Second Chances

Hermione slowly opened her eyes, by the darkness of the room she’d woken in the middle of the night. A glance at the hands on her alarm clock told her as much. She liked her room, she’d miss it when she moved in the manor. She’d bought this house herself with the money raised from her business. It in itself was a show of her achievement. Change had to happen all the same and Crouch Manor was the seat of Barty’s family going back centuries. She would never ask him to give that up.

She moved her hand to the pillow flattening it more in an attempt to return to sleep. As she did the ring caught her attention, glinting in the darkness. She pulled her arm out from under the covers and rolled onto her back, holding her hand in front of her face and twisting the ring around. She was engaged to the gorgeous man laying beside her. She still had trouble believing this was real. The dull ache between her legs from their latest marathon love making attested to the reality of the situation.

The drama from before was not over though. The conversation with Ginny of the day before was only the tip of the ice berg. The Ginny she’d encountered had been emotionally exhausted, not the angry woman she was sure she could come into contact with next. The woman she’d comforted was broken. A nights sleep and Ginny would be back and she’d be angry, really angry. She had every right to be and Hermione would accept whatever Ginny decided in the hope they could salvage something of what they had before.

Barty had listened attentively to the sorry tale of events before he came into her life and after. Accepting that she was flawed as a person, as much as the next person. He did not hold her on a pedestal, which would be an unrealistic thing to do. She became aware of a palm sliding over her stomach slowly and looked over to find Barty had turned to her, “Sorry did I wake you?”

“Was only dozing,” He replied groggily, “How come you’re awake?”

“Just thinking about stuff, sometimes I feel a bit like a fish out of water with everything. I wonder if I can hack it.”

“Hey,” His hand moved to her side, rolling her to face him, “If this is going to fast for you then we can put the brakes on a bit if-”

“No,” She smiled, cupping the side of his face and gently pressing her lips to his, “If anything you’re the one thing I’m sure about. You’re going to be the one constant in my life for a while. Don’t even think about touching that brake.”

“I’m guessing that means you and Ginny still…”

“…need to seriously talk? Yeah.” Hermione rolled onto her other side, pressing herself back into him as his arms moved around her and held her tightly there. “When she gets a grip on herself and finds her fire again she’ll be out for my blood but I’ll deal. I can’t hide from her and if I tried I’d loose everything else too.”

“You’re a far braver person than me at times.” He whispered against her neck, “I can’t imagine facing those I’d hurt though I suppose my crimes were far worse than yours.”

“Yes but I don’t have the I’m-a-different-person-now defence that you do. You’re not the man who did any of those things. I am the women who did it.” She snuggled back against him more and sighed, “No more talking, I’ll deal when I have to.”

“I suppose we don’t have to talk,” His hand slid over her stomach and up, cupping a breast and kneading it gently making her moan and press back against him harder.

He groaned and she could feel the hard length of his pressed against her ass. His other hand moved downwards, sliding into her slick heat and lazily circling her clit. He began a gentle massage of the sensitive nub making her moan and press into him more with every rotation of his fingers. She hooked her foot over his leg, opening herself to him enough for his fingers to delve into her, his long digits instantly finding the place that made her gasp and cry his name with even the slightest pressure.

“Barty… please.” She begged, her arm going backwards to grip his hip, telling him what she needed.

With a slow motion he shifted her forwards a little and lifted her leg and with one movement he filled her causing her almost scream his name at the sensation of pleasure that alone caused her.

Still holding her leg up he began a merciless rhythm, her words and cried driving him to go harder and faster. Her hand gripping the arm that was laced underneath her, her nails digging into the flesh. He knew there’d be mark and for fleeting second he thought he might be leaving someone on her but he couldn’t stop and she defiantly didn’t want him to.

She cried out, her nails cutting into him as she came, her breath ragged and her inner muscles tightening around him. He came the instant she began to tense, milking him of his climax. As he tightened his grip around her waist and held her to him.

Slowly their breathing evened out until he could hear Hermione’s slow and steady breaths, telling him she had fallen asleep once more. Closing his eyes he buried his face in her soft curls and began to doze off, still buried deep inside her.


Authors Note; I have to say I was a little disappointed with myself the way I handled the Harry and Ginny line. It's not what I wanted it to be but I tried a hundred different way and it never sat right. This chap gives a bit of explanation but that's about it. Sorry guys xx Thanks to all those who've reviewed me. We're nearing the end now. Two chaps and an epilogue left.