Worth Loving

Chapter 12: Wake up and Smell Troy

Hermione moaned as she opened her eyes to greet a new day. She sat up on the bed, yawning and passing her hands through her untamed wavy hair. She covered her body with the Harry scented sheets as it was now officially unclothed.

Her feet touched the cold floor as she reached Harry's dresser and picked his hairbrush.

She did not want to greet the Trojan prince with a curtain of untamed wavy hair. She sighed as the events of last night were replayed in her mind. It had been...

She gasped when it suddenly occurred to her to mind the time. It was way past her usual waking hour, as the sun shone brightly. She would not want to catch the Trojan queen on her way from Harry's room...or Fleur, what would Fleur say? Of course, Hermione was not aware that Fleur was only too engaged on her own night activities.

Hermione scanned the floor for her garments; only to find the floor swiped of all pieces of clothing.

"Oh crap," Hermione cursed under her breath. Why was it that when she always was in a hurry, she seemed to waste more time?

Her mind did not have much time to dwell on it though, for her feet slipped as the bathroom door opened. She could only blame her many distractions that morning, which apparently, had deprived her of her normal body coordination.

"Oops, you ought to be careful. You know, you should have stayed in bed. People traditionally stay in bed when they are still sleepy."

Hermione's lips curled up a smile as she felt Harry's strong arms take hold of her embrace. Apparently, Harry had his own explanations for her clumsiness.

"Yes well, those are people who actually get to stay in their OWN BEDS." Hermione looked at him.

"Oh come on Hermione, don't tell me you are actually going to Sparta so you can just take a nap." Harry grinned.

"You know what I mean." Hermione blushed as Harry's gaze wandered over her body.

"Fine, but how about a proper morning greeting?" He cupped the side of her face as he brushed her lips softly.

"Were you looking for these?" He handed her garments out to her.

"Thank you. I will go and put these on." Hermione headed towards the bathroom.

"Why there? You can do it right here, after all, I would say I have seen-"

"Harry!"

"Oh fine, go ahead. You can even take a bath if you want to. Water is warm and I can get some garments for you-"

"Thank you, I will pass. I would not want to intrude. I will just-"

"Hermione, you are not intruding. You can have whatever you want. I will even bring you breakfast if that is your wish."

"No, I will take the bath first."

"All right, what color would you like?"

"What?"

"For your garments."

"Surprise me."

****

"Is dark green all right?" Harry laid her clothes on the bed as she came out, a silk cloth around her.

"I told you it was fine."

"I just love how it looks on you," he admitted.

"Do you?"

"I do. You know, I spat my wine on the table when you first came out for dinner dressed in the color."

"Well, if I remember correctly, I also spat wine on you." She smiled.

"Yes you did, though I never figured out why. Did Alexandria do anything to upset you?"

Hermione's smile slowly faded as she remembered the queen's remark for that evening.

Does that include a test of the future king in bed...?

"Hermione."

"Uh?" Hermione snapped out of her reverie.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, I will just...put my garments on."

Hermione came out clothed in a flash, her hair combed into a long braid. She immediately noticed that Harry was taking his bow out.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Oh, hunting day, with Oliver. Want to come?"

"No thanks. I have something to take care of." She had all right. The affair that had brought her here in the first place. "I will see you."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, but he was not content with that. He took her by her waist and opened his mouth over hers.

"Do you want to come down to breakfast with me, or do you still want me to bring it up?" he asked her tenderly as soon as the kiss was over.

"Oh, no Harry. I am not that hungry. Besides, I am not eager to see your mother's face."

"My-what?"

But Hermione had already closed the door.

****

"Good morning, Harry dear," Alexandria greeted the Trojan heir as he went to the dining room dressed in his hunting apparel.

"Hello." He rushed to the table, but only ordered a cup of tea.

"Did you get some rest?"

"Well I surely had a very pleasant night," Harry muttered grinningly.

"Pardon?"

"Yes."

"Is that all you will be having for breakfast?" Alexandria noticed only a cup of tea in his hand.

"Today is hunting day. Have you seen Oliver this morning?"

"No. He has not even come out of his room."

"He has not?" Harry frowned. Normally, Oliver was an early riser. What could have possibly prevented him from making his morning curfew?

****

"Mm," Fleur moaned at the feel of Oliver's lips pressed on her neck. "Oliver!" she whined sleepily.

"Well, good morning to you too, sleepyhead," he smiled.

"Sleepyhead? We went to sleep around three," Fleur giggled.

"Still, it is a beautiful morning to let it go to waste."

"Pity, because I plan to sleep some more." Fleur cuddled against the pillow, but Oliver settled on top of her.

"Pity I simply will not let you." He began to attack her neck once more.

"You would not let me last night either," she giggled again.

"I do not recall you having a problem with that."

"No, but-"

Oliver moved to her lips before Fleur had time to finish her argument.

A door knock interrupted their private moment. Oliver fell off the bed as he grabbed his pants from the floor and stood up. Fleur, on the other hand, simply took hold of Oliver's pillow and cuddled pleasantly in bed once more.

"I would not get too comfortable!" Oliver teased as he answered the door. "Harry, good morning," he greeted his friend in an uncharacteristically happy manner, which caused Harry to frown once more, his arms crossed.

"Well, I was going to suggest illness for your absence, but I think not," said Harry.

"Absence? Is it time for breakfast already?" With Fleur on his bed, the prince of Ithaca had lost all track of time.

"It is rather past it actually. We are supposed to be in the woods already, as it is nearing mid-afternoon."

"Woods?" Oliver asked with a puzzled expression.

"Our hunting trip? The one you told me not to forget?" Now Harry was puzzled.

He was positively sure it was today and Oliver would never postpone a hunting trip.

Although today seemed to be that day, for Oliver's expression immediately changed as his memory began working.

"Hunting trip! I completely-"

"Forgot about it?" Harry finished his sentence, frowning once again. "Oliver? Are you all right? Did you get some rest?"

"No I did not," Oliver blurted out before he could stop himself.

"That explains it. What were you doing last night?"

"I, uh...well..." Oliver ran his hand nervously through his hair. He decided finally, that an "I made love to Hermione's sister" would not do, so he decided to refocus on the matter at hand. "Ithacan matters. But we can still go-"

"No, hunting is better in the early hours of dawn, so we go tomorrow. I am certain

you can find the rest quite useful.".

"Well then, tomorrow it is. I will just get some breakfast then."

"I brought you a cup of tea." Harry handed the cup to his friend.

"Thank you Harry. I presume you will be able to entertain yourself as well. Are you going to work on your sword skills again?"

"No, I will make my day more productive than a simple training session."

And if right on cue, he saw Hermione strolling in the hallway, engaged deeply in some book and carrying a teacup on her other hand.

"Hermione!" Oliver greeted her enthusiastically. Hermione gasped from the sudden interruption and her feet slipped, sending the book down with a thud and the teacup threatening to stain the castle's refined floor.

Fortunately, Harry caught her, putting an arm around her waist and his other hand steadying the liquid as the book collapsed on the floor. His hand grasped her waist as he pulled away by an inch.

"Are you all right-princess?" he asked. His face held no emotion, but his voice was considerably warmer than before.

"Yes, thank you." Hermione pulled away from Harry's embrace as he handed her back the hot beverage.

"I will get your book for you." Harry leaned down and handed her the volume "Justice: A Look at the Similarities and Differences of the Spartan and Trojan Law." Actually, the volume was his.

"How kind of you." Hermione displayed a thin smile, glancing at Oliver afterwards. "Good morning Oliver."

"Hello Hermione, sorry I frightened you. It is such a beautiful morning!" He smiled excitedly.

"Undoubtedly, which reminds me, did you not have a trip with prince Harry here?" Hermione glanced between the two.

"We cannot go hunting at these hours. Too much sunlight, so that postpones the

plans, giving each of us a free day." Harry smiled while looking at Hermione.

"Oh well, I am certain tomorrow will be as good a hunting day as today. Good day to you." Hermione strolled along. Harry was preparing to go after her, before she turned abruptly. "By the way, have you seen my sister around? I do not seem to find her anywhere."

"I will be sure to tell her that you are looking for her; if I see her," Oliver said innocently.

"Right then." Hermione continued her way. Harry walked as casually as he could behind her while Oliver closed his room door.

****

He found Fleur already with her garments on.

"Already leaving, are you?"

"You will starve to death if I stay," Fleur replied.

"Hermione is looking for you."

"I heard. I will meet her after I change, and I will see you later in the afternoon." She grinned, caressing the side of his face.

"Actually, the hunting trip is off, so I might get to see you earlier. H smiled back as Fleur looked at him with evident interest.

"I will take you up on that." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before leaving.

Oliver sighed happily and wondered if Hermione would let her sister travel to Ithaca.

****

"Hermione, wait up!" Harry caught her by her waist, his arms entwined around her.

"Hey, hands where I can see them!" Hermione turned around as Harry lowered his arms, putting a safe distance between them in the hall.

"Got my book I see," Harry pointed out.

"You said I could have the rest if I wanted to," Hermione replied.

"And you may. Anything else you want?" Harry smiled mischievously, attempting to get a step closer to her.

"Ah! I would actually like to get my duties done," Hermione admitted. "I am sure you have your own."

"Well, it so happens that you are in luck, because my plans just dropped out the window, so I am a free man."

"All right. I imagine you are going to be training with that sword of yours then. Try to make it back in one piece though."

"Why don't you make sure of that?"

"As appealing as that sounds, I have affairs waiting to be taken care of."

"But I want to spend the day with you!" Harry complained.

"Harry-"

"All right, just for a while then and I promise I will bring you right back to your affairs. What do you say?"

Hermione sighed while Harry gave her a pleading look. She could not help smiling. True, she could use some relaxation and spending the day with the prince of Troy was indeed a temptation. What harm would it be to put the affairs on hold for a bit?

"All right."

"Yes? Great!" He leaned in to kiss her.

"Harry! We are in the middle of the hall." Hermione backed away. She knew that what she had done was forbidden and she would at least keep up a clean public appearance while she dealt with the matter. She knew they had to talk about it sooner rather than later.

"Oh fine. I will meet you at the stable then?"

"All right." She gave him one last smile and he took the liberty to cup her chin, caressing it with his thumb.

"Harry! There you are."

Hermione jerked her face as Harry took his hand away in a flash. He then turned around to face the source of the interruption.

"Ginny. Damn it."