Moments of Love

Chapter 9: Naughty Hermione

It was a warm summer's evening, and the jovial sun was drenching the Burrow in a mellow, orange light. The garden was packed with people and voices, and a long table was squeaking under the weight of plates and bowls of food. Hermione sat down in a shabby armchair under a tree and tucked heartily into her portion of apple pie and custard. Her eyes wandered over the chattering crowd. Molly and Arthur were playing with Teddy Lupin, whose hair kept changing from violently blue to purple and yellow, Fleur was braiding little Victoire's hair, and Harry, Ginny, Angelina, and Bill were playing a game of Quidditch.
Hermione smiled as Bill scored and did a jubilant air-dance with Ginny, whose belly was hardly visible. Hermione sighed and stroked hers; it was at least twice as big as Ginny's. Then again, she was much rather very visibly pregnant than not; she couldn't help secretly thinking that a pregnancy without a real belly was not quite going by the book.
Her eyes glided on, brushed over Percy and Audrey, and landed on Ron, who was talking to George by one of Molly's lush flowerbeds. He was wearing the dark green capris she had brought him from London when she had gone baby shopping with her Mum. They were quite tight around the bottom, and as she examined his form, a tickling warmth started to creep through her.

His buttocks. His juicy, perfectly round buttocks.

Her eyes slid along his body and surveyed the bare calves...the long back hidden under a blue T-shirt...the strong arms that were gesticulating as he spoke...the tousled mop of red hair...
George snorted loudly, and Hermione startled so that a piece of pie flew away. Blushing heartily, she kicked it under a bush and returned her attention to Ron. He was still gesturing and talking animatedly, obviously about some new product for the WWW. George made a sweeping movement with his hand, and Ron stepped back to avoid collision.

His buttocks rippled in a way that made hot waves of blood storm through Hermione.

Not quite knowing what she was doing, she put away her plate and sauntered to Ron. He flashed a smile, but continued talking to George. His body was warm beside her, and he smelled faintly of aftershave.

'So, if you up the gunpowder a bit and make the cardstock thicker, I think the explosion will be more spectacular...'

'Mhm, but you have to remember that if you use too heavy cardstock, it might...'

As George spoke, Hermione slid her hand on Ron's right buttock and rubbed it. The feel of it made her quite dizzy, and she shamelessly ignored Ron's surprised look. She snuggled closer to him and reached to rub his left buttock. Holy cricket, it was delicious. Ron gave her another look, but her whole body was practically crackling, and there was only one thought on her mind. She slid her hand back on his right buttock and pinched it.

'Hermione!' Ron jumped. George looked at them both puzzledly, and Ron coughed, his ears crimson.

'She just stepped on my foot. You were saying?'

George went on, and Hermione placed her hand back on Ron's botty. She felt completely reckless, almost drunk, and she couldn't have cared less for anything except that one thing. Now she was looking hungrily at Ron's chest and his veined arms -his bare calves covered in fine hair almost made her moan.

'Let's go home,' she whispered.

'What?'

'Excuse us, George,' Hermione said with a smile and steered Ron around the corner. Before he could open his mouth, she pressed him against the wall and kissed him deeply.

'Let's go home,' she whispered. 'We can apparate there and back in no time.'

A smile broke out on Ron's face.

'Side-Along-Apparition?'

*

'Hermione, dear, are you all right?' Molly asked. 'You're all flushed.'

'I'm fine,' Hermione breathed and tucked a curl behind her ear. 'I was just feeling, er, weak, so Ron helped me a bit.'

Ron turned away and coughed into his hands. Luckily, Molly seemed completely oblivious and just guided Hermione towards the table.

'Have something to eat, you'll feel better. Or maybe a drink -it's terribly hot today. Oh Teddy, sweetie, don't wipe your hands in your trousers!'

'Yes, love, how about some lemonade?' Ron said innocently as Molly dashed away. He filled a glass with sparkly lemonade and gave it to Hermione, his eyes twinkling. He poured a glassful for himself as well and drank it with one swig.
Hermione drew a shuddering breath.

His lips. His soft lips with the particularly full bottom one.

'Ron,' Hermione said huskily and touched his arm. The warmth of his skin made her close her eyes. 'Let's go home.'

'What? Is something wrong?'

'No.' Hermione opened her eyes. Her whole body quivered at the sight of Ron licking his lips after the drink. 'You know.'

Ron's eyes rounded in bewilderment, but as Hermione continued to stare him, a knowing grin spread on his face.

'Oh right, Harry warned me that women tend to get a bit mushy at some point of pregnancy...'

He waved his hand at Harry and Ginny, who were walking towards them, and pulled Hermione away. Before they apparated, he leaned to press a soft kiss on her neck.

'You know Hermione -I'm really loving this pregnancy stuff.'

*

'Come on, score!' Harry punched the air vigorously, but Bill was too late. Ron blocked the Quaffle with a swing of his broomstick, and Harry groaned.

'That was an easy one, Bill!'

'Yep, easy to block,' Ron said with a grin, and Harry waved his fist at him.

Hermione smiled in the shadows. It was scorching hot, as it had been for weeks now, and the men were playing wearing only shorts. Ginny had suggested she could play in her bra, too, but Ron had protested.

'Ha!' Harry cried victoriously as the Quaffle swished past Ron. Ron hit the handle of his broomstick angrily, and Ginny dove behind a bush to get the ball. Ron hovered in midair for a while, running his fingers through his hair. His chest was glistening with sweat in the sun, and the muscles were nicely visible.

His chest. His buff, wide chest with the fine, red hair.

Hermione shuffled her feet and bit her lip. The Quaffle was back in the game, and Ron had accelerated his speed. He stretched out his hand to do something -what, Hermione had no idea because the action had exposed his armpit. That dark depth widening smoothly down to a toned side.

Hermione drew a deep breath and crossed her legs. She could not wait, not for a second.

'Ron,' she said with a little quiver in her voice. 'Would - would you come here, please?'

Everybody halted, and Ron zoomed towards her.

'What is it?'

'Well...' Hermione looked up to Ron's flushed face. His chest was so close she could have touched it with very little effort.

'You're not getting mushy again, are you?' Ron said in a low voice and glanced over his shoulder. Ginny was hovering slowly closer.

'Yes. Sorry.' Hermione grinned apologetically. 'It's just...see, I really -I mean, really- want to...' She stood up to whisper something in Ron's ear.

'Right! Sorry chaps, but we have to leave',' Ron said immediately and hopped down. 'Hermione's a bit under the weather.'

'Oh, too bad,' Ginny said sympathetically. 'This pregnancy is really not kind to you, Hermione. You've been taken ill a lot lately. Doesn't your nurse have any spells for it?'

'I don't think spells can cure what's wrong with you, you little tramp,' Ron muttered so that only Hermione could hear him. 'Cheerio!'

He turned to Hermione and took her hand with a tremendously naughty smile.

'And now -I'm all yours.'

*

'Ron, wait! I'll come with you and Harry!'

Hermione grabbed her bag and ran out of the living room. A couple of papers were about to slip away, but she cast a silent Freezing Charm on them.
Ron was standing by the door, his hand on the handle. His red hair formed a striking contrast to his dark blue Auror uniform, and Hermione halted by the hall mirror.

His neck. His lovely, strong, manly neck. Thoughts that made Hermione blush rushed through her mind, and the familiar tickling was again overtaking her.

Ron shook his head very, very slowly.

'Hermione...'

'Just a quick one, Ron!'

'Hermione, I'm already knackered from last night. And the night before that. And the night before that. I haven't slept properly in a week!'

'I know,' Hermione said desperately. 'It's just...I can't help it. But An Enjoyable Pregnancy says it's normal for women to blossom and feel quite, you know, desirous at this point. Oh, come on! When the baby arrives, things are bound to get the exact opposite. We'll be constantly tired and covered in nappies and puke.'

'We'll be late from work...'

'So what?' Hermione chucked her bag in a chair and opened the top button of Ron's jacket. 'A pregnant woman can always be late, and for you being late is nothing unusual.'

Ron had no chance to reply with anything else than a moan, as Hermione was already attacking his neck.

*

An hour later Hermione was sitting at her desk and shuffling papers with an occasional ravenous glance at Ron's waving picture. There was a knock on the door, and Juliana came in with a steaming mug and a sandwich.

'Here's a bit of breakfast,' she said. 'And don't worry about being late. You have so many hours overtime that you could well take a week off.'

Hermione smiled and straightened a pile of papers against the desk with a tap.

'You know, I think that is an excellent suggestion!'