Little Black Dress
"So, Hermione," said Helen Granger to her daughter, "What are your plans for Valentine's Day?"
The two women were having dinner in a restaurant not far from the Granger household. After graduating from Hogwarts and restoring her parent's memories, Hermione made it a point to have dinner with her mother once every month.
Hermione sipped her wine before answering, inwardly rolling her eyes. "Nothing, mom."
For over a year now Helen had been hinting at her settling down with someone. It was not as though Hermione did not want this, but the men she had recently dated made her want to give up on the whole idea. Besides, there was only one wizard that she was interested in, and her mother knew it.
"Why don't you try spending it with Harry?"
And there it was as plain as day. She knew her mother would not waste any time in getting to the point.
"Because he's my best friend, mom. He won't want to spend 'the most romantic day of the year' with his best friend." Said Hermione swirling the dark red liquid absently in the glass while avoiding her mother's gaze.
"Hermione," said Helen gently, reaching out to take her daughter's hand. Hermione looked up. "You know you're more than that to him."
Hermione sighed and before she knew it, all the insecurities she had felt over the last few months had come pouring out. "Mom, I'm nothing like the girls he's dated in the past. I'm not athletic. I'm not five-foot-eight with straight flowing hair. I'm not…attractive."
Helen sat up straight with a stern look on her face. "Hermione Jean Granger, I'll hear none of that, young lady!" She said it with such strictness in her voice that she thought Minerva McGonagall would have been proud. "I did not raise you to tell lies. You are beautiful."
Hermione looked from her mother back down to her tea. "Not like these girls he dates."
"And did you ever notice that the girls that he dates never work out?" Helen raised an eyebrow. "Did you ever stop to think that those types of girls aren't actually his type? And who does he come to every time his relationships come crashing down?" When Hermione looked back at her mother, she said, "You!"
"That doesn't mean he likes me. I'm just familiar." Said Hermione. "I've been his best friend for twelve years. I don't think he'll ever see me as anything more." And there was a tone of hopelessness that Helen had never heard in her daughter.
"Hermione, I'm going to give you the best piece of advice that I can in a situation like this."
"And what is that?" Hermione said in the same hopeless voice.
"If you want to find out if Harry can see you as a woman and not just his best friend," Helen Granger said solemnly over her wine glass at her daughter, "use the weapon of women needing to get through to thick headed men everywhere... the little black dress."
Hermione took a deep breath as she stood outside of Harry's house in Godric's Hollow, waiting for him to answer the door. When he did, she greeted him with their usual hug, and he welcomed her in with a smile.
"Well, Miss Granger." He said seriously. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Something in that question made Hermione's insides dance. She forced herself to stay calm as she tried to act naturally.
"Well, I haven't seen you in a few weeks and I thought I would drop by and see how things were going." She replied coolly.
They made their way into the living room where Harry took his place on the couch and Hermione in one of the armchairs. The room was modeled very closely after the Gryffindor Common Room including the dark red furniture. It brought back a wave of nostalgia and comfort to them, and comfort was just what Hermione needed right now.
Once they were comfortable and Harry had conjured them each a cup of tea, he spoke. "I'm glad you came over. I missed you!"
Hermione's heart gave a slight jolt, but she knew better. He had said this to her before without it meaning anything. She was just nervous. "I've missed you, too." She heard herself reply. Might as well get this over with, she thought. "As a matter of fact, I must confess that I have ulterior motives for coming over today." She said this quickly, but calmer than she felt.
"Oh?" said Harry raising his eyebrow. "And what might those be?"
"I wanted to ask you…" she trailed off. Suddenly, she did not feel so calm. Her heart had begun to race. "That is…I was wondering if…"
"Hermione?" he said, leaning forward and placing a hand on her knee. "Are you alright? You know you can ask me anything."
Let's hope that's true, she thought. She nodded and before she could stop herself, she said, "I was wondering if you would like to go to dinner together on Saturday night."
Hermione could not bring herself to say Valentine's Day. She knew Harry would not have paid attention to the date. He was many things, but observant was not necessarily one of them. As far as he knew, this would just be a dinner between two friends.
Harry smiled. "That sounds wonderful, Hermione."
Hermione smiled back. The knot in her stomach loosening slightly. "Great! Then, is it okay if we meet here?"
The two stood and Harry nodded. "Of course! Is seven, okay? And do you have any idea on where you'd want to go?"
"I do, as a matter of fact." She had made reservations earlier in the week in case he had said yes. "It's a place I know in London. If I were you, I would dress a bit nicer than usual. I'll be wearing a simple dress, if that helps."
Harry nodded again. "Okay! Saturday at seven, it is. I'm excited."
"Me too."
Hermione stood in her living room, nervous than she ever had been, as she looked over at the clock on the wall. Five minutes to seven. She was to apparate into Harry's living room any moment as they had planned.
Walking over to the full-length mirror in the corner of the room and gave herself a final once-over.
"I can't believe I'm really going to do this." She said to herself. Taking a deep breath, she turned on the spot and found herself, once again, in Harry's living room.
"'Mione, is that you?" Harry called from another room. "I'll be ready in just a second. I'm just trying to-ah, there it is!" Hermione heard him rummaging around for something before she heard his footsteps getting louder. "Sorry, I was having trouble finding-" Harry stopped midsentence as he entered the room, his eyes falling on Hermione.
Hermione was wearing a simple, black dress that reached just above her knees with matching high heels. What he had not been expecting was how well it clung to her body in all the right places. Her hair, which was normally bushy and wild, was now tamed and lightly curled as it fell onto her shoulders.
He was not the only one who was impressed by the wardrobe choices of others. Harry had sported a pair of black trousers with a black button-down shirt. It was amazing how such a simple outfit seemed to stir feelings inside of Hermione.
"Harry?" said Hermione with a questioning look. "Are you alright?"
Harry seemed to snap back to reality. "Y-Yeah, sorry. Wow, you look great, Hermione!"
"Thank you." A slight blush crept up onto her cheeks. "What were you saying before?"
Looking at her with confusion on his face at first, he suddenly remembered himself and held up a tie. "Sorry, I was saying that I was looking for my tie. I'm not very good at tying them, but you said to dress more formal so…you know…"
Harry had thrown the tie over his neck and started to loop it around itself but only managed to produce a rather sloppy looking knot.
"Oh, here." Hermione had loosened the tie and began to loop the fabric, taking her time to revel in the closeness of Harry.
Running his hand through his hair, Harry smiled sheepishly. "Thanks. I always find it funny how women seem to know how to do this, but blokes haven't a clue."
The two chuckled.
"My parents taught me to do this." Hermione smiled, remembering all the times she had helped her father tie his own tie. "They would always go out dancing on weekends. Mom said it was important for not only men to learn how, but, also, women." She looked into Harry's eyes. "Clearly, she was right."
A few moments went by in silence, until Hermione had finished. When she moved back to admire her work, Harry saw that she had tied a perfect Windsor knot.
"Thanks." Said Harry, pulling the collar of his shirt over the tie. "Well, I guess we should get going, right?"
"Yes." Hermione took Harry's arm. "Ready?" With a nod, Hermione turned them on the spot and, next thing they knew, were in an alleyway that led to a well-lit street where a small Italian restaurant sat. "I hope this place is okay." Hermione had not given thought to the fact that this setting may be too intimate.
"It's brilliant!" Harry beamed at her.
The two enjoyed a delicious meal while discussing varied topics such as work and what their friends were up to. Before they knew it, dinner was over and got up from their table, leading to the exit.
"Listen," said Harry, running his hand through his hair again, "you wouldn't fancy a walk, would you?"
Hermione smiled up at him and took his arm. "That sounds great."
They began down the street, window shopping and people watching, scarcely saying anything as they walked hand in hand. This practice had begun some years before and, to them, it felt natural. Normally, it had meant nothing but the comfort they felt for each other, but, tonight, Hermione could not help but feel a warmth radiating in her belly.
"Hermione, I need to tell you something." Said Harry, after several minutes of silence. He had stopped walking and Hermione turned towards him. "I-well-blimey, this is difficult. I don't know where to begin." Again, the hand flew through his hair. "I'll just come out with it. Hermione, I didn't realize until quite recently that, well, I have feelings for you." Hermione blinked. Surely, he hadn't just said what I think he did, she thought. "Actually, that's a lie. I think I've known for awhile now, but I was too much of a coward to admit it to myself. Some Gryffindor, huh?"
Hermione could not hold it in any longer. She closed the distance between them throwing her arms around his neck. There was a moment where she had thought she had done the wrong thing when he did not respond but soon felt invigorated by Harry's arms wrapping around her waist. He deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
Pulling away slightly, Hermione turned them on the spot and found themselves falling onto Harry's couch. Harry leaned her back against the arm of the couch, his hands roaming over her body until they came to the strap of her dress. He moved it aside and began kissing the skin that lay underneath, leading to her collar bone and then, finally starting an assault on her neck. She moaned and immediately felt Harry's body respond against her thigh. He pulled back from her neck and looked deep into her eyes, looking for approval. She stood up from the couch, and before Harry could open his mouth to ask, she took his hand and led him to the bedroom. However, Harry spun her around, grabbing her bum and lifting her legs from the ground and positioning them around his waist. Pushing her against the wall of the corridor, he devoured her mouth. Harry had begun a grinding rhythm against her, and his breathing had become shallow. "Hermione, seeing you in this dress is driving me crazy. But right now…" He reached around her back and unzipped the dress. "I want nothing more than to see you out of it." The dress fell around her hips, revealing Hermione's breasts. Harry wanted to pray to whatever deities existed for the beautiful sight in front of him. Without wasting another second, he took one of her perfect mounds in his mouth and began to suck.
Hermione was in ecstasy. She threw her head back and let out a guttural moan that surprised even her. The pleasure that coursed through her body was electric and she wanted more. She tangled her hands in his wild hair as he alternated his attention to her other breast.
They moved away from the wall and, eventually, made their way into the bedroom, where Harry lay Hermione on the bed as he stood at the foot of his bed.
Before he could move, Hermione decided to take matters into her own hands. Literally. Unbuttoning his trousers, she slid the offending material down his legs along with his boxers. His erection sprang forth and Hermione had time to marvel at the sheer size of him before she looked up at him and, before he knew what was happening, she took him into her mouth. Hermione smiled inwardly as he gripped the railings of the four-poster bed to keep himself from collapsing. Before long, she was bobbing up and down on his shaft as his hands moved to the back of her head, urging her forward.
"'Mione, I'm gonna…" he choked out, beginning to move away from her but Hermione grabbed his cock and continued in her work, swirling her tongue along the tip. That was enough for Harry to spill everything into her mouth. He looked down at her and watched, hypnotically, as she licked her lips. He had never seen anything so sexy in his life as he lay her back. He snapped his fingers and the two lay there, completely nude. He looked at her in all her glory and for a moment, Hermione was afraid he might not approve. However, the next moment, Harry was raining kisses all over her face, neck and chest. "You're beautiful." He looked over at her before speaking again. "Are you sure about this, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded. "I've never been more certain of anything, Harry."
With that confirmation, Harry positioned himself at her entrance and thrust. She clutched the sheets in her fists and became full of him inside of her. With every thrust, she felt herself getting closer to her orgasm until it became too much for her. Clutching him to her and scratching her nails over his back, he pushed deep inside of her one last time before she cried out his name in ecstasy. He came shortly after her, collapsing next to her from exhaustion.
Hermione was the first to recover and she rolled over to face him, somewhat embarrassed. "Harry, I'm so sorry. I-" but she was cut off by Harry's mouth covering her own.
"Hermione?"
"Yes?" she asked timidly.
"Tomorrow we are going shopping." When she looked at him puzzled, he continued. "Black dresses look sexy on you, and I won't rest until we've bought every black dress Hogsmeade has to offer." Hermione laughed and kissed him. "Oh, I almost forgot." He reached across her to the bedside table.
"What is it?"
Harry moved back to his original position and brandished a rose. "Happy Valentine's Day, Hermione."
Taking it, she beamed at him. "Happy Valentine's Day, Harry."
~I threw this together quickly because I didn't think that I would get my invitation for AO3 approved in time and I really wanted to participate in this even for Valentine's Day 2022. Hope you enjoyed!
-TattedRavenBarista