Maybe it's All For the Best

Chapter21: Underwear

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EAILY OFFENDED BY SUGGESTIONS OF SEXUAL SITUATIONS. I DON'T MEAN TO OFFEND, THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES. I HAVE CHANGED THE RATING TO SUIT THE CHAPTER. THANKS, PLEA.

I was just hushing everybody when we heard the crack in the room signalling Harry and Roe's arrival.

"Why are the lights –"

I jumped up and waved my wand to turn on the lights. "SURPRISE!" Everyone exclaimed at once. The sound was really deafening and Harry jumped in surprise.

"I.. uh... whaaat?" He started laughing as it dawned on him what was happening. I bit my lip. He turned to Roe but she shook her head and pointed to me.

"Talk to her. It was her idea" She shrugged and moved away to get a drink. Harry turned to me and smiled.

"Riley this is–"

"HARRY MATE!"

"HAPPY BRITHDAY HARRY!"

Seamus and Dean jumped over to us and slung their arms around Harry. An annoyed look passed over his face and I hid a smile and shrugged turning to talk to Lavender and Parvatti about life in New York.

"YOU'RE PREGNANT?" I heard Draco exclaim across the room. We all glanced over as they hugged and kissed and laughed.

"Wow. Mini Malfoy is on the way" Seamus breathed. I laughed.

"That's so awesome!" I exclaimed and went over to my sister. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"When have I had the time?" Roe laughed.

"Wait, Riley you knew about it?" Avery squawked. Roe and I exchanged a look.

"Yup. That's pay back for not telling me about Fred but telling her" I grinned. She rolled her eyes.

"For the LAST TIME, she accidentally found out!"

"Well so did I!" I laughed.

"OH MY BABY!" Mum exclaimed, pushing me out of the way to hold Roe tightly. "My baby is having a baby and my other baby is getting married" She gripped my arm. "You're so grown up!"

"You have another baby, you know" Avery grumbled. I pulled her arm and yanked her into the hug.

Mum and Dad fussed over Roe for at least an hour. Mum cried because she had a baby girl who was engaged and a baby girl who was pregnant. Avery cried because her little sisters did everything before her. Dad took Draco aside to congratulate him... and warn him that if anything were to happen to his grandchild he was holding Draco responsible.

My Dad the protector.

"That's so awesome!" Ginny clapped her hands. "Shot gun being god parent!"

"Hey no fair!" Hermione laughed and slapped Ginny's arm lightly. I laughed.

"So glad I don't have to compete... I'll always be the favourite aunt" I flicked my hair, a smug look on my face. Hermione and Ginny laughed and smacked my arms simultaneously.

"Nuh uh" They said at the same time.

I laughed and then jumped as arms slid around my waist. Lips were planted on my cheek. "I meant to thank you before... for all of this" Harry's voice was soft in my ear. I sucked in a sharp breath.

Hermione and Ginny exchanged a look before turning and walking away. Their heads were bent close together and I knew they were whispering something about us.

I turned around and smiled at him, trying to put some distance between us... but failing miserably.

"You're very welcome Mr Potter... Happy Birthday" I leant up and kissed his cheek. He kept his arm firmly around my hip and continued to smile at me.

"Well this is great... I'm actually glad I'm doing something" He looked around at all our friends.

"It's kind of like a joint 'Happy 21st Harry-Goodbye Riley' party... so it's not all for you" I smirked. He chuckled and brushed his thumb up and down the bare skin showing on my hip. It shot shivers up and down my spine.

"I'll live with that" he shrugged. I smiled and took another sip of my drink. "Do you really have to go home so soon?"

"Harry, I've been here for a month" I reminded him. "Yes I have to go back to New York"

"Not long enough" he shook his head. "I miss you, Riles"

"I miss you too" I sighed bitterly. I gave up trying to keep my distance and rested my head against his shoulder. "But I can't come back"

"Why? You're not happy in New York, Riley..."

"Harry, please, don't start this again" I lifted my head and looked at him. "I explained to you the other day why we couldn't be together. I have a commitment –"

"Yeah I know, to the jackass" Harry rolled his eyes. "I love you Riley... I always have and I always will... and I'm not going to give you up without a fight" He gripped my hand and kissed it lightly.

"Harry please don't" I murmured, brushing hair off my face.

"Why not Riley? Because Nate will get mad? Because he'll somehow find out? Because you know, deep down if you ever compared us I would come off better?" He snapped. "You told me you still loved me first. I didn't say anything but you said it fir–"

"You called me baby... and reminded me about our moonlit broomstick rides" I pointed out. "You confused me"

"Sorry love, you confused yourself" He shook his head. He looked at me wither a fierce look in his eye. His grip tightened around my hip "I want you home, I want you to live here... Teddy loves you..."

"Don't bring him into this" I said sharply, letting my hands drop from his chest. "It's not fair to bring Teddy into our argument"

"Why? Because you love him as much as you love me? You know he adores you... He's always so excited when he sees you"

He had a point. I would miss that little boy more than anything. This hurt, a lot. It tugged at my heart and caused it to swell painfully.

"You're not being fair Harry" I gasped. I could feel tears burning my eyes and I blinked rapidly. "You're being an asshole"

"No. I'm fighting... like I should have done a long time ago" He gripped me around the waist.

"Please don't" I gasped.

"Why?" He demanded, squeezing me slightly.

"Because I don't think I'll be able to fight you" I admitted, choking on a sob.

Somehow, over the music I heard the doorbell ring. It was like the school bell, letting me out of class; An escape from his temptation. "I better get that... Roe and Avery are in the kitchen discussing baby names" I mumbled, before pulling away from him.

"Right... You run away again" He nodded, downing the rest of his butter beer. He slumped back against the wall, his hand running thought his hair, messing it up even more.

I wanted to badly to fall into his arms and tell him he was the only one I wanted. I wanted to kiss him too. I wanted to kiss him a lot. I gritted my teeth and turned away from his sexy ass.

I ran a hand through my hair as I walked away from him to answer the door.

"You are such a bitch!" Sarah snarled at me as she pushed past.

"Oh gee Sarah, come right in" I sighed with an eye roll.

"You kidnapped Teddy! You're lucky I didn't call the damn police!" She shrieked. "What the fucking fuck are you playing at?"

"Wow, you're eloquent when you're mad" I said dully. Her face went a brighter shade of red.

"Harry is mine bitch... You left him and you don't deserve him... You're just leading him on like a little slut"

She may have been short, but she managed to get right up in my face. I wanted nothing more than to just slap her senseless.

Instead I took a step back. "You're right. I am leading him on... You win" was all I said. Her eyes widened. "I have my own life in New York, which I will be going to very soon. I'm not a threat to you" I let a small smile touch my lips.

"This better not be some plan to make me look stupid" She looked around, probably for Roe.

"It's not. I'm sorry for not inviting you. Harry likes you, so does Teddy. They deserve someone who can look after them" I nodded my head, trying to convince myself that my words were right. "Have a nice night Sarah" I smiled at her and walked back into the party.

I didn't go back to Harry, instead I joined Seamus and Dean in conversation.

"Hey Seamus, you're single right?"

His eyes widened and he held his hands up. "I am love, but there is no way you're going to get me to be a pawn in your game to make Harry jealous" He shook his head vigourusly.

I raised an eyebrow. "No, you tool. I'm engaged and I'm not interested in Harry" I shook my head.

"It sure looked like you were" He grinned and winked at me suggestively. I glanced at Dean, who was also grinning suggestively.

I rolled my eyes and tossed my hair over my shoulder. "Whatever... So you're single?"

"Yes?" He answered, a little confused.

"Good. I have a friend back in New York that you should meet. She's about this big, dark hair, BIG blue eyes and has a thing for Irish guys" I smiled, describing Katie to him.

"She's a muggle?"

I shook my head. "Witch... she's the only one who knows about me in New York" I smiled. I missed her a lot.

"Well I might just have to come and visit you love" He grinned and tipped his glass to me. I smiled and chinked mine against his.

On the other side of the room I could see Harry standing stiffly with an arm around Sarah. He suddenly didn't look very happy. She, however, looked like the cat that got a canary covered in cream as she chatted happily to Angelina and Alicia.

I bit my lip and leaned against the wall. Harry looked over and caught my eye. He cocked his head to the side. 'You ok?' He mouthed. I nodded with a smile and turned to pay attention to the conversation with Seamus and Dean again.

I wasn't ok, but it was for the best. We'd both find something better; me with Nate and Harry with Sarah.

It's all for the best.

As the night wore on, the music got louder and the drinks flowed more freely. Soon we were a bunch of semi-drunk 20 year olds, partying like there was no tomorrow.

I pushed the thought of me leaving to the back of my mind and concentrated on the here and now. The here being the party, the now being dancing with Ginny.

"I need a drink!" I waved my hand over my face to signal I was hot. She grinned and nodded and held her hand up to signal she wanted one too. I nodded and pushed through my friends to the drinks table.

I never made it however, because a hand grabbed my arm and pulled me into the shadowy hallway.

"What the hell!" I screamed.

"You've been avoiding me" Harry's low voice in my ear made me shiver.

"I've been busy catching up" I shrugged. It wasn't a total lie. I had been catching up with people... who were on the other side of the room to Harry. "Besides, you've been with Sarah... where is she anyway?" I realised there was a lack of short annoyingness.

"Getting drinks or something... I don't know" He replied lazily.

"You should go and find her" I smiled. I turned to walk away from him but he caught my arm.

"I'd much rather stay here with you" He replied.

"Well I can't" I shook my head. "I have to get a drink for Ginny" I turned away again.

He pulled me back and into him, locking his arm around my hip tightly. "Will you stop trying to walk away from me?"

"Only if you stop manhandling me" I responded. His eyes widened in surprise.

"What did you mean when you said 'I don't think I'll be able to fight you'?" He asked, pushing some hair off my face.

I sighed and looked at his hands holding tightly onto one of mine. "It doesn't matter"

"It does to me" He growled. I looked up and stared into his crystal green eyes. They were so beautiful. I used to dream about having kids with him, and all of them had those green eyes. It was impossible now.

"I meant that if you tried to fight for me, I don't think I'd be able to put up much of a fight against you" I admitted with a sigh. I'd never been able to resist his eyes. "I love you Harry... but..."

"There are no buts" He cut me off. "Riley, I love you. If there is even the tiniest hope of me getting you back, I'm going to hang onto it"

"I can't... I'm engaged and I –"

"Riley, you've told me and you know what? I don't care! I don't care about all that! I don't care that you're engaged, I don't care that you live in New York, I don't care that you're famous... All I care about is you and having you back with me" His eyes flashed fiercely behind his glasses and his grip tightened around my hips. "As mine" he added tenderly, brushing his fingers down my cheek.

My breath caught in my throat and the world started to spin around me. My mind was blank. He was fighting for me. He was holding on to the tiniest amount of hope that I loved him more than Nate and I felt bad that I didn't know what I felt.

Harry was part of the world I belonged to. Nate was part of the world I'd created for myself. This was the toughest decision I'd ever made.

"Riley, please... I know I should have done this a long time ago... but now that you're here, I don't think I can lose you again" His voice was barely a whisper, but I heard it clear as day. He dropped his gaze and I felt empty, like looking into those emerald chips of glass was my life force and when he looked away I died a little inside.

"If you're fighting so hard for me, why haven't you kissed me?" I mumbled, wrapping my arms around his neck.

His eyes snapped onto mine curiously, like he didn't believe what I'd just said. I shuffled onto my tip-toes, pressed my body against his and bit my lip.

That was the only cue he needed before he pressed his lips to mine, softly at first but then with an urgency, like I was going to be ripped away from him at any second. He knotted his fingers in my hair and held me flush against him.

I felt like I couldn't breathe, but I didn't want to let go in case it vanished. I pressed into him and his back hit the wall. He placed his hand in the small of my back under my shirt, his fingers splayed for support. I gasped at the contact of his skin against mine and he took his as an invite to deepen the kiss.

Our tongue tips danced lightly and a soft moan was elicited from my lips. He chuckled slightly and pulled away.

"This is the best birthday I've had in a long time" He murmured against my lips. "I love you"

"I love you" I murmured back. He drew shapes on my back with his fingers and I rested my head against his.

"I would like nothing more than to just get out of here, go back to my apartment and have my way with you" He tightened his grip on my hair and thrust his hips forward. I gasped, my heart racing.

"That sounds perfect" I admitted, letting go of everything I knew and held onto. All I could think about was him. His taste, his touch, his smell... it was all familiar, it was everything I loved.

"Let's go then" he mumbled. There was a crack that was scarcely heard over the music and suddenly we were standing in his quiet and empty apartment.

"Where's Teddy" I asked, as he fumbled with my jacket.

"With Bill and Fleur" he managed, dropping my item of clothing to the floor. He grabbed me by the belt loops of my jeans and pulled me toward his room. Somewhere between the living room and his room he lost his shirt.

Like the rest of the apartment, Harry's room was nicely decorated. I didn't have a chance to look around properly however as my shirt was pulled over my head. He attached his lips to my neck and I shivered.

"Are you cold?" He asked, his breath hot against my skin.

"No" I replied. It was about the only thing I could say right about now.

"Good" he mumbled. He traced lines down my collarbone and chest with his lips, stopping just above my bra-line. He pushed me back and my knees hit the bed, making me fall backward.

I grabbed his arms and pulled him down to me, enjoying the feeling of the sinewy muscle under my fingers. I brushed my hands over the planes of his chest. God, auror training worked them well. He must have seen the delight in my expression because he chuckled.

"Like what you see?" He kissed me again.

"Mmm. Only a lot" I smiled, looking up at him from under my lashes.

He smirked and fumbled with the button on my jeans. Soon they too were on the floor. "You said you were an underwear model?" He asked, gazing down at me. He brushed some hair off my cheek tenderly.

I felt breathless under that gaze. He looked at me like it was the first time he was seeing me. It wasn't, of course; but I guess in a way it was. I don't think I'd ever felt like this when Nate looked at me. Butterflies erupted in the pit of my stomach and I was physically nervous. Like it was my first time again or something.

History repeating flickered through my mind for a moment.

"I am" I nodded after a few seconds of comprehension.

Harry smiled and trailed kissed down my stomach.

"Personally I prefer underwear on the floor" He pushed back the covers and slid us under, dropping my underwear to the floor moments later...

Where it was meant to be in situations like this.

Hope you like it Sorry for the delay. Uni work is kicking my ASS lately. The next one will be out tomorrow. Xo Plea p.s REVIEWS MAKE MY UNIWORK EASIER! xo