Graduating

GRADUATING

By Lady Jane

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Recap - Last part of Chapter Three

The riotous cheering from the Great Hall could be heard as far away as Hagrid's hut on a Friday afternoon two weeks later. The exams were over! They were free! No sooner had their quills been put down and their "History of Magic" exam parchments collected - flying through the air to the command of 'accio!' from Professor McGonagall - than students were streaming through the Entrance Hall and out the main doors into the grounds and the beautiful afternoon sunshine. Harry found Hermione in the crowd and lifting her up, he swung her around, making her laugh with delight.

As Harry put her down, she wrapped her arms around his neck, a huge smile on her face.

'Harry, I simply can't believe it! It's all over! Only one more week of school!'

'Doesn't seem possible, does it?'

'Harry! Hermione!' came a familiar voice. Ron appeared and wrapped a long arm around the shoulders of each of his friends. 'That's it! We're done! In a week - no more school! Life begins!' The three friends hugged each other, rejoicing in the wonderful feeling of relief and freedom. That night would see a serious amount of celebrating in Gryffindor Tower. And undoubtedly quite a bit of snogging, too.

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Chapter Four

No one was sure who'd managed to smuggle in the Butterbeer and Firewhisky - but everyone was very appreciative. The food was happily supplied by Hogwart's house elves, Dobby taking it upon himself to look after the Gryffindors. He did a magnificent job of it, too.

The real partying (for partying, read "snogging"!) couldn't begin until all but the seventh-years had gone to bed, although some of the sixth-years chose to stay up and join in, especially if they had friends or siblings amongst the seventh-years. Sixth-year Colin Creevey chose to stay up for a little while so that he could add to his already enormous photo collection featuring the one and only Harry Potter. Ginny also elected to stay up, although Ron disapproved and told her so.

'You are not my mother Ronald Weasley, so pull your head in!' she told him rather rudely.

'Jeez, all right already Ginny! I was just thinking of you - it could get a little, well, heavy in here tonight.'

'Oh, and I suppose I'm going to be scarred for life by what I might see, big brother, is that it?' Ginny winked at him facetiously over her shoulder as she sauntered off.

Ron and Harry were sitting in the lounge before the fire and Ron eyed Ginny's back as she left, frowning. 'I wish I knew who the hell it was she's seeing now,' he grumbled. 'She'd be quite capable of biting off more than she could chew, I'm sure.'

Harry actually agreed with Ron, but kept it to himself. He thought it better to change the subject as Ron could easily get quite worked up over the whole thing.

Hermione then appeared at the bottom of the girls' staircase and all thoughts of Ginny left Harry's head. As most of the students had, Hermione had changed into jeans and a top, her hair pulled back and up in a high ponytail. Harry smiled at her, thinking to himself how great she looked.

She came and sat down on his lap, linking her hands behind his neck. 'Well, Mr Potter, exams are over at last - no more revision or studying for us!' She gave him a cheeky smile as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in for a quick kiss. Harry had already decided they weren't going to the Astronomy Tower - Ron and Luna would not be the only ones up there and Harry rather fancied a little more privacy; he definitely wanted to be alone with Hermione so he'd decided on taking her for a walk around the shore of the Lake to their favourite beech tree. If they were unlucky enough to encounter some others who'd had the same idea... well, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.

'Ron and I have already eaten,' Harry told her, 'but are you hungry?' he inquired. 'There's plenty of food. I think Dobby brought ALL the food here, not just Gryffindor Tower's share!'

'Yes, I am actually,' Hermione replied and she nimbly hopped up from Harry's lap and went to get something to eat. Ron went with her, claiming his first plate of food 'hadn't touched the sides' and he needed some more.

When they returned to sit with Harry, a number of their friends stopped to have a chat and they passed the time exchanging some light hearted chatter with them.

By around half past eleven, the seventh-years had herded all the younger students (who were grumbling and complaining about the state of affairs) off to bed. Couples had already settled themselves in various armchairs around the common room while many left either for the Astronomy Tower (such a marvellous, out-of-the-way place with so many nooks and crannies!) or some other part of the castle where they felt sure they wouldn't be disturbed. Harry and Hermione were exchanging frequent glances full of anticipation until Ron groaned and complained to the room in general that he felt like a ship on a rock ('That's shag on a rock, Ron', Hermione corrected him, with a smile).

Just before midnight, Harry, Hermione and Ron decided to make their way out through the portrait hole ('You shouldn't be going out NOW!' scolded the Fat Lady, wagging her finger at them. 'Oh, we won't be too long,' said Harry. 'I've heard THAT before!' was the indignant retort.)

Ron and Luna had arranged to meet in the Astronomy Tower at midnight and just before Ron parted company with Harry and Hermione, he told them, 'Do you know, I actually miss Fred and George at times like this! Things would've been a lot livelier in the old common room tonight if they were still around! It was pretty tame, really.'

'Yeah, it was a little. There's no one quite like Fred and George. Maybe,' said Harry, with a grin, 'they should start some sort of celebration consultancy - they could give people ideas on how to celebrate in a manner worthy of the famous Weasley Twins!'

'And they could supply the required weapons needed for fun!' threw in Hermione.

'Ha! That'd certainly liven things up!' laughed Ron.

As Ron left them, heading up to the Astronomy Tower, Harry and Hermione waved him off, heading down the stairs and along the corridor leading to the Entrance Hall. As they walked, they glimpsed someone ducking into a doorway arch quite a way ahead of them - a girl - 'Was that Ginny?' asked Harry, glimpsing red hair swinging down her back. 'And - what the hell?! Was that Malfoy?' he whispered urgently as he saw a head with silver blonde hair lean out of the doorway to check up and down the corridor. Harry and Hermione were sticking close to the wall to avoid being seen and so remained undetected by whoever it was up ahead of them.

Hermione's stomach was churning as she said, 'Come off it Harry! It couldn't possibly be! What are you thinking? Ginny and Malfoy? Hardly!'

'Well, true...' Harry's face remained thoughtful, even after they'd reached the doorway only to find it empty as they'd expected. Still, they had better things to do than follow other students who were no doubt just as bent on finding some privacy as they were, whoever they were.

They crept out the main door, down the steps and headed across the grounds to the Lake. The sky was dotted with some cloud but there was a little moonlight, enough to see by since they were familiar with the path they were taking So far they hadn't seen anyone else, to Harry's delight.

When they reached the other side of the beech tree, Harry stopped and pulled Hermione into his arms at the same time as she wrapped her arms around his waist; they smiled at each other.

'Alone at last,' murmured Harry as he lowered his head.

'At last,' echoed Hermione just before their lips met.

They decided standing wasn't really a good idea and quickly stretched out on the soft grass beneath the tree, Hermione lying on her back, her hands behind her head; Harry was propped on his left elbow with his head resting in his hand and with his free hand he began gently tracing the sweep of her cheek, down to her mouth, his finger running along the outline of her lips.

Hermione closed her eyes, enjoying the marvellous sensations Harry's touch was creating; then Harry's fingers trailed lightly up along her jaw to her ear, then down her neck, over her collarbone and into the valley between her breasts where they came to rest, waiting, just as Harry was, for Hermione to let him know whether he'd gone too far or whether, perhaps, he might go further...

Hermione stopped breathing as she watched Harry's hand come to rest while Harry was watching Hermione's face... then, by lifting her hand to softly touch his face and allowing the tiniest of smiles to touch her lips, she gave him what he was waiting for: permission. With their eyes locked, his trailing fingers resumed their tantalising journey down over her stomach, then down... to her belly button... circling around it twice... Hermione gasped and Harry froze; he sure as hell didn't want to stop but neither did he want to go past the point of no return if Hermione didn't want this.

'Harry,' she whispered, her voice husky, 'you wouldn't believe how you make me feel and you have no idea how much I want you...'

'Tell me how I make you feel, Hermione,' he said, his voice rasping in his throat.

Oh, God! she thought, I can't speak while he's doing that - I can't think-' She groaned softly.

'Harry,' her voice was a husky whisper, 'I want you more than I thought possible, but...' I can't believe it - but I'm a little afraid!

Harry froze. "But"? Merlin, if this is as far as we go...through almost clenched teeth he managed to say, 'Hermione, it's your call love.' I'm think I'm either going to explode or break! Then they were simply staring into each other's eyes. Harry knew he couldn't do anything except keep going until she said stop and then somehow find the strength to do just that. Somehow. He could see fear and desire warring in her eyes and he dropped his head to kiss her again, hoping to drive the fear away.

Hermione thought she was going to melt into a puddle right there and then. She must have groaned again because Harry lifted his head to look at her. He's turning me into a puddle again, she thought. It's not bloody fair! He can just LOOK at me with those incredible green eyes and I melt! Dear Merlin, my insides feel like mush!

With a soft noise that acknowledged the futility of resistance in the face of her own desire, Hermione pulled Harry's head down and kissed him more passionately than she ever had. She couldn't help it - she groaned into his mouth.

That was Harry's undoing.

'Hermione-' he rasped out.

Merlin, she thought, even the sound of his voice like that is doing things to me!

'Hermione,' he repeated, 'please... this is killing me... I need to know... please tell me we can finish this...'

The green fire in his eyes as he gazed down at her, his soft, barely discernable panting as though he was unable to catch his breath properly, prevented her from thinking... she had to think! She had to decide!

Harry felt her shudder slightly as she finally spoke, 'Yes, Harry, yes- I want you so much it hurts- '

She'd said yes! There was a roaring in his ears; their gazes locked and it was at that moment that the sound of footsteps reached them, followed by the sound of voices...

'Holy mother of Merlin! I don't believe it!' groaned Harry softly as his head dropped and he closed his eyes. He thought he was going to explode for sure.

Hermione thought she was going to scream with the sheer frustration of it. Luckily they were on the far side of the tree and as she and Harry dragged themselves into sitting positions, the footsteps stopped perhaps five yards the other side of the tree.

Before either Harry or Hermione could stand up and walk around to reveal themselves (so they wouldn't interrupt what they presumed the other couple was planning on doing), they were both frozen instantly by the sound of one of the voices. It was male. It was Draco Malfoy's. Only he sounded different. Then they realised they'd only ever heard disgust, ridicule or sarcasm in his voice; now, however, they recognised the husky tones of desire. 'Come here,' he commanded his unseen companion, 'I need you so badly...'

Harry, totally amazed, turned to look at Hermione. Why did Hermione look like a wild animal caught and frozen by oncoming headlights? 'Hermione?' whispered Harry, his voice full of concern - yet questioning. Hermione only moved her eyes from staring straight ahead, to look into Harry's. 'What is it?' he asked more urgently.

'Oh, Harry...oh, my God...! We need to go - get out of here - NOW!'

Hermione was galvanised into action - she stood up and started pulling on Harry's arm, urging him to stand up.

'What the hell is wrong?' he demanded in a fierce whisper. His thoughts mocked him. Wrong? What could be wrong? Oh yeah, that's right! Malfoy gets to snog someone senseless while I have to clear off and to top it off, how bloody ironic was it that it was ferret-boy Malfoy who'd been the one to interrupt him!

'Just let's GO!' Hermione's whispered command broke into his thoughts and she began pulling him away from the tree and towards the Forbidden Forest. 'We can follow the edge of the Forest round to Hagrid's and go back to the castle from there,' Hermione said as she kept walking and pulling.

Harry stopped and glared at her. He felt as though he was going to spend the rest of his life suffering this incredible level of frustration, on top of that Malfoy was exploring someone's tonsils just a short distance away after being responsible for interrupting what had promised to be the best moment of his life and Hermione was - well, for some reason her eyes were full of desperation as she continued to plead with him, 'PLEASE, Harry, PLEASE!'

'Why? I feel like walking over there and ripping into that freak and hexing him to hell and back-'

Hermione looked as though she might cry. 'Because - because - for me, Harry, please just do it for me. I'll explain, I promise!'

He couldn't refuse her in the face of her desperation. 'All right - but I want to know every-'

But then he heard the other voice. Her voice. The one who's tonsils Malfoy had been exploring. The unseen couple had no reason to speak in whispers and their voices carried on the still night air.

'Draco, this has to end! We can't keep this up - it's just too difficult - it's not going to work!' and then he heard her start sobbing. He knew that voice. He'd known the owner for seven years. Ginny Weasley.

He looked at Hermione and the reason for her desperation to leave suddenly became clear. 'You knew.' It was a statement, not a question.

Hermione dropped Harry's arm and nodded. 'I found out sort of by accident.'

'And you didn't say anything?' he asked in disbelief.

'Oh, yes, right, of course! Why wouldn't I run straight to you and Ron and tell you Ginny's new boyfriend was Draco Malfoy? I can't think of one good reason why I didn't do just that!' She made a sound of disbelief. 'Really, Harry! Besides, it's not as though Ginny herself told me - I told you I found out by accident. I didn't feel it would be right to snitch on her.'

'Snitch? SNITCH? That's Draco bloody Malfoy, Hermione! With Ginny Weasley!'

Hermione was wringing her hands. 'Well it sounds as though they're going to call it quits anyway, doesn't it? Let's just go and leave them to it.'

Harry looked agonised and very undecided. Hermione was terrified he'd take it into his head to go and tackle Malfoy then and there.

'Please Harry - we can't interfere now. If Ginny calls it off, then there's nothing to worry about! Ron would get killed trying to kill Malfoy, you know he would! Please, let's go!' Hermione had taken both of Harry's hands in a tight grip and was looking up at him, willing him with all her might to come away with her.

He looked down at her and shrugged, giving her a lopsided smile. 'Do you know, I think you're the only person in the world capable of stopping me from having a go at Draco Malfoy when there's no one around to witness it!'

As they walked back to the castle along the edge of the forest and past Hagrid's hut, Hermione told Harry that many weeks earlier, she'd gone back to Snape's classroom to retrieve a box of beetle's eyes she'd left behind and then went on to explain what had happened after that.

The door had been open, no other students were to be seen, but as she approached - and just before she stepped into the room - she heard Malfoy's voice. She immediately froze on the spot, not wanting to run into him alone. Then she heard Malfoy speaking urgently to someone obviously in the room with him. Hermione explained that when she heard the girl's voice that answered him, she felt shock run through her like ice water: it was Ginny! She told Harry they sounded as though they may have been arguing. However, she had heard one thing clearly - Malfoy saying to Ginny that they'd find a way to be together.

Harry shook his head in part amazement, part horror. 'How the hell did Ginny get mixed up with Malfoy? I hope you're right about one thing Hermione - that they're calling it off.' Hermione was grateful for the darkness - if Harry could see her face, she was sure he'd know she hadn't quite told him every little detail. For instance, one little detail like Draco Malfoy asking her to go to the Ball with him that same night she'd stumbled upon him and Ginny in the Potions classroom.

Well, she consoled herself, leaving out a few details doesn't constitute lying, does it? I'm not going to think about it, she told herself firmly. No point in crying over spilt milk as Mum is fond of saying.

They'd reached the steps leading up to the main doors and quickly made their way to Gryffindor Tower, apologising to the Fat Lady who rather petulantly let them in, 'I do need my beauty sleep, you know!' she complained.

It was just after two in the morning and the common room was very nearly empty. There seemed to still be some couples snuggled up in armchairs but whether they were asleep or not was hard to say as the light from the dying fire was so low.

Harry walked with Hermione to the bottom of the girls' staircase and taking her face in his hands, he kissed her deeply.

'Night, Hermione,' he whispered tenderly. 'If ferret-face ever interrupts us again like that, I guarantee even you won't be able to stop me doing something dreadful to him!'

'I won't be trying to stop you, Harry, I'll be helping you!'

They exchanged one last smile before they started up their respective stair cases.

Harry stripped off and hopped into bed, pulling the drapes closed around his bed. The deep, regular breathing of his companions assured him they were all asleep. He wondered how Ron and Luna had fared in the Astronomy Tower. No doubt Ron would fill him in tomorrow. He was still feeling concerned over Ginny having anything to do with Malfoy, yet from what he'd heard Ginny say earlier, Hermione was probably right - she would call it off. She would know how impossible it was for a Weasley and a Malfoy to consider any sort of future together. And he sure as hell didn't want to be the one to have to tell Ron his little sister had taken up with Malfoy! Once he'd sorted that out, he found his thoughts automatically returned to Hermione. Hermione, laying on the grass, groaning... wanting him... telling him how much she wanted him... he squirmed with discomfort then leaned over and grabbed his wand from his bedside table, placing it beside him on the bed. There was only one way he'd be getting any sleep tonight. Not surprisingly, he was getting very adept at the Scourgify charm these days.

As Hermione walked slowly up the spiral staircase, she thought about what they'd overheard out by the Lake. To tell the truth, she didn't really think Draco and Ginny would call it off, despite what Ginny had said. Malfoy, having been spoilt all his life, could be extremely determined when it came to something he wanted and he wanted Ginny Weasley. He'd told her so, in no uncertain terms. And it seemed as though Ginny wanted him just as much, despite the dangers and pitfalls. Would Malfoy be game to bring Ginny to the Ball as his date? Oh Merlin, I hope not! she thought. She sighed. She'd worry about that tomorrow. She had to get some sleep.

After she'd changed and climbed into bed, Hermione's last thoughts were of Harry: she wondered when they'd get another chance to be alone - to finish what they'd started that night. She groaned softly to herself as she sank beneath her covers. Her DLTs were becoming more and more disruptive and frustrating. Maybe she should start thinking of them as Delicious Little Thoughts instead of Depraved Little Thoughts. Maybe Delicious and Depraved? She was feeling very sleepy now... her thoughts were slowly whirling away into sleep... Harry was delicious... he made her want to be depraved, well, nicely depraved... could you be nicely depraved? Harry... deliciously depraved Harry...

She was asleep. And her dreams were definitely delicious and perhaps a little depraved...