It was a couple of minutes past midnight and the Gryffindor common room was almost empty, with the exception of a few 7th graders who were still talking about the latest Quidditch match between the Holyhead Harpies and the Appleby Arrows. It must have been a truly fascinating game because they hadn't stopped blabbering about it for the past thirty minutes.
Harry and his friends were sitting on their usual spot, near the fireplace. It wasn't a cold night at all but they still sat there out of habit. Harry was talking for umpteenth time with Hermione about the Half-Blood Prince's identity, while Ginny was watching them barely able to hide a smile. Even though she loved Hermione like the sister she never had, it was too amusing seeing her mad because, for once, she wasn't the first in her class.
''Ew, that's disgusting!'' Ron's voice interrupted one more of Hermione's attempts to persuade Harry to get rid of his Potions book. The three turned to face him, curious about his outburst. He was holding a very familiar grey newspaper and he had an expression as if he was ready to throw up
''What happened?'' Harry asked when he saw that his best friend wasn't willing to explain his reaction
''I'll never be able to unread this. It's revolting!'' he continued his rant without saying anything more illuminating than that.
''You deserve it for still reading this piece of garbage'' Ginny said scornfully. She hasn't forgotten all the lies that rag had published for Harry.
''I just borrowed it from Seamus Finnigan earlier. Sometimes it has crosswords or half finished games of chess that you have to finish on your own and things like these''
''So?'' Hermione asked confused
''Well, it seems that section of the paper was replaced by a new one'' he finally explained hesitantly
''With what?'' Harry asked. What could be so appalling that Ron couldn't bring himself to utter it?
''With something called ''fanfiction'''' he answered
''Fanfiction? What's that?'' it was Ginny's turn to ask
''Fanfiction is a form of writing. As the name indicates, people write stories about real or fictional characters they love. It's also non profit because it's based on preexisting content'' Hermione answered her question in her usual know-it-all way.
''That's no that bad Ron'' Ginny said to her brother ''Are you that allergic to any form of reading?'' she went on teasing him. The other two started laughing too
''Yes, when it's about that kind of reading'' Ron said between gritted teeth ''What Hermione neglected to mention is that the creative liberties the fans take are literally endless. Not to mention that its most popular category it's the one with stories aimed to mature readers'' he said suggestively
''You mean that kind of...'' Ginny asked finally getting what happened with her brother
''Yes, I mean that kind of...'' Ron confirmed sarcastically ''Combine it now with the fact that we happen to be some of the most popular persons in the Wizarding World, thanks for that Harry by the way, and I think you get my reaction.''
''You mean they write stories about us?'' Harry said dumbfounded
''Apparently our love and sex life is very interesting'' Ron sneered. Their expressions matched his disgusted one within seconds.
''And they publish things like this on the Daily Prophet?'' Hermione gasped like it hurt her more knowing that a prestigious newspaper stooped so low than starring in that kind of stories
''Probably it's one more of Ministry of Magic's bright ideas. Making people feel more connected to us, perhaps? I don't know'' Ron gave up
''You mean that there are stories about me and Harry... in the paper?'' Ginny asked and her cheeks suddenly matched the colour of her hair
Harry realized what Ginny implied and he turned to face his best friend hopelessly, he was too scared to imagine what Ron might had seen in there. ''Mr. and Mrs. Weasley read the Daily Prophet too'' he thought panicked
''Don't worry'' he replied derisively ''You are too boring for that''
If the other three thought they had begun to understand what Ron's problem was they lost it again
''What do you mean ''boring''?'' asked Ginny confused
''You're not interesting. A teenage boy dates a teenage girl, so what? Those psychos crave more twisted things'' he said ominously
''You mean that they write us be with other people?'' Harry was now genuinely at a loss for words
''What? Let me see that!'' Ginny said and took the paper from her brother's hands. She scanned the page for a while and now her eyes were wide open and she had the same nauseated look on her face as Ron
''That's totally disgusting!'' Ginny repeated Ron's words. Harry tried to see but the girl took the paper away from him
''The writers prefer for their stories couples that are more, how to put it, unconventional'' Ron said diplomatically and gave a quick glance to Hermione who was strangely quiet
''Unconventional how?'' Harry demanded to know. He was getting increasingly annoyed by his friends' doublespeak
''You know'' started Ginny ''between students that haven't actually interacted with each other, like ever, or even if they have the thought alone is ridiculous. They even have a story about Ron and Luna Lovegood'' she said trying to lighten the mood
''Or between professors.'' added Ron ''I still don't understand how they expect things to work between professor Binns and professor Sprout. I mean the man is a ghost!'' he exclaimed and if the situation wasn't so bizzare Harry would have sure laughed very hard with Ron's exasperation, but now he suspected that there were much more to come yet
''Or between students and professors'' Ginny said apalled and Hermione flinched. The pain was visible on her face.
''And then every kind of ship you can possibly imagine'' Ron added in a vague way
''What's a ship?'' Harry asked
''Pairing two characters'' Hermione explained blandly
''As in ''the ship to logic has sailed and it's not coming back any time soon'''' Ron attempted a joke
''And what kind of ships they imagine?'' Harry asked coldly
''Harry'' Ginny said pleadingly
''Sooner or later one of those stories will come to my attention. I might as well be prepared'' he said determinedly
''There are some seriously fucked up things there man'' Ron said sadly
''Like?'' Harry said pressing his lips
''Like, I don't know, Umbridge and Trelawny. Snape and McGonagall. Or Dumbledore and Grindelwald, for God's sake!'' she informed him with various degrees of disgust
''I think I even saw one about Filch and Mrs. Norris'' Ron added looking at the paper suspiciously. The fact that Harry wasn't sure if his friend was kidding or not anymore depressed and enraged him.
''I guess that's not why you didn't want me to see the page though'' Harry wasn't letting this go
''Harry I'm not the one to tell you to bury your head in the sand but it won't do you any good to keep digging it.'' Hermione advised him softly. She just had sneaked a peak on the paper under Ginny's arm
''Seriously'' Ginny supported her ''things could go really scary in there. They even have one about Fred and George'' she said and shuddered at the thought
''What?'' two surprised voices came out of nowhere. The four of them jumped out of their seats. Harry watched the two identical faces that now also shared the same look, a mixture of unfathomable disgust and disbelief. They didn't hear them coming. Harry still hadn't gotten used to their presence there. It's been only a year since they left Hogwarts in the most spectacular way possible, and he was sure he would never see them again in those same rooms and corridors he had for the past five years. But, apparently, no matter how much money you make, nothing stands between Molly Weasley and seeing her children graduate.
When it was made known that Umbridge wouldn't return the next year Mrs. Weasley used every trick in the motherbook to make them come back and finish their studies, including the threat of never doing their laundry again. After the 100th single sock they had to give in. You could see they weren't happy about that but, luckily, Dumbledore was very understanding and he gave them permission to leave on weekends to take care of their business.
''I'm sorry you had to hear that'' Ginny apologized ''I don't know what those people think''
''They stop at nothing!'' Ron said suddenly angry ''They pair literally everyone. Snape with Sirius, Bellatrix with Dumbledore, Sirius and Lupin, Neville and a boggart, for crying out loud, and even Ginny with Hermione!'' he yelled, unable to hold back anymore. Thankfully, the 7th graders were gone long ago. The two girls blushed and avoided even to look at each other. Their abashment was palpable.
''Do you know that they write stories even about You-Know-Who?'' Ginny said in an attempt to change the conversation. Five faces looked at her simultaneously. The terror written on them was beyond words.
''They what?'' Hermione broke the silence. Her voice was low and hoarse from fright.
''Is it too bad I want You-Know-Who to catch all of them and make them pay?'' Fred asked half joking, half serious. They were all so shocked they didn't scold him about it. Not even Harry, who had lost both his parents from Voldemort, looked at him disapprovingly. That's how numb they were.
''Whom they pair him with?'' Harry continued the painful questions
''Well, Bellatrix, of course. She is his right hand. Dumbledore, you know, they are enemies, various Muggles and half-bloods for the drama'' Ginny said slowly
''And?'' Harry asked again when she saw her falter. Her lack of response only confirmed what he was expecting all along. A heavy silence fell in the spacious common room. They all felt for him. Having people writing sexual content involving you and the man who orphaned you and made the purpose of his life to kill you was unthinkable.
George put an end to that yawning unnaturally loudly and flashily
''It's too late. I'm going to bed. Are you coming honey?'' he said mockingly to his twin brother who immediately responded in the same tone ''Of course my dear'' before following him to the dormitory. Harry was very moved that they fought their own discomfort to cheer him up, showing him that it was nothing more than a distasteful joke.
However, a part of him wanted to see it with his own eyes, to make sure that it wasn't a sick prank his friends pulled on him, despite knowing how impossible that was. It was the same part that forced you to keep touching a wound, even though you know it is still there and hurts. He reached behind his girlfriend's back and took the paper she was still holding.
He had only managed a quick glance when Ron, who was suddenly beside him, yanked it from his hands.
''You'll get nothing from it, believe me'' he told him miserably. Harry listened to him but something else had cought his attention
''Who is Dramione? I've never heard the name before'' He looked all of them questioningly. How many sick things were yet to be discovered? The answer came from Ron this time
''It's not actually a name. It's a conjuction of two characters' names. The ones appearing on the story'' he explained
''What this stands for?'' he asked again gussing easily the second part
''It's about Draco and'' he faltered for a moment ''Hermione. Considering the amount of stories with the term on the description I guess they're a quite popular couple.'' he said sarcastically
''You're kidding, right?'' he asked incredulously
''Nope!'' he confirmed ''obviously people love writing lengthy romantic and sexual stories about Hermione and a spoiled, insufferable, arrogant brat who constantly insults her'' His rage made his face as red as the rest of his skull.
''What they were thinking?'' Ginny joined their protests
''Well, it makes sense. He's handsome, he's smart, he's talented, he's a Slytherin, I'm a Gryffindor, he's a pure blood who hates mudbloods and I'm a mudblood. I get the appeal'' Hermione said matter-of-factly and shrugged. The other three froze. They couldn't believe in their ears. They expected to see Hermione pointing at them and start laughing and when that didn't happen Harry and Ginny had no idea how to react. Hermione was apathetic and Ron seemed like he was only seconds from combusting.
They gave each other a quick glance and made a silent agreement to get the hell out of there. The things between their friends were about to get ugly and they better not be around when that happens. They mumbled an excuse about Harry wanting some fresh air to clear his mind and almost run to the door, leaving Ron and Hermione alone in a totally empty common room.
''It makes sense? You and Malfoy being a cute, little couple?'' he asked sweetly the moment the door closed behind the other two. His lighthearted tone didn't match the wrath emanating from his eyes.
''I seriously doubt there are stories in there depicting us as a cute, little couple. My money is that they must be dark and full of guilt, sorrow and denial'' she contractided him colly
''Are you listening to yourself? There are people out there writing stories about you sleeping with that scumbag and you're doing a literary analysis on them?'' He was so mad it was a miracle he hadn't had a stroke yet
''They'll keep being out there no matter what I do, so why give them much thought anyway?'' she said impassively
''You sure have given a lot of thought to Malfoy's virtues though. You said them off the top of your head, just like that'' he snapped his fingers
''I didn't exactly invent the wheel there, Ron. Any objective person could see them'' she said equally unmoved, continuing to play with his nerves
''Well, it makes sense. You always had a soft spot about handsome, rich, Quidditch seekers. I get the appeal!'' he shouted repeating her words mockingly. She was watching him trying to suppress a smirk. He deserved it. She hadn't fully forgiven him about Lavender Brown and the shameless show they had put on, even in front of her yet. It was true that she flirted with Krum in the past too, but at least she had the decency to not let Ron witness it in vivid detail.
Ron's anger had disappeared and its place has taken a deep, weary feeling of helplessness. He let the paper he was still holding on the table before her
''Here, take it. You can lull yourself to sleep reading stories about you and your evil Prince Charming. You may found more reasons to pursue a relationship with him. You'll be the most beautiful, smart, talented power couple the world has ever seen'' he remarked trying unsuccesfully to hide the pain under sarcasm. He then went on the other side of the room and turned his back on her.
Hermione was now smiling widely and affectionately. When you've spent your entire life being treated as a walking library you value the few people that remind you that you are a real person with the same needs and desires as everyone else. And noone else achieved that more than the boy that stormed in her life when she was just a little girl and became necessary to her since then.
She left her chair and approached him noiselessly. Ron sensed the movement but he didn't turn. He wasn't in the mood for one more of those ''you're my best friend-I'm here for you-you're very important to me-I don't understand why you're so hostile to me'' etc. conversations. He had become sick of them. So, when he felt Hermione's hands slither around his torso he tensed, not knowing how to react. She pressed her body so tightly on his they've become essentially one. Then he felt her teeth scraping the soft skin of his neck and he gasped. Her hot breath reached his ear and she whispered
''Malfoy would never be able to handle me''
''How's so?'' Ron asked her breathlessly
''He's too weak for me. He would have broken the moment I would have first corrected his pronunciation to Wingardium Leviosa. Poor boy'' she sighed. Ron finally turned his body to see her, still inside her embrace. He hugged her too and he pulled her closer
''You are a tease'' he said with his lips ghosting over hers.
''Only with you. You are my favourite prey, Weasley'' she teased him and she covered those final inches sealing their lips together.
The kiss they shared displayed all the emotions they kept hidden all this time. Hermione was so lightheaded she had the impression the whole room was spinning and she was probably right to some extent because suddenly her back was pressed against a wall. Ron was kissing her fervently, moving from her lips to her jaw and aiming lower. She shoved her hands on his hair guiding him where she wanted him when an unpleasant thought distracted her from her pleasure
''Ron, just a moment. Stop!'' she urged him. The boy stopped immediately and looked her concerned.
''What? Did I do something wrong?'' he asked her scared
''No, no'' she reassured him ''I just wanted to know. Did you and Lavender, ever?'' she left her sentence unfinished. Ron smiled widely relieved and nodded his head negatively
''Don't worry Granger, you're my favourite prey too'' he said suggestively and pressed his groin on hers. Even though they were fully clothed she still felt his hard member rubbing against her core making it throb uncontrollably. Her moan echoed in the empty room. She brought him back for a kiss, she already missed his taste on her mouth. His hands had sneaked underneath her shirt and caressed her bare back while he was nibbling the skin on her thoat. He stopped attacking her only for a moment, as long as he needed to reach her ear and whisper a husky ''I want you'' that made her shudder.
''Someone might hear us'' she sighed more than said
''Can't you do one of your hocus-pocus things and made us invisible or something?'' Ron said and cupped her butt, squeezing it hard
Hermione moaned again
''Magic so elevated can't be performed within Hogwarts and its surroundings in order to guarantee the students' safety. How many times do I have to tell...'' she started but Ron interrupted her
''Stop lecturing me Hermione and find a way'' he ordered. Hermione snorted but she did as told. Ron was getting under her skin for years. Was it so bad that tonight she wanted him even deeper?
''Ron, I can't think of anything right now'' she whimpered after some few unsuccessful seconds and it was true, she's never felt her head emptier than that moment. Her brain was shut down letting her senses take control.
''Too bad'' it was all Ron said before grabbing her shirt and taking it off of her forcefully. He was so aroused he was sure that if they stopped right now he would explode in a thousand pieces. Hermione lost all her ability to resist him when she sensed him fumbling with the clasp of her bra. She took her wand out of her pocket and waved it limply. All the tables, chairs, couches and armchairs flied towards them forming a makeshift fortress to hide them from the rest of the world. It was awfully put together but it was the last thing she was able to do before Ron's soft tongue swirled around her nipple making the wand fell off her hand completely.
She helped him took over his shirt too and lost herself in the feeling of their skin to skin contact. Ron was kissing the valley between her breasts going lower until he was on his knees. His mouth was on the level of her crotch and the thought made her lick her lips instinctively. He unbuttoned her jeans and unzipped them kissing all the while every bit of flesh he uncovered. Hermione bent over at the sensation, leaning on Ron's shoulders for support.
When the friction became unbearable and her legs were too shaky to hold her she joined him on the floor. It didn't stop him from carrying on. His hand passed the waistband of her pants and explored what was hiding behind it. Hermione whined and spread her legs to let him go deeper into her wet core. Since her body first sexually awakened and she realized what exactly was happening between her and Ron, she had pictured this scene more times than she was willing to admit. She wanted it of course but she was sure that their first time would be accompanied by fair amounts of embarrassment and awkwardness. She was wrong. It was like their bodies were prepared for this long before their minds were.
She upped herself a little and Ron helped her took off her jeans completely. Before shame invaded their refuge she pushed him back until he was laid on the soft carpet that covered the entire room and climbed on top of him. She started kissing him and exploring his body leisurely. Every new kiss and bite made Ron needing her more. She took off his pants exposing him completely. The two children they had once met on Hogwarts Express were now two mature people ready to make the final step on a dance that started the first moment they laid eyes on each other.
Hermione took him in her hands and passed her thumb over the head making him sigh
''Ron'' she said softly ''is it ok with you if I'' she said and for the first time since they started she felt herself blush. He understood immediately and grinned
''No problem Hermione. I know you love to show off'' he teased her. She returned the grin lovingly and proceeded straddling him. She took a deep breath and sunk herself onto him. Every inch brought up a new sensation. Pain, pleasure, surprise, desire, need. Ron let her experience every one of them undisturbed. He loved seeing their effect on her face. Moans and whimpers marked her way down until he was fully inside her. She stood still for a while giving her body time to adjust and then she started riding him.
Slowly at first but then increased in speed and force. Ron held her tightly making sure she's real and that this was truly hapenning. They went on like that until she closed her eyes and threw her head back, completely lost in the moment. Ron sat and brought her closer. He cupped her breast and pinched her erect nipple teasingly while still thrusting upwards. This time it was Hermione who broke first. She came with a moan she buried deep in Ron's mouth. Ron followed shortly afterwards, always chasing her. They remained entangled like that as they tried to catch their breath
''It seems that the Daily Prophet earned a new subsciber tonight'' Ron said with ragged breath. Hermione looked him in the eyes for a moment and then she burst into a loud, happy laughter that filled the room.
