Chapter 3

Harry woke up, feeling completely content. The sun was shining through the window and he was lying in his comfy bed. He vaguely remembered that he and Hermione had finally made it to bed after their third round (which hadn't been the last one). Harry smiled widely at the memory and sleepily searched for Hermione with his hands, eyes still closed. When he found the bed empty Harry finally opened his eyes and looked around the room. There was no trace of Hermione. Suddenly fully awake Harry was instantly worried. Hermione had been perfectly happy when she had fallen asleep in his arms last night. Harry remembered her passionate kisses and caresses and most of all her gasped "I love you". Until then he had bravely fought Hermione's seduction, being afraid that Hermione would regret their night together when the effect of the saccharine had worn off. How could I be so stupid! Harry thought. Of course Hermione hadn't meant what she said last night, it had been just the hormones speaking. She would have said these words to any man in her lust-dazed state. And he had believed it because he wanted her so badly and had longed to hear those words for so long. He had taken advantage of Hermione! Harry suddenly felt sick. How could he have thought that Hermione actually wanted to lose her virginity on a bathroom floor under the influence of a lust potion! And to a guy who was like a brother to her. Harry vividly remembered last night in all details, but now the memories didn't leave a cozy feeling of contentedness. He hadn't even been gentle! He had completely given in to his primal needs. Had he hurt her? She hadn't shown any signs of pain last night, but that had probably been due to the potion. He saw Hermione in his minds eyes, waking up naked and in pain in a bed that wasn't hers. She must have felt so violated and ashamed! Harry jumped out of his bed and quickly pulled some clothes on, then left the room, calling Hermione's name. He had to find her and make it up to her. Idiot! Harry thought again. How could he make up for what he did! But he had to find her and at least apologize and try to save their friendship. God, he couldn't bear to lose her! Not her! He had lost Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus and it had hurt terribly, but he had survived. He had thought he had lost Ron when he had left them in the tent and it had felt like a stab in the heart, but he had been able to go on. But a life without Hermione was something he couldn't even imagine.

Harry searched their common room and Hermione's room. Both were empty. Then he took a look into the bathroom and felt a sting when he saw a trace of blood on the white rug. Why hadn't he noticed that last night? When Harry didn't find Hermione he left the head quarters and continued his search. Where could she have gone? She probably didn't feel like company, so the Gryffindor common room and the Great Hall weren't an option. Maybe the library? It had always been a refuge for her and on a Sunday morning there wouldn't be many other students. He quickly searched the large room, but couldn't find Hermione there either. Then he remembered the Room of Requirements. That was a perfect place to hide from the world. Harry ran so fast that he was out of breath when he reached the room. How would it look like? The room would probably only let him in if his mental image came close to what Hermione had wished for. Hermione only wanted a place to be left in peace, so the room was probably mostly empty, with just a comfy couch like the one in their common room. Harry sighed relieved when he turned the handle and was able to open the door. But his relief quickly vanished when he saw Hermione curled up on the couch, softly crying.

"Hermione…" Harry gently said and she looked up, startled and surprised.

"Harry!" Obviously he wasn't the only one who had no idea what to say.

When they finally broke their silence they spoke at the same time.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry…"

"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry!"

They stopped speaking and looked at each other, clearly confused.

"Hermione, what are you apologizing for?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked at her friend as if he had lost his mind.

"How can you ask that?! I threw myself at you like a… Merlin, Harry, I practically raped you!" she said and new tears streamed down her cheeks. "You tried so hard to stop me, but I didn't and then…"

Harry stared at his friend, needing a moment to understand her words. Then he quickly closed the distance between them and knelt down next to the couch Hermione was sitting on.

"Hermione, you didn't rape me! I thought it was pretty clear that I enjoyed everything you did very much." Harry blushed at the memory how much he had enjoyed it.

"But you tried to stop me. You didn't want to…"

"Of course, I wanted to! I only tried to stop you, because I didn't want to take advantage of you. I didn't want you to feel bad about it in the morning. I'm so sorry, Hermione. When you said you loved me, I thought you really meant it and you wouldn't regret this. I should have known it was only the hormones speaking. Do you think you can ever forgive me?" Harry asked pleadingly.

Hermione expression changed from relived to surprised. "But Harry, I did mean it!" Then she looked shocked and stammered "I mean, if you don't…"

Harry cut Hermione of by moving onto the couch and taking her in his arms, leaving just enough room between them that he could study her face.

"You really meant it? You love me?" Harry asked enthuastically.

"Of course, I do, Harry! I just never said anything because I thought you see me as a sister."

Harry grinned, suddenly over the moon with joy. "I don't have a sister, but I seriously doubt that I would want to do what we did last night with her if I had one. I have been in love with you for a year, I just never said anything because I thought you see me only as a best friend."

Hermione laughed, looking as happy as Harry felt and for once in her life she didn't respond verbally. She kissed Harry passionately and he answered with just as much enthusiasm. They were so preoccupied that they didn't even notice the room changing around them. When they finally pulled apart they looked around, confused by the change of scenery.

The couch they sat on was still there, but everything else had changed. The room was dimly lit by several candles and a few feet away from them stood a large bed with silky sheets. Everywhere in the room were little tables with red roses and on one of them was a large bowl with chocolate covered strawberries.

When they had taken in their surroundings Harry and Hermione started laughing.

"Looks like the room thinks we have done enough talking," Harry said.

Hermione's eybrows rose. "The room doesn't think, Harry. It's just a projection of our wishes."

"Then at least one of us has quite a dirty mind," Harry replied with a cheeky grin.

"I wonder who that might be," Hermione answered playfully.

Harry turned a little red. "Hm, I admit that I got a little carried away by our kiss. But of course if you don't want to do it again so soon, I understand. You must still be sore. I mean, we did it a lot last night and it was your first time and maybe I was too rough…"

"Harry!" Hermione cut of his ramblings. "I'm fine. A little sore, yes, but in a good way. You weren't too rough, Harry. You were great in fact. And of course I want to do it again. I don't think that the room would have changed if only one of us thought about doing it again. I'm pretty sure I am responsible for the roses and candles. I mean it's more a girl thing."

"I don't think so. When I held you in my arms I thought about how much I love you and how precious you are and that I would love to make love to you again, but not on a bathroom floor. You deserve so much more than that. It should have been like this for our first time. I'm sorry, love," he said gently.

Hermione looked at Harry with so much love and tenderness that his heart melt. "Just stop apologizing, Harry. Last night was perfect and I wouldn't change anything about it. And now stop talking," she whispered.

To underline her words, Hermione gripped Harry's robe and started pulling it over his head. Harry helped her and closed his eyes in delight when Hermione left butterfly kisses on the exposed skin. Her gentle touches felt so good. During the years in Hogwarts Harry had gotten to know friendship and loyality – something that had been foreign to him before. But only now while he felt Hermione's loving kisses and caresses he felt truly loved.

Harry shared another tender kiss with Hermione before he gently lifted her robe over her head. Harry let his eyes and hands wander over Hermione's body which was now only clad in a bra and panties.

"You're so beautiful," Harry whispered in awe.

His fingertips found the scar Dolohov's curse had left on Hermione's abdomen during the battle in the Department of Mysteries. It was only a faint red line by now. Then he searched and found the slowly fading scar on Hermione's wrist where Bellatrix Lestrange had marked her with the crude word "Mudblood". Harry lifted Hermione's arm to his mouth and lovingly kissed the scar. Then he lifted his gaze to her eyes.

"You suffered so much pain, because you decided to stay by my side. I can never thank you enough for that," Harry said gently, laying all his love and gratitude in his voice.

Hermione shook her head and took Harry's hand. "There's no need for thanks, Harry. Your side is where I belong and where I want to be."

Harry nodded sincerely. "Always," he whispered and then and there he decided to make it official by proposing to Hermione before they left Hogwarts. He was just about to ask her right away, but stopped himself. He wanted to do this right. Preper something special, get a ring, go down on one knee, preferable fully clothed. Instead he deeply kissed Hermione again, laying his promise at forever into this one kiss. He didn't know if Hermione had gotten it, but her eyes shone with unshed happy tears when she took his hand and let him to the bed.

They took off their undergarnments and started kissing again, their hands exploring each others bodies. Harry took his time and memorized the spots on Hermione's body that were especially receptive to his touch. A gentle caress of her nibbles made Hermione gasp, kissing and nibbling the sensitive spot behind her ear earned him a content sigh and massaging the sweet spot between her legs made Hermione moan loadly. Harry was surprised how quickly his need for her had grown again, even without the potion and although he had been thoroughly sated just hours ago. Harry was sure he would never get enough of Hermione.

They shared one more long kiss before Harry gently thrust into Hermione again, his gaze never leaving hers. This time their lovemaking was slow and gentle, but not less intense. The build up to their release was slow, but when he finally came only a moment after Hermione, he felt not only sated, but completely happy, loved and secure. Hermione smiled up at Harry blissfully and he thought that she was as radiant as the sun.

The lovers lay there in each others arms until his stomach reminded Harry that they had missed breakfast and it was time for lunch. Hand in hand the two went to the Great Hall, where they were greeted by a frantic Ron, who was accompanied by his girlfriend.

"There you are! Where have you been?! I've searched for you the whole morning! Are you alright? What happened?" he asked his best friends.

Before they could answer Luna smiled and directed Ron's attention to Harry's and Hermione's enterwined hands.

"I think there is your answer, Ron."

The redheads eyes went wide. "No way! I thought you were going to hinder Hermione from doing something stupid, not do it with her!"

Harry looked guilty at his friend's words, but Hermione reacted before he could say anything.

"What we did wasn't stupid, Ron. Harry didn't take advantage of me. He loves me and I love him and we're together. If you have a problem with that it's exactly that: your problem, because I don't regret anything," she said harshly.

"Merlin, Hermione! No need to yell at me. I don't have a problem with you two being together, I was just surprised and I thought…. you know… Never mind. If you two are happy, I'm okay with it," Ron told his friends.

"Oh, so you don't think having sex is stupid?" Luna asked Ron and he nearly choked.

"What?! No! Of course not!"

Luna grinned. "That's good," she said and took Ron's hand, leading her surprised boyfriend out of the Great Hall.

Hermione laughed. "Looks like he didn't need his brothers' newest creation at all."

Harry smiled. "Yeah, you're right. But you have to admit that something very good came out of their invention."

Hermione looked at Harry sternly. "Harry James Potter! I can't believe you support somethink like that. Just because it made us realize our feelings for each other it doesn't mean that this stuff can't make people do things they'll regret later…"

Harry stopped Hermione's rant. "Hey! I didn't say I support their pills. And I promise I will talk to them about not selling them in their shop. I just meant that I don't regret anything either and that I'm very glad we got together, even if it was caused by a Weasley creation," he reassured Hermione.

"Okay, you're right about that. But if I ever discover Fred and George selling or giving this stuff to anyone again, I swear I will put the dosage they gave me in their cups," Hermione announced.