It's About Time

Chapter 9.

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The next few days found Hermione staunchly avoiding Sirius Black.

Though, he wasn't exactly pursuing her... in fact, he was acting as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened at all. He was going about his typical Marauder business... besting everyone in each of his classes, causing mischief with his friends, and most infuriating of all, flirting with the entire female population of Hogwarts.

But Hermione refused to back down. Honestly, who did Sirius Black think he was? Did he think he could kiss his best friend's... well... his best friend's... friend... and then just ACT like NOTHING had happened?

Well, Hermione Granger was no fool. And so, she avoided him. Refused to make eye contact with him when she was sure he was trying to catch her eye in class and kept their conversations to the bare minimum of cordialities.

This situation was just fine with her though... because now she had more than enough time to spend getting to know James. Which completely took her mind off of the Ravenclaw girl that Sirius had taken an interest in... Who, if Hermione cared to mention, was not much to look at. But Hermione didn't care to mention that.... in fact, she barely noticed that the two love birds had taken to snogging in the corridors between lessons and passing notes in the Great Hall.

Nope... Hermione noticed no such thing.

"Hermione"

No... She definitely hadn't paid any attention to Sirius Black.

"Oy! Hermione!"

Hermione spun around to see James flagging her down from across the corridor. He crossed the distance between them in a few long strides.

"Are you coming to Potions or are you planning to watch Sirius and Callie snog all afternoon?"

"What!?" Hermione gasped. Looking back she realized she had indeed been watching them. "Oh... err. I thought I... left my quill in the Transfiguration room..." She answered pathetically.

James raised an eyebrow as he glanced from the still kissing couple and back to Hermione. "Unless, one of them swallowed it... they won't be much help to you," he chuckled, his deep laugh bringing a smile to her face. "Let's go."

He grabbed her hand and laced his fingers through hers as he dragged her off towards the Potions classroom.
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Harry fought to keep his eyes open, though it was becoming more and more difficult not to fall asleep. Rubbing his eyes resignedly, he sighed and turned the page of the giant encyclopedia he had been searching through that day.

He, Ron and Ginny had been researching in the library for hours every day trying to find something that could possibly explain the strange reactions they'd been having due to Hermione's disappearance.

Needless to say, they hadn't come across anything yet.

"This is impossible," Ron groaned, the red imprint on his cheek a visible sign that he'd been using his book as a pillow. "We don't even know what we're looking for!"

Ginny raised her head from the dusty tome on the table before her. "He's right Harry. Let's take a break… we're not getting anywhere this way."

Harry was so tired the words on the page he'd been staring at appeared as a large, jumbled mass of indecipherable text. He removed his glasses and wiped the lenses on his shirt. He placed them back on and, again, tried to focus on the page he'd been failing to read for the past twenty minutes. It didn't help.

He conceded, nodding in agreement with Ron and Ginny as he began gathering up the numerous sheets of parchment upon which he'd scribbled bits of potentially helpful information.

With a wave of her wand, Ginny sent all of the large books that had covered their table flying back to their rightful places on the shelves. Hermione's copy of "Hogwarts: A History" remained on the table… they had taken to bringing it with them to the library to serve as a reminder… motivating them to keep searching for answers to find their friend.
But tonight, even Hermione's signature book couldn't encourage them to keep running on fumes…. Shoving the large book into her bag, Ginny led the way as they dragged their weary bodies out of the library to get some much needed rest.

Upon entering Ginny's room, the smell of Harry's favorite steak and kidney pie, a Hogwarts' House Elf specialty, enveloped them. The table had been set with enough food for the entire Weasley family and then some.

"Thank Merlin for Dobby!" Ron said as he collapsed on the couch shoving a roll into his mouth.

They each filled their plates and the next several minutes were spent in silence as the friends devoured their dinner deep in contemplation.

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They were halfway to Professor Slughorn's classroom before Hermione realized that her hand was still engulfed in James' strong grip. He'd ceased dragging her and they were now walking side by side through the busy corridors.

Hermione gaped down at their joined hands and up to James' amused expression. The shock was evident on her face.

"You look like you've been petrified," he laughed.

She snapped her mouth shut. Glancing at the students moving around them, she became aware that they were all reacting to the girl holding hands with the Head Boy and a smile slowly crept across her face as she tightened her grip on his hand ever so slightly.

James winked at her. "Much better. Not a walking fly trap anymore?"

"Sorry," she began timidly. "I just…"

"I know," he said, leaning down a bit so he could speak into her ear. "But they were bound to see eventually." He gestured to their hands as he spoke.

The giddiness that mounted within her at his words threatened to spill out in a squealing teenage frenzy, but before it could completely register with Hermione, they'd arrived at the Potions classroom. It was probably for the best, however. Merlin knows what kind of disaster would strike if Hermione turned into some sort of giggling adolescent Marauder groupie while trying to brew a shrinking potion.

She took her usual seat behind James, alongside another seventh year Gryffindor girl.
Smiling at Alice, two tables away, she unloaded her supplies as Professor Slughorn began explaining the effects of a shrinking potion. Hermione rolled her eyes at Alice… a shrinking potion was self-explanatory, was it not? The girls snickered, unnoticed by the corpulent Professor.

"And whoever brews the best shrinking potion today will receive a very special treat from me," boomed Professor Slughorn. "You'll find everything you need in the storage cabinets and – "

Just then, Sirius sauntered into the class, his trademark good looks drawing every eye to him.

"Sorry I'm late, Professor," Sirius' charisma charming the ever persuasive Slughorn. "Pressing matters to attend to."

Slughorn erupted in roaring laughter. "Of course, Mister Black. My dear boy. Take your seat. I'm sure you'll need no assistance with a mere shrinking potion, clever boy."

Sirius grinned and took his seat beside James. Being one of Slughorn's favorites definitely had its perks.

James clapped his friend on the back as he joined him at the table. They ducked their heads together and began whispering away, no doubt exchanging gossip about Sirius' flavor of the month, Callie Truex.


"Let's get started then," announced Slughorn as he retreated into his adjoining rooms and the students began bustling around gathering the necessary ingredients for their potion assignment.

Hermione was walking back towards her seat with an armload of ingredients when she saw Lily approach James briskly. James, who was still listening intently to Sirius' animated conversation, looked up at her with a curious look on his face that he quickly masked with something akin to cockiness. Classic Marauder style.

"Evans," he greeted her cheekily. "To what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"

His sarcasm was not lost on her. Her green eyes flashed in annoyance.

"You borrowed my quill during our last meeting with the prefects. I'd like it back please," she spoke in a controlled, even tone.

James' smug grin faltered slightly, as though he'd been expecting a different answer but not about to be undone by the school's sweetheart in front of his friends he maintained his façade.

"C'mon Evans. You don't have to make up excuses," he threw a playful grin to Hermione over Lily's shoulder. "Everyone knows that you've got a thing for Remus over here." He gestured with his thumb at the Marauder quietly mixing his potion a few feet away.

"Keep me out of it, Prongs," Remus warned mildly without looking up.

Lily's face grew red and she balled her fists. "Believe it or not, Potter, I genuinely did come over here for the sole purpose of retrieving my favorite quill. And not that it matters, but for your information, Remus is the ONLY one of you prats worth a damn."

The smile didn't leave James' face but the playful glint in his eye vanished at her words. He stood up, rising to his impressive full height so that she had to look up to meet his eyes.

"That's excellent news, Evans, because, as of very recently, it seems Sirius and I are off the market."

"Oh, so you two have finally confessed your undying love for one another, I see," Lily shot back, waving her hand indicating Sirius and James. "Congratulations."

The students surrounding them had stopped their potion making and were intently watching the ensuing argument with great anticipation. The entire student body had thought the days of the great Evans - Potter epic rows were a thing of the past... it was only a matter of time before they traded verbal sparring for snogging. But it seems things had taken turn for the worst.

"Very funny, Lily," James said as took a step closer. "I know it must be difficult for you to wrap your mind around the fact that there are other desirable females in this school besides yourself."

Remus saw that this argument was only going to continue escalating and stepped in. "Come on, James. Stop th-"

"I don't believe I ever said anything about me being 'desirable', James. Those are your words, not mine," Lily cut in. Her eyebrow raising in warning.

James opened his mouth to retaliate but realized that he had indeed admitted that she was desirable. She had thrown him for a loop and he struggled to think of something to counter her remark.

Thankfully, Sirius jumped in to save him. "Evans, Evans," Sirius said in his most charming tone as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. "I am sorry to break the news but I am no longer a bachelor. It’s true. I have, for the moment, taken up with the lovely Callie Truex of Ravenclaw. But if you're interested, I hear Snivellus is single -”

"Oh, shut it, Black! Do you ever think of anyone but yourself?" Lily shook off his arm. "As if everyone hasn't already seen you and Callie christening the corridors between classes."

Sirius smiled broadly. "What can I say? I'm irresistible."

"You're an arrogant ass, Black. Just as bad as -”

"Me?" James chuckled. He reached into his bag and pulled out a purple quill. And with a calm and genuine smile towards Lily, he handed her the feathered pen. "Here you are, Evans. We're just playing around, truce?"

"Of course, we're just playing around. All that nonsense about James being off the market," Sirius laughed along with a few spectators.

James gave Sirius a pointed look. "That bit is true, actually," he said honestly with a smile towards Hermione who was still standing beside her cauldron watching the scene unfold.

Both Sirius and Lily, along with the rest of their class, looked towards Hermione, who said nothing... she just stared back at James. She didn't know that he was planning on making... whatever it was between them official, so soon.

Lily, who had not only seen them walk into class hand in hand, but had observed their behavior towards one another for the past month, was not shocked by this revelation. She looked back to James and it was clear their argument was over. She had her quill, that's all she had wanted from him, she told herself.

"Thank you, James," said Lily tactfully, holding her quill as she walked back to her seat, looking anywhere but at Hermione.

James nodded in response to Lily but didn't look away from Hermione. He smiled broadly at her, shrugged his shoulders as if to reiterate, 'they had to find out eventually', and went about his potion making.

Hermione could feel that she was blushing furiously. She waited to look up from her cauldron until she was sure everyone had lost interest in the heated exchange that had gone on. When she did finally raise her head, her eyes were met by Sirius' steel gray gaze.

His expression was penetrating... searching yet playful. A very small smile played on his face though his eyes appeared resigned, he gave her a reconciled nod and turned back to his work.

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Harry awoke to the sound of a door closing. He sat up and straightened his glasses, squinting his eyes to focus so he could take in his surroundings. He was still on the small sofa in Ginny’s sitting room but the room was almost completely dark, apparently he had fallen asleep after dinner while discussing with Ron and Ginny their findings from that day’s library search.

The closing door that had awoken Harry must have been Ron departing to his own room, he reasoned, still slightly hazy from his deep slumber, because he noticed that his friend was no longer sitting in his usual spot near the fireplace.

The room was bathed in silvery moonlight which cast shadows across the floor. Following the stream of light towards its source with his eyes, Harry saw Ginny asleep peacefully in the armchair nearest the window.

The fire had burnt down to glowing embers that entwined with the limpid moonlit streaks to create a hazy effect throughout the room… and it illuminated the youngest Weasley in a way that made her look nothing less than angelic.

Harry could have easily watched her sleep all night. However, he was sure that if he left her in that chair, she’d wake in the morning with a terrible cramp in her neck that would pain her the entire next day.

He approached her silently; slowly he eased one arm around her shoulders, looped the other under her knees and gently lifted her tired body from the chair. She stirred slightly in his arms, reaching one of her hands up to rest on his shoulder, nuzzling her face into his neck. Her warm breath sent shivers down his spine.

Cautiously, Harry carried the beautiful redhead into her adjoining bedroom, lingering slightly longer than necessary while he allowed her soft touch to caress his neck.

As he approached her double bed, he bent slightly to lay her gently upon the smooth emerald green comforter. Her hand remained cupped around his neck so he tenderly pried it away, against his own selfish wishes to continue feeling her touch.

Seeing her laying so serenely, her brilliant red hair splayed out upon the pillow beneath her head, he wished desperately that he could stay there all night, just watching her sleep. But rather, he placed a chaste kiss upon her forehead and slowly turned to leave when her sleep-laden voice stopped him.
“Stay, Harry,” Ginny said sweetly. Her eyes were half open and she was smiling softly up at him.

Harry was frozen, convinced he was dreaming and half hoping he’d never wake up.

“What?” Was all he could think to say.

Ginny propped herself up on her elbow, her long hair hanging like a silky curtain.

“I want you to stay.”

Harry took a step towards the bed, hardly daring to believe his ears.

“Are you sure? You’re awake aren’t you? I mean, I’m awake too right?” He was so bewildered by this encounter that he scarcely knew which way was up.

She smiled, amusement dancing in her eyes.

He took another tentative step towards her.

“I’m sure,” Ginny avowed.

With those words, Harry crossed the remaining distance and came to stand beside her bed. He was unsure of how to progress from this point. He’d only ever dreamed of being with Ginny in this way… in fact; he’d never been with any girl.

Harry flushed, “I don’t really… know… I’ve never-”

“Neither have I, Harry,” she answered, knowing what he was trying to say.

“You… you haven’t?”

She shook her head and sat up on the bed directly in front of him. She delicately reached out and took his hand, pulling him slightly closer so he was flush with the side of the bed.

“It’s always been you, Harry.”

Harry gazed at her in disbelief. Was it possible that the girl of his dreams had actually saved herself… for him? It was too awe-inspiring for words.

His mind was a blur of astonishment and abundance as he stood in the warm bedroom staring into the golden brown eyes of the girl he loved.

Ginny took his other hand in hers, and raised herself up onto her knees upon the bed. Tilting her face up, she snaked her arms around Harry’s neck, their faces mere inches apart. Her eyes penetrated his, searching for an answer, for the words she so badly needed to hear.

Harry couldn’t believe that he was here… that everything he’d been dreaming of was right in front of his eyes, wanting him just as badly as he needed her. So he spoke the truth… the most honest words he had ever said.

“I love you, Ginny.” And he knew more than anything that he meant it with all of his heart.

Their gaze never faltered as a solitary tear trailed down Ginny’s cheek. Harry brushed it away gently with his thumb and kissed the tear stained spot on her soft skin. He kissed a trail towards her ear and repeated those divine words, whispering as he caressed her face and ran his fingers through her glossy hair.

“I love you.”

Ginny tilted her head to the side; her eyes alight with passion as she cupped his face in her hands.

“And I love you, Harry Potter.”

The words had barely escaped her lips when Harry closed the space between them in a searing kiss… one that fought to make up for lost time and convey a lifetime of emotions.

Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny’s waist, pulling her flush against him, deepening their kiss.

And though neither was sure who was leading the way, they both began leaning back onto the bed without breaking their kiss.

Ginny’s hands toyed with Harry’s unruly hair, slipping his glasses off and discarding them onto the nightstand as they both lay down crushed against one another.

Feeling her body even with his, caused Harry’s heart to beat, if possible, even faster than before. Their kisses grew more and more urgent, both yearning to explore and experience the other as they never had before.

Ginny’s hands played at Harry’s waist before lifting the hem of his shirt and tracing a pathway upward, she splayed her fingers across his muscular stomach. Her hands slid over his warm skin and across his back causing Harry to groan aloud in delight.

Harry entwined his fingers in Ginny’s scarlet locks before descending his hand upon the neckline of her blouse, where he began fumbling with the delicate ivory buttons.

Ginny’s hands reached up and stopped his fruitless effort as she gently urged Harry onto his back and straddled him. She sat up, looking directly into his bight green eyes as she unbuttoned her blouse, slipping it off her shoulders and onto the floor.

She leaned forward and once again met Harry’s lips in an intense kiss. His hands roamed freely over her newly exposed skin as Ginny reveled in the feeling of his arousal against her body. Reaching down, she tugged upwards on Harry’s t-shirt, persuading him to rise up just enough to pull the shirt over his head. Her eyes lit up at the sight of his muscular chest and arms, and she bent forward to place heated kisses along his collarbone and across his chest.

Harry toyed slightly with the button on her jeans, and Ginny reacted by grinding her hips ever so slightly and moaning softly against Harry’s neck. That was all the persuasion he needed and he deftly unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her hips. She leaned forward on her knees to crush her lips against his again allowing him to remove her jeans altogether.

Harry enfolded her waist in one arm and rolled her now onto her back and he propped himself up beside her, his hands wandering across her taught stomach. Ginny reached over and wasted no time in ridding Harry of his pants as well. Harry pushed himself up so he was directly above Ginny now; staring down at her with such evident intensity and love that she felt her heart might burst.
Harry soaked in the view of Ginny in her pink and green bra and panties, barely able to control his mounting desire.

Leaning on one elbow, he slid one bra strap from her shoulder, then the other. Ginny arched her back, pressing herself against Harry’s erection resulting in another audible groan from him, and in one swift motion, she unclasped her bra and tossed it aside.

Her chest was heaving with her excited breath, as Harry dipped his head; placing light kisses down her neck and agonizingly slowly, closed his mouth over the tip of her firm breast. Ginny inhaled sharply with delight.

She placed her hands on Harry’s hips and little by little inched his boxers down and finally removed them entirely.

All that stood between them now was the nearly transparent layer of cotton and lace of Ginny’s panties. Harry pressed himself against her moistened center, barely able to maintain control over himself.

Ginny reached up to Harry’s face, tilting it up so she could meet his eyes… and she nodded. That was all the encouragement Harry needed as he virtually tore her underwear away from her body, allowing himself to come so close to feeling her completely.

She placed her hands on his hips and urged him towards her. Bracing his gaze upon Ginny’s face, Harry pressed himself into her gradually yet firmly. He reached the point where he knew he must be forced to cause her pain. He captured her lips and pressed hard against her mouth as he thrust into her, feeling the tearing of skin and sharp cry from Ginny.

He searched her face for a sign she wanted him to stop, but there was none. But she smiled, her expression one of yearning and rapture, she wanted more.

Harry gazed back at her in adoration as he began to slowly move in and out of her, overwhelmed by the sensation of her warmth enveloping him.

They began to move together in time, Ginny raising her hips to meet his thrusts, match for match. Their tempo increased as a warmth began to spread throughout Harry’s body and he could sense what was coming.
Ginny whimpered softly as she too felt her release swelling within her. They moved faster yet as Harry gripped Ginny’s hip with one hand pressing her firmly into the mattress.

She wrapped one leg around his waist granting him deeper access to her body.

“Oh Gods, Ginny…” Harry whispered.

Their pace quickened to a frenzy of passion. His grip tightened on Ginny’s hip as he thrust into her one final time, expelling himself within her at the same moment that Ginny cried out his name, as she too reached her point of ecstasy.

Harry collapsed beside her, panting. He pulled Ginny to him.

“I love you, Ginevra,” he repeated once more.

She sighed contentedly in response and snuggled closer to him.

Kissing her forehead, he held fast to the woman he loved as they both drifted off to sleep in blissful exhaustion.

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