Abandon
4
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:ES-CL'>“You
look happy.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:ES-CL'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
looked up at Luna. “I do?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Yeah,”
she nodded, sipping her coffee. “Maybe it has to do with your mystery lover?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Oh
please, don’t tell me that Ron...”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“...hardly
talks about anything else these days,” the blonde stated, with a small smile,
her big dazed eyes fixed on Hermione.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“He
really needs to find something better to do with his time.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“But
seriously Hermione, there is someone
right?” Hermione glared at her and she flashed her a
smile. “I swear that Ron didn’t tell me to ask you. I want to know, as your
friend.” A pause followed and Luna gave her an encouraging smile. “Come on, I’m
sure that you’re dying to talk about it with someone.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
added some sugar to her coffee, and avoided Luna’s eyes. “Well... It’s nothing
serious.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Oh,
you mean it’s just shagging?” Luna laughed at the scandalized look that
Hermione shot her. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“It’s
not like me to do something like this, you know? I would’ve never thought that
I would get involved in something like this... But I just can’t stop.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Is
he good?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'>“Very good.”
EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“And
how long has this been going on?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“About
three weeks.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“And
it’s still just sex? No strings
attached? No emotions involved?” Luna asked, and her face clearly stated that
she didn’t believe that was the case.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
bit her lip. “It’s not— It’s more complicated than
that. But we aren’t a couple. We just—”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“—satisfy
each other’s needs,” Luna completed bluntly.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
sighed and drank half of her coffee. “Do you think it’s possible?
feeling anything else?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Luna
tapped her fingers on the table, pondering the question. “There are people that
have no problem with that kind of relationship. But you’re not that type of person,
Hermione. And neither is Harry.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
almost choked, and it took her a whole minute to stop coughing. “What does
Harry have to do with anything?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Luna
smiled knowingly at her. “Who else could it be? I can’t imagine you having
casual shags with a stranger... Besides, it’s written all over you. I could
tell right away when I saw you two on the Burrow the other day. Don’t worry,
Ron doesn’t even suspect it.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Please,
don’t tell him. Don’t tell anyone.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
won’t. But are you sure about what you’re doing? Harry’s your best friend. This
could turn out wonderfully, but it could also become a real mess.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
thought so to, at the beginning. But nothing has changed between us, aside
from... you know. I mean, we’re still the same.” And the truth was she didn’t
know if she could stop at this point, either. Her body was getting more and
more used to Harry’s, and it was the closes thing to and addiction Hermione had
ever had.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Just
take care of yourself, okay?” Luna said, her face strangely
focused. “And watch out for Ginny. You know she’s still hung up with him.
I don’t think she’d like it if she found out about you two.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“She
doesn’t need to know. Harry and I are not a couple. We’re still best friends.
And if we ever find someone else we want to be with, it will just stop.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“You
sound like you want to convince yourself.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“No,
it’s just the way it is.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Luna
let out a sigh of disbilief, before ordering another cup of coffee. “By the
way, what happened to that bloke you work with? Aaron? Albert?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Alfred?
What about him?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Didn’t
he have the hots for you?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Ah,
well... He’s a nice guy. We get along fine.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“What
if he asked you out? Would Harry get jealous?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
rolled her eyes. “Luna, cut it out. I told you, already. Harry and I aren’t
together. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. But I’m not planning to date anyone,
so...”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Just
an hypotetical case, Hermione.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>* *
*
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
didn’t know if she should feel relieved or worried that Luna knew. She was sure
she wouldn’t tell anyone, and it felt good to have someone to talk to, but on
the other hand, she had the suspicion Harry wouldn’t like it if other people
found out about them... What if he got angry, and
everything was over?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
What has to happen, will happen
EN-US'>, she reminded herself, and decided it was about time to go home. She’d
stayed until very late at St. Mungo’s catching up with the work she’d been
dragging over a week now, and her shift had been over for a while now. She took
off her Healer robes and locked her office.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'>St.
and she felt like walking instead of apparating. Usually she returned home by
foot, it was a nice time to think and clear her head, but lately she’d been in
a rush to get home to Harry, and it had been a long time since she’d done this.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
was about two blocks away from the house when she felt it. Someone was watching
her. Over the years, her senses had
become sharp enough, and even if she couldn’t hear or see anything, her
intuiton told her that someone was, indeed, following her. She looked around
carefully, but the street was empty.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
told herself to be calm, and kept walking. Her wand was in her pocket, and she
could reach it with a quick movement. The feeling was still there. She was sure
she was being followed! She turned around fully this time, but there wasn’t
anyone. Which didn’t mean anything, because whoever it was
could be using an Invisibility Cloak, or a special charm...
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
took out her wand and muttered a spell she’d learnt in her last year at school.
It would make her see through any cloak or charm. But, again, she couldn’t spot
anyone. She felt a chill running through her spine. She didn’t want to admit
it, but she was scared. Maybe it was because of those anonymous letters she’d
been receiving, but suddenly, all she wanted to do was run.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
started walking faster, but the certainty that she was being followed didn’t go
away. By the time she reached
Place
door, and before she could enter, she heard a familiar noise. Someone had
disapparated. She was right, then. She was
being followed. But who was it? And why?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>A
hand on her shoulder almost made her jump out of her skin, and she couldn’t
suppress the gasp that came out.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'>“Hermione?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry
had appeared out of nowhere, or at least that’s what she thought at the moment,
and was staring at her with concern.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“H-Harry,”
she muttered, trying to steady her voice. “I didn’t see you there...”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
was at the living room and heard you opening the door... I was wondering what
was taking you so long.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
realized she was still holding the door knob and released it hastily. “Ah,” she
said, and walked past him, into the warm house. She sighed in relief, she felt
safe there.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“What
happened? You look shaken,” Harry noticed, his eyes
boring into her.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Shaken?
I’m just cold,” she said, smiling. “Nothing happened, Harry,” she assured him.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Are
you sure? You’re acting strange,” he insisted.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Nothing
happened,” she repeated. Suddenly she wanted to go to her room and stay away
from him. She didn’t want to tell him that she had been followed, because that
would lead him to the letters, and the last thing he needed was worrying about
some stupid person’s pranks. He would get angry if he knew she’d been hiding
those from him...
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry
grabbed her arm before she could go up the stairs. “You’re not telling the
truth. Why were you looking so scared? I saw you standing at the entrance.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
told you already...”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Stop
lying!” He roared, startling her. “Why won’t you tell me what
the heck is going on?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
didn’t know why he was acting like that, but she couldn’t help getting
irritated. “You have no right to say that to me, when the only one who’s always
hiding things is you,” she said, pulling her arm from his grasp and going to
her room, slamming the door behind her.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>* *
* *
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
hadn’t expected Harry to show up at her room, but when he didn’t, that only
made her more upset. He could have at least tried
to talk to her... Or was he okay with this? Maybe he didn’t really care if she
decided to stay away from him a couple of nights.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
knew she had overreacted, but he’d harrassed her in the worst moment. She tried
to push out of her mind the irrational fear she’d felt when she had realized
she’d been followed. All this time she had been trying to convince herself that
she didn’t care about the letters, that the fire that had destriyed her home
had been just an accident... But the truth was she was terrified.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>But
still, she didn’t want Harry to know. Not only because of pride, but because
she remembered how he had reacted when he’d heard about the fire. He’d gone way
over the top looking for clues, and had forced her to stay under surveillance
24/7. If there was something that Hermione hated was when Harry made her fell like
she was useless and incapable of taking care of herself. Right now, she didn’t
want that. She wanted him to be her friend, not her bodyguard. And she wanted
him to concentrate his energies in making her feel good, and
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Sleep
wasn’t coming that night, apparently. And she had skipped dinner, so she was
hungry. It was about 3 am, but she decided to go to the kitchen anyway. At
least she wouldn’t have to see Harry...
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>But
she was wrong. As soon as she stepped inside the kitchen, she saw him, sitting
at the table with a tired expression. He had some sandwiches in front of him,
and when he saw Hermione coming in, he pushed the dish a little forward,
offering her one.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
grabbed one and sat on the chair next to him, not muttering a word. They ate in
silence for a couple of minutes.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I’m
going away,” he said, suddenly.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
stared at him, not understanding.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
need to make a trip. Work,” he added, hastily, before she asked.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
couldn’t help the empty feeling that surrounded her. “For how
long?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
don’t know. A week. Two... Depends.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
didn’t want him to leave her alone. She was too used to be with him. But she
didn’t let those thoughts reflect on her face, nor her voice. “I see. And when
will you be leaving?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'>“In a couple of hours.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
this now? “Oh. Well, good luck, then. Be careful,” she stood
up, hating herself. She was supposed to support him, or at least be worried
about him, but all she could feel was the urge to ask him to stay. She was
really selfish.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
moved to the sink, filling a glass with water and turning her back to him. She
didn’t want him to see her face. What was wrong with her? She wasn’t acting
like herself, at all. She should say goodbye to her friend properly. Tell him
that he shouldn’t worry, that she would take care of the house for him. Ask him
if he needed help... Her hands gripped the edge of the sing, and she felt an
unexplainable urge to cry. It’s the stress, she told herself.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
didn’t know how long she stayed like this. She’d even forgotten he was in the
kitchen with her, until she felt him move closer. She could feel his body heat
even before he hesitatingly put her hands around her waist. She felt his breath
on her ear and closed her eyes. Her hands took his and she turned around
hugging him, tightly.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I’m
sorry,” she said, buring her head in his shoulder.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Why?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
shouldn’t have snapped at you before. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry
pulled her back until he was looking at her eyes. He grabbed her chin between
his fingers and moved his thumb in circles over her jaw. “I don’t know what’s
wrong with me, either,” he said, before leaning and kissing her softly.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
almost melted under his lips. It was the first time he kissed her like that.
Usually, his kisses were passionate, needy, devouring. She loved those, but she
knew they came from raw passion and not much more... This was different. It was
as if he was telling her he cared about her though his kiss.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
Of course he cares about me, he’s my best friend,
EN-US'> she thought in the moment that Harry’s mouth opened, and licked her
lips to ask for entrance. She granted it, and their tongues met in a very
gentle dance. She shuddered. There was definetely something different that
night. Her back was pressed against the sink, and the edge felt slightly
uncomfortable in her lower back, but she didn’t care. All she could feel was
his intoxicating taste, the way his tongue tangled with hers and his hand
buried in her hair.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>When
he pulled back, she tried to look in his eyes, to see what he was thinking. He
didn’t let her. Instead, he moved to her neck, suckling softly. She moved her
head back to give him more access. Meanwhile, his hands moved to her front,
working on the not of her night robe, and removing it shortly after that.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
like this pijamas,” he whispered, and she chuckled. It was a regular cotton
shirt that she’d taken from him a few days ago. It reached her mid thigh, and
she wasn’t wearing anything underneath. He discovered that pretty soon, when he
moved his hand under the shirt and brushed her bare bottom. “And I love it when
you don’t wear any underwear,” he said, moving to nibble her ear.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Hermione
felt a rush of arousal. It was the first time he said anything like that to
her. They rarely talked before or during their encounters, and the
conversations they had afterward involved everything but their relationship.
Never in her wildest dreams Hermione would have imagined she would
words coming from his mouth.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
helped him take his shirt off, and he turned them around and moved her towards
the table. She didn’t know when the things that were on the top disappeared,
but when he laid her back, it was empty. Hermione couldn’t believe they were
about to shag on the kitchen table. She would never be able to eat there
without remembering that moment again.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry
seemed especially attentive that night, and she wondered if he felt guilty
about leaving her alone. Or maybe he was going to miss her and wanted to make
the best of this time. Whatever the reason was, she couldn’t complain. She had
even forgotten all about what happened earlier.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>He
unbottoned her shirt slowly, kissing every bit of flesh that came to view,
until he opened it completely. He stared at her body for a second before
leaning forwards and capturing her mouth again, his hands covering her breasts
gently, rolling her nipples between his fingers. At some point he took his
glasses off, and she absent mindly put her legs over her shoulders. He
understood right away what she wanted. He obliged gladly, and lowered his body
until his face was at her crotch’s level.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>He
started slowly and teasingly, and Hermione wiggled, loving his mouth more than
ever. The vision of his head buried between her legs, his tongue going deep inside
her while his nose brushed her clit over and over, was making her approach her
climax at top speed. She knew he wouldn’t stop what he was doing until she had reached
it, so she just let go and enjoyed the ride, grabbing the edges of the table
with such force, her knuckles turned white.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
moaned, signaling her orgasm, and her whole body shuddered. He stared at her
until she was able to look back at him, again. His gaze was so intense, that
for a moment she felt very self-conscious.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“What?”
she asked, between pants.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Nothing,”
he said, crawling up her body until they were at the same level. She felt his
erection against her inner thigh and realized he had taken off the rest of his
clothes.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“You
want to say something,” she insisted, reaching down to take him in her hand.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
was just wondering why you make such a big effort be quiet. It’s not like
anyone besides me will hear you, you know?” he said, closing his eyes in a
delighted expression when she started stroking his cock.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
don’t feel confortable being loud,” she muttered, feeling a little embarrassed.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
EN-US'>“Why not?
whispered, settling between her open legs. Hermione didn’t answer, and he
didn’t push her, either. They looked at each other’s eyes when he entered her
slowly.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
bit her lip at the wonderful sensation. Would she be able to stand the time
she’d be without him?
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry
started moving inside her, and the table started to creak. With each stroke, it
creaked louder, and for a moment they both stopped and looked at each other.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“It’s
going to break,” Hermione said, breathing heavily.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Then
we’ll have to be quick,” he replied, and started moving with impossible fast
strokes. Hermione gasped in surprise.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Ha-rry!”
she managed to say, but he didn’t listen to her and kept his pace. Soon, she
was too engrossed in what they were doing and forgot all about the creaking.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Her
orgasm was building quickly, and she did nothing to hold back this time. She
pressed her ankles in his back and helped him to go faster. They came together,
he with a loud moan and she with a muffled cry. They stayed tangled like that
for a couple of minutes, until he stood up and took her hand.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>He
led her to his room, and she realized he had no intentions of going to sleep.
Not that she minded. Harry had left all the gentleness in the kitchen and
attacked her with strong kisses as soon as they were close enough to the bed.
They fell on it together, battling for domination, touching everywhere and
barely leaving time to breath.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
moved on top of him and he let her. She kissed him hard, and he kneaded her
breasts at the same time she guided his cock inside her. He fit so well in
there, she thought, while she started moving, her hands seeking level on his
chest. He took advantage of his position and kept one hand on her breast, while
the other sneaked down, to where they were joined, and started rubbing her clit
in rhythm with her movements.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“I
want to hear you,” he whispered, in a voice that almost made her come there.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
moved as fast as she could, but it felt so good that it made her arms week, and
soon she lowered her upper body, until her breasts were touching his chest and
their faces were close enough for them to kiss. Harry helped her keep the pace
by holding her hips, his own pelvis moving without rest to meet with hers.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Oh
God, Harry,” she moaned, and this time didn’t care about being loud. He rubbed
her clit harder, and she let out a cry.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>He
came a second later than her, and let her head rest on his chest, not wanting
him to pull away yet. He circled his arms around her, trying to regain his
breath. Hermione really loved the moment they spent after they’d shagged, she
felt so content and relaxed that she knew she would miss it when he was away.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Thank
you,” he said to her ear, and she didn’t know what exactly he was thanking her
for, so she just kissed his neck and stayed quiet.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Will
you be okay while I’m away?” he asked then.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
nodded. She wanted to say she’d miss him, but she decided it was better to keep
it to herself.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“You
won’t tell me what happened today?”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
looked up at him. She had hoped he would drop it, but she had obviously
understimated how fixated Harry could be. She sighed. “It was nothing much,
honestly. I think I was just a little paranoid, that’s all. I had the feeling
that someone was following me, but there wasn’t anyone there.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Harry’s
face regained his stern expression for a moment. “Maybe you shouldn’t stay here
alone while I’m gone.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>“Oh
Harry,” she said, pulling away from his embrace and laying by his side. “I’ve lived
alone since I finished Hogwarts. I can take care of myself. I’m telling you, it
was nothing.”
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
knew that he wasn’t the least convinced with that, but surprisingly, he said
nothing. She laid her head on his chest, carressing him softly until she fell
asleep, thought of stalkers vanished from her mind and only the sound of his
breathing ringing in her ears.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>* *
*
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>When
she woke up, he was gone. He didn’t left a note, and
she knew from experience that when he left like this to “work” there was no way
to contact him. She could only hope he’d come back soon.
and she realized with a small pang of disturbance that she was getting too used
to being with him.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>She
would have to leave soon, anyway, so she might as well use this time to get
accostumed to the idea.
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS";mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>