Hermione sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. She loved her job, but the constant paperwork sometimes drove her a little mad. Working for MACUSA had been a wonderful surprise when she moved here suddenly three years ago.
Abruptly and without telling a soul, Hermione Granger disappeared. The wizarding world of Great Britain was at a loss as to where their beloved war hero had gone. As if she never existed, Hermione Granger was like a ghost. A name in the history books.
She liked it that way and therefore, she became Hermione Wilkins. Unknown and living amongst the shadows. She was ashamed to admit that she changed her last name to avoid being found. Knowing that a certain someone would find her too easily. She got the job at the American ministry by chance oddly enough. The head of her department sparked up a harmless conversation with her while waiting in line at a small coffee shop. Their short conversation turned into a job offer and the promise of discretion as Hermione explained her fame and wish to keep things under wraps. MACUSA took privacy very seriously, so she knew anyone searching for her would find it almost impossible with their security measures. She took solace in that fact. Maybe that’s why she grew comfortable, sloppy.
She was ashamed of a lot of things. It had been so long since she fled her home that she often forgot about her shame. Although, it always lingered in the back of her mind. For the most part, she shoved that part of her life to the side, ignoring the small voice in her head reminding her how cowardly she was. After three years, she sparsely thought about it. The reason she left, the pain, the trauma. And for a while, things almost felt … normal. In the scheme of things, she should’ve known her past would come back to bite her.
She was in her office sorting through the many piles of paperwork from an overly complicated werewolf rights case, when a knock sounded at the door.
Without looking up she said, “just a second Miranda! I’m almost done here. Give me an hour? I’ll head home to feed my cat and then we can leave. And don’t give me crap about my outfit. I can’t wear a corset to work! ”
A familiar low chuckle reverberated through her body like a caress. Hermione’s whole being stiffened and her heart dropped into her stomach. For a moment she forgot how to breathe, to think, to do anything. Her muggle pen clattered onto her desk as she lost the ability to function. She’d know that sound anywhere.
“You haven’t changed at all.”
Hermione flicked her eyes up to find her raven haired best friend standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. His green eyes accessing her with an intensity she felt in the marrow of her bones. Every cell in her body stopped working. Harry. The reason she left. Her best friend. The man she’d been secretly in love with for years. The source of her heart ache and self loathing.
Three years ago, Hermione had an epiphany. She and Ron had been living together for about a year and she thought she was happy. Thought it was everything she wanted. But one day, as she was simply hanging out with her green eyed best friend like any other day, she realized with sudden life altering clarity that she loved him. And not just as a best friend. A deep, unconditional love for the person she trusted most in the world. It was sudden and shocking how utterly sure she was of that fact. She wanted him. All of him.
They were bantering back and forth, finishing each others sentences, talking so freely, so easily that she didn’t have to think before she spoke. Something she always did with everyone else. She was just Hermione and he was just Harry. When he suddenly burst out laughing at something she said. His laugh bouncing around the room as he clutched his stomach, racked with laughter. She felt her heart swell with love and adoration for the most important person in her life. As she trailed her eyes over his face, she knew Harry was someone she couldn’t live without. That she cared for him so deeply she would die for him, kill for him, bleed for him. This wasn’t a shock to her as she had been willing to die for him during the war, but in that moment she realized why.
She chose him and would always choose him. If she had to decide between everyone in her life or him, she would choose him. Every time. She still doesn’t know why it hit her in that moment. But she knew right then, she was without a doubt in love with Harry Potter. And in that moment, as she accepted her realization, a fierce, desperate kind of possessiveness overtook her and she balked at herself. Terrified of how strongly her feelings overwhelmed her. Like a punch to the gut. Like the carefully wrapped bubble she kept around Harry suddenly popped and her sight cleared.
Her feelings for Ron were sweet and that of a girl wanting someone to desire her. She loved him, she truly did.. But as she watched Harry flash her a smile, she knew that her love for Ron was nothing compared to this all consuming feeling rising in her chest. She was head over heels in love with Harry. The shock of those feelings had her quickly making up an excuse to leave. His confused expression was still burned into her eyelids.
That night she lay awake with the realization that she loved them both. Both of her best friends. With staggering clarity, she understood that she would never feel that fluttering in her chest for Ron. She did love him. She cared for him deeply, but it wasn’t the same. For weeks she acted as though everything was fine. She convinced herself that she had gone mad, that maybe it was just that moment for her. That maybe she just loved being with her best friend.
However, with each passing day it became clearer to her. She was falling for Harry. Maybe she fell a long time ago. She didn’t know. But one thing was certain, Hermione couldn’t go on pretending. It wasn’t fair to any of them.
She tried speaking with Ron about her confusing feelings and he flipped. Cursing and spitting horrible things at her. She took it all knowing she hurt him. Even after her epiphany, she wanted to make it work. She would try to ignore her feelings for Harry and move forward with Ron. She loved him. She really did. But she found it wasn’t enough anymore. Ron drew away from her. For days, she feared he would do something rash and ruin his friendship with Harry, and that fear made her want to leave, run away, hide and cower from the shame.
Her decision was made for her in the end. She found Ron with another woman a week after their fight. He didn’t even care that she walked in on him fucking someone else. Just stared at her as he slid in and out of her cunt. The betrayal and subsequent revenge written all over his face. He wanted to hurt her as much as she hurt him. And feeling as though she deserved it, without a word, she collected her things and fled to America. She wanted to tell Harry, but she was a coward. All her Gryffindor bravery evaporated from her body the moment she realized how she felt. He was dating the love of his life, happy and moving forward. She couldn’t burden him with this. So, she ran away as there was nothing left for her there.
And now, her best friend was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed in front of his chest looking at her as though no time had passed.
Harry smiled and cocked a brow. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart stuttered to a stop. Although, she could see that his smile was forced, and behind those green eyes was anger. Pure utter rage. Hermione gulped and scaled her eyes over him.
“Merlin you’re fit.” She blurted out.
She cursed herself. Blushing profusely as she hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Her mind was in shambles. Harry was in America. He’d found her. She trailed her eyes over him again. Thinking maybe he was an illusion. Maybe she’d finally snapped.
He was different from the Harry she remembered. Taller, lean muscle, hair unruly but tamed. He was dressed in a plain white button up that clung to his chest and arms, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows showing off his muscular forearms. She knew she was staring but couldn’t help it. His black trousers fit his frame perfectly and his wand was holstered at his side like he had just gotten off work and made his way over. The man before her was very very different from the boy she left.
Harry raised his brows and his lips twitched.
“Three years is a long time ‘mione.”
She cleared her throat and stood, smoothing down her skirt in an anxious attempt to calm her nerves. Harry’s eyes trailed down her front and she flushed, wishing she hadn’t worn her black pencil skirt and heels today. Miranda made her dress ‘hot’ so they could go out after work in a few hours.
“Sorry. I-um. I was just caught off guard. Hello Harry. How are you? You look good.”
His eyes whipped back up to hers.
“You’re not going to ask how I found you?”
Hermione sighed and made her way over to him. She pulled him in for a hug. Squeezing him a little too tightly but not caring. He sighed into her hair and squeezed her back. After a few moments she pulled away and smiled weakly up at him.
“If anyone was going to find me, I knew it’d be you Harry. Come, let’s go for a chat.”
She stepped out of his embrace and walked past him, willing her heart to stop racing. He sighed and his footsteps soon followed after her. Hermione blew out a breath and made her way out of the office. Harry’s long strides had him soon catching up with her and keeping pace by her side. She resisted the urge to glance up at him, as she could feel his eyes burning into her.
Just get to the coffee shop, she told herself as her cheeks flushed from the intensity of his stare.
She entered the shop and sat at a corner table, out of sight from prying eyes. Many of her coworkers came to this shop and her mind was too scrambled to talk to any of them right now. Harry sat across from her without a word. The tension in the air was thick as they stared at each other. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Hermione knew this day would come eventually, but having him in front of her was a reality check. Her little bubble here in America had finally popped.
“What can I get for you?” The waitress asked, breaking Hermione from her stupor.
“Just a cappuccino for me.” Hermione muttered.
“Same.” Harry said without taking his eyes off her face.
Hermione watched the waitress go with a pang of longing. She wished she could escape this conversation. With a sigh, she steeled her spine and prepared herself for the scolding she was about to receive.
“What’re you doing here Harry?”
His brow furrowed and he pursed his lips.
“What am I doing here? Hermione…I’m trying very hard not to lose my shit right now. You bloody disappeared!” He said exasperated, running his hands through his air. “‘What am I doing here?’” He scoffed as if that was an insane question to ask, and then leaned forward to rest his chin in his palm. She felt anxiety bubbling up in her chest. The pain was so evident in his eyes that the shame and guilt washed over her anew.
“I’m here to bring my best friend home.”
She sighed and fidgeted with her napkin, studying the intricate details on the fabric to avoid his piercing gaze.
“Harry I- I don’t even know where to start. I’m so- so sorry for leaving. You have no idea how many times I’ve thought about writing or- or calling. I just- I thought you wouldn’t want to hear from me.”
She risked a glance at his face and gulped finding his eyes searing right through her. Seeing deep within the depths of her soul. He closed his eyes.
“I want to have this out with you. I want to scream and yell and throw things at you Hermione. But for now, let’s just forget all of that and catch up. Tell me everything. Then, when we’re alone… I’ll give you the what for? Alright? Just relax. We’re just two friends having a coffee and talking about life.”
Hermione blinked at him. Her mouth opened and closed. He smiled and her heart fluttered at the sight. His whole face lit up when he smiled, and she’d forgotten what it was like to have her breath stolen by him. She’d forgotten the whole reason she left in the first place. But right now, looking at her best friend smiling at her after so long… she fought the urge to cry. To sob and jump into his arms. Instead she smiled, reached across the table and took his hand.
“You first.”
Harry chuckled and leaned back in his chair.
“Alright. Where should I start?”
“Wherever you want. Where are you working? Where do you live? How’s Ginny? Ron? Neville? Luna?”
Harry squeezed her hand and blew out a breath.
“Well… I guess I can start with the job. I was an auror for two years and I liked it well enough. But then the defense against the dark arts position opened up at hogwarts… Started teaching last year. I still help the aurors occasionally, but I found I really enjoy teaching. The kids are wonderful. It makes me feel… alive.” He said with a grin. “I guess that answers two questions. I live and work at hogwarts. Neville and I work together and you wouldn’t believe it, but Malfoy does too.”
Hermione gasped. “No way! How? Why?”
Harry shrugged. “He’s not so bad now. Teaches potions and rivals Snape with his attitude.”
He chuckled and shook his head. Hermione felt like she was dreaming. Her chest ached. She hadn’t realized how much she missed talking to him. He pulled his hand from hers and ran it through his hair.
“I’ve missed you so much.” She whispered as pain pierced her chest. Seeing him released a flood of emotions she wasn’t ready to dive into.
Harry’s eyes found hers and her heart clenched.
“Hermione I-“
“Alrighty here’s your coffees.” The waitress interrupted and Hermione leaned back, just now realizing how tense she’d been. She blew out a breath and smiled, accepting her coffee. She built up her occlumency walls and shut down the emotional hurricane that was her mind. They could talk about all of that later; right now, she wanted to talk to her best friend.
She took a small sip and moaned as the hot liquid warmed her blood. Harry watched her over his own cup. She wished she could read his mind. He was so much harder for her to get a read on now. When they were kids she could read him like a book. His emotions usually written all over his face. Now, he was a mystery to her. Being an auror clearly made him better at hiding his true feelings. She longed to know what was going on behind those startling green orbs.
“So, Hogwarts. How’re the Weasley’s? Are you and Gin engaged yet? From what I remember, you guys were about to move in together. I guess she’s okay with living in the castle?”
Harry’s lips twitched and he set his cup down as if what she said was humorous. She furrowed her brow and scanned his face. Hermione was curious by this reaction, again wishing she could read his mind to know what he was thinking.
“Ginny would’ve hated living in the castle. Merlin…The thought of that makes me want to run away screaming.” He said with a chuckle. “But to answer your question, the Weasley crew are great. George and Angelina got married, Charlie’s still training dragons, Percy is making his way through the ministry, Bill and Fleur are pregnant, and Ron… uh well-“ he eyed her warily. “Ron got married. Last year…” He paused to gauge her reaction and she smiled softly, hoping he would continue. “She’s wonderful. Smart, fun, brave, a little odd…loony some might say.” He said and cocked his brow.
Hermione waited for a spike of jealousy or even a little envy, but she felt nothing. Maybe a little sadness for how much she’d missed out on but nothing concerning. She hadn’t felt anything for Ron in a long while. All she really wanted was for him to be happy. The reason she left no longer caused her pain. She only stayed away out of fear. Cowardice.
“Wow. Ron and Luna. Who would’ve thought?” She said with a smile.
Harry studied her. His expression curious. She took another sip and watched him as he watched her.
“So, you mentioned everyone but Ginny. You’re not wearing a ring so I assume you two didn’t get hitched.”
He laughed. “I was hoping to avoid that conversation but as you are too observant for your own good… Ginny and I broke up not long after you left. She’s engaged to Penelope Clearwater.”
Hermione sucked in a sharp breath and the searing coffee assaulted her lungs. She coughed and heaved. Her eyes watering as she struggled to breathe. Harry stood quickly and moved over to pat her on the back. His eyes amused rather than concerned.
Once she settled back and breathed a deep breath, Harry sat back down.
“Bloody hell.” She croaked and he barked out a laugh.
“Sorry ‘mione. You okay?”
Hermione nodded, slouching in her chair.
“So now that I’ve told you about me…it’s your turn.” Harry said leaning forward with his elbows on the table. Hermione felt suddenly nervous.
“Wow. Um- honestly my life is kind of boring. I work at MACUSA in the magical creatures department as you saw. I have paperwork coming out of my ass and I work too much… My best friend Miranda works with me. She’s wonderful. Nothing like me but she makes life interesting. Oh! And I have a cat named- oh..um well his name is voldy.” Hermione smiled sheepishly and Harry’s eyes widened.
“You named your cat… after the darkest wizard to ever exist?”
Hermione cringed then nodded.
“Listen, he was a prick as a kitten. He made me so angry I would just call him voldy and it kind of stuck. He’s a sweet heart and I can’t change it now! He won’t answer to anything else.”
Harry laughed again and shook his head.
“I need to meet this cat. Sounds like my kind of guy.” He said with a wink. Hermione’s face flamed.
“Not to get distracted by your truly interesting cat choices.. but no boyfriends? Fiancé I need to know about? Secret marriage? Situationship? Or is voldy my only competition?” He leaned forward and smirked. Hermione’s heart stopped. Did he just? She blinked at him. Was Harry…flirting?
“Uh- um no, no secret lover. I dated a muggle for about a year, but it was nothing serious. We ended things a few months ago.” She shrugged and took a breath, trying to collect herself. Why would he flirt with her? He had to be joking around, or just trying to lighten the mood?
Harry’s smile widened. “Good.”
Hermione searched his eyes and worried her lip. What was happening?
“You’re… different Harry.”
He cocked a brow. “Different… good? Or bad?”
“Good. Confident. It suits you.”
“Hm. Yes well. I’ve had a lot of time to think, and I decided a long time ago that if I ever saw you again, I wouldn’t let it go to waste.”
Hermione’s pulse pounded and she took another sip for something to do with her hands. Harry smiled at her with a wicked gleam in his eye. He took a sip and watched her. She felt flayed open. Like he could see right through her facade and deep within the depths of her soul.
“You ready to go?” He asked with a knowing look. She breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. He smirked and stood, throwing down some cash and holding out his hand. She took it and followed him out. Her stomach fluttering as she tried to process what was happening. She was convinced it was all in her head. Only seeing what she wanted to see. She did that sometimes. Her imagination running wild and making her read into things too deeply.
“Can we apparate to your house?”
“No need. My flat’s around the corner.”
They made their way to her apartment in silence. She knew what was coming. She gritted her teeth and tried to prepare herself for the reeming she was about to receive. He had every right to be angry. She left with no explanation. If he had done that to her she would’ve avada’d him.
Opening the door to her flat, she walked through and took a deep breath.
“Look Harry. I know you are angry. Rightfully so. And you have no idea how fucking sorry I am. I just- I couldn’t stay any longer. I know I was a coward but I-“
“Hermione.”
“- I had to get out of there. Everything with Ron and the never ending spotlight and then there was the way I felt about..” she drew in a sharp breath and closed her eyes.
She’d almost told him the real reason she left. And what was the point of running away if she was just going to blurt it out the second she saw him? Harry gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Hermione. Look at me.”
She let out a shaky breath and slowly turned to face him. His green eyes were soft. Not exactly what she’d been expecting.
“I’m angry. I’m furious. I want to rage Hermione. Merlin, I want to scream at you. Tell you how much it hurt when you left. How long I looked for you. God, I’m mad at you. I want to curse and yell and cry… But I’m not going to do that. At least not for a while. Because like I said, I’m not wasting any more time.”
She furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Wasting any more time? I don’t understand. You should scream at me Harry. I left you. I- I just left.”
He cupped her cheek. “Can you tell me why you left?”
“I just told you the-“
He shook his head. “No Hermione. Not those bullshit reasons. The real reason.”
She froze, caught in his emerald eyes seeking out the truth in hers. Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“I left because I couldn’t handle it anymore Harry.“
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “Handle what?” He whispered.
She fought the onslaught of panic pressing down on her chest and struggled to keep her walls up.
“I-I felt guilty for- I just— I loved Ron, but I was…” She sighed, “I was in love with somebody else. And then everything blew up in my face and I just had to get out.” She breathed and averted her eyes.
Hermione shifted out of his arms and walked to the kitchen. She could feel his eyes on her but she didn’t want to deal with the rejection, the pity. She left everything behind to avoid it. For three years she hid from the world because she couldn’t face her feelings. And she couldn’t face them now.
She gripped the counter and closed her eyes. Taking slow breaths trying to calm herself.
Harry slowly came up behind her. The heat from his body made her shiver. She resisted the urge to lean into him and accept his comfort. She didn’t deserve it. He brushed a kiss to her shoulder and she gasped.
“You were in love with someone else?” He whispered and shifted her hair over her shoulder. Her breathing hitched and she bit the inside of her cheek, unable to speak.
Harry brushed his lips over the shell of her ear and jaw. Hermione’s eyes fluttered shut and heat flooded through her. What was he trying to do to her?
“Yes.” She breathed.
“Hm. And—what if he felt the same?”
Hermione’s heart dropped into her stomach and she swallowed down the sudden tightening in her throat. He couldn’t mean-
“What if he spent three years searching every corner of the earth just to tell her that?”
It felt like her world shifted on its axis. Everything she thought she knew was completely thrown out the window. If what he said was true, then she spent the last three years of her life running away from her own happiness. From limitless possibilities. Running from her best friend, the one person she trusted more than anyone.
She made a strangled sound and Harry smiled against her throat. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her flush against him.
“And when he finally found her, the first words out of her mouth were ‘Merlin you’re fit.’” He chuckled, nipping at her ear. “You can imagine how hard it was for him to sit across from this goddess of a woman while she contemplated her mental state. Determined to ignore his very obvious attempts at flirting.”
Hermione was listening. Yes, she was. But she was also thoroughly distracted by the hard length digging into her spine and the hands on her waist.
“I imagine she may have gone into shock when said man walked into her office looking like he walked straight out of a GQ magazine. And proceeded to not give her the what for, for being a complete arsehole, instead choosing to flirt by comparing her cat Voldy and himself. One may expect her to be a little… unstable.”
He chuckled darkly. “Why would he waste his time screaming at her, giving her the what for… when he can make her scream instead?”
Oh Jesus Mary and Joseph. Hermione’s knickers were soaked. Her entire body buzzing with pent up desire. Harry ran his hands down her thighs and she whimpered.
“He could punish her. I’m sure he had loads of time to think of things he’d like to do to her.”
Hermione arched into him, resting her head back against his chest. His hands found the hem of her skirt and he inched it up ever so slightly.
“Please.” She breathed.
Something snapped inside of her. A desperate longing made from pure loneliness making her almost wild with need. Harry growled into her neck and sucked the sensitive skin there. She rolled her hips against him, squeezing her legs together to ease the ache between her thighs.
“Do you think you should be punished ‘mione?”
She had no idea what came over her, but every particle in her body sang at the prospect of him touching her.
“Yes, gods yes.”
Harry’s hum of approval rumbled through her. He abruptly stepped away from her. Her cry of protest was silenced as he turned her around, grabbed her legs, and threw her over his shoulder. She squealed in alarm.
“Come now pet. I’ve waited a long fucking time for this.”
Hermione held on for dear life as he walked her to the living room. He set her down and sat in the armchair.
“Take off your skirt and lay across my lap.”
She was ensnared in his heated gaze. She realized she hadn’t been imagining anything earlier. Harry was being very open about how much he desired her. Every look, every touch. Her stomach fluttered at the intensity of it all. She swallowed down her nerves and did as he asked. Reaching behind her to unzip her skirt, she slowly stepped out of it. Watching as his eyes darkened. He patted his lap and she wondered what he was up to.
She cautiously laid across his lap. He groaned and ran his hands over the swell of her arse and the backs of her thighs. She shivered.
“Fuck,” he growled. “I’m going to punish you Hermione. And then I’m going to fuck you. Be a good girl and count for me? This is going to hurt but with pain comes pleasure. If it’s at all too much you say the word. Okay?”
Hermione let out a shuddering breath and nodded.
“Out loud love.”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now count for me.”
He ran his hand along her ass cheek reverently and without warning he smacked it. She gasped as pain rippled through her, quickly doused by his hands rubbing the sensitive spot.
“One.” She said breathlessly.
He practically purred and she found herself wanting more. He lifted his hand and smacked down again.
“Fuck, two.”
She was so turned on, she couldn’t think straight. How did she end up here? Her morning started off like any other, and now here she was getting spanked by her best friend, and fucking loving it. Each slap sent a bolt of hot desire through her.
“Five!” She cried as his hand came down again. She whimpered in pain.
“You’re doing so good. One more.”
He brought his hand down and her back arched, pleasure washing over her as he massaged the sore spot on her ass.
“Six,” she gasped out. She needed to be touched. Every nerve ending in her body was overly sensitive.
Harry gripped her waist and shifted her into his lap so that she was straddling him.
“Are you alright?” He asked tucking a hair behind her ear.
She shifted her hips and moaned when she felt how aroused he was for her.
“Fuck yes I’m alright.”
Harry smirked. “You liked that didn’t you? I bet you’re drenched right now.”
He trailed his hand down her front to her panties. Touching her over the thin fabric. A jolt of heat shot up her spine and she moaned.
“Fuck you’re so wet. I want to taste you. Can I?”
Hermione was on the verge of combusting and he hadn’t done anything yet. She cupped his face and leaned in brushing her lips to his. Harry groaned and deepened the kiss. He tasted of coffee and she found herself lost in his lips.
They broke apart breathing heavily. His dick was rock hard and digging into her apex. She could imagine how it would feel inside of her. How he would stretch her till the point of pain but it would feel oh so wonderful.
“Yes. You can do anything you want to me Harry. I’m yours.”
He froze and his eyes snapped to hers. A slight whimper escaped his lips.
“Say that again.”
She trailed her finger along his jaw. “I’m all yours Harry.”
He moaned and stood with her locked in his arms. She didn’t know how he knew where to go, but he made his way to her bedroom.
He set her down on the bed with a hungry look in his eye. She watched him as he slowly undressed before her. Mesmerized by the smooth corded muscles of his arms and chest. He most certainly was not the boy she went to school with. The sharp V at his hips made her groan.
He stopped undressing himself and grabbed her heeled foot. She unbuttoned her blouse as he took care in taking her shoes off. She had no idea undressing could be so sexy. He treated her like she was a delicacy. Something he wanted to savor.
Now in only her bra and knickers he stepped back to look at her.
“You’re fucking perfect.”
Hermione bit her lip, reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Harry’s eyes greedily devoured her exposed skin. Her nipples hardened under his gaze and he groaned, gripping himself over his trousers.
“I think one of us has too much clothing on.” She whispered as she kneaded her breast.
He cocked a brow and moved to unhook his belt. His eyes burning as he watched her touch herself. He quickly shucked off his trousers.
Now in only his boxers, Hermione was set ablaze. Not even three years apart could dampen her desire and longing for him. She could hardly take it anymore.
“Harry, please. I need you.”
He crawled up the bed, kissing his way up her body. He caressed and massaged her aching breasts before sucking her nipple into his mouth.
“Oh god yes,” Hermione purred as she held his head to her chest. Harry twirled his tongue around the peaked flesh while his other hand trailed down her body to her aching heat. He slid his hand under her knickers and parted her folds with his fingers.
She rocked her hips against his hand as he circled her clit with his nimble fingers. Her moans of pleasure echoing around the room. He lifted from her breast and moved to devour her mouth.
She had never felt anything like this. Her body was wound tight and ready to snap. But just as she came close to cresting over the edge, he stopped.
“No! Don’t stop! Please, I’m so close.”
He just smirked and pulled his hand from her knickers. She whimpered at the loss. Before she could whine and complain, he was shifting between her thighs, kneeling so that his face was hovering above her throbbing cunt.
He hooked his fingers into her panties and slid them down and off. She watched as he took her in, naked and dripping for him. His groan of desire sent shivers down her spine.
“Fuck Hermione. You’re so damn sexy. So much better than I imagined.” He breathed as his eyes devoured her.
Her body tingled at his words and she spread her legs wider in invitation. His eyes glinted and he smirked.
“Do you want something?”
Hermione huffed in frustration. The pulsing in her core was receding and she was left with an uncomfortable ache.
He chuckled at her expression but didn’t make her beg. He kissed up her thighs, licking and nipping until she was panting.
Harry slid his hands under her legs and shifted her hips, then as she trembled in anticipation, he dove in. He licked her entrance and she threw her head back in ecstasy. Harry lapped up her juices with a delicious moan and then moved to her pulsing nub.
The feel of his hot wet tongue on her most sensitive spot had her legs trembling. Hermione gripped the sheets and writhed.
“Oh my god just like that! Fuck, don’t stop!”
He sucked and twirled his tongue in perfect synch. Staying at the same pace until she was screaming, shattering into oblivion. Euphoria pooled in her veins and her pulse pounded as she came down from her climax. Harry licked and sucked some more, not stopping even when her legs shook violently. Everything was too sensitive. The pleasure turning almost painful.
“Fuck, fuck! I can’t- I’m going to come again! Fuck, Harry!” She screamed as her back arched off the bed and her toes curled. She didn’t know she could have multiple orgasms in a row. It was the most intense, pleasurable thing she’d ever experienced. Her chest heaving as she stared at him between her thighs.
Harry licked through her folds once more before sitting up. He grinned down at her. “That was so fucking hot. You taste positively delightful.”
Hermione shuddered and reached for him. Wanting him inside her more than ever. He climbed up her body and caged her in. The look of adoration and longing in his eyes gave her pause.
“I love you.” She whispered as she brushed the hair out of his eyes. He let out a shuddering breath and nuzzled into her neck. Hermione ran her hands down his back and slid his boxers down his hips. He groaned into her neck, the sound reverberating through her as he sat up to shuck off his final layer of clothing. Hermione soaked in the sight of him.
“Merlin you’re fit.” She breathed and he chuckled, smiling as he climbed back up her body.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and gripped his sides. Harry stared into her eyes for a long moment. Like a mask fell away, the pain, the love, the longing all passed through his eyes and she cupped his cheek.
“I love you Harry.” She said again. “I always have and I always will.”
He swallowed thickly and she stroked his cheek.
“I love you too.” He said before leaning in for a searing kiss. Their tongues tangled and the heat quickly became unbearable as they devoured each other. Harry teased her folds with his thick length and Hermione gasped. She was shaking with restraint as the need to be filled by him overtook her.
“Are you ready?”
She nodded and he slowly pushed into her slick heat. Hermione moaned, overwhelmed with all the feelings she’d shoved down for so many years. Love, pain, joy, longing, loyalty. She was always his, in every way. And she was determined to make it up to him.
Harry trailed kisses down her neck and chest, pumping into her achingly slow. Her nails scraped down the skin of his back as the coiling in her core burned anew. Harry’s hands were all over her, kneading, squeezing, and stroking her heated skin.
It felt like the pieces of her soul were weaving themselves back together. Clicking into place as they made love.
Harry soon lost himself as he thrusted into her erratically. His hips slapping against her skin as his cock sank deep within her. Hermione was a moaning whimpering mess as her body ignited. The pressure building and building. She licked and nipped his skin and his resounding growl of lust had her matching his thrusts with a roll of her hips.
“Come for me, Hermione. I want to feel you.”
She whimpered and kissed him. Pouring all of her regret, all of her love into his lips. With one more thrust of his hips, she tipped over the edge. Crying out as she was bathed in ecstasy, tears flooding her eyes from all the love she felt for her best friend.
Harry soon followed her with a grunt. His hot cum bathing her inner walls as he found his own release.
He collapsed on top of her with a satisfied sigh. Their sweaty bodies molding together perfectly. She kissed his forehead, his cheek, his temple, squeezing him tightly to her chest. Tears streamed down her face as she held him.
“I’m so sorry.” Her voice cracked as she was wracked with sobs.
Harry lifted his head from her chest to look at her. The guilt and shame flooding through her as she saw the pain in his eyes.
“Hermione. Shh. Shh. I know. I love you. It’s okay. Don’t cry.”
She let out another sob and ran her hands through his hair.
“I’ll never forgive myself Harry. I’m so fucking sorry. I- you are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so fucking much.”
Harry’s own eyes welled up with tears. He sat up and pulled her to his chest. She listened to his heart as she cried, feeling as he shook with sobs as well.
They held onto eachother as they cried until they no longer had any tears left. She didn’t know how long they sat there, but soon she pulled away and peered up at his flushed face. His eyes were red rimmed and the sight made her stomach tumble in knots. He stroked her cheek with his thumb.
“Why don’t we take a shower and then we can talk?”
She nodded, afraid if she spoke she would break down again. She led him to the bathroom and started the shower. They didn’t speak as they lathered each other in soap. Washing away the sweat and tears.
Hermione threw on her robe and Harry transfigured his button up into a plain white T. He sat back on her bed, leaning against the headboard and motioned for her to join him. She hesitantly sat in front him, biting her lip anxiously. He sighed and gathered her in his arms.
Hermione relaxed into his chest and squeezed his arms around her waist. It felt as though her world had been tipped upside down. All the pain and longing she’d harbored for three years bursting out of her in waves. The shame and guilt worst of all. She didn’t know how to begin.
“You know, for a while I thought you left because of what Ron did.”
She gasped and squeezed his arm tighter. He sighed.
“He told me how you walked in on him and left without a word. I thought you just needed space. That maybe you were grieving and needed some time alone. After a month, I couldn’t take it anymore. I was so worried about you. It was so unlike you to just disappear like that. With no update, no word, no letter. I thought maybe you were in trouble. I was terrified and so bloody mad at Ron. Livid actually. I may have punched him in the face when he told me what he did.”
Hermione listened intently. Her heart clenching painfully hearing how much she hurt him.
“He told me to leave it be. That you would come back eventually. So I waited. And waited. Ginny grew tired of my constant state of anger. Our relationship fell apart and I didn’t even care. She broke up with me and I didn’t even bat an eye, Hermione.” He sighed. “I think that’s when I realized. I- I couldn’t breathe without you. I couldn’t think. I felt so utterly lost and you’d only been gone a few months. And then, One day It all suddenly clicked. I was hopelessly, desperately in love with you and had been for a long while. It just took having you ripped out of my life to realize it.”
Despite having no tears left in her, a few trickled down her cheeks. A fresh wave of self loathing washing over her. Harry squeezed her and rested his chin on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out Hermione. If I hadn’t been so thick, maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
Hermione brought their linked hands up to her mouth and kissed his hand.
“Even if you had Harry, I didn’t know how I felt about you either. Not until later.”
He let out a breath and kissed her shoulder. “After that, I started to search for you. I looked everywhere. I barely ate anything or slept longer than a few hours. I was so fucking angry at Ron for letting you go, at myself for never appreciating you. I almost got fired because I couldn’t focus on any of my assignments. Eventually I had to slow down my search and go back to work. But I found that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing anymore. I was so tired and lonely and lost. You were gone and I refused to speak to Ron for almost a year so I lost my two best friends simultaneously.”
Hermione gasped and turned to look at him. He smiled weakly.
“Yeah. I’m not sure you understand when I tell you how angry I was. It was teetering on the edge of hatred... I blamed him for everything. Plus, he moved on and I- I couldn’t. I didn’t understand how he was so okay without you when I was falling apart.” He sighed and shook his head.
“Almost a year after you disappeared, Ron came knocking on my door. I- er. I may have punched him on sight. But he soon convinced me to hear him out. He apologized for everything. Told me he sincerely thought you would come back. And that he was an asshole for what he did. I was so lonely and so heart broken that I forgave him pretty quickly. It helped that he seemed just as worried for you as I was. From then on he helped me search for you. We took turns traveling to different places we thought you might’ve gone. I sent out an alert to almost every wizarding community I could. For two years we searched. The funny thing is, the first fucking place I checked was America. But, as I’m sure you know, their security is…” he blew out a breath. “It’s basically impossible to get through. So I moved on. When the job at Hogwarts opened up, I jumped on it. I’d have more time to look for you and I wanted a change. The kids make me feel good. Like I’m giving back somehow. And that made me think of you.”
Hermione was at a loss for words. While she was moseying about in her boring life here in America, Harry was… she rubbed her chest as that familiar ache pulsed through her.
“Anyway. Ron and I got pissed one night. Both of us completely at a loss for what to do. We had looked everywhere at that point and honestly, I almost gave up. But then Ron looked at me as if contemplating something. He threw back his drink and told me what really happened to you guys. That you told him you had feelings for me. That- that you loved me. And how he thought the real reason you left was because of me. Something broke inside me that day. All the puzzle pieces putting themselves together. You didn’t leave because of Ron, you left because of me. And for the first time in three years, I had hope. If I could find you, I would never let you go.” He paused, trailing his fingers over her thigh. Seemingly lost in thought. Hermione was struggling with the emotions warring inside her. She wanted her old time turner so she could go back and scream at herself for leaving.
“That was two days ago…” he continued, unaware of her inner turmoil. “On a whim, I thought if I were a brilliant bushy haired witch trying to hide, where would I go?” He chuckled and shook his head. “My first thought was here. So I put in a request for a port key to America, found the MACUSA headquarters, looked through their directory, and who should I find? A Hermione Wilkins in the department of magical creatures.”
His story had her heart beating out of her chest. Hermione shifted in his arms so she could face him.
“Oh, Harry.” She breathed reaching up to stroke his cheeks.
“I don’t know how i can ever make it up to you. I- I wanted to come back after a while. But I was so terrified. I felt so many things for you all at once, I panicked. And then finding Ron like that.. I- I couldn’t stay. I thought you were happy. And all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. I thought if I told you, it would ruin everything. Upend your life with Ginny, and Ron and I weren’t okay and I just thought if I took myself out of the picture, you’d eventually move on. I was just your friend, you know?”
Hermione leaned her forehead against his. “I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you.”
He pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him. “I forgive you Hermione. Can- can you forgive me?”
She shook her head in confusion. “There’s nothing to forgive.”
He gripped her hips. “No. There is. I never saw what was right in front of me. This beautiful, brilliant, witty, bossy, loyal, amazing woman right under my nose and I never truly saw her until it was too late.”
She sniffled as her heart squeezed in her chest. “It’s never too late Harry…I’m yours.”
A smile stretched across his handsome face. “Come home Hermione.”
She searched his eyes as love bloomed in her chest for her raven haired best friend. “Home is wherever I’m with you.” She whispered. “I’ll follow you anywhere Harry Potter.”
He grinned and kissed her on the nose. An angry meow sounded from her left and she giggled as her cat jumped up on the bed. Clearly miffed that someone disrupted his dinner time.
“You must be Voldy. Hi, I’m Harry.” He said scratching her cat on the chin. “I think we’re going to be great friends.”