Disclaimer: All recognizable person, places and things are credited to JK Rowling and I'm making no $$$ is made from this fanfic. DH spoilers abound!!
Chapter 6- What Do We Do Now?
May 25, 1998
What do we do now? That question had been plaguing Harry since the last funeral. As if on cue, the answer came from Hermione, who arrived with a crack of Apparition and ran into the Burrow, excitedly waving a letter in one hand, a piece of toast in the other. Molly was removing the breakfast dishes from the table.
"Have you gotten your letters yet?" she asked Ron and Harry.
"No, the post hasn't arrived here yet," Arthur said.
"What's with the toast?" Ginny teased.
"Oh, mum made me take something. Anyway, it's such good news! The Hogwarts Board of Governors is letting all the seventh years take their NEWTS!" she exclaimed and read from the letter.
"In light of recent events, it would be distinctly unfair to deny those brave students the chance to stand their NEWTS after years of hard work and study. As Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is being repaired over the summer, an alternate location will be announced and testing held the last week of July under the purvue of the Wizarding Examining Authority."
"See? Our names are on the list! We three even get DADA credit!" Hermione said.
"What a birthday present, huh Harry?" Ron said.
Hermione twirled on one foot in joy. "Just think of it-the reading, the revision, studying!"
Everyone smiled at her. Only Hermione would be so enraptured at the thought of the studying. She stopped twirling and looked at Ron and Harry in alarm.
"We only have two months! I'll run home and get my books and we can start studying, I have a schedule in mind!" she declared, gave Ron a quick kiss and left just as quickly as she had arrived.
So that evening, in true Hermione fashion, a study calender was presented to Harry and Ron according to the NEWTs they wanted to take. Hermione wanted NEWTs in Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, so she would study everyday. Harry and Ron opted for Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy; three days of the week were marked off for study.
"But not all day of course," Hermione explained. "We're not going to study ourselves to death."
"I never thought I would hear those words come out of your mouth," Ron teased.
That evening, Ron and Hermione relaxed on a hammock, looking at the stars, just enjoying each other's company.
"I was thinking," he said.
"I never thought I would hear those words come out of your mouth," she teased.
"Ha, ha love. As I was saying, I was thinking about getting my own place," he said.
"Really? Where?" she asked.
"Dunno yet. I'd like a place kind of private, out of the way, like here," Ron said. "Like Bill's place."
"That sounds nice," Hermione said and cuddled closer until one end of the hammock snapped. Ron found himself on his back, Hermione on top of him, untangling some rope from his ear. He was suddenly very aware of her body on top of his, unsure of how she would react to this level of intimate contact.
"This is better than the hammock," he said.
"I agree," she said, wiping the hair from his brow, then traced his lips with her fingertips.
Wanting more than her fingers on his lips, he whispered "Kiss me."
While Ron and Hermione were on the hammock, Ginny was quizzing Harry over shielding charms. They heard a popping sound and a thump from outside.
"What was that?" Harry asked.
When they looked out the window, Harry chortled and said, "Do you think they even noticed that the hammock broke?"
Hermione was on top of Ron, his arms wrapped around her. They looked to be devouring each other's lips. In a second, he swept her under him and they continued even more enthusiastic snogging.
"Damn, that's...," Harry said, not able to articulate what he thought. What could he say to describe the sight of his two best friends looking as if they might start shagging right there in the front yard? Ginny thought the scene looked like one of the covers of her mother's romance novels.
Ron was in bliss. He was finally, finally, connecting with Hermione after years of dreaming about it. Her lips were so soft, yet demanding, against his. He marveled at the feel of her heaving breasts against his chest as she kissed, caressed and whispered loving words in return. He had no idea that she would be so responsive. When he swept her under him, she voiced no objection, but her gasp and sigh of pleasured approval when he settled between her legs was almost his undoing. This was a side of Hermione that he liked very, very much.
Delicious was the only word that came to her happily muddled mind when the bulge in his pants rubbed against the warm, damp crotch of her pants. His repeated, whispered "I love you" were music to her ears. She couldn't stop the soft moan that escaped when he suckled softly under her ear. The warm, throbbing, electric feeling between her legs built with each thrust of his hips.
"Feels so good Ron," she whispered. "Don't stop...please."
He shuddered at the huskiness of her voice, smiled into another kiss and brought a hand to gently massage one of her breasts while humping her. The result was astounding. She gasped, arched her back and gasped "Ohhmmyg-godyes!" as her first orgasm washed over her. Enchanted, he watched her writhe beneath him, her face contorted in ecstasy , fisting his shirt until her climax subsided.
"Did you just...?" he asked.
Breathing heavily, eyes closed, she smiled and nodded.
"Did she just...?" Harry asked.
"We really shouldn't be watching this," Ginny said. "I feel like a pervert."
"Can girls just...go off like that?" Harry asked.
"If the bloke is doing it just right, I guess so," Ginny said. "We're just as sensitive down there as blokes are, you know."
"Way to go Ron," Harry whispered in admiration. Ginny slapped his arm.
The floo sounded. Arthur and Molly, back from dinner, stepped through and saw the two of them looking out the window.
"What's so interesting?" Arthur asked.
Harry and Ginny jumped away from the window.
"Uhh..." Harry stammered.
"The hammock fell," Ginny added.
"I'll just put it back up in the morning," Arthur said and went to the window.
"Did Ron go to bed already?" Molly asked, putting her purse down.
"Oh dear," Arthur said.
"What's the matter?" Molly asked and joined him. "Oh!"
Ron and Hermione were so wrapped up in each other they didn't notice Arthur and Molly approach. Hermione giggled and Ron tapped and kissed the tip of her nose. They scrambled to their feet when they heard Arthur clearing his throat. Molly had to cover her mouth and stifle a laugh at the sight of the two. Ron was flushed redder than his hair. He had a love bite (or was it two?) on his neck and lip gloss on his own lips. Hermione's hair was tousled, adorned with a twig and some leaves. Her eyes had a slightly unfocused, glazed-over look and she was gripping the tail of Ron's untucked shirt in one hand. She too was flushed and let out a shuddering breath.
"Hermione, it's late, won't your parents wonder where you are?" Molly asked diplomatically.
Hermione looked at her watch. "Oh my gosh, it's almost midnight! I have to go!"
"I'll go with you dear, to let your parents know you've been here," Molly said, also wanting to have a word with Mrs. Granger.
"Say good night to Hermione," Arthur said to Ron.
The two shared a quick, searing kiss then Molly and Hermione apparated.
"Come inside son, let's talk," Arthur said.
At the Grangers, the back door opened when the sharp crack of apparition was heard. The Grangers hurried outside and sighed in relief at the sight of the two.
"Thank you for seeing her home," Elizabeth said.
"When Arthur and I went out to dinner, the kids got so caught up with their activities that they forgot about the time," Molly said.
Ian and Elizabeth didn't miss the way Molly said 'activities' and the curious but fond way she looked at Hermione. Ian took Hermione into the house while Molly and Elizabeth talked.
"Do I need to guess the aforementioned activities the kids were up to?" Elizabeth asked.
"I love Hermione as much as I love my own children, but I don't want her to do something she might regret," Molly said. "I know they love each other, but..."
"I'll talk to her," Elizabeth said. "We had the birds and bees talk years ago, but I think it's time for a refresher course."
"Arthur's at home having the same talk with Ron," Molly said.
"Thank you for bringing her home," Elizabeth said. "Good night."
"To you as well," Molly said and left.