O.O.S: Hey guys! Thanks again more all who are reading, it is really awesome to know that people are actually interested in reading my worthless words. Ha. Well, no real updates in this, just saying hello. :] So on with the chapter!

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B.I.S:

Disclaimer: I sadly still do not own anything created by J.K. Rowling. ( Unfortunately, the letters that I have sent to said wonderful author about selling the rights to some of her creations on eBay have been unsuccessful thus far, but I am diligent... ;))

Rating: Not quite M status, but definitely steamy... :]

Stolen

Chapter 8:

Shanty Delusions

Hermione's P.O.V:

Nothing is more poisonous to the common sense of a level headed human being than alcohol. This I am now certain of.

If I had known this before, then maybe things would have turned out a little differently.

It was Friday.

Katie Bell was taking Harry and me along with her usual group to 'The Shanty Shack', one of their favorite wizard clubs. I hadn't done the 'club' thing before, and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was strange to think that there was something I didn't know about… Strange, but fascinating. I couldn't turn it down.

I did know the basics. Loud music, lots of dancing and most of all, drinking. Alcohol had never really been a friend of mine… The first experience I had had with it was that last summer on Harry's birthday. Ron, Harry, Ginny and I had all gone to a bar to celebrate him being 18. To be honest, I am not sure how I got home…

I had a feeling that this night might end up like the others before, but I didn't care. I wanted to feel ignorant to something.

I wanted to forget that I had rejected the one I loved.

I wanted to be numb to the feelings that I shouldn't be feeling for my best friend.

Sifting through my closet I seemed to have some trouble picking out something worthy of a club. At first I had thought a dress, but after searching through my clothes, I found only a few and most of them were of the sun dress sort. I did have a black one, but I had worn that to Fred Weasley's funeral, and I figured if Angelina Johnson was going to be there, that was far from the correct choice even if her and Oliver Wood were dating. Eventually, I found myself in a pair of tight black skinny jeans that a matched up with a white camisole and a silver sequined cropped cardigan. To finish the outfit, after digging around in the depths of my closet, I found myself a pare of shiny silver open toed heels.

Going to my bathroom, I adorned my eyes with eyeliner, mascara and dark grey and black eye shadow. My hair that night, had actually decided to be agreeable and heed to my requests. I decided to pull my bangs out of my eyes and pinned them back into a slight poof while I let the rest of my hair be wild and curly/ By some miracle, it stayed with only a little bit of hair spray.

Grabbing my mobile and a black clutch purse that I had found, I stopped in surprise at my bed room door, catching sight of an unusual reflection in my mirror. Stopping, I looked before me to see her again. That girl I always saw. But tonight, she looked… Remarkable.

Dare I say stunning?

It was almost a complete transformation from her normal tired looking self.

I needed another transformation.

I had had one before during the summer that pushed Ron away…

Couldn't I get another one?

Would it put things back to normal?

But what was normal?

My normality was perfect, but it was selfish. It wasn't right. I needed to stop kidding myself and deal with reality of this 'normality'.

I had fallen for my best friend.

I had fallen for Harry Potter and I had the lame delusion that he had seen something there too.

KNOCK KNOCK!

I jumped in fright from the loud noise from my door. Without a second glance at my reflection, I walked out of my bedroom and to my front door. I took in one last breath before I opened it to see him before me.

His green eyes were glistening brightly from the dim light. Moving to me his smile was irresistible. That night he wore a tight black blazer with a white v-neck shirt and a pair of plain jeans and converse.

It was a little challenging at time to be around someone who looked so perfect at all times.

"Wow." he murmured looking me over, keeping his smile. "You look-… Amazing."

My heart fluttered by this comment.

His compliments were nothing I thought I should care about… But my delusional thoughts believed otherwise. I supposed that living a lie had become too appealing to them.

"Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself." I said, trying to suppress the grin that was plastered against my face from ear to ear.

"Thanks… You ready to go?"

After I locked the door with a quick charm, we were on our way to 'The Shanty Shack', neither one of us knowing what we were getting ourselves into.

The Shanty Shack was located near the hidden entrance to Diagon Alley. It too, was also hidden. The entrance to the club was triggered by a password, much like the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix was. Down an alley off of the main road, there was a blank brick wall, the location of the club.

"Well… Looks like this place is really hopping." Harry murmured.

"Oh shut it." I elbowed him softly with a laugh.

I loved his sarcastic comments as much as I hated them.

"It's a hidden entrance." I explained. "Katie gave me the password." Reaching into my clutch I retrieved a small scrap of paper that read.

I wish to enter The Shanty Shack where things are never the same once you come back.

"Sounds more like a warning to me." Harry mused, reading over my shoulder. I shivered a little, feeling his hot breath tickle my skin. "Do we just think it?"

"I think we have to say it."

We both cleared our throats before reading it aloud.

"I wish to enter The Shanty Shack were things are never the same once you come back."

Suddenly, the wall before us split into two, expanding each in their own opposite way. Large purple door was revealed when the walls pulled fully apart from each other. On the door the word's ' The Shanty Shack' were carved into it. As soon as the door was in sight, I felt the vibrations caused by the loud music on the other side.

You really must be going crazy… I thought.

"You ready?" Harry asked, smiling down at me.

Finding his eyes I nodded in a reply. I didn't trust my voice then. I figured it would have given my actual nervous feelings away.

"Alright, well, can't stay out here forever…"

Stepping up to the door, Harry grabbed the knob and twisted it open, emerging us into an even greater delusion.

Harry's P.O.V:

Many things are not what they seem.

The saying 'Never judge a book by its cover' is almost dead on every time.

Although 'The Shanty Shack' had a well, shanty name, it was far from being just that.

When Hermione and I entered, the over all view of the place was very, nice. Or, very cool. The well, décor I guess it's called, was very modern. Black and purple furniture, mod looking couches, large black curtains that separated the different booths for privacy. The arrangement was even well thought out. The room was almost circular with booths all the way around the back walls and a large dance floor in the middle. The bar was located to the left of the entrance and the DJ's set up straight back against the far wall. I was surprised to say the very least at how much I liked the look of the place. Though, I had to admit, it was hard to remove my eyes from the girl next to me.

Hermione Granger looked so… So incredible, I seriously felt that there was not a word to explain her utter perfect-ness.

I really could not deny how much I wanted her anymore.

It was just that, undeniable.

As she searched for our friends, I found my self only seeing her.

Perhaps 'The Shanty Shack' was called that for a reason, it made you want to do 'shanty' things.

"Harry FUCKING Potter!"

That's a way to get someone's attention…

Turning to my left, I caught sight of a familiar face calling out to me. Seamus Finnegan was sitting off to the side of the club in a booth with a large group of our old friends. Standing up, he crossed to me and thrust his arms around my shoulders.

"Good to see ya still livin' ya cheeky bastard!" he shouted into my ear over the loud noise.

"Good to see you too mate!" I replied, patting her back with a smile on my face. I was actually glad to see these friends again, it was almost like going back in time.

"Where the fuck 'ave you been eh? Hiding under a rock?" he asked stepping away from me to give me a wink before looking to Hermione. "Granger! Damn!"

I had to clench my fists in order to contain myself. Seamus's eyes were all over Hermione and it was driving me crazy.

"Thanks Seamus." she nodded politely. "Where's Katie?"

"Over at the table." he slurred a little. Apparently he had already started the party a little bit. "Come on, there are a lot of people who wanna see you two."

Leading us away from the door, Seamus took us to his booth. Before I knew it, I was in the arms of many of my old friends. Katie Bell, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Oliver Wood and Angelina Johnson beamed at the sight of me, as I did them. Instantly, I was handed a Firewiskey by Oliver and ordered to sit down next to him. Hermione found a spot next to Katie across the table. I still could not keep myself from looking at her.

Oliver began rambling on about the Quidditch team he was keeping for, Dean and Seamus attempted to coax Neville into more Firewiskey and the girls fawned over the necklace around Angelina's neck given to her by Oliver Wood. I guessed their relationship had blossomed after Fred's death. He'd been there for her in her grieving or something, I had heard the story many times, but hadn't really cared. I cringed at the thought of this Weasley who was no longer with us. Or possibly that was a cringe from the burn sliding down my throat. They didn't call it Firewiskey for nothing.

Watching my friends, I let a smile scrawl onto my lips as I could only keep my eyes on Hermione.

Quickly, time slipped by and so did the drinks.

Though, the time still seemed to fly by. After an hour or was it two? Dean and Seamus had departed from the group and had acquired dance partners from across the room. Oliver and Angelina had shifted so his arm was draped around her shoulder's and his lips were against her ear has he murmured drunken compliments to her. Neville and Katie had ended up very close to one another as they giggled and joked with one another. Neville had acquired some skills. I had not realized he had in him… After a while of their speaking, Neville took Katie's hand and lead her into the crowd of dancers.

Looking to the left of me, I found Hermione. Her long eye lashes were draped over her flawless eyes elegantly as she looked into her drink. The perfect body she was given was rocking slowly to the beat of the song playing. I had no idea what it was, nor did I care.

She was even flawless in a drunken state…

Rising to her feet, she stumbled a little over herself. I was glad that I had decided not too drink too much, being around her like that would have been far too dangerous…

"Whoa, watch out there." I laughed slightly, helping her to stand up.

"I'm fiiiine." she cooed, looking down at me with a smirk.

She was planning something.

"Come dance with me." she commanded, offering me her hand.

Gazing up at her, I had almost wanted to instantly say no. I was a miserable dancer and I hated to do have to do it, but…

"Ok." I rose to me feet and removed my jacket. "Let's go."

Hermione beamed at me taking my hand, leading me away from the table into the middle of the clump. Putting her arms around my neck, she moved me so close to her, I was no shape between our bodies. I placed my own hands on her waist trying to think of many other things to keep me from doing something I would regret.

Voldemort. Voldemort. Voldemort.

Her body began to sway against me as she surrendered to the beat. Her hips grinded against my own, awakening a part of me I didn't want awake.

UMBRIDGE NAKED! UMBRIDGE NAKED! UMBRIDGE NAKED!

Burying her head into my neck, I nearly moaned at the feeling of her hot breath against my skin. Shivers were sent up and down my spine every time she breathed out.

Slowly, my shaking hands moved up and down her body, unable to control themselves.

She's drunk, stop doing this!

But I couldn't…

I was completely at her mercy.

Completely in her control.

I wouldn't even listen to my own protesting thoughts.

This was wrong. So so so so wrong.

My gentle touch traced up an down her delicate spine until one slid up her camisole onto her bare stomach. Her breath grew shallow as I caressed her bare skin. I couldn't keep that part asleep… I was becoming so hard it wasn't even funny. I knew she could tell, but surprisingly, I didn't care.

We kept dancing in the flashing lights, groping at each other and causing our hearts to race. One of her hands were on the waist band of my jeans, while the other gripped onto the arm of my shirt. One of my own hands was placed up right below one of her breasts and the other on her deep lower back, almost her ass.

This wasn't friendly touching.

This was something else.

Something we both did not completely understand.

Her lips caressed my neck and slid up to my ear, causing the awakened part of my anatomy to throb in pleasure.

"Stay with me tonight…" she whispered.

"Ok." I replied.

It was almost like a fresh breath of air as we emerged from the clump of dancers. Back at the booth, Neville and Katie were the only ones in sight whom we locked in an embrace full frontal snogging. Hermione let out an amused snort as she grabbed her clutch. Picking up my jacket, I put it on and turned to Hermione. Her eyes were wild with emotion as she entwined her fingers in my hand.

"Should we tell them we are leaving?" I managed to squeeze out of my clogged throat as she lead me towards the door.

"I think they're a little busy…" she slurred reaching for the door knob and twisting it open, exposing us to the dark London night.

I did not know what was going to happen.

I did not know what to think of what had happened.

But I did know one thing, the password to 'The Shanty Shack' was undeniably true.

Things would definitely never would back to the way they were.

Never in a million years...

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