This chapter contains mature content, so if you are averse to it, send me a private message and I will gladly post an edited version of this chapter.
Disclaimer: All characters, places, storylines… pretty much everything but my elaborations on Ron and Hermione belong to the almighty Jo Rowling. I didn't feel comfortable rewriting direct quotes, so any quoted dialogue comes from The Half-Blood Prince and The Deathly Hallows.
Chapter 2: Fury and Finality
Hermione stumbled out into the corridor, still trying to catch her breath. I can't believe Ron was… she cut herself off—the memories of Lavender in Ron's embrace were much too painful to dwell on. Not wanting to be seen in such a state of disarray, Hermione paced down the corridor, desperately searching for an unlocked room to hide herself away from her fellow Gryffindors. After turning two stiff, unyielding handles, she made her way into a third room which was thankfully open.
She glanced around the empty room, taking note of the clean, orderly desks which were lined up as they should be opposite the teacher's desk. The waxing moon cast its light through the tall windows of the classroom, bathing it in a cool, bright light. Hermione stalked up the aisle between the student desks and decided to perch upon the large desk at the front. Keep your mind busy. Why not review some of your Charms homework? she coached herself.
Avis! Hermione thought as she used her wand to conjure a small flock of yellow canaries. Hermione prided herself on her nonverbal spellwork, something that most of the students in her year were struggling with immensely. However, the cute, twittering birds that usually warmed her heart and made her smile were having no such effect on that particular evening. Still, she watched them as they circled her head, their tiny wings carrying them upward and onward as her heart sank further into despair.
Ron gasped for air like a man who had been drowning and was hastily brought back to the surface. His lips felt warm and pleasantly swollen as he allowed Lavender to tease his ears with her teeth. I don't know how much more of this I can stand Ron thought frantically, becoming increasingly aware of the pressure in his trousers. Each touch, each new and exciting sensation brought him closer and closer to release.
Ron grabbed Lavender's head and brought his lips to her ear. "What do you say we find some place more private?" he whispered raggedly.
This seemed to be exactly what Lavender hoped for as she nodded her excited consent. Grinning from ear to ear, Ron grabbed Lavender's hand and led her out of the portrait hole and into the seventh floor corridor. He felt slightly nervous at the thought of becoming even more intimate with Lavender, but their embraces from the evening had instilled a fiery determination and hunger that gave him courage as they sprinted along.
Hermione was still directing the birds above her head when she heard a creak of the door, and a cautious Harry entered her sanctuary. "Hermione?" he whispered hesitantly.
"Oh, hello, Harry. I was just practicing," Hermione answered, trying to muster as much decorum as possible.
Harry glanced at the birds and smiled slightly. "Yeah…they're—er—really good…"
A tangible silence filled the room as neither friend could decide how to advance the conversation. Harry, knowing little about the feelings of girls, felt particularly out of sorts trying to understand how she felt.
Hermione, trying to be strong in front of Harry, gathered her dignity and added, "Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations." Once again, the forbidden images of Ron caressing every inch of Lavender Brown crept to Hermione's mind. She felt the familiar stab of grief and anger in her chest and struggled to calm herself down again.
Harry was especially unsure of how to reply to her observation. Thinking that ignorance might be the best approach, he replied, "Er…does he?"
Hermione felt her blood begin to boil, simmering and stewing inside her. "Don't pretend you didn't see him. He wasn't exactly hiding it, was—?" she was cut off by the door creaking open once again. An adrenaline-high Ron came bursting into the room, leading Lavender into the place where he hoped for a more private introduction to Lavender's body.
"Oh," Ron said startled. He glanced around the room and saw Harry and Hermione gawking at the two of them.
Bugger… Ron cursed. He felt Lavender's hand slip easily out of his grip. "Oops!" she giggled, removing herself from the room with cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
Hermione felt her anger raging through her body like wildfire as she watched Lavender leave. That stupid bimbo… I could hex her into oblivion she growled. No… It's all Ron's fault she reasoned. He couldn't wait to attach his lips to the first air-headed, brainless girl to come his way. She only wants him because he's the best friend of The Chosen One.
Ron avoided Hermione's gaze of deepest loathing and tried to cheerfully connect with Harry to cut through the awkward silence. Grinning widely, he said "Hi, Harry! Wondered where you'd got to!"
How dare he… Hermione growled again as she leapt to her feet. "You shouldn't leave Lavender waiting outside. She'll wonder where you've gone," she said calmly as she made her way to the door. She stepped deliberately around Ron and Harry as she reached for the handle.
What's with her? Ron wondered. I know she's mad about Felix Felicis, but come on! Anyway, I'm just glad she hasn't yelled at me. Hermione is so scary when she's angry. Ron sighed a quiet sigh of relief as Hermione turned the door handle.
That complete arse thinks it's over, does he? Hermione fumed. Not bothering with a nonverbal spell, she screeched, "Oppugno!" and watched with a grim satisfaction as her canaries turned ill-tempered and attacked Ron with a ferocity that matched the angry gleam in her eyes.
"OWW! Gerremoffme!" Ron screamed as the birds pecked and scratched his skin to ribbons, all the while twittering irritably.
Hermione looked at the pained expression on Ron's face and couldn't help but feel terrible for hurting him. Sobbing in frustration and the culmination of the night's emotions, she fled from the room and away from the boy who broke her heart.
"What the bloody hell is her problem?!" Ron groused as he continued unsuccessfully evading the attacks of the yellow birds. "Can't you do something about these?" he yelled at Harry.
"Uh—right!" Harry said, getting past his shock of the previous scene. "Finite incantatem!" he bellowed, brandishing his wand. All at once, the belligerent birds puffed out of existence as tiny yellow feathers floated lazily towards the stone floor.
"Thanks, mate," Ron breathed gratefully as he tried to straighten his robes. "So what IS Hermione's problem?" he repeated.
"I honestly don't know," Harry replied. "Maybe you should lay low for a while, give her some time to blow off some steam."
"Yeah…right. That'll work," Ron murmured absentmindedly. I don't even know what she's got her knickers in a wad about. All I did was bring Lavender in here… "Oh! Lavender! I gotta go, Harry. Don't wait up for me tonight," he grinned slyly as he dashed out into the corridor.
"What kept you?" Lavender giggled, running into his arms again.
"Oh, uh… Just practicing a spell for Charms," he replied.
Lavender took note of the scratches and red welts on Ron's exposed skin and looked at him incredulously. "Well from the looks of it, you need loads more practice," she giggled again.
Being about a head shorter than Ron, Lavender stood on the tips of her toes and brought her lips to rest against Ron's once more. Ron eagerly welcomed them and slowly walked them back towards the stone corridor wall. His hands tangled in her curls and continued exploring her mouth with his own as he pressed her back harder into the wall.
Their lips continued to dance together for several moments before Lavender broke them apart. "I thought we were going to find someplace more private," she pouted.
Ron grinned, once again letting the tightness in his pants guide his decision-making. "Let's go!" he panted as he led them farther down the seventh floor corridor.
When he reached the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy on his right, he turned to face the opposite wall. Concentrating with all his might, he walked past the wall three times, desperately thinking I need a place to be alone with Lavender.
Upon request, a door materialized on the wall, its brass handle waiting to be opened. Ron exchanged an excited grin with Lavender before they grabbed the handle together and made their way into what the Room of Requirement had conjured for them.
Hermione had settled herself into her bed in the girls' dormitory and cast looks of loathing at Lavender's empty bed beside hers. Parvati had already turned in for the evening, so Hermione was left alone with her thoughts. Sliding underneath her sheets, she pulled the hangings around her bed closed and cast a silencing charm around her bed.
Ron, you idiot. Why couldn't you wait for me? I was coming to apologize Hermione cried into her pillow. What is so special about Lavender Brown? Why her? Images of Ron and Lavender's bodies entwining continued to torment Hermione as she sobbed herself to utter exhaustion. It's over then. You can't have Ron anymore, Hermione. He made his choice.
Hermione clutched her pillow to her chest in an attempt to stifle the dreadful ache that had resumed hurting her. I don't love Ron. I was just fooling myself. Because that's what I am—a fool. Ron would never have been interested in me. I'm not nearly as lovely as…her. Hermione felt her skin crawl unpleasantly as she saw her roommate's ditzy face spring to mind. In response, a fierce kind of resolve took root in her heart. I will NOT let Ron or Lavender know that they have gotten to me. She can't know that she's won. I won't allow it.
Holding onto her promises, Hermione slowly dried the tear tracks on her cheeks and rolled over to sink into the lonely realm of dreams.
The room was dark, save for a blazing fire in the marble fireplace in front of them. A large canopy bed with gold hangings draped about it and a deep scarlet coverlet dominated the right side of the room. Lavender excitedly took Ron's hand and pulled them towards the bed. She pulled Ron down on top of her and eagerly brought her lips back to his.
Ron moaned as Lavender's tongue resumed exploring his mouth. But now, this did not seem to satiate her—she seemed to want much more. She hastily reached upwards to remove Ron's robes and shirt, quickly discarding the clothing and tossing it towards the end of the bed. Before Ron could reach down to do so himself, Lavender had already shimmied out of her robes and lay bare before him.
Ron could feel his eyes popping out of his head as he surveyed the pale flesh beneath him. Her small breasts were covered by a black bra with a pattern of golden stars and as Ron's gaze traveled lower, he was delighted to see that her black knickers bore the same pattern.
"Like what you see?" she murmured coyly.
Ron nodded and a dazed look appeared on his freckled face. Merlin's Pants! She's so…she's so…he could feel himself salivating. What do I do now? he wondered.
"Can I…can I…?" Ron gestured towards her.
Smiling at his look of wonderment, Lavender whispered, "Touch me, Ron."
Ron hesitantly brought his hand to her covered breast and gently squeezed the soft flesh. This is…wow… he thought incoherently. He heard a small sigh escape Lavender's lips. She's really enjoying this? he wondered in awe.
Feeling coaxed onwards by her reaction, Ron slid his hand cautiously under the fabric to feel her naked breast. He squeezed gently again before feeling of the hardened nub at its peak. He experimentally circled his finger around it, delighting in the squirms he elicited from the girl beneath him.
Ron brought his lips back to Lavender's and kissed her as he continued his gentle touches. As his ministrations became more and more deliberate, her excited moans reverberated harder in his mouth. Ron reached down and practically clawed her bra off of her slender body until both of her breasts were pleasantly exposed.
He lowered his head to the newly uncovered mound and latched his mouth onto its peak. Lavender sighed and panted as Ron greedily sucked on it. This really is fantastic Ron thought ecstatically as his lips acquainted themselves with Lavender's breasts. I want to see the rest he thought greedily, snaking his free hand down towards her spangled panties.
He brought his mouth away from hers long enough to ask, "Is this ok?" gesturing towards her waistband.
"Yes please," she sighed as he hastily removed the tiny garment.
Ron moved his hand back between her legs and felt the new, unfamiliar territory. It was warm and quite moist from their previous activity together. Knowing the basic mechanics, Ron searched for the opening between her folds and inserted a single finger inside of her.
"Yesss," Lavender moaned quietly.
Encouraged, Ron moved his finger in and out of her even faster, savoring the reactions he brought out in Lavender. She writhed under his touch for several moments before she yanked his head back towards her own to crush her lips against his once more. As they kissed, Lavender clumsily tried to maneuver Ron out of his trousers.
Ron felt an embarrassed flush rise to his cheeks as Lavender stared at the obvious tent in his boxer fabric. He shuddered as she grabbed the fabric and tugged it forcefully down his legs. Now fully bared to one another, Lavender's request made Ron nearly lose himself right then and there: "Ron, will you make love to me?"
Feeling his self-consciousness smolder away, Ron positioned himself at her entrance and gently pushed. When nothing happened, he put more power behind his thrust and felt himself slide completely inside her. This is so strange. But dear god does it feel good he thought as he thrust himself in and out of moaned louder as he continued his movements.
Their hearts pounded together—a ragged rhythm joined by their sighs and labored breathing as their pace quickened. After only a few minutes of being joined together, Ron felt himself explode inside of Lavender. His eyes closed as his heart attempted to calm itself down. He breathed heavily and mustered enough strength to roll off of Lavender and flop on his back.
Lavender rolled onto her side and placed one hand gently on his chest. "How does it feel to be a man now, Ron?" she breathed.
Ron slowly turned his head towards her, "Bloody fantastic," he grinned.
A/N: Hey everyone! I hope you enjoyed the second chapter. I know some of the Hermione/Ron shippers may not like that I've included Ron's relationship with Lavender, but I feel it's important to describe what an ass-hat he was so that the fact that he and Hermione wind up together is even more miraculous! Let me know what you think. I'm open to all sorts of feedback! (Just be nice to one another, please!)
–Mimi
