Consequences

A Lonely Bed

"Why me? Why is it always me?"

Harry sat on the bed staring out of the window at the dark grey sky. There was no moon, no stars, no nocturnal creatures prowling the night's sky for food; just huge grey clouds. The weather seemed to be reflecting the way he felt.

He had been unable to sleep properly for the past week since it had all come out in the open. Usually the only things that kept him awake were his nightmares of Voldemort (which, thank Merlin, would never occur again. At least that was one worry out of the way) and the monstrous snores of his best friend. Wait … his now ex-best friend.

Harry resisted the urge to cry. Ron had always been there for him, since his very first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ron had always been his very best friend in the whole world. Ha! Best friend. Harry didn't even know the meaning of the words. How can you be a best friend to someone you betrayed?

"Well that's why Ron's not with you Harry!" he said to himself angrily.

The memories began to flood through his brain as they had for the past week. He glanced briefly at his black watch, which read 2:29am. Laying his head back and staring up at the cream and white patterned ceiling he tried to figure out how he had let this happen.

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"Poor Hermione. I feel sorry for her having to constantly cheer up Ginny!"

Harry and Ron were now at their apartment in London. They had retreated home after the fiasco at Ginny's café earlier that evening. They were sitting in their living room around a small chessboard. As Ron's red Queen picked up her chair and smashed Harry's white Bishop over the head with it, Harry could feel Ron's eyes on him. He looked up to find Ron giving him an odd look.

"What?" he asked curiously.

"What a weird thing to say, Harry." Ron said slowly, "Not 'I hope Ginny's ok', or 'poor Ginny', just 'I hope Hermione's ok.' I swear its Ginny your supposed to be getting married to!"

Ron's eyes narrowed slightly and Harry instantly regretted not feeling sympathy for Ginny in front of one of her many over-protective brothers. Damn his mouth! He lowered his head and spoke quietly. "I am sorry, that was rude of me. It's just so weird … me and Ginny, I mean. I don't know why we are constantly argu …"

His sentence was cut short by the sight of an angel. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar head of beautiful brown hair outside of the window to his right, coming up the path towards their flat. Something inside of Harry did a backflip. He noticed Ron get up to answer the door and return with the angel on his arm. Harry could feel his cheeks develop a slight tint at the sight. Of course he had never told Ron or anyone this, well, he didn't want Ron to kill him, but he fancied Hermione. Well actually, over the past few years, what he had thought was a simple crush had developed into so much more. He was sure that his feelings had been from the day he first saw her mane of shaggy brown hair on the train on his first day but his feelings for her only seemed to develop during his fourth year. Maybe it was the sight of her in that beautiful blue dress on the night of the Yule Ball that triggered his sudden eruption of physical and emotional need for her. He knew that he would never forget the moment before they parted company for bed that very night, as that was when he knew for sure that she was the that it was more than a teenage crush.

It was after she had shouted at Ron. Harry had been sitting in the common room trying to figure out why he suddenly felt jealous of Victor Krum when she wandered in through the hole in the wall. Harry had instantly stood up to hug her as she complained about Ron's ignorance. It was then that her wonderful aroma suddenly intoxicated him. She smelt deliciously of vanilla. Harry's fingers had then instinctively wandered from her back to her neck. Her skin was so soft and silky. That was when he began to feel her fingers exploring his back, his neck, and his hair; making him shiver with delight. He felt her pull away slightly and found himself staring into her deep brown eyes. He seemed to understand what she was thinking as he was thinking the same. Is it you I've been waiting for?

The space between their faces seemed to slowly disappear as Harry's heart began to race. Harry could feel her breath mingling with his as his whole body began to ache for her touch. He then heard her whisper "Oh Harry" in a way that sent his cock rising painfully; however, it soon sank as she backed away from him slowly with a look of sadness and confusion on her face. He watched her shake her head and run up to her dormitory without a backward glance, and was left staring at the spot on the floor that had been occupied by her elegant body only moments earlier, feeling crushed, confused and bloody horny.

One thing that Harry knew for certain about Hermione was that she was territory.

Everyone knew that Ron fancied Hermione, and therefore left her to him. Ever since their seventh year, she and Ron had had an 'on and off' relationship, which left she and Harry getting slightly nervous with each other when left in a room alone together, or else acting as though nothing had ever happened since. But the confused couple were constantly fighting, then making up, then arguing and breaking up, then making up again, much like what he and Ginny were like now. But even when they were on one of their 'off periods', Hermione was still regarded as Ron's. Harry sometimes got the feeling that Hermione was getting bored with Ron. Maybe he wasn't pleasing her sexually … he was sure he could do it better. Ron was always one to seem so unconfident and shy, maybe this affected his skills in the bedroom. All Harry knew was that he could definitely rock Hermione's world.

"Harry! Wake up!" He heard Ron's impatient voice and snapped himself back to reality. "What's wrong with you? You've been out of it for ages."

"Erm … sorry Ron, just have a lot on my mind … you know, me and Ginny." He tried to say this as casually as possible but cringed slightly as his voice wavered when he mentioned Ginny. Damn it! He could face Voldemort, Dragons and Serverus Snape, but he couldn't handle a girl? How messed up was that? It seemed that even after five years of leaving school and three of leaving behind the label of a teenager, talking to girls didn't get easier!

Hi, Hermione. How's it going?" He managed to say casually. Thank Merlin.

"Ok thanks, Harry. Look I need to talk to you in private" she said quietly.

"Oh, well ok," he said. They both looked at Ron, whose ears turned slightly pink. Ron did not like being left out of a conversation.

"Oh alright! I'll go! I was going to Mum's anyway. She says dad wants help painting the kitchen 'cause he wants to do it the muggle way," he said, trying to laugh. Harry could tell it was forced. "I might stay over, I'm only going to get drunk and splinch myself." Harry could tell he didn't want to go. He was a good mate.

"Thanks, Ronald." Hermione said with a slight smile.

"Hmm no problem, but you owe me baby," he mumbled with a forced smile, and gave her a kiss on the lips. Harry looked away quickly at the chess set on the floor. Harry was sure he didn't want to see that at the moment. The way he was feeling, he might feel inclined to punch Ron in the face and knock him out cold, then sweep Hermione off of her feet, drag her into the nearest bedroom and make wild, passionate love to her. Damn it! He had to stop thinking like this! It was beginning to drive him crazy.

After Ron had left, Hermione stood facing Harry, who was still on the floor. She sat gracefully next to him and smiled slightly. God he loved her smile. He loved everything about her. Just the look on her face when she was concentrating on something made his cock rise slowly.

God, don't think about that! You don't want to get an erection in front of her! he thought desperately.

"So … what did you need to talk to me about?" he asked slowly. He wondered if maybe she had come around to ease his sexual tension. Harry's mouth had suddenly become as dry as cotton. He couldn't think straight and his eyes kept drifting towards Hermione's chest. Was it his imagination, or were her nipples hard?

"No stop it!" he thought suddenly, trying hard to keep down his slowly growing erection.

"Well, Harry," she began "I wanted to talk to you … about Ginny."

That was enough to make his penis begin to sink. She had come here to talk about Ginny? Harry didn't want to talk about Ginny. He looked at Hermione, who seemed pretty uncomfortable with the situation. Harry hadn't seen her this worked up since she had helped him to plan how to kill Voldemort.

"Harry … I think … and this is only my opinion … I think that Ginny is … well getting bored." She said quietly.

"Getting bored with me?" he said suddenly. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm boring am I?" Harry could feel his temperature beginning to slowly rise, as usual.

"No, no, Harry, don't get it twisted. I don't think you're boring at all; you're so far from it! I just think that Ginny is getting bored with the relationship, and the arguing … I mean she didn't tell me this specifically … but that's the … erm … impression that I got."

Harry stared at her suspiciously. There was something in her voice that told him different. She hadn't come to purely talk about Ginny. He knew her too well for that. Her posture and body language would be much different for one thing. She sat there playing with her fingers and stared past him while talking, not at him, which is not something that Hermione would usually have done.

"I'm getting … a little hot," she said nervously. Hermione was hardly ever nervous.

She stood up slowly and pulled off her coat. Harry's breath caught in his throat. She looked bloody amazing! She was wearing a beautiful pink and black top that seemed to have a fashionable hole at the side, which revealed her beautifully tanned skin, and a lovely long black skirt that was fitted her well around the waist. Her hair, as untamed as it was, hung perfectly down her shoulders and framed her beautiful face. Harry stood up to admire her in awe. Looking her up and down, he wondered how such an unrevealing outfit could turn him on more than a blonde in a mini skirt and a boob tube top. Biting down hard on his lip, he could see her enchanting body moving closer as all thoughts of suspicion flew from his mind. As he walked towards her slowly, he could feel his mouth drying out. He knew why she was here.

"Hermione …" he said hoarsely, "you … look absolutely gorgeous …" She smiled and blushed gently. He loved it when she blushed. Testosterone rushed through his veins at the sight of her fantastic figure. He slowly continued to walk towards her, unable to control himself. He had to kiss her, he just had too. His body ached with need for her. The voice of reason in his head tried to hold him back but it just wasn't powerful enough.

He stood right in front of her and stared down into her beautiful brown eyes. He knew she wanted it too.

"Hermione … please … tell me what I want to hear," he whispered desperately. "I need to hear you say it." He knew that she could see the desperation in his eyes because the expression was reflected on her face. He placed his hand gently on her cheek and began to trace the lines around her full lips. She opened her mouth to speak but instead let out a gentle moan. Harry could feel his heart pace quicken in his chest; no longer sounding like a beating drum but more like a humming noise that resembled that of a car engine.

"I … I love you Harry! Oh my god I love you!" she said quickly and before she could recover, his lips merged with hers. Hermione hungrily returned his kiss wrapping her arms instantly around his neck as her tongue gently explored his mouth. Nothing needed to be said, they both knew it was going to happen, and they both wanted it so much.

Harry couldn't believe this was happening. His greatest late night fantasies were coming true. He couldn't have stopped now if he tried; his whole body ached for Hermione, he needed to have her, be inside her, and pleasure her.

He continued to return her ravenous yet passionate kisses while pushing her into the nearest bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind him and let his hands fly to Hermione's chest. He tried to squeeze her breasts gently, but between the kisses and his damn shaking hands, he only succeeded in hurting her.

"Ouch!" she cried, after jumping back slightly.

"Hermione … I'm so sorry … are you ok?" he stuttered, wishing that his voice as well as his hands would stop shaking. He hadn't meant to hurt her; he just couldn't help it. He had been waiting for this for so long.

"Lets take it slow, yeah Harry?" she said with a slight smile. He nodded in agreement as he was quite unable to speak at the moment.

Hermione began to slowly undress herself in such an erotic fashion that it left Harry rooted to the spot. His heart nearly leapt from his chest when he saw her standing before him absolutely naked. He felt the familiar ache, the emptiness in his belly, and the quick rise of his manhood as the blood engorged it so abruptly. Damn she looked good! Her tanned skin seemed to bring out the colour of her beautiful brown eyes.

"Wow," he finally managed to say as he walked towards her. "Hermione … you look stunning!"

She smiled and grabbed his hands then moved them over her breasts as she whispered, "I feel better." As Harry's hands moved slowly over the soft skin of her breasts, he felt her hands move to his chest and soon found his shirt lying on the floor. Harry began to play with her nipples; rubbing and squeezing them into hardness as she unbuttoned his trousers and released his extremely rigid staff.

Harry picked up his lover and laid her gently on the bed as he kissed her swollen lips. The sight of her enchantingly beautiful body was driving him wild. He had always dreamed that he would one day be blessed with the sight of Hermione naked beneath him, but the dreams were nothing compared to the real thing!

He kissed her neck as his right hand moved slowly down her soft skin towards her waist. His kisses moved down to her breasts, which he sucked and laved hungrily. Hermione's moans were like enchanting music.

And all too soon, it was over. Harry hugged her tightly as her head rested upon his chest, both panting heavily against the sound of the other's racing heartbeat. He could feel himself growing ever drowsier as he ran his fingers through her hair. It was slightly messy, yet no more than it usually was. He felt her hair tickle his chest and looked down to find her staring up at him. He could see the sadness in her eyes, yet he was afraid to talk about what he knew she was thinking. He didn't want to deal with the consequences just yet. They would be able to deal with it in the morning, as Ron wasn't coming back until then. He kissed her forehead and whispered "I love you too, Hermione. And I only wish I had done something about it sooner."

He was suddenly extremely tired and couldn't hold his eyelids open any longer, but before he was completely overcome by fatigue, he managed to see her flash him a fantastically beautiful smile. He then fell asleep, thinking to himself that everything would be all right.

A piercing scream and a sudden blinding pain in his jaw then awoke Harry.

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Harry moved his hands away from his face and looked at his watch, which now read 2:45am. Staring distractedly at the foot of the bed, Harry vigorously whipped away the tears that invaded his cheeks. He knew that he had betrayed his best friend and his fiancé, and had managed to lose the only family that he had left, but he couldn't deny love. He and Hermione loved each other. What more could they do? He would never have been able to spend another five or six years watching her develop a relationship with someone else. That would only have led him to suicide. Ron was his best mate, but he wasn't right for Hermione. And Ginny wasn't right for him. Harry knew this now. He couldn't even think why he had fallen for her so suddenly, or why his passion for her had always been strongest after he had eaten.

Before he could ponder this further, a piercingly loud smashing sound came from the other room. Staring at the wall, almost as though he could see through it, he imagined Hermione sitting in front of the fire. He knew that if it were him in front of the fire, she would have come to comfort him. She needed a shoulder to cry on … they both did.

Putting on some trousers, Harry slowly and quietly left the bedroom and entered the front room. His heart sank at the sight of his lover huddled before the fire with her chin on her knees. He wondered if she completely regretted sleeping with him.

He crossed the floor and sat next to her. Jumping slightly, she looked up at him, and knew what she saw, a sad pair of deep green eyes, surrounded by glasses and wrinkles of fatigue.

"I'm sorry, Harry," she whispered through tears, "I didn't mean to wake you."

He nodded and put his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. She understood him better than anyone else and he understood her likewise. They were soul mates, but were being punished for realising it.

"Everything will be fine, Hermy," he managed to say, thankful that his voice sounded strong. He wanted to be strong for her, but really he was crying his eyes out inside, wishing his mother were there to give him advice. She would know what to do. He was sure of that.

"I promise … we'll work this out," he whispered as a single tear escaped from beneath his slightly fogged frames.