Disclaimer: I own Harry Potter just like I own my own home. Lol.
Chapter 53
12 Grimmauld Place had a very expansive library. Even though a few of its shelves were emptied in favor of filling a couple of bookcases in Hermione Granger's room, its sheer size and content was still quite impressive. On top of the myriad of volumes and tomes that stretched from the floor all the way to the lofty ceilings, the library was littered with all kinds of comfortable furniture. A pair of black armchairs faced each other, separated by a small table topped by a Wizard's Chessboard. Just beyond lay a couple of sofas arranged in a semicircle around a rather large coffee table. And just beyond that stood a gray settee flanked by ebony end tables, each featuring a stack of books – books that easily pre-dated every living person on the planet.
But Harry Potter's favorite piece of furniture in the Black family library was a couch tucked towards the back of the room. It faced the enormous bay windows that overlooked the outside street, bathing the couch itself in natural light and a pleasant warmth that could only be found in the presence of the sun. Its back was to the lone entrance to the library, giving the impression to anyone that sat in it that they were in their own little world. Yet, the couch's location, its warmth, its privacy, they were irrelevant to Harry Potter.
This particular sofa was Harry Potter's favorite because he was currently sprawled out on his back on it, with a certain bushy-haired witch snuggled up partially on top of him and partially tucked into his side.
"You should have kept that Time-Turner."
"Seriously? You were the one who always complained that I was breaking the rules of time-travel whenever I used it to spend time with you."
"Yeah, well…I was mostly scared of McGonagall finding out. But McGonagall isn't here right now to scare me half to death."
"So, now you wish we could go back in time just so we could…what, exactly? Why do you wish we still had that Time-Turner?"
"So we could have more of…this."
"What do you mean?" Hermione gestured to their current positioning. "If you're talking about right now, we are absolutely cuddling at Hogwarts. Make no mistake about that."
"I'm not just talking about cuddling, but that is reassuring to hear," Harry admitted with a slight blush, "I just meant, we've spent a week together here. You and me, along with Sirius, and both Tonks and Lupin have been stopping by whenever they can."
"And it's been simply magical," Hermione cooed, snuggling closer to him and batting her eyelashes. Harry nodded in agreement and pressed on.
"I agree. This has been one of the best weeks of my life, even though Sirius and Tonks have been merciless about teasing us," He chuckled a bit at that before continuing. "The World Cup was just chaos. I mean, I enjoyed spending the day with you and all our friends. But after the match…the Death Eaters and the Dark Mark….I don't know. It was terrifying, not just during the riot, but afterwards too. I didn't sleep that night, in our tent. I was scared out of my mind. I couldn't close my eyes without seeing those Muggles floating in the air and seeing…seeing you up there with them."
"Oh, Harry…"
"But this week…ever since we got back here, away from that mess, It's been calmer. Like we found some sense of normalcy, some peace and quiet. And it was exactly what I needed, to not worry about Voldemort and Death Eaters and what-not. To not fret about everything out there. This week, it's just been the most important people in my life all under one roof, being happy. You're right, it is magical."
"Harry, I had no idea," Hermione wrapped her arms around his torso and squeezed, her voice cracking. "We were all scared, Harry. But it's better now. We're safe, and just as you said, we're happy."
"Exactly," Harry nodded. "That's why I want the Time-Turner. Eventually we can go back to Hogwarts, where I'm sure things are going to be chaotic and my tradition of life-threatening adventures will continue. But for now, this is nice, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. So going back in time to soak it up even more is very appealing,"
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione tightened her arms around him and nuzzled her cheek into his chest. "That was…I don't know how to describe it. It was so sweet, and touching, and…oh, Harry!" She cried out again, smiling into his shirt before lifting her head to meet his eyes. Harry tensed a bit when he saw they were glistening but he shook his head. "These are happy tears."
Harry grinned, blushing a bit as Hermione craned her neck to plant a gentle kiss on his temple. They resumed their peaceful snuggle session, watching the sun slowly get swallowed up by the horizon through the bay window in front of them, admiring the vibrant shades of pink and orange that streaked the sky.
"Harry?" Hermione broke the silence after a bit. "If you had a Time-Turner right now, and you could go back in time – say, for one hour – what would you do?"
"Honestly?" Harry shrugged, grinning again. "I don't think it would be much different from this. You and I just enjoying the moment together."
Hermione beamed at him, placing her chin on his chest. "You really wouldn't change anything about this?"
"Well…" Harry felt his lips curl into a mischievous grin. "If you had brought it, maybe I'd ask you to wear that Merlot-colored dress of yours. But I think that's about the only difference."
"Harry!" Hermione swatted him on the shoulder, her cheeks tinging pink. "Cheeky boy…"
"If you had a Time-Turner and could give us an hour, what would you do with it?" Harry turned the question to her and watched her scrunch up her eyebrows in concentration. After a beat she let out a blissful sigh.
"Fairly similar to this, I suppose. We'd be here, appreciating each other's presence and we'd definitely be cuddling like this," She paused and nestled into him even more. "But…truth be told, I think there would be a bit less talking involved."
"You do have a nasty habit of falling asleep when we cuddle…" Harry chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. He glanced at Hermione and saw her lips curving into an impish smile of her own, a feral glint in her eyes. "Oh…you meant like that…"
"Perhaps I did," She darted her tongue out to wet her lips, and Harry's pulse spiked to life-threatening levels. She placed her hands onto his shoulders and pulled herself up until her slim frame was draped over his torso, her face hovering inches above his.
"Hang on," Harry blinked, causing Hermione to tilt her head quizzically. "So, you get to implement your change but I don't get mine?" He waggled his eyebrows, causing Hermione to roll her eyes. "I don't suppose you brought it with you?" He was about to take it back and say he was only messing around when she held up a finger, wordlessly asking him to wait. She slipped off of him and the couch, her feet noiselessly hitting the carpet and she slipped out of the library before he could say a word.
"I was mostly joking, but alright…" Harry sighed, lacing his fingers behind his head and smiling to himself. A minute later, a pair of gentle footsteps pitter-pattered over towards the sofa. His content smile widened as they paused, just out of his line of sight, before Hermione stepped in front of him.
"Happy?" Hermione cocked her head, placing her hands on her hips. Harry wanted nothing more than to ramble on for an eternity that yes, he was very much happy, but his mouth had gone dry. That bloody dress was ruining him again. He managed a weak nod and an eager smile. He moved to sit up straight but Hermione briskly moved around the couch and placed a hand on his chest. Her touch alone had an effect similar to a defibrillator, and Harry almost gasped as his entire body tingled with a pleasant electricity. Hermione curled her fingers around his shirt and pulled him into an upright position, making herself at home in his lap.
"Hermione…" He croaked out, still smiling as his heart thumped in his chest so hard he thought it was going to make the entire house shake. Here he was, on a couch – arguably his favorite couch in the entire world – with a beautiful girl in a stunning dress sitting on that very couch. No, not just on the couch. In his lap. That was a first.
He quietly berated himself for waiting so long to have Hermione Granger sitting in his lap like this. It was just the right blend of terrifying and exhilarating to kick all of his senses into overdrive. His eyes unabashedly raked over her, drinking in every detail he could, especially her exposed shoulders and collarbone. He reached out and took her free hand in his, relishing the warmth she emanated like his own personal sun and her impossibly soft skin. He inhaled involuntarily, and closed his eyes as he took in an aroma that was positively intoxicating. He sensed vanilla, and fluttered his eyes open to gaze at Hermione's notoriously bushy brown hair. Had he really never noticed how good her hair smelled?
'Merlin, you're dense,' The voice in his head made an unexpected appearance.
'I thought I was done with you!' Harry internally groaned. 'I'm already dating Hermione, what do I need you for?'
'Stop arguing with yourself and kiss the girl, you git!'
Harry Potter did not have to be told twice. He snapped his eyes towards Hermione's, grinning once again as her familiar brown irises sparkled with a wildness that made his head spin. He reached one hand up and cupped her cheek and wrapped another arm around her waist, letting his hand settle at her side. She hitched her breath at the contact but made no effort to shy away from it. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, they leaned in and their lips met, and Harry Potter's brain shut down entirely.
After one of the most euphoric kisses Harry could remember, he pulled away, smirking a bit as Hermione whimpered in protest. Brushing his lips against hers once again, he acted on a primal impulse and dragged his lips across her face, peppering every other inch of her skin with his lips until he reached just where her neck reached her jaw. Tentatively, he planted a soft kiss there and felt his heart swell as she gasped and let out a quiet whimper of ecstasy. Encouraged, Harry drifted down her neck, fighting the urge to grin as Hermione balled up his shirt in a tight fist and wrapped her other arm around him, her grip tightening as he pressed on.
Opting to take advantage of her exposed shoulders, he continued down her neck, placing a lingering kiss on a spot where he felt her pulse beating. It was even faster than his, something he didn't think was possible. Gradually, he moved along her shoulder, now openly smiling as Hermione purred as he kissed as much skin as he could.
"Oh…Harry…" She let out a throaty whisper, so passionate and so entrancing that Harry knew he was going to need a very cold shower in the near future. But for now, Time-Turner or not, he decided to enjoy the moment as much as he could, even if Hermione's fingernails digging into his back was a bit unpleasant.
CRACK
"Fucking hell, Tonks!" Harry yelped, reflexively flicking his hand to summon his wand from his holster. Hermione let out a shriek of her own, toppling backwards, off of Harry's lap and onto the couch, instinctively grabbing a pillow and shielding herself with hit.
"Now now, Harry, we all know how Hermione feels about vulgar language," The pink-haired Auror crossed her arms in smug fashion. "Am I interrupting something?" She asked innocently, ignoring Harry's wand that was pointed right between her eyes.
"Leave."
"Just came by to let you two know that dinner was ready," Tonks shrugged before turning to Hermione and throwing her a wink. "Looking good, girl." She motioned to Hermione's dress and smirked as the teenager blushed on top of her already flushed cheeks.
"Leave," Harry repeated, his voice a low growl.
"See you kids downstairs!" She grinned before Disapparating with another CRACK.
Harry groaned, collapsing onto his back and rubbing his eyes. "Things were going so well…" He lamented. He heard Hermione sigh in agreement and lifted his head. "Well, before Tonks came along and did…that…did you, you know…"
"Did I what?" Hermione asked, sitting up straight – not on Harry's lap, to his minor dismay – and adjusting her dress.
"Did you like that?" He asked sheepishly, pushing himself into an upright position and blushing a bit. "I mean the…well…" He gestured vaguely to his own neck and shoulders. Hermione squeaked and averted her eyes but nodded eagerly.
"I thought you had gathered that much…" She answered bashfully before standing up. "Now, I'm going to…change, and such."
"Cool," Harry nodded awkwardly. "Cool cool cool."
With that, Hermione more or less sprinted out of the room, her fingers brushing over her neck and lips on her way out. Harry sat perfectly still on the couch for a bit, still feeling dazed from his and Hermione's snogging session and feeling rather shell-shocked from Tonks's sudden intrusion. He could barely remember his own name, but he managed to get to his feet and walk out of the library, trying unsuccessfully to un-wrinkle his shirt.
"Hermione, did you get in a fight?" Ron asked as the Hogwarts Express sped along the train tracks towards Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the next day. The eight members of the always-entertaining Gryffindor Gang were in their usual compartment, engaged in a particularly intense game of Exploding Snap, even Hermione, who usually abstained.
At that moment, however, Hermione paused and tilted her head. "No, I haven't been in any fights. Why do you ask?"
"You've got something that looks like a bruise there, I thought maybe you'd been in a fight," He pointed vaguely towards Hermione's neck.
Every single one of Harry's and Hermione's cards exploded in their hands, although that could probably be contributed to accidental magic rather than their skill at the game. Hurriedly, Hermione tightened the white scarf she had thrown around her neck, preventing anyone else from catching glimpses of her skin. Harry tried to look as innocent as possible, which was easier said than done when his cheeks had suddenly turned Gryffindor scarlet. Despite their efforts, the damage was done.
"Oh…my god…" Parvati's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and she immediately began pulling on Hermione's scarf, much to the wearer's dismay. "I need to see this."
"Guess that solves any debate as to whether or not you two were still together," Dean snickered, flicking one of his cards at a very embarrassed Harry, who caught it and flicked it right back as hard as he could.
"Didn't think either of you had it in you," Seamus grinned before leaning across and clapping Harry on the shoulder. "You know you're never hearing the end of this once we get to the dorm, right?"
Harry groaned, folding in on himself until his chest touched his knees, which only made his classmates laugh harder – except for a still-mortified Hermione and a thoroughly confused Ron. Even Neville had caught on and laughed along, despite sympathetically tossing Harry and Hermione some Pumpkin Pasties.
"Wait, why is everyone laughing over a bruise?" Ron whipped his head around to glare at his housemates. "Is Hermione hurt? Why are you all mocking her pain?"
"Oh, Ronald…" Lavender rolled her eyes. "Never change."
"Never change what?" Ron just looked more befuddled. "Harry, did you hit Hermione?"
"Harry didn't lay a finger on me, you moron!" Hermione snapped, still blushing furiously.
"A finger, maybe not…" Seamus teased.
"But can the same be said for his lips?" Dean guffawed, clapping his hands together as he laughed hysterically.
"Seamus, Dean?" Harry sat up straight and spoke in the calmest voice he could muster. "Do either of you know what it's like to pick up your own teeth with broken fingers?" The two Gryffindors paled and shook their heads. "Do you want to find out?"
Almost as if by magic, the conversation shifted to the upcoming school year, and Harry and Hermione both visibly relaxed.
A/N: I know, I know. I made you wait a couple days for a chapter and it wasn't even three thousand words. Nonetheless, as I have said earlier, my life is now getting busier as my state lightens up when it comes to COVID-19. Also I have to get ready for college, which, it turns out, is rather demanding. So, again, sorry, but between family, friends, work, school, etc. updates are going to take a bit longer than they used to. It's just the way life goes.
Only one reference in this chapter, the broken fingers line is paraphrased from the masterpiece film that is The Crying Game. Shocking, I know, I watch things that aren't The West Wing and Marvel movies. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I really liked writing it when I actually had the time lmao. Thank you to all of my loyal readers, and stay safe!