Chapter 3: Hermione's Awakening

A couple of days after the battle, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Luna were killing time outside the front of the castle and discussing what had happened between them a couple of evenings previously. The two boys had gone away briefly to see Hagrid, leaving Luna and Hermione together.

"Hermione," said Luna, "I'm sorry if I was a bit forthright with you the other night. I was high on Neville's love and may have said and done more than I should."

"There's no need to apologise." said Hermione, "I needed something to shock me into realising where my rather closed attitude to Ron was taking me. I now realise I'd built a wall between us."

"How are things between you now?" asked Luna.

"Better, I think." said Hermione, "When we held each other that evening, I realised what I'd been missing in our relationship. Thank you. I'll see where this afternoon takes us."

"Hopefully, you two will finish melting the ice, and enjoy each other." said Luna, "Anyway, here come the boys."

Ron and Neville returned from their visit to Hagrid and took up their seats next to their partners.

After a few more minutes, Neville and Luna made their way down to the forbidden forest, so that Luna could introduce Neville to the thestrals and the centaurs, leaving the other pair on their own. The warm spell of weather had continued. If anything, today was even hotter than the day of the battle.

Hermione, in spite of the weather was still wearing the long sleeved, dark brown, woollen calf length dress she had been wearing when Luna had challenged her attitude to life and love a couple of evenings ago. Ron, as usual, wearing a tatty pair of jeans and a t-shirt, made her look smart, if a little overdressed for a hot day.

"'Mione," said Ron, "Why are you wearing that when it's so hot?"

"Because it looks smart." said Hermione, not very convincingly, "In any case, I couldn't get at my wardrobe. There's a big lump of stone wedged in front of it. Ginny's is okay. That's why she could find those dresses for Luna, the other night."

"You must be hot?" commented Ron, "Couldn't you use magic to shift the rock?"

"I tried, but there seems to be a curse on it." said Hermione, "Anyway, I'll think of something."

"I've got an idea." said Ron, "Let's go up there now and see if we can shift it together. It shouldn't take more than about twenty minutes."

"Okay," said Hermione, "Let's go.

Ron and Hermione made their way back into the castle and ascended the stairways to the Gryffindor common room. Having made sure there was no one about, they entered the girls' dormitory.

I think that if we both pushed it," said Ron, inspecting the rock, "It should move. Physical effort should overcome magic. "

The couple put themselves between the rock and the wall either side of the wardrobe and pushed hard. The rock started to move, overbalanced, fell away from the wardrobe with a resounding crash and cracked in half.

"Thank you so much." said Hermione, "That'll make life so much easier."

"It only needed a bit of brute force and ignorance." said Ron.

Hermione opened her wardrobe and selected a sleeveless Summer dress and put it in her bag. She also put a few other items in it, including a couple of towels.

"Aren't you going to change?" asked Ron.

"No, that can wait till later." said Hermione, "Let's go back out."

Ron and Hermione made their way back down to the front of the castle and emerged into the hot sunshine. They had only taken ten minutes.

"You must be so hot in that dress?" said Ron.

"I must admit I am," said Hermione, "But I'm going to take you somewhere cool and romantic."

Hermione led Ron down towards the Black Lake, where she believed it would be a lot cooler. She said that the place she was headed for was very secluded.

"Where are we going?" asked Ron.

"You'll find out." said Hermione, "It'll be somewhere quiet where we won't be disturbed."

On the way down to the Black Lake, Hermione held Ron's hand. He felt this was unusual, but accepted the gesture. All kinds of thoughts were running through Ron's mind as they descended the slope to the left of the castle. The fact that Hermione was holding his hand made him wonder, also she had used the word 'romantic' to describe the place they were going. Bearing in mind how unpredictable Hermione had been towards him in the recent past, he wasn't sure whether to be elated or apprehensive. His 'worst case scenario' was that she was about to dump him and she was taking him somewhere secluded, where their parting conversation would not be overheard. The fact that she was still wearing her rather severe brown dress added to this impression. However, a little corner of his mind did hope that Luna's extraordinary intervention a couple of nights ago had had some effect on Hermione's attitude to him. After all, she was holding his hand and had said they were going somewhere 'romantic'. That was a good sign, wasn't it?

At last, they reached an area of smooth, soft grass on the other side of the Black Lake. Hermione checked on the position of the Sun and ascertained which areas were going to be in sunlight or shade during the next couple of hours. She selected a place which would be in sunlight within the next hour or so. Reaching into her bag, she produced two travel rugs, the towels and a large tube of muggle sunscreen cream, as well as two bottles of water. Ron was slightly mystified, but inwardly pleased.

"Ron," said Hermione, cautiously, "How do you feel about me?"

"What a question!" said Ron, "I think you know the answer to that one. You're the one person who seems to show me some affection, in spite of your 'ice maiden' attitude to me in recent weeks. I do still love you. You're a wonderful person. You're also a walking encyclopaedia, who seems to have the answer to everything."

"Would you like to get to know me better?" asked Hermione.

"Wh - what do you mean?" asked Ron, hesitantly, "Of course I would!"

Hermione took off her shoes, spread the travel rugs on the grass, produced the sunscreen and the water and lay on her back on one of the rugs. She invited Ron to join her. This he did, after removing his shoes and socks. The couple lay on their backs, looking up at the sky for a while. Hermione found Ron's hand and linked her fingers with his.

"This is nice." said Hermione, "Just laying here with nothing to worry about. Just us two. Incidentally, aren't you hot? I am."

"What a strange question," said Ron, "Coming from someone dressed for Winter."

"That's what I was coming to." said Hermione, "When I turn over, would you like to undress me?"

Ron was so surprised, he was practically speechless. His lower jaw dropped. He propped himself up on one elbow.

"What!?" exclaimed Ron, "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course," said Hermione, "But do it slowly, as if you were unwrapping something really delicate."

"Okay!" said Ron, hesitantly, "May I touch you?"

"Of course," said Hermione, "It would be hard to put the sunscreen on me without touching me, wouldn't it."

"S'pose!" said a quietly pleased Ron.

Hermione, true to her word, turned over on to her front. Ron, as requested, unfastened the catch at the top of the dress and slowly and gently slid the zip fastener down to her waist, revealing a narrow strip of pale skin down the centre of her back. Ron could not resist the temptation any longer. He caressed and kissed the newly exposed skin, earning a gasped "That's lovely!" from Hermione.

Thus emboldened, Ron spread the top of the dress outwards to expose most of Hermione's shoulders and back. He explored her shoulder blades and let his hands stray inside the garment all the way down towards her waist. The feel of her warm, smooth skin under his hands produced a surge of excitement in his loins.

"That feels so good." said Hermione, "I'm surprised. Your hands are even gentler than Luna's. This is so relaxing. You can take it right off my shoulders if you like."

Ron did this, revealing more and more of Hermione's beautifully smooth pale skin. Each new area of freshly exposed skin received gentle caresses and lots of sweet little kisses. He also slid the zip the remainder of the way down, so he would have more access to her graceful back.

"I think you're enjoying this." said Hermione, "I certainly am. Hang on a bit. I'll make it easier for you."

"I am," said Ron, "You feel lovely, so soft, so smooth."

Much to Ron's utter astonishment, she sat up and took her arms out of the dress sleeves, letting the dress drop to her waist. She resumed her prone position.

"If you want more," said Hermione, "It would be good if you uncovered. Now I'm showing some skin, you seem a bit overdressed."

"Okay!" said Ron, taking the hint and removing his t-shirt.

Ron then lay face down on 'his' rug and let Hermione gently explore his back. His enjoyment was evident.

"Aaaah! That feels so good!" gasped Ron, "Don't stop yet. Your fingers are so gentle. This is what's been missing from our relationship for so long. I'm loving it."

After a while, Hermione stopped her attention to Ron and turned over to lay on her own back. Ron caressed and planted lots of gentle kisses on her shoulders and collar bones. Shortly, his kisses and caresses migrated to her midriff.

"Would you like to go lower?" asked Hermione.

"If you'll let me." said Ron.

"What are you wearing under your jeans?" asked Hermione.

"Black boxer shorts, why?" said Ron.

"I think you'd look nice without your jeans." said Hermione, smiling sweetly, "You've got such lovely skin."

Ron stood up and removed his jeans. Hermione also stood up and let her dress drop to the ground, leaving her clad only in her bra and a thong.

"Oh Merlin, you're stunning!" exclaimed a surprised Ron, "You look even lovelier in daylight."

Hermione walked towards Ron and embraced him. The couple made the most of this, exploring each other's backs. Ron particularly relished the feel of Hermione's gentle hands against his bare skin. She caressed his back from his shoulders to his thighs. She resisted the temptation to comment about the bulge in the front of his boxers.

"Thank you so much." said Ron, "You've been so wonderful to me this afternoon."

"Don't thank me yet." said Hermione, "We haven't finished."

With this comment, she lay down on her back. Ron resumed his attention to her chest and midriff, this time letting his fingers and lips explore right down to her thong. By this time, the sun was approaching their area of lawn. Hermione suggested that they lay in full sunlight for a short while before applying the sunscreen to supplement their vitamin D. Before they lay down, they embraced again. Ron slid her bra straps off her shoulders during this embrace. The sight of her bare shoulders, devoid of straps more than pleased Ron. He gasped with pleasure.

"You can take it right off if you like." said Hermione.

"Do you really mean that?" asked Ron, astonished.

"Yes, I don't want any tan lines," said Hermione, "So It'd be lovely if you took it off."

Ron did not need any further prompting. While embracing her, he gently unclipped her bra. As they disengaged, the garment dropped to the ground, revealing her perfect breasts. Ron gasped. The couple once again lay on their backs next to each other. He leant across and gently caressed her chest, tracing the outline of her rib cage. Once again he felt the urge of temptation and moved his hands towards her breasts. Hermione offered no resistance. Ron gently caressed each breast, running his fingers round her nipples. This earned him some gasps of pleasure. Having had such sudden open and unexpected access to his beloved's body, he felt impelled to ask her a question.

"'Mione," said Ron, "What do you really feel about me? Since the battle, you've been sending me mixed messages."

"I know I have," said Hermione, propping herself up on one elbow and facing Ron, "And I'm sorry. I love you - deeply, sweet Ron. When we were in the temporary common room the other night, Luna made me realise I was putting up needless barriers between us and driving you away. Today, you've proved to me that your love is gentle, warm and sincere. You've been so tender with your sweet kisses and caresses, and you've undressed me so gently. As I said, I love you deeply and sincerely. What you did in the dormitory just now was really lovely and showed me just how much I must mean to you. You're a good person, Ronald Weasley."

"Thank you." said Ron, "That, coming from you, when you're nearly naked, seems so sincere and believable. You seem so much more 'you' without clothes. This afternoon, you've changed. You're being the Hermione I've always wanted to love. I hope this is real and not a dream."

"What a lovely thing to say. I assure you you're not dreaming." said Hermione, "You also seem so sweet and vulnerable when you're undressed. It makes me feel real love for you. Anyway, we've been unprotected in full sun for long enough. Would you like to put the sunscreen on my back."

"With pleasure!" said Ron, as Hermione handed him the tube.

"Actually, since you're a redhead," said Hermione, "It might be better if you put yours on first."

"That's thoughtful of you." Said Ron, "I'll do that."

Ron applied the sunscreen to his own body, not forgetting his legs. After this, Hermione applied the cream to his back before putting it on herself. She let Ron put it on her back. The couple lay down on their stomachs and settled down to some serious sunbathing.

"Do you think anyone will see us here?" asked Ron after about half an hour.

"Very unlikely." said Hermione, "In any case, I cast a privacy charm around us."

"That's good." said Ron, "You seem to think of everything."

After a further twenty minutes, the couple turned over and lay on their backs. Once again, Ron felt tempted by Hermione's beautiful body. He turned towards her and started tenderly caressing her breasts, gently tweaking the nipples, which stood up. This earned him another deep sigh of pleasure.

"Aaaah!" sighed Hermione, "That's so nice. Do it some more."

Realising what was more than probably about to happen, she reached for her dress, extracted her wand and cast a contraceptive spell.

"You can go further if you want to." said Hermione, "But if you want to see all of me, you'll have to shed your boxers."

Ron was a bit hesitant about this one. He had never been totally naked in front of a girl. Hermione sensed his reluctance.

"I'll help you." said Hermione, "Stand up."

The couple stood up and once again embraced and kissed, exploring each other's bodies with roving fingertips. Hermione slid her hands inside the back of Ron's boxer shorts, squeezed his buttocks and then slid the shorts down to his thighs, freeing his erection from its confinement. He finished removing them.

"That wasn't so bad, was it." said Hermione, "How does it feel to be naked?"

"Good." said Ron, "I feel free. It's nice feeling the cool air round my middle."

"And it certainly looks as if you want me." Said Hermione, smirking, noting Ron's erection.

Ron and Hermione lay down on their backs again. Ron turned towards Hermione and started caressing her hips. This time, his fingertips strayed towards Hermione's mound, burrowing under her thong.

"You can take it off." said Hermione, "I won't stop you."

Thus encouraged, Ron carefully untied Hermione's thong, revealing her smooth hairless pussy with its generous lips. He surveyed her now totally naked body and expressed his wonder.

"Bloody Hell! You're perfect!" exclaimed Ron, "I want to kiss you all over. You're so lovely."

"Wow, Ron!" said Hermione, kissing and stroking Ron's shoulders "That's sweet, because I feel like doing the same to you."

He embraced her and showered her body with lots of little kisses, concentrating on her breasts and her lower abdomen. Hermione also showered Ron with her kisses and caresses, not neglecting his ramrod stiff penis. She then encouraged Ron to explore her pussy with his hand. He was a bit hesitant at first, so she gently guided his fingers into her slit. He wasn't quite sure what he would find, but his fingers found a firm spot. Hermione shuddered and gasped when he touched it. He withdrew his hand.

"That felt wonderful. Do it again," gasped Hermione, "But be gentle. It's very sensitive."

Ron complied, gently stroking Hermione's clit and earning gasps and moans of pleasure from her. While he was doing this, she located his erection and started to massage it. It wasn't long before he felt he was about to cum.

"Hold it 'Mione!" said Ron, "I'm very near letting go."

Hermione ceased her attention to Ron's member and encouraged him to probe her opening, firstly with his fingers and then with his tongue. As a result of this digital and oral stimulation, she was becoming very excited - and very wet. She felt that she could not hold back for much longer.

"Ron!" said Hermione, "I want you - Now!"

Ron positioned himself over Hermione and guided his member into her vagina. He had to use a little force to penetrate her, but once he was in, he started thrusting, gently at first, then faster and more forcefully. As he did this, Hermione bucked and moaned, while amplifying Ron's thrusts. As Ron dropped his load, she gasped, yelped and almost screamed. The couple spent the next few minutes gently caressing and kissing each other as the excitement generated by their unexpected twin orgasms gently subsided.

"I - er - oh wow!" gasped Hermione, almost incoherently, "That was so wonderful. I never realised I could feel like that. Oh sweetest Ron! I do so love you."

With this, she embraced Ron and kissed him deeply, while exploring the whole of his back with her gentle hands.

"I think we've just committed ourselves to each other." said Ron.

"We have." said Hermione, "What we just did is the ultimate expression of total love. I'll love you to the end, sweet Ron."

"I'll love you for ever as well." said Ron, kissing Hermione.

After this unexpected but welcome physical encounter, Ron and Hermione, both now completely naked, continued their sunbathing, while still continuing to gently caress and explore each other's bodies. As the sun started to go behind the trees on the other side of the Black Lake, Hermione had an idea.

"Ron, I'm still feeling quite warm." said Hermione, "Let's go for a swim."

"That's an odd suggestion." said Ron, "Why?"

"It'll wash all the sweat and sunscreen off," said Hermione, "And we'll feel fresh. That's why I brought the towels."

"S'pose!" remarked Ron, "But we haven't got any swimming gear."

"We don't need it." said Hermione, "We only need our birthday suits. It's called skinny dipping."

The couple got up off their rugs and waded into the lake. They spent the next half hour swimming around in the lake, naked, splashing each other and generally enjoying the cool water and each other. They emerged and ran around for a few minutes before picking up the towels and drying each other. Before getting dressed, the couple embraced and kissed with some passion, enjoying some final skin to skin contact. Hermione reached into her bag and pulled out the light, sleeveless summer dress she had brought down from her wardrobe earlier. She neatly folded her brown woollen dress and put it, the rugs and towels in her bag. Once the couple were dressed, Hermione cancelled the protective charms she had put round 'their' area of grass. They set out back to the castle, holding hands and smiling.

They returned to the front doors of the castle just as Neville and Luna returned from their exploration of the 'Forbidden Forest'. They were smiling, laughing and joking. Hermione's arm was round Ron's waist.

"You two seem very happy." said Luna, "And you're looking very fresh, Hermione. You must have enjoyed your afternoon together."

"We have!" said Ron, smiling broadly, "I've found the real Hermione, and she's wonderful."

"Yes," said Hermione, also smiling, "We're a real couple now."

"We totally love each other." said Ron.

As if to underline their comments, Ron embraced Hermione and kissed her deeply and passionately. Hermione responded. It was obvious, from the way their hands explored each other's bodies during the embrace, that they were now truly in love.

"Wow!" exclaimed Luna, "You have changed, and it's wonderful to see. You're 'softer' and more human, somehow. Ron looks really happy. A couple of evenings ago, you looked like two people who didn't want to be in the same room as each other."

"I think that's down to you, sweet Luna." Said Hermione, "You made me realise just how cold and dry I'd become. I don't know how I can thank you. You've changed both our lives."

The two girls embraced warmly.

"Anyway," said Neville, "What have you two been doing all afternoon?"

"Basically, sunbathing, skinny dipping and enjoying some togetherness at the Black Lake." said Ron, "Getting to know each other. It was so lovely. We're back in love again."

"Skinny dipping!? Togetherness!?" exclaimed a surprised Neville, "You certainly have been getting to know each other. I believe you'll stay together after this. On today's evidence, you'll make a lovely couple."

After this, it was plain that Hermione would never again put up emotional barriers between herself and Ron. The pair were now so much closer to each other. Ron, for his part mellowed and was less of a 'Jack the Lad'. He was much more tender and gentle in his dealings with Hermione. She responded by expressing her growing love for him at every opportunity. As they had spent most of what should have been their seventh year hunting horcruxes, they had to return to Hogwarts to take their NEWTS. After their final year, it was inevitable that they would cement their relationship with engagement, and ultimately, marriage.

As for Neville and Luna, they were already an established couple, deeply in love with each other. During Luna's seventh year, Neville stayed at Hogwarts as assistant to professor Sprout so he could be close to his sweet Luna. Unfortunately, her quest for mythical creatures got in the way of their relationship. After she graduated from Hogwarts, she went away alone to Scandinavia, India and the Far East in search of the creatures. Also, because of his actions in the battle of Hogwarts, Neville was offered a post as an auror in the newly created 'Muggle Communication' division of the Ministry of Magic. When Luna returned from her research, she joined the Bristol office of the same division. They had been separated for over two years. Both of them entered into relationships with muggles. What they didn't know was that these two particular muggles had previously been in a very close relationship with each other. They were reunited at a liaison conference between the London and Bristol offices. The two muggles had played a major part in persuading Neville and Luna to attend the conference as they were both apprehensive about meeting each other with their new companions. Neville took advantage of Luna's presence at the conference to propose to her in the grounds of the conference venue. She accepted. The two muggles also realised they still loved each other, renewed their relationship and also committed themselves to marriage.