Several days had passed since the Daily Prophet article had come out. When Ron had seen it, he'd gone off on his best mate, who'd just stood up from the breakfast table—told Ron he was being an insensitive git, and left the Burrow.
He hadn't returned.
Ginny, as usual, had that knowing look in her eyes but to her credit, she didn't say anything.
Even George seemed amused.
Harry had gone to Grimmauld Place and had taken over his old room, Kreacher bringing him food when he needed it but for the most part—left him alone with his thoughts.
He'd sent his patronus to Hermione and told her where he would be staying at for the foreseeable future. She'd floo'd over and they'd spent that evening walking through Muggle London, before grabbing some takeaway.
Today, he was going back to France to spend the afternoon with his best friend.
So with bag in hand, he called out his destination and found himself back in Hermione's arms as she hugged him happily.
"Hey."
"Hi." He grinned, then his eyebrow lifted as he took in her attire for the day. "Don't you look adorable."
"This is my riding gear. Have you ever ridden a horse?"
"Not exactly. I've ridden a broom, thestral, hippogriff and a dragon so I'm sure a horse is going to be no problem."
"Well, I thought you could ride with me. At least to start with. Then if you feel comfortable enough, we can see about getting you a horse to ride?"
"Sounds like a plan?" He'd chuckled, before he wondered aloud, "So? Will I need to change into riding gear?"
Hermione winked and brandished her wand, silently transfiguring Harry's clothes into acceptable riding gear, her eyes alight with appreciation at the way Harry's riding jodhpurs hugged his toned legs while the paddock boots went to mid calf. She also transfigured his fitted shirt into something a bit more practical for riding, which was more than flattering.
"You look good." Her expression was playful, and Harry just shook his head.
"Are you checking me out?"
"Turn around and I'm sure you'll figure it out."
This got a belly laugh from her best friend, but he did as instructed and when he made the full circle, he noticed Hermione biting her lip hard, while her eyes had darkened noticeably.
She was definitely affected.
"So, do I pass muster?"
"You'll do."
He grabbed her and pulled her into his body, leaning down to inhale her scented shampoo—a soft vanilla and coconut smell that he adored. Humming in pleasure, he gently nipped her ear before pulling back and smirking when he noticed her cheeks aflame with color.
He'd never imagined in his wildest dreams that he could get such a reaction from his best friend, but he wasn't complaining.
"So riding?" He asked, clearing his throat a bit awkwardly.
"Hmm? Oh...yes! Riding!"
She stood back and offered her hand, which he took and together they made their way to the horse stables where Zephyr was saddled and ready to go.
The large, black Friesian cantered happily at seeing his rider, and Harry's eyes widened at the size of the horse. His shiny dark coat glistening in the morning sunshine.
"He's beautiful."
Zephyr hoofed the ground with his right leg, as his head moved up and down—looking as if he agreed with Harry's assessment—causing them both to laugh.
"Does he understand?" He asked curiously and Hermione shrugged, pulling out a red apple from her beaded bag and handed it to Zephyr, who munched on it happily.
"Probably. He's very smart. I've told him you'll be riding with me and he usually doesn't allow any one other than me to ride him."
"Will he be upset?"
"No, just hold onto me and we will take it slow."
He watched in bemusement as Hermione put her foot in the stirrup and vaulted herself effortlessly over the saddle, immediately sitting in a proper position for riding. He walked over and took Hermione's hand, as he tried a few times to push himself up—finally succeeding on the fourth try. Once he was settled behind his best friend, he couldn't help but notice how close together they were. He was literally pushed up against Hermione's backside, and she was about as forward on the saddle's rise without going over.
"Okay, Harry," She began a bit breathily, clearly as affected by their close proximity as he was, "you can hold one arm around my waist and another on my hip."
Following her directions, he almost groaned at the feel of Hermione pressed up against him and he had to physically think of Umbridge to stop his body from reacting and outing him.
"Okay, like this?"
"Yes." Her voice was now very husky and he couldn't help but grin—thanking the deities that Hermione couldn't see his face blushing probably redder than Ron's hair, right about now.
Taking the reins in hand, Hermione led Zephyr out of the stable paddock and down towards the path that led through the cedar trees and down to the lake. She kept his cantering in a slow and steady trot, feeling Harry's hand tighten on her hip every so often as their bodies moved together sinuously. At first she'd thought this was going to be a good idea, but as they continued to move down the pathway, Harry's body—which felt incredible, pushed against hers—and was causing her core to push against the saddle's rise in a very pleasurable way. She was desperately trying to keep her breathing under control, but based on his own deep breaths, she could tell Harry was just as affected as she was.
She slowed down Zephyr's gait even more, but that only served to cause Harry's hips to grind into her backside more and she gasped, when she felt the outline of his arousal jutting up against her arse.
His deep chuckle into her ear didn't help matters either.
"If I didn't know you better, Hermione—I'd think you were purposely teasing me."
"Harry, I would never do such a thing."
His rumbling body let her know he didn't believe her as his hand, that had been wrapped around her waist reached for the horn on the western saddle she'd chosen for the ride—her English saddle too small for two riders—and ground himself into her more firmly while simultaneously pushing her into the saddle rise and hitting her clit perfectly.
The moan that she let loose couldn't be helped and being a somewhat quick study—he did it again, but this time he nudged her braid out of his way and nibbled on her neck gently, his breathing becoming increasing labored as the natural rhythm of the horse's movement aided his intentions.
"Bloody hell, Hermione..." he whispered desperately, his erection now straining as he continued the push and pull of Hermione's arse against him while simultaneously working her against the saddle—her tiny hitched mewls doing nothing to stop his mind from racing.
"Harry..."
"Yeah..."
"Don't stop."
"Wasn't planning on it, love." He groaned as he pushed forward again. "Merlin, you feel incredible!"
The lake had started to come into view and just as they made it over the last bridge, Hermione's orgasm washed over her and she threw her head back on Harry's shoulder as he shuddered—his own release following hers.
When Zephyr stopped in his usual spot, the two were panting like a couple of randy teenagers, until he took out his wand and waved it over both of them, casting cleansing and refreshing charms in succession. He then carefully dismounted, before helping a blushing Hermione down, watching as she walked over under a huge tree and pulled out a blanket and some apples from her beaded bag, before gesturing for him to sit down with her, which he did.
He laid propped up against the tree and wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulder, pulling her into his embrace as he kissed the top of her head gently.
"So?"
"So?"
"You're a wicked witch. Who knew you had it in you."
Her giggles filled Harry's heart with happiness as they cuddled together, watching the breeze swaying through the trees and on the water.
"It's beautiful here." He admitted with a sigh. "I would imagine growing up here was a bit like a fairytale."
"Some of it." She replied, tilting her head up so her chin rested on Harry's chest. She took her hand and smoothed out his crazy hair and grinned. "But it was a lonely childhood, too."
"Oh?"
"Yes. My parents didn't really allow other children to come and play. Then I lost my mom before school started and when I got to Hogwarts, well...it was hard to turn off that part of me. You remember?"
He hummed, not liking to remember how unkind he and Ron were to Hermione the first couple months of their shared first year. She had been brash, and bossy—but it totally made sense now looking back on it. He was fairly shy, but had made friends easily because of his name and fame. Hermione hadn't been able to use her name—but she couldn't change whom she fundamentally was deep down.
"Did I ever say sorry for not defending you to Ron first year?"
Nuzzling her faze into Harry's chest, she just sighed. "There's no need. We can't change the past, Harry. And I wouldn't, just for the record."
He gazed down into bright cinnamon eyes that were staring up at him with such openness and trust, and he felt his heart constrict.
"How are we going to do this, Hermione?"
"You mean?"
He nodded.
"I'd very much like to kiss you. Is that even allowed?"
Her sigh was filled with so many emotions, he wasn't sure he could name them all adequately.
"My Father believes that the old contract was based on the customs of the time. No vaginal penetration. So kissing is probably fine. What we did just now was fine. So I suppose..."
"We could experiment?"
Her smile was now wicked as she nodded, and he didn't waste any time changing positions rolling her underneath him. He stared down into Hermione's face and wondered how many times while they were on the run he'd imagined kissing her.
Definitely the night they'd danced alone in the tent after Ron had abandoned them.
He cocked his head when he saw her hand come up towards his face, and then she gently removed his glasses and set them down next to her, before her hand moved back and cupped his cheek softly and that was all the invitation he needed as he lowered his lips to hers.
The minute their lips connected, everything for him came into sharp relief and he felt his body shudder as he gripped Hermione's head with his right hand whilst his left instinctively grasped her hip and held her tightly against him as he coaxed her lips with his own.
When he felt her tongue move out experimentally, he answered the silent plea with his, and then they were full-on snogging in earnest.
He didn't know if oxygen was a requirement, as he was feeling rather light-headed but when he finally pulled back and stared into Hermione's face that was flushed, and her lips swollen and red—he hummed in satisfaction before repeating the process all over again.
They stayed like that for a while, and when he broke their final kiss, he grinned down at Hermione, who was smiling up widely at him.
"Wow." She whispered out in awe.
"Wow, indeed."
She sighed again, and then looked over his shoulder at the lake, that was silently beckoning them both.
"Care for a swim to cool off?"
"Actually, that sounds rather perfect," he admitted sheepishly, "but I don't have swim trunks."
She giggled as she reached for her beaded bag and pulled out a pair of trunks in his size. He looked at her with a quirked smile but grabbed them, and went to go put them on behind the large tree to the right. Hermione reached for her bikini, and did the same on the other side.
The lake had a small dock where a canoe was tied up to it. There was a wooden raft in the middle that you could swim out to. Harry heard Hermione giggling madly as he caught a glimpse of her hair flying behind her, before she ran for the dock and launched herself cannonball style into the water.
He laughed, and followed her—jumping off the dock and splashing spectacularly, dousing her with water just as she'd come up for air.
They took turns dunking each other, swimming to the raft and diving off of it—enjoying their afternoon of frolicking and frivolity.
When they finally made their way to the raft, Harry gasped as he finally noticed that Hermione's scar on her throat and the mudblood scar on her arm were nearly faded.
"How?" He asked quietly, as he traced the faint letters on her arm.
"Family secret. It got rid of the scar that Dolohov left me with after the Department of Mysteries too. You can't really see it unless you look closely."
Harry accio'd his glasses off the deck and leant forward, and sure enough, the light glistened off a very faint thin white scar that followed from Hermione's shoulder down between her breasts almost diagonally to her opposite hip. He traced the scar with his finger, all the while his brow was furrowed in thought.
"Don't, Harry."
Pained green eyes lifted to stare into hers.
"Don't what?"
"Don't blame yourself. My scars are not your fault."
"Hermione..."
"No!" His lips lifted slightly at his best friends swotty no-nonsense tone. "I have no regrets, Harry. I did what I needed to do and I'd do it all over again if it meant us being right here, right now—together."
"You really mean that, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
He leant down and kissed her sweetly, almost reverently for a brief moment before lifting his head up and smiling in gratitude.
"I don't know what I did to deserve having you in my life, Hermione."
"Harry James Potter! You are the bravest wizard I have ever known. If anyone deserves the best things in life, it is you."
"So do you, Hermione."
The two of them just stared into each other eyes for a few more moments before mutually deciding to take another dip in the lake. They swam for a bit longer, and then Hermione accio'd her beaded bag and grabbed a few provision for an afternoon picnic. There was some cheese, apples, crisps and a couple bottles of water.
Once they were done with lunch and taking another foray into swimming, they decided to relax on the dock. By this time, it was well past lunch and nearing dinner, when Harry heard the crack of apparition in the distance.
Lifting his head up from the blanket where he'd been snuggling with Hermione and sunbathing—he cleared his throat to get her attention, and pulled Hermione up with him into a more dignified position—thankfully just in time, as her Father came walking down the path and into view.
But he wasn't alone.
His eyes narrowed as he noticed the wizard next to Pierre.
What the fuck was Malfoy doing here?