September 1

A night without Naos was the most lonely night Harriette ever experienced. She figured she would be worried and maybe a little sad, but she didn't expect to spend the majority of the night crying in her pillow. Krishna did her best to comfort her, but it wasn't until the room began to glow a soft blue with the rising sun that she managed to fall asleep with the kneazle purring on her chest.

Harriette awoke a few hours later with the heavy ball of fur still purring on her chest. The smell of breakfast had her mouth watering. She turned her head to see a tray waiting for her on her bedside table and a note next to the hot plate of two sunnyside eggs, bacon, black pudding, grilled tomatoes, and a cup of hot tea. She inhaled the aroma again, smiling. It had been awhile since she enjoyed a full english breakfast. The wooden floor was cool to the touch as she slid out of bed and reached for the letter. She was curious about what it said.

Breakfast, compliments of the Leaky Cauldron.

The note wasn't very long but she thought it was rather nice that the inn sent her up a complimentary breakfast. This wasn't her first stay at the Leaky Cauldron but it was the first time they had ever given her a free meal. She set the letter aside and picked up the silver fork. She may as well enjoy it before her departure to Hogwarts.

Her lonely night still weighed heavy on her mind as she took a bite of her sausage patty. She wasn't fond of everyone pushing her to do what they thought was best, even if it did seem like the best option. Where would she be right now if she hadn't been convinced to write McGonagall about a job? She didn't rightly know. And with Naos safe at a new friend's house she had time to get ready for her new job, not to mention he had a new friend! She supposed that was the silver lining of it all.

As Harriette descended the creaky stairs, she noticed the inn was pretty much empty except for a pile of robes slumped over the bar that she could only guess was a drunken wizard passed out from the nights drinking. There were also a couple of guys sitting at a back table, quietly jabbering to themselves. The barkeeper had his back to her, washing a tankard by hand. She was thankful for his generosity so she brought it upon herself to bring the empty dishes back down to him.

"Hello!" She greeted, setting the dinnerware on the wooden bartop. She was not prepared for his devilish smile when he turned around to greet her. Butterflies swarmed inside her tummy, fluttering around like mad when she looked into his bright green eyes, and she almost swooned with the way a lock of his chestnut hair naturally fell to his forehead in a charming twist. She also couldn't help but notice his muscular frame under his simple white shirt. The last time she felt smitten was when Viktor Krum danced with her all night at the Yule Ball. Ron had never made her feel this way and there was never anyone else she had been interested in. She had adored him but he wasn't really the type to make a girl almost faint from his charm.

"How did you sleep? I know those beds aren't really that comfortable." His crooked smile revealed a dimple and she almost fell off the barstool.

"It was fine." She bit her lip. She could feel her cheeks flush but she couldn't take her eyes away from his chiseled face. "I'm sorry, I thought Tom worked here?" She changed the subject, snapping herself out of her stare fest. She remembered seeing Tom working the previous night. He owned the inn for many years and she had never seen another barkeeper working for him before.

"He does." The man laughed. "Tom is my father. He is getting older and I have nothing better to do so I run the bar half the time nowadays."

"Oh I didn't know he had a son. Well nice to meet you! What did you say your name was?"

"You can call me Mickey, or Mick." He took her dirty dishes from the bar counter and started to clean them by hand like the tankard he was washing earlier. She found it curious because most magic users would use magic to clean.

"Do you like to wash the dishes by hand or something?" she noticed his smile fall a little.

"Believe me, there is nothing I'd like more than to be able to use magic, but I am a squib." She tried to hide her disappointment from him. There was nothing wrong with squibs, she just didn't want him to feel any worse than he probably did. She couldn't imagine being the only non-magical person in a family of wizards and witches.

"As a muggleborn, I have lived the first eleven years of my life as a muggle. If I am honest with myself, some days I miss the simplicity of it. I am curious though, if you can't use magic, how did you get my breakfast into my room without waking me?"

"My little buddy Rolfie helps with all the magical needs." Harriette noticed he beamed when he mentioned Rolfie. Mickey chuckled at her curious look. "Rolfie is a house elf. He helps me on my shifts."

"Oh, you have a house elf." She tried all her might in her fourth year at Hogwarts to abolish house elf slavery but for some reason the little buggers just did not want to be free. Hearing that he owned one of the creatures saddened her, just when she was starting to like him.

""Do you not like house elves?" He must have noticed her withdrawal.

"Oh I care deeply about all creatures." She bit her cheek.

"I am sensing a 'but?'"

"Well, I just wish they weren't slaves!" At this, Mickey burst out laughing. Harriette scowled but didn't say anything. The nerve of him! Making fun of her. She sat back in the barstool, crossing her arms over her chest. Mickey slapped his hand to the counter in his fit of belly laughs. This earned an eye roll from her.

"You silly woman!" He wiped tears from his eyes. "Rolfie isn't enslaved. He is employed!" She could feel her cheeks turn bright red but she felt relieved. I guess she is the one who should be ridiculed for jumping to conclusions, even if she didn't voice them out loud. At least he redeemed himself, for now.

They spent the next few minutes talking about nothing and everything while he tidied his bar like a muggle would. Harriette found it quite endearing. He was quite charming. He also had her laughing at every silly joke he told. Not to mention he was sweet on the eyes. She was sad that she would have to say goodbye soon and she doubted she would see him again. At least not until next year when she would be visiting Diagon Alley to purchase more school items for Naos. She kind of wanted to get to know him better.

Suddenly they were interrupted by a quite inebriated wizard that neither of them saw walk up.

"'Scuse me…" he hiccupped. "I couldn't help but- hic- overhear you say you used to live like a muggle. Wussat' mean?" The man must have been there all night like the wizard at the end of the bar. He reeked of firewhiskey.

"It means, sir, that I am a muggleborn. Not that it is any of your business." She said taken aback by his crassness.

"Mudblood, ya mean. Wuss the likes of you doin in 'ere?" The man lost his balance and toppled into the bar, spilling his warm beverage all over Harriette.

"Argh!" She pushed away from the table. "If you'll excuse me…" she trailed off, leaving Mick with the drunken wizard.

Harriette flew up the stairs and yanked her door open. It slammed behind her while she pulled her whiskey-soaked blouse over her head, tossing it to the floor. She started the shower and rummaged through her trunk looking for a clean shirt while angrily muttering to herself. Of course a random drunk would insult me and spill his drink all over me in front of my first adult crush! Just my luck!

"I'm so sorry about the.. oh Merlin!" Mickey had burst in her room without knocking. The sudden intrusion startled her and she spun around. She just stood there, too frightened to move. Blood rushed to her ears as her heart began to beat faster. He watched as her bare breasts rose and fell with her quickened breaths but she made no attempt to cover herself. She was too angry from her encounter downstairs, and too confused by Mickey's appearance to remember her nakedness.

She followed his movements with her eyes as he shut the door softly behind him. He took a cautious step towards her. And then another. She let her hands fall to her sides, and the sudden movement caused the air to stir around her. Her nipples grew hard from the abrupt coolness and she finally remembered that she wasn't wearing a top but she made no move to cover herself. She could hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears, growing louder and faster with each step he took. She didn't protest. She didn't scream for him to get out. Am I really going to let this happen? This is not like me...

Mickey finally reached her. His closeness distracted her from her thoughts even more. He reached his right, calloused hand out to her, stopping just short of touching her exposed skin. The dark look in his green eyes asked permission to continue. She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. Her own eyes begged him to touch her. Please. He ran his knuckles down her side, grazing her breast. All the nerves in the left side of her body exploded with chaos. It felt like lighting shooting across her skin, and little bumps rose to the surface of her flesh as she quivered from his touch. Harriette moaned, melting into his hand.

Without warning, his hungry mouth was on hers, drinking in her kiss. He tangled his left hand in her silky curls as he snaked his right hand back up her body. He cupped her breast, squeezing the supple flesh. Her head reeled and she moaned against his lips. She didn't know when he ripped his shirt off but suddenly she felt his hot skin against her bare chest. Is this passion? She had only ever dreamed of it. Her know-it-all demeanor never allowed her to take part in such trysts. She wouldn't tell him that this was her first time. She wouldn't tell him that she was modest, and admittedly, a prude. No. Now she found herself wanton. And she wanted him to make her a woman. To Hell with her prudish ways!

Mickey broke their kiss to turn her away from him. She yelped when he yanked her jeans and her panties down in one swift motion. She lost her balance, falling forward onto her hands, leaning over the bed. His groaning behind her sent shivers down her spine. Her breath hitched as she waited for him to do something, but nothing happened. She looked over her shoulder and saw his smouldering look as he studied her backside. He was also….stroking himself? Her eyes widened as she blushed, and suddenly she felt him against her. She threw her head back as the throbbing and wetness between her legs began to ache with need. She pushed back against him in an instinctual way. She didn't mean to, but she liked the sensation she felt of his member against hers. She needed more. She pushed again, silently pleading for him to fill her. His moans let her know he liked it too. He spread her legs with his knee and her stomach tightened in anticipation.

The moment he entered her she felt a sense of completeness but it was quickly replaced with a shooting pain. She cried out, grasping the old duvet on the small bed. She shut her eyes tightly as he rocked them both against the bed. She cried out, flinching with every thrust, but it wasn't very long before the pain dissipated. His guttural moans behind her began to awaken the fire in her belly again and soon she was moaning from pleasure too.

"Mickey…." confusion clouded her thoughts. There was a tightening sensation. She couldn't think. It was building and becoming more intense. Her breaths quickened and she didn't know what to do. "Mickey!" She couldn't breathe.

"Come for me, love." He thrust faster as she wriggled into him. How? "Release, woman!" He growled at her. The pressure in her core was building too rapidly. Suddenly she cried out as she released her climax. Her whole body quivered and he pushed deep into her once more, moaning with her as he came inside her.

Exhausted, they climbed into the bed next to her trunk, both out of breath but not saying a word. Harriette couldn't believe she just had sex for the first time, with someone she barely knew. She was dazed. She looked to Mickey and found him propped on his elbow, staring at her with a soft smile. She returned his smile with a weak one of her own.

"I know you have to go to Hogwarts, but promise you'll write?" She replied with a long, soft kiss. Oh yes, she would definitely write to him.

AN: Hello! Thank you for all the follows and favorites. I know its been a couple days longer than I normally upload but I haven't forgot about you guys! Also, thank you for the review strivengoddess! I altered this chapter a smidgen and while it doesn't necessarily answer your question, I hope it gives you a little more clarity into Hermione's headspace. Everything will become more clear as the story progresses!

Please leave reviews! They seriously help me write better. I am only human and if there are flaws I would love to correct them! :D