Ron and Hermione spent that morning lying in the sun. It was a beautiful day, and they both appreciated getting some time alone - moments like this were rare when you lived somewhere like the Burrow.
Shortly after lunch, Hermione pulled out a Quaffle and they started to throw it around. However, it was a short-lived game as Ron decided to show off to his girlfriend by demonstrating some of his more spectacular saves from his time as Gryffindor Goalkeeper. They didn't look as fantastic minus the broom though. Ron had also started to get exasperated at Hermione's lack of hand-eye coordination.
"Bloody hell Hermione..." He chuckled as she overthrew the Quaffle and it started to roll down towards the lake. He chased after it and scooped it up with a laugh. "I still can't work out how the brightest witch of our age can't throw a Quaffle."
"Oh there has to be something I'm not good at..." She laughed and started fanning her top. "Plus now we've started playing I've realised it's actually far too hot to be doing anything physical..."
"Oh..." Ron smirked. "Too hot?" He put on his best fake pout as he wandered back over to her, the Quaffle now securely in his hands. "We could go for a swim?"
Hermione laughed. "We could, but I didn't pack any swimwear for us!" She ruffled his hair and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"So?" Ron raised his eyebrows at her. He dropped the Quaffle at her feet before pulling his t-shirt over his head and dumping it on top of the ball.
"Ronald Weasley!" Hermione exclaimed, but she met his eyes with a hesitant smile. "What about everyone else?"
Ron shrugged as he pulled his trainers and socks off, almost losing his balance in his eagerness. "We're miles away from the Burrow. None of the rest of them come down this far and they're hardly going to come interrupt us if they think we're making up!" He smirked. "You can keep you vest on if you're worried about exposing yourself!" Ron knew just the way to tease her safely without annoying her, most of the time. He kept eye contact with her as he unceremoniously pushed his jeans and boxers down in one shove and turned, running naked down to the lake.
Hermione laughed as she watched his pale backside retreat into the water then chewed her lip as he turned and watched her expectantly. She wasn't worried about the lake being too cold; the high levels of magic in the surrounding area of Ottery St. Catchpole meant it kept warm almost all year round (unless it snowed, then it became an ice rink).
She took a cautionary glance up the hill towards the Burrow. She could only see the tip of the topmost tower over the peak, which meant there was an extra advantage that anyone at the Burrow wouldn't be able to see them. "Oh what the hell Hermione..." She chided herself. "You lived in a tent with him for almost a year, he's probably seen it already..." She summoned all her Gryffindor courage before starting to unbutton her shorts.
"Turn around..." She shouted down to him when she finally got down to her underwear. He watched her for a bit then turned around, moving deeper into the lake so the water was sitting at his hips. Taking one last look around, she reached back and unclipped her bra. She added it, and her knickers, to the pile of neatly folded clothes and ran down towards the lake. She quickly submerged herself and made her way over to Ron, sliding her arms around him from behind. "Thank you..." she pressed a kiss against his back.
"I didn't peek..." He grinned but stayed facing away from her.
"I know, but I think it would have been okay if you had..." Hermione said contemplatively, her hand idly stroking his stomach as she carried on pressing kisses against his back. She loved his pale skin and the way his freckles created patterns on his back. Before their time on the run last year, she'd made sure she'd learnt all the charms and potions she could use to protect his skin from the sunlight; knowing that if he'd gotten sunburn he could have made their time even more unbearable. She was lucky that her skin went a lovely olive brown in the sun, but she really didn't want him to burn (although she bit her lip briefly as she thought of how it would feel to carefully massage after sun potion into his skin.)
"Can I turn around yet?" Ron broke her out of her daydream. She felt his fingers slide along her arms and tangle with hers briefly.
"Mmmm if you must. I'm quite enjoying this..." Hermione pressed one last kiss against his skin before reluctantly releasing her hold on him. She watched as he slowly turned towards her and she let out a loud laugh as he caught sight of her bare chest, his eyes popping out of his head.
"Bloody hell, are you actually naked?!" He took a quick downwards glance at her before pulling her to him, pressing her close to his chest. "You should be careful; anyone can see you out here..." His hands snuck lower than the small of her back, just to double check she had gotten rid of her knickers before finally resting them on her hips, holding him to her.
"It's okay..." she laughed at his protectiveness. "I checked and double checked. There's nobody around and we already know that nobody can see the lake from the Burrow. That's why you Weasley kids enjoy it so much down here..."
"Yes, and now we know why..." Ron took a step back in order to take her in better. The water lapped lazily around her upper stomach, making her look even more beautiful. He smiled shyly as she blushed, making a mental note of the blush travelling lower than her neckline. "You're so beautiful..." He pushed a curl out of her face before leaning down to kiss her.
Hermione kissed him back then pushed him away with a splash. Ron retaliated by trying to dunk her in the water. They both marvelled at the ease in which they felt comfortable being like this with each other.
Eventually they tired of the horse play. Figuring he'd probably seen everything now anyway; Hermione took Ron's hand and lead him slowly out of the water.
"I think our early morning is catching up with me," Hermione let out a fake, long yawn as she tightened her grip on his hand.
"Yeah? Maybe you should have a lie down..." Ron trailed after her with that goofy grin on his face.
"I think so..." She led him up to their clothes, knowing full well his eyes were on her bare skin. She let go of him and reached for his discarded t-shirt, pulling it over her head before lying out on the blanket. "You not joining me?"
Ron took a moment to take in the view before him; it amazed him every time she did something like this. She was happy to make everyone else think she was all prim and proper and it made him feel special that she saved these moments for him. He pulled on his boxers before carefully sitting down next to her. "I meant what I said in the lake," Ron leant over her, hovering his lips over hers. "You're fucking stunning..."
Hermione's eyes narrowed, but instead of telling him off for swearing she gave him a small shove, pushing him onto his back. Straddling his stomach, she dropped her head to press a hard kiss against his lips, smiling inwardly as he eagerly returned it. Hermione felt his hands on her bare thighs as she pushed the kisses deeper, moaning against his lips. When she felt he was starting to really enjoy the kisses, she tore her lips from his and slowly started to kiss down his neck and on to his chest.
Ron tangled his fingers in her hair and closed his eyes. He whispered words of encouragement as her lips moved even lower and he felt her pulling down his boxers. He opened his eyes briefly as she pulled away from his skin. "You don't have to if you don't want to..." He pushed her hair away from her face.
"I want to..." She smiled lovingly at him. "Just... warn me..." Hermione blushed bright red again before dipping her head and taking him in her mouth.
She took her time, slowly exploring his body and the different sensations. It didn't take long for him to warn her he was getting close, and she replaced her tongue with her hand, kissing back up to his lips quickly. She held him close as he came, then whispered the quick charm that would clean them both up. Sighing contentedly, she lay her head down on his chest and closed her eyes,
"Was that okay?" She whispered, her finger trailing up and down his side.
"You don't need to keep checking..." Ron smiled as he slide a hand back into her hair. "I love that after 8 years of friendship you can still find ways to surprise me. That sort of thing is always okay!"
Hermione laughed slightly and let out a deep breath. "I always want to keep you on your toes - I never want us to get boring..."
Ron laughed too. "I don't think there's any risk of us getting boring 'Mione."
Eventually Hermione moved off his chest and sat up next to him. Her finger was still drawing patterns on his skin. "Ron?"
He had already closed his eyes, his breathing slow and laboured like he was about to drift off to sleep. He half opened them and turned his head to look up at her. "Yeah?"
She bit her lip thoughtfully for a second. "I don't want moments like this to happen just because we've argued..."
"Is that why you did it?" Ron looked down at her, concern showing on his face.
"No... not at all!" Hermione looked aghast. "I just..." She looked like she was thinking again.
"We do things because we love each other, right?" Ron smiled. He reached out and pulled her back to him. "We're both learning all of this together. We promised each other we'd take things slow and let's face it, I think we're both enjoying this..." He started to kiss her again. "In fact..." He started to push her back against the blanket. "I think it's time I repaid the favour..." Ron tickled his way down her body, grinning as Hermione laughed.