Chapter 29
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Hermione chose to take full advantage of a night away from her parent's house. Hopefully Harry would feel comfortable enough to do more than cuddle. She loved cuddling with him but she was starting to miss some of the other things they did in their private quarters at Hogwarts more than she thought she would. So she packed her new nightdress and lingerie and hoped Harry wouldn't think she looked like a schoolgirl trying too hard to look older than she was.
Her new dress robe was beautiful and very sophisticated in a dark crimson silk shot with navy in certain lights with a built in bra. It was conservative in that it was ankle length and the split in the skirt barely came up to above her knees but the halter neckline plunged and draped teasing more than it revealed, front and back. It wasn't immediately obvious but very little could be worn underneath. It was the most risqué robes she'd tried on and Harry's eyes had darkened with lust when he'd seen it, even among the chattering of the other customers. Hermione had instantly resolved to buy it even though she wasn't sure it would be appropriate for Lavender's wedding. Alicia and the clerk had reassured her that it would be. It wouldn't be their typical teenage party. The groom's father Lord Cadbury was a member of the Wizengamot with wealth to rival the Malfoys and the Blacks in their heyday, and the Browns and Cadburys were going all out trying to put on the party of the season and most of the groom's friends would be in their late twenties.
Harry jokingly suggested that she buy another set of robes to show her father, but the robe designer produced a short velvet stole that matched the shot silk of the dress exactly and showed how the outfit was charmed so that once the stole was in place the plunging back of the dress seemed to rise so that there wasn't a gap below the shawl which was charmed to sit perfectly around her shoulders no matter how she moved.
Hermione allowed Harry to ditch the muggle suit and tie in favour of a matching silk waistcoat and navy blue open robe to be worn with his navy dress slacks.
Daniel approved of the dress when he saw it with the stole in place, but Emma had seen it on its hanger and realised that there had to be some sort of magic concealing the low back when the stole was in place, though she chose not to say anything to Hermione in Daniel's hearing. She also recognised that the dress was real silk and the stole was top quality velvet and wondered at the cost, or if such fabrics were commonplace in magical fashion.
Hermione had asked Neville for advice on whether they should wear their wedding outfits to arrive in since there was more than an hour between the portkey time and the start of the ceremony. Harry thought that was more than enough time to get ready but Hermione and Emma both disagreed. Neville reported that most guests would arrive with cloaks fastened over their wedding finery to protect it from view, but they would probably be shown to the room they were staying in before the ceremony to 'freshen up', so they'd transfigured their school cloaks into plain overcloaks to cover their robes. Hermione wore flats to portkey in with her heels in her overnight bag, not quite trusting the ankle support charms on them if they landed roughly, but Harry had been practicing with portkeys and managed to keep his feet and hold Hermione up on arrival so they didn't make fools of themselves.
-o0o-
On arrival they could see that Cadbury House was early seventeenth century and definitely large enough to have been called a manor if the builders or original owners had wanted. They were shown directly to their room to freshen up.
The room was simply and generically furnished, a guest room like many others, with the shared bath down the hall, but the furniture gleamed with polish and the bed was comfortable, and Neville and Elsie were on one side of them and Dean and Leanne on the other. Ron and Eloise were allocated a room down the hall but Ron had confided to Harry that both their mothers were expecting them home that night.
The eight of them met up in the hall to go down to the ceremony together, Eloise, Elsie and Leanne exclaiming over Hermione's dress. Elsie wore another dress that looked like it had been altered from her mother's wardrobe and didn't really suit her, Hermione was able to alter the hemline to a more fashionable length, making it shorter as the style was too full to be fashionable long, and darken the colour to better suit her but she wasn't able to do much else to improve it. Leanne showed them both a tailoring charm she used to make the dress fit Elsie's slim figure more snugly and lower the sweetheart neckline to show a hint of cleavage. Hermione changed Neville's accessories to match, surprising him. Lavender and Parvati might have been able to do something more but they were no doubt too busy to worry about Elsie. Hermione resolved to try to drag the shy witch out shopping, she could use the excuse of needing dresses that were suitable in the nonmagical world to dress her friend more fashionably for the rest of the weddings that summer, thank goodness she'd been allowed to choose her own casual wear so she'd fit in without comment when she'd been at Hogwarts.
Elsie looked grateful, though she felt almost as self conscious in the short skirt as she had in the poorly fitted, unflattering and unfashionable dress it had originally been. She hadn't been allowed to wear dresses that short even when she'd been a little girl. Neville was glad she felt more confident in what she was wearing though he didn't really understand why the changes were important. She'd looked pretty to him before, though he did appreciate the shorter skirt.
The ceremony itself included a traditional handfasting with the bride and groom's arms tied together with magical golden ropes. Lavender looked lovely and radiantly happy, and from what they were able to tell without knowing him, her bridegroom seemed like he was enraptured by her.
The wedding feast seemed to consist of a never ending stream of champagne and finger foods so as not to interrupt the ability to get up and dance. Harry had been worried they weren't going to get enough to eat at first but he was full before the deserts started to appear. Hermione happily steered him around the dance floor, his ability to waltz had improved but as a result of the lessons he'd inadvertently learned to let her lead. Elsie also loved dancing and gladly spent most of the evening on the dance floor with Neville and his friends. She and Harry laughed their way though a clumsy dance and she found Neville was right, you didn't have to dance well to have fun. It was after three before the music stopped and Neville led her back upstairs to their room, most of their friends having disappeared earlier.
Hermione had encouraged Harry back to their room shortly after midnight, after an hour of slow dancing in his arms. Harry had been very gentlemanly in the placement of his hands but Hermione hoped they could hear the music from their room and he would be less so if they danced in private.
As Harry stripped off his robe and waistcoat, she opened the window and turned the bedside lamp down low before moving back into his arms and starting to dance slowly with her arms around his neck and her body pressed up to his.
Harry leaned in to kiss her, her heels making them almost the same height, his hands roaming over the bare expanse of her back before moving down to cup her arse through the silk as he deepened the kiss. Hermione moaned softly playing with the hair at the nape of his neck as she kissed back passionately. She could feel the heat pool inside her as she felt his erection pressed into her lower belly.
Harry moved one hand up to the halter neck of her gown and released the magic holding it fastened. He knew from Madam Malkin's discussion that he wouldn't have been able to do it if Hermione hadn't wanted him to. The dress was held up between them for a moment until he took a step back and the entire thing slithered down her body to the floor making her shudder at the sensation and leaving her standing there in nothing but her heels, jewellery and the smallest scrap of red lace knickers Harry had ever seen.
Seeing the shudder, Harry closed the window and curtains before casting a warming charm and wishing the lights a little brighter.
Hermione smiled at him and said softly, "I wasn't cold."
Harry looked down at her nipples standing out firmly. "Okay," he whispered bringing one hand up to cup her breast while the other quickly unbuttoned his shirt.
Hermione pushed the shirt off his shoulders and ran her hands over his chest, heading for his belt buckle but he beat her to it hurriedly pushing off his trousers and pants.
He pulled her back into his arms running his hands over her hips to cup her arse, surprised when he didn't encounter fabric or lace.
Harry tried to walk her backwards towards the bed almost knocking her over as he tripped on the trousers and pants still around his ankles causing Hermione to laugh. He kicked off his shoes and the rest of his clothes while Hermione turned around and released the charms on her shoes allowing her to step out of them and turned back the bedding, giving Harry a good view of how fantastic her bum looked with just the teasing little triangle of knickers disappearing into the cleft between her cheeks. She turned and stepped back into his arms humming softly to the music outside as she started to dance. Harry let her finish a song before starting to kiss her. He backed up to the bed and sat putting his mouth almost at perfect height to ravish her breasts while his hands gently kneaded her arse, playing with the narrow strings.
After almost coming from the feeling of his mouth on her breasts, Hermione pushed him back on the bed straddling his lap leaning down to kiss him passionately. Harry tried to sit up again and Hermione wrapped her arms and legs around him so she wouldn't slide of his lap allowing him to stand and turn to place her properly on the bed climbing on between her legs.
Hermione would have felt overly exposed and self conscious if she were naked but while she was well aware that the silly little scrap of lace hid next to nothing from Harry's view they made her feel sexy and bold, letting him look his fill. She smiled at him as he ran his hands up her thighs spreading her open further, kissing his way along to her core, sucking the lace into his mouth.
"Are they very uncomfortable?" he asked curiously.
"They take a little getting used to but no the lace front is more irritating than the strings at the back," Hermione replied. "They were however quite expensive and embarrassing to buy so if you like them you should take them off carefully because it will be a while before I can buy more."
"You bought these while shopping with your Mum? No wonder she gave me a strange look after you came out of the bra shop," Harry asked blushing.
"No talking about Mum and Dad when we're in bed like this Harry," Hermione said blushing furiously and squirming in a way Harry recognised signified feeling awkward.
"Sorry," Harry muttered, as he leaned forward and hugged her moving beside her so she could close her legs.
"It was a mistake buying them with you and Mum both there. The last thing I want you thinking about when you see my new lingerie is my mother," Hermione said.
"I didn't until you brought up buying them and I remembered the shop you wouldn't let me come into," Harry replied.
"You think you can think sexy thoughts about them again or should I take them off," Hermione asked trying to sound flirtatious.
Harry smirked, "They are really hot but I don't think you need them on to look gorgeous and sexy. I promise not to think about where you bought them again if you wear them for me again one day."
Hermione chuckled and peeled off the thong.
Harry kissed his way back down her body sucking a mark into the top of her mons where he was sure her bikini and normal underwear would cover it before spreading her back open to feast on her clit. He gave a brief thought to Neville and Elsie next door and hoped that the walls were soundproofed or they were still outside dancing as Hermione cried out his name as she came. He moved back up to cuddle her pulling the quilts over them both.
"Don't you want…"
Harry interrupted her with a kiss. "I'm fine love," he murmured.
"But who knows how long it will be until we're not at Mum and Dad's," Hermione said sleepily.
"Sleep now, there's always the morning," Harry reminded her gently.
-o0o-
"At least this dance isn't going to end in an almighty row between Hermione and Ron," Neville said laughing to break the tension between them as they walked up the stairs to the single bedroom they'd been allocated.
"What did they row about last time?" Elsie asked, surprised.
"After the Yule Ball in fourth year, part of the Triwizard Tournament Ron said some hateful things about Hermione's date, she'd gone with one of the other competitors and Ron pitched a fit about her being disloyal to Harry. It was mostly jealousy on Ron's part, Hermione was easily one of the prettiest girls at the ball that night and Ron thought he fancied her. Harry was supportive about Hermione dating Krum if she wanted to, though I don't think he liked him much either," Neville explained. "After Ron ruined her night, Harry and Hermione sat talking together. I thought for sure they'd get together then but Harry was too invested in being her best friend. She and Ron were always rowing about homework or something, they get along much better now that she's married to Harry and Ron has Eloise."
"It seems weird to think of Harry and Hermione not being a couple, and Ron and Hermione seem totally unsuited for each other, it's a little odd that they're even close friends." Elsie said.
"Yeah it does now, but it was weird that Harry and Hermione were a couple when they first got married, because neither had showed any sign of being interested in the other," Neville agreed.
"Hermione offered to take me shopping for some new clothes," Elsie said.
"You should go, Hermione will help you buy clothes for the other weddings we've been invited to, so you don't have to borrow more stuff from your mum, and you'll need more clothes for school too, the girls only ever wear their uniforms to class and breakfast and lunch in school days," Neville said supportively.
"Clothes that won't embarrass you in front of your friends, or that your friends won't feel compelled to fix before I go out in public," Elsie said.
"I didn't mean that, and I'm sure Hermione and Leanne didn't mean to hurt your feelings, they just wanted you to feel better about fitting in with the others," Neville said, realising a split second later that it was the wrong thing to say. "You looked lovely before they altered the dress."
"No I didn't, the dress was all wrong for me," Elsie corrected him. "I'm glad Hermione and Leanne were able to help make the dress look halfway decent, though I should get them to put it back before I give it back to Mum. She'd have a fit if she saw it like this."
Neville thought for a moment but there was no easy way to say it. "I can afford to buy you dresses for the other weddings we're invited to and a new wardrobe for school but I'd be useless at helping you choose what's appropriate, I never took much notice of girls' clothes before. If you don't want to shop with Hermione then perhaps Leanne or Lavender and Parvati would like to take you shopping."
"No I'd prefer to shop with Hermione but I already take up so much of their time," Elsie said.
"They're your friends now too, she wouldn't have offered if she didn't want to," Neville reminded her. "I would think that Lavender or Parvati would be better at choosing clothing though, particularly witches clothing, if you can put up with their gossiping."
"It's not the gossiping though I hate to think what they'd say about us after I spent a day with them, I just don't know them well enough to be comfortable the way I can with Hermione," Elsie replied.
"Lavender looked happy but I'm glad you're not that much older than me," Elsie commented.
"Yeah, I think she must have known him before, they looked very comfortable together," Neville agreed.
"More than we did," Elsie said regretfully.
"Hey no, I didn't mean that," Neville said hurriedly, though it was true. There were only a couple of previous occasions in his life when he'd felt more awkward than at their wedding and Elsie had looked like she was about to be kissed by a dementor as she said her vows. "I had a lot of fun dancing with you tonight. Do you need help with your dress?"
One unintended side effect of altering the dress was that it now fitted much more closely and Elsie was unable to reach back and undo the small buttons up the back of the dress by herself and neither she nor Neville knew the charm to undo them. She blushingly admitted the problem to Neville who was happy to help but a little concerned about taking advantage of a situation his friends had engineered. He hoped they hadn't done it on purpose.
Elsie stood patiently as he fumbled with the buttons awkwardly, only the thought of what he might be interrupting stopped him from suggesting that Hermione or Leanne might help. The dress was eventually unbuttoned and Neville impulsively kissed the back of her neck lightly before stepping back. "Do you want me to go for a walk while you get ready for bed?" he offered.
"No it's fine, thank you for the buttons," Elsie said blushing as she pulled off the dress and tried to act as if he was not watching her.
"You're very welcome," Neville said blushing as he tried to concentrate on removing his own clothing, sneaking peeks at his wife when he couldn't help himself and blushing even more fiercely.
Unlike Hermione, Elsie hadn't worn anything special under her dress but even the sight of her fairly plain cotton bra and panties was arousing to Neville who'd never seen his wife in less than a heavy shapeless long nightgown or pyjamas. They'd tried sharing a room at Partiger manor but Neville had found the disapproving looks from Jemima the next morning off-putting.
Elsie had also looked embarrassed as they tried to eat their breakfast with her parents and grandparents sitting there watching them silently. Elsie had been relieved and a little disappointed that Neville didn't try to stay the night again. She wondered whether Neville was as pleased as she was about the opportunity of a night away from both their families.
Neville pulled on his pyjama pants and a T-shirt to sleep in while Elsie had packed her best summer nightie, though her mother had also packed a more 'serviceable' one as well. The nightie though modest was thin cotton worn just enough to be soft and fell barely to midthigh when she was standing up.
"Did you enjoy the wedding?" Neville asked.
"It was much grander than ours," Elsie replied.
"Yes, it suited Lavender, she loves dressing up like that, being the centre of attention and partying, but that didn't answer my question, did you enjoy tonight? Did you want a wedding more like this one?" Neville asked.
"Not under the circumstances, I would have felt even more awkward with this many strangers watching us get married and having to dance in public before you taught me how would've been nerve wracking. I was kind of glad our ceremony was over and done with quickly," Elsie said. "I did enjoy tonight being a guest, but I would've hated to be Lavender."
"Our wedding seemed more like a business agreement between our families, this seemed like a celebration of their relationship, At our wedding, I don't think that anyone there was actually happy about it, even Gran and your grandfather," Neville said. "Were you sorry that our wedding wasn't more romantic, or more of a celebration?"
"We're not very romantic people, and we were virtually strangers, a romantic wedding would have felt false," Elsie pointed out. "I would have liked to be able to get to know you properly before the wedding, to be able to become friends."
"Yes, I would too, somehow I think it might have been easier then, but perhaps not. I would've liked the chance to get to know you before Gran and your Grandfather told us we were getting married," Neville agreed.
"I think it would be easier for us to get to know each other now if we weren't always surrounded by family. I wish there was somewhere we could go just the two of us," Elsie suggested.
"I don't own a second property and Gran would take it as a huge insult if I asked her to move into the dower house before I leave Hogwarts. Harry has a house in London they're not living in that they offered to let us use to spend some time out of reach of both our families, but I don't know what state it's in. Harry has been speaking about cleaning it out and renovating it. He'd probably lend us a guest room if we wanted to stay overnight and they had one fit for use. It would probably be pretty basic and I don't know if his house elf knows how to cook, but we'd be on our own together," Neville suggested. He and Harry had spoken about it, if Neville thought it would help them to spend some time on their own before returning to Hogwarts.
"I think that I would like that, if Harry and Hermione wouldn't mind, but what would we tell our families," Elsie said.
"I wasn't planning on telling them anything, your parents would probably assume we went back to Longbottom Hall and Gran would assume we were still with your parents. It's not like we're doing anything wrong even if they do find out we can tell them we were staying with Harry and Hermione if it makes you feel better," Neville replied.
"And Harry and Hermione really wouldn't mind us being there?" Elsie asked again.
"They're not living there themselves and they wouldn't have offered if they didn't want us to stay there," Neville reassured her, resolving to talk to Harry about it. "Harry mentioned that he also made the offer to Dean and Leanne since Leanne finished Hogwarts and has to try to have a baby this year so they'll be coming and going but it's a big old magical house so there's plenty of bedrooms, and Harry says that it's warded so we can use magic there."
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