think so," Ron beamed.
Hermione straddled Ron's lap. She could already feel the heat rising as he became stiff. She slowly ran her hands to his chest while using her nails to ever so slightly scratch him. In only smooth, swift motion, she shoved him back hard onto the pillow as she slowly slid him inside of her. She shut her eyes and tilted her head back as she moved up and down on top of him, all the while enjoying his hands caressing her eager breasts. Ron slid his hands down her chest, tracing her ribs to her sides, then grasped her hips. He began thrusting ash she moved, intensifying the penetration. Hermione let out a soft moan as she felt him deep inside her.
In this moment of bliss they forgot. They forgot how hard it had been to keep their love secret. They forgot anyone else in the world. They forgot how hard it was going to be to tell their best friend about the engagement. They forgot they were about to break Harry's heart.
"Oooooh," Hermione's voice quivered and her legs shook. Ron's back arched as he climaxed inside her. His hands left marks as he squeezed her ass with pleasure. Hermione stopped with him inside her. She smiled a wicked smile down at a weak, worn-out Ron. "Uh-uhn!" She shook her head playfully as she began violently thrusting on top of him, making him come until he passed out. Hermione enjoyed one last orgasm before she raised herself from him and fell asleep in his arms.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She dreamed about Harry that night. She dreamed how Harry professed his love for her during their 7th year at Hogwarts.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"There's something I want to - no I need to tell you."
"Harry?" Hermione looked confused and a bit nervous, "what is it? You can tell me anything. We're the best of friends right?"
"Harry swallowed hard. Hermione's words were meant to be reassuring, but they weren't. He took a deep breath, "I love you, I - I'm in love with you. I have been for a long time - maybe forever. I just - I want - I love you." He shot Hermione a hopeful look.
Hermione looked at Harry astonished. He had no idea about her and Ron. It was true that she had a crush on him up until their 3rd year, but that was a nonsense schoolgirl crush. She was, in fact, in love with Ron. She couldn't tell him that now.
"Say something," Harry pleaded.
"Oh Harry," Hermione painfully whined, "I do love you, but only as a friend. You are my dear, dear friend....."
Harry looked down at the ground, "I see. I'm sorry. I shouldn't've said anything. I just had to take a chance."
A tear ran down Hermione's cheek. What could she say? What could she do to save their friendship?
"I - I haven't ruined what we do have? Have I? I mean..." Harry gulped. He looked Hermione in the eye and said hopefully, "I'll always be your friend. I hope you can still be mine. Can we still be friends?"
Hermione's lip quivered, "Of course! The best of friends!"
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Hermione sat up in bed, breathing heavily. Ron snored beside her. She knew she had to quit thinking about it and get some rest.
"Think of something else, think of something else..." she muttered under her breath. She looked over at Ron. She remembered the day before. Ron had invited Hermione and her family to dinner at this parent's home. He told her it was to congratulate her on getting the Assistant Potions Master position (although he couldn't understand exactly why she would want to work alongside that evil old bat Snape).
Dinner had been lovely, and Mrs. Weasley had really outdone herself. The fact that the entire Weasley clan was there made the night even more memorable. She had finally gotten to meet Charlie, who was only home for a brief holiday before heading back to Romania to continue his work with dragons. She had met Bill before when Ron took her and Harry one summer to visit him in Egypt. Mr. Weasley kept the Grangers busy with talk of Muggle artifacts. Mr. and Mrs. Granger were now used to the plethora of questions, and had even brought Mr. Weasley a gift - a wooden soldier nutcracker. "My word, would you have a look at that!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed.
After dinner, everyone had gathered in the lounge for drinks. Once everyone was seated, Ron stood up.
"Thank you all for being here on this special day for our Hermione," he began. "I wanted to have this dinner tonight so the entire family could be here to celebrate." He began to look nervous. He looked at Hermione, who looked at him curiously. "Forgive me dear, I hope this turns out right. I've been practicing this for a month and Percy gave me a hand as well."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley put their arms around each other and smiled intently. Ron picked up a rose he had gotten from the garden. He raised his wand and taped it, "Diamund Crystallus Matrimonis!" Each rose petal was now made out of diamond, the stem made of gold. The diamond rose began to flutter toward Hermione. It hesitated in front of Hermione, whose eyes had already started to well with tears. Ron approached her and dropped to one knee. Mrs. Granger let out a soft gasp.
"Hermione, my love," Ron said near a whisper, while choking back his own tears, "we've been through so much together. Every day my love for you grows stronger. You make me want to be the best man I can be. I cannot picture a life, a future without you in it." The stem of the rose began to curl, the entire rose started to shrink down. "Hermione, you mean everything to me, and you would do me the greatest honor of my life if you would have me as your husband. I guess what I'm trying to get at really," he smiled up at Hermione, "will you marry me?"
Hermione sat for a moment, letting her eyes drift from Ron's to the ring. It was gorgeous, the diamond was a flawless rose, and the band had intricate adornments of leaves and vine. She looked back into Ron's waiting eyes, "Yes." The ring slipped onto her finger, Ron pulled her up and started kissing her. The lounge exploded in cheer; Mrs. Granger and Mrs. Weasley hugged each other, sobbing merrily. Hermione hugged her mother as every male in the Weasley family came over and started slapping Ron on the back saying, "Lucky man." "Way to go Ron!" "Ron you devil, what a surprise!" "Congratulations Ron!" "You've got a wonderful girl there, Ron!" Mr. Granger came over to Ron.
"You don't know how hard it was to keep this secret from Mrs. Granger." He said patting Ron on the back as well.
"Thank you for doing so sir. I wanted it to be a surprise." Ron laughed. "I just had to ask you for her hand first."
"Good lad," Mr. Granger smiled. "Welcome to the family, son!"
Hermione grinned at the sight of Ron and her father's hug. She let go of Mrs. Weasley who was still sobbing and went to hug Ginny.
"I'm so excited. You're going to be my sister!" Ginny laughed.
"Yes, my family has seemed to have quadrupled in a matter of minutes!" Hermione giggled.
She looked around the room at everyone. This was her family, she felt it had been for so long, and now it was official. Her eyes caught Ron's, he was being mauled at the moment by his hysterical sobbing mother ("How could you do this without telling me? You know how emotional I get! You could have let me know. I can keep a secret you know. I love you so much. Congratulations! Hermione's a wonderful girl. I love you both.") Mr. Weasley took his wife and let her sob on his shoulder. Ron walked over and wrapped his arms around Hermione.
The rest of the evening went by. Mrs. Weasley finally calmed down just in time to wish the newly engaged couple good-bye. Ron and Hermione drove back to Ron's flat.
Hermione felt better now and nestled back into Ron's arms. She sat up again and grabbed a small sack of sleeping sand from the bedside table and sprinkled some on her eyes. She cuddled up with Ron once again and fell asleep without Harry crossing her mind again once. Tomorrow was going to be a challenging day: for all of them.