Chapter 21: Leap At Last
A couple of nights after his row with Luna, Harry Flooed into the Minister for Magic's office. Predictably finding Hermione seated at her desk, he shook his head and allowed himself a soft tender smile, leaning against the marble mantle of the fireplace. She appeared not to have seen him, or even heard the Floo, so engrossed was she in her work.
"You never quit, do you?"
Hermione glanced up, her chestnut curls falling out of her eyes, and Harry felt that strange swooping feeling in his chest, along with a pounding in his ribcage. He could admit it: she looked downright beautiful.
"I'll get to rest come early 2026," she quipped, and he chuckled, pushing off the mantelpiece and sauntering over to her desk. The Head Auror glanced about.
"And for once, I barge in here, and Teddy is nowhere in sight."
Hermione smirked. "He actually went home early for once. He and Victoire are trying for a more balanced work and home life."
"Huh. He never mentioned that they were having any squabbles to me. How did you learn about this?"
Hermione nibbled her bottom lip. "That's private. Just between me and him." She and Teddy had worked to forget the misread signals from that regrettable night here in her office, and largely succeeded. Teddy seemed in disbelief, even grateful, that he still had a job.
The Minister for Magic turned back to her work, sensing Harry taking Teddy's chair just off of her desk. For a while, the two best friends sat in companionable silence.
"How…. how are you and Viktor?" Harry finally floated cautiously.
Just the mention of the Bulgarian beefcake, to borrow a certain turn of phrase, recalled their fight at the Quidditch play-off for Hermione, and she stiffened a bit, even though she wasn't exactly angry at Harry anymore. In fact….
"We broke up. You were right."
"Oh." Harry felt an internal leaping in his stomach. "I'm sorry." A beat, and then, "Wait: what was that? 'You were right'? How do those words taste coming out of your mouth."
"Like a bogey-flavored Every Flavor Bean," she deadpanned.
Harry hooted. "We still don't know if George actually had one of those…"
Hermione huffed, and it turned into a sigh. "It's like you said: you should have some pretty compelling reasons for wanting to be with a person." She swiveled her desk chair to face him. "How are you and Luna?"
Harry glanced down to the carpet. "We've….. broken up too. Just the other night, in fact. Had a row."
Hermione stared at him. She even let out a kind of disbelieving giggle. "I find it hard to envision Luna getting into a row with anyone."
Harry chuckled tightly. "You'd be surprised." He exhaled heavily. "We hadn't even told the kids yet. When we went to that play-off game with Lorcan and Lysander, their mummy and I had to pretend we were just going as friends. If you're not willing to tell your own kids the truth about a new relationship, that should tell you that something is wrong."
Hermione nodded. "I get that."
"I mean, did you ever tell Hugo at all that you were seeing Viktor?"
Hermione snorted. "With how brief an affair it was, I don't think it matters. And anyway, Rosie probably went blabbing to him after she caught me shagging near starkers on this desk!" She buried her face in her palms with embarrassment.
Harry didn't think she should be. As angry and even… jealous as he had been that night walking in on her and Viktor, he couldn't deny that she had looked…. beautiful, being ravished like that. He just wished that…
An image of him and Hermione shagging right on top of this desk, hard enough for the thing to collapse from under them, suddenly flooded into his brain. He fought to quickly banish it, but his resistance was weak. To give his body some distraction, he stood and paced around Hermione's desk until he was hovering over her.
She craned her eyes up to him, somewhere between amused and annoyed. "You're in my light, love."
Harry just grinned, pulled out his wand and flicked it over at the nearby wireless which Teddy kept on his desk. Music wafted over to them, causing Hermione to glance up from her paperwork with a frown.
"Could you please….?"
"Uh-uh. Clear away. No more work tonight." Deliberately, he offered his hand to her.
"Harry, really! I'm…."
"…. In the mood for a dance." And Harry tugged her onto her feet, despite her weak yelp of protest and tugged her into his arms, sending them both into a listeless easy sway. Finally, Hermione laughed and settled her head almost sleepily on his shoulder.
"Hmm…. This is nice…." She murmured shyly.
Harry shrugged and grinned down at her. "I have my moments."
He could feel her listening to the song on the wireless. "Oh! Merlin, I think this is the same song we danced to in the tent!"
"Really? Is it?" Harry hummed, frowning bemusedly. He listened as well, and as he did, now that he thought about it, the memory came flooding back: it was the same song.
"Forgive us now, for what we've done, It started out as a bit of fun, here take these before we run away…."
Harry and Hermione were now lost in a kind of slow, shuffling waltz. Just swaying. When the song finally ended, they both drew back to look into each other's eyes. Immediately, they were both transported back to that moment from twenty-seven years earlier, when something had almost happened.
Except this time, not only did Harry even more clearly want something to happen, it was obvious from the look in her chocolate-brown eyes that Hermione did too. After all, there was no longer anything or anyone – real or the spectre of someone – to stop them.
Hermione leaned in, her lips almost puckered. Harry started to close the distance between them, his hand even coming up to cup her cheek, which he felt her lean into with a sigh.
He stopped himself, right on the edge.
"Hermione…." he murmured.
"Yeah?" Her lashes were fluttering, her eyelids nearly closed.
"You know what I said about there needing to be a compelling enough reason to be with someone?"
"Uh-huh…."
"Well…. I don't think loneliness is one of them."
Hermione opened her eyes, blinking at him. Lest he had hurt her, Harry added quickly. "Think about it. We were both emotionally ripped apart when the diary and love potion came out! To the point that we both went looking for a rebound, and now look: both of those, crumpled. Gone. If…. if we really wanted to do this…. we'd have to make sure that it isn't because we aren't desperate for company. There's still time – time to heal."
Hermione found herself nodding slowly. Her heart was pounding in her ribcage. She could almost hear, feel, how Harry's was too. "So…. what now?"
Harry fixed her with an intense stare. "I think we need to give ourselves that time. Let's say…. Six months for now. We'll check back in then, and if we still feel like we both want to see where this…" he pointed between them. "goes…. We can try it."
"And if one of us is not ready?"
"We can push the deadline back until we both are. Or…. until we learn that maybe one of us doesn't want that after all." Harry hoped with all his heart she would still feel this way in six months. "Besides, the trial will be gearing up – Ginny is due to be arraigned next week. Frankly, I think James and Al are relieved, if also at the end of their ropes playing in-house jailers…."
Hermione lifted a hand to her mouth to hide a smile and giggle. After a moment, she nodded. "Ok…. OK…."
She stepped out of his arms, but, unlike in 1997, she did not turn her face away. "We'll revisit this later," she promised.
Harry swallowed hard. "Damn right we will."
He hurried to the Floo before he went Sod All and did something mad he might regret.
Six Months Later
It was an unseasonably warm autumnal day, with blue cloudless skies presiding over the hills and fields of Devonshire. A tented marquee had been set up in the Burrow's front lawn, with guests arriving from all over in time for the wedding.
Up at the altar, Ron was nervously fiddling with his cufflink. He frowned as he could feel the eyes of Harry, his Best Man for the second time, watching him with amusement.
"I've always ruddy hated these dress robes!"
"Your Great Aunt Tessie's?" Hermione laughed, darting up the aisle in her ministerial robes. "I've always personally thought they bring out your hair, love!"
Ron smiled tightly at his ex-wife, probably figuring that a scowl would look too forced. So far, the former spouses had built back an easy rapport that sometimes comes from friends and even former lovers. The Minister for Magic now paused to straighten his tie fondly. "I am sure she will think you're handsome, love, no matter what you are wearing!"
Ron frowned. "I would have worn the tuxedo I wore to our wedding, but it no longer fits me!"
Hermione giggled, hiding a smile behind her hand. "Sorry, darling. Them's the breaks of getting older."
Harry was inclined to agree. Though in his opinion as he watched her now, Hermione hadn't aged a day since he had last stood up here with Ron more than twenty years ago.
The string quartet picked up and there was the final scramble of people attempting to get to their seats. Rose Malfoy came down the aisle first, looking resplendent as Matron of Honor.
Ron leaned into Harry. "Now there's a bird who looks a damn sight nicer than the last Maid of Honor I had at my wedding!"
Harry nodded. His now ex-wife, Ginny was sitting in prison as a convicted felon sitting in prison, and had been for nearly five months. The trial had taken several weeks from jury selection to closing arguments and verdict, but when the sentence was finally read, Ginny was convicted of brewing and administering an illegal substance with undue influence. Luna had taken the witness stand at one point (in spite of how things had ended with them, and knowing how hard it was for her, Harry was grateful that she had), and damning, incriminating passages of the diary had been admissible and read aloud in court. In the end, it had been just about as open and shut a case as one could be.
Finally, there was percolating Ooooh throughout the audience and Lavender Brown rounded the corner. Her belly was round and swollen with child, but with her radiant smile, she looked a vision. Harry grinned softly, even as he wondered if the baby had been planned – Ron wouldn't exactly say. Thankfully, Rose and Hugo seemed thrilled to be getting a little sibling, and, although surprised at her ex-husband and his school days girlfriend rekindling their old flame, Hermione had nonetheless been happy for and supportive of them.
She had even agreed to officiate and marry them. Harry didn't know many women who would do that for an ex-husband. The congregation stood at attention as Hermione raised her arms and began the sermon:
"Dearly beloved: we are gathered here today…."
It was a lovely ceremony, with the exchanging of rings and vows. Then at last, Hermione proclaimed: "By the power vested in me as the outgoing Minister for Magic… I now pronounce this couple husband and wife!" She turned to Ron and smirked. "Well, go on! Kiss her, you big lug!"
Ron and Lavender Weasley embraced and dreamily kissed, the bump holding their baby nestled between them, and even clapped and cheered.
At the reception, Harry found it difficult to take his eyes off Hermione, now shed off her Minister robes to reveal a little red cocktail dress underneath that hugged her form. He hoped he didn't appear far too eager when he approached her and asked her for a dance. She accepted with an amused smile, seeming pleased.
Once the next song ended, Hermione stepped out of his arms, fanning herself and flushing. "Hot, isn't it?" she smiled. "Shall we go inside and get some drinks?"
Harry nodded, his throat dry, and not just because he was thirsty.
The kitchen of the Burrow was pretty much deserted when they entered and approached the drinks table; most people were still enjoying the party outside. Selecting a bit of punch before passing a glass to Harry, Hermione lifted hers with a shy smile.
"Cheers!"
They clinked, then both downed the punch in one go. They were just about to duck back out when Harry thought he heard what sounded like moans coming from a cupboard just off the sitting room. As he listened, the sound now pitched into something closer to shouts, even when slightly muffled through the door:
"Ohhhhh….. Ohhhhhhh, Merlin! Yes, Nev, YES!"
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other, the beautiful witch biting her lip. "We really…. It would be rude…."
Harry's dawning comprehension and curiosity won out. He yanked open the door.
Neville and Luna's lips snapped apart, their arms still around each other. Well, more like Luna's arms and legs were about Neville, the Hogwarts Herbology professor sunk balls-deep inside her pussy. Luna let out a squeaky yelp at being caught her one-time boyfriend.
Harry merely smirked. "Bravo, Neville, my lad! Good show!"
Neville's face looked like it was on fire. Peeking over Harry's shoulder, Hermione gaped.
"Oh, my…..!"
"Get on, mate! Have her for a dance rather than dessert!" Harry nudged Neville. Sharing awkward chuckles and shy smiles, Luna and Neville disentangled themselves and headed for the party, Neville guiding his girl by the hand.
Harry stared at the soft curve of Hermione's neck as she turned to watch them go. "I suppose we should go ahead and follow them. People will be wondering where we…"
She yelped as Harry let out a frustrated growl and suddenly grabbed her arm and dragged her into the closet. The door slammed behind them, Harry not even taking out his wand as he locked and warded the door with nonverbal magic.
"Harry! Harry, are you…. What – what are you doing?" Hermione stammered, brown eyes wide and slightly frightened.
"Time's up," Harry snarled.
"Harry James Potter, have you gone completely – Mmmmmm!"
Hermione's admonishment now died a peaceful death in her throat as Harry took her face in his hands, tilted her head back and kissed her deeply on the mouth. He watched her eyes pop as she went rigid with shock in his embrace. A moment later, however, he felt her gasp in astonishment, her lips unconsciously parting for his, and as he slipped his arms about her slim waist to pull her flush into him, he felt her shudder. Tremble.
And then she was closing her eyes dreamily, and her arms were reaching up to grip his shoulders as Hermione leaned in and kissed him back, deepened it. Harry nipped at her bottom lip, eliciting a heady moan from the striking witch in his arms.
"Mmmmhmmmmmm….."
They broke apart sultrily, Hermione looking thunderstruck, elated and terrified all at once. Pressing himself against her, Harry began to blaze a trail of kisses down her neck, and the Minister for Magic whimpered.
"Our….. our children!" she cried, even as she groaned with pleasure and squirmed in pleasure at the feeling of Harry's palms gripping her bum through the folds of her dress, first one cheek and then the other. "Our children would never forgive us if…. if we…."
Harry merely gripped the inside of her thigh and brought it up to his waist, where Hermione hooked it without much thought. "We would tell them the truth, and we wouldn't wait long to do it. But for now, I say we ditch. You with me?"
Hermione stared at him, speechless. "I…. I….." She took a deep breath, and leapt. "I – Yes. Oh….. oh, bloody sodding hell, yes!"
Harry beamed and immediately reversed the charms on the door, vaguely wondering why Neville and Luna hadn't thought to do that. Poking his head out, he checked if the coast was clear: it was.
Grabbing Hermione's hand, they both ran across the sitting room to the fireplace directly opposite, Harry seizing a pinch of Floo powder. And as the green flames roared up around them, consumed them to whisk them away, Hermione pulled his mouth down to hers as the Boy Who Lived and Greatest Witch of Her Age embraced and kissed.
The snogging couple half-stumbled, half-fell out of the fireplace in Grimmauld Place – the one place Harry was fairly certain didn't hold the risk of anyone walking in on them to, say, get a change of clothes.
Staggering back into the bedroom while making out furiously, Harry and Hermione's snogging eventually eased up as the full weight of what they were about to do came pressing down on them.
It was with a kind of terrified, exhilarated reverence that Harry and Hermione undressed each other. Brown eyes rolling into the back of her head as Harry kissed her earlobe, then moved down to the hollow of her throat, Hermione wiggled as her paramour helped to get the zipper undone, allowing her cocktail dress to pool to the floor with a rustle at their feet.
Crossing to the bed, Hermione very deliberately and temptingly stuck out her buttocks as she shimmied out of her panties, then unclipped her bra. Turning back to him, now in all the naked beauty she was born in, the Minister for Magic scooted back onto the bed and spread her legs invitingly.
Harry sighed with relief as he finally got his belt buckle loose, freeing his aching length and kicking out of his trousers. Hermione beckoned to him with a finger and he practically lunged onto the mattress, nearly tackled her, twisting as she worked to help yank his dress shirt over his head, casting the garment to the floor.
Gazing into each other's eyes, Hermione solemnly brought her knees up – the better to grip him. Throwing one of her splayed thighs even higher, over his shoulder, Harry lined up their entrances.
He mounted her… and mated with her.
At the sensation of his girth filling her, stretching her, Hermione flopped her head back into the pillows with a sigh. "Oh…. Oh, God…. Ohhhh… OH! Oh, Sweet Merlin….. Huhhh…. Uhhhhh… Mmmmmhmmmmmmm….. Ahhhhhh….. Ah, yes…" Harry grunted from where he was feasting on her bare breasts, peaked with pebbled nibbles, and thrust into her faster. Arching her hips, Hermione met him slam for slam until they were rutting in heat, until she was screaming at him to finish her off:
"Ohhhhhh…. OHHHHHHHHH… OHHHHHHHH! Fuck! Yes, Harry, YES! Make love to me! Make love to me, damnit! I'm…. Harry, love, I'm gonna cum…. I'm… I'm gonna – OH, FUCK!"
Choking on her breath, eyes wide, Hermione came so hard, she saw stars. Harry tumbled over the edge almost in perfect time with her.
Sweaty and spent, having crossed that line from which there is no going back, Hermione and Harry now gazed at each other….
…. and burst into laughter. Giggling, they exchanged dazed, shy, blissful smiles.
"Well – that was dramatic!" Hermione laughed.
Harry brushed a sweaty, chestnut bang out of her eyes, beaming down at her. "I love you, Hermione."
He hadn't meant, hadn't intended, to say it so soon, but he was thrilled at how wide her eyes became when he said it.
"…. I love you, too. I think I always have."
Smirking boldly, Hermione now rolled them both over, still in each other's embrace, so that she was on top. Slamming Harry onto his back, the beautiful witch swung one, creamy thigh over his hips as she gallingly moved to straddle him. Pulling up the bedclothes over them both, concealing her naked back, she bent and kissed Harry deeply, as his arms reached up to encircle and grip her shoulder blades.
They made love once more.