A/N: Thanks for all the feedback! Here's the next installment. Only one chapter to go. Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think.
Ron sat up straighter as we drew closer to home, placing both hands on the broom as he brought us in lower, preparing for a landing. When we got to my house he circled us over it once before landing us softly onto the grass in the backyard.
After we dismounted, I glanced around briefly before pulling out my wand and muttering the counter-spell, "Finite Incantatem."
I watched as Ron transformed from his textured, bark colored appearance as he leaned up against the tree in my backyard, to his usual red-haired, freckle-faced self once again. I couldn't keep the goofy smile from my face as I looked up at him. He reached out and grasped a lock of my hair, twirling it around his fingers with a smile that mirrored my own.
My arms reached out, hanging uncertainly, suspended for a moment in the space between us. Then my hands closed the distance, lightly tugging at the material of his shirt, straightening and smoothing it out before falling back to my sides again.
After a minute, Ron cleared his throat, releasing my hair as he dug his hands into his pockets. "Well, I guess I should probably…go," he said, his voice rising on the last syllable, a question in his eyes.
I wet my lips, twisting my hands together as I looked up at him. "You could…come inside…" I said hesitatingly, then added in a rush, "if you want."
"Yeah?" Ron asked quietly, his eyes never leaving mine.
I nodded. "Yeah."
Ron swallowed, one hand reaching up to rub at the back of his neck. "Okay, I guess I could – yeah…" he said, the words tumbling quickly from his mouth.
I crossed my arms, the right side of my mouth lifting in a kind of nervous half smile. Then his hands were on my hips, fingers threading through belt loops, gently tugging me forward. I let myself be pulled to him, his body pressing against mine as his warm hands ran up my sides, long fingers tracing the curve of my waist before settling onto my hips once more. I folded my arms against his torso, palms flat against his chest. Looking up at him, I watched as his head dipped down, fringe falling across his forehead as he leaned in towards me.
Then my eyes were closing and I lost myself in the sweet, soft feeling of his lips against mine. I will never get tired of this, I thought. I slid one hand up to the back of his head, fingers threading into his hair as I pulled him down towards me, while I rested my other hand against the side of his face, my palm cupping his cheek. I ran my thumb over his skin, my mouth pressing more firmly, insistently against his. He responded in kind, fingers digging into my hips as his strong hands tightened their grasp. I felt an ache in my chest, a hunger for him that wouldn't abate even as I drowned myself in his kisses. I just wanted him, wanted more of him, all of him.
I felt the pressure of his warm palm against the small of my back as it slid up from my hip, pressing me to him. Then I was suddenly wrapped in his embrace, his strong arms circling my waist, lifting me off my feet as he groaned into my mouth. I clung to him, my mouth pulling away momentarily to form the word, "Ron," in a desperate, breathy tone. He grunted in response, spinning me around and pinning me against the trunk of the tree, my legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as his tongue explored my mouth.
Ron's hands gripped my thighs, hoisting me up higher as his hips pressed me into the rough bark of the tree. I felt his hand slide up over my thigh, pausing at my hip before slipping beneath the hem of my shirt, my heartbeat racing as his fingers grazed my skin. I felt a warmth spread through me at his touch, his strong hand gently caressing my stomach, moving up over my waist before hesitating at my ribcage, his warm palm pressed against my skin. I moaned into his mouth as his thumb slowly traced the curve of my breast.
I pulled back momentarily, gasping in air, my palms resting on either side of his face as Ron looked up at me through half-lidded eyes, his lips slightly parted. I felt my heart flip over in my chest as I looked down at him. I bit my lip, pressing my forehead against his as his hand slid over me, his palm cupping my breast, kneading gently. My skin tingled as his long fingers ran along the edge of my bra, his thumb rubbing circles over the light cotton material. I captured his mouth with mine once more, feeling the vibration of his low moan against my lips, the sound causing me to wrap my legs more tightly around his waist as he pressed his hips firmly into mine.
The sound of a car door slamming startled me, the noise sounding jarring and out of place to my ears. Suddenly, I remembered where we were as I broke away from him, heart thudding in my chest, my lungs heaving as I struggled to catch my breath. Ron's hand slid back down to my hip as he looked up at me questioningly.
Straining my ears, I thought I could hear voices. I looked up to the sky, the angle of the sun, trying to determine what time it was. The voices grew louder and I recognized the tones of my mother and father. Then I heard the slam of the front door closing as my parents entered the house.
I swore under my breath.
Ron's eyes widened. "Hermione!" he exclaimed.
I bit my lip, my face turning red as he looked at me in astonishment.
"I didn't know you had it in you," he said, sounding impressed, a teasing smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"Oh, be quiet and let me down," I muttered, embarrassed by my outburst.
Ron obeyed, stepping back as I slid my legs from his waist, dropping my feet onto to the ground.
"That was my parents," I told him, slipping my hand into his and pulling him farther from the house. "I guess it's later than I thought."
His face fell, and I couldn't help being pleased at the disappointment I read in his features. "Oh," he said slowly, "I guess…I'd better go, then…yeah?"
"I suppose," I said, my hands clutching at his shirt in contradiction of my words.
"I mean, at least…I'll be seeing you next week, right?" he asked, a note of uncertainty in his voice as though I might have changed my plans.
"Of course," I said.
I felt my spirits lift as I recalled the upcoming visit, my thoughts turning to the stretch of long summer days ahead that I'd be spending at the Burrow…with Ron. I blushed as I thought of all the ways in which we could occupy our time. Ron's thoughts seemed to be running along the same lines as he looked down at me, his eyes darkening as they locked with mine. He brought a hand up, fingers curled, his knuckles brushing gently against my cheek.
"Hermione?" I heard the faint call of my name as my parents searched the house for me. I felt a bit guilty for ignoring them as I pulled Ron to the corner of the yard farthest from the house, shielding us behind some shrubbery near the fence. I prayed they didn't check outside for me. Not yet.
Ron's teeth flashed in a wide grin, his eyes twinkling as he said, "Hermione Granger, are you hiding from your parents?"
I gave him a pointed look, hands on my hips as I said, "I'm not hiding, I'm just…" I trailed off, struggling to find the right word.
"Hiding?" Ron supplied.
I glared at him. "I just don't want to go in yet, okay?" I said crossly.
"That's okay," he said, his grin softening into a mischievous smile. The corner of his mouth quirked as he took a step toward me, my back pressing into the wooden slats of the tall fence as he moved into my space. I held my breath, a blush creeping up my neck as he leaned his head slowly down, placing his mouth close to my ear as he whispered, "I kind of like sneaking around with you."
A shiver went down my spine at his words, my eyes briefly fluttering closed as his lips brushed against my ear. I swallowed as he leaned back, a smug look on his face as his mouth stretched into a wide grin once more. I was torn between wanting to smack him and wanting to snog him. But, before I could decide which to do, I heard the backdoor creak open.
