AN: Slightly later than I hoped, but not too bad. Warning: this is a pretty smutty chapter. Enjoy!
December 19th—The Sixth Day of Christmas
It was now the morning of the 19th and Hermione was still trying to work up the courage to see what her friends had bought her from the lingerie store. The more she thought about it, the more her stomach clenched with a feeling of awful trepidation. What if her friends had horrible taste in underwear? What if they bought her the most horrifyingly scandalous garments imaginable? Hermione wouldn't be surprised if they had after seeing what they were choosing for themselves. But then again, they knew better than to get her bodysuits and corsets…
That last realization caused Hermione to get up from her bed and cross the room to the bags full of lingerie. She was going to look at them. No more stalling. She was going to—but who in the hell would name a lingerie store The Frisky Phoenix? Everything about that name was off-putting. Even the bags were bad, what with the golden Phoenix under the store title that looked more like a goose trying to lay an egg. Her reaching hand recoiled as she recommenced her overthinking.
"Oh, what the hell? I'm a Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake! I should be able to look at a few pairs of knickers without having nightmares about it!"
And with that, she opened one of the bags. This bag had only three sets of undergarments in it, which meant it wasn't the scary bag. Truth be told, Audrey actually guessed at her underwear style accurately. Sure, most of Hermione's undergarments were made of pastel cotton, but these sets weren't too far from that. They were all pretty comfy-looking, the first being a light green cotton set with little bits of white lace trimming, the second being a midnight blue silky set without much detailing, and the third being made completely of white lace-covered-silk. They were all simple, pretty, but not too girly. She liked them very much.
Hermione steeled herself as she eyed the unopened bag mistrustfully. Trying hard not to think about the dangerous-looking whips and torture devices she had seen Fleur perusing in the shop, Hermione peeked inside the bag.
The first thing she found in the bag was a bra made entirely out of sheer black lace. She managed to find a matching set of knickers next, and Hermione was relieved to see that the knickers weren't too uncomfortable-looking, even though they were quite sheer as well. If Hermione had to guess, the suspected that these would be from Audrey. Simple but eye-catching was totally her style.
Next, Hermione pulled out what she guessed was supposed to be a pair of knickers, even though they seemed to be made out of about eight different red ribbons crisscrossing each other to attach a small triangle of silk down the center. This intimidated her a bit. What Hermione assumed was the matching bra was actually quite pretty, though. It was a very intricate bralette with all sorts of sheer lace patterns in the front and interesting cutouts in the back. Fleur. Definitely Fleur.
Hermione new just from the soft pink colour of the next set that it from Ginny. Despite the excess femininity of the colour and the fact that the knickers were in the style of a thong, Hermione still wasn't quite running for the hills. The set's redeeming point was the bra, which was made of the softest silk Hermione had ever felt and had removable straps. It would make it easier to wear a dress if she so chose.
The final set (and Hermione was sure to give an overly-dramatic wipe of the imaginary sweat on her brow) was once again not as bad as she had expected. Angelina was always a curveball thrower, especially now that she was pregnant, but her set could have been a lot worse. The bra was a shiny, dark purple demi with lots of thin black straps for the shoulder straps. The knickers were a similar fashion, the crotch piece being a rectangle of the same dark purple material with three thick black ribbons connecting the ends to make the hips of the knickers. But when Hermione turned the garment around between her fingers, she was shocked to find that there was a long cutout down the middle of the crotch piece. Ugh! Trust Angelina to buy her some crotchless knickers…
As Hermione observed all seven sets of underwear, she had the sudden urge to try a few of them on…just for research, of course. She knew that she was really curious to figure out how the spiderweb-like knickers that Fleur gave her would work out.
Hermione stripped off her clothing and transfigured the mirror on her wall into a full-length body mirror so she could examine the pieces carefully. All for research, of course…
She tried on Angelina's purple set first and found that she liked the way that the ribbons of the knickers rested on her hips. She peered in the mirror tentatively but found that she didn't look as hideous as she imagined she would. She looked…sexy? Perhaps just a little…
Dropping the set from Angelina on the floor next to her, she next tried on the three sets that Audrey chose out for her. All of them were quite comfortable, and Hermione found herself actually looking forward to wearing them. They were practical and comfy enough to wear at work, but there was just something about wearing them that made Hermione feel just a little bit more confident, even though she would be the only one who knew about them.
Next was the soft pink set from Ginny. Hermione must have spent about five minutes staring into the reflection of the thong fabric disappearing between her arse cheeks. She had never so much as tried on a thong in her life, and though it was slightly awkward at first, she became slightly more comfortable with it the longer she wore it.
From the two sets left, Hermione chose to try on the sheer, black lace set from Audrey. Once again, Hermione was shocked at how un-horrified she was. All throughout her teenage and adult years, Hermione had always imagined any sort of lingerie to be terrible and entirely too scandalous for someone like her to wear. But now, staring at the reflection of her nude form clad in only sheer undergarments, Hermione felt something akin to the feeling she had experienced the night of the Yule Ball when examining her reflection in that beautiful periwinkle dress. She felt pretty.
And with that last rush of confidence, Hermione finally felt ready to test out the set from Fleur. She tentatively picked up the knickers and tried to sort out where her legs would go. After twisting and prodding for about a minute, Hermione was pretty sure she found the leg holes between all the red ribbons. She slipped them on awkwardly and slid the bralette over her head. Summoning every inch of her Gryffindor courage, Hermione stepped in front of the mirror. Her jaw dropped.
Though this might be the most adventurous lingerie Hermione could have ever possibly imagined, she was surprised at how hot she looked wearing it. Hermione was sure that Ginny had explained this type of knickers to her once…what had it been? Ouvert? Yes, that was definitely it. Her arse was on complete display as the ribbons crisscrossed over her arse cheeks to create a lovely design, and wrapped around to attach a triangle of fabric only big enough to cover from her clit to her entrance. The bralette wrapped up the entire ensemble and added a girly and almost demure note to the otherwise very sinful outfit.
As Hermione fiddled with the ribbons of the knickers, there was a knock on her door. Her heart skipped a beat. Remus.
"Just a minute!" Hermione called as calmly as she could as she rummaged around her room for something to cover herself with. She managed to find a bathrobe in her wardrobe and scrambled to put it on and tie it up.
She then sped back to the door to open it up. Remus was there, leaning against her doorframe casually, looking cute as ever in his signature oxford button-down and slacks. Hermione's heart sped up again, though for a completely different reason this time.
"Good morning, sleepy," he said teasingly. "I hope you haven't been sleeping all day. It's already half past ten."
"No, I haven't been sleeping, as a matter of fact. I've been looking at some of the things I purchased yesterday," Hermione said as calmly as possible, praying to every higher power that she wasn't blushing.
But Remus didn't seem to notice her blush, as his attention had been caught by something over Hermione's shoulder. What could he possibly—oh, fucking shit…
Hermione turned around to find that the pile of lingerie was still lying on the floor only a few feet behind her, and Remus was staring at it with rapt attention. Panicking, Hermione pushed Remus away from the doorframe and shut the door to her bedroom behind them so that they were both standing awkwardly in the cramped hallway.
"I am so—I mean, I forgot to put them away…I just—I'm so sorry!" Hermione said, burying her face in her hands to hide her embarrassment.
There was a moment of silence before Remus softly pulled her hands away from her face. He then lifted her chin with two of his fingers so that she was looking up into his eyes. He had an amused expression on his face, and yet his eyes had darkened in hunger. He looked positively delicious.
"Hermione, did you purchase all that lingerie yesterday?" he asked, his voice about an octave lower and wonderfully rough-sounding.
"Yes," she whispered, not meeting his eyes. She was positively horrified with herself.
"And is that what you've been doing all morning? Have you been trying them all on, seeing what you look like in them?" he asked. His voice sounded so sexy that Hermione couldn't help but look up at his lips. He was looking down at her, looking more aroused than Hermione had ever seen him. She clenched her thighs together as she felt her core clench. She was embarrassed, and yet Remus' reaction was turning her on so much.
"Yes," Hermione repeated, her embarrassment beginning to recede as the tingly feeling of lust started spreading through her body.
Remus looked down from her face to take in the rest of her bathrobe-clad body. Hermione tried not to shiver, and she could feel her pussy beginning to soak the thin knickers, especially as he took a step closer to her, causing her to back into the door behind her. He smirked evilly, and Hermione nearly swooned.
"And are you still wearing some of said lingerie under that bathrobe of yours?" he asked, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Merlin…
Not trusting her voice, Hermione nodded minutely. Her breathing had become heavy, and her eyelids were heavy with desire.
"Would you be willing to show me?" he asked, though this time a little less confidently. He was asking her permission before going further.
In her lust-crazed state, Hermione very nearly said yes. But then she remembered her idea of saving the ensemble she was currently wearing for Christmas day. She was nearly certain that they would sleep together before then at the pace that they were going, and so she wanted to save what she thought was the sexiest and most festive ensemble for later. But that didn't mean that she didn't want to show off to Remus right now…
"Not this ensemble," Hermione bit her lip.
Remus quirked an eyebrow in confusion. "Not this one?"
"It's just…I'm not quite ready to show you what I'm wearing right now. I'm kind of…well, I'm saving it for later," Hermione said, nearly groaning. Why did she have to be so awkward?
Remus blushed a little and looked away. "That's alright. I understand completely. We can wait."
Hermione was horrified with herself. He thought she didn't want him. On the contrary, she had never felt more ready to sleep with him. She placed her hand on his cheek and gently turned his face so that he looked at her.
"Perhaps you'll let me change so we can pick up from where we left off?"
Remus' eyes brightened instantly, and he nodded a little too enthusiastically. Hermione smiled shyly. "So…meet me inside my bedroom in two minutes?"
He nodded once again, swallowing thickly.
Hermione turned to slip back into her room, but a sudden realization caused her to hesitate. "I…um, I threw out the condoms I always keep in my bedroom when I moved in here."
Remus' eyes widened in realization. "I've got some in my room. I'll go get them."
"Thanks," Hermione blushed, then slipped back into her room and closed the door behind her.
She quickly set to work, stripping from the lingerie Fleur had given to her and slipping on the black, lacy set from Audrey. She then shoved the rest of the lingerie into her wardrobe and shut the doors. She used her wand to quickly make her bed and clean a few other things in the room. And finally, inspecting her reflection in the mirror, Hermione slipped the bathrobe back overtop of the lingerie, cast a spell to make sure her legs were hairless and smooth, and then ran her fingers through her curly locks a few times to make herself more presentable.
By the time she had finished this, Remus was knocking on her door.
"Come in," Hermione muttered just loud enough for him to hear through the door.
He slipped through the door awkwardly, three condoms in his hand. Hermione chuckled quietly. "Looks like someone has great expectations for this," Hermione muttered with a bashful smile.
"From what I saw in that pile earlier, and from what I've pictured in my fantasies, I have no doubt I'll be using at least two," he replied thickly.
He took a tentative step forward, and Hermione mimicked him until they were nearly pressed up against each other. One of Remus' hands threaded through Hermione's hair, the other snaking around to rest on the small of her back. Hermione lifted her heavy arms so that they wrapped around his neck, just as she always did. It was the perfect position for her to run her fingers through his messy hair while they made out.
And make out they did.
All the awkwardness dissipated as they kissed each other to the point of dizziness. Hermione, emboldened by Remus' nips at her bottom lip, decided to let one of her hands explore a little. She dragged it down his jaw, down his neck, chest, and stomach until she reached his belt buckle. She began to slowly undo his belt and slip it out of the loops of his pants.
Remus started to explore a little as well, letting his hands travel down her back before circling back up her sides, feeling the slight curves there. Hermione gasped in pleasure as his hands drifted over the sides of her breasts. She could feel Remus smile into her mouth as he let his hands cup and massage her breasts.
Soon enough, clothing was being shed. It started with Remus, as Hermione untucked his shirt and started undoing his buttons.
"It's not pretty," he muttered against her lips as she was nearing the last few buttons.
"You're right, it won't be because I'm the pretty one. But I happen to know for a fact that it'll be really, really hot," Hermione countered breathily.
Remus shook his head and stopped Hermione's hands with his own. "No, I mean the scars. There are lots. I just don't want for you to be taken off guard."
"Alright, that's fair. In that case, I should warn you that I won't be very pretty either." When Remus frowned at her in confusion, she continued. "Remus, we both fought in a war. I had glass prophecies raining down on me in the battle of the Department of Mysteries. I lived in a forest for months, running from Snatchers constantly. I was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange, for Merlin's sake! We've all got scars, Remus. It's nothing to be ashamed of."
There was a moment of silence before Remus began kissing her again with so much more passion and fire. The intensity was intoxicating, and Hermione redoubled her efforts in unbuttoning his shirt.
Soon after, Hermione felt Remus' fingers pulling at the string of her bathrobe. She closed her eyes and took in a calming breath. This was it.
The bathrobe slipped off her shoulders and glided off her into a heap on the floor. Hermione fought the urge to pick the robe back up and hide behind it. Sure, Hermione was no longer a virgin and had been intimate a good handful of times, but she had never worn something so sexual or bold in front of anyone. Something about it was intimidating, but empowering at the same time.
Remus took in her form with a glazed look in his eyes. "So fucking sexy," he whispered, and Hermione shivered. Remus walked back over to her and ran his hands over the newly exposed skin and undergarments, soon taking the bra off and dropping it on the floor next to the bathrobe. In the need to be closer to each other, Remus pulled Hermione so that their naked torsos were flush against each other.
It wasn't long after that that the rest of the clothing fell to the floor and Hermione led Remus to the bed. And boy, was it fantastic. So fucking fantastic.
They ended up using all three condoms.
AN: Yeah, that was absolutely not the way I had planned to go this chapter, but oh well. Please let me know if this was too much sexual detail, not enough, or if I somehow managed to get that sweet spot because I'm not used to writing smut at all. I wasn't sure if people wanted for me to write out the whole shebang (you know, the penis in vagina part) so pretty please let me know your thoughts either in the reviews or through private messaging. Thanks to all and I hope you had a Merry Christmas (or whatever you celebrate)